Being Transfered!

Elder Anderson is doing great!  His mom on the other hand has slacked a little in keeping up this blog for him and those who are interested in how he is doing.  She apologizes and will try to do better in the future.  Elder Anderson has been busy the last few months in Champaign, IL mostly trying to find new contacts to teach.  Some weeks have been rough with lots of dropped appointments and doors shut in their faces.  In July they got a little break and got to attend a "Super Activity" in St Louis.  The first day was spent visiting the Arch and going to a Cardinals game, which was a highlight for Kody.  The next day was spent in a more spiritual atmosphere where they heard a lot of inspirational talks.  This really gave Elder Anderson a needed boost.  He also recently celebrated his 20th birthday.  He is not too sure about getting "older".  He wants to stay young all his life.  We know he will always be young at heart!  He got spoiled on his special day with breakfast and lunch from Sister Price and dinner with the Bishop's family and the Goodrich's  He said he ate so much that the next morning he felt like he had a food hangover.  He has loved serving in this area and for the members in his ward.  Last week,  Elder Anderson found out that he was being transferred to St. Louis.  While he is excited about the new opportunities that lie ahead, he knows he will miss many that he has grown to love.  He has already made mom and dad promise to bring him back one day so that we can see and feel what he has for the past 7 months.  He will now be serving in the Carondolet 2 area in South St Louis.  His new companion is Elder Vaka who is from Oakland CA.  He was really excited because he met Elder Vaka at the Super Activity and knew he would one day serve with him.  He just didn't know how soon.  Elder Anderson is so grateful for the experiences he is having and for the growth of his testimony.  He loves serving the Lord and knows he is where he needs to be right now.  He loves and appreciates all the letters and those who continue to support him through letters and packages. 

Missionary day at a St Louis Cardinal game

St Louis Cardinal Game

New bibs!  Made by members to keep those white shirts clean!

A Missionary's life

Service work at the local museum in Mohamet, IL

Preacher Anderson!

Elder Anderson's 20th birthday

Elder Anderson and Kevin Brazell

The Brazells.  One of Elder Anderson's favorites!

On June 23, 2012 Elder Anderson had one of the greatest experiences of his mission.  He was able to baptize a family that he feels very close to and tracted out in his area.  He truly feels that they are one of the main reasons he was sent to the Missouri, St Louis mission.  In his recent email he said his feelings were best described in the scripture John 14:27...."Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  He is also very excited to called as a trainer this week.  He will be welcoming his new missionary on Wednesday.  He feels it is a great honor to get to train and start a missionary off right.  He wants to be the kind of example that his trainer was for him.  He continues to be excited about the work and the opportunity to serve.

The Brazell Family baptism

Elder Anderson with Kevin

Always having fun!

Elder Anderson & Elder Oberle playing in the park

Enjoying P-day

Elder Anderson was very excited about his first baptism on May 26, 2012.  This was a young man who was in a part member family and had made the choice to be baptized.  He expressed his feelings like this...."Oh Mom, this is seriously one of the best feelings ever, to see someone you teach get baptized.  It was just incredible!!"  He is also excited that a family that he and his companion tracted out have set the date of June 23 for their baptism.  He has gotten very close to the Brazell family and in one of his recent letters he said, "I truly know that this family is one of the many reasons that I needed to serve.  They have been one of the biggest blessings to me and truly have changed my life just by seeing the spirit they have and how much they try and serve our Heavenly Father."  


Recently he and his companion got to participate in a youth conference.  He met a young man from his dad's old mission area of Kankakee, IL.  He was visiting a friend from the ward Elder Anderson is serving.  He writes...."It was also a testimony builder of following the spirit because before we left to youth conference I was debating whether to bring my backpack or not and then I had this strong feeling to bring it.  My companion did not bring his and when we got there, this young man asked if we had a Book of Mormon.  Luckily, I followed the spirit and was able to sit and talk with him and send a book home for him and his mom."  Elder Anderson loves to share the gospel whether or not it means he gets a baptism.  He knows he is planting seeds all over.  Just recently a young man they met and introduced the gospel too  was also baptized by the elders they had to turn him over to because he didn't live in their area.  


He continues to love the area he is in and his companion.  He also loves the people he is serving and his testimony is growing stronger and stronger every day.  

Elder Anderson's first baptism!

                                                         

"One of the best feelings ever!"

                                    

Performing at Youth Conference

                                                       

Mother's Day Call

Momma Anderson was a very happy mother on May 13th!  She and many others had the chance to talk to Elder Anderson via Skype.  We are happy to report that he is doing very well.  He is currently being very well taken care of in Champaign, IL.  He loves the area and the members.  Recently he said "such great member missionaries and just always willing to help the missionaries.  Something else that's really cool about the ward is that Elder David A. Bednar's son is in it and we go on team ups with him all the time.  So.....I live in a Patriarch's home where I feel the spirit all the time, and have been able to learn great things from him, and I have an apostles son in my ward where I can see and learn from his example!  Oh the blessings keep on coming!"  One thing that we have noticed about Kody's letters is that they are always upbeat and positive.  Even one week when all they did was tract for miles and have doors shut in their face.  He was still happy and knew that if just one person listened to their message that it was all worth it.  He is looking forward to his first baptism this Friday.  He is very excited and feels very blessed.  He is feeling a little more stressed and busy lately as he has been made Senior companion.  He is also teaching a family that he found out tracting.  He really loves this family and is excited that they have been to church for the past 3 weeks!  He would also like everyone to know that the letters are starting to slow down.  So, get out that pen and paper and let him know what is going on with you.  He would love to hear from you!