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Language...eat...Language....eat

7/30/2015

Yo Familia! I'm just gonna say how much I want to get out of the MTC! I am so excited to get to Puerto Rico and start the work! Not much has happened this past week- It's just been the usual MTC day which consists of Language...eat...language...eat...Doctrine..more language..and more language! I'm getting to the point where I can understand like 40% of what they are saying. But then again, that's when they slow down for me because they see I'm just a gringo trying to speak to them. haha!

I was talking to this guy from Peru and he was so happy to hear that dad served in Trujillo! He was a really cool guy.. and it was even cooler just to know that my Spanish is starting to flow and it makes me more excited when it starts spitting out like english!

We watched this awesome MTC devotion from M. Russel Ballard. One thing that stuck out to me is that the goal for a missionary should be to talk to at least 20 people a day. When he said that, I made a personal goal to try and fulfill that the next time we go out. Another video I want everyone to watch is by DAVID A. BEDNAR : THE SPIRIT. Its an awesome story and gives direction about the promptings and how the Spirit guides. I've been asking questions about the Spirit and this video was my answer!

Tomorrow is gonna be a huge day! For the first time I get to go on a split with the missionaries that are in the area. It will be my first real experiance of knocking doors and walking for miles. I'm excited but I'm sure I wont understand their spanish but its gonna be an awesome time!

In my scipture study this week I was reading about Korihor and him preaching false doctrine. The people send him to Alma, and Korihor went off about how there will be no Christ. Then by the power of God, Korihor is struck dumb! Just a cool thought about my reading.

I am probably going to send my I-pod home cause its all hick LDS music haha! I do really love the song Homeward Bound! That's my favorite so far!

I would also like it if i could get some Nike Sandals.. not the flip flops! Por Favor.

Not much happended this week... wish I had more time to write but I love you and miss you all!

Elder Anderson

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"Sup!"

7/23/2015

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What up G's!! It's been another good week but I just want to get out of here and get to Puerto Rico! I still can't get out of my habit of saying "Sup".. haha-- I've said it to the President a couple of times and I don't realize it until all of my district tells me! I'm still a G though. haha

On Monday, 168 Jamaicans flew in to come to the temple. 50 people are coming for the first time and getting their endowments. 20 families are getting sealed and the rest are coming back for the first time in 10 years. They all look pumped to be here and it was really cool to hear they knew who Sister Loveland is. They say she is doing good!

Last Friday we went to the University to go teach students. It feels more like a mission when we do this. We were doing good at the University. The people are so interested and commited to read!

While we were there, this crazy man (literally crazy) was screaming at the top of his lungs at us saying we don't believe in God and that we were Satan. He said more stuff but of course I didn't understand it. He also said he was the President of the University - so he IS insane. I thought it was funny! Then a man walks up to us while this guy is screaming and this man wants to go to the temple and was wondering how he could. We gave him numbers for him to call the missionaries to start lessons. He was excited to start. He also spoke English, which was like heaven cuz I haven't heard much English in weeks!

I wish we could have taught him! Since we aren't set apart for that mission we can't teach and baptize the investigators. I would have loved to see the man hopefully progress in the gospel!

I am finding a love for the Book of Mormon more and more everyday. I wish I had the desire to read them more when i was in High School! I now understand them more and know how important this book is. The stories are amazing! I have been reading in Alma about Alma and Amulek teaching the Zoramites. The wicked people don't listen to them and they are full of hatred. They bind Alma and Amulek and throw them in prison and they are to watch the people that believed their words be burned. It was terrible, but they both knew Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ were accepting them in their arms, for they are saved! I know that to be true! It makes me want to endure to the end. To be able to have an eternal family in the Celestial Kingdom is the best gift we have ever received!

Then next God gave Alma and Amulek power to break the Bands that were tied and then the prison walls fell! That's the coolest thing ever! I would go Bonkers if I saw that!!!

The RZR looks awesome! I'm not suprised Dad bought a street kit for it!

Mom, the blog looks good! And don't edit out all of the funny and inappropriate things! I still need to show my personality didn't go away.. haha!

My roommates are wondering and laughing about why Sydney sent me that sloth picture. Haha i thought it was funny!

I miss Jovi! I see lots of yorkies here and then I think of how dumb all of them are compared to Jovi!

E-mailing is only for 40 min. Not very much time and I type so fast to get everything done so I don't care if I have typos! (mom's note: yes, I fixed the typos. It takes me FOREVER!)

To make you happy, I want you to know I can't go to sleep without my retainer at night!

I heard I could call you at the airport but I'm not sure! That would be cool! Three more weeks and I'm outta here!

Love you all,
Elder Anderson

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Week TWO!

7/18/2015

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The days are feeling like they are going by fast but I've never been more tired in my life! We sometimes nap during our gym time just to feel better. It's hard but I hope I get used to it!

This week we went to the park again and we weren't finding anyone! We prayed and asked if we could have someone put in front of us that needs the gospel. Then 5 minutes later, 4 ladies walk up to us and are wanting to go to church! I couldn't really understand them so we took them to our teacher to translate for us! it was a very cool experience!

We also got to walk to the Store which was nice because we finally got to leave the area! As we were walking, I've never seen more motorcycles in my life and the driving is terrible and scary. We were walking around this car to get to the sidewalk and I almost got hit by a motorcycle. The place reminded me of Mexico with the shops everywhere!

A couple days ago.. all the natives left to their missions. It was kinda sad because I got to be close with all of them and thats where I would practice my Spanish. It was really fun talking with them!

I became really good friends with a missionary from Monterrey Mexico! He was pumped when he heard that is where Carson was serving! When we go visit Carson's mission I told him I'll see him there!

Today we went through the temple. A Temple worker with a terrible english accent was triying to say Elder BEACH... Elder Denney, Elder Belleza, and I couldn't stop laughing! We were in tears.

I AM LOVING ALL THE E-MAILS FROM EVERYONE!! KEEP THEM COMING - IT REALLY HELPS.

I thought I was going to be homesick but I am doing really good and not having a problem at all! I'm just really struggling with Spanish.. but I'll get it!

Love and miss you all!

Elder Cody Anderson

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#MyDominicanRepublican

7/9/2015

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Hey its been a crazy/awesome week! First day we come in and are already learning Spanish! And I told you that my companion is Elder Garcia and it isn't him. They changed it and I'm in a trio with Elder Denney and Elder Belleza! We have so much fun together! Elder Belleza is from Idaho and you know Elder Denney.

The first few days felt like weeks! The days were so long and so tiring! There is a teacher here that only teaches in Spanish. His name is Maestro Cuevas. When he teaches, all us North Americans have to wear a headset so someone can translate. I don't like that because i want to understand him so bad, and not hear it from someone that is terrible at translating.

The language is really frustrating me.. but for only being in for a week I feel like I'll be fine. I've learned alot and have already been trying to teach in Spanish. I can understand what they are saying.. I just can't put words into a sentence to reply to them. That's what I want to be able to get to soon.

My favorite thing that has happened so far is as companions, there is a park across the street. We go to the park every other night and talk to people about the gospel and how it blesses us. At first I thought this was nuts cause we don't know how to speak espanol and we are talking to strangers that speak really fast! But it was so fun and the people were really nice. That day was the 3rd of July.. haha-- so only my second day! We were handing out "The Restoration" Pamphlets. And most the people said they loved it and wanted to know more.

I have been really praying to know what the Spirit feels like. I hear everyone say they felt the Spirit and I'm just sitting not feeling anything. I'm sure I have felt the Spirit before, I just don't know it. But last night I finally knew what it felt like.

We went to the park again and this time we were handing out Book of Mormons. There was almost the whole MTC there and it seemed like everyone has already been talked to. But we wanted to speak with people so we left the park (with small permission) and went down the street and we saw 2 guys sitting on a bench. We approached them and said "Tiene un moment0?" And they were so nice and had us sit down with them and talk to them. I was just sitting there trying to talk to this guy and I can't understand anything he is saying so I just said my testimony to him, and he looked so happy. He was excited to read it and I felt so good. All i could do was bear my testimony, but it was the best thing to do. I hope they take time to read it. I've noticed the people here actually are reading what we give them. I was shocked because in the States.. if someone is handing out pamphlets.. I never take the time to read them. But they all look interested which makes it more fun to go to the park.

Food is really good. I think I've gained about 6 pounds this week.. lots of rice and beans!

Also waking up in the morning is sooooooo hard!! haha

The Believing Christ book is really good so far! Thanks for giving it to me. And for once in my life.. I like reading the scriptures and reading all the cool stories!

Here are some cool pictures!

Love and Miss you Lots

Elder Cody Anderson

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I MADE IT!

7/1/2015

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Hey! I just got to the MTC and it is already awesome! I have a way cool group and we are always laughing! When we walked out of the airport it felt like i was sitting in a sauna! It was so hot. Then we get in this huge van with all us elders to go to the MTC and the roads are insane. Drivers are cutting people off and speeding like crazy. I think we all counted about 8 crashes we should have been in! My first Companian is Elder Garcia. He is from El Paso, Texas. He traveled with us all and he knows spanish so that will hopefully help me.
They are all speaking spanish to me which is crazy because I dont know how to respond - ha ha - but I'll get it!

Love you!

Elder Anderson

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