Reality Check.....

So the mission isnt anything of what i expected...Its hard long extremely hot people arent very nice and no really wants to listen to our message besides the members in the ward. I didnt understand why people wouldnt be jumping into the water to be baptized because of how true the gospel is. It makes no sense. And its just hard. And its just devastating. This isnt what i pictured. I do everything i am told, everything in the white book, and work so hard every day. What i came to realize is that this is truly the greatest blessing of my life. Though it may not seem normal for me to talk like that at the beginning and come to be grateful, let me explain my feelings.

First, Jesus Christ was perfect in every way, He is our Savior and Redeemer, the example given to us to show how to return to Our Father in Heaven. Yet people turned away from Him time and time again and ultimately was killed. This road that i am on is the Life of the Savior. This is an every day experience of what my loving Brother did for me. Spend day after day doing what is right in hoping of finding just one person. Even through all the bad, the hope of just helping one is what matters. So why should i have it any easier than My Savior? Why should everything come easy for me? It shouldnt. I must learn to understand what Christ truly did for me, and i can honestly say im not even close to comprehending. But i am on my way. And how grateful i am that each day is a challenge, and how every day is the same but no two days are alike. The mission is a blessing in so many ways. But i have a long way to go. I do things i am told, i follow advice, and just keep the rules. But this will only bring so much success in my mission. I do those things and give to the Lord, and for that i will be a good missionary. But what i need to change is doing those things because i know without any doubt that those things bring happiness and blessings. I must change from doing them in hope of good coming from them, to doing them in knowledge that my Savior and Redeemer will help me overcome all things. We have a saying, "become a fourth missionary". A fourth missionary is a missionary who gives himself completely to the Lord and does all he can in knowledge of what that brings. I give my time, hard work, effort, energy to the Lord. But i am still working on giving him my heart, cause when you give your heart to the Lord is really when you become an effective instrument in his hands. And not only that, you become redeemer through him. I thought coming on a mission would help me become the person i want to be in this life, truth is that isnt possible. But the mission can surely put me on the right path to one day reach it.

Days are long and hot with the heat, we faster for an investigator and didnt have water one day biking and that was extremely rough, i was weak and humble but i came to learn what a real fast is like. The members here are incredible!!! So loving and caring!! Every night we eat with members and i get to know them more and more, i still have a long way to come with the language but i do my best to show my love through my smile. As of right now we dont have to many investigators but we hope that changes, we could have a few baptismal dates set this week. We will see what the Lords will is. Me and my comp are getting along great! He is happy that i can work hard and that he doesnt have to baby me, so that is very good news. Its been a rough week with the language but i understand more and more each day. I wish everyone back in utah the very best and hope all is well.

Con Amor,

Elder Anderson