Hello Again!

Monday, December 25, 2017

Hello my sweet family,

It was so amazing to be able to share the time with you over Skype and to enjoy that special time together. It truly invited the spirit of Christmas and made my heart happy.

Also because I just talked to all of you about 2 hours ago I'll just send a general email to all of you today! Also because I'll be short on time because we are celebrating and having fun :)

I think the world becomes a little more bright and the people's hearts become a little kinder around Christmas time every year. There's something about the spirit of Christmas that can change people. I have come to know that it is more than the spirit of Christmas, rather it is the spirit of Christ.

But that wonderful feeling of the holidays doesn't need to stop just because the day has passed. I encourage each of you to continue living Christlike lives so that we can have the spirit of Christ with us always!

During the last week we got to go carrolling to a bunch of families, as a group of missionaries and with some of the members. We went around and carrroled to members and their neighbors! I was assigned as picture taker :) easy to take selfies with such long arms.

Today we woke up early and went on a Christmas Bike Ride! That was pretty fun. We definitely got matching flannels and beanies given to us by an investigator! That was super awesome. After that we went back home and opened some packages we had received. Thank you to all of you who thought of me this Christmas season! All your gifts made me smile. After that we got to get cleaned up and then Skype our families! That was the best!

Now we are going to visit and enjoy Christmas with some of the members of the Branch. They are all super excited and so are we.

I love you all and wish you the happiest of Christmases and New Year.

Elder Anderson

Attached are pictures of us caroling, dinner with Guillermo on Christmas eve, opening gifts this morning, and a cake I tried to make in the microwave! Love you all!

Hey all you guys!

Monday, December 18, 2017

What's happening!? There's so many exciting things happening for all of you!

Mom and Dad - So cool that you are all moved in and that everything is going well. I am happy to see you are repainting some of the walls. As beautiful as mustard yellow is I think the color you chose will look very nice! Also super cool that you are going to see elder Merrills parents tonight! Be sure to take and send pictures. :) Most of all I'm so happy to know that you have already seen the blessing of moving closer to family. It looks like you have been able to spend some much needed quality time with them!

Cam and Shirley - Shirley you're huge! In a cute way! That baby is so big. I guess I hadn't seen a good picture of you yet until the last one you sent, but I couldn't help just screaming "Woah! She's so pregnant!" Definitely got some weird looks from the people in Dennys but it made me smile. Let me tell you how excited I am to be an uncle. I feel like there's a lot of responsibility being an uncle. I can only imagine how you both feel with being new parents soon. You will see so many miracles and blessings from God as you lead your family in righteousness.

Chloe - Super bien que tienes este nuevo trabajo! Espero que tenga éxito en este tiempo! I don't know how to speak Portuguese so I used Spanish which is the closets I could get. But I really hope you enjoy this new experience and time to learn and grow. I also think it's cool you can use your language ability to find work, that's sweet!

So nothing's really changing with me! I haven't been buying any new cars or houses like you all have been. Arkansas is so amazing but I don't think I will be expecting a white Christmas :). I think one of the biggest Christmas Miracles I see is the way that people open their hearts to the spirit of Christmas and turn to God in this special time of the year. Missionary work becomes so natural with everyone because we are all celebrating Jesus Christ, who is at the center of our message!

Some fun pictures for all of you this week!

Got to enjoy Denny's, which is one of my favorite cheap places to eat. $4 all you can eat pancakes is definitely a miracle.

Picture of elder Merrill and I at a branch Christmas party we had! Hispanics definitely know how to throw a good party

Some of may favorite selection of the MASSIVE wall of candles they have at the stores here. They believe that if you light them and pray you will receive the things on them. Not sure why anyone would want to light Golden Death.... That one I don't understand...

That's all I have for this week but have an amazing Christmas and I can't wait to hear from and email all of you on Christmas! I also am excited to Skype you all! I think the time that would work best is 12 noon on Christmas day! That should be 11 am in Utah and sometime around 7 in Germany right? Correct me if I'm wrong but 12 noon my time would be great :). I won't have a lot of time, only around 30 - 40 min so come prepared haha! I know mom will have her list of things to talk about :) that's my favorite.

Love you all!

Elder Anderson

Christmas Miracles

Monday, December 11, 2017

Hello All!

So I'm looking for something cool to tell you all about! First thing is that Elder Merrill and I have been together as companions for a week and that has been really cool so far! We work really hard together as well as have a good time. When we bike to places we often see who can ride the best wheelies! I'm getting better! My goal is to ride a better wheelie than my dad but the time I get home. You've been warned!

As far as how the work is going, we have been working with the members in our branch a lot these last few weeks and it has been lots of fun! They have opened up to us tons and we are gaining their friendship. One of the nights we went and got tacos with Hermano Robles (counselor in branch presidency), Hermana Roper (Relief Society Pres), and Hermana Ropers brother! It was super fun and the food was good! This guy started selling tacos from the front porch, but eventually people starting coming so much it blocked the neighborhood roads and the police told him he couldn't do it at his house anymore. So now he sells them at this abandoned bowling alley! It is actually super fun to go and eat there! They out every cut of meet into the taco and the tripa (intestine) and lengua (tongue) are actually the best ones and the most popular that he makes.

I think I've fallen in love with the tacos here. There are taco trucks about every block and they sell tacos for really cheep! Usually around $1 a taco! You can go and get them loaded up with all the toppings and then put some really good salsa over the top. They are nothing like the American tacos, these put those tacos to shame!

We also are going to have a lot of dinners with members in the coming months, which is something that hasn't really happened that much since I've been here. It's going to be awesome to be able to meet with the families in their homes. We are always so grateful for them feeding us and we hope by the time we leave we have fed them spiritually. The branch here is so strong and the members really show the light of Christ in everything they do.

This last Tuesday we got to spend a lot of it with an investigator named Geovanni! He is from Nicaragua and he us super fun to be around. He works in the mall at the Chinese restaurant. We taught a really good lesson to him and his sister. We then went to dinner with him at a really good Mexican restaurant that he works at as well! He just bought a car this last week and it was the first time he drove so that was interesting! He did really good for it being his first time driving, and the food was super good.

Christmas is right around the corner and I am so excited! I think the biggest gift I will love and cherish is my family! I will be able to Skype on Christmas and I am so excited to talk to them! My family is the best gift the Lord has given me. I'm also so grateful that they all now live so much closer together. I pray for all of you daily.

So much love for all of you!

Elder Anderson

Giovanni in his new car (Honda accord)

Me and my companion playing pool! The apartment complex south of us has a cool clubhouse that we go to and use their Wi-Fi! Just took this picture.

Us at 3rd realm today for pday as well! All the people in the picture are serving in South little rock and Benton. It's a trampoline park! Super fun.

Transfer News!

Monday, December 4, 2017

So there's a lot of exciting things happening!

Let me first start off by explaining some of the changes that happened in our area and Little Rock in general. So elder Giles, who has been my companion for 3 months, got transferred to west Memphis and left this morning for there. Meanwhile I will be staying here in the same area in Little Rock. My new companion's name is Elder Merrill. He is from Logan, Utah! All you family that live over there keep your eyes out! He's an Aggie fan through and through so that will make some of you smile! Mom and dad you should totally try and see his family once you all get settled in!

In other exciting news I got called by our President and am now the district leader for all the Spanish missionaries in Little Rock. It was definitely a shock for me as well as most of the mission. Usually people are out a while before they get put into leadership. Everyone in my district has been out over 16 months and I've only been out 3. So that's definitely intimidating and exciting at the same time! I pray that God will help me fulfill this assignment though and I am sure He has plans for me. I'm thankful for this new opportunity to serve and grow.

I'm also super excited because I will be in Little Rock for probably another 3 months or so! I'll be able to spend Christmas here with the second best group of people I know. My family will always be the best! The Spanish congregation here has a heart of gold. They love and serve in wonderful ways and exemplify the characteristics of Christ. I'm also getting supper excited to be able to have a fun time with all of them, but will for sure miss all of you!

It's starting to get cold here but that's ok! It feels super nice when you are riding a bike. We had a visit from Elder Robbins this week. He is a part of the 70. I encourage all of you to look up a talk he gave this last fall at BYU education week titled '100% responsible.' Or something along those lines!

I'm super having fun though and I am enjoying the work! Crazy to know that the parents are moving and a bunch of changes with the church organization where I am from are taking place! I know that God has a hand in every single one of our lives. When you think God has left you alone, that is often the best time to realize that we need to look a little harder.

I know thus gospel is true without any doubt. I am thankful for the continual peace and comfort I receive from the sweet message of our Savior. Remember him this Christmas season!

Love you and Merry Christmas

Elder Anderson

Me and my two new companions :)

Hello Family!

Monday, November 27, 2017

Let me tell ya about my week!

So on thanksgiving we had a great time (but I totally forgot to take pictures)!

We started off the day by waking up and doing studies which is always one of my favorite parts of the day. Also we have been running every morning, so that's been really good and it feels great to get good exercise! Then at 11 we went over the the Robles family and we raked a bunch of leaves in their backyard! By the time we were done the pile was taller than I was! Along with the kids we took turns jumping into it from the porch. Then we bagged it up and left off to our first dinner of the evening. That stared at 1 and we were able to spend about an hour with some of the members from our branch! All of them speak Spanish and aren't from the US so they tried to make a thanksgiving dinner and it turned out pretty interesting! But that was way fun. Then at 3 we went over to Bishop Warners house and a lot of the missionaries met there to have a meal! He is the bishop of the English ward that meets in the same building as us.

We went to see Guillermo during the week too and he is doing awesome! He knew we didn't have a Christmas tree so he bought us one! It is so nice! We are definitely going to enjoy having it! Also we are probably going to spend Christmas morning with him and another member of our branch because they are the only ones of their families that live in the US! Can't wait!

That's all for this week but I am doing amazing and enjoying the fall and reduced temperatures! I dread the day when it will start to get hot again...

Elder Colton Anderson

Thanksgiving y'all!

Monday, November 20, 2017

Hola!

This week has been a blast! I got a haircut today! Finally! And this time it was by an actual hairdresser. It looks good I hope! She also gave me a close razor shave today for free because I'm a missionary! It was kind of scary but my face feels really smooth!

Thanksgiving is around the corner and I have SO many things to be thankful for. But I would like to talk about 3.

Family, Life, The Gospel

I will go through and explain each a little bit more specifically because by themselves they are very broad topics.

Family - My family is one of the biggest blessings God has given me. When we share the , message of the Restoration of the Gospel, one of the first points we share is that the gospel blesses families. I know that families are ordained of God and that they are the central and most important unit in society and in God's eternal plan. Right now my whole family is flying to Germany so they can be together this holiday season and my mom's birthday. I know that I have been raised in an amazing family with good parents that taught me principles of truth ever since I was young.

Life - God has given each of us body's and our own ability to choose. What a wonderful gift. I am so grateful in this thanksgiving season for my own life and that God allows me to learn and grow. He guides me and let's me make my own decisions. Also the beautiful world we have been sent to puts a smile on my face every day! Especially Arkansas :)

The Gospel - The gospel of Jesus Christ is an amazing and beautiful gift. If not the most wonderful gift I have ever been given. Every day I have the amazing opportunity to wake up with the one goal and purpose to invite others to come unto Christ.

In reality I would like to point out that these 3 things should be on all of our 'lists' this year. They are all connected and that is by God. If one of these things didn't make it to the top of the things you are grate ful for this year, look a little deeper.

Love you all!

Elder Colton Anderson

Finally got a real haircut. Cool car, but we were moving so I only got half of it. Me and Giles getting a ride to Jonesborough.