June 6th Letter

Oi!  It is so strange how fast time has truly gone.  I still feel like Jason and Joey are giving me a pep talk as we drive down the street to the MTC.  Then I realize that it has been 3 months since then!

This week was excellent.  We started off the week with FHE with a Family from the ward.  I have found that people from this ward love to hear from the ´´Newest´´ missionary the most by having him give the spiritual thought or talk about his family or anything.  So I try my hardest and talk as much as I can.  People have a hard time understanding that I only know so much. Besides have my vocab right now is words of the Church.  On Terça we had a ´´´Fast from English´´ All day we spoke portugues.  It was pretty difficult because like I said I only know a few words so I got used to pulling my dictionary in and out of my pocket.  However, on Wednesday when I woke up my thoughts were in Portugues.  It was so weird I was trying to think of what I needed just to pour a bowl of cearal and all I could think was portugues words.

On Wednesday we had a Zone conference which was super awesome.  I saw alot of people from Provo and the CTM that I hadn´t seen since they left or I left.  We found out that our new Mission President, President Souza will be coming on June 28th and will be beginning his three year service.  There are alot of things that missionaries are expecting to change and President Batt will be missed alot.  I felt like the Zone Conference was a good way to be fed both Spiritually and Physically.  It was just something I needed.  I have become pretty good friends with an Elder Wahl from Hillsboro, OR.  Who has been out a year longer than me.  Little did I know that he and I would be working together on Thursday ´´Northwesterners tearing up the Nordeste´´ (Sound Familiar Emily).  Elder Birdsall had a leadership meeting on Thursday so I went to another area to Work with Eldre Wahl and his companion Elder Baptista.  It was fun being able to work in another area and see what I could learn from other missionaries.  There are 180 missionaries here and the Americans are starting to get out numbered so we try and stick together.  When E. Birdsall and I met back up at the bus station he told me that we will most likely be working together for the next transfer. 

Friday I learned the baptismal challenge and E. Birdsall had me challenge basically everyone we had an appointment with.  The first was pretty difficult but by the end of the day it flowed like a song out of my mouth :) I was also told that I eat as much as horse by a brazilero.  I couldn´t help it though I was hungry and he was serving salgado. (brazilian hotpocket) .  It was pretty funny because this guy that called me a horse said it in english and it sounded so wierd.  The ´´R´´ sound in portugues is pronounced like an ´´H´´ so trying saying horse.

We teach our English class every saturday morning and its pretty fun.  I have been teaching it the last few weeks and I feel like I learn just as much as the Brazilian do.   I taught families one week and the weather this last.  They laugh that we have four seasons.  They have two.  The dry season and wet season. 

I have been discovered as the Elder that loves bolo aka Cake.  When members ask what we want for lunch we will say a dish and then I will add in Bolo. To my pleasure it is actually working haha.  We had a wedding this week for an investigator so we have been playing Wedding Planner.  Its actaully kind of fun.  After the wedding on Friday, they will be getting baptized which we are very excited for!  Yesterday was difficult, not because of the heat, not because of investigators, but because this lady from the ward kept feeding us like we were starving kids.  She just kept saying ´´take more take more´´ and if we didnt she would say ´´You don´t like my food´´ so we had to take it.  I told E. Birdsall we looked like two bowling balls rolling on home.  It pretty sure if I would have had one more bite it would have been the New York Pizza episode all over again for those of you who witnessed that. 

Well another flies by and before you know it another email from E. Anderson will be in your inbox.  Love you all and I thank you all for the prayers.  All the missionaries need them.  Love you! Tem um Boa Semana! Tchau!

Elder Anderson

Pictures:

1 E. Sivertson and I in Provo

2 Look whoes eating Football size avacados now Alicia!

May 30th Letter

Oi Everyone!  So my comp and I were talking about how it really does seem like yesterday that we were emailing!  Time really is flying by down here so its impossible to think what it will feel like when months start to become years yikes!  Well this week was definatly hard and hot.  The winter months ( sounds wierd i know) are starting to role in meaning humidity and heat all day and night.  It was about 85 degrees everyday.  I´ll be honest in telling you all that the missionary tan is coming in quite nicely.  I have the sleeves, the watch and the neck line to prove it all.  Monday night there was another rain storm that came in and Elder Birdsall and I luckily were about a 25 minute walk from our casa.  Turns out running wouldnt have helped so we ended up sitting under a couple trees for about 15 minutes because we didnt have our umbrellas with us.  It was kinda funny because theres to men in ties basically hugging the trees to stay dry.  We had alot of funny experiences this week to.  For one we have a new district with alot of Americans which is pretty nice.  They asked me to stand introduce myself as did everyone and say a few things about myself.  I said who I was, Where i was from, how long I have been out, and ´´I have 5 sisters, 3 of which our married, 1 is engaged and 1 that has a boyfriend´´ alot of sighs came out. 

One of the days we were walking to our lunch appointment and some guy came out of the little river that runs through the area.  Turns out he was catching his lunch with his hands.  He may or may not have been drunk but either way it was very funny when he gave us a toothless grin.  He seemed very excited for the fish but i hope he knows that the river is used for the garbage flow as well as sewage mmmm sounds yummy.  We were also approached by a few new creatures.  BATS!  They come out around dusk and you can hear them all over the sky.  Its so scary because they fly right above your head and will sit on your backpack if your not moving.  I may or may not have let out a few yelps this week because of that. One night it was also interesting because we were walking, sweating our eye brows off when a car pulled up and asked if we wanted a ride.  They people opened the door and we thought they were members of the church.  Turns out they were´nt just a nice couple that said they see us  walking all the time and decided to pick us up and let us rest for once. What a blessing! So if you ever see missionaries walking on the street in the rain of blistering sun! pick them up!Elder Birdsall filled me in on something that really interested me this week.  Before the mission he was in can you guess it? High School Musical 3!  so i had my fair share of questions to ask.   From that point I began to sing all the songs for him in which he really did enjoy. 

This weekend was stake conference and we tried to get alot of investigators to go.  It was a little let down when only two showed up.  The best part was getting to the stake center.  On another ´´indiana jones´´ aka city bus that was rented out to only those going to conference.  I think we confused a few people when we would go to the bus stops.  We basically had to hold the hands of few investigators to get to the stake center because at first they weren´t planning on it until we said we would go with them.  Saturday night we were running all of trying to get them a ride and for us to get money for bus fare since the rented out bus was only for sunday.  We ended up getting them there just during the beginning.  I knew it would all work out because when were running around that night I saw an old man on his bike peddling up a hill listening to ´´i gotta a feeling´´ by black eyed peas.  I figured it was a sign haha.  This week just flew by and the days for even faster.

I continue to feel blessed for the experiences and blessing that have and will be recieved.  Unfortunatly we didnt have our baptism this week because of a few other things that we need to teach her.  So were crossing our fingers for next weekend.   I love you all and see myself growing alot.  I´ll hit my 3 month this week which is definatly hard to believe.  Remember to count your many blessing and also be grateful for the life that our Heavenly Father has given you.  If your not grateful maybe your doing something wrong.  Tuda Bem Family and Friends!

Elder Anderson  

´´And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;´´  I Tim 1:12

OLAAAAAA, family and friends!    From nice and sunny 85 degree Fortaleza!  So I learned something new about this city everyday the sun comes up at 6 and sets at 6 that never changes! EVER!   other than that.  It was a very good week this week! Lots of work, lots of sweat, lots of walking, and lots of people being blessed. 

To start we have a baptism scheduled for this weekend. WHOOP #1.  We´ve been working with Joelma for about 3 weeks and all last week we were trying to commit her.  She kept having doubts but on Friday she came to us and said that she has this feeling that if she doesnt she will be making a big mistake! When she said Yes! I jumped up and started saying somethings in English! Of coarse she gave me this funny look and all I could think of saying in Portugues was ´´Padabens!´´  (Congrats).  Definatly the highlight of the week.  Theres another couple that weve been working with and they said after they get married, which is in a couple semanas,  they too would like to get baptized.  Its all about the blessing that people start to recognize in thier lives and how changes really do affect whoe they are destined to be.  I have started to really invest in the work and figure the language will come when it does.  Just be patient and work my tail off. 

That language is still a little difficult but I have officially started to dream in Portugues! Which is the weirdest experience ever!  My accent has also started to change to so thats also a funny thing. 

This week in Ceara (State of Fortaleza) the state team will be playing in the Cupo do Brasil.  So everyone is going crazy.  Saturday night we were approached by a few too many drunks that always have the best things to say to us. The average wardrobe for a fortalezan man is   boardshirts, no shirt, baseball hat, flip flops - from all ages.  Theres a bird down the street that I wake up to every morning.  Not because its chirrping but because its singing.  Yes, it talks and sings all the TIME! I feel like teaching it the first lesson that way it ramble of something worth hearing! Saturday I was approached by two large dogs! That scared me inside out! They litterally almost jumped over the fence and bit my head off so I gave the famous scream and ran across the street my comp. just laughed and said he wanted to hear it again. Which he did last night when I walked inside and there was a 8 inch lizard crawling up our wall! Now that scared me!!

The scariest of all things is that yesterday at church. I almost gave a talk! keyword there was almost!  The 1st Couns. approached me 15 minutes til the meeting and asked if i would speak.  Of coarse I didnt know what he said so I said yes.  Then my comp translated and i think my heart skipped a beat.  Turns out though that the speaker showed up so I really did dodge a bullet on that one!

Other than that this week went well and E. Birdsall (Mom he is from West Jordan Utah) and I will be sticking it to the man this week.  We found out we will be together for 6 more weeks so we decided last night during our weekly planning that its time we make Ipanema (our area) the best in the mission.  Starting with breaking some records.  So long days here I come :)

´´I am a man and am thy servant; therefore, whatsoever thou desirest which is right, that will I do.´´  Alma 18:17

Love you all! I thank you for the prayers and support.  Remember to write your missionaries :) JOEY PEACOCK YOU HAVE HEREBY BEEN CALLED TO THE BRAZIL FORATLEZA MISSION! I´m calling it now! Have a good week! Tuda bem!

Elder Anderson

Dear Familia -

Well I am seeing the difficulties of the mission.  Everything is good other than this crazy language!  Sometimes I feel like I am getting it and going strong and others I just cant figure out what these Brazilians are saying.  Its interesting how I have figured out its the Lord´s way of keeping me humble :)  As far as the rest of the week I am finally figuring out how to be an inflield missionary. 

   My comp and I have decided that we are always in training. whether we know it or not.  Its all apart of each of us trying to be better and each and every day.  Sometimes we have the benefit of going to places (MTC) to speed that up but for the most part its all on our own.  Its interesting the perspective I am finding as I continue to think about life as a missionary.

   We met some very interesting people this week.  They all had a story to tell us about missionaries so it was very funny to listen.  This one guy, Im pretty sure he was ´´under the influence´´ came up to us and said ´´Hey! you´re americanos right!´´ and of coarse we said yes and he just started rambling about how if the world is under distress ´´hes on our side´´ and so on.  Its funny how he just have this title of being the Americans in white shirts.  I am really enjoy the heads that turn when people see to young men in white shirts and ties walking down the street in 80 degree weather.  They have the wierdest look and eventually ask us what were doing so we grasp on to the oppurtunities. I have begun to carry my photo albums with me everywhere because members are always asking for pictures of the family.  They really enjoy the picutres of the nieces and that one of dad from the homecoming game.  They say that I have a beautiful family and should be thankful as I am.  The rain season has really set in.  It rains about once a day but its still very warm.  A couple of times we got caught in the storm on our way home one night.  So thats where the picture comes from of me looking like a soggy wet missionary haha.  Most of our investigators are progressing everyday.  We are getting alot of good commitments out of them and they seem alot more happy when they realize the change.  Its one thing us to see it, but its evern better when they recognize it. 

   I am giving all that I can into what I have invested myself in.  The days really are long and hot so the nice cold shower at night feels good.  Yes, if you wondering the idea of a water HEATER doesnt exsist here in Fortaleza.  I feel myself becoming a better missionary everyday as I try and put my own spin on what we are teaching.  Like I said its difficult if my words are jumbled but the people smile and thank me for the effort. 

   While walking next to the roaring busses and motorcylces I was thinking of this, this week that sometimes, we watch life go by and try to get everything done as fast as possiblie. We miss the oppurtunities to live it. 

I love you all and I am grateful to be here.  Remember not send anything to the CTM anymore (dearelders or missionties)

Love Elder Anderson

Hope you enjoy the pictures!

We got to see Nick on Mother's Day...well thanks to Skype!

Well I guess its been a eventful week to say the least, but I am glad I got to talk with all of you yesterday.  Thank goodness for skype and the world of advance technilogical advancement :)   Missy and Jason Congrats to you! I figured it would have happened eventually Im glad that I got to hear it the day after rather than a week or 6 haha! It crazy how time is moving and I am sure by the time I talk to you next Ill see all the changes.  Especially in the Sobrinas (nieces). 

 

So I guess this week was all about getting adjusted and really trying to figure out everthing.  Life as a missionary has really set in.  Life as a brazilian missionary that is.  I am being trained by an American who thankfully of coarse speaks English.  I guess that phrase ´´That isnt the language they taught me in the MTC´´ is no doubt about it true!   Life of coarse right now is about disifering words and becomeing more and more adjusted to brazilian culture.  Which consists of battling cocroches and spiders.   Listening to the neighbors blast  loud brazilian music and really just figuring out how I am really going to learn this language.  Drunk people really love the missionary.  I had my first run in with one on Saturday and my comp says that its all natural.  They love trying to say things and it doesnt help that they are completly incoheirent.   Im thinking about practicing on them with my language.  We will see how that goes.  Last night we were at a members hows setting some cools with him and told us that it was his birthday today.  I asked if he was excited.  But I guess I said are you German? It interesting how the slightest thing can come out so wrong.  I have learned to laugh at all my mistakes and really just invest in of trying to pick this accent.  The more North you are in Brazil the thicker the accent.  It really is like they are speaking another language.  My comp has been out for over a year and he says it will take about 6 months from the time you entered the MTC to your six month mark.  So Missy if you do get married in September on my six month mark Ill hopefully be fluent.  Just pray for me! haha.  It so unbelievably hot its not even funny.  Its only the fall so I can only imagine what summer is like.  Its 80 to 90 degrees everyday and I have become accustomed to sweating all the time all day.  Wheres those blotting clothes when you need them.  Today we cleaned our apartment and relaxed for the most part.  Working from 11 to 9 - days a week can be very tiring.  I do not sleep in a hammick but every apartment/house/cardboard box what ever you live in, is equiped with hammick hooks in your house.  So Ill probably be investing in that real soon.  My mattress feels like its been used for the last 30 years.  After my days I come home exhausted but really feel ready for the next when I wake up. 

 

I know that this is where I am supposed to be and I have been called here for a reason.  I have been specially chosed to be a represtative of Jesus Christ in Fortaleza.  Last week I said I have been waiting 7 months to come here but in all reality I have been waiting my whole life.  Its an awesome feeling.  I love you all and I am thankful for your thoughts and prayers.  Tuda Bem Familia e Amigos. 

 

Elder Anderson

 

My address to see my apt for google is:   Do NOT send anything to this though!

 

Rua Tenente Queiroz

#900 apt. D

Antonio Bezerra, Fortaleza- CE

Brazil

Safe and Sound in Fortaleza!! HE MADE IT!

Ola Familia!
  Yes.  It is I Elder Anderson and the long awaited 7 months to Fortaleza is finally over! Its been a long morning so I´ll try and tell you all the details from last week til now.  Unfortunatly my new P-day is Mondays so I just barely missed it.  So since last week I had another District at the CTM.  On Friday my old district all left for the field so yet again I was placed in another.  Dad- I forgot to tell you the Pres. Nelson´s son, Elder Nelson was in my most previous district I also knew him from provo so it cool connecting the dots with him.  When I walked into my new district on Friday the first thing that I found out was that we were going contacting again. So for my third time I went back to the polista to place OLM and basically talk to as many people as a I could.  My new comp was a familiar face, Elder Jubtiz, from my district in Provo.  He recieved his visa about 3 weeks after me so he had a shorter time at the CTM.  After we got on the bus to head downtown, Elder Jubitz wasn´t really sure what to expect.  Lucky for him it was my third time so I told him how it was gonna happen.  We ended up placing 7 OLM and talking to many more.  It was nice because I actually had my contact down and knew exactly what i was saying.  Funny how you feel like you havent learned at all for 3 weeks and in reality you have learned alot more.  After contacting we headed back to the CTM for Almoço (Lunch) and the special devotional.  Elder Andersen from the qourum of the twelve had another conference to attend but Elder Hallstrom of the Presidency of the Seventy came along with the Area president .  It was really cool hearing them speak.  For me it was the ´´pre-game warm-up´´ to the field.  They talked alot about staying 100% obiediant and being the best that you could possibly be in the CTM and the field.  The mission should mean everything to you in your entire life after so thats what I intend to make it.  It was hard trying to stay focused in Class on saturday because all I was thinking about was the Field.  Sunday was especially nice because of the nice mission conference that we had with the CTM followed by Fast and Testimony meeting.  Through both meetings I was anticpating the field during every talk and trying to relate it back to myself and what I was about to do.  I had my departure interview with my Branch President which went very well.  He gave some good tips for the language and ways to always stay focused.  Sunday night we had the ´´Departing Choir´´ with the pianistic stylings of yours truly.  The help desk worker said that she would miss me but she would especially miss my piano playing more.  I began packing a little bit on Sunday but not all that much.  On Monday was packing and saying goodbye and packing some more.  Emily I had need your packing expertise because I went from pounds to Kilograms haha.  I did my two weeks worth of laundry as well as packed all the necesitties that I brought.  I felt like I was beening transfered which in reality I really was.  We had a few meetings of depture with the doctor and Pres. Clark (CTM president)  In the the health meeting we basically were told to live in a bubble for the next two years and be a safe with drinking the water.  President Clark had a lot to say about likening the scriptures to us and becoming the best that we could possibly be.  He said that we were about to change the world, which is when it really set in that I was leaving.  
    After a good night of goodbyes and lots of pictures I fell asleep, only to wake up at 5am this morning.  I had to be down front at the driveway at 630 with my bags packed and ready to go.  Luckily! Elder Sivertson and I were only 10 minutes apart with our flights so I went with his groupo of Manaus missionaries. It was us two and about 12 other brazilerios.  We literally felt like sheep to the slaughter when we walked in the airport, atleast Elder Sivertson and I.  Thank goodness for the english speaking brazilerios or else we would have been in trouble.  After my silent prayer about the backage weight :) I was cleared to go through.  Luckily again! The Manaus and Fortaleza gates were right next to eachother so we all went together.  When me and Elder Sivertson finally said our tearful goodbye we said see you in 22 and I saw him get on the bus that would take him to the plane.  I had ten more minutes so I did my best with talking to this nice older lady.  I ended up getting her address and she said to send missionaries her way.  I got on my bus kissed the ground of Sao Paulo goodbye and walked up the stairs to my plane  (Long Beach Airport style)  I thought about throughing about the peace signs like Pres. Nixon but I was surrounded by brazilerios who probably thought I was crazy already.  I boarded the plane as a solo missionary and it took off at 10am.  I arrived here in Fortaleza at about 130pm and was greeted by two secreteries.  After getting my bags, catching my taxi, and heading to the mission office.  I have finally arrived! So as stated earlier I am finally here! I had my interview with Pres. Batt and took my picture with him and his wife.  

So this is it my mission starts today! As Levi said ´´I have 2 years to do it, and the rest of my life to think about it´´  I am excited and nervous and really cant wait to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ! This is what I came to do and I know that great blessings await me.  This is my chance ´´to change the world´´ atleast the world of brazilerios  I feel peace in knowing that I will be protected always.  I love you all and I am grateful for my call to serve.  Tudo Bem!   

Elder Anderson   
Missão Brasil Fortaleza
Av. Santos Dumont 1789 Sala 1612
Ed. Potenza, Aldeota
Fortaleza-CE
60150-160 
Brasil

"Sometimes you have to take a walk through Gethsemane before you reach Salvation"

My new address as of next week is Brazil Fortaleza Mission, Av. Santos Dumont, 1789-sala 1612, 60150-160 Aldeota- Fortaleza - CE Brazil!

Oi! Family!   Well this week has been way busy! and its hard to believe that I hit my 9th week mark today! Time is not the essence anymore.  Its all about the work! Which is why i believe its going so fast! Can you believe next tuesday, Im getting on a play to head North! FORTALEZA! HERE I COME! Im very very excited because mostly I feel like I have prepared well.  Not just in the MTC/CTM but also before the mission! Every night i go to bed thinking that its one less night in the CTM and I am that much closer to the field! I cant wait!   So last friday I ended up getting a cold because everyone was getting sick here! go figure that I get it when your pretty my stuck instead all day everyday.  However, the cold ended up working to my advantage!   I guess the sicker you are the better you are at speaking the language! Crazy!  Portugues has alot of nazily? sounds so it helps when you have a stuffy nose.  I had someone convinced i has a native for about 2 days! Sunday I had the oppurturnity to speak in church to my branch.  Usuaully you have no advance warning.  Everyone prepares a talk and when you walk into sacrement meeting, either your name is called or not.  My last regular sunday and I get called! It went very well thought.  I spoke on Hope and Faith.  Two things that I have been studying and thinking about alot since October when I got my call.  I have officially become the Grandpa of the CTM according to brazilerios.  I have been here so long i have seen 3 groups of missionaries come and go.  I have also been learning how to sing the Brazilian National anthem.  Look it up on youtube.  its insane! We got word on sunday night that this week and next the CTM can be expecting up to 350 plus, missionaries entering.  Its the most theyve had in here in over 3 years! The blessings of beening one to train here! There is a brazilian mission prez conference in Campinas this week and Elder Andersen of the twelve apostles is training them along with Elder Hollstrom of the presidency of the 70.  This Friday we get the oppurtunity to have both of them come and speak for a special Fireside! WHOOP! and guess who gets to play the piano for them? yes thats right! me! ELDER ANDERSON! Im pretty excited.  I have called to serve and ill go where you want me to go on the playlist :)  Easter was good we got alot of candy from the American senior sisters and cupcakes and cake! Something that i have really missed! It was a good sunday to speak on because of the resurrection and the influence that I have seen it been in my life since learning all I can about it.  I am excited for Fortaleza next week! Ill be the only american and missionary going.  I guess my report day (march 2nd) was acutally supposed to be in February so Ill be going in 3 weeks into the transfer not sure what is gonna happen but it will all work out! I know it! Kara Ill probably look like a little lost puppy walking throught the brazilian airports :) Emily Meldrum I got your letter today thanks! to you and brett! I am thankful for all the many blessings and for the sacrifice I have from all of you! I love you all and continue to pray for all of you in my life! Tuda Bem friends and family! Until Foratleza - Elder Anderson   ´´Sometimes you have to take a walk through Gethsemane before you reach Salvation´´  Jeffrey R. Holland