Elder Brett Chase Andersen

"To Serve is to love"

2010-06-03T18:24:00.000-07:00

President Spitale said it was alright if I checked my email and got some more information on what happened, and to respond. ¨To serve is to love¨- Are there better words that can describe Blake William Strebel than these? I think there is no other way to describe him. His passion in life was to become somebody that was always serving everyone else. The Savior himself taught that true service is to love. You can take any passage of scripture that uses these two words, and they work interchangeably. Blake truly understood the true principle of service-not simply doing something for somebody else, but to love people so much that to do anything for them was not a task. Blake was always one who reached out to those who maybe did not feel that love there. I always knew I could look to him as an example of true service and love. Ever since Blake(Wormy) and I (Squirmy) were young, he always wanted to help others. He was always the BIG MAN that could do it all. He was determined to help everyone and everything, in any way possible. Even something as little, and often considered insignificant, as a potato bug. We were there abouts of four years old, and as the potato bug fell through the crack in the sidewalk, he was determined to save it. Yes, even at four years old, he suggested that we pray for it. Moments after our little child´s prayer, the potato bug returned to the surface, and he was w returned to a group of potato bugs. It may sound like a silly story, but Blake was always determined in that way. If anyone was in need, he was willing to go the extra mile to solve the problem. He was always the true example to me of how I should trust in our Heavenly Father. Blake and I had several memories of Basketball playing, weekend sleepovers, New Years Eve Parties, Running Cross Country, Video Games, and High School Dances. Really growing up together and helping eachother be who we truly are. Looking at pictures from when we both were crawling, all the way up through High School. From Linkin Logs, Legos and Micromachines, to Work, Cars and Girls. Not a moment missed.What Blake William Strebel is to me, is not just a cousin, or relative. He truly is my brother. I almost feel like we were twins sometimes-not in our looks or personality, but in our desire to be together through everything. Our growing years, following dreams together, and knowing the other was always right there beside, cheering us on.

What priviledge we have to know that OUR Blake, is there beside our Savior, pushing the work of the Lord forward with those on the other side.

Thank you all very much for your prayers. And may God bless you all with comfort, peace, and love.

With a sincere love,
Elder Brett Chase Andersen

A fantastic week

2010-06-03T18:20:00.000-07:00

Well, this week has been full of miracles. It has been pretty difficult actually lately, getting some things going, but we are finally starting to get things rolling, and the confidence of the members back again. Its not that they didnt like the missionaries, its just that they never felt like they were working, so they just didnt feel like anything was going on in their area. It is tough, considering how much we travel, how little time we have in our area. But we have found two AMAZING people, who are SO ready for the gospel. Lidia is 73 and is in a wheel chair, but she is a fighter. She loves the gospel, and has taken the initative to get herself to church, reading the Book of Mormon faithfully, praying, and without us even teachign the word of wisdom, she has decided to stop smoking. There are so very few thing that are impeding her from getting baptized, and it has been amazing to see this progress. well, when she arrived at church, we saw all of the fire of the members going to work. They were helping her with everything. And as such, we started getting some pretty awesome references. One of which was from the Bishop. We had planned to teach Luis about the Plan of Savlation, and we got in to his house and there was just a different spirit about it all. My companion is amazing, and we were just testifying like crazy. He in the short lesson of about 20 minutes, realized and told us that he wants to get baptized, and make all the necessary changes NOW. Not only did we leave him with the Book of Mormon, but he TOOK it from us. He wanted it so bad after being intruiged by some of the things we shared from it. We have also seen a HUGE progress in some of the Less active members with whom we have been working. The Gimenez family, the Sanchez family, the Arbazua family, and a few more. There is so much to do, there is very little time to rest...and that is why what happened to my foot is kind of a bummer. Not to mention that the traveling and stuff starts up again next week....whew. So much to do, not so much time to do it. I love you all and am praying for you always.

Elder Andersen

January 20, 2010

2010-01-20T12:38:00.000-08:00

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodnight. Tis true, tis true my dear family, that I am now killing my second companion. (Here, when we say the word killing, we are refering to being the companion they have until the end..that is to say, when they ¨die¨) He will begin his travel home on sunday evening, and be arriving wednesday morning in Orange County California. He will then be driving back to Placentia, and then be having lunch at In-n-Out for lunch, going to varios activities in the afternoon, and going to Young Womens Personal Excellence Night (With his mom, because she is young womens president), and then off to BJ`s, which according to him, has the best dessert in the entire world(no idea what it is called) He will then continue his evening by watching movies he has waited anxiously to see, beginning with Batman 2. He will not be sleeping his first night home, and will be leaving at 7:00 thursday morning to test for his new drivers license, because his expired a few months back. ETC.In other words, he is all ready, set and excited to go. For the rest of this week, we are going to be going by our investigators, and saying goodbye to a bunch of people. There is a LOT to do, and no a WHOLE lot of time to do it all. We had interviews with the Mission President last week, and that went EXCEPTIONALLY well. I love just getting a little one on one time with him. He is so knowledgable, and helped me to look even more into my personal studies...especially in the Old Testament. Things have been going nuts, and there is just so much to tell, and I really dont know how to start, or to finish.I am doing well, and I am just very excited for what is coming. we will find out who my new companion is this friday afternoon, so I am even more than excited for that. DONT FORGET! Today is Megan`s birthday! I am sure she has told you all, I even got pictures of her asking a boy to sweethearts. (Sigh). Everyone wish her a happy birthday, and give her a hug for me. But, other than that...I just dont know what to tell you people. The weather is great here, there are TONS of people everywhere...and you are all sitting in the snow, and cold...hahahahahaha. Its okay, because by the time it starts getting cold here...I will be going back to wehre you people are where it is hot again. :) I`m so HAPPY! YOu all know how I am with the cold...Well, I hope everything is going absolutely amazing for you all, please take care..
WGB,
Elder Andy

January 13, 2010

2010-01-20T12:32:00.000-08:00

Well, this last week was really GREAT! We had lots of fun, and lots of things happen. I really dont know where to begin, and its kind of hard even to distinguish one week from the next, so if I repeat myself, I apologize.Rosa and Martin were baptized and confirmed this weekend....exciting no? I think so. Glassman is down to 11 days, and we have lunches and dinners set up everywhere with people that want to give him a goodbye meal...in other words, I am going to continue eating WAY too much, of WAY good food, that is WAY bad for me. We get home at nights after these dinners just unable to move, they just dont stop feeding us. For example. We went straight from church on sunday to our lunch. I was full after eating two plates, and then when they came out of the kitchen with about 40 Chicken fried stakes to eat...I just wanted to cry. so, I forced down about twelve of them, and then we took off, afraid that they had more...which they might have. We went home for a bit, and then some members knocked on the door, and told us that they had a barbque they wanted us to go too, with steak, ribs, and chicken, with salad and potatoes...we got owned again-with desert. Then we had a meeting with some other missionaries, and we got a phone call from Rosa who made us a cake and some crepes with Dulce de Leche(carmel like substance) to take home for the night...RIDICULOUS. They say that it is because we have gained the trust of the members that they give us things like this...but I think it is because they want to see us get fat...Oh, it is the summer time here, and it has gotten crazy here in Mar Del Plata. In the last 10 days, over 430,000 people have come, and the majority of them to my area. They are all tourists,a nd we are finding people from everywhere...and everything is always WAY packed.Anyways...everything is good here for me, just loving the weather, and the work. Trying my best to do everything that I can, and to do it in the Lord`s way.Thank you so much for everything everybody...
WGB,
Elder Andy P.S. Photos!1. This is the baptism from the weekend...Rosa and Franco-Glassman and Myself(if you recognize me :)2. I fell asleep with winnie the pooh...how cute no?

New Address

2010-01-20T12:27:00.000-08:00

The mission office has been moved, in other words, a new address to send things too. Dont worry, if you have already sent things, they will make it just fine for the next few months. DONT WORRY. They will get here. (in all honesty, they will still get here for the rest of my time in the mission, but just to be safe, send things now to THIS address)

Misión Argentina Bahía Blanca
Chacabuco 1755
8000 Bahía Blanca
Buenos Aires

ArgentinaThanks everybody... I love you lots
WGB,
Elder Andy

January 6, 2010

2010-01-20T12:25:00.000-08:00

Everything seems to be going pretty well here. Rosa and Martin have their baptismal interviews this Friday, and the Baptism is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, with the confirmation following on sunday. This week has been lots of fun, and there have been lots of things to do. Obviously we had new years eve, which consisted of TONS of fireworks with our neighbors, and a TON of food. It was way fun. Then, we were challenged by some members to a basketball game, my comp and I. They were both on Club teams here in Mar Del Plata-(so, they are supposed to be pretty good) We played one game to 10 points, and we had to win by two...we beat them 11-9. They were MORE than frustrated, so they said they wanted to make it the best out of three...so we played again and beat them 10-4. They were even more devastated, and now they want a rematch. hahaha. Well, they are born soccer players here, and should just know that outside of that...we just own everybody in everything...We had a little bit of national pride as we walked away from that game....hahaha. What can I say...I still love my country.There is still much to do, and I am so glad that most likely I will be here until March. Yes, March. I love what I do, and I am learning and growing so much, in ways I never really understood. I know this is the work of the Lord, and I am so glad to be a part of it.Love you all, and wish you all the best of Luck with this week.WGB,Elder Andersen

December 30, 2009

2009-12-31T08:21:00.002-08:00

Christmas was awesome. We were with a German and Dutch family. They were speaking to me in German, Dutch(which I understood nothing) and spanish....quite confusing.We ate lots of food, and I am still full to this day. And we have new years tomorrow. I am a little scared....they feed us way too much food.We have just been busy with investigators this last week, getting Franco baptized and working with his mom and brother still.NOt really much to say, I just talked to all of you. Thank you for the support and the christmas gifts. I am loving where I am and what I am doing.I love you all,Elder Andy
¨Lo haré siempre, y cada vez mejor!¨

December 16, 2009

2009-12-31T08:21:00.001-08:00

Transfers.Whew...this has been a pretty rough transfer. Well, at least the things that changed... or rather things that didnt change. In Almost ALL of the companionships in this zone, the companionships stayed the same, and there is someone with less than 3 months in every area... In other words, there are a lot of people talking about home, and a lot of the time. I am with Elder Glassman again this transfer. This probably means that I will be here in Mar Del Plata until March, and then be going to my last area of my mission. I fear for this zone, and for this part of the mission because there is SO much potential. There is a lot of work to be done, and the older elders are starting to get lazy. And it does not help that they all have pretty much the same time. In all honesty, I get along with my companion great. We laugh, we have lots of fun, and we even have some investigators that have a baptismal date. So, for me, at least that is good, right?It is very hard for me to believe that Christmas is next week. Christmas is not very big here, at all. It is a rare occasion to see somebody`s house decorated, and even less for people to talk about it happening. NOt to mention, I am just used to Christmas with all of you crazies, so it really just doesnt feel like its real. But its all good.Tomorrow we have a barbeque with a member in the ward who always is doing stuff for us. She absolutely loves the missionaries, and her birthday is tomorrow. We know that the ends just always come tight in their family, and that they dont have any plans to celebrate tomorrow. So, we talked to her husband, and WE planned it out. We are way excited for it. Meanwhile, we have a lesson tonight with Rosa and Franco about living Prophets. They have just been so great, and they are so excited for it all.I am doing well, just marching along, keeping my self in the fight. I will be honest, I really dont know what else to tell you about what is going on right now, just good stuff going on in the mission. I have been studying the Old Testament lately, and that has been strengthening my testimony SO much about Temple, Temple Marriage, The Commanments of God, The Atonement, The real power and authority of the Aaronic Priesthood, and that this is the RESTORED church of Jesus Christ, and that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. IT has been wonderful to me to have this time to truly study and embrace the Scriptures.I love you all so very much, and pray for you always. Keep your smiley faces...Its Christmas.Elder Andy
¨Lo haré siempre, y cada vez mejor!¨

November 18, 2009

2009-12-31T08:19:00.000-08:00

Absolutely incredible. We had a baptism last night, and it was amazing. After 8 years of investigating the church, they finally got baptized. The spirit was so strong and there were several people in tears. More than 100 people showed up just to see the deal. Damian (the son of the woman that got baptized) baptized her. The incredible thing about it is, is that he is deaf. But he had been practicing, and forcing the words out. Yes, he said the prayer. Not with sign language, but in words we understand. It was amazing. And they bore their testimonies after, and it was so cool. There were several investigators there, and so many less active members that had known them when they first got to know the church. Apart from that, we have a family of investigators that wants to get baptized and we havent even taught them about what baptism is. We had been with them, and they were looking for more unity in their family, and so we told them that one way that will surely do it, is to read the book of mormon daily as a family, and then pray together. The change was amazing in one week. And they had just read about baptism being a new beginning, and they all want to leave their sins behind them, and begin again, clean in the eyes of God. Yes, there is still work to do with them, but the doors are just opening up everywhere we go. A less active member came back to church with a renewed testimony, and now we are teaching her husband. We have a Family HOme Evening tomorrow night with An investigators and his neighbors who are members. He loves church, and we still havent really taught him that much. There are so many things that we have going on for us, and there is so little time to do it all. I thank the Heavens that my Heavenly Father understands my best efforts.Well, my time is getting short so I need to go but I love you all, Sorry its so short. Take care, I love you all.
¨Lo haré siempre, y cada vez mejor!¨

October 19, 2009

2009-12-31T08:18:00.000-08:00

Well, this week has been pretty nuts. We have had a lot of things to do, but we still know we can be doing so much more. We have been in the process of finding new people, planning baptisms, teaching our investigators, working with new converts, less active members, and a conference with Elder Bowen (President of the Area), and interviews with President Detlefsen. We have been more than occupied, but we know that we have the potential to do so much more. We have had a lot of doors open up for us in this last week, and so we are praying a lot, asking help from our Father in Heaven with these new people. We have recieved references from a member in our ward who is deaf. He wants us to begin teaching his other deaf friends, who have a lot of interest. And also we now have a blind investigator. We found out that some other missionaries in our mission had a book of mormon in Braile (the reading for blind people, dont know how it is spelled) and had them send it to us. Its going to be very interesting, so we are trying to get ourselves ready for this.Sorry this is so short today, we really didnt have a whole lot of time. I love you all very much, and thank you all for your support.Love, Elder AndyP.S. Happy Mothers day in ArgentinaP.P.S. There have been a few issues in the mission, and our mission President has had to revoke our internet usage to myldsmail only. I apologize if it is inconvenient, but I dont want to fight it. We had abeen given the opportunity to use hotmail, yahoo, and gmail before because this email has tons of problems and doesnt always work. Because of some things that have happened, he has had to change that. If you could please send your emails to elderbca@myldsmail.net that would be wonderful. Thank you so much.

October 12, 2009

2009-10-13T06:44:00.000-07:00

This week went really well.

Charlie has in his plans now to be baptized on the 31st of October, and Nadìn this Saturday. They have both been making a lot of progress, and Charlie is so excited to listen to the words of the Prophets. He knows he can help his neighbor out because his neighbor just had a hernia. So, while Charlie is without work, and with desires to quit smoking(which by the way he started at 80 or more cigarettes daily, and now he is at 14, and going down), he knows he has to do something. And charlie told us, ¨President Monson said we should all reach out to someone and do something MORE.¨ So, he has been cutting his neighbors lawn, digging out trees, and much much more. Nadìn is truly getting baptized because her boyfriend is preparing to go on a mission, and has been teaching her everything, and working with us to get her ready. She is very excited. We had Zone conference which was awesome. And this week we have Elder Bowen (Member of the 70, and the President of the Area) coming to speak to us as missionaries. We have been working hard, and been having more and more success. There is still a lot more we could be doing, and we are trying to be better, and to get it done. We have been just getting to the house absolutely exhausted. Saturday was hilarious because we set out right after lunch with a few friendly clouds and a little wind-so we brought our sweaters. We were doing okay about 3-4 miles away from the house, when a Hardcore rainstorm hit. We tried to keep going to all of our appointments, but nobody was home, and it got dark. Needless to say, we got home frozen and soaked...it was way funny. I guess it serves me right for not getting my eagle. I was not prepared...hahahaha. It truly is so amazing to see somebody accept the gospel, and then to watch them change as their faith grows. We actually had this conversation with a member in our ward who told us that we should never go and get them to go to church, and that they should be willing to make the sacrifice on their own. I am telling you right now, that we should never have to think like that. Last week for general conference, we did go and help to inactive members get to conference. It was more than heavy on the wallet...but I will tell you I forgot about every cent when I watched tears roll down their eyes, and have them come and thank us an in countable number of times for helping them. They both came again this Sunday, with renewed enthusiasm. Andrès even went and found two more inactive members and brought them to church and they were more than grateful. Its true that sometimes we think that it is because they do not want to be there, but if we can help remind our brothers and sisters what light the gospel truly does bring to our lives, then we truly can feel the love of God pouring over us. It is truly incredible to me how much joy is found in this work. When you can truly see the atonement of Jesus Christ change somebody`s life forever. Or when a testimony of the Living Prophet touches their hearts, or when they are received by an old friend with open arms like the prodigal son. As we find in Mosiah chapter 18-we need to be their for our brothers and sisters. To cry with them when they are crying, to offer comfort when they need comfort. The Gospel of Jesus Christ truly is the answer to our questions in life. And yes, as a missionary, we are submerged in the Gospel-and it is easy for us to say , ¨reach out your hand¨. But seriously, even if it is just a phone call, or in the world today, just a text asking if they are coming to an activity, mutual, the ward Halloween party, or to the meetings on Sunday-every little thing counts.Thank you all so very much for your emails, letters, and support. I appreciate them sincerely. I love you all.Love,Elder Andy D&C 123:17

PICTURES!
1.A real mans breakfast burrito
2.Escobedo and I...need I say more
3.This is what my neigborhood is named after...
4.Pretty cool picture eh?
5.PRETTY.....be jealous it was warm :)
6.At least somebody loves me
7.Its my compy
8.Its my compy again
9.Its the three gringos...
10.What more can you do on a Pday holiday?
11.Welcome to Mar Del Plata
12.This is my house everyone
13.Kickin it on the front porch
14.Having a good old Barbeque (I ate more than 5 pounds of meat that day)
15.When we eat meat, we EAT MEAT!

Thanks Everyone

October 5, 2009

2009-10-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

Well Hey everyone.

Our area is doing really great. We had the potential to bring 17 investigators to the church, and some more that we already knew they wouldn't be able to make it. Not all of them did, but quite a few did, and we were able to help some other less active and even inactive members get there, and some new converts too. It was a really great week for the missionary work. Missionary work truly is amazing, there are so many blessings and miracles every day. You can see that God truly is preparing his children to hear the gospel more and more all the time. I am so grateful for this time that the Lord has given to me to be his servant as a full time missionary. Yes, I have weaknesses, and I am not perfect. But I am learning so much everyday, about myself, my Savior, my Father in Heaven, and this Marvelous work.Conference was amazing. It was WAY too fast though. It almost feels like it didn't happen. It just came and went like it was nothing. Then the realization hit me that I only have one more conference here in Argentina. YIKES! Our investigators loved it too. What was your favorite talk? I really don't know where to begin for me. I loved Several. I loved President Uchtdorf and M. Russell Ballard from Priesthood. I loved Elder Holland as always-always saying things like they are. And then Elder Christofferson laid it down. I really couldn't get enough of it. INCREDIBLE! I just love conference. Always very uplifting.We have a lot of great appointments set up this week, and doors are opening up like crazy. I am grateful for all of your prayers in my behalf, and I want you to know that I am praying for you all.This week was busy with new shoes and foot problems, investigators deciding to make changes, splits with other missionaries, and MORE giant things.

PICTURES

1. I bought new shoes this week, and it has caused my ankle to swell up to the size of an extra golf ball on the side, and my socks and shoes to fill up with blood every day....I love new shoes....(both feet)

2.Charlie is an investigator who has had a lot of things just go wrong in his life. He came to us and asked us to help him make the changes necessary. In less than a week he has gone from smoking more than 80 cigarettes every day, to smoking less than a pack (20) every day. For those of you that have seen the Other Side of Heaven, you may laugh at what else we did to him...I actually did not remember that movie when I suggested it, but yes, we cut his hair... Looking good no?

3. Here's is our district without the Zone Leaders, who are a part of the district. and also when I was with Elder Decilia for 24 hours on Thursday... And then my zone in MDP

4. Yes more giant things. Its like I am in Giant World in Mario Brothers three...for those of you who know what that is...:)

5. Well, here is an idea of what I walk along getting to my appointments during the week.

¨Lo haré siempre, y cada vez mejor!¨

September 28, 2009

2009-10-13T06:02:00.000-07:00

Hey family,

This week has been a week of getting to know everyone, everything, the area, and how things are working out here in the big MAR DEL PLATA. There is a ton of work to get done, and truly there is not enough time. Our area is absolutely massive compared to what I am used to. I really don't know how big it is exactly, but its bigger than all of the other areas I have had put together. We did a service project for a school in Mar Del Plata, where we painted the whole school together. Elder Simmons(another one, one that I know from high school...yes one from Bingham) got me good with a slap in the face...hahaha WE got to see some crazy animals, and then we tried to teach lessons a little bit more creative.WE are working with a lot of different people, and trying to get several couples to get married. It seems to be a problem we run into everywhere here. Couples that have lived together for 20 years, and still don't want to get married. So, we are working on that. AS far as being a full time missionary again, it feels great. I love working all day long. And Elder Gomez and I are both ready to make the most of it. Its really fun being with Gomez. He is just a happy guy, that loves to have fun. We talk a lot about culture differences and stuff. I think I told you, but his parents are Mexican, but he was living in Provo when he left for the mission. He was actually born in LA. Well, I am doing well, and I hope everyone is doing great. I haven't really heard anything new, so I imagine that life just keeps on going. I hope school is going well, work is going great, the ward, the EVERYTHING.

I love you all. Elder Andy

Here are some pictures for ya.
1. Way cool family, that loves Elder Jimenez and I....we are still not sure why...
2. Hermana Dewey at the Bus station
3. He is the new financial secretary...I think he might be a little bit tougher when he bargains..hahaha
4.MY NEW COMPY!
5. My new compy and I
6. HUGE SHEEP.
7. Teaching the Plan of salavation with a puzzle
8. Painting in Mar Del Plata

¨Lo haré siempre, y cada vez mejor!¨

September 21, 2009

2009-09-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody,

I am in my new area, and with my new comp here in the city of Mar Del Plata. BOMB! I have a huge area, and lots of work to do here. I am so excited to get a start on it. I live about six blocks away from the coast, and there are seals along the beach right here. And on the bus on the way to downtown, there are whales jumping out of the ocean-as we ride along the cliffs. In other words, WAY COOL! Elder Gomez is a stud, and he is ready to work. We just went out as a district to eat lunch today, and I splurged a little bit and got myself a steak sandwich with fries and a drink. Elder Davalos as well got one. We are now all writing the families, and we will then be on our ways to get to work. PARA QUE SEPAN (Just so you know)My p-days will now be on Mondays. That gives you all one more day to procrastinate writing me :) hahaha. I love you all and hope everything is going absolutely wonderfully for you all. Have a great week with work, school, and life. And I will be writing you next week chess!

Love Always, Elder Andy
¨Lo haré siempre, y cada vez mejor!¨

September 12, 2009

2009-09-16T07:32:00.000-07:00

This week started out so wonderfully. We had been teaching a man named Ariel, about 45 years old. He came to church, and really liked it. He decided to stop smoking, and to prepare himself to be baptized on the 20th of this month( that's next Sunday). Elder Astorga and I went to his house early this week, and as we arrived, he walked out with his cigarrette in hand, and told us he was done. He said, ¨I am not going to keep going with this thing. I have talked to the family, and well, its just too much for me, and I really just want to keep being Catholic.¨ We tried to reason with him, and as much as we reminded him of his feelings he felt, he turned us away and told us not to come back anymore. It was a serious blow to us. There was very little hope inside of us at that moment. IT hurt, and we just love Ariel so much that it sucked pretty bad. Knowing how much he really is missing out on.As we continued walking, I began praying in my heart, that My Savior could comfort us, and give us the strength to keep going. Then, one of my favorite scriptures came to mind. Alma 26:27 ¨27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.¨We began to whistle ¨There is sunshine in my soul today.¨ as we continued in the street. As we were then walking we went to knock a door, and the man outside waved us in before we even knocked. We went inside and began to get to know them. Alejandra and Jonathan, and their children. We taught them about families, Prophets, the Ministry of Jesus Christ, and of the Restoration of His Gospel. As we were coming to the end, and we spoke of the power of prayer, and how they can come to know of the truth of these things. They became the investigators of every missionary´s dream. Alejandra told us, ¨We have been looking for the true church of Jesus Christ for years. I have been baptized in 5 churches, but I don't feel right about any of them. I feel something different about you. You missionaries may be the answer to our prayers.¨The tough days always exist, but as we learn from Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail, ...¨If we endure it well, we shall be exalted.¨ It is how we learn from our hard times, and how we choose to accept them. I was able to return to Punta Alta again this week. Last night actually to have 7 baptismal interviews. A family that is getting baptized together. Children from the Primary, Young Women, Young Men, Relief Society. Even the grandmother. It truly was incredible to hear their conversion stories as well. It is true that our Heavenly Father is preparing his Children for all the blessings he has for them. We just have to be in tune with the spirit, and ready to help them along their way to those blessings. This is my last week in the office, and I am determined to make it my best one. I would be lying if I didn't tell you all that I am anxious to know where I am going.My companion, Elder Astorga, and I are working hard, and we are building this area, and setting it up to have a lot of success.Thank you all so much for your support, prayers, emails and letters. I love you so much.With love,Elder Andy
¨Lo haré siempre, y cada vez mejor!¨

Aug 29, 2009

2009-09-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

Well Shoot!

Another week gone by, and so much to say, I really don't know how to say it all.This world is incredibly small. We had lunch with a member this week, and she kept looking at Elder Thorne´s plaque. She then told us that she had a companion when she served her mission with the same last name. After talking for some time, we realized the connection between all three of us. She was companions with a relative of Elder Thorne, but her companion is the Daughter of our old Neighbor Lucy Thorne. Way CRAZY. This world is so tiny... Next, we had to go out to Punta Alta this week(it is like the distance of South Jordan to Salt Lake) to go and do some baptismal interviews-which by the way, were amazing people, so ready for baptism-WAY AWESOME. Well, as the night was ending, we made a little stop past some people that I knew then. YEAH! Eli and Toni, the first people that I was able to help get baptized. She is pregnant 7-7.5 months(hint to Amy), which was like the time that I left from there. It was so happy to get to see them again, just to chat with them, and everything that is going on. As for being blind in our area, we are already seeing some fruits of our labors. We have been working hard, and now we have a variety of different investigators that we are working with. We have been working with Haydee still, and now her son Juan has some serious interest in what it is. He said he walks by the church at least once a week, and just has serious desires to enter, and he doesn't know why. (Every missionary´s dream comment, no?) Then we are also working with a guy named Patricio. He has been to church a few times by the invite of his cousins, and he likes it a lot. Then we found out that his mother and brother are both members, but have not been to church for quite some time, he had never even really gotten to know the church. He loves the fact that we don't JUST go to church and talk about how amazing Jesus Christ is-but that we try to do things that he would do....that is to say. SERVICE during the week. He loves it. We are working with a Bolvian woman who has eight children-she believes in our message, but has openly admitted that she is afraid of change. We also met a man this week, José Louis, who has been all around the world, knows 4 different languages-incredibly intelligent, and he really wants to know why bad things happen to good people. We also are teaching now, a woman who once met the missionaries but her husband became furious when he found out she talked with the Mormons. He passed away almost a year ago, and she has been looking for comfort ever since. We also have been able to find some youth who have interest because of some of their friends who are members. Martin, Laura, and Mari are their names. And we were able to teach them a little bit in the street one evening, and now they have said that they really want to go to church and see how it is. Also, we are working with this family(which when i say family, I mean four different families). All of their last names are Martinez. They are all siblings, and they are less active. We are trying to get them all excited about going to church. But we are trying a different method than just tell them to go-we are starting to bring them with us to lessons. To make them be friends with investigators-so that they will have a responsibility with the investigators. I learned about this a little bit, when I worked with the Gutierrez family in Millamapu. When you show the members how much they are really needed, and how much their influence means-they come to understand the importance of going to church, without even needing to tell them. Although I know I will be leaving this area, I know there is a reason I was put here even for a short time. I am not sure why-but I know that if I give everything I have to this work, and I trust in the Lord-the best things really will come. Of course, I am a missionary, and I want to see people accepting baptism. But I know that sometimes, we are put in places to plant seeds. If that is what the Lord needs of me in this time, then let me plant an orchard. I pray every night, asking for my fathers help that I may be an instrument in His hands. And of course, I have weaknesses, and I fall short. But I know He knows I am trying. I want to thank you all so very much for your support, and for your emails, letters, packages, love, and prayers. They ARE recognized and appreciated. Thank you so much for all that you are doing. With Love,Elder Andy
¨Lo haré siempre, y cada vez mejor!¨

2009-08-10T13:08:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody....

Elder Andy reporting from the offices of the Mission Argentina Bahía Blanca!I get to TRAIN!!!!!!!!! Or in other words. Only a month and a half more in the office, and i get to go be a normal missionary again! WOOOOOHOOOOOOO! I am training an Elder named Elder Thorne from Payson Utah. I was in Acha when he started his mission. He started in the same zone as Acha-so i already know him. EXCITING NO?!!!! I sure think so. Well, I will be with him in the mornings showing him the ropes and the numbers of the mission. And then in the afternoons and in my area of Villa Mitre Alto, I will be with another Chilean. I will be with Elder Astorga! I am so excited I cant even tell you.

Stereotypes of the office:It is common knowledge that everyone leaves the office more serious people.....It is common knowledge that everyone leaves the office 5-10 kilos more.......It is common knowledge that everyone leaves the office trunky....... And I say HHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH to all of it.... I am still crazy, as everyone here in the office including president, considers me the ¨Bright Side of the office¨ I began my mission at 165 pounds, and I am now only at 170 lbs. Fatter yes, but I have lost weight since I was in Acha....hahaha I have never been happier to be in the mission than I am now. I have nothing to make me trunky! haha In others words....I defy stereotypes, and I am still happy and ready to go for this work. Indeed you may say that this email is a little different or strange, but its just kind of an informatory email. For those of you who have had a question as to what my signature means, let me explain. President Spitale taught us a lesson on how we accept commandments of God. Whether its through our Priesthood leaders, or Apostles and Prophets. We have the Telestial, Terestrial, and Celestial Responses. Telestial- We think to ourselves, ¨Really?!¨ Terestrial- We think to ourselves, ¨They´re right, I should do that.¨ Celestial ¨I will do it always, and better everytime.¨ (its a bit rough gramatically in English, but it works in Spanish)I have tried to adopt this phrase into my daily studies, the hours, the rules, and in general the gospel. I say this to myself every morning to help give myself more focus for the day. I just have it signed on, just for that.

Here are some pictures for you guys:

Baptism of Jeronimo Barreiro

Another of Jeronimos Baptism

Jeronimos Family

The Crazy Financial Secretary

Hilton and his Auditor from Buenos Aires(We both were audited, but I only have a picture of his guy Juan Lazarte)

The last is me and Lautauro, Jeronimos Brother

Thanks everyone for your emails, I love you all. I hope your weeks are all amazing!

Elder Andy

¨Lo haré siempre, y cada vez mejor!¨

Firm in the Faith

2009-08-03T06:38:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Beginning with Sunday, was just full of miracles and amazing things. The baptism was just incredible, and the whole branch was there, and his family was there, and man o man they were feeling the spirit. Lets just say the hard core military father Gabriel, was crying. He has truly made such progress as he has found SO much pride in his children praying to God, and having desires to learn more about him. Gabriel and Laura are now praying together at nights as husband and wife, and have really started to find interest in studying the scriptures. Last night even, Laura openly told us about the strongest feeling of ¨Something inside my heart¨(as she said) when we were standing in the water. She told us that it was something that just captured her, and she just cant explain it in words. It truly is so incredible to be with people when they really understand that the Holy Ghost has testified to their hearts. Truly is one of the most rewarding and spiritually building things that I have ever felt in my life. To see people understand how much the gospel has been able to change their family. Laura and Gabriel just expressed to us how grateful they were, because ever since they have been with us, they have noticed they have more patience, temperance, love, wholesome fun, and more umf to get up in the mornings and do things.Last night was one of the most amazing and difficult times of my life. As we watched them tell us in so many ways that they have seen what the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been able to do to their family, they still do not understand that it is the ONLY true and living Church of Christ on the earth. It is not just a nice message and belief that we have. Elder Hilton and I had a very powerful lesson with them...as I have shared some parts of with you. The first thing we did after we left was prayed together as a companionship. It is so interesting things that happen here. You learn to love in a way you never knew how, to care about people in a way you never knew existed before. I truly love the Barreiro Family, and I have so much pride in their progress. Not pride in what we have done, but pride in how much progress they have been able to make.Jeronimo continues to impress me. Since his baptism last Sunday, he has had three people from his neighborhood(about the size of Mom and Dads Ward...maybe smaller, so he knows them pretty well) come to his house and tell him how much wrong he has done. That to read anything other than the Bible is a sin, and that he speaks blaspheme by saying that God has a Prophet on the earth, and he speaks to him. Jeronimo told them that he received an answer from God, through prayer, and has now made a covenant with God that he will follow his commandments, and that he KNOWS that the Book of Mormon is true, and that God loves us.He went to a young men's camp out with the stake on Monday and one of the other young men told Jeronimo that he regretted being baptized. (I was told this story by the other kid, so keep that in mind) Jeronimo looked at him in the eyes and said, ¨No you don't. How can you say that? It is the most important decision you have made in your life. You found God´s way back to heaven. You said yes to something so many people have never even heard of. You have the Holy Ghost with you as a gift from God. How can you regret that?¨ The other kid rolled over quietly and went to sleep. The next morning he looked at Jeronimo and thanked him, and that he really didn't regret it. He had just been overwhelmed by some other things in the church, and had forgotten all that he had because of it until Jeronimo had reminded him. We received the information about transfers a little early, and Elder Hilton and I are both leaving this Branch, and there are no plans to have any missionaries work in that area. At first hearing this news was heartbreaking. I hate goodbyes, and even more I know I will hate saying goodbye to this family whom I have grown to love so very much. But as Elder Hilton and I prayed, we received so much comfort from our Loving Father in Heaven that he has a plan for them. Truly that Jeronimo will be such a key part in bringing this whole family unto Christ. It truly is such a blessing to be a missionary of the Lord. There is so much heartache and loss that you can feel at times. However, the Tender Mercies of the Lord really do exist. And I have felt them come to me in the toughest moments of my life. I love this Work. I know that this is God´s Work. I know that we are ALL children of Him. He loves us all. He lives. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve the Lord, and that I could come to this area and meet this family, Gabriel, Laura, Jeronimo, Lautauro, Lucrecia, Ornella, Cyrano...and even Sasha(their dog). Realmente, yo quiero tener la actitud celestial con los mandamientos de Dios, que sería...¨Lo haré siempre, y cada vez mejor!¨

July 25, 2009

2009-07-29T11:47:00.000-07:00

A few more pictures. It snowed here for the first time in 40 years. hahaha. They were all in shock. It was way fun thought. We have been without heat in our house for the last week-really cold sleeping, and FREEZING COLD SHOWERS. But it was way fun. We actually got in a snowball fight with our investigators. Way fun.

1.Our snow man

2. Our Hamburgers we made last Sunday-GREAT!

3. Hilton and the Snow

4. Its us Office Crazies

¨Lo haré siempre, y cada vez mejor!¨

2009-07-29T11:41:00.000-07:00

This week could have hit the ultimate highlight. It was truly incredible. I believe I have told you all about Jeronimo Barreiro. As of three weeks ago, we told him to go ahead and start reading the Book of Mormon from the beginning. He is now almost finished with the book of Alma, and understanding so well everything. We come to teach him, and he will tell US scriptures that go along with the doctrine that we are teaching. Last Sunday really was incredible. There were miracles all over the place. We got up in the morning and went over our plans for the day and what we were going to do, and we then went to church. Everyone in the Barreiro Family made it to church.(Before, the parents were just a little doubtful to try going), and I was just thanking my Heavenly Father non stop in my heart for helping them to arrive at church on Sunday. We had a very good sacrament meeting, and they loved it! But if that was not fulfilling enough, Jeronimo gave me somethings. First, he gave me a little plane. He had spent time this week making this airplane out of wood by hand. He had carved, decorated, and put an Argentine Flag and an American Flag on it. So awesome, I reallly had no idea what to say. He then proceeded to give me a note. I will translate what it says-mind you he told me not to read it until we had gotten home.

¨Dear Elder Andersen,

Thank you so much for everything. For bringing the gospel into my family. I have returned to believe in God, and I feel in my heart that this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I now pray every night, and I feel so much more of God´s presence. I want to get baptized so i can be able to return to the Presence of God after this life. This airplane represents what you have done for me, to help me be able to fly high and return to God. It is humble, not bought, but I hope you like it.

Thank you so much, Jeronimo Barreiro¨ It truly was so incredible, I am not sure if the words are doing it justice. But we have just been so thankful for the blessings of our Heavenly Father, and for what Jeronimo has been able to touch us. He understands so well, we were there with another Elder doing his interview, and the Elder told him- ¨You will be a great example to your family¨ Jeronimo then replied ¨Yeah, I guess kind of like Nephi. Though, I obviously dont want my siblings to end up like Laman and Lemuel.¨ We have been working with their family, and we had an amazing lesson on the Word of Wisdom this week. The parents, Gabriel and Laura are now putting into work the atonement into their lives, as now they have desires to truly stop smoking and drinking. It truly has been one of the best weeks of my entire mission. Jeronimo told us he would like to be baptized this weekend, so we are in the works planning that for this sunday, or tomorrow that is. There really isnt much else I can say this week. Simply Incredible. I love this gospel, and love this opportunity I have to be a part of this work of our Savior. I know this gospel is the gospel of Jesus Christ, that he is Our Redeemer, and that through him we truly can find Peace and Happiness in this life. I know that God loves us, and that he is Our Father. He wants to bless us always, and when we do our part, he WILL bless us, and will give us the blessings that we desire and deserve-lifting from us the burdens that we are unable to bear. Thank you so much for your support. Elder Andersen
¨Lo haré siempre, y cada vez mejor!¨

July 18, 2009 Pictures Galore

2009-07-28T14:14:00.001-07:00

I thought you might want to know what it looks like here in Downtown Bahía Blanca, where I work in the office. I am going to try to send a video of the office, but I think it might be to big...I will give a shot though. Well, Here are a lot of pictures.

1. This is Bahía Blanca in the mornings as we are coming from our house into town.

2. Bahía Hotel, I stayed here my first night, and it is pretty close to my office, all of the new kids stay here.

3. Bambú. I eat here with President a lot because he likes it. IT is a buffet with a TON of way good food. But, SOOOO not good to eat as often as we do. hahaha

4.Banco Galicia. THis is the bank I go to a few times a week, working with the money of the mission. I am very familiar with this bank.

5. This picture is taken right outside of our office downstairs. This is just a traffic stop-nothing too strange about it.

6. My office is on this street ¨Las Heras¨. And if you look behind, its just a lot of stores.

7. A lot of mopeds are driven here. Not so many people have cars, but a LOT of people have mopeds.

8. Another corner in Downtown-just to help you get a feel of the city

9. I see this street every day coming to the office-just downtown streets in the morning.

10. So, this is a sickly dog... we see dogs EVERYWHERE. THey just run around stray-and sometimes pretty messed up.

11. Last, but certainly not least, the OFFICE!!!!! I am on the second floor on the corner, on the left side. I can see my window and my little heating vent. This is where I have been for the last 4 months, and will be for at least the next 2. Welcome to the office. I thought you all would like to get a little feel of the life here in Argentina in the City! Here you go...
¨Lo haré siempre, y cada vez mejor!¨

Short Report

2009-07-26T05:44:00.000-07:00

My father just had to tell me that it goes even faster that the first. I can barely believe I have been gone for a year. So incredible what can happen in that much time, and how wicked fast it goes. UGH! I can hardly believe it. I still feel like a newbie here, but now everyone is looking at me like I am one of the old guys. I cant believe it. This is absolutely nuts!

Anyways, we are working with two families. The family Barreiro, and the family Tuli. Great families, and they are both progressing. Its been almost like the dream of missionaries, to sit down at their kitchen table, and all seven of them sit around the table, and just listen, read scriptures, and ask questions. Its been incredible. We taught the plan of Salvation this week to them, and they just ate it up. They loved it, and had a bunch of questions, and wanted to learn more. It was a wonderful lesson. Then we made some rice krispie treats for them, and they absolutely loved those too. We have been having a lot of fun this past week, and been really busy too. Sorry this is so short, I really don't feel like there is a lot new to report. So, until next week, take care!

Brett
¨Lo haré siempre, y cada vez mejor!¨

Transfer Week

2009-07-26T05:39:00.000-07:00

well...

Things are going well here. I am alive, and kicking. This was probably the craziest week of my mission. Anything that could have gone wrong this week, did. President´s flight got canceled and delayed three different times, the light went out, the water went out, his daughters missed their flight, the clutch on the van broke, and Presidents van´s battery died and needed to be fixed, the newbies didn't have anywhere to stay, a lot of elders getting sick, needing to take care of rent for everywhere in the mission. the guy in Buenos Aires that makes sure we have money has been sick since LAST Thursday, so we didn't have any money to pay for anything, and so many other things that just went crazy this week. Those are just a few examples. It was insane, and it was way hard to say goodbye to President Spitale. My companion and I were one of 6 Elders that got to be at the Airport to see he and his family off. It was tough, not going to lie. There were lagrimas in my eyes. I am going to miss them. But yeah, then all of the greenies that got here-they are definitely a SPECIAL group of newbies...enough said of that. We got to see our area for an hour yesterday, and that was the first time that we were able to leave the office all week long. It has been absolutely crazy. I guess I am just whining-but 6AM to 1AM straight for a week really kicks your butt. I was really tired. But now its PDAY! WOOT WOOT! We are going to play some Basketball, and go to lunch with some recent converts of my new companion.Oh, and the new mission President´s name is President Detlefsen. He is from Cordoba, Argentina. LEGIT! He is a way cool guy, and knows SO much about the scriptures. Very intelligent. I am stoked to work with him.I have AT LEAST two more transfers(or three more months) in the office, basically training the Mission President on how the money of the mission works, and what he has to pay for, and what exactly i do. whew...Crazy stuff. Well, here we go with another week. we are not sure if we even have church this week. Everybody is cancelling church for the flu-definitely puts a damper on missionary work. But, whatcha gonna do.I love you guys, and I hope everything is going absolutely amazing for you!I attached a photo of President and his wife. Their last name again is DETLEFSEN. Hope you all have an absolutely amazing 4th of July.Love,Elder Andy
¨Lo haré siempre, y cada vez mejor!¨

June 27, 2009

2009-06-29T05:14:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!

This week has been even better than the last. I have really loved this week. It was amazing. There was one little downer, but the rest was just happy all week long. We were there to see that family get baptized-and there was an investigator that came there-that we actually didn't know. He was there, and after we watched a church movie, and he just started crying during it. So amazing. He is so ready to hear the gospel. Way amazing. Then, we got to see the Gutierrez family in church, after going and giving their daughter a blessing, and watching the peace of the blessing just filling their home. It was amazing. The Lord truly is blessing us. It is so amazing. Then, we found this teenage girl about two weeks ago, and we have been wanting to get to know her family. Well, this week we went to invite her to English class, and Her mother came out and talked to us for a while, and then invited us in to talk to us. It truly was a huge highlight of the week. Finally getting in with this family-it was incredible. Well, then we were getting everything ready for transfers. THEY ARE THIS WEEKEND-WHICH MEANS NEXT WEEK IS GOING TO BE INSANE! And well, I had to run out to another area to do a baptismal interview, but we stopped at these investigators home on the way to talk to them and invite them to the baptism of some other people tomorrow. And they father looked at me, and said, ¨I recognize you. You were the first missionary to talk to me, to come and bring me the book of Mormon into my home.¨ I then remembered the day I found out about Blake, we went out to the area Villa Harding Green to work and find people-I said it was one of my most successful afternoons of finding people. Well, we got transfers, and I am still Financial Secretary, but I am now in the area of Villa Harding Green. I am so excited to work with him and his family. I cant even explain it. I love this work so much. Yes, it can be tough, and yeah, there are tough times. But there is so much to be learned, and so much to be done, that we cant let the tough times beat us up. We cant afford to let hard times beat us down as missionaries. We have to be ready at all times to give Our Heavenly Fathers Children their opportunity to hear about the Restored Gospel.The time truly is going so quickly. It makes me sad to see that a year has already passed. I don't even know how other missionaries can say that their time is going so slow. It really is just going faster and faster all the time. I am not a perfect missionary in any way shape or form. But I am telling you now, the Lord has a serious need for missionaries, and it truly is such a blessing and opportunity to be one of his servants in this time, and to have received my call to serve in THIS mission.One of the Hermanas in my district was having a really tough time this week. She is actually very known in this mission for being a successful missionary. She is amazing at what she does. But she has just been feeling down lately because her success has not been what she is used to. I thought back on a lesson I had learned a few months back when i felt the same way. If we can remember Zion´s Camp, and how the Lord sent them all out to battle, and they never actually fought the battle. Often times in life, we feel frustrated with things that didn't go like we thought they would, or should. But, we know that from Zions Camp, so many Church leaders were taught, and changed in ways they never would have had they never embarked in their voyage. Sometimes in the mission, it is the same thing. The work of the Lord needs to go forth. And sometimes he needs to reform US in order that we can be EVEN MORE useful in his hands. We truly need to learn what the Lord wants us to, where we are, and not be so worried about getting through it, that we miss what there was to be gained.I truly am so happy. I am loving my mission and will continue to do so.

Brett Chase Andersen

P.S. A few pictures more.

First is a picture of my new companion Elder Hilton from Sacramento California.

Second Our little mission clan-and Hermana Hansen is the only one cool enough to be part of it up to now.

Third Another picture from last week. we all sat on these posts that were conveniently placed. i thought it was kind of cool looking.
¨Lo haré siempre, y cada vez mejor!¨

June 20, 2009

2009-06-29T04:54:00.000-07:00

Just a few pictures for everyone!

Hope you get a laugh out of them. I sure do.

1. Andy in front of the Frankopan

2. The City and the Beach from the Lighthouse

3. Office Boys

4. Office Rodeo

5. Stewart Hanging one handed from a bar

6. Office Guys at the Top of the Lighthouse

7. Mini Combi

8. Combi stuck on the Beach

9. Dahl Sleeping in the Combi

10. Dahl in front of the Frankopan

11. Dahl Zucaritas (Frosted Flakes name down here)
¨Lo haré siempre, y cada vez mejor!¨

Saturday, June 13, 2009

2009-06-15T05:12:00.000-07:00

This week has been one of the best, and one of the slowest weeks.We have worked so hard and found a lot of great people, but we are having a tough time helping these people progress. We have a bunch of people who think we are good people, but will not follow through on their commitments. We have put ourselves to work hard this week, and it has been great. Sometimes you can have a wonderful week with lots of success and still not feel quite there. But this week, we felt GREAT!!! Heck, we still feel great. It is so true, that He only ever asks for our best, and if we give it to him, we truly do feel so good about our work this week. As for the weather that everyone has been asking about. We are into the low 40´s. It doesn't snow here at all. Snow has happened once here in the last 10 years, and some people were so mad because they never got to see it. (That is to say, it didn´t stick on the ground-it just fell for about 30 minutes). It is humid here though, so you can feel pretty cold down to your core-As for us, we are used to even colder, and we are walking around, so it isn't too bad. We usually just go around with a sweater over our shirts, and that seems to be good enough. As far as the new President that is coming. He will get here on July 1st in the morning, and President Spitale will leave July 1st in the afternoon. Everything is pretty much set-we are trying to make it just a very smooth transition. We have zone conference this week, and I already know that President Spitale is going to cry. NO DOUBTS in my mind. He really is such an amazing guy. There are so many things I wish I could learn to be able to do that he does. He truly is an incredible man. It gets dark pretty early here-about 6:00. That makes doing contacts a little difficult :)We have the biggest house in the mission. VERY LARGE! 4 bedrooms, 1 and 1/2 bathrooms, a large kitchen and dining room, and a family room. With a good sized backyard (that had a swimming pool-but yeah...) So, yeah-nice house. Oh, and we drive vehicles here in the office. We have the Volkswagen Van, and the Peugot something. Some french car. Sometimes President´s van. But yeah. Lots of crazy stuff going on. Just eating it up, and having a good time. Well, that really is about it for this week. I am sorry its not very long. There really isn't a whole lot to talk about this week....Except for those of you who might know this guy(Mikey and Dad)- We were at a members house eating dinner this week, and they were talking about their missionary that baptized them. Brandon Doman was his name. I know who he is, but I didn't know he served here. You two at least have the responsibility to write me back and tell me if you remember him. (I do, this is really just a test for you) It made me laugh.Love you all, and take care of yourselves.BRETT
¨...¡PERO MAL CHE!...¨ELDER ANDERSEN

I Forgot

I cant believe I forgot to tell you. I feel so dumb for forgetting. I am in an area with four elders. My companion and I, and the other two elders. So fun, and yet at the same time kind of strange. You see, we are all part of the same Branch here, and so some of the members pick favorites. And we overlap in our work sometimes. So funny, about a week ago we found this GREAT family, but they didn't have a lot of time, so we shared just a short lesson with some commitments to read the book of Mormon, and pray. Well, we had planned to go back this week, and we were working with some of our other investigators and getting them to church, so we didn't manage to go with them to church. But we got to Church, and they were there. We were so amazed...for a minute. The other Elders had found them with a little more time later in the week, and had brought them to church. AMAZING LADY. Well, now they all have baptismal dates for the 20th of this month. SO PREPARED! We are not going to be the Elders that teach them-the others are going to do that, but we are just so happy that this family is so excited to get baptized and be at church. Then yesterday, after a long day at the office, we got home to drop some things off, and a member came over to us and asked us for a book of Mormon. He wrote his testimony in it, and a personal message for a referral that he wanted us to go meet. . We are out for two years to open up our hearts and love these people, and when we truly dedicate ourselves to it, the Lord trusts us with his children to bring them into His fold. Thank you so much for your friendship CHE! IYou just keep me posted on how everything is going for you!-Your Missionary Elder Andy(as I am now better known here)¨

...¡PERO MAL CHE!...¨ELDER ANDERSEN

Saturday, May 30, 2009

2009-06-15T05:10:00.000-07:00

I am absolutely loving my time here. We are just eating this up. Laughs, smiles, frowns, and tears. I had had my fare shares of ups and downs before the mission, but nothing like I have hit in the mission. It has been absolutely insane. I have never had highs this high, nor lows this low. Satan truly is out and fighting hard, and we are doing what we can to fight back. The Lord is on our side if we allow him. The humbling you go through on the mission is not something that is enjoyable. But in a way so refreshing. You can feel the Saviors love so close around you. I have felt so much of my Saviors love for me, and so much help from him in times of trial I can do no doubting of His power. My cousin has passed away, I have seen investigators reject our Savior, members who have lost the testimony they once had, offended people who refuse to try the power of forgiveness, people who don’t believe and/or don’t understand the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. My heart has been broken so many times on behalf of what has passed. But in the same breath, to see the Power of the Atonement truly touch somebody´s heart, to see somebody gain a Faith that they never had, or to see somebody recognize their Purpose here on earth, or to understand more fully the Plan of Salvation, to accept the waters of Baptism, or to honestly know that the Savior has walked by your side are feelings that far surpass the heartbreak. The Savior asks that we dedicate two years of our lives here on earth to give everything we can to everyone we can-but it is no real sacrifice when you come to see the Love of the Savior influence and change the Hearts of our Brothers and Sisters. No, the mission is not easy. Never is, and never will be. But there are so many things that you can learn and see, that I just would never have had if I had not come. I love my mission, and I cant think of anything I would rather be doing in this time than being here in Argentina. I am learning so much every single day, and I hope that I can become the Person that My Father in Heaven knows I can become. He knows my potential, and I hope to one day reach that potential. Thank you so much for all of your support and love. Take care of yourself.With Love, Elder Andy
¨...¡PERO MAL CHE!...¨ELDER ANDERSEN

Saturday May 16, 2009

2009-06-15T04:45:00.000-07:00

Getting out this week was indeed really tough. My comp was in physical therapy, and seeing doctors about his knee, and then basically they all said the same thing. He needs to lose some weight. He has gained about 20 kilos in the mission already (that's about 45 pounds). So, we are getting working on him, but he doesn't have a lot of desires to change what he is eating. So, well yeah. So, whats the address of the new house. I was going to send a package, but I don't know where to send it. So, just help me out a little bit, and let me know. This week has been way busy with trying to get everything ready for transfers. Money flying everywhere, and Buenos Aires was more than frustrated with us. The Internet was down for five days, and so they had no way of keeping track of all the stuff we were doing, but they kept seeing money appear and disappear in their account. We finally started getting things organized, and so I am working here today. And on my P-day too. Thus the reason I am writing you. I have a new companion, and it is a bitter sweet thing. I love my companion now, but I know the Elder that is coming to be my companion and he is an absolute stud! I am so excited to be with him. I met him first in January of this year. he was in my zone, and i stayed at his house every weekend for a month and a half. Then he left, and then I left Santa rosa, and now we are both meeting up in the Office again, but now we are comps! I am way excited. Things are going well here. I am really loving the work. Life kicks ya pretty hard some times-but you can kick it harder....Its one of my favorite sayings. I adapted that a few weeks ago, and that helped me get through some of the rough things that have gone on lately. I am probably feeling the best I have in my entire mission. I am feeling so good, and feeling so happy. I don't have anything to direct all of it to. or to give credit to. But I am just feeling so good right now. I love it here. I love these people, and sometimes I just don't feel like there is enough time in one day. You know what I mean? I don't speak perfect, nor am I the best missionary. But I am in love with what I do, and I know that I am being the best missionary I can be. And to my Savior, I know that's what counts. I am working hard everyday to be a better missionary, to be a better instrument in His hands. I hope one day I can reach that point.Thank you so much for all of your support, love and prayers. SIGAN ADELANTE!

SIMMONS-good friend of mine

What do I do? Take a guess.
Went to do a little Hiking(A little taste of home)

My desk in the office

The guys at the base of the mountain

Driving in Argentina

Me at the Mountain

2009-05-06T05:34:00.000-07:00

First picture is of me and the Hermana Lopez Second is my District in Acha, but Hermana Machuca is Holding Hermana Narvaez The third is Elder Jayo-who already has his ring now The last is all of the office Elders, and Véliz is the one wearing the kitchen apron(he is an international chef-gone to Spain to study and all over-he is a good cook) Just thought you might want to know some of my friends from the mission.
Love you momma¨

...¡PERO MAL CHE!...

¨ELDER ANDERSEN

April 18, 2009

2009-05-06T05:19:00.000-07:00

Awesome week. Lots of good things going on. And even more amazing things going on for you people back in the States. I pray that all is well for you. We have a lot of investigators, and we are trying to find a way to help them all to get to church on Sunday. Now, you may ask why we need to go get these people to go to church. ¨why cant they go on their own you might ask?¨ I asked that question before as well. But really, these people don't have the same background as we do. They are babies spiritually. They don't know what they are supposed to do, or not supposed to do. What things are necessary and not. So we have to show them. And then we get to watch them grow. We have quite a few we are working with here after the work we got done this week with the help of the Lord. You truly can see the Lords hand in the work that you are doing. Things are going very well here, and very busy. I love it. I love hearing from everybody, so keep them coming. Sorry this is short this week-but all of you should know that I love you and that I pray for you. On the beach-
Hi five with Elder Aquino

Jumping on the beach with Elder Stewart

Elder Stewart is Bigger than Seth, and looks like I superhero...at least I think so.
Sorry, this is really quick, but I gotta run.

The Lord Loves Me

2009-04-14T04:22:00.000-07:00

PART I-So, yes this is a mass email. And let me explain myself, I know that God loves me. Really really. You see, I wanted so bad to start my mission like the month early, and turn 19 in the MTC, but no...He knew better than I did. He sent me out in July. I spent two months in the MTC, which just so happened to be during the Winter here in Argentina. I arrived right in time for spring ( I spent one of my Two mission winters in the MTC) I was so happy with that, that I would only have to endure one full winter in Argentina. But no He has shown me his love.

INTERMISSION-Well, for those of you who know me well, I do not like the cold, in fact, I DESPISE the cold. Just explaining why this is so neat.

PART II-I have just been transferred to work in the Mission office for at least the next 6 months(Which just so happens to be the end of fall, and all of the winter). I will be leaving the office again when it is spring outside. I have truly seen His love for me in my mission.

CONCLUSION-I just thought you should all know, that I am in good hands.

ELDER ANDERSEN
Chase Andersen

This week.....

2009-03-11T09:52:00.000-07:00

Well, what can I say for this week? Really nothing new. We baptized Ricardo, and that was exciting. But, this week we just met several crazy people, or met people with crazy situations. We had random people come up to us in the street and introduce themselves to us. Then, we had 8 guys from the Argentine National Guard walk onto the church basketball court. So, we played with them, and then jotted down their addresses and phone numbers. We have been trying to work out the drama thats going on in Acha. There are tons of people that havent been to church in a while, and they all say the same things. But, the ward just wants us to reactivate them, and baptize new people. LESSONS TO BE LEARNED: Home teaching and visiting teaching is important. 2. Know why you go to church(P.S. It has to do with your baptizmal covenants, and your desire to follow Christ)The scriptures really are such an amazing blessing we have. We can study the very life of our Savior, and truly understand what matters most in this life. So often, we get caught up in everything else thats going on that we forget where true happiness lies. I want you all to know that the Book of Mormon truly is amazing. I love it more and more everytime I open it. There is always something to learn, and I know that if we are really reading it and studying it, we cannot forget who we are and where we stand in this world. It truly is the keystone of our Religion. There are so few people who actually know what it is. I have really just had a passion for sharing what it is this past week. The Gospel truly is exciting, and we are so blessed to have the full, and complete truth. We did divisions with our Zone Leaders last week, and there is always so much to be learned from these people with so much experience. We had a way fun day, and very busy. This week we are planning on traveling 3 hours in the opposite direction of our house to do divisions in another little city with some Elders in our district. So much going on, yet I feel like I have so little to say.Anyways, thank you all so much for your support and your love! ¡Cuidense! Les quiero. Elder Andersen Yeah for El Libro de Mormon
Ricardo the Day of his Baptism

Elder Fedderson in our Pole hugging contest

She doesn´t want me to send these pictures to you, but this is the sister in our ward that does everything for us.

Another Week

2009-03-11T09:29:00.000-07:00

We pounded it hard this week. We were just going to town. By the time friday night hit, we were already limping back to the house. We just were beat up. But we found lots of great people this week. We were knocking doors, stopping people in the street, and just going crazy. There was not 10 minutes that went by that we werent teaching a principle to somebody. We just were pumped to go out and get working. This has actually been my best week as far as some of the results, and the number of new people we found to teach.Sunday came along, and my comp got a little down, because he saw how small this ward is. Well, its technically a ward, but doesnt have the assistance of a ward, nor the help of a normal ward-so he was a little disanimated. But its all good, we are still going to go after it. We met some crazy people, some funny people, and some really great people. My comp was actually a little afraid of this Old Guy named Omar. Omar just had a ¨special¨ liking for my comp. It was kind of funny. This is my companion Elder Aldridge, and Miguel who we baptized.
My lovely operated stomach, with the stitches still in.

The first package I actually got from my family in Argentina!

His Name is Elder Grout, he is a lot like Ryan Swallom( My cousins Husband)

Once wierd, always wierd. I guess not even being a missionary changes that.

The true secret to being a successful business.

I stayed with these guys every sunday night for the last two months. Dahl, Mcfall, Grout

Yeah...I am kind of a big deal!

Hello Everyone!

2009-02-23T11:33:00.001-08:00

Well hello everyone! New transfer, and I am stoked. I have a new companion from Idaho. He has about 16 months in the mission, and is known for being a hard worker. I am way excited to get down to work with him. Though...he is a BYU fan, and you all know what that means to me. haha. As for my other companion, Elder Aldridge, he is on his way to Alaska. Jumping from over 100 degrees here, to far below zero there. I do not envy that of him. As far as the packages that you sent for the Christmas season...I have kind of lost hope that I will receive them. I do not have them as of yet.This week was fun, and eventful. We ate pigs head for lunch on Sunday, and that was alright. There was a lot of fat surprisingly. I really thought it would be hard to have meat, let alone fat...but it was there. Yummy! Then, me and the Hermana Zwanger had an ice cream eating contest. It was awesome, we were egging each other on and taunting each other. I have a video, and I will try to send it to you at some point. We will have to see. As for some of the work, A man named Ángel is getting into the church swing. Kind of funny because his wife told us that he would never listen to us, and now he is asking questions, and has been to church like 5 or 6 times. But, there is a catch. He is not married to her. This is a common situation here, and we are always working with people who are living together. And they always seem to doubt, but we all know that it is a blessing for them, so we keep pushing for it. Something that has really been pushing me in the work lately, and been helping me to be more successful, and to not fear talking to people, is a simple phrase, ¨Its just the truth¨. We are just offering people the truth. So, we have been walking through stores, and stopping people in the street, and we have been finding many more people that are interested. Also, when we teach people, we do not teach them lessons and principles...we just explain them the truth. A lot of times you will find it easier to try to pad tough principles. But as we learn from so many examples in the scriptures, and modern day prophets- the spirit testifies of truth. And if you have the spirit with you, the spirit will do the testifying. Its not the missionaries doing the work-we just have to keep ourselves in shape so that the spirit can be with us. I am loving the mission right now, and I am amazed how fast time is blowing by. I remember it just like yesterday when I thought it was crazy I was six months in. Now I am closing in on 8 months...a third of my mission is done. It goes so fast. Really does. Thank you so much for all the support and the love.

Your in my prayers,

Elder Andersen

Hello Everyone!

2009-02-23T11:33:00.000-08:00

Your in my prayers,

Elder Andersen

Up's and Down's

2009-02-02T07:25:00.000-08:00

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

Hey Everybody!

2009-02-02T07:19:00.000-08:00

Hey everybody! I is doing GREAT!I am now all good and ready to walk. I have a good four inch memory of Argentina that will always be with me. I know...you are all very jealous, but what can I say. My mission is unique to me...hahah. No, we managed to get out and get a little bit of work done this week, and do some divisions with some other Elders. Dahl, and McFall. True KAPOS! We actually had a very good week even though our work time was limited due to doctors orders...Well, we worked a little anyways. And now Miguel is going to get baptized this Saturday. We have been working with his family,and his Older Sister and Brother got baptized about a month ago, and now he wants to go for it. We are very excited for him, and are glad that he has the support of his mother and siblings. We are working with the Mother and the Father. She is a member, and was inactive, but the missionaries before helped to reactivate her, and now we are working on completing the whole family. :) Then we found another guy this week, and his name is Ricardo, and after his first time in church on Sunday, he has a baptismal date for the 21st of February. That will be the last Saturday of the transfer. What a way for Elder Aldridge to finish his mission, no? His last day in his last area, he is going to Baptize a way awesome guy! I am way happy for Ricardo, he was definitely ready. There is a little downside to this area, we don't have a whole lot of help from the members with investigators. But we are trying to improve that, and we will see what we can do to get some members excited about missionary work. Don't get me wrong, the members are great! I love them, and I am excited to have more time in this area. I am glad I am finally going to have a full week in the area. Thank you for all of your prayers on my behalf, and all of the emails of support that I have received. I love you all and am grateful to you.

What a Week!!

2009-01-19T10:03:00.000-08:00

DISCLAIMER: This story is 100% true, with witnesses, and verified evidence. Some of the things in this email are a little personal, but I thought you might even get a kick out of it.

Wow, I cannot even begin to describe how odd this week was. I believe I should begin right at the beginning, where I arrived in Santa Rosa(capital city of the province, the Pampa). Okay...maybe when I left on last Monday night. I took my hour and a half bus ride back to General Acha, and sure enough, the whole city is about 1km by 1km. Pretty small. I got to the house and it was more than small. The house in total with living room, bathroom, bedroom and kitchen is about 9ft by 35ft. But, I actually really like it. I live here alone with Elder Aldridge. We woke up on Tuesday morning and we went to town cleaning, because it was definitely nasty. We went shopping for the week, and we planned for what was going on this week. We went out in the Afternoon and started working with a part member family, where some of them are recent converts and the others are now investigating. So we were teaching them all together because we want to bring this whole family together. We stopped and got some fruit on the way back to house...which would begin an event that I shall never forget...The fruit I ate that night was less than appetizing. It was either too ripe, or not ripe enough. Anyways, I went off to bed that night everything normal...and I woke up in the middle of the night with a serious stomach ache, and I couldn't seem to go back to sleep. I was really tired the next morning and was just aching, but Aldrigde and I did our normal morning routine with running and studying, and we were out the door. We went and talked to some investigators, and found some new people to teach, but my stomach still just seemed to be bothering me. We went to lunch with Sister Zwanger.(You will love this member, she is a sweetheart) The food was sooo good, but I just hurt every time I swallowed. I couldn't seem to say no to her, I just kept eating but it hurt. Anyways, we took off again and found some more new investigators, but my stomach was still hurting and I knew that something had to have made me sick. We wrapped up the evening and we headed home. I lost everything from lunch and dinner, nothing would stay down on Wednesday evening.Nothing. I tried to sleep again that night, but just every which way I would try to rest, I could not find comfort. We got up the next morning, and my companion told me how it was...¨Andersen! Call the mission doctor, you haven't been able to eat for an entire day and keep anything down.¨So I called the mission doctor Thursday morning, and I told him my symptoms of diarrhea, and non stop vomit. He told me to buy these two medicines from a pharmacy and to stay on clear liquids only for 24 hours. Well we went out Thursday morning to work and to get these medicines. I was glad I was going to get better now, because this stomach ache really sucked. Well, we actually didn't work in the afternoon, and I spent the afternoon and evening in front of the toilet, not even being able to keep down water. I would drink a sip and five minutes later it was up and out. Sister Zwanger made some lighter food for me to eat and brought it over for me to eat...but I still couldn't keep that down either. I really was not feeling so great.After a good 12 times of vomiting for the day, I was done attempting the whole ¨eating and drinking thing¨. I tried to sleep yet again...and yet again, I did not sleep due to this stomach ache from heck.We got up the next morning and Aldridge insisted that i call the Mission Presidents wife(she is in charge of our health as missionaries), and the Mission Doctor again. Well, the doctor told me to take small sips and try to keep it down. Then the Hermana(Mission presidents wife) called and wanted me to go to the clinic. Sister Zwanger came with us to the hospital(Actually she ended up coming three times during the day, bringing food and words of support every time, unfortunately for me, I just got to watch my comp eat the food because I was not allowed to eat for another day),and I got in and they took quite a few tests. Blood samples, blood sugar, pressure, temperature, etc. Needless to say a lot. I threw up the medicine that I had attempted to take on this lovely Friday morning...then things started to change. The Doctor at the hospital came in and talked with me for a minute. Well, they decided that I had something wrong with my stomach/digestive tract, and they needed to figure out what it was. So they did some more tests, having to take my temperature in most uncomfortable ways...(3 different times today)Well, they took x-rays, did the ¨baby finder test with jelly-thing¨(I don't know what its called), and then the strangest test in the world. If you have seen ¨the Princess Bride¨, I want you to remember when they hook Wesley up to ¨The Machine¨. Well, I was hooked up to A MACHINE, and they started shocking me to see how I would react to surgery. I was really confused why this crazy stuff was going on. Then the doctor came in and said, ¨Well, we don't have any tests that say for sure you do have it, but we don't have any that say you don't. But we are going to take your appendix out tomorrow morning.¨ I just started laughing to myself. Of all the things to expect to happen in the mission, this is not one of them. Anyways, The Mission Presidents Wife called the Hospital, and said she did not want me operated on in such a small city, and demanded that I be taken back to Santa Rosa. So I got to go in a lovely Ambulance ride-which was bumby and quite painful to my insides. We arrived at the hospital in Santa rosa about 10:30 Friday night, and the Doctor there said that they were not going to wait, and they were going to operate on meas soon as possible. Well, I was pushed into a room with two older lady nurses which stripped me down and started testing me all over again. Then one of them turned to Aldridge and the Zone Leaders which had just arrived, and asked them for a razor- or if they didn't have one, they had to go buy one down the street. My comp had been nice and packed my razor for me, and he gave them my face razor. This nurse then proceeded to shave me. Well, now that I was tested and on my IV, they laid a blanket over the top of me, and pushed me on in to the room for surgery. I arrived into the room with about 4 nurses with the age of about 24-25 years old, and my blanket was taken from me. I was strapped down to the table, legs and feet and everything. I was laying in the middle of this room with people just walking around and talking and making jokes about how the ¨Funny Yankee was about to have surgery in Argentina.¨Well, I had nothing better to do, so I started making dumb jokes with them in Spanish like, ¨Is this YOUR first operation on an appendix, because I know it is MINE.¨ Yes, dumb jokes, but what else are you going to do in this lovely situation. Well, then they knocked me out. Well, I was informed of the next part by my companion and my Zone leaders.I was wheeled out of the surgery room and taken upstairs, and the doctor came out to talk to my comp. Then they started hearing some crazy guy screaming. And the doctor explained that the surgery went well, and that because I had waited so long to go in, some of the bad liquid stuff from my bad appendix got into my stomach and intestines. But that I was good and my recovery should be smooth. Elder Steadman(One of the Zone Leaders) said sarcastically, ¨Well, he has got to be better than that crazy screaming guy right?¨ Then my comp added, ¨Wait guys, I think that is English.¨ Not even a few seconds later, a nurse came running down the stairs and said that she needed the other missionaries help. Apparently I had some kind of a reaction to the drugs and I thought I was blind, and I was in pain,but the nurses made the other three missionaries hold down the ¨Angry Yankee¨. WOW! They put another shot into me to put me out, because they were afraid I was going to tear my stitches or rip out my IV. Well, I woke up the next morning, and I was pretty tired. And I spent Saturday and half of Sunday in the hospital recovering, and I had my first things to eat and drink Saturday at about 2:00. It was some mashed up squash, and some warm water, and jello. But I was so hungry it didn't matter. So from Tuesday night, to Saturday middle of the day, I was not able to hold anything down. I was pretty starving. Well , what do we learn from this. In times of illness, we can bring ourselves closer to our Father in Heaven, because we can realize how much we really do rely on him, and how much our health really does matter to us. I am glad to report I am out of the hospital, though I am not allowed to walk around for another week, or do any real physical exercises for 20 more days. I am truly grateful to be past this phase in my mission. Once again, not exactly what I thought I would be going through, and is definitely something I will never forget. NOW, I WILL FOREVER HAVE A PART OF ME IN ARGENTINA! Literally!
What a week!
Elder Andersen

I have been transfered off to a little town called General Acha!

2009-01-15T04:13:00.000-08:00

Left to right is My house in Punta Alta: Elder Judd(My Comp), Elder Simmons(Absolute Studd), Mini Martin(Mini Missionary), Me(I sure hope you know who I am)
Its tradition, and I hit six months in the mission. BURN A TIE

Who would´ve thunk it! I am a cowboy!

General Acha with Aldridge I have been transferred off to a little town called General Acha! It is out in the Pampa(the plains). So basically, I am headed out to the middle of nowhere in Argentina. I am going to a little town, and I will probably be eating some pretty weird food. Like Deep fried horse legs. And bone marrow soup...That's pretty cool no? I am way excited. My companion is half black, and this is his last six weeks in the Mission. So, there is a lot I can learn from the guy. I am way excited. His name is Elder Aldridge and he is from Alaska. Sweet stuff no? This heat is killing him. I slept all of about 2 hours last night, because i was traveling through the night to get here. Its so crazy. I was just in the one city, and that was what Argentina was to me. Its so cool to see a new side of things. It is only He and I living in this city. We have to travel 1.5 hours every Sunday Night to get to the City for P-day. Then we take it back. Its so crazy. I haven't seen it yet, but I hear its so tiny. I am way excited. Its a Rama, but I will give you more details next week, because I really don't know a whole lot.This last week was a little slow. P-day was fun. Interviews...I just knew I was leaving my first area, and it was way sad. I had to say goodbye to people. Like Eli and Toni. I am not going to lie it broke my heart. After helping people change their lifestyle and wanting to come to the gospel, and now preparing to go the temple to be sealed for all time and eternity, you just love them. They became like siblings to me. Like, really really. I hope I can come back someday, but I just don't know. Its pretty sad, But it is way happy to be moving as well. Its strange to be saying goodbye to the place I spent a quarter of my mission in. Not to mention the comp I have been with for the longest time. Its definitely strange. But I am stoked to start up here, and try to make some stuff happen out here. Really really...its going to be good. Sorry the email is a little short today.

Love you all

December 29, 2008 - January 5 2009

2009-01-05T06:12:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody! Your dear Elder here in Argentina went a little crazy this week. We have been having a rough time finding people as of late, and we decided we needed to be a little bit more crazy! So we got together with the other elders and Put up BIG POSTERS! One of them said, ¨Did you know that Christ visited the Americas?¨ and the other ¨Families are Forever¨. We went out on Saturday afternoon in the plaza(the center of the city, or the ¨Central Park¨of Punta Alta) and talked to everybody we could about the gospel and the book of Mormon. We ended up in 3 hours finding 33 people and all of the accepting the invitations to go to church on Sunday. IT was wicked awesome. That means that this week...the last week of the transfer...is going to be crazy busy trying to go by all of these people and follow up on their reading and praying commitments. Its going to be absolutely crazy!My companion is sick again, throwing up and migraines. It is dehydration. Maybe my body is just used to it after running and never hydrating enough, but he drinks way more than I do, and still gets this. I have yet to get that(knock on wood!) Our English class we teach has gotten significantly more difficult, as we now have students who really want to learn grammar. The other Elder designated me to teach grammar and them to do vocabulary. YIKES! This last week we went over prepositions and prepositional phrases. Today is going to be a crazy P-day. We woke up and went and took pictures by the coast(it really is a shame we cant do anything but look at it, haha). Then we went to play a game called paddle. Its a mix of tennis and Racquetball. I really love it, but I am terrible. Now we are doing our Internet, and then we are going to McDonald's...Okay, let me explain. McDonald's there is like cheap fast food, but here it is delicacy. It costs 25 pesos to get a combo meal. The hamburgers alone are 16 pesos. Needless to say, we are eating some fine-dining McDonald's style. :) Then its off to the district and zone meetings!Oh, for the new year we spent with 3 families. One member, one less active member, and one investigating family. We made Tacos of course, but also ate half of a lamb...literally we threw half of a lamb onto the grill. Then some salads and fruit salads for desert. We played with the little kids for a while, which were absolutely crazy. Not to mention my comp doesn't have a whole lot of patience for these little kids. hahahahaha. Anyways. Things are going well here, and this could be my last week in this area! WOW! I have only been in one area and I am one quarter of the way done. Its actually kind of sad. I have been waiting my entire life to go on a mission, anticipating and trying to prepare(keyword there TRYING). And now a big chunk is already gone. :( Well, there is a lot to do today, sorry this is so short. Know that I love you all, and that you are in my prayers!ELDER ANDERSEN
Chase Andersen

Happy News!

2008-12-31T04:27:00.000-08:00

Another couple in our ward finally can get married! Their divorce papers came through. So He can get baptized! He has been coming to church for over a year now, and I am so happy that he will finally be able to receive all of the blessings of baptism that he has been waiting for. He is so happy, you should see him. Oh, the whole family just looks so good. I kind of hope I can still be here for it... Also, I don't know if I told you or not, but I did divisions with another elder in his area one day, and we found a family of five people, and they are awesome. Well, it was sad because I didn't get to teach them more, but I got to go see their baptism, and it was so happy! To get to see things like this makes all of your hard times worth it. Really really. This transfer is winding down, and I don't know if I will still be in Punta Alta anymore as of Dads birthday on the twelfth. I actually want to stay here longer, but I am sure that is how every missionary is, wanting to stay in their area. I love the people here, members, investigators, even the people in the street. I just love it. We found another amazing family this week. Betty and Juan and their two kids. Betty has been going to her Evangelical church for 8 years but hasn't been baptized because she felt like she was missing something. She also had questions of what Jesus Christ did after his time in Jerusalem. After we taught her, she was so happy, she said, ¨Maybe Joseph Smith, and the real authority is what I felt was missing, and maybe the book or Mormon has the answers I have been looking for. Of course I will pray to see if it is true.¨ We are praying for her that she can receive her answer. Thank you all for all your support. I love you all, and you are in my prayers.

So, the first is the Cides Family. We spent some time them, her son has a burning testimony and he is going to get baptized where they just moved to.

We like tacos, and we ended up making and eating tacos just the two of us in our little house. Christmas eve Dinner

The Montaños give us lunch a lot, and the daughter(Florencia) Just received her mission call to Temple Square. She will be leaving in February! Oh...and I am not drinking wine in this picture...haha

This is me playing at the park one day...yeah I am still a little kid at heart

I found Christmas in Argentina! Woohoo!

These are some of my best friends in the mission. They are both from Chile, and they are cousins. Elder Veliz and Elder Veliz. Both have had time in my district, and I have done divisions with them both.

Play boy mansion is three blocks away from my house. And about 2 months ago, we put Chastity Pamphlets under the door. I didn´t think it would do anything, but worth a shot no....hahahaha.

December 8-15, 2008

2008-12-16T07:51:00.000-08:00

Hola This week is just the week we are trying to brace for the week of Christmas. We are going to be pounded with different things for the next two weeks. Super P-day, zone conference...etc. Your Christmas present is on the way, and I want you to know that I chose out everything personally. I started getting you things that I thought you would love and could use(some for nursery...hehe), and I got carried away. I kind of new it was coming this month though, so I bought enough food to last until the 30th, when I have my allowance to be used again. This week had some ups, and some definite downs. We lost a few investigators, and found a few more. But we found some very good people this week, and we had some members really express their love for us. They are recent converts and were talking about how we truly are little angels that bring the true happiness in life. It was so freaking sweet I can´t even explain. It was a sweet joy to hear that somebody here does appreciate our existence. It gets kind of tough sometimes, people chasing you away from their house cursing at you and threatening to call the police. I am not complaining though. I love the people here, they are so relaxed, and kind of go with the flow people. I am really in love with the mission already. The people that I helped are now in the Young Women's and Young men's. Its so happy to hear that they are doing so well. Fortunately for me, I get to see it. They are so neat. A girl in my ward here just got her mission call to temple square. I was so stoked for her. She keeps doing these things called mini missions(they don't do them in the states, otherwise I would highly recommend them). You see, sometimes the mission faults a missionary, and they need someone to fill that spot. So instead of closing an area, they ask the different stakes in the area if they have anyone around that age that can fill in for a few weeks. They go and live with the missionaries and do missionary work. It is good for them, and definitely good for the mission. I am doing really well, Elder Simmons is another that lives in my house, and he is one of my best friends in the mission. He is so fun and funny. We are always playing pranks on each other and on the other missionaries. We found little fire crackers and we throw them into peoples rooms to wake them up. Or, we made one of the other elders cut his face shaving because we threw one into the bathroom while he was shaving. Not bad, but it was hilarious. I don't know, I really am enjoying myself, and having some fun. Honestly it really doesn't seem much like Christmas here. Its 100 degrees and everyone puts out their statues of Mary to celebrate. So funny, I got a booklet of prayers to the virgin, because the lady we were talking to thinks we are far lost, and need to find our way back. Catholics don't pray to God, I don't know if you knew this or not, but yeah, they pray to Mary, and curse us for not worshiping her.I have more pictures to send, but I will be sending them next week, or the next. Its crazy busy.Thanks everyone. I love you all.

December 1-8, 2008

2008-12-08T15:31:00.000-08:00

Well, this has been a really rough, slow week. Everything seemed to fall through every day. It was kind of lame. This keyboard stinks, you have to push the keys pretty hard, especially for the T´s. So if I miss one, just fill it in. Anyways, we had some funny stuff happen, we were explaining what a prophet was, and the guy was just like, "yeah, he has to be like way good, almost perfect...like Flanders...have you guys seen the Simpsons, do you know who Flanders is?" We were laughing so hard. I thought you might get a kick out of that. Yeah, we have some people we are working with, but retention is terrible here. We have more inactive members, than less active and active members combined. And we don´t wan to baptize people to have them go inactive. Its so hard to see these people fall away. So, with Elder Judd and I, we were feeling like we haven´t been able to accomplish a whole lot, because we haven´t been able to help people make that last step. We have had like 10 people now right there, but they just can´t commit to the whole deal. But, we saw some definate other progress too. When Elder Judd and I started working together, the average assistance to the church was about 48 every week. But, well, the last 3 weeks there have been more than 80. Still a pretty small number for a ward, but it is growing, and the inactive members are starting to go more. We still are short a lot, and we are still pounding out some work with our investigators. Martin, the Kumbi star, is really loving what we have been able to help him with. He told us, that for about the past year he has been seeing different doctors to try to help him with his depression, and his addictions. He has seen pastors of different religions and what not, and he has not been able to improve anything. He had decided to jus give up on looking for help. Then we came, and he decided to give us a chance, though he was really doubting...Now he said that there is jus something very different about us, and he feels that hope, and his desire to drink and do drugs is practically non existent. I don´t really know what will happen with Martin, but he has said that the light we brought to his life, is something that he will never be able to forget.
Chase Andersen

Week of Novemeber 24-30, 2008

2008-12-01T08:04:00.000-08:00

This week was pretty good, pretty crazy, but pretty good. Antonio Gomez is now pretty much ready for baptism. It will either be this weekend, or next. We will have to see. But he is good and ready, and understanding whats going on. We got the transfer calls on friday, and I am here for one more(and thats probably it). There was some pretty bad stuff that happened in part of the mission, and like 6 Elders are going to be sent home after Christmas so they don´t ruin their families christmas...Yikes, some people are so dumb. But Elder Hoyt who I have lived with for the last 5 months is going to Necochea. It is really wierd not having him here. He is like a comp really. But yeah, so Elder Judd and I are together for one more transfer. Six more weeks. Whew. We were doing lots of crazy stuff this week, trying to get some things done, basically working on some loose ends. But we found this lady named Nora, and her daughter Norita, and they wanted to come to church. But Sacrament meeting was really crazy this week, and they took off running right after. So, we will have to see if we can go and keep them interested. Also, we found a guy named Daníel Ragozza. I may have mentioned the Ragozza brothers before, but we are probably going to be working with him too. He is a stud. He is like 23 years old, and well, he has a hard time getting up for church is all. So we are going to be working with him too. Crazy NEWS. There is a girl in our ward here, that just got her mission call, and she is going to Temple Square. Two of her sisters have been taken back to the states by missionarires, and now she is going to be a missionary in the states. Crazy. We just traded places. Anyways, yeah. I am excited to have another transfer here. Spend Christmas and new years here. Its going to be a lot of fun this transfer. For a lot of reasons. But its going to be really good. Oh, and also I did divisions with another elder two and a half weeks ago, and we met this way awesome family, and challenged them to baptism in the first lesson with them. I went to their baptism yesterday. It was so awesome to see them. It was so happy. I loved it. Things are going pretty good here, I am enjoying myself, learning more spanish, and making some progress. Whew. You are all in my prayers, and I am grateful to be in yours.

Fun With The Elders!

2008-11-25T11:28:00.000-08:00

OKay, so the first one is me making tacos for our recent baptism Eliana and Antonio Marconato.

This is us eating the tacos which they loved!

Fourth is a picture of me with some members in my area that we have lunch with every week. They are the Fiabane family

Us at Paola's baptism, with her Husband Lucas and his father.

Okay, so the next one is a spitting llama. IT spits flem at you from way far away but I wanted a picture with it. I look pretty retarded Ha Ha Ha..

The next one is what we like to call snakes. They read the scriptures, and go to church because they like missionaries. You have to be careful around these. They end up being converted because they do it, but they really really like missionaries.

YIKES!The last one is me in my personalized professional jersey. I am a PRO!

Elder Chase Andersen

November 17, 2008

2008-11-25T11:10:00.000-08:00

This week was indeed insane. We did a lot of divies and man, it was so good. We had interviews with the President and basically he told us that he expected more out of us, and that we are some of his best young missionaries(Judd only has 4 months more than me), and that we need to show it. Judd is a very hard worker, but this week was tough for him. We left the interview fired up for the week. We left that night, and found three more people to work with. Martin is a rockstar in Buenos Aires, but he wants us to help him get away from drugs, drinking, smoking, and sex. We found his parents last week, but we only taught them this week. We have a lot of work to do with them. That was just our tuesday evening. Then, we did divies on wednesday morning-with natives. Well, I am quite proud of the fact that I was able to have conversations with Elder Veliz all morning long. It was so good, and I was quite impressed with myself. We found two people, and Elder Judd with Elder Riquelme found two more. We came back for the siesta(which I am still mad that it exists), and Judd was sicker than a dog. He has had heat stroke. He had headache, fever, diarhea, and stomach pains. So we spent the evening taking care of him, and trying to make him better for the next day. Well, I actually went to Bahia on Thursday, with Elder Steadman. Elder Judd stayed in bed all day thursday. With ELder Steadman, we found a family of 6 people(who now are all committed to baptizm on the 30th, but I won´t get to be there because its not my area). It was so awesome. I was just feeling so good about the week. Friday, I was with Elder Simmons, another Elder in my house, and we went on divisions in my area. (Strange, I hadn´t really been working in my area for like a day and a half) Anyways, we went by an investigator, and we challenged him to be baptized on the 29th of this month. His name is Antonio Gomez. He really is ready-we just have to teach him more doctrine, and bam! He is there. Saturday, we went by and talked to everybody we had been by during the week, and reminded them about church. (here is where you might start to understand the difficulty of ARgentine commitment...practically non existent) We had 12 people committed to come to church and were all excited to go. Lo and behold, the next morning, elder judd and i spent 25 bucks to get 3 of them to church. We had to go in a taxi, wake them up, and then go get them. It was a bit of a bummer of a sunday...but we had a much better week, and a mountain of improvement. There are only two weeks left in this transfer..and I will probably have one more in Atlántida. I love the members, and the investigators, and the people are nice, but they just don´t have any commitment. I will be sad when I have to leave. But that probably won´t be until the beginning or middle of January. The weather here is pretty hot. I guess that during january and february it can be as hot as 116 degrees farhenheit PLUS humidity. But we go outside and we work. ITs a little hot in church clothes if you know what I mean.ha ha ha. Right now its in the 80s and 90s some days. This place is definately crazy, and so are argentines, but you cant´help but love these people.So, this week is going to be really good, I am doing well, and getting a little pleasantly plump. What can I say, its missionary poundage...hahahaha. I would think this walking would do something, but it just makes us have skinny legs with a tire around the waist, and a skinny chest. We are indeed and awkward looking bunch. haha.
Chase Andersen