MTC- 3rd P Day

Hey everyone! It's me again! Hearing from all of you throughout the week made everything so much better. This week was significantly better than last week, so that's good. To everyone who sent me words of encouragement, thank you. I really needed it. I think every missionary does. A Sister in my zone has been really depressed since she got here. Yesterday we were all talking at lunch and she said, "everyone here is depressed, some just do a really good job at hiding it. I felt like the only one who was sad for the longest time." That comment broke my heart. I saw how much this Sister was hurting and how much nearly everyone at the table agreed with it. I realized that since I've been mostly happy this whole time, I should share the happiness with everyone else. For the past week I've been trying to be the uplifter for everyone. Every time someone is (openly) sad and I can tell, I'll get either Pocketful of Sunshine or Unwritten stuck in their heads. They actually love it and they surprisingly don't get annoyed. The smallest things can really make people happy... You realize that when you don't have technology around you 24/7. If only we could actually listen to those songs on our missions. I feel like they are uplifting enough to be approved, can I get an amen? 

I'm glad my time here has improved drastically. That doesn't mean that I don't have my moments of frustration anymore, it just means that I feel really good about what I'm doing. Missionary work is hard, but I've learned how to make the most of it. I also realized that most missionaries are having a way worse time than me, that's why I decided to be the uplifter. Why not make others happy? Someone actually told me, "Don't take this offensively, but I feel like you're in your own little bubble. Tons of work and struggles are dumped on us, and you're just having a good time and laughing 24/7." Everyone agreed with the Elder who told me that. It made me feel good knowing that people see me in this way, but I had to assure them that a mission isn't smooth sailing for anyone... Even me haha. 

Also (for all of you Riverton kids), Elder Tyler Nelson has been such a blessing since I've entered the MTC. His example is too good not to follow. He sent me the nicest email ever and really motivated me to work harder. I don't see him around campus that much, but once I do, I'll get a picture with him. I'll send it in my next email. I'll also try to do a "Riverton Elders" picture and get that sent next week. 

I've developed a better bond with my companion which is amazing. We still have very different personalities (his personality is a little weird haha, he was his high school's star basketball player but also loves Les Miserables and Harry Potter. He doesn't typically like talking about anything, but he sings Les Mis ALL THE TIME), but they actually mesh a lot better now. Yesterday we had a lesson with an investigator and I decided I really wanted to improve my French. I went away from the typical phrases I had memorized in French and tried to memorize new ones. I felt like the lesson went awful because my French was coming out so wrong and I didn't master the phrases I was trying to say. My companion complimented me on a job well done after and assured me that I did better than I thought. I really needed that and appreciated it quite a bit. 

We also teach real members of the church whose native language is French every Tuesday for the rest of the MTC. Those are a little more stressful, but we always say a prayer before we start and that seems to help. One of the guys we taught this week was an inactive 90ish year old French man. He was really nice, but had bad hearing haha. He PROMISED us that we were already good enough that we will be fluent in less than 4 months haha. I don't know if that was just to make us feel better or not, but it sure made me feel good. 

The French is ultimately coming along, but it's slowly improving. I've always been someone who likes to know things ASAP, so that's frustrating, but my faith is helping me out. I know it will come eventually and that no one learns a whole language over night. My companion has gotten really good at French and is also a pretty good help. We quiz each other 24/7.

I really do wanna thank everyone for their emails and/or packages. My sweet Nanny (one of my grandmas) has been emailing me all the time! She also sent me a HUGE package (picture will be attached below) with the sweetest message that ended with, "Share with your district.... I will send another one soon... Next time you will get all strawberry HI-Chews. I went to several stores but couldn't find any only strawberry ones so I ordered some online."  LIKE HOW NICE. I just wanted to brag about my grandparents because they are like the nicest people ever haha. My grandma literally went to several stores just to find candy I liked. 

The gospel is so strong here. There are so many stories I wrote in my journal which I'd be more than happy to send to some of you if you want them. They're so good and powerful. 

One of the Elders in our district has a fiancee (there are pictures of the engagement and everything to prove it) and there's a really funny story about that if any of you want some juicy details haha (too long to share on here). He's from Uruguay and I don't think he knows that you shouldn't propose before a mission haha... But he emails her 24/7 off of his tablet (kinda like texting) and she always responds within like 1 minute haha. He gets in trouble but doesn't care hah. 

Anyway, I like the MTC now. I'm for sure more excited to get out into the field, but at least I don't hate it here anymore. I'm growing to love my district and all the others I meet. We make jokes all the time and reminisce on songs we can't remember the lyrics to. All is good!

Please email me! Hearing from my friends and family is my favorite thing ever. Send me pictures and videos and memories and packages if you really wanna go the extra mile ;) haha. Love you guys! Hope I didn't miss anything in this email! 

-Elder Anderson 

Pictures in order:

1. Me and Elder Webb (British Elder who knows Amber Smith)

2. The package Nanny sent me

3. The package Brittany Anderson sent me (Adam's mom, not Oakley's :) 

4. Me and some of the Elders in my zone in front of the temple on Sunday

5. Me and my roommates taking a family picture with our caregiver and grandpa, Elder Jocelyn, before he leaves the MTC next week for Fort Lauderdale.