Words from Elder Garrett Anderson in Brazil

"Well this week was actually pretty good. We have been keeping so busy just trying to get to all of the investigators of the other missionaries that we are finally starting to get things taken care of. The hardest part of the week has to be the disappointment when people say they will be at church, that they will read the book of Mormon, and that they will pray. We can have a lesson super spiritual with the spirit so strong that there is no way to deny what we are teaching is true and when they don't follow through, then it is seriously a heart breaker.

Yesterday we had one of the more interesting experiences on my mission. As my companion and i were walking down the street, we heard and gun go off and saw this drunk guy about fifty feet away pointing the guy in the air. I got a little nervous and my companion took off running. I told him not to run because then that guy might point the gun at us! So he kept swinging the gun around in the air then walked over and put the gun in a trash can. That was probably the most intense 30 seconds of my mission. Anyways we were protected and nothing happened so its all good.

We also talked a lot about opposition in church yesterday. Opposition is necessary for growth and God lets us experience opposition, not because he doesn't care about us, but because he loves us and wants us to be and do better. I know this is true. May we all grow and learn to love opposition. I know it is very hard and can at times seem impossible, but as it says in John 16:33, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have^apeace. In the ^bworld ye shall have ^ctribulation: but be of good^dcheer; I have ^eovercome the world."

 

Words from Elder Jared Anderson in Brazil

"All is going great in Brazil, i never realized how much there was to learn until i realized how much i didn't know! I have been so lucky to be able to serve here and i hope that we can all humble ourselves so that the Lord may bless us ¨Line upon line¨ so lately we have been trying to purify ourselves so we can find those who are prepared, which has proved to be much more difficult than i thought. But it sure has been rewarding recognizing the spirit and being guided by it. We currently have no solid investigators so, finding has been our focus and we are in definite need of the spirit. Well other than that nothing really has changed, I lost some more weight, 2 kilos, i hope i don't keep losing, so mom and granny you can send me some packages if you'd like :D it is hard to believe it has been 7 months already, and i am scared it will go by faster! I am still trying to get the hang of things! but all is well and hope every one of you is having a great time!"

Words from Sister Elese Hauser in Chicago Illinois

"I hardly know where to start for this week! I can't contain my
excitement because I am so happy!!! If I were in person with you all
I'd be jumping up and down, talking really really fast, and talking so
loud you would all look at me and say "Elese, calm down!" But we're
not, so just imagine that as I tell you the most amazing story if your
life! You might want to all sit down for this one because this is a
HUGE miracle!!! You won't believe your ears (or eyes) because it's so
fantastic!! Okay, are you ready.?
WE'RE HAVING A BAPTISM THIS FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!! I have mentioned Leena
before and she is from India and in an arranged marriage. She
requested a Bible online last July and the Elders have been teaching
her ever since. But she just wouldn't commit. She knew the Book of
Mormon was the word of God, and she loved the church but she didn't
want to be baptized. And the Elders had all but given up on her when
he most amazing Sisters arrived! Oh wait, that's me:) So we met her
exactly 2 weeks ago and we just loved her. We loved her before we even
met her and I think that's where the difference was. We could love her
and she finally felt understood and after the first lesson she told us
that she had gained 2 Sisters! She is is sweet and I have come to care
about her so much! So last Thursday in our Weekly planning session,
Sister Dias and I got the strongest impression that we needed to plan
Leena's baptism for soon or else she would never be baptized. We knew
that this was The Lords will and that we His servants doing His work.
So we made every plan to have her baptized in the month of January. We
fasted last Monday so that we could have the spirit with us and so we
would know what to say. So we went to dinner at the Charles home and
they had a son who just returned from his mission. He told us this
inspiring story about how when he had been on a mission his companion
and him had the same impression that they needed to plan for a baptism
the next Saturday and they didn't have any investigators. And that
Sunday someone moved into the Ward who had a 10 year old son that had
not been baptized so they had a baptism. So we are sitting here
listening to this story so blown away because that's what had happened
to us and we were headed to our appointment with Leena hoping to put
her on date!! So we go into Leena's lesson and I was so overcome with
the spirit. I started talking not knowing what I was even saying, but
knowing that the spirit would guide Sister Dias and I in whatever we
needed to say. We read from 3 Nephi 11 about tech doctrine of Christ
and the just boldly said "Leena, we think you need to be baptized in a
week" she just laughed and said oh no I'm not ready. Sister Dias just
smiled kindly but persistently back at her without saying a word. I
think she realized we were serious when we would not budge. She kept
saying No, that's okay and we would just sit there and smile without
saying anything. So finally we said Leena you should say a prayer and
ask Heavenly Father when He thinks you should be baptized. So she did
and we all sat there and pondered and finally Leena said, I think the
Saturday the 1st. And we felt good about that! So she was getting
baptized in 11 days. We could hardly believe it. I just knew that this
was The Lords will and as soon as we are willing to humble ourselves
and pray and seek His will, He made it known unto us. Well the next
day we hit our first hiccup. Leena's main fellow shipper would be gone
that Saturday. Wouldn't you know it! So Leena tried to push her
baptism back to the end of February. Nice try Leena, but you cannot
get past us! So we said how about the Friday before that? And it
worked for everybody! Now if know, by moving the baptism up one day we
moved it into January. Which, was our original goal. The Lord truly
knows what it best. And He has a plan for everything little thing that
we do, he has a plan. I have learned so much from this experience. The
Lord is in charge. And as we follow His will then I know that we will
see miracles we never dreamed of. So Leena will be baptized this
Friday. I could cry and probably will because I'm so happy!! It just
shows me that Sister Dias and I are meant to be here for a reason. And
one of those reasons is Leena. She says she's going to take us to
visit India someday and I'm so excited! So this week has been crazy.
Always right before a baptism the Adversary hits hard because Satan
does not want them to be baptized. And we've been feeling it too
because we are planning this all! But we will weather all the
temptation and evil that comes our way this week because it will all
be worth it. Since Leena is in an arranged marriage, usually we have
to get permission from the spouse. But we had to go to some petty high
up authorities to not have to get permission because he would mock her
and persecute her for her decision. So we've jumped through several
hoops this week and overcome all of them! I can hardly believe we just
opened up this area but 6 weeks ago and we as having a baptism. I'm
just to the brim with joy:) transfers are this week and i really
really hope Sister Dias and I can stay together! We moved into our
apartment this week and it's really nice. We have bunk beds! I have
the top bunk because heat rises and sod it's warmer up top! And even
more, we have beds. I slept so well the first night not being on a
deflated air mattress for the first time in a month. And if you don't
all stop complaining about the 40 degree weather in Arizona I just
might have to fly you all to Illinois and then see how much you like
that weather! It's back to -16 right now with a wind chill of -25. It
hurts to breath outside. It feels like I'm swallowing knives! And they
canceled the schools here today and tomorrow. I guess they're calling
it a freeze day. This is not global warming. Well that about sums up
my awesome week! I'll send you all pictures home next week of Leena's
baptism! Feel free to add her to your prayers:) I love you all so much
and appreciate all the encouragement! I hope you all have as good a
week as I will!"
P.S."So I sent my email and then I remembered that I still had some things
to tell you! This week we are teaching seminary!! And I'm pretty
nervous. I remember when the missionaries taught seminary and I
thought they were so cool and had so much knowledge. Now I know that
they are really just normal people who really don't have everything
figured out. Ha ha but we we teaching on Alma 33 and it's gonna be
awesome. Except it's early morning seminary. And by early I mean that
it starts at 5:40 in the AM. But I'm really excited to teach the
youth! And then yesterday we got asked to teach young women's next
Sunday on missionary work. And we have to come up with a member
missionary lesson that we have to present to the Mission Counsel next
Sunday for what we can use to teach and motivate members to do more
missionary work. The week of a baptism always seems to be the craziest
and everything happens at once! To answer Dads questions I'm doing
pretty good! This is so far the best and funniest part if my mission.
It has it's hard moments but every mission does and I appreciate all
your thoughts and prayers in my behalf. I'm excited to see where else
my mission takes me."

Words from Sister Heather Patterson in South Carolina

 

"I have had a wonderful week :) More and more I am so grateful I came on a mission :) I love teaching and helping people. These are pictures of my district and Demon and Elijah my favorite investigators!"

Words from Elder Kade Garner inn Peru

 

"Okay, well I just received a phone call. Tomorrow are transfers. I am leaving. I do not know how to feel about it. I mean I have been here for almost five months. I am ready to go but I am a little sad too. This area has been the hardest so far to love the people. I just learned to love them and for that I think I am leaving. My area and the ward are just starting to make some real progress so I am a little sad that I will not be able to see the final outcome. But I am grateful for the time I had in this area. For the people I met and for the families we were able to reactivate. I am grateful for learning how to work with leaders and for a stake president that was so willing to work with me. I just hope all the new leaders in the ward can continue working with the missionaries.

 So that is all I have to say this week. I know the church is true. I am fully sure of it. I know that Jesus Christ is the Saviour. I know that he leads the church. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. He was not a perfect man and he had many faults, but I believe that that is why he was called to be a prophet. I love being a missionary and I love the people of Perú. Thanks for letting and helping me be able to serve. I love you all a ton. Until next week."

 

 

Words from Elder Austin Davis in Beaverton Oregon

 

 
Hey family him everything is going really well in the Beaverton West
zone. Everything is going really well he just got done playing some
basketball not those fun Hunsaker and winitana my old companion.
"Everything is going really good the Lord is awesome truly am truly
focused on their young young men's which is really sweet better than
being in Ysa. This week we had the opportunity to go to the
temple.Then Saturday we had elder D Todd Kristofferson come and give
to our question-and-answer session. You didn't talk to us as
missionaries to talk to us personally just our struggles and the
things we go through and he promised us that we are all worthy to be
missionaries that we're Allworthy vessels of the Lord is really cool
promise. And he also promised us that we can teach with more power and
we can testify with more persuasiveness was really cool to hear that
from an apostle of the Lord. It's kind of funny how you struggle with
things and then somebody is there to answer all your questions when
you don't let anybody know that you have those kind of questions. It
was a great experience to have as a missionary to be promised that you
were worthy vessel as we all struggle to become on the path of
righteousness. Another thing he said is it's nice to be in the quorum
of the 12 apostles because you feel young at 70. He said it doesn't
matter where you are on the path of righteousness as long as you're on
it that's all it matters. I know that Toleman this changes everybody's
lives as we continue to look to the Lord for strength and as long as
we rely on him you'll give us that. I hope that everybody's doing good
I'll pray for Penelope hope she gets over that cough. Well I hope
everybody's doing good I am growing a greater love for the Scriptures
as I dig myself down to try to understand what their thoughts are as
they're writing the Scriptures. Just know that this week is been
really good I'm we had family call us last night and they said they
will be inviting a family weekly to hear the missionary discussions
that's a family. I want to be like when I get home and return and have
a house of kids set the the example of true missionary. Makes me
laugh sister Mcnell goes on walks around the block to find other moms
are out and about and she Street contacts them and invite them over to
dinner and talks to them about the gospel . My companion and I are
sharing an iPad for now but I will be getting an iPad on February 4.
Well I better take off I love you hope you guys have a wonderful
night."

Words from Elder Spencer Wilhelm in Angola

 

"hey hey everyone!!! Thanks for the letters this week:) it was fun hearing from all of you! you all rock. It good to hear that everything back at home are still in full swing and that the grand babies are getting so big! It don't think that i am going to recognize any of them by the time that i get back!! haha

 This week was way sick for us!!! When Chatwin and I became companions we decided that we wanted to focus on strengthening the branch, and boy has the Lord opened up some doors for us to do so. We have been helping members with their callings, passing by their houses, helped update the database of the branch records and just a huge array of things! In return we have receive a lot of trust from the branch president and he is actually asking for our suggestions on how we can all work together to strengthen the branch. It has really been a miracle to see all of these changes within the branch! And for the first time in like 2 months we got a member referral because we decided to visit the members and help them with their callings!

 The focus on the branch does not mean that we are not working with investigators though. Whenever we get free time we are out trying to find people and teaching families. We finally we able to sit with Adilsons dad and share a message with him and his whole family. After we were done Ricardo, adilsons dad, said 'you guys ought to pass by everyday so we can study the bible.' ha ha he is a very nice man along with the rest of the family members! Adilson this past week received the aronic priesthood and was passing the sacrament:) he had a grin from ear to ear as he was passing!

 Marcos is doing really good! every time we go over there he just has so many questions for us on the gospel and is like a sponge and soaks it all in! Our last visit with him was a very neat experience as we talked about the plan of salvation. Near the end he asked us how it is that he could be baptised. So we explained it all to him and also explained the law of chastity. after he learned that he said he would do anything to get baptised and said that he would get married so that he could do so!"