Fourth Week and All Is Well

Hey everyone!! This week was so great! I feel like my district is really growing tight together and they are just the greatest. This week we did a lot of role playing to practice for our lessons. This really helps us know what we need to improve in our lesson before we go out and teach our investigator. But for me, it really helps me strengthen my testimony because when I am the investigator and the ask me questions like, "Do you know God loves you?" It really makes me think, as Miles Anderson, does God love me? Sometimes I don't know the answer to that question. But then I take a step back and look at all the wonderful things God has given me to prove that He loves me. I especially see this in my amazing family that has always guided me and shown me love and through my friends who are the best ever and amazing examples to me. I love seeing them all grow in the church and seeing them help grow the church. Whether it be in Guam, Cape Verde, Rome, Chicago, Peru, Chesapeake, California, or South Dakota, they are all amazing men. 

Also over this week I have grown a love for the Book of Mormon. It's just amazing. Tad R. Callister said about the Book of Mormon, "It claims to be the word of God-every sentence, every verse, every page." I finished reading 3 Nephi this week. Wow. Everything about that book has helped me draw closer to Christ. If you haven't studied that book, I invite you to do so. It is so amazing. My favorite verse is 3 Nephi 17:4, "But now I go unto the Father, and also to show myself unto the lost tribes of Israel, for they are not lost unto the Father, for He knoweth whither He hath taken them." I love this becasue to me, it really solidifies the fact that God knows each of us and has a plan for us. Because "He knoweth whither he hath taken them."

The MTC is amazing. The spirit is so strong. I love it. I feel it especially when we sing. Yesterday we sang Carry On. "Holding aloft our colors, we march in the glorious dawn. O youth of the noble birthright, carry on, carry on, carry on!" When life gets hard, Satan will try to sway us away from God, But we need to raise our colors and carry on. Because nothing that Satan has to offer us is better than what God has planned for us. Just carry on. To my friends, especially those in high school, always remember you are the youth of a noble birthright. You know this gospel. Never sway from it. Never change for people because they might make fun of you for your standards. "Shall the youth of Zion falter... no!" High school is a wonderful time, it was the happiest time of my life. But lots of people change and they don't change towards Christ. I saw it a bunch over the years. Make sure you are not one of those that turn away from Christ. Always turn towards Him. Trust me, your life will be unbelievably more happy. I know all of you, and I know you will do what's right.

Now back to everyone, stay on the path of righteousness. Don't be lost in the mist of confusion. It's not fun, trust me. Everything about it is awful. If you are lost or ever get lost, reach out to God and He will guide you to the path and help you grasp the iron rod.

Well i love you all so much. This church is true. This is the gospel of truth and love. Everything about it. I love my mission, and even though I am ony a month into it, I love it. I hope all is well back home! In the wise words of Gandalf the Grey (When he has to leave the company of Thorin while they go into the Mirkwood forest), "Goodbye, goodbye, be good, and don't leave the path."

Love Elder Anderson

NOTE From Greg: I was able to go to the MTC today to pick up some materials for my BYU IS course I am teaching. I kept praying that I would not run into Miles. I did however run into Elder Nate Schwemmer and Elder Hanks. It was fun to say hi and to tell them to give Miles a hug for me.

Third Week

I am a 1/3 of the way done with the MTC! yea!! It will be a hard 6 weeks, but they will fly by if I keep working hard. It's a good thing we have exercise time because I don't think I could handle things without it. 

In case you were wondering, we mainly play basketball and 4-square. But we lift and run too. Then on preparation day we usually go play soccer. We team up with the other mandarin districts and play the Cambodian and Thai elders. And yes our team name is Mandarin United. And yes, we win. Anyways, back to holy things. I feel like me and Elder Bradford are finally getting the teaching down. 

We figured out how to apply the lessons to our investigators needs. And one of them said he would get baptized in September! Granted our investigators are our teachers, but it was still cool! 

On Wednesday we got to host the new missionaries. I didn't get to host Evan but I did get to host Brigham Brau!! That was super cool to see him. He's an awesome guy. 

So we made some new friends this week too. On of them is named Elder NG. Yes that is really his name. He is from Plymouth England and I think he is in Marissa's district. He's super cool. And we made friends with an elder from Russia. oh man, picture a typical Russian and that's him. He's so cool and he teaches us Russian. I'm pretty sure he has a picture of Drago from Rocky IV hanging in his room right next to his hammer and sickle. But that might just be a stereotype. lol

Yesterday we watched the Restoration movie. Man I love it. I Love Joseph Smith and this church so much!! 

To end things, here's a scripture. Alma 48:17 "Yea, verily, verily, I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men."

Can you imagine if the powers of hell were shaken? This week, I want you all to think how you can be like Moroni. That doesn't mean you have to save the land of Nephi from the Lamanites, but be so Christ-like that the devil has no power over you. 

I love this gospel so much and I'm so grateful I get to serve a mission. I love you all so much!!

Love Elder Anderson

Attached are pictures of Miles and his companion Elder Bradford (flashing the W for taiWan - just my guess :) and Miles and one of his great friends Evan Southwick

Second Week in the MTC

Hello everyone!! Wow is it already preparation day? This week flew by!! I now see why people say missions are the hardest thing you'll ever do. I come back exhausted every night. It's like going to school all day, everyday, but everything is in chinese. The language is definitely getting better. I was able to teach my companion a lesson on the restoration without having to look up any words and I didn't use any english! I was actually pretty surprised!! I feel like I am learning a lot so that's good. Haha so my district decided that none of my sisters are allowed to send me Dear Elder letters anymore because they are sick of me getting like 6 letters a day from them! Keep up the good work Katie, Kelsi, and Marissa!!! Those letters are the best. 

So on Tuesday, Elder C. Scott Grow came and gave a devotional. His talk really helped me realized that even though I'm working hard, I need to work harder and harder every day. It was super good. And apparently my companion knows him from Arkansas so we were able to shake his hand and talk to him. That was sweeeet! After the devotional, a member of our branch presidency came and talked to our district. The things he said were so inspiring. I now have total confidence that the Lord will help me learn chinese and become a great missionary. That will happen as long as I keep working hard and staying obedient.

On Friday, Elder Bradford had to go to a foot doctor because he had an ingrown toenail. So we got to leave the mtc and go into the real world! haha it was only for an hour but it felt good to be away. Only 7 more weeks until we go to Taiwan. Hahaha

We took a picture with all of the springville elders that we could round up so hopefully you all got it! I sent it with a few others. I love those Elders. Springville rocks. Oh on this Wednesday we get to be hosts for the new missionaries coming in!! hopefully I get to host Evan!! That would be sooooo awesome!! I love that kid!

This week we get two new investigators. Our old one 'moved to Taiwan'. Before that we had invited him to church so things were going well. Hopefully our success will carry over. 

Well I hope you all have a great week!! The church is true and don't forget it

 Wo(3) ai(4) nimen(3)!!!!

Sun(1) Zhang(3) Lao(3)

NOTE from GREG: I think the numbers mean the Chinese tones to use when saying those words. Miles went up to the Director of the MTC (Richard Heaton) and said "Hey! My dad is in your Stake!". I am a YSA Bishop and President Heaton is the Stake President. That made President Heaton laugh and said "I usually hear 'Hey! My son is in your Stake'". He spoke with Miles and told me that his Chinese is coming along well and that he seemed like a great missionary.

Entering the MTC

Hellooo everyone!! my first week at the mtc has been so awesome!! I have seen so many of my friends here!! People like (insert elder or sister in front of the names) Brent Blackwell, Connor Crandall, Caroline Anderson, Parker Kowal, Cayden Christensen, Harrison Piper, Devin Freeman, Mitch Southwick, and Brandon Merkley! Oh and a ton of people that I know from Kaysville. And today I saw Joe McKay!! Man I love that guy. Apparently he teaches Russian here.

Anyways, let me just say that those first 5 days went by sooooo slow. I could not believe how long the days felt. But every single person we talked to said make it to Sunday. So we made it to Sunday! Hopefully things go by a little faster ;) The spirit here is so strong that it is incredible. Even when I was getting set apart the night before I came here, I could just feel the power of the priesthood when everyone put their hands on my head. I love having the spirit all around us and hopefully it stays with us. All we have to do is be obedient and we have been so far. Haha I don't want to have Bryant chew us out. I have seen the results of that and they do not look fun. Being able to see Marissa and Bryant is so awesome!! Marissa possibly has the greatest district here (except they left today) besides ours. They were all so nice to us and they would always come talk to us and help us with our chinese. They rock. Nice work Marissa. 

Speaking of districts, my district is just the best. It is awesome that Elder Nate Shwemmer and Elder Hunter Hanks from Kaysville in my district. There are 6 of us. Me, Elder Bradford (my companion), Elder Shwemmer, Elder Hanks, Elder Gasser, and Elder Ferrell. They are such nice guys and they rock. So the reason we couldn't find Elder Bradford anywhere is because he goes by the name Hayes. Just so ya know. He is from Arkansas and he just completed his freshman year at BYU. He is such a funny guy and he makes us laugh so much!! 

Our chinese is coming along... It still needs lots of work but I pretty much have praying down!! We are trying as hard as we can to SYL (speak your language) as much as possible. It has really helped out so far. So we have already had to teach two lessons to an 'investigator' and they have been super hard. The first time we taught about the Plan of Salvation and it went pretty well. We pretty much had him read a bunch of stuff and then we bore our testimonies. He asked a few questions, I knew what he was saying but we did not know how to respond. Then the second time we taught about the Atonement. Same deal, this time there was literally no way we could have answered his questions with our limited chinese. It was kinda awkward. Oh well, we'll get better with the help of the spirit.

Even though the language is very frustrating, I love the mtc. It really helps solidify my testimony about the church. It is most definitely true and I love everything about it.  

Well I love you guys so much!!! Thanks for your hilarious letters Kaytlen :) you make me laugh a lot. Hope you all have a great week and in the words of Uncle Lee, "Be strong and be true."

Wo ai ni!! (sorry I don't know how to put tones on)

Sun zhang lao

ps Sister Slack if you read this, can you sen Thomas' emails to this account?? Thanks!

Farewell Brunch

Thank you to everyone that came to Miles' Farewell. He would love to hear from you. We have posted his MTC address and DearElder information on this page. Here are some photos from his farewell.