Date: Mon, 16 May 2011 11:04:50 -0300
Subject: Re: Dad letter May 15, 2011
From: williama@myldsmail.net
To: sodabackdoc@hotmail.com
Well allllllllllllllllllrighty then! I loved hearing all yours tales from last week. Sounds like things are great. Sorry about your ivy mom. I know you liked it and the house with look a lot different, but some times you just have to cut loose. Nolan my lamb! You are to be congratulated! I only hear glory and triumphant sounding when I read your name in emails. You are bringing glory to the family name! Kiss the girls and make them cry :) Sorry about the halting of photos. However, the frequency of ya´ll getting photos will definitely stay the same. No one got transferred, so we will probably continue using this old lan house.....THAT`S FREE! I will, however, work some magic and get into a Lan House to send you some pictures. I hope all your plans for the summer are marvelous and happen.
This week was a toughie! We were going to have a baptism this Sunday, but of course something happened. Lucas, our investigator, called us Saturday night at 7:45 to tell us that he had family problems and couldn't´t be baptized. That was so difficult to hear! We went to his house to try and talk with him or his dad. When we got to his house, his dad answered the door and was just having nothing to do with us. He said that he didn't´t have anything to do with Lucas´s baptism, but he didn't want to talk with us. We waited on the curb for 45 minutes hoping that we could catch Lucas coming home, but he never came. Ha ha we sang È Tarde A Noite A Longo Vém ( Abide with me tis eventide). I really don´t now why we aren't a lot of baptisms. We work hard! We are throwing up good numbers, 38 lessons a week and 200 contacts, but still nothing. I feel like I´m being very obedient to the rules, but still. This is a curious work my dear family. Curious....very curious (Harry Potter). Blasted gift of agency! Ha ha
Here is a funny story for you all. So, after we had received the call that Lucas wouldn´t be baptized, we went right to his house; however, on the way over we meet a drunk child of God. We were walking pretty fast when we encountered him, so I didn´t hear anything when we approached him. I only saw him put his fist out and saw something. My companion said something I didn´t hear and continued walking. When I pasted him I tried to give him a fist pound, because I thought that´s what he wanted. Right after we pasted the guy, I asked my companion what he wanted. Turns out that he had told us to stop and hand over everything that we had. The vagabond wanted to rob us! The NERVE! Those were my first thoughts. My second thoughts were.....I´m am Idiot! I tried to give that man a fist pound. ´Stop right now and give me everything you have!` My response....Alright! Fist pound! Chest bump! I´m not in Kansas anymore.
I love you all and will work the whole picture thing. I have some good pictures too!
Elder Anderson
May 8, 2011
Hello my beloved family!
No, I wasn´t really expecting to much for you all today, seeing how we had ourselves a nice little chat. I was so great to see you all. When I hung of the line I was missing you all so much. It´s a good thing we only get to call a couple times a year. I was by far the most enthusiastic missionary yesterday, that talked to his family. The others were happy, but I was ECSTATIC! Andrew made me laugh the most He is such a goof! Nolan´s teeth were the biggest and most beautifully white surprise. Isaac´s teeth were also a surprise! My little squirrel sprouted some teeth! I enjoyed talking to everyone of you! Dad, thanks for writing down those questions that you wanted to ask me. I hope that all goes well with the college thing. Love you! Sorry for more stress in your life :) I think we will definitely do the whole SKPE thing again. I don´t know if I´ll have access to a computer the next time, but I´m thinking everything will work out. The kitchen looked lovely by the way.
Sorry, about the abrupt halting of picture sending. We are using a lan house that is free, which is awesome, but they don´t have outlets for flash drives. I´ll get ya´ll some pictures soon....maybe. Well, everything is going fine and dandy her in Jardim Da Penha. We will have a baptism next week. The kids name is Lucas and he is sweet! He showed up to church the other day with a suit and tie! I´m really excited to see if he´ll go on a mission or not. Rest assured that I am working hard and being very obedient to the mission rules and commandments.
I love you all and am looking forward to your next email. I´ll leave you all with a thought from the scriptures. I was reading in Alma 46 or 47, or something like that, this morning. The impact of one person can be huge! Moroni had a position of leadership and he magnified his calling for sure! I was thinking about myself and my family as I read this. I thought about the leadership positions that I have had and the ones that are yet to come. I thought about the positions that you all have and the ones that are coming. We can do a great work while we are here. We should read the story of Moroni more often. He saw that his people were struggling and that the forces of evil were strong. He went to his home made the banner, put on his armor, prayed, left his home and WORKED! Let us follow his example.
Com Amor
Elder Anderson
Date: Mon, 2 May 2011 12:24:00 -0300
Subject: Re: It's a girl!
From: williama@myldsmail.net
To: lornaleeanderson@hotmail.com
I love my family,
I truly wish I was there for the wedding. I don´t think about home at all until I read the emails. The emails you sent were killers. It seemed like so much fun! I am so happy that everything turned out right in the end. Congrats Andrew and Clarissa again!
I received your package! I was fantastic! The peanutt butter was of course the best part of the entire package, but that is a given. Haha the muchies and sunflower seeds blew up on the way over. The clips from the paper were awesome. I´m sorry about the deoderant! Man it was the most expensive part. Don´t send anymore. I´m Brasilian ha ha. I´ll use Brasilian spray. I still haven´t received these mysterious letters from my dear father. I fear that you did something wrong. OH FALSE! The best part was Austin´s gift! I didn´t want to wait to open it, so I went ahead. I love it! Thanks bro! I can´t wear it outside of the house, but I will wear it every P Day...deal?
This week was just another week of glory! Time flys when you are preaching the gospel. My love for Preach My Gospel is continually growing. It is amazing the spirit that comes when you teach using the ideas, words, and order of Preach My Gospel. I love it! We have seen miracles when we teach exactly as it´s written in PMG. My little brothers. Seriously study PMG. If you can see the pages and words of PMG when you are teaching, you WILL have success and you don´t have to worry about teaching wrong or without the spirit. STUDY PREACH MY GOSPEL.
Ha ha lets talk about church every Sunday shall we. There are about a billion emotions and thoughts that run through my head each Sunday and I´m sure for all other missionaries. Who will come to church? What is being taught in the classes? How will the members fellowship with this person? Fast Sunday is another entirely. I don´t want to be rude, but members need to study the talks of the prophets to know what is appropriate to say and what is not. We had one lady that was just killing me with her testimony. The Bible is a big deal in all parts of the world, but here in Brasil it´s a huge deal. The Bible is their baby. You don´t bash the Bible..never never never. This lady bore her testimony about what books were taken out of the Bible. That the Bible isn´t complete and then she sat down. NNNNNOOO!! There are six missionaries in our ward and we were all looking at each other from the various parts of the room. I´m sure we are going to have some questions when we visit our investigators.
We actually had a pretty cool thing happen at church though. My companion and I taught this kid names Douglas. He is way smart and way Catholic. He plays guitar for the church, you know I played guitar with him already. Anyway, we taught him and invited him to church. Half way through the second hour he showed up. He walked in with a big grin, hat backwards, and his guitar on his back. I was SO happy when he came. The best part was what he said in Sunday School. The teacher asked what was Apostacy and he answered perfectly! There is almost nothing that gives a missionary more happiness than to have your investigator say something correct in Sunday School. My companion freaked out when he responded ha ha. We set a date with him. We´ll see what the future holds.
Okay here is what is going down
I will get on skype 6:00 pm our time, I think the time change is about three hours.
It´s Sunday, so if all else fails....leave the church a little early ha ha ha.
I´m going to use Elder Swanson´s account, so you need to create an account. You need to add this account when you create your own personal account....( Dallon.Swanson )
Send me an email with your information about sykpe. Love you all!
Until Sunday!
Elder Anderson
Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2011 11:24:52 -0300
Subject: Re: Elder Clarky Boy!
From: williama@myldsmail.net
To: lornaleeanderson@hotmail.com
I love my family!
So, by now itś happened! Andrew is hitched! Congrats! I hope all went very well. I don´t have anything more to add. Hayden thinks about the same as I do, so if he says anything it has my stamp of approval. I do have a question, a rather important question. Which temple is Andrew getting married in? I would think the St. George Temple, but I just wanted to make sure. I´m glad everyone had a splendid time with the Easter Egg hunt and so on and so forth.
To answer your questions mother, Brasil is simply fantastic! I couldn´t ask for a better mission. I love my companion! We work really hard and putting up some seriously good numbers. I love working hard. At the end of the day you don´t have to worry about the results because you did everything that you could. Even if we don´t have a ton of success as far as numbers go, I feel so good and accomplished. We have a lot of people to teach and not a lot of time to do it. Each day is a race against time. How much do you think we can get done in one day?.....Goals......Okay go! Love it.
I love Brasil, but there are a couple things that are driving me crazy right now. First, table manners don´t exist! Mother, why did you teach me so well. I can´t stand it when someone reaches across my plate to grab something. When you fill your cup up with pop or sometime water, everyone gives you there cup without asking politely. There are some Brasilians that have manners, but most have some work to do. I love that of all the things that could be bothering me in Brasil, these ridiculous things are bothering me. Oh well, manners are important. I´m going to teach people how to be polite through example.
I love Geneva I have eaten two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches everyday. I´m in heaven! I have a question for anyone that has an answer. What ab workout works the lower two abs? I have been trying a whole host of different thing, but to no avail. Ha ha......I just want to know okay. I am becoming a missionary. Really white and really skinny.
What else to tell you all....OH! I really don´t know what day I can talk to you beautiful people, but do you think we can talk on skype? I really have no idea when motherś day is, but that´s the day that we can talk. Elder Swanson keeps talking about how we can use skype, so I think we should. I can see all your beautiful faces. So, I don´t think you have a computer with a web cam. Ya´ll need to find one! Go to the neighbors are something. We can talk more about the subject when I know for sure that we will be using skype and if you all have a computer to use.
I have had so many great experiences teaching and living the Gospel. People are waiting to hear this message and the joy that can be felt from someone accepting it can only be described in the words of Alma the Younger and Ammon on their missions. The pain and devastation that can be felt when someone doesn´t accept is real as well. It is so hard when someone understands the lesson, but will not pray or not be baptized. I had numerous people ask me what was wrong after that rejected our invite. What do you think is wrong? You just denied the most important thing in my life. I love showing how I feel about this gospel. At times it is hard because of the language, but every time I screw up, I build myself and move on. This work is beautiful.
Hear is a funny story for you. This family that we are teaching absolutely loves us. So ,I thought to myself what can I do to show my love? What can I give them that will show my true love for them....PEANUT BUTTER! I brought some peanut butter to the next visit.They weren´t absolutely crazy about it, but I got some pictures of them eating it...which is what I wanted. The lesson with them was in the morning and we didn´t go back to the house until later, so I walked around with a thing of peanut butter in my backpack all day. I was so funny. I gave peanut butter to all the people that I could. I probably changed lives!
I love you all and pray for you!
Elder Anderson
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2011 10:49:02 -0300
Subject: Re: 11 days and counting......
From: williama@myldsmail.net
To: lornaleeanderson@hotmail.com
I love my family!
Hello you beauties! Right off the bat father, untill now I have not received anything from you. The package that Grandma Jeniva (sorry about the spelling) sent was GLORIOUS! Tell her thank you for me, please.
You want my input on the wedding eh? Music...that´s simple! EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE! For a little slow dance action......EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE! When you want to get funky.....EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE! Just go nuts. I am really excited for the wedding even though I´m not there. I hope that all goes according to plan and that there are no hick-ups!
`When you feet feel like they´re made of stones and bones are full of lead.........You need some chocolate! Dark, chewy chocolate! Chocolate ice cream and chocolate moose...moose...moose. Bring on the CHOCOLATE we need a boost.`My companion, Elder Erick, who looks a lot like Zach I think, and Elder Swanson, who is the spitting image of Braden Bergholm, had their birthdays this week and we had so much CHOCOLATE CAKE! The members are great......they gave us the chocolate cake! We ate cake for three days straight, at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It was righteous! Speaking of birthdays, one of the Elder´s that I live with, Elder Miranda, has the same bloomin´ birthday as I do! Cool! Dad, I don´t know how you lived with 11 missionarios! I would have died a thousand deaths.
Okay here is a AWESOME story for you. So ,we get this referéncia of this lady named Amini. We show up at this lady´s house, with the member that gave us the referéncia. We start talking with her about her life e tal tal tal. I thought that the lesson wouldn´t be super good because she was talking a lot. BOY was I wrong, so my companion started off talking about God, Prophets, and Christ. The entire time my companion was teaching, she was knodding her head in agreement. I then taught the apostacy. She started to get a little bit more interested about that. This is the best part! At the end of the Apostacy, I said `The apostoles knew that this confusion would happen and they previram (I don´t know that word in English) a restoration of the truth. God called a prophet to bring back the truth.´ I said something like that, but how she responded was awesome! Her eyes got really big, like Pres. Bowden style, and she said....He did, in a voice that was just dumbstruck. I then told the story of the Restoration, she was on the edge of her seat the entire time. I told the story of the 1st vision, she teared up...so of course I did too. When I finished explaining what was restored, she said words that I will never forget. She simply said,`I had no idea!` The moment was beautiful. The lady that gave the referéncia was crying as her friend was understanding the truthfulness of the Restoration. Amini was crying and dumbstruck that she had encountered the truth. She was one of the people that was kept from the truth because she knew not where to find it, but now she knows. I love missionary work. I love to work and study and sweat and eat chocolate cake! I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK!
Thank you for you prayers and everything you do for me. I love you!
Elder Anderson
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2011 10:49:02 -0300
Subject: Re: 11 days and counting......
From: williama@myldsmail.net
To: lornaleeanderson@hotmail.com
I love my family!
Hello you beauties! Right off the bat father, untill now I have not received anything from you. The package that Grandma Jeniva (sorry about the spelling) sent was GLORIOUS! Tell her thank you for me, please.
You want my input on the wedding eh? Music...that´s simple! EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE! For a little slow dance action......EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE! When you want to get funky.....EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE! Just go nuts. I am really excited for the wedding even though I´m not there. I hope that all goes according to plan and that there are no hick-ups!
`When you feet feel like they´re made of stones and bones are full of lead.........You need some chocolate! Dark, chewy chocolate! Chocolate ice cream and chocolate moose...moose...moose. Bring on the CHOCOLATE we need a boost.`My companion, Elder Erick, who looks a lot like Zach I think, and Elder Swanson, who is the spitting image of Braden Bergholm, had their birthdays this week and we had so much CHOCOLATE CAKE! The members are great......they gave us the chocolate cake! We ate cake for three days straight, at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It was righteous! Speaking of birthdays, one of the Elder´s that I live with, Elder Miranda, has the same bloomin´ birthday as I do! Cool! Dad, I don´t know how you lived with 11 missionarios! I would have died a thousand deaths.
Okay here is a AWESOME story for you. So ,we get this referéncia of this lady named Amini. We show up at this lady´s house, with the member that gave us the referéncia. We start talking with her about her life e tal tal tal. I thought that the lesson wouldn´t be super good because she was talking a lot. BOY was I wrong, so my companion started off talking about God, Prophets, and Christ. The entire time my companion was teaching, she was nodding her head in agreement. I then taught the apostasy. She started to get a little bit more interested about that. This is the best part! At the end of the Apostacy, I said `The apostles knew that this confusion would happen and they previram (I don´t know that word in English) a restoration of the truth. God called a prophet to bring back the truth.´ I said something like that, but how she responded was awesome! Her eyes got really big, like Pres. Bowden style, and she said....He did, in a voice that was just dumbstruck. I then told the story of the Restoration, she was on the edge of her seat the entire time. I told the story of the 1st vision, she teared up...so of course I did too. When I finished explaining what was restored, she said words that I will never forget. She simply said,`I had no idea!` The moment was beautiful. The lady that gave the referéncia was crying as her friend was understanding the truthfulness of the Restoration. Amini was crying and dumbstruck that she had encountered the truth. She was one of the people that was kept from the truth because she knew not where to find it, but now she knows. I love missionary work. I love to work and study and sweat and eat chocolate cake! I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK!
Thank you for you prayers and everything you do for me. I love you!
Elder Anderson
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:04:47 -0300
Subject: Re: Rain, rain go away.....
From: williama@myldsmail.net
To: lornaleeanderson@hotmail.com
My beloved family!
Itś amazing how much your love for your family grows on you mission! I just want to let you all know that I love you like I love the churros in Brasil. So, you what some information eh? Okay, I got transferred across the terceria ponte to an area called Jardin de Penha. My new companion is the assistant to the president. He is SO AWESOME! He is super humble and he works will diligence. We are working hard and seeing success. We are teaching by Preach My Gospel and I just love it. This transferr without doubt, will be one of my favorites on my mission. I send yaĺl a picture of him some time. We are living with another companionship( the other assistant and his companion). As of now, I don´t like living with more than one missionary. You know that quote off of Mulan, 'theyŕe disgusting......no theyŕe men.' In my case they are missionaries, but it´s all good. I´ll live! I have some much I could tell you. OH! I have a new nick name. Elder Sorriso (smile). I am so happy to be in Brasil! Every lesson, all day....well almost...I´m smiling. There seriously is power in smiling. People trust you more, they know you care about them, you show your love for what you teach, etc.
Stories! Well one of the missionaries left the keys for the church inside of the church, so we had to break in and it was not easy. First( four missionaries...not me because I don´t like to break rules ha ha), scaled the outer fence. They then tried numerous ways to boost each other onto the roof. The church is a little bit different here. There is a garden in the middle of the church with beams above it. If you can get on the roof you can drop down into the garden and then get into the church. Anyway, after numerous Elders were left hanging on the roof (the ground being 15 feet below), they discovered how to have success. Two Elders would stand the shoulders of the other two Elders and one of the Elders (on the shoulders) would boost the other Elder (on the shoulders) onto the roof. It worked! Ha ha we got everything all worked about. I was just laughing the entire time.
The spirit is a beautiful thing. Reciting the first vision brings that beautiful thing like a freight train. I love reciting the first vision. Itś so powerful. I love looking people in the eyes, smiling of course, and saying the words of Joseph Smith as if they were my own. You can tell the difference when you are reciting it. The people are intense. They know that you believe what you are saying. I love it.
Something to say at the wedding reception....`Thank you are coming to the wedding reception of some of the favorite people in the world. Quite frankly this marriage was my idea. We went rollerblading and scootering with Andrew and Clarissa one time, when they were dating. I scootered behind the two of them taking pictures on my cell phone, harmless pictures or plans for the future? You tell me, but I think we both know. Outside of all joking, I am very glad that Clarrisa will be part of the family. The best part of their marriage is that it was done in the temple. Theyŕe promises of marriage will not end at death, but carry or for the eternities. As eternal is their marriage, is the happiness that they will have together. I have never been so proud of my brother!`
Dad if you want more than that or what I said isn´t what you were looking for ha ha. Let me know. I didn´t know if what I said would be pasted to my chest cardboard chest or what. I wrote to a mystical audience. I worked out pretty good ha ha. Responding to your other question, I get the mail everyweek now. Every week we have our District Meeting in the Escritorio (where the mail goes) because itś just my companions and the assistants to the president in ou district.
I love you all!
Elder Anderson
Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2011 10:45:40 -0300
Subject: Re: Mom's letter
From: williama@myldsmail.net
To: sodabackdoc@hotmail.com
WOOT!
Oh my simply lovely family! So, I pretty much show the photos I have of ya´ll to everyone. Would you like to know what people say about you? First of all.....NOSSA! TODOS SÃO LINDOS( they are all beautiful). Andrew, everybody thinks you look just like Justin Timberlake. Nolan, you are just beautiful. Hayden, I´ve got several girlfriends waiting for you. Austin, you are just beautiful. Isaac, you are SO beautiful. Mom, the classic òh your poor mother. Dad, you don´t get a lot of woo´s and wow´s haha. But hey! You gave all your sons your looks! That a boy Luther!
Your lives are so hectic! Why don´t you all just find a little piece of paradise, like Brazil, and stay there for a couple years! I´m getting transferred! My first real transfer in my opinion. I feel the pain of leaving behind the people, but the joy of getting rid of my companion ha ha. I really don´t dislike him, but just like Obama said `Yea, it´s time for a change.`Hayden, don´t listen to rap music! It´s bad for you.
Conference was stressful! I was SO pumped up to watch conference in English and what happened....Portuguese only! I felt like I got punched in the kidney. I didn´t understand a whole lot and it´s just not the same listening to a translator speak. I sang like Gabriel on the rest hymns though, those were in English. The Priesthood session I´m sure was good, but I don´t know exactly what happened ha ha. Portuguese is a beautiful thing. I did however manage to watch the first session on Sunday in English. Me and the other English missionaries were huddled around a laptop that kept pausing at random intervals.After the sunday session, the heavens opened and it rained SO HARD! Man, we had this ônibus for our ward and we were pratically floating in the water. `Floatin, floatin´on the water!`Name that movie.
What stories of glory can I give you. I really don´t know.......OH I will talk about PREACH MY GOSPEL! Okay, so listen and listen good. This book is glorious! I don´t even know how to explain my love for this book. You want to know how to teach? You want to know how to become more like Christ? You want to dominate in life? Master PMG. Nolan and Hayden, memorize the order and the words in the lessons. They will take your teaching to knew heights. I love that book!
I haven´t received your letters yet Dad, but your email was packed with love!
Develop charity! I have been studying it lately, with PMG of course. The more I study the more I want charity. I love you all and will chat with ya´ll later.
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:45:41 -0300
Subject: Re: FW: "California Dreamin'"
From: williama@myldsmail.net
To: lornaleeanderson@hotmail.com; sodabackdoc@hotmail.com
MY FAMILY LOVES ME!
Oh, mother your email was well received. Isaac my lamb! Thank you for all the details you gave me! I will be sure to send you a postcard soon. I really can´t believe that you gave mom all those details on what to type. You old fart. As for your movie challenges 1- The what the john quote has got to be from the film of Hayden´s life. 2- My dinasaur movie that I made of course. Those are me own words my lad´. 3- The The The THE GRINCH! Ha ha thanks for the challenge Isaac.
Nossa! It sounds like the California trip was a heaven on earth. I would like to hear what exactly happened to Nolan. Look what happens when I´m not there. Take care of my boy! Was Austin hiding under a blanket when you all were waiting for Nolan? Love you Austin. I just want the details ha ha. I can´t think of anything else that I could possibly need right now. Thank you for the love and concern! I really have no idea who reads these beastly emails, but thank you too!
President PIckett just about made me pee my pants yesterday! He played THE best joke on us! Okay, he called a special devotional and we had the usual stuff (speakers, singing, and the like); however, the end was slightly different. He said that he had received a letter from the Twelve Apostles. The letter said that our mission would be part of a pilot program. All missionaries must have 35 baptisms in order to go home. The maximum time that you could be on your mission is 3 years. If you reach the required number you can go home early if you wish. Okay, you probably think I´m an idiot for believing this, but my President that said this, not some random guy. I was like WHAT! The first thing that popped into my mind was, ´I hope that my companion has enough baptisms because he will be leaving soon. Second was.....I´m going to go home early because I´m going to nail this goal. Third was.....people are going to cheat this system! We have a family that we are going to baptise soon. They´ll get my number! RAPAIZ! I guess you would have had to have been there to believe. I was...haha....I can´t believe I feel for such tripe!
Mother- The mission addresss never changes. I don´t know what kind of system they are running out in Ukraine, but here in the blessed country of Brasil such problems don´t exist. I don´t have the address memorized, so I´ll see if I can send it to you in another email. My companions name is Elder Paulo.
Here´s a good story from the land down under. We taught this lady that was SO PREPARED! We walk into her apartment and start talking with her about random stuff. Turns out she speaks like four languages, is farly rich, ís looking for a religion, and is SO humble. She lives close to the church and she said that she had always wondered why the gate to the church was always shut. One day she saw that the gate was open, so she walked in to find out a little bit more about the church. The Bishop referred her to us, a good choice if you ask me.......and the only choice. They are a bunch of other details, but I don´t have time ha ha. She didn´t come to church this sunday because she took some medicine and slept until 3 in the tarde! We´ll teach her tomorrow woot woot!
Okay.....picture....another email for mother check check check
Até mais!
Elder Anderson
Date: Fri, 1 Oct 2010 11:04:44 -0600
Subject: Re: FW: Email Test
From: williama@myldsmail.net
To: lornaleeanderson@hotmail.com
Hello my lovely mother!
Thanks for the package! I was SO happy when I saw the mangos. They were consumed very very quickly. As for the talk, thank you for sending that. I think you left out a page, but other than that it was fantastic. Thank you for your thoughts as well. I've written down a plan and am feeling like I am becoming a more patient person. I feels good. I wrote down a list of things I was going to say to you and the family, but I totally spaced and I didn't bring the paper. I can remember most of the bullets though. Lets see....I met Elder Sam Hibbard here! I was way random. I was running down the stairs and did a double take as I passed an him. He didn't recognize me at first, but I think he did by the end of the conversation. I met an Elder who I went to third grade with and he remembers me too! That was the funniest one! His name is Elder Curtis Allen. I ran into ELDER CHRIS GAMBLES and ELDER ANDREW JOHNSTON! They were both just barely arriving, so they were still in daze mode. I attacked though, so they had no choice but to see me ha ha. I met an Elder just barely who was one of Zach's friends. Elder Nelson I believe his name was. He went to church with Zach. I had to attack him too, but I knew he looked familiar. I love running into Elders that I have met. It's so fun. So, remember how I sleep walk and talk? Well, I don't think a night has gone by and I not slept talked or walked. Every morning I ask my companion what I said and he will tell me. EVERY MORNING. Good stuff. I am even talking in Portuguese! I never stop thinking about Portuguese. This may seem like a terrible request, but send me the dates of all our family members birthdays. I know, I know...I'm a terrible brother and son for not remembering, but I really don't know and I don't want to miss one. Mom guess what! Remember all that genealogy you sent me with, well I'm going to use it on Wednesday. We are going to teach an investigator who is struggling with the Word of Wisdom. I'm going to share the story of Abram Hatch! It is a fantastic story of faith and I know it will help invite the spirit. Well, I'm going to start writing letters to the brothers. Look for my tomorrow! I probably be in the back because I'm tall. LOVE YOU ALL!
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2010 11:33:58 -0600
Subject: Re: Email Test
From: williama@myldsmail.net
To: sodabackdoc@hotmail.com
Thanks mom and dad for your emails! Love them to bits and I LOVE the pictures you sent. The running picture makes me laugh SO HARD! Okay, so dad go to the bathroom before you read this because you are going to wet your pants! I get to sing in the Missionary Choir and we are singing in the General Priesthood Session on Saturday! AAAAWWWHHH! We have been practicing for the last couple days. I'm so excited and I am going to sing with all my soul! I'm SO excited. Okay, mother I want you to help me out with something. I'm doing pretty well in Portuguese, but I need to have more patience with the language and myself. I want to know how to speak now and that's not how I should feel. You know me I just love talking and it kills me to not be able to. I'm developing a "game plan" which I will take to the Lord in prayer. I would like to here you thoughts about patience. I would like to hear from you too dad, but I know mom will be foaming at the mouth to respond to this :) Love you mom. Hayden- I need you to fill me in on sports! I feel like I live in a box haha. I'm going to write each of you brothers a letter, so I'm write stuff FOR YOUR EYES ONLY! Mom don't you go snooping. Nolan- Way to go buddy! I did the same thing you did! My date for homecoming my senior year was going to wear an revealing dress, so I called her up and asked her to wear a jacket. The date was a great success. I'm sure yours will be too. Nolan I fear I will never see you again :) I have to quote movies to someone! Austin- I'm glad to hear you are starting to healthy. My companion is SO picky and he just doesn't eat healthy. Captain Body wants healthy food :) Love you buddy. You have the best pose in the running picture. You or Andrew. Isaac- My chocolate covered strawberry! I'm glad to hear you are becoming evil conevil, or however you spell his name. What else to say. Oh, tell aunt Pam thanks for the letter! I'm going to write here.....sometime ha ha. I do it asap. I excited to maybe see Jarod ha ha. What a joyous reunion that will be. Nolan, tell your priest quorum that I'm going to write them a letter like I promised. I'll get that to ya'll as soon as I can. LOVE YOU FAMILY!!! Oh and tell andrew I'm getting DANG good at handstands!
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 2010 16:42:14 -0600
Subject: Re:
From: williama@myldsmail.net
To: sodabackdoc@hotmail.com
Those pictures are fantastic! I dare you to send me those pictures in a letter or something. So, it just accured to me that you probably don't have my mailing address, so here you go.
Elder William Clark Anderson
MTC Mailbox #153
BRA-VIT 1109
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, Utah 84604- 1793
I only have a little bit of time, so I'll just bare some quick testimony. Over the past week I have learned quite a bit. Not just about the Portuguese language, but about me spiritually. Firstly, never stop FEASTING upon the words of Christ. I think that for the first couple days I was expecting the spirit to prompt to say everything to investigators. The spirit will prompt you with special things to say to investigators, but we must first seek to obtain Christ's words. So, family, I know it may seem at times that you know quite a bit about the gospel and that scripture study may seem like a broken record some times, but never stop reading. 2 Nephi: 28-29. Ten seconds AAWWWHHH! Until next p day!
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 2010 16:51:52 -0600
Subject: Re: Email Test
From: williama@myldsmail.net
To: sodabackdoc@hotmail.com
Oi! Como Vai?
Hello my family and whoever my mother will forward this to. Don't think I don't know mom ha ha. So, here I am in the MTC training to become what I have always dreamed of becoming- A missionary of the lord! It's a fantastic feeling to know that I am being shaped and molded for the people of Brazil right now! Anyway, the first day was, no other way to say it, a blur! I felt like a cow being whipped around into all sorts of rooms and being told all sorts of information which bounced of me like bullets hitting armor. My companion is Elder Jacob Bodily. It's amazing to see the lord's hand in my companionship and in the companionship of the elders in my district. There are many reasons that Elder Bodily and I need each other, but I'll just focus on the main reason I need him. HE IS A GENIOUS! He has taken six years of Spanish and Portuguese just flows out of his mouth like the dews from heaven. Nearly every time I ask him a question he knows the answer. It's absolutely amazing, no other words for it. I'm progressing at a consistently slow pace, but I do believe I'm making progress. I have nearly solidified how to pray! Portuguese is a pretty nifty language, I must admit. My teachers, Irmao (Brother) Morey e Irmao De Groot, are muito bem (very good)! I like Irmao De Groot the best. He reminds me of Owen Wilson, as far as his comic presence goes, and a man with a firm testimony in a spiritual sense. So, the second day, the elders and I had the opportunity to attend some mock investigators...meetings, I guess you could call them. I was able to talk and testify to one of the investigators and I felt like a million bucks after wards. My heart was pumping a thousand miles an hour when I was feeling the sprirt, but, as I began to speak, I felt calmed and was able to speak with the spirit. It is a divine experience to feel the spirit so many times throughout the day. I guess the missionary lifestyle is the only way to go if you want the constant companionship of the holy ghost. I am learning alot about missionary work and am looking forward to the coming month or months of learning.
Okay, so I'm EXPECTED to leave on November 9th. I actually wouldn't mind staying here for that long. I love the atmosphere here! He are a couple randoms comments ha ha. I LOVE the salad bar here! I have a salad for every meal excluding breakfast. The chocolate milk is SO good. I can totally see how elders gain alot of weight here. All you can eat and drink. Hayden would EAT THIS PLACE UP! For sure! My room is an ice box and it is cold here! Now that would be fine, but I don't have ANY warm clothes and the blankets are basically tissue paper ha ha. I freeze every noite (night)! I have talked in my sleep every night ha ha. My companion has reported on my random outbursts. Poor Elder Bodily! Alright time for specifics
Dad- I guess I didn't have my debit card activated, so I got it activated and I only have $90 something. Please put the money you and Hayden own me in there. I have to buy some warm clothing or I will perish. Oh, and though I'm not speaking French, Portuguese is SWEET!
Mom- Awh, my time is running out. I love you and I hope that you have found all my stickers of love ha ha. I told my companion about you and now all he can think about is your cracked feet when I talk about you:)
Nolan- I have quoted so many movies lately, but NO ONE knows them!
Hayden- HA HA I have endless amounts of food
Austin and Isaac- You are my sunshine!
Talk with you on my next P day!
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