Miracles

This last transfer I have been praying constantly for God to help me accomplish all that I can and need to do here in the mission field! We have done a lot and seen so many miracles!

This last week I got the Opportunity to go on Exchanges with Elder Crookston from Springville! We knocked on doors all day and I loved it! Elder Crookston is an awesome missionary I am glad I got to serve around him! We found about 6 people that day!

Wednesday and Thursday we had District councils for most of the day. Thursday night to Friday I was on exchanges with Elder Shelp from California. We had a great time, we stayed real busy. We made an emergency trip to Cedar Rapids because Ciara the one that was supposed to get baptized last Saturday, she told her parents a couple days before and they didn’t like that at all. Her mom told her to choose the Church or her family. So we went up there right before she left for home to talk to her parents about it. We strived to uplift her. She had been reading the Book of Mormon and praying and crying all night. Satan is working hard on her because he sees the great things she will do for the church! She is the one that referred herself to missionaries after being on a missionaries email list for 2 years. That missionary came home when I was serving where he lived in Indianola. He contacted me and thanked me for helping out with her and he said he had been praying for her for 2 years! Things aren't going to well with her parents so please keep her in your prayers!

We were able to teach the Rodriguez's again and Israel got the Priesthood on Sunday! I love that family and am excited for Audrey to get baptized and Israel to give blessings to all of his kids!

Saturday we did some service with the stake and helped restore a really cool old barn. Then we went to round up people for church and we stopped by my homie Paul, at first he tried telling us he wasn't interested and all that but I wasn't about to hear that so I was really bold with him bore my testimony and by the end he said I’ll be there tomorrow. So on Sunday I was waiting for him and there was about 5 minutes before it started, I called him one last time and got nothing. Then looked out the door one last time and there he was, I about jumped for joy. I was so excited to see him! We had regional Conference so I don’t think it was the best day for him to come but I was glad he was there. Because after he tried telling us he didn’t want to progress. Because I set a baptismal date with him for Dec 29th, but I got him to say he would continue reading the Book of Mormon and praying. He told us to call him in 2 days!

I am so excited to work my hardest this last week! I am going to give it my all! I love being a missionary so much and am so very very grateful for this wonderful experience! There is nothing greater I could have done for my life! I have grown and learned so much! God truly molded my mission perfectly for me. I am so grateful for all that have supported me and uplifted me! 

I love you all and will see you on the other side!

Elder Anderson

One Last Week

This last week we had 2 exchanges, one in Cedar Rapids and one in Des Moines. So we were out of our area a lot.

In Des Moines I went on exchanges with Elder Schoenfeld. He and I came out together so it was a lot of fun to spend the day with him and do some good work.

We had a great lesson with Jim, he is awesome. He is still reading the Book of Mormon. We had a lesson with our ward mission leader there. It was really great but he still is skeptical of the whole thing, even God. I invited him to get on his knees right before bed and pray out loud and ask for a sign. I hope to hear that he had a good experience. He is out of town this week, so I will be able to teach him one last time.

The Rodriguez’s are doing great we had some good dinner with them. They cooked some great burgers, I had 4 they were so good. They were all at Stake Conference Also!

Love you all,

Elder Anderson

Giant Tenderloins

God’s Time

What up family and friends! I love this work. We kept busy this week with lots of awesome lessons!

We taught Jim Bradley twice, the first time we had Bishop out with us and we had an awesome lesson with him! We planned to teach the plan of happiness but decided to read the introduction of the Book of Mormon. It was awesome! Jim read the first 11 chapters on his own before we showed up and both the restoration and plan of salvation pamphlets! This guy is awesome! But he is struggling with his skepticism of God. Jim is in his 70s and lives alone in a nice house. He is hoping to move to Philadelphia soon to be close to his 2 daughters. He grew up Methodist but has always been skeptical of the fact of life after death. He is going through chemotherapy so he is always tired. He is retired so he has a lot of time to sleep and read things we give him! He really absorbs everything we teach which is awesome! He was going to come to church but felt it would be sacrilegious because of his skepticism.

We taught the Rodrigues family and they are awesome! Israel is awesome and came to church but Audrey did not! We're teaching them every week now and their fellow shippers. We had lots of people tell us they were going to come to church but didn't show. :)

We are working hard and trying to see people at church. But we are learning that God's time isn't our time. The blessings aren't always baptisms.

I love you all and am excited to see you!

Elder Anderson

Oh also this week was the last home game for the Hawkeye! So we got signs and and set up at booth down by the stadium and gave out free hot chocolate! It was awesome! Tons of drunk people but we had fun and gave out lots of cards!

Elder Crookston from Springville, preaching at the game

? =)

Fyi

Last P day we got a call from President Badger and he told us a missionary in the Waterloo zone is going home early and that we needed to take him to the airport! So we picked him up and drove all the way to the Des Moines airport. But first we stopped at Chick-fil-a and there was a member that was leaving right as we walked in and she payed for all of us! Then there was another member there that day by us and she asked us all to tell our conversion stories. Then the elder that was going home asked her to tell hers and she did. It was really really cool and she has been going through a hard time since her husband fell off a ladder and has brain damage and is not the same person anymore and he left the church. She has 5 boys and was traveling home after watching conference with a friend. Afterwards she told us she loves missionaries so much and she said "keep going, keep going!" That was straight from God for the elder that was going home. Then he asked for her name and she said it and her last name was Duty and she said, like do your duty! So it was all perfect for the elder that was going home, we hoped he would change his mind but he did not.

We also had a miracle with a solid member referral and we brought the perfect member for him. We had an amazing lesson but then he called the next morning saying he wasn't interested. Big bummer because he was awesome and really needs this Gospel.

Also met with our part member family that is awesome! The rodriguez's and the mom set her own baptismal date for December 1st! She is awesome and their kids are awesome! She had a baby about a month ago and so did their fellowshippers so it's awesome. We are gonna have another lesson with them and the Parkinson's their fellowshippers. BRO Parkinson blessed his baby yesterday and Bro Rodriguez was there to watch, he is excited to bless his kids too!

Other than that we had 2 great exchanges and 3 great district meetings!

Love you all,

Elder Anderson

#NoBadDayz

Yooooo. This week we had MLC and Interviews! MLC was on Tuesday and Interviews on Wednesday. So both those days were shot! They were both my lasts so that is bitter sweet. I enjoyed them.

Thursday we had a "Good day", idk if I already talked about our zone expectations or not. But the theme is #nobaddayz. So we named the days where the whole Zone knocks all day long "Good days". It was a lot of fun! We were on exchanges and I was with Elder Rutledge. We had a lot of fun! I love knocking all DAY! Especially after having 2 full days of meetings! It felt great to get out.

Friday we did some service helping a less active move a fridge. We weekly planned. Then did some more knocking. I loved being able to invite everyone to come and listen to a prophet's voice! Sadly no one came. But that's ok! Last night we went by a former because it was pouring rain like it has been all week! All the rivers are overflowing big time! So we visited this former and when we got there, his door was open and he was about to leave. We started talking to him and he talked about how he went to church a few times but it wasn't for him and he offered to give us the Book if Mormon back but we didn't take it. He didn't like the church because the bishop wasn't paid and no one got paid to clean the church building. Never heard that one before. But he did a full 180 and said he will start coming to church and work on being baptized! Super awesome! The big game changer was when he told us he struggles reading big books and that he only reads comic books due to a brain injury he had. So we told him about the Book of Mormon stories book that is like a comic book! He was excited to start reading it!

Last night we also got in contact with a referral from a member. He finally got back to us and wants to meet this week! He sounds super solid so I am super excited! We have a great week ahead with 2 exchanges and all 3 district meetings! Everyday we are praying for miracles and we are starting to see them. Everyday I am praying to finish strong! I love this work! I love the Book of Mormon and how happy it makes me!

I loved general conference and am so excited for the changes and 2 hour church! I think that will be SO great to have better family studies!

I love you all!
Elder Anderson

Out knocking doors on exchanges

Transfers

This past week was Transfers and my companion and I stayed! We also welcomed 3 new areas to our Zone so 6 new companionships! We are now sharing a Ward with the STL's Sister Harmon and Sister Plum. I served around Sister Harmon for my 3 months in Cedar Rapids so it’s cool to serve around her again! Since we got so many new companionships we now have another District we cover. So that’s 3 total. Which makes us even more busy! I am excited for this Transfer and to be able to work harder than I ever have! I know we will see miracles! Actually we already are!

Yesterday the Recent Convert family in the Ward brought one of their daughters to church! She is 20 and from Chicago and just moved back in with her family! She came to all of church and loved it! We had an awesome lesson with her and her family last night with our Ward Mission Leader! But she said she would like to meet some girls her age in the church. So we told her about the Sisters that just got here and they are going to teach her now! LOL sad day but God has a lot of other people He is placing in our path! Like yesterday we literally only had time to knock one door! But that one door was a great lady! She said she had heard some not good things about our church and the Book of Mormon, but we kept teaching and she accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon and a pamphlet and I said the closing prayer and after that she was tearing up. We asked if there was anything we could help her out with before we leave and she said, "oh, no you have done enough, thank you so much!"

We also finally moved back into our apartment! But before we did, we did a deep cleaning because that place was nasty! So we scrubbed and vacuumed everything and had the YSA Elders help us! Then we spent $100 on new appliances and things to make the place nicer. Good thing the mission is reimbursing us for that! So now our place is great! Glad to be back!

This week is a SUPER busy one with MLC, Interviews, Exchanges in Des Moines, and General Conference! I am SOOO excited for General Conference! So many rumors of changes I can’t wait! I am also striving to prepare my self spiritually. On lds.org they have a list of 5 things to help you get the most from General Conference. I am striving to do those! I invite you all to do the same and to tune in to General Conference because it is going to be epic!

I love you all!
Choose the right!
Elder Anderson

Crazy Storm we got caught in while knocking! We didn’t care so we kept knocking and we got completely soaked! It was awesome! The Thunder storms in Iowa are probably my favorite things about it! They are legit!

Jesus Christ

One thing that comes to mind as I think about this past week is the Savior and how I love testifying that He is the center of our message! He is the head of the church! This is the Church of Jesus Christ! We came across a guy this week while knocking and he didn't want to talk because he believed in Jesus Christ. We testified of Christ as quick as we could before he slammed the door.

We also had Mission Leadership Council this week. Everyone that didn't give training's at Zone Conference had to train there. So we didn't have to, but I loved all the training's that were given. They were all out of Preach My Gospel! I learned a lot, and the power went out during it because of a big rainstorm.

Wednesday we had District Leader Council where we get to meet with the District leader and discuss things. Then we had District Council up in Cedar Rapids. Afterwards I got to go interview someone they are teaching! She got baptized last Saturday! I love being able to do Baptism Interviews! It is so cool to see what they have learned so far, to hear their story, and get them pumped up for their baptism day! After that we had to go help move some furniture into a new apartment they are opening this next transfer.

Tuesday night we had dinner with our Ward Mission Leader and he invited his neighbor over and we had a great time! We had an awesome lesson with his neighbor and gave her a Book of Mormon! We excited to see her at church this Sunday.

Transfers are this week! I should be staying with my companion! We are really excited for this next transfer, we have a lot of fun things planned for the zone! This is my last transfer so I am hoping to make it the best!

Love,

Elder Anderson

pics are of both Districts in the Zone!

BUSY

Another non stop week. I'll try to keep this brief.

Tuesday we went to a members for dinner and he told us beforehand to prepare some deep doctrine questions. So we did and we had a deep doctrine conversation the whole night. He studied at BYU with Brad Wilcox and a lot of other BYU professors. So he is VERY smart. After that we had planned to play elders quorum ball at the church but no one showed. So we went back out and only had 10 minutes before nine, so we went walking around and had a small miracle of finding someone new to teach!

Wednesday we did some knocking and going by people, with a little bit of success. Also had a power hour where we went out with a couple members to do some work. This time it was service so we helped a lady move her piano.

Thursday we did a lot of running around. We prepared and got things for our zone conference training. Had lunch with Bro Simpson. We tried to get some of his friends to come but got no one. Then we went out with another member but our lesson fell through. So we cruised up to Cedar Rapids for stake council and that was great! Got to see some old members and the council was on their stake conference that is coming up. They have A TON of great ideas to get people of other faiths out to stake conference and it's all missionary minded. With a stake mission plan that is being pushed. So each family has it in their home and the missionaries are keeping them accountable. Great meeting.

Friday we had Zone Conference in Nauvoo! We gave a training on the Word of Wisdom, not just a health code. They also said, the higher law of the word of wisdom. We were trying hard to think of something to come up with. And recently I had bought a baby bottle to use as a water bottle because I saw a thug using one so I knew it was the new thing! So then everyone in our zone bought one! Lol so we decided to tie it into the training! So basically we had an analogy of the Doctrine and Covenant scripture of milk before meat in the Gospel and we compared it to the baby bottle because you don't get much out of the baby bottle until you put a bigger hole in it. So we titled the training. Get SIP'N. It's an acronym:

Sanctification
Inspiration
Protection
=
Nowledge with an N.

So we talked about teaching these things and helping them understand them and building up the people we teach from the beginning and preparing them for the word of wisdom. So as they do those things the spirit will be with them more which will help them get more out of the bottle. Or more of the spirit and gospel. I hope that makes sense, this is rushed. But it went really really well! I loved it! We all showed up to zone conference with our baby bottle and we had made stickers and put them on it. We also gave everyone there a few stickers so they could put them places and never forget! The crowd seemed to love it.

Saturday was game day so that's always crazy. Luckily we were able to weekly plan during the game and we got to go to a part member families BBQ that was fun.

Sunday we struck out again with no one being at church. Super sad. Lots of people told us right before that they would be there.

All is well out here! Love and miss you,

Elder Anderson

Pics
Zone fun at the temple.

Zone fun at the Nauvoo Temple

Herky

Quick update,

Tuesday was exchanges with the 4th ward Elders. I went with Elder Crookston and we had a good time knocking and got to go to the YSAs baptism for Didi she is really cool, I got to interview her for baptism. She is from China and is going to school here. She went to Nauvoo for the face to face event and we saw her on there a few times!

Wednesday we had interviews with the Badgers! They are Great! That took about the whole day. We had them in Iowa City, then us and the Badgers went to Cedar Rapids so they could interview that district also. Then we finished the night with T Roadhouse!

Thursday was Elder Householder’s Birthday and we went to B Dubs for lunch as a district. Then we found a ton of the Herkies in town and got pictures! Also had a power hour! That's where we have one member sign up to go out with us for 1 hour! We went with Bro Strathearn, he is from Australia! We had a great visit with someone he ministers to.

Friday we went to my old area in Cedar Rapids!!! Super cool visiting some great people! I got to visit with Cameron and Rosie! Then Mike and Reggie too! It was awesome seeing them again! Saturday morning we got to ball at the stake center there! We used to go play there when I served there and there are some great ballers and we had a blast! Super good ball! The rest of the week was great except we had a ton of people tell us they would be at church but none showed! Oh and we had a lesson with Hugh Lewis and he talked about how the church is the wealthiest church on earth but it doesn't do enough with poverty in the world. We corrected him on that and showed him all that we do. He said he is no longer a candidate for baptism and declined another visit. He is fasting and praying tho.

Love you all!
Elder Anderson

Cameron & Rosie

University of Iowa mascot Herky the Hawk

Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite

Hello everyone this week was another good one. So ever since I got here I have been getting eaten by bed bugs, so we moved into the YSA Elder apartment and we have been living there all week. It has been a lot of fun.

On Tuesday I got to go to the departing temple trip to Nauvoo. It was a lot of fun ,we all rode down in the transfer van. We had to go early because the temple closes soon and it will be closed for 3 months. So there was a lot of missionaries with us for the next few transfers that are going home. We got to go to Carthage also and take a tour and then we did some shopping around Nauvoo. On our way home we got stuck in a bad storm and there was a few tornadoes. It was raining crazy hard. So we turned around and stayed the night in Burlington, all 7 of us. The elders there had a projector setup on the wall and we had a movie night and watched the 12-step videos that are on lds.org it was a lot of fun.

Wednesday and Thursday we had district meetings in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. We taught Huey Lewis with a member and things are going okay with him. He can't get baptized until he stops going to his other churches and stops wearing his white robes. He has been fasting and praying a lot to be able to receive an answer on whether or not to do so. We have been very bold with him we are hoping he finds an answer. On Wednesday we went and helped my brother Eric Stannard, our investigator, paint his house. We were with the Trailridge Elders on exchanges, it was awesome and he gave us all his tobacco. Pray for him that he can give up his addictions and be able to come to church soon. We had a good lesson with him and our Bishop at Village Inn on Saturday. Things are going good, we are crazy busy, and we are just hoping to find more time to go find new people. This week we should have more time.

The life is great, I love being a missionary. I'm trying to finish off as hard as I can. I know that this sounds weird, it's because I'm talking into my phone. Oh they also had Gameday and there was a ton of Tailgaters all around the stadium and tons of people everywhere all over town. We tried talking to a lot of them but religion was the last thing on their mind. But it was a lot of fun.

Love you,
Elder Anderson

Departing Temple Trip

Nauvoo Temple

Carthage

With Eric Stannard

Hawkeyes

This week was non stop! We were going the entire week!

Tuesday was MLC and that took all day! Wednesday we had the Iowa City District council and that takes half the day so we had some lessons after that and dinner with a great family! We get fed almost every night here! Thursday we had Cedar Rapids District Council and some lessons, dinner, and managed to get some knocking in too. Friday we were on exchanges with the YSA Elders and I was on exchanges with Elder Buchanon and he has been out for just a week or so. So we had some fun, worked hard, and did a lot of street contacting downtown talking to lots of college students! It was super fun!

Saturday was packed, we taught Bro Lewis for the second time this week, then ran out to North English to help a new family in the ward move in. Then We got home, changed, and ran to our lesson with Bro Stannard.Then we brought Bro Stoddard our WML with us. It went great! Then right after that we ran to our dinner! Then ran to the library to do Stake Coordination! Then Sunday we had Missionary Coordination Meeting at 9, then we ran to go by some people to get them to church cause church starts at 11:30 here. Then right after church we had Stake Coordination, then after that we had dinner.

Things aren't slowing down out here and I love it! We have so much to do with so little time! I love being busy on the Lord’s errand!

Love you all!

Elder Anderson

Pics

Brother Hugh Lewis and I! We are teaching him and hoping to baptize him on Sept 29th!

I got to visit my man Camron from Cedar Rapids! We went to Red Robin where he works and he hooked us up with whatever we wanted and as much as we wanted for free!!

After MLC dinner

Hawkeyes!

IOWA CITY

Hello Fam!

They sent me to Iowa City! That was inspiration because school is just starting and all the college girls are here and I go home in less than 3 months! Don't worry tho I am not getting distracted! That just means I will be talking to a lot of women about the Gospel! The sad part is that if we find an awesome college student and we start teaching them, we have to refer them over to the YSA (Young Single Adult) Elders! I am with Elder Housholder! He was the District leader in my last Zone for 2 transfers, and now were companions! So we are whitewashing in! We are both brand new to the area because the last 2 Elders that were here both finished there missions and are home! So we have a lot of work to do!

So last Thursday was transfers. We got to Des Moines around 7:30 and they had me drive the Transfer Van with all the Brand New Missionaries! So we took the 2 hour drive to Iowa City! It was fun talking to all the New Missionaries! We have a lot of the New Missionaries here in our Zone! Elder Housholder and I got right to work, we started to try and figure out all that is happening in the area. We are teaching one man named Hugh Lewis. He is a stud, he is 60 yrs old and wears either a gold or white cape to church! SWAG! So far he is solid, but he is still attending a few other churches so we have to get him off those.

We then called our Bishop and Ward Mission leader. Neither one answered. So we just went knocking for a few hours and actually found some awesome people. One named Henry from the Dominican Republic. We have taught him twice now and we’re hoping to get him to Elders Quorum ball on Tuesday night! After that we decided to just go by the Bishop, he was home and we got to chat with him for a little bit. He is a great guy, he filled us in a little on what all is happening and he gave us some people to go by. Our Ward mission leader was out of town Thursday so we met with him Friday! He is awesome! I've never had such an awesome ward mission leader. He is super smart and organized. He is setting up appointments for us and getting members out with us! It's so awesome, I know that because of him we will see a ton of success here! The Ward Mission Leader is the second most important calling in the Ward!

We got to go to both District meetings and meet the Districts. We have some great missionaries! Every companionship besides us and the Sister Training Leaders have a new missionary! I'm loving being here so far, I know we are going to have a blast! I've never been in such a big ward on my mission, at least 200 people at sacrament meeting on average. There are 4 wards here in Iowa City. We also cover Cedar Rapids! My old area! So I am super excited to go there on exchanges, that was definitely one of my favorite areas!

Love you!

Elder Anderson

Elder Housholder and I

Tom Parsons from my old area. And my old comp Elder Obray! He just went home!

Great Day to be Alive!

Hello Family and friends! Another week on the Lord’s errand!

So this week we had all the return appointments from the week before with all the new people we found. It started on Tuesday and I was on Exchanges with Elder Clark in our area! We had some great lessons that day and found a cool dude named Hasan from Bosnia with a sweet accent!

Wednesday we had fun with the Raccoon River District meeting and more good lessons, and a dinner with an awesome family in the branch! Thursday we had District Council in Osceola for the Lenox District. Afterwards my companion and I, The Lenox Elders, the Osceola Sisters, and the Sister training leaders all hit Osceolas area hard! I went with Elder Hebbert who is serving in Lenox right now. We had a great time and found a man that is SUPER legit and prepared. He came out and said "I’m not a mormon, and I’m not going to be one!" I told him that our message isn't only to invite him to our church, but to strengthen people's Faith on our Savior Jesus Christ. He then said do you guys want a drink? Come on in! So we went in and he sat us down at the kitchen table he had 3 great kids. Then he heated up a Chicken pot pie and Apple pie with ice cream for us! What a guy! We had a great conversation and he didn't have much of a view about who Mormons really were. We gave him a Book of Mormon and he said he will definitely read it. I was sad he isn't in our area! He is super cool! Hopefully the sisters can keep teaching him!

Friday we were in Lenox, I was still with Elder Hebbert. I got to see my man DJ Steele and his wife Tandy! I sure miss them! They went to church for the first time a few weeks ago and they really liked it! DJ was supposed to have me some ribs for dinner when I got there but he ended up having to work late. So he cooked ribs all night and gave them to us in the morning and they were Awesome! I visited a few more people and got lots of lessons set up for them. Then, Elder Hebbert and I went knocking again and we just kept getting let in and people feeding us and giving us drinks and inviting us over for steak. So it was awesome, I wish everyday was like that! Saturday we got to play a little Ultimate Frisbee with a group of guys from another church. We have been meeting with a guy from their church. Sunday was tough again because everyone we’re teaching falls off right when we try to get them to church.

The work is awesome even tho it is tough. But I am so grateful for all the experiences we have. SO many of them will help us for the rest of our lives. God has put me on the perfect mission. He has thrown things at me that needed to be thrown at me. Every hard thing on my mission has been a blessing because I see what I needed to learn. I am Grateful for it!

Transfers are this week!

Love you all! 

                     Elder Anderson

After a spanish lesson with a spanish member in Osceola

Road kill