Conferencia de Zona

Olá,

President let the missionaries see Russel M. Nelson´s message and the announcement of the new first presidency. Dallin H. Oaks will be a great counsel to our Prophet Russel M. Nelson. I found it interesting to see the media's "worldy questions" and the first presidency's Gospel responses and to see how much more intelligent they are.

We had Zone Conference in São Miguel, left on Thursday morning and returned Saturday morning so our work week was cut a little short. We learned about the power Plan of Salvation, Presidente and Sister Tavares responded lots of our questions about teaching it.

I have realized the of the little things of the gospel for example, a kid in Primary could confound a Pastor with the 5th Article of Faith. “We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.”

Sara and Veronica are doing really well as new members, Sara has already read over 400 pages in the Book of Mormon!

We have been working with a few new members and preparing them to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, Patriarchal Blessing and eventually go to the temple. Last night along with the sacrament with Irmão Frank, who takes us for hikes on P-day, we talked about the organization of the church and showed how it has the same organization and Christ´s church in the Bible. Ephesians 4:11-14

Até o Proximo.

Elder Anderson

Biscoitos

 Richard Nixon once stayed in this hotel now abandoned

 Sâo Miguel from the Airplane

 Falcon Pond (notice he's wearing a Falcon's shirt...!)

 The highest point on the island and we couldn't see anything because of the clouds 

 Under the Church in Praia

Olá,

We had divisions with the Zone leaders, Elder Salmon, my trainer is one of them. It was fun to work with him again and see how each other had grown over the past year.

We have been teaching a few people from some of the other islands and hope that one day we will get a chance to go and work there.

It was pretty cold and rainy a few days, I felt like the pioneers haha. Thursday evening we were excited with 4 appointments, turns out all 4 fell through, but we were determined and found 4 others to teach!

We watched the Prophet´s Funeral thursday, what a wonderful life he lived in the service of others.

Saturday we went to work in Praia, we were a little late going to the bus stop when we saw the bus already leaving, fortunately it stopped at a red light and he was nice enough to let us on.

The Conference of the Azores District was Sunday, I learned and played 3 new hymns for it. We now have a new, young branch Presidente, Tiago who is super cool and our branch Presidente went to be the Presidente of the District. It will be interesting to see how it influenecs the work here.

Até Proximo.

Elder Anderson

Believing Christ

Olá,

We have been working a lot with less actives and strenghthening them it has payed off as 5 came to church yesterday!

It was sad to hear about the Death of our Beloved Prophet Thomas S. Monson. An incredible man and leader. We have a DVD player so during lunch we watched, "On the Lord´s Errand" that tells the story of his life, he did some incredible things and blessed the life of many people.

A member gave me a copy of the book, "Believing Christ" It was so good I read it in a few days. I learned that there is a difference between believing in Christ and Believing Christ. I recommend reading it.

We taught Marcia Silva who lives in Pico through Skype at a member´s house, she has read until Jacob in the Book of Mormon.

Saturday morning a few things happened with our plans and we ended up at a less active´s house that lives a good 30 minutes up the mountain. That morning I had an impression during studies that I should bring a Book of Mormon (English) with me. We got there and started talking to them and there aunt who is a member too and grew up in the US and hardly speaks Portuguese started talking to me in English about how hard her life had been and if there was any hope for her. I explained the Atonement to her and had the Book of Mormon and gave it to her! We left super late for lunch and on the way back we ran into Lucia the woman who found the Book of Mormon on the road, she has worked a ton for the past month and we hadn't been able to talk with her. It was a miracle!

Boa Semana!

Elder Anderson

 P-Day Adventures!

They're Out There

Feliz 2018!

2017, the only year that I will probably ever spend outside of the United States and preaching the gospel has come to an end, what an incredible year it has been. 

A lot has people here make these fancy cakes for Christmas, a lot of our investigators offered us some this week and it was super good!

All the houses here have gas tanks, that we buy every once in a while, and to have a hot shower you have to turn the water on then go and start the water heater whuch is pretty difficult so these last few weeks I decided to get used to cold showers, its not that bad after exercises.

The mission call states: "As you serve will all your heart, might and strength, the Lord WILL lead you to those who are prepared to be baptized." Before I left to the MTC my Grandpa West told me, "They´re out there" meaning elects prepared by the Lord waiting to hear and accept the Restored Gospel. After over a year in the field and over 10,000 contacts, I never let back or doubted the promise. I talked with Sara on the road, we taught her a few days later, she came to church and made some changes in her live to accept the commandments and Saturday I had the opportunity to baptize her and her daughter Veronica. Their confirmation followed Sunday. Elects prepared by the Lord. Miracle.

The mission goal of baptisms has been 75 a month since presidente Tavares arrived in the mission, at the beginning of my mission we hovered around 30 sometimes 40, the mission had a 40 day fast to reach the goal in the month of December, generally the hardest month of the year. After church Sunday we had 73, a few miracles happened and by the end of the night we reached 76! Meeting the goal!

2018, the year that I will end my missionary service, return home and start college is here, I have goals and plans to accomplish the things I want to do before returning home, I am excited to give it my all this last 7 months!

Bom Ano.

Elder Anderson