the past three weeks! sorry!

January 11:

So how was your week?

This week went really well. We got a 140 contacts this week and that was the first time my companion has ever had over a 100 contacts in one week. His companion earlier didn't do any work. But yeah we worked really hard and got 5 new investigators and we'll see what happens with them. Peoria is really quiet fun and ghetto. haha Its kinda scary walking around at night, but also really fun. My legs are getting stronger cause we are in a all bike area so its hard. I'm doing good on my reading, I think I'm on page 101 2 Nephi 26. I love 2 Nephi 25 one of my favorite chapters and verse 26 is what we believe and really helps our investigators realize what we believe. This week was awesome.

How is your district doing?

My District is doing really good. I've challenged them to get more contacts and we have double our contacts from last week which is really good. District meetings are pretty fun, cause I'm in charge of the whole meeting. its really neat and I'm learning a lot about how the mission works and what not.

How's your companion? Is he opening up a little?

My Companion is doing really good. yeah he is opening up a little more. And we actually start talking a lot more which is good. He's a really goood guy and fun to teach with, but he is really quiet. We still haven't gotten in a fight yet and I found out his weakness yesterday he doesn't like to call members to do things for us. Good thing I love to talk to members, so I'll work on him with that haha.

What are some of your spiritual moments ?

We had a lesson with Pete and the Spirit was so strong the whole time we were there. He says we have a glow and some times he could even see wings on us haha its pretty awesome and he is a Golden Investigator. The spirit is always so strong when we talk with him and it is so comforting.

I also feel the spirit every morning when I read the Book of Mormon and the spirit confirms to me that this church is true and that the Book of Momon is true too. I love serving.

Funniest moments?

Well i got to see My Daddy Elder Beard haha. The district leaders and the zone leaders all had a meeting together and when I saw elder beard we both screamed and gave each other huge hugs and Pres. Beck was like and now that is good companionship unity. It was pretty funny.

Best and worst food? Are you eating better?

Pete made us some cactus and pork stuff which was very interesting and good at the same time. But there is a taco truck in our area and it's owned by some members, so we get free tacos and food. And they reminded me a lot like the ones we have back at home. Yeah I'm eating better. thanks for the bars haha

Investigators and their progress?

Pete: Is solid. He came to church and we visit with him like 4 times a week and he is getting baptized on the 22nd. Awesome.

Terry: we taught her lesson 1 and she came to church and she is doing really well. Haven't yet extended a baptismal date.

Jennifer: She's new her mom is LDS and they came to church and I went up to them and started some small talk and then the mom said they should take the missionary lessons so now they are taking the lessons. Awesome

How are the Wards?

The wards are great and the members are really nice. I really miss Kingswood Park though. Our ward Mission leaders are way nice and really funny.

I love you and thank you for everything,

Elder Anderson

January 18:

So how has your week been?

This week went by so fast. It has been really good and exciting. We worked really hard and the area that I'm in hasn't baptized in months and now we have a baptism this Saturday. I love how the Lord blesses me and my companion with new investigators that are ready to hear the gospel. I love it.

Investigators?

hahaha yeah we got 2 new investigators this week. First one is Jose and hopefully our lesson today doesn't fall through. But he is way funny a sketchy. The first time we met him we were by a wall, we contacted him and got his info and then all the sudden he jumped over the wall and told us to come over on Tuesday at 3, so that was interesting. I'm in the ghetto.

We also got a new investigator in the Windrose Park ward and they haven't had a new investigator in months so that was exciting.

Pete is doing awesome he passed his interview and he loves the gospel. He helped us move one of the members and he is a working Mexican haha crazy man. But i love him.

Terry: we found out that she has some problems with drugs and tabacco but we are working on it and hopefully she will turn her life around. I love being a Missionary.

How's your district?  Where are all they all from? Do you have any missionaries that are having problems?

My District is awesome. We all get along and like to joke around with each other. We all consist of Idaho, Nebraska, Alaska, and California hahaha quiet the District and yeah there are some disobedient missionaries and I have talked to them about it. But I love them.

Any funny?

Well elder Davenport he lives in the apartments right by us and he's not in my district, but he loves the Jazz and I love the Lakers so we always fight about it and pull pranks on each other. And I found a mannequin and I'm going to set it up in his room cause we have the key to there apartments, so that should be funny.

Spiritual ?

Yes, during my reading in the Book of Mormon. I'm in Mosiah ch.18 by the way. But while I was reading the king James Address and today when i was reading about Abinadi. I felt a surity that this gospel is true and I truly felt that. it was an answsr to my prayers. Heavenly Father has answered my prayers and I know that he hears us. I love it. and I love reading out of the Book of Mormon it brings me closer to our heavenly father and it is great.

Difficult moments?

Just a little stress being a DL, but thats normal.

Are you eating better? Are you still gaining weight?

No for some reason I'm not eating much at all. I think its because all the stress and what not. But I've lost like 5 pounds.

I really like the Chocolate peanut butter bars hahaha


Love,
Elder Trent Anderson

January 31:

So how has your week been?

This week went by so fast. It has been really good and exciting. We worked really hard and the area that I'm in hasn't baptized in months and now we have a baptism this Saturday. I love how the Lord blesses me and my companion with new investigators that are ready to hear the gospel. I love it.

Investigators?

hahaha yeah we got 2 new investigators this week. First one is Jose and hopefully our lesson today doesn't fall through. But he is way funny a sketchy. The first time we met him we were by a wall, we contacted him and got his info and then all the sudden he jumped over the wall and told us to come over on Tuesday at 3, so that was interesting. I'm in the ghetto.

We also got a new investigator in the Windrose Park ward and they haven't had a new investigator in months so that was exciting.

Pete is doing awesome he passed his interview and he loves the gospel. He helped us move one of the members and he is a working Mexican haha crazy man. But i love him.

Terry: we found out that she has some problems with drugs and tabacco but we are working on it and hopefully she will turn her life around. I love being a Missionary.

How's your district?  Where are all they all from? Do you have any missionaries that are having problems?

My District is awesome. We all get along and like to joke around with each other. We all consist of Idaho, Nebraska, Alaska, and California hahaha quiet the District and yeah there are some disobedient missionaries and I have talked to them about it. But I love them.

Any funny?

Well elder Davenport he lives in the apartments right by us and he's not in my district, but he loves the Jazz and I love the Lakers so we always fight about it and pull pranks on each other. And I found a mannequin and I'm going to set it up in his room cause we have the key to there apartments, so that should be funny.

Spiritual ?

Yes, during my reading in the Book of Mormon. I'm in Mosiah ch.18 by the way. But while I was reading the king James Address and today when i was reading about Abinadi. I felt a surity that this gospel is true and I truly felt that. it was an answsr to my prayers. Heavenly Father has answered my prayers and I know that he hears us. I love it. and I love reading out of the Book of Mormon it brings me closer to our heavenly father and it is great.

Difficult moments?

Just a little stress being a DL, but thats normal.

Are you eating better? Are you still gaining weight?

No for some reason I'm not eating much at all. I think its because all the stress and what not. But I've lost like 5 pounds.

I really like the Chocolate peanut butter bars hahaha

Love,
Elder Trent Anderson

Peoria

Elder Trent Anderson's Letter:

So how was your week?

This week went really well. We got a 140 contacts this week and that was the first time my companion has ever had over a 100 contacts in one week. His companion earlier didn't do any work. But yeah we worked really hard and got 5 new investigators and we'll see what happens with them. Peoria is really quiet fun and ghetto. haha Its kinda scary walking around at night, but also really fun. My legs are getting stronger cause we are in a all bike area so its hard. I'm doing good on my reading, I think I'm on page 101 2 Nephi 26. I love 2 Nephi 25 one of my favorite chapters and verse 26 is what we believe and really helps our investigators realize what we believe. This week was awesome.

How is your district doing?

My District is doing really good. I've challenged them to get more contacts and we have double our contacts from last week which is really good. District meetings are pretty fun, cause I'm in charge of the whole meeting. its really neat and I'm learning a lot about how the mission works and what not.

How's your companion? Is he opening up a little?

My Companion is doing really good. yeah he is opening up a little more. And we actually start talking a lot more which is good. He's a really goood guy and fun to teach with, but he is really quiet. We still haven't gotten in a fight yet and I found out his weakness yesterday he doesn't like to call members to do things for us. Good thing I love to talk to members, so I'll work on him with that haha.

What are some of your spiritual moments ?

We had a lesson with Pete and the Spirit was so strong the whole time we were there. He says we have a glow and some times he could even see wings on us haha its pretty awesome and he is a Golden Investigator. The spirit is always so strong when we talk with him and it is so comforting.

I also feel the spirit every morning when I read the Book of Mormon and the spirit confirms to me that this church is true and that the Book of Momon is true too. I love serving.

Funniest moments?

Well i got to see My Daddy Elder Beard haha. The district leaders and the zone leaders all had a meeting together and when I saw elder beard we both screamed and gave each other huge hugs and Pres. Beck was like and now that is good companionship unity. It was pretty funny.

Best and worst food? Are you eating better?

Pete made us some cactus and pork stuff which was very interesting and good at the same time. But there is a taco truck in our area and it's owned by some members, so we get free tacos and food. And they reminded me a lot like the ones we have back at home. Yeah I'm eating better. thanks for the bars haha

Investigators and their progress?

Pete: Is solid. He came to church and we visit with him like 4 times a week and he is getting baptized on the 22nd. Awesome.

Terry: we taught her lesson 1 and she came to church and she is doing really well. Haven't yet extended a baptismal date.

Jennifer: She's new her mom is LDS and they came to church and I went up to them and started some small talk and then the mom said they should take the missionary lessons so now they are taking the lessons. Awesome

How are the Wards?

The wards are great and the members are really nice. I really miss Kingswood Park though. Our ward Mission leaders are way nice and really funny.

I love you and thank you for everything,

Elder Anderson

Happy New Year!!

Hey,

 

How's your new area? Where are you?
 My new area is pretty fun and it's an all bike area which is fun in a way haha. I'm in Peoria. We cover the Windrose Park wardand the Peoria ward. My mission leaders are awesome and super nice. My new area is a lot more poor then my last area and I loved my last area. The members were awesome there. But we will see how this area does for me. I know why President sent me to this area cause there was no work being done and my companion said I'm the hardest working missionary he has seen in the area. He has been there for 8 months and his last companion would fake sick a lot and stay in. So we are here to work hard and a lot... meaning all tracting, cause there was no progressing or Investigators in either ward. So were working on that.

 
How are the wards? The members?
 The Wards seem really nice. The member missionary work in the Peoria ward is really good. And the members are pretty nice. My new companion is really quiet and doesn't really talk much, so we don't really have any member friends like my last area. Oh well. I've only been to one ward so I really don't know much. One of our wards is like middle class the Windrose Park ward and the Peoria ward is like low class really poor.
 
What's your new pad like? Is it as nice as the other one?
 Our Appartment is pretty ghetto haha We are in the ghetto of Peoria. My last area had nicer apartments, but these will do good. It really sucks though cause its just me and Elder Ward living in a 2 bedroom app. It gets really lonely, causes he's super quiet. 
 
How's your new companion? Where's he from? What's he like?
 My new Comp is alright definitely not a Elder Beard. I miss elder Beard a lot. Elder Ward is willing to work hard and he doesn't complain which is good. And we work hard. except for the time I got sick on new years eve and threw up and I was also sick on new years, but i still taught Pete our new investigator a lesson and I'll talk about him more later on. So Elder Ward is from Idaho. I just keep getting these Idaho elders hahaha. He's quiet and kinda weird. He didn't play sports in high school. But is willing to work hard and he is a good missionary.
 
What's it like being a district leader? 
 Its pretty crazy. I was so shocked when I got the call from President Beck, but its pretty fun. There's a lot more stress and I have to earn the respect from the Missionaries in my District, but that will all come over time and hard work. Our first district meeting was really stressful, but it went really well and I think my District likes me. Its weird being the youngest yet being in charge of everyone. Its fun though.  I really get to see how the mission works and see what the missionaries need to improve. I also get to do Baptismal Interviews which I am pumped for, so far District leader has been really fun. 
 
Any new investigators?
 Yeah, we have 4 new Investigators, but only 1 is solid. His name is Pete Orora. HE IS AWESOME! We tracted into him on Thursday and set up a return date for Saturday. He is golden. We had like a 3 hour lesson on Saturday 1/1/11. And he cooked us some authentic Mexican food like cactus and red rice but I wasn't feeling good, so i took some home. I committed him to Baptism and he is going to be baptized on the 22nd. I'm so pumped for him. He came to church on Sunday and bore his testimony about us coming to his door and how he was praying to find a church to visit and get his life in order. He is in his 40's. I love teaching him he has some crazy stories about being in a gang in Chicago and crazy stuff. He is a super nice guy and awesome. We will continue to meet with him and he is going to teach us some fighting moves hahah I love him. 
 
Any other news?
 Well on the way to District meeting it snowed on us as we were biking haha its crazy. So I need to buy more sweaters at Goodwill. This week has been really good. And I really have felt the power of prayer in these last couple of days and I know that this church is true. I love you and thank you some much for everything.

Elder Anderson

First Transfer!

Hey,

By the way I'm getting transferred and I'm the District Leader it's crazy. My 3rd transfer out and already a DL. I'm really nervous, but i know Heavenly Father will help me and he has a plan for me. I'm so grateful for this gospel and I love my mission.

 

So how was your Christmas dinner? What did you eat?
Christmas was really fun and i loved talking to you. I miss you guys a lot. I know that the Lord is watching over us.

We went to the Hogner's and had some really good pasta and goodies.

Did any of your investigators come to church yesterday?
How are they doing?
Yeah 3 of our investigators came to church and I set a baptismal date on Thursday on splits with a priest in our ward. I did it all by myself and now I have to organize my new district and plan district meetings every week. The really cool thing about being a DL is that I get to do the Baptism interviews. But all of our investigators are doing really well. I'm going to miss this area a lot.

 

What was your favorite event that happened last week?

Prob when I committed Brother Maul to be baptized the spirit was so strong and overwhelming. It seriously just took over my body and everything went really well.

Most spiritual? 

Baptismal commitment like above.

Funniest?

Oh we did a prank on Elder Vaughan we took the box spring off his bed and put my mattress in and he is on the top bunk so when he jumped into to bed the whole bed fell through and it freaked him out. It was really funny.

What else can you tell me that we didn't talk about on the phone?
Yeah that was a very short phone call. I really don't know what to say. I'm so nervous and so many things are going through my head right now. I need to say a prayer.

Well I love you and I'll tell you about my new area on Monday and how I'm doing. As of right now I am doing great and I love it out here.

Elder Anderson

 

We were able to talk to Trent on Christmas! He sounds great and is really loving his mission.

More pictures are coming soon!

December 20th

How are the 3 golden contacts?

They are doing really well. Brother Maul is taking the lessons we had a lesson with him on Friday and he is doing really well. He pretty much committed himself to baptism.

Richard is awesome he came to church on sunday and we are going to teach him this week. We dropped in on him on Friday and he told us he had a vision it was crazy he described it as if he were at the temple. "A big white room with the women on the left and the men on the right and god was at the front" He is so awesome.

Then we taught Bilma and Jodi on Friday too and their lesson went really well and they will most likely be baptized in the next month. :) we are starting to spark up again. I love teaching people about the gospel.

Any new investigators?

Yeah we got a new investigator on Saturday, but we'll see how it turns out. He was a very nice guy and interested in learning more.

How's your ward's doing?

Kingswood park is awesome and the members are so nice to us. I love that ward.

Sun City west will most likely be dropped at transfers on the 28th. I really hope i won't get transferred but there is a very good chance that i will cause my training will be down.

I gave a talk in sun city west ward, it went really well and I cried. And the spirit was really strong.

 

Is the 55 and older ward really quiet? Do they involve you?

haha yeah it is the quietest ward i have ever been in. And the sacrament is served by 60 yr old men is pretty funny.

 

What else happened this week?

Funny story After dinner with one of the grandmas on weds night. She came in to hug us and she gave us a kiss on the cheek it was pretty weird and really funny at the time.

I went on exchanges with Elder Angelos he is an awesome missionary and we are very similar, so that was really fun and I got to spend the night at the Surprise house. 6 crazy elders in one house. A member donated their house for the missionaries. So, I never really got any sleep but it was so much fun. I also got to tract in the ghetto areas. E. Angelos is the zone leader and he is awesome. I'm also getting a lot better at contacts. this week has been really fun.

Love,
Elder Anderson

Trent's Zone. 

December 13th

How was your week?

This week has been really good. The highlight of this week was probably interviews with the President. I love President Beck he is such a good leader and he is so smart. Our mission is the best mission in the world because of him. We got 3 new awesome investigators. Two of them are 13 and 16 yr old sisters and there Navajo. They are so much fun to teach and we are going to extend a baptism date on Tuesday hopefully. What ever the spirit directs. This week was really fun. I fell on my bike finally but I'm fine :) I love it out here and the members are so awesome. 

Do you get to go to Christmas programs, ward party's, etc?

We only went to one which was pretty nice, because there kind of a waste of time. I would much rather be working on the street and going door to door. then sit through a Christmas program. But it was fun. The Kingswood Park ward has a really small youth program and no 16 and 17 year olds, its really weird.

 

Any cool spiritual events happen this week?

Yeah we gave one of the sisters a blessing of comfort. Because Elder Beard is DL, so she asked for a blessing. The spirit was super strong and I love to have the spirit with me all the time. Its such a Blessing.

 

Funniest experience?

haha Well i went on exchanges with Elder Bell we live with him and he is so funny. Such a good missionary and works super hard. He's 100% obedient which gets a little annoying, but he has some crazy ideas. We saw some little kids fighting in a park. Like completely fighting, punches to the face so we just stopped and watch them it was funny and then they saw us and ran up to us and sad some rude things and we gave them a pass along card.

 

Are you still giving lots of blessings?
Well not has much as i would like. But yeah kinda.

 

Any baptisms scheduled?

Nope:( not yet we have 3 golden investigators though soon to be schedlued.

 

Do you think you will be transferred soon?

Yeah Im most likely going to be transfered on the 28th. Cause my training is done. :(

We get trained for 2 transfers and then the trainee is usually transferred after. I really don't what to leave though.

 

Are you still buying that crappy food? I thought you had cooking class for a few semesters. You better be eating better...apple, bananas, oranges, cheese sticks, yogurt, carrots, granola bars, energy bars, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, subway, no soda and easy on the fried foods and frozen fried crap and you better be exercising a lot or your going to come back here 250lbs.

hahaha Im eating good. Ramen and frozen food is good for you :). Im kidding i eat fruit and juice but i do eat a lot of frozen foods.

Yes I exercise every morning.

Love you,
Elder Anderson

 

Past two letters...Happy Thanksgiving!

Before Thanksgiving:

How was your week?

This week has been a little stressful and hard. But the blessing are great. We had transfers this week on tuesday so that was fun I got to see all my  buddies from the Mtc and around the mission. I love my zone and the Missionaries in it. We got a new elder in the Apt. He's a little bit of a liar but Im starting to warm up to him. He kinda reminded me of my myself. He doesn't really Know why he is out here and that was one of the questions that went through my head the first week. I gave him some advise and now he's doing well. I'm out here cause the Lord has commanded us to and I love to do missionary work. My testimony has strengthened so much since the first day at the MTC and being out in the field. I love to see the changes in my Investigators lives. We have another solid Investigator Richard. He ran into us as we were riding bikes and now he wants his girlfriend and him to take the lessons and come to church I can't wait to meet up with them. This week has been Awesome with some stress cause of the baptisms. 

How were the Baptisms on Saturday? do you have photos?

The baptism were so awesome. The first one Brother Heeters was the most Spiritual baptism I have ever been to and took part in. The spirit was so strong. Brother Heeter is a Guy that doesn't show any emotion and to see him crying with his wife made me so happy that I helped him get to that point. I love that family so much. Elder Beard and I gave the Missionary Presentation and the spirit was so strong during the first Vision we both started to cry and a lot of people started to cry too. That baptism was awesome and that is why I am out here to Bring people closer to Christ.

Brother Warners was a lot different then Heeters. At Heeters there was like 90 people and brother Warner had about 11 people, but the spirit was still really strong. He was a former cop and has 2 younger sons and HE is such a good guy. Im so proud of him.

Yes I have pictures I'll send you them soon.

How's progress with the Mexican Lady? What's her name?
She's going good we are still trying to get her a ride to church and we'll prob drop by her house tomorrow. Her name is Salidia.

Funniest moment?

So Brother Heeter is like 450 pounds and the guy that was baptizing him wasn't very big. So during the baptism dunk the guy dropped him in the water, that was pretty funny.

Have you ate any other interesting foods?

Nope just romen and freezer food hahah. But were going to that Mexican home on Thanksgiving so that should be fun.

After Thanksgiving:

How are you?

I'm doing really well, this week was a little slow. Not much work happened because of the holiday.


Did you survive the Thanksgiving feast?

Yeah we ended up not going to the spanish home. So we just had a traditional Thanksgiving with some members. It was way good I love the Browns. We played a lot of B-ball and games which was really fun. Oh i also took a 2 hr nap and that never happens.


Is it cooling down there?

Yeah its pretty cold here Like 56 right now. We have to wear Jackets now. But its not bad.

How was your week?

Pretty slow. Probably the best thing that happened this week was the random members giving us money I love it. This week has been really slow and we did a lot of walking cause we're low on miles with the car and elder Beards bike broke. We met a crazy lady that said she can see into the future so that was pretty interesting and now she's a potential Investigator. Slow week.


Any baptisms scheduled soon?

Nope hopefully Robert and Mike will be baptized soon


How's Brother Heeter doing?

He's doing great. We still visit him every once in a while but he's moving soon so were helping them pack.


Any progress with the mexican lady?

Its really hard to get her to church cause our church starts at 8 and she doesn't want to wake up that early. So im pretty bummed about that.

So what was the funniest event? Well we do a lot of biking and Elder Beard and I were going off some jumps and I got like 4 ft of air and Elder beard totally ate it right on his face, so that was really funny.

Spiritual event? Probably giving a blessing to Brother Stout in church yesterday. 

Happiest? Beard getting his bike on Saturday and biking all day.

Oh and we also got to ride in a sand rail on thanksgiving that was really fun.

Best and worst food?

We had some really good turkey hahah nothing really bad other then the freezer food i eat everyday. Greasy mess.

What your fav moment of the week?

Probably talking to that crazy lady about the future and meteors coming to Surprise, AZ  hahah it was really funny

Anything else interesting you want to share?

This week was really hard and tiring. I also gave a talk in Sacrament about honesty that went really well. The spirit was so strong during my talk.

I love you and I'm so thankful for everything Mom and Dad.

Elder Trent Anderson