My Testimony

Monday, July 15, 2019

Dearest Family and Friends,

This last week and the week to come are bound to be some of the most hectic and fast paced in my life. I am buckled up and ready for the ride.

I would love to stay in contact with each and every one of you. Please always feel free to reach out to me personally. My new email will be andercolton@gmail.com

To finish off the greatest 2 year sermon of my life, I would like to leave with you my testimony of Jesus Christ.

I will never be able to adequately put into words how I feel about my missionary service in Arkansas. However, I will attempt to explain it the best I can!

Over the last 2 years, the Lord has molded me into the man I am supposed to be. He has helped me have a greater vision of myself and the world. He has given me the blessing of feeling even a portion of the love that He has for the people here in Arkansas. I know that He loves them and is very aware of their needs.

The most important souvenir I will be taking home (and I don't have very many) is my strengthened testimony of the living Christ. I now realize that I have always known that He lives. Since a young and tender age I have realized that my life was truly not my own, and that I have been bought with a price (1 cor. 6:19-20). Through the peaks and valleys of life I have also felt of the redeeming power of Christs atonement. I can say boldly with the apostle Paul that "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Pilippians 4:13).

As we strive to live according to his commandments, we will find greater Joy and purpose in life than we could anywhere else. I invite each of you to deeply search and evaluate prayerfully your relationship with our Father in Heaven and His son, Jesus Christ. As you do, your spirit will be restored and your soul satisfied.

In the name of Him who I proudly represent, even Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sincerely,

Elder C.R. Anderson

Pictures

Monday, July 15, 2019

I will write a separate email with all of the details

Mt. Nebo
Tamales and tacos for lunch
Waterfall
Cars
Donuts

Memphis Temple!

Monday, July 8, 2019

Hello everyone,

Due to limited service on the highway and a lot of driving, I'm not able to send a large email this week! I won't be able to attach pictures either or else this email wouldn't send until a few days from now.

We were able to go to the temple this morning and do some work there. I love the temple and know it is the house of the Lord. The work performed there is special and sacred. I was able to feel the closeness of heaven today. I cannot wait to come home and continue regularly to attend the temple. It is one of the crowning jewels of my faith.

This last week was a lot of fun as we were able to have many lessons and see so many wonderful people. I have a testimony that the gospel and atonement of Jesus Christ really is "one size fits all."

I will be sending off my last weekly email next week! That sure is exciting. Also a small relief to me. I'm not sure if any of you have picked up on it, but writing these is not something I particularly love. HOWEVER, I love each of you so much and want to have meaningful communication with you. That makes it all worth it!

Until next time,

Elder C.R. Anderson

Elder Lopez touched his first cow

Monday, July 1, 2019

Hello!

This week was wonderful. Although I spent the majority of it outside of Dardanelle, I feel like we were still able to accomplish a lot and saw a lot of people. I love being a missionary.

One couple we are teaching is an older married couple that have run a cattle ranch most of their lives. They are true southerners. In that spirit, they are always so welcoming and warm when we come over. They really have shown me what southern hospitality is. This last time we went by we explained that Elder Lopez had never touched a cow and has wanted to for the longest time. Right after that she got really excited and told him to follow her. She grabbed a bottle and explained to him how to bottle feed a calf. Elder Lopez really enjoyed it and was laughing most of the time. I had fun taking pictures! It's not too often you can bottle feed a calf while wearing a suit.

Even more important this week I have been able to study and learn about the Holy Ghost and his role in our conversion and salvation. He is a teacher in every sense of the word. I have come to know in my last little bit as a missionary that without the spirit I can neither teach nor learn. However, when I live worthy of and seek his presence, I am able to be an instrument in bringing the gospel into the lives of many.

I am so excited to be a missionary. My mission is just getting started!

I love you all so much.

Elder C.R. Anderson

All over the place!

Monday, June 24, 2019

We spent this week in many different locations, including two different trips to Little Rock. I think I'm starting to get a feel for what my dad did for many years while he traveled for work. It is always good to come home!

Last Saturday evening there were many lightning storms and wind that seemed to shake our apartment! Around 6 am on Sunday morning we were awakened by the sounding of tornado sirens. We didn't want to have to go to a safe house or shelter only to return hours later to get ready then go to church. We chose to instead get our suits and hygiene items and head out for the church to get ready there! Upon arriving at the church we found that the power was off there, as well in most of the county. We got ready in the dark.

A few hours later when our Branch President arrived we opened all the windows and doors to get some air flowing through the building. We ended up having a sacrament meeting that lasted about 25 min. It was really fun and sweaty to be there with everyone in the dark. It shows that the real reason we meet together on Sunday is for that sacred ordinance of the sacrament.

This week we had the opportunity to teach many people how to pray. It was really special because a few of them really came to understand how powerful a tool prayer can be. What we claim prayer to be is a direct communication with the most powerful and all knowing being in the universe, even God. When this knowledge is correctly understood and applied it can enable us to receive heavens choicest blessings. God has promised that we can ask and receive, seek and find. On another occasion in holy scripture we learn that:

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (James 1:5-6)

Our Heavenly Father has opened the windows of heaven and is willing to pour out blessings on those that express gratitude and ask with a humble heart. I have found that the points in my mission and my life that have been the most peaceful and been when I find myself in regular prayer. I can promise each of you more joy and peace in your life as you approach the throne of God in regular, sincere prayer.

Love you all so much! Enjoy the many pictures this week.

Elder C.R. Anderson

John 16:23-24
23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Kira's son David (he is learning to walk)
Getting ready in the dark
City celebration of the flood receding (over 7,000 people attended whuchnis more than the city population of 4,500) with monkey and kangaroo

Two story trailer/garage/porch
Handwritten "Arkansas directions" to get to a house
Peeling cactus
Remnants of a city park after flood
Baby raccoon

Funny lookin dog

Kombucha (we didn't drink any)

Old pictures at the church building where I served. No one has taken them down yet!

Game Night!

Monday, June 17, 2019

We had a really cool experience this last week in the Danville Branch. Many of the people we are teaching right now are youth or young adults. In the hopes of getting them to better know the youth of the church we organized a board game night af the church on Friday!

The game night went really well and we had 6 different people we were teaching come. They all commented that they had a good time and we definitely enjoyed being there with them. At the end of the game night we all went into the chapel where Elder Lopez and I shared a message with them. We based that message of a few verses found in Mathew 22 which say:

35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The main point of our message was that the gospel of Jesus Christ can all be related back to a love for God and fellow man. We bore testimony of the truth of these words and that we could all make it a point to love and serve those around us. We all committed to serve someone the following day, then to come to church on Sunday where we would all share our experiences with each other.

Asher, James, and Brianna all came to church and we loved having them there. We could tell that there was more light and joy in their lives because of the service that they had rendered and being in such a sacred service as sacrament meeting.

I also know that serving others can bring a light and joy to our lives that cannot be found any other way. As we serve we will better come to know our Savior, Jesus Christ, and His gospel.

I would invite each of you to look for one simple way to serve someone this week! You will see added light and joy in your life as you do.

Elder C.R. Anderson

Cool drawing
Jenga tower
Convertible ride

Flood waters are gone!

Monday, June 10, 2019

Hola!

The flood waters have receded a lot. At their highest they were at around 48ft above normal. They have cropped back down about 20 ft and are continuing. It was a really cool experience to be a part of such a historic event in this part of Arkansas.thus opportunity led to MANY opportunities to share the gospel truth, even if it was just through a smile or good act.

While doing service for the sandbagging we met a really nice family. They were going to take some of the sand bags to put at their house. We offered to follow them over and help unload. We helped them and we ended up talking about soccer, families, and the gospel. We explained briefly the importance of prayer and then continued to invite them to learn more. They agreed and we set a time for later in the week.

We had the lesson with them and it was phenomenal. The spirit was very present and we could feel him guiding our words. The family was very attentive and "all in." Because of that they were able to learn by the spirit as well. After teaching our relationship with Heavenly Father and teaching about prayer and how to pray, we aided each of the parents and oldest daughter in saying a prayer. They were each so excited. Their prayers were sincere and beautiful. In the mothers prayer she thanked God for sending the us to them and she prayed that we would be available and have time to come back and teach more of His gospel. They are a wonderful family and we have a few appointments already in place for this week! Thank you for all of your support and prayers in our behalf. We really felt that it was because of the prayers of others that this was able to happen.

Love you all so much!

Elder C.R. Anderson

Phone stand
My companion taking pictures of me while planning
Valeadas
Comp picture
Walking down the road to one of the people we are teaching
My favorite piece of art
There was a racoon in the attic of our church. We thought it was a person though so we went to investigate. Raccoons are scary too though!

Arkansas Flood 2019

Monday, June 3, 2019

Hello All,

Due to the flood Elder Anderson was not able to get a wifi connection to send this out to everyone like he normally does and asked me to pass it on through my group email.  He is safe and sound working hard to help the people of Arkansas.

From Elder Anderson:

This has been the highest flood in recorded history! It has been such a wonderful experience to be a part of something like this.

The coolest part of this week was seeing all of the community come together for a common cause. We all laughed, talked, and filled sand bags together for hours on end. A large majority of the people there were from local church congregations. Everyone's faith was on fire as we served one another.

We spent the large chunk of last week in different cities along the Arkansas river helping fill and place walls of sandbags. I have never seen so many sand bags in my life! Sunday, Monday and Tuesday we were in dardanelle. Wednesday we were in Conway. Thursday I was in Memphis (for a meeting). Friday we were in north little rock. And Saturday and Sunday we finished it off in Dardanelle again!

I am safe and dry and happy to be serving in Arkansas! Love you all so much

Elder C.R. Anderson

Temporary barrier (Dardanelle)
Broken a.c.(Dardanelle)
Rising waters (Dardanelle)
Sand bagging buddies (Dardanelle)
Flooded neighborhood (north little rock)
reparing broken sandbag walls (north little rock)
Machine sand bags (north little rock)
Sleeping arrangements (Conway)
Fire station bagging (Conway)
Emergency kit (Dardanelle)