Week 25: Zone Conference

This week wasn't too shabby! Haha it was actually a pretty awesome week!

Last Wednesday I got a birthday package in the mail! What a start to the week! :) Yeah, maybe it was a little late, but it's all good! Now I've had a birthday month instead of just a single day! I'm definitely not complaining about that! The boss I used to have used to celebrate her birthday like that...now I can see why! haha

On Thursday we finally had our Missionary Conference in Paris!

This is inside the trains I ride here, not too rough of a life haha

The conference was with Elder Kent F. Richards of the Seventy. It was awesome! I learned so much, saw a lot of old friends, and my testimony was strengthened so much! Here's a picture from the conference of me with some of my old friends!

Me with my friends

One of the things that struck me at the conference was a comment that Elder Richards made that is scarily true. He said "Satan's best plan is to make us hold back just a bit, and not realize our full potential." Wow! How true is that?! I know that there are a lot of times when I feel like I could do something, but then I let discouragement or doubt win me over. Forget that! We should all just give everything our very best effort! We should make goals, and do everything we can to achieve them! Even if it looks like we won't achieve them (and sometimes we don't), if we still put in our best effort, we'll come out way better than we would if we quit!

In Preach My Gospel (The missionary book for the Church) there is a quote by Elder M. Russell Ballard that says:

"I am so thouroughly convinced that if we don't set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to laster the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life."

How powerful is that?! And how true! I can already see how much more I could have accomplished in life if I had worked harder towards my goals! So sheesh, I'm gonna do my best to work harder!

That's my little motivational tip haha

I also recommend reading Elder Kent F. Richards' last General Conference talk titled "The Atonement Covers All Pain", it's really good!

On Friday, we taught Prince-Davy again, and he's still preparing to be baptized on April 20th. After we taught the lesson, our branch president said "You guys can't leave Poitiers before his baptism! I'll call Président Poznanski myself!" and it was a really nice thing to say, but sadly, I might be. I'll find out this Saturday if I'm leaving, and if I am, I'll be leaving 4 days after that. So, we'll see what happens! So until I find out, send any letters to the mission home address haha.

We also set another baptismal date for April 20th with our investigator Thomas! He's a 22 year old guy who is super nice and super excited about the Gospel!

While home teaching with a member this week, the member who was teaching with us said something (to the recent convert we were teaching) that I thought was pretty profound. He told her to "Do your maximum." It's simple, but so right! We are all expected to do all that we can, but that doesn't mean that we can do everything. We just have to be honest with ourselves and put in our very best effort!

Well, I'm gonna try to go to Belgium again this week haha so hopefully that works out! Don't worry, I'll still try to take pictures so that I'll have better ones to share than I have the last few weeks haha.

Keep being awesome and working hard! And have some fun while you're at it!

Elder Daniel Anderson

Week 24: Rollercoaster Week

And I thought last week was crazy! I wasn't ready for this week! haha not really, but it sure was an interesting week!

As I said last week, I was supposed to go to a conference in Paris last week and one of the 70 was going to be there to help train the missionaries. Well, it ended up getting cancelled because of snow, so that was a little sad. It got moved to this week though, so I'm happy about that. It also worked out fairly well for us here in Poitiers, and I'll explain that in a bit!

This week we did a lot of contacting and knocking on doors. I know, that sounds like any other week that I've been here! The difference: we got let in. Twice. Say whaaaaat?! It was pretty awesome! You don't see that every day! But for real...haha

I'll start at the beginning of the week though haha remember in the last blog post when I mentioned how I talked to the brother of a member here, and he was a hip hop/rap music producer and really liked basketball? Well I talked to him about that for a little bit, and then we talked about what we (the missionaries) are doing here, why we're here, how we decided to come, etc. Then we had to leave. The member told us a few days later that after we left, he didnt talk to anyone else, that he just sat on the couch and was thinking and that it was obvious that something was on his mind. She was super thankful that we were able to connect and that he could see that we weren't weirdos and that the church is made up of ordinary people who want to be extraordinary! haha that's what it is! So that was nice to hear from here haha

So a little over a week ago, we contacted a guy on the street, and he was from Belgium, but the dutch speaking half. He spoke english though, so no problems haha. We talked to him for quite a while, and he seemed pretty interested. He had a lot of theories about how people should live, so I shared with him Mosiah 3:19, and he loved it. He looked at me and said "That touched me. You knew just what to show me." It was a great experience! We gave him a Book of Mormon and asked if we could get his address or phone number so we could meet another time and he said no, that if it was meant to be, then we would see each other again, and then he walked away. It was kind of sad to see him go, but we did what we could! 

Fast forward about 3 days, we're conacting in town and a lady comes walking right up to me, so I say hello and she sayd "I know this might be impolite, but can I have one of your books? You gave one to my friend the other day and he said it brought him good luck and he felt really good about it, so I read some of it and I would really like one for myself. I'm very interested." Caught us a little off guard! We asked her who her friend was, and of course, it was the same guy from a few days earlier! We asked if we could meet with them some time and she said yes, so we told her to have him call us. Then she walked away, and about 15 minutes later, he called us up. CRAZY. We met with them once, and she had read like 10 or more pages in the Book of Mormon and had read the entire pamphlet we gave her! Then after the meeting they said they would come to church. 

Sadly, they texted us in the middle of church and told us that they wouldn't be coming and they weren't interested anymore. It was sad! They even missed my companion and I performing in sacrament meeting! (We sang a "Be Still My Soul" haha) So, the whole experience with them was quite the rollercoaster, but maybe some day down the line they'll be interested again!

On Thursday the big Conference in Paris was cancelled, so we stayed here in Poitiers. I was kinda bummed! But, things worked out! We got invited in to a college guy's apartment to teach a lesson and he was very receptive! Then while we were walking to the bus, we contacted another guy and he invited us over and we taught another lesson! So, having the conference delayed a week worked out okay haha

Prince-Davy came to church with us this week and is doing really well! He asks a lot of questions, and that shows that he is truly interested and truly wants to find the answers to his questions! Good thing we've got 'em! Or at least we know that we can encourage him to ask Heavenly Father, who is really the one who knows the answers! Seriously, He does.

I was reading in the Book of Mormon this morning, and I thought I should share something. It is Mosiah 24:10-16, I think. The background is: There was a group of righteous people who were being controlled by a group of wicked people. They were being used as slaves and had to pay taxes to the wicked people. It says "So great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God" and they "did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts." That's just like we should do when we are having hard times! Then the Lord answered them and said "Lift up your heads and be of good comfort...I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders...I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions." 

Then after the Lord said that, "it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren (The righteous people) were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." The Lord wants to help us through our difficulties, we just need to ask! We need to have faith that He will help us, and do everything we can to make our situation better! He might not remove the difficulty, but He can also strengthen us so that we can make it through the difficulty, so that we are then stronger for when something else comes our way! He knows us better than we know ourselves!

Sorry for writing so much this week haha and for having just one picture!

 Prince-Davy drew this on the whiteboard for a little kid at church haha

I hope you're all doing awesome and loving life! Hopefully next week I'll have some incredible stories to tell!

Elder Daniel Anderson

Week 23: What a Train Wreck!

Okay, my week wasn't quite a train wreck, but it's a little closer than you might expect! So, last week I said that I was gonna be doing some cool stuff this week, like going to Belgium, and it ended up being a little more than that!

I started the week by eating dirt and worms though, which was delicious! I shared it with a family in our branch (The Girard family) that is always doing nice things for us haha

My birthday cake!

The Girards! They're awesome!

On Tuesday was the Belgium trip for my legality! I was pretty excited for it because I was going to Belgium, and because I was going to see some of my buddies from the MTC! When I first saw them after 3 months, it was quite the reunion! We had so many stories to tell each other and I missed being able to be that comfortable with people! It was almost surreal haha I don't know how I'll be able to handle it when I finally get home from my mission! I guess I'll jump that hurdle when I get to it haha. So we got on the train, and kept talking to each other, and after a while I said "I keep telling myself that I wish we were still back at the train station so that we could have more time together." Well, be careful what you wish for! A few minutes later, the train came to a complete stop in the middle of nowhere, and it turned out that the train had broken down! Yeah, one of these super fancy, super fast European trains. Long story short, we were stuck on the burning hot train for 6 and a half hours! But you know what, it really was a blessing in disguise! Except that we missed our legality appointment and have to go back another time...oh well! I also didnt really get to see Belgium, just the train station there haha because after we got to Belgium we just bought waffles and turned around and came back!

My buds and I eating some waffles!

The next day, I went to La Rochelle again for exchanges haha it's like I've served there now! I know how to get around and everything haha. We did some contacting on the boardwalk and actually met a few people! The ocean breeze was really nice and the salty air brought back some good memories! I was on exchanges with an elder named Elder Schultz, and he was awesome and taught me a lot!

Thursday we were back in Poitiers, and had a meeting with our ami Prince-Davy, and it went really well! He now has a baptismal date! March 30, 2013! It's exciting! He really loves talking about the Gospel and he really wants to find out what God wants for him in life. Our only problem is finding baptismal cloths for someone who is 6'8" haha

It's funny walking the streets here nowadays, because people recognize me and know who I am. Groups of high school kids will say "Anderson!" and so I smile and wave, just try to act cool, and then they won't think that we're weirdos! Because we're not! So people are starting to be more willing to talk to us. Hopefully that will help things out here!

We were invited to a birthday party at the Girard's house too, because Sister Girard has non member family, and it was a little awkward at first. But then one of the kids brought out a basktball, and tossed it to me. So what did I do? Sprin it on my finger of course! What an ice breaker haha the kids loved it, so I would hold their finger and spin the ball on their finger for them, then the dad's came and asked me what sports I played and stuff, then told me about their brother duo and how they used to make hip hop music, and then we talked about what it's like to be a missionary and why we do it. We didnt get an appointments set up with them because they said they're super busy and live far away, but at least now they feel more comfotable with the missionaries. Hopefully one day they'll accept some visits! Moral of the story: use your talents for good! Keep working on your talents, because you never know when they might be useful!

Oh, and read D&C 50:40-46, it's powerful!

Elder Daniel Anderson

French scenery!

Reminded me of Texas! haha

I tried to get a good picture of the bridge, but it's hard when you're on a super fast train and there are poles in the way. haha

Week 22: I'm Old

Well, it's done. I'm now 22. How crazy is that?! It seemed like not such a big deal at first, but then my brother mentioned that he's gonna be 20 this year, and that threw me for a loop! Sheesh I'm getting old! haha I feel like I'm using my time pretty wisely though, so that's a good thing. I got a few cards in the mail, I got an amazing letter, I got awesome emails, and I got a birthday box from my family! I had decided to open the box the night of my birthday, and earlier in the day I mentioned to my companion that for as long as I could remember, I always had Dirt 'n Worms on my birthday as my birthday cake haha. He didnt seemed that interested in it though haha. Then when I opened up my birthday package from my family, it had the makings for Dirt 'n Worms in it! YES. It had some presents too :) I'm kinda spoiled! But I'm definitely not complaining!

We met some interesting people this week actually. On Thursday, we were walking around contacting and knocking on doors in a new area of town, and we went up to some people to contact them (because they were the only people on the road for quite a ways) and they were wearing backpacking backpacks (haha that sounds funny). Turns out they were a retired couple from Alaska, and they were on their way to the burial site of Saint James I think is what they said. Turns out, that is in Spain. They had started in Paris at the beginning of February, and they're walking all the way to Spain! They referred to themselves as pilgrims haha that was cool! They actually invited us to join them if we wanted! My companion replied "um...I have to stay here." and I said to them "You know, I just don't have the legs for it!" and they thought that was pretty funny haha.

On Saturday night, we met some really special people. We had been out and about all day, trying to find people to teach. There wasn't a lot of acceptance that day haha but it was alright! On our way home at the end of the day, the bus ride seemed to take a while, and we were ready to go back to the apartment. As we were walking back to the apartment at 8:50pm, I contacted a couple in their late 20's. And what did they say? "Yeah, that interests me a lot actually. We've been searching for the this." Turns out, the wife had bought a copy of the Book of Mormon at a thrift store, had tried reading it and thought it was kind of hard to understand. Her husband had been starting to read the Bible, and they were really searching for answers to the questions of life that they had. They gave us their address, phone numbers, and they said they would come to church sometime, but they live far away. They were only here in Poitiers for the night to eat dinner at a restaurant. And meet us I think! They live in a city called Richelieu and also in Paris half the time, and they said that if we wanted that they would let us stay at their house in RIchelieu or in Paris and teach them so that it would be worth the trip. They were so nice! Obviously, we can't do that, but it showed that they were really interested! Turns out they live outside of our area boundaries here in Poitiers, but the missionaries closer to where they live are going to teach them! It was a big answer to prayers, and it also taught me that I can't ever give up. Even if it's been a long day and I'm ready to just go to bed, there is always someone that can use the Gospel! And I'm here to share that!

It was a pretty eventful week, and I really enjoyed it! Tomorrow I'm actually going to Belgium (say whaat?!) for the day to do legality visa stuff haha. I'll try to take pictures, don't worry haha.

This week the scripture that I want to share is Romans 8:31 which says "If God be for us, who can be against us?", or in other words "If God be for us, who can prevail against us?" How cool is that?! And how true! Even if making the right choices sometimes seems to make life harder, we have to always trust that it's for the best, because God knows best! So if we are doing what God wants, then what can beat us? Satan? No. Temptation? No. Sadness? No. Other people? No. We always have God backing us up if we do what's right!

I hope you all have an awesome week! You'll hear from me again soon!

Elder Daniel Anderson

This is a family in our ward! It's the Branch Mission Leader and his wife, they love us!

This is a bus stop that we use all the time haha I promise it's safe!

This is the Assane Family that we have been teaching, they love the Book of Mormon!

Week 21: New Transfer, Same City

Well here I am! Still in Poitiers haha I think the people here are getting tired of me...just kidding, who could get tired of me?! Haha actually, as I'm sitting here in this cyber café, 2 different guys have come to sit next to me, neither of them members of the church, but both know me haha. We see them around town all the time and so we're all buddies. We've asked them multiple times to meet with us or to just come to church, but we're still working on it. People definitely recognize my face here, because we're out on the streets all the time! I dont live on the street, but I sure spend all my time there!

So, my first companion is gone. He has gone to Belfort, France, which is quite a ways away haha. Before he left we got a chance to go and visit a lot of our investigators and some members, so that was really good. The people we visited told us how much they appreciated us and how much they liked us. I didnt realize how much good we have been doing! It really meant a lot to me. I'll try to keep acting in a way that people will appreciate me! haha

Oh, before he left, we spent some time looking around Poitiers on his last P day here, so here are some pictures!

CATHEDRAL PICTURES DONT NEED captions haha

Me and Elder Argyle in front of Hotel de Ville

I have a new companion now, and he's a lot different than my first companion. Everyone is different though haha I've definitely learned that over the years! So, there are going to be some changes and adjustments, but things will work out great!

This week started out like springtime! It was awesome! Then this weekend it got very cold. Lakes froze over. And it snowed. COME ON! I want some warmer weather! I guess I'll get that eventually...I should be careful what I wish for I guess haha

Well, this week I'm turning the big 2-2! Crazy right? haha it's pretty exciting I guess haha just another year of my life that I can use to better myself and help the people around me!

So this week, a scripture that really stuck out to me was Alma 26:27. It says "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said:...bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success." Isn't that an awesome promise?! I've been applying that promise in my life for sure, and keeping my head up no matter what! All of you can do the same thing too, no matter how hard the difficulties. The Lord is always there and knows what we're going through. Rely on Him, and He will strenghten you!

I hope everyone has an awesome week! Make it the best week so far this year!

à la prochaine!

Elder Daniel Anderson

Week 20: Mongo Week

This week was a big one! It was full of all kinds of events and holidays! So I'll start from the top haha

Tuesday was Mardi Gras! They had some pretty big tile celebrating over here! They had some Canaval action and that night the whole city was party central haha there was a big concert in the town square and people having a jolly good time everwhere. So we tried to stay out of it as much as possible haha

Wednesday was a special day. It was a day set aside as a day for "Spiritual Finding" for the missionaries in both of the France missions (Paris and Lyon). So we made no teaching appointments that day, and just spent our time finding. And we stopped every 30 minutes during the day to pray for guidance and help in finding Heavenly Father's children who were ready to hear the Gospel! It was an awesome experience! We met a lot of people, set a lot of RDV's, and even saw some people that we had lost contact with, so now we're back in contact with them! I also made it a goal to only speak French that day, no matter what! I failed...but only slightly! I spoke English because someone we contacted was speaking English haha so it doesnt count! THat day really showed me even more, and strengthened my testimony, that if we put our faith and trust in the Lord, we will be blessed and we will be able to see the blessings in our lives if we look for them!

Thursday was Valentine's Day, as everyone knows haha and life as a missionary doesnt change much on Valentines Day. Yeah, maybe it was a little sad, but I had plenty of chocolate to keep my spirits up haha. Oh, and dont you worry, no one here asked me to be their Valentine, so no problems there! That night we had a very good lesson with the Assana family (a family from Chad that we've been teaching) so that was a good end to the day!

Friday night we visited a less active member out of the blue, and we ended up teaching two of her friends who were visiting, and they wanted to learn more, so we got them in contact with the missionaries where they live! It was awesome!

Saturday was the day the Transfer email gets sent out! And so it was a big day! But turns out the email system was messed up so no one could check the email haha so everyone was freaking out! We ended up getting called on the phone, and so I'm gonna be staying in Poitiers! I'm really excited about it! I really like our amis and I finally really understand Poitiers haha so leaving would have been hard. My companion is leaving though, so I'll be getting a new comapnion, so that will be exciting! This last week I noticed that everyone sure listened to me when I said be careful sending stuff to me in Poitiers around this time, but now you can send everything you've got to the same address as it's always been! I actually got a super awesome letter today, so that made me super happy :)

Sunday, my comapnion said all of his goodbyes, and then everyone started talking to me about all the things that needed help with, the people they wanted me to visit and everything. Now there is a lot more responsibility on me! Things are going to be tougher, but like Ether 2:24 says, things are gonna be rough, but "I will bring you up again out of the depths".  When things are tough, sometimes we get boosts, like an awesome letter in the mail with a surprise in it, getting to play the guitar a little bit, or an ami's 10 year old kid answering the door and talking to us for 5 minutes, all while fully decked out in a clown costume haha

I hope you're all doing awesome!

Elder Daniel Anderson

Me decked out and ready for the cold!

These are the Devil's Stairs.  That is their name.  We dominated them.

It was a beautiful day!

Me looking like a goob G with my home teaching companion, Frere Mayassi!

Week 19: Time For Service

So, this last week was pretty excellenté! (That's not French haha) The transfer is coming to an end, and so this Saturday I'll see whether I stay or go! And same for my companion haha. I'm thinking I'm gonna stay, but since he only has 2 transfers left, I think he's gonna partir and finish his mission somewhere else. But who knows! Anything could happen!

So this last week we were invited over to a members house for lunch, and it was a lot of fun! We'd been over there a bunch of times and we know the family really well. They have a son who is mentally disabled, and so I finally brought up that I had volunteered at Camp Journey and how much I loved it! I showed her pictures on my camera (and then she wanted to see all the pictures on my camera, so we had fun with that haha she wanted to know all about certain people in the pictures haha) and she was so surprised and so excited about how great the system is for children like her son. It's not like that here in France, but she's trying to make it better! It made me miss Texas to talk about it so much, but that's okay!

The other day we went to an investigators (or "amis") house for an appointment (rendez-vous, or RDV) and it turned out he had to cancel, so on our way back down the street, we ran in to one of our other amis, Madame Bru! She was walking to the pharmacy with her walker and stopped to wave us over with a huge smile on her face haha she's super nice! It really brightened our day too! When you're always surrounded by people who kind of look at you funny, it's always nice to see a smiling familiar face! I've never been someone who does this, but if any of you see or run into any missionaries during the day, wave and say hi to them! Trust me, it can lift their spirits a lot!

The other day around noon, we were contacting in centreville (downtown) and we contacted a man who told us that he was going to spend time with his friend who is paraplegic, but he spent a little time talking to us, and said he would be cool with talking another time. Then that night, while knocking doors in a completely different part of town, a man in a wheelchair answered the door (they were also blasting Nirvana in the apartment and we could hear it from outside haha) and we started talking to him, and then his friend, the man we had talked to earlier that day, came out from the living room and was super surprised! To us it seemed like a miracle or a signe, but to them it seemed kind of creepy hahaha but they still kind of thought it was a cool coincidence!

On Saturday we helped a member family move to another part of town, and it took all day. We pretty much got it all done though! They were super thankful for our help, having 2 young guys there to help made it go quite a bit faster haha. They lived out in the country before, and they moved to a different part of the country with more wooded areas. I really like the area! It reminded me of being home and close to things like that. I live in the city nowadays! A small city, but still downtown. So it's nice to be out and about!

Waddup! Camp Journey Represent! Camp Journey goes global!

A little more "hilly" than Texas, but still the country! "I had a bbq stain on my white t-shirt" :)

 Just some random old church out in the middle of no where haha

This is the house the family was moving to, it was pretty cool!

So, that was my week! We're going to try and find a ton of amis this week (like every week haha) but we have a few big plans, so stay tuned for next week, because I'll let you know how it goes! I hope everyone is doing awesome, keeping their heads up, smiling, and being the best they can be!

à la prochaine!

Elder Daniel Anderson