March 30, 2011

Hey Family,

Thanks for the info. That was what he wanted to know. Hey I took out a bunch of cash today to buy some souvenirs of Ilheus because I think this will be my last p-day here. This is going to be the transfer of 5 weeks so next time I write you, I might not be here.

So this week we baptized Deise´s sister, Dani. It was a battle between us and the testimony of Jehovah’s (Witnesses ?).... and we won! She was super excited and President and Sister Vecchi were having a conference here. President was busy but Sister Vecchi watched the baptism. It was cool. Deise shared a message with her. I love them. They are poor as it gets but super happy and Dani loved her baptism and already started doing the Young Women’s Personal Progress thing. She wants that medallion. When we went and talked to her mom about the baptism because she is 15 and her mom had to authorize it, her mom said “I give up. I wash my hands of this religion…” She is funny. She just didn’t want her daughter to be baptized because the JW´s told her so much stuff about us that isn’t true... like that we rape little girls and stuff... I was so mad. But it all worked out well. And Deise, Dani and Roberto all joined the ward choir, ha. I think half of the choir is people that I have baptized. I love them all though. The Lord really does bless us after a long mission of hard work. He has put some excellent people in my path these last 6 months, and I hope there are more to come.

About school... I have no idea. There isn’t much time to think about these things on the mission. ... I think I just wanna go home, work around the house... maybe get a real job, and decide what I wanna do with schooling and everything. So don’t worry about signing me up right away. But thanks for the info.

I’m excited to listen to General Conference. Every time I watch it on the mission I understand more because I’ve learned more Portuguese, so it should be good. And people can have a chance to hear the words of this prophet that we teach about. Well I love you all and I hope you’re all well.

Love, Elder Anderson

Baptizing in the ocean.

March 23, 2011

Hey Family,

I also got that e mail (from the mission office giving Tim’s return flight info). It was like a trunky punch to the face. I can’t believe it’s all becoming a reality. It’s scary and exciting and nerve-racking at the same time... but like you said, there are still plenty of people I need to find and baptize for sure.

Sounds like you are all doing well. First off Dad do you know if I need to do something about my driver’s license, like renew it or something? Also can you guys see how much a triple combination costs? There is a missionary here wondering how much they are because it’s his brothers birthday and his brother speaks English and in the Bible in Portuguese they don’t have the foot notes so could you look into that and find out about how much it would cost him? Thanks.

So this week has been good. We baptized a young man named Leandro. He is cool. He used to live with his dad but he moved in with his mom who is a recent convert to the church. He asked us “Hey if I create my own message can I go out with you guys and teach people?”... ha. I said “You can go out with us but what kind of a message are you going to create?” But he said “No, like your message, just in my words”... ha. “Alright, yes you can.” He is funny though... He doesn’t show emotion one bit. But it was good and he got the priesthood and is pumped to pass the sacrament.

This week, we found a really cool family of 3 young men and a woman. They were all really cool and well behaved which is really hard to find ... especially where they live. But it stinks because the mom can’t go to church because she works on Sundays. But the boys are excited. So I hope all goes well there. Friday we have a zone conference, so we’re excited for that. Well I’ve got to get going but I love you all.

Until next week…

March 16, 2011

Hey Family,

Ok, now you guys can start officially waiting for the letters :) (Timothy indicated in a previous email that he was sending us some letters that day.) I sent them out Monday. The day I said I would send them didn’t work out... but they’re now in the mail! It’s two letters but in the same envelope. So you can start waiting now ha. Sorry.

Well that is really sad to hear about Amanda. I’ll keep her in my prayers, and Chris Start too. But skiing sounds like it was fun. I went jogging this morning by the ocean and I caught a crab ha. It was fun. I hope I don’t wake up with cramps. (Tim is joking with his dad who complained about waking up in the middle of the night with leg cramps after skiing with the Young Men and Young Women.)

Carnaval was nothing too fancy. Luckily it doesn’t even start till like midnight and it’s just on the beaches - only a few little parades went in front of our house. A few people died but that’s normal... Things are going good. Elder Oliveira and I are getting along well. He is a good guy. I like him a lot. We’re just working our tails off.

This week has been the hottest week that’s ever existed in any place in the world. I have to take like 6 showers a day ... oh man. But that’s just part of it.

Tell me Derrick wasn’t growing some kind of a beard or mustache. I bet Jordan is just the same goofy guy. Not much has happened this week. Elder Jones called me again today. He is doing good. Tell me how the melodrama goes. Good luck! Tell Pa to get some push-ups in ... because he’s gonna need extra strength....

Love you all ... just about 8 more of these e mails :/

Elder Anderson

March 9, 2011

Hey Family,

Well that took about 30 minutes to send the picture so I don’t really have any time but I’m still zone leader and Elder Oliveira was too – in Itabuna - and now he is with me. Elder Do Nacsimento is our district leader still and Elder Sala lives with us. He is Do Nascimentos companion. (Tim is answering some our questions about changes made during the transfer.)

I got to talk to Jones today. He called me on the secretary’s phone. He is doing good. I do miss him though. But I like all the guys in our home. They’re cool. I don’t know when the next leadership conference will be and I think that I will be transferred... I kinda hope so .. I feel like I’ve talked to everyone in the whole city already, but whatever happens happens. But I’m doing good.

Hey can someone inform me on what happened with Amanda Skogen? One day you just said she is going to get tried. Anyway, take care.

Until next week…

Hey Family,

I tried two times to send pictures but for some reason this computador isn’t recognizing my camera... but one day I’ll get you some sweet tizmo pics! I promise.

So Elder Jones went to Imbuí which is in Salvador and Elder Forbush went to Poções and Elder Oliveira is my new companion and I’m really excited. He is super chill and a really good worker. And he is from Rio Grande do Sul. He is a really cool guy, and Elder Salla from São Paulo is now in our house. He is also really cool. So now it’s me and 3 Brazilians so looks like my little English-fest with Elda jones is over ha, but it will be good for me. They’re all cool and
good missionaries.

We also baptized 2 kids Saturday. They are grandkids of a member here that live in Rio de Janeiro. They were super cool. Well we are about out of time... We have a couple people that could be baptized this week so we’ll see if they want to. Love you all!

P.S. …My release date is the 19th of May (I leave here.) The 20th I arrive there. They bought my tickets today and called me and asked what airport I would be flying into! Oh man that hit me deep, but it still doesn’t seem real so I’m not really trunky.

Loves to all,

Elda Anderson