Hey Mom and Dad,
Our week hasn't been too lovely, I've been pretty ill the last couple of days so we haven't been able to accomplish too much cuz we've been inside. It's pretty lame, hopefully we'll be back into the swing of everything soon though. I don't really like staying inside much, it gets a bit boring. I've spent quite a bit of time sleeping though.
Christmas was alright here. We had a good time with Gerry as usual so that was good. It's warmed up the last couple of days and rained a bit so some of the snow has gone. Hopefully it'll stay gone. I used to like the snow until I had to be outside all day in it. Then it's not near as fun.
That story about Grandpa telling Devon he wouldn't be able to walk if he didn't get to bed is hilarious. I can just hear him saying it too haha. I'm sure Grandpa didn't catch too much stick for that huh lol. I bet Devon wouldn't let that one go.
Grandpa told me on the phone he was having his knee replaced. That's pretty intense. Has it been bothering him for a long time? It's cool that we have the technology to do that kind of thing though. Back in the day you would've just been hosed.
So ya, not too much has changed here. We'll continue looking for people to teach once I'm healthy again. Ryan is still doing well and I'm pretty sure Richard is still planning to come to church this Sunday so we're happy for that too. Sharon, our recent convert is still awesome. She gave us some Christmas presents with a really nice card in it thanking us for making such a difference in her life. It made me really happy to read that. That's the best thing about being a missionary in my opinion, it's just such a good feeling to know the gospel has made such a difference in someone and you got to be a part of it. It makes everything worth while, every bit of bad weather, slammed doors, and insults. It's a beautiful thing.
I hope you guys have fun at Todd's for New Year's if you get down there. I'm not sure what we're going to do but we have to be inside early so we don't get bricked or something lol. They say we can stay up until midnight to see in the New Year but we have to wake up at 6:30 still so I'll probably just go to bed at the normal time I would imagine. New Year's kind of loses its lustre on a mission I must say. It's not near as big of a deal, but the weird thing is after this New Year's Eve we'll be officially in the year that I come home. Crazy.
Anyways I better get going now. Have a great week! I love you both.
Love, Elder Brice Anderson
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
December 20, 2010
Hey Mom and Dad,
Well, it's Christmastime here again. And it's about the same as last year to tell you the truth. Everyone is busy and we get alot of "Call by after Christmas" comments from people. It's a bit frustrating cuz I want them to know what it's really about but no one is too bothered. But we keep on trucking. It's snowed quite a bit here the last few days. They say it's the largest single snowfall since 1981. (It's really not that bad compared to home but it's brought this country to its knees). Our church got cancelled yesterday so we ended up spending the morning shoveling people out of their driveways and pushing cars out of snowdrifts. I guess a bit of Christmas service is one of the best things we could do in light of missing out on church and whatnot you know. But it was good anyways. I just think it's funny cuz before winter came they were all saying that they're so much better prepared this year than last to deal with the snow but I haven't seen a plow yet and it's been a few days so maybe they should've looked over the preparations just a bit more. And they're not really used to driving in the snow here anyways so you have alot of accidents and people getting stuck and not knowing how to get out.
I'm glad you guys are feeling a bit of the Christmas spirit now and getting ready to take that stuff to the hospital. Sometimes when I see people over here who are struggling it really makes me grateful for what I have had over the years. It's really tough to see people struggle so hard for things that I always took for granted you know. It was always nice to know that we would be having a nice dinner and getting presents and everything else. Some people just don't have that, it's tough to see you know.
I'm also glad to hear that you are on the bone marrow donor list. I've heard donating that hurts like crazy, but if it's going to save a life it's more than worth it. I think I'll probably put myself on that list when I get back too, if they'll let me.
Rapana told me the other day that he'd been to the mission office and saw that I have two packages there from you and Nat so they're already there and I'll get them on Friday for sure. Thank you for that. I'm excited to get it. And thank you for the debit card as well, hopefully that'll be there as well but if not I guess I'll get it when I get it. I just hope it's soon cuz my other one is going to be in pieces before too long I think. And that would not be very pleasant.
Anyways I better get going now. Just so you know I'll be calling at noon your time on Saturday from Gerry's house so be ready for that. And I'll call Dad's cell phone like you asked. I love you both. Talk to you on Saturday.
Love, Elder Brice Anderson
Well, it's Christmastime here again. And it's about the same as last year to tell you the truth. Everyone is busy and we get alot of "Call by after Christmas" comments from people. It's a bit frustrating cuz I want them to know what it's really about but no one is too bothered. But we keep on trucking. It's snowed quite a bit here the last few days. They say it's the largest single snowfall since 1981. (It's really not that bad compared to home but it's brought this country to its knees). Our church got cancelled yesterday so we ended up spending the morning shoveling people out of their driveways and pushing cars out of snowdrifts. I guess a bit of Christmas service is one of the best things we could do in light of missing out on church and whatnot you know. But it was good anyways. I just think it's funny cuz before winter came they were all saying that they're so much better prepared this year than last to deal with the snow but I haven't seen a plow yet and it's been a few days so maybe they should've looked over the preparations just a bit more. And they're not really used to driving in the snow here anyways so you have alot of accidents and people getting stuck and not knowing how to get out.
I'm glad you guys are feeling a bit of the Christmas spirit now and getting ready to take that stuff to the hospital. Sometimes when I see people over here who are struggling it really makes me grateful for what I have had over the years. It's really tough to see people struggle so hard for things that I always took for granted you know. It was always nice to know that we would be having a nice dinner and getting presents and everything else. Some people just don't have that, it's tough to see you know.
I'm also glad to hear that you are on the bone marrow donor list. I've heard donating that hurts like crazy, but if it's going to save a life it's more than worth it. I think I'll probably put myself on that list when I get back too, if they'll let me.
Rapana told me the other day that he'd been to the mission office and saw that I have two packages there from you and Nat so they're already there and I'll get them on Friday for sure. Thank you for that. I'm excited to get it. And thank you for the debit card as well, hopefully that'll be there as well but if not I guess I'll get it when I get it. I just hope it's soon cuz my other one is going to be in pieces before too long I think. And that would not be very pleasant.
Anyways I better get going now. Just so you know I'll be calling at noon your time on Saturday from Gerry's house so be ready for that. And I'll call Dad's cell phone like you asked. I love you both. Talk to you on Saturday.
Love, Elder Brice Anderson
Monday, December 13, 2010
December 13, 2010
Hey Mom and Dad,
How is life going back home? It's going good here. We did a bit of digging in our flat and found a few Christmas decorations believe it or not. And yes I kept the stocking you made last year so don't worry about that mom,I wouldn't throw it away. But ya things are going good here. We find quite a bit cuz our teaching pool is a bit shallow. Things are going really well with Gerry's son right now. He has come to church the last two weeks and he seems like he's really in it for the long haul and everything. Gerry and him have already talked about doing baptisms and whatnot for their ancestors and Ryan is excited to do that so it's all really nice. I'm as excited about that as a baptism.
The shop party sounds like it's going to be a nice one. If I could choose my last meal I think prime rib and shrimp scampi would be on the menu. You'll have to send me pictures of Drew's trophy this year haha. What ever happened to the one they made for Blake? (I'm not a plonker just so you know so I'm not implying that you didn't keep it cuz I know you wouldn't get rid of it, I was just curious as to where you guys have put it now).
I'm getting really excited for our mission Christmas party as well. That should be really cool. It's crazy that they're getting everyone together in one place. That never happens. But it'll be really sweet. Christmas is a bit of a bitter sweet time for me out here you know. I enjoy spending time with the members and everything like that but at the same time I just want to be at home you know. Luckily this is my last one out here so next year I'll actually be at home. But at least we get to spend it with Gerry. I'm looking forward to my call home as well. I'm sure this won't shock you too much but when I call home I would very much like to talk to Natalie so if you could arrange that it would be much appreciated. I'm not exactly sure what time I'll be calling though so I'll have to let you know that next week in my email to you. I can't even believe it's Christmas again already though. It feels to me like it's flown by. Christmas last year was the last time I talked to Blake too. While I'm on that subject I'll tell you about the DL thing. I got a call from President last week asking me if I would accept getting emergency transferred out of Redditch to become a district leader in a place call Stourbridge. I never got the story as to why the previous one got ET'd but I asked him to pick someone else. I know that sounds a bit weird to turn down the Mission President but this Christmas is going to be hard and I didn't want to get moved to somewhere where I don't know anyone and I wouldn't have Gerry to talk to and help me out. So I felt like me becoming a DL when I'm struggling with personal things wouldn't be doing me or my district any favors. That's why I turned him down. So he told me because he loves me he'd agree with that and leave me in Redditch for the holidays but he said the calling isn't going to go away so just cuz he's leaving me here right now doesn't mean I won't be called later. So that's what's happening here now. I get to stay in Redditch for the rest of this transfer but after that I can almost guarantee I'll be moved and I would assume a calling will come with it. But we'll have to see what happens. So there's the whole story about that rather than the pieces you had before.
Anyways I'm about out of time right now so I better get going. I love you both.
Love, Elder Brice Anderson
How is life going back home? It's going good here. We did a bit of digging in our flat and found a few Christmas decorations believe it or not. And yes I kept the stocking you made last year so don't worry about that mom,I wouldn't throw it away. But ya things are going good here. We find quite a bit cuz our teaching pool is a bit shallow. Things are going really well with Gerry's son right now. He has come to church the last two weeks and he seems like he's really in it for the long haul and everything. Gerry and him have already talked about doing baptisms and whatnot for their ancestors and Ryan is excited to do that so it's all really nice. I'm as excited about that as a baptism.
The shop party sounds like it's going to be a nice one. If I could choose my last meal I think prime rib and shrimp scampi would be on the menu. You'll have to send me pictures of Drew's trophy this year haha. What ever happened to the one they made for Blake? (I'm not a plonker just so you know so I'm not implying that you didn't keep it cuz I know you wouldn't get rid of it, I was just curious as to where you guys have put it now).
I'm getting really excited for our mission Christmas party as well. That should be really cool. It's crazy that they're getting everyone together in one place. That never happens. But it'll be really sweet. Christmas is a bit of a bitter sweet time for me out here you know. I enjoy spending time with the members and everything like that but at the same time I just want to be at home you know. Luckily this is my last one out here so next year I'll actually be at home. But at least we get to spend it with Gerry. I'm looking forward to my call home as well. I'm sure this won't shock you too much but when I call home I would very much like to talk to Natalie so if you could arrange that it would be much appreciated. I'm not exactly sure what time I'll be calling though so I'll have to let you know that next week in my email to you. I can't even believe it's Christmas again already though. It feels to me like it's flown by. Christmas last year was the last time I talked to Blake too. While I'm on that subject I'll tell you about the DL thing. I got a call from President last week asking me if I would accept getting emergency transferred out of Redditch to become a district leader in a place call Stourbridge. I never got the story as to why the previous one got ET'd but I asked him to pick someone else. I know that sounds a bit weird to turn down the Mission President but this Christmas is going to be hard and I didn't want to get moved to somewhere where I don't know anyone and I wouldn't have Gerry to talk to and help me out. So I felt like me becoming a DL when I'm struggling with personal things wouldn't be doing me or my district any favors. That's why I turned him down. So he told me because he loves me he'd agree with that and leave me in Redditch for the holidays but he said the calling isn't going to go away so just cuz he's leaving me here right now doesn't mean I won't be called later. So that's what's happening here now. I get to stay in Redditch for the rest of this transfer but after that I can almost guarantee I'll be moved and I would assume a calling will come with it. But we'll have to see what happens. So there's the whole story about that rather than the pieces you had before.
Anyways I'm about out of time right now so I better get going. I love you both.
Love, Elder Brice Anderson
Monday, December 6, 2010
December 6, 2010
Hey Mom and Dad,
Life has been pretty good here lately. Other than it's blinkin' freezing outside! It rained a couple of nights ago so all of the snow is gone for the moment but from what I hear it'll be back soon. Today there's a thick layer of frost all over everything. It's intense I tell you what.
Nat told me it was Grandma Lois' party this week and she loved it. Thank you very much for inviting her to that kind of stuff and looking out for the family and everything. I can tell it means alot to her by how she talks about it.
So you guys are going to Salt Lake with the youth too then? That should be really fun. I really miss seeing the lights at Temple Square. I used to love that. I'm looking forward to next year when I can go see them again. Christmas next year is going to be a nice one. I'll even be able to turn the wreaths upside down again haha. We don't even have any Christmas decorations in our flat to put up and I'm poor so I don't want to buy any so it's a bit lame. Last year we only had one little nativity thing, a 6 inch tall Christmas tree, and one 5 foot long strand of lights. It wasn't much but we put them up with pride haha.
That's sad to hear that Dale is having such a rough go of it. I'll keep him in my prayers. I didn't even realize his health was that bad. I hope it all goes well and he can get a liver in time.
So I have to tell you a story of what happened to us this week. So Gerry has 2 sons who hadn't been to church for years and years because they just didn't really want to go and didn't feel like it was that important. But this week one of his boys just started to ask questions about the Bible and the Book of Mormon and then he asked to hear the missionary discussions. So we taught him all week and then he came to church on Sunday! We're really happy to have that going on here. Gerry was so proud too. I'm as excited about that as I get when we have investigators who come to church. He seems like he's in it for the long haul as well so we're really excited! It's so cool to see it make a difference in someone's life you know. I'm just so happy I can't even explain it.
I'm also happy to hear you got my package and everything too. I'm sure you figured out what belonged to who and everything just fine. Thank you very much for the debit card as well. I appreciate all that you do for me. I'm about out of time now so I better get going but I'll talk to you again soon. I love you both.
Love, Elder Brice Anderson
Life has been pretty good here lately. Other than it's blinkin' freezing outside! It rained a couple of nights ago so all of the snow is gone for the moment but from what I hear it'll be back soon. Today there's a thick layer of frost all over everything. It's intense I tell you what.
Nat told me it was Grandma Lois' party this week and she loved it. Thank you very much for inviting her to that kind of stuff and looking out for the family and everything. I can tell it means alot to her by how she talks about it.
So you guys are going to Salt Lake with the youth too then? That should be really fun. I really miss seeing the lights at Temple Square. I used to love that. I'm looking forward to next year when I can go see them again. Christmas next year is going to be a nice one. I'll even be able to turn the wreaths upside down again haha. We don't even have any Christmas decorations in our flat to put up and I'm poor so I don't want to buy any so it's a bit lame. Last year we only had one little nativity thing, a 6 inch tall Christmas tree, and one 5 foot long strand of lights. It wasn't much but we put them up with pride haha.
That's sad to hear that Dale is having such a rough go of it. I'll keep him in my prayers. I didn't even realize his health was that bad. I hope it all goes well and he can get a liver in time.
So I have to tell you a story of what happened to us this week. So Gerry has 2 sons who hadn't been to church for years and years because they just didn't really want to go and didn't feel like it was that important. But this week one of his boys just started to ask questions about the Bible and the Book of Mormon and then he asked to hear the missionary discussions. So we taught him all week and then he came to church on Sunday! We're really happy to have that going on here. Gerry was so proud too. I'm as excited about that as I get when we have investigators who come to church. He seems like he's in it for the long haul as well so we're really excited! It's so cool to see it make a difference in someone's life you know. I'm just so happy I can't even explain it.
I'm also happy to hear you got my package and everything too. I'm sure you figured out what belonged to who and everything just fine. Thank you very much for the debit card as well. I appreciate all that you do for me. I'm about out of time now so I better get going but I'll talk to you again soon. I love you both.
Love, Elder Brice Anderson
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
December 1, 2010
Hey Mom and Dad,
It sounds like you guys had a good trip up to Forks and the place looks beautiful from the pictures you sent so I'm excited to go see it when I get back. But apparently the roads are ugly though. It's funny cuz we got the first snow of the season here and everybody is crapping bricks about how bad the roads are going to be if it keeps snowing. The thing about here though is the traffic comes to a standstill if the snow gets more than a few inches deep. And they don't know how to drive on snow either. Last year me and Largesse witnessed 5 or 6 car accidents just from people who don't know how to drive properly and rear end each other. Kinda like when the road is too slick for the person behind to stop but somehow the one in the front was able to. Pretty wild huh Mom? haha Remember that? Sorry I couldn't help myself.
Our Thanksgiving was really good here. We had a good dinner and everything was fun and whatnot. It was about as good as it can be without actually being home. We had to speak in church this weekend about missionary work and that went really well I think. I don't particularly enjoy speaking but I've gotten used to it now so it doesn't bother me too bad. And besides that we only had to speak for 6-7 minutes each this time so it was really easy. My comp was scared to death of it though. He was losing sleep the whole week over it. Maybe it didn't help that I told him we had to speak for 15 minutes and had him believing that til Friday when they told us on the previous Sunday. Our new convert Sharon gave a 10 minute talk and she did awesome, especially for only being a member for a little over 2 months now. It was just awesome. I was so happy to see that. And life is going pretty good other than that as well. We've been spending alot of time finding lately so that's been alright. It's getting flippin cold though. I had to bust out the big gloves this week for knocking doors to make sure I kept all of my digits.
My debit card has about had the weiner and is cracking. I'm afraid it'll break before too long and we'll be up poop creek without a rowboat. So if you could go up to the bank and see about getting me a new one that would be sweet. I'm not really too bothered with what it looks like so just pick something that isn't girly. And I don't know if they do them or not but if they offer the cards with the chip and pin thing it would be a bit more convenient to have one of those but if not it's ok I can manage just fine without one. Thank you very much! Did you get your post yet?
And one more bit of good news. You already know I'm staying in Redditch which I'm really happy about but also Elder Rapana is our new zone leader so I'll get to see him all the time now. I'm really excited for that.
Anyways I better get going now. I hope you are having a good week and I'll email you on Monday again. Love you both!
Love, Elder Brice Anderson
It sounds like you guys had a good trip up to Forks and the place looks beautiful from the pictures you sent so I'm excited to go see it when I get back. But apparently the roads are ugly though. It's funny cuz we got the first snow of the season here and everybody is crapping bricks about how bad the roads are going to be if it keeps snowing. The thing about here though is the traffic comes to a standstill if the snow gets more than a few inches deep. And they don't know how to drive on snow either. Last year me and Largesse witnessed 5 or 6 car accidents just from people who don't know how to drive properly and rear end each other. Kinda like when the road is too slick for the person behind to stop but somehow the one in the front was able to. Pretty wild huh Mom? haha Remember that? Sorry I couldn't help myself.
Our Thanksgiving was really good here. We had a good dinner and everything was fun and whatnot. It was about as good as it can be without actually being home. We had to speak in church this weekend about missionary work and that went really well I think. I don't particularly enjoy speaking but I've gotten used to it now so it doesn't bother me too bad. And besides that we only had to speak for 6-7 minutes each this time so it was really easy. My comp was scared to death of it though. He was losing sleep the whole week over it. Maybe it didn't help that I told him we had to speak for 15 minutes and had him believing that til Friday when they told us on the previous Sunday. Our new convert Sharon gave a 10 minute talk and she did awesome, especially for only being a member for a little over 2 months now. It was just awesome. I was so happy to see that. And life is going pretty good other than that as well. We've been spending alot of time finding lately so that's been alright. It's getting flippin cold though. I had to bust out the big gloves this week for knocking doors to make sure I kept all of my digits.
My debit card has about had the weiner and is cracking. I'm afraid it'll break before too long and we'll be up poop creek without a rowboat. So if you could go up to the bank and see about getting me a new one that would be sweet. I'm not really too bothered with what it looks like so just pick something that isn't girly. And I don't know if they do them or not but if they offer the cards with the chip and pin thing it would be a bit more convenient to have one of those but if not it's ok I can manage just fine without one. Thank you very much! Did you get your post yet?
And one more bit of good news. You already know I'm staying in Redditch which I'm really happy about but also Elder Rapana is our new zone leader so I'll get to see him all the time now. I'm really excited for that.
Anyways I better get going now. I hope you are having a good week and I'll email you on Monday again. Love you both!
Love, Elder Brice Anderson
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