December 29, 2014

Hello there!

Since mom asked for a letter this week, I guess I'll write one. ;) I don't really have much to say, so I'm sorry about that.

It was fun to skype you all on Thursday!!!!! I can't believe Christmas has already come and gone. The holidays are always tough as a missionary, so I'm grateful they flew by! It's just hard because no one wants to schedule time for us to come over, which is slightly depressing.

Like I told you in person, we cleaned out our teaching pool. It's kinda cool to be starting from scratch just in time for the New Year though! We've been finding and are going to be finding like crazy in the next upcoming week to find people to teach. Having no one to teach is a little disheartening and I can't WAIT to find em!

Sister Christensen goes home on January 8th. She's such a trunky mess. ;) hahaha just kidding. We actually set really high goals this week and are going to work harder than we have all transfer! She's an awesome missionary because she has so much love, loves to work but is so chill at the same time. We always have fun together!

Last night we had a few door slams. They were my first since coming to Ashburn, so I guess I can't complain. One of them was a less active lady. She opened the door with a big smile, looked down at my name tag and before I could even say hello she said, "Don't ever come back here again!" and closed the door. It was so sudden and caught me off guard that I couldn't help but laugh a little. It was harder for Sister Christensen though. Also, our number one potential investigator that we had really high hopes for was really passive aggressive about setting a return appointment with us. We knocked on her door and she had her mom answer for her so she wouldn't have to talk to us. From the doorway I could see her standing in the kitchen, so I said hello, but she just half smiled back and walked away.

Our faith is just being tested right now.

Later we called our ward mission leader to give him an update about our day and I told him, "Hey, we've had so much rejection that it's our turn to have a super cool miracle happen!" It just feels a lot better to be optimistic. 

OH hey! I love being a sister training leader! This morning, a set of sisters came to our apartment for studies. During companionship study after we were done practice teaching, one of them asked, "I know this is a little off topic, but I have a few questions for you." She then went on to ask about some of the rules she was unsure about before she asked what she could do to feel like she is giving her ALL. So I was able to help her redefine her definition of success! I'm glad I was able to help her :)

Anyways. That's all for this week folks!

Keep reading the Book of Mormon!! ;) love you all!
Love,
Sister Anderson

December 18, 2014

Hey!

This week FLEW by. 

 

Monday we went to DC and took a tour of the capital. 

Tuesday was Zone Training, so Sister Christensen and I had to teach our zone for a part of the time because we are Sister Training Leaders. It was a little awkward, but I just asked tons of questions and made the missionaries talk so I didn't have to. haha! It went pretty well.

Wednesday we taught at Zone Training again for the Leesburg Zone. We're in charge of two zones... that was a lot more fun. I think the group of people in the Leesburg zone are a lot easier to get along with. 

 

Thursday we..... uhhh. Oh yeah! Everyone cancelled on us. So the only thing I can remember is knocking doors and driving around wondering if people would let us in.

 

Friday we had our Mission Christmas Conference. There was a variety show. A lot of missionaries sang Christmas songs and what not...and Sister Gray and I rapped together. IT WAS AWESOME. We got up and hummed a starting pitch to make it look like we were going to sing...and then I started beat boxing. It was awesome. We got a standing ovation at the end!!! hahahahhahahahahahaha. I still can't believe that I RAPPED in front of my entire mission! But at the same time, I feel prettyyyyy dang cool. I forgot to have someone record it for me, but I'll get a copy of it from someone who did record it so I can send it to you. 

Saturday we went all the way to Warrenton so we could go to the baptism of a girl that Sis C taught at the very beginning of her mission. It was pretty cool. 

Sunday we stopped by a few part member families. Lately I have been feeling SO strongly that we need to be in their homes on a regular basis! We stopped by one family and a lady a few years older than me answered. Her name is Cassie! She said that her family stopped going to church when she was 7. I asked if we could come back and teach her our missionary lessons, and she said we could come back next Saturday!!! :D WOOHOOO! 

So that's my week in a nutshell. Pretty great.

My companion and I get along so well. It's a miracle. I told her that before we became companions, I prayed for someone who has a lot of patience, and she told me that she prayed for someone that she could just have fun with! Both of our prayers were answered!!! It's a party. 

I'm sorry I'm lame and can't think of anything else to talk about in this email. We pretty much cleaned out our teaching pool and it's been tough but yesterday I fasted that God would help us find SOLID investigators that would keep commitments, so I'm sure we'll find lots of great people this week! 

GOOD JOB with reading the Book of Mormon!!!! Keep going! I've started a cool highlighting system these days! I highlight every time time it says the word 'faith' with blue, 'repentance' with red, 'baptism' with green and 'spirit' with yellow! :) It's helped me pay more attention to what I'm reading!

I love you all so much! Have a great week!
Love,

Sister Anderson

December 8, 2014 - Visit to DC

Sorry I'm emailing later than usual this week! Today we went into DC and took a tour of the Captial and went to the Library of Congress. It was super cool! I'm so grateful to serve in our Nation's Capital! 

 

This week went by quick! Thanks for all the birthday wishes! It was a great day :)

Tuesday we had a lesson with a Muslim lady we met. She invited two of her friends to come along. It was more of a debate... It wasn't heated or anything, but those women had no intent to really take to heart what we had to say. But it was really interesting to learn about whawt Muslim's believe. Oh and they invited US to read the Quran... It was really kind of them. Maybe when I get home I'll look more into it to learn more. I think religions are really interesting. If anything else, they help me to realize that I have been so incredibly blessed to be a part of the fulness of Christ's church!

Thursday we went to Centreville for a Dr appointment. They told me I have lost 14 pounds since I've started going to that Drs office in April! Woo! I still have a long way to go...But running at least a mile every day has worked wonders! That night we went to a lesson with a Hispanic lady named Angelik that we met last week. Everyone has been so incredibly flaky lately and all of our return appointments have fallen through, so I didn't have high hopes for Angelik. I didn't even want to go. But we went anyway of course. I was so glad we did! We knocked on the door and this guy answers. He was super sarcastic with us and didn't make eye contact, so when he told us the story about how Angelik had just called him and asked that he let us know that she was out with friends, I didn't believe him at all. We were about to leave when he stopped us and said, "well hey, since I've got your attention, I have a few questions for you." I got really nervous as he brought up a ton of anti material and asked if we wore that "cool underwear" and talked about how he fully supported polygamy. Honestly, anti just drives me nuts. Plus, I couldn't handle his sarcastic attitude like he was pulling a huge joke on us. So before he could go on I stopped him and said something like, "wait. Are you being for real? Because Yes I am a Mormon, but that doesn't mean I'm not a normal person who can see right through all of this!" He just looked at me and said, "no I'm totally serious!" After that, the conversation went up hill. Thank goodness! Hahaha. I told him that yes, I wear the cool underwear and I love it! we made sure the whole polygamy situation was cleared up too...We started asking him what his religious background was and who God is to him. He said he's pretty much a Buddhist because he just believes in good energy or something. Our conversation with him turned out to be a lot of fun! Eventually we were all laughing together out on his doorstep. After about 20 minutes, the door right across from him in the apartment building FLEW open and we all stopped laughing and turned to see a tiny old lady standing in the doorway with a crazy look in her eyes. I think my heart might've stopped in that moment. She said, "Tom! How dare you have a party...without inviting ME!" She then saw our name tags and said, "oh, it's just the missionaries. Okay." It was hilarious!! Turns out, the Sisters before me had knocked that building and met her. Her name is Debb and she's a Born Again Christian. Actually, she is the first Born Again Christian that was kind to me. I'm used to Born Again Christians being all sweet at first but then turning out to be not very kind because they're just trying to prove me wrong. Debb didn't do that. She asked if we could pray together and invited us and Tom over! After another 20 minutes, Angelik came over and sincerely apologized to us. Turns out she actually did call Tom and asked him to tell us that she wasn't home. Hm. It helped restore my faith in humanity! I love honest people!

 

Friday we went to Mission Leadership Council! That's where all the leadership of the mission gets together. We sat in a HUGE circle and counselled on what will help our mission progress. It was really interesting. It was from 8am-4pm.... Sooo long. After they fed us lunch, a tradition that President Riggs does with all the missionaries is to play a game of BUMP! It was so much fun! If that's what he does at every MLC, I don't mind having to go once a month! 

Missionary Leadership Council

 

 

Saturday we stopped by Warrens and he didn't answer. His roommate named Guy came home when we were about to leave and he opened the door and made Warren come out to talk to us. I guess from where Warren was sitting in his house, he just couldn't hear us knocking. And he doesn't have a doorbell. Lame! haha. But as soon as he came to the door he said he would come to church in the morning! It was a miracle becasue we've been having a really hard time trying to get into contact with him this week! 

Sunday Warren didn't come to church and he missed our appointment. So we stopped by and started talking to his neighbors that lived across the street. He saw us and came out to talk. He had a family emergency and couldn't come to church. But he told us that he gave up tea and is working on giving up coffee. He is excited about being baptized on the 27th!!! There are just a few things we will have to go over with him, but his heart seems to be in the right place. Plus, he is reading out of the Book of Mormon, so that shows how serious he is. I love Warren!!! He is such a sweet old man! He has a lot going on in his life that always seems to explode whenever he says he will come to church or do anything that will help him progress. It would be great if you all would please pray for him!!!! He needs all the prayers he can get.

 

Love you all! Keep up the good work! Keep reading the Book of Mormon! Be sure to keep me updated on where you're at! :)

I can't wait to SEE YOUR FACES IN A FEW WEEKS AAAHHHH!!!!

 

Love you!

Sister Anderson

Sister And Brigham Young.  The Capital Building has one Statue of the
most influential person of each state. 

 

 

 

 

In front of the White House.

December 1, 2014 - First week in Ashburn, VA

Hey! Sorry my letter last week was a lame one...I was really bummed out that my computer wasn't working. :( 

So I have to tell you about my last experience in the Haymarket Ward the night before I left. So the Wednesday before transfers we took Ashleigh up to the temple visitor center for a lesson. We showed her the video called, God's plan, and everyone in the room was bawling expect for Ashleigh...it was really confusing. We did everything that we could to help her. We testified and promised her blessings and everything...we just couldn't get through to her! When we got back home, we talked to Ashleigh for a minute before we drove away and she told us that she was sorry that she wasn't responding very well.  We called a member who Ashleigh looks up to as a sort of father figure, and he gave her a priesthood blessing. I did not feel right about leaving Ashleigh by herself, but we couldn't be with her all night long. :( that night I prayed harder than I have for another person in my life!!

That was slightly stressful...and packing took forever (I really hate packing), but transfers happened...and I saw Dan Hernandez!!!!!!!! It is sooooooo awesome that someone from home is serving in my mission!!!!! I was sitting in the back of the chapel where all the new missionaries walked in at the beginning of the meeting...and I totally freaked out! I was really excited to see him! I wasn't sure when I'd see him, and I kinda forgot he was coming so it was a small surprise when he walked in! 

Hey LOOK, It's Elder Hernandez!!!  Julie was SO excited to see someone from home!

 

OH MY GOSH. So. When Sister Lamborn and I were companions, she got a video recording of me laughing in my sleep! And she gave it to President Riggs!!! How embarrassing right??? Well. To start off the transfer meeting, President Riggs played it over the PULPIT!!!!! I COULDNT BELIEVE IT!!!!!!! Everyone was laughing! When I got my new companion, literally everyone came up to her and told her to keep her camera on hand whenever I was sleeping! Oh man... so now pretty much everyone in the mission knows me for my crazy giggle. Sooo. yeah. I don't know what else to say about it. haha. 

 

 





Sister Lamborn going home.



 







Sister Udall going home.

 



 

Another cute sister going home.

So I am now serving in the Ashburn Ward with Sister Jillynn Christensen. This is her very last transfer and then she goes home!!! She has a really good attitude about going home which is awesome. There are lots of Sister missionaries who are always complaining about how they never want to go home because they love their missions so much, but she always says, "I don't wanna serve a day less or a day more! 18 months is perfect for me!" She super awesome and chill. She is from Provo, Utah and is number six of eight kids. She is one inch taller than me!!! Wooo I have a companion who is taller than meeee!!! But I wear size 11 on shoes and she wears a size 10. How does that work out?! Haha. The apartment that we live in is SWANKY. It's the nicest apartment I've lived in on my mission...and probably my entire life. It's brand new. I'll have to take pics to send to you next week. I hope I remember! Haha. But there's a super nice theater room, gym, game room, pool (that we will never use because we are obedient haha). It's super nice. I feel spoiled! And we're driving a new chevy cruze. I think it's either a 2013 or 2014. 

 

This Ward is totally awesome. They just barely called a new Ward mission leader right before transfers and he is young and excited about the work. It's really nice to have a Ward mission leader who actually cares about the work we are doing. It is way awesome! He goes out and meets our investigators when he feels like it. And yesterday at church he gave the best talk about how doing missionary work is how we show our gratitude for the savior and the atonement! The work is going to hasten in the Ward, I just know it! 

 

Thanksgiving was really good! We went to the Dallin's for the big Thanksgiving feast. They invited another family from the Ward names the Angels. It was so fun. I wrote out the text on Sister Dallin's phone about how she is so cute and awesome...she wanted me to make sure to clarify that so that she wouldn't sound conceited..hahahahaha! Then we went to the Willis's house and we played games to let our tummies settle before eating again. We played Telestrations, which is the funniest game and I love it, and a card game. I think it's called the Great down moody or something like that. I don't know...but it was pretty fun. I just found out that the Willis's have a daughter who's birthday is the same day is mine and they totally invited me over to dinner next Sunday to celebrate together! I'm so excited!!!!! :) the Willis's then made us grilled cheese sandwiches because they wanted to eat something light and easy other than turkey. It's one of their family traditions.

I feel like with every new place I get transferred to, I feel a greater urgency to work harder and harder. This past week, we started off with no one one date and only a few new investigators. But since Sister Christensen and I have been put together, we've hit the ground running. We now have two people on date for baptism and found four new investigators on Friday and Saturday. I totally stressed myself out on Sunday when no one showed up for church... man I am constantly reminding myself that agency is actually a blessing from God..hahaha! It just kills me that we work so hard during the week, and no one shows up. I also have to remind myself that I can be happy knowing that I did everything that I could. I know that if I keep working hard, God will bless us with investigators who will have real intent enough to come to church!!! I am just way excited for God to lead us to those investigators!!

 

So about my Sister Training Leader responsibilities... I'm still trying ot figure out what they all are. It's a newer leadership position for Sister missionaries that the church made when the age changed and a TON of sisters were coming out. Being a sister training leader is about the same as being a Zone Leader for Elders. We go to a special meeting about once a month called the Mission Leadership Council that councils together with President Riggs about certain issues and concerns that we see amongst missionaries in the mission and we come up with the solution together. Then we take it back to the sisters. Sister Christensen and I are assigned five sets of sisters to be in our stewardship and we are to go on an "exchange" with them once every six weeks. We just trade companions for 24 hours. During the exchange, we take time to train the sisters on what President wants us to train them on and we practice teaching with them. Then we go out and work like it's a normal day. We go to lessons, we go finding people to teach, and we plan together for the next day. Around lunch time we switch back and the exchange is over. Exchanges are a good time to find out how the sisters are doing emotionally, so President Riggs wants us to have "pillow talk" with them late into the night to figure out if they are struggling with anything from back home, how their companionship is doing, how they are handling stress, those kind of things. (So pretty much, we don't get much sleep! YIKES). I'm pretty much President Riggs' eyes and ears for the Sisters that I am in charge of. There are a few times for zone conferences or Zone Training Meetings that we have to get up in front of the Zone and teach the whole group of missionaries, but that doesn't happen all too often. I have to do all of this on top of my normal missionaries duties! It's kind of stressful when I think about it, so I just try to go with the flow and have fun!! haha. So far, it's gone pretty well. I've only gone on exchanges once in the two weeks that I've been here and I went to Catoctin with Sister Gray!!! Cray cray Sister Gray! She was my roommate in my first area, so it was a BLAST to be companions with her for 24 hours!!!! We just laughed the entire time! I love laughing. I figure that laughter is the best medicine....and I guess I jsut need a little more medicine than normal people do ;) The exchange was a little awkward during the training part because I didn't really know what I was doing, but I was so grateful that my very first exchange was with Sister Gray because she is one of my really good friends and was really supportive of me being her brand new sister training leader.

 

I hope you have a better understanding of what I'm doing as a sister training leader!

 

I hope you all have a great week! Know that I am doing well! I am completely in love with this work. I love every bit of it! Especially the hard parts because they help me to more fully rely on God. 

Oh hey- you didn't give me a report on your Book of Mormon reading this last week! How's it coming? I challenge you to finish it before I get home in April! :) I'll try to read it again before then too! 

Love you so much!

Sister Anderson

November 24, 2014 New Companion - Sister Christensen

Hello family! This week I am having a hard time using the computers and my iPad is really slow in sending emails. So I apologize for the lack of an update on my life. I will write more next week I promise! Just know that I am doing well and loving my new Ward. I also love my new companion, sister Christensen! We laugh together all the time! It is so refreshing and nice to be around her. We are going to have a grsat transfer. Oh this is her very last transfer by he way! She is from Provo utah! Haha. She is awesome. I love you all so. Uch! Love, Sister Anderson

Sister Anderson and new Companion Sister Christensen

OK - so Julie has a new Comp and was Moved to a new area. Her Companion is just as tall as Julie or a little taller so that is AWESOME!!!!! After all, TALL IS BEAUTIFUL!!! IT's fun to see pictures of them standing together and see that Julie isn't towering over her comp. They would be a force to reckoned with!!!! Enjoy the pics and I will post more letters and pics.



Oh hey! I am no longer a picky eater. Tell it to the world because I can now eat just about anything. Within reason. Sort of. Okay, well I ate bilute. Have you ever heard of that before? Well I guess it's an Asian delicacy or something. We work with three Asian families in this area, so I've had it twice now. It's a partially developed chicken embryo that you boil. And I ate it right out of the egg!!! :O It actually doesn't taste that bad. You just can't look at it for too long before you eat it. I made sure to take lots of pictures for proof.

Sister Anderson, Ashleigh, and Sister Williams visiting the
Washington DC Temple Visitor's Center.

Sister Missionaries

Brinlee and Sister Anderson

We did lots of fun things this week! We painted for one of my favorite member families, the Grimes! They are just the sweetest people and they have the cutest girls. They're definitely people I will come back to visit after my mission. We had a game night with Ashleigh and a family in the ward that has four girls ages 5-14. We played Taboo! It was so fun! The dad of the family was actually Ashleigh's principle at Bull Run High School... so I didn't think through how awkward it could have been! But it turned out really well! :) There's another member, Sister Humphreys, who knew I'd be leaving soon so she knitted me a scarf as an early Christmas present! How sweet is that?!