Ring out the old, ring in the new... hey that's repentance!!!! =D

Dear MOM and DAD,

I LOVE our family soooo much! It was the best getting to talk to everyone! And guess what I didn't cry when I got off, I went and helped Sister Vance finish getting ready for dinner. I was a little worried that I didn't cry but as I was thinking about it and I came to the conclusion that, I didn't cry or get homesick because in a way I'm always "homesick" meaning I love and will always want home but since being on my mission I've learned (for the most part) to put that aside and focus on the task at hand, and because of that practice I did good on Sunday.

On Christmas Eve we ate with the Senior Couple Missionaries in one of our wards, the Phippins, they were really sweet to feed us and that morning we had a Prep meeting where some of the Sisters preformed cultural dances.  We have a lot of diversity at the VC so it was fun to watch. 

The pictures are Elder and Sister White (the VC director) and me, Sister Holliday and me, Sister Parker (she came out with me), Sister Holliday, and me. And the luminaries were from Christmas Eve, the whole neighborhood puts them out and lights them, we drove around a couple minutes and saw them all before we came home. 

This year didn't really feel much like Christmas, for several reasons: no snow, no family, no traditions, and as missionaries we do missionary work all the time and we were at the VC so it was like another day... except on Christmas Day we got 80 Top Boxes (people who accept to have the missionaries to their home), 40 was a record high two days before.... and we got 80! I couldn't think of a better birthday present for Christ. =D

We had our second lesson with Misty this week. It was really good, she doesn't have a lot of religious background other than what people have told her about their religion, so it's fun to see when things click for her. We asked if she had prayed to know if the Book of Mormon and Church were true she said she had and felt like she had received half  an answer but because she had only really half prayed about it... which is really good she recognizes that if she wants a full answer she need to pray sincerely. She said she would this week. We have a lesson with her tomorrow, so we'll she how she did. 

Kayla had a rough week... her less-active boy-friend, who is in jail broke up with her and that just threw everything off, but in the long run it's good because now she has to decide why she's doing it, if it was for him or for her. I think she'll be okay but it will take some work on her part. She could use some extra prayers right now.

One cool thing the spirit taught me this week was that he talks to me a lot more than I thought. For the longest time I wasn't sure how the Holy Ghost communicated with me and just in the last few weeks I've realized that the little random, good thoughts I have are him telling me something and since I've started giving him credit I'm seeing more and more of the Holy Ghost in my life. I bet he's glad I figured that out... it just took me 24 years! Haha

Which makes me even more grateful I was raised in a home where that was just natural everyday stuff. I think part of the reason it took me so long was because I had always had it, not that I'm anything special but I was taught and raised in a loving, Christ centered home! Thank you mom and dad, you're the best parents I could have!

Oh and let the Mace's know I will be at the VC both nights from 6 to 10. And did you get my priority envelope with your Christmas present in it? That's it for now.   Thank everyone who sent me a Christmas card I was really grateful for them thinking of me!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

Miss you Much, Love you More 

3 Nephi13:34

Love Sister Anderson

Twas' the Week Before Christmas... Really?

Dear MOM and DAD,
12:30 will be great, I'll be at the Vance home. Brother Vance said he was going to call you yesterday so that you could get all the kinks worked out, because I only have 40 mins to talk and I don't want to be trying to figure anything out and wasting time.

This week hasn't been too exciting, we've been at the Visitors' Center a lot (which I love) and I'm finally starting to feel tired and I LOVE that too!!!! Everyone says that Christmas Lights is hard and you get warn out and tired, but I haven't experienced it yet, till this week. I love it because I know that I'm working if I'm dead at the end of the day.

A couple days ago we were taking some sisters home, which caused me to think. At some point I will move out of the house I've been in and it will be hard because it's change... but then the Spirit gently reminded me... "Sister Anderson, I know that change is hard for you, so I called you to the Visitors' Center, so you would always have a constant!" How cool? Even if I go full field again (after this transfer) I will still get to come back to the VC, Heavenly Father knew that always having the VC would help with whatever changes happen outside of the VC. Tender mercy

The Wu's "dropped" us, it wasn't a don't ever come back, more of a we'll call you when we aren't so busy... very sad day, but people have their agency for a reason.

The miracle/answered prayer lesson is with Misty last week.  She is finally an investigator and we have a lesson this week with her. The area is a little slow so we are praying for miracles which means repentance and more obedience! 

SOOOOO excited to see you all this week!!! Can you belive Christmas is 6 days away? 

Miss you much, Love you More!!!

Love Sister Anderson 

Double decked bus with beer by the temple, kind of ironic

Me on my birthday (it rained all day)

Angel Tree Baby stuff

 

 

 

 Grandma and Mom sent money for Sister Anderson's Birthday so she and Sister Stephens could do an Angel Tree Child.  This is one of Sister Anderson's  favorite traditions.

A Santa that reminded me of dad

Santa that reminded me of mom

12 days of Christmas from Family

Dec 12th

I just got the package, it's beautiful. I love you all more than words can express!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love Sister Anderson

Transfer News (Dec 12th)

Dear MOM and DAD,

So I have another transfer half full field. Which isn't so bad, I still get 3 weeks at the VC which is better that 6 full field weeks. Lots of excitement at the Visitors' Center we have a sister from Pakistani and a sister from Mongolia coming this week, who have been in the MTC for 3+ months waiting for their visas. Sister Stephens and I are still companions, so I get another transfer of driving all the time.

More exciting news we get to Skype this year for Christmas, so you'll need to get a Video Skipe account. I was thinking 8 am would be best that way we could still both make it to church. Let me know what would work best for you.

The other day I was talking to another sister about asking Heavenly Father for things even if they are little things, because he loves us and wants to bless us as long as we are willing to make it His will. As we were talking I was thinking "Heavenly Father I really want to go to Olive Garden for my birthday, but we aren't suppose to ask if we can leave our area to go eat, so I know that if it's okay with you you'll provide a way so I can go." Two hours later I got a text saying that we were going to Olive Garden for the Departure/Birthday Dinner... answered prayer!  The next day I decided to try it again when my shower was cold so I ask for some warm water and guess what he gave it to me.  I also asked if we could have a lesson with a girl we had been trying to contact and when we got to her house to just drop by she said she was going to call us that day and then we showed up, so we had a lesson. It was pretty cool to see all these answers to prayer.

So I don't know if Kristy told you but Sally came down and I missed her because I was sick, but I am feeling much better now. And I did get the package with the cards. Thank you!!! I love you all so much!

Miss you much, love you more!!!!

Love Sister Anderson

Christmas Picture

On the 5th of December we did not get an email from Karmin.  On the 9th (a Friday) we got this picture.  She had emailed but we don't know where it went or why we just got the picture.  Anyway here it is.

Sister Anderson in front of the Mesa Arizona Temple with the Christmas Lights.

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone from Sister Anderson

Back at the Visitors Center

Dear MOM and DAD,

Looks like Thanksgiving was good.  I did get the package and it was awesome thank you.  I'll have to take a picture of the pillow case on my bed, I put it on as soon as I got home. Kelsha didn't tell me about her arm, but you did and Ry did a bit.

I made mashed potatoes for the family we ate with and they LOVED them (not to brag but I kind of expected it... lol). I hope someone enjoyed the skin on the turkey for me.  The turkey we had wasn't as brown on top as I like so I didn't get any this year. Sister Phelps got to see my OCD cleaning side on Thanksgiving and when we came back for pie a few days later. She just laughed!

I am SOOOOOOO glad to be back at the Visitors' Center.   I'm grateful for all the miracles we got to see as full field missionaries but I belong at the Visitors' Center. It has been CRAZY, over 4000 people a night to see the Christmas Lights, and we get to be with a Spanish speaking sister so I've gotten to  know some new sisters. It's been the best!!!!!!  Elder White gave us a blessing before we started at the Visitors' Center and as VC sisters.  In the blessing  he included our families, saying that you would have special and unusual blessings and opportunities this holiday season, so keep your eyes open.   I want to hear about them. c:

So Kayla and Cody were arrested this week for previous charges... Cody is still in jail and Kayla is on probation... but she still wants to get baptized, even if it's next year and she hasn't smoked in 5 full days. We are so proud of her and she is so prepared, she will just need a lot of prayers this coming year. We now know she has a sincere desire because it may be over a year before she can be baptized, but she's determined.   She says she's also been happier and even though she's been dealing with alot she has been claim. (The gospel is the best!!!!!) It now gives me a reason to come back to Arizona.

The Wu's are doing good, we have a lesson scheduled at the Bishop's home (finally) this week.  We still are working on getting them to church but Jay has promised he'd get work off on the 11th (because my B-day is the day after) and come.  He's also being deployed in March so we're thinking he'll be baptized in February, fingers crossed!   They are still amazing and I can't wait till they realize how much the gospel will bless their lives.

Well that's it for now. Remember the Reason for the Season!

Miss you much, Love you more!

Alma 26:12 (My new favorite scripture)

Love Sister Anderson

Sister Stephens and Sister Anderson

I love the Wu's!!!

Dear MOM and DAD,

 

VERY IMPORTANT!!! Some of the Post Offices in the Valley are not forwarding mail, so when they get it at the Mission Office and forward it on the Post Office is returning it to sender. As far as I know they haven't done that with any of mine but to avoid future problems please inform everyone to send my mail to:

Sister Karmin Anderson

525 E. Main St

Mesa, AZ. 85203

That's the Visitors' Center address and I will always be able to get my mail there. 

 

We had 2 lessons with the Wu's this last week. They are solid! We tried to get them to accept a baptism date but they all felt they needed some more time and they wanted to pray about it. We think that is not a bad thing, and we are so excited to they are seriously considering it instead of just doing it. That makes the strong converts. They will totally get baptized this year for sure! The ward is amazing and has just jumped on inviting them to activities and making them feel welcome. Brandon (the son) told us in our last lesson that he knows the Book of Mormon is true.  He followed it up about 5 min. later with telling us he was going to be baptized by the Jehovah's Witness (he was kidding of course, but it made my heart stop for a min.).  They are an amazing family and I can see  It's really neat to watch.  We went to the Visitors' Center and it was then that Mai and Brandon really started to consider this for themselves and not just for Jay.  I LOVE THE VISITORS' CENTER, can't beat the spirit that is there.  We have an Enrichment activity and dinner tomorrow that Mai is going to.  Her biggest concern is that because her family is all Roman Catholic that they will disown her.  We promised her that the gospel blesses families, we may not ever see it but by her being baptized it will bless her family.  Which I was wondering, Mom, if you could write her a letter about how you got married without any of your family in the temple and how following Christ has blessed your extended family and our family. I feel like she could relate. I know how much the gospel has blessed our family and I know it started because of the decision you made to be married in the temple. Did I mention that they are always feeding us... Sister Stephens and I haven't been feeling 100 percent these last couple days and when we went over there to schedule a lesson this next week, as we were leaving they said to come over anytime and they would make us soup. I love that family so much!

 

We are going to the Phelps for Thanksgiving. The wife has been active and through the temple. The husband  has been active for awhile now but has never been to the temple.  The bishop extended a calling to him and he accepted, and we are teaching them the member lessons as well. I'm excited to see them(especially him) grow and then go to the temple and be sealed. They invited us to Thanksgiving and we even get to help them prepare (I told her I  would make the mashed potatoes and gravy).   I'm excited. Make sure you take pictures of Thanksgiving at home for me.

 

We got to do a bunch of service this week and it was awesome. We helped make invites to Enrichment and then we helped scrap paint off a house in prep for the new paint. They wanted to surprise their mother before she came home.

 

Well I guess that's all for now. How is your neighbor coming along with the missionaries?  How's Paula doing? (Will you tell her she can email me back?)

Alma 7:23-24

 

Miss you much, Love you more!!!!

Love Sister Anderson