Blog Archives - Adventures of Elder Anderson x2

Puerto Rico BLACKOUT!

9/26/2016

COOL BEACH

Hey it was a crazy week! There was a big explosion in a power plant and the whole island had no water or power for 2 days! It wasn't too bad but sleeping in the heat was insane!

We had started contacting all of the places we haven't entered in and they are gigantic houses. They had the coolest views of the ocean from their house. I'll send a pic but we were hoping to find at least one person but it was tough. They didn't really want anything but we did find this Athiest named J that was so cool with us and invited us in. He is going to college right now. It made me so confused because we have this guy here that doesn't believe in Christ but he is following the example of Christ much better than people that do believe in him! I was so happy for him but also made me want to follow Christ's example more.

We found this one lady the other day named M. She is from the Dominican Republic and she invited us in. She is a strong believer and goes to church. We shared with her that this message will forever change her life for the better and that she can know if its true. She is excited to read and pray. We go back tomorrow.

I'm really excited for General Conference. It will be good to hear what a Prophet of God and the Apostles have recieved from God for us. When we really understand that they have been truly called of God -like Moses or Abraham- Conference is much more entertaining! When I get back I want to see it in the Conference Center. All the members here are sooo shocked that I have never seen it there!

OK - Love you all! Transfers are next week - I think I'll be staying!

Elder Cody Anderson
Puerto Rico San Juan Mission

VIEW FROM THE ROOFTOP

Mexican Independence Day

9/26/2016

Mom and Dad!
Well I feel like I just wrote to you guys so I will write a short one!
Thursday we had a Noche Mexicana! Celebrating there independence. I was the only white dude there so I wore my cowboy belt and a big sombrero! Everyone loved it! We came with investigators and all in all 6 investigators showed up to the activity! They all loved it and they met alot of people from the ward.
On Sunday I had to prepare a talk. I talked about having faith in the Atonement. It was super fun just to go up there and talk about the needs of the people and see that an inspired message can change a life. Alot of the people told me it was the right thing that they needed in this moment. I felt super proud that I can change (with the help of the spirit) lives and give people hope for a better world and life. I then had to train the ward to not do things that are bad in front of investigators haha! I hope we get more support from the ward! We had 4 people come to church too and they loved the messages and want to keep coming! We could have a baptism this Sunday but I'm not sure.

I can't believe its General Conference this weekend! WOW that went by fast! (**right now Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi just came on in the computer store and I can't concentrate - HAHA!!) The messages of the Profeta and other general authorites are insprired and are here to help us. Study hard and listen to answers and miracles!

Today I bought a toaster to carry with me around the mission! I miss toasted bread in the morning!!!

I love you so much! Thank you for being the best parents ever!

Elder Carson Anderson
Mexico Monterrey West Mission

Studying the Sacrament

9/21/2016

Mom and Dad!
This week went by so so fast! I can't believe I hit 14 months in the mission. With our new area we are working hard with finding people to teach. We did a speacial fast to find people to teach and it was very successful. We found this lady named M and she is very receptive. She accepted baptism and accepted to come to church. This Sunday we tried to call ALL of our investigators to get them to church but no one was answering so I was a little mad and wanted someone so bad in church. I walked into the chapel and there sat Maria waiting for us! HALLELUJIA! I was so happy! She had a great time BUT the talks were horrible! UGH!!

Another miracle was we found out that there is a dry Mormon! She has been living with her boyfriend for forever and that is why she can't get baptized. I guess recently she isn't living with him and said that the only way we will get back together is if we get marrried because I'm getting baptized! WOW we thought she was a member but I guess NOT! We are going to start working with her on Thursday!

I read about the sacrament on Sunday before church. It really gave a lot of detail about the authority and blessing and why we take it and what it means. During the sacrament I reflected and pondered on what I read and I literally felt like the Holy Ghost just came and sat in my body bearing witness that this ordinance is true and that God is all about order in his church!

I bet you liked the video! I went on divisions and we had a great time! I had to give a baptism interview which was cool and very spiritual.

I'm so sad. I've always wanted to go to Def Leppard and see my favorite dude Rick Allen! WHY do you go to Alaska THEN a Def Leppard concert... are you trying to hurt me? hah a!! I bet it was SICK!

How about them cowboys!! Great to see them beat the skins! Glad to see them winning and hearing great news with this new quarterback! I hope he tears it up! If you could send me through email the game stats so at least I know how well the players are doing.

I got bit by a mosquito this week and I have a virus called Dengue or something like that. I get red polka dots all over my back and stomach and arms and legs! It doesn't hurt but its just wierd! haha

I love you so much!! I'm thankful for my family! I have alot of pride for you guys and everyone in Monterrey knows that. Have fun in Romania! Keep doing the small and simple things to bless the lives of others and yourselves!

GO COWBOYS!

Elder Carson Anderson
Mexico Monterrey West Mission

Zone Conference on Personal Revelation

9/19/2016

MY COMPANION WITH AN IGUANA

This week was really cool and tough.
We had a really cool zone meeting and we talked about Personal Revelation. Revelation can come in 3 different ways. Like a lightbulb: instantly come to us, or like the horizon of the sun: slowly comes to us, or its like a really foggy area. We have to walk with faith first through the fog, and then God will bless us because of our faith to move forward

Elder Zamora and I were contacting and we found this family. They are a young family and they loved talking to us. They wanted us to teach them right away. The lesson was too good to be true. The thing is they are either golden investigators or members of the church pulling our chains because their questions and answers were perfect. Either way, I'm happy we found them because if they are members we can help them come back and if they are investigators we can help them gain the blessings of Baptism and much more blessings like eternal families etc.

Kinda of a sad week too because one of our investigators attempted to take his life the other day. We went over there super fast and we shared 1 Cor. 10:13 I think it was and then we shared Ether 12:27. We pretty much shared that these scriptures are explaining that God gives us trials and there is no trial or temptation from Satan without an exit and that exit is humbling yourself and following our Savior and living his Gospel. Taking your life isn't the exit.

So I was feeling a little messed up the other day and I told the symptoms to the mission doc and she said it could be Zika or Dengue. Haha so that kinda blows. She said it can gradually get worse or stay mild. I sure hope it stays mild and I think it will. It has been 2 days with the same pain and it hasn't gotten worse and it takes like 5 -10 for it to go away. But I'm good- don't worry.

Elder Cody Anderson
Puerto Rico San Juan Mission

THE AVOCADOS HERE ARE HUGE!!

Checking out the New Area

9/14/2016

Companion Elder Espinosa

Mom and Dad-
Wow! What an amazing week! My companion is Elder Espinosa and he is from Merida Yucatan! My last two comps have been from Merida. He is a great guy and loves to work! This area is HUGE! I can't believe it. I think I could stay here for the rest of my mission and still have a place where I haven't been. I'm nervous but we will see how it goes. We found alot of people. A ton of people that have families that are members but kids that aren't so we have a ton of work to help these teens get baptized and activate the family.

My first week as DL - it was pretty stressful. I have to train, call almost every night and give tips. My district is super cool and I'm not worried about them at all. There is a new Elder named Elder White (I call him White goodman) haha- he is from South Jordan and knows Elder Andriese very well AND Zach Hulse! So thats cool! We talk alot and I help him with his first week out! He is progressing so well!

What a great time you had Dad! It looked like you had awesome weather and great fishing! There is no question you're the best fly fisherman that a lot of people are asking for YOUR flies! You should've told them that it was the power of the priesthood and not the fly! haha I can't wait to go and make my wrist sore from catching fish pigs!

Well... yesterday was 9/11! God Bless America! I miss my land and my liberty! We take things so easily for granted and when we are gone we look back and think of all the blessings that we had that we hadn't paid much attention to.

As a zone we played soccer and a Nerf war! It gets gnarly sometimes!

Ahh crap! Freakin Cowboys! Who did they play against!? And its always a good feeling and great to hear that BYU lost!

Thank you for everything! I can't believe we're almost halfway through September! Time is flying! I ask for your prayers to help me through this year to keep me positive.

Elder Carson Anderson
Mexico Monterrey Mission

District/Zone Leader Training

We Finally Get to Help Someone!

9/12/2016

Hey this week was was better for us! A few more people listened to us and told us we could come back.

We contacted alot this past week and found this couple named H and C. I guess you could say they are "dry mormons" which basically means they know almost everything about the lessons and the church but don't want to get baptized. H was talking to us alot about his hobby of diving with a spear gun out in the ocean and spearing huge fish. He showed us some pics and it looks really cool. They have had really awesome experiences with missionaries. They love it when we come around. They want us to help them paint their house and do other stuff. I was so happy because we are always asking the people if we can help them or do something for them and they always say no. So I'm pumped to help someone!!

Also our investigator J has alot of horses and he says he has to cut grass alot to feed them. We asked if we could help him and he brought us and gave us machetes and we were cutting a ton of grass. It was fun using a machete. I might buy one but not sure yet. After we went to his house and he said he had some doubts about tithing. We shared lots of scriptures from the Bible and Book of Mormon showing him the commandment and then expained to him how we should follow this commandment correctly. Every person can see the wrongful use of this commandment in other churches so he was wondering how the Church is doing with it. I was happy that we could definitely say that there aren't problems and that not one person in the church recieves money for what they do. It is for building God's Kingdom on the earth and much more.

The church is perfectly true. Read your scriptures, say your prayers, and go to church so you can have that strong foundation.

Elder Cody Anderson
Puerto Rico San Juan Mission

Someone's pet turtles

We made half American half Latino food - it was GOOD!

Reunited with My Homeboy

9/6/2016

This past week I went on an exchange with my homeboy Elder Denney in Mayaguez. Hahaha - you can imagine how that went...

but anyways we gave a blessing to this kid. His family is part member so it was cool to talk to them. They were telling us that when they bought the house it was filled with bad spirits and they remember some members that came and blessed the house and it all went away. Cool story..that stuff interests me but I will never will do those crazy games though in my life. I would like to see a ghost but then I would probably die of shock after. Haha!

Anyways this past week was super tough. We contacted all week and not one person let us in. I was super discouraged and didn't know what was going on. We were praying so much and so hard to help us find at least one person to let us in. It got to Saturday and the first house we contacted that day the guy let us in! We were so relieved and happy. Finally we can share this amazing message. The guy's name is A.R. and he loves baseball. We were explaining to him our purpose as missionaries and the blessings he can receive. He went to go get a photo of him and his wife when they were in High School. He was saying how much he loves her and wants to see her. She died I think about 20 years ago. I felt so so happy when he was sharing us stories of his wife from High school and their 40 years together. I felt even happier when we could testify that we are 100% sure that he will see his wife and that he has an opportunity to be with her for Eternity. It was a tough week but it ended with a stronger testimony of the Plan of Salvation.

Well Love you all! Go Dallas Cowboys haha

Elder Cody Anderson
Puerto Rico San Juan Mission

Heading Back to San Bernabe

9/5/2016

Mom and Dad
This week was a great week. We taught alot of people. First we were teaching a dude about baptism and we taught how there are millions of people and different ways to baptize. Who out of all of them has the authority of God to do it? He sat there and said that is a great question... WHO? We taught how Joseph Smith recieved the priesthood from the apostles and now the authority is on the earth today. He accepted to be baptized! It was super cool!

Also yesterday in church our investigators finally came! We ended up having 5 in church and we have a baptism next week! (which I won't be there for). One of the investigators said "from the testimonies and the principles of the gospel class...they answered all my questions...I believe we are in the true church" I was so stoked!

Well, I'm leaving Los Elizondo and I'm heading back to San Bernabe with an Elder Espinoza? I don't know him yet BUT I will be a DISTRICT LEADER! Can you believe that?? I don't know what I'm going to do but we will see what happens.

The time I have had here was so great! I baptized the people that I needed to find and I believe thats why I was here. I also helped so many know the importance of the gospel in this area and so many are blessed by me and my companions! A lot of them prayed that we wouldn't have changes! Haha!! It is pretty sad to leave them but I know that they will grow their testimonies of the restored gospel!

I can't believe dad is in Alaska! Oh man that makes me so sick!! haha! I miss fly fishing so much. Plus the Dallas Cowboys are about to start! I know they are the best! I love you guys so much! I'm thankful for everything and I miss you!

Love you
Elder Carson Anderson
Mexico Monterrey West Mission

Elder Cody W. Anderson
SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO MISSION
cody.anderson@myldsmail.net

Puerto Rico San Juan Mission
Urb. Jardines de Caparra
#500 Calle Marginal Norte
Bayamon PR 00959
Puerto Rico

Elder Carson R Anderson
MEXICO MONTERREY WEST MISSION
carson.anderson@myldsmail.net

Mexico Monterrey West Mission
Calle Chiapas y Concha Espino # 303
Col. Roma Sur
64700 Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
Mexico

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