March 30, 2015 - Last Email from Washington DC -

This is Julie's last email from her LDS mission in Washington DC.  I hope that whomever has taken time to read some of her blogs has enjoyed reading some of her experiences and has been uplifted in some way.   



I can't believe this is the last week of my mission.

 

This past week has been fun. There's a sister who went home three weeks ago because of surgery that just got back on Saturday. And she's our newest companion! Yep, I got another companion! Her name is Sister Gerber and she's crazy and has red hair! So we get along very well. :) She's from Pleasant Grove, UT. It's been so much fun being in a trio companionship! I've always wanted to be in a trio! Every night is basically a slumber party!

 

Oh hey- the other day I came down with a really bad cold! I have a pretty bad cough and I'm extra tired all the time. I really hope I get better in time for me to come home!

 

I don't have much to say, but I guess I'll end this email with my testimony.

 

I know that God loves me and knows my name. He is aware of me and hears my prayers. Because He loves me, he chastens me because He knows who I can become if I am willing to change. He wants me to come home to Him so He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to atone for the sins of the world. I know that Jesus Christ overcame both spiritual and physical death so that we can be with our families forever. I know that Jesus Christ was the only one who could atone for us because His sacrifice was infinite and eternal. He knows everything I'm going through spiritually, emotionally and physically. I love the grace of Jesus Christ!!-as I rely on Him and as I patiently and diligently do what I can, His power is made manifest in my life, for which I am so grateful. He saves me every day. I know that the way to access the atonement fully in my life is through faith, repentance, making and keeping covenants, receiving the Holy Ghost daily and enduring to the end. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is so simple and just makes sense to me! I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is the Lord's kingdom on the earth! And I know that it's true! Every truth, doctrine, principle and ordinance has been restored to the earth in its fulness by a prophet of God. Joseph Smith was a young boy who sought truth. He received his answer and it changed with world. He was called to be the first prophet of this last dispensation- I have no doubt about it! Through him, the priesthood was restored and has been on the earth ever since. I know that Joseph Smith was lead to an ancient record of a people who lived thousands of years before who had all testified of and anxiously waited for Christ. That record is the Book of Mormon. I love reading it every day because it confirms to me that Jesus Christ is my savior and redeemer. It clarifies the doctrines that are commonly misinterpreted in the Bible. I know the Book of Mormon is true because as I read, I find answers to the deep questions of my soul. I am grateful for the added love and guidance I receive not only through the Book of Mormon, but through a living prophet named President Thomas S. Monson. He receives specific revelation directly from Christ for our day to help us live the gospel in the world we live in. I have a strong testimony that through sacred ordinances and living covenants my family will be together forever- this knowledge touches my heart more than anything else! This is a gospel of love. God's plan of happiness is centered on love. I know He lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

I'll see you guys soon! I can't wait!!!!!!!

LOVE YOU!
Sister Anderson

Last picture with Elder Hernandez!  Yay!

Sister Gerber and Sister Liu

Sister Gerber

Sister Anderson and Sister Liu.  Hummmmm

Trip to Great Falls on P-Day

Guess they got the St. Patrick's Day package.  Just a little late!  Ha ha

Ran into other missionaries at Great Falls!

 

 

 

March 23, 2015

This week was crazy. We've had a ton of appointmetns and it's been great to be busy! We helped Ashleigh finish moving into her new apartment and had a lot of help from the ward too- which was great. I feel confident leaving her in the hands of the ward. This really is a great ward. They help the missionaries out a ton and it's so great to feel so supported. Ashleigh isn't baptized yet, and I don't know when she'll be able to...she's had a lot happen in her life and she hasn't always made the best choices so that'll affect when she can get baptized. But we've been helping her prepare by reading the Book of Mormon with her as often as we can! It's been pretty fun. and the more we go over, her fiance asks more questions. I think his heart is beginning to soften. It may take years for him to get it, but I know he will one day.

 

We found a new investigator and had the best lesson ever with her and her roommate! Her name is Wanda and she's the choir director at the local high school. she's the "Mr. Shaw" of manassas. from what I hear, her choir is the BEST in the area and she's been teaching for a long long time. She knows lots of Mormons from her choir and was interested to hear what we had to say. We had a lesson with her after church on Sunday and she soaked in everything we said. We had her read the part about Joseph Wmith's

First Vision, and all she could do was sit there in awe and say "wow." over and over again for at least 10 minutes. We just sat there in silence and let the Spirit touch her heart as she thought really hard. It was so cool. she then told me that I should be a minister! Hahaha. It made me feel pretty good. But I know for a fact that the words that kept coming out of my mouth were from God and if they came from me, I'd be messing up all over the place! It was really exciting for me to teach the "famous" choir director of the high school! I kept thinking of Mr. Shaw! :)

 

We have another investigator named Shirley. She's an older African American woman who has been investigating the church for years. She just adores Sister Liu and it's really cute! She talks really slow all the time and every time she answers the phone she says, "Hoooow are youuu sister Liuuuuu?" in her cute accent. She's on date to be baptized for May 16th.

 

Oh our investigators named Ben and Julie dropped us. It was really sad. They said that they were going to keep their copies of the Book of Mormon, but for right now they weren't going to persue it any further. I was so so sad, that when I started talking to them about how much I loved them, I totally lost it. it was so embarrassing. We were standing outside all together on their front porch enjoying the sunshine, and out of nowhere, I turn into a bawl-baby. Nice. Haha. They were pretty cool about it though. I was so sad they dropped us because they're the first family I've found and taught on my mission! It was pretty cool though- they told us that the seed has been planted and that they would join when God told them the time was right. So we left them on a good note :)

 

I'm loving the Manassas 2nd Ward. It's kinda hard because I don't feel like I totally fit in, but it's okay at the same time because I know I need to prepare to go home. I'm getting exciting! We have our departing temple trip this Wednesday with all the missionaries going home and with President and Sister Riggs. so that will be awesome. I just can't wait to see everyone! Love you guys!!!

 

Love,

Sister Anderson

Sister Lui and Sister Anderson and a bird.

The Burbs!   Jared (their Dad) sent this in an email confirming Julie appointment with the stake.
Just thought I would throw this pic in!  Wow they are looking so grown up!!!

This is Ashleigh, the surprise person Julie ran into in the Manassas 2nd Ward.

Sis Liu

 

 

 

March 16, 2015

What a roller coaster. It all started on Thursday. Every three months, we all have a 15 minute interview with president Riggs. Sis Savage and I had our interview Thursday morning. I went first. The interview started of pretty normal- President asked me how I was doing and what my plans were for after my mission. He said that I had really great plans, just in case you were wondering. WOO! haha. Anyways. Then he paused and asked, "Sister Anderson, what has been on your mind today?" I said that there wasn't much and that I didn't want to complain. Which is true, I didn't want to be a Debby downer because honestly, I was doing just fine. Plus, Sister Savage and I were getting along great that morning! But he told me that he is the one that I'm allowed to complain to....so I told him that I struggle with Sister Savage. I gave him a few more details of how I was feeling. He listened intently and let me finish. He thought for a minute before suddenly saying, "I think I'm going to emergency transfer you. I was going to wait to the end of the transfer to take sisters out of Ashburn ward and put Elders in, but I really feel like I need to do that sooner."  .................. :O wut. That came out of nowhere. I was stunned. I just barely started to love the Ashburn ward, and all of the missionaries that I was serving around were all my best friends! But at the same time, it felt right. President said he'd pray about it later that night and give us a call to tell us where we'd go.

 

MAN. I went home and cried. I was happy to be getting a new companion that wouldn't be upset at me for being my happy self, but I knew that I was in Ashburn for a reason. I had to take it up with God. Big time. By the end of the prayer, I knew that I was needed to leave. I remembered the feeling that I had when I first got to Ashburn. Before I unpacked my bags when I first got there, I had a thought that I wouldn't be finishing my mission there. I forgot about that thought when transfers came around and I was still companions with Sister Savage. So funny how God works.

We got the call Thursday night after our nightly planning. I was going to Manassas 2nd ward to be with Sister Liu, and Sister Savage was going to Gainesville. (both wards are right next to haymarket I might add. I love haymarket!!) We called our sisters that we have stewardship over to tell them that we were being ET'ed and that we loved them. Then we called our district leader. He's training right now and is struggling with it...he was devastated to hear that we were leaving. He said that we keep him sane in our district! haha....it might be because we are the only sisters in the Ashburn zone... but those phone calls were really hard. We spent all day Friday packing and Saturdyay morning we loaded up are car and met at the mission office. There were about 20 missionaries there who were also affected by the ET. Everyone seemed to be switched around.... I felt really bad- it felt like it was my fault that this happened. Like if I hadn't told president, this wouldn't be happening and everyone would be able to go about their lives.

 

It wasn't until Sister Liu and I went back into our area and had our first appointment with a new investigator that I realized that I was transferred here for a specific purpose. Sister Liu said that we had a lesson with a girl named Allie, who had just moved into the ward boundaries the day before. We walk into the apartment (her fiancé answered the door) and walk around the corner, and GUESS WHO IS SITTING ON THE FLOOR IN THE BACK ROOM. it was my investigator from the Haymarket ward- Ashleigh Fisher!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She told Sister Liu to say that her name was Allie so that I would be surprised when I walked in. And boy was I surprised! I was so happy and could NOT stop laughing. I was on the verge of tears the entire time. I didn't think I'd see Ashleigh again before I left, and I remember that on my very last day in Haymarket, she was so depressed and was really struggling. It was such a huge tender mercy that Ashleigh is my investigator again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3 God is so good. I know that she is a big reason why I was sent to the Manassas 2nd ward. Oh man. She came to church with her fiancé (oh yeah, in the last four and a half months she got engaged) and we're going to see her again on Tuesday.

 

Another reason I'm here in the Manassas 2 ward is to visit a less active/part member family that I visited when I was in the Centreville 2 ward. They just moved here too! We stopped by their house the other night and they said we could come back. It's soooooo cool to find out WHY God put me here. I know Sister Liu and I will see tons of miracles together in the last two and a half weeks I have here.

 

Also, I was looking at the wall of missionary plaques of the missionaries serving from the Manassas ward, and I know three people from BYU. I talked to their families. One of the guys was my FHE brother! Small world! haha.

 

It's been an emotional roller coaster, and I know it's not going to stop here. I'm excited to come home, but I'm actually really sad at the same time. I love being a missionary. I love what I do every day. I love the people I serve and serve with. It's going to be really hard to leave, but I know that there is a time and a place for everything. Sister Liu has really helped me already- she sent a sister home a couple of transfers ago, so she gave me a few tips to help me that she saw work before.

 

Sister Liu is awesome. She's so goofy and cute and Asian! She's 22 and is from Taiwan. She has one younger brother, and I think she said that her family is less active. It's so cool that she's here on a mission. She's so fun to talk to and we have a lot of fun together. Since I'm so emotional right now, I'm either laughing or crying...and I definitely always choose the laughing option, so I hope I don't drive her crazy. haha. I was teasing her the other day and said that she must be grateful that she only has three weeks with me! ;) haha. We'll have a great time together, I just know it!

 

I can't wait to see you guys! It's so weird that I'll be home so soon. I don't really care what we do when I get home, just so long as I get to hang out with the family. I just love and miss you guys so much and I just want to be with you!!!!!!!!

 

I love you so much!! See you soon!
Sister Anderson

Ashburn District Pictures Before Transfers

Sister Liu and Sister Anderson