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