Up's and Down's

Well, my time with Elder Aldridge could be one of the most growing times in my life. I get upset at him inside, but I look at it from an outside perspective and I love him for it.He is very convinced that I will be given a lot more responsibility next transfer( in 3 weeks). With him being so convinced, he has decided to take the responsibility upon himself to prepare me for that ¨Responsibility¨. Yeah, one might ask what that means... So, although he has a year and a half more time in the mission than I do, he feels that it is time for me to do things. He makes me plan for daily things(I know it sounds simple, but when you have a list of twenty people that you are trying to bring salvation to, and some are progressing better than others, and they live all over the place, you have to decide who you are going to see that day, whether you are trying to get someone to progress, or someone to continue, and to be effective with your time, and to be making the right decision...I can´t lie, its a little overwhelming sometimes). He will sit back and make me teach people, talk to people, and organize everything. If I have a question on how to do things, he simply advises me to go to the one who knows everything, that is pray.The bishop of the ward calls us to ask us some questions about how to do things in the ward, and my companion just passes me the phone, and has me explain it. It is so crazy.. It is so strange that me, Brett Andersen, 19 years old am asked some of the things I am people here treat the Missionaries so different. I mean, its so interesting that I just jump out of young men's, and a year in a college ward, and now the Bishopric is asking how things need to be run in a ward. All we missionaries know is what we have seen. There are some missionaries in the mission that are missionaries, but also the Branch President(So they really are in charge of it all). I often kneel down at nights, and just pray for help. I am only 19and so much is expected of me, by the ward, the members, investigators, and my Savior. If I can tell you one thing I have learned so well in these past three weeks, is my true reliance upon my Father in Heaven. I have been so humbled having no idea what to do, or how to do it. Elder Aldridge will teach lessons, but then he will let me loose to teach the next thing. The reliance on the spirit in this time is incredible. I mean, if you know who I am, I always have something to say. ALWAYS! But I have had so many times this week, where I just have nothing, and I just look at Elder Aldridge, and he just smiles and winks at me. Then, I follow the scriptures advice-Open your mouth, and it shall be filled-I have witnessed that more than a few times. I think I had started to be a little too confident in myself, and so I was put to a humbling. Also, you can see the work of the adversary every day in our work. You watch what he tries to do to tear down your confidence, or work on our investigators. It seems like every single time there is a baptism, the week before, especially the day before and the day of, there are problems everywhere, doing whatever can happen. I can´t even explain all that happened this week as we approached the baptism of Miguel. It was crazy. This week we went to town talking to everyone. We started just sitting next to people on their front porch, and start talking to them. I just want you to imagine just some random two guys in shirts and ties coming up to your front porch and sitting down next to you and start talking to you. Surprising to me at first, we found a lot of good people.Then we went to a members house because she was making dinner for us, but wasn't quite done. We didn't have a whole lot of time, but we just went and got to know her neighbors. We didn't really talk to much about the gospel with them, but we planted some seeds. They now see us MORMONS as normal people and not as crazies.We found this wonderful lady and her daughter this week, and they honestly didn't have much interest the first time we visited with them. But the second time was awesome.They had a lot of questions about doctrine, and they were so impressed with the fact that the Book of Mormon answers so many questions. The spirit was really strong in that lesson, and you could tell they felt something different. This week has definitely been a roller coaster week. With ups and downs, including some of the Highest highs, and lowest lows. The mission is a crazy thing, and definitely a time where you learn about yourself. I really am grateful for this opportunity I have to serve my mission. Thank you all for your support, your emails, and your prayers.Until Next week,Elder Andersen
Chase Andersen