Hi mom and others,

So with the whole Christmas thing...I don´t want to skype.  It is a huge hastle and I would rather talk to everyone individually.  It will be just like Mother´s day.  I will call one of your phones and you can work it all out.  The difficult things is that Christmas Day is Tuesday and we have District meeting at 9 until 12ish.  I am thinking that 12ish would work best.  How does that sound?  If not it can be Christmas eve or even the 26th.  Just let me know.

I have had an awesome week.  It is so true all they say about the plateau affect on the mission.  We jump on a rocket at the beginning and get to a point where things all start blending in and we stop progressing.  I caught myself before it could happen and I feel a really strong spirit blessing my life as I understand more fully the scriptures that I am reading.  In the Book of Mormon I read that

And whoso receiveth ^athis record, and shall not condemn it because of the imperfections which are in it, the same shall know of^bgreater things than these.

There are so many things out there for us to discover.  Even more than those that are written in the scriptures--but we must accept the scriptures before they shall be revealed to us.

This week we will be heading out to Guayaquil...again haha.  I love the four hour bus-ride....We should be meeting with a huge group of missionaries and we will be able to go to the temple.  It has been almost exactly a year since I last entered the temple so you can imagine that I am pretty excited. 

It has been a good experience these last few month with my companion.  I have learned how to control myself and to stand my ground when the investigators start to attack.  I don´t want to doubt anything.  I know I have been sent here by a prophet of God and it is my responsibility to share the gospel in all of its fulness--even if they don´t want to accept the truth.  Yesterday an ex-member of the church listened to us along with her Catholic husband.  He is a good person.  He is a good dad.  But he fails to understand the never-failing virtue of obedience.  He said he likes the Catholic church because it doesn´t make him do things he doesn´t want to do.  Things like drink coffee or a beer every now and then.  Things like a bishop who helps us stay obedient and worthy enough to enter into the temple by asking if we pay a full-tithing. 

Sometimes I don´t like walking around in the sun.  Sometimes I don´t like when the people on the street say something offensive.  Sometimes I don´t like waking up at 6:25 to exercise.  But then I remember that a God who doesn´t require sacrifice is not a true God.  He would be a God who does not ask us to progress.  Being good would be good enough.  But that is not the God that I serve.  I am so grateful for the testimony that I have in this Gospel that I am now sharing.  It all comes back to Christ.  We strive to follow a perfect being.  He, who without flaw, showed us the way.  It all is so worth it.  I feel such a strong peace as I see others who really have understood these things and cause others to see the light of Christ in their lives.  I remember my family who has that same light.  May we like the children accept the commandment to bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.

I love you all.  Have an excellent week.

Elder Anderson  

October 8th

Hi everyone.  Wow flip´s sounds so fun right now.  It has been more than a year since I last did a backflip.  I am really looking forward when we get to go to priesthood session once more all together. 

This has been a week of revelation down here.  We had a conference with the president and he talked a ton about virtue and how it is what will most give us spiritual power as a missionary.  The mission down here is doing awesome-so close to having 300 baptisms in one month.  So many amazing missionaries.

We also were able to have 2 baptisms.  Juan Medina was chosen so long ago to be the next member of the true church.  He is a fisherman (50 percent of Manta are fishermen) and was so submissive and believing as we taught our message.  He has such a sincere heart and was so ready to receive all that the Lord has prepared for him.  We will now be working with his wife and his daughter. 

Conference was incredible!!  Did I see John Ford in the Priesthood Session Choir?  That was cool that they mentioned Centerville, also.  I´m the only North American missionary in the city so everyone kept bugging me asking how it feels to be in the conference center and asking who I know.  It is always fun to say that I know Brother Russon in the choir haha.

So many inspiring talks, and such a strong spirit right off the bat with that huge announcement.  Did you not feel an overwhelming spirit of excitement?  I felt so........good about all that he said.  I can´t wait to see all the new missionaries get on the next plane out.  I thought of Blair and Doug.  They could be out of there before I get back.

I love you very much.

Time ran out.

Elder Anderson

A piCTurE UpDATe

October 1, 2012

Hello, hello, hello!!!!!

Wow mom all is well.  That is so cool that you were able to go from temple to temple.  I appreciate now more than ever how special the Salt Lake Temple is.  Haha you met Sister Dalton?  I will be waiting to hear her message in conference about the Lakeview Ward young women.  Nathan Kapple will be seeing his parents tomorrow?  Tracy has gotta be going crazy haha.  Well tell Nate hi for me when you get the chance.  I haven´t heard from him the whole mission.  And the last time I heard from Bennett was last year.  Two years later he has got to be a whole new person.  I would also love to hear from him.  Maybe you could forward me some of his e-mails?  Happy Birthday´s to everyone; Kim, Bennett, Charlie and Katie.  We are all getting older here.

It has turned out to be an excellent week, once more.  I am still on a spiritual high thinking of all the people that gave heed to the promptings of the spirit back in Babahoyo and for the amazing people that continue to hear our message in Manta.  We fought and fought and ended up having 4 baptisms this past week.  Rosa is the Elder´s Quorum President´s mom and has been visited by many missionaries.  She is 82 years old....way old haha.  She is beyond funny, though.  She makes us laugh like crazy every time we visit right in the middle of the lesson.  This week we visited her everyday, and everyday she told us she wasn´t going to get baptized.  We encouraged her every time, and every time we ended up leaving with her saying that she would get baptized.  She passed her interview on Friday and the baptism turned out awesome.  The Bodero family had their final child, Joel-9 years old, get  baptized.  Mario, a recent convert, was able to baptize his little nephew and everything turned out even better because the whole ward showed up to support the great event.    

This next Friday we will have three more baptisms.  Two weeks ago we found this guy named Juan Median.  His heard was so prepared to hear our message and from the very beginning he has showed so much faith as he fulfills with each one of the commitments we leave behind.  He and his son, Ruben, will be baptized this week and the mom two weeks later.

The ward here really got together on this fifth Sunday to hold a special moment for an 18 year old girl named Andrea Chisa.  She was in the hospital with a really rough Dengue.  Before the bishop got up to conduct sacrament meeting he got all choked up and made the second counselor conduct.  I thought a lot about all those times when Lakeview ward got all in the gym to say a special prayer for those who were sick.  It is really quite an incredible event to see so many faithful latter-day saints fulfill with their responsibilities as true followers of Christ.  So the doctors had given awful news that there wasn´t even a chance of life, but later on Sunday, two specialists came and she is on a different treatment.  All in all, it was such a sweet and tender mercy to see how the faith of so many was able to bless the life of this sick girl.  The church is true.

Well that is my life as of now.  In the zone here, I am the only North American out of the 17 missionaries.

I love and miss all of you.

My little thought for the week from the words Abed-nego and his comrades while placed in front of the fiery furnace to be burned.  They showed grand faith in the power of the Lord but just to shove it in the king´s face and really make a statement said, "But if not (if God does not free us), be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."  

May be serve God even if it means suffering is the only path.

Elder Preston Anderson

10/24/12

Mom!!

I didn´t know you were going to get released so soon.  Good luck with
the last few moments in your calling.  That is awesome that Brad and
Tracy are going to hang out with Nate for a while.  That is going to
be the most incredible experience for all of them to meet some of the
people that Nate taught.  Wow he has gotta be such a grown up big boy
now.  I can´t wait to talk to him.

Well, I am doing so super great.  This past week we had so many
teaching opportunities and things are really on the way up in the
mission.  We are so deeply focused on reaching goals and our President
has forced us to look for ways to strengthen our faith and open our
eyes to all of the amazing possibilities.  I know that this is the
Lord´s work and He is the only one that will help us succeed.

The ward here is super nice and they are all so willing to do what is
necessary to help the missionaries out.  The fish really isn´t that
bad and I have already gotten used to it anyway.  I might even like it
a little.  I also have been trying a lot of different things to make
in the house.  I can´t stop thinking about how happy dad would be to
be in a place where the only fruit there is literally just taken off
the vine.  And yep, I put in the hot water.  It has made life so much
easier haha.  You have now idea how big of a difference it makes.  I
am really fortunate in my sector right now.  Very, very, very few
missionaries have the chance to live in such a nice house.

Me and my companion are getting along really well and we have lots to
do.  There are now 17 missionaries in the zone so it is a lot to take
care of.  It has been fun to get to know a lot of the missionaries
that I am working with.  They all have such amazing stories of how
they made it out here and how it changed their lives.  It got me to
remember all of the amazing people back in Centerville who helped me
make it out here.  Everything in my life is so much more meaningful.
I would be nothing without the mission. My life started here and I am
a forever grateful for my two brothers and my amazing dad who set the
example to serve a full-time mission.

Well Paige sent me an e-mail and told me that the family back in
Babahoyo got baptized.  Never ever ever ever in my entire life have I
felt something so fulfilling.  I know that I have a loving Heavenly
Father who truly listened to my prayer.  There hearts were so prepared
right in that perfect moment.  The Jacome family is part of who I am
and I just can´t believe it, really.  They are so close to eternity
because they finally took the first step and were baptized.

Well that is about it.  Tell everyone I say hi.  Tell all the young
men to go on missions.  I love you.

Elder Anderson

9/10/12

Thank you so much for the package.  I love all the pictures of Jacksonand seeing all of those smiling faces.  Grandpa looked very content in

his beach chair with his cute wife.  So crazy to think that Charlie is

hanging out with mom at school now.  AH, I will be seeing him when he

is almost 7 years old????  Can you believe how time goes by?  Nate and

Bennett will be getting home so soon.  I hate to think about the end

but I am so glad for the many months ahead.



Changes changes changes!!! I had the most incredible four months in

Babahoyo.  We had so many inspiring lessons and it all came to an end

so fast.  One of the members of the ward could not show up to give his

talk at church and so the bishop roped me into giving a message.  I

felt so comfortable in front of all those people.  I felt like a whole

new person and I know that I am.  I feel the power of my message every

time I testify of it.  Many thought that it was my last Sunday because

I gave a talk, but I told them no because the change ends in two more

weeks.  I got on my knees to pray before going to bed and Elder Hancey

(the Elder from Centerville) called and told me I had changes.  It was

a pretty big blow.  I felt so at home for that short time and I know

that the Lord guided our steps.  I had to take a deep breath and keep

moving on.  I got to packing and 12 hours later received my new

companion.  Our zone is super far away from Guayaquil and the bus ride

was forever long.  My new companion´s name is Elder Medranda.  He is

from Santo Domingo, Ecuador--my second Ecuadorian companion.  He is

just a little guy haha.  I hadn´t really known him before so I am

excited to see what the Lord has waiting in these next few months.  I

have had tons of luck so far with companions and I know it will be

just as good with him.



And I finally saw the beach of Ecuador.  After a year down here they

finally sent me to las playas.  It looks very beautiful for the short

time I have been here (two hours). Our house is REALLY nice.

Everything is set up to have a great next couple of months.  Also, the

Elder I trained-Elder Castañenda-is in my zone again.



Things are going great and the mission keeps taking steps forward.  I

know my Savior lives and we will all meet with Him again someday.



Les quiero a todos



Elder Preston Anderson

9/3/2012

Dear Family,
I wish you could understand how good it makes me feel to know that you
guys are spending so much time together.  The other day my companion,
Elder Hernandez, asked me what makes me the most happy.  I told him
that being able to say that I love my family is what most brings me
joy.  Entonces..I love you.  In preach my gospel it says that our
spiritual power is manifested in the way we express our love towards
our Savior, towards our family, and towards the people we teach.  I am
just beginning to understand that concept but applying it has brought
forth lots of miracles.  Family, I feel so good right now.  I have
never felt such a sincere love for anyone.

This week was more than I could ask for.  I have stood in awe as a
Loving Heavenly Father continues to bless our efforts.  The power of
the book of Mormon has softened the hearts of so many.  I told you
about Christian Jacome´s family last week, but I don´t think you guys
really understand what is happening here.  Everything is fitting right
into place.  Just to make it a little weirder...They have a son on the
mission who also is a twin.  The dad has a cousin named Paige, which
is beyond rare.  Christian´s mom´s name is Karen..and just on and on.
I have never felt so strongly the connection that my heart has with
this family.  I would do anything for them.  Jorge, the dad, has made
amazing progress.  They had been married before but were separated and
divorced for a few years.  They got back together but never have tied
the knot again.  We had the most inspiring lesson on Tuesday.  He has
his doubts about the gospel but a undeniable spirit has softened his
heart.  He says that when his son gets back from the mission in two
years, they will get married.  We talked and talked and that little
seed in his soul stirred more and more.  My companion decided to pull
out the general conference video of Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Waiting on
the road to Damascus."  It brought him to tears at first and after
said that those words were spoken by the power of the Holy Ghost.  He
expressed his love towards us and said that we were the only
missionaries who have been able to convince him.  I could not hold in
the emotions as he offered the most sincere prayer to end it all.  If
God has ever blessed a family for having a son in the mission field,
it is this family.  He gained a testimony in that moment and is
beginning his journey on the road that will lead his family to be
sealed for time and all eternity.

So yesterday they told us they were determined to get married and that
now is the time.  Tomorrow they will be getting all the papers
together.  I love this work.  I am determined to be the best I can.

And to top everything off I got to shake an Apostle´s hand.  So many
inspired words were shared on Saturday morning as hundreds of
missionaries listened to the voice of the Lord´s special witness.  He
spoke of the love he feels as he has the opportunity to assign
missionaries to their different missions.  I know that I am in the
right place and that certainty was sealed in that moment.  He spoke of
the first moments as an apostle when he entered into his first meeting
in the temple as his new leader, Boyd K. Packer, looked him in the
eyes.  Very intimidated, he got up the courage to ask why the
observant expressions.  He told him that fue una mirada de
complacencia.  Just as God the Father stated after His Beloved Son was
baptized, "This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Imagine that day when we will be able to stand in front of our
Heavenly Father and feel His eyes and hear His words of love
penetrating and telling us job well done.  Do all you can to get to
that day!!! Read the Book of Mormon and cherish those words.  We
belong to the true and everlasting church of Christ.

I love you more than words can say.

Elder Anderson

August 27th 2012

AH back to school already!!! haha August is the worst month because it
means Summer is over.  I hope all goes well with everything and I hope
the annual father´s blessing tradition hasn´t ended either.   I
remember thinking a lot about that when the choir sang, "Mine is a
home where every hour is blessed by the strength of priesthood power"
in the last general conference.  How blessed we truly are.  Thank you
for living right.  It is hard to find parents like you in this world.
 
Elder Hancey heads back in October.
 
Happy Birthday dad.  I think a letter will have to be my best birthday
present for you.
 
This week has been incredible.  Momentos tan dulces que jamàs
olvidaré.  There are lots of people willing to teach our lesson and I
am so inspired to work harder to bless their lives.  So we just got a
new Elder in our zone.  He is from Idaho and I can just see myself 10
months ago.  I spent the day with him in a companionship exchange on
Friday and It was a very humbling experience.  We had a little bit of
troubles finding our investigators and I was really tired.  We then
made it to a family where the husband is on heading back to the strait
and narrow and his wife has been offended by some of the leaders and
has feels a lot of resentment.  I was really getting frustrated with
the way she rambled on about how if someone has been a member of the
church for so long that they can still do what they do.  Then she
finally asked why my companion wasn´t saying anything.  I tried
explaining, but she wanted him to talk.  It was such a hard lesson to
learn, but I humbled myself and let it go.  He then started to explain
who he was and why he was here.  He talked about his family and
stumbling on his Spanish I felt such a sweet spirit that I hadn´t felt
the whole day.  He came here because he loves his family and he knows
what the gospel can do.  I was so grateful and so humbled by such a
simple testimony.
 
So crazy story.  You know those twins that I told you about?...we
baptized their aunt 2 months ago...so Christian Jacome made it to
Mexico last week and it just so happens that his companion--his
trainer--was one of my best friends in the Provo MTC, Elder Newell.
And the coolest part is we are teaching Christian´s parents now.  He
has been in the mission for just one month and the Lord is just
thrashing their family with blessings.  I feel so privileged to be
here at this time to just see this change.  Jorge is the dad and Karen
(she is an incredible person and reminds me a lot of you, mom) is the
mom.  His heart has been closed off to the church for a long time but
has always been good friends with missionaries.  His daughter finally
convinced him to go to church and attend sacrament meeting and he did
so.  He did so the next week also.  He felt that the the Lord spoke to
him as he listened to the Sacrament Meeting talks.  We have only been
able to teach the twice so far but they are committed to learn and to
live the gospel.  I love what I am doing and I know this work belongs
to Our Heavenly Father.
 
I haven´t told you guys yet, but this week Elder D. Todd
Christofferson is heading down to Ecuador and all of our mission will
have a meeting with him on September 1st.  I am completely ready to
receive revelation and I know we will be so blessed to have a Prophet
in our presence.
 
So life is good.  Lots of blessings and lots of miracles.  Thank you
for everything you do.
 
Elder Anderson

7/30/12

How was Jackson?  So good to see all of those smiling faces in the pictures.  There is such a strong light reflected in all of you and the power of the Kapple family will never fade.  Thank you for all you do.  I will never stop counting the blessings I have received through my family.  The protection that a family is able to receive through the gospel is absolutely incredible and that is so easy to see in our family.  I feel an absolute protection in my life because of all of you, and would like to echo the words of a fellow Elder, "by getting me on this mission, you saved my life."  Thank you for everything. 

The wedding looked awesome.  Katie is super pretty, Kyle.  Wow tell me more about Jackson!! Finally saw a bear?  Char jumped off Moose Falls... What? I am already excited to be there next year...of course me and Nate will be there to help Grandma and Grandpa enjoy yet another year.  I love you all!!!

This week went super well.  I´m getting to that point where I really understand the "why" behind everything.  The mission has become so much more meaningful in these past few weeks.  It something that you can really feel.  I feel the words that I am speaking a lot more than ever before. 

We have had many opportunities to bless the lives of others in these past few weeks.  I have never felt the love of God so strongly in my life.  I really do know that he is my Heavenly Father.   The little boy that got baptized last month and his mom are super incredible.  Her name is Elisabeth and she knows that her Savior lives.  She was the one that saw us walking down the street and called for help.  She exercised just a small particle of faith that changed her life.  She had been inactive for several years now and fell into many marriage problems.  She moved 8 hours from home and from her ex-husband and had to start over.  She really hit rock bottom.  And last Saturday...she went to the temple.  There is a whole new light in her and I am so grateful to have been there to help her trust in Our Savior.  Sometimes it can be really hard to understand why more people don´t get baptized, but I understand more now that God has his will and we must obey that will...and that I really am making more of a difference than I realize.  The phrase what a man seweth, so shall he reap makes a lot more sense. 

The stake continues with many plans to open new proselyting area and the missionaries are way excited to find new people.  We continue with lots of people to teach and I know that My Savior lives.  I love each and every one of you.


Elder Preston Anderson   
There is no chance, no fate, no destiny that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul

sorry... I got behind a few weeks. I'll try to be better

How are you??  So great to hear that everyone continues to be so happy.  Wow lake powellllll...thanks for telling me.  Wedding plans look pretty set by now.  I hope Ed can pull it off haha.  Wow Ed and Janae have not written me since the MTC..get on their tails for me.  That is all awesome though.  My big bro has like 20 days of the single life left.  I hope that time lasts a lot longer for Paige haha.
  
I am feeling super great down here in Babahoyo.  Really starting to fit in with the whole new sector.  Have I told you that the ward is awesome?  We had like a mini MTC thing on Saturday with all of the young men.  It was really cool to see the dedication and faith they have in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Little deacons were there all dressed up in their suit and tie sharing scriptures and teaching lessons.  Then they all went out proselyting and brought back some references.  The best part about all of it was that Agustin (who just got baptized yesterday) was part of the activity. He also went and knocked doors preaching the gospel.  Super sweet. 

We have had some nice conversations this week with a couple of Jehovah`s witnesses telling us that we are not representatives of Jesus Christ.  But there still are amazing people here that are very, very prepared to hear our message.  There is this lady, Elisabeth that is a member that just recently moved here from Quito.  She got separated from her husband because he had some problems with pornography and she has some serious anemia problems.  The good news is that she found the strength to raise her voice and shout out ELDERES.  She told us she had seen us now for two months walking by her house but has been scared to say anything.  She finally got the nerves to do it and she is really excited to start heading back to church and support her 9 year old son to be baptized.  She is truly being watched over by her Heavenly Father and we were there to answer her prayers. 

So we have been working really hard with Agustin.  He has changed so much in such a short time and was so ready for the gospel.  His sister is a recent convert and she gave a talk in his baptism and it was awesome.  And my companion played the guitar again and we both sang Joseph Smith`s First Prayer.  HAHA I know right?  But it was all good and yeah. 

I have really enjoyed these last three weeks.  Wow time is going way too fast.  I love you all and I hope you know that I am still here doing what is right.  Keep up the great work

4/30/2012

Hi everyone.  That is so awesome that all of the family is all right there so close to home.   Even Bonnie!  That is sweet that the Anderson`s could get together.  Did you guys plan that? It has been forever since we last had an Anderson family thing at our house.  Crazy about Kai!! Ìt is probably a relief for him, but I`m sure it was a little weird for him to throw in the towel haha.  Kai will always be my idol.  Well I guess the entire Hintze family is my idol.

 

School is out for the Summer!  Haha sorry mom, you will be there soon.  Random question, how many years are you thinking about teaching?  Are you going all the way till the end or what? And what about Dad?  Anyways, I am glad to hear you are all happy and....Engaged!!!!!!!  Kyle is going to tie the knot.  Mom, how do you feel about what is happening to out little Anderson family.  It is getting so big!!! Haha do you feel old yet?

 

Well here I am still in Vergeles with Elder Mejìa.  It was a pretty...different week.  I guess I haven`t told you, but I live with Elder Falk from Salt Lake and Elder PIntos from Buenos Aires.  They are the Zone Leaders and they both help me out a lot.  Elder Falk would have been one of my good friends in high school and it has been a super long time since I really have had someone to talk to about what really is up.  Elder Falk got sick and so I went out to teachwith Elder Pintos so we could work in both areas.  It was really nice because he is super respectful to everyone and knows how to teach well. 

 

We were able to find a new investigator every day this week.  The people still are really awesome, just a little confused.  We still get the "you guys only talk about Joseph Smith" a whole bunch but it isn`t too hard to settle that problem anymore.  We have quite a few that consistently attend church but have to get married.  It hasn`t been a huge problem for me in other sectors, but here it seems like everyone has that one challenge.  And so we keep moving forward working with the new investigators that have lots of potential.

 

Did you know that there was a special area conference for all of Ecuador?  Well it was completely incredible.  Marcus B. Nash (is he the guy from Centerville?) spoke really boldly to the "children of the covenant."  It was sweet!!!  I was so inspired by the talk.  D. Todd Cristofferson spoke after about the things that President Thomas S. Monson always says.  Richard G. Scott then spoke about the Holiness of women.  It was so powerful.  He described pornography and immodesty with just the most disgusted descriptions and I really got that "hate of sin" feeling.  This world can be a garbage can but we can still avoid it.

 

It was a good week.  I was able to finish the Book of Mormon once again in Spanish.  I really got thinking about the very last verse where it talks about the judgement day.  It has always been way hard for me to have that vision way open to think about such a day, but in that moment I really felt it.  Every single thing we do here on this earth has ETERNAL importance.  I am not just here to become a better missionary, I am here to become a better God.  The phrase "eternal progression" is really starting to make a lot more sense. I hope you guys always remember it, too.  

 

And I love you all.

 

Elder Preston Anderson

4/23/2012

Hi mom and family,

 

Great to hear all the great news from back home.  Love hearing that the family is sooooo close and sooooo big!!!!  I hope school finishes up just great for all of you.  Mom and Dad, how is Centerville life treating you?  Is everything still really normal?  Have the neighbors changed?  What is going on in my home!!!???

 

So second week in my new sector...this ward is incredible.  First off, it is one of the first areas of Ecuador that the missionaries arrived to, and so a bunch of the members already have a lifetime in the church.  The leaders really know what`s up--especially the priesthood holders.  Our bishop is like a clone of Bishop Wadley.  Really young and full of energy and all of the youth love him.  It is also the first ward where i have really seen members visit the less-actives and fulfill with their responsibilities as Home Teachers.  And the best part of the ward is that their are five preparing missionaries.  This week we have someone assigned each day to help us out in the work!!  Everything starts with organization.  It the leader is organized he can organize his "sheep" and if the "sheep" know their responsibilities everything is soooooooo much easier!  The ward mission leader is very organized and very willing to help us out.  I am so excited to really jump in and be a part of this ward.  I have a feeling and I pray that I can be here for a good chunk of my mission.  We shall see what the Lord has in store for me.

 

Well I got my in-grown toenails taken care of--all 4 of them.  The doctor decided not to give me anything to numb it so he just dug in.  Haha it hurt but he did it really fast and really effectively.  And the next day I could walk completely normally.  FINALLY!!!! I hope I never ever jamàs nunca have to deal with feet problems for the rest of my life.

 

As for the investigators and the baptism.  Well second baptism in a row, we had everything ready and last-minute something happened with the investigator`s family and they got scared.  We still haven`t been able to meet with Eduardo to see what`s up, but I feel like he shall be ready ONCE AGAIN to be baptized very soon.  I have gotten to know the majority of my sector and I am still very excited to find more people to teach because there ARE so many people to teach.

 

Mom-I still haven`t seen any monkeys.  There are tons of iguanas and such, but that is about it.  I hope to find a monkey soon.  They still haven`t told us anything about the phone call, but i promise that I will let you know.  No te preocupes.

 

Well, Elder`s Quorum was awesome this Sunday.  Yes...we talked about moms.  It is a pretty touchy subject for any missionary, but when they ask you to share what you feel for your mom when you are on the mission, that just isn`t fair.  Mom, I love you.  You brought 6 children into this world and did everything necessary to make sure they had a good future.  I don`t think I could ever really understand all that you did for me just like I willl never understand all that Christ did for me.  I love my mom.

 

And that just about wraps everything up. 

 

I shall talk to you soon

 

Elder Anderson 

4/16/2012

Hellooooooo!!!!!!

Ah things are sounding so great back at home and so glad to hear that everyone is soooo busy.  Finals week... holy cow I wish everyone the best of luck.  That is so awesome to hear about all the missionaries in our ward.  I have grown up in the midst of just outstanding people.  Wow dad... big shot, eh?  I hope everything is going well in your new assignment, and I don`t know....it might be completely great if you wrote me.  Love you, Dad.  Sounds like Kyle is just about ready then?  Slow down, everyone!!!! I have only been out 9 months and the family has gone up by 4!!!  Good to hear it, though.  I know that you all are happy and that everyone is on the right path.

 

Haha I would like to see Ryan Francom-my tallest friend-climb out the window.  Travel is very different outside of the states.  I am sure Ryan is experiencing the same thing that I am.  Last Monday, we got on a crowded bus with all of our groceries.  I had to set them down or else I wouldn`t fit.  When I went to pick them up my back pocket got caught on the sensor thing that the bus companies use to charge the Bus Drivers.  The Driver got way mad because he was losing money and it was just an all-around great experience. 

 

So I guess I am still a district leader.  It`s different though.  In all 9 months of my mission I have never had Sister Missionaries anywhere near me, and now I am their District Leader.  Wish me luck, I guess.

 

And my new ward is way, way different from the wards I have been in so far.  Lots of worth priesthood holders and such.  It has a lot more members.  Then only problem is that sacrament starts at 8 so that makes it a bit harder for the not so faithful to wake up on time.  Really, though, we are going to see a lot of success in this area and I am super excited to get going.  I`ve been a little held back by an in-grown toenail, though.  I had to go to the hospital to have it looked at and the doctor told me to rest and take some pills and such.  The swelling went down on one side, but I have to go back again tomorrow to get it taken care of once and for all.  Wish me luck, haha.  I`m sure it will all be fine, just super annoying because I have always had this problem. 

 

So we should have a baptism this coming Saturday.  His name is Eduardo.  He is 22 and his girlfriend is a member of the church.  And that is about all I know so far haha.  We brought an investigator to church and she was going to leave after Sacrament meeting, but the Relief Society President saw her and helped her go to the investigator class.  It was sweet because I haven`t seen much of that in my mission.  The members are so important to this work and it is very easy to recognize that in my new area. 

 

We had Zone Conference this past Friday.  I left so inspired to work hard and be the best missionary.  The President is such a stud.  I just can`t believe how inspired he is.  Missionaries face a lot of difficulties in the work and some really fail in their responsibilities as a companion.  He said something that just hit me so hard about companions.  If we can`t settle problems with our companion on the mission."pobrecita su esposa" (poor little wife), because there are no transfers in marriage.  I really have come a long ways in the way I approach a problem.  Ususally I just ignored everything and isolated myself.  That is pretty impossible in the mission so something had to change.  I hope I can keep it up because everything I am doing right now has everything to do with everything I will do in all of my life.  I really feel like I am progressing, even if I won`t be able to walk for a couple days.  I love my companion.  There is so much work to be done in my new area.  I am a representative of the Lord, Jesus Christ.  I have a family back at home who supports every move I make.  Everything in my life is a gift from God, and I am willing to show Him a little gratitude.  I love you all and I hope you now that I am praying for you. 

 

Elder Preston Michael Anderson

I think conference made him a little home sick!!

hola familia

I really don`t think you guys will ever understand how incredible I feel as I read about all the great things you are doing.  Conference was so powerful.  Can you say "family".  Holy cow, our leaders really know how to pound in the importance of a solid family.  The one from Cheryl Esplin really got me good.  Then the story of the little boy who started singing "I Am A Child Of God" underneath a collapsed building.  How we should take advantage of all the spontaneous moments to help teach our children.  As the choir sang, "Love is Spoken Here," so many feelings of gratitude and pure love came to comfort me.  Mine is a home where every hour is blessed by the strength of Priesthood power.  My mother kneeling with my family each day...Mom-do you remember when for a couple months you would come pray with Paige and I every night before bed? I never ever will forget about that.  Dad-all the priesthood blessings before the beginning of a new year at school, I don`t think you will ever know how big of a blessing that has been in my life.  Every six months where all the boys could head out at 6 o clock and hear our Priesthood leader counsel us.  It brings tears to know that the tradition continues in the Anderson family at the Priesthood Session

So many emotions come into play in the mission.  Right now, I feel comfort.  I know we are guided by inspired Prophets of God.  We are part of an eternal family.  So yep.........I love you all.

This week was a good one.  I, personally, had lots of chances to teach.  Me and my companion, Elder Castañeda, are still working like crazy to get some people to progress.  Genesis went to conference and really enjoyed it and she is still excited for her baptism this Saturday.  Jessenia, who was just recently baptized is still progressing like crazy.  She had her temple recommend interview on Wednesday, and the headed out with the a bunch of members of the word to visit some less actives.  For some reason she wasn`t able to go to the temple on Friday, but she shall be going soon.  She pretty much learned everything there is to know about the gospel in 2 months.  How cool is that? 

We headed out to a place called Mexico Lindo which is about a hour away and to get there you have to get on a Ranchero.  It was way fun and I really want to go back again haha.  So we got there and started looking for more people to teach.  It went well but then the last Ranchero headed back out to Ventanas so we were pretty much stuck there.  We thought the members of the ward who were visiting some less actives would be on top of things, but we all ended up being stuck together.  We started walking back at 7 when it was already night time and another Ranchero happened to pass by to give us all a ride back.  It was really cool walking back, though.  There were tons of fireflies-something that I had never seen before. 

This week, we saw a lot of progress.  I am definitely a changing person and all my dumb little personality traits are changing bit by bit.  My companion does lot of things that bother me.  But their things that really don`t matter.  I finally understood that and I hope to be able to start focusing on what matters.  Mom and Paige-you guys are definitely the winners as far as writing me goes.  Keep it up.  Every word in your letters is another help to keep pushing forward.  I`m doing great.  I am still really healthy.  And even though I can`t afford 485 dollar shoes(hahahahaha Tracy) I am still very happy

I am not sure how Easter goes down here but lots of people are starting to talk about the Pascua and I am pretty sure there are going to be lot of parties and lots of drinking.  But.... I hope you all enjoy the Easter Season, reflecting on the life that Christ has given to us.  I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH. SIGAN ADELANTE CON EL AMOR PURO DE CRISTO. LES QUIERO MUCHO. OREN POR MI.  ESCRÌBANME HERMANOS.

March 26, 2012

Another week in the mission.  Over all, I would like you to know that I grew about 10 times closer to Christ in these past few days.  This week was quite the struggle, but I know without a doubt that it is all worth it. 

The Cook family sent me out a package.  Holy incredibly kind.  I am forever grateful for the good friends that I have always had and for the parents that knew how to raise them.  Anyways, they sent a bunch of yummy cookies and I am loving it because nobody bakes in Ecuador.  I finally got a letter from Levi, also.  His mom also sent a little note and a couple of pictures of Levi and I in the MTC.  Wow my friends are so cool.  The Garrabrant`s also got another letter out ad everything just came at the right moment.  I was really in need of some encouragement from those I love. 

So this past week was quite the bumpy ride.  We are still able to teach a lot of lessons, but people`s hearts are very hardened to receive new light and knowledge in their lives.  I just want to yell it in their ears until they understand the way the spirit can help them in their lives and teach them what they must do.  Not a ton of people have been able or willing to progress in the gospel these past few days, but I know our Heavenly Father still has something in store for us, and I am more than willing to keep searching for that something.  There are still people who listen to us and accept the teachings and we will continue to help them through the challenges of their lives through the power of the restored gospel.

I don`t know if I have told you these funny stories yet--the old guys here are pretty crazy sometimes haha.  We once invited this guy to be baptized and he responded, "Dios me bautizò" (God baptized me).  He was way confused and we did our best to help him out.  A different old guy started talking to us about how aliens came and took him away one time and he has these paintings of UFO´s on the walls of his house.  The funny thing is that he had already accepted the book of mormon as the word of God and Joseph Smith as His chosen prophet.  A different guy started reading a few verses in Matthew and came across the word Raca, which is a name.  He read it as Roca--meaning rock in English.  Then he started saying that I was a rock and just so strange.  Haha, the confusion has really gotten deep in these old guys.

Well, this week a lot of people have been out of town or out on the town--nobody stays home for more than two seconds!!! Mostly because it is the last week of their School Vacations.  But we shared a lot of great experiences and I`ll just share a quick one.  So it was fast and testimony meeting.  First Josè Orellana, who recently has made a ton of changes in his life to be able to come back to church and has gotten married and is super stoked to be sealed to his family in the coming months, bore his testimony.  Way powerful.  The his wife, Marlene, bore her testimony.  She is the sweetest and most sincere little person this world has every seen.  Then the Branch President`s wife, Consuelo Llaguno, bore her testimony.  Practically the most powerful testimony I have ever heard.  The power of the spirit in her heartfelt testimony of Jesus Christ just nailed me.  Then to top it all off we sang "I know that my Redeemer lives" at the end.  I could not get the words out of my mouth.  I absolutely broke down in complete joy and peace and comfort and happiness and every good feeling that there is in this world.  After 8 months of just really pushing and pulling and doing everything you can to help someone get baptized, it isn`t way easy to always remember why we do it.  Jesus Christ is why.  I am his representative and too often we lose track of the importance of our calling.  Well I found it again and I am energized for the next year and a half of my life.

Oh how I love my Savior.  I love you all back at home and I am overjoyed to know that you are all doing well--including the three new additions. 

Keep up the great work

3/19/2012

Wowwww how is everything going?  Glad to hear that everyone is still hanging out and loving life even if they have to go back to school haha.  Have the mommies adjusted their lives to the new babies yet?  

So this week was just something else.  Really so many prayers were answered and I am just so certain that God is watching over me.  First off--our angel investigator was baptized.  We visited consistently this week, but she continued to be a little unsure about the baptism because of her parents. Her mom is pretty hard core catholic and Jessenia worried about the changes she would make by becoming a member of the LDS church.  But we got her into the baptismal interview and I was sitting outside the door so nervous and just praying like crazy.  It was a really long interview but she came out of the door just completely quiet and relaxed and I was scared to ask her how it went.  So she walked out and I looked at the missionary who gave the interview and he showed me her signature at the bottom of the page.  No, I don`t believe you!! Wow I couldn`t fight back the tears I was so excited and shocked.  My prayer was answered and all of the efforts really payed off.

So we planned the baptism and everything was just awesome.  She has got all of the support in the world with the Relief Society and just incredible how the spirit has touched her heart in just two short months.  She is already excited to go to the temple and just learn everything about the gospel.  Holy awesome.  The only sad thing is that her parents still don`t know about the baptism.  She is scared to tell them, but I feel like they will soon see the joy she has found in the gospel and change their minds.  I could talk about this one forever and ever but just know that the Lord is leading my efforts and their are people in this world hungry for the gospel.

Yesterday we had an experience that I thought would happen a lot sooner and lot more often in the mission.  This guy named William is super awesome.  He was way anxious to hear our message and everything.  We had given his sister a Book of Mormon and he ended up being more interested than she was.  We started talking about what the Book of Mormon and then we assigned him to read 3 Nephi 11 (When Christ visits the Americas).  He was all in shock saying, "What? Christ came to the Americas?!!!" Of course he did, we responded.  He was so curious and excited to read about it and I was so excited for him.  We shall go later today and talk about the chapter and give him a baptismal invitation.  

Not to much else going on with other investigators.  UMMM so Ana and Diana (the dry members-haha) went to the temple with all the young women on Friday.  Of course they couldn`t go in but it got them a ton more interested to get baptized.  We haven`t been able to visit them tons because their parents make it hard for them to progress, but they got all mad at us and forced us to go visit again.  Finally we were able to talk at least a little bit with their Dad and set up an activity with the whole family.  This Thursday we will know if they will be baptized or not.  And besides them, Genesis could not make it to her baptismal interview this past friday because she was in Guayaquil, but she also has a lots of hope to be baptized this coming  saturday.  We shall continue praying for all of them.

I still am here in my area for at least three more weeks.  It will be really rough to leave behind this area.  We have grown really close to all the members and they support us in so many ways.  Wow, I will have to take advantage of the blessings I have here and just hope for the best in the coming weeks and months.  

Can you believe I have been out 8 months?  Can you believe how long you and Dad have been married?  Just a few more days and you got some good 30 years under your belt, right?  Haha we are all getting so old, but we got lots of life left in us and I am very excited for all of it.  I love you all very much and I am still here praying for all of you.

A little spiritual thought--I don`t know if you guys had the same lesson that we had in Priesthood meeting, but it was about sustaining the Lord`s servants.  It had the example of Aaron and Hur supporting the arms of the prophet, Moses, while he held the staff up above the battle that was happening.  By simply raising our hands to show our sustaining vote we help the work move forward.  The leaders of the church need our support.  May we always give it to them.  Prepare for the coming conference.  Wow it is gonna be awesome.  I just know it.  

Keep me updated with Brother Flake.  

Much love, Elder Anderson

3-12-2012

Hello family.

Glad to hear los tres pequeños are all doing alright, and I hope Heather can be back to her regular strength.  I wish Paige and Kyle wouldn`t be having so much fun without me haha. I love you all very much.  Jealous of all the amazing things that are happening right now in your lives.  We have it pretty dang good in Centerville, Utah. 

This week was pretty incredible.  We still have our investigator sent from heaven ready and excited for her baptism this Saturday.  She came to Church with her little boy and she just has the sweetest spirit.  In the MTC I always dreamed of people like her who really recognized us as representatives of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  She has found a testimony of Joseph Smith and finds so much peace as she reads the Book of Mormon.  She has always had a fear of praying in front of others but she said a prayer the other day and it brought me to tears.  She is so incredible and the Lord is so mindful of her and of me at this time.  Such a strength to the healing power of the Atonement in our lives.

We don`t have tons of investigators right now but we have lots of opportunities to teach.  There was a few weeks where hardly anyone would accept us, except for little kids, but now there are a lot more adults that at least listen to our message before they reject us at the door. 

One difficult thing that has been going on in the Branch is that all the young men who are at the age to serve a mission have gone completely less-active.  I want to carry them all to the MTC and kick their butts into shape, but that is just not how it works.  I am extremely grateful for the encouragement I have received my whole life to serve a mission.  Incredible parents and siblings, outstanding leaders, and exemplary friends. 

On Tuesday, this guy yelled out, "tell me about Joseph Smith." Turns out that he was a referall with whom the missionaries had talked to the day before.  Fernando has completely changed his life around in the past few months leaving behind a drunken past.  He knows that God loves him and his humble heart is so ready to hear the gospel.  He still has quite a bit to change but the Gospel will help him do so.  There are always the bummer people who say they will go to church and never show up, but these past few weeks have been a little different, because people actually show up.

Well that was my week.  Keeping up my spirits to work hard and push forward.  I love you all very, very much.

Until next time,

Elder Anderson

Preston is having a hard time remembering that Tyler and Annie really had a baby boy

Big baby, eh!!! So glad to hear he finally made it out!! How awesome!?? Are all the moms doing alright? Wow, how does my brother Tyler feel to see his little girl.  Oh my wow.  I am so excited for all of you.  I read the talk from Elaine S. Dalton from the last Conference about a father`s love for his daughter.  I got all this baby fever and it just makes me feel so thrilled for Tyler to have a little baby.  I love you ALLL!!!

This week went really well down here.  We got our best investigator back on track, Jessenia.  We were really worried but we went over on Tuesday and we used the General Conference talk with the Book of Mormon and the Bible represented by the two dots.  It worked really well and it was such a spiritual lesson.  She went to church and intends to go the next week and the next week.  She has a baptismal date for the 17th of March and all seems to be going well for that.  We have other investigators right now, but many are really struggling to progress.  However, we met an awesome family this past week and it is one of the first times I have been able to sit myself down and teach a mom, a dad, and their kids.  People just do not spend time as a family and it makes it way hard to find families to teach, but we have lots of hope for this one.

We got some good solid rejections this week haha.  I think every house in this area has had missionaries knock on their door more than once, and people have really hardened thier hearts.  We have other small neighborhoods that we would love to go visit but they are way far away and it is a little hard to get there because they are in the middle of nowhere.  But it seems like the middle of nowhere is where we have had success so we shall be heading out very soon. 

The new Liahona this month is a lot about the life of Thomas S. Monson.  We still don`t have one in the house and it is killing me.  I hope you guys all take advantage of the amazing gifts we have as members of the church and read the words of the living prophet. 

We had a family night this past week with a family that has a less-active dad.  It was all awesome and at the end the mom spoke very boldly and very frankly to her husband.  She told him straight up in front of everyone that she wants to be sealed as an eternaly family and be married in the temple, and that he is stopping that from happening haha.  It was brutal but necessary and he ended up going to church this past week and they are on their way to go to prepare for the blessings of the temple.  So excited for them. 

Well, that is my life this past week.  Praying for you always and counting my blessing everyday.  I have been blessed with the gospel, with a stable family, and with a testimony of the Lord, Jesus Christ.  What else could I ask for?  Satan would have me discouraged right now, but I cannot let that happen  The work moves on and I love to be apart of it. 

Have I told you that Zach Davis is in a couple of the DVD´s that we have.  Every companionship has Preach My Gospel DVD´s and he is in a couple of them.  Haha fun to see someone I know in live action. 

Hey is Brother Flake coming soon?  and when you told me that I should buy directly from the credit card, were you talking about my card from home or my card on the mission? LET ME KNOW!!!

I love you all and Congratulations Tyler and Annie!!!!

2/27/2012- two babies this past week, and our third will be here this week :)

Hello Parker and Abby!!!!!! How exciting.  Oh I had all these things churning feelings in my stomach worrying about how the deliveries would go.  Two out and one still waiting.  Haha sorry Annie.  You`ll be there soon and I am so excited to see the new little baby next week!!!!! They look super cute.  I am sure you guys are just loving it, and even if I can`t be there, I still am just as excited for all of you.  The family grows even closer as a new one is welcomed in and I feel so close to all of you even if I am so far!!!

So three of us are already having babies, one on a mission, one waiting for a mission to end, and one bringing up a girl from Arizona? Kyle, how is everything going.  You know you gotta keep me updated.  Nick Smith wrote me back and it was great to hear from him.  He is doing great out there in Taiwan.  Nathan Garlick is still doing awesome and I just know all my buds are working their butts off to be the missionaries they must be. 

And the mission is still going great.  We are working as hard as we can and sometimes it doesn`t feel like it is all worth it, but that is when God comes in with all of his tender mercies.  Jessenia has been super great, but the past few days have been just a little different.  We tried to explain to her that if the book of mormon is true then everything else is true along with it.  However, she doesn`t share the same idea.  It was a rough lesson trying to help her see how the book of mormon can help her receive answers.  She was all ready to go to church and everything for the second time but she didn`t show.  We went to her house after and she wasn`t home.  We don`t know if we should give her some space to think or if we should call or make a surprise visit.  We`ll do what the spirit tell us, I guess.  Just really worried that we might have lost one of our best investigators.

This week we looked a lot for new investigators.  It went okay and we are a lot better at contacting now.  Yesterday we were in our area where 90 percent of the people have had missionaries in their house.  It is sad to see that even after having messengers sent from God enter your house that you can still reject their message.  Oh well, we have to keep pouring the spirit on them until they open their eyes to it.  That is definitely the biggest difficulty right now.  Hearts are so hardened well placed in their ideas that they do not welcome new knowledge from God.

But the work really is progressing.  We found some new people and we have tons of hope that they can progress towards a real conversion.  The ward is amazing here and they have become really good friends.  I was almost certain that I was going to be transferred today but here I am once more in Las Palmeras.  I know there is something here for me and that the Lord has a very special purpose for each and every one of his missionaries.  I will be His servant at all times.  It has been a great ride and I am ready to go the extra mile.  I love my family very much and I pray for all of you every day.  This week I was reading in Alma 56 about the Stripling warriors.  Holy sweet.  I have read the story a lot but it hit me with this amazing power in this moment.  Their courage and faith is unbelievable.  Their mothers had taught them the way of the world and that God will not let them fall if they obey him.  Mom I love you so much and I will be your stripling warrior.  I know God is with me and he will not let me fall.

God be with you till we meet again.

Elder Preston Michael Anderson

2/20/2012

So glad to hear all the good stuff that goes on at home!!! I´m glad
grandma Elaine is already feeling a little better.  I will keep her
and Grandpa in my prayers always.  Thank you for the Valentine´s
package!! I got it right on Valentine´s day and I had no idea it was
coming.  You guys are way to awesome and I love you bunches.  I love
the toys that you sent with it too, haha.  Those bubble things should
be fun with the kids we teach.  I really miss those birthday
celebration things with all the fam...especially the food haha.  But
oh well.  I am still eating plentifully and it is starting to show
haha.  But don´t worry--I am starting to exercise a lot better and I
think we are going to start playing some more basketball.  Glad to
hear that you enjoyed the camp.  The youth in Lakeview Ward have
always been waayyyy to spoiled with amazing leaders and always will
be.  Wow Taylor Ford already heads out?? and Elder Smoot already came
in?  Va bolando la vida. Que Loco!

Down in Ecuador, we are celebrating Carnaval.  For the past week or so
people have been feeling up buckets of waters, loading up the squirt
guns, and just going at it.  There is one place that is especially
terrible because people show no respect.  We usually can avoid it by
going a different way, but this time we were way too tired and we
didn´t want to go back the long way.  They saw us coming from a mile
away.  I really did not expect them to get us wet at all because we
have all of our books and stuff and they know that we are missionaries
and they usually show a little more respect.  Yeah....they got their
buckets and first got my Companion all wet.  They got me a little wet,
but I was just so mad and shocked that people could do that.  But I
got over it and now I know better, haha.  Besides that, rain totals
are remarkable.  I tried to take pictures of this one night but It was
pretty hard to see in the dark.  All the streets had water up to the
knees.  It started raining in the blink of an eye.  But this is not
rain like you think.  Rain falls on a whole different level. In about
one hour it came and went but I´m pretty sure it rained more in that
one hour than it does in an entire year in Utah.  I am not joking.
Our house has tin roofing and the noise was unbelievable.  Water
started coming in from the windows and it got a bunch of stuff wet.
My suitcase got a little bit and it got my shirts that I still haven´t
worn.  I hope that the mamita can get the stains out.  We shall see.
So that is the water story for the week.  This holiday Carnaval
doesn´t end till Wednesday.  They say today and tomorrow are the worst
days so they won´t let us go out and preach....

And this past week was another great week.  Finally broke the
no-baptism streak.  Ruben and Beto are super awesome.  They come from
a family a lot like ours kids wise.  There are six kids and they are
all really young.  The baby has been super sick but she finally made
it out of the hospital this past week.  Their mom was able to show up
to church with her two sons and that was a big surprise for us.  It
was her first time and she really enjoyed it.  It has been hard to
teach the family because they are not literate.  The parents, Beto,
Ruben--nobody can read.  It is way sad to see stuff like this but
their attitude toward life is awe-inspiring.  So much can be going so
wrong and life can be so hard but they have never not had a smile on
their face.  I love them all so much and they deserve the very best.
Saturday was Beto´s baptism.  Ruben´s was the next day because he
couldn´t leave the house on Saturday.  We shall continue to teach
them, but things seem really well because they have good friends who
are members and who live next door.

The investigator sent from heaven, Jessenia, is still moving forward.
She was really sick on Saturday and Sunday.  She ended up going to the
doctor so she was not able to attend church.  However she has almost
completely given up drinking coffee and she still says she is
preparing for her baptism this next Saturday.  She is the investigator
I always dreamed of teaching before the mission.  One who didn´t just
say "yes" or "no" to every question but one that really understands
and wants the light of knowledge that the spirit of God can give to
her.  The spirit in her home is incredible.

Well those are pretty much our investigators right now.  A ton of
people that we were teaching before are a lot less excited to listen
to us and that made this past week pretty rough.  We started knocking
doors and just one big bummer after another.  But everything turned
out in the end and we have found some new potential investigators.
Life goes on and I am really enjoying the work.  Everything is
starting to make a lot more sense to me as far as the people and
culture go.  They are way different, but I think I have found my way
into the groove.  We shall keep the work moving.  I love the work and
I know I am where I should be.

I love you all so much and I thank my Father in Heaven everyday for
the family that has been given to me.

Sincerely, Elder Preston Anderson

2/13/2012

Still no babies!! What are you all waiting for? How is the Utah life going for you?  That is hard to hear about grandma.  I have never seen her sit down for more than 20 minutes (apart from to sit down and sew) and imagining her in a hospital is hard.  I will continue to pray for her and I know that granny and grandpa will be alright.  Happy valentine`s Day tomorrow.   That means that Tyty turns 23 pretty darn soon, huh?  Wow ty, you are an old fart.  I guess we are all just an old fart family.  Lucky we have three little babies to bring the average age back down to normal haha. 

So really, really, awesome week.  These past weeks have been good, hard work, but this week we really saw the fruits of our labors.  This area has been a really nice challenge from my Heavenly Father but I don`t think I could be sent to any other part of the world and come to love it so much in three short months.  So the highlight of everything was that we had seven investigators that attended church.  Such a BLESSING!!!  We still haven`t got the permission from Ana and Diana`s Dad but they really are pretty much members already.  After church, all of the young women sat down with them and they are starting off with their personal progress.  We are going to start calling them Miembro Seco uno y dos (dry member 1 and dry number 2) because they attend everything and are a part of everything but still have not gotten wet in the baptismal font.  Tomorrow, we are planning on going to make another effort to talk with the dad with the first counselor of the Branch Presidency.  Way excited about it and I`m going in with lots of faith.

This Saturday we will have two baptisms.  Alberto and Ruben are nine and eleven.  They are super cool along with their whole family.  They have a little sister who is in the hospital with their mom.  It is super sad.  The dad is so humble and so spiritually sensitive.  He struggles to know how to treat the poor situation, but we are doing what we can to help them all out with the difficulties. 

And the angel investigator this week is Jissenia.  She is the sister of a door contact.  She also is going through a rough time, but the Gospel is right there to help her out.  She understands everything like crazy and at first it was hard to have an effective lesson with her because nobody else understands like she does so we all got confused.  However, the last lesson went really well and she is on her way to stop drinking coffee hopefully.  She showed up to church and the entire congregation was super nice to her and she has a huge support group already.  In the investigator class she participated a ton and everything.  Tonight, her neighbors that are members are going to invite her to a family home evening.  Wow this church is awesome and every directing that we receive from the prophets is so divinely inspired.  Family Night`s are awesome!!!

Wow I want to tell you everything about each one of the people we are teaching, but I`ll end with Luis.  We knocked his door on Tuesday and he opened the door and acted like he already knew us, invited us in, and served us some cola.  He then began to explain his huge desire to stop smoking and drinking.  He opened up like crazy and every question he had was so easy to respond to with the gospel.  We gave him the Word of Wisdom pamphlet which he read with his wife and he hasn`t smoken or consumed alcohol in these past five days.  Wow he is super cool!!

And I`ll end there.  I wish I could go on and on but you know how time goes here. I will be sending more photos this next Monday. Sorry it has been so long.  So that is me this week.  I love you all like crazy and Happy Valentine`s Day.

Elder Preston Anderson

2*6*2012

Buenas tardes.  ¿còmo les va? 

Sounds like a pretty great week that everyone had.  I had no idea at all that the superbowl was coming up.  Fun, though.  I always loved when all the fam got together and we were able to eat little smokies.  You guys are awesome.  So together all the time and that is so important.  Keep it up haha.  It is so hard to see families that have just been destroyed because parents just started off wrong and never figured it out.  Thank goodness we always have had the surest foundation of all:  The Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Amazing how it just makes everything so much more clear.  Maybe not easier, but we surely know the way out of difficulties when they come.

That is so great to hear about Scott Gold!!! Oh I am so thrilled for him.  Make sure you tell him congrats for me and if possible get him to write me an email.  Wow Austin Smoot is already heading in.  Michael Holman, Michael Moulton, and then Lee Essig in July.  Wow there is no way they have already been out so long.  I am approaching seven months and that is just insane.  I hope everything is well with Elder Leiber.  Losing a missionary from the field is a big blow to take for the work of the Lord.  Of course nobody can stop the work from moving forward, but it only brings discouragement when something like that happens.  Haha mom, get ready for camp.  Wow I love southern Utah.  Last year I went down like four times and it is so fun.  Bishop Wadley is incredible and all of the youth, too.  Keep up the great work Lakeview Ward.  Not sure who TC Christensen is? Did he work with the film 17 Miracles?  I did get to see that the month before I left.  It was really good and I´m in the same boat with you, mom.  I am forever and ever grateful for the sacrifices they have made so that we have the chance to enjoy the blessings of the Zion they helped to establish.

That is way crazy with Heather!!!! Wow wow wow.  Wait a few more days, honey.  Only three more weeks for three new babies.  So so exciting.  I expect to see three new faces in my email in these next few weeks.  Glad to hear that work and studies are all going well for the Anderson youth.  We are lucky to have the natural drive to do what is necessary.  Each one of us have so much potential to establish a family with the right work ethic. 

Okay so yeah.. pretty crazy week once more.  I had to go to Guayaquil on Wednesday for a huge counsel of all the leaders in the mission.  It was a privilege to be amongst such a dedicated army of God`s Soldiers.  We saw lots of numbers.  Not that we only work with numbers, but it helps a lot to see how we need to improve on setting goals and fulfilling with our promises we have made to teach and baptize.   I then found out that I had to stay another day for a different meeting with all missionaries who are in the first 12 weeks (my companion).  I had no clothes, no towell, no food, no nothing haha.  But the Assistants are cool and they helped me out with everything.  I got to spend a lot of time with Elder Hancey.  It was really fun talking to him about Centerville and such.  Also got to learn a ton from President Amaya.  He is truly great and I feel like I have been brought out of the darkness of ignorance and into the light of knowledge as far as the misisonary work is concerned.  I have learned a ton a ton a ton in these few months but this week even more than usual. 

So in the mission office there is a pull-up bar and I haven`t seen one of those since the MTC, so I took advantage of the opportunity--not worth it.  Holy cow, I could not lift up my arms for the past two days.  So SORE!!!  But now I feel better and a lot more healthy.  I think I made it back down to my regular weight because everyone is telling me that I look skinnier.  I feel really healthy, though.   

We expected to have a baptism this week but it just did not turn up.  It still is possible for this next Saturday, but we`ll see.  We got to teach a lot this week and I feel a ton more comfortable with the teaching part of everything.  Sunday really was such and up-down day.  We only got two investigators at church (I still am way grateful that we got two) but it was such a spiritually uplifting experience.  These are my people.  The members are such good friends and there testimonies just nailed me in the heart.  Holy powerful.  My testimony will never fail.  I sometimes get discouraged but I will always know that the church is true.  After church we went to get the papers signed so that Ana and Diana can get baptized this Saturday.  It was all good after we sang Families can be together forever but the dad was way into his soccer match on TV and he got really upset when his daughter asked him if she could get baptized.  He pretty much said, "ask mom!" but the mom won`t do anything until the dad says it`s okay.  So we will have to keep working with that.  Right after we went over to find Ivan for an appointment and he wasn´t home.  Went over to meet Jaritsa`s dad for another appointment and all they could give us was, "we`re tired."  So that was a hard two hours of my mission.  I was really down.  But it all ended off good with Anabel and Carolina.  Anabel goes to church, memorizes hymns, reads the Book of Mormon everyday, has all the Liahonas since the beginning of time and just loves the church.  But...she still won`t get baptized.  We decided to commit her to holding a fast.  She will start tomorrow and we hope the best.  I have a lot of faith in this one. 

Well that was a ton. I hope you can stay awake long enough to read this whole letter.  And I still am super happy.  The letters received have helped a ton.  Just opened up a package from the Layton family and yeah..they are way too nice.  But waaaayyy too nice.  Got letters from a few of my friends.  They are all way too nice.  I love hearing about the life back there.  They are all doing way good.  I would actually love to get a letter from one of my buddies on the mission.  I get the weekly update from Nate and Sam, but I don`t know anything about Bennett, Jake, Nick, Levi, or David.  Hope they write soon.  And thanks for getting all the letters out that I sent.  You rock my world.  I thought of something else that I would like to have sent with Brother Flake.  Yeah my suit is bad.  It is huge and just...no.  I need another one.  If you can send the one that I had right before the mission, I would love you forever.  If not, I can work on finding one here.  They are cheap so if it isn`t possible to send one with Brother Flake, don`t worry about it.

And this is the end of my huge e-mail.  I love you all.  See ya soon.

Elder Preston Anderson

1*30*2012

And hello once more. I only have great things to say about this week. I loved it and I am super animado. Las palmeras continues to be an awesome Branch of the true church. Me and my companion are getting along really well and we have learned sooooo much together. I have become a different person in a lot of good ways. I still have tons of weaknesses en todos lados but It is a lot more easy for me to recognize them and then take them to a loving Heavenly Father and apply the promise that we have in Ether 12:27. Wow the scriptures have blessed my life so much these past few days. Thank you prophets.

Wow I had almost forgotten about Jimmer. Has dad been staying a true blue Jazz fan? You guys should head out with Brad and Tracy more for those games. I promise you it is a great date haha. Speaking of which, I had the strangest but most realistic dream a couple of days ago. We had gotten home from a date with I won`t say who and the whole family was sitting on the stairs that go up to Mom`s room and you guys would not leave us alone. And of course Kyle Shupe and Heather were there to hastle me to kiss her. I felt like I was back at home again haha. As for my other dreams, mom seems to be really good friends with all of my investigators haha. My two worlds are mixing up and now mom can speak Spanish.

Babies, babies, babies!!! How fun. Tell them all congrats for me-Alex and Kelsey, Jessie. Only a few more weeks till we get to see a little Wallace, a little Shupe, and a little Anderson. Have you all thought of names yet? I could give you some pretty crazy latino names haha. Utah sounds like it is doing great and I am so glad to hear it. Keep up the good work.

This week really was awesome. We are doing a lot better with organizing our schedule and getting the important things done. Walking is pretty fun haha. Lately we have had to walk out to this one place a lot this week and it isn`t too close. Oh well, lots of good exercise. I am still with my companion but that could change really soon. It seems like they like to switch the trainers out after the first 10 weeks and that is coming up soon. I still feel like I won`t be leaving my area for a while, but who knows. I will go where the Lord tells me even if I am not way too excited about it haha. I really love my area. The people are awesome. I have made such good friends with the members, the Branch Leaders, and all the investigators. I really do feel at home!!

So Raul`s sisters, Ana and Diana, have been going to church and to all the church activities the past two months, they even went to clean the church as a service project. However, they have not been able to receive permission from their Mom to be baptized. But, drumroll...........we got it yesterday! I was shocked. I really still do not know why she suddenly changed but she started out by telling us how great we are that we left our families and homes to be here and then she asked us if we could baptize her girls. Holy awesome. I was so thrilled and relieved and their baptism will be this week. Way excited.

What else. Still thinking a ton about the blessing of the temple in our lives. I am anxious to go there with my future wife but I will have to postpone that for a couple more months or years. Well I love you all and I am thinking of you constantly. Have a great week. Wow it is already going to be February!!!!!

Elder Preston Anderson

1/23/2012

And hello once more my beloved family. Glad to hear all of the exciting news from back home as always. Kyle got his snowmobiling in...like I ever doubted it would happen. I`m a little jealous about the snow up there but we make up for it in rain in Ecuador. AHHHH five more weeks until the little ones come out. Thank goodness. Sounds like an awesome activity with the youth and the YM YW presidencies. I always loved the activities where we had all the presidency speak to the youth. I always was so inspired to keep pushing forward and every young men and every young women needs direction and encouragement like that. How amazing. We are so blessed to have had leaders in the church that have helped us to become who we are now. The gospel is so perfect and there are so many amazing organizations in the church that truly do change the world one life at a time.

So we had a truly awesome week. It started off completely crazy. Here we go....So after we got back to the house on Monday I received the assignment to me District Leader. I thought they were calling to take me out of my area and I was really about to cry because I do not want to leave. And then they told me my assignment which also really scared me. But all is well and I felt this wave of strength and revelation given to me this week. I have seen the importance of setting goals very strongly this week and it feels great to mark something off the "to-do-list" knowing that it has blessed the life of someone else. Did you know that I am still teaching English Classes? Anyways I handed out the testimonies of the Lakeview Ward Youth to the kids who go to the English Class and they all had to translate the testimonies to Spanish. The next class is that they have to write their testimonies in Spanish and we will help them put it in English. It is way fun and the youth here are awesome.

Everyone is on Summer vacation and so a lot of them have been helping us out a lot. Kathy and her family invited their aunt and cousins to a family night and she organized everything out and all we had to do was teach a little bit about the restoration. It went really well but they are still a little hesitant to accept a baptismal date but they all showed up to church to our surprise. It was awesome. We found a lot of new people to teach this week because of the efforts of the members; especially the youth.

One of my new responsibilities now is that I perform baptismal interviews. I have always dreaded the day when I would have to do one for fear of the language and fear if something difficult came up. But I was lucky and every one of the five interviewees were awesome. Their really are a lot of amazing people and I love talking with each and every one of them. We are starting to have a weekly activity where we go to a different neighborhood to one of the member`s houses where they have to invite someone new to join in on the spiritual activity. Tonight we are going to the Branch President`s house and I asked him yesterday what we should prepare and he just said, "nothing." He and his family are going to take care of everything. All we have to do is show up with our investigators and all good. We are so blessed with the support of the Members.

What else what else. I have found so much peace in these past few weeks as I was able to watch several movies about Jesus Christ. It is a big sacrifice what I am doing here, but two years is so short when we have an eternal outlook. I don`t want to waste another minute. Bring it on.

Well I love you all very very very very much and bueno, sigamos adelante con la fe firme en Cristo.

Elder Preston Anderson

and for Brother Flake, I would like some Beef Jerky, another thingy to hold my tie in place, and all of my other ties that I had before my mission. I don`t know why I didn`t just take all of them. Anyways, nothing besides that. I`ll keep thinking but I am all good for now.