Returning Home with Honor

Elder Anderson has completed his 24 month mission to Kennewick Washington!  It was a joyous reunion at the Salt Lake International Airport!

 There were 7 missionaries coming and lots of families at the airport including Elder Anderson's.

Parents are always so happy!  Ben's parents were no exception!

 Big Sister Amy made sure other sister, Shelby, was able to watch via Facetime.

When big brother, Jacob, returned from his mission, Elder Anderson was 12.  Now Elder Anderson has returned and his oldest nephew is 12.  Dylan wants to be a missionary in 7 years, too.

The three Elder Andersons reunited!

Elder Aldous, Elder Nielsen, Elder Bates and Elder Anderson saying farewell.

The parking garage and the fun a newly returned uncle can have with his niece and nephew.

He got to drive home!  Note the loving arm of his dad.

Shadow dog didn't recognize him at first but it only took a few seconds and he was covered with puppy dog kisses.

Stake President Howard Bangerter came over to officially release Elder Anderson from his calling as a full-time missionary of the Lord.

Elder Anderson got to bear his testimony as a missionary one more time and with that, he was released.  It was a spiritually rewarding experience to hear what he had to say.  He loves his Savior and has become well-acquainted with the atonement of the Lord.

And although it was a very hard thing to do, it was Elder Anderson's mom's responsibility to remove his missionary nametag.  Ben is now moving on with his life - still a representative of the Lord, but now in a different way.  He is doing great!

 

The Name Engraved in Your Heart

THE NAME ENGRAVED IN YOUR HEART

You wake up like normal it's another great day
you get out of bed and on your knees to pray
you have so many things to be thankful for...
your family, your investigators, and so much more
you get dressed and put on the same smelly clothes
that have a few stains and maybe some holes
but you still look your best because there's work to do
remember the work is great, and the laborers few
you look at your companion and just have to smile
you miss being around him after only a while
you are used to having someone always there
to listen and at least pretend to care
you have done all your studies and its now time to leave
to go and tell the world the things you believe
so you put on your plaque and walk out the door
still after 24 months your strength starts to soar
that name that you wear besides your own
has helped you get through all the unknown
your savior, redeemer, teacher and friend
 the perfect example of how to endure to the end
in a couple of days you won't wear his name
 and you begin to think things won't be the same
are you ready to leave all of this behind
as you struggle with your new life to find?
but you shouldn't be worried with all that you've braved
day after day his name's been engraved
deep in your heart forever he'll stay
in good times and bad so come what may
just because the mission you'll finish
doesn't mean the work will diminish
there are people at home now waiting for you
so prepare yourself for his work you'll do
and when you need just a little head start
remember the name that's engraved in your heart.

Only 54 more Days!

Elder Anderson will be home on September 18th!  Call his mom for details - (801) 472-8949.

New Address

Elder Anderson has moved to a different location.  His address is:
17 S. Roosevelt Apt B
Walla Walla, Washington 99362
He is really enjoying training a new missionary and the people of Walla Walla!

Woohoo! Walla Walla!

Elder Anderson has been transferred to the lovely town of Walla Walla Washington, home of those delicious Walla Walla onions.  His new companion is Elder Swenson from Westpoint, Utah and he's loving the work there.  They have several investigators who have committed to baptism in early May and he is very excited about that.

You can write him at
32 Francis Drive
Walla Walla Washington  99362

The Greatest Story

Elder Anderson shared the most amazing thing in one of his latest e-mails from Longview -

"Elder Russel M. Nelson of the Quorom of the Twelve came to Longview, Washington.  Can you believe that?   He came to just Longview,  nowhere else, just for a stake conference.  HAHA it made the missionaries laugh because there is really not much in Longview!  But I guess the saints are here and that is better than anything else.

Well he sat down with just us missionaries from the west side of the mission, 80 of us, and talked to us for an hour and 15 minutes.  He had some good things to say.   I would like to share with you one of those things. 

As missionaries we are overwhelmed at times and he asked us how we felt.  We told him some of our frustrations.  He then told us that this is how life is sometimes.  It is hard and sometimes feels like there is no hope.  He then told us a story about Gideon. 

Gideon was a man back in the Old Testament who was told to go and defeat an army of nearly 150,000.  That is a lot of people.  He didn't have that many soldiers but he knew he had the Lord on his side.  Well, the Lord said, "I want you to have less men."  He told him this many times until Gideon only had around 300 men left.  300 men left to destroy 150,000 people!  Sounds like impossible.  But guess what?  They win and none of them even get killed.  The odds were 500:1.  It was crazy.  Then Elder Nelson told us something else. 

There are 14 million Latter- day Saints right now and 7 billion people.  If  you do the math it ends up being 500:1.  Even though we are terribly out-numbered we are going to win because we have the Lord on our side.  Just always realize that He is with us.  And even if the odds are 500:1 with the Lord's help they are possible.  And think of it.  The Lord doesn't always work in plain and simple things.  He chose a 90 year old lady to bear  a son named Issac.  He called a virgin to bear us the Son of God.  He lead the Jews out of Egypt on dry ground.  He called a 14 year old boy as a prophet who couldn't even write a letter.  He works in miracles.  He is a God of miracles.  Always remember that.

When times are hard and odds are bad remember your are a child of God and he is a God of miracles.  I know that to be true and that he will answer your prayers.

With love and care to all,

Sincerely,

Elder Ben Anderson"

Elder A Loves Longview

Sorry for so long without posting about Elder Anderson.

He is still in Longview with his companion, Elder Joslin, from St. George.  He lives with a wonderful family that is kind enough to let us know that he is doing well.  The Christmas call was wonderful.  We video Skyped for more than an hour and it was awesome.  Elder Anderson has a strong testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ.  He has a deep love for our Savior and lives each day for Him. 

Christmas Phone call - any questions?

We hope to be Skyping with Elder Anderson at 4 PM Mountain time on Christmas Day!  If you want us to ask him any questions for you, comment NOW!

Longview here he comes, oops, I mean he's already there!

Elder Anderson's parents got an e-mail this week and one of the questions they had on their minds was, will Elder Anderson be transferred this week?  Well, he had ALREADY been transferred!  The domino effect was in play as one missionary went home, Ben's companion had to take his place, and then Ben got moved to Longview, Washington!  He has a new companion, Elder Joslin from St. George, and seems very excited to be in Longview.

His address is 3506 Pennsylvania St., Longview, WA  98632. 

The mom of this residence called Ben's parents the next night after we got this word and told us about the area.  It is about 1 hour from Portland, Oregon and a little over 1 hour to the ocean, so it's damp and chilly there now.  The Henthornes (the missionaries' hosts) own a heating and air company, B & M Heating.  They work with the Young Adults in their stake so the missionaries get to spend every FHE with the young adults.  Longview, which is on the Columbia River, is an industrial area where there are corporations that specialize in paper products and things created from wood.  Weyerhauser is a large company there.

The missionaries spend time in Longview and two nights a week they travel out to the Caslamet Branch.  The members love the missionaries so Elder Anderson gets a home-cooked meal each night.  For those who are interested in sending Ben a gift card, they have Walmart, Target, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Subway and Panda Express close by.  According to Elder Anderson, "gift cards are a missionary's best friend!"

Sister Henthorne was really happy the first night that Ben was there.  Her battery went dead and the two missionaries were right out there helping her with jumper cables.  Without Coats!  So she told them to get inside.  This weekend the missionaries will help this family decorate their home for Christmas.

During the phone call, the missionaries showed up!  We could hear Elder Anderson in the background and felt very odd listening.  We did talk briefly with Elder Anderson's companion, who seems like a fun guy, but got off the phone soon.  (Ben sounded GOOD!, but we did NOT talk to him directly.  That would have been too wrong...)

Kennewick

Elder Anderson is now in Kennewick, Washington, the headquarters of his mission.  Here are some excerpts from his latest e-mail.

"I am here at the library today but don't have much time.  So many new things in the new part of the Tri-cities.  Its so much fun.  I now cover two wards and they are really really cool.  I am loving them so much already.  I am serving in the Hansen Park ward and the Rancho Reota ward.  The zone leaders use to have Rancho and they just changed this transfer.  So in a way i got doubled in again with the Rancho ward.  But elder Torgeson has been in the Hansen park ward for 3 months now so he knows the area pretty well.

1. Sorry i don't know my address yet to be honest.  [send all letters to the address in the header of this blog]  But i've been in the office every day for the last week. Its in my area or at least a mile out of it.  So if you could just not worry and send it there it will take the same amount of time.  I will get that to you asap.

2. We have a our own little apartment really... in the basment of a members house.  There names are the Perry family.  They are really nice but very very strict. ...We have our own kitchen and everything downstairs and its away from all of their stuff so we enjoy it.

3.  Its really nice.  I'm actualy in a new chapel.  Its so neat.  Its like the one back home but a few years newer.  We have all mapel doors it looks so nice.  And to be honest we are in a very rich part of town so we have some nice members and they are dressed up more so we enjoy it a little more. "

4. My companion is Elder Tyler Torgeson

5. He's from Palmdale California

6. He hits his year mark in two days so Oct 27th.  He was suppose to come out when i was but then i moved mine forward as you remember.

7. On PDay we were told earlier in the week that today was the temple so we got up at 5 and went to the temple till about 9.  Now its just normal p-day things but i still have to shop for alot of things and get everything taken care of for the new area.  I HATE UNPACKING.

8.  I got the Halloween  box.  I got the burger king card as well.  I will use that today for sure. thanks mom!! :D

9.  The rules are changing a little bit here. We are able to get on the computer and look at church websites whenever we want.  Missionaries in other missions are using facbook to help the work.  We have texting now i can't beleive that one still.  And we might be able to have old ipods that don't have internet access for music.  So i am pretty excited.  That means i could send for that when it comes time."

Elder Anderson LOVES hearing from you!  He only has 10 1/2 months left, so you'd better hurry and send him a letter! 

Pictures from Pasco

Elder Anderson finally sent some pictures.  What a beautiful place to be serving the Lord in.

 On the pathway just outside the house where they live.

 A souvenir from a service project!

 District dinner at some well-loved members.

 Elder Anderson says the sunsets are the most beautiful in Pasco!

23rd birthday party of an elder from Manchester, England.

 Zone get together.  Elder Anderson is (naturally) laying down on the floor!

 From outside the house in the backyard where they live.

 The Columbia River from their house.  Gorgeous!

The pathway next to the river from their backyard.

No wonder  he loves Pasco!

New Address in Pasco

You can finally send letters to this address:
Elder Benjamin Anderson
26 Ivy Lane
Pasco, WA  99301

Ben loves Pasco

Elder Anderson is so excited because he gets to stay in Pasco for at least another six weeks.  But they did move to a new apartment in the 8th ward.  Since he forgot to give his mother their new address, send all letters to the mission office (address at top of blog).

Transfer?

Just in case of a transfer this week, send all letters to:
Elder Benjamin Anderson, Washington Kennewick Mission, 8656 W. Gage Blvd Ste 205, Kennewick, WA  99336.

What's Been Happening in Pasco

Elder Anderson is really enjoying Pasco.  Here are some of his latest comments.
I can't believe time is flying by so quickly now a days.  I can truly say i don't know where the time has gone these last 11 months.  Things have changed so much in my life i could never of imagined it before my mission.  I know you all see a difference as well.  I  want all of you to know first off that i am having a wonderful time over here in the Washington Kennewick mission and that i am super excited for the next 13 months that are ahead of me as well.  I know now and always will know that i can do this work and i can do it for another 13 months. 
  
   "This last week has been quite an interesting one.  Every elder in my district got sick this last week and were told to stay and have bed rest at least once during the week.  It was super horrible.  I was the only one in the district that didn't get any symptoms of it.  Probably because i carry hand santatizer around on my back pack haha.  But this last week as well we had a mini missionary.  THat is when a priest age kid from the age of 16-19 come out with the missionaries for 2 days and see what it is really like to be a missionary.  WE got one and it was an interesting experience.  Mostly because elder schimdt was sick at the time as well.
 
  We are excited for more things to happen here in pasco.  We are seeing dramatic changes with the inactive members of the ward.  We are learning to love them and they love us and they are wanting to change and come to christ.  We are excited for them.  The work here is all Inactive or less active work and we are loving it.  Though it doesn't show much success on paper."

He has a walking cast on his foot but that will be off next week and he is really happy about that!

Staying in Beautiful Pasco

Elder Anderson is enjoying Pasco, Washington and gets to stay there another six weeks.  Here are some questions and answers from his latest e-mail.

"Today is a great day over here in the great state of Washington.  Its a warm day and i have a car.  What else does a man have to ask for.  My essential needs are taken care of and i can enjoy the time with my fellow missionary friends and learn things such as piano and things hopefully at the church."

 
1. How is your foot doing? My foot!!  My foot is doing great i have my cast and i am walking a little bit.  I hate having to be stuck in it and not being able to move my ankle it drives me crazy!!!!  But if all goes well i will have it off in 4 weeks and then i will be able to run around and have a great time with the missionaries and doing the work.
2. How are your investigators progressing?  We are excited to be working with more and to just be here in pasco.  If you didn't know already i will be staying in pasco for another six weeks with elder Schmidtt
3. What's the weather like?  The weather has been great over here.  Has been really low this year when it comes to temperature.  We are averaging in the mid 90's and we have the car lately so it has been nice to have a/c and not be walking around in the sun.  Even though i have lost some of my tan because of it :(  But that doesn't matter for another year.
4. Do you need anything?  I am in some need soon for some white shirts.  I will be getting rid of all the ones i have now soon because they are starting to rip and to get stained but they will last for a while longer.  But i will need some more within the next two months."

His parents plan to send some shirts soon!

Happy Birthday and a cast

On July 11th, Elder Anderson turned 20!  Here's what he said about his birthday - 
"Well hello family!! And Friends!!

  How are you all doing?  I know that most of you would all say that you are doing great and that you are enjoying the summer.. .    This last week i had a few miss haps.  As you all know from my last e-mail that i had a problem with my foot getting hurt and i was afraid that i might have broken it but i truly didn't know if i did or didn't.  Well the verdict is out i have broken my fourth metatarsil in my right foot.  Now you say what the freak is that?   Well that bone is the bone that goes from your heel to your toes its like the main bone.  So it hurts a little bit.  Last week i had hurt it during basketball and i went and got a doctor to check it out on Tuesday night.  Well the doc didn't know or not if i broke it so he said to stay home for a couple of days and then to get it x-rayed on Friday if it continued to hurt.  Well it still hurt.  I couldn't walk on it.  And the week sucked because i had to just sit at home all day and just do nothing.  (Which was nice cause i got a few letters written)  But on Friday we got the x-ray and we were told that we would get the results of the x-ray on Monday.  So we waited.  On Sunday i was asked to give a talk to the congregation and it was super hard because i didn't have my cast nor did i want to walk up to the stand with crutches and give a talk.  So i stood there on it for 15 minutes and it hurt a little bit.  But yesterday  it was my birthday and i found out that it was broken.   The district through me a good party where we had pizza and cake. It was a fun little event for me.  Then we went home and sat because i can't walk anywhere and then waited for dinner with the simpsons.    We then got my cast and went home and had a few people sign it and then proceed to bed.  I will be getting my cast off on August 22,  it will be my other 6 week companion. :D  I hope you enjoy the pictures now that i got my early birthday present from mom and dad and Britni i was able to send them via e-mail more and you can get direct updates!! :D

   Thank you for the birthday wishes from everyone.  I appreciate them.  And i will continue to update you on the rest of the things that will be going on.  I love you all and would love to update you on any of the other questions you have."


We found out the next day that Elder Anderson will get to stay in this area that he loves and is having success in and he will be getting a car at the end of the week.  I'm sure he is happy about that!

What, a Broken Foot? or Not?

July 6th Message from Elder Anderson -
I am doing great over here.  This week has been an eventful one.  On monday due to the fact it was 4th of july our p-day was moved to the 4th.  But problem was that on a national holiday all of the public stuff is closed.  The library couldn't be used.  So we had to be moved to a different day.  But our zone conference was yesterday so we had to wait tell today.  So i apologize for the late e-mail.  I hope i didn't offend anybody.  I did not forget.  I almost got a family to call and text you guys about it but i had an accident that ended up taking the rest of my evening on monday and tuesday. 
  On monday it was our personal day and we were able to have some fun.  So we went out and about and of course were did we go.  The church!! Haha.  We were there and we played basketball.  Well during my first game we were playing pretty intense and having a dandy good time.  I went to run around a screen that somebody had picked because i had to guard a man really close and i stepped on his foot.  Usually my ankle is pretty strong.  And guess what. This time it was again.  But i found out that your foot isn't as strong as your ankle all the time.  I stepped a weird way and i almost fell to the ground. I couldn't walk and ended up staying in a wheelchair the rest of the day.  Then came zone conference and i talked to the mission president and his wife about my foot.  Well i got it looked at by a doctor because i could barely walk on it.  HAHA.  I was diagnosed with two days bed rest with my foot elevated and ice on it.  If it doesn't get any better during those two days i will be going in for x-rays.  So keep me in your prayers. Haha.  I will get more news to you soon if it is fractured.  The mission presidents wife will give mom a call if i need to get x-rays. 

Thanks for the love

The Latest from Pasco

We got a great letter this week!  Here are the highlights!

"How are all of you doing?   This week has been an excellent week for us with a few mix ups along the way as well.  Starting on tuesday we had another really quick day with alot of things to do and not very much time to do it.  We started out in Benton city and then went to the library.  After i had a quick 15 minute e-mail session we went to the stake center were we began to play soccer and basketball.  Soccer was super fun and i did very well at being a goalie for our team.  I am very good at standing in front of the ball and taking beatings HAHA.  Well after a few hours of this and playing outside most of the elders decided they were done with soccer.  Well we have a elder in our zone and a recent convert that was with us that is super cool that are foreign, Namely Elder Ward from England and Jorge from our ward who is Native from Mexico.  Well they proceeded to try and kick the soccer ball around the gym and try to kick it at the padding underneath the basketball hoop.  Well i decided to be goalie again and have fun with them.  THEY ARE VERY GOOD SOCCER PLAYERS.  After a few minutes of playing and they kicking some very hard shots.  Elder Ward shot a shot going really really fast and i blocked it with my hand.  Well more with my pinky finger.  WEll i jammed it really really good.  Our ward mission leader and many of the other missionaries think that i broke it.  WOW it was huge.  My have a hard time with bending it more then a little bit haha.  But of course i wasn't done playing so i kept playing ignoring the pain and played basketball and soccer for another hour.   I just wanted to share that story because i find it funny cause i think i finally broke a bone, and i don't think it hurt as bad as my mind had lead breaking a bone would be." 

  "After p-day our week went pretty smooth.  We were able to meet another investigator that we have been trying to meet and we were able to have the best week that the area has had for all of 2011.  WE had 7 lessons to investigators with members there. And 2 lessons with Investigators without members there.  It was a great week.  Another random man showed up to church this week as well. . ..  He has alot of questions and we hope to keep in contact and help him progress.

   I would like to ask the family for few favors as of right now.  We have a two year old little girl named clara who as of a month ago got diagnosed with a very rare and dangerous kidney cancer.  She was told she probley will not live through it.  She has been doing fairly stable and the Tri-Citys have been praying for her and fasting for her and we have been seeing miracles.  We have also been asked to seek out prayers and fasting for her.  I am asking you to fast and pray for her.  She is also online and you can buy wrist bands to support the cause.  Her name is Clara Woodward and she is currently at the Spokane hospital."   

Pictures!

We got these yesterday on an SD card with no explanation about where/when, but we're pretty sure that's the Portland LDS temple and think that the waterfall is near The Dalles, Oregon.