now serving in Fort Payne

Hi y'all

I got transferred and I am now serving in Fort Payne.  It is about 2 1/2 hours northeast of where I was serving in Hueytown.   My mission also covers some of Georgia.  We only have a small branch here of about 35-40 people so there is lots of work to do. When the Baptist in Fort Payne heard that the Mormons were building a temple in Birmingham, they built a massive cross in Fort Payne.    My companion is from California and will be going home next transfer.  He is a great companion.  One of the first things I was able to do while in Fort Payne was go to the Birmingham Temple and witness a temple sealing of a family that my companion taught a year ago.  They had a little baby sealed to them too.  It was way sweet.

A lady that we were teaching in Hueytown for a while committed to baptism after I was transferred. She called and asked if I could come back and speak at her baptism.  I had to get special permission from the Mission President where it was out of my area.  So on Saturday, May 12th we had 2 baptisms in Fort Payne.  They were a young married couple that Elder James had been teaching for a while. Then we took off and drove 2 1/2 hours to the Bessemer ward to be there for Sister Reed's baptism.  I was honored she ask me to speak.  It was a very very long day, but a really great day.  Her husband was a member, but not active and she was a Methodist and had been taught by many different missionaries, but just wasn't ready yet.  We taught her and I guess she couldn't fight it anymore.  I am so happy for her.

The area in Fort Payne is very spread out and we have to bike everywhere.  In the first week and a half, I lost 10 lbs! We live 10 miles from the church.  No one in our branch can play the piano, so we have a player piano to sing to.

I am so grateful that I came on a mission and I am so happy that I am serving here in Alabama.

Thank you for all the support you give me.

Elder Gentry Anderson

Transfers and I'm now in Fort Payne

Hi Y’all,

So I got transferred to Fort Payne Alabama.  Part of my mission covers Georgia.  I had no idea what to think, but when I got here it is like a huge Tremonton, and it really reminds me of Tremonton too.   I LOVE IT!  We cover a huge area, but have a really small branch.  Only like 40 people.   Wow, that’s how many people were in my Sunday school class!  ha ha, not really but still is way small..  There is a lot more stuff to do around here.  We might go to Georgia next week and go the Falls, (big waterfalls).  I really like it up here, but it is starting to get way hot.  

My new companion is Elder James and he is a biker, so we will be biking a lot.  We also started do P90X in the mornings.  I feel like I have my own personal trainer, but its good cause I need to get back into shape.  Elder James is from Indio, California and only has 6 weeks left of his mission.  He is way sweet.

  

I have already been asked to talk in church on May 13th..  Ha... that was fast.

We have already started teaching 2 new investigators. They are a young married couple named Jason and Maranda. They have set a baptismal date set for May 12th!! So that is real cool.

Our apartment is a 2 bedroom, 2 bath, with 2 walk in closets.  It is older, but we will make it work. 

So check this out, they have a flea market up here on Saturdays like the one that we go to with Grandma and Grandpa in Yuma. But it is way bigger and it is called trade days.  Well we set up a booth and gave out free Book of Mormons...  Ha... Thinking out of the box right??

Things are going great and I am glad to be here.  I will do my best!  

I’m was sad to hear about Grandpa James. Please tell Uncle Al, Auntie Deb, Madison, Mark and Mallory I love them and my thoughts and prayers are with them.

I’m glad that Markell got that job, that’s great!

Well I’ve got to go, have a great week!

Love you all, 

Elder Anderson