Week 41: Another Travel Week!

So, this was a big travel week! And it's still going! Well, now that I'm back from a little travel today, it'll be a little calmer for a bit.

Last P-Day, our ward mission leader took us to do a cool activity! It was a bicycle rail riding thing hahah the pictrues will make it easier to understand haha basically we rode a bike contraption on a railroad track! It was awesome!

This was our weapon of choice.

And this is how it went haha

We saw some cool stuff along the way!

This is where we ate lunch.

This house is for sale! So if there are any takers, let me know! haha

It was an awesome day! Patrick, our ward mission leader, is great! It was super nice of him to take us!

Then the next day, I had exchanges with Elder Stucki, one of the other elders that lives in my aprtment, and we were working in my area. It went really well! We taught a few lessons and I had a great time getting to know Elder Stucki!

This is nearby where Elder Stucki and I knocked some doors haha

On my mission, I've given the Church's How to Stop Smoking Program to 2 people. And the two people have taken it different ways. It was interesting to see how one took it, read it, understood it, but then decided to only do and follow parts of it. The other person took it, read it, understood it, and committed to follow it exactly. The first person is still struggling to quit, while the second person has been going strong for 2 weeks and even has introduced the program to their neighbors and is quitting with them too! When I compare the two examples, it's obvious that it's the same with everything in the Gospel! We're given the guidelines, and whether we really apply them or not is how we end up with the results that we get! It was a really eye opening experience for me!

This week I also went to Paris, because my companion had to do his legality, so while he was doing that, I paired up with another missionary and we had been given a missionary scavenger hunt to do by the Assistants! So we headed out into Paris for the day! It was awesome!

No big deal.

Eiffel Tower

Me again

Some weird monument...

My mission!

It was a really exciting day! And it was amazing how many Americans and members of the church that we met! We're everywhere....haha

I have to wrap this up, but we've been doing a lot of less active work lately, and we've been seeing miracles! I'll write about them next week! People are just coming out of the woodwork and it's awesome!

I hope you all have an amazing week! Keep being awesome!

Elder Daniel Anderson

Week 40: Voyager

I hope everyone had an awesome Fourth of July!! We definitely had an exciting one here! No one even knew it was happening here. Oh well! A few members realized it when we mentioned it, but that was all haha. I wore blue-ish pants, a white shirt (of course haha) and a red tie, so I tried!

Oh, and I have another story that I forgot to tell last week! We saved a bunny! SO we were waiting at a bus stop, and I look across this busy street and a little white bunny starts hopping towards the road. Well, that's not good! So my companion and I cross the street, scoop up the bunny, and start knocking doors to find the owner! Eventually we talked to an older man (who was a little nervous to talk to us at first because we're missionaries, but then saw the bunny and relaxed haha) who had seen it before. Then his neighbor came out of their backyard and was super excited to see the bunny! So, one bunny saved. Now we just need to find a few more souls! Which we are definitely working on!

This last week we headed to Liège, Belgium for our Zone Conference. It was really cool! And I learned a lot!

The train station (gare) in Liège

We also have started to see a lot of less active members in the area, because in the Church's broadcast "The Work of Salvation," they talked about that. And we have seen fruits from that labor! Last Sunday, 2 of the people we visit came to church, and one of them even brought a non-member friend! You can't ask for more than that! Sometimes people forget about less active members, but we should never let them think that we've forgotten about them! Christ will never forget about us, so we can't forget about others! Also, we got to see some cool stuff at their houses when we visited haha

Baby Chihuahua! haha

This is the symbol of Charleroi!

I also went on a big adventure today, and that's why I'm emailing a little later than usual, but I'll explain next week!

For next week!

Also, a scripture that hit me this week was Alma 58:40. READ IT. No matter what we've gone through or what injuries we might have, we can't give in! Just keep moving forward with faith and you will see the hand of the Lord in your life! It's not me who promises that, it's Him.

Have an amazing week!

Elder Daniel Anderson

Week 39: Old/New Roomie

Well, transfers came and went. Elder Meyers is gone, and he got replaced by the second companion I had on the mission, Elder Fuller! It's pretty crazy that that worked out, because we both came to Charleroi from Poitiers. So, now we live in the same apartment again! Small world...especially when it comes to missionaries in France and Belgium haha.

We've gotten a couple new amis lately, which has really been a blessing! One of them is named John. He had a really bad accident a couple months ago and life has been hard for him. He lost one of his hands and his back is not the same either. When we went to see him for the first time, he told us how he knows that he needs to change his life and that he really wants to. He already belongs to another church, but he is interested to see what our church teaches. We explained the Restoration to him and also the Book of Mormon, and he said he would read it! Before the lesson was over he started asking if he could read it from the start, so that was awesome! Hopefully things will go well for him!

Our Ward Mission Leader also introduced us to one of his neighbors. He was a super nice Muslim guy, and super open to discussing the Gospel. We have different beliefs, but he is a very open guy and he is willing to read and pray about the Book of Mormon!

Our other ami, Jean-Pierre, is doing a lot better! We went to teach him and check up on his progress, and we could feel the difference! He is doing a lot better and I think he is really starting to apply the Gospel in his life. It's amazing to see the change that the Gospel brings!

This week we also watched the Church Broadcast of "The Work of Salvation", and it was INCREDIBLE. You should ALL watch it! And also, there were a few people in it that I know! haha that was cool to see too. The broadcast is amazing, and it really shows how amazing of an impact members of the church can have on missionary work!

This weekend the sister missionaries here had a baptism. It was great! It's awesome to see the increase of baptisms in the area, I'm lucky to be here and get to be a part of it!

This week we also visited an inactive member of the ward here. He is a very scientific guy and had a lot of questions and doubts about doctrine. I shared with him Jacob 4:8-10, and he understood the scripture right away. We discussed it a bit, and we both admitted that sometimes we look a little too far for the answers to questions, when sometimes we just need to "walk by faith." (2 Corinthians 5:7) Not everything is explanable right now, and we have to just work with what we have, and do the best we can! Trust in the Lord!

I hope you all have an awesome week! Here are some pictures from this last week haha

oh, bt dubs, it's cold again here in Belgium. When we dropped Elder Meyers off at the train station last Wednesday, it was 44°. Whyyyyyy haha it warms up during the day though.

We use the trams all the time! But they're a little newer than this one haha

This is one of our most frequented tram stations haha

 Today! They finally turned on the fountain in centreville now that it's summer! But it's cold again haha

Keep it real, and keep it classy!

Elder Daniel Anderson

Week 38

First off, just like whenever there is an important holiday coming up, I make a shout out. So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! I hope you have an awesome day and that you get to relax a little!

So, this week was the last week of the transfer, which is always a little sad. One of the elders in my apartment is heading home and it's weird to see people at the end of their missions! He is an incredible missionary, 2 years in the making, and now he's headed out to start the rest of his life! It's interesting to think about because part of me thinks "He can't leave! He's put so much effort into this and he's gotten so good at it, why leave now?!" but after 2 years of serving, I can understand a little bit. It also helped me see how a mission prepares you for the rest of your life! He really does have a great base for the rest of his life! I just have to keep working harder and harder so I can get to that point too! But I guess that's how our entire lives are haha

I had an exchange with this missionary this last week too, and I learned a lot! I hope I'll be able to apply the things I learned. I'll do what I can! During the exchange, our companions were together (so, it was two missionaries who had been in Europe for 6 weeks doing missionary work together) and they saw a miracle! They were knocking doors, and a woman let them in! And she was very interested because her mother had recently died and wanted to know about God's plan for his children. So they got to teach her a lesson together and we're going to try and keep teaching her!

We also taught a girl this week who comes to our ward because her mom is a member, but the daughter isn't. We went to their house and taught a message about the restoration, but she already knew all about it! She doesnt believe in God though, so that's definitely what our next lesson will be about! Prayer and faith!

In other news, the tram system in Charleroi works now! After not running for 25 years haha but I guess that isn't big news for anyone but us here in Charleroi haha.

Oh, the picture of my district this last transfer!

The numbers represent the number of transfers we've been out. The "6" is actually supposed to be "16" haha

Well, this next transfer is gonna be awesome because we're gonna make it awesome! I hope everyone of you makes the next 6 weeks awesome too! And no matter what, keep praying!

I promise that next week my email will be a little more interesting haha

Elder Daniel Anderson

Week 37: Baptême!

Elder Haskell, Mathéo, Luca, and me.

Why are the kids dressed in white? Well, because they got baptized June 16th! We've been teaching them for a few months and they made the decision to be baptized! It was an awesome day! It's the first baptism that I've seen on my mission, and it was two on the same day, and it was fantastic!

Mathéo, Luca, and their Dad, Angelo

Angelo got to perform his first baptism ever! He was pretty nervous, but he was ready for it and it went great! Luca had asked if I could give a talk at the baptism, so I did haha it went pretty well! It had been a long time since I had gone to a baptism, and so it was amazing to feel the Spirit that was there. I had heard stories and imagined what it was like, but it really was incredible to experience. After the baptism, we got to talk to a lot of non-member family members and then before Mathéo and Luca left, their dad, Angelo, came up to me and said "You guys are still going to keep coming over to teach us and see us right?" Of course!

There are still the after baptism lessons and because we love their family! It really meant a lot to me.

Also this week we had Zone Conference in Brussels, and that was great! We'll be having Elder Oaks visiting in September, and to prepare for it, our missions goals is between now and then, to have 100 baptisms in the mission! Well, our companionship just contributed 2! I'm really excited for the goal! And I know we can do it!

Also this week, we had a man come up to us and ASK to meet with us one day! That doesnt happen too often, so hopefully that will work out! He was a really nice guy too!

A scripture that I used in my talk at the baptism was 2 Nephi 31:17, and it's an awesome scripture! I know that baptism is the gateway to blessings, help, comfort, remission of sins, and to the "bon chemin".

Just a couple sunset pictures from our apartment window on the night of our first baptism!

Have a fanatstic week everyone! I'm praying for all of you!

Elder Daniel Anderson

Week 36: Big Week!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DAD! I just wanted to make sure I got that in there so he knows that I didnt forget about him! My Dad is such an awesome guy, and he always gives me awesome advice! Seriously though, I'm lucky to have the Dad I've got!

This week was a busy one! And I've got another busy one coming up! Next Sunday, June 16th, 2013, Mathéo and Luca Tedesco are getting baptized! They are the two kids that we've been teaching for a couple months, and they're doing awesome! It's amazing to see how much they've grown and how much they really understand about the Gospel. I don't feel like when I was their age I knew as much as they do! One of them asked me if I could give a talk at their baptism, so I'll be preparing that this week! That, and getting the rest of the baptism organized haha.

Lately we've also been visiting a less active member, and he has started coming back to church! Yesterday he leaned over to me during sacrament meeting and said "I'm starting to really like coling to church more." So I was excited about that!

We also visited another less active member yesterday, and turned out that his mother, who is 84, just had an operation, and the member that had come with us offered to give her a blessing if she wanted, and she immediately said yes. She isn't a member, but she really appreciated the blessing and she is a super believing lady. This less active member also lives in a house that was first built in the 14th century and was the farmhouse for the castle. Yes, there is a castle behind his house. But it's been turned into an apartment building on the inside haha. He had a lot of stories about how people had been hidden in the basement during wars and escape tunnels and ghosts, so that was interesting! haha

This week I wanted to share a scripture that has to do with Father's Day. One Father that we all have in common is our Father in Heaven, and so I wanted to share Romans 8:16 "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." We really all are children of God! Sometimes we forget it, or don't think about it, but we are His children and so we should all remember what amazing potential we have! Every single one of us has the opportunity to be great in the sight of God!

Here are some pictures from my week haha

Right in downtown by where I'm sending this email haha

A house for sale down the street from my place! Any takers? (I was on the outside of the building, not inside. Don't worry Mom! haha)

Walking over to Jean-Pierre's house

Just an old Catholic school

I hope everyone has an awesome week! Keep working hard and never stop improving!

Elder Daniel Anderson

Week 35: The Sun'll Come Out... Tomorrow

"The sun'll come out...tomorrow." That's what people have been saying here for the last 6 months. Well, the first of June showed up, and so did the sun! Ah yeah! It's gone now, but at least it was here for a little bit!

This week we did some service at our ami's house, we taught some other investigators, and we've been doing well!

The 2 kids that we've been teaching (Matteio and Lucas) are doing great and will be baptized on June 16th! That's in 2 weeks! We're really excited and they've been really into our lessons lately and they remember what we teach! This last week we taught about commandments, and for the 10 commandments we taught some hand signals (that I just barely learned myself haha) and they loved it! And their parents did too haha. We really excited for them!

Our other ami, Jean-Pierre, is going to be baptized a little later than that, but that's okay! He will hopefully come to their baptism and that will help him take the leap of faith! This last week we held a Family Home Evening at his house with his twin 12 year old girls, and it went well! Of course the kids love it when we teach tithing with candy, but I think they had a good time with the whole evening!

This last Sunday at church we had a surprise visit from the senior missionaries from Brussels! They are Elder and Sœur Okelberry from Idaho, and they're super nice! It was great to spend the day at church with them.

As promised, I also have a picture to share that I received this week:

Zachary Aaron Reinert! My nephew! Already an attention grabber haha

What awesome news! I'll see him in a year and a half, so it's all good haha. That's the only picture I have to put up this week (but if my sister wants to, she can put up more on here of Zach) but I put up a ton of pictures last week haha so hopefully that'll last ya!

Yesterday while heading to our ward mission leader's house, we decided to take a different route. On the way, a man crossed the street to come talk to us, and it turns out he had been taught by missionaries before in another part of the world and wanted to know some information about us here and if he could meet with us after he finds a place to stay. Of course we said yes! So we shall see what happens :)

That's all I've got for this week! Next week I'll have even more updates! I hope everyone is doing awesome!

Don't ever give up on your dreams!

Elder Daniel Anderson