There is a scripture that I found that was truly amazing to me. It is Oliver Cowdrey's Mission Call,
Found in D&C 18: 13-19
13 And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!
14 Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people.
15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!
17 Behold, you have my gospel before you, and my rock, and my salvation.
18 Ask the Father in my name, in faith believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost, which manifesteth all things which are expedient unto the children of men.
19 And if you have not faith, hope, and charity, you can do nothing.
I was able to call and talk to Mom and Dad from the airport in SLC on the 22nd of June before leaving for Washington DC. Kenton also found me at the airport. We talked about home and stuff, it was nice seeing and talking to a familiar face.
After arriving in Washington DC, I went to the Mission home. President and Sister Albright are amazing people. President Albright is a great mission president and a great help to me. Sister Albright reminds me a lot of you mom, she is an incredible lady.
My 1st companion here is Elder Lafeen. He is from South Jordan, Utah. He has been out about a year. We did have a baptism on Saturday June 25th and I got to help to confirm the little boy. That was pretty cool.
Elder Lafeen and I share an apartment with Elders Hadfield and Bodily. Right now Elder Lafeen and I are using a car, we have a 2009 Malibu LS, so I haven't needed by bike yet, but that will change I'm sure...Can't Wait lol...
Elder Lafeen and I are also serving in 2 wards in the Ashburn area. The Ashburn Ward and the Belmont Ridge Ward. Covering 2 wards keeps us busy, so many names to remember! We found out that one of our investigators didn't come to church. FRUSTRATION!!!!, but the convert family whose son we baptized and confirmed a couple of weeks ago, the father ask us to take part in the blessing of their new baby daughter, that was pretty incredible.
I'm getting a little more used to the everyday ins and outs of the mission field. There are still trials that we face. Whether it's an investigator not being baptized for some ridiculous reason, or tracting an area that has been tracted before because we have no member referrals. But there are those moments when we find an investigator like we did the other day. He felt the spirit so strongly and was such a great example to me.
Also last week we had been tracting all day and knocked on a ladies door at 8:30p.m. she let us in after no success that whole day. She wants us to teach her and her whole family. It is cool when someone is so welcoming! She even called us to help one of her friends. It's pretty amazing how some people just hate us and others love and trust us so unconditionally.
The work continues to go forth, I think I have talked to at least 8 different nationalities including Ghana, South African, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Arab, Sierra Leone, El Salvador, Brazil, Black people, White people (had to throw that one in. :) ) So basically, I"m in a Foreign mission.
Can't wait to here from you. Miss you both, Miss the family, Miss the pups.
Tell everyone, " Hi" Would love to here from them!
I love and miss you,
Love Always,
Kody (Elder Anderson)
