Week 75!

Family and Friends,

     This past friday we helped a couple pop the clutch on their car (the battery had died). It was cool haha, they were grateful for the help. We also saw two horses fighting, one was running behind the other and the horse in front was kicking the other with its back legs. Crazy... those kicks looked super strong.

     We had a mission zone conference this past week. Those who gave trainings talked about the power of the Book of Mormon and about our personal motivations to be missionaries. It was really good.

     Two Sundays ago we had a stake conference, one of the 70s was there and talked about the importance of obedience, the stake president spoke on self-sufficiency. It was really great!

     We played soccer again today. I scored a couple goals. I also dunked a croc we found in the parking lot hahaha, I also threw a football with one of the American Elders. It's been a while.

Love you all!

Elder Anderson

Week 74!

Family and Friends,

Ever since I've been in my new area, we haven't been able to drink the tap water in the house. This past week, we went in the attic with a member to clean the water tanks and they were really dirty. But we cleaned it up good and now the water is a lot better!

We visited Yasmin this Friday with the Young Women's president of the ward. It went really well and Yasmin went to a young womens activity this saturday and stake conference this Sunday! She brought her younger sister too. They liked it a lot and will continue coming!

We taught the Restoration to Claudio this week! It went well and we found out that his best friend is a member of the Church! He seems sincerely interested in what we have to say. We will return this week!

We have had a great P-day so far! We played soccer and basketball with some other Elders, and I scored a goal in soccer  It's been a while since I've played haha.

Love you all!

Elder Anderson

Week 73!

Family and Friends,

This past week I stayed in Nova Odessa (another city) for a day. I worked with Elder Britez from Paraguay. We had a great visit with a lady who was baptized just two weeks ago, we read 1 Nephi 8 together and talked about the symbolism and what we can learn from it. It was really great!

In our area we've visited a family with an 11 year old daughter named Yasmin who hasn't gone to church in awhile. She's super cool and is mature for her age.

One day, we were walking on the sidewalk (surprise, surprise haha) and we saw two shirtless guys (+-20 years old) passing by on a motorcycle without helmets. They were shortly followed by a police van with 2 cops. The cop in the passenger seat had his pistol in hand hanging out the window. The guys stopped the motorcycle behind a semi-truck and the police whipped the van around, and both hopped out after them (One with the gun drawn and aimed at them). The guys put their hands up and relaxed, the cops grabbed them and threw them against a wall. One of the guys back talked and got punched a couple times. It was like a movie haha. I'm glad to have policemen and women that risk their lives to keep others safe. I honor and admire their sacrifice. 

One day, we were walking in a neighborhood and I started a conversation with two kids in front of a house. Ends up, a few people in the house are members of the church and there are many who aren't baptized! The kids called their grandma who was home and she said we could teach and baptize those who hadn't been taught! We will return there soon.

Love you all!

-Elder Anderson

Weeks 71 & 72!

Family and Friends,

These past two weeks have flown by! Here are the highlights:

Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Years! We stayed Christmas Eve night with a family from the Church, we ate a ton, and hung out. It was really great! On Christmas we had a four hour lunch with Brazilian BBQ. It was really good haha. On New Years, we stayed home but watched all the fireworks in the city from our houses garage haha. It was really cool. It made me miss the 4th of July parties in the USA. 

I was recently transferred to a new area in the same city as my first area here in Brazil! It has been really cool to come back and remember experiences from over a year ago. Time has flown by. My new companion is Elder Costa. He's from Fortaleza and is the only member in his family. His parents disowned him when he left on the mission and he hasn't talked to them since. His faith and testimony are astounding. We don't yet have a week together but we've gotten a lot done. We've been able to meet the Bishop, plan how we will work in harmony with him, cleaned and organized the area book, meet some of the members, and also meet some of the people here who are investigating the church. It's been great!

I have nearly 1 year and 5 months on my mission now, it has been an incredible experience until now. I have changed, grown, and experienced so much. Only those who have served understand. I'm am excited to finish these last 6 months or so faithfully and proudly.

Until next week, love you all,

Elder Anderson