A more difficult area...

Kiaora all!

First I'd like to say, the last transfer (6 weeks)  flew before my eyes. I said goodbye to Elder Balmediano and this week I pick my brand new greeny  haha !

Yes I'm training!!! I am beyond the moon to have this opportunity to train!! The one thing I wanted to become is a trainer!! President Uchdorf in a talk said," only the best train"!! So yes I am picking him up Thursday this week so I am super excited for that!!

In my mission there is a procedure now: Before we go home - on our last sunday, we get to go to our favourite area here ( and I will probably go back to Kananga). One of my best elder friends( Elder Carlson) came to Macrohon to visit, and he goes home next week!! Everyone is going home and soon my batch will be soon!! Next month i will have 10 months left in the field, so I want to use every bit of time to the max!!

 A cool quote from president Monsen, "Decision Determines Destiny" So I'm out here using this quote in all I do to prepare me for my future!!  I'm working very very hard to work on my slight little weaknesses here in the mission to be the ultimate example for my brand new missionary and others in the future.  I cannot wait to see his reaction to the beautiful Philipines, like mine  when I first arrived!! I remember my trainer said i had a worried face the whole time and now I get to experience that!!  I cant wait!!

So my area:  It is super super hard, but we are working on it!! Somedays we don't even get to teach a lesson, but Im getting really good at finding.  My favourite is to play basketball with the tiny pinoys and my companion talks to everyone else and does o.y.m( open your mouth)!! I thought, they love basketball, why not join in and play and gain their respect and break the ice before getting into the sharing, because if we go straight and ask to share, most of the time, they're not at all interested.  

So yes!! IT WORKS  and we have o.y.m'ed over 40 people because of it!! They love it when I dunk the hoop haha.  I dont even know how to play, but when I dunk, its the end of the world for them!! They have never seen it before!!   So it is really funny when ever I walk past them now:  All  I hear is, Elder Anderson DUNK, DUNK, DUNK!!    I think to myself, yeah, we can arrange that for you...  Even the old folks join in and chant haha.  

But the main thing is I feel I am gaining the trust of tonnes of people here and if I dont get the chance to harvest, I know they will remember me and my love and accept the restored gospel in the future!! So, I love my area, challenging and humbling, and I am striving for excellence in my work.  I know Im so blessed!!

Also we have a baptism lined up for next month hopefully - first one in this area  in a whole year!!  I am super excited.  He pays his tithing and everything, I'm sure he will be good!!

 I love my mission, my testimony in Jesus Christ grows every day and I  love working with the Spirit!

Love you all

Elder Anderson

Philippines Tacloban Mission