Merry Christmas! I got your package with the ties and the sweet pen! It was so awesome and you should have seen the look on all the other elders faces.. The chirstmas season is so amazing and really being here has really taught me the docterine about christmas. You hear everyyear that Chirstmas is centered on Christ and how we are supposed to give more than we recieve and I always thought I knew that but every chirstmas day im not going to lie I was stoked for the presents! This year I have had the complete opposite I honestly dont want anything more than to make the member of my district happier. I was telling you about Elder Santos he is a phillipino and is 5 foot and yesterday when I opened my ties his eyes were like saucer plates! He has had this love for ties here because he came out with some pretty cheap ones and people have traded some really nice ones to him and one day he was like "do you think there is a specific tie for each of us?" like almost like there is the one design that just catches our attention so much we would trade anything for it. haha but ya so the black and white paisley you sent me. that was his. he came back in forth in my rooom 5 or 6 times just to hold it in his hands and he just seriously cant get over it. we are doing a chirstmas exchange and my comp elder dunford got his name. anyways we decided we were switiching because I am giving elder santos that tie. He was having a really rough day today and just wouldn't talk and just waas really down. I authorized the exchange so my comp and his comp went together and it works good cuz there both ZLs and so i took elder santos. we walked back to our dorms and he was just quite so i asked him what was up and i dont really know what happened but he ended up telling me that the two worst times he feels like he is pessimistec was his birthday and then today being so close to cchirstmas. I had no idea why because those are times where im stoked for presents hahah probably bad though cuz thats terribly selfish. anyways we got back to our dorm and i took the tie out and told him i wanted him to wear it. He said no that he couldn't but after my clever persuasiveness in telling him i really wanted him to wear it he finally accepted. even just letting him hold it changed his attidude to happiness. the way he loves it and knowing I have something that can make someone so happy they just dont know what to say makes me so good that I can give it to them. I thought about how the gospel is the exact same way but the investigator just doesn't know yet that that "tie" or gift is exactly the one they are looking for. on our way back to our classroom he stopped me and said hey can we stop by the bookstore? I was like ok sure so we went in and he went to the end of the line and I was like what are you going to get and he was like candy hahah I was sweet so anyways he grabbed 4 Kit kat extra crunchy or something I was like wow you must like those and he was like ya there one of  my favorites. haha I just laughed inside thinking to myself how he is so happy now he is wearing my tie that he deserves a treat hahaha I was wrong. apon returning to the classroom he carefully took out each bar and walked along each of the elders in my district not including myself or him and placed his favorite chocolate bar on the end of the desk. I just thought how amazing that was. that because I was able to give him something he returned that to others. That is what the Christmas spirit is. not focusing on yourself at all. He actually tried to give me one of his favorite ties that I like because I only let him wear mine. I have about 22 ties here and he only has like 7 it was really a good experience. I told him I couldn't except even though it was one of my favorite ties but that I wanted him to keep it for another week wear it and think about it more. (his tie) one thing also that I forgot to say that was hilarious. as we were walking down the hall to exit our dorm building he held my tie in his hands as it was tied around his neck and just smiled and said quote " I feel like iam carrying precious cargo"hahaha it made me laugh so hard. hes such a funny kid. I just have really learned that sometimes we have things that is exactly what other people need. Are we going to be selfish and keep it for ourselves or share it with others. The gospel is the same way. Everyone at home that has served missions knows the joy and experience to share the gospel. Why have we stopped? just because we dont wear the nametag anymore doesn't mean we cant be a representative of Jesus Chirst. I know dad does a awesome job of trying to give away the dvds or things at christmas so keep it up. You really have no idea what something could mean to someone. Tonight I will give that new tie to Elder Santos to keep forever. I told him today as we were walking our of our building. I dont want to see you sad anyymore today ok? dont take that tie off until you are ready to go to bed. hahah its so amazing to see the change come over someone, even if it is just a tie. That was my awesome experience today! I am so excited for tomorrow for Christmas. I dont know who is comming or if the prophet is coming. Again ive learned the true focus of Christmas and the fact that Jesus Chirst had that ulitmate gift that we needed. He didn't have to perform the atonement. he was perfect and could have lifved with Heavenly father but because he loved us he did that so that we could have that "tie" that we have been looking for or that is perfect for us. That is is everything that we have ever wanted. Spanish is coming good its very difficult for me but so amazing at the same time i have learned so much and its seriously so sweet! I think thats all I wanted to say. Merry Christmas family! Good luck on the wedding!!

Elder Anderson

Hey family!

Well today was kinda a bummer opening up the mailbox and finding something for each one of the member in my district and nothing for me hahaha no its cool also no emails except from karen.. hmm.. is anyone alive? thats fine though I know your probably busy. So ya I was made distrcit leader on sunday and ive had some really awesome experiences. There is an elder who was born in the Philipians in my district who is 5 foot tall. He is awesome. His name is Elder Santos and he grew up in philipians for 9 years and then moved to america and lives in idaho now. so I thought tim would like that. He speaks tagolog and I want tim to remember if he remembers any. Anyways so he is like super shy and has alot of self esteem problems. So ya I just kinda started talking to him and definatly had the spirit work through me and I dont really even remember really what I said but just that he is an awesome missionary and that the things he thinks are weaknesses of his are really strengths and he lite up and like i dunno i felt so awesome I guess it was like my first real time I felt like I really brought someone closer to christ. We actually have been getting alot of time together because his companion elder johnson was made zone leader cuz he was just disctrict leader and my comp elder dunford is also zone leader. wierd right? I just assumed they always go in companions but ya Im district leader now and its good learning experience. I think the biggest thing alot of missionaries here suffer from is self confidence. and its hard I dont blame them but if we truly have faith then its like Ether 12 27 we can turn those weak things into strengths.I have found that out first hand here. I have a new motto I guess you can say I dunno we had a good devotional the other night and it was on agency and how we get to choose our own desires, we get to choose how we react, and I cant remember the last one right now i think it was like choose to act I dunno. but its amazing because if we have a positive attitude it makes the world of difference. even when things aren't going the way we want them to its fine because the lord is going to take care of it. I had a really aweome experience yesterday we do this thing we call district teach.. our district kinda made it up so during our MDT or missionary directed time on thursdays we teach eachother something. anyways me and my comp were talking on humility and we shared the scripture from D&C 67 10 i think. anyawys its so amazing to me and just read it and finish the section theres like 4 verses after it. I loved it so much and then I just went off on a tangent and like talked about how the revelations given in the D&C apply to us as well. That scripture promises us that if we are doing whats right and have patience and humility and other stuff we will literally be able to see our savior Jesus Christ. have you ever thought about that?? ya I know we are definalty imperfect and whatnot but by changing our attitude how easy is it really to just stop doing somthing wrong or change your behavior its as easy as snapping your fingers if you reawlly think about it. ya we may have addictions or we may struggle whilst trying but dont you think the saviour is going to help us if we are honstly putting forth all the effort we can to change and become more like him? I kinda spoke way bold and the spirit was definalty talking through me. It came out of no where and seriously I was like this is true. I asked my missionaries in my district if they really believe they can see our saviour jesus christ. Do you believe you can? or do you just believe its possible if your super righteous. How do you think the apostles got where they are today? did the prophet jsut randomly call someone and say he wanna be a member of the quorum of the 70 of the 12? I dont think so.. I really truly believe those men understood the scriptures and had that literal change in heart and no more disposition to do evil. Again how easy is it really to just do what is right? like I think mom or dad said in one of the letters. It is so much more easier to be 100% obediant than 98% obediant. I dunno take if for what you may but I truly believe that if I put forth ever effort I have and constaly seek to become more like our saviour jesus christ and rid myself not only of impurities whether thoughts actions or deeds and even putting asided things that may not be bad but just waste time I really think we can come closer to our saviour and like the scripture promises we will behold Jesus Christ. You may be wondering what little things am I doing.. if you are change them The BIGGEST thing I would change starting right now is your attitude. WE CHOOSE to be offened, how we react how we treat others, how we think how we talk how we present ourselves. If we really understand the gift of agency our father in heaven has given us we wouldn't be doing half the things or think half the things we do. Push them out of your mind. It takes practice im practicing everyday. Its hard but so so so worth it. you will be able to recognize the spirit so much more. Be able to be closer to it and be an instrument in His hands. Oh I just remembered that experiece I had with elder santos is because I bought a notebook and at night before I go to bed I just think of way s I can be an instrument and thoughts or impressions that come I tried writing them down and I thought about elder santos and how I could help him and thoughts came and I wrote them down and used them the next day to bring him closer to christ. The gospel is seriously so so simple. Ya its hard but not really if you turly understand the docterine. True doctrine understood changes behaviour faster that the study of behaviour changes behaviour. It is so true. Think about it this week. today even. Make rememinders to help you do it each day. I promise that if you do this things you will feel an added measure of the spirit that you have never before felt. I think dad is such a good example of this because my whole life I think ive seen him "Choose to get mad" like twice and it was like do you want a hair raising experience? hahaha ya I just think its awesome. Serving others is so amazing to me and it truly allows us to come closer to Christ. Mom can you let me teach seminary when I come back if you still teach? I wanna lay down the law with those kids. Man I was so stupid before I came out here. Totally took everything I have for granted. especially the scriptures. They are like amazing!! Anyways. Merry Christmas I hope I get a present this year. The other elders already have a chirstmas tree and lots of goodies! I got hilarys stocking and that was sweet!! and also Grandma brown sent me some wierd squares. ya I dunno about those. Im not into the homeade stuff.. ill probably eat them tho.

Love

Elder Anderson

P.S. forward to whoever. Kelsey too since I cant email anyone but family I read it in our binder of stuff. 100% obediance is easier than 98% Ill write her today! tell her taht! and that I got her long letter on the wierd paper and I loved it and she is such an amazing girl! thanks! xx

 

Sorry about the short letter last week. My whole letter was deleted! This week has been so crazy! The fast was one of the most intense things I have done ever! We all were about to have nervous breakdowns by the end of the day so we decided to end our fast early. Just imagine your two teachers that speak fluent espanol speaking fast and only in Spanish to you for like 3 hours....ya its bound to get to your head. But it was a really great experience and I am glad we did it. This last Saturday we went to the TRC and did some contacting again and had to go and get an investigator and bring them to church all in Spanish. So Hermana Crapse and I practiced hard and prayed hard and we were able to pick her up bring her to the bus and speak about 95% Spanish to her for like 15 min. Checking up on committments and committing her to read some other scriptures and pray about them. She was really kinda and very interested. Then we made a follow up apt. and went back to see her to teach her the Plan of Salvation in English. We talked to her a lot about the plan and the Atonement and then Baptism as she had some questions and was showing interest in it. Then as we were about to finish up the lesson I just looked into her eyes and said "Will you follow Jesus Christ's example and be Baptized?" She looked at me and after a couple seconds said "Yes!" I was so excited!!!! I was like heck yes!!! haha so we closed up the lesson and went back to class and our teacher was able to comment and give us helpful tips to teach better. It was a really great experience. I was so glad to have had that experience after a hard week. Mom you did send something with me for Scott it was the Candy package thing remember? Yes please send that package with my shoes in it I have been waiting for them! :) As for calling on Christmas we are not able to do that here because there are soooo many missionaries. I will be able to call you from the airport though in January when I leave so don't worry. I am glad you are getting all ready for christmas that sounds really exciting. There is a different spirit of Christmas here at the MTC I haven't really had a lot of time to sit and think about Christmas as our days are very full and scheduled. I send you a lettter with some pics mom. So we have had some amazing speakers the last two weeks. We had Sister Julie B Beck speak so us in a devotional and that was pretty sweet. Then on Sunday for Relief Society (all the sister missionaries are together for this) Sister Christofferson (Elder Christoffersons wife) Spoke to us about the saviors birth and some of the symbolism. That was very cool. Then that same night we had the BYU mens chorus come and sing for like an hour christmas songs! It was sooo awesome! I love them they sang amazing! We are so blessed to have such amazing speakers here. We will see who we get for Christmas here. Its strange it doesn't really seem like Christmas and I am not really getting home sick as I feel more focused on Christ and what the true meaning of Christmas is...bringing others to Christ. Sounds like you will have fun with the grandkids making cookies! Take lots of pictures! I feel as if I have been forgotten a little! I haven't heard from lots of the family in almost a week! hahahaha. I am spoiled! My spanish is slowly improving so keep praying for me. I am going to the temple again today. I think I already told you this I say Pat Beta 2 weeks ago at the temple! It was pretty funny! Other than that the days are long and tiring but good. I have seen Scott more this week and he comes and talks to me about his frustration with the language. I have been praying for him as I know how hard it is when you don't have the lords help. Please keep both of us in your prayers you have no idea how much we need them. Other than that I love it here. The food is getting grosser everyday and I feel sick everytime I eat it. Hilary and David its like at the crossroads where you just want to barf! hahaha. I think of BYU-I every time I eat here. I have seen so many people i know here and its really nice. Say Hi to everyone for me and that I appreciate their support! Love you all!! Adios!

Sister Anderson

Hey family.  I have gained like 17 pounds here at the mtc. Ya you cant really even tell either.  The spanish language is coming slowly but its coming. yesterday was our frist time teaching the first lesson in spanish and our teacher almost fell asleep. like not on purpose. he legitly almost feel alseep! hahah crazy I know. but ya its just hard with so many different things we are doing here. I have definatly seen the blessing from the gift of tongues though. I got daves wedding invite and aarons dear elder! they both made me laugh hahaha all the roomates I have were like your brother has a hot wife. hahah  christmas sounds like it should be fun this year without me cuz now the rest of the children will be able to have gifts cuz we all know i was the chosen child. there are rumours that the prophet is coming on chirstmas but we will see. and to answer your question no we cant phone home on christmas. I will be calling probably the 12 of january cuz I think thats my departure date. but Ill let you know more when that comes. the mtc is legit. ill write some letters to you all today but hey i met brother eatons mission president in the sealing room today so mom if you could tell brother eaton that president mmcoy says hi and that I met him that would be awesome! he said elder eaton was such an awesome missionary. it didn't suprise me. I love you family. I know i never say that so dont expect it again but your pretty good. the gopspel is true and i look forward to serving in georgia ill write a ton of letters today so sorry this email is short. next weeks will be like 5 pages. ok more like a page but ya keep it real. choose the right. and ya.

Elder Anderson

xx

So This has been a lovely week. I just typed you a big e-mail and it got erased so I am sorry. I will sum it up quick! I was able to teach a gentleman and he responded really well....I am so mad right now I have 4 minutes and no time to explain anything! So sorry that this week is going to be a short e-mail. Hermana Crapes and I were able to teach an older couple about prophets and they really felt the spirit as we testified about Joseph Smith and told the 1st vision. I asked them what is would mean if they prayed and found out that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God and he said well then the Chruch is True!!! So awesome!

 

Anyways that was like a 2 sec explanation of what I had written so I will try to tell you about it next week.

 

Pray hard for me tonight and tommorow and for my district. We are going on an English Fast starting tonight for a full 24 hours and its going to be extrememly hard! So please remember us in your prayers. We hope this will help us to become better at the language so we can better the the gospel. That is how we learn the language here. We learn for the people not for us and the spirit helps us.

 

I have learned lots this week and I will try to write you a letter today. I already wrote you one with some pics so expect that one and I will try to write my expereince down and send it to you or e-mail you next week! Sorry to everyone that I couldn't tell you much! Thanks for the letters and dear elders and please keep writing it keeps me focused on my purpose!!!

 

LOVE YOU!!

 

Sister Anderson

Lindsay, Becca, Elder Anderson, Mom & Dad
When Elder Anderson flew to the MTC

Thanksgiving in the MTC

Becca arriving at the MTC

This week has been better and harder at the same time! We have been busy busy busy! Yes we had Elder Holland here for Thanksgiving! What an incredible man! He speaks with so much power and love! I love him so much! He spoke about families and what not. So mom you remember when Aunt Brenda said to look for elder Bolokoski? Well guess what he is in my district! Hahaha. The first day I walk in and he is like hi and then we figured it all out! Small world! I do not have any classes with Scott. I see him every once in a while but its nothing special. You know how Scott is.... Anyways I have been learning tons of Spanish this week. I have memorized half the first vision in Espanol and our district has a goal to learn the whole thing by the end of this week. So  pray for me. We have taught some lessons and Hermana Crapes and I have a apt. this Friday to teach the 1st lesson in English and then next week in Spanish! So Really pray for me! haha. I have really appreciated the mail i have been getting from everyone thanks Tim, Heather, Lindsay and Hilary! And mom and dad of course. Mail keeps me sane so keep it coming and just tell me whats new and whats going on its just nice to hear from someone to take my mind off the work gives me a little break. I definitely would love pictures from all the grandkids!!! Tims Todds and heathers and whoever else!  Other than that this week has been good. My favorite days here are Sundays. We get to hear Music and the spoken word and have relief society with all the sisters and then church in Spanish etc. I felt the spirit really strong today. Mom its like I feel like I have the willies all day. I swear I get them a least every hour....My testimony has been stregnthened so much being here and I feel like I have just started to develop it. The food is fine. I am sick right now. I have a bad cold and its starting to settle in my chest so sleeping has been hard and focusing but I have been loading up on the vitamins and praying I think I will be good in a couple days. We get to go to the temple today! Hurray! I love the temple. Check our section 130 or 133 I can't remember! But it is way cool! Also some of my favorite scriptures about Gods love are Isaiah 41:10 I love it so much. Also check out Psalms 145 the whole section is amazing. And Mathew 11 28-30 I think....They have given me great counsel and comfort as I have been here! Send me quotes I love them. 

 

love you all and pray hard for me! the church is true its incredible how much it can change you if you open your heart and let the love of christ filll your soul !

 

Adios Hermana Anderson