Sunday, March 30, 2014

Words from Elder Garrett Anderson in Brazil


"Man it seems like every week is going by faster and faster out here. I am almost done training my son, then who knows what is next to come. Life is always exciting in the field, full of suprises and changes.

For the sakes of the english speakers out there, i decided that i would write in English because its faster for me and you guys wont have to painstaking translate and try to guess means from the "direct" google translator that does't pick up the gist of things.

We had a special experience this week. As missionaries, we have to do "exchanges" atleast once a transfer with all the other missionaries in our district. As my companion and i were returning from our exchange that we had just completed it had started to rain, and hard. We didnt have our umbrellas with us, so we picked up some discarded umbrellas on the side of the road. (usually if someone's umbrella isn't working, they will just throw it on the ground.) Thankfully, with our makeshift umbrellas we made it to the metro station with everything but our scripture bags soaked. We boarded the metro and headed back to our area. Upon arriving, we still had a 15 minute walk back to the house, but the rain had lightened to a drizzle so we could ditch our second hand umbrellas. Upon crossing a busy street, we noticed that a car had stalled and it was in the rain... We didnt think too much about it so we continued on our way, but then decided to turn back and ask if they were in need of help. It was a woman who was by herself in the car with no way to get it started and kind of stressed out. We offered to give her a push to start the car and she accepted. She turned down the next street and we started to push the car, and to our luck it was downhill. Unfortunately, i had set my bag inside her car so that it wouldnt be in the way while we were pushing, so my companion and i chased her down the hill in the rain before she took off with my bag!! We said our goodbyes and she thanked us for the push. Yesterday, as we were walking down the street to our lunch appointment, we were stopped by a lady sitting on the side of the road eating some chicken. She asked us if we were the ones who had helped her the other day, we briefly explained the situation and then she knew it was us who had helped. She thanked us again and offered some chicken as a reward for the rescue on Saturday. We then got her address and told her our purpose as missionaries to help others come unto Christ. She agreed and as my companion and i continued on our way to the lunch appointment, we thought about every little detail in us meeting that lady yesterday at that exact time in the rain. Sure there were others who passed by and didnt help her, but if they had we would have never gotten the chance to help and eventually go by and teach her. I thought about the quote that my bishop loves to quote, Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles once said: “The same God that placed that star in a precise orbit millennia before it appeared over Bethlehem in celebration of the birth of the Babe has given at least equal attention to placement of each of us in precise human orbits so that we may, if we will, illuminate the landscape of our individual lives, so that our light may not only lead others but warm them as well.”This is so true. God knows us! He truly does look out for us and if we pay attention, there are people who are needing us to illuminate their path and share the restored gospel. I know this is possible, i believe in you guys! Sometimes it is difficult and we dont know what to say, but the Lord will provide a way. I love you all and have a great week!"

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