Dressed in White

    A recent convert that moved into our ward called us on October 17, 2011.  She said that her 10 year old daughter Kelly (name changed) wanted to be baptized!  What a way to start our P-Day.  She is scheduled to be baptized on November 12, 2011.  My second baptism.  It feels so good to be able to bring one of our Heavenly Father's choice daughters to the light of the gospel.  She has a great testimony, and a beautiful spirit.  The ward will welcome her in with open arms.  Thanks for all the prayers in our  ( Elder Bates and mine)    be-half and of those that we are teaching.  The Lord blesses us in so many ways to accomplish his work.
     We had another baptism on October 20th, again a recent converts daughter who is 13.   I know that I told you that transfers were coming up and I wasn't sure what or where I would be at.  But I just got the word that I will be staying in Spotsylvania. (YEA!) and I will also be becoming a trainer.  WOW!  A lot to take in.   I am so grateful to be serving a mission and I am seeing the Lord work miracles in the lives of the people here in Virginia.  Remember that I love you all.  I have the best family ever!
     Love,
         Your Son, your brother, your friend.  Dakota Thomas Anderson
                                                      P.S.  Only 48 days till Christmas!

Look Around

I want to tell you about a lady that we were blessed to meet.  Her name is Sally (name changed).  She is in her 30's and she has a 3 year old son.  We had been told about this member and that she was not doing well.  Elder Bates and I went over to see her, to meet her, get to know her, and perhaps be able to teach her non-member mom.  Well, we were in for a shock when we got to her home.  Sally just has a few weeks left to live-if even that.  She is just hanging on by a thread.  It broke my heart to see her or anyone in such a condition.  She will be leaving her son to be raised by his grandparents.  Elder Bates and I could not do to much for her other than to talk with her and hopefully bring her some peace.  We offered to pray with her, also offering to give her a blessing if she so desired.  She did ask us to give her a blessing.  After the anointing, Elder Bates pronounced a marvelous upon her.  He blessed her with comfort and told her that Heavenly Father was so excited to see her and receive her home with open arms.
What a marvelous day it will be when we are able to go and give our Heavenly Father a big hug as we are returning home from a long trip.
Mom, I cannot wait ti give you and dad a big hug after my trip here is through.
Moral if the Story though:
If you ever think that your burdens, your trials, your fears or anything that could be possibly holding you back is too much to bare.  LOOK AROUND!  There are people in the world who unbeknownst to us have it far worse than we could ever imagine.  Don't ever back down! Don't ever quit when there are trials before you.  Push through it and as the famous quote goes, "Come what may and love it.
Love your son,
Dakota

We also have 3 people on date for baptism.  1 for the 20th of October and 2 for November 5th.  Hopefully I can stay in Spotsylavania for another transfer.  Otherwise I might not be here for the last 2, because transfers are on the 27 of October.  But, hopefully next week I can have my first baptism.
Hey Dad, enjoy hunting in Idaho!!!!!!!
Love, Dakota

General Conference..........October 2, 2011

Hey mom and dad,  General Conference was just amazing!  I think one of my favorite talk was the one given by President Eyring on Sunday morning.  He talked about always being charitable.  Always standing as a witness no matter what the circumstances, and enduring to the end.  Good advice for all.
Temple in Wyoming!!! WOW !!!

A Good Week..........September 26, 2011

This has been a pretty good week.  we have taught a lot of lessons and have gotten 5 new investigators.
QUICK STORY:  We ran into this young man sitting on his porch.  He was really involved in gangs and other stuff and his family moved to this area to try and get him away from that stuff and help straighten him out.  As we we walking up he thought we were the police, kind of tells you how bad off this kid was.
But, I started talking to him about repentance and baptism and how all of his guilt can be gone through Christ.  He got very excited about what we were telling him.  He was really glad that we had stopped by.  But the bigger news is that we will be teaching his whole family.  So therefore we have the chance to bring an entire family together for eternity.... just another example of the amazing things the Lord does to bless his people.
Another highlight!  I also finished reading the Book of Mormon today. I'm going to start on the D&C now and hopefully before my mission is over, have read through the entire Standard Works, at least once, and the missionary library at least once.
Have a great week,
Love your son,
Elder Anderson

Elder Bates comes to Spotsylvania

Elder Slade has been transferred.  My new companion is Elder Colby Bates from Fresno, California.

Crazy Weather

It is August 23, 2011 We are still in Spotsylvania.  We are about 20 miles north of the epic center of an earthquake that hit the Virginia area near the town of Mineral.  We were having lunch at our Zone Leaders apartment when the earthquake hit.  We all thought it was the washing machine for a second till someone yelled EARTHQUAKE!!!  4 of the Elders sprinted out the door and were jumping down 3 flights of stairs.  While some how Elder Morrill and I ended up running to the bathroom for safety.  We are all safe and even Elder Carter and I went street contacting later on.  It was interesting to hear and see peoples reactions to the earthquake.  Then on August 28th Hurricane Irene hit!  Which was a little weird because just 2 days before we had a huge storm and we thought that was Irene.  So what do Elder Slade and I do during a hurricane?  We go tracting.  We did get 2 new investigators that day.  I know that the Lord blesses his servants and leads us to those who are seeking the light of the gospel in their lives.  
Mom and Dad,  I know this gospel is true, and I know the things that we are teaching the people are true.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.  2 years is a long time, but I know we all will be blessed.  I love you both so much.  I am blessed beyond measure to have you both in my life. 
Love always, your son
Daktoa Thomas Anderson     

I will persist.

I will persist until I succeed.

I was not delivered unto this world in defeat, nor does failure course in my veins. I am not a sheep waiting to be prodded by my shepherd. I am a lion and I refuse to talk, to walk, to sleep with the sheep. I will hear not those who weep and complain, for their disease is contagious. Let them join the sheep. The slaughterhouse of failure is not my destiny.

I will persist until I succeed.

The prizes of life are at the end of each journey, not near the beginning; and it is not given to me to know how many steps are necessary in order to reach my goal. Failure I may still encounter at the thousandth step, yet success hides behind the next bend in the road. Never will I know how close it lies unless I turn the corner.

Always will I take another step. If that is of no avail I will take another, and yet another. In truth, one step at a time is not too difficult. 

I will persist until I succeed.

Henceforth, I will consider each day's effort as but one blow of my blade against a mighty oak. The first blow may cause not a tremor in the wood, nor the second, nor the third. Each blow, of itself, may be trifling, and seem of no consequence. Yet from childish swipes the oak will eventually tumble. So it will be with my efforts of today.

I will be liken to the rain drop which washes away the mountain; the ant who devours a tiger; the star which brightens the earth; the slave who builds a pyramid. I will build my castle one brick at a time for I know that small attempts, repeated, will complete any undertaking. 

I will persist until I succeed.
I will never consider defeat and I will remove from my vocabulary such words and phrases as quit, cannot, unable, impossible, out of the question, improbable, failure, unworkable, hopeless, and retreat; for they are the words of fools. I will avoid despair but if this disease of the mind should infect me then I will work on in despair. I will toil and I will endure. I will ignore the obstacles at my feet and keep mine eyes on the goals above my head, for I know that where dry desert ends, green grass grows.

I will persist until I succeed.

I will remember the ancient law of averages and I will bend it to my good. I will persist with knowledge that each failure to sell will increase my chance for success at the next attempt. Each nay I hear will bring me closer to the sound of yea. Each frown I meet only prepares me for the smile to come. Each misfortune I encounter will carry in it the seed of tomorrow's good luck. I must have the night to appreciate the day. I must fail often to succeed only once.

I will persist until I succeed.

I will try, and try, and try again. Each obstacle I will consider as a mere detour to my goal and a challenge to my profession. I will persist and develop my skills as the mariner develops his, by learning to ride out the wrath of each storm.

I will persist until I succeed.

Henceforth, I will learn and apply another secret of those who excel in my work. When each day is ended, not regarding whether it has been a success or a failure, I will attempt to achieve one more sale. When my thoughts beckon my tired body homeward I will resist the temptation to depart. I will try again. I will make one more attempt to close with victory, and if that fails I will make another. Never will I allow any day to end with a failure. Thus will I plant the seed of tomorrow's success and gain an insurmountable advantage over those who cease their labor at a prescribed time. When others cease their struggle, then mine will begin, and my harvest will be full.

I will persist until I succeed.

Nor will I allow yesterday's success to lull me into today's complacency, for this is the great foundation of failure. I will forget the happenings of the day that is gone, whether they were good or bad, and greet the new sun with confidence that this will be the best day of my life. 

So long as there is breath in me, that long will I persist. For now I know one of the

greatest principles of success; if I persist long enough I will win.

I will persist.
I will win.