Week 1

Please thank everyone for their support for me. There have been many kind words from many people, memes (from Heather) and much love, I'm so grateful for it all. I only have 50 minutes to type so I'll try to tell you as much as I can, but I don't have time to thank everyone for their support until I get out into the field, anyways, here's a look into a couple of days for me:

7/24/19

Today was my first day in the CTM. I wish I could say everything was incredibly easy, but after seeing the schedule, I know it won't be. The day is completely jam packed, every day, for the next six weeks. Food is awesome though and take a guess as to what my first meal was? Rice and beans! It was pretty awesome though, my dad was right, they make it well. I have an awesome open view through the window of the room I'm staying in, and it's not even ridiculously hot! My comp and I wandered around to try to find everything we could, there are lots of palm trees, so I jumped onto one which made Elder Gardener (my companion) laugh. The people here are very friendly and I like this one guy, Elder Kenison, in particular. We're going to the same mission and he's so serious all the time. We have a Brazilian roommate and trying to communicate with him at all is a mess. 

My comp and I tried to put our food trays away today and had a fun mess with the lady trying to direct us, she was pretty angrily pointing and talking and we were just like, "yep. Oh yeah. Why thank you? Oh, sorry. No, it's fine" pretending like we knew what she was saying.

 

New positive: we got a new Brazilian roommate but this one can translate (kinda). He's pretty cool but he took the bottom bunk from me, not that I really care, he just doesn't understand. Tonight at dinner I was in a wonderful new world, there were these tacos and some topping thing I made sure to put on before a lady was like, "Elder... is soup!" and I was like "oh. Cool!" so I got soup AND soup tacos, and the soup tacos were awesome, then I saw these mini bananas and was like, "woah! Mini bananas!!!" and this sister standing near me was like, "yes, very exciting, huh?" (in a patronizing way) Followed by, "is this your first day?" and I was like, "yep!" and then told her about my soup tacos, and she responded, "huh, you're going to have an interesting time at the MTC." 

I feel like I'm doing awesome with the language too, I've really been pushing to study, and every time I do, I feel so energized and really seem to be picking it up. We had a devotional tonight and I was almost completely able to read a sentence! A hard sentence in another country's language! I've been doing a lot of praying and it's paying off a lot. My comp had a break down moment and is feeling pretty tired so I got him a drink he wanted, hopefully I can drag him to work with me, it'll make him feel better. 

Today started off bright and early: 6:30. I finally figured out how to set my watch but I think I like keeping it set to home time. In the hallway there are two pictures of missionaries, each holding a  Book of Mormon and looking off into the distance. The pictures are staring at each other and have been ingrained into my mind. 

I'm not really home sick, this is the work I've spent my whole life preparing to do.  I've just taken this stuff straight out of my journal but I'm running out of time fast, this isn't nearly enough time to talk so I'm just going to try and tell you guys as much of a summary as I can. I love seeing outside the window, this new country is made up of so many beautiful things. These messages will probably come in pretty early for you guys, I don't know if we'll really get to message because of how early it is but it'll be okay. The bed I sleep on is super narrow and a little worrying to try to sleep on because I worry about falling off it, it's incredibly narrow. I love the food, it's so good and I've felt super positive which is good because there's a lot of hurting going on but I try to do my best to help everyone. 

I'm district leader so I'm in charge of making sure that our little family is taken care of so I've gotten to do a lot of leading. No rest for the weary :) but I am really grateful to be in a position where I'm able to look out for those around me. Everyone sustains me so well and I can tell they admire me for my efforts. My teacher said they admire me more than I know. I've gotten to organize blessings for the district and to give several myself. My first one was a blessing of healing to a girl, and she started crying, it was a really spiritually touching moment. There was another one that I got to give to my companion and it was also really important, he was feeling super homesick, it's really bad for him so I'm trying to look out for him, but that blessing was all [from] God, I was so grateful to be able to be an instrument. Every day I learn how to be a little more worthy.; another reason I'm so grateful for everything you've given me. I've been feeling so upbeat which is probably annoying to everyone but the CTM could use some more upbeat people I really am feeling great. 

I wish there was time for more, there's so much I wish I could tell you guys and thank you for all the love you've sent me, but this will have to suffice. Thank you for everything!

Much love,

Brian

And He's Off!

Elder Brian Anderson left on his flight for his two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on July 23, 2019.  He left the Sea Tac Airport in Washington to fly to Dallas, Texas, and then finally to Sao Paulo, Brazil.  He is scheduled to arrive July 24, at 7:30 am (or 2:30am Pacific Daylight Time)  We're sure hoping that he is able to get some sleep on his red eye flight.

Brian was set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the home of our stake president, Kenneth Williams, on the evening of July 22.  This means that President Williams, who holds sacred priesthood keys that authorize him to lay his hands on Brian's head, was able to give Brian power from God that will help him in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Brian has been ordained to the office of an Elder in the priesthood and will now be called Elder Anderson for the duration of his mission.  As a special surprise, President Williams and Elder Anderson taught a brief lesson together to Elder Anderson's parents!  It was a beautiful and simple lesson about how God is our loving Heavenly Father and about how the gospel of Jesus Christ blesses families.  Elder Anderson's parents enjoyed experiencing a taste of what it will be like for the good people of Brazil as they are taught by him and his missionary companions. 

Here is Elder Anderson and his dad right before Elder Anderson went through the security section at the Sea Tac Airport. 

We are excited to hear from Elder Anderson on Tuesday, July 30, which is his preparation day (which is usually just called P-day) and are looking forward to his weekly emails and pictures.  He will spend the next six weeks in Sao Paulo at a missionary training center to begin learning the Portuguese language and about how to be a great missionary.  Then on September 3, he will fly to Manaus, Brazil to begin sharing the gospel with others.


***UPDATE on July 24:  Elder Anderson's mom received the following two emails from him.

"Just letting you know that I got here safe and sound, I'll talk to you again on Tuesday."

"I have some more time so I was going to tell you about how everything went. Airplane food was good, I got some sleep, I get more food soon so now I'm excited. Give everyone lots of hugs for me at home!"