So I'm home now but feel free to visit my new blog believeintheblessings.blogspot.com
And thank you to EVERYONE who supported me on my mission!
Arizona Mesa Mission
"Regrets are mistakes you didn't learn from"
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Monday, November 5, 2012
It was a good week
November 5, 2012
Dear MOM, DAD, & GRANDMA,
Yes that's fine if Ryan and Misty bless Daniel that same day. Might as well kill two birds with one stone. What day is that?
Jesus
is doing so well! He set a baptismal date for the 1st of December, he
came to church yesterday and brought his sister and cousin, he came to
the Mission President's Fireside last night, he's been praying, and he
read in the Book of Mormon and told us he loved 2 Nephi 4:19... he
didn't remember the exact reference but he remembered it was 19 and that
it talked about "my heart groanth", he also said he just keep reading
beyond what we had asked him to and that he just wanted to keep finding
treasures. He's so solid! And the ward is taking him in and helping him
with rides or whatever he needs. He tells us every time we meet that
he's so grateful and really appreciates that we take the time to come.
We remind him that he's worth it and that Heavenly Father knew he was
prepared. Jesus was the first person that I "found" on my mission that
we taught and he wanted more and then wanted to get baptized, meaning
everyone else come looking for the missionaries though a member and
already knew they wanted to get baptized(that just shows you how
important member missionary work is). In all reality though we didn't
find him Heavenly Father put us at his door step. I'm so grateful for
the chance I got to teach him and that it happened when it did.
Robert
is... not so good... we're not too sure all that is going on but he
couldn't come to church and then he didn't come to the fireside either
after he said he would. We know it's stuff at home but we don't know
what and there isn't anything we can do other than pray, so thank you
for prayers on his behalf he'll need them for a while yet...
We
also got a new investigator yesterday but he seems kind of flaky and
he's meet with missionaries before and was flaky then so we'll see.
Cool
miracle this week. We've been going to members home and doing Family
Mission Plans to help members do more missionary work in normal and
natural ways. Basically they list people they want to help come closer
to Christ and then is has ideas of what they can do like bring them
cookies or invite them to FHE, things like that. It's not to get more
referrals for us but to help the members prepare people so maybe they
will be ready sometime down the road. One family we had done it with had
listed all the non-members on their street and was working on ideas of
things they could do, well Sister Booth (no relation... I think) called
us and said that she felt prompted to go by her neighbor (a part member
family) and invite her daughter to primary. She followed it and when she
did the neighbor said that her and her husband had been talking about
coming to church but were waiting for an invitation... SO COOL!!! ALWAYS
FOLLOW PROMPTINGS!!!! We are working on starting to teach her, we met
them and they said we could come by soon.
MIRACLES, BLESSINGS, & TENDER MERCIES!!!!
So I guess I should have called it a blessed week!
Well that's all. Halloween was fun, hope yours was too!
Miss you much, Love you more!
Love Sister Anderson
"Look our for our friend Jesus"
October 30, 2012
Dear MOM, DAD, and GRANDMA,
HaPpY HaLLoWeEn!!!
We have a new investigator, his name is Jesus (he's Hispanic, but if
you don't know that it totally seems like we are talking about Christ),
he's 20 and we found him when we went to contact a street contact that
said we could come back and pray with her. She wasn't home but Jesus let
us in and we talked with him a little, shared a scripture about the
Atonement, and invited him to church. He ended up not being able to come
but he said he would next week and that he might bring a friend. There
was a YSA dance/party last night and our WML went over to pick him up,
it ended up being too late and by the time they would have gotten there
the dance would have been over but they invited him to a party on
Wednesday and he was excited to go. Jared (our Ward Mission Leader) said
it was a good first contact and that he really appreciated the fact
that they stopped by. At first I wasn't too sure how teaching Jesus was
going to work out but it's looking like he is very prepared. The work is
moving forward in the YSA ward, they have several potentials and we're
working hard to help them find people. This is my third YSA ward on my
mission and I think it's because I love YSA wards. A sister asked me a
while ago how you get work in YSA wards and I told her you just love
them, meaning I have no idea how we get work in those ward other than
the fact that I love to serve in them and I feel like Heavenly Father
gives us work (sometimes later rather than sooner) just because we love
them!
Robert is doing good, we contacted him finally and we were able to
talk to his parents. Basically it will be awhile until he can get
baptized because they want him to figure other things in his life out
and they want him to take it all in. I can't blame them they just want
to make sure he is committed.
We had a lot of little miracles this week, like random lessons with
people we didn't intend on seeing and such. One of those was with Lu
she's from Russia and was baptized when she was adopted 9ish years ago
but is on and off active. She had just the week before decided she
needed to be more diligent at reading and praying, and has started to
work on getting Sundays off so she can go to the YSA ward and not just
the family ward she's been going to. And then we showed up at her door.
She came to church on Sunday and the dance last night. Heavenly Father
is so aware of us all!
That's it for this week. My companions are awesome as always and the
work is SLOWLY moving forward. Miss you much Love you more!
Love Sister Anderson
Pictures:
The 3 Amiga's
My little baby!
Fiery Dart of The Adversary
October 22, 2012
Dear MOM, DAD, and GRANDMA,
We ate with the YSA ward this week
and it was a blast. Eating with members really helps with getting to
know them. The first apartment we ate at had several returned sister
missionaries and one said when she was on her mission and there was a
"Babylonian distraction" her companion would tell her "FDA divert your
eyes!" FDA stands for Fiery Dart of the Advisory. Since we've started
working more in the YSA ward I've been feeling like there is work just
around the corner and on Sunday our Ward Mission Leader told us he had 2
possible investigators, one of which had come to church several times
and no one had made the connection he wasn't a member. BLESSINGS!!! OUR
YSA Ward Mission Leader is so diligent, he fed us this week and invited
several people to come. There ended up being there 2 non-members (not
from our area but that's okay) and a less-active. We used a bunch of Mormon Messages and it was pretty good. Those have the spirit so strong,
I love them!
We got to do service this week. We helped a member clean her house
and you know me I love to clean. Unfortunately there really isn't much
to tell but I'll do my best to have more to tell next week.
The church is true, the book is blue, and Moroni is ALWAYS on the ball! Miss you much, Love you more!
Love Sister Anderson
One of "those" weeks
October 15, 2012
Dear MOM and DAD,
This was one of "those week..." you know the
kind I don't really like to talk about... it's kind of sad. We found a
new investigator but then found out later she told one of her Mormon
friends that life was hard for her because she was Mormon and she needed
to throw away her Book of Mormon. All this after we had a really good
lesson with her and she committed find out if this was the answer to her
prayers...
Robert won't be getting baptized this week either... his parents
didn't know he was planning on that date. They are supportive and don't
mind he's looking into it but they don't want him to rush in head long
first and then back out later and I guess he has a habit of doing
that... I'm grateful his parents want him to not do this halfheartedly
but really sad he wasn't upfront with us about his parents wishes. I'm
also glad my companions are in tune to the Spirit and felt we should go
talk to his parents... because that whole thing could have been bad had
we not talked to them yesterday.
Other than that sad news we had a lot of meetings and study this
week. There is an extra hour of study for new missionaries so we have
very little time in our area with all the things we have. This coming
week it's less than 15 proselyting hours, but it is good to be busy...
right?
In hopes of reviving this weeks email I've decided to send pictures, ENJOY
Happy Halloween... enough said (At the end of the day I rub my eyes during prayer and this is the result...)
more Happy Halloween complements of Sister Shurtz mom |
Sister Hamsteads 1st morning with us (Greenie breakfast) |
Hear no evil, See no evil, Speak no evil |
In the words of MOM.."Stuff and more Stuff"
October 9, 2012
Dear MOM, DAD, and GRANDMA,
Grandma's going to get in the pool... I thought she was scared of water... GO GRANDMA!!! So what did you think of the big announcement in conference? Pretty crazy... but I really want Kember to go on a mission, I told her to pray about it. But she also may not need a mission because she's amazing on her own (meaning she is growing spiritually with out a kick in the pants... lol)
Our lesson on Sunday was... okay... we probably will be dropping Drew. His mom doesn't really like the idea and he's not putting in very much effort (probably because he doesn't want to offend his mom). He might put more into it if dad was more committed to returning but that time for church change a few weeks back and he keep missing it because he's sleeping in. So if he doesn't read this week we will have to trust the Lord will help him when the time is best. He is a great kid, but it's hard when mom and dad disagree (they are divorced as well)
Robert is doing so good. We watched Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration last night and he cried. He is so in tune with the spirit. We also taught the Law of Chasity and when we committed him to live it he said that would be the easiest thing in the world. I asked him if he thought about serving a mission and he said he was going to! SO AWESOME! He also in the last week has read from 2 Nephi to Helaman... He is a tender mercy, miracle, and a blessing all in one. Sometimes it's hard to get lessons because of stuff at home and the fact we have to go through his friend to contact him, because his phone is CRAZY, but every time we have a lesson it is so good and we are reminded how prepared he his.
Sister Hamstead is AMAZING!!! She's our little greenie. We both feel like she's training us because she is so prepared. Trio are usually pretty difficult but so far we are doing great and we all get along really well. This last week has been full of meetings and lessons so it's been pretty crazy but it's always better when your busy.
Grandma's going to get in the pool... I thought she was scared of water... GO GRANDMA!!! So what did you think of the big announcement in conference? Pretty crazy... but I really want Kember to go on a mission, I told her to pray about it. But she also may not need a mission because she's amazing on her own (meaning she is growing spiritually with out a kick in the pants... lol)
Our lesson on Sunday was... okay... we probably will be dropping Drew. His mom doesn't really like the idea and he's not putting in very much effort (probably because he doesn't want to offend his mom). He might put more into it if dad was more committed to returning but that time for church change a few weeks back and he keep missing it because he's sleeping in. So if he doesn't read this week we will have to trust the Lord will help him when the time is best. He is a great kid, but it's hard when mom and dad disagree (they are divorced as well)
Robert is doing so good. We watched Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration last night and he cried. He is so in tune with the spirit. We also taught the Law of Chasity and when we committed him to live it he said that would be the easiest thing in the world. I asked him if he thought about serving a mission and he said he was going to! SO AWESOME! He also in the last week has read from 2 Nephi to Helaman... He is a tender mercy, miracle, and a blessing all in one. Sometimes it's hard to get lessons because of stuff at home and the fact we have to go through his friend to contact him, because his phone is CRAZY, but every time we have a lesson it is so good and we are reminded how prepared he his.
Sister Hamstead is AMAZING!!! She's our little greenie. We both feel like she's training us because she is so prepared. Trio are usually pretty difficult but so far we are doing great and we all get along really well. This last week has been full of meetings and lessons so it's been pretty crazy but it's always better when your busy.
How is everyone's reading? We should be on page 84 by the end of today... That's it for today!
Miss you much, Love you more!
Love Sister Anderson
Transfer news...training
October 1, 2012
Dear MOM and DAD,
So this last week I was reading in Mosiah 2 and in
verse 3 something stood out to me. I know it was the Spirit because it
never really had an impact before. The chapter is referring to General
Conference (of course) and the beginning is all about how they prepared.
In verse 3 it talks about offering sacrifice and I thought about what we
offer as a sacrifice now "a broken heart and a contrite spirit" and my
thought was "Do I prepare for conference with a broken heart and
contrite spirit, prepared to receive what the Prophet will say, and am I
humble enough to do what he will ask me to do?" just some food for
thought. They also turned their tent doors to the temple (preparing to
listen to the prophets voice). Are our doors (the activities in our
homes) turning to temple? It was a really sweet "tender mercy" to learn
that this last week.
Don't forget about the Book of Mormon challenge. It
starts on the 3rd of October, 14 pages a day to finish the Book of
Mormon in a transfer. I know I've said it before but I would love it if
my whole family did it with me. I know it seem like it would take too
much time, but you can read 14 pages in an hour and an hour isn't too
much to give to the Lord, who in return will bless you more than you
ever gave. Right? =D
Well as the subject line states we got transfer news
and Sister Shurtz and I are staying together, we are also training, so
we'll be in a trio. This will be an adventure. We are also moving
because the members we live with don't have enough room. (That's another
thing I tell you more about)
We haven't seen Robert this week meaning his baptism
will have to be moved to the 20th of October. He's been grounded all
week and then was at his grandparent for the weekend. Pray we can
contact him this week.
We that's all she wrote! I Love you all!
Miss you much, Love you more!
Love Sister Anderson
P.S. I would love to hear about what you all are receiving as you read the Book of Mormon.
And tell Grandma I love and miss her too
YOU'RE AWESOME!!!
September 24,2012
Dear MOM and DAD,
I LOVE all the missionary
work you are doing! It makes me even more proud to call you my mom and
dad! You'll have to let me know how it all goes and you know you can
give me his phone # and I can call him at the Visitors' Center or have
one of the other Sisters call. But defiantly pray about it. Funny you
should say USU because Sister Beckstrand was saying I should go there
(her reasoning was different) but I've also been thinking that lately.
My only struggle would be being SO far away from my babies... I feel
like I've missed so much of their lives already! But you know me I'll go
where the Lord wants me to and it's probably time for me to work on my
living my life... I just love our family so much! And it wouldn't be
that long because it's only an endorsement. Anywho... I'll get to my
week.
So on Saturday we had ELDER DAVID A BEDNAR come to our
mission!!!! It was SOOOOOO good and we all got to shake his hand! I
can't even tell you how awesome it was to have him speak to us for THREE
hours!!! I know he's called of God and he has the Spirit so strong, it
just makes me want to be better. He talked a lot about treating people as
Agents who act not Objects to be acted upon and how that affects our
missionary work. Also about realizing it's the Spirit that will take the
message into the hearts of those we teach not us . We were given two
talks about a month ago and asked to read and know them, and that was
what our meeting mostly consisted of. Him asking what we learned for the
talks and then expounding on them. They were Seek Learning by Faith http://www.lds.org/liahona/2007/09/seek-learning-by-faith?lang=eng&query="seek+learning+by+faith" and Ask in Faith http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/04/ask-in-faith?lang=eng&query="ask+in+faith"
My invitation to you is to read them because I really couldn't expound
on his words and I really can't describe how awesome it was!
We started teaching
Robert, YAY! And he is awesome, I've never met a 16 year old that is so
in tune. We had a lesson yesterday with the bishop and his friend form
the other ward was there. We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I
know the Spirit taught because I had a desire to apply the Doctrine of
Christ in my life more. But after, we were trying to set up other times
to meet this week and his friend had other things in his ward that were
planned, the best part was Robert told him i think this is more
important right now! Funny thing about all of this, when we first meet
him I kept thinking he look like someone I know and during one of our
lessons it dawned on me... he looks like Josh... my ex-boyfriend...
Sister Shurtz and I laughed for some time after I told her. But it's
such a blessing to get to teach him, I'm grateful!
That's all I got for this week! Miss you much, Love you more!!!
P.S. Forgot to mention that Saddie, my YSA investigator for my old
area, got baptized, I couldn't remember if I mentioned that, but she
comes into the VC every so often and is excited to see me and that makes
me happy!
Also my Ward Mission
Leader from the Gable (YSA) Ward (my first YSA) came in yesterday to
have me sign a card for Christina, because today was her year mark of
being baptized. She was less-active but has been coming back! YAY! Then I
also realized my first convert was baptized over a year ago! It's crazy
how that all works.
Love ya!
Love, Sister Anderson
Dropping and Miracles!
September 17, 2012Dear MOM and DAD,
Yes I got the package! Thank you so much! I love giving away daddy's toys. And I'd been craving popcorn, so that was perfect. Sister Shurtz says thank you for the toys. I gave her two.
Well I'm pretty sure all our investigators are dropped, in the process of dropping, or dropped us. Every member present lesson we had scheduled this week, fell through... But we had a miracle last night. The other sisters in our stake called us to tell us they had an investigator with a date for us! He's 15 and owns a quad and has been reading it for years. He's been going to church for the last 3-4 weeks and they had one lesson with him and set a baptismal date for the 13th of October, and he's in our area, so we'll start teaching him now. His name is Robert, by the by. BLESSING!!!
Today was zone activity and we played Lazer tag, I've never played Lazer tag before so that was fun.
I'm jealous that Conference is coming up. You know how I LOVE conference.
Sorry I'm a little distracted by other things and I still want to email Kember. So I'm gonna finish. I love you!
Miss you much, love you more!
Love Sister Anderson
RAIN
September 11, 2012
Dear MOM and DAD,
I haven't got my meds yet but I haven't been to the Visitors' Center yet today, so I'm hoping it will show up today. I also wanted to request some more toys if you're sending a package, because I'm out and being in a new area I need to have some to give to new people! c=
It's been raining a ton this week and that has been a blessing. We came to the conclusion that it's time for us to drop those who aren't progressing so the Lord can send those who are. Sister Shurtz was struggling with it for a a awhile because she cares so much for the people she's been teaching and she doesn't want them to fall though the cracks, but she told me the Lord comforted her that they would be taking care of and that we would see success if we had the faith to find the elect.
This week has been a week full of the Spirit. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I felt prompted or lead by the Spirit this week, and It feels so good after when you know it was the Spirit and you followed it because you knew it was, instead of seeing after "Oh yeah, that was the Spirit!" Don't get me wrong I'm grateful for those moments, because those happen all the time. But it's a blessing to know before hand that it was the spirit guiding you.
Sorry I don't have a ton to write today. But know I'm working hard and missing you all very much!
Love you all,
Love Sister Anderson
Well...
September 4, 2012
Dear MOM & DAD,
So our investigators... we have quit a few but I still don't know
all of them and I'm not to sure how solid they all are but we do have
one who all he needs to do is set a date. His wife is a member returning
to activity and the sisters have been trying to get over there for
months and just 2 months ago they did. He believes it and know it to be
true but still won't set a date, he had one prior but it fell though and
hasn't set one since. David is awesome and you'd thin he was a member
already, we just need to get him wet now.
We also found a new investigator this last week
named AJ, he teaches ballroom and just recently moved to Mesa. He lived
in Texas right down the street from a Temple and he says he's always
open to "talking religion" so we have a lesson for tomorrow and we're
excited to see where that goes.
I feel bad because my whole mission I've been in
areas where the work is pretty slow and then I came here and there is
more work here than in my other areas (at least there was) so I was
pretty excited, but my first week the activity of the area decreased
ALOT and Sister Shurtz thinks it's her fault... which is not true, but I
feel bad because I don't quit know how to life her spirits because this
is very much what I'm use to and she's use to success to this is not up
to par for her. I just pray she will not let the advisory get her down
and make her think it is her fault. The people we teach have a choice
and if they chose otherwise they are not prepared yet and the Lord will
give us someone who is.
So our investigators... we have quit a few but I still don't know
all of them and I'm not to sure how solid they all are but we do have
one who all he needs to do is set a date. His wife is a member returning
to activity and the sisters have been trying to get over there for
months and just 2 months ago they did. He believes it and know it to be
true but still won't set a date, he had one prior but it fell though and
hasn't set one since. David is awesome and you'd think he was a member
already, we just need to get him wet now.
We also found a new investigator this last week
named AJ, he teaches ballroom and just recently moved to Mesa. He lived
in Texas right down the street from a Temple and he says he's always
open to "talking religion" so we have a lesson for tomorrow and we're
excited to see where that goes.
I feel bad
because my whole mission I've been in areas where the work is pretty
slow and then I came here and there is more work here than in all my other
areas (at least there was) so I was pretty excited, but my first week
the activity of the area decreased ALOT and Sister Shurtz thinks it's
her fault... which is not true, but I feel bad because I don't quit know
how to lift her spirits because this is very much what I'm use to and
she's use to success so this is not up to par for her. I just pray she
will not let the advisory get her down and make her think it is her
fault. The people we teach have a choice and if they chose otherwise
they are not prepared yet and the Lord will give us someone who is.
From my last area
Sadee is getting baptized this weekend, they are still figuring out her
ward but for now they are baptizing her into the ward she's in and
then transferring her over to her right ward. I got to see her on Sunday at the Mission Presidents Fireside, she gave me a big hug and told me
how much she missed me and how bummed she was when she learned I had been
transferred, that made me feel good to know I was missed. Now I just
need to find someone to take to her baptism so I can go. I think we're
going to try and get David and his family there. Cheryl the lady we
found right before I left came into the Visitor's Center with Sister K
and I don't think she even recognized me... oh well the work moves
forward, thank goodness!
Sister K and I sang at the MP Fireside. We sang "If
the Savior stood beside me" we had also sang that our last Sunday as
companions. I tell you angels were singing with us both times
because we were so nervous that there is no way it should have sounded
good... but it did and a lot of people complemented us on it, both times.
We were also told we blended well which I love to hear because it's
better to blend than to stick out, when it comes to singing that is.
I hope daddy is doing okay, while he's down for a
bit I think that would be a GREAT time to write me some letters... he's
only got a short while left that he can write me... Honestly I just miss
hearing from my papa!
That's it for this week! I love you all!
Miss you much, Love you more!
Love Sister Anderson
Monday, August 27, 2012
Crazy all around!
Dear MOM and DAD,
Sounds like life is crazy at the Anderson Home! But I wouldn't have it any other way. My week has been crazy and frustrating but I'm good. It's just a new area with 5 new wards and a ton of new investigators and I'm not remembering much but I know it will come and I seem to be settling faster than I have previously. Sister Shurtz is amazing and I love being her companion. I really have been blessed with the companions I've had, even the ones I didn't get along with, I've learned so much from each and every one. Sister Dyer taught me to work hard! Sister Everette taught me to expect and look for miracles! Sister Stephens taught me the Lord will provide! (Jehovah Jirah) Sister Parker taught me to laugh and let go! (to be more myself) Sister Dashjav taught me to love people and not to stress so much! Sister Kranendonk taught me to work hard and laugh (I've never laughed so much with a companion) and to always lift people up! And I know I'll learn even more for Sister Shurtz, already I've learned to make prayer more important and not just to rush off after I pray.
I'll write you more about the area next week when I have more of my thoughts put in place. It is an awesome area and I love the people I've met thus far. I'm still struggling being in the passengers seat all the time and my car sickness doesn't help much but I'm working on letting the Lord take care of me. I'm almost out of my meds and I'll need more immunobuild, I've been taking two a day again because I've been fighting a cold for about a month. I'll only need one more bottle and some echinacea would be good as well. I'm still looking forward to your letter about writing dad on his mission.
I think you are right about the 0-5 year olds, I love babies and that would open my options of what I could do with my degree.
I put a link to a "I'm a Mormon" I watched this week and thought of dad when I did. I think he could relate.
http://bcove.me/wfce21mf
Well that's it for now, thank you for all you do. I never really thought I could love and appreciate you and our family more than I did but everyday I meet more people I do. Even good families have wayward children and other problems, but I know now that our family really is unique. Maybe it's cause we grew up in a small town and your the best parents ever, I don't know but I'm glad for whatever it was.
Miss you much, Love you more!
Love Sister Anderson
Sounds like life is crazy at the Anderson Home! But I wouldn't have it any other way. My week has been crazy and frustrating but I'm good. It's just a new area with 5 new wards and a ton of new investigators and I'm not remembering much but I know it will come and I seem to be settling faster than I have previously. Sister Shurtz is amazing and I love being her companion. I really have been blessed with the companions I've had, even the ones I didn't get along with, I've learned so much from each and every one. Sister Dyer taught me to work hard! Sister Everette taught me to expect and look for miracles! Sister Stephens taught me the Lord will provide! (Jehovah Jirah) Sister Parker taught me to laugh and let go! (to be more myself) Sister Dashjav taught me to love people and not to stress so much! Sister Kranendonk taught me to work hard and laugh (I've never laughed so much with a companion) and to always lift people up! And I know I'll learn even more for Sister Shurtz, already I've learned to make prayer more important and not just to rush off after I pray.
I'll write you more about the area next week when I have more of my thoughts put in place. It is an awesome area and I love the people I've met thus far. I'm still struggling being in the passengers seat all the time and my car sickness doesn't help much but I'm working on letting the Lord take care of me. I'm almost out of my meds and I'll need more immunobuild, I've been taking two a day again because I've been fighting a cold for about a month. I'll only need one more bottle and some echinacea would be good as well. I'm still looking forward to your letter about writing dad on his mission.
I think you are right about the 0-5 year olds, I love babies and that would open my options of what I could do with my degree.
I put a link to a "I'm a Mormon" I watched this week and thought of dad when I did. I think he could relate.
http://bcove.me/wfce21mf
Well that's it for now, thank you for all you do. I never really thought I could love and appreciate you and our family more than I did but everyday I meet more people I do. Even good families have wayward children and other problems, but I know now that our family really is unique. Maybe it's cause we grew up in a small town and your the best parents ever, I don't know but I'm glad for whatever it was.
Miss you much, Love you more!
Love Sister Anderson
Monday, August 20, 2012
"It's sufficiently decent"
August 20, 2012
Dear MOM and DAD,
Dear MOM and DAD,
Well transfer news is in... I'm
headed to Mesa East Stake and going from 4 wards to 5, and I'm still at
the Visitors' Center! YAY!!!! My new companion will be Sister Michelle
Shurtz, she's from Clearfield UT. She's the sister who had a sibling
pass away on her mission. I think I mentioned her before. She's a great
missionary and she works hard so it will be a good transfer.
Well this week was full of miracles! Sadee set a
baptismal date for the 8th of September. We think she'll have to go to
the ward she lives in but it's still cool that she's progressing and it
doesn't matter where people get baptized just as long as they do. It
also is a test of their conversion when they have to
transfer missionaries and wards, but she knows she might have to and
she's willing to do whatever the Lord would have her do. The Gospel Blesses
lives!
I don't know if you've noticed the pattern on my
mission but Heavenly Father just likes to randomly put prepared people
in our path. This last week we got a call from some random RM who said
that when he got home he told his aunt that he'd sic the missionaries
on her and her response was... "Okay, I'm ready for them now." We've had
two lessons with her and she is so prepared. She meet with missionaries
up in Payson AZ last year and then moved and was wanting to pick it back
up when she got settled and then her nephew got home and tada! Here we
are. She called a member in our ward to tell her that she wanted to set a
baptismal date, so Sister Bardin called us and we called Cheryl and
she's getting baptized on the 22nd of September! I'm sad I won't get to
teach her anymore but I'm really excited that Sister K gets to teach
her. She's never taught anyone all the way to baptism before so I'm
really glad she gets to be part of this miracle.
We went to the
temple this week and I was just full of gratitude for the Gospel and the
temple and my family and my friends. I was just grateful for
everything. Heavenly Father has blessed me so much and I don't even know
what to do with myself sometimes. Sister K was telling me how in her
thank you card she said that I talk about how amazing our family is all
the time. Well it's true and I love you all so much, how could I help
from bragging. She also told me this morning she loves the traditions
our family has, because I talk about those too.
The weather hasn't been too bad this summer. I think
it's gotten up to 115 three times and that's it, others may think it's
hot (and it is) but I'm grateful it's not 120. One of our ward mission
leaders was released and we didn't even know it till a week later...
still waiting on a new one to be called but I know that the Bishop is
being very prayerful about it all. I have loved the bishops in this
area. I'm just grateful for all the amazing people I get to meet!
That's all for today. I'll work on getting a contact
number to you. And thank you for doing all that school stuff for me as
well.
Miss you MUCH, Love you MORE!
Love Sister Anderson
In response to the quote no effort wasted -"It's not a waste of time... you'll learn you were an idiot!"
All
of today's quotes are from Jono (John-O), our ward mission leader in
the YSA ward, he served in England and he's super funny!
Book of Mormon Challenge
I had Sister Anderson write letter to our ward. It was a wonderful letter and I will post it later when I get it back from the news letter lady.
In that letter she asked that those so inclined, read the Book of Mormon in a "transfer". A transfer is 6 weeks. Her Mission President's wife challenged her some time earlier to read the Book of Mormon in a transfer. She was so impressed and learned so much reading more than just a chapter a day. It really made it come alive for her. So for her last transfer she is going to read the Book of Mormon. She will be starting on October 3. She would love to hear your experiences if you choose to join her. She will be returning home on November 13th. Colleen
In that letter she asked that those so inclined, read the Book of Mormon in a "transfer". A transfer is 6 weeks. Her Mission President's wife challenged her some time earlier to read the Book of Mormon in a transfer. She was so impressed and learned so much reading more than just a chapter a day. It really made it come alive for her. So for her last transfer she is going to read the Book of Mormon. She will be starting on October 3. She would love to hear your experiences if you choose to join her. She will be returning home on November 13th. Colleen
The Chicken is .... DEAD!
August 13, 2012
Dear MOM and DAD,
This week we've had 4 animals die... The members we live with have chickens so when they leave town they ask us to let them in and out of the pen morning and night and to make sure they have water, because when they left town last month one of them died. So we had been doing that faithfully but one night not all of them were in the pen when we went to lock it... well we found it a short time later DEAD... probably because it was sick and it was the first day it got to 115 degrees. But that was just one of the four... the day before we had found a dead gopher in the pool. He had fallen in and drowned because he couldn't get back out... we know this because he died in swimming position. Then the day after we found a dead bird on our lawn, from where I have no idea... and yesterday a bird flew into the window at the Visitors' Center and died from it... I'm convinced it's the second coming... just kidding but it's been pretty weird that's for sure.
Dear MOM and DAD,
This week we've had 4 animals die... The members we live with have chickens so when they leave town they ask us to let them in and out of the pen morning and night and to make sure they have water, because when they left town last month one of them died. So we had been doing that faithfully but one night not all of them were in the pen when we went to lock it... well we found it a short time later DEAD... probably because it was sick and it was the first day it got to 115 degrees. But that was just one of the four... the day before we had found a dead gopher in the pool. He had fallen in and drowned because he couldn't get back out... we know this because he died in swimming position. Then the day after we found a dead bird on our lawn, from where I have no idea... and yesterday a bird flew into the window at the Visitors' Center and died from it... I'm convinced it's the second coming... just kidding but it's been pretty weird that's for sure.
The Lord blessed us with two new investigators this
week. Kyle and Tiffany aren't very religious but said we could come back
and talk to them. They ended up canceling our appointment because of
work and then again because they were sick, but then we stopped by this
last week and they were both home and let us come in. We had a really
good talk about God blessing their lives with the gospel and how if they
did their part in finding out if it was true they would see the
blessings. We also talked a little about temples and eternal marriage
and they really liked that, so they said they would try it out. We're
excited to teach them though I think it will be a struggle to set up
lessons with them because they have crazy schedules. But we believe they
are prepared and even though they don't think they are religious they
are searching for something and I know we have it!
We had Mission Tour today. Elder Marcos A.
Aidukaitis was the General Authority that spoke to us. It was really
good, he was funny and spiritual, he uplifted us and called us to
repentance. It was just really neat how he chastened us but never really
"chastened" us. It was good I'm still processing it all but it was
good.
Sunday was a
total "trunkie" day for both Sister K and I (mostly me though). We went
to our YSA ward and it is a really good ward which makes me miss being
in a YSA ward, going to activities, having munch and mingles after
church, and just being around people my age. (It's probably a good thing
I'll probably be getting transferred next, there aren't
any grantees but I'm pretty sure I'll be moved, I've been in this area 6
months almost) Then we went to visit a less-active member and while we
were there her grandson (he's about 25) come over and said when she was
finished that she could come over and watch Pride and Prejudiced with
him (that's her favorite Sunday movie) and then they talked about going
to breakfast the next morning. It just made me miss spending time with
my Grandma... and then I bragged about Grandma to one of the Senior
Elders at the VC when I got on shift and that just made me miss her all
the more. I was also talking about the memories I had from my youth and
how I loved them and he told me to make sure I thank my mom and dad for
giving me those memories. So THANK YOU Mom and Dad! Well that was my
"trunkie" day, but don't worry we got a lot done that day too. We had a
member present lesson with Sadee (who by the way is doing awesome, she's
read up to page 30 in the Book of Mormon just his last week, how cool
is that?) and 2 less-active lessons and a bunch of member visits.
Well I guess that's all I've got for you this week. Miss you much, Love you more!
Love Sister Anderson
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