staying in Huntsville

Family this week was great! a lot of good happened! On Tuesday our Zone Training went very good. We wanted to do something that would get everyone involved with out us just talking the whole time. Elder munns, sisters decker and hazlegren and i got together on Sunday night to go over what we all thought would work and bring the spirit. Well we decided to use the Tree of Life Chapter and apply it to our zone. Elder Munns and I got some of the stuff we needed and we met up Monday night and set it up we had the Iron Rod, the Tree of Life, the Straight and Narrow path, River, Mist of Darkness, and the great and spacious building. We gave everyone a topic about each place and they took 10 mins to apply it to missionary work. Example... The Straight and Narrow path was Personal study, Companion sunday she was there with her family. A man came up to us and said I'm from florida i was taught everything and was going to get baptized this weekend but had to move can yall teach me so i can be baptized. And another investigator as well. Winchester had 4 investigators at church all wanting to be baptized! Jesse was confirmed also. Im very excited to be able to train it is an answer to my prayers. The temple was great as always. The spirit was so strong! Once again im very excited for this next transfer! have a good week!
Love elder anderson

on study, Diligence, and obedience in Preach My Gospel. The spirit was very strong as we did this! We then felt very prompted to have a testimony meeting. There was not a dry eye in the room the zone has come so close together and they know what they need to do to have success. That was the most spiritual zone meeting i have been to. We them went to Fayettville to interview their baptism dates. They were all baptized Rebecca, cheyanna, and Becker. They are working very hard and doing a great job.We have been teaching a lady named Tisha she is very open and ready to be baptized her and her daughter both she is in the winchester ward. At church

busy month

Hi Ya'll

I am now serving up in the Huntsville Area and it covers quite a large area.  It goes from Tennessee to Georgia, but 90 percent of the area is still in Alabama.  Me and my companion have mostly been doing exchanges with other companions so help them with any of their needs, so we are not spending too much time right in the Hunstville area. Infact, I think since I have been here for the last 8 weeks, I have spent a total of 1 week in our apartment.  The other times have been in all the other areas.  I want to share just a few experiences below.

On Wednesday Elder Crainer and I went to Fort Payne to see some of the missionaries investigators there and found out they both have baptism dates and are doing well. We had a spiritual experience while we were at this run down trailer.    There was so much noise going on and lots of distractions and this man had a child with ADD and he was bouncing off the walls.  The man named Lee said to us,  I just want some peace and to be able study with yall. Well,  I asked if we could leave a blessing upon his home. He had his son yelling,  the ac blaring and dogs barking like crazy. As we humbly knelt down on his floor,  that had holes from possums and rats,  I said in the name of Jesus Christ and by his Priesthood authority I leave the Saviors peace and blessing upon this home and it all stopped. It was so quite. His 6 year old son stopped yelling and knelt down with us,  the dogs stopped barking and the ac turned off. After the blessing and inbetween tears and laughing he said “the dogs stopped barking” I wrapped my arms around him and told him how much Heavenly Father loved him and how much I loved him. The Saviors peace was truly upon his home.

 We also had another amazing experience. A 14 year old boy asked for a Book of Mormon through momon.org. We went to his house and visited him and asked him why do you like to come to our church?  Why did you request a Book of Mormon? He said very humbly.. “your church teaches the truth and I feel the spirit.” This young boy remembered the missionaries coming over years ago teaching his father and even though the father isn’t ready to come to church yet,  this young man has come 3 times and has a baptism date. Truly the Children shall lead them.

 Well that leads into one of the the most spiritual experience I have had on my mission.. We got to go to the temple on Saturday  with Brother and Sister Reed. (Sister Reed was baptized a year ago)  I was so excited! We got dressed and went to the dressing room and I saw Brother Reed and the bishop and gave them a big hug, it was so good to see them again because it has been a while.  .Well as my companion and I  sat down,  Sister Reed walked in just glowing! She looked so happy! The session was great! As we then went to the sealing room,  we sat down and the sealer was Brother Einfeldt  and was the one that came to our house at Christmas time.  He asked the Reeds who the witnesses were and Brother Reed said Elder Anderson and I was so honored, but in a daze! I wasn't even sure what I was suppose to even do! haha but as I signed the certificate, I was shaking so hard  it looks like i was having a seizure haha I was so nervous,  but  the spirit so strong it was incredible.   Well the sealing was done and as I went up to tell them congrats,  Brother Reed started to hug me and started crying and said I would of never thought I would be sealed in this temple.   This is all because of the knock of the door as you followed the spirit! I was so happy! i went back to the Celestial  room and just made sure I thanked Heavenly Father for allowing the spirit to be present in my life at that right time. words cant explain that day! but I am very thankful for it! 

Time is going so fast, I can't believe that I have been out for 22 months already.  I still have so much I need to do.  Someone needs to slow time down. 

Thank you for all your love, prayers and support. 

Love, 

Elder Anderson

april 30 2013

Family this week went so great! We were able to help out in the zone all week. On Tuesday we had another great district meeting with Elder Clanton training. Following we were able to get in contact with an investigator that was being taught by Elder Watt and invited her to be baptized and she said yes! That was very exciting. We met up with the Capshaw area sisters that night to teach one of their male investigators. On Wednesday Elder Crainer and I went to Fort Payne to see their  investigators and they both have baptism dates and are doing well. We had a spiritual experience.   We were at this run down trailer and there was so much noise going on lots of distractions.  This man had a child with ADD and he was bouncing off the walls and he said to us,  I just wanted some peace and to study with yall. Well I asked if we could leave a blessing upon his home. He had a kid yelling,  the ac blaring and dogs barking like crazy. As we humbly knelt down on his floor that had holes from possums and rats,  I said in the name of Jesus Christ and by his Priesthood authority I leave the Saviors peace and Blessing upon this home and it all stopped. It was so quite. His 6 year old son stopped yelling and knelt down,  the dogs stopped barking and the ac turned off. After the blessing and in between tears and laughing he said “the dogs stopped barking” I wrapped my arms around him and told him how much Heavenly Father loved him and how much I loved him. The Saviors peace was truly upon his home. We also had another amazing experience. A 14 year old boy asked for a Book of Mormon through momon.org. We went and visited him and asked him why would you like to come to our church and why did you request a Book of Mormon. He said very humbly.. “your church teaches the truth and I feel the spirit.” This young boy remember the missionaries coming over years ago teaching his father and even though the father isn’t ready to come check out the church yet this young man has come 3 times and has a baptism date. Truly the Children shall lead them.( 12 And then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb; and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling, together; and a littlechild shall lead them. I was about in tears I have been having so many spiritual experiences lately and I love it!  We were also able to see some of the converts from when we both served there. On Thursday we were in Fayettville I was with Elder Scott and he is such an amazing missionary.   He is so smart and teaches well with the spirit. We were able to do a baptism interview for this coming weekend. And teach some of their progressing investigators. They seem to be doing well.   Elder Scott is a hard worker. We came back to their district meeting on Friday and had a good training lesson on being on the same level as your investigators. Saturday we were able to teach with the Huntsville Spanish B sisters.   Two of their Spanish investigators that Elder Olson was able to help with! Laura was baptized in Weatherly as well. I was shocked when we got transfer calls this morning I was not expecting Elder Olson to leave we have been working so hard and trying to do our best to help the zone but I truly know that President Holzapfel is inspired by God.

Love Elder Anderson

the weeks are flying by April 8, 2013

Family!

 The week came and was gone like a racecar in Talladega Alabama! Wow can't believe how fast it went. We had Zone training on Tuesday my first one it went well. We did a roll play on how personal and companion study should be.   We changed our clothes and I was in sweat pants and a white shirt and continually  spitting sun flower seeds. We were showing how not to do it haha. Then we went over how we should do it. We went over how to find people to teach and how to commit them to baptism. We have a lot of new missionaries in our zone so it was pretty basic. Wednesday we  tried to see some people form the ward to get to know the ward a little better. We went on exchanges in Scottsboro on Thursday.   It’s a nice little town and of course I have told yall before,  but that’s where the  Unclaimed Baggage store is! And it’s insane! We went to see one of the investigators there.   Preston and Rhett are going to die in this store.   There is nothing close to any store I have ever been in ha. The exchange went well,  I was with Elder Mckay from Preston Idaho. We came back late Friday and next morning went to the church for conference! It was so good! They seem to be getting bolder every time or maybe that’s just me? I did see a few people in the Choir that I knew and yes Chase Lodder was one of them! Pretty cool! I loved President Monsons story about setting the fire.   He is so good at relating things so we understand them and can apply them in our life’s without teaching way deep doctrine. That’s something you get in the trap of doing as a missionary sometimes

is trying to teach deeper than you need to go. We went to a trail today that was pretty fun I will send a few pictures! Love yall so much!

Elder anderson

March 4, 2012

Family this week went good the zone activity was great on Monday it was fun to be able to get to know people in our zone a little bit better and some of their likes and where they are from. We taught the Green family that night it went well we had a member with us that was able to help us out where she is also a convert to the church. They seemed very excited and wanting to learn more. We were able to see Cori on Tuesday and she said she was ready to be baptized so we moved her date up to yesterday she was prepared and very excited. We are trying to work with more less actives they are truly a great source of finding people to teach and to help bring them back is also very exciting! We went on exchanges on Wednesday it took us 4 hours of riding the bus but we were able to get there and back Elder Emmanuel came up here to work he is a great missionary with a big heart and has an amazing story! He built my testimony a lot from what he has gone through. We were able to teach the greens that night the husband wasn’t there and the wife tmeka was not very happy that he wasn’t home to hear the lesson she said it would happen again. Cori also was interviewed on Wednesday for her baptism and passed Elder Jensen gave her the interview. Thursday we were downtown Birmingham tracted a lot of the day using the tool it was good to be able to see how others are also using the finding tool in their area. We had district meeting on Friday and we went over revelation through prayer. It went very well they all seemed to be doing well with it but we talked about how prayers need to be simple but sincere and how we can help people get out of the habit of their written out prayers.  We also were able to have some good lessons on the bus I got to talk with a man from Egypt he was very nice but was moving to New York the next day! Saturday we got everything ready for Sunday for the baptism and were able to spend a little time with some of the members that needed help on Saturday. Sunday was great to see Elder Johnson in white and all excited along with Cori they baptism went great it was done right the first time and she was confirmed by a member she happened to go to high school with so it was a great experience! Things are going well still he is a great missionary that I am learning a lot from.  That is so crazy to see Landon home! He looks great! And so does Parker! Haha he was a great example to me! I just got a call saying I will be getting 2 more sisters in our district and in our ward now also! That is 6 missionarys in one ward!!!! That’s crazy it now puts 16 in my district! That’s a lot haha but things are going great! We are in the finding process again looking for those that need the gospel! Its so great to be able to talk with people about Christ and to share our beliefs with them even if they don’t agree its nice to be able to know that we all rely on Jesus Christ as our Savior to help us though this life. Of course we want them all to convert to the Gospel so they can enjoy all the Blessing we get each and every day but not everyone will. I love this gospel! J haha just as I love yall! And hope you have a great week!!!!

Elder Anderson

February 25, 2013

WOW things are speeding up every day! It does not slow down! A lot has been going on! This last week on Monday I found out that I was staying in Vestavia Hills again.   That makes 5 transfers that I have been here. I am still district leader with 13 missionaries in the district.   I am also training an 18 year old missionary that is a great missionary! He is from Benson,  Utah up by Logan and is a farmer,  so we have talked about the farm quite a bit.   He is a good kid and very humble. So tell me what my chances are of having 2 companions named Elder Johnson in a row.. Well that is his last name too haha.

  Tuesday we had zone conference that was great.   It is always good to be able to receive more training. We are using a finding tool where when we knock on the door and then we ask if we can leave the Saviors peace and blessing upon their home.   It has been working really well.  A lot of people are willing to pray with you. 

Wednesday we had transfers  and that’s when I received my new companion and also had to said goodbye to some of my good friends I have made on the mission! Its always sad to see them go home! But all missions have to come to an end!

 Friday we had district meeting and we discussed up dating the area book and how important it is to do that everyday. Could you imagine if Nephi thought, "I will just keep a few records!" We would miss out on some important items.   So our goal is to keep a good area book that will keep the work moving forward even after we get transferred and also we will be able to remember what we have already taught investigators  so we don’t keep teaching the same things over again.

On  Tuesday night I was able to interview fabiana for baptism.  He is the one I shared the story about us biking back and talking to her.    Her husband was also interviewed. Another interview was Logan and Emily.   That has been a really neat experience.   Logan is a good kid.   He is 14 or 15 and just had a change of heart one day. On Sunday we were able to witness fabiana be baptized in her native language  of portages and ramon be baptized in Spanish.   logan and emilys cousins flew in from Texas and baptized them.   He  was 16 years old.   So neat  to see! 

Heavenly Father loves his children so much! We had a really cool experience this week we were walking it with Elder Johnsons first day and we were on a main road.   We saw this man and his car was moving very slow,  he was going maybe 10 MPH on a 50 MPH road.   As we got closer, we saw he was unconscious so we were freaking out.   He was right by the off ramp of the highway and cars were flying past him.  He was drilling curbs and medians so we decided to call 911 and as we call he started to speed up.   His foot must of pushed on the gas! So we were running after the car while talking to 911 and he drilled a curb got some are and somehow stayed on the road we chased him and it seemed like a mile till he hit a curb and it stopped the car.   I wanted to go pull him out of the car but we saw a cop so we waved him over and he got fire trucks and ambulances there. Well,  we left after giving them the report and went on our way. The next day a cop talked to two other missionaries thinking it was us and told them he was having a diabetic attack and he was a former cop here in Birmingham so we felt good that we followed the spirit by calling and being able to help get help to him quickly.   Pretty exciting first day for my new companion! haha 

This weekend we will have a member of the Quorum of the Twelve; a member of the Presidency of the Seventy; a member of the Presiding Bishopric; and Elder Bluth of the Seventy with us. I'm excited about that.

 So hope yall have a great week! Thank you for all you do!

Love elder anderson

February 11, 2013

Dear Family and friends!

Elder Rice and I was on the bus this week and the bus driver asked us about the genealogy in our church and how it is done in our church.  So we  explain it to him for a bit and before we knew it,  we were shoved to the back of the bus with so many people getting on the bus.   We were hip to hip with people and every time we would go over a bump the bus would bottom out!  We just kept talking with people about the church and the gospel and got a few new potential investigators. We didn’t get to give the bus driver our information because of all the people and  we couldn’t get to him. The next day we got on the bus and it happened to be just him so this time we had a good 25 minute lesson with him on the bus we asked if we could come visit him and his family sometime,  but he said he didn’t like people just showing up and he didn’t like to give his number out so we told him we could meet him at the family history center sometime and gave him the info for it so hopefully something will happen there.  

 We were able to go out with Bishop May this week also and see some investigators and recent converts. It went really well.   He is a very great man! One of the missionary’s had to go home to take care of some medical stuff we were sad to see him leave.. We haven’t heard anything about transfers yet president told us the Lord wasn’t done yet.. so we will find out tonight around 9pm. We are receiving 17 Spanish sisters! Crazy!!!! 

The weather has been pretty crazy.  Lots of rain and hard wind.

 We got a referral this week that said I’m engaged to a member and want to be baptized.. haha it was great! We went and saw her and she came to church on Sunday and loved it.   We will be having a lesson with her tonight! Then I have a baptism interviewstonight and tomorrow to give!  I was very excited and humbled as I read the talk in the new Ensign by President Uchtdorf.  I loved this part and wanted to share. 

Sometimes we take upon ourselves too much credit or too much blame when it comes to others accepting the gospel. It’s important to remember that the Lord doesn’t expect us to do the converting. Conversion comes not through our words but through the heavenly ministrations of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes all it takes is one single phrase of our testimony or about an experience to set in motion the softening of a heart or the opening of a door that can lead others to experience sublime truths through the promptings of the Spirit.

I have been able to witness this. I have told you this story before,  but I would like to share it again. Elder Larsen and I were headed to a investigators home and we biked passed this lady and her little daughter.   We felt the need to turn around and go back and as we did we were able to set up an  appointment to meet with her, but when we went over she wasn’t home,  but her husband was and he said he spoke Spanish.   We looked down the street and  there were two Spanish missionary’s. They have been teaching Fabiana and Ramon for 3 months. He received his answer and they are being baptized next Sunday. I know that Heavenly Father loves his children so much and I’m so thankful for the Holy Ghost and the guidance he gave us that day and every day. Have a great week!

Love elder anderson