YOYO

Hey everyone, Im doing great here.Thanks for all the letters. Today was fun because we got to go to the Temple. It was been closed for a couple weeks. Im so blessed to be right next door. I have less then 2 weeks left here. Spanish is coming but not as fast as i want it. I can understand mostly everything but Speaking is the hard part. Just getting the right words out. For service we cleaned up the university. Ive really made good friends with the dominicans and puerto ricans. They are really funny, whats cool is that almost all of them are converts of just over a couple years. Some are 22, 21, 23, adn one is 25. I really admire them. Every North american this last monday had dirrerea at 2 at the morning. I went 3 time until the 9 in the morning. It was horrible but funny asking everyone on the floor if they had it. We think it was the beans. hahahah but we were good in a day.

Love Elder Anderson

Hey

Hey Everyone,

Im doing awesome here in the Dominican Republic. Today 18 elders from the D.R and Puerto Rico came in. So we no have about 50 people here then are usual 30. Classes are small we have 6 in my class. We speak tons of spanish. Right now every other day our district of elders can only speak spanish and nothing else. My favoritre thing to do here is to go to the University in Santo Domingo ( just a couple blocks away) and teach others little things about the gospel. It helps us tons in learning spanish and getting ready to teach. This is such an awesome experiance. Im loving the weather. It is pretty darn humid here but I actually enjoy it. But it really stinks when we do service and are working hard. Today we cleaned the street the temples on and then picked up grass on the lawn of the temple. They cut literally to the dirt. It is very strange. But very beautiful. Right now they are re-golding Moroni on top of the temple and cleaning the temple. So it will be out of service for another 2 weeks. But Ill get to go before I head into the field. I have 3 weeks left. Im so excited. I know Im not close to ready but I really want to get out their.I love the food. Its amazing. It gets old after awile but its always awesome. I love this work and Im trying to work really hard to learn spanish so I can teach better and get my thoughts out. My testimony has growns leaps. Now that the New Spanish speaking missionaries are here, we are pretty muched forced to speak in spanish. Well I have to go my time is up. I love you all and pray for you.

Sorry if I cant awnser all of your questions but I dont have a lot of time left. But right me back and tell me whats going on in your lives. I Love ya.

Elder Anderson

Hey Everyone, Im having so much fun here. I love the DR and its people. I really enjoy the humidity and the awesome weather. It is usually very nice but can get hot real fast when walking. My companion is Brother Cayton, hes Awesome hes 5'6" a little shorter than Elder Merrill's 6'5" ahhah. We work hard to gether and I like him a WHOLE lot better then Elder Merrill. We never watse time and do well keeping on track. Hes from Portland, Oregon. The Food is great, Their are always fruits for meals. The Main ones are bananas, pinnaple (my favorite), then papaya. We eat oatmeal, cereal, fruit, and either pankakes or french toast. FOr lunch its the huge meal and I mean huge. ITs RICE RICE AND BEANS. hahaha. Everyday with no change. good thing i like rice. They pour a little bean sause mix on top and serve with either chicken or beef. We also always have those conney breads and we put butter on those. they are very soft. The Juices here are world class. I dont know what kind they are but their awesome. He have awesome teachers here. They are all Dominican. They teach 80% in spanish and then a little english. Mostly when we arent in class or just goofing around talking to them. They are the funniest guys. A couple of days ago us missionaries went to a big super market. I bought a huge DR flag and some shirts. I bought one for Drew when he gets home. That was the most we had fun in a while.hahahah. We also had the opportunity to go to the University of Santo Domingo to talk to people. It was also the first week we were there. It was awesome to teach some principles in broken spanish. Its so cool that I wasnt scared at all but really wanting to talk to people. I cant wait till i get out in the field. We walked around and taught for about an hour and a half. The spanish is coming together very well. I can understand almost everything someone says but its saying something back that is hard. Im also learning the gospel way better and love learing more and more. It really is a wonderful thing. It is very dirty in the city though, but thats what u can suspect. It stinks sometimes and therir is litter everywhere. But i dont mind really. I just love being here. Its beautiful.

The CCM or MTC is a very nice and clean place. Id say more so in every aspect then the one in Provo. There are 29 missionaries here. We have 3 jamacians here (their awesome and I love to hear them talk). All are going in the DR but 3 others who are going to puerto rico. For P-Day, We have some weights here with 2 foosball tables and a ping pong table. Out side are some basketball hoops. I love to play basketball and ping pong. The temple is super beautiful and ill get some sweet pictures. We did a temple session and it is so cool in here.

Well I love ya all and hope all is well,

Elder Anderson

July 4, 2007

I made it here last night. We use the same schedule for getting here. We woke up at 2:00 a.m. then left SLC @ 6 A.M. From there we went through Dallas to Miami then to Danto Domingo. I really enjoyed the flights. There were 6 elders in our traveling group. What was awesome was that we got to teach people and hand out pass along cards. I gave an older couple on and told them a little about what we were doing. The man thought we were part of a singing group. But i said who we were and it was awesome. Going to Miami I got to sit next to an awesome girl from miami. We talked the entire time. I really felt like a missionary. So i gave her a pass along card and she promised she would. She also said that if I was in Miami that I should call her up.hahahah. IDK about tha but it was awesome. It was sweet being in a new country. We had 2 teachers who were dominicans pick us up. People drive crazy here. But I thought it was awesome. We are switching companions tommorow when the other group comes. Their will be a little over 30 missionaries here. There are 3 Jamacians her the rest are from the states. Well I e mail uyou more next week and tell you all about it. I dont know much.

Pouch takes 10 days and regualr is about 4 days. Dont send anything after the 26th of July, Then send thouse to the mission home. But until them you can send stuff to this MTC....

Elder Anderson

Wed June 26

Hey Everyone. How are you. Im doing alright except for the fact that our plane was canceled. We had our plans and everything. I Went to the travel office got prepared. Everything was underweight. We Woke up at 2:00 a.m. and got to the air port at salt lake at 4:30. oUR FIRST DEPARTURE WAS AT 6:00 a.m to Dallas. But then while waiting in line the airlines told us that our flight was canceled due to big thunderstorms. So we called the mission office and an hour later they picked us up. During that hour the 23 of us going sang hymns. So We got back into bus and headed home. We ate breakfast then went back to sleep for a couple more hours. So we went to the Temple today and Im really enjoying going. I really feel closer to God when Im there. And im starting and to memorise and say the parts back. So Hopefully tommorow or the next day we can leave. But for now im back with my old district and in the same bed. We were lucky. Other missionaries got kicked out of their rooms because of all the new missionaries that come in on wendsday. I also saw devon again. He's awesome and we bore each others testimonies in our respective languages. it was really neat. We did this outside with sack lunches. Last night for our tuesday devotional we had Elder Holland Speak, present were Elder Perry, Elder Eyring, Elder Scott, Elder Ballard, and Elder Uchtdorf. It was probably the best, most influential and emotional talk i have ever experianced. He spoke on the Atonement of christ. By the end their wasnt a dry face in the building as he bore a beautiful yet bold testimony. It was then followed by a powerful and very emotional prayer offered by an elder. He was hugged and kissed right after, by both brother holland and ballard. On suday President Monson spoke to us and taked about missionary work and about him and his dealings with missionaries in his life, especially as a 30 year old mission president. Its awesome at the MTC right now be cause this last week we have had the new mission presidents training. The whole place is shut down and on lock down. Apostles are wissing in and out of view as more thatn have of them are here each day. Even the prophet has come many instances. Seldom do people see them because of all the security protecting the mission presidents and Apotles. The spirit is so stong in their that even the teachers cant go in the main building, It is very sacresd and no one can talk to the MP's until they have been spoken to. Not even the teachers can speak or be with them. But it was an amazing expeiance seeing 118 new mission presidents from 16 nationalities be present. It was an amazing experiance, even having to wait in very long lines do to there presence.I hope all is well with you all. I hope this gets to everyone. I really am gaining a huge testimony of the gospel and learning spanish very well. Im glad im here. I hope that I can grow to love my companion but we are totally differeant. Im trying to be patient. Thats my biggest challenge here. But any ways I love the gospel and my savior jesus Christ. I love him and all of you. I hope to see you soon. Well not to soon. But the thought counts that I miss ya.Love,Elder Zabransky ( as my distict would call me)

Wed Jun 20

Hey Mom and Dad!!! I hope your having an amazing time in Europe. I hope you take lots of pictures. Well I wrote you a letter but i think you left the day it got home. But anyways, thanks for the package and card. I opened the card during class the other day and the music went off. We all thought it was really funny. Well, This is techinally my second week here but im in my 3rd according to their scheduale. I leave for the Island at 3:00a.m on wendsday. We then have flights from SLC to Dallas/Fort Worth, TX. Then to Miami, Fl. THen to Santo Domingo. At 6:00 am we leave SLC and arrive in Santo Domingo at 6:30 P.M. The MTC is a really neat place. I have enjoyed it very much. The food is amazing and you really are never hungry. I really enjoy my Teachers and My district. I was made the District Leader for our distrit of 8 Guys and 3 Girls. They are a rowdy bunch and I have to get on them a lot in the night. But its fun to have some fun elders. Everyone in our distict except for my companion and I are going to San Antonio. When I was set apart the Girl that was before us Sister Faulkner, is in my district. What a small world. ahaha. Well I saw Preston and Austin alot and also Kellee Walker. They all left last wendesday though.The language is coming pretty good. Within a couple days we could pray in spanish and testify. I can do all sorts of stuff now but We are concentrating most on Preach my gospel and the lessons. I love Preach my Gospel. Its the coolest book ever, other thatn the BOM. I've learned so much so far and am really gaining a super testimony of the gospel. My companoion is Elder Merrill, hes from Albany, Oregon. We actually were in a English 111 class at BYU-I together. He loves music and is very different then me. we clash a littlte and he gets to me sometimes but I try my best to make the best of it. He is the complkete opposite of what I want. But thats probably what I need. I need more patience and I think the lord is telling me that. Hes messy forgets tons of stuff so we have to go back and get it. Corrects me and sings all the time. But other than that I love the MTC and cant wait to get to the Santo Domingo MTC. I feel that Ive grown and Im glad i was given the opportunity to be the District leader. Since Ive been here Ive gained a greater respect for my Patriartical Blessing. I feel that every thing is coming true and is as planed. Ive really gained more in the understanding of the scriptures and of The gospel.Elder Uchdorf and Elder Christenson have talked to us in our 2 devotionals. I could really feel the spirit there. Its so cool to havew the spirit here alot. It seems as though there is no time. We wake up class, study eat. thats all we do. the days go by slow but the weeks fly by. I have attended the Provo temple last week adn will go again. It was a really sweet temple and a lot bigger than the Boise one. Its really cool to be a missionary but Its also in the back of my mind of wehat Im going to be or do when I get done with my mission. But dont worry I m focused. Im one of the better missonaries there are here. I really do understand what bad missisonarys are now. And it seems that the dorms are just like college dorms. Because the kids are really not mature, do stupid things and It dosnt really feel like a sacred place all the time. It gets to me how much diffrent I am from them. Their not bad kids but they, do things diffrently. And I belive that they can be a lot better. I just dont think they get why there there and who there serving. I usually am low key and sit in my room, write in my journal, or read the scripturtes. I think the postion of DL has made me keep in line and set the good example. The guy you knew before would be going nuts and crazy just like the others but I think Ive really grasped the concept of life and how were supposed to be. I really dont care about anything other than the gospel now. Its really weird but I think its awesome.Well I dont know when Im going to talk to you again with all the traveling and when you get this but Im guessing in 2 weeks because Im traveling next wendsday on my p day. So just be alerted. Ill see what i can do weith the mission preident. Ill also watch out for deven todayI am so thankful for your guidences and love as I was growing up. You really made me into a good elder, missonary and leader. I love you tonsElder Anderson

Pictures of My Farewell on May 27th 2007

Thanks to everyone who came to my farewell. I hope you enjoyed it.

Busy!!!!

I'm really starting to feel the heat now. My farewell in church is a month away (by the way it will be on May 27th @ 9:00 at the Columbia Village Building). I still cant belive how soon I will be gone. June 6th!!!!! Im working now for Garrett Hadley's dad and am doing some Tech Support. I'm just saving up as much as I can for my mission. I still love doing foolish things with my friends and serving my family in whatever ways I can. I now have a huge list to check off but Im sure I'll finish soon. I'm thankful for all my friends and family for all hte support and love I have recived. Ill update soon

WOOHOO!!! Im going to the Dominican Republic!!!

The weather is going to be awesome. It'll be summer all year long.

My awesome cousins Tyler (served in Arizona) and Devin (just called to Denmark).

Thanks for coming up guys!!!

The coolest mom ever. Theres nothing else to say.




Sweet sibling moments.














My favorite sister Nancy Eagan and her son Jaron also came up to see me.














Also 2 other roomates of mine were called to missions. Jordon (left, to South Korea) and Andrew (right, to Russia).