Life is
good.
I've only
got a few minutes so I'll touch on one or two experiences for each
day.
MONDAY! So
last Sunday night we talked to a guy on the street for a good while.
We pretty much taught him a lesson. Then on Monday we went by to
talk to him and it was like he was a different person. He said that
when we told him he was a child of God he really felt that. Then
earlier that day someone else told him that and he believed it and
it was like a light turned on. He said he felt so good. He basically
shared his new found testimony and that was a sweet experience. We
went to the Mag's. I love them.
TUESDAY!
We went out with Rigdon for the last time. We ate 20inch subs. Bad
idea. We had dinner a the Marx's house. They had three nonmembers
there. It was a great time. Two were young men, and all I could
think about was how much good they'd do as missionaries. We taught a
family about the BoM. We went to the Jewitt's to say goodbye to
Rigdon. I'm going to miss him a ton.
WEDNESDAY!
We saw Severina. She's moving to Washington to live with her other
daughter. She is such a good example to me. She's like top three
most Christ-like people that I know. She is the epitome of 3 Nephi
12:44. Because she loves God so perfectly, she loves others the same
and she can sincerely pray for those that despitefully use her.
THURSDAY!
I did an exchange with Elder Jacobs here in BV. It was a good day,
EJ is very humble. We answered some questions at Abby & Oscar's.
It was there I realized (even more fully than I have before) how
happy I am and how that happiness drives me to want to share with
others. Joy is the word. I feel joy. I cried. We talked with a crazy
guy who was like trying to touch us and stuff. Drugs are bad. We did
splits and had some cool experiences meeting people in Frenchmen
Hills that I've never gotten to visit before.
FRIDAY! We
had ZTM. It was good. We talked to a dog breeder. I learned a ton
about pit bulls. I had an interview for the RA position. I think I
did pretty well. Oh, we had an awesome experience. We were on our
way to visit an investigator who is dying from cancer when the
thought came to go to her a little later. So we moved to the next
name in the plans, a referral, Thomas when the impression came to
park and visit a member that we knew lived close by. So we did and
before we got out I saw that we'd forgotten the list of where all
the less actives lived. So we didn't know the name, or even the
exact house number. So we just decided to walk down the street to
Thomas' house because it wasn't that far. We'd taken no more than
five steps when a car pulls up next to us and a man rolls down the
window and asked if we were Mormons. We said that we were and we
talked to him for a little bit. The story came out that he'd visited
the temple because he was curious and he felt something while he was
there and wanted to learn more. That was earlier in the week and he
had been wondering how to find someone to talk to about it and we
were there at the perfect time. We told him that what he felt was
the Holy Ghost. When we asked him if he'd like to feel more he said,
“yes” without hesitation. We were following our plans and then
the Spirit directed us to be exactly in the right place at the right
time. God guides. We had a saaaweet lesson with a father about how
as he comes closer to God he can help his children. It was so cool.
He's a good dad and as he described his desires for his family we
were able to relate it to how God feels about him and he was really
touched. The Spirit was really strong. We could tell that we'd been
guided there. He is seeking happiness and greater spirituality and
he found the missionaries.
SATURDAY!
I was on an exchange here in BV with Elder Brinkerhoff. He's awesome,
one of my favorite missionaries. I learned a ton from his good
example. We visited an old couple that I visited 18 months ago with
Elder Taetakua. Then we visited Kat. She and her husband invited us
right in. She told us how her and her husband wanted to make their
relationship work. We explained our purpose, to help them come to
Christ, and the blessings of the gospel. They were 100% glued to us.
I'd never had that happen before. Where you could just almost feel
the investigator's soul begging to hear more. They might not have
even blinked! So we taught them a little bit and then prayed with
them and they were both crying. It was such a spiritual experience.
Then we talked to some potentials. Then we visited Oscar and Abby
with the Bishop. They had been talking about when they wanted to get
baptized right before we came and so we set the goal for marriage and
baptism on 19April. They said, "That's the perfect day!" It
was cool and confirming to me to see how committed they are. They
didn't just say yes to being baptized, they wanted it and were
preparing for it. The Spirit was so strong and then President Neider
called. I didn't want to interrupt so I ignored it. But then he
called again and so I had to answer. I stepped out. I had been
praying for my next companion to be someone to push me and help me to
hone my missionary skills. President thanked me for my service in
BV/FH and said that I'd changed the wards for the better. That made
me feel good. Then he asked me if I'd take a new special assignment.
My heart sank. Every time President asks me that he always gives me
an assignment to help a missionary. I love those experiences because
they help me to be better, but selfishly I wanted to be the one being
pushed and built up. So I said yes, expecting to hear that I was
going to get transferred. He said, “Elder Anderson you've done a
great job and I'd like to ask you to come to the office to be one of
my assistants.” I was so shocked. For so many reasons. Me? I'm not
a zone leader! Is there a mistake? I inadvertently made a weird noise
cause I was so surprised. He then stopped and asked me if he was
speaking to Samuel Anderson. I said he was and then he asked if I'd
be willing to sacrifice some proselyting time to take on this new
assignment and serve in the office. I said I would. I was pretty much
speechless. So many thoughts and emotions. I was happy, sad, excited,
scared, honored, humbled and everything else you could think of. We
talked for a little bit about the assignment and the things I'd be
doing with Elder Sharp this week. It's a lot. I went back inside and
I couldn't say anything. Finally after a few minutes I was able to
speak. I was on the verge of tears all day Saturday and Sunday. We
taught Deshon the first lesson again. That was good but I was so out
of it.
SUNDAY!
I bore my testimony in both wards. We visited a ton of families. But
the coolest experience was with Kat and Paul. We talked with them
about marriage and prayer. At the end of the lesson Paul got down on
his knees and we taught him how to pray. He'd never prayed for
anything except food in his whole life and that was 50 years ago. He
started praying and in my head I was pleading with the Lord to let
him feel the Spirit. As he prayed he said that he was grateful for
his wife and he wants to be better and then he said, “I know I
can't do this without you. I know I can't.” Then he paused and he
broke down and said something like, "Oh God, I can't do this
without your help, please help me." I peeked and saw as Kat
reached out and grabbed his hand and they squeezed each other. They
didn't let go until we left. All of us were crying. It was one of the
sweetest experiences ever.
I
don't have the time to express my love and gratitude for the
Frenchmen Hills and Bonanza View wards.
I
have grown so much over the last seven months and it is in large part
because of the love I felt here. I can't list the people that
have influenced me or helped me, but there are many. I am a new, and
better man than I was when I came here.
Life
is good. What more can I say than that?
I
love you all so much.
I
don't know if my emails will be long after this.
But
no matter what I'll be happy!
:)
Love,
Sam
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