Things are going great...

Quite the epic pic there that my companion took of me. Haha. I was just about to pull out my Book of Mormon and point to the globe, but I couldn't find a globe up there.

Why hello there one and all! How are ya doing? I am just super happy right now and am having a super de duper day. This morning we got up bright and early and went for a hike behind our house and were able to see a great view of all Tijuana and San Diego. It was quite nice actually. But really the whole week has just been incredible. One of those weeks that I don't think I will be able to forget soon. We finished this last week with 17 people with baptismal dates that are all preparing and all doing just great and honestly, I am just feeling great with the work that we are doing. Things are going great here in Villas del Bosque!

Birthday Party at TGI Friday's with my Zone.

This week we were able to keep teaching with C. and many other investigators. Everybody is doing really well and all progressing. We were able to have a couple of really cool lessons this week. Last week we were able to find just a great golden family, the G.. They are super prepared for the Gospel and are all progressing very well. We were able to take the Stake President (who is acting as our Bishop) with us to one of our lessons with them. We talked about the Plan of Salvation and it was very powerful the Spirit that was felt there. I am super thankful for great leaders of the Church that understand their callings and really magnify them. This family has been passing through some pretty tough stuff, but everything is turning out well. I am super happy for them and know that they are going to be very strong in the Gospel. The father of the family told us yesterday that he wants to go out with us this week to visit people with us and share his testimony.

Morning Hike

It was quite the day yesterday at Church. On wednesday a group of 110 people from Utah showed up to help out here in the Stake to build houses, repair roofs, and just do some service. So in Sacrament meeting we had over 220 people which is a lot more than normal. It was quite nerve wracking though because the Stake President asked me to help and translate for him and all of the speakers. I have never done anything like that before, but it was quite the experience. I don't think I have ever paid so much attention to the talks in Sacrament Meeting before. But they were great. Although the speakers at times had very strong lungs and spoke for quite a time with out a break to translate, I feel like I was able to get the message along to all of those that were there. The Americans came up and sang I Am A Child of God. It was just special. But honestly, it was. It has been quite some time since I have heard a choir sing that beautifully. Afterward, everybody was talking to me and I was basically just running around all day trying to translate for them and help them out. They are gonna be here all week and I asked if the youth would like to do splits with us, and we have people that are gonna come with us all week long. We took 6 youth out yesterday and we are gonna try and take a few more out today.

Looking down from hike at church parking lot where the folks from Utah have their base camp.

One cool thing this week was a lesson that we had with Dylan and Fabiola and all the kids. Dylan is the boy that we baptized not too long ago. Well for my birthday, Melissa sent me a few CTR rings for the kids (thanks by the way) Well we gave each of the kids a ring and told them that with the ring, they now had to be mini missionaries. The loved the idea and decided that they were gonna share pamphlets with all of the neighbors and the people in the stores. They also were going around inviting everyone to Church. It was a pretty good idea that helped them started building their testimonies in missionary work.

This week we also had our monthly meeting with the Mission and Stake Presidents. The meeting went great and honestly, things are going really well here in the stake. We have been able to get things going really well again and the stake is now back on top. They were both very thankful for the work that we have been doing. It has been great to be able to be around great leaders such as them here in my mission. I feel like personally I have learned a lot about being a leader and how to help people. Honestly, the mission has taught me so many things, but I feel like one of the biggest things that it has done for me is strengthen my character and help me be a more confident person. I feel great here. I am so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who loves me and each of you so much that he gives us these wonderful opportunities.

Well I hope that you all just have a wonderful week. I love you all so much. Rememeber who you are and act accordingly!!

Elder Tommy Anderson