I hope that whenever we are given an opportunity to serve our fellow men, we don't waste it.

Skyping with Elder Jake on Christmas Day!!!

Well, not much is new since we talked on Christmas, except we got a new investigator. Her name is Denise. Sister Wallace brought her to church and we were able to pick her up as an investigator and get a return appointment. We are super excited. Other than that not much has happened. Here is my spiritual thought for the week however.

We were in Dollarama. A dollar store with much more expensive things that just one dollar. Anyway, we were walking out and this lady was in front of us. At the exit, she took her stuff out of her cart, and just left. She left the cart right in the way of everything. Well Elder Olsen without even thinking about it took the cart and put it away in the cart return place. It turns out  that her son, who was in his 40's?, was behind us and saw it. As he passed us, he thanked us for doing that, then went to him mom and said, "Mom those nice Mormon boys just put your cart away for you." It was awesome to see how that man noticed what Elder Olsen did and how grateful he was. Such a simple gesture, but such a great service. 

I hope that whenever we are given an opportunity to serve our fellow men, we don't waste it. We never know who's life we will affect. "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God." May we all serve our God with every opportunity we get. He gives us so much, it is only right that we give back every chance we are presented with. Time to go out and do good! Love you all!

Elder Anderson

Chose to be Chosen! Chose to be on the Lord's side!

Well, we might not get a white Christmas, which isn't a bad thing at all! I think I have brought some of the San Diego weather to Canada to help cancel out some of the cold. It has been really nice here lately. I have been in just a sweater most of the time and it is nice. No snow, but still some ice in the neighborhood roads. The truck we drive is really nice. It handles the weather really well. It's the same one we had in High River. We are pretty spoiled.

 

Well we were able to meet with the referral that we got last week. Her name is Diane Hibbard. We met with her on Wednesday and she is golden. We taught her the first lesson and it went really well. She set up another lesson right after and wants to continue meeting with us. I am pumped. She will be coming to church this week too! Things are looking really good for her. We have found a perfect fellowship too! It is so exciting!

 

Well it's Christmas. My last one haha! I'm over the hump too. It's crazy to see how fast the first year has gone. Time just seems to slip away. This next year will be gone before I know it. Time to put my head down and give it all I got. They say the second year is even faster. If that is true, then there's not much time. I can't wait to see what's in store for the last year here. I have absolutely loved the first one! It has been the best experience of my life. I wouldn't give it up for anything. There is no time to waste! The Lord needs every person he can get in order to hasten his work. We are all enlisted! Many are called, but few are chosen! Although it is Heavenly Father who chooses us, it is our choice whether we want to be in that group of chosen individuals or not. Chose to be Chosen! Chose to be on the Lord's side! And chose to live in His infinite glory forever! This is my prayer always! 

I love you all and miss you. Have a Merry Christmas and never forget the reason we have Christmas to begin with! #BecauseOfHim!

 

Elder Anderson

The Lord is handing us work to do on a silver platter!

Elder Jake being spoiled by Sister Roma Ranger!

Well this was a pretty slow week. We couldn't meet with any of our investigators. Pretty rough. We of course saw the Pollards however! Oh what joy they bring in our lives! hahaha We went over and were in the living room when Matthew (32) comes down and says, "Mom! I was playing video games with dad but I put it on one player so he can play by himself and I can be with the missionaries!" Hahahahahaha Oh man what a great was to enter a room. The next five minutes was taken up giving him a hand shake. He really likes seeing how long you can last. Hahaha

No birds were involved with this visit, however the bunny was. I asked where it was and Crystal (29) went up stairs and got it. She gave me a blanket so I wouldn't get fur all over me and gave me the bunny. For whatever reason this bunny thought I was a mound of dirt and decided to dig it's little way to china. The bunny was going nuts! Holy cow it was out of control! I didn't know what to do! It would dig and dig and dig, then take a few minute rest, then go at it again! hahaha Oh man it's an adventure every time going over there! We are going over Christmas morning to have breakfast with them, I think. Good times. Can't wait!

Well I honestly don't have anything else to say. Like I said it was a slow week. Oh! I can share this. Last night we got a call from a lady in the West Stake. She said that this other lady showed up to church and asked if she could come inside. She sat next to the member lady and started saying how she was dropping her brother off at work, passed the church building, and was curious to see what it was all about. The member got her info and said she could have the missionaries where she lives contact her and teach her more about it. She was super happy. Well the member tells us all about this and gives us her info. It was too late to call that night so we had to wait until the morning. Well this morning before we got the chance, the lady calls us! She asks if we are the missionaries that cover the chapel on 24th! I couldn't believe it! I have never had a referral that I had been given contact us first! She wanted to meet with us and set up a time for Wednesday morning! We are so pumped! This was the coolest thing ever! What a miracle! The Lord is handing us work to do on a silver platter! That is the spiritual story of the week.

One other thing that happened was we got to see Meet the Mormons. It was really good! President Nicholas showed it to us. If you haven't seen it you definitely need to! It's really good! Anyway, hope all is well back home! Can't wait until Christmas! So pumped! I love you all and pray for you every night! I feel your prayers and am super grateful for them! They truly make a difference!

Take care!
Elder Anderson

This is the best time of the year to share your beliefs!

Well I got moved into the Woodbine ward! Which I already covered before while in the Mandarin program, but now I get to focus completely on the ward. I'm so pumped! My companion is Elder Olsen. He is from Riverton Utah. He is so sick! I'm stoked! The members are sweet too! We had the ward Christmas party this past Friday and it was so much fun. They did a Book of Mormon theme for it. They did a play and everything. And we got Mexican food which is always a good thing. This ward is sweet. It was really sad to see Elder Hancey leave. He was awesome! I think he was really sad too but excited to see his family. Especially with Christmas coming up. I hate killing missionaries haha. It's so trunky! I would be ok not having to do it again haha!

Well the only investigator I have met with so far is Guy (pronounced Gee with the g sounding like it does in guy). He is sweet. He is from Quebec. Really strong accent. We stopped by to meet with him and he was building a small stage/stand. It looked like something A kid would have built, except really sturdy. Kinda like he didn't know what he was doing, but just went for it. It turned out ok. We used it for the Christmas program. Samuel the Lamanite stood on it for his wall. Anyway, Guy said he is a carpenter, then he stopped and said, "Like Jesus! See we have that in common!" Hahahahaha so funny!

The only other people I have met with who we are working with are the recent converts the Pollards. I'm sure you will be hearing a lot about them this transfer and for transfers to come. Lets just say, hilarious Like you can't believe. I'll get pics and send them and tell you all about them. I'm sure I will have a story a week. The story for this week is that I ate dinner with a bird on my shoulder the whole time. While the bird tried to make a nest inside by body by eating away my flesh until he could make a hole big enough to fit in! hahahaha oh man the stories to come!

Well there's not much else to tell you. Other than it's warmed up to around 0 degrees and that's been nice. It's supposed to be around 11 this Wednesday so I'm pumped for that. We'll probably break out the short sleeves without a sweater! I hope it's still nice and warm back home. I'm sure it is! Well I love you all and pray for you always! take care. And remember, this is the best time of the year to share your beliefs! #HeistheGift

Love you!

Elder Anderson

You can watch "He is the Gift" here:

http://www.mormon.org/christmas

I truly do feel joy when I bring someone closer to Christ!

Well, I'm getting transferred. I will be staying in Calgary. I have been serving in the Mandarin program, but as secondary, we have been helping out in the Woodbine and Evergreen wards (the other wards in the district). I have a feeling I will be going to the Woodbine ward as one of the Elders is getting transferred as well. I don't know but that would be cool. 

It has been a blast serving in the Mandarin program. It is a totally different experience. It is bittersweet to go. I will really miss all the people I have met and the fun we have, however it will be nice to get back to a normal area where I can contribute more. I am grateful for the opportunity none the less. 

The spiritual story I have for you this week comes from a lesson we had last night. We met with our investigator Elaine we just picked up and talked about the Plan of Salvation. She liked everything we said and was taking it all in. Afterward her fellowship brought up that she wanted a blessing so Elder Hancey gave her a blessing of comfort. The spirit was so strong! It was incredible! Elaine said she could feel God's love for her and could picture Jesus Christ smiling at her. After the blessing, the Word of Wisdom was brought up. She said she drinks a cup of coffee every day. When we told her what the Word of Wisdom was, she said she will swear off coffee after she is done with the bag she just bought. Then she said that maybe she will just give it away! Then she will quit! It was incredible! I have never seen so much faith in an investigator before! I thought of the John Tanner story where he gives up his huge bag of coffee! Hahaha man she is golden!!! 

Anyway, that's my spiritual story for the week. I truly do feel joy when I bring someone closer to Christ! The joy fills my soul! I know that this is the true Church. It has blessed my life so much. I can't imagine where I would be if I didn't have the gospel. How great is our God! I know he loves me and loves each and every one of you. There is nothing that we can do to escape that love. Nothing! That thought alone gives me hope and encouragement to push on. It is my prayer that you all feel this wonderful love of God! Stay safe and press on. 

Until next week...

Elder Anderson

"We were at a members house for dinner and they had a ton of birds and a bunny,
so naturally, I got a pic with them."