Well its Christmas time and I'm loving the time I have with my family. I now have been home for almost 6 months.... It's crazy to think about it. Whenever I think about my mission it seemed as though it was a dream and that it really didn't happen. I can remember everything so vividly but being back home, It is a totally different world. As much as I enjoy being here in Idaho I deeply miss the Dominican Republic. It will always be my second home. My parents are now housing the missionaries in our house so it is fun being with them and feeling the missionary spirit in the house. I just finished my first semester of school since my mission. I got a A's and 1 B. I'm currently majoring in Buisness Management and am loving it. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

--Spud--

Wow!!!!! What a run!!!!!!!

I think ¨Wow¨ is an understatement. I can´t really explain what I´m thinking. I think I´m just going to right a short letter. I guess we can talk about this in 2 days. Tomorrow I leave for the capital early in the morning. There I will have my last interview with President Almonte. Afterwords we will hang out for awile in the capital then have a dinner at President´s house. After Dinner we will have a testimony meeting. The next day I will wake up at 4 o´clock in the morning and get ready to go to the Airport. My first flight leaves to Miami at 8 15 in the morning. From Miami I go to Dallas- Fort Worth, after I go to Salt Lake City. From Salt Lake City, I will arrive in the Boise Airport at 10 30 p.m. It sure is going to be a big day. I love you all and can´t wait to see you. Thank you for all your support and love.

 

Elder Spencer William Anderson

I´m alive and loving it!!!!!!

As usual we had another great week in the field. This last satuday we had 2 baptisms. The first is a wonderful lady named Ana. Ana had a huge problem with coffee. After 3 days of drinking coffee and admitting it to us she took hold of the Iron Rod and stook it out. I always love talking about the wonderful and strong man my father is. After talking to the missionaries he left everything behind and followed the Word of Wisdom. I can see the great blessing that he has recieved, that I have recived, and those of countless other that I have seen on my mission. One thing I have greatly appreciated from my mission is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives. Even the worst of people can change. I have seen so many countless people change their lives and enjoy all the blessing of the Gospel. It brings me great joy to see what my father in heaven has done with this people. On Sunday I call some investigators from my second area. I was astonished and full of happiness to here that all of the baptisms there are active even with difficult circumstances. They are building a new chapel so they have to meet in the stake center. I love this people. I love that they love and have grasped the gospel in their lives. I feel so great that I have served my Father in Heaven. I have learned so much from him and his son Jesus Christ. The scriptures are my maps to live and I strive everyday to be worthy to recieve the guidence of the Holy Spirit. I know that this is the work of hte Lord. I can feel his Spirit work through me. I have seen countless miracles. I have had so many spiritual expiriences that I can not even begin to describe them. All I can say is that Jesus is the Christ, and our Redeemer. I know that God loves his children, each and every one. I love this work.

 

I hope that this last week will be very uplifting. IN theses last weeks we have been working very hard. We have done a great many things here in our area and also in our Zone. Our Branch or area in this last month baptized 3 less people in one month, then the entire Zone baptized in the whole year of 2008. It has been an absolute miricle. I know satan will work really hard to thwart the work, but we are stronger then he, with faith, the work will continue. We ahve programmed 3 baptisms for htis saturday and for next 7 baptisms. We as now ahve 16 baptismal dates for the next 4 weeks. Even though I wont be there for their baptisms it brings me great joy that they are to become closer to their Heavenly Father. They will be on the straight and narrow path that leads to Eternal Life. I only can pray that they stay active and do great things in the church. I also have many ways to communicate myself with them so I can follow up on their progress in the Gospel. I love you all and appreciate all our your prayers and I know that I will need them in this next week and a half.

 

 

Elder Spencer Anderson

 

 

P.S.      I will be coming home on Wendsday. I will arrive at 10:30 at night in Boise. Thats right Wendsday night @ 10:30 p.m.

ONE SUPER WET WEEK

Hello Everyone!!!! This week was very wet. We had 6 straight days of rain. ON saturday we also had 3 more baptisms. It is amazing how much sucess we are having. Even the President of the Branch was thinking about opening up the dividers in the chapel. The church was full of people. As a zone we are are at the top of the mission. We have done a complete turn around here in Barahona. We haven´t even gotten close to reaching our potential. We are terying and trying to teach the missionaries how we have found success with the Presidents councils to us. It is all about obedience. ONly 2 of the 5 areas in our zone are doing what they are supposed to. And guess what, they aren´t having sucess. We have done all we can do and we will continue to lead by example. We have seen a great change in the other compañionships though. They are incresing and growing but we hope that they change their perspectives about the mission. They need to forget themselves and go to work. It is as simple as that.  This saturday we have 4 more planned then 4 the week after then a huge day of 10 people on the 13 of June. Even though I wont be their it brings me such great joy that 2 families will be added to the church. I guess we are in a red alert for storms this week so Ill try really hard to dry all my water-soaked from this last week. It is a nice change from the super hot and bright sun.hahahhaha. I love this work so much. It is such a great pleasure to be a missionary at this time. I hope that I can still continue to grow and learn more this next week. I hope that you have a great memorial day and also Happy Birthday mom, your the best one ever.

 

Love YA

 

Elder Spencer William Anderson

An amazing week!!!!!!

Well this week was absolutly awesome. I had one of the most successful weeks in my mission. We ended up the week with 3 baptisms. The 3 are all huge. 2 men and a Lady. They are all above 6 feet. During the week we worked super hard with the members. We went out with a total of 10 different people. It is amazing how hte work is really changed. The Mission President now has asked us to have members teach our investigators about Family History. It was an amazing spirit. We brought a 4 generation family tree from FAMILYSEARCH and left the member and the investigators with the sheet.  It is a really neat thing to see our investigators finding hte names of their ansestors and having the desire for them to be baptized. It really gives them the desire too, to get  baptized and start the work for others. Im am very pleased to say thet all of the new converts here in BArahona are super active. They have such a strong base now. We have started to rebuild teh Home Teachers program and also We have now 6 ward missionaries. 3 are new members, and one was less active that we helped activate. We have a little army. ONe day we were walking by the church then we saw two guys walking around in shits, ties, backpacks, and plaques. It turns out two recent converts got together on their own to do visits. When I saw that I was filled with a deep joy. I felt that our work was doing somthing. THe other day we also split off and went out with to ward missionaries. It was amazing all that we could do. It is a perfect situation here. We have an entire army of members now ready to work. The work is going to explode in the next months. With the help of the Lord and the members we have revamped the Branch. We had 135 people in church. When we got their it had between 95 and 100 people. I promised the members 200 active members by the end of the year with their help. Even though my time here is quickly dissolving away we´re just preparing the branch for the future. We now have 19 baptismal dates for the 23, 30, and 6. We are really hoping to be able to keep an equalibrium of always having 15 or more baptismal dates every week. So we will baptize 3 or 4 people then we need to put 3 or 4 dates with people. I know that the Lord is on our side. His Spirit is what testifies to hte people. The Spirit talks to the hearts of men. The Spirit brings light to them and helps them understand truth.  I love you all and hope that you can all meet your potential of you creation. We all can become as Christ. All our neighbors friends and families all have the potential to be as Christ. It is our responsability to help them understand that and then to work for it.

 

It was awesome to hear all of your voices on Mother´s Day. I love you all.

 

 

Elder Spencer William Anderson

La Última llamada!!!

Well yesterday was my last call home as a missionary. It was a weird phone call because I didnt know what to say. I tell you pretty much everything in my letters and you all know about what my mission is like. But I did love hear the voices of my loved ones. I am so blessed to have such a great family and to feel such great love not only for me but for the Lord. Well this last week we had 3 baptisms. We needed to move 5 others to other dates based on their needs. This week we are planning on 4 baptisms. We have recieved so many blessing from being obedient to the Lord´s servents. We are planning on going on many splits with the new reciently called branch missionaries. They are really going to help us and we are going to prepare and build up visits from the members. Home teachers dont do anything here so we are going to have the branch missionaries visit the new recent converts. I´m pretty sure that they will take care of htem and will be able to show missionaries were they live. It is essencial that those people be visited by the members so that they can grow from their infancy to being a little bit more grown up. New converts are very fragile so it is very important that hte members take interest in them. Well we are excpecting great things this week and of course we are going to work hard.

 

I love you all with all my heart.

 

 

Elder Spencer Anderson

Una semana grande.

Today was a holiday here in the DR. It was their labor day. So it was really hard to get into the internet. Elder Jimenez and I have been deeply blessed for our hard work and sacrifices. It is amazing what miricles can happen as we follow God´s will. Being obedient to all his commandments gives us spiritual power and we recieve many blessings. I love this Area in Barahona. I know the Lord wanted me too come here to Barahona and do a great work. I really didn´t know what to think when President Almonte changed his minded on me being a field Assistent and placed me in the least producing Zone in the mission. But I know that my thoughts aren´t the Lords thoughts neither are my ways his ways. Now I can see what the Lord saw.  At the end of this transfer we are either going to be the number 1 or 2 zone in the mission. The Distirct of Barahona has changed completly adn is well on its way to becomeing a stake. The faith of the missionaries and apllying what President Almonte has said has given them what it takes to make miricles. As a companionshp we had a great week this last week as we had 4 bautismos. Everyone of them has come from past family members baptisms. We worked really hard this week as we only teach lessons with members present. It makes so much of a difference to be with members who they know or members that can help them progress. From doing that the Lord enabled us to have 12 investigators in church on Sunday. We currently have 15 investigators with baptismal dates for this month of May and we are not going to stop there. We are continually meeting and preparing many faithful familiys and individuals. This next week we are going to have a huge week with 9 baptisms. When the president of the branch announced that, all the members gasped and started whispering and excitment filled the air. The progress we have had here in this area has been incredible. The numbers in the church has grown tremendously, all sights of apostasy have being taken out and order is being established.We have had more than one baptism every week for the past 3 months. What we have learned is that we are to work in the manner of the Lord and by his power. I know that by the power of prayer hearts may be softened and changed. What I have seen as a missionary is that everyone can changed. The Lord´s restored Gospel heals the wounded and the weak. It blessed the lives of all the people that accept it. You can see the differnce in their eyes and their countinence shines above all other things. If our eyes are pure then are hearts are pure and we will spread light unto others. I invite all of you and I to live a little more rightously and to have pure hearts so that the Spirit can work through us to bless the lives of others. We have many great plans and goals this week and we are excited about all the work we have to do this week.

 

I love you all and miss you all. I hope to be able to speak to as many of you as I can on Mothers Day. It will be very memorable.

 

Elder Spencer Anderson

DR TIMES

HALLO,

 

This was a very interesting week. Well first off we were privledged to go to the Temple. It is pretty far from were we are at and the the farthest zone from the Temple. But President said we earned it. I had a great experiance in the Temple. I love it. Everytime I come out with a new truth. So much is there. It is amazing. The Spirit truly testifies in the House of hte Lord. The Spirit of the Promise is so strong because of all the work being done there. The part I most love about the Temple is the Peace. I can tell you that there is no peace here. There is always so thing going on or some noise. The Temple was a real boost for me. A couple days later I was honored to be in another shooting. This time it was the Police. We were walking in the streets as usual then all of a sudden abour 5 police man and motorcycles came out of no where and sarted poiting guns and running. They were looking of someone. On of them took off and the Police started shooting at us. I rubbed up against wall and Was trying to find a crack or a door. Finnnaly the POlice left and we kept preaching. This place is nuts. ahahah. DOnt worry Im almost home. ahahha. A missionary had his appendiz burst on his so I had to stay with him right after his surgery and I was with him for a full day. HIs companion went with minth so we did a switch. He was in a bit of pain. I read him the scriptures and sang to him. I also got a chance to preach a little to the other Patient and his familiy as the Elder slept. It was hard but I had to help him go to the bathroom. I would hate to be in that kind of situation, helpless. He is now in the Mission Presidents house and is going to make a full recovery. On Saturday I went to Enriquillo which is a little town about 2 hours away from Barahona. I Went with one of the missionarys from there to do the interview while the other interview ours. In Enriquillo there is no Church building but a rented out house. SO that means that there is no baptismal font.  We got to do the Baptism in the ocean. It was really cool. On a secluded beach we found a natural pool formation and the waves didnt really get in. So we had the baptismal service right there on the beach and then we did the baptism. It was a really neat experiance. We are going to have almost a complete new zone here in Barahona. 3 Areas were white washed and another pair split up. So we will be getting 7 new missionaries. 2 of them will be trainers. Im really exited for this group of missionaries. It is really weird though. I have now begun my last transfer in the mission. This is it. Im going to run my hardest to the end. Elder Jimenez and I have a goal of 40 baptisms.We already have 18 baptismal dates. Im so excited to be a missionary and Im going to live and work the best I can. My strength is in the Lord. I love this work and wish the best for all of you.

 

 

Elder Spencer Anderson

Pictures

More Pictures

MILAGROS

I am so EXCITED about this work. It keeps getting better and better. IN the last month we baptised 11 people and in this next month of May we have scheduled 19 people. It is amazing. The branch is growing like crazy. We are really trying to help them understand the importance of the work. Yesterday we had a Branch Council and we talk with all the leaders in the church. We had great disscitions and we made progress. We are no longer counting other lessons with investigaotrs but  only lessons with a member present. If we want progress in the Church we must Baptize and Retain the people in the church. We baptize as missionjarie and the retaining  is up to the members. If we leave everyday with only members we will have so much of a greater effect here. Also in this next week I know will will recieve many references from them. IN church the number of people in sacrament meeting went from 100 to 130. The members were awe struck. They were so happy to see what is going on. The Branch President came up to me and gave me a huge hug and thanked me. I quickly reminded him that it is God and that he is pleased with us. BUt that we should continue and not stop. I promised the Branch that with their help they would have way over 200 people in Sacrament Meeting before the end of the year. We figure that at the rate at which we are working we will have 100 baptisms in 5 to 6 months. We insisted that they work to be the first Ward in the District in the mission. It is possible but with much faith.

 

Yesturday in church we ahd 18 people in church. For the investigators class we had to open up the dividers and use 2 rooms. It was full to the brim. The members kept looking in to see for their own eyes what was happening. They have never seen it before.

Im so grateful for this missionary calling and for the mission I accepted. It has been a whirlwind but I have learned much from it and have loved it. I continually pray for guidance that my companion and I can Prosper and that the Zone of Barahona can grow. I know that this is the only true church. I know that Jesus is the Christ, Our Savior, and Our Redeemer. I love you all and wish the best to you all. I hope that the April Showers will bring you many flowers.

 

With Much Love and Much SUN!!!!!!

 

Elder Anderson

Larimar

We had another great week preaching the Gospel this week. We ended the week with 3 baptisms. Next week we are expecting 3 more. We will be having Interviews with the President of the Mission on Wendsday. Im getting really excited to visit with him. I always come out with such a great and increce excitment in the work. We are now reciving much help from our branch. They are seeing all the baptizms that we are having and now really want to help us get things moving. It is incredible what we have done here. We have transformed this branch. We came in in its weaked state but now it is being fortified. All we have done is work super hard, follow the spirit, and do as President Almonte have revealed to us. Obedience is the key and the Spirit is the Power by which we do it.

 

Today we went to the beach again and got to take some pictures and hang out a little. We also went to a little shop that sells LARIMAR. You can only find it here in Barahona and nowhere else in the world. I hope that maybe I will be able to get a coulple soveniers for you all.

 

I love you so much and all write more next week.

 

 

Elder Spencer Anderson

GENERAL CONFRENCE!!!

This week was amazing. We got to witness the modern day prophets and general authorities of the church. We also had 11 people in church put 2 baptismal dates and had 3 baptisms between the saturday afternoon session and the Preisthood session. The baptism was full to the brim. My companion and I are working so hard and so well that the Lord is blessing us. I have such a strong testimony of the obedience to our leaders. It is as what someone said in General Confrence ¨Those who have gone before know how it is and can help us¨. We need to forget ourselves and get to work. Be obediente and have faith. I know I lack much faith but that little that I have has made all the difference in my mission. I can see such a change and progressing I have recieved in hte mission. I´m am just so amazed at how the Savior can ¨mold the yoke to our backs¨. He has had such a great impact on my life. Im so gratefulo for my missionary parents who taught me about work and being a good person. I am in a great debt to them. I how that some day I will come close to repaying them. All that they have done for me, many hours each day molding adn teaching me. I have a deep respect and love for them. I can´t wait until i get to embrace them and tell them I love them. Im so thankful for my Brothers and Sister and for their great and outstanding examples. I owe themn much too. Im so greatful for the Restored Church of Jesus Christ. After confrence on Sunday we started again teching adn presching. We walked by church after church and we could here through their loud speakers how lost they are. They have such a tweeked concept of God and what his Churcdh is like. It waqs hard for me to walk in the streets that day and see so many people thinking they are in the truth but in reality satan has taught 19 truths but 1 great lie. He is very persuasive. But the thing that has such a grasp on this people is the lack of the Holy Ghost. With so much caos, wickedness, and falsities the spirit is not handily present. But it is through our simple but powerful testimonies of the restoration that the elect and chosen are called and the Spirit manifested. I love this work. I want you all to know that. I have dedicated myself even consacrated myself to the work. And the work is delicious unto me. I know the scriptures tell us everything we need to do. The prophets explain them in an easy and an understanding way. The Church is the true church, And the Savior Jesus Christ lives. HE LIVES. It is amazing. I wish the best for you and for your families in this special season in remembering the Ressurection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

I love all of you. And pray for you.

 

Elder Spencer William Anderson

Enriqillo

This week was amazing. I had so many great experiences. First off, Elder Jimenez and I worked our bum bums off. And we were rewarded big time with a baptism. Mariel was baptized on the 28th and is really looking forward to being a missionary some day. She gave an amazing testimony at the baptism. This week Elder Jimenez and I did almost 1/2  of what the zone did. and our Zone isnt that small either. We did much work with the assistents and the president this week. We have really been in much communication with them. The president loves what we are doing out here in Barahona. So hes coming all the way out here to visit and work with us. I love him. We did so much work this week that I cant even remember what day it is, really, I dont know. All the days are intertwined. We are alwaays working and getting things done. We have comletely consecrated ourselves to the work. I love it. I really know what missionary work is all about. My mind has been so enlighted and the Spirit is so strong with us. We are always talking about the Mission and waht needs to happen in it. What do our missionaries need adn how we can teach them to be better. We love our investigators and are having great joy in our labors. As of right now for this month we have 16 baptisms planned. I only know that we are not alone in this work. THe Lord is leading us be his Spirit to his servants in the DR. This next week we will have 4 baptisms and in the next on the 11, 3 baptisms, and on the 18th we will have 8. The Branch is going nuts here. THey love what we are doing. Now hte Branch is starting to gget fired up. I promised them on Sunday as I gave a talk to them, that if they bring their friends and familiy to the church they would be baptized. I exhorted them that if they dont share these blessings with others then they are selfish and that they need to invite adn open up there mouths. It was a very spiritual meeting as Elder Jimenez adn I spoke. We decided to leave with a member everyday to visit our investigators. Our vision is the following

1. One Lesson

2. Attend Church and put a baptismal date

3. Follow up with member visits

4. Baptism and Retention

 

We love this work and are trying to do and be the best we can. I know that the Lord will bless us according to our Obedience, Faith, and Diligence in the work.

 

This week was also a Conference of all the Country (non capital or city zones) Zones. We learned many things from our President. He is very intelligent and is very close to the Spirit. We know that if we follow him that we will be blessed so thats exactly waht we do, OBEY, and look at what we have accomplished. We have done miricles in a place were they dont come often. The Lord works in mysterious ways.

 

I was on an intercambio in an area that is called Enriqillo. It is south of Barahina and almost 2 hours in a small bus. It was so beautiful. I got some great pictures of hte most blue and beautiful water I have ever seen. It is a paradise there. That area is really hurting so we decided that I go there to see what is up. What I found was an area that is very hard but on ly for hte people that think it is. We need to think positively and  we can do miricles. There an God´s elect people in every area. But it is according to our Work, Obedience, Faith, and Diligence that we will find them. This week was a little hard to see numbers really low from the areas and I know that they arent getting the picture. The mission isnt a game and it shouldnt be relaxing. We are here assigned by a PROPHET of GOD and we have the confidence in the calling that he gave us. If we do nothing we are mocking God and the Prophet. I know that God lives and that his son Jesus Christ that died on the cross, is ressurected and that he now leads and guides his church in these last days. We are the stripling warriors and the great missionaries of the day. If Nefi and Lehi baptizrd thousands, why can´t I and my companion.  Way cant we convert the whole Dominican Republic. All I know this that we lack much faith. We have so many testimonies and exhortations right in our faces. We need to step up and do what is of the upmost importance, and that is Preach the gospel.

 

 

I want you all to know that I love you and that I care for you all. I know that this is the True Church of JEsus Christ. I know with all my heart. The Holy Ghost has given me the opportunity to know for myself and I have steped up to the plate. Im here for life and to do all I can to bring blessing to others. I love this work. Im so Happy and I wish all of you a great confrence weekend. It will be super special for us because 4 elect brothers and sisters of ours will be baptized inbetween the afterneoon session and the Priesthood session. I´m so grateful for there choices and will be greatly blessed.

 

Adiós mis queridos hermanos y hermanas, nos vemos pronto, que se cuiden

 

ELDER Spencer William ANDERSON

 

Hola mis queridos!!!!!

I LOVE BARAHONA. This place rocks. Miricles have been happening. IN less than a week we have put 11 baptimal dates for the next 3 weeks. 4 are scheduled for the General Confrence. They will be inbetween the sessions. We are also working super hard. >We are really trying to be examples to our misioneries. We leave in the mornings, eat than work for hours upon hours. I love it. I feel I´m living the mission the best I can. I want to end with a POW! It has been a crazy week here. First off we had a 3 and a half hour bus ride out to our area. We were also white washed as Zone Leaders out here. That means we knew no one and had to start with scratch. The missioneries before us left us with a couple investigators and one with a baptismal date. We work our little bums off and were blessed by being and doing the best we can.  My companion is Elder Jimenez. He is from the North Mission and is from Bonao. It is in the middle of hte DR. He is great. We love being together. He is really humble and loves to work. We are really going to turn this zone around. This zone is the worst zone on paper and the President has asked us to change it. Our first day we decided that no matter the past, will make it one of hte strongest zones. It has so much potential. We just need to work with super diligence. We need to put ourselves aside and put the work of Jesus Christ first. We need to love him more than anything. Lately I have been studing on how to be a Just, Rightous, Virtuous, and HOnrable man. I hope I can become like my brother Jesus Christ and also the member of my family. They are such great examples. I want to bring joy to so many people. I have learned to love the people and to smile and laugh with them. We have a recient convert with us and he loves the Gospel, but I cant describe here in this letter how much he loves the gospel. This man did a 180 and is now very strong in the Church. He has 3 months in the church and I asked him how many years he has in the church. HE just laughed and smiled. HE radiates this glad message his face eyes and body illuminate the streets. I too pray that I may be able to be an influence for good wherever I go. I invite all of you too to remember everthing we have and to share it. The prophet Joseph Smith taught that the most important thing to do in this life is preach the Gospel. I have seen so many members here be sunday morning members. We need to live the gospel and share it with everyone else so they may be able to sit with us in church. I love this work and this wonderful Area of Barahona. It is a District here and we are in the District Center. About 120 people assist our church´s sacrament meeting. The area is actually very well paved but in some parts it is dirt and rocks. Our house isnt such a great story be it is sufficent. We dont really stay their too much. We love to work. One funny thing about this place is that all the little kids here in Barahona have Whips. They have made homeade whips and know how to use them. Everywhere we go we can hear the cracks of the whips. I just laugh at the kids. We also live right next to the Mountains. I think we might go hiking. We are right next to the beach. There is a really big port here too. I got to see some big Tankers. It really is sunny here though. I now put sunscren on everyday.

 

Today for PDAY we played basketball in an Arena they have here. It had stadium seating adn also wood flooring. It was tight. We play with this 6 foot 9 guy. He was pretty good but I think it was because he was so tall.

 

Our house is really fun too. We live in a 4 man house. The other 2 misioneries are from the east mission and also from Puerto Rico. The misionary from Puerto Rico is crazy but really fun to be with. The other missionary is a huge balck man. and I mean buff. HIs last name is Mora and in English it is Blackberry. So we all call him blackberry. ahhahaha. I hope you all have a excellent week. Im positive I will. Live Stong and LIve Well.

 

Elder Spencer the MAN Anderson

Transfers

Well Yesterday we recieved I recieved a call from the President of the Mission and he said they couldnt get everything set up in time for tranfers to open the new area. So I will be moved now to be a Zone Leader in Barahona. I have been their once but it is beautiful. It is right next to the beach. I have some friends that said they ran on the sand in the mornings. I´ll see what I can do. I´m really excited to go to Barahona though. It shall be a great experience. The President also came to a Fireside we had at our Chapel. We had some investigators there too. We had a beautiful familiy and also many converts there. He got to know them and also spoke to the whole congregation about joining the safe refuge that we have in the church. It was an amazing discorse that he gave. I really enjoy being woth him. In these last transfers I have really gotten to know him and learn from him. It feels great how open we are together. With President Bair it was really different. I love them both and I was so blessed to have them both. I learned much patience with President Bair and how to deal with things. With President Almonte I have learned to become a leader and how to share with others what we have. I have also learned how things should really work. As I look upon my mission I can really see the importance of studying. When I really studied hard to learn I really grew. But when I didnt really study weel I didn´t progress. I have learned many important lessons being a missionary. I think one of the greatest ones has been a love and appreciation for the Lords chosen servents. I have really gained so much knowledge and understanding from them and their teachings. I invite all of you to study them and learn from their experiences.   IN Barahona I will be white washed with a Dominican named Elder Jimenez. He has about 9 months in the misson but is a powerhouse. Im so privliedged to be able to serve with him in Barahona. We will do much good their. We will both be new there but I´m sure the Lord has prepared some chosen and elect investigators. The President said that he is still planning on me going out to the New Area of Duveree to end the mission as an Assistent. I love this work. It really bothers me when the members tell me Im going home soon. I think I´m not going to tell the members in the New area either. I just want to do the best I can and let the Lord do the rest. I´m grateful for all your support and I´m positive I will need your prayers and thoughts in these LAst months of my mission.

 

I love you all and want you All to know that I love this work and that I care so much for you. I hope I can be a missionary forever adn be able to recieve many blessings of the Lord. I know that you all will also recive of those blessings according to hte needs and desires of our hearts.

 

Elder Spencer Anderson

Uuepa!!!!

Como están Uds.,

 

As always I am happy. Today for P-DAy we got permission from the Mission President and we watched THE BEST TWO YEARS. It was awesome. I never knew how true and how similiar everything is. Even though we are in different parts of the world and in different missions many of the things are similar. There it is really hard to get in peoples houses and to give books of mormons away. Here is the complete opposite. I can probably count on one hand the times that a door was slammed in my face or that They didnt invite us back. We need to be able to distingish between who are good and who wastes time. It is really hard but with the spirit we can can know. I love being so close to the spirit. It really is a whole ton easier than being without it. That is one thing I really want to do and work on. This week we ate it up on our contacts and knocking doors. We just really have a desire to find new people. We also find people than get rid of them if they cant follow their commitments. If they fall we just walk up to their door and say hi to them sometimes we say a prayer. We do that so that maybe after a while they will have a desire to follow in hte gospel. We are looking for the elect of God and not just people who cant progress. I really know that this is the work of the lord. It is just amazing to see all the witnesses we have of this Church. It really is a marvolous work and a wonder. Just to let you know transfers arent until the 18 of MArch. I still have a week and 2 days here. IN 2 weeks I will be able to awnser all your questions about the new area. I love you all and hope that you all find more peace this week in Christ.

 

Elder Spencer Anderson 

What A Week!!!!

Well as always I´m pumped and ready to work. We work really hard during the week and were rewarded with a baptism. Regalado Morrillo Cabrera was baptized. He is a great man with much faith. He really worked hard for this baptism. As a district we had 4 baptisms.  We invited the President of the mission to come to the baptism. He and his wife came and it was a great experiance. On friday we had the privleadge of going to the Temple. It was amazing. We also had the opportuniy to have Presidente Almonte their to in the session with his wife. I really love to be with him and learn from him. HE really is called of God. We also had interviews with the President on tuesday. HE told me exactly what I´m going to do for the next 2 transfer to finish the mission. HE told me that I am going to be the Presidentes Helper or ¨Ayudante¨  in the country zones. I will also be that, with another new missionary. I will be training for the 3rd time. Also I wil be opening a new area by Barahona. Right next to Haiti. I might also need to be the Branch President out there. All this is subject to change but he is already getting the house ready out there and is it is written on his transfer list.  I hope that I can be a great missionary and continue to help others come unto Christ. I love this work It is so amazing. I am so blessed to be here and for being a Missionary in the host that exsists today. I love all of you so much for your support and comforting words of inspiration and knowledge. I hope that I can live up to the 2 names that I carry. The first JESUSCHRIST and the second ANDERSON. I love you all and wish the best of luck to you all.

 

 

Elder Spencer Anderson

Sorry!!!!!

Sorry everyone the power went out as it usuallly does. Our internet center tells us about 20 secends before the batteries go out. Well Everything is perfect here. We are going to go to the Temple this Friday so Im really excited. I wish all of you the best and hope that you can all keep living the life well. We have too much great stuff in our life to make us sad. It really shouldnt happen. I love you all.

Bye

Elder Anderson

Whats UP!!!!!

HELLO EVERYONE,

 

Im doing great here in the Dominican Republic. I love being here it is amazing. SO many great things have happened to me. I have been so greatly blessed. This week we will have a baptism of a man I started teaching in my first transfer here in Hato Nuevo. He has about 4 months waiting to get his papers so he could get baptized. He has shown such great faith. I got to got light is leaving

Un mensaje para ti.....

Hey Everyone,

Im having such a great time here in my mission. Im so grateful to get up everyday and preach this glad message. Im so blessed with so many things it is hard to express it. I know that God exists and that he loves us. WE ARE HIS CHILDREN. It is a little hard to realize in this mortal life but as we read the scriptures and pray it all makes sense. Jesus Christ lives and is the head of the Church. It is his and he leads it is guided by a prophet how hears him and who recieves much needed knowledge. Even as it goes down the organization to our Bishops and members it is perfect. God is not a dead God that lives through the Bible but he talks with men today. He has sent his powers gifts, and priesthood to worthy men today to do his will. I now know really why were here on Earth and I invite all of you to look for the anwsers too. This week has been great. We are teaching so amazing families. This week we had a mix of things that happened to them. ONe familiy had a new baby boy, another seperated from her husband, another is getting married this next week. Many things have happened and I know that this week we will recieve more blessings. I remember one day we probably had one of the worst days together, it seemed as everything went wrong, so we stuck with it adn prayed hard. The next day we had an excellente day and did much to further the work. We are also teaching a great man. He is a little crosseyed man that has a huge heart. He is 45 adn lives alone. He never had a wife and always lived with his mother to look out for her. But sadley she passed away about 4 years ago. He loves the message though. He is read much in the Book Of Mormon and loves it. We reads and tells us exactly what happend. He has also given up drinking and coffee to fulfill woth the Word of Wisdom. We will put a baptismal date with him this week. We are working really hard trying to build up this ward. We are very close to the ward and are making corrections and changing the way we do things in the ward. We have schuduled visits with members everyday this week to visit investigators. It is amazing the disposition of the memebers to help in the work. We are not only going out with the leaders of the wards but also we are going out with the people who need a little help. Doing that with really help edify the church at its roots. We are also doing little 1 or 2 minute visits with active and less active members. We hope to get them excited about being members and remind them of what great blessings they have. I love this work so much. I hope I can become a great missionary as teh ones in the scriptures. Sure I wont do as much as them but I know that I have tried my best. I love my opportunity I have been given to be a representative of Jesus Christ. He is why we live. He is why we live the way we do. AS we living in this world we are not of it. I hope YOu all have great week adn that you all can always have huge smiles and love life.

Elder Spud Anderson

Hey All

Well Im staying here in the same area with the same person. Elder BArnhurst and I are really doing well and we expect many great things to happen here in HAto Nuevo. We are really trying to work hard and we are really doing a great job. We are teaching many families but they either dont have their papers or money. It is really hard and very stressfull. I just wish they coud be baptized. It is up to them though and their faith. We can only do so much. I pray that they can get everything prepared. I am lovingnary. As I saw another group go home I really put it into my mind to finish super hard. Im really trying to take advantage of the time I have here to help others and also to become more knowledgeable. Here are the people we are teaching:

 

The Families

 

Porfilio and Iselsa

Carlos and Alejandra

Carlos and Yabell

Esteban and Luci

Leonidous and Nena

 

Also we are teaching other people

 

Junior

Frank

Regalado

 

They all are great and are in their own ways progressing. We are always getting new and also getting rid of investigators. I hope that we can get these famlies to get married. Nothing more is really new. Our house is very fun. Right now Im reading the Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith. It is amazing. It has really helped in my testimony and also in our teachings. I love you all and wish you all a great week.

 

 

Elder Anderson

!Que lo Que!

Hey everyone,

 

We had a great week teaching many families and men. We do need to marry 4 families so they can be baptized. But we havent had too much progress. I pray that they can be able to get married and eventually be baptized. Im so grateful that I was sent to this area. It has been do great to me and the work still goes forth. Many members are helping us and most of our investigators have friends in the church. Well today we will get transfer calls. I know that whatever happens the lord is in charge. I now have 3 complete transfers left. Im just entering my 3rd to last. So im really pumped to work super hard and work diligently. This last week I recived a think about it letter. This letter asks me what airport I want to land into and also if Im getting picked up. When I recived the letter I almost started to cry and my whole body just slumped over. Ithen started to yell a little and was ticked of. I dont know why but I really love this place.

 

A cool story this week is that when we were teaching a lesson outside under a tree, something hit my head. I thought it was either a bug or a leaf. So i left it unnoticed during the lesson. Elder Barnhurst saw something on my head during the lesson but waited afterwards to hit it of. When he swatted it it smeared. It turned out to be some bird poo. ahahhaha. It was ugly.hahah

 

Elder Spencer Anderson

 

Ill tell you next week what happened with transfers

Area Conference!!!!!

Well I had an amazing week. We work really hard and had much sucess. We are preparing many people to be baptized. The problem is that the families have got to get married before baptism. We are teaching many families but is hard for them to get married do to papers and documents. I pray that they can find all they need so that they can enter into the Fold of Christ. We have such a great message to share. It is a beautiful message of peace and love. I know that if we share our testimonies often with people not of our faith, they will begin to be prepared. I know that that angels will prepare them. We dont do the preparing. The Holy Spirit and also divine angels work unceasingly with them. As it reads in Doctrine and Covenants 84 verse 88. God is on our right and our left, and his angels are round about us. This we we had the opportunity of hearing from our mission president, President Almonte. I really love Zone Confrence. I feel such an excitment to work super hard and also I recive a spiritual uplifting. I love hereing from my leaders. They are great men. I hope I too can follow in their footsteps adn example. In this confrence we really focus on how we present the 1st lesson which is The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to present the lesson in  5 minutes. We are to teach withe the spirit present and also with power and authority. I hope I can be as the prophets of old and in our day. I hope I can continually develop my faith adn christ like attributes. I also was given the pleasure of having a great interview with President Almonte. We had a great conversation and I asked some personal questions too. As far as I know now, I will stay with Elder Barnhurst. He is such a great companion. We love working without resting and coming home tired every night. It is such a blessing to be with a missionary such as him, who enjoys the work adn is willing to learn. I hope I can shed my pride and become more teachable and humble. I know that through diligent prayer I may recieve that desire. We also had Area Conference. This was broadcasted all throughout the Carribean. It was also translated into 6 languages. It was transmited from Jamaica. Those present were President Henry B. Eyring, David A Bednar, Neil L. Anderson, Daniel L. Johnson ( President of the Carribean and also 70), and Sylvia Allered. It a most joyable conference. I felt so uplifted during and after. They all really foucused on being truly converted and developing Christ like attributes. David A. Bednar said that our testimonies wont be sufficent in the last days. And that we need to be converted and spiritually active and awake. We just need to do the simple day to day things and also go to the temple to keep super strong. President Eyring talked much on the familiy and that we need to be Clean, Diligent, and Pray. I was greatly blessed to be able to hear and hear modern day prophets and apotsles. It is amazing. They are teh same as the ancients. THey live and walk with us. If we dont do as they guide we will not recieve any blessings and also we will be held accountable for that. We also went to the botanical gardens today. It sure was fun. I will have to send many photos in a little because time is short here. We saw so many cool things. The gardens were beautiful. It reminded me about waht the Garden of Eden was like. I felt such a peace there. But mostly I enjoyed being with my freinds.  So overall I have had a great week and am loking forward to another great week serving the Lord.

 

I know that God speaks to us to day. He speaks in many ways so we need to be really in tune. It is as a radio. If we are not focusing on what we need to be foucusing to we wont hear the message. Even as we slightly turn the dial, the message becomes distorted adn then is lost as another pops up. I also have a testimony that when we think of something or someone we need to act upon that IMPRESION. God speaks!!!!!

 

Well some cool story that I have this week is that after writing my email last week I witnessed a drive by shooting. No one got shot but it sure was scary. We were about to leave when some guys on motors can by and started shooting. We shut ourselves inside the internet place and stuck it out for a while, and I mean awhile. I said to the others I wasnt leaving becasue I still nedd to get married. ahhahaha. But nothing to worry about, all is well here. No one was shot and it is really calm here now.  Also we were in a lesson and our investigators son walked up to our investigator and started peeing on her leg. It was hilarious.

 

I love you all and wish the best to you and your families. You mean so much for me. I love each and everyone of you with much love.

 

 

Elder Spud Anderson

All is well in Zion.

I can´t be happier. I´m a missionary. I love tehy opportunity I have to train too. I hope that Elder Barnhurst can become a great missionary. I´m trying my best to teach him the right things so that he will stick that way as he leaves me. He has such a love for the work and desires their salvation. It has been a great blessing that he has been with me to remember why we really are here. We have learned so much together. We have been working non stop this week adn have had much success. We are teaching some really cool families and we hope that they will keep going. We are really close to putting a baptismal date with another family. I just hope that they can get all their papers quick. They are an elect people. They have accepted the entire Gospel in a week. They are a familiy of 5. We have also made contact with many new families. This week we had much fun and had great experiances. I think we are going to fast this week for our investigators. We really need the help of the Lord. I know that if we fast we will recive the help of the Lord. We just need to humble ourselves. Sorry this week I didnt say too much but It has really been the same. This next week we will have Zone Conference and Interviews with the President. Im really looking forward to that. I love getting spiritually uplifted so that I can change and get better. Thats why we are here on the Earth. We are here to learn. I hope that I can become more like my Father in Heaven and as his son Jesus Christ. I love reading the scriptuers and especially in Doctrine and Covenants. Its all there. We have so many testimonies and information. If we can but follow them we can find ourselves in the Celestial Kingdom. I love you all so much and pray that ye may all have an enjoyable week.

 

Quidense

 

Elder Anderson

Mis Queridos Hermanos

Que lo Que. jejeje. Bueno, Estamos muy excelente. Hoy yo recibí una llamada de un investigador. Él fue a buscar sus papeles para ser casados. ELLOS VAN A CASARSE! Su esposa y sus tres hijos van a bautizarse este sabado. YO sé que el ayuno que hicimos, fue un milagro. Ahora bien, esta familia será una familia muy excelente en la iglesia. Ya paguen su diezmo y sus ofrendas de ayuno. Han leído el libro de Mormón y Leales a la Fe. Es una familia super. Tambien Un hombre de 40 años será bautizado para ayudar en el Sacerdocio. Tambien una señora que fue una referencia de una familia. Hemos tenido mucho exito con las referencias. Hemos decidido de hablar con cada persona en la calle, y yo digo todas. Yo sé que milagros estan pasando aqui porque somos obedientes a las reglas y tambien al consejo de nuestros líderes. Pero tambien esta semana fue un poco difícil. Hemos botado a muchos investigadores. Pero yo sé que es nesesario de hacerlo. Cada persona se arodillará su rodillo un día. Solamente hemos sembrado una semilla en sus corazones.  Ahora hemos planeado lo que vamos a hacer de mejorar. YO sé que esta es la obra del señor y que somos representantes verdaderos del Señor.

 

 Hey Everyone, I hope you enjoyed some spanish. I just felt like writing a little bit in it. Well we had a great week last week. We really help the work roll on. We are being so blessed for all the things we are doing. We are really focusing on the details of the work and really doing everything the way it needs to be done. Elder Barnhurst and I have a great relationship. We really are working hard adn he is really developing into a great missionary. Every night we ask ourselves if we came home tired. If we hadn´t we need to repent. So we have been working super hard. When I lay my head down at 10. 30 I wake up at 6. 30 like nothing happened. I sleep super hard all the way through. We also changed the word  CONTACTS to TOUCHED SOULS. We love working and this saturday will be a huge day for us. We ill baptized a familiy of 5 and 2 other people. We are also to marry the familiy of 5 this week. We have been so richly blessed. But this week was a little hard as we had to drop many investigators. They just weren´t the Elect of God. But we have planted seeds in them so missionaries down the road will help them to be baptized. But we kept our heads up and looked to God and to what he had in store for us.

 

I love you all and wish the best for you. I pray for you every night.

 

Elder Spencer Anderson