Week 22: Season 4 Episode 3 (Lake Marion, MN)

Hello everyone!! This week was so awesome. Being able to talk to family and have a Christmas on a mission was such a blessing. It was so fun going house to house seeing people and wishing them a Merry Christmas! :)

Monday: We helped a member take in a entertainment center into there house and man was it so heavy. It took a long time!! But I got a good workout in. Then we went to see a less active guy who has really bad health. We always go to his house and read the Book of Mormon with him. 

Tuesday: We started the day by making some cookies and made some cards and that took quite a bit of time. Then we did some service at a place called Prince of Peace. I helped load lots of groceries for people in there cars. It was really fun! But it is starting to get really cold here.  Then we had dinner with some members it was fun! I am just having a hard time getting to know people in this area, because I am so used to Thunder Bay. So I am a bit frustrated right now with that.

Wednesday: We had District meeting. My first one in my new district. Man we had so many missionaries there. We have a huge district. Plus the AP's showed up and gave a training on obedience. It was super good and definitely got me motivated to be more obedient. Then we had dinner with a member that was good. Then we played basketball at the church that night with some investigators and members and it was fun! Basketball always helps me.

Thursday: We went to Prince of Peace again. It was really good! Then as a Zone we went to Applebee's and it was really good. But there were so many Tv's and it was hard to eat while not looking at the Tv haha. Then we went and looked at Christmas Lights with a less active family. They are like my favorite family. They are so funny! They give every missionary a nickname my companions nickname is obviously Clark Kent because he is Superman pretty much. But they call me Captain America. I don't really know why, but it is cool I guess hahah!! 

Friday: Christmas Day!! Man was it good. We opened presents with the Holmbergs and that was so fun. Then we went to the Woods home to Skype home. Man I really love and miss my family, that was such a good phone call to see everyone and talk for a little bit. Brenden's voice is much deeper so that was really funny. I just could not believe it haha.

Saturday: We had Coordination with the Ward mission leader, then immediately after that we went to the church and played basketball for 2 hours with lots of people. They we planned for a little bit. Then played some volleyball for 2 hours. I love volleyball!!! It is so fun!! After that I was pretty sore though, cause you know me I don't like to lose so I go all out. It was pretty hard to walk after just because my legs were beat haha.

Sunday: We went to church and it was good, other than no investigators came. But after church we gave two blessings. Then we had Brunch at a less actives home. They are so cool! Then we had a lesson with a recent convert about helping him receive the priesthood and what he has to do to get it. Then we ate a the Milne's there son returned from his mission last Wednesday and it was cool talking to him about his mission. He was serving in Mexico. Then we did some planning the rest of the night because we are a little bit behind on that.

Tomorrow I am going on exchanges with my District leader Elder Richins who is going to play shortstop at BYU when he gets home. So I am pumped for that. He is a Spanish Elder so hopefully I can learn some more Spanish :) But thanks for all the emails and everything. I had a great Christmas and hope all of you did as well.  Have a great New Years. I love you all!

Love,

Elder Anderson

CHRISTMAS SKYPE!!

The very best Christmas present we could have received was being able to skype with Elder Anderson on Christmas morning. It seriously was so wonderful and we all enjoyed it so much. We miss him like crazy and it was awesome to be able to see his handsome face and hear his voice. He answered lots of our questions and we talked for one hour and forty-seven minutes of pure happiness. He offered a prayer at the end and it was hard to say goodbye but it was so amazing and so worth it. Too bad it is 135 days until Mothers Day, but who is counting, right?

New Companion: Elder Knaphus (Lake Marion, MN)

Season 4 Episode 2 Christmas Week (Lake Marion, MN)

Hello Everyone!! Man I had a great week! It is so much fun being a missionary at this wonderful time of the year. :)

Monday: We went to the Holden's for dinner. They are such a cool family! I really love them a lot. She made the best sweet potatoes ever. WOW! And then as. I was leaving they gave me lots of little gifts and Bro Holden gave me his new tie he just got. Man it was so nice. I already miss that family.

Tuesday: I saw a few members I wanted to say goodbye to before I left. Then pretty much the rest of the day we went Christmas Caroling and handed out our gifts that we made to the members. It was really cool! Then we had dinner with the Wiggs and Jones family. They are another one of my favorite families. They gave me all these gifts too. It was so nice of them! I will really miss Thunder Bay!

Wednesday: My last full day in TBAY. We had breakfast at Brian Finlayson's. He gave all of us tons of gifts too. He bought us these Canada Beanies that are sweet. :) Then Bro Holden took us to A&W. And he gave back my Testimony Journal that I wanted him to write in. Then we did some more caroling and delivering the pretzels we made. Then at 9:30 two members came to our house and gave me some gifts.

Thursday: I finished packing in the morning and got everything ready. Then we left TBAY. It was sad leaving! But the Lord needs me in another place though! We had Zone Pday when we got there. We played a game called 3 step dodgeball it was super sick! Then we went to a place called Adventure Zone and we played Lazer Tag, Mini Golf, I even got in the batting cage and hit some baseballs. That was good to hit again! :) Then after that we went to a place in Duluth called Bentleyville. It is like a ton of Christmas lights and it was really fun! 

Friday: We had Christmas Conference with President Forbes. It was sweet, we sang lots of songs and really felt the spirit. It was overall a great conference. Then we watched the movie " The Sound of Music " Everyone says that is a classic movie, but I had never seen it before. It was okay.. People talked way too good about it for what it was. Then after all that was done, I said bye to the Thunder Bay Elders because they had to get on the road so they could make it back in time for bed. So that night I went on Exchanges with one of the Duluth Zone Leaders ( Elder Harris ) And one of the AP's ( Elder Gardiner ) We taught 3 lessons, I learned a lot from both of them. They gave me lots of advice, it was a really good time!

Saturday: The AP's helped me get all my stuff into their truck and then we left Duluth and started driving to go to Lakeville for my new area. It was a really fun drive! They are super cool, we had lots of fun jamming out to some Christmas music!! Then once I got to the Area I met Elder Knaphus. He is super awesome! He looks exactly like Clark Kent ( Superman) Like EXACTLY!! Hahah! He is such a nice guy too. I am excited to work with him. Then we went and played volleyball with lots of members of the ward, I guess we do it every Saturday from 2:00-4:00. So that is really cool! It was really fun! I met the Sister missionaries that serve in the same ward as us, and they are super cool. Then we went to a Christmas party for a little bit and I got to meet lots of people. A lot of people here know where Spanish fork is and have been there so it was really fun talking about that! 

Sunday: We had church, which was really fun! Man the ward is so big compared to Thunder Bay. It is just like a Utah ward pretty much hahah!! Then we had lunch at a less active members home and it was fun. They are from Texas and man do they have accents haaha! Then we gave a FHE lesson at a members home and showed the the video " Why We Need A Savior". Then we went to another members home and made Gingerbread houses. Our GingerBread house was the Snowflake Arizona temple. It looked pretty sweet, I did not get a picture of it though.. Then we went caroling with some other members and the sister missionaries. We met a lot of cool people and showed " A Savior is Born" To all of them. It was a really good night:)

I am excited to be in my new area! We are going to see a lot of success. I really love this Christmas season. It is definitely one of the best Christmas seasons I have ever had!! Mainly because I really am focusing on the true meaning of Christmas:) I hope you all have an amazing Christmas!! You all mean so much to me. I can't believe I have been out 5 months now. That is weird. I love you all! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Love,

Elder Anderson

Christmas Conference:

Right before we left TBAY:

Bentleyville:

Lake Superior:

Right when we got into America:

Season 4 Episode 1 "Transfers" (Thunder Bay, ON Canada)

Hey everyone! I do not have much time to email today. But I am getting transferred to Lake Marion, Minnesota. I leave on Wednesday. I am super sad about it! But change is good. I will grow and learn from it. I typed up this email for you guys and it got erased ... so that is stupid, but here are some pictures. I hope you enjoy them.

Bishop's Family

The Holden Family 

(This is the family that I had Thanksgiving dinner with)

Breakfast with Santa donut game

The Forneri's and our investigator, Julia

Greg Mulzer soon to be missionary in Anaheim, California

Love, Elder Anderson

Sunday Dinner with Bishop and Sister P and their Family

Season 3 Episode 6 " Oh Come All Ye Faithful "

Hey Everyone. This week has been really good! I am loving the Christmas Season here in T-Bay. It is so great sharing " A Savior is Born " with members and non members. People really love it. Also on christmas.mormon.org there is a video each day until December 13th of famous LDS members. Go watch it!

Tuesday: We had P day. We went to lots of stores because we needed lots of things. Then we ate at a members home and they invited us to sing in the choir that night. So Later that night we went to the practice they had at the church. It was really fun! None of us are good at all... But it still is super fun. I really want to be able to sing! Hahah! I think it would be so cool. Then Elder Percival and Elder Lowe got here at about 11:30, there drive up here from Duluth was pretty intense because all of the snow.

Wednesday: We had District Meeting with the Zone Leaders. It went really well! Me and Elder Adamson gave a training on being " Lovingly Bold " to our investigators and to everyone. Then later we had a meeting with our ward mission leader. Man those meetings are boring.. He just likes to go on and on.. What is really weird though is instead of saying " You Guys " He says " Yous" which is so wrong.. Man Canadians are weird. Lots of people say it but especially him.

Thursday: I said goodbye to Elder Percival. He has been my Zone Leader since I first got here on my mission. He has been such a good example to me! I will miss him a lot! But he said he is going to email me when he gets home so that is cool. All the missionaries I was serving around at the very beginning are all home now. That is crazy!

Friday: It was planning day.. Sometimes I feel like all I do is plan. It is so boring. But in the middle of our planning we got a call that a member needed a blessing. I gave the blessing! It went well. The spirit really does take over in blessings. I always worry about what to say, but I never should be cause if the spirit is there, he will take over. Then that night we had the ward Christmas Party. It was such a blast! We served the food to all of the members. I really love the people here and when I leave I will be very sad! Us missionaries showed everyone the new video and challenged them all to share it, whether it be on social media or in person with someone. I want to leave the same challenge with you guys. Share it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. Whatever social media you can. If you do share it, I want an email about it! :)

Saturday: From 12:00 - 4:00 we were at a less active members house cutting/moving wood for her so she can be warm for the winter. I was using the axe for the entire time, it was super fun! Really hard work, so I am a little bit sore from it but it was a great time. Then one of the members that came to help us do that invited us over for dinner that night. They bought us Chinese food, it was super good! I also heard that Bronco Mendenhall left to Virginia. Maybe BYU will actually do good now! hahah!

Sunday: We had the Stake President at our ward. He left his house at 3:00 in the morning to get to our church on time, that is how far away the stake is.. Then we had Church which went well. Then we went over to a few active members houses and showed them " A Savior is Born " also we showed " Why we need a Savior." You should go watch both of them. They are incredible. Then at night we went to the Wiggs home to watch the Christmas Devotional. I really liked it! This Christmas Season has been the best because I am actually focused on the real reason of Christmas and that is Jesus Christ.

I can't believe it is already December. Time is flying! Keep sending me awesome emails. They help me more than you know! 

Also, I heard Nick Emery punched a Utah player. Hahaha I don't blame him I would probably do the same thing ;) Hahaha Jk!! 

Have the best week!

Love,

Elder Anderson

Thunder Bay Ward Christmas Party

From Sister Melissa Bagley: "Here is a pic of your missionary from our ward Christmas party last night. They helped serve the food and then shared the new Christmas video with everyone."

From Sister Paige Zobell: "They were so cute last night. All four elders wore Santa hats and served the whole ward Christmas dinner. I told them it was totally wrong - they should have been the ones first in line to east. They all had smiles on their faces the whole time. You would have been very proud of him."

I absolutely love getting random pictures and texts from these wonderful people in Taylor's mission. It has been amazing.

Season 3 Episode 5 " Bowling "

Hello everyone!! It is Christmas season, how crazy is that? Man, it really is the best season!! The new Christmas Video " A Savior is Born" Is so awesome, if you have not seen it I highly encourage you to go look it up.

Tuesday: I went on Exchanges with Elder Bettridge from Cedar City, he is super cool! We taught 2 lessons to investigators and 1 to a recent convert. It was super fun day! Later that night we had a lesson with a guy named Jonothan. He is super awesome and at the end of the lesson he asked me to give him a blessing to help him overcome his addictions. It was really scary, but it went well. 

Wednesday:  We had District meeting, that was really good! Then we went to a recent converts house named Brian, he is so cool, every day he drops off sometime of food at our house. He does not have a car either, he just walks! He is a very good example of serving others I really appreciate him. Then we had a thanksgiving dinner at a members home.

Thursday: We did lots of service, we were shoveling snow for some members that are old. Then a less active member who only has one leg asked us if we would help him get his groceries. That was really fun! We then had dinner at the Holdens, probably my fav family in the ward. They fed us twice this week, once on Monday and Thursday. It was a really good Thanksgiving Dinner. Man were the sweet potatoes amazing Me and the kids in there family really have a bond, it is super fun we made GingerBread houses with the kids :)

Friday: It was planning day..... But early in the morning the High Preist's invited us to a breakfast at a place called the Woking Bird. It has really good breakfast food I really enjoyed it. Then we planned for like 4 1/2 hours. We also had basketball that night so it was really fun to do that! We had a good turn out.

Saturday: We finished out planning because we did not finish the day before.. Planning really is so hard to have patience for. We plan like 4 backup plans for every plan. So it just takes forever. But the Lord is definitely teaching me something. Then we had an idea, one of our investigators Kashuik is really similar to one of our members Greg Mulzer. So we had an Idea to go Bowling with both of them and help them create a bond so he will feel comfortable at church. So we gave President Forbes a call, he was totally cool with it! So we went cosmic bowling with them, It was so sick! I have some pictures I will send. Our white shirts and ties were so bright in there haha man it was cool.

Sunday: We had church of course. It went really well! We talked to lots of members about the Christmas Party coming up this Friday. We are serving the food for the ward. So that should be a really fun night! But also the new video came out " A Savior is Born" I really like it, I am glad I get to go around and share it with everyone. But also I found out that the first 12 days of December there will be a new video coming out every day about Christmas. I challenge all of you to watch them!

I had a pretty good week overall! It is super fun being a missionary in the Christmas season. Hahah we jam out to David Archuleta Christmas songs. It is so much fun! In just a few weeks we are going to go Christmas Carolling. I hope you all will remember the true reason we celebrate Christmas. I really love the emails you guys send! They are so uplifting and inspiring. I can't believe I get to talk to my family this month over Skype. I love you all have the best week.

1) Bowling Saturday Night

2) Me and Elder Bettridge last Sunday haha

3) GingerBread house I made at the Holdens

Love,

Elder Anderson