Hey Family

Thanks for ALL the dear elders they were awesome.  I love all your quotes, they all go with what I learn that day which is cool as and the one from mum was sweet , also Ataahua’s one!! Ok yes, the story about the devotional! Well I was sitting with my district waiting for the devotional to start. I always look out to see where my sis is and she was on the other side of the hall and I stood up and called her over.

 I asked my companion if I could sit next to her and he was 'algoods'. He was right behind me anyways. We talked and it began. 

The person who was speaking - I forget his name, he was asking people to stand up as he asked different questions. He started off by saying all Spanish speaking people to stand and so forth. Then he said, “If you have a sibling here with you, please stand!!” This is in front of ALL the missionaries in Provo.

I was sitting right next to sissy and we looked at each other and stood up proud to be each others brother and sister.

Family, it was funny - everyone looked at us and went AWWWWWWHHHHHHH! Haha! It was funny. I smiled then sat down.  I should of hugged her to make it even more cheesier but that was a huge memory that I wrote about in my journal. 

Uncle Phil sent me and sis a massive package of goodies!!  I will show you a photo of it. I love Aunty and Uncle, they're so good to me. I’m glad our family is tight with theirs and that I'm tight with Elder Nikora Anderson. All my Uncles and Aunties are just the kindest and best I could wish for. 

Ok - the language. I'm starting to understand my teacher now, like I'm sort of getting it. We have taught about 16 lessons to our investigators now, me and my companion, ALL in Cebuano, and we are doing good. We always pray before going in together for the spirit to bring Cebuano to our memory. It works. Slowly. We were taking LESS notes into the lessons, and the last week we have been taking no notes into the lesson!

I do most of the talking, because my companion is quiet but, every lesson I hand the time over to him randomly without telling him prior to going in, so he can teach and get his confidence up. He’s SUCH a lovely companion. He always wants to do the work. Whenever we wake up I always give him a time limit to what time we have to be at class and all he says is, YES MY COMPANION I'M THERE BESIDE YOU, even though he can hardly speak any English. How much more could I be blessed with such a beautiful companion.  Every night, I challenge myself after I say prayers and before I fall asleep,  I say 'I love you my Kauban'.  He says it back to me and it does really make me happy, I can actually say that to someone my age.  I  don’t think  I could do that before, but I have been doing it and it builds our relationship.

The cafe -  its real rich!! Like RICH all the food is too rich for me. But there are real good meals.  I eat morning breakfast 8:15 then lunch 1:15 then dinner 6 . I usually see my dear sister at dinner, but apparently the elders said she was looking for me at breakfast but I had gone back to my flat.  

I'm putting the weight on Dad and Mum. It's cool that I know I'm finally getting big, but it really doesn't bother me now. I like being skinny, haha. 

We had this class where my district were the examples  and we were learning how the Book of Mormon is important for conversion. We then did a demo on our companions and a thought came to my mind while I was beginning to teach him (my companion was the investigator) about a scripture when I was going out with the missionaries back home, a scripture that they shared with Brook. 1 Nephi chapter 8 talking about Lehi partaking of the fruit which blended exactly with what I was saying as I  introduced my investigator to the Book of Mormon. I new with all my heart that was the Spirit bringing thoughts back into my mind, to my remembrance, and I likened that scripture to the gospel, the fruit to make one happy.  The feeling of feeling the Spirit here everyday is beautiful. I've also gained a great love for the Book of Mormon, I understand it A LOT more, and it comes alive. The images play over and over in my head like I'm right there next to Nephi writing in the plates. It’s cool. I know it’s not me, but the Spirit helping me to understand it:) hahahahah! The Americans don't always get my humour, Dad. Its funny cause the islanders do, and they laugh. An elder drew this picture, haha I mean Pepe could have drew it better,  but its funny because I'm cheeky, it can become bad at times, so I'm trying to be less cheeky  Haha!!! 

I go to the temple today, every P day. Such a beautiful temple the Provo one. Its big, real big and so beautiful. I love p days. I get to communicate with family. Tell Polly and Jem and Te Awa and Janet to write too:) Oh and tell Nephi and Ads  that I miss them and mission prep and I'm grateful for them teaching me, because I am far more prepared than  what I would have been if I didn't go to mission prep. 

Love you

Elder Anderson

P.s I think I'm still getting taller, and I think I may be bigger then Jeremy now - tell him I said that :)