Howdy Y'all!

August 19, 2017

Hello everyone!

This week has been so exciting! Ill run through some of the most memorable points with you:

SUNDAY- Elder Ballard came and addressed all of us. His words uplifted me and gave me comfort in knowing that I can do this!

MONDAY-  Were currently teaching someone named Miranda, she is attending UVU and is an amazing person. We've loved sharing the gospel with her and inviting her to come closer to Christ. Some of the most memorable points are that we can have families forever and that through Christ everything is possible. I know the good news of this gospel can bless lives.

TUESDAY- Yet again another devotional with a visiting apostle! Elder Andersen came and talked to all of the missionaries and about faith. How all of us have a fire within us that we need to protect and keep alive. After the meeting was over we all stood up and stayed standing as he left out of respect. Then as he exited the building he walked by me and shook my hand. I was one of only a few able to speak with him but he told me I have the light of Christ and that I need to share that with the world.

WEDNESDAY- Don't remember what happened but I'm sure it was a good day.

THURSDAY - Same as Wednesday, probably consisted of a lot of hard studying and language practice.... just like every other day here at the MTC.

FRIDAY- Found a new way to mark my scriptures, made a key and had it laminated and am super excited to put it to use.

SATURDAY - This morning I went to the temple and was able to feel the spirit there and I know that God loves each of us so much. What a beautiful start to a day.

Fun highlight was this last week I FINALLY ran into someone I know. It is a sister missionary from an EFY that I attended 3 years ago. EFY stands for Especially For Youth, and its a week long church camp type deal. I was at Utah State for that one and it was so good to see her, she's an amazing missionary.

To finish things off I want all of you to know how excited I am about the work I have in front of me. I love this gospel. I love my savior Jesus Christ and know that he is our brother and best friend. I invite you all to look for ways you can be closer to the savior in your every day lives. Whether thats reading a short passage of scriptures every day or praying to feel of His love. He Lives. I love Him. I am a representative of Jesus Christ, and as I carry his name on my badge and in my heart I am blessed with the honor of doing his work. Love you all and have an amazing week.

Elder Anderson

¡Hola Familia!

August 12, 2017

Hola

I don't know where to start because there is so much to talk about! I'm going to backtrack through my week and tell you something for each day, whether it's something that happened or just a spiritual thought.

Sunday: Elder Bednar came and spoke to us. We were watching "The Character of Christ" a talk he had given at the MTC a few years ago, then when it ended he came waltzing on in and gave another great talk! This time it was in person!

Monday - Friday: I was going to try and say something for each day but I looked back and realized that it all just blends into one big mess. At the MTC there seems to be a weird sense of time. It speeds up, slows down, and gets blended together. But it's all good things! I love the spirit here and the fun times with other missionaries.

Saturday (today): got up early this morning and went to the temple. Today is our preparation day so we do stuff to get ready for the rest of the week. After the temple i got my hair cut the absolute shortest I think it has ever been. No I will not be sending a picture until it is a lot a lot longer. But its not too bad its just a little off the top. Now I am sitting here typing my email with 100 other stinky elders while we wait for our laundry cycle to finish! Gotta love the MTC. It has been really great but I do admit Im getting anxious to go.

Lowlight

The language is really hard. Its an interesting experience though because I am learning so much faster than I ever think I could, and yet I wish I could be better. Even though it is discouraging I can still see progress however and am so grateful because I know the Lord is helping me as I work hard.

Oh and also the food is terrible...

Highlight

I love the scriptures. I have had more time to read the scriptures than I ever had before. I find myself getting excited and swallowed by their stories and teachings. As I read the scriptures I feel so peaceful and know that everything is going to be ok. I invite all of you to read the Book of Mormon with me. I have a testimony that it is the word of God. Written by prophets a long time ago and revealed to the prophets in our day.

Hand of God

Ive been able to see myself grow in so many ways while I've been at the MTC, both physically and spiritually. But the most important thing is the testimony that I have strengthened of my savior Jesus Christ. At first it was such a simple testimony and now I feel like it has developed into so much more than that. There are two scriptures that explain how my testimony was, and a different scripture that explains how it is now. I wont include the words because I want all of you to go read them for yourself.

Philippians 4:13 - This is what I used to feel like.
2 Nephi 22:2 - This is what I feel now

I know that Jesus is my Savior, He is my song. I love Him. I know that no matter what we are going through in this life we are never out of his reach. As we come closer to Him, He will bless us beyond imagination. Keep being the amazing people you are and blessing the lives of those around you. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

LETS GO CHANGE THE WORLD

-Elder Anderson

1. He is from my classroom
2. My companion who reminds me of Napoleon Dynamite. He is a spiritual giant.
3. My nametag
4. My desk

I promise I'll do better about taking higher quality pictures this week!

Kent and Barbara Stevens at the MTC?

August 8, 2017

The Stevens "ran into" Elder Anderson randomly while they were at the new MTC tour and he was on the way to the gym.  What a small world when there are over 4000 missionaries currently at the MTC!

MTC First Impressions

August 5, 2017

I absolutely love it here at the MTC but have come the the realization that it is a jail, except I want to be here.

Okay on the scheduling side of things, they keep us so busy here. I am working really hard though and trying to lose myself in the work. Any district is so amazing, each day I am trying my best to love like Jesus did. That's something I want to work on on my mission, and I was motivated to because we very day I think about how perfect our saviors love is.

The language has been difficult but I can testify of the realness of the gift of tongues. I find that my Spanish is best not when I focus on learning Spanish however but when I am immersed in the gospel, and focusing on the needs of those around me and my investigators. D&C 11:21

Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.

The food is just as good as you expect but I am eating a lot of it, I would be surprised if I don't gain weight by the time I leave here.

I know this is the Lords work, and I know that through my savior all things are possible. Yo se que Jesucristo es mi hermano y mi amigo. Yo se que El es mi salvador personal

- Elder Anderson

Here are some fun pictures of the campus and my district!

New Missionary

July 29, 2017

¡Hola!

I am working so hard, with the language and with my personal study. I want to get the absolute most out of this that I can. It was really hard to say goodbye to all of you but it made it easier knowing how important this work is. 

Yesterday we bore testimony within our district of what we knew to be true. They were only 60 second testimonies but they all were so powerful and from the heart. 

I have the wonderful privilege to be in the new buildings learning and studying. They are so so nice, you should look at pictures or something online.

Today is my P-Day and every Saturday will be when I'm in the MTC. You can expect emails from me on Saturday but they will probably be space out and not very consistent of when they are sent just because of how our schedule works. Please let everyone I am emailing know that as well! 

Elder Anderson

Day 1

July 26, 2017

Hola!

I am here and well. Only supposed to email you a few sentences. Don't know when I will be able to email next but I imagine it will be soon. Love you all so much.

Elder Colton Anderson

1. The view from my classroom

2. Your package! Made me so happy 

3. My companion Elder Michelson

4. My closet

5. A picture of my whole district 

I'm going on a mission!

July 26, 2017

Departing Denver Airport July 26, 2017 to the Provo Missionary Training Center (MTC)