June 30, 2013

Hey guys.

I unfortunately had changes this week. It was one of the hardest things i've ever had to do in my life. I love the people in tibas so much. It was awful to have to call them and tell them i had changes. I've never felt like this before. And i don't like it either. But i know that God has purpose for me here in Turrialba. Although it has been super hard to leave my beloved friends, converts, and families behind, i will do all that i can to help build the Lords kingdom here. I'm District leader here. There are 4 elders and 4 hermanas in the district. 2 wards. Our ward has an attendence of about 130 or more everyweek. I came here and it was pretty dry our area and with basically nothing. Haha i was a little frusterated but i just moved on and went to work. I've learned now when things don't go as you want to you just have to trust in the Lord and git er done! Sorry i haven't been able to send you much pictures but i will send you some next week. And i have some sweet ones from today. We went to a waterfall. It was super sick. About an hour long hike. it was also super extreme. we had to bring a rope to help us go down and up the mountain. My ward here is super awesome they are all really chill people. I just hope they're ready to help us out a lot more. Turrialba is pretty hot and humid and kind of out in the country. Which is kinda of a reminder of cañas. But anyways i love this work so much and i know that what all the missionaries around the world are teaching is true. That God does love us his children. And that blessings will come through living by the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Elder Anderson

June 24, 2013

Hey guys! Wow what a wonderful week we had last week. We ended up finishing the week off with 39 lessons!! 16 more than i've ever had in a week in my whole mission! We had 2 great young priests who did splits with us for 3 days. We ended up racking 30 of the 39 in those 3 days. I also went on divisions with Elder Chisholm in my District. He's from mississippi and he's been with me since he started the mission 3 changes ago. He's a great guy but has had some really difficult challenges. So we've been fasting together and trying to see what we can do with his area. And we came to the decision that they need to strengthen their ward and try to work with more references because knocking doors does not work in their area. And the broadcast from yesterday really supported our decision. 

My district. We did have 6 elders about 2 weeks ago. But president sent one of them home last week which was really hard. He did need to go home because he was being disobedient but it's always hard to see people go home. But this week we'll be getting some hermanas in zurqui. So that will give us 4 elders and 2 hermanas. And i go on divsions at least once every week. Oh ya we have changes this week we'll know one wednesday who has changes then on thursday to our new areas. i really hope that i don't have changes i love this area so much. 

Oh ya also this week we saw a miracle. Our golden family that we love so much had been having a problem. The husband didn't want to get married. And over that past 3 weeks he and his wife had been praying and he felt like that was what they needed to do. So tomorrow we're going to talk about the papers that they need to do to get a passport then put a date for their marriage and for their baptism. 

But ya i love it here so much. Vianney our convert is the best lady in the whole world. She basically teaches us now. we had such a special lesson with her where she told us that we need to fast more so that we can be more strengthened spiritually. She fasts every week. Then she told us that she prays for us everyday and always includes us in her fast. When she told us that the spirit was so strong that it was impossible for me to hold back the tears. She has been such a great example for me out here on the mission. 

I love the mission. I love the Ticos of Costa Rica. And i love the Lord and for the chance i have to be part of the most important work in the world.

Love you guys

Love Elder Drake Anderson

June 16, 2013

hey guys. well i had an alright week. only had 21 lessons so we were 9 short of 30 but we have some great plans this week to get the 30 maybe 40 we'll see how it goes. anyways i got my package with the ipod thank you guys tons. I love it a ton. Wer had an awesome conference with president and three other zones in which i got to see Elder Richardson, Elder Taylor and Elder Fuimaono missionaries from my district in the MTC. which was super sick. we also got humbled a ton by president. But after words he built us back up with the spirit and now we're all super stoked to go to work. we put a goal as a mission to have 4 baptisms for ever companionship every month. That would be 500 baptisms every month. The best we've had is 135. Huge difference. But i know that we can accomplish it. I know that Costa Rica is ready to change. We just have to be obedient and work diligently to bring this change about. 

This week we have plans to have a 2 day division with 2 priests in our ward. THey're going to come sleep at our house and work and study with us for 2 daysa. I'm super stoked. THen on sunday we have divisions with a less active and a member who is preparing for his misison. But ya super stoked. I'm starting to get a little more used to being district leader now. I neber thoughtr that i would be teaching other  missionaries how to be better and how to accomplish the goals we've put. BUt as we can see the gospel changes people. Becuase i would have never been able to do this befor my mission. 

I'm glad to hear that everything is going well at home. That's sick your going to San Diego. I would love to see the sun again haha., All it does is rain now but whatev it's chill. Anyways take pictures of the football thing and the kids so i can see them. Also tell tyler to hold in there. Love you guys tons!!!

Love Drake

June 11, 2013

hey guys. THis week was an alright week. We found out that our family that we took to the temple and that had a baptismal date for this saturday can't get baptized because they aren't married. And  they're illegal immigrants from nicaragua. So now we have to wait a few months until they can get baptized. But that wasn-t the sad part. THe sad part is that her husband doesn't want to get married. But we're just going to keep working with that. we found another family though who are from honduras. They're ma\rried and have papers so that's a good sign. And they've told Ivon that they feel like our church is true. so we have a sick FHE planned for this wednesday with them. I can-t wait. We have another family that are also super awesome. THe dad is a less active member but the mom and their two daughters arent so we want to put a baptismal date with them this wek for the end of june. The meeting with the missionaries went well they just wanted us to change up our district meetings a little bit. Oh ya we have district meetings every week for a hour and a half and i have to plan it and prepare a 20 to 30 minute capacitation every week.         This has been a little stressfull but a huge testimony builder as well. I don-t hav e my package but the zone leaders said that they have one of them for me so i should get it tomorrow. I love being with elder diaz and being in tibas. I'm dreading the thought of changes on june 27th because i'm almost positive that one of us will have changes. Oh ya and supposedly 83 new missionaries are coming to our mission so a ton of people are going to be training and opening new areas. Yay!!! Should be interesting to see what h appens. |But anyways i love you guys ton.

Love Drake