More Pictures

La Obra Misional

I love the mission field. It has been such a blessing to me to be able to serve the Lord. I know that God exsits. HE loves us so much. I think that many of us forget that there really is a God and that we have a Savior. They have done so much for us. I know that this is the work of the Lord and that Jesus Christ is the head of the church. I know that the First Presidency and the 12 apostles are in perfect unity with the will of God. They know so much. All the prophets have since Adam. I am so thankful to have so much sacred scripture. We are so blessed to have so many testimonies that God is real and that he cares about us. I have gain such a great love for the Prophet Jospeh Smith and his teachings. He knew so much. I too would like to become very knowledgeable in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and also learn to become more and more Obedient. I pray every night that I may become a better instrument in the hands of the Lord. I know that as I study and reflect diligently I will recive revelation and knowledge that will help others.

 

I was so glad to be able to talk to every one of my siblings. Even though it may have been but moments, I know that you love me and that I share the same feelings with you. I hope I anwsered all of you questions about whats going on in the mission here. So much is happening, it is so hard to put into words. The work is super excellente here. I know that the Lord is blessing us greatly. We have 10 investigaotrs with baptismal dates for the 10th of January. I´m so happy that they have come to know the church. I know that they will help the church and be great strong members one day. It is very cool because I can see people in the future and being great members. With some investigators I cant say the same. I know that with the power of disernment which is in me as a servent of the Lord I have that ability to see and know what to do. ONe familiy has already become so blessed by the Gospel, even though they arent members they are paying tithing, having familiy home evening, and reading the Book of Mormon together. We are only waiting on 1 paper to be married then they can be baptized. The Wife has been sick though because she is pregnent and is having some dificulties. But we are very pleased to be with them in these happy times. It brings me such Joy to see this perfect investigaotrs famliy progress. They have changed so much. I am pretty much a member of their family. I have gotten so close to them. I was with them since we found them adn up until now tehy have been great. They love the Gospel. We also had 2 new men come to church. ONe of the men is named José Mercedes Rodriguez. We met him this week adn has already recieved his awnser by the Holy Ghost. He understands the perfect need for the Restoration and also the need of A prophet. He really enjoyed church. We also had a lady adn he 2 little ones at church for hte first time. She really liked the church but weel see if she really understands the importace of the restored church.

 

Today we went walking out in the boonies of Hato Nuevo. It is a boony. We took tons of sweet pictures in the greenery and also I have a sweet story. We approch a spot where there were many cows grazing. I started to charge the hurd yelling and waving my hands until the bull arrived. He started to chase us and we took off. Those things are fast. ahahha. I also had a redside bag on . So I think I made him doublely ticked. ahahha. I cant belive that just happend I almost had to wave my bag to my side and do that weird spanish thing with bulls. ahahhaha. I will send pictures.

 

I hope that all can have a great new years and a new year.  May God bless you all greatly.

 

 

I  love you all and Pray for you and your families.

 

 

Elder Anderson

Pic's

The NEW guy.

This week was very interesting. For wendsday and thursday I was on an exchange with another Elder in my house, Elder Reber. We were to wait at our house for 2 days then we recieved both of the new missionaries. SO that means I am still in Hato Nuevo. I love this place. It is definantly one of my favorite areas in my mission. Elder Reber recived a new missionary from El Salvador. HIs name is Elder Gonzalez and he is really chill and cool. I love talking to latins. I love how friendly they are and how they talk. He reminds me of my second companion Elder Gonzalez that was in Nizao. I recived Elder Barnhurst. He is from Vernal, Utah. He is a super humble kid and really wants to learn. I love being able to share my knowledge with him. He really wants to be a good missionay and has a real desire to help people. Im glad that he is here to work. I will try to train him into a an Extraordinary missionary. My purpose is that he can start his mission great and to be a better missionary than I. AS of right now we have 10 investigators with baptismal dates. The work is really going. I know that faith and prayer is a big reason of the sucess that we have had here. Obeying the rules and really working hard has been a great blessing for me in my mission. I love being on a higher plain than the world. It is amazing how much of a differance we can make if we are example of rightousness.  People can look at that and then want to participate in it too. Elder Barnhurst is really hard for people to say here so they call him Van Helsing. Van Helsing is a movie. I know that I will have a great Christmas because I have a great familiy here. I know I will eat well too. We are to dine with many peple during the next week. Im sure that I will add a few pounds. ahhaha. Im excited for the new year which brings around new possibliities. I have some huge goals for hte next year and Im set on meeting them. I have learned so much about planning and about using time wisley. I have learned that many things really arent important and that many more great things are more important. I love singing christmas songs with everyone here. IN the church they sing christmas songs and also we sing during lessons. Im so gratefulo for a voice to sing with. I hope that the blessings of GOd may be with you all this week adn that his spirit can touch you all. I know I will feel your prayers and your spirits too. I pray for you always. I love you all so much.

 

 

Elder Anderson

I´m PREGNENT again!!!!!

Well it turns out I will train again this transfer. I have been so blessed to become a trainer again. I think it is the coolest calling there is in the Mission. It is so sacred and special. I learned so much the first time I trained and now I will apply what I learned with this time with my New Missionary. HIs name is Elder Barnhurst and he is from Vernal, Utah. From his picture he looks like a really chill kid. I know we are going to do great together. I´m sure that prayer will be up the upmost importance and the pregresión of the area. I have been so blessed over these last weeks I have had. Yesturday we had 17 people in church. It was amazing. Miracles are really happening here. Prayer has meant so much to me. I know that through our faith and the faith of our investigators the will of God is taking place. We now have 7 investigators with baptismal dates. We are expecting more this week too. It is actually hard to explain all the things that are happening here. Im 98% sure I´m staying in Hato Nuevo this next transfer. President said that, but all is subject to change as it is always. We are preparing  3 families for baptima too. I love this work with all my heart and Im so grateful for all your letters and support. Today I recived a letter from all the seminary kids. I cant belive how old some of those kids are. It was great hearing from them. I actually knew many of them. KIds from the trek and my friends little siblings. Im sure I will miss all of you this christmas season but Im excited to here your voices. I have much to tell you. This place is so crazy but so awesome at the same time. Everyday I learn something new from this people and land. I love to laugh and love the people. It brings me such joy being here and growing with people. I hope I can leave a legend, and be in the hearts of these people forever. Already I have friendships that will stick with me forever. Im sure I will never have a day that I wont think about my mission.

Your all great and I love you all.


Elder Spencer

THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!!!

Isn´t is cool. We are in the true church. I was so impressed by moms letter to me. Im so proud that my parents are missionaries. Im so proud of my brothers, sister, adn inlaws who have served missions. They have been a great help and examples to me. We had interviews with Presidente Almonte on Thursday. HE said I would probably train again or be called to a diffrent calling. IIt could be this transfer or the next. I guess well see. I love talking to President Almonte. I can really talk to him freely and we get much work done. This work really is a marvellous one. On sunday we had 13 people in church. It was amazing. The lord really is blessing us for our hard work and obedience. We have a familiy of 4 that will be baptized on the 20th and we are very close with another family of 6 too. We had to awesome families in church and it was beautiful. The members are getting really excited too. They are leaving and contacting on their own and looking for referances. They are also leaving with us to teach. We are teaching preach my gospel to them and they are eating it up. We are helping other young men prepare for missions. Last night one decided that a mission would be placed before baseball. He will probably sign  with a team in the next couple of years. But now he is super focus on a mission.  This  last week we found many new investigators. They really have a desire to grow and know for themselves if the message is true. What we do is we knock on the door and testify to them. It is about 30 secounds long. Then we say that we will be at there home either the next day or in 2 days. ON that day we share a short lesson with them of 5 to 10 minutes long then leave rapidly to leave the spirit there. When we come back for a 2nd visit If they read and understand the pamphlet or prayed we put another return appointment, if not we just invite them to church adn dont go back. It is wonderful. We have found the true chosen people. They are so much different than the normal people. The normal people just waste time. We contact tons of people one day then have one day full of people. We have contacted so much people and it is true that the chosen ones are few but they are worth it. They bring me such joy as they follow their commitments to learn and accept the messege.  We also have dedicated about 20% of our time to the members and less actives.  I know that this is the work  of the Lord.  I love all of you and wish  you the best. We get transfer calls next monday so I´ll tell  you whats going on.

Thanksgiving!!!!!!

Well I had a great week this week. First off I want to tell you all about our Investigators. We had  11 people in church on Sunday. I was so pumped. I didnt know what to do with all of them. We had a full Investigators class too, with the 2 investigators from the other missionaries. We had a class on the law of Chasity. OUr teach is a young sister that just got off her mission in the East mission. I am so impressed with this ward here. There are tons of members because the retention is higher. Every is a friend and has something to do. We have gotten the ward to get up and work with us. And we have seen the benefits of their work. We also have been teaching Preach my Gospel to the members and encouraging them to help us and also to help themselves feel the joy that comes from missionary service. I walk with Preach my Gospel with me wherever I go. It has been a huge blessing. I have used it many times also before lessons and during lessions to know what to do in certain instantses. We also put 4 baptismal dates with a family. They are so prepared. Their names are Carlos, Yabell and their 2 kids 12 and 9 years old. They read the Book of Mormon together and love the gospel. It has completely changed them. It was a sacrifice to give up all the things they did. They always talk about the days before they met us and how they never want ot return to that. We also have a family of 9 people. Ramon, Dulce, and their 7 kids  20, 18, 16, 12, 11, 8, 7.  They are awesome and are reading the scriptures and the pamphlets we have given them.They didnt go to church though. They live very far from the church and to pay for 9 people is difficult. Ramon is a fisherman and walks 3 or 4 miles a day to fish in the rivers. We also have some other new families that we are teaching but havent gone to church. We just contacted tons of Apartment buildings and have plety of new investigators. We´ll see how many are the chosen ones of the Lord. We might have a few. Im always praying for the opportunity of finding the people ready to here the gospel. I know that pray is the way to go. It is so important to give a relating of the things we have done in the day and also the things we want to acomplish in the next day. I love to pray. It is so special. Sometimes I feel bad becuase I have been praying with not so much of a real intent. I have been humbled and have started strong again. We also had a great Zone COnfrence that I definantly needed. I love to get reapmt and ready to make miricles happen. I love how the president thinks. He has such an excitment when he speaks. I hope that I can learn much form him and put it into practice. Afterwards we went to a restuarant with the Zone and it was awesome. The president paid and We ate tons. He loves to feed us. As a house on thanksgiving we make the carcus soup and also have bread. But the main part was a roasted Chicken from a Pica Pollo or a place that sells fried chicken. BUt Today as a ZOne we ate a 15 pound turkey in a really rich members house. We invited the whole Zone and it was tight. We had Turkey, yams, that cranberry junk, Mashed potatoes and Carrots. It was just like a Thanksgiving but really hot and with all Missionaries. Im really gratefull for the many blessings that I have recieved from the Lord. I love God so much and for his DOn Jesus Crist too. I have such a strong tesimony of their existence. They live!!! And theyu talk to prophets today. WOOOOHOOOO. çIts that awesome. I love you all and wish the Best too all.

 

 

Elder Spencer William Anderson,               AKA SPUD!!!!!!!!!

WOW what a tight Week.

Well, I had a great week this week. We worked our but off and we got great blessings. We just put a baptismal date with a familiy week met a couple of weeks ago. They are to be married and baptized in a couple weeks. Them and there 2 kids came to church and loved it. They were laughing, smiling and had a great time. They are eating up the gospel. They have changed so much. Last week she mised church because she drank a bunch of beer. BUt she completely changed everything this last week. Their names are Yabell and Carlos. During church they told us that they wanted to be married and baptized. We talked to them last night and are now in the process of finding all the papers they need.  Their is a member family that lives on the next street. They are a really spiritual and awesome familiy. The husband works in the temple and the wife is very well educated in the church. They have great tesimonies. They have taking in the family of Carlos and Yabell. They always go over to each others house and talk about the gospel. They watched The Testaments the movie together and it went great. THat friendship has made all the differance.  Yabell said she had a revelation as someone in her dream said she had come to the knowledge she was waiting for. They are awesome. We also had 8 people in church too. It was full of investigators. The ward here really works and friendships the investigators. We do have a couple families who can´t get married due to papers and spouse issues. We also had the Temple on Friday. It was a great experiance. I always learn a ton from it. Afterwards we went to Wendy´s , to eat. It was really good. I have only eaten twice in Wendy´s. It is actually getting cold in the mornings now, because it is also really windy. It really isn´t to hot anymore during the days. I havent noticed it. BUt it is nice to have a break from the really hot weather. I also learned a couple phrases from a Haitian family in French. I want ot learn to say a couple of things to them. I really haven´t noticed that Thanksgiving is coming up. They really dont do anything here. But they are starting to play some Christmas music is Spanish. I will miss Mom´s pies though. Im really Jealous. We have been invited to dine with the President though in a resturant for Thanksgiving. I hope everyone can have a great Thanksgiving and a safe one too. Well it was a fun week and I hope next week can get a little better.

 

I love you all and am grateful for your letters.

 

Elder Anderson

Nuevo Compañero

Hey Everyone, Hey everyone. I have been having a great week this week. I recieved a new companion. HIs name is Elder Folsom. We are from the same group. IN the house we have some good cooks. We eat really good. We eat lots of cool recipies with meats and flour and pastries. I dont know why Im not getting fat though. It must be all the walking. I do exercise very good in the moring. Im sprouting a pretty nice body. ahhaha. Well back to the work. We have been working pretty good so far. I can actually feel the spirit a bunch now. It really makes a differance when a person wants to work. We have found tons of new families. I have been prayed a bunch in the last couple of days to find so cool families. Everytime I pray we find someone new. It is such a miracle. We find them in the weirdest of places and at the weirdest times. We are really going to find sucess here. We are always getting new peopole and getting rid of the people who arent progressing. It is such a pleasure to be serving the Lord with this calling. I know Im making a big differance. I love looking at the work in an eternal perspective. It also hurts because many people choose to accept the message. But that is just how it is. We are only the messanges and we are looking for the ones who are prepared. I love all of you much and miss ya. I hope you can have a great week.

 

 

Elder Anderson

Transfers!!!!

Hey!!!! Well I will be staying here in Hato Nuevo for another Transfer. That means that Elder Vasquez will be going to San Cristobal. I will recieve Elder Folsom. He is from my same group. I havent talked much with him because we have never really been close to each other in the mission. I spent much time in the field and he spent much in the Capital. Im excited to keep up the great work here in Hato Nuevo. We have been preparing many people for baptism and this transfer we will see our fruits. We had 6 investigators in church this sunday. It was kind of a disappointment becasue many did not come. It really is hard to not have people come to church but I am definently very grateful for the investigators that came to church. One thing I love about the mission are the member families. They make a huge differance. I feel so much love. I´m so grateful for their help and for their sweet spirits. The work is so Important. I am so happy to be a missionary. I have had so many great experiances here that will always help me to preach the gospel with everyone. I feel really bad that I didnt preach the gospel as a kid and a teenager. I could have been such a help and light to others. I know that when Im home I will try to prepare many souls so that they can be happy. As I understand the world is rapidly changing adn people are now starting to make choices. The last battle wont just be physically against the wicked but spiritually also. The choices we make now will have forever consecuences. We need to be examples of rightousness in this world. It just takes simple actions and decisions to make huge things come to pass. I have loved to learn life and to live the best we can. We are only here one time we need to enjoy it. Life is so precious but so important. IM so thankful for the creation and for my opportunity to live a life in mortality. I give super grate thanks to my beloved parents, who permited that I came to this Earth. But that wasnt only it, they raised me great adn put me in the road that ends to the eternal life. I have learned so much about Eternal Life and the blessings we can recive. It all starts with us developing chrst-like attributes and making the right decisions. I love you all so much. I hope that you all can have a great week. I look forward to your emails always. I love you

 

 

Elder Spud Anderson

HEY!!!!!

Hey Everyone, Im doing just fine here in Hato Nuevo. We just had a huge week off work. We litterally worked our butts off. ahahah. We are also working super hard to marry 3 families. It is super hard!!!!!!  We are also getting much help from the members and they are working very hard. It is such a blessing to have a ward that works in missionary work. It makes life a whole ton better. My companion and I are doing a little better but Im thinking he is moving this transfer. Im trying my hardest to help the situation and not to make it worse. I just show love and continue to serve him. I really have a fun house. Im with Elder Turner and his trainiee. When I started the mission elder Turner was in the house with me. HE started in Feb and left the area after my first transfer. So, we have lots of fun and love to talk about Idaho. He is from Payette. I love this work so much. I just finished Jesus the Christ and ate it up. It is one of the Best books I have read. It really helped me see the importance of the life of Jesus Christ. I really have gained such a strong testimony of the existence of God the Father and of his Son Jesus Christ. They are awesome. I know the Holy Ghost is real becasue I depend on him everyday. I love the scriptures. The other day I was reading in Alma 26. It talks perfectly about missionary work. I learned that after trials and pain, we will recive blessings and sucess. I love you all and cant wait to tell you transfers next week.

 

 

Elder Spud Anderson

Hato Nuevo

Well hey everyone. Im doing just fine here in Las Caobas. NOthing really new has happened over the week. We started off a little slow because I was having troubles with my companion. HE just changed over night and acted like he hated me. I tried to see what was up and he just said some bad stuff to me. Well Its all good because were alright now. I think hes just sick of the area. We ended up the week very weel and worked our butts off. I actually am starting to feel the wear and tear in the mission. My legs and feet hurt. Its either that I´m old or that we are working super hard. Our area is very big and we walk a ton too. Im sure Ill be fine though. I can tell you im not looking forward to getting to be an old man. hahhahaha. Well here in Hato Nuevo we always havfe water in the house. But we have no waterhead. It just shoots out a stream of water. We had a great lesson in our sunday school class about Temples and the ordenances in it. The investigators loved the baptism for the dead. They asked great questions and learned a ton. ONe little old lady said she was catholic but that she was going to switch religions. It was neat. She came as a referance from some members. Well thats about it. Sorry its small, Ill see if next week I have more to say. All I can say is that it is still hot and it doesnt stop. ahahhaha

 

 

Spud

 

 

 

Stake Confrence

Well yesterday we were pleased to have Elder Fransico Viñas of the Seventy come talk to the Stake of Las Caobas. He is also the First Counsular in the Presidensy of the Carribean. Also President Almonte spoke too. It was very good. Elder Viñas spoke much about the family and how the people here need to raise their children good. He spoke much about having every generation better and sinking in the roots. The church ahs 30 years now but is still trying to get stabilized.  He said that the Stake of Las Caobas was the strongest he has seen in a latin american country. I concur too. It is amazing and there are tons of Active members. The Stake Center was overflowing and wasnt enough seats. It was tight. There were people out side watching TVs on short circut frecuencies. We had one investigator go because it was very far away. She is really cool.

 

Well now that I have 3 weeks under my belt here I can tell you all more about the Area. We have a huge Area. It is the biggest area in the Zone. And it is a field. It isnt the city as Los Alcarrizos. We have to take buses to other parts of the area too. It can get pretty spendy. But it is well worth it. We have great and faithful investigators and we always find new people to teach. We have 5 areas that we work in. Hato Nuevo, Barrio, Palave, Bella Colina, and Quita Sueño. We live in the area of Hato Nuevo. It is the most like a city and has many people. The other 4 we need to take buses to get there. This is the first area that I have to take buses to areas in the Mission. There are tons of Hatians in Palave and Bella Colina. Well it rained a bunch 4 days out  of the week. I got soaked to my bones in 2 of them. I guess my wife will be very pretty because Im in the rain a ton. THe rain season is just about over though. It hadnt rained for awile before this week.

 

A funny thing that happend last week is that we went out to Quita Sueño. It is the furthest area we have been too. AND there has never been missionaries out there before. We recievd a referance from there and now we will be going out there more. Well the funny thing is that we went a little later in the day adn work for awile up there. We we were about to leave we found out that the buses dont go through that late. It was getting late, about 8 o clock and then it started to rain. So we were stranded out in the middle of nowhere and in the dark on the side of a highway. We luckly found a man that was going back close to Hato Nuevo. He gave us a long ride and then left us at the big highway going into Hato Nuevo. We then took a bus back into town. ahahah. We did make a good contact out of it. The man has a family and works right next to the church.

 

We went to the Temple on Friday also. It had been 4 months since the last time I went to the Temple. I love the peace in the temple. It really helps me to focus on my life and put myself in a better road. It gives me so much understanding and also is a guide in my life. Im so excited to get back to work here adn work really hard. I always recive an excitement when I realized what the temple could mean for many of our Investigators. We have lots of great investigators and go to church but the arent married. We are very close with many of the though. I really hope everything goes right and that the can be baptized. It gives me such joy to see people choose the right and change their lives. I love this work. I love my Savior. It is such an honor to be here. I have learned so much adn I hope I can continue to grow spiritually and to make others happier. I have seen myself act more like Chist. That is a huge goal for me. I want to be an influence for good wherever I go. I hope I can better myself and be a better servant of the Lord. I know that the Lord is always with us and that we forget that all the time. I know that we have so much power but we just need to find out how to use it. We are to use it for the benefit of others. I have learned so much of Service and of giving. I love the sciptures and have leared much about what we need to do in this life to have eternal life and live happier. I love this work and appriciate all your support. I love you all.

 

 

Elder Spudwick ANDERSON

La Casa del Presidente

Well the Spudman is great here in the Dominican Republic. Im having a great time. Elder Vasquez and I are turninginto a great team. We are really good friends, and talk and Joke around. He is a cool Dominican. IN my experiance here there are only a couple really cool Dominicans. HE is one of them. HE has 13 months in the Mission. OUr investigators are really cool. We had 4 in church this sunday. We also had the President and his Wife to come to our church. We got to know our investigators and talked to them. It was a neet experiance. Today we also went over to the President´s house to have an activity. We played basketball and threw a football around. After we ate a ton of food, namely rice and salad. But it was very good. Well tonight we ahve a Family Home evening and also a Dinner Appoinment after at a familiy´s house. I was asked to speak or teach them. I will teach about the obediance. This family is really cool and it is an honor to be able to participate in their family. Here I feel as if I have a huge family. The members are so important to me and We are so important to them. It is such a great experiance to be a friend and counsler to those people. They really look up to us. SOme times I feel insufficient because I am so young but the Spirit helps me to say the right things and is guiding me to be a help to all people. Today as I was looking outside the balcony I saw a old lady trying to cut down weeds with a machete. I ran down there and stole the machete from her adn started to work. I´m really trying to be as Christ and give service. When we help others we help God. When we help God we recive Blessings. I can use many more blessings and strength here in the mission too. Lately we have been blessed with many opportunities to serve. We have done all sorts of help around houses and doing yard work. We go in and out and leave the place looking good. Im so glad that I learned how do do so many things at home. I learned how to work. I am so indebted to my family for their work ethic and example. I only learn from the best. I can do all sorts of things especially in building and doing household repairs. I learned much from Dad and from my work in  construction. We are working very hard here in Hato Nuevo.  We are leaving in the morning and doing service or we are contacting in the street. In the morning there are many people in the street so we take advantage of that time to do many contacts. We have many great investigators and many families here. The only problem is that most of them need to get married. It is hard here too becasue it is very onoganized and is sometimes expensive for teh poorer people. We have one family and teh husband has to get divorced from his ex-wife then get married to his wife now. It is really a pain and really makes the work harder. Be when all is said and done those people with be greatly blessed with the opportunity of being baptized. This week we are planning on putting 4 baptismal dates. It really should be a treat. We are very close to getting our investigators married. Well I have a cool story, While contacting we decided to go down a steep long drive way to a house. 3/4ths of the way down my companion told me to stop and when I realized what was going on I stopped to. Their we about 5 dogs down their. When we took about 3 steps backwards the Dogs started chasing us. I was terrified. My companion took off before I did so I was stuck staring at the dogs. I then quickly took off running up this hill. As I looked backwards the dogs approached me. I could here their claws scraping against the cement. It was hard for them to run up the hill but I then, bent down and acted like I was going to pick up and throw a rock. They slowed down, stopped then scampered off. My heart was going so fast. I was laughing histariacly with Elder Vasquez. He was a fast Dominican. ahahha. When we got up to the top we saw that some people saw the whole thing. My heart still racing with adrenaline, we made a contact with the people. It was heard for me to talk because my heart was going and I would just start laughing. Im so grateful that nothing happend and that we were protected. In this area I see how someone would get scared because when it is dark and there isnt power it gets dangerous. But I feel the Saviors protecction and It also helps having a dominican so we don´t got mugged. I feel safe here though. It is a country town and is very tranquil. Well I hope to here some cool stories and experiances from you all. I love you and pray much for your wellbeing and sucess.

 

Elder Spud

Hato Nuevo

WOW!!!! I loved confrence. It was amazing. I came out of confrence with a new life and new meaning to everything. I just realized that Jesus Christ is resembled in all the 15 apostles. We cant see the face of Jesus Christ, but we have these witnesses that we can see and hear. It is really amazing that those men emplifiy the attributes of Christ. I really want to be a great example. I am really trying to follow the rules. The president is really hitting hard on the people who disobey the rules. Im so grateful that I have keep strong during the first part of my mission. The mission was in apostasy. But know we are almost out and reciveing the blessings of being great missionaries. I have always had the mindset of being a exaordanairy maniac missionary. I have really tried my best to set a good example and it works. Many people dont want to do the right things here but they respect me and I help them to make a better choice. Im so glad that Im here on my mission and for all the support I have. It is such a great experiance. It seems as though the missionaries are the life of the members here. They always talk about the missionarie that have passed by. Im honored to be one of their favorites wherever I go. I love this people and feel as I as one of them. During confrence I just hung out with 5 other Dominicans. I was laughing and having a great time. I actually convinced a couple people that I was from Columbia. Later one I would tell them the truth. These people are great. I have so many close friends. But one thing is that the church is the same. No matter where we go. There only is one prophet and 1 church. I know that this church is unified. That is because we are under Chrsit. I felt very impressed when President Monson said that the first Presidency is completly unified under Christ. We too as individuals and as families, be unified under Christ. That is the key to Exaltaion. To be one with the spirit which leads to Christ. I feel as if I have changed so much in so little time. I feel that i give more service, that i am less selfish, that I dont have anger when things go wrong. Drew sent me a letter about a year ago which has greatly affected my mission. He said to never have a bad day. From that day I cant remember once having a bad day. Why be mad when we have so much to be grateful for. Im so happy. I have GOd and his Son. I have the Restored Gospel. I am sealed to the best family on Earth, and I have my friends. I live. Everyday I have one more chance to find the next Stake President. Every day I have the chance to lead others to their salvation. I love being a messenger og God. But it dosnt stop as missionaries. We are all disciples of Christ and we should act like it. We are so happy, but look at all the people around us. Their happiness will end. We should be happy when everyone else is not. Preach the Gospel, Set an Example, Be the Best we can be. We only live once. Every second has an end. What are we going to do with this second. We cant have it again. Our Investigator are really cool her. We already have a baptismal date with a Lady and her daughter. We will put 4 more in the next couple of weeks. We also are trying to get 2 families married so they can be baptized. I feel great about hte work here. There are about 65% Haitian here it is the most black people I have seen. ANd they are black. This area is really countrylike but it is in the Capital. It is more country than Nizao and Ocoa. And that says a ton. ahhaha.Elder Vasquez is awesome. HE is a fun Dominican. We always are laughing and having a great time. HE knows a ton about hte gospel. I am learing even more about hte language and I am teaching his English. He is really learning a ton. I can tell we are going to be great friends. I Love you all and wish you the best of Luck.

 

 

Elder Spencer Anderson

Hato Nuevo!!!!!

Well it looks like i´m on the road again moving. On wendsday I will be going to the area of Hato Nuevo and in the Zone of Las Caobas. I will be with my first Dominican, Elder Vasquez. I heard that the area is pretty cool and that it is a little Country place inside the Capital. Im so excited for the opportunity to see new things and to further the Work in Hato Nuevo. I am very sad though, I will be leaving the Best area I have been in. And i´ve only been here for 2 transfers. I have really gotten to love the members and the people here. I´m positive that I will have friends from here forever. It really is a crazy thing to grow this much love. It does hurt to leave the people you love. I have had the wonderful experiance of being with the Best District in the mission. I love our district. Elder Johnson and Elder Crowshaw were an awesome companionship in the house and we loved doing everything together. We had tons of fun and really grew together. Elder Simmons and I had a good run for awile. I will miss training but it is going to be nice to be with a Dominican. I really want to learn about them and their culture. I´m pretty sure that Hato Nuevo is a one companionship house. So It will either be a really neat spiritual experiance or it will could be awkward and silent. I do tend to have a charm of making people happy and active though. I know that I will work super hard working in this new area. Im so thankful for all your letters and next week I hope that I will have some cool news for you all.

 

I love you

 

Elder Spencer Anderson

Ocoa

All is well here in San José de Ocoa. We are having a ton of sucess here now. Sometimes when you are white washed into an area it is hard to have immediate success. But now we are seeing the fruits of our labors. We are really getting great investigators and baptisms. It really is awesome seeing people change their lives and live better. We have an 18 year old that is supoer awesome. His whole face lights up when we teach him. He asked us what he needs to do and not do. He scribbled up the pamphlet that we gave him with tons of notes and underlines. He loves it. Im pretty sure that he will be baptized and then go on a mission next year. We also found a lady that was being taught before but she was dropped after the 2 elders left. She was to be baptized but due to a hurricane last year she couldnt. She is really cool adn has 2 kids. We also have 2 ladies that have eaten up the pamphlets too. The have read them 3 times and love them. Transfers are coming up in a week and 2 days and im afraid that I will be leaving. I love this area and the peple here., This has clearly been my favorite and the best area. I only want a little more time. We had interviews with the President on Saturday moring and I really enjoyed it. I really like our Mission President. We also had the 1st counselor of the Mission give a fireside in our Church yesturday. He is pretty cool. We have tons of exchanges this week with members and we are looking to have a great week.

 

 

Elder Spud

Sunny Sun Sun!!!!

Hey Familiy ,

 

Im doing Great here in Ocoa. We are really finding the chosen people of God. We have found a really tight family and also a pair of brothers who love the message. They could go on missions in a year and a half. Well  our district is doing very well. We had a great district meeting and we are very unified in our district. We are doing great this here. Elder Johnson and I dave talks in chur ch. I love to speak. I dont even feel scared to get up infront of people.  I know that i am being very strengthened here in my mission. I have learn so much about every thing. I can actually say that I am a man now. wooohooo. But Im still me. I love being a leader in the mission and helping others live up to their potential. It has actually been sunny for a week. Right after i ended typing last week we had clear and sunny sky.  I really love how cold this area is. THe rest of the mission is super hot. Your in my prayers and I hope that you may all find and have peace this week.

 

I love you all

 

Spud

THE DR

Hey everyone Im doing fine. I know you all want to hear a little about whats going on here so here we go.To be honest we are square dab in the Middle of the country. All it has really done is rained here. We are just now starting to see damage. There are about 2 rivers that are now starting to flood. In the poorer parts of the town there are houses that were just evacuated. The people are living in a school nearby. That is the other missionaries area. We never go down there. Today we went to see what has happend down in the area. The bridge that was seperating the 2 areas was destroyed and sweeped away. the river isnt really big until it rains really hard. All of our investigators are fine and their houses too. Here in Ocoa their really hasnt been too much damage. It rains like cats and dogs for 20 minutes then it just rains a couple other times in the day. It is always wet here but it rains about every 30 minutes off and on but not too hard. We have checked with a lot of people but mainly they are fine. Most of the houses that have been evacuated here are already taken care of. All of their things have been removed from their houses. On suday their were only 11 people in church. They were the peple that lived closer to church. Well Ill awnser all of your questions now.

-Do you have electricity? Yes, we have had about exactly the same amount of electricity in the House. I dont use my fan in the night though because it getts cold. I think im going to buy a jacket.

-How are you cooking your food? We are cooking food as normal. The colmados and the supermarkets are open. We have plenty of food. We have always cooked with a gas stove.

-How are you getting clean water? We have plenty of water. We buy those big jugs of water that they have in office buildings. We have always drank out of those. We are also gathering water in big trash cans to shower with. Our water just left 2 days ago. So we dont have running water. I think the line got damaged. BUt we are good with that. We wont have a problem with water. ahhaha.

-Is there flooding? Yes there is a little but not even close to the house. there is only flloding by the rivers. The peple that live by them have left.

-How are the missionaries and members? The members are fine. We are doing regular check ups. But we are working and teaching still. I guess that my wife will be very pretty because im doing a ton of walking in the rain. People think we are crazy because we are working in the hurricane.

-Are you doing service to help people? Right now we havent been able to but in a couple of days we will do clean up.

-What is your shower situation? Showering is alright like i said the water went out but we have lots of water out back.

-When the power is out at night, do you only rely on a flashlight? I really havent used my flashlight at all here in Ocoa. We always have light at night. I think we have not had light here only 2 times since i have been in ocoa. If we dont have light we use candles. They are easy bright, and really cheap.

How do you spend your time when it is dark and no lights? Before you sleep? We have a ton of light here in Ocoa. Usually the light leaves during the day when there is daylight and in the night we always have light. The people here pay their bills so we have light.

-How are you washing your clothes? We wash with our washer here. The drying is the problem. We have a spinner next to the washer that spins the water out. After that we hang them in the house and put our fans on them. I have rope above my bed close to the ceiling to hang my clothes.

-Do you have glass windows? We have glass shudders for window. The rain never comes trough the windows. There really hasnt been much wind. Only one day it was a little windy. We ran over to our neigbors house amd I climbed on their rood in the rain and wind and put cement blocks all over. It was a little scary but at least their roof didnt fly away.

How do you keep the rain out? It only comes in under the back door. We have put old rags in their to block it out. We only have a little in the hallway. Everything is good and dry.

I think the worst of the storm is up north at the coast. It is really hitting hard up theri. BUt here dont worry too much. Ill come home. I am protected. THey I actually just recived a call from the leaders of the zone and we are to be on watch for flash floods in Baní. Ill keep my eyes out.

Well we are really having a ton of success here. We are finding the chosen pople of the lord. ON the 20th we are going to have 2 more baptisms. Also the other day we found this awsome man and his family. He is in charge of the light company of Ocoa. He loved the message and will bring his whole family to church. We have tons of people saying that they would be baptised when they know this message is the truth.Im now asking people if they will be baptised on the first visit. If they are chisen servanets of God they will accept. So know we are contacting more people and having fewer planned lessons. Im only looking for the strong hearts and the people that will stay in the church. All my mission I have been finding the chosen ones. And now they are prospering in the church. Most of the missionaries are baptising who ever but I dont belive in that. Most of them will be inactive. With teaching the chosen ones we will build the church and have retention. We have plans to find one chesen one every day. If we find 1 each day we will have more than 5 baptisms every week. It is a perfect plan. Im workin really hard now and learning tons of spanish. I love to read the scriptures and learn from preach my Gospel. Lately I have taken on a better understanding of Preach my gospel and how to do things. I love you all and hope to recieve some sweet emails.

Elder Anderson

Whats Up!!!

Hey Everyone,   Im so excited to be a missionary right now. I love how true our church is. This last week I have gotten into a few heated lessons which could have tried someones faith. But i realied on the spirit to tell me what to say and what was right. This church is so true. People can form their own little things of religion but prayer and sincire study will always lead you to the truth. I have gained such a strong bond with the spirit and I can not deny the feelings I have felt and the things I have seen. We have been working in a new area. Its called Sabana Larga. We found some really cool people and I am working to start a brach out there. I really think that the area with be huge. We already have 2 families up there that we are teaching. They will be the firstfruits of Sabana Larga. We just put a baptismal date with a lady yesturday and see will be baptized on the 20th. We will probably have 2 more that day. Im really loving spanish here. I am really learning a ton. Everyone really complements me on my spanish. I think I got it from my Dad. Well it rained quite a bit last tuesday but not too bad. I love you all.

 

 

Spud

Hey!!!

Well actually as i started the email I recieved a phone call from the zone leaders. They just now issued a hurricane warning. Before today it really didnt rain to bad. So i hope it wont be too bad. Thats really cool to hear that Russell Hill joined the church. It really is a cool thing. Hes such a good kid. I hope he does well against Boise State. But im pretty sure Im the biggest fan in the DR. I am a little bummed i cant be with my family and friends.I love being here though. I was just called to be the district leader here in Ocoa today. Im really excited to be an example to my District here. It is an awesome district. I love having my Kid Elder Simmons and Elder Johnson. Elder Johnson and I are form the same group. We really love to talk and to learn from each other. Today we went to the waterfall again. We loved it. I have pictures of me swinging from vines, cool videos andother tight pictures. I really am having tons of fun here in Ocoa. I love it. We are really close to putting a couple baptismal dates with 2 people. We did though, have to get rid of most of our families. They just werent progressing. We are still doing very well. I continue to learn as I teach Elder Simmons the ways of missionary work. Tommorow we have Zone confrence with 2 zones, Baní and Azua. We are going to Azua to have it. We will be privledged to have the President of the Area of the Carribean, Elder Johnson at hte meeting. I am super excited. I love this work so much. I have such a strong testimony. I LOve to read the scriptures and learn about the Gosdpel of Jesus Christ. It is such a priveledge to be a missionary and preach the Restoration of the church of Jesus Christ. I love you all and wish the best to you and your families.

Well Everything is going great here in the DR. We are working very hard with families and have a couple of baptismal dates. Im really excited for all the more oppertunities I will have here. Its great. Elder Simmons and I are doing great and we have a really cool house with another American and a Dominican. Its so nice to be able to be on a mission. Im learning so much and really growing. Im so glad that that was the last Familiy reunion I missed. Today I hit 14 months. WOW. I hope that you all have great weeks. I look forward to your letters.

 

 

Spencer

Hello My Friends ,

 

I love my Area here in San José de Ocoa. Im having a great time with Elder Simmions and the other 2 missionaries. We are having much sucess between the two companionships.   We had a great lesson with Kengi. She is an awesome investigator. We had a great lesson and the spirit was very strong. I was told by the spirit to say some very important things and the spirit was super strong. My mind was clear and I had a perfect understanding of the situation. I spoke perfect spanish as We disscussed some  things. It was amazing. She was filled by the spirit and she couldnt hold it in. I felt like giving her a huge because she is so great.   I know that the spirit is real and  that is toches us more than often. We really need to learn how to heed it. Also we have Darina who will get  baptismed is a few weeks. She´s awesome. She knows so much about the Gospel, probably more than many  members. She is really progressing.   We also had an older Family go to churh. My heart was filled with joy and love as they walk in through the doors. After the sacrament meeting  I showed them off to everyone. They now love the church and have tons of friends. They were talking all about the church when we weny over to their house again. They want to invite their friends too. THeir son and his family are great prospects too.  ONe thing that I love to do here in the mission field is do little things of service. When ever I see people peeling Sweet Peas I always ask to help  them. It is awesome. We can give service, get to know the people, and have a great lessons. Its usually always older ladys too who peel and sell htem. I love talking with them and being their friends. I love people. hahaha Well today we played baseball on a horse and pig field inthe mountains. We played with some members and it was fun. We played with a sock ball and a homemade bat. I laso got some sweet videos of me chasing and trying to catch pigs. The members here love me and think Im the coolest guy. I love playing with the kids and helping out the members. Im also hte crazy one here. hahah I  think Im turing back to the Spudman.  Im having a great time here.

 

Elder Anderson

San Jose de Ocoa

Hey Everyone,

 

I´m doing great here in the DR. As I said before I was transfered to Ocoa. This place remindes me a little of McCall. It is way in hte top of hte mountains and is set in a little vally. All around the little city is mountains. I heard there are many waterfalls and caves here. So we will have some fun P-Days.  Also I am 2 bus rides from my old area of Nizao. Maybe one day I will show my kid, Elder Simmons the beach. Also our Area has a bunch of little towns or dwellings in the Mountains. So we went to a place called, Parra. This place was way in the mountains. It is about 8 kilometers up a huge and steep mountain. We spent the whole day up ther and learned that their used to be a huge mini  branch up there. But most of the peple went inactive. I had a feeling that we are needed in that area. So we will dedicate 2 days out of the week to see If  we can get things started up there again.  

 

 The members here are really cool. I have already fell good with the members. I love to talk to them and learn about them and the country.  We have recieved many references and the members like to go out with us. We are living with another pair of missionaries. One American and another a Dominican. The American is from my same group. His name is Elder Johnson. He´s from St. George.

 

Well it turns out  that 2 Dominicans before us did nothing in the Area. So we had to start over again. We have been contacting this entire week and now we have many new investigators. I love being in this area. It is so fun.  The people here love everyone. I have already made some great friendships. We are searching for families and nothing less. I know that the Lord will show us the way to them. There are so many great families here. This branch needs an energizer. The need new families and  strong testimonies. We are already seen hte fruits of our labors. It seems as theough a change has come over me. I´m teaching with more power and with  more authority. I have never felt this good in my life. I feel great as a missionary.

 

Elder Simmons is a cool kid from Idaho Falls. He went to BYU-Idaho before his mission. We love talking about Idaho and about everything. We are always joking around. Im so grateful for this opportuniy I have been given to be a Trainer. It is hard I will tell you that. I cant belive I started off as he did. Now I know Spanish almost perfectly. I´m really soaking up this opportunity to learn too. I told Elder Simmons that we are here to learn together. I´m not perfect and I told him I will make mistakes and that I´m not hte best missionary. I told him I want to share this message and help others come unto Christ. I love this Gospel and I´m traying so hard to help this people accept it. I love telling the story of Noah and how today a prophet is do the same thing.

 

He are being super obedient and are leaving even earlier than usual.  I want to help the people of Ocoa to be the strongest Branch in  the country. What they need are families and Priesthood. It all makes sence. If we preach that families are Eternal we need to be baptizing famlilies then. Many of the missionaries like to Baptize kid and Youth. I have a diffrent look on things. Im not looking for the long run but Im looking for immediate results and blessings. These families need  the Gospel. This transfer i´m going  to really push my prayers and I´m going to fast often. I know that we need his power and help, in order for us to fulfill his will.

 

I love you all and I will tell you all the great news we will have next week.

 

Elder Anderson

San Jose de Ocoa

Hey everyone!!!! Im so stoked for these next two transfers. I will be training Elder Simmons. He is from guess where, thats right, IDAHO FALLS. I was so excited. Also I was tranfered back to my old Zone of Baní, remember my little area of Nizao. This time Im in the high mountains of the country and Is actually quite big. We will be sharing all of Ocoa with the other missionaries. There really arent any bounderies. It is awesome. Its pretty far away from everything but it is beautiful. In Ocoa it gets actually cool at nights. It is going to be perfect being in Ocoa for the summer. It gets super hot in the other parts of the country. This area is actually the best Area in the mission as the missionaries say. Im so excited to show my Kid the ropes of the mision. But Im only going to teach the good things. I know we are going to work super hard. He is a pretty cool missionary. He dosnt know any Spanish though. I can´t believe that at one point I was in the same shoes. Now I know a ton of Spanish and I can really work. I know that we will have much sucess here, even though I might not see the fruits I know htat it is worth it. The 2 dominican Elders before us did nothing. One just finished his mission and the otheris a tigre. They left horrible records and barley had any of them if that. But I know I can always try to do my best and to start helping the people of Ocoa to find the love and gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

i LOVE YOU ALL AND tHANK YOU for your letters.

 

 

Elder Spud

I´m Pregnent!!! dont worry!

Hey Everyone. Well I have tons of new news. I´m Pregnent!!!! Or I am going to be a trainer the next Transfer. Next wendesday is the transfer. Tommorow I will talk to president and he will give the trainers a Training. I´m so excited I can´t think about anything else. We are going to work our butts off. He is going to hate me as a dad because we are going to work hard. I will try my best to help him start his his big journey in this country.  He won´t know that much Spanish so we will learn together. Im not  perfect at Spanish so we will countinue to learn. That is one thing that I love about the mission is that one always learns something new. Sometimes we can get into a rut and think we know everything but we are continually humbled. I hpe that I can still strive to learn and get the most of these sweet 2 years.  Well back to the letter. My kid and I will be whitewashed or we will both be moved to a new area. So we will have to work from scratch. I´ll tell ya¨ll where I¨m at the next letter. 

 

This last week we met the new Mission President. President Almonte is awesome. He really loves the people and the missionaries. He is very personable. I really want to learn everything that he knows. He has an amazing vision of the work. He is all about contacting much and talking to everybody. Im so excited to work under his guidence and counsel. I know he is a man called of God to preside over this mission.

 

Today for P-Day we wnet hiking in the jungles north of Santo Domingo y Los Alcarrizos. It was a beautiful hike and I got some awesome pictures. We were searching for a hidden lake but we only found a beautiful river, I felt like I was in Jarrasic Park. My lone Leader adn I did some exploring down river adn enjoyed climbing over rocks and walking on hte side. He actually slipped on a rock as he was trying to jump form rock to rock and got his shoes wet. It was a very fun experiance. A couple of us sat on asome boulders and talked about deep doctrine and about what everything means, and what is coming for us. I felt the spirit very stronly being around such great men and leaders. I learned a lot today about obediance and just doing the little things to be more obedient. We have rules and commandments for a reason. We are here on the Earth to show that we can fulfill all the things that are given us from God. We are expected to be 100% obedient. If we aren´t obedient in this telestial world we sure wont be obedient in the Celestial Glory. We are going to be the same after this life but we are expected to learn form our mistakes. We are here to grow. Gods purpose is to bring to pass the inmortality and Eternal Life of man. In order to do that we MUST learn to be obedient.

 

Well I´m really excited to get out of Los Alcarrizos and to start a new legacy. We are here to bring these people to Christ. I have been called here to preach the 4 principals and ordenances of the Gospel. I pray everyday for the Holy Ghost to guide me to the chosen people of the Lord and that he can bless me with the words and thoughts to touch their hearts. I love this work. It is beautiful and is starting to grow so fast. I know that our Heavenly Fath loves us and that he will show us the truth through Sincire Prayer. We have so many promises and blessings of the Lord waiting for us. We only need to ask in prayer and fulfill his commandments.

 

I love you all and I pray that God will shed his blessings upon all of you. You are all example to me and I hope that maybe I could be an example to someelse. I thank you for all your emails and for your prayers. I love you and miss you.

 

 

Elder Anderson 

 

 

Whats going on!!!

Hello Everyone,

 

Well On tuesday we had our last interviews with President Bair. He will leave the island the 30th. I have learned so much from him. I hope someday I will be able to live up to his stature. He has been a great mission president and I really respect him. Im really excited to recieve the new mission president, President Almonte. I´m sure he will be great. Well I have been dealing with a little money problem here in the mission. There was fruad on a third of the missionaries mission cards over the past couple weeks. I was at the point were I had 5 pesos and I was scrapping for the rest. Luckely the office gave me a loan of money until my new card comes. I have learned so much of how thankful I am for money and just enough to live. Many of the people here live like that everyday. What they get the day before or the same day is how much they eat. I have been so blessed here on my mission. I am continually learning about how presious life is. It is a miracle. I am so thankful for the family I have. They are so presious. I pray for them by name, everynight. I also pray for my friends, and that they can have sucess and security as I am gone. I miss all of you but at the same time I am much more excited to be here on this island teaching these people repentance. I love this gospel. It fills my lofe. I hope I can be able to be an influance for good where ever I go. I know I can help make diffrences and help changes peoples lives. I have learned how to really love and serve others, how to become unselfish, and how to be a leader and friend. This truly is a marvelous work and a wonder. I am sure that I will be as a stone thrown in a pond. THe Ripples will start small, but then will soon ripple out and cover a huge expanse. Sometimes it is hard to see the big picture or the better good. Right now it is a little rough with my companion. He is really homesick and wants to go home. He dosn´t want to work much also. I know that this is hard sometimes but I have learned much about enduring to the end. If someone else dosnt want to be there that sure as heck aint gonna stop me. I love this work. I love my Savior. I will work till my legs go out. I know that I will be blessed for my work and that I will continue to better myself. That is the true ´purpose of thius life. To make decisions and then to learn from them. We have so many examples to follow, such as, Jesus Christ, The Prophet, Leaders of the Church adn Parents. They are here to help and guide us. We have the scriptures to give us the knowledge of Eternal life. Especially the Book of Mormon, this book was written for this day. To help us have the fulness of the Gospel and another testament of Jesus Christ. I love you all and I hope that God will bless and help you.

 

 

Elder Spencer SPUD Anderson

Temple Trip!!!

Hey everyone!!!! Im loving being a missionary. I love waking up everyday knowing that Im in the service of the Almighty God. I have grown to love him so much. Today our zone of 20 plus missionaries went to the Temple. The Temple here in the Dominican Republic is so beautiful. I also love being in air conditioning for a little bit. hahahha. I really love the peace in the tempe though. It really does lift all the berdens off my back. I can sit back, relax and learn more of the plan that God has for us. While I was sitting and thinking I learned many new things about the creation. It was an amazing experiance. As of two weeks ago, there was a fraud on my mission card. all my money was taken. So I had a little bit saved in cash but that quickly went out.  This last week I was living of nothing. I had 0 pesos. It was super hard. I felt horrible for being even poorer than the people here. It really is hard for the people. I have been so blessed in my life. I have had everything at my fingertips. BUt you´ll never realize it, until its not there. Well thats about all that has happed for awile. OUr area is a little slow but it is picking up pace. We are contacting tons and tons. But we have found some really cool people. I love you all and can´t wait to read you letters.

 

Elder Spud

Well this week has been real fun. We had an awesome Zone confrence. It was the last one that we will have with President Bair. He will no longer be our mission president on the 1st if July. We will than have  President Almonte, who is from the Northern part of the Island and the first Dominican Mission President. During the confrence I spock on Knowleage and how we should always learn more and study hard. I spoke much about the Book of Mormon and also to learn from the Leaders of the church. It was amazing, It was really diffrent knowing that that was the one with President Bair. This last week it rained 4 out of the 7 days in the week. All I can say is that my wife will be super pretty because I stuck it out in the rain. We were soaked a couple of days to our bones. I know that we will be blessed for the work we are doing. Right now our area isn´t really progressing. We are contacting or knocking on doors all the time. It is almaot all we do. No one wants to hear from us. Even the ones that do we have to let them go because the won´t progress. We will most likly have 2 baptisms by the end of the week though. We have 2 cool investigators who are ready and prepared. We have stayed over at the Zone Leaders house much too, We have a really cool district and we love to play games and have fun. I have been really thinking latley about my faith. I haven´t been exercising it enough. When we think about it we can do all sorts of stuff. Our faith will become knowledge. Im so grateful for my testimony and for the example of Jesus Christ. I hope I can become as he is. Im trying hard to be a better person everyday. I´ve changed so much. I´m not the old Spud anymore. I have really changed much. It seems as if I´m a whole differant person. I hope that I can still continue to have success here in the Mission. I´m so glad that I am here. This is a beautiful Island and this is the chesen place for me. I know the lord will lead me and guide me.

 

 

 

Elder Anderson

 

P.S. Elder Cook didnt come. It was cancelled. The whole mission was sad.

The Mission is awesome

So I am having an awesome Time here in my mission. Elder Thomas is really cool and we get along very well. He still is from California so he is a little rough around the Edges, AHHAH I love him though. We are going to work real hard. We have set many big goals and I´m pretty sure we can reach them. We really care about the investigators and the people here. I think that will make a huge differance in the work here. We haven´t really had too many stories so far but Im sure we will. We are working out hard in the mornings., We are running and doing exercieses too. I think this transfer will produce many blessings. Sorry if this is Short but I dont have too much new Stuff. Last week Elder Walter GOnzalez of the Presidency of the Seventy cam to speack to us. It was great. We had both missions from Santo Domingo their. This next week we are going to have Elder Cook of the Twelve here. It is only going to be our mission too. I´ll have to keep you informed then. I love you much.

P. S. I am running out of room on my ldsmail account. I want to save all the letters I have recieved. So If everyone can write to my other mission account that would be great. It is

elderspenceranderson@gmail.com

this is my email account that I have to write to the president. It will hold all the letters. Thanks. I love you all and Wish the best.

Elder Spud

What????

Hey My Fam!!! Well Im officially Russell free now! Today were tranfers but the weird thing is that I wasn't transfered. I was originally going to leave but a missionary from Boise went home early for medical reasons. He has chromes disease. So his companion is Coming with me. His name is Elder Thomas and he is from Northern California. He is really cool. I met him when I was out in the Countryside. He is one of the 3 tigres of the mission. I also recieved Russell. So I have had to of the three Missionaries that are on the edge. I really like Elder Thomas so I think all will be fine. He is Huge 6 foot 4 inches and big, like around 230 lbs. He wrestled and played football for a junior college before and then went to BYU-Idaho for a year. He is really excited to be here and I am excited to see what we can do. We had 3 baptisms last week and It was awesome. We had a great service with talks by Elder Russell and I and Also the Bishop and Sunday School President. All the parents and their families came to the Baptism. Their was a great spirit. IN 2 saturdays we will have another baptism. Im so excited to start over again. I cant belive that my year mark is coming up so quick. Im still a teenager of 19 years. This week I will hit the big 20's. Im freaked out.

Tommorow , Elder Gonzalez who is in the new Presidency of the Seventy will talk to just our mission. Im so excited. Also on the 11th of June Elder Cook of the 12 will come and speak to us also. Im so excited for this transfer.

I also had an awesome experiance that will Blow your minds. SO as Elder Russell and I were saying good by to all the people in this area, We stop by a members house that really liked us. Her daughter is a member, but is inactive because of rumers and how the church likes to spread non true things. OK back to the story. I handed her my little photo book and she took a look. She look at the post card that says Boise, Idaho. She said that she heard a story about people from Boise. She said if I know a LEE BELNAP!!!! I thought I heard her wrong so I asked her what she said. She said If I knew a Lee Belnap. Other missionaries had passed from Boise or from Idaho but diddnt know who he was. So she always asked. I said that he was my uncle but she thout I was kidding. Then after a minute she knew I wasn't lying. It turns out That she had read and had a copy of the Reader's Digest which did a story on Grandma Belnap and her book. She loved the story and told me all about the 7 Brothers and Sisters and How hard it was for the family. She said she would read it over and over and cry. She drew strength from that Story. he talk about Aunt Pat and also about how Steve and Lee were best friends.It has made such a differance in her life. She is so happy because of that story. I loved talking to her and hearing about the family. It brought back so many feelings and memories of everyone. I felt so proud to be part of the family. I haven't really realized how much I recognize the other name on my tag. I am Anderson and Also Belnap. I am a representitive of our history and our hardships, our happy times and the Sad. It really hit me hard how much I love my Family and all that they have done for me.

I love this work so much. I know its true. Even though that inactive lady is inactive that story has keeped her testimony so strong. I know that the Lord always shows his tender mercys to his people. I love my Hevenly Father and all that he has given me. His son is so Important to me. He has changed my life and I know that trough me he will work miracles so that this world can recieve his mercy and Salvation.

I love you all and I'll let ya know how My first week went.

Elder Anderson

FW: Weekly Missionary Email - from Elder Garrett Hadley..serving in the Arkansas City, Kansas Area....May 19th, 2008 *I would love to share this with you, so ENJOY! From Elder Garrett's Maui Mom, Candice H.

Hello ~ Dearest Family and Friends of..... Our Hadley Family......

Most of you know that our son, Garrett......is serving a church mission right now. He sent us a mini video (thanks to technology with small digital cameras!) so his Mom (me!) could SEE her Missionary son!!!!!     Sorry, but he hasn't been away from home all that long (only 4 months). And....I am sure you all can relate to....a "mother's  hard-time-with-letting-their-first-child-leave-the-nest....syndrome!"  even for serving a mission! ha, ha.

So in the FUN "Spirit of celebrating Missions and Life" in general......as well as in the eyes of a "Humor Loving Mind of Garrett's own Mother" (me again) .......... I will share with you.....our missionary son's video. Please Enjoy!  and most of all....

    THANKS so much (!)......for all of your loving support and friendships with our Hadley family! We truly love your friendships, all to pieces!  Very Sincerely, Candice Hadley  & family too!

OK.......let's get the SHOW (video) on the Road! ........

Wouldn't you LOVE to just know what Missionary's.....namely Elder Garrett Hadley..... IS doing with his spare missionary time??????      After a very  ..L..o..n..g..   day of missionary work ~ with teaching the wonderful people, along with his missionary companion, Elder Thurber ......in Arkansas city, Kansas area??????  (aka: Ark-City....The Derby Area.   Elder G & Elder Thurber are called to serve in the "Independence Missouri Mission, over-all.)

Well.......Wait NO longer (!).......as he took up his own Mother's "Begging plea".....to send her a FUN video clip.... (via his digital camera's ability) ..... so she could SEE her favorite Missionary Son.... out in the missionary field!

SO........please enjoy......

A FUN (funny!) Video Clip from none-other than our "Famous Ark-City Missionary son, Elder Garrett Hadley"........   (he's becoming famous because he has been in that particular area so long! ha, ha)

*****CAN YOU SAY......now....."A possible Country-Boy-Missionary or Red-neck's way of EXERCISING ......with one of those BIG white exercise balls??????"   Hmmmm....."HOW do they really do it?"

*Please....Play video clip now

Wahoo (!)......Way to Go Elder G! .....You   F....i....n....a....l....l....y   fought and conquered that BIG DRAGON of an exercise ball! Ha, ha.      Good job!        We LOVE you! "God-Speed Elder!"

 

             .....and YES..... even after another mission transfer day.....Elder Garrett Hadley is STILL serving in Ark-City!!!!!! I guess Heavenly Father really wants him to    L....O....V....E    that beautiful small country town, no matter what it takes! Ha, ha.....just kidding. Garrett really enjoys and loves serving the people of Ark-City! 

Although......this new transfer Date (after 3 months) Elder Garrett received another new awesome missionary companion....that is from none-other than...... Salt Lake City, Utah.....and EVEN went to BSU in 2007, a year before his own mission time. So.....Elder Garrett Hadley should continue to really feel at home in Arkansas City (ark-city) ...... serving with a former Boise / BSU student!      "Wahoo! God-Speed Elders!" "Your both Awesome!"

AGAIN.......Thanks so much for all of your loving support and friendships with our Hadley family and especially the support for our missionary son!!!!!

And in closing.....with the words from our famous teens of today....."You all Rock!"   THANKS a Million!

Very Sincerely,

Candice Hadley

    & family too!

P.S.    *A mini update on our missionary son & his missionary progress to share the gospel .....Garrett is called to serve in the "Independence Missouri Mission." And....since Garrett's first arrival into the Mission Field....from the Provo, Utah Mission Training Center (MTC) on February 20, 2008.....Elder Garrett Hadley has been called to serve in the "Derby Area - Arkansas City, Kansas or aka: Ark-City." And.....from Feb. 20th, 2008 and on....he has remained in this area so far, throughout many "Mission Transfer Days!" being....almost a total of 4 months.

    One cool thing to know.....the Ark-City Mission Field has not had a baptism for the past 4 years! And....Garrett also told us that he noticed.....that not a lot of "Unity" with the Ark-City people, was seen or felt within this area, either. However.....with the pure dedication of spreading our Savior's pure loving example along with their belief & testimonies of our beloved Savior.....Elder Garrett Hadley along with his 1st companion, Elder Thurber.....just recently baptized 2 wonderful people! And....with some more willingness-in-attitudes, from the Ark-City people, to hear our Savior's true Gospel....has set up even more missionary appointments to continue sharing with them. Yea!      We LOVE the stuffins out of you both - Elder Garrett Hadley & Elder Thurber!     Way to share your Testimonies of our awesome Savior, Jesus Christ! 

    However.....after 3 months with being Missionary Companions with the awesome, Elder Thurber.....This past Transfer Date, May 15, 2008....Elder Garrett Hadley was still assigned to serve in the "Ark-City, Derby Area".....but now along with his new companion, Elder Gallegos (Guy-egos)....another awesome missionary companion! And......Elder Garrett is STILL very excited to continue to serve the people in Ark-City! As they all are simply w..o..n..d..e..r..f..u..l   people!!!!!!! *Special note: Elder Gallegos has only been out on his mission for ONE transfer date longer than our son, Garrett. Which means....only 6 weeks longer! So.....they are both still "Greenie Missionaries!"  (greenie = Rookies or New missionaries....in the mission field!)

Also......Please Enjoy reading my own Letter from my awesome missionary-son, Elder Garrett Hadley: 

    "Hi Mom......here is a video for you.....just like you requested.

On P-Days......My missionary exercising program is REALLY going GREAT!"

Hope you enjoy it.

Love you tons!

From: Your missionary son,

Elder Garrett Hadley

*Independence Missouri Mission

-----Original Message-----

From: Candice Hadley

Sent: Monday, May 19, 2008 12:00 PM

To: Jody Hadley

Look Hon......Our missionary son sent us A Video. Yea! Way cool!

I actually get to see our missionary son! Yea!

-----Original Message-----

From: Garrett Hadley

Sent: Monday, May 19, 2008 10:09 AM

To: Candice Hadley

Subject: Weekly Missionary Email - from Elder Garrett in Arkansas City, Kansas.......May 19th, 2008

Hi Mom......"here is a video for you.....just like you requested!

On P-Days.......My missionary exercising program is REALLY going GREAT!"

Love you!

From you missionary son,

Elder Garrett H.

*Independence Missouri Mission

 

---

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ME VOY!!!

Whats up everyone. As always Im having an awesome time here. It´s starting to get a little difficult right now with Elder Russell going home. He doesn´t want to do a whole lot right now. But as ya´ll know Im going to try to work my hardest. I will do all the things I can that are in my power. I love this work. Thhis week we are going to have 3 baptisms. Im so excited for these people and their decicion to be baptised. I know they will be greatly blessed. 2 of them want to be missionaries as soon as possible. We also had a lady that was going to be baptised but she couldnt come to church because she was sick. So we moved her baptismal date a little further back. Well I got news fromn the President that i will be leaveing with Elder Russeell too. We are 95% sure I will be leaving too. I have 3 transfers here with Elder Russell out of the normal 4 tranfers in one area. So Im leaving. We have transfers this next week on Wendsday. I´m really excited. I´m not a big fan of leaving areas because of the friendships and the people you have taught or are currently teaching. But I know that I have so much more great things ahead of me. I know that this is the true church and that the Restoration took place. It is the only way that Christ´s church could come back. I hope you all have a great week and I hope to here from you all.

Spud

I Can=?UTF-8?Q?=C2=B4t_belive_it!!!!?=

I actually talked to my Parents!!!! I was so excited to talk to my parents this past Sunday for Mother´s Day. We talked for awile and I loved sharing stories and hearing their voices. Well I´m very fastly approching my one year mark in my Mission. It is really wierd. I love this work so much. It really is great. I love being a missionary and having the opportunity to share this great messange with the world. I´m working very hard adn trying to all the things right that I can. I´m very grateful for all of your encouraging letters and messages. It really helps me grow and have more faith in this work. You all are great examples to me. I have indeed learned something great from everyone of you. I´m so proud to be the son of kind and loving parents. One day I hope I can be a great Dad just like my Dad and that I can marry such a strong woman as my Mom. I Love them so much. I´m also very proud to be a Son of God adn that he loves me so much. I have learned so much from him and am continually praying for his guidance. I know that he is helping and guiding me everyday. I rely so much on him. Sometimes we may have a horrible day or we have done something bad. In these moments we are humble. To truly show our love and dependance in God we need to get down on our knees and plead with our Father in Heaven. He wants to talk to us as much as our earthly parents do. One thing I have learned is that through deep and powerful prayer we can really bring down the blessings of heaven. Many of us have the Holy Priesthood with us. We can heal the sick, we can work miracles, but most of all we can bring down the blesings of heaven. I´m so proud of my family and for their examples they have set being Missionaries, Im almost positive that my parents mill as be great missionaries in the near distant future. I´m so thankful for my friends and for them serving missions too. I wish them the best of Luck. I love my friends so much. We have such a great bond together.

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ has ben Restored and that his work is carfully looked over by a loving Prophet and 12 Apostles.

I love you all. Have a great week. Tommorow we have Interviews with the President.

Elder Spencer William Anderson