Goals

Sorry I didn't send anything last week. We had no time to email. We went down to Mt Pisgah for P day and took a tour! It is a really cool and beautiful area! Learned some of the church history for that area. So for last week we had a lot of exchanges and lots of knocking and lessons.

This week we had Zone Conference in Des Moines. A lot of friends from the mission are going home this transfer so they gave there departing testimony. It was so weird, I have served around all of them for pretty much my whole mission so it feels like I should be going home with them. Most of my mission friends are leaving me! haha It will be weird to not have them out here.

Other than that we didn't have any exchanges this week so we were able to work our area hard! We set a big goal to get 20 New people to teach this week. I've never gotten that many. But we let it motivate us all week and we knocked doors pretty much all week long! And Yesterday evening we had about 2 hours left in the week to find 5 more. We were praying hard and we ended up knocking on the door of a family of 3 and we started talking to them and their cat got ran over the night before so they were mourning over that. But they all became new people to teach and they are so awesome! My companion said we would only hit 19, but I said no! We then found 2 other people so we hit 20 exactly! Now this next week we are hoping to work with all the people we have and get them all to church! I'm super excited for this week! We have so many lessons scheduled!

I also got to interview someone for Baptism. It was so cool, he is from Liberia and graduated highschool here a couple of years ago. He is a stud and should be a missionary! He is getting baptized this weekend! We also played more tennis and watched all the hot air balloons! There was A TON! It’s like a national balloon festival they hold here every year!

Love you!
Elder Anderson

The Zone!

Elder Fox, Elder Barrett, Elder Lovin and I. They all go home next week!

Morning view! Balloons and cheerios!

Mt Pisgah!

Diamond

Monday: We balled.
Tuesday: We triple blitzed the Perry Elders area. So three companionship were working the area all day. Elder Cionco and I knocked all day and found 5 New people to be taught! All together we found 10!

Wednesday we went to the Raccoon River District meeting. Then I left my wallet on top of the car when we left for lunch. When we got to lunch and I realized I didn't have it. Then we get a call from the mission office asking me if I lost my wallet. I was like wow, what the, how do they know? Because I new I had it at the meeting. But someone found it on the road, and it was fine and they called and we went and picked it up! Blessings!

Then we taught Randee the Plan of Salvation and the Word of Wisdom. When we told her about the word of wisdom she freaked out a little bit. And we haven't seen her since and she didn't make church. We think she is mad because everyone around her does all of those things so she can’t see herself quitting. Also taught Mike the Gospel Of Jesus Christ and that went good. But he didn't make church either.

Thursday: We had exchanges with Raccoon River in our area. Elder Cline and I knocked all day. Then played ball in the evening and Nate, a priest from the Branch brought a member of another faith. He is Pentecostal. We balled on them 2 v 2 and on the last game we challenged them so that if we win Seth the Pentecostal would have to come to our church! We won! So he came to church. He sat by Nate and enjoyed it. Afterwards we had a great lesson with him and Nate on the Restoration. Nate was helping teach and he described the Book of Mormon as a James Bond Novel! HAHAHA Seth took that the wrong way! He started saying, "So there is a bunch of girls and Tuxedos?" LOL that was funny! He says he is a pretty strong Pentecostal but he is only like 18 so we can change that! Oh and Thursday morning we played tennis again!!! And I won this time!!

Friday we finished exchanges and then went to NAUVOO! It was a nice 3 hour drive! We watched the British Pageant! Then stayed the night right next to the Temple with a senior couple! It was amazing! literally like 50 yards from the temple. In the morning we did an endowment session and that was great!

Also earlier in the week while knocking we had this SUPER ANGRY guy come out and he was SO MAD. Never had someone so mad at us. He came out and was SCREAMING in my face telling me to leave and not test him. I wasn't having it and wasn't gonna leave the apartment building unless he told me why. He was a big guy but I was a lot taller. My comp was leaving, then the guy was going back inside, but I was laughing and that ticked him off even more and he came back in my face. My comp thought I was gonna get knocked out. I wasn't scared, I knew he wouldn't touch me. If he did the cops would be on him, AND ME! LOL But my comp left so I did too.

Anyways great week!  Love you all!

Elder Anderson

Prairie Diamonds from Nauvoo

Nauvoo!

MEETINGS

This week was packed! Monday night we stayed in Des Moines and hopped in the Transfer van early in the morning and headed to Iowa City for Missionary Leadership Council. It was a great meeting. Since our mission just added the Peoria Illinois Stake we talked a lot about that and how we can apply the things they did in their mission. Lots of things learned and new approaches to different kinds of finding. In their mission they didn't do much knocking at all! Which is crazy! So some of them are trying to adjust. Because we go knocking everyday here!

Wednesday we had the Lenox Elders over for exchanges! Elder Housholder and I went knocking all day and found 6 people to be taught! Also since there is an updated version of Preach my Gospel we don’t use the word Investigator anymore, or non member. We now use Person being taught and People of other faiths. Weird switch up but it is good! Thursday we had Interviews here in Indianola. So the whole zone came to our building and President and Sister Badger came and interviewed us all. That took until about 4, and at 4 we were meeting with our Person being taught there at the church with Cole Bickham the RM from our Branch. We met with Randy the one that showed up to church last week! We taught the Restoration and it was great!

Friday we had the Mini MTC in Waukee for all the Priests and Laurels in the Mt Pisgah Stake. So we coordinated to have 6 missionaries there throughout the day. We went for the morning session and it was great! We got to give a training on How to connect with people on door/street approaches! It was a lot of fun! Saturday we got to play TENNIS!! We played with Bro Taylor here in the branch! He grew up in Omaha and went to school at BYU and now lives here with his wife and 2 kids. He played tennis in high school so once I heard that I had to play him! So we went out Saturday morning and played, it was SO much fun. I haven't played for ever! And it was the first time in this humidity! So I was completely drenched! He won the first set, I won the second, then he beat me 7 to 5 in the 3rd. BUT we are playing again this week so hopefully I won’t be rusty this time haha.

Sunday we were so excited to have a bunch of our investigators come to church. We were hoping to see at least 4 there. But one by one Sunday morning we kept striking out. Lots of excuses. Hopefully they were real and we will see them next week!

I love the work! I love being busy on the Lord's errand! I love all the memories we are making and testimonies we are growing! The Church is true, keep the commandments they will help you!

Luv you,

Elder Anderson

Bad Blurry Pic

The Mini MTC

On that knocking grind

Transfers

This week flew with transfers. Monday we were on exchanges with the Raccoon River Elders and Elder Smith and I had a great time. But their area is so rich it was hard to find anyone. Luckily we found a trailer park about 30 minutes before we had to head in and we quickly found 4 new investigators!

Tuesday we got the news that Elder Lovin was heading to Ft Dodge and I was staying and receiving Elder Mathews! He is from Highland Utah, been out for 14 months. He is a fun man! He loves ultimate Frisbee so that's cool!

Wednesday was the 4th of July and P day! So that was awesome, we got to all meet in Waukee at the church building and we arranged for everyone to bring food for breakfast. So we had crepes and tons of good toppings! Then we balled. Then we all went to a members for lunch and sand volleyball, and root beer floats. It was super hot that day but I loved it, soaked in a lot of sun and got tan! Thursday I picked up Elder Mathews and we got to work and I don’t think we have stopped yet, so that is great! We have been really busy!

Yesterday we had Stake Coordination where we met with the Stake President and President Badger and discussed the work! It was awesome! We have seen some miracles this week and found a lot of new people! We had a miracle happen this week. We have a man that is a very less active member of the RLDS church that lives below us. We have visited him a couple times and he is kind of old and grumpy. But we ran into him as we were heading in Saturday night and we talked to him and said goodbye. Then he felt prompted to go knock on our door and tell us about his daughter and how she has been having some hard times and he would like us to talk to her. So we told him we would stop by Sunday morning before church. 

We ended up not being able to because we had Branch Coordination and Branch Council and we had to ride with a member to pick up a less active we found that hasn't been to church in 25 years. BUT we were sitting in church and a member walked in with someone I had never seen before so I got excited and thought a member brought her friend and I was excited to talk to her after. Well it wasn't her friend, it ended up being our neighbors daughter!! She walked over to church and the member saw her and brought her in with her and sat by her!! What a miracle! I love seeing the Lord help us in the work! We talked to her afterwards and she was so excited to get into the church and we set a baptism date with her for august 12th!

Love you all! Love one another,

Elder Anderson

Zone Breakfast

 

Corn Pics

I’ve Got Sunshine!

Lots of fun this week! We had 3 exchanges so it flew by! Last Tuesday we were in Waukee with the Walnut Hills Elders. They have been struggling this transfer on finding anyone to teach. We had a great time and I went with Elder Jensen and we found 3 New Investigators. We were playing basketball that night with their Elders Quorum so we were out recruiting people to come. lol We asked all the new investigators, only one of them played ball. But he was 18 and owned part of the local Mexican restaurant so he was too busy.

Wednesday we ended exchanges and went to the church for some morning ball with the Raccoon River district, then we went to their District meeting. Then back to our area and met up with the Lenox Elders and worked our area for the day. I went with Elder Fuller from Alpine Utah. Him and I both started our missions in Hannibal Missouri and we both served in Mason City. So we got to talk about those areas. We did a little bit of Knocking but we were short on time. When we were knocking everyone we talked to, talked to us for like 30 minutes. So we only talked to 3 people. One was a crazy basher lady that got me going! She kept saying we were a cult and that we don't need the Book of Mormon. Then when I would try to explain things, she wouldn't let me talk for 3 seconds. Anyways that’s just an everyday thing for us, but she was making my blood boil. lol But all I had for her was love.

Thursday we went to Osceola for District meeting and afterwards we went down to Centerville to go on exchanges with those Elders. We had a good time, each companionship found 2 New Investigators. We all went to dinner with a young couple from Utah and he played Rugby for BYU. So I asked if he knew my PE coach from back in Jr High and he did. Small world.

Friday we took the long drive back to Indianola to find that it got wrecked by a huge storm. Giant trees were down everywhere. We had to go check on a members home because he was in Idaho, we drove across town and it was crazy how wrecked every yard was. Trees wrecking houses and cars! So Saturday we helped clean up a yard for a less active Part member family. Then while we were out knocking we were offering help to everyone but everyone’s automatic response is no, so no one let us help!

Sunday we had Michael Thompson come to church! He was there early and stayed all 3 hours! We had a lesson with him for 2nd hour and had a missionary that just got back home from Ukraine last week join in with us! It was an awesome lesson and turns out Mike and the returned missionary went to high school together! Super excited for him! He loves hack sack and disc golf. And he is coming to church next week too! He also walked all the way to church!

I love you,
Elder Anderson

Classic Iowa Corn Pics

Iowa Smokers

Elder Roskelley and I.  My mission Daddy. He trained me.  He goes home this Thursday!

Indianola after severe storm

Corn

The corn is growing SO fast out here with all the rain we are getting! People say that if you go out to a corn field at night when it is really quiet you can literally hear the corn grow! I need to try it sometime. I'm sure it’s true because it is already so tall.

So Pday ball in Des Moines is always good so I love balling there every Monday! But today we are down in Osceola for the Lenox District P day to be able to get to the District more and have fun with them because they don’t really get fun p days.

Last Tuesday we had Zone Conference in Des Moines and I got to give my first training at a Zone Conference! Elder Lovin and I trained on the Book of Mormon power to convert! It was good we kept it pretty funny but there was also a strong spirit there. We talked about striving to just open the Book of Mormon with people we come in contact with and reading simple powerful verses with them to unleash the powers of the Book of Mormon! I encourage you all to do so daily! I know that as we do that we will watch others be converted but as we see the power of the Book of Mormon convert others it converts us! I learned a lot from giving that training! Afterwards we got the Zone together and all went to T roadhouse!

I'm short on time today but we had a good week! We were able to be in our area all week besides Tuesday! So we were able to get a lot of New Investigators and also drop some that weren't prepared. We have been being creative still so when we are out knocking all day I bring my hacky sack and we hacky sack all the time while out knocking! We actually got a New Investigator who is really cool and loves hacky sack and loves Disc Golf! What are the chances? He is planning on coming to church this week and we are planning on teaching him on Wednesday and playing hacky sack! We are seeing so many Miracles and I am loving the mission! We have a cram packed week this week with 3 exchanges and 2 District meetings so it is gonna fly by but I am excited!

I love you!
Elder Anderson

PS: it won’t let me send pictures so I will send them next week!

It’s Cold

It was freezing this week. It was so cold water was dripping from our faces! We did a ton of knocking this week! We found 11 New Investigators, so our teaching pool is increasing fast! Now we just need to get the second lessons! Then hopefully start seeing people at church.

Tuesday was a little slow because Elder Lovin got a cold a week or 2 ago and then he gave it to me. lol So for a little bit we were both sick. He is over it now, but I am still trying to get over it. Hopefully soon. Wednesday and Thursday we went to District meetings in the Zone, they went well. Also had a few lessons and dinners with some less actives. Friday we were on exchanges with the Raccoon River Elders. Elder Cline is the District leader and something he set up to do was to set aside a day to knock doors all day as a District! We were on exchanges for it, so we hit it hard all day and found a lot of people. It was a ton of fun. Just out dripping in sweat and getting a nice farmers tan!

That's about it for this week! I did give a talk in Sacrament meeting Yesterday, it was on Humility. About having a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and how so many people leave the church because of Pride! We need to submit ourselves to God’s will, not ours. Satan uses our desires to trick us into thinking they are Gods.

Love you all!
Elder Anderson

A good pic of Iowa Y'all

Elder Lovin and I

Elder Lovin looking cool

Rain Rain Go Away

This week was hot and rainy! Which makes for some super humid days! Constantly sweating right as we walk outside we are already moist. We got fed every night this week, so that was good! We are inviting all the members to pray about specific people they can share the Gospel with, it is going great so far!

We have been working with Jason and Jessica. Jason is actually from West Valley Utah and was baptized there. He was involved in a lot of gangs there too. So he has picked up some bad habits. He is living with his Girlfriend and they have 3 kids. They seem so solid for everything and are down for everything. But they aren't taking it as seriously as they should. We thought for sure they would be at church but they didn't show and didn't answer the phone. That’s about the only investigators we have. Lots of other people that aren't progressing yet. We are sifting through and doing a lot of finding! We found 7 New Investigators this week so we hope to work with them.

We also went on exchanges in Lenox!! That was SOOO cool going to an old area and visiting all of my old Investigators, however we couldn’t find DJ Steele! I was really looking forward to seeing him! He is apparently doing really well and has made a lot of progress since I left! He also got himself a 2018 ford raptor! AND Brother Escobar from Mason City took us to dinner! That was awesome seeing him, since he works in Lenox all week he was able to take us out!

It was a good week and I’m loving life! I know my Savior lives and that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is always there, and can cleanse us! I love being able to tell people that, and help them overcome their struggles and addictions. I love helping people truly show their love for God by the decisions they make. We talk to people all the time that think they don't have to do anything. That they are already saved by grace! I know that as we show our love for God in all that we do, go to church, read, and pray all out of love for our Heavenly Father He will bless our lives forever! We don't have the right to disobey, he has done so much for us!

I love you all!
Elder Anderson

at a local hoop

Indianola Iowa

Hey Fam! Sorry about last week!

So I got transferred to Indianola to be with Elder Lovin! We are Zone Leaders over my old zone of when I served in Lenox! So I have been on exchanges here a few times already. Small middle class town. Elder Lovin is from Riverton, UT and has been on his mission for 22 months. I just hit 19 so we are both getting old in the mission. This Zone is the toughest zone in the mission so we are striving to find ways to motivate the zone members and to help them see more success. We are trying to get the zone to be super creative in the ways of the find. Like making ourselves popular where we are serving. MAKE YOUR BADGE KNOWN. We trained a little bit on it in both District meetings. We’re also doing a Miracle wall. SO every time someone in the zone does something creative or sees a miracle, we put it on this blank wall in our apartment and by the end of the transfer we want the whole wall filled!

So we were so busy this week we didn't have hardly any time in our area. Tuesday we had Mission Leadership Council in Iowa City and that took all day long. Wednesday we were in our area and had lots of lessons with Recent Converts. We’re working with some of the members here to help them share the Gospel, to help us get more people to teach. It's going great so far. Thursday we had Interviews here in Indianola and that took all day. Except we did get some good basketball in that night because they have Thursday night ball here.

Friday we had exchanges with the Assistants in Des Moines. I got to go with my old Companion Elder Obray, we served together in East Moline over a year ago! That was fun to be back out with him for a day. Then Saturday we left Des Moines and went all the way back up to Mason City for Justin's baptism! He asked me to Baptize him! My first baptism where I got to be the one Baptizing! It was an amazing experience! Justin is such a stud! I love him. I even got to see all the awesome members in Mason City! What a blessing. Astrid even gave an awesome talk on the Holy Ghost. Afterwards we all went to Rib Crib to celebrate!

As of now for investigators we don't have many. So this week we finally have time to work hard and find new people.

Love,
Elder Anderson

Justin's Baptism

Elder Lovin and I

The Zone

Hello

Hey things are great, my b-day was great. I got transferred to Indianola and its great too! They called me to be a Zone Leader, so that is weird. I'm adjusting, super sad I left Mason City. I could have stayed there for a lot longer and loved it. Don't think I'm gonna be able to email much today because of Memorial Day, so know that things are good. I'll email next week.

Love you all,
Elder Anderson

Pictures - Saying goodbye to Mason City Iowa:

Street Balling

This week was one of the best!
Tuesday we were on exchanges in Ft Dodge and we got the idea to get posters and write on them, "honk for Jesus" and "free Book of Mormons", "free Bibles", "Jesus loves you". We all went out to the road and started holding them out. And the people loved it! We got soooo many honks and gave away a lot of Book of Mormons and Bibles. Also got a lot of middle fingers and cuss words!

Wednesday we had a great District Meeting. I gave a training on being creative in our finding opportunities! Also had our traditional ice cream at Culvers night with Astrid and Evan. They invited a couple friends that we have met at the Y while playing racquetball. One of them brought his mom so we talked to them a little bit about the gospel.

Thursday we had Hampton over for exchanges! I was with Elder Christensen from Salt Lake. We had a blast, we all got the signs back out and went and stood in the median of a good highway and got TONS of honks. And we gave out more Bibles and Book of Mormons and pass along cards! Then someone called the cops on us, and he came out and talked to us. He thought that we were standing in the middle of the road stopping people but we weren’t so we were all good. He just took some info and left.

Friday we finished exchanges, then went to the Farmers market with Astrid and Evan!! The Farmers market was not as big as we thought so we walked through downtown and found an awesome place for some good food! I love spending time with Astrid and Evan!

Saturday was crazy, so earlier in the week we ran into a guy that said he needed some money for gas. I had 3 dollars on me so I gave it to him and made him promise he would be at church. Then Saturday we were going by to find him and make sure he was still good to come. We found him and he was a lil drunk with a lot of friends. I started talking to one of his friends about Basketball and he was talking trash like he was the best around. So I told him to meet me at the nearest park. So he did, we started playing, I won the first game. Then he won the second game, then I won the 3rd game. So he had to come to church for 4 weeks. But he was not sober, so he was getting very angry. Every point I got he would get more mad. He started cheating his way out of things. It was a super physical game, we were playing no fouls. I got a cut lip, his hand was bleeding. Eventually he ended up winning. But there was a few times we were arguing face to face. He was an african american, way bigger than me. His friend had to calm him down. Anyway after that he was calm and we talked to him. He said he had the chance to take scholarships for sports but he chose the streets for drug dealing. He showed us all his stab wounds, and his finger was being held on with stitches and he had like 12 staples in the back of his head. All from fights breaking out.

We also are undefeated in the pickle ball club here. We're hoping to play the Mayor soon! Crazy week, we have 4 investigators on date for baptism! 3 were there at church yesterday! I love this missionary lifestyle! Transfers are this week!

Love you all!
Elder Anderson

Us out with the signs

Us in the street with the cop

Astrid and Evan and us at the Farmers market

Happy Mothers Day!

Hello,
This week we had,
Zone P day in Ames.
Zone Conference in Des Moines, we got trained on how to best use our Smartphones.
We did service at the Food Pantry.
We helped a member open her Restaurant and she gives us free food there once a week!
We knocked on a lot of doors.
Found 7 New Investigators.
3 Investigators at church.
Justin and his Cousin Shaundy Mae was there. Turns out Shaundy Mae is 9 so we're hoping to baptize her the same day as Justin!
Mary, one of our New Investigators was there too. Next week she is bringing her mom!
Skyping the Fam was awesome!
We played more Racquetball with the Escobars. Astrid and I keep going at it and it is back and forth. We also went to lunch with them. I love that fam!

Love you all!
Happy Mothers Day to all the women out there!
Follow me on Facebook and share my posts!
Love,
Elder Anderson

Escobars

Hello!
I'm gonna keep it short this week!

Tuesday we had Area book appreciation day so they told us to stay in all day and work on putting all the papers in the area book onto our Phones! Luckily Astrid took us to lunch! Glad we have her!
Wednesday morning we were on exchanges with the Hampton Elders. Elder Richardson and Elder Christensen. We were playing ball at the church and Elder Richardson rolled his ankle really bad so we spent some of the day in Urgent care! Wasn't very Urgent! He is good now tho. That night we continued our Wednesday night tradition with Astrid and Evan Escobar of getting Ice Cream! That is always fun!

Thursday we spent some time helping a member set up her restaurant that is opening soon. That was a lot of work. Just racking leaves and cleaning everything up! Then we had a lesson with Justin and we got Astrid to come and she was AWESOME. She brought tons of drinks and snacks for all the kids. They love her!

Friday we had interviews in Ft Dodge. Saturday we rounded up our investigators but then no one came on Sunday! Super sad! Next week tho!

We got out and played the Escobars in Racquetball again! Their a lot of fun! And I finally beat them all! Well I finally beat Astrid, she is good but I beat her 2 out of 3 times!

Love you all! Elder Anderson

Enjoy the vid of us balling on a bunch of guys! We challenged them all to meet us at the park, and they did! There were like 20 guys watching and placing bets on who would win! haha