Tuesday, April 26, 2011

April 26, 2011

Hey Mom and Dad,
Our Easter was pretty good. We didn't really do too much to celebrate but it was ok. I got your package nearly two weeks ago. I thought I told you but I must've forgotten. Sorry about that. I got a picture of the t-shirt quilt from Dad. One and possibly two, I can't really remember, of the shirts were mine haha. But that's ok Blake laid claim to them for quite some time anyways so they might as well be his.
We were able to locate one of our investigators a couple of days ago so we were happy about that. It turned out he broke his phone and he lives in a fortress of student housing that it's practically impossible to get into so he got his phone fixed and we're sorted. He's doing quite well so it's all good.
The next transfer is May 11th. Bedke is home now, he had to go home a few weeks early cuz his visa expired earlier than his original release date. He said to tell you he's speaking on the first sunday in May so next week I believe, yes that is a fast Sunday but that's what they assigned him to so he has 20 minutes to speak. So if you could make it there he said he would really like to meet you guys. And plus you can go visit Uncle Gary so that'll be sweet.
I hadn't heard from Gerry for quite some time either but he called me on Wednesday as well. He always said the blister comment haha. He's got some really good ones if you sit and talk to him for a while.
It sounds like Devon is having a pretty eventful life at the minute lol. I'm happy for him. Sounds like he's having a great time. I miss that little turd and all of the stuff he used to say. He'd make fun of us all the time just like one of the guys. I remember him more than once asking Cody and I if we were "sick in the head" haha. It was hilarious.
I'm looking forward to playing a bit of golf when I get back. Which weekend is Blake's tournament? We need to get in the boat as soon as I get back to beat the weather as well. I've missed that, especially lately cuz it's been quite warm the last few days.
I need to get going now but we get to do our calls home on Sunday the 8th and if possible they let us use SKYPE. I don't know if you've ever heard of it but it's a free webcam chat website so you might want to set up an account or whatever you have to do. But if it doesn't work out just let me know next week and I can just kick it old school with the phone. I'll get it all arranged and let you know for sure what is happening next week when I email you.
I love you both!!
Love, Brice

Monday, April 18, 2011

April 18, 2011

Hey Mom and Dad,
Life is going good here. We had a bit of a frustrating end of the week because two of our investigators just disappeared and we haven't been able to contact them, we'll keep trying and hopefully we'll track them down. We're still trying to find new ones at the minute so we meet lots of people. The difficult part is getting return appointments. But we truck on.
That fundraiser for Devon sounds like it was pretty cool. I bet Devon was proper wound up over the ball games. I wish I could've seen it. But it's cool that they are helping them out with the lift thing. He was getting to be a big lad when I was there and I can only imagine he's grown a bit since then so I bet it's getting interesting taking him in and out of the van.
 I'm really looking forward to flying in the new plane when I get back, dad. I see all the small planes out here all the time now that the weather is warmer and I'm getting a bit excited to go out.
I have to tell you another cool story about President Ogden. This guy is seriously my hero. We had interviews with him this week and in the interview we just talked about finishing strong and all of that and then he just started telling me a story about how the Lord has taken care of him throughout his life through the things that have happened to him and everything and that all is well in the end so I should not worry about what the future holds because the Lord takes care of his missionaries. The crazy part is I was thinking about what the future held the whole time because of the recent events that have changed my whole life plan but I was afraid to ask because I didn't want him to think I was dying early or something. But then without my bringing it up he said to put my faith in the Lord and all will be well. It was just cool. He does this type of inspired stuff all the time. But ya it was pretty sweet. I still have no idea what I'm going to do when I get back but I'm leaning towards going back to ISU with Brandon in January if he's still going. I don't know. 
I heard a quote the other day that I would like to share with you. It's from King George's Christmas Speech in 1939 when Britain was in the war:
"I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, 'Give me a light that I may walk safely into the unknown.' and he replied, 'Go out into the darkness and place your hand into the hand of God, that is greater than a light, and safer than the known way.'"
So that is really the plan that I have. To place my hand into the hand of God and let Him guide the way I'll go. We'll just see where He leads me. I have to go now but I just want you both to know that I love you.
Love, Elder Brice Anderson

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

April 12, 2011

Hey Mom and Dad,
Life is going good here this week. Sorry this email is a day late but we had Mission Football in Birmingham yesterday so we didn't have too much time to email by the time we got back so we're doing it today. China John is doing really well but this week is exams at college for him so he's pretty busy til Friday. The Chinese here are very serious about their education so when there are exams going on they hole themselves up in there room to study, or "revise" as the English say, for about a week. It's intense business I tell you what. And we've picked up another guy who has some potential as well named Adam so we're really excited. I was going to email a few more pictures home but I forgot my camera today. Sorry about that. I'll have to send them next week.
That's pretty funny about Damien's Martinez's talk, we have the legend here too about the harder you work on your mission the prettier your wife will be. They say that every hour tracted in the rain gives you more "hot wife points" and every Book of Mormon you drop on the ground gives you a deduction so by the end of your mission hopefully you'll average out on the better side of things. I had one of my companions drop a whole box of B of M's when he got off the bus so I told him to pray for some rain or his wife will be a man. He didn't think it was as funny as I did.
That story about the missionaries at conference waiting for investigators sounds all too familiar. I've spent many a Sunday in the foyer on the phone. But the difference here is there are no other meetings for you to go to and you only cover one ward at a time so you just have to sit through Church investigator-less. It's not the best of feelings.
Talking about that quilt your making with Blake's t-shirts mom makes me think about all the memories we have. Although I couldn't help but think "man I hope none of those shirts she is using are mine" because that guy was a clothes thief haha. But don't worry after further thought I decided if you did use one of mine I would probably just laugh every time I looked at it anyway so it's not all bad. I loved the headstone as well. I think it's spot on what I wanted for him as well so well done. I plan on spending a bit of time out there when I get back too so I'll have to find a comfy camp chair to haul out with me.
I'm glad Vivien enjoyed her visit with us. We really enjoyed it as well. Bedke thought she was the nicest lady ever haha. We do stick out like crazy especially when it's warm so we're just in the white shirts and ties. It's pretty funny to see all of the stares in the City Centre. Speaking of Bedke, I talked to him yesterday and he has this idea for when I get back. The Cache county fair is at the end of August and they have an event called the "wild cow ride" that we're going to do. Apparently you get 4 or 5 guys and you have to hold down a wild cow so one of the guys can ride it and the rest have to try and lead it somewhere after the rider mounts up. Apparently it's funny as heck so we're going to do it. It should be quite entertaining I would imagine.
So as for your life lesson this week dad, I have to tell you that we were talking about this type of stuff once a few weeks ago, like working with dads and what they used to do to irritate us. Bedke talked about working on the ranch with his dad and whatnot and some of the stuff he said sounded all too familiar. You and Bedke's dad need to meet because you are exactly alike. But anyways I mentioned getting woken up by some yelling and all of that business and I nearly missed it, nearly. I talked myself out of missing it but it was close I'll admit it haha.
I need to get going now cuz I'm about out of time. I love you both. Have a good week.
Love, Brice



Monday, April 4, 2011

April 4, 2011

Hey Mom and Dad,
This week was pretty good. Or at least the last bit of it that I haven't already told you about. We're still working with China John and he's the man. He came and watched two sessions of conference with us at the chapel so it was pretty sweet. And conference was awesome huh? We missed Sunday afternoon like usual but watched the rest. I'm looking forward to the next one when I can actually watch the whole thing again. Not sure how much China John understood of it but he enjoyed it enough to stay for a second session so that's pretty sweet. He said he's been looking for the truth for quite a long time and never found it so it's probably a good thing we stopped him huh? We have worked with a few more since giving out those books and we have a few more to contact so hopefully those go well too. Most people don't know what the Book of Mormon is when we give it to them so we have to explain what it is most of the time, and the ones who have heard of it hear things that aren't true like it hypnotizes people into becoming Mormons or it's a manual of instructions on the practice of polygamy. I used to carry a picture of 3 girls in my wallet so when they asked about polygamy I could show them my "wives" haha, but the picture got all wrinkly so I need to find another one. One lady got proper upset when I showed her, but don't worry I always explain that it's not really the case and I just like to joke with people and I'd say 50 to 60% of the time they take a book to find out what other myths aren't true. So it doesn't end negatively most of the time.
I'll make sure Bedke calls you guys when he gets back to let you know when his homecoming is. His first name is Mitch by the way. I don't think customs will give you too much grief for sending me dried fruit hopefully, people have that kind of stuff sent over all the time. Don't worry about me taking care of myself either, mother I'll be fine. I'm just trying to look a bit better when I get back that's all. I've got 4 months left to get fit so we'll see what happens. I'm on the 4 months to sexy program haha.
Well the new calling sounds like a blast mom, lol. Have a good time with that one. Try not to take Scouts too seriously. I'll just share my own experience and tell you that if scouts becomes a burden to the lads now you will play heck trying to get them to enjoy anything about it later in life. Particularly when the time comes to work on all of that Eagle stuff. So make it an enjoyable experience now so maybe they'll like it later.
I need to go now but I'm going to load a few pictures now so let me know if they come through or not. Love you both!
Love, Elder Brice Anderson