Blog Archives - Adventures of Elder Anderson x2

Baptism, Transfers & TESTIMONY

11/28/2016

Mom and Dad...
This week was so awesome!! Our investigator put the baptismal date for the 26 of November (Saturday) at 4:00 pm so we had everything planned and she was super prepared. ANNNNNNDDDD then she calls and says she can't get baptized on Saturday now because she has to work and she doesn't get off until 7:00. OH CRAP! Then I thought- why can't we do it at 8:30 at night? WE DID IT! It was mostly missionaries at the service, the bishop and another member and that was it. Haha! It was actually super spiritual and she was super happy! She then got confirmed the next day during sacrament meeting! WOOO HOO!!

Well I finished the Book of Mormon in Spanish last week. I knew I needed to pray BUT I felt impressed to actually read Moroni 10:3-5 again.
"Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. (Moroni 10: 3-5)

The bolded part really hit me and I felt like I needed to think about how merciful the Lord has been to ALL of us. All the way down to Adam. I pondered and I finally went to the other room and I prayed to my Father in Heaven. I seriously prayed like 8 times (I NEEDED TO KNOW!!) and I can tell you after each prayer the fire feeling in my heart grew stronger and stronger. My faith was building after each prayer until finally I KNEW it was from the Holy Ghost telling me that this book is true! It is the word of God! I've never felt so happy! Jesus Christ is my Savior and has been so merciful to me in my own life. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only church on the earth that has the fullness of the gospel!

Well... we have transfers ANNNNDDD drumroll please..... I will be leaving to an area called Real de Palmas in San Nicholas. I will be District Leader AND TRAINING A NEW MISSIONARY!!! I've never felt so nervous in my life! I feel so unprepared and we both are not going to know our area at all. I'm super nervous. Please help me and pray for me that we can have the success we need! I don't know who my greenie is but I hope it will all work out.

I love you guys so much!! You guys make my life the best! I miss you guys more than anything. fly fishing ... dallas cowboys ... it all sounds so good right now BUT I've got some stuff I gotta do before I come back to all that.

Elder Carson Anderson
Mexico Monterrey West Mission

New Bishop = New Goals in Puerto Rico

11/28/2016

Zone conference with Elder Gonzales

Hey- Thanksgiving was honestly really awesome here. We actually didn't have anyone invite us from our ward until the day of Thanksgiving. But before that we got a call from this guy named S. He is the 9/11 fireman that helped us with a ride about 2 weeks ago and he invited us to have dinner with him! The food was soo good!! He's American so he of course had stuffing and turkey and gravy. My comp says in Mexico they don't celebrate Thanksgiving so he said he loved it!! The guy is really cool and I'm happy we met him. The only thing he said he hates about me is that I'm a Dallas Cowboys Fan! HAHA!! He is from New York so you can guess which team he loves..(if you can't guess and you are like Syd who doesn't know anything about sports..be likes the New York Giants). He had the game on in the corner and I peeked a little at the first half and then we left!

So yesterday I was really happy with what happened in the ward. They had ward conference and changed the Bishop. After the meeting the Stake President had us meet with the new Bishopric and we got them right on track by first getting their mind set in the missionary work and to start making goals. I hope we see some progress. Its kinda hard to work with the members here because almost all of them are almost dying so they can't really walk with us (HAHA) but anyways, as long as they give us references thats cool!!

This past week we had a Zone Conference and Elder Gonzalez from the 70 and his wife taught us for 4 hours and it was really cool. They gave us lots of ideas on how to work with and get members involved and also helping investigators solving their own problems to be able to go to church. Sister Boucher cooks every Zone Conference and the food was amazing!! It was taco soup with guacamole and she made this carmel dip for apples that was soon good!! But anyways, Christmas is coming up and Gnar Shredding time - so mom, go out on the slopes for me just 1 time. (and send me a video HAHAHAHA!!)

I love you all!
Elder Cody Anderson
Puerto Rico San Juan Mission

So You're Tellin' Me There's a Chance . . .

11/22/2016

Nothing more American than KFC and a Def Leppard t-shirt!

Mom and Dad,
This week was amazing. I have a testimony that if you work hard miracles will happen. If we pray for help miracles will happen! We have been praying for a miracle this transfer... but first I want to talk to you about what happened on Friday.
Friday we had a leadership conference AND Elder Valenzuela from the seventy came and talked with us. It was super powerful. He talked on how burdens make us into the leaders we need to be and ONLY the atonement can shape us into what we need to be. I have a testimony that this is true. With all of the set backs that I have had- I have changed from them and have a deeper meaning looking back at why I had these burdens and set backs. God is perfect and so is his plan for each of us!

MIRACLE: Well..... we're going to have a baptism this Saturday and have her confirmed on Sunday just before the transfer ends! WOO HOO!!! A girl named M came up to us last week and told us she wants to get baptized- like it was nothing. I was shocked- like I didn't know what to do. BOOM!! A baptism just like that! She has been going to church for a long time but just didn't make her decision yet until now. Amazing! Also we found a lady that has alot of questions about what church is true. We taught her the restoration on how a 14 year old boy had that exact same question. On sunday we went to pick her up for church and she was all ready to go!

It was a great thing for me to reflect on the blessing that I have the family that I have... AND the Gospel! What are the odds of that?? Almost 1 out of a trillion (soooo you're telling me there´s a chance..... YEAAAA)
I just want to tell you that I am grateful to testify that Jesus is my Savior and that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and that he did see God and Jesus! I don't care how many times I will be rejected - I will do my best to testify with my terrible Spanish. HAHA!

THANKS for the package! I LOVE THE CANDY CORN and the jazz shirt and the seeds! WOW that's awesome! You're the best! AND WHOOOHOO HOW 'BOUT THEM COWBOYS!!! I'm amazed! I'm more excited to hear how the cowboys will do this thanksgiving than the food!

I love my family so much!! Con todo mi amor y gratitud a la mejor familia en el mundo... LA FAMILIA ANDERSON!!

Elder Carson Anderson
Mexico Monterrey West Mission

I am So Thankful for my SICK Family

11/22/2016

Elder Moss is going home - his family took Elder Anderson and Elder Herrera to lunch!

Hey this past week wasn't too surprising or interesting so my Email might be short but this past week we contacted alot and talked to alot of people. I met this guy named Carlos and he is a fisherman. He was cleaning his boat and we talked a bit about fly fishing which was cool. He says he fishes for dolphins haha!! But anyway, he wasn't sure if he wanted to hear our message but said we could try next week.

We also found this one old dude that wants us to come talk to him. He was a boxer and knows lots of stuff about it. He said that Manny "PACMAN" beat Floyd "Money" Mayweather and that it was rigged when he won. I remember that fight. Anyway he said he will read the pamphlet and then from there on we will see if he will progress and be willing to do the things he needs to do to be converted to Jesus Christ and his restored gospel.

I'm excited for Thanksgiving! Eladio will be cooking us food and I'm excited. I hope its as good as Grandpa Anderson's orange sliced turkey! But either way it will be a good day. There is actually an activity the Ward is doing on Thanksgiving Day at 5:30 in the morning!! We all go and have a testimony meeting of what we are thankful for early that day. I was honestly thinking about it the other day how thankful I am for my family. We honestly have the sickest big family out there. Awesome parents, sister, aunts, uncles cousins and we all know how to have fun. Where will you be going this year?

But have fun! Love you-

Elder Cody Anderson
Puerto Rico San Juan Mission

Transfers: STAYING in CABO ROJO

11/14/2016

Hey sorry this letter will be short. We didn't have much success this week. But it was cool to talk to our recent convert G. He will be in San Juan for 2 weeks and he asked us to give him Book of Mormos to hand out to his family members. He said he wants to learn how to do missionary work right now.

So we got the calls for the transfers and I will be staying here with the same companion Elder Herrera. I'm happy I stayed here. I will be here for Thanksgiving and Christmas so that's nice.

I was working with Elder Thornton last Friday and it was fun. It started to downpour and some guy helped us out with a ride. He was a really awesome guy. His name is Steve and he moved to Puerto Rico 8 years ago. He said he was one of the firemen in the 9/11 attack so it was cool to meet him. He doesn't know much spanish though. He said he was sooo happy helping us and just said he can't explain how he feels and then he asked for our number so he can call us and we can talk to him. I was really happy we met him. It was on Veterans Day and even though he hasn't served in the military I see him as a Veteran Fireman in the 9/11 attack.

Ok well I am Sooooo happy MY Dallas Cowboys are destroying and of course are Americas team.

ok well love you and miss you.

Elder Cody Anderson
Puerto Rico San Juan Mission

Articles of Faith #12

11/14/2016

We love being surprised with pictures from someone named Lupita in Monterrey!!

Mom and Dad
On Tuesday I was just so pumped about the elections that it was tough to sleep! It is so weird to be so interested in an election. So Trump, huh. He will do a great job and I will support him! When people ask me if I support him I just read the Articulos de Fe Number 12! and 1 Corinthians 15:52! READ IT!

This week we had a health conference and Doctor Heder came. And you know who his son is right? John Heder... Napoleon Dynamite... Blades of glory... Benchwarmers! It was amazing! His parents are the doctors for all of the missions in Mexico. We learned alot about keeping ourselves healthy (which I need) and keping us safe from danger. We started as a mission preparing for Christmas which is crazy!

One day we were walking and I saw a HUGE santa claus. So we contacted that house and we asked if we could sing a hymn and leave a prayer with your family. They let us in and it was awesome the feeling when its Christmas and everyone is willing to hear something about the birth of Jesus and how he is a blessing in our lives. I will definately be using this method everyday!

We had a conference on Sunday and Sister McConkie spoke... IN SPANISH. Ya she speaks better than I do - and Russel M Nelson. They are good! So that was our Sunday and a guy we randomly invited to church, that was drinking a little too much, showed up to church and asked if we would give him our Bible because he doesn't like the other one and wants to be in our church! hahha -Well... we will help you with that!
We confirmed Sergio and that was awesome to see support from the ward with my converts! They are doing great and are telling there friends about the gospel!

I would LOVE if you could send me DILL PICKLE seeds and black pepper seeds... also STARBURSTS! That sounds so good!!

I'm so so happy for my cowboys! They are killing it! Keep it going Cowboys- You're in my prayers!

I know this church is the only true church that has the Priesthood and Prophets and the guidence from God on the earth today. I know that with our experiences to help others out he will strengthen us and keep us going increasing our testimonies. I love this gospel and I wouldn't know where I would be without it!

Elder Carson Anderson
Mexico Monterrey West Mission

BAPTISM in Puerto Rico

11/9/2016

Hey - we finally got to write. Politics here are crazy. There are people partying out of there minds in the streets and I don't get why...its freaking politics!! HAHA!!

We had a cool experiance with G being Baptized. The water was sooooo cold and he lost his breath when he was baptized. He was really happy. He loves the Joseph Smith movie and is now reading all the other books from the Church to learn more and to strengthen his testimony. He is converted to the Lord. I'm excited to help him grow and learn more.

So we had been teaching E for about 3 months and she has not been coming to church. She has been reading the Book of Mormon like crazy but has never taken the step to go to Church. We dropped her for a bit but still kept in contact over the phone with her reading. We went back yesterday and now she has comitted to come to Sacrament meeting with us this week. I know if she does all these three things...Read, Pray and attend church she can recieve her answer.

Whooaaaaaa Trump wins!
Love you all!

Elder Cody Anderson
Puerto Rico San Juan Mission

HUGE Fire

11/7/2016

Mom and Dad,
This week went by too fast! It was a great week full of great experiences. First off while we were walking down a street I saw a lady with a HUGE fire and I walked past thinking "how cool- that's a huge fire"... BUT I felt I needed to go back so I went and talked with her. She was making tamales and I told her how much I LOVE TAMALES!! I helped her cut wood and while we were there we talked about the plan that God has for her. She accepted to hear more. Later that week we taught her about the plan and she said that it was beautiful and that she has never been baptized before and she wants to be.

We are currently teaching the grandaughter of MDC. She is really understanding the plan of salvation and understanding the need to follow it! M is inviting everyone on her street to listen to our message haha!! Thats SICK!!!

J got confirmed this week. She said she came back from something important to give us the food appointment on Saturday and also come to church! She is also inviting people to listen to our message which is so great because that will help her testimony grow.

We have alot of people we are teaching and I feel like they don't understand the importance of going to church. They feel like they can hear a message and thats all but they don't want to make commitments. As missionaries we are to help people make covenants NOT teach ONLY a beautiful message! That would make us like all the rest of the churches. We as missionaries invite people to make covenants and help people to achieve the goal!

I'm so happy about how the cowboys are doing!!! They are doing great! Even though Tony Romo is my favorite QB they are doing amazing right now without him! Bittersweet choice!

I love you so much! I'm glad everyone is doing great! 50 more days until I get to see you (call on Christmas) haha! I'm glad the halloween bash went great! I know this church is true. I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and that the Book of Mormon with the Bible are powerful tools to use to gain more knowledge!
Have a great week!

Elder Carson Anderson
Mexico Monterrey West Mission

Rollin' in a New Corolla

11/1/2016

Hey -Halloween was really cool! I couldn't write yesterday cause I had to drive to Bayamon to get a new car. 2016 Toyota Corolla that only had 6 miles.

We had another week of contacing and trying to find less actives. I had an exchange with Elder Corales from Panama. Dad - He said his dad also served in the same mission as you but I don't know if you would know him. His dad is from Peru. That would be sick if you were comps with him.

We have explained the Apostasy very well with E but she still hasn't been taking the step to go to Church. She needs to go to really get an answer. We have done our part. She is reading alot but if she really wants to progress she will do more. This really is the only church with the Power of God and I am happy to know it and share it.

Well G should be baptized this week. He didn't have any problems with the Word of Wisdom - just iced tea but he says he will drop it and never drink it again. He is really happy he met us and is sad for the day we get changed. He said he doesn't want us to forget him and of course I won't.

We had a zone activity yesterday playing kickball and it was even funner cause the ground was super muddy when we got there and you couldn't run without slipping and faceplanting in it.. haha!!

The ward party was also good. I saw a member from Mayagues that I met on my exchange with Elder Denney and he gave us some references from him so we will be passing by today.

ok well thats all this past week - love you!

Elder Cody Anderson
Puerto Rico San Juan Mission

House from Van Helsing

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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