Almost Burning a Shirt

 The corridor in leading to our house

 Opa

 CORAÇÂO!

 The heart burger (x2)

  

 Eating the heart burger hardcore

 District meeting!

 Inside the chapel

 The church on Rua 9-A, home of Ala Goiânia

 In the taxi :)

 In the elevator :) :)

 I ate this whole Habib's pizza for lunch. It was the equivalent of $4.60.

 The office building of our office. We'e on the 11th floor.

 The entrance of the office building

 I haven't lost my art skills yet (Mark 16:15)

 ONE YEAR IN BRASIL! (x3)

With Elder Zeballos, o increível! He goes home this week :(((( e Elder Banz atrás kk

Almost Burning  a Shirt

I can’t believe I forgot to write about this last week, but last week I knocked the best door on my mission! It was 8:40 at night and I was on that exchange with Elder Souza. As always, we were trying to find “os eleitos”. After a few unsuccessful doors, we knocked (or actually, we clapped. In Brasil lots of houses have gates in front and you just clap your hands loudly for people to let you in) and a woman came out and asked us if we were the Mormons. Sin, nos somos! She then said “Oh, the people here are Mormon. Do you want to come in?” Alright. We passed through the house to the area behind it and found a huge extended family having a barbecue to celebrate the 70^th birthday of one of the family members. Some of them were members of the church from the USA! We were given a bunch of awesome food (including picanha – the best cut of meat here) and as we talked to the people there, found out that it was the extended family of our ward mission leader. He wasn’t there, but his dad, who’s less active, was and we talked to him and invited him back to church and he came! After eating a ton and meeting everyone we went home, really grateful and excited that we had knocked what we thought was a normal door and in turn, won a churrasco! Hahaha!

This week I reached one year on the mission!!!!! It has been the nest year of my life.  For years I’ve been excited for the day when I would reach one year on my mission and follow the missionary tradition of burning a shirt. I was way excited to do it on Friday and had everything ready – the white shirt, the camera, the super flammable water-proof aerosol product for shoes – when it was discovered that we had run out of matches. NO! I looked around the house like crazy but only found am empty match box then went to the neighbor’s house but she wasn’t available and then it was almost 10:30 and I had to abandon the search L. I was sad. It’s only once in your life you hit one year on your mission. And…we were out of matches. Anyway, I’m happy again and at least had the certainty that I wouldn’t burn anybody’s house down.

That’s something different. Houses in the US are made of wood and burn easily. Houses here are made of a type of blocky clay brick and mortar and even if I had burned a shirt and the aerosol can had exploded (IF), probably none of the house would have burned because they can’t.

Oh! I started an awesome goal: memorize one scripture everyday. Last P-Day was the first day and so far I’ve memorized 12 (I’m a little behind). They are the following: Ether 12:27, Mosiah 2:17, D&C 82:10, Alma 5:26, John 3:16, 2 Nephi 2:27, 2 Nephi 2:25, 2 Nephi 9:28-29, 2 Nephi 25:23,26, and 2 Nephi 28:7, 8, and 9. It’s been really cool! I’m more constantly thinking about good things, getting to know the scriptures better, and strengthening my ability to memorize. I don’t know how long I’ll keep it up, but I think at least the rest of my mission will be a good goal.

On the news on the elevator TV this week I saw that there was a riot in front of Governor Deal’s house. I thought it was cool because I went there once and Georgia made international news. Hopefully next time I get a Georgia news update here it’ll be a little more positive hahaha.

Beans here have risen a ton in price and everybody here is going crazy over it because Brazilians eat rice and beans every single day of life! Hahaha, Brasil!

It was a good week this week. I took a ton of pictures for you guys to enjoy! I enjoyed learning some cool things in the scriptures this week (especially how D&C 20:35 and 2 Nephi 14 explain the verses in Revelations 22 that people often use to try to discredit the Book of Mormon) and of course, reaching the famous one year mark! Life is great, Brasil is great, the gospel is true!

Elder Anderson

P. S. I ATE A HEART BURGER. It was alright. Kind of like liver. A little tougher but not as bad tasting as liver is. Oh yeah, people eat liver here sometimes too.

Bencaos, Milagres, Felicidade!

 My July 4th planning 

 P-Day lunch com o cara e PÃOZÃO!

 Letters from the fam!!!!!!!!!!

 Digitizing the taxi receipts...Chato demais!

No fluxo executivo/financeiro

Ola ao meu povo! It’s  Friday right now and I’m at home. Elder Vercosa, who has a problem in his feet and does physical therapy every day, is staying with us and since he can’t walk much, he has to just sit at home each night with one of us. Tonight’s my night. It’s been nice to take a little break and have time to clean the kitchen floor, work out some more, and now, write to you guys! Each week it’s been a rush trying to write my letter and so I’ll take advantage to cover some things that I’ve forgotten here or there in the last while.

One Sunday afternoon we were looking for a less-active member’s address. We found it, but it was an apartment building and the address we had didn’t list the apartment number. I didn’t want to not find the person (double negatives are not grammar crime in Portuguese) and so for 10 minutes I used the doorbell/intercom to call to every one of the 16 apartments. We didn’t find the person or family, but it was funny, haha.

I believe it was in March that Pres. Kuceki gave the mission the goal of finishing reading the Book of Mormon before Pres. Buhrer got here. Since that time I read a lot in the Book of Mormon every day. I actually started reading it in Portuguese before I left for Brazil, though I didn’t understand it, and as I read more and more and strove to reach the goal that Pres. Kuceki gave us, not only my ability to read Portuguese but also my testimony of and love for the Book of Mormon grew tremendously. The last two weeks before Pres. Buhrer got here I had to read a lot every day to get on track, but I  (I’m really losing or at least having difficulty finding, my English right now) finished the morning of the day he arrived. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God—along with the Bible—and that it is the most correct and true book on Earth! How I am grateful for it and also for an inspired mission president who led me to strengthen my testimony.

The 4^th of July was awesome wasn’t it!!? I did get pretty homesick here BUT throwing the American pigskin with American Elder Banz talking some American English about stuff in America helped me celebrate the day well. I love American football. Yet I love the gospel more! There’s nothing better than being on the mission here in Goiania!

That’s something I thought about this week—how grateful and happy I am to be here. I think it’s the mission call letter that says something like “more happiness that you have ever experienced awaits you as you labor among the children of God.” IT’S TRUE!

The joy of sincerely helping people, teaching people the restored and full gospel, seeing lives changed and testimonies built, losing myself in the work, growing in my conviction of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement, and knowing that I am doing exactly what God wants me to do is the greatest I have ever felt. I love serving this mission and fulfilling the will of my Father in Heaven, just like the Savior did!

(Now it’s P-Day) The weekend was excellent! Saturday I was on a division (exchange) with Elder Souza, the district leader’s companion. He only has 4 months on his mission but is already teaching and working well! We really didn’t have a plan for the afternoon, we just prayed to be led to a good person or family. We walked around and talked to some people. I saw a guy in front of a house and started to talk to him, but stopped when I realized he was talking to someone inside the house. I waited to talk with him when he finished, but as he left, he said to the person inside “Tem dois rapazes aqui para voce.’ (There are two young men here for you.) Well, it wasn’t our intention to talk to the person inside, but we went with the flow of things and ended up meting a humble and legally married family that was looking for a church to belong to! We taught them and invited them to church. They were planning to go to another church Sunday morning but changed their minds and came and loved the meetings yesterday and already committed to come next Sunday as well!  Milagre! I knew we had been guided to find them.

Another miracle happened! Neide is still progressing excellently but couldn’t come to church because of work. She and we have been praying that somehow she could go, and on Saturday one of her co-workers asked if they could trade shifts on Sunday. She happily accepted and loved attending igreja ontem tambem! Miracles!

Man it was a great week! There are even more great stories, but there just isn’t time sufficient to tell them all. That’s a good problem to have: so many blessings that you can’t count them! This morning I read all the letters from the Anderson reunion! I loved them and love you guys a ton! Thank you! I am always so grateful for my wonderful fan club of friends and family.

-Elder Anderson

Bem-Vindo, Presidente Bührer

 Tchau :(

 Bem-vindos! :)

 Bob's

 Pastel with banana, cheese, and cinnamon/sugar

 Opa

 É nóis!

 E aí

 E. Meireles e E. Diniz!

 Tirei todo este lixo da salinha! (x2)

 Another good day in Goiânia

 Falling out of the chair trying to take this picture kkkkkkkk

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!! #USA!USA!USA!

 Patriotic demais

Alright Mom, I'll start being safer on the roads

Well, my longest not-getting-robbed streak yet was almost up to 5 months until it was broken Friday night. We were walking on a big avenue and all of a sudden a motorcycle pulled up in front of us, amidst several cars in the lane. Here we go again! The guy on the back hopped off and demanded our watches and money. I gave him my watch (the one Josh gave me right before I left :(. It's survived 3 assaults and on the 4th it was taken...) and told him I left my money in the office. After grabbing E. Oliveira's phone and E. Freire's watch, he hopped back on the moto and sped off. E. Oliveira said he was holding a big knife, yet I didn't see it. At least 5 cars passed and saw it all happening but it's so normal in Brasil that even the police at the nearby gas station weren't surprised when we ran to them and said what happened. They went off to try to catch the guys but surely didn't. Brasil...

Presidente Bührer chegou! He and his family arrived on Wednesday. I'll send the pictures we all took. Presidente Kuceki and his family left that afternoon—triste. Pres. and Sis. Bührer are awesome! They're really young, only 40, and are excited to be here. We had a meeting with him and the staff the following day. He talked about how this is a mission of miracles and we are going to see the miracles of people changing their lives through this gospel as we work diligently to serve the Lord. He made a new logo for the mission which is pretty sweet, maybe next week I'll send a picture. On Friday morning we had a meeting with all the missionaries from Goiânia, Anápolis, and Barra do Garças here in the Goiânia stake center. Pres. and Sis. Bührer shared their conversion stories and testimonies. They are hilarious and also really dedicated to the Lord's work—a lot like the Kuceki's na verdade, just younger haha. It's been a great week of transition, and the whole mission is excited!

IT'S THE 4TH OF JULY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I woke up excited and sang the national anthem and when I got here to the office put my little American flag in my shirt pocket and walked everywhere with it even when I went to the bank and went to pay bills and I'm wearing a red tie and blue pants and thinking about fireworks and barbecue and the peachtree and red white and blue and AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Man I miss my country! The best in the world!!!! After living foreign for almost a year, I have grown incredibly more grateful for the amazing country from where I am. For those of you who haven't yet really experienced another country, you have no idea how blessed we are to be Americans. The USA is a heavenly country and even with the several problems that exist there, it is much better than anywhere else. Eu amo os Estados Unidos de América!

Life is good here. I payed some bills and did the other normal stuff this week here in the office. In the mission field, Neide is progressing really well and is really loving learning about how the principles she understood only in part for so long make sense within the restored gospel. We're continuing to work hard and find more prepared people!

Enjoy the 4th America, I love you!

Elder Anderson

Tchau, Presidente Kuceki

 A galera em...Outback!!!

 Comi bem, bem pra caramba!

 Demais!

This is good ice cream

 

 Tchau Presidente  e Sister Kuceki! Obrigado!

 That's convincing advertising! Just that no one here understands that...

 The Office (x2)

 Just one point...

 Skill x Style

 Eu tenho o poder

Habib's. Mom's food is better

 Cabbage and meat and rice and something

 It's a good day, Goiânia

I just about got hit by a car taking this. I'm on the street.

My future car passed right by us today

When I arrived in Goiânia, President Kuceki still had almost a year to go as mission president. That time has flown! He and his family will leave for São Paulo this week, and on Wednesday, President Bührer and family will get here. I’m sad and happy at the same time haha. A few weeks ago we had the going-away meeting with the whole mission and yesterday had the ward’s farewell. President and Sister Kuceki gave talks in sacrament meeting and after church everyone took pictures with them. They have done a ton for the Goiânia area in these three years, and I’m really, really grateful I was able to serve here with them. Friday was Presidente´s last normal day in the office. It was a strange day for all of us, knowing that his mission was actually coming to an end. I asked him for a little interview at the end of the day. He was really busy but made time for it and gave me some great advice I will use during the rest of my mission. I have enjoyed so much working closely with him for about four transfers during this last almost-a- year. It really is hard to see him go! Com certeza ficaremos em contato.

We found a golden investigator! A week and a half ago we talked to Neide when it was almost time to return home. She didn’t show interest in hearing our message at first, but let us talk with her. She has a huge story. To sum it up, for 30 years she was the wife of a big pastor in another church, with a great and successful life and suddenly he left her and sent her away with nothing. She’s been rebuilding her life for several months and has been looking and praying for help. That day we didn’t teach anything, just listened and after feeling sincere sorrow for her, we said a faithful prayer. We asked her what she would ask from Jesus if he was there. Then we prayed for those things: guidance on the path to salvation and contact with her family. We invited her to a family home evening with some members and left. A miracle happened! Monday night we went with her to the family home evening (it was great! Irmã Fabiana gave a great message about the apostasy and restoration and shared her testimony and conversion story—a great introduction to the church for anyone). Talking with Neide about her week, she said that less than an hour after we had left her house, she received a message from her daughter. It had been seven months since she had heard from anyone in her family. In that very hour, the prayer was answered! She is progressing quickly and is already well integrated with the members. After teaching the restoration we invited her to be baptized. She responded, “Claro que eu aceito!” (It’s clear that I accept!) Wow. I am so grateful we found her at the right time! She was prepared for the restored gospel and will be a great member!

My testimony of prayer has grown muito in these last few weeks. President Kuceki´s talk in the farewell meeting and personal experiences have strengthened me greatly. I am so grateful that we can communicate directly with our Father in Heaven, and I know that he hears, loves, and answers our prayers! We were making contacts yesterday, and I saw a group pass by that looked very American. We were able to catch up with them and I talked with three young men from North Carolina who are visiting Brasil for a few days for some type of church conference. Cool! I did struggle a little speaking English with them hahaha. It’s awesome but also really weird when I meet Americans (that aren’t missionaries) here. It makes me feel at home for a few minutes, but then I return to the real world, leaving my head spinning a bit. Oh, thinking about Americans, ONLY 1 MORE WEEK TILL THE 4 TH OF JULY!!!!!!!!!!!! I will have a huge party by myself! I’ll think about you guys, all the incredible American barbecue you’ll be eating, and the amazing fireworks a lot that day, while I’m speaking Portuguese and eating rice and beans here. I miss my country, family, and friends, but not too much. Como sempre, estou amando o Brasil!!

Elder Anderson 

The Power of Prayer

 Lago das Rosas

 Where we as vezes play football (American football!)

Bom P-Day dia Goiânia!

Yesterday was Stake Conference. I was excited all week for it, yet the night before, I was stressed. We didn’t have a single investigator who could or accepted to go. In our evening planning I called everyone whose number I had in my planner to invite them to conference. A few people said they couldn’t go; one man, Paulo, said he would talk to his wife to see if it would work, but his tone showed a huge lack of interest; the rest of everyone didn’t answer.

I was sad. I absolutely can’t stand going to church without bringing anyone! And the weekend of Stake Conference is an excellent opportunity to introduce people to the church. Yet, we had no one.

Sunday morning, I prayed. Remembering what Jesus taught in Matthew 7 (and 3 Nephi 14) about how if our earthly fathers are willing to give us what we ask, how much more willing is our Heavenly Father to give us the good things that we ask for, I asked that we could be blessed with some non-member showing up to church. We went.

5 minutes before the meeting started we were in the hall welcoming everybody. Suddenly, I saw Paulo—the man that seemed so uninterested just the night before. He had come! Twenty minutes into the conference, he had to leave, yet how grateful and happy I became to have my prayer directly answered! By the power of prayer we were able to bring someone to church yesterday, and my testimony that God answers prayers was strengthened by real evidence. Que Maravilha!!

There are tons of amazing things in this mission that show the greatness and miracles of God, the love of Christ, and the charity among us brothers and sisters. There are also things that clearly exemplify the stupidity of humanity. A drunk guy said to us yesterday: "Vocês são escoria do mundo!" (you are trash of the world). He was drunk at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, barely making it down the road and called us, missionaries of Jesus Christ, the trash of the world. Hmm, I think he's got things backwards. I said "Obrigado irmão!" (thanks, brother!) and we left happily, to go invite more people to learn about Christ's true gospel. Kkkk esse povo!

I FORGOT TO TELL YOU GUYS! When all the missionaries were here during the transfer, a bunch of us went to that hamburger place and Elder Snell tried the 3 hamburger 2 milkshake challenge. It was great hahaha!! He's a huge guy, but only made it through a hamburger in a half before he couldn't take anymore. That hamburger challenge may be the biggest in Brasil! It was a fun night haha, and maybe it discouraged me from trying it one day.

This was my best week so far as financial secretary! I'm finally getting comfortable. Paying the bills, handling the contracts, balancing the accounts, and everything else is so much easier than it used to be because now I'm actually understanding all of it. I've learned a ton, a TON, and I'm enjoying so much this calling!

It's great here in Goiânia! I wish all you guys could take a trip down here so I could so you around. Since that might be a little difficult, I'll just keep sending more pictures. Amo vocês! Tenham uma ótima semana! Até mais! Prayer works!

Elder Anderson