June.13

How was your week?

Well this week was going really good till this morning when I got a call from President Beck telling me I'm going to be a ZONE LEADER, what the heck! I don't know how I'm going to do it and I'm super nervous. My favorite scripture for this past week was 1Nephi 3:7 which tells us the lord will prepare a way for us. So that helps me out a little bit. But I'm still a little stressed. I love my mission though and it will never just be a smooth road. I swear right when i get into the motion Heavenly Father throws crazy stuff at me, but oh well. I can do it I think.
Well this past week was awesome. We had 2 baptisms and I'm truly learning how to live my purpose. I love to share my testimony with others and see how the spirit touches them. At the baptism we as missionaries get to do a presentation and we share the 1st lesson. It is awesome and I always cry when i talk about how the gospel blesses families cause it has truly blessed ours. I also always cry when I say something the 1st vision, cause Joseph Smith is the MAN and he went through so much so that we can find true happiness in our life. I just love this gospel and I have seen a change in my life since I've been out. I watch other missionaries mess around and flirt with girls and I just think to myself how do they even get to that point? I swear when I was set apart all my games with the women were left at home. I hate talking to girls if were not talking about religion. Its really weird. but this week is really good and I'm going to miss brother Crouse a ton, he did a lot for us and took us to sonic every Tuesday. I love that man. I hate leaving areas it's always so sad cause I grow to love the people here. Like Sam and Hope I hope i can come back for their baptism. I love them.
Baptisms ?
Julian's Sister and Edward. Those baptisms were so awesome.
First, emalyn she is awesome. The spirit was so strong during that baptism. Cause her brother baptized her. I can't even describe how strong it was and after the baptism the mom got up and bore her testimony and thanked God for sending us here to help her kids, right when she said that I knew I was meant to be there and not some cool mission out where ever. I Know Heavenly father sent me to Poeria Az to help that family come unto to Christ. After her testimony Julian got up a bore his it was so good.  He talked about how we would play ball with him and would talk about the church a little and the time I gave him the BOM with my testimony in it. He also thanked us and everyone else. Then his sister Emalyn bore her testimony it was so good. I'm so glad that I had the chance to teach them and help them understand the gospel. I honestly think if everyone would just read the Bom they would be converted. People just don't understand how important the Gospel is and it just makes me sad. I cry myself to sleep sometimes cause I just feel selfish if I don't work hard cause I'm keeping all the blessings to myself and I want to share them with everyone. But that baptism was GREAT.

Eddies was really good as well. We only had to teach him for 2 weeks and he got baptized. Talk about a solid investigator. He loves the church and has such a strong testimony. He's a 19 year old boy and I hope he goes on a mission. But he might get married before that. It would be so hard to convert at age 19 cause its a different culture being Mormon. It's not easy to be in the true church. Christ said "I never said it would be easy, but it will be worth it." I know through all the sacrifices we go through our live's are blessed. I love this church.
Investigators?

We have gotten some new investigators His name is Sheldon a 17 yr old Black kid he is awesome and has been through a lot in his life. He has tear drop tattoos so that's pretty sick. I'm sad I won't get the chance to watch him get baptized. He's awesome.

Brittany Perkins wrote me a letter yesterday and told me how I have changed her life and how happy she is now. I read it last night and started crying as I read it cause she left her testimony as well.
I love the change that this gospel has on people. I wish I knew of the power of the spirit when I was home so I could have helped out my friends. I feel so different now. It's a indescribable feeling that I feel. I have so much Love for everyone. It truly kills me to think of my friends back at home that don't have this happiness in their lives. They have the worldly happiness, which I think is alright but there is nothing like having the spirit with you always and having that happiness. I love it and I want everyone else to feel it. So when I got that letter it made me feel so good inside to know that I helped Brittany feel that happiness.
Transfers?

I don't know where I'm going yet, but I'm a Zone leader now.

Thank you so much for everything I love you

Elder Trent Anderson

June. 6

So this week went really good. We had a quiet a few lessons and I had a really good exchanges with one of the elders in my District. We are also living our purpose by talking to everyone. Like seriously it is so weird to think a year ago I would never go up to some one and just talk to them, unless it was a cute girl. But now we talk to everyone about the gospel. It is so awesome. I love just talking to crazy people on the street cause people just open up to us. It must be because we are representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ. I love talking to everyone and I have a strong testimony of it. Everyone deserves to feel the happiness that I feel in my life. It would just be selfish not to share the gospel. But this week was really good and I feel that i draw closer to our Savior everyday. This is definitely the best decision I have ever made. There is seriously no other place I would rather be. One guy that we were sorta bashing with said "So there is no other place you want to be right now?" and I said "No I love helping others strengthen their faith." and he was like speechless and said wow you have some serious dedication. We ended up giving him a BOM so hopefully he will read it and find true happiness. One of my favorite questions to ask people is "do you believe you can be happier?" And they always say Yes. I love it and then I'll share how they can be happier. Its great.

How are your other investigators doing?

Our Investigators are doing great. Sam and Hope are still on to get baptized on the 13th of July. So we are super pumped for that. I love that family and I can not say that enough. Sam is truly the man and he has been through some crazy stuff in his life time. I'm so glad that he has found the gospel and keeping to his commitments that he has made with us and the Lord. There gonna stop smoking and drinking on the 13th of June, so that way they will be clean for a month. They are making big changes in their lives for the better. I love it.

Sister Baldonaldo is doing really good. I didn't get to go to the lesson, cause I was on exchanges but it went really good and the spirit was there. Brother Crouse told me hah. But she is starting to break in a little and answering our questions so that is good, hopefully she will be baptized soon.

Emalyn is doing great. She has her interview tonight so that is exciting. I know that she will pass. This is going to be one of the coolest baptism of my mission so far, cause Jullian is going to be baptizing her. That is so cool, he just got the priesthood yesterday and now is going to exercise that priesthood and baptized his sister this Saturday. I'm so excited for that. And the whole family are going to bare their testimonies. The mom was baptized like a year ago and Jullian was baptized 2 weeks ago and now Emalyn. So AWESOME. I just love this gospel.

We also have Eddie and he going to be getting baptized this weekend as well. But he doesn't live in our ward so he is going to be getting baptized in that ward. but we still get to go cause he wants us to say the prayers. So that baptism should be really good as well. I'm excited for that. He is a really smart kid and he definitely feels the spirit.

We have a a lot more investigators, but there not really progressing and hopefully they will have baptism dates soon.

How's the big family doing? It must be really hard  to teach them, but you have always had a lot of patience. I'm sure they will catch the spirit soon!

They are doing great. It's just there super shy and don't talk much when they come church. So we are praying for them a lot that the spirit will touch them and they will know that this gospel is true. Cause they love coming to church.

Any cool events happen this week?

Well my exchange with Elder Hubbard. He is a really good missionary. And we caught Scorpions it was way sweet. Then we burned them and they killed each other cause the fire made them go crazy. But our exchange went really well. He told me after that our exchange will change his mission and the way he contacts people, because its all about loving everyone we teach and that is what I taught him.

How's your comp and roommate's?

They are doing great. And I love them hahahahaha

Have you heard about who's getting transferred? I hope they keep you as a dl and trainer, but Pres Beck might want to know you better before he leaves and move you. Good luck!

Well you will know about the transfer news next week. I really hope I stay here and train again. Being zone leader will be really stressful.

Thank you

I love you and thanks for all the support and prayers.
Elder Anderson

May. 31

I heard this song at one of Becca's friends farewell last week: I will not be still by Kenneth Cope, it reminded me about you.
MOM you don't understand that is my favorite song. I cry every time i listen to it. I seriously love that song and it helps me through hard times. Because the Mission is not about me, it's about who I serve. I love it. My favorite part is "How can I keep this gift to my self
When i can lift somebody else
I am (I'll be) a witness of his miracles and his mercy
I put my future in his hands
Knowing he's made me all I am
(When) I put my faith in him the (and) truth begins to speak
His power is real it moves me until I will not be still"

That's what I want to do. I just want to share the gospel with everyone. This week has been really good. One of the more spiritual weeks of my mission. I had my Sacred Grove Experience. I know that this church is true. And I'm willing to give my life for it. I know that our family will be together for ever. I just know. It all just hit me in one day when I was on exchanges with Elder Grady my Zone leader and a little about Elder Grady, he is a convert to the church, he converted when he was 17. His Mom died 6 months before he left on his mission. He has the strongest testimony of families and the church. His testimony has changed my life. That night I couldn't stop crying,cause i truly know that this church is true and I feel bad for everyone that has not had the chance or that is denying the blessings. It kills me. That night Heavenly father answered my prayers. I know my purpose now and I love missionary work. I love everyone. This week was really good.

 So how was Jonathan's Baptism?

It didn't happen. On Tuesday night I felt prompted to go over to their house and go over the interview questions so we did. And we found out that he is on parole for another 2 years. So we told him he might not be able to get baptized till his parole is off. So we left and I called President and told him about the situation. And he said he can't get baptized. So we went back and I had to do the hardest thing that I have ever had to do on my mission and that is tell Johnathon that he cant get baptized. I felt so bad and he started crying. I have never seen him cry, he's like a tough kid. But he cried and it was so hard. So I bore my testimony about trials and everything happens for a purpose. But it was HARD. I mean we go around and ask people to be baptized off the street and to tell a 16 yr old kid that he can't get baptized, but it made him stronger.

How's the family that your teaching to read?

They are doing really good. We had a really good lesson with them and I was With Grady. We talked about the importants of church and Baptism. Hopefully that family will be getting baptized soon. But there doing really good and It's hard teaching them. But were doing it. It takes lots of patients and that's a virtue. hah

How are all the investigators doing? Are they coming to church?

Our investigators are doing great. Right now we have 4 with a date to get baptized.

Sam and Hope are doing really good and they are planned to get baptized on the 13th of July, they need to get married and they have a hard time getting money. But they are doing great. there slowing down on their cig smoking, so that's good. I just love that family and they have the cutest kid ever.

Emalyn now has a Baptism date for June 11th. and Julian her brother who was baptized on May 21st is going to baptize her. So that is going to be an awesome sight. I can not wait for that day. She is awesome. We watched the Prophet of the restoration and after I asked her "do believe that this church is true? and she said YES and then I said "do you believe Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God?". And she said yes and then i said "what is stopping you from getting baptized?" and she said nothing really. So I told her to pray for a date that night and tell me tomorrow at church. So she came up to me at church the next day and told me she wanted to be baptized on the 11th. So that was sweeeeettttt.

Eddie is dating a member in the Windrose Park ward and he is just so solid. We taught him last night and the spirit was just so strong. We prayed for a date there and he said he wants to be baptized on the 11th of June. So the 11th of June is going to be a busy day for us. But i love it. after we prayed for a date his Gf and him just started to cry and he said" I feel the spirit in my life so strong right now and I know the things that you are teaching me are true" It was so awesome. I love being a missionary.

 

When is the next transfer? tranfers are on the 13th of June. 

Do you think you might be transferred or get a new comp?

I'm not sure. Cause if i get transferred i will prob be a Zone Leader and that is a lot of work and not very fun. So I hope I just get a new comp or train again.

 

Okay...you really need to eat better! What do you like to you carry around or grab fast? I like the Fruit bars and the energy bars there pretty good.
Fruit rolls, protein bars-which ones? Raspberry and strawberry and the energy bars. 

You should buy bananas, if they go bad before you eat them, then peel them, put them in a baggy and freeze them. Then there perfect for your smoothies. Buy bags of apples and tangerines too.

I do that hahaah
At least try to snack right! okay? Alright :)

Love,
Elder Anderson

May 23, 2011

So how was your week?

This  week went really well. I mean we had a baptism and baptism's just make the mission. I love them. They are prob the best days of my life. To see some one that you taught and watch the changes in their lives it is just to good. And Julian is going to serve a mission when he turns 19. It's great. I love it.
So we also got a new investigator and he is awesome. His name is Jessy Riley. He played AFL and  he is so much fun to talk to. I really hope his family will get baptized. We are teaching him today. So I'm pumped for that.
Our zone is doing great and we're breaking records back to back. We just broke the record for most baptisms in a single month and 8 of those our Carrol's and I. I love it. We are almost baptizing weekly.
But this week went really good. We got a nerf hoop for our apt and we play every night and we have bets on food challenges haha, Like last night I had to eat to burritos blended up. It was pretty gross. Our apt is way fun now. Living with just you and your companion gets really boring, but I must say we did get a lot more work done when is was just us. But staying with other missionaries helps me not get stressed or home sick cause we are always doing something.
Anyways this past week it was pretty cold and there was a ton of wind. I hate riding my bike in the wind. But this up coming week it is going to get really hottttttttt. And yes we have to ride our bikes in the heat all summer long. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. I love it!!!
How's your health?

My health is doing great. I'm finally starting to gain some  more weight. I was at a steady 165 and now I think I'm getting up to 170. I would say I'm eating a little healthier food thanks to the smoothies.

Your investigators? Any new ones?

Our Investigators are doing great. I love each and everyone of them. We just started teaching Georges Baldonado's wife and she has a lot of questions and she is going to be a little harder then we thought, but I'm sure the spirit will touch her heart and she will be baptized by George our convert. He is awesome.

Sam and Hope are doing great. They keep bailing out on us and I think they are doing this because our next lesson were going to talk about there path to baptism and what they must do. So there going to have ti get of the cigs. I know that they have the faith to quit though.  We have a lesson with them today so hopefully everything will go good and we will have a date for them to be baptized on. So that is exciting.

JULIAN'S the man. His baptism was so spiritual. His Mom got up and bore her testimony after and said "this is he best day of my life. I cant think of a more special moment". And she was baptized a year before that. Then Julian bore his testimony on how excited he is. It was just a great day. I love that man. His Mom also came up to us after and sad that she was trying to get Julian to come to church and she was praying for help. And then we show up. I love the power of Prayer and I know I have an even stronger testimony of it now. Julian can now get the priesthood into that home cause its just him, his sister and Sister Jenkins. They are an awesome family. We got to be the witnesses of the baptism and watching Julian come out of the water with a huge smile just made all the hard times worth it.

Johnathon He is just solid and his going to be baptized this weekend. I'll tell you more about it next week.

Lopez Family well they are a family of 8 and we will prob commit them to be baptized this week. So that is going to be nuts. They have been coming to church for the past 3 weeks and they are awesome. Its just none of the them know how to read. So they make the lessons really interesting.

 
How are your members doing that you baptized?

The Yazzie family is doing great. They continue to come to church and they love it there. We taught them about the temple yesterday and were going to try to get them to do baptism for the dead.

George is doing great and still strong in the church.

Brittany  is awesome.

  

I love you and thank you for everything.

Elder Anderson

May 16,2011

So how was your week?

Well this week just flew by. It was crazy. I seriously feel like it was just Pday. Well it got pretty hot this past week and my tan lines are getting worst and worst every day. But that's all good. It's suppose to be cooling down this week. So it will be in the 80's I can't wait. But I love the heat cause it's like the foreign aspect of my mission. One of the hottest in the world.
Well this week I was praying for a miracle to happen. And it did! We got a referral from the MTC (media) and we went to visit the guy right away cause I had a feeling we should so Brother Crouse picked us up and we went over to the house. David Tafoya is his name. We taught him the first lesson and it turns out he was baptized but his records are lost. Salt lake can't find them. So we invited him to be baptized and his date is for this week but we might have to move it cause he could make it to church yesterday. Because he didn't have any nice cloths. I would have given mine to him, but he's a little bigger then me. So we have taught him all the lessons almost in one week and that was really fun cause he knows so much already and his goal is to get married in the temple, so we are pumped for him.

This week I truly felt the meaning of loving your Investigators. Yesterday I felt like we should go to Sam and Hopes cause they didn't make it to church. So we got there and they told us they couldn't make it cause they we were stuck at Sam's parents home. They don't have a car. So we just read a chapter out of the BOM with them. Alma 7 one of my favorite chapters ever. It talks about baptism and eternal life, I love it. Anyways I told them why I'm at their home and it is cause I love them and I want to see them live a better life and stand up straight. I was kinda bold and then I started thanking them for all they taught me and how to be a stronger person, cause that one time they kicked us out just tore me apart and I've grown from that. I started crying and then Hope started to cry. I love them so much, but there's only so much we can do as missionaries. Were just the guider and helper. So I really hope that they will start making the right choices and get on the straight and narrow. This week was pretty awesome though.
Investigators?

Our Investigators are doing really well. The family of 8 that we are teaching doesn't know how to read and speaks Spanish better then English, but they said they don't know how to read Spanish either. So we asked them if they wanted to go to the Spanish ward and they said no. So were teaching people that don't know how to read and have a hard time understanding. I love it!!!. It makes teaching so much more fun when they don't know a thing. But it is so hard. We had to change our whole teaching pattern, but it's okay.

Johnathon is still solid and now he is getting baptized in a POOL hah so sweet. He's also getting baptized on his birthday so were going to have a pool party after. JK. I wish. Anyways our lessons with him are just great and the spirit is so strong. He is just solid and is going to make a really good missionary some day. so that is great to hear I love it.

Julian is going to be baptized this week so we are so pumped for him. 21st is going to be a great day. he said the testimony I wrote in the back of his Book of Mormon made him want to be a member and know he is going to make a great missionary. It is awesome to think that I brought him to the gospel and now when he serves a mission he is going to bring others. I love the domino effect in the gospel. I love Julian and I hope some day that he will baptize his younger sister. She's not yet interested in the church, she has been sitting in on the lesson and we have been teaching her. But she doesn't want to take that step yet. She will though some day. I'm not to worried.
Roomies?

My Roomate's are awesome. We bought a Nerf hoop for our apt and it is sweet. I dominate it. We only play at night though other wise it distracts from the work. I love my roomies though and there really fun. And they have a car so they drive us around.
Your District?

My District is doing AWESOME. We are having the best progress since I've been here. The sisters are baptizing like crazy. Carroll and I are killing it. Changing a 1 baptism a year area to a 10 baptisms a year area. It's pretty sweet. I love it, but the district is doing great and they are awesome I love them.
Your wards?

The wards are doing really good. The people here are way nice, but that's just MORMONS were all nice. Anyways I've been in this area for awhile so I know about everyone so that's good. The members are just awesome. The Lady that cuts our hair had a baby like 2 days ago. crazy stuff.

Love,
Elder Anderson

May 9,2011

Well I'm guessing you forgot to write me because I talked to you on the phone yesterday. But, I just thought I would write you and give you another update on my mission life.

So life is great. I truly love it out here. I'm not gonna lie I did get a little emotional yesterday on the phone and I think Chad made me the most emotional. I can't believe that little guy is growing up. I'm kinda bummed I'm not there to see him. But that's okay I'm doing more important things right now. That's really funny they ask themselves "what would Trent do?" haha I find it funny cause what I would do now, knowing everything I know. I would be a whole different kid. My mission has truly changed me. My thoughts are different. I always ask myself "what would Christ do?" and I just follow the spirit. Mom I'm sorry for being such a trouble case I truly feel bad. Ashley kinda brought that to my mind yesterday as I was talking to her on phone. So I'm sorry is there anything you would Like me to do? I mean I'll be coming home when Chad turns 16 so I'll make sure that he won't be a trouble case like I was. I just feel bad now. I wish so bad that I could go back in time knowing the things I know now. But that's life and that's what repentance is for. I have a strong testimony of repentance. My faith in Christ I would say is unbreakable and trust it has been tested out here. I love this Gospel. And I know that it blesses our family.

Well About my mission. Our Investigators are doing really well. We have 2 people with a date.

Jullian and Johnathon.  They are bother great guys. We were actually talking about missionary work it was awesome. They both want to serve missions. I can't believe God has trusted me to serve his sheep. I would have never thought this day would come when I was a junior in high school and LOST,  but it has a I have a strong testimony of it. I love teaching people about the gospel. I just love going to bed knowing that I guided someone to salvation. I helped them feel the spirit stronger in their lives. I LOVE IT. I also love the people I serve and when I say that I'm willing to take a bullet for Jullian and Johnathon cause I know that they are going to make great missionaries and I'm so glad God has given me the chance to be an example for them.

So living with other Elders is really fun. We don't go to bed on time though so I'm like extra tired all the time. But were tired all the time anyways ha. But it's fun. Before it was a little tough and lonely but now we have people to talk too and share our experiences from the day. I love it.

Well this week was really good. Brittany got Baptized. It was a really spirit filled baptism. We got to do our presentation right after. And we pretty much just teach the first lesson in 10 mins. Its really fun. I always cry though. Yes I'm still a crier. Ha But it's okay. The baptism was great and she said she felt like she was doing the right thing. She has a really strong spirit about her. I loved teaching her cause she would pretty much teach the lesson. After the Baptism we went to old country buffet. YUM I ate a lot of food and felt sick but that's good I need to eat more. I only weigh 168 pounds. LOL good life.

Well I love you very much and thank you so much for everything.

Love,

Elder Anderson.

May 2,2011

Do you get to watch any of the playoffs? NO,we don't get to watch the playoffs I wish haha. But I get the updates from members and friends out here. So it's all good. I am jealous that you get to go to the game though. 

Okay back to life...
How was the Baptism?

The baptism was awesome. They were a little late so I was stressing out. I got to baptize Dana, Carolyn, Neem, and Rochelle it was really fun and exciting. The spirit was so strong there. I had to Baptize Rochelle twice cause she like jumped out of my hands, so that was really funny. And I guess the second time I did it. I slammed her in haha so that was funny. She's the youngest of the family and just wild. But the baptism was really sweet. I got a picture with all of us in white and I think it is my favorite one so far. I just love being a missionary. There is no other place I would rather be. I love it here and we just keep baptizing we have another one next week on the 7th. I love it.

All of the investigators?

Our Investigators are AWESOME I love them. And they know that. I just love people I serve.
Jullian has a Baptism date now and he's getting baptized on the 28th. So were super pumped for him. He is the reason why I think I'm staying this transfer. I believe I was sent here to find him and be-friend him, because he has no friends at the church and now the whole ward has taken him in. And the way I got to teach him was by playing basketball with him. That's the only way I got to talk to him and teach him at the beginning. Now he loves the church and wants to learn more. It is so sweet. I love the guy.

Johnathon is doing great too. he has a baptism date on the 28th also. There going to be baptized together. That is going to be a great day. Baptism days are the most stressful but at the same time they are the best and make me feel so good that I guided them to salvation. I love it. But Johnathon is the man and he is so solid he pretty much teaches us the lessons.

Brittany well her baptism is this Saturday, so were super excited for her. We taught her last night and she taught us the lesson and we went over the interview questions she is so solid. Golden! So we have her interview today at 7 so that should be good. I love teaching people.

Sam and Hope they came to Church and we had a lesson with them. They just need to get enough money to get married and they need to stop their addiction, but Sam said he wanted me to baptized him. I love the man and he knows I do. I just want whats best for them and they are striving to do good. So were just helping them out with that.

Lopez family well there are 8 people in that family and they came to church all of them. So that was so awesome. We have a lesson with them on friday.
Oh we SET THE RECORD FOR THE MISSION. 19 INVESTIGATORS AT CHURCH IN A SINGLE COMPANIONSHIP IT WAS SWEET. So that's pretty awesome. haha

Your district?
Are you losing your companion? Nope we are staying together. No one got transferred in my district. The other Elders are moving into our apt though. Party haha.
Any good stories from your week?  Well the best story is probably having one of the best weeks in the mission. For progress and baptisms. We had 5 baptisms and 19 in church. That is like unheard of. The AP's called us and Congratulated us. That was sweet.

Well we ran into this crazy guy. Not really crazy but really smart and tried to prove us wrong we talked to him for like an hour too. He is a dentist some weird religion He doesn't believe in God and he believes in evolution,but we just talked to him about the plan of salvation and the church. He tried to throw trick questions at us. But the ending results were He said "well i'm never going to shake your faith cause you guys are really spiritual and IN, but if you were to convert me I know that God would have a Gold chair and maybe even fist pump you as you walked into to heaven. So here's what I'm going to do I'll give you my address and you guys can come by and we'll talk about the God stuff." We just said alright and were going to visit him this week, so that should be fun. 

What time do I get to talk to you on Sunday? I'll call you 6 pm az time. So have everyone there.  

I need some photos. I'll send you the photos today there really good.
Do you need anything other than the m tab cd?

No I'm good thank you. I can't think of anything right now.
Did you get my package?

Yes it is awesome. I've been making smoothies all the time. Thank you so much.

Make sure you wear sunscreen everyday, I don't want you getting skin cancer!!!!!
Do you want me to send you some good sunscreen? No but can you send me some tanning oil? haha

Thank you so much. I love you. And we will talk soon on the phone:)

Elder Trent