August 18, 2014

Well it was an INCREDIBLE week!!!:)  A lot of contacting because we will go contacting get a lot of references and then everyone goes out of town. haha  Everyone in Spain basically goes on vacation for the entire month of August so its been month filled with street contacting.  But thats okay!!  The members have turned around 100%.  It's a different ward here and I know it's a blessing of our obedience and trying to be unified with them. 

So anyways, we have some solid new investigators!!  Belen, we found her knocking doors. We taught her lesson one and we are heading back this week.  Luisa, she's super cool and was doing great but she went back to the Dominican for two months.  Antonio and Margot have been out of town all week but they get back tomorrow!!  We found a lady named Marcela on the street and she has a friend who is a member of our ward!!  We set up a lesson and we are just super duper pumped to meet with her.  We did an area book pass by and found a man named Humberto.  He is so solid!!  We taught him lesson one ( he remembered most of it because missionaries taught him for a while) and he loved it!  He's from Peru, his wife is a member and we are just super excited for him!  We started to teach a man named Jasan from Morocco the other day.  We brought him a Book of Mormon in Arabic and he is awesome!!  It was so cool, he started to read the names of the eight witnesses from the Arabic book and they sounded English.  It was so crazy!!  haha!  We have also been meeting with some more members this week to get to know them and as always the less actives and recent converts.  Hermana Bueno will be headed to the U.S. here soon and we are a little nervous for that one.  But it's all good, just keep them in your prayers and all will be well.  Graciela is the happiest woman on earth and she makes me super happy every time I see her. She is struggling to read because she gets tired but she really wants to do it and is trying hard to live the commandments.  It's been so incredible to see the change in her.  Anahi has kinda been lazy lately but I'm pretty sure it's because she is a teenager haha and it's summer so she´ll get over her  "I don't want to go to church because I was out too late last night and I'm tired"  ("But I wanted to go to toshi station to pick up some power converters" teenage attitude).   It will stop once school starts.  But everyone here is incredible.  We are working hard.  Being obedient and doing what the lord has asked us to do and that's all that has been required of us.  To get out here and give it our all.  I hope to have more news on investigators for next week and I'm sure I will!!  Probably the highlight of the week was Friday.  Elder Tyler Cahoon and I may or may not have gone on an exchange. HAHA!!!!  It was SOO COOL!!!  He's in the office and in our district and he came here to B4 to work with me for a day.  Oh my gosh, it was probably the coolest intercambio ever.  We contacted the whole time but we just tore it up together and just had a TON of fun!!  We got 20 numbers and addresses in 24 hours which is the most I have ever gotten in one day.  WE worked super well together and it was just so much fun!!!  haha it was awesome.  My computer won't let me send pictures but I will get some to you as soon as I can:)  SO cool!!!! Well this week was amazing.  Lots of progress with the ward members, with the work, and a lot of starting with investigators.  I am so excited and just beaming with joy.  I love this work so much!!  Keep it up at home and keep living the commandments.  This gospel is true and the Lord ALWAYS fulfills his promises. 

So for the spiritual thought this week it's something simple but a principle that we can all apply.  Doctrine and Covenants 130:21-22.  It is the principle that governs everything.  This all comes down to our willingness to obey. The lord only requires that we keep his commandments (Mosiah 2:22) and it all comes down to our willingness to submit to the will of the Lord and do what he has asked.  So read that verse in D&C and ponder to yourself, how can I improve and submit myself to the will of the Lord because there is always room for improvement.  I testify that as we repent, align ourselves with God's standards and simply obey that the blessings come because of the law that has been irrevocably decreed.  The Lord cannot go back on his word and He never will (Mosiah 2:22) and we have the ability to bind the Lord according to our obedience and He will be required to bless us. (D&C 82:10) But the thing is our Heavenly Father wants more than anything to bless us.  He loves us, he cares for us, and he wants to bless us in every way possible.  But the blessings come in our willingness to obey.  It's up to us. and that's the beauty of agency.  So choose today to live how god wants you to live and keep the faith!!  Love you all!!!  Have an incredible week!!!!:)

Gathering Zion

Mom,

Well all I can do is thank you.  Thank you so much for the support, and for what you have said in your emails.  I cannot even begin to give you the proper thanks for what you have done for me, and how much love you have shown me.  The quotes were perfect. I loved the one from President Hinckley.  It is so true, and we really do need to learn to give thanks for what we have.  Gratitude is the key in all and gratitude is a principle we can all live by.  Thank you mom.  You are the greatest mother any son could ask for and I hope you know I see no faults in you.  Not one.  I couldn't have asked for a better woman in my life than you, and I am so grateful to say you are my mother.  I hope I make you proud.  If you could see me now I just hope you would be proud to say "that's my son!"  Every day I strive to live up to that.  to make you proud.  I want to be able to have the same said about me from our Heavenly Father, that as he looks down and sees me he can proudly say "that's my son!"  I hope I can live up to that for my mother and father here, and my Father in Heaven.  I love you both!! 

Sounds like a really fun week!!  I'm glad the primary activity went well!!  and that the pictures were good:)  Woah, Veronica is married. I remember taking her to prom.  She should not be married. hahaha!!!  That literally just blew my mind.  I knew it was coming up, but wow. Things are a little different back home. haha:)  I forget its been over a year since high school ended and 2 years since senior year started.  I can't wait to hear more about Brittany's baby!! Keep me posted. 

Well this week was INCREDIBLE!!!! although it was a little bit of what President Hinckley described: 

“Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.

This week may have been a lot of delays, sidetracks, dust, cinders, and jolts.  There was a lot of rebuilding and a lot of good old-fashioned hard work that will eventually turn into a transfer full of beautiful vistas and bursts of speed and that is what makes this work so amazing.  Although these past two transfers were not at all what they should have been, and as we settled for mediocre.  All it takes is a little bit of hard work and focus to get back on the path and that's exactly what we did.  We started off the week with figuring out what we want to do with the work here and our vision of how we will bring it about and Elder McFarland has so many good ideas about how to work with members and be organized and so we are starting those up. We did absolutely 0 work with members the last two transfers, and honestly I was terrified of what the members thoughts were about me, but we have been going by their houses almost every day (at least 1 member every day) and building their confidence, and getting to know them, we have a giant list of possible member references that is getting bigger and bigger and they are starting to invite their friends to come listen to the message.  And the members (now that we are out there serving them and loving them) have confidence in us and the work is changing.  I have a strong testimony now that truly this work is impossible alone, and without the members.  It flourishes with members.  Apart from member work, we have done a lot of contacting and building up the reference pool.  We didn't really have much but we have a LOT of names to work with now and we are continuing to find in every moment. The Buenos are still doing good although she is still most likely going to America but they have been talking a lot about it and they don't think it will end if she goes.  They weren't able to go the temple together but she went and did a session alone and she had an INCREDIBLE experience!!  She said she just bawled the whole time and felt the Spirit stronger than she's ever felt it.  She's making changes, and things are still looking up.  Continue to pray for them but things are little by little getting better.  The thing with Danny and Alejandro is we have only been able to meet once a week but the lesson went great this week as we watched the Restoration video, and Merly, the mother  (who has never wanted to listen before) accepted a Book of Mormon and is going to read and pray!!!:)  So that was a miracle in and of itself.  They didn't come to church.  In fact, no investigators came. But that's okay because things are still going well:)  We found one guy whose name is Antonio.  We found him on Monday and we have had 2 lessons with him since.  He is a Spaniard, has a wife from South America and 2 kids.  He really likes the Book of Mormon, wants to read and pray and is working on inviting his wife to listen to the message as well. We talked about baptism in the way that Christ showed us and he said he wants to be baptized like that.  So we are super excited about him.  A lot of potential.  The new ward mission leader has been coming with us as much as he can to lessons that we have planned and is an absolute stud, he said we've got a lot of work to do and he is doing so well.  Just a humble guy who wants to just work hard.  Last night we found a guy in the street named Christian and we had a lesson with him.  We taught lesson one and he loved it.  At the end he said, of course, I'll read and pray, it makes sense there would be Prophets today and I'm really curious.  So hopefully we get started with him real soon.  Oh!!  We also were in a park the other day and saw some teenagers playing futbol and we were like let's go play.  Not so we can play but so we can get the reference after.  So we went and were like hey, lets play! We played for a little and then started talking about the church.  Turns out one was baptized when he was 9 by his Grandpa and they were all cousins and the others weren't members. They all took Book of Mormons.  They're super excited to read and were so excited for missionaries to come over to their house (they don't live in our area) and so that was super cool!!!!  The baptized one said, yeah I'll go home and read, I've never forgotten where I put that book and I know exactly where it's at.  Super cool, and hey, a little futbol for salvation? Sounds like a great idea to me!!! :)  This week was amazing, we have been striving to be perfectly obedient (except I forgot to shave one morning, woops) and honestly I have been so much happier than I have been this summer.  This work is amazing and honestly the secret is WORK.  I'm so grateful I've got a comp like Elder McFarland who just came here to work hard and that's exactly what we are doing:)  Amazing week:)

For the spiritual thought this week I came across a scripture I loved about our trials.  We need 4 things to make it through all trials.  The scripture is in Mosiah 24:8-22.  They were persecuted extremely for what they believed in, but what did they immediately do? (verse 10) They began to cry fervently (or mightily in English, I believe) unto the lord and then AFTER they did that things began to get worse (verse 11).  Even though we may cry unto the Lord things may still get worse.  But they did not back down and still continued to do what they knew was right (verse 12) and cried unto the Lord in whatever way they knew was possible, they did anything they could to choose the right, and poured their hearts out to him.  Then he heard their cries (verse 12) and promised them comfort (verses 13-14).  He reminded them he knows them and remembers their covenants with him and tells them to "lift up their heads and be of good comfort" and then (in verse 15) just as the Lord promised, he eased their burdens.  He didn't completely take them away but he strengthened them and got them through.  Our burdens and trials may not always disappear completely but through the strengthening power of the Atonement they can be eased and they cheerfully submitted to the will of the Lord and in verse 16 so great was their faith and patience that the Lord promised to free them in the morning.  He did and they gave Him thanks as they were freed (verse 22) and as they didn't forget the Lord once, He never forgot them. 

So through all of that we need 4 things in any trial:

1.Faith

2.Patience

3.The ability to never forget the Lord

4. Gratitude

1. Faith- faith and doubt cannot exist in the same person at the same time, so hold on, trust in the Lord and his promises and have faith that one day all will be well.

2. Patience- sometimes we won't get a "quick fix" and we will not see the immediate complete lifting of our burdens.  Sometimes they will be eased, or sometimes it may seem to get worse but if we can have the great patience then they will be eased, and eventually lifted.

3. The ability to never forget the Lord- they did anything they possibly could to include the Lord in all they did. Cried fervently to Him, cried in their hearts and always remembered Him (which, in fact, meant they were keeping their baptismal covenants).  So remember him always. (Moroni 4&5)

4.Gratitude- Immediately after everything they gave thanks and didn't forget the Lord afterwards.  We need to give thanks in all things. 

So keep the faith and never forget you Father in Heaven!!  I love you all!!!  Have an AMAZING week!!!:)  Love ya!!

Elder Anderson

¡El reino de dios o nada!

RAFAEL CAME TO CHURCH!!!!!

Well this week was a solid one!!  Monday night we went to visit Leo.  His mother hasn't had time to meet with us yet, but tonight we are hoping for a lesson with her!!!  Leo broke his foot so we visited him a few times this week and are helping him make the decision to serve a mission!  He would be an incredible missionary and we have been trying hard to help him go.  He's nervous, but still has till next year so he's got time.  Tuesday we taught Rafael in the morning and we talked about the 10 commandments and, of course, he says he is willing to live them.  Great lesson!!  He told us after that he is so glad that he is talking with us, because he feels a peace when he is with us and that he knows he needs to follow this because on judgement day God's going to say, "What did you do when Anderson and Christensen came to you and taught you my word?",  and he said "If I deny this God on judgement day will say, "Look that's you!", and pull up a big screen and say, "That's you with Anderson and Christensen" and he´ll zoom in and say "Look, why didn't you listen to them?" And he said I just need to follow this. I know its true.  Later that day we met with Javier, Leo, the Bueno family, and Marcelo.  The next day we also met with a ton of less actives and recent converts and honestly that was the great majority of this week.  Meeting with Alina, Graciela, and then the ones from Tuesday as well.  We are working with them and trying to get references from them and trying to teach their family members and friends and they all have people they want us to get with but honestly we haven't seen anything come of it. Javier's wife isn't listening to us.  We haven't been able to get a hold of Demetir's mom in any way.  Just been super frustrating.

We are working hard, and have seen a lot go well with the retention.   As missionaries, we need to follow the rules.  There have been missionaries here in the past who loved to just go and socialize with members and not focus on the work at hand.  And that did some things with members were not appropriate as members and now that there are missionaries who care and want to work the members are frustrated because its not fun and easy anymore. Anyways, enough ranting and raving.  Despite the lack of investigators it's been good. The people we have been visiting are doing well and all have solid testimonies and are working hard to get to the temple, and to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. So it has been a good week!  The Fourth of July was good and, as always, on Friday we play futbol with ward members and investigators.  The hermana missionaries made shirts for us to wear haha they were awesome!  They were American flags, said America, and where the stars go it said B4 (Barrio 4, 4th ward) they were awesome!!  and futbol was way fun as always.  I've become a fan.  haha!  

The thing that made this entire week worth it was what happened Sunday.  We met Rafael and walked with him to the chapel and, as you all know, it's fast Sunday and he went up to the stand and bore his testimony!!!!  He told everyone he was here because the missionaries invited him, and he felt amazing when he walked in, and that all he wants to do is get to know you "personas maravillosas" (marvelous people) and then finished it off with I want to get baptized.  Being here I have no doubt this is all true.  It was probably the greatest experience I have had on my entire mission.  It was so powerful!!!  We met with him after church and he loved it.  He was participating like crazy in class and just was loving everything.  We are planning his baptismal service for the 19th of July.  He has been the biggest miracle ever and I am so grateful to have been blessed to know him.  He is an amazing man and has taught me so much.  I am so excited for him!!!!  Despite the difficulties, it's things like that that make everything worth it.  I love this work.  It's hard, but worth every second. 

For the spiritual thought this week, I want to direct it to the kids.  Don't you ever forget the blessing you have of having your parents.  During this difficulty with the ward I remembered their words of,  "Every problem has a solution, and every solution takes time".  It's not going to be an easy fix and it will take time to repair things that have built up for a long time and as we strive to fix the problems it will be tough, and will take a long time.  But it's the advice and wisdom of Mom and Dad that help me remember it is possible.  Just like Alma the Younger in Alma 36:17 when he remembered the words of his father, it got him through his toughest moment  and it is getting me through mine.  So all of you, listen to Mom and Dad and remember their words and treasure them up because I promise you it will help you one day down the road.  Don't forget how lucky you are!!  Love you all!!!!  Have an amazing week!!!!:) Keep praying for who to give that Book of Mormon to! 

Love,

Elder Anderson

¡El Reino de Dios o Nada!

Our Shirts - Happy Independence Day!

A drawing Ainoa, the 5 year old daughter of Javier, made for us.

Ainoa and Elder Anderson (me)

  

Happy Birthday to Me!

Holy cow, I can't believe another transfer is over!!!  That one flew by!!!  And it's almost July. I've been out 7 months and I'm 19.  This is so weird!!!! 

That makes me feel a little better that it happened to Tracy as well.  That is so funny but it's just crazy that  people have such strong of feelings against the jumpsuits!  Graciela is doing incredible.  The change we have seen in her has been incredible!!  She was a fireball before but ever since the baptism she has been nothing but smiles.  She came to church this week just with the biggest smile on her face and so nice and happy to everyone.  She was crying after she recieved the Holy Ghost and just looked at us and said "Thank you" with tears streaming down her face.  It was INCREDIBLE!!  She has been doing amazing!! 

Rafael is still a machine.  We only had one lesson with him this week and he couldn't come to church this week or in the week that is coming, but he is done with his job in 2 weeks so he will be "free for life" as he told us (he said it in English) haha but he will be able to come in two weeks and we are planning on him getting baptized week 4 of the transfer (3rd week in July). I wish you could meet these incredible people.  They have become some of the closest people to me, and I love them with all of my heart. 

I will be keeping the dagger with me!  It will be fine in my suitcase:)  haha!  I have not been able to track down the package yet.  I don't know what to do about that one.  I have not received my birthday package either, but if it arrived or arrives before Wednesday I should get it at district meeting next week!!  I really hope I get it!!  (ha I typed the last sentence and was a couple paragraphs down when I got a call from President Jackson and he and Hermana Jackson sang to me and she told me she got it and said I am so sorry it's impossible to get it to me today but I will get it Wednesday at district meeting for sure, so I will be gettting it!!) haha the song they sang me was hilarious as well!!  I have the COOLEST mission president and wife.  They're incredible!!!  haha  And with transfers there were no changes in our ward!  Elder Christensen and I are together for another 6 weeks! 

Thanks for the birthday wishes and for everything:) 

It was an okay week.  My comp and I got sick and we were out for a few days.  We had to go to the doctor but we're feeling a lot better now!!  Basically the only lessons we taught all week were at a Family Home Evening Monday.  Graciela was there and we talked about the spirit and it was really good!!  She was so excited to receive it and like I said earlier, she was just beaming all day Sunday. I am so excited for her.  Tuesday we had a lesson in the morning with a girl named Jessica.  It was really good, she's Evangelical and doesn't see the need for one church but we explained the authority, and the apostasy, but specifically how Christ established one church and how there is order in God's kingdom.  Good lesson. Things went south Tuesday though and we didn't feel good.  We were basically out Wednesday and Thursday as well.  Friday we went out in the morning and started feeling better.  We visited some members that night and then went and played futbol with some members as well.  Saturday was really good as well!  we taught Rafael that morning about the law of chastity and of course, he already lives it.  He was like yeah, it just makes sense and it's just right, of course it's a commandment of God.  He loves looking at the pictures in the pamphlets we give him and he's like  "This couple looks so happy.  I want that.  I can't wait to find a wife in the church who has the same beliefs as me and will live the gospel with me."  The guy is INCREDIBLE!!!  Then we went to Alcobendas for some interviews Elder Christensen had to do.  When we got back we went and taught Laura.  She's doing extremely well and is excited for her baptismal fecha for the 3rd of August.  She's reading and continuing to do everything she needs to.  But we are just waiting on her divorce papers to go through in Peru.  So we hope those go through soon!! 

Sunday, church was really good!  Graciela got the Holy Ghost, I spoke in Sacrament about understanding the atonement and how if we understand it we find the desires to share this message.  I shared what Elder Gentry shared with me in one of my first weeks out about the story of Elder Ballard  -We do what we do because we understand what happened in Gethsemane.  It was super powerful and I don't know how it was for them but at least for me, it was powerful and a huge testimony builder.  We visited Alina, Javier, and the Bueno family last night as well!!  We still have yet to have Javier's wife listen to us.  She told Javier she doesn't like us, so we are kinda bummed about that and don't know what to do.  I'm super upset about it, I just want her to listen and feel for herself that this is true and can make her so happy.  It was a really mediocre week and I haven't felt 100% with being sick. But!!  The lessons and the work we did have was amazing. Even though it was a rough week, I'm still so happy to be out here and I love it so much!!! 

Spiritual thought for the week! We all have heroes and like Pres. Eyering talked about with our "Priesthood Heroes" we need to think about who we look up to.  There are so many idols and people to look up to and we need to be sure our idols lead us to live like Christ.  We talked about this and shared Alma 48:17 with some people this week.  Moroni was that kind of idol.  My challenge to everyone this week is to look at who your heroes are and think to yourself if this is a Moroni type hero.  Something simple, but if our heroes inspire us to live like our Savior then we are on the right track. 

I love you all!!!!  Thank you so much for the birthday wishes!!!!  We spent it in downtown Madrid - the metro stop "Sol"- pretty sweet!!!  Just walked around and saw a cathedral, the Royal Palace, and just a bunch of random things.  Crazy, a year ago, today, is when I officially decided to go on a mission before school and who would have thought in a million years that a year later I'd be spending my birthday wandering around downtown Madrid, Spain.  Great day!! and it's going to be an amazing week!!!!  Thanks for all you do!!! 

I LOVE YOU!!!! 

Love,

Elder Anderson

¡El reino de Dios o nada!

Downtown Madrid - P-day and B-day!

Brittany is Pregnant!?!?

Dear Mom,

First off, I want to thank the family for informing me that Brittany and Geoff were going to have a baby before it happened. hahahaha!!  Tell them congrats!!  I read that and I was like what!? They're having a baby??  hahaha.  I'm sure girl's camp was SO much fun!!!  That's super cool everyone was saying how funny Hannah is!  Doesn't surprise me one bit:)  That's sweet!!  Does tanner just drive in to Momentum or what?  Holy cow it's already scout camp time.  crazy stuff!!  Hope Hunter has a great time!!  It's super cool every one is getting into tennis!!  Tennis is so much fun!!  Super cool for all the people getting the mission calls!!  Tell them all congrats if you see them and keep me updated on who continues to get calls!!  Oh man, Janzen gets his call!!!  I am so pumped!!!!!!  Spain Madrid baby!!! 

Yeah, we heard from some members Spain got destroyed in their first game.  Keep letting me know how the World Cup goes.  We don't really know anything about it.  hahaha!  Just occasional scores we see on the metro system.  I should receive the package soon!!!!  I will let you know when I get that!!!  Thank you so much!!!:)  Speakingof packages, you all should be receiving a giant one in 6-8 days from Toledo and it may or may not be the Sword of Laban.  We went to Toledo this morning and this sword is SOOO COOL!!!!  Gold plated handle.  Massive.  It says the Sword of Laban on it and has an outline of Spain and says "mision españa madrid" on it.  Oh my gosh.  It may be the coolest purchase I have ever made.  So please take really good care of that for me.  It should be getting there soon!!!  I'll send a picture of me with it.  Oh and mom, I got you a Toledo bell :)

Well as for last week!!  It was a really good week.  Nothing too crazy.  It started out with just a couple good lessons Monday night.  One with Graciela and then with the familia Bueno.  They have been returning to church and he (Hermano Bueno) is helping us out with all sorts of lessons so it's been super cool.  Tuesday morning we taught Rafael.  Oh my goodness.  A reference machine.  We were walking by this guy and Rafael said to him,  "Hey what's up? these are my friends, the Mormons, and they have a message of the word of God you need to listen to.  Can they teach you?"  It was a friend of his and he let us teach him lesson one.  He didn't really have much interest but Rafael still has the fire to share it.  Then we taught Rafael lesson 3 and it was amazing.  He's so ready.  He couldn't come to church this Sunday because of work but he's planning on coming this next week.  So we are extremely, extremely excited for him!!!  That night we met with Javier and then Graciela.  Javier came with us to Gracielas and shared his testimony on dropping coffee.  Because she hasn't had any coffee in a while but was getting frustrated and didn't know if it was worth it.  Javier came in with the clutch and it was just amazing.  Javier's wife still hasn't listened to us.  Still working on that but it will happen.  Keep praying your hearts out for them, especially for her to open her heart!!!  It will happen.  I know it will.

Wednesday we had zone meeting and it took FOREVER to get there and back so we didn't have a ton of proselyting time but it was a really good meeting, as always, it was very powerful.  We talked about the gift of discernment and how we need to prepare ourselves before lessons to be able to receive it.  Super good.  We taught Alina (a recent convert) and we had a chat with her on modesty in dress.  She doesn't like it because its not "elegant" but we are working on convincing her and helping her understand it's what God wants.  So little by little. But in other news, she went to Dublin Ireland and she got us shotglasses from Dublin. hahaha  Super funny, but super sweet.  haha she's really cool and is just kinda like an older sister to us.  Just doesn't dress modestly.  But!!  That's gonna change and we´re on that!  Thursday we had Graciela's interview for baptism.  It was interesting to say the least. She kept saying,  "I'm in a hurry, I have to go.  They lied to me this is longer than 15 minutes!!!"  (to help you understand Graciela: she is very feisty.  She is prepared for baptism, but she is just very pushy and wants everything to go her way.  Just a very strong personality)  The interviewer finally had to call President for some things and she was mad but he calmed her down and things went good from there.  It all worked out in the end.  She passed the interview.  We had another lesson with Javier and then went to a member's house  that night and ate and worked on getting the non-member daughter-in-law to listen. She's cool and eventually she´ll listen to the missionaries.

Friday, the greatest thing happened with Rafael.  Oh my goodness.  I was with one of the assistants on an intercambio and we were teaching him when one of Rafael's friends came up and Rafael said to her,  "Hey you should listen to them.  They're missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the Mormons.  They're called Mormons because they have this book!"  He went on to explain the Book of Mormon, where it comes from and everything.  Then says to her, "You can take this book and then another day they will come teach you more and help you know more about the word of God."  Oh my goodness, who is this guy!?  It's incredible.  Friday was a longer day.  Not much happened apart from that experience with Rafael.  Saturday, we met with a girl who is so ready and is super open!!  She has a friend serving a mission in the U.S. and really wanted to know why we had a second book and now she is going to read it on her 2 and a half month trip to Peru. Yeah, shoot but I should still be here when she gets back so hopefully we can get a hold of her in August/September.  (fun fact: if you look at the pictures of Madrid City you will see the big giant buildings and then the two leaning towards each other, those are in our area and we taught her underneath the two leaning towers.  Pretty sweet!!!)  That night we had a lesson with Javier and Anahi and she was kinda upset about the whole modesty thing.  She thought it was too extreme and we were explaining it to her but then said,  "What does your father think?"  He said, "Well those on the street, they don't know the Laws of God.  It may not be right but they don't know any better but you sweetheart know better and you know what God wants.  You'll know what to do."  She was being a total teenager and was complaining about it but we got a text from her that night that said, "I want to tell you what just happened.  I  was kinda angry and never have I questioned a commandment but I knelt down and prayed to the Lord and I asked why and right as I did it  I heard a voice, my own voice. and it told me it's for your protection.  You may not understand now but you will later on looking back and I knew right then I needed to follow it.  I have never felt so connected to the Lord before. It was amazing!!!!!"   Wow.  It was amazing.  That girl and her dad are incredible.  The Lord is so happy with them right now.  Absolutely amazing.

 Well Sunday!!!  We had an incredible day at church and then we had the baptism!!  So it almost didn't happen.  If you knew Graciela personally it would make sense.  We gave her the jumpsuit because it's all we have.  There is like no baptismal clothing at all.  She put it on and the sister missionaries were in there with her and she started to get angry and said no. No way and started to take it off.  She was like I will not get baptized if it's what I have to wear.  So they came and told us and we were freaking out trying to figure out what to do.  She was refusing to get baptized because the clothes were ugly.  It was crazy.  Finally we calmed her down and started the baptism 45 minutes late but it ended up being extremely powerful.  She bore her testimony and started crying and said, "I know without a single doubt that all of this is true."  I was fighting back tears it was SO powerful!!  and worth all of the hard, hard work to get her to that point.  It finally happened and she has a testimony.  Our God is a God of miracles.  So basically what I learned this week is the women in Europe do not like to dress modestly or in jumpsuits.  It is horrible outside with what the girls wear or more of what they don't wear.  But oh well this world is just a scary place sometimes. 

Spiritual thought this week!! I have been thinking a lot about how the Savior really was the ONLY one who could have brought about the atonement.  In the first chapter of the Pearl of Great Price the Father says to Moses.  Mine Only Begotten Son who is and shall be the Savior.  This was before the time of the Savior and I love the fact that the Lord not only said shall be, but used the present tense IS.  He really was foreordained to His great work and the Father knew He would never falter.  He walked a road none of us have to walk and did it knowing He was the only one who could do it.  If He had failed, or faltered once it was all over but He was perfect and I know He was.  He had the full trust of the Father from the beginning and I hope we can all strive to gain that trust of the Father.  Through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can!  I know we can!!  I love you all!  Have an amazing week!!!!!:)

Love,

Elder Anderson

¡El Reino de Dios o nada!

A Few Pictures to Share

Laura, E. Christensen, Vanessa, E. Anderson, Manuel

He found the Sword of Laban!

June 9, 2014

Well it was a long week.  We saw some miracles and worked hard, but it was just a tougher week.  We moved Graciela's baptism back a week but that is for the better.  She needs a little more preparation but she is doing amazingly well!!  We have seen so many miracles with her. 

We didn't get to Toledo today.  We had no way of finding out bus schedules until last night and we just decided to go next week.  So we will be heading down the final week of the transfer.  Yeah, next week the transfer is over.  It's insane. 

Monday we had a lesson with a lady who is a Testigo de Jehova (Jehovas Witness) and it went really well!!  She's the one we taught last week and it was the miracle cause we left early.  It was sad though because she is not going to progress.  She is too into the testigos and is not really willing to change.  Sometimes I want to get rid of agency. like for real. but then I have to remember that is Satan's plan and agency is the greatest gift we have in this life, but it would be awesome if they couldn't reject this gospel.  Tuesday, we had a good morning with Demiter and we are for sure going to be teaching his mother!!!  He left for Bulgaria for the summer this morning and he told us the only thing he wants to see is his mother baptized when he gets back.  So keep the mother of Demiter in your prayers.  We are so excited for this one and she has SOO much potential!!  We also taught a 20-year-old girl named Jessica.  She is evangelical and is super deep into her church.  But!!  We taught lesson 1 and it was powerful!!!  She is interested and we have been praying a ton this week  that she will open her heart.  She couldn't meet all week but we have a lesson with her tomorrow... and it's going to be amazing.  We are extremely excited.  Just need the faith and help her understand its all based on her desires.  Other than that we haven't had many other investigators.  We've found a few in the streets but its been a lot of 1 lesson and done type of investigators. 

BUT!!!  We did have the miracle of the century, we found him in the street this last week and his name is Rafael from the republica dominicana!!!  We contacted him in an hour of contacting we had after we tried to have a lesson with this lady but she gave us a fake address.  Yeah, super cool, but it took us straight to Rafael.  We hardly ever spend time at this metro stop but we came across him at the perfect time.  We meet with him every other morning basically and he is beyond ready.  He is so open and basically said I'm here to learn about the word of God because I know you guys have it.  He told us in the second lesson that, yes, the Book of Mormon is true.  We asked him how reading was in it and he basically told us everything that happened in 3 nefi 11 and talked about how he gave nefi the authority and went over everything we wanted to review with him in the lesson and then said how he cannot wait to get out and preach this.  His dream is to be in front of a bunch of people telling them he found the truth in this book and how he wants to share it with all his friends.  What in the world!?  It's a miracle we found him,  it's a miracle, an absolute miracle. He has a baptismal date for the 22nd of June and it has been the most incredible thing I have ever seen.  Angels are truly preparing their hearts.  I do not doubt that one bit.  I know it for a fact.  We are not alone in this work and Rafael is the proof of that.  We literally have to go with the spirit, teach and he understands.  It's a miracle. 

We have been working hard with Laura and Manuel and they are planning on saving the 100 Euros to get married and are trying to prepare themselves for baptism on August 3rd!!  We are so excited.  They are showing slow signs of progression and are doing what they can to follow the Lord rather than doing the easy thing.  Slow progress, but that is what the Lord asks is progress.  So they're doing awesome!!  Graciela is also doing incredibly!!!  She has dropped coffee!!  She bought eco and she got rid of her coffee!!  She then told us in a lesson, "You know, maybe I haven't recognized my answer yet because I'm not praying with enough faith or doing my part.  I need to listen."  The spirit was so strong and she is basically good to go for next week getting baptized.  It was a long week but we saw the hand of the Lord so much in it!!  I know this is His work and I am so grateful to be His servant.  A representative of the Living God.  I take it for granted sometimes. 

Spiritual thought!!!!  I have loved the theme going back and forth between us about positive attitudes.  It really is the key to life.  We are really agents unto ourselves to choose and it is true what Abraham Lincoln said,  "Most folks are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be".  This is so true.  It is simply a choice and the key to making that choice is to remember what this life is about.  This life is part of the Plan of Happiness, this gospel is the good news, our Father's entire purpose is to bring about the eternal life and happiness of us. We are everything to him and we simply need to remember who we are and why we are here.  So smile.  In every moment.  Throw your head back and enjoy the rain.  This life won't always seem as perfect as we want it and sometimes things happen that may not be enjoyable.  But if we simply remember that things aren't really as bad as they seem, we have a loving Father in Heaven, and he wants us to smile.  So the invitation for the week, is to wake up every morning this week with a smile, and find the joy in life.  I love you all!!!  and so does our Father in Heaven!!!  Have an amazing week!!!!:)

Elder Anderson

¡El reino de Dios o nada!

Elder Christensen, Javier, Anahi, Elder Anderson

Javier (a recent convert) - Baptized his daughter Anahi