Libertad para Los Pibes

Hooolllllaaaa!!! Been a little while!

Okay first off, I’m now halfway through my training......what the. I am learning a ton, and we’re teaching just as much. The more I speak, the faster I learn. I can feel the Lord strengthening me cada dia.

Norma y Lucas will be baptized this sabado......let’s goooooooooo. So crazy. His grandma Norma is the funniest lady ever. She loves feeding us all sorts of stuff durante our lecciones. Oh my gosh.....she offered us these sandwiches that were just drenched in mayo......bbbblllllllaaaaaaahhhhhhh, so nasty, and the whole time she was just like “Ahhh que ricoooo!” My comp took one bite and he almost died so I took one for the team, I tapped his shoulder and he handed me the sandwich form under the table and I finished that slimy piece of garbage lol.

We have this lady named Estella and she’s super great. Sadly, she doesn’t know how to read, so it’s a bit difficult to teach her. But she has desires to learn more, and she loves our himnos. We sing a hymn everytime we visit her. Her esposo, husband, is super funny and awesome because every time we come over, he grabs his guitar and sings to us, and man does he have talent. His voice is so cool, legitness. They really like it when I play too, so that’s been really fun.

La Navidad con mi companero......we just chilled in our apartment because nobody invited us to do anything lol but we made the best of it. We ate some pan dulce, sweet bread, which was actually horrible, and we just talked about our families and what they were probably doing for Christmas. A little depressing but whatever. Talking to the fam was wonderful, and super hard at the same time. I had so much to say, but not a ton of time. Miss you guys!!!! Hope you had a blast. I’ll put some pictures on.

Well thanks for all the prayers, this gospel is true. Testifico que our prophet is the mouthpiece of God. His work is progressing, and these changes that are happening are inspired changes. We need to strengthen our families, because this world is getting worse and worse. This new program is going to change lives. I love the Lord, in him my soul delights. En el nobre de Jesucristo, amen.

Elder Anderson

Quedo Quedo Quedo

Que tal pebes,

Okay, I need to be fast. Uncle Brett and aunt Gale, thank you so much for your love and support, Imm find a nativity don’t you worry haha.

So pretty much all of our baptism dates need to be changed because nobody showed up to church, so that was sad. Not sure what’s gonna happen.

I’m talking more and more, but still sound like a dummy haha.

Last week we were out looking for a chico that we met in the street, and we were about to give up, when I was like, elder Imma knock one more time. And he totally came to the door after waiting for probably 15 mins lol. Nuts. His name is Lucas, and we’re teaching him and his abuela Norma. Super crazy, Norma has a good friend that lives in Missouri who’s a member, so she was all for it when we showed up haha so cool. Also when we were teaching them this last week, her friend and her husband totally walked through the door haha, I was like waaaaaat. They sat in on the lesson and helped teach. What in the world haha, they just so happened to be in Argentina when we started teaching them. *Insert incredibles quote here* “Coincidence, I think noooooot!!”

I stepped in some freshly laid concrete and made a very nice Argentine man very upset. Go me.

I need to say, my trainer, Elder Mckeachnie, is the best missionary of all time. Teaching wise, he’s like a 20 out of 10. The people always understand him, and he’s very good at asking inspired questions. Such a baller.

We had a Christmas party thing as a mission last week, totally got to see Elder Samuels for the first time, super good to see him. For those of you who don’t know, we went to high school together.

Gracias for your love and prayers, family. Who’s excited to talk on Christmas morning????!!!!! I’m pretty sure I’m gonna cry so just be prepared.

Elder Anderson

Geeeeesh

Hola!

First off, so sorry, my area is called Bermejo, it’s in Guaymallen. It’s getting hotter and hotter every day, it’s pretty much St. George here haha.

Since it’s so dang hot, people don’t wear a whole lot of clothing, making it very difficult to feel el Espiritu lol.

So we're teaching these two teenagers right, Karen y Marilin, and I just barely found out that they're both 15.....Isaac hehe. It’s super weird for me cuz they have like rings in their noses and stuff and I just can’t imagine that they're the same age as my little turtle of a brother. Anyway, they both came to church yesterday so that was great, but they don’t dress very modestly, so that’s a problem. They both have fechas for baptism, so hopefully we can getr’ doooone but they’re gonna need to make a few changes. Tengo fe!!!!!

Y’all remember Nathan? Well we wanted to set a fecha for baptism, but his mom was like, “Eh, give us a few days,” so we were like ‘aight. And then yesterday she comes up and is like, okay yeah he'll get baptized, but it’s gonna be 2 months from now. We were shocked, freaking whatttttttt. He was our golden child, now we gotta wait for everrrr. It’s okay, but also uuuggggh.

Oh lol this was funny, so we're street contacting right, and I try to talk to this lady, and shes like, "No hablo con gringos." My comp started laughing and I was like "It{s because I’m green, isn’t it!" Grinch quote, you’re welcome. Also, we were teaching a lesson with some girls who live in that dump place, and this goat walks up to me, turns around and just starts unloading a nice little turd right in front of us, lol so nasty.

Found a member with a guitar, so I got to play for the first time in a fat min. Ugh missed it a lot.

Boca y River, the two big soccer teams here, played yesterday. River took the W, sadly. It was crazy, we didn’t need to know the score because every time either team would score would be like, "Boooooccccccaaaaaaaaa!!!!!" or "Riiiiivvvverrrrrrr!!! Gooooooaaaaaaallllll!!"

Okay that’s what I got for now. Shout out to my family, miss you a lot. Isaac, you’re a stud, Linus, Kirb Kirb, and Nolan, you’re adorable. Mom........I love you. Dad, I can’t wait to be able to grow a beard like you. Andrew, Clarissa, Clark, Amber, Hayden, Syd, freaking miss you. I’m here to serve my Savior, and I know it’s all gonna be worth it.

Wow this email was a little random, sorry haha.

Elder Anderson

Semana 2

Holaaaaa,

Sorry for freakin’ y’all out, we are safe most of the time haha. Just gotta be smart out here.

Okay I’ll start off with the funny/annoying stuff. Okay so last Wednesday was the worst. It all started with lunch with the presidente of our branch. Super good guy, but like I’m not a huge potato guy, my family knows this. So they bring the plates out, and it’s straight up a plate of potatoes, nothing else besides a tiny bit of meat at the bottom, and I’m just like, okay God, real funny. Literally my entire family has always made fun of me for not liking potatoes, and my mom has always said that when I went on my mission I’d get served potatoes a lot. Well mom you were right. Cuz literally every single day I eat potatoes. Lol wow my brothers best be laughing their faces off right now.....lol.

After the potatoes, it got worse. We went out looking for a house right, and this dog comes up behind me and is just chilling. And I didnt think anything of it, then all of the sudden my comp is like bruh he’s peeing on your leg!!!! Ladies and gentlemen........I hate dogs. Clark, I. Feel. You. Bro. Then not 30 mins later, we get circled by like 7 dogs, and they were just foaming at the mouth like a bunch of demon raptors. Ugh I hate them all. Anyway, yeah there’s that. Oh I also ripped my shirt on a barbed wire fence, go me. I also got sick at church because of some bad food, or water or something, lol that sucked, but it’s fine, go team.

Okay, spiritual stuff. So if y’all remember Nathan from last week, we can only meet with him like once a week which is the worst, but he totally came to church with us, along with 3 other new persons of interest. This last week we taught 45 lessons, ya thats right...45....lets go. But I don’t do a lot of talking. Still working on the Espanol lol.

We're also teaching two teenage girls, Marilin and Karin. Marilin is progressing well and we have a date for baptism. But Karin didn’t come to church this last week so we're not sure about her.

Tambien, we're teaching this chapo named Pablo, and he is the best. His family literally lives in the dump, like their house is surrounded by garbage, but he is so smart, and is really receptive to our lessons. We have a baptism date for him as well.

Shout out to my lovely mother........Love you more than air.

One last thing, all y’all count your blessings. Pablo’s family has like five or six little kids running around, faces black with dirt and grime. All they do is beat on each other because that’s what their parents do to them. It breaks my heart. Please please treat your family the way you would your Savior, with love and respect. Also, Mom and Dad, thanks for always loving me and wanting the best for me. Most of the parents out here, specifically in a barrio called Nuevo Esperanza, just care about drugs and drinking. We met 3 girls last week who were all around the age of 13, and one of them was smoking........ya 13 years old. Like what, we asked her why, and she said because she likes it. Uughhh. Please stay away from that crap people.

Missions are hard, but I’m learning a lot. I know that when we put our faith in the Lord, he will direct us. This gospel has the capability of changing people’s lives, but it’s up to us to open our mouths. I know this gospel true, "I know it, and I know that God knows it, and I cannot deny it."

Chiooooo

Elder Anderson

Fotos- Sleepiness, fooooood/this crap made me super sick doe, Nathan y su madre, hair cut (I look just like Hayden haha), mi n da comp, my fav snack bread, cheese, and this weird jelly stuff

¿Dónde estoy?

Que tal pebes,

Okay so this place is insane and I’m probably gonna get robbed this week, so ya just wanted to prepare you for this letter.

So much has happened, so sorry if I can’t fit it all in.

Mendoza is like if LA and the entire state of Nevada had a child, super ghetto sometimes, but it also has some pretty cool safe spots. The food so far has been bomb, lots of pasta and bread, and the miemberos aqui are super nice. So far, my trainer and I have been walking an average of about five or six miles a day, which I guess isn’t that bad, but it ain’t no picnic either.

My trainer is Elder Mckeachine from Utah. Best missionary I’ve ever met, no duda, no duda.

We’re in an area called Guayllamen, and let me tell ya, dis place is sketchy.

Super humble people, and gangbangers on every street. Do I fear for my life everyday......maybe a little. Haha, its bad but we just need to be smart and we’ll be fine. Lol sorry momma. I’m okay. You’ll be happy to know my comp and I deep cleaned our house this morning, and we loved it.....hehe.

Yesterday, Elder Mckeachine and I were walking down the street and these chicas started cat calling us, and I guess I can’t blame them cuz we pretty good looking fellas lol, anyway one of them was like hey do you have a girlfriend, and I was like nah, and she was like you want one, and my comp said, nah we have better things to be up to, and inside I lost it, ooooohhhhhhhh roooooooaaaaaaassssstttedddddd. Sorry chica, you already know we’re about our Father’s business.

Okay so one thing that’s been super hard for me is understanding what people are saying to me, so if you could for just a moment, imagine me standing there listening to someone speaking to me in Spanish and me just smiling and nodding my head like a complete idiot, ya that’s how it’s been lol. Lord give me strength.

Looks like I’m running out of time so one last thing, we’re teaching this young nino named Nathan and it’s so amazing how quickly he understands the gospel. I know that the Lord has been preparing people for us to teach and bring to the fold. I’m quite confident that we’ll have a baptism date for him this coming week. He already said he would be baptized if he learned for himself that the gospel was true so I’m very hopeful.

Thanks for all your prayers, it’s been hard, but I know through Christ all things are possible.

Chioooooo,

Elder Anderson

Fotos- Mi entrenador y the view from our ventana

 

Elder Elvis and the Ice Rain

Holaaaa!!!

Ummm so I guess we’re heading out to Argentina this coming monday....so that’s insane. Time flew by, and I wish I would have learned more. But our district has been working hard, so with help from the Lord, we'll be ‘aight. This last week was super confusing with Spanish doe, subjunctives are the worrrrsssstttttt lol.

So y’all remember how Pres. Bennet destroyed us all last week because some Elders were at our house? Well just in case you were worried, we’re chilling now. He came over to Elder Gubernick and I and said that he loved us, and we talked for a little while. Super great man.

Okay, so the Elder that I told yall about last time, the one with the fantastic voice, his name is Elder Williams. He and I are like two peas in a pod, ugh love him so much. Anyway, so we tried to sing in a devo together with Creo in Cristo to the tune of Savior Redeemer Of My Soul. And let me tell ya, that song so awesome. I feel the spirit so strong whenever we sing that song. We ended up being able to sing in the devo on Tuesday, and we did pretty great. Sadly, I’ve been a sickling for the last two weeks, so it wasn't my best, but that don’t matter cuz we were singing praises to God, so we chillin. About the elder Elvis thing, there was this elder that wanted to sing with Elder Williams and I at a choir rehearsal that we had been selected to sing a little solo for, and it was the funniest thing ever because the rehearsal had just ended and everybody was leaving, and out of nowhere this new elder walks up and is like, "Yo yo Imma sing with y’all, right now, I want in." And Elder Williams and I were like, "Aight, let’s see what this kid’s got." So we then begin to sing with this elder, and he’s like, " Wait wait wait, I think we should sing this higher." And Elder Williams and I were like, uuuhhhh okay. And out of nowhere he just starts ripping it, full voice, just a powerhouse of a voice. And Elder Williams and I are just shocked, and I’m holding back a laugh because I look over at the choir lady, and she had the most appalled expression on her face lol. She marches up to him and begins to explain that we don’t sing like that at the CCM. Oh man, I felt really bad cuz he had a killer voice, but he didn’t really understand that when we sing about Jesus, at least at the CCM, it should be done with reverence. I swear the kid must have come from some Southern Baptist church, cuz dang haha. Also, there’s a recording of Elder Williams and I singing at the bottom of this email. Give it a listen.

Super quick, check out D&C 25:12, it’s a cool scripture that I memorized in Spanish about how when we sing hymns, it’s like a prayer to God. Love it.

I gave Elder Thornton, an elder in my district, a blessing a few days ago. He was a little stressed out about leaving for Argentina, and asked me to. It was really special, and I’m getting better at listening to the Spirit. He’s a great missionary, and I honestly think that he’s one of the best dudes I’ve ever met. He’s from Morgan Utah, so mom if you want to look around on Facebook for Mendoza moms or something, maybe you could meet his fam. Also, what’s up mom, love you!!!! Thanks for teaching me how to clean, cuz nobody does here.

It rains a lot here, and it’s also kinda cold for some reason. I thought Mexico was supposed to be hot. Anyway, when it rains, it’s like total death because it’s cold, and my cough will not go away.

I’ve learned a lot here at the CCM, I don’t feel super ready to enter the field, but I think that’s every missionary, or maybe I’m wrong. I’m a little nervous, but way excited to leave this place. I’m tired of teaching fake investigators, give me some real people already haha. In closing, I just want to give a big ole shout out to my fam, love you guys, miss you like I miss cream cheese bagels in the morning. I miss you like the flowers miss the sun when it rains, but I know that by sacrificing my time in the "sun", the Lord is "showering" his blessings on all of us. Oooof that was a pretty great analogy lol I love the Lord, He lives, and I’m ready to tell it to everyone. Bless up kiddos.

Elder Anderson

Pics- Me and Jesus, haircut/ya boiii, the brethren, Elder Thornton is the one in the front, and Halliday is behind me, Gubernick on my right

Día de los Muertos!

Hola hola!

This last week was pretty sweet, so hopefully I can get it all on here.

The rain here is nuts! One second is all calm and peaceful, the next you’re soaked to the bone, and the street is flooded with like a foot and a half of water lol. It’s getting colder here so I was gonna buy a sweater or two, but my arms are too long. The worst.....but we ‘aight.

Elder Gubernick and I, along with some sisters from our district, sang a little musical number in one of our meetings, so that was sweet. Gubernick hasn’t done a whole lot of singing, but he did a wonderful job, super proud of him. There’s a file/recording of it that I’ll put on here.

Our district has been doing English fasts, so we can practice speaking only Spanish, and it’s been pretty hard for me. Mostly because it's hard for me not to talk, and I can't quite express myself in Spanish the way that I can in English, but I'm trying.

A bunch of amazing missionaries just got here from Haiti, and they all speak French........Dad.........hehe you'd love it. They have the coolest style, and are so so so happy and warm. So great.

For Dia de los Muertos, the elders in our room went and bought a bunch of junk food.......sorry momma.......and we told some cool/spooky mission stories that we had heard from other people. It was fun.

Being a zone leader is pretty hard because people look up to you. We had a bit of a difficult situation because one of our district leaders and his comp from our zone came over one night to talk with us, and Presidente Bennet got pretty upset because you're not supposed to have other elders in your casa at night. I didn't feel super great about it in the first place, but I didn't speak up because I feared man more than I feared God. Bennet ended up coming to our casa and ripped us a new one, I felt horrible, like I cried lol. I felt like I had let him, my family, and the Lord down. President Bennet was really disappointed. So as I layed in my bed, thinking about it all, I got thinking. Pres. Bennet was just trying to help us understand that we have rules for a reason and if we don't follow them we can't have the Spirit with us, and without the Spirit, we are just a bunch of 18 year old bums. So it wasn't like we were having a party or staying up late cuz the elders left at like 9 something, but we are zone leaders now so it's really important to be the best example that we can.

Other than that, this week was sweet, and I aprendo mucho hehe.

Also, there's an elder in our zone that has the coolest voice ever, and he's a baller at musical theatre. He was in Phantom and Fiddler on the Roof. It's like having my dad around, cuz whenever I see him I just burst out in song…”If I were a rich man!!!! Yabadubedube!!!” haha. He and I are trying out to sing in one of the devos. Gonna be sweet if we make it. But for real tho, he's sweet, and he's from Idaho so lets freaking go.

Also, they have these sweet green parrots that are so pretty, here's a pic of dem, and I bought this super cheap wallet that has the Mexico City temple on it....ya I know it’s legit.

Love you all so much, if yall want to write me a quick letter, look up Missionary Package and you can send me a quick email that they can print out for me whenever.

Con amor,

Elder Anderson

Cuatro Semana

Wut up wut up,

Aight so time is flying so I'll try to remember everything. Elder Gubernick and I were called as Zone Leaders last week so we're trying to figure that all out haha. Elder Gubernick and I have also been ballin it up out here in Mexico City. He's got some sweet handles and he's way good at shooting. Yesterday we were playing some 3 on 3 and he threw me an oop and I slammed that sucker with two hands lol everybody went nuts hehe. But we're not supposed to dunk because it’s dangerous or something, so I've been trying to tone it down. Forgive me Lord.

I've run into a ton of old friends here and it's been so great. A few elders from Skyridge and some others from Snow Canyon. I'll try and send some pics. Also I got a haircut from one of the elders in our casa, lol it was a leap of faith, but it ended up being okay.

The other day Elder Gubernick and I were teaching a lesson in Spanish to one of our interested people, and it was way cool because I got to lead the lesson, and normally I struggle to find my words and stuff but it actually went pretty well. Elder Gubernick has been really great with helping me when I get stuck. I'm still struggling with the language, but like my boi C-Money told me, you can't learn a song just like that when you only just started playing. It's gonna take some time.

Another thing, the elder who reminded me of Nolan, his name is actually Elder Holmes, that's my bad. He just left the CCM and is now serving in Salta, Argentina. What a legend.

I want to end with my testimony:

Yo se que dios es nuestros padre celestial y nosotros somos su hijos. Dios nos envió a su hijo, jesucristo, a la tierra para expiar nuestros pecados. Yo se que a través sus expiación podemos ser limpio de nuestros pecados. Yo tengo mucho amor para mi salvador. Yo se que cuando nosotros guardamos sus mandamientos nuestros padre celestial bendice nosotros. En el nombre de Jesucristo amén.

Thanks for all the emails, I feel your love and your prayers.

Chiooooooooooo

Elder Anderson

2 Semana

Hola!

Wow it feels like I've been here forever haha. Spanish is coming along slowly, lol im so impatient. Guys I miss my guitars and my music. :| But thankfully, the elders in my district like to sing with me and it's like we are a traveling band or something walking around the CCM haha.

My days are long and at times boring, but every once in a while, we get to lighten up. I'M SO GLAD THEY GIVE US BREAKS. Also, mom, they totally have sugar cereal here, so that's a total dub!

We just got back from the Mexico City temple, and wow was it beautiful! I had really been missing the sweet peacefulness of God's house. Temples are such a huge blessing, and Mendoza is gonna get one in a few years!!!! YYYYYeeeee the work is hastening!!!!

According to my district, I'm the dad of the group. I don't know if it’s my dad bod, or if I’m just the guy that's trying to get everyone focused lol I’m fine with it I guess. I've been trying to eat more veggies so I don't get fat too fast lol. Lord give me strength.

Two elders from our district, Elder Thornton and Elder Halliday, moved in with Elder Gubernick and a few days ago. So now we just talk forever at night, which is my fav. They are all really great dudes.

One last thing. For those of you who know the story of my brother Nolan, this is for you. There is an elder here, Elder Barton, who is actually in the same zone as me, who has what my brother had. He walks with a slight limp, and has a crippled hand. When I first saw him, I almost started to cry, because I felt my brother’s spirit. I knew that Nolan was there with me, and I could feel that he was proud of what I was doing. Elder Barton is seriously the sweetest dude, and he's very capable as a missionary. There have been times that I've just sat and watched him study or get his food in the comedor, and it's like I'm getting to see what it would have been like if my brother Nolan had lived to serve a mission. I know it's a tender mercy from God, and I'm so glad that I have the sustaining spirit of my brother with me as I'm on my mission.

Sorry I can't write more, we are short on time doe. No pics cuz my computer is dumb.

Love yall so much, thanks for the emails!

Elder Anderson

I Feel Like I've Been Here Forever

Hola!

Wow, I'm a missionary and it's awesome. Miss you all, especially my family. Isaac, happy late birthday! You're a stud and I love you. The drive from the Mexico airport to the CCM was crazy. I had never left the US in my life, so when I saw how crazy and close all the houses were, and the chained up dogs foaming at the mouth wanting to eat me, I was a little excited/scared. Thankfully, I met a ton of awesome missionaries who were feeling the same things, so I was fine. My companion’s name is Elder Gubernick from San Diego, California. He is a really athletic surfer dude that is pretty much a total baller at everything. Haha but really, his Spanish is very good and we get along pretty well. He is our district leader, so it's been really great being able to serve and support him. The other day, one of the hermanas in our district asked us to give her a blessing, so Elder Gubernick and I gave her a blessing and I can testify that I could really feel the Lord speaking through me. And then like two days later, we gave a healing blessing to another hermana and I got to help with that. And holy cow, Elder Thornton from Morgan, Utah, an elder from my district, spoke with so much power, no doubt those were not his words. I love being able to use God's priesthood to bless others' lives. My Spanish is coming along slowly, and I tend to get frustrated because my comp is so dang smart. But I know that I just need to be patient with myself, and the Lord will help me if I’m obedient. The other day we had a district testimony meeting and it was crazy because we all opened up about some of the hard things that have happened to us, without making it uncomfortable because that's always the worst lol that was for you, Syd. Anyway, Elder Swiderski from northern Cali talked about how he lost his mother when he was six years old and how he was so grateful for the Plan of Salvation, and I just lost it. I had been holding back the tears ever since I had said goodbye to my family, and I was already thinking about my brother Nolan, so I didn't have any other choice....ya it was bad haha. When he finished, I added my witness to his, that I know that if we live up to our covenants, and keep the Lord's commandments, we will see our loved ones again.

My district is seriously the coolest district that has ever been assembled. We're all very unique and different and it's so cool. Y’all know I’m a total spaz, so I'm trying to tone it down a little bit, but when I get excited about something in class, I just want to stand up and praise the Lord!!!!!! Also, anyone that knows me, I literally sing all the time, and at first I tried to hold back, but my district is really nice, so they let me sing or hum during study time. I also make songs/raps for Spanish verbs to help me remember them. For example, "complicar complicar complicar complicar....... to please.''

The food is fine, I'm not as picky as I was when I was younger......mom thanks for coaching me into liking real food haha. I really miss your cooking doe haha. Yo amo usted muchooooo! Enjoy the pics.

Love you all, thanks for your love and support!

Elder Anderson