Kira's Baptism, Spanish Training, Rain

Monday, February 11, 2019

Good Morning!

The rain has been really coming down this last week! I've heard that y'all out west are getting a lot of snow. That's exciting! I think the snow is warmer than the rain, because when you get wet here, it is so so cold. If it's a windy day on top of all that, you stand no chance.

We had a really good week though! We had various meetings and interviews this last week. However the most exciting thing is that Kira got baptised and confirmed a member of the church this last weekend! It was a really special time and the spirit was present. We have a small Branch, but they were all so supportive of Kira and are very excited that she will be with us now. I will be sure to attach a picture from the baptism!

Elder Lee was able to perform the baptism, and I confirmed her in sacrament meeting the following day. I am always so thankful for opportunities to use the Holy Priesthood with which I have been entrusted. The power of the Priesthood is so very really and is divine.

In Doctrine and Covenants 84:19-21 it says:

19 And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.

20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.

21 And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;

The ordinances of the gospel are how God manifests his power to us, His Children. The reality of this gospel and the ordinances it teaches and facilitates are true. They are real and eternal. I'm so thankful that I was able to participate in administering one of those ordinances yesterday.

Another exciting change, is that I have been asked to fulfill a new assignment in the mission. I will be working as the Spanish Training Leader. The details as to all that this entails is still unsure. From what President has told me though, I will be going on exchanges with all the Spanish missionaries in the mission and helping train them in their Spanish teaching skills. The hope is that this training will increase the effectiveness of the Spanish missionaries and help more Spanish speakers progress towards baptism! It's very exciting! I will keep you all posted as it continues to unfold.

Also! I was in Conway Arkansas for an exchange and the Aguilar family, who I taught and baptised in Searcy, have moved halfway across Arkansas and are in Conway now! I got to visit with them in their new home and talk about how they are doing. They are amazing and are going to be sealed in the temple this summer! I love eternal families!

Love you all and am excited to hear from you soon! Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes. Que tengan una buena semana!

Elder C.R. Anderson

Spiritual Consistency

Monday, February 4, 2019

Hello Everyone and happy Monday!

I'm never really sure what to write in these emails. They usually consist of one of two things that happened last week, some pictures and explanations, and my testimony. All good things but I'm sure y'all want to hear more! Please email me any questions or things you would like me to include in future emails!

This last week, the group of people that we are teaching and working with drastically changed! We had some people move, other lose interest, or others we weren't able to contact. However, we were led to some absolutely remarkable individuals who are prepared to follow Jesus Christ. I am so excited to see what happens with each of them.

Kira, one of the people we are teaching, is going to get baptized on Saturday! Really excited for her. She has changed a lot since we first met her a few weeks ago! She is the first of many that will soon join the small Branch we are serving.

The weather this week has been weird. Its been unusually warm for February! I sure am loving it though. It means there are a lot more people outside and that we can teach people outside as well!

I look forward to hearing from you all soon!

With love,

Elder C.R. Anderson

- Chef Elder Anderson - the missionaries are the best helpers
- We visited the Conway building where I used the drinking fountain.
- This cat would not let us leave. Very time we would start the car, it would hear the engine and go crawl under our car. I had to hold the cat while my companion drove away a little, then I would race the cat to the car. This happened about 3 times before we successfully were able to the leave. Pretty sure the dog just sat and watched the whole time.

Stake Conference, Francisco, Kira

Monday, January 28, 2019

Hey Y'all!

Got a lot of pictures! All of them are from today I think. We went to Dardanelle state park and it was a lot of fun. It started to rain but we made the best of it and still stuck around for a while. It was a great time.

This last week was a pleasure. We were able to see and talk with so many wonderful people. There are people we are lead to that are prepared a lot of time before we meet them. This last week we were able to meet with Francisco. He is a young father that moved here from Venezuela. He has a wife and 2 kids still there. He wants to do the best thing for them but is still working on getting them to the U.S.. He is an example of faith and a desire to change. He is preparing to be baptised and to follow Jesus Christ.

Love y'all so much! Have an amazing day.

Elder C.R. Anderson

Danville Miracle

Monday, January 21, 2019

Hello Everyone!

Elder Mabeus got his visa so we drove him to the mission office early this morning and he's probably on a plane right now! Right agree we drove to a state park called Petit Jean where we did a hike to a waterfall! It was by far the prettiest part of Arkansas I have seen so far.

I love being able to keep in touch with you and know that all is well. If there is anything I can ever do to help, please let me know. I love you all so much. I have also come to love the people that I serve here in Arkansas and in Danville. They are amazing! Here is a little bit about just a small number of them and why they are so amazing to me.

Kira - She is going to be baptized on February 9th. She is a single mom and 25 years old. She is so special. She really wants the best for her son and is working really hard in her job and the gospel to make that happen! She just quit smoking and has so much faith. She is reading the Book of Mormon every day and has received so many blessings as she does.

Sarah - She is also a single lady. We came across her one night when we went to teach Wayne and tonya (will talk about them later). She is also on date to be baptized on the 9th. She loves coming to church and has felt like the gospel is teaching her things she always felt were true but just didn't know how to put into words.

Wayne and tonya - They are an older couple that are more of a grandparent figure to Sarah. Tonya is disabled but very kind. She reminds me a lot of a boy named Randy who I grew up going to school with. Wayne is an amazing husband and loves tonya so much. They are both planning on being baptized on February 9th as well!

Those are just some of the many amazing people we are working with. Our small branch only has about 25 members in it that actively come to church. We had 7 of that 25 that are people we had come to church with us. The Lord is working a miracle in this area. In fact, in reference to the amazing things that are happening our Branch President encouraged all the members of the church to be a part of the "Danville Miracle."

In the most plain words I can muster, I want you to know that I know Christ lives. He lives and leads His church on the earth today. That church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He leads and guides us through a living prophet. It is such a wonderful blessing help build the kingdom of God in preparation for the second coming of Jesus Christ. May all of you find yourselves anxiously engaged in this great cause!

Love you all dearly

Elder C.R. Anderson

Branch Conference and Zone Conference

Monday, January 14, 2019

Hello Everyone! How are you?!

Currently I am serving in a Branch of the church. For those of you that don't know what that is, it's pretty much just a smaller version of a regular sized congregation. Because it is smaller there is a lot of missionary work to be done and the people act a lot like a family. It's cool to see all of them come together and grow.

Usually a congregation is under the direction of a bishop, but when it is a Branch, it is under the direction of a Branch President. This last week the branch was reorganized and we have a new president and councillors. They are wonderful!

The building we meet in is really pretty as well. Despite the fact that it is one of the smallest churches I've been in, it is by far the prettiest. The chapel is almost as beautiful as the inside of a temple. I love it there. I think another reason I have such a strong connection to the church is because of the ordinance that takes place there on Sunday. Every week we have the opportunity to take of the sacrament, a piece of bread and small cup of water. Before we eat it, it is blessed by someone holding the priesthood of God. Isn't that amazing?! If only we could stop and appreciate the amazing gift it is to know that God has again restored his church and priesthood to the earth. As I take of the sacrament I think about my Saviour, Jesus Christ, and all that he has done and will continue to do for me.

This is a good place to be. I know that it is where the Lord wants me to be. I hope that each of us can come closer to him daily. Love y'all so much!

Elder C.R. Anderson

I only had one picture for this week so I took a screenshot of our church building. We plan on taking a new picture this week as a district (group of missionaries), but this is what we have right now! Hope y'all like it!
1. Sorto Family
2. Church
3. Out district... kind of