week 105 There and back again

The mission flies by really fast, but they really are the best two years. It wasn´t the easiest thing I´ve done. I feel like I´ve completely changed these past two years, and I just want you all to know that I really appreciate the support and the love you´ve given me. I´ll see you all soon. 

So like this compu has a virus pretty sure and won´t let me put up pics and I don´t want to get all my stuff witha virus so I just won´t send anything today. 

LOVE YOU GUYS SEE YOU THURSDAY.

week 104: THE PENULTIMATE LETTER

Stop getting all baggy, jeez. THERE'S STILL TIME.

SO this Saturday was Olga's baptism and it went super well and there was a good turn out! She was super duper nervous for her interview and for the baptisms and everything. Even I was nervous, it was contagious, but everything went out well. I had a really special and baggy moment right after I exitted the baptismal font and enterred the men's bathroom. I walked into the bathroom and realized that that might be my last baptism in the mission, and I felt a really special feeling that God had really accepted my mission and was happy with me. I kind of just smiled, and then slipped on wet bathroom floor. Woops.

As most missionaries know, baptisms are a blessing, and always a hard thing. Because once you have your baptism, you have that problem of "uhh.. no one else is progressing." and you have to work harder. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE BEEN CONTACTING A BAGILLION PEOPLE. There aren't too many positive investigators right now. We have a young girl about 16, but we want to baptize her parents too so she doesn't inactivate.

That's actually one of the harder things in the mission. There is no rule saying that there has to be active family members or anything, but it's INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO THEIR CONVERSION. I share an area with sisters, who are kind of giving the ward a lot of work, because they have baptized several little kids without activating or baptizing the people around them or the ones who would take them to church. IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO NOT DO THAT.

But they're great, like all sister missionaries. Anyway. Here's to my last full week in the mish. Pic time.

Me with The Inestrozas, (whose baptism was a while ago, missing Alejandro, Javier, and William.) at the baptism of Olga, Olga and family and the ward, and then today in Ping Pong I didn't lose a single game and won both Tournaments we had and won around the world with the best record of only one strike.

week 103 Phat

Life moves pretty fast, if you don´t stop to look around once in a while, you could miss it.

I have been fed so much food this week it is ridiculous. I am phat. Also have you guys stopped to think that if my mission hadn´t been extended, I´d be home by now? Weird huh. ANYWAY OLGA´S BAPTISM IS THIS WEEK. SO WOOHOO. Hopefully it´s not my last one, (optimistically it isn´t, but realistically it is since I don´t have any investigators with enough church attendance to be baptized soon.) SO, we´ll see. But WOOHOO. The baptism is on this Saturday and I´m excited. We´ve been really busy, and I think I´m going to leave this área with a ton of prepared investigators so that is GREAT. It´s just kind of stinky pants that I won´t be here to see it.

Elder Padilla, an Elder who went home a year ago, who was in my first zone a LONG TIME AGO. Came back to visit the mission and passed through the área and gave me some references of people to visit, so we found some coolish people. The only question is why they aren´t in the área book but I ain´t saying nuttin yaknow. He actually went to President Bowler´s Homecoming this month and told me that I´m now famous because President told my knife-fight-incident story in his talk. So that´s kind of funny.

Well besides knocking on a million doors a day,  everything is going really well. Francis´ mom passed away so now she can start receiving the mission lessons again. We came a few nights after she passed away and found like 10 members of her family there, and we shared a few parts from Alma 40, and they were incredibly interested and the uncle even cried. They said they´d come to church on Sunday so I´ll keep you all in TOUCH! I don´t have any photos this week, but I´ll try to be better with that...

... for the next 2 weeks. What up. Haha love you all hope you are all doing well.

Elder Anderson

week 102 Clifford the Big Yellow Mutt

So funny thing is that after Olga was not at all that positive and we dropped her, she starting coming to church and supposedly wants to get baptized so that is crazy. Also has anyone else noticed that I almost always start with "so" or "well"? Anyway.

We found a new investigator this week named Marisol. She is super positive, and super chatty. She is already starting to read the Book of Mormon, in the first week of taking the discussions! That's weird here in Honduras, cause no one ever even reads the pamphlets. We have a lesson with her tonight and with a member, Dilcia. Hope that goes well! The only problem is that her husband is a little bit posessive and doesn't want to let her go to church, (but they ARE married which is a first for my mission too.) Haha.

So a funny story happened the other day. My companion and I left the house of a family of investigators we have been teaching, (Kimberly, Adonis, Marcos, Yamilet, Sione) and we walking to our next appointment at about 7:30 two nights ago. We were walking when we noticed that Clifford, their dog, an aguacatero (mutt), was following us. He followed us across a pretty large space of our area, and we couldn't seem to shake him off. He just wouldn't stop following us! As we kept walking towards a busier street, we noticed we didn't see him anymore. While waiting for a good moment to cross the street, we forgot about Clifford completely. Once we had an opening we cross the street, and see Pope, a member in our ward. We head over to talk to Pope, and about 5 seconds after we start the conversation, we hear grinding metal on the street accompanied by sparks and some shouts. We turn back to the street to see a motorcycle accident caused by, GUESS WHO? CLIFFORD, WHO TRIED TO CROSS THE STREET TOO. We quickly ran over to help the mirrors and lights and the plastic neck covering of the motorcycle was pretty beat up. It was a man about 50 years old who just laid in the street groaning. I pulled his motorcycle out of the street and put up the kick stand and after a few minutes helped the man to the sidewalk. BUT DON'T WORRY EVERYONE, although it was a pretty bad accident... Clifford remained untouched and ran away. And the motor cyclist too. The motorcycle however did get beat up.

Anyway, but Marisol is super cool, she shares what she feels, and says that God has been preparing her to meet with the missionaries. She is right! She also relates the Book of Mormon everytime we talk with her, to her life. 

Have a great week

for those interested in what my area looks like:

week 101 T-Minus 1 Month

This last Wednesday the Zone had interviews, and it was a nice feel-good-moment, because I was commended by my M.P. for still working hard and not being 100% baggy/trunky, tomato/tomato. So that was nice.

This week we had 4 investigators in church AGAIN. Trying hard to get those last month/minute baptisms. 

We dropped Olga this week. We felt she wasn't progressing and then she showed up to church for the first time in forever on Sunday. WHAT? So we'll see where that goes. 

It was a long week, and this was probably the most I've walked in this area... NO idea what to write so... Well I love you guys, thought I would just make a list of things I miss back at home.

Not in any specific order:

1. Reese's Puffs.

2. Clam Chowder.

3. Most foods.

4. Accessibility of potable water.

5. HOT WATER.

6. Naps.

7. Family.

8. Hugs.

9. Free Time.

10. Movies.

There's probably more stuff, but whatever.

Picture with my companion, Elder Marcellino in one of the higher parts of our area, and picture of Hermana Posso and I on a bus, we shared an area back in Danli and she's going home next week so she sent me this pic from a few weeks ago.

week 100: Every Day When You're Walkin' Down The Street

I just realized that a lot of my emails start with "SO" or "WELL" so....

SO, WELL ANYWAY, this has been a pretty good week! We met our new mission President and he's great. He was actually pretty funny and sarcastic and knows the scriptures SUPER WELL. Like it was crazy, and his spanish is actually pretty good! In our Zone Conference this week we kind of just got to know him, and his kids made short little 5 minute videos talking about him and his wife, it was cool. He also got engaged to his wife 8 days after his mission, when she was already engaged to another mission. He actually proposed by taking off the other missionary's right, and then placing it back on her hand, asking her if Gary, the other missionary, would be ok if he used the ring. Savage.

On Saturday morning we invited some of the Elders from the zone to come to our area to cut some grass (with Machetes) in the house of some of our investigators. In total we were  8, and my companion and I made chocolate chip pancakes with bacon for breakfast for all of us. It was a good way to start the day!

Also on Saturday Afternoon there was a primary activity and my companion and I were in charge of the games and we rocked it, (cops and robbers, sharks and minnows, tag, hide and seek, etc. It was actually super fun.

After the activity, we were heading towards our dinner appointment and had two options. Take the main road or take a back way, the main road lately has had a TON of construction. Due to all the construction, we decided to take the back road and avoid the cars, dirt and dust everywhere. A few blocks into our way, a woman friendly yelled hello! at us. We immediately turned around so we could go talk to here. We began talking and she immediately invited us into her home! SHE INVITED US! She is very kind and her husband too! I hope good things will come from them! SO we'll see. Their names are Ely and Rolando. They are an older couple, and they invited US I still can't believe it.

Anyway hope you all had a great 4th of July, Tia Angenette sent me a sweet 4th of July package so I was able to celebrate in style. So see you all soon.

week 99 You Are All Going to Hate Me For Not Writing Much

This was another super busy week. So I really have no idea what to write! While we were working the other day, we took a little bit of time to just drop by one of our new families we teach, the Cerritos Family. We casually drop by and walk in, and a few minutes later, the aunt of the family walks in and we meet her for the first time. Her name is Francis, and let me tell you guys. Francis is like twice as positive as the whole Cerritos family put together, so I`m pumped about visiting Francis, and Francis actually lives pretty far away from the Cerritos family. She actually lives like a 5 minute walk from the chapel. SO THAT IS COOL.

We had a really fun ward activity on Friday, where my companion and I were put in charge of a game. We had an apple bob with lemons (cause apples are really expensive in Honduras, and biting a bitter lemon is more fun.) It was actually a really fun activity. Every time you won a game you would earn tickets to buy stuff and prizes. At the end they had a half court contest to win the grand prize, a masage in the Marriott Hotel. TO EVERYONE`S SURPRISE. THE INESTROZA FAMILY WON THE MASAGE. (If you don`t remember the Inestrozas, looks back on past emails.) Also, William Inestroza was ordained to the priesthood last week and this week passed me the sacrament on Sunday. That was the best part of my week. ALSO the Inestroza family is going to the temple this week to do baptisms.

SO OVERALL it`s been an awesome week.

pics.

at our booth. Soaked cause I tried out our game haha. Supposedly it was super hard cause I bought big lemons... isn`t that the point though?

week 98 Busy

Not a whole lot of time today! 

Today we went to the temple which was awesome! It was a really good week, Elder Marcellino is awesome, everything is excellent. Um... We made banana chocolate chip pancakes the other day...

We have  anew family we teach, I kind of talk about them in the recording that I`ll send in a sec. Well.. I really don`t have much to say. Love you guys.

week 97 Elder Marcellino, Testigos, and Stomach Pains

This was a really really good week! So we had changes and my new companion is Elder Marcellino, he is super cool. He´s 20, he´s from North Carolina and he went to BYU for a semester before coming out on the mission. He almost has 5 months, and already speaks spanish super well.

There was a really funny moment on our second day together, we got up in the morning and started doing laundry in the landlady´s house. We always start the loads and go back to our room and then go back down and up and down to keep the loads going. But one time we left the room, and as soon as we walk out there were to Jehovah´s Witnesses out front. We were still in our PJ´s and we didn´t have our placks on and so they didn´t know we were Mormons. They immediately start teaching there lesson, and Elder Marcellino and I quietly listened, responding there questions and looking at each other really awkwardly. It was actually super funny and I think we must be some of the most positive investigators these JW´s have ever had. They asked if they could enter our house and keep talking but we said we were going to leave. At the very end they asked our names, and I responded ¨uhh... Anderson´´ and my companion responded ´´Marcellino´´ which was hilarious because both names happen to be first names here in Honduras. As soon as they walked away, we walked into the house and started laughing. BUT THEY DID A GOOD JOB, THEY JUST FORGOT THE SECTION IN PREACH MY GOSPEL OF HOW TO BEGIN TEACHING, AND TESTIFYING AND PROMISING BLESSINGS. One´s name was Omar, the other one I don´t remember.

SO it was my birthday, and I had a really AWESOME birthday, the members in my ward are super awesome! After contacting in the afternoon we went to our dinner appointment where I was greeted with a surprise birthday party, with the lights turned off and everything. They had made us LASAGNA, with presents and signs and everything. It was the nicest thing anyone has done for me in my whole mission.

week 96: CHANGE NUMBER 17

This Wednesday is my last change. Elder Cuevas has changes and I'm staying to finish, so the 21 de Octubre is officially my LAST AREA. And my next companion who comes on Wednesday is my last companion. His name is Elder Marcellino and is from Utah or something. I don't know I've never met him (he's newer.)

At church I wiffed it, and broke my knee... not really but it hurt, and was embarrassing, haha.

I don't know what to write this week to be honest, just a fun week! 

 

Love you guys enjoy the pics.

Rainy pic

Pics with some Families

and one day we came home to study and laid down by the fan on the floor cause it was so hot.

week 95: Los Ortiz

So for a little while now we've been teaching a less active family, the Ortiz Family, they are pretty cool, and we have started to work them A TON. Originally, the plan was just to reactivate the family, because they are a TON of people, (The Grandparents, 5 of the Kids, a million grandkids, and a few great grandkids) in just one house. BUT little by little they have been giving us references. Out of this family we've started teaching Eduardo, (super duper positive, boyfriend of one of the grandkids) and like 5 of their cousins who live nearby. They are super dope and super helpful. Including bringing their cousins to church, and sewing my ripped up shirts. 

Also this week, we did divisions and were able to find some cool new families in the ward.

ALSO we had a sweet family home evening with a sister and her family. Even her husband came to church this sunday, and he hasn't gone in forever.

It's been a really busy week, awesome experiences, but nothing really funny to tell.

On Saturday, President Figueroa of the Tegucigalpa Stake Presidency called my companion and I to give a 20 minute lesson to the Stake Deacons on Sunday, on how they can be part of the mission work and share a book a Mormon with their friends. It was actually pretty fun preparing the lesson and I think we did a great job. Unfortunately only 6 deacons in the ENTIRE STAKE showed up haha. So he thanked us and asked us to do it again on the 25th. It was actually nice when he called because he said "I want you to come teach, blah blah blah, because I've seen how you and your companion work together and get along and I like it, so I want you to be an example for the deacons." 

While at that same meeting, our Stake President realized that he was companions in the mission with my companions cousin, and our Stake President got excited like a 10 year old with new legos, because he loved my comp's cousin. It was especially funny, because our Stake President, is HUGE, Ripped, and bald, and it was like seeing Vin Diesel turning into a little kid again.

Good Week, pics included.

1. Dog Poop

2. Trapped under the stairs in the church.

3. Pres. Figueroa

week 94: BUSY

SO I didn´t make a recording this week, cause I´ve been busy. It´s been a good week. This Wednesday there were changes, but in the entire zone only one sister missionary had a change. 

Also on Wednesday, Elder Cuevas and I went to the dentist for his operation thing. It was pretty funny cause each X-ray showed up on a big screen. At first I saw the tooth, another picture of the tooth.... another picture of the tooth, and suddenly the next X-ray he had this giant rod straight through his tooth into his nerve. Looked super painful. Luckily they drugged him up. And lucky for you guys too, because his drugged up face is the funniest thing in the world (picture attached.)

The bishop finally this week is going to call a ward mission leader. Also... I have no idea what else. This month we have a couple of investigators with baptismal dates, but I´m not too sure if they´ll really ended up getting baptized this month. There´s a lot of work for now.

Anyway! Love you guys.

Also we tried burning Elder Cuevas´ tie for the longest time, but since it was part plasticy, it took forever. We ended up breathing those nasty fumes for like 30 minutes till we got the whole thing to burn.

week 93: Elder Cuevas Sure Has Got Some Nerve

This whole week Elder Cuevas has been complaining about a slight pain in his tooth, and I didn't really believe him, and didn't want him to make a dental appointment, cause I didn't want to lose time on P-day. Well anyway, it got worse, and he ended up calling the nurses, and they put a dental appointment today, so for that reason I am writing so lately. TURNS OUT. His tooth filling is damaging a nerve of his, and it's infected. SO he really was sick after all, and I'm just a bad companion hahaha. What nerve.

This week has been pretty good! We have placed a lot of new baptismal dates, and so we will see how that goes! This week there are changes on Wednesday, but Elder Cuevas and I are staying together. I'm happy cause he's cool and we work well together. This will be my second to last change, so I'm kind of thinking I might die/finish here in the 21 de Octubre.

Here's some pics that we took last night cause we didn't have pics to send this week.

ENJOY!