December 30, 2009

Hey family, I have lots of e mails to write today. Tons of people wrote me about Christmas. And I really don’t have much to say, but that I love you guys. I'm glad that Christmas went well. For me it didn’t even feel like Christmas at all - no tree, no lights and it was really hot, but I’m kinda glad or I would have been sad. My Christmas dinner was bread and cheese ha-ha, but normally its just bread because cheese is expensive. But I love you all and I wanna hear what everyone got! Love you all.

(We sent Tim some pictures from Christmas Day, and he comments on the pictures below.)

Here are my comments on the pictures. You all look so great and so happy.

(The first picture was a picture of our Christmas dinner. It is a Brazilian recipe that we found and made for our Christmas dinner called Feijoada.)
Have I heard of Feijoada?...It’s like the most famous lunch here! And the taste of it is always really good but here they just throw in the nastiest parts of animals. One time I found a piece of cloth. I don’t know what they use to make it, but it’s wild. They have Feijoada parties and they make t-shirts with their names on it and stuff... One time a baptism fell because his mom made Feijoada that day. It’s ridiculous, ha.

(The second picture we sent was of a bunch of wild turkeys on the lawn. They come around everyday, but we always joke about how brave they are to come around on holidays.)
Wow you guys did have turkey for Christmas. But no snow? Bummer! I bet Mom was happy though.

(The next picture was of family sitting on the couch, but it is new so Tim hasn’t seen it.)
Ok, so you guys bought a new couch for the basement? Sweet. I miss real couches. They just have really, really hard home made ones here. Ha I also miss carpet. That doesn’t exist here.

But anyways love you guys. Thanks for the pics.

(Tim also sent us some pictures which he describes below, and the pictures follow.)

Ok family here are some pics. I hope they all work. They are me with some of my little buddies ... my shirt after a spontaneous service project... and the last one – well, we came yesterday and when we went upstairs to go to bed my companion couldn’t find his fan... Well it had melted into a puddle. I mean the entire fan was a puddle with a motor in the middle ... and that’s my bed post that had caught fire from it... but miraculously the fire went out... I don’t know how. You can see how the bed post is charcoal - like it was on fire. And this all happened while we were out working. But yeah, it was funny - just a puddle of a fan - not even sure how it happened. His fan was turned off and everything. Yeah Brazil! Ha, anyways enjoy.

December 23, 2009

Hi everybody, I wish I could write back to you all individually but I don’t have much times this week but I’ll get to talk to you anyway!!! Yeah that’s exciting huh... first time actually talking to you in what will be 7 months... crazy huh? I don’t think I had gone a day before the mission in my whole life when I went without talking to you ... and I actually miss it believe it or not.

So sorry it will be late but I did sent a Christmas letter so be looking for that! This week we had a Christmas conference and it was just half of the missionaries in Itabuna. But it was really neat and then we ate at a really, really good restaurant. It’s the first time in the whole mission I actually loved the food. It was one of those meat places you always told me about Dad. It was amazing.

Anyways, on the 24th I will call you guys at home and give you the number to call me at on the 25th. I think you guys will end up calling me at our church building maybe around 2 o’clock my time . When I call the 24th I’ll know everything for sure. We have one hour to talk and I think that’s about all the details on that.

Oh this week when we were walking to church a homeless man punched me in the stomach as hard as he could... and just kept on walking... There wasn’t much I could do but laugh. For some reason it was really funny to me at the time. Thanks for the prayers and fasting. I know they are helping. This week was a lot better. I've learned how to keep a good balance of us doing the right things and still keeping peace and the spirit in our companionship. It’s still hard, but much better. So thanks. I can’t wait to call you and have a good week!

December 16, 2009

Hey there family,

Thanks so much for that e mail, and the pictures. I think this week has been the hardest week of my life, and I think I’ve come closer to the Lord than any other week in my life.

(Tim describes a visit to an investigator’s home and a portion of it is shared below.)

...so I just sat in the other room and read my Book of Mormon and then one of my little 13 year old baptisms who I baptised with R. Ferreira walked in and said “Are you reading the Book of Mormon?”, and I said “Yeah.” He said “Hey I was just in my house reading it. Can you mark a part for me to read?” I said “Go get your book.” So he ran and got it and me and Patrick read. I read a verse and then he read a verse for about an hour, and it was exactly what I needed at the time. It was one of the best experiences of my mission. I love that guy. And then I saw this woman moving dirt. Her family was building a house and they had to poor concrete the next day and her husband had to work all night. So it was just her and a little boy shoveling and wheel burrowing dirt for this foundation, so I just went and started helping because my comp was just standing there Bible-bashing with this girl. Everyone here thinks Americans are automatically rich and they don’t know how to work, and it really makes me mad sometimes. So I grabbed that shovel and I moved dirt like you can’t believe. And everybody was saying “Wow, gringo (that’s what they call Americans) can work! And I don’t understand it because none of them even have jobs, but anyways we got that house all ready for pouring and the woman was so grateful and she gave us crackers. I represented America and I sweated like I’ve never sweated in my life - just soaked every inch of my body. My pants weighed 20 pounds and I actually enjoyed it because its been almost 7 months and I haven’t done anything with my hands. They started to look like girl hands but now they’re blistered up again ha. But anyways thanks for all your prayers. They mean the world to me, but I’ll be fine with everything. It’s just hard but in reality it’s been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Thanks for everything I’ll try and send some pics now. Love you all.

And your questions:

I think we’ll be in Salvador the 21st and 22nd, but honestly ... it’s not even for sure. Those are just the rumors so I don’t know anything about calling you guys. Thanks for the money. We’ll go to dinner or something.
I haven’t backed up my photos yet but I will some day, ha.
Yeah I know how much you love me. Thanks.

Oh and I can’t believe I almost forgot; yesterday we had a huge conference with half the mission and with Elder Zwick (I think that’s how you spell it). I think he is in the Seventy. I got to talk with him a lot. Actually he stood in the lunch line with me and Elder Hadley and I got to see him again too, so that was cool. ... but it was good. He taught lots of good things.

December 9, 2009

Hey family,

Yeah, I would give anything for some cold weather; or just not to sweat. Holy smokes just sitting doing nothing I’m just dripping sweat. You can image how it is when I’m working. Yeah I knew Elder R. Ferriera was getting married. That’s all he talked about, ha. His girlfriend waited for him. I think she is a really good girl. I’m happy for him. I really hope I can see him again.

Well this last zone conference, Pres Vechii went over all the rules that he wants kept and they are lots (many are different than they were with the last mission president) and some are really hard like using church clothes on p day and so forth. But I just decided I’m here for 2 years; I’m gonna give it all for two years. So I gave my mp3 to a little boy on the street and just have been as obedient as I can.

But ... things are good. My friend from the CTM, Elder Howard, is in my zone ... I love him.

I miss the snow and yeah for Christmas we’re all going to Salvador which is cool. I’m excited to see Elder Hadley and my other friends. I haven’t seen them for what will be 5 months. I have no idea about calling you guys because I think I’ll be in Salvador but don’t worry, when I know I’ll let you guys know. I had a dream I was home for Christmas... I woke up and just cried haha. I miss you guys. I really can’t wait to just put on my pjs, get some ice cream and watch a movie with you guys. That will be a good day. But until then take care. Can’t wait to talk to you guys. Ok now I’ll answer the questions.

We’re still working on the marriage for the parents of the kids we baptized ...it takes time. I will probably not be here when they get baptized.
I haven’t backed up my photos yet.
I got the video of monkey (Monty) but I could only hear it. I couldn’t see anything.
I’m not 100 percent sure on what days we’ll be in Salvador but I think we will be there for Christmas.
I know nothing about calling you guys yet.

Ok, take care. Love you all.


Following is an email we just received from Tim’s last companion, Elder R. Ferreira that just went home: (Tim loved this companion. He was a great trainer and an excellent missionary.)


thank you so much. Elder Anderson is obedient and he is funny to, he is not afraid to talk to everybody albout the gospel, he teach so good and know the tecnics for help the people to go the Chist and indured to the end, and he love the people so much and is the most important on missionary work... love ROgério Ferreira

December 2, 2009

Ok, so I’m gonna be really fast because my new comp is already done with the internet and I just got done reading all of mine! But anyways, he seems different but I think it will be a good transfer. He wants to baptize and I do too so I’m excited for that. It’s been really, really hard leaving my last comp. At the bus station when he hugged me, he started to cry and said “You’re my brother”. Oh man, I lost it. We were both crying. I only have his e mail address, but I forgot it at my house. Man it was hard though. You have your friends from before the mish and then you make mission friends, but some of them are stronger bonds than your friends from before. But I’m happy for him. We went to an all you can eat Brasilian buffet (on Thanksgiving). That was pretty good. Thanks again. I’m real excited to eat turkey again one day though.

My new comp is from a state farther north then Bahia. I can’t remember what it’s called though. He has been out a year and a half.

(Below, Tim answers some specific questions we had asked him earlier.)

I got one letter today. I forgot to ask about my hepatitis booster shot and we baptized 2 last week. And I haven’t backed up my photos yet but I will. I can’t today; We’re in Nelson Costa. Tell Grandpa I love him and pray for him every night. I hope everything is going well with all your activities, J man, and that Rudolph (an ugly home-made ornament that Tim made as a young boy which Justin has always hated but hung on the tree this year out of respect for Tim) is the definition of Christmas spirit! I hope the craft fair goes or went well Mom. And Dad just don’t hurt yourself - or hurt the lathe before I get home, haha. Just kidding. I’m sure your mastering it by now. And yeah for sure Jared can use the plasma cutter - no need to ask. You guys don’t have to ask me to use MY tools - you know the welder, the plasma cutter, the mill and all the good wrenches :) (Tim and Mike always banter back and forth about who owns which tools.) Anyway, take care guys. I love you. Can’t wait to talk to you on Christmas!