THANK YOU FOR THE PACKAGE!

Hey Mods, Dad and Fam!

THANK YOU FOR THE PACKAGE! It was filled with all of my most favorite things! :) An you have no idea how bad I needed that watch, so I thank you all!

Send just normal everyday pictures. You don't need to complicate it Mom. Just send normal pictures.

But ya, I hung up the other ones you sent and they were good. Just send those kind. I gotta write this one way fast so sorry about the bad handwriting.

But, don't way that the bookmark isn't much, because it's everything. Tara's sorta grown to be a big inspiration to me and that bookmark keeps me going.

I went to the temple for the first time today. I gotta say that I like the movie version better. The session was way huge cuz of all the missionaries.

How can you put one of these :o) after saying it's quieter? Too mean! J/K Kyle, keep pumping the bass. Shake the walls.

I'm super sad that I had to miss Ben's farewell, but at least I'll get to see him in a few more days. :) I'm glad to hear he referred to me, cuz I tried to make a good friend. I'm way glad that Jonathan spoke about me. That's way tight! I just cried though. No big deal.

My p-day is on Friday. I can write and receive letters any day though, cuz they have a time every night set-up for it, so write away.

My first Sunday was good.

I'm writing in my journal.

If you could send me like . . . 3 more sweet shirts that would be good. Turns out I need more than I thought. Also, any candy/junk food coming my way = :) I've already gained 7 pounds so help me gain more!

And yes, I'll definitely leave tons of stuff and sell it here. I've gotten so much free stuff from missionaries leaving the MTC, cuz they can't have their bags weigh too much so they just give a lot of stuff away.

Here is a typical day in the MTC:
6:30 a.m. - Wake up
7:00 a.m. - Eat
7:30 a.m. - Classroom
1:00 p.m. - Eat
1:30 p.m. - Class
6:00 p.m. - Eat
6:30 p.m. - Class
9:00 p.m. - Plan
10:00 p.m. - Brush teeth/shower
10:30 p.m. - Sleep

Throw in a few firesides every now and then. And weird little meetings. But, also add in gym. We do that every morning for an hour.

Things are going great. I've had some times where it's been crazy hard and I miss people, but there's little things that make it better right away. Like letters and packages. And temple, teaching people and prayer.

I eat tons. The refuse to let me stay skinny and I love it!

It sucks that I can't even flirt with the ladies. (ha!) I try to avoid them all together just cuz I don't wanna end up like those people that met at the MTC and get married. Too awkward. Except there's one Sister that keeps finding me. So, I'm kinda scared, but she's a good person. Sue's super hot but I don't think I'm allowed to tell her. :) But, I promise I won't be a lame "what's a girl?" after my mission missionary. I'll be normal and in no need for "missionary goggles". However, I'll admit the first time we got to leave the MTC to go to the temple, girls along the way all seemed to look pretty good. :)

I love this work! Write lots!

Love you all!

They are more legit. . . (e-mail)

January 29, 2010

Hey mods/fam,

I'll answer all of your questions first.
1. [How often can you check your e-mails?] I can check my email every Friday cuz that's when my P-day is. But you can send me more than one letter a week, and turns out I prefer letters more than email, cuz there are always huge lines for computers on P-day and they aren't as fun, but keep both coming.
2. [Who can e-mail you?] I like letters so just tell them that.
3. [Who can you send e-mails to?] Anyone.
4. [Can anyone use DearElder.com to write you or do others have to send "snail mail"?] Anybody can use DearElder.com, but those letters don't mean as much as hand written, however they do get to me same day, so there are advantages and disadvantages of both!
5. [Can you print off your e-mails to save?] There aren't any printers so no I can't print them off.
6. [Can I send pictures as attachments in e-mails?] No I can't receive picture emails so just print them off at wal-mart and send them to me in the letters. I like those better than printed off ones anyway. They are more legit.
7. [If yes, can you print those pictures?] No printing pictures that I can't receive
8. [Do e-mails and DearElder.com count toward your competition with your companions?] Emails don't count towards it so tell everyone to write letters!!

You've got a letter coming so keep checking the mail! And also thanks a million for the sweet package. It was perfect and came at perfect timing! I loved it! And I hung the pictures up in my room too so thanks for those. Things are going great! You'll hear more about it in the letter.

Love ya.

Elder Anderson (your coolest son)

Hey Mods!

I wrote a super long message to julie@cut.net so if you can, do look at that. I didn't know you made a change. But it says I love you guys and I love it here. I don't really have any more time to write cuz I already took all my time. I love you though and I miss all you guys. And tell people to write me and send me tons of pictures! I think I can only receive email here from family. I love you! Ciao!

Elder Brian Anderson

First things first. . . (e-mail)

What's up Dad? First things first. . . I love it here at the MTC and my mission so far is going amazing. I have a way cool companion named Elder Ruiz. We get along great and laugh all the time. I'm in love with the food here and I love the Book of Mormom and especially Preach my Gospel. I always have it with me. Thank you so much for teaching me all that you have. It's been a blast living by your side my past 19 years and I know that we're gonna have plenty more amazing experiences. I dunno what Mom has told you but I am picking up some of the language pretty fast. I can pray and bear my testimony in Portuguese already and its so amazing. I know that I'm in the right place and doing the right thing. You don't need to worry about me. I miss you guys but I love what I'm doing. And we have Elder Fairbanks who always keeps us laughing. He's like the Mormon version of Will Ferrell. So I hope that things are good around the house and when I get back; I'll try to bring the noise level back up haha. But just know that I miss all of you guys. Oh, and there's over 2400 missionaries here right now. It's crazy, but I love it. Keep on keeping on Dad. Love you.

Elder Anderson

Send letters and pictures!

Hey Mods! I would rather get letters and type e-mails but whatever you wanna do is super cool with me! And you gotta send pictures! Tell and the kids that I said hi and that I love and miss them. I don't have much time this time cuz I gotta go pick up my laundry and do companion study with Elder Ruiz so answer back soon! Love YOU!

Elder Anderson

Looks Like I'm Gettin' These First Few Days Done!

Hey Mods! Hey Pops!

Looks like I'm gettin' these first few days done! I promise it's awesome and my first companion is awesome! His name is Elder Ruiz. He's from Brazil and I'm the Senior Companion :)

But the Dear Elder thing came super fast. I got it on the first night here, so thanks! Oh, and you need to send me pictures and letters cuz I have a competition with another Elder rooming with me named Elder Fairbanks and we're seeing who gets the most stuff so tell everybody you know!

But the spirit here is crazy strong! The second you drove away they threw me into a classroom and started teaching me Portuguese. I've almost memorized things you'd say in a prayer so I can pray in Portuguese. Miracles happen! I'm gonna miss home, but with as good of a companion and the other Elders I'm rooming with, I'll have no problem staying here. There's a lot of strange rules like no chewing gum during certain times and you can't have your hands in your pants pockets ever, and every time I have to introduce myself it's got to be in Portuguese. Eu sou Elder Anderson, en eu sou de Fairview en eu sou vou Porto Portugal. It's not hard to tell what that means. And tell Rob and Dad that the food definitely lived up to its status. It's amazing. Cruise all over again. I'll send you pictures of my comp Elder Ruiz and my other roomies Elder Fairbanks and Elder Stewart in a bit. The photo printer always has a huge line.

They force you to do gym but its a sweet part of the day, basketball, volleyball, 4 square, jogging track, weights, just everything. Good times and good meomories will be had. Tell the kids hi and to write but my address changed just a tad so look on the envelope. Tell Dad I love him and thanks for the example he's been. I love you guys.

Love Elder Brian Anderson