Week 17: Thank You

So this week was pretty activity filled!

I started out the week going on another exchange to La Rochelle, which went really well! During the exchange I we taught an investigator who was Buddhist, and so I was able to talk a little about living in Thailand, because he had some Thai buddhas. He is also really into Aikido, a Japanese martial art. So we were giving the lesson and he mentioned that he didnt really like to pray, but that he meditated a lot. He said that he felt like that sufficed. So we told him how pray isnt just meditating, but that you are speaking to someone who is your Heavenly Father. He's your Father! And so you can really strengthen that relationship with him. Then he told us how it was kind of weird for him, but then I asked him about how he meditates, which he was excited to tell us about. Then I challenged him to have that same concentration when he prays as when he meditates. That he should really try to focus and concentrate on what he is praying for and what he needs and wants to know. He seemed to really understand that, and I was glad. And he said he would try it, so hopefully he did! It's something that I'm still trying to get better at and I'll probably be working on it for my entire life!

PICTURES OF LA ROCHELLE

Oh, last Sunday when there was snow everywhere, we stopped at the bus stop to see if the bus would be coming by. It didnt. So I wrote "mormon.org" in the snow on the bench at the bus stop haha I figured, why not?!

This week we helped an older lady who is one of our investigators peel tint off of some of her windows. She is a super sweet lady, and I'll explain more about her in next weeks post, because I dont have a lot of time! But, I loved doing service!

So, whenever I'm getting ready to write my email home/blog post, I think to myself "what can I write that will help the people I know at home? WHat experiences can I share that will strengthen them?" Well, today it went the other way around. Today, the people who contacted me were the ones who strengthened me. So thank you thank you thank you. I still have a scripture to share though. John 14:18 -

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

Remember that! No matter what is going on in your life and no matter how you feel about anything! No matter how low you might feel, remember that the Savior doesn't have that name for nothing. He is always reaching out, willing and wanting to lift you up and make you even stronger through your trials. I've sure put that to the test in my life, and so I know that it will work. Have the faith and trust in the Lord. Prayer can lead to miracles!

Keep being the best you can be, no matter where you are, what you're doing, or how you've done in the past. You can always start fresh! And the Lord will help you become all that He knows you can!

Elder Daniel Anderson

Mini Update

The last day of this transfer is the 17th of February, so if people send any packages, they need to make sure they send them well before 2 weeks before that date, just in case I end up moving!

And if they do end up sending a package between that time, they should send it to the mission office:

La Mission Francaise de Paris

23 Rue du Onze Novembre

78110 Le Vésinet

FRANCE

Week 16: Winter Is Really Here

Well, I knew that it was inevitable. It finally snowed in Poitiers. What did I not expect? For the city of Poitiers to be like Houston haha the whole city shut down because of it! It was 2 or 3 inches, so it was more than in Houston, but still, all I can think about it my bro Markus changing the battery in his car with his friends in Idaho while standing on ice and it's -2° outside haha. It was -4° here the other day...but in Celsius haha so not too too bad.

Winter is here! Nothing we can't handle though haha

We woke up to the snow yesterday, on Sunday. We also got two calls from our Branch leaders, one saying that the buses were not running so church was canceled, and then a call that said that we, the missionaries, were going to be the only Priesthood holders that could make it to church, so they needed us to be there just in case someone showed up. That meant walking 4-5 miles to the church building in the snow! Yeeeuh buddy! It was quite the adventure haha we tried our best to make it a little fun. I also got to take this cool picture:

Some of you might have postcards with a similar picture, just taken in the summer haha

We made it to church, trudging through the snow, and alas, we were the only ones who were there haha. Oh well! We did some studying and watched President Uchtdorf's CES Devotional. It's really good, you should watch it if you havent! It's about finding out what truth is, and I really enjoyed it!

Earlier in the week, we met with our investigator David, and the lesson went really well. He mentioned how sometimes he felt like he shouldnt pray, or he felt like he couldnt pray, so I whipped out 2 Nephi 32:8-9 and we read it with him. I told him how I have the same feelings sometimes, but that this scripture helped me to overcome that and he really liked it. That was actually how we introduced him to the Book of Mormon, and he was really into it because he was already able to see how there is really good stuff in there! And there are way more gems in there than just that!

On Saturday we went to "Samedi Sports", which is where we play sports with youth and young adults and their friends. We played soccer of course, and so I wasn't the greatest, but not too shabby haha. Maybe practicing a little in the cultural hall in Katy with Terin Graham helped me out a little haha thanks for the lesson! Afterwards, we talked to a guy named Guy haha and he looked almost exactly like Markus' friend Montrel haha it was crazy! He was super cool and just so happens to be a rapper too haha and we'll be seeing him again next Saturday!

In other news this week, we were invited over to a member family's house, the Girard's, because Soeur Girard had made a cheescake for us because I had mentioned that I like cheesecake haha it was good too! Not exactly like American cheesecake, but not bad!

I also gave myself a haircut this week, for the first time in my life!

This is what missionary life does to you...

Had to throw the selfy pic in haha I think it came out okay!

My companion touched it up a bit for me to make sure I didnt look too whack, but hopefully all of you arent laughing too hard at my attempt at cutting my hair haha.

I'm going to La Rochelle again for exchanges tomorrow, so I'm pretty excited for that! Oh, and I learned a little piano this week, so I'm a little more musically talented than before. I prefer practicing guitar, but piano is good too haha.

I guess I'll leave you with something spiritual, and it is something that my Mom sent me this last week. You should all go look up Elder Holland's talk titled "Come unto Me" from the April 1998 Ensign. It's really really good! And let me know what you think of it!

Well, until next week! And always remember Joshua 1:9 and John 14:27!

Elder Daniel Anderson

Week 15: First Transfer Gone

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD! He's the best and today's his birthday! He's such an awesome guy and he puts up with me, so I sure am glad he's my Pops! I hope he has a great day today!

In other news, I now know that all the packages that I was able to send out last month have been received! ANd I found out because of a letter that I got in just 5 days! It's a record! And a whole lot faster than the previous one that took 16 days haha so things are working now!

Oh, an important breakthrough! I figured out how to turn the volume up on my camera! Finally! So now I can hear the sound on videos on my camera! (So now I can hear when my bro destroys a clay pigeon haha)

So for the last week of the transfer (yes, I'm staying in Poitiers for the next transfer haha), our entire zone prayed every night for all the companionships in the zone to find 2 new investigators this last week. It was quite the success! I dont know all the numbers or if everyone found 2, but it sure helped us here in Poitiers! I'll tell a little story in a bit.

I also went on an exchange this week to La Rochelle! It's a town on the ocean, so it was really cool! It was just me and an elder who came to France the transfer before me, so that was an adventure! There are some pictures of me in their apartment too which are pretty funny haha I'm almost as tall as their doors and their whole apartment is a little slanted, but I thought it was really cool!

 We taught a lesson while I was there and did some contacting, so it was pretty exciting. Then the next morning we woke up and caught the next train back to Poitiers. There's a picture of the train station too!

So, Friday we had a scheduled lesson with a man we had met the week before who was asking us about Kolob...we didnt exactly know what to expect for the lesson, but we were going to try and stick to the Restoration, that's for sure! We got there about 30 minutes early, and so we were street contacting around the area. A young guy came walking down the street with a blue mohawk, and so we stopped him of course!

He turned out to be SUPER cool, is a technician for bands and concerts in the area, and was really interested in the message that we have! He wanted to know all about the Book of Mormon and was really excited about meeting again, so we'll be seeing him next week after he gets back from going on tour with a band. So even though the lesson with the Kolob guy didnt go so great, it was okay because it was like we were meant to be there just to talk to the concert technician! It was awesome!

From what I've been hearing, the "Joseph" play was SWEET. (just not in those words haha the words used were "very professional" and "extremely well done!" There were also specific shout outs about certain people in the play, so way to go!) I wish I could have been there! I know you were awesome!

I want to share a really cool scripture I came across this week, one that really gives me some comfort, so hopefully it will for you too. It is Isaiah 41:10,13. It says:

"10) Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

13) For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."

How amazing is that?! We always have someone to help us, no matter what is going on, no matter where we are, whether we have people to talk to about things or not, and whether we think we deserve the help or not, He is always there! And WANTS to help us! SO seek Him through pray, and follow Him. Don't forget that, no matter what :)

So stay positive, even when times are hard, and trust in the Lord. And don't just try to keep smiling, just smile :) It really does help! I promise!

I'm praying for you!

Elder Daniel Anderson

Week 14: New Year, New Goals, New Outlook on Life

JANUARY 3rd, 2013. I received a letter (it was actually 2 in 1, (and one for my companion) which gives away who sent it if they weren't sure haha) that was sent to me on Dec 18, 2012. It took 16 days for it to get to me. I was SO PUMPED. Not that it took so long, but that I got it. Thank you so much! That was a GOOD DAY.

January 4th, 2013. I received a card with pictures in it from my family and the family Christmas letter with a little note from my Dad! Another awesome day! It was sent on Dec 28th, 2012. It took 6 days to get here. What in the world?! My parents must have secrets, so ask them about it!

I also received the next day a package from the Primary in Ogden! That was some good stuff haha the pictures were all awesome! You have some real artists! I also got a card telling me about my new NEPHEW. Yeah I know, pretty sweet. Whatup.

Editors Note: By "new Nephew" he means, that I'm pregnant with a boy....This nephew hasn't made his way into the world yet.

So this week was an awesome one for my mail box! Thank you everyone for everything you sent! Seriously, it means a lot to me!

Interesting thing that I noticed this week: Nutella is cheaper than brown sugar here. SO some days I have no choice but to use it in my oatmeal. It's a rough life I live! haha

So the other day, we were porting ("knocking doors", in french "porte" means door, so we call it porting haha) and we were porting a street by the river here in Poitiers. We ended up down a dead end street, right next to the train tracks, and behind a military base. So, it wasn't the most welcoming looking area. It was also pretty late and we were going to head back to our apartment soon. We walk up to a house with overgrown bushes, only one light on in the house, and a broken gate. I started to walk down the path to their door and to lighten the mood I say "this looks like a place where people get taken and never found again" haha and then the dog behind the gate came out of the bushes so I decided against going in that way haha. So I walked around to the side of the house to the door there, and the dog came out of the broken gate and my companion just about jumped out of his skin haha but the dog was a super old quiet dog haha. I was nice and didnt laugh, but now I'm telling all of you the story so maybe thats not super nice...oh well! I knocked on the door, and a super nice man came out and invited us to come back! So, now I know never to skip a house, no matter how scary it looks!

I cant remember if I mentioned Lino in my last email, but he is a man from Martinique who is super cool and we meet with him a lot! He came to church a week ago and he really enjoys talking to us and he wants to know Christ better. Our last lesson with him, he had read 2 Nephi 31 like we asked him to, and he had read more than just that, AND he had really dug down deep into it and had a ton of awesome questions for us! It showed me that I should study the scriptures more like Lino, and so that's what I'm going to do while I read the Book of Mormon this year!

I was reading in Jesus the Christ, and came across this quote: "Prayer is made up of heart throbs and the righteous yearnings of the soul." Wow, right?! I'm going to make my prayers more like THAT now!

Just a reminder, it's a new year! Happy New Year everyone! It was a little weird this year because I didnt stay up late and shoot off fireworks, but it's still a new year! I hope you all made some awesome goals and resolutions and are really stuck on achieving them! I know you can do it!

Some more interesting things I've eaten: Pheasant, frog legs, and cow tongue. That was my New Years Eve Meal haha

I hope everyone has an awesome week! And enjoy going back to school! It'll be whatever you make it!

Oh, and I know that the play, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" is going to be great. I bet you are going to be awesome in it too!

à la prochaine!

Elder Daniel Anderson

Some pictures:

Ferris Wheel in a park near our apartment

Indy boy is funny because it shows what the French think about NASCAR people

The inside of the Notre Dame in Poiters.