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

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 9, 2015

This week was all good. It was a bit rough, but I made it through. One of our sisters got appendicitis and was rushed to the ER on Tuesday. So the past few days, President called and asked us to go on exchanges with them so that the companion who isn't sick can get out of the apartment and do missionary work while the other sister can heal up. I feel so bad for those sisters, but they're hanging in there. We've gone on two exchanges so far, and I've gone with each of the sisters now. Last night, I stayed home with the sister who is recovering, and it was such a spiritual experience. I decided to help tidy up their apartment to take away from their list of things to do so they wouldn't be so stressed this week. Serving others truly is one of the fastest ways to feel God's love and approval. I also had plenty of time to talk with the sister. Her name is Sis Stewart. I sat on a chair next to the couch where she was laying, and we had a great discussion about everything- our missions, families, lives, and so on. One thing that I've learned on my mission is that with every trial, there are so many more blessings that lie under the surface of what we can see at first glance. I asked Sister Stewart what blessings she's seen from this bump in the road and we had a great conversation. Just talking about it out loud helped both of us to see how God has worked this past week. One of the blessings being that there are a few of sister companionships (my companionship included) that have benefited from the exchanges because they've been struggling with their companions. Sister Stewart has been allowed to talk on the phone to her mom every day since her surgery. The Stewart family as well as our mission has been even more united in prayer. There were more personal blessings as well. God is so good. As I was talking to Sis Stewart, I learned that she hasn't been able to focus during her personal studies because her medications make it hard for her to read. During my personal studies that morning, I had a prompting to read the Book of Mormon to her. I wanted to cry the entire time- the spirit was so strong. Last I heard, Sister Stewart has a follow up appointment today that will determine whether or not she is cleared to work this week. Keep her in your prayers!!!

Oh, so Thursday we had the biggest snow of the year. We had about two to three feet of snow.... I'll send pictures.

We were dropped by an investigator couple that we found in the snow a few weeks ago. It was a sad lesson. They had gotten into anti material and just wanted to pick a fight. Sis Savage kept pulling up scriptures to answer their questions, but before she could share them I spoke up and said, "Hey, nothing we say is going to change your minds. Everything really just comes down to you reading and praying about the Book of Mormon." I've met so many people out here that have gotten into anti mormon material, and I know from experience that nothing I say in defense will help the situation. We did our very best to testify of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, but they weren't having it. It makes me so sad that the very thing that will enlighten their understanding and help them to come to the knowledge of the truth is just blown off so lightly. I wish everyone would open their hearts enough to give the Book of Mormon a chance. It is my all time favorite book because it has been a cause of so much change in my life for the better. I want everyone to love it!

Things seem to be warming up over here. Thank goodness! I love the snow adventures, but I'm also excited for warmth :)

How was your Book of Mormon reading this week?? :)

I love you all so much!
Love, SIster Anderson

March 2, 2015

Hey!

We had a pretty good week!

Just to clarify- I only have one companion, Sister Savage. We are just around Sister Gray a lot...and she's one of my very bestest friends because we were roommates at the beginning of our missions! She's hilarious and thinks a lot like I do about a lot of things.

Let's see.. Last monday was sis sav's bday. And I was super lame because I was all stressed out about my scholarship essays. So we're celebrating her bday today!! But last Monday evening we had a lesson with a family from the ward. They made us bananas foster and put real RUM in it! hahaha. they made sure to burn out the alcohol. I got it on video-it's pretty cool. Since Sis Sav is now 21, I made her pose with the little rum bottle. haha.

Tuesday I got a blessing from my district leader because I was still pretty stressed about life and it helped SO much. In the blessing I was told to just say a simple prayer whenever I'm not feeling motivated, or if I'm distracted and then I'd be able to immediately get my mind back into the work! And I've definitely seen that work! It's so cool. But just know that all my stress about coming home is gone! After I submitted my scholarship essays it felt like a huge burden was lifted, knowing that I wouldn' thave to worry about school again until I get home. Thank goodness!

We had a lesson with a recent convert who was baptized back in October and then has been less active. Her name is Claudia and is super sweet. She's from Peru, but speaks enough english where she can understand us just fine. SHe has been super stressed because she's going through a hard custody battle with her ex husband :( she ahs three boys ages 11, 7, and 5. The two younger boys were being really loud and distracting during the lesson and I could tell it was stressing claudia out. I tried to include them into the lesson, but they weren't having it. So I got on the floor and started playing uno with them! The only rule was that we had to whisper so Claudia could feel the spirit. It was so much fun! hahahaha. I've really reflected on my mission and have been trying to see which of my talents the Lord has used to help with the people I teach, and I definitely know that He's used my talent and love of playing with kids in every area!

Wednesday we had a whole mission conference. A member of the 70 came and a member from the missionary department came. They told us what was goign to be happening in the near future concerning iPads and FB use. They said that they will be taking away our iPads that we currently have adn then giving us new ones. They will also be giving a ton of training on how to use the ipads more effectively. The missionaries who are going to still be in the field on August 23rd have to pay for their ipads and will be able to take them home when they're done with their missions! How cool? We'll be getting our new ipads this upcoming thursday. I learned that since i'm going home at the end of this transfer, they're not going to give me a new ipad to use. :( Sad! So i'm learning how to use a paper planner again! haha. They're also taking away our FB privileges for the time being and we won't get it back until we have been properly trained on how to use it. So pretty much, I'm done with FB for the rest of my mission! Oh well! haha.

I made sure to get in one last skype lesson with Erica before they said we couldn't use it any more. We're going to be scripture study buddies when I get home :)

Friday we were invited to the Blue and Gold banquet. We just stayed for the first part when they had dinner. It was pretty fun. Definitely not the same. They didn't even have blue and yellow jello! It was wrong. hahaha :)

We only had one hour of hcurch yesterday. We had sacrament meeting adn then they cancelled the rest because the weather had gotten pretty bad. It was really icy! We weren't allowed to drive anywhere yesterday, so we walked everywhere. We fasted during the day and were planning on having dinner with a potential investigator that we had met two weeks before. We called and confirmed with her the day before and she said that she would be waiting for us at 6! A member dropped us off adn we went to knock on the door...her roommate opened the door and said taht she wasn't home!!! :O WHAT. We had been fasting ALL DAY and then our DINNER appointment flaked on us?! I thought I was going to die. hhahahaha. Oh man. We didn't have our car so we couldn't just drive home...and we couldn't buy anything to eat because it was Sunday... so we just started working and talking to as many people as we could. The miracle of the day was just that I was distracted from my hunger! haha. We made contact and had a stop-by lesson with a less active that we'd been rying to get ahold of, and then we decided to walk to another apartment complex where our investigator lives...it turned out to be a lot farther away than we thought. Walking around sure does make me appreciate the elders that don't have a car... since it was so icy out, it felt like we were ice skating all night. The sidewalks weren't cleared very well and there was about a centimeter of freezing rain that had covered everything! Sis Sav and I started playing what I call the "grateful game" where we just take turns saying out loud things that we're grateful for. It feels obnoxious at first, but it really helped make our night fun! We actually talked to a TON of people on foot and we had a really productive night. At 9 we were too far away from home, so we called a member to give us a ride. We came home and ate a TON of food! hahahahaha. It was definitely a night I'll never forget.

Things are going really well! The fact that I come home so soon is really motivating for me to push myself and work extra hard, and we're seeing miracles from it! I know that this is the Lord's work, and I'm so grateful He's allowed me to be a part of

I love you!
Sister Anderson

February 23, 2015 - Miracle Week!

This week was full of miracles!!!

Monday we went to the temple! And that was amazing, of course, but after Preparation day was over, we were on our way out to work for the rest of the evening and the snow started to stick really bad. So all of our appointments cancelled on us because they didn't want us driving. We then got a text from the mission office saying that we weren't allowed to drive for the rest of the night. Sweet. We almost just stayed inside to organize our records or color code our area's map, but then I had a thought, "No way! I'm going home soon and I need to get out there and find who God needs me to find!" So, we bundled up and went to work. It was the most fun I've had with Sister Savage so far! We decided to find by the Spirit and take turns deciding if we should turn down a certain road or if we should knock on a door. A miracle in and of itself was just the fact that everyone we talked to seemed to be a lot more open than usual. I know that we were lead to them because we decided to sacrifice our comfort by working in the freezing cold. As we walked, Sister Savage and I took turns sharing cool/funny stories from our missions. It was the best companionship bonding ever! 

The best moment of that night happened right before we went home at 9pm. We were cutting through an apartment complex across the street from where we live and Sister Savage stops and says, "Can I write mormon.org on this car?" It was a pretty big SUV and the snow had fallen so perfectly and she just couldn't help herself. So I waited for her while he had her fun and a looked over at the first floor apartment next to us to see that there was a woman frantically trying to open her sliding glass door. She looked rather peeved, and I was sure that Sis Savage had just written on her car..... Sis Savage looks up and follows my gaze, sees the woman, and says, "Oh she looks nice, let's go talk to her!" and immediately walks toward her front door. Of course I had to follow her.............. Right before Sis Savage could lift her hand to knock on the door, the woman rips the door open, steps outside and closes the door behind her. I thought that was rather odd, considering that it was freezing cold outside and most people only crack their door open to keep warm. The first thing that came to my mind was that this woman must be a gypsie. I've never seen a real gypsie before, but she's the image of what I imagine one to look like. She had at least five gold hoops decorating each ear and gold studs in her nose, tongue, lip....pretty much everywhere. Her hair was shaved on the sides, but on top it was in cornrows and pulled back into a long, thick pony tail with a scarf. She was FUMING. 

She scared Sis Savage, so to try to lighten things I said, "Hey, I like all your earrings!" hahahahhahahaha. 

She responded, "What did you do to my car?!!!!!"

Sis Savage, "I just wrote mormon.org on it in the snow! Here's a card for the same webisite!"

Gypsie woman, "Why are you going around messing with my car?"
Sis Sav, "Oh, I'm so sorry!!! I won't do it again!"

Gyspie, (her eyes bugging out of her face) "What kind of animal are you? HUH?"

ME, "Hm... I think I'm like a golden retriever!"

Gypsie, "Don't you know that I"M a BULL? You're a little lamb. Or a sheep. I will EAT YOU."

Me, "uhhhh okay! So do you want this card?"

Gypsie- takes the card from Sis Sav with two fingers and examines it as far away from her face as she could as if it was going to explode or something... "What's your address? HUH? Where do you live?"

Me, "We live across the way!"

Gypsie, "I said, what's your address?"

Me, "I ain't telling you my address!"

Gypsie, "Well, you wrote on my car, I deserve to know where you live!"

Me, "Nope, I don't think so. We have to go! Bye!"

I start to move away, hoping that Sis Savage will follow. She catches on and basically books it. As we're leaving, the lady is making strange noises that sounded like the purple evil minions off of despicable me 2. it was so funny that I couldn't help but start to giggle. 

She called after me, "Well, why did you just do it to my car? HUH? Why don't you do it to the other cars around here?"

I said, "Okay! I'll write it on another car!" And I turned and wrote mormon.org on the car next to hers and said, "There you go! Thanks for talking to us! I hope you have a wonderful night!" and just turned and walked away. 

As soon as we couldn't see her any more, we cut through the complex and BOOKED it out of there. Sis Savage was really creeped out, and I couldn't stop laughing... Some people are so funny!!! We ran the rest of the way home. What a night!

Tuesday we had a miracle lesson with our investigator Hodalo. We took a woman from the ward to also speaks French and taught about what the spirit feels like. In past lessons, Hodalo has said that she expects to get an answer from God through a dream, because that's how she's received answers before. We taught her what the spirit feels like and how that's how God will answer her about if she should be baptized or not. We got to the end of the lesson and Hodalo said that she thought about it all week and had read 2 Nephi 31. She said, "I know I need to get baptized!" The spirit was so strong. This lesson was so amazing. But after she said that, she let out her two biggest concerns. She's from Togo which is in West Africa right next to Ghana. She said that she's afraid to get baptized here and then have to go back to Togo in a few years and not have a Mormon church to go to. She said, "I'll have to start up the Mormon church there all by myself!" AH She's so cute. She really wants this and is thinking about it so seriously. We told her that there are 16-18 churches in Togo, and there's a temple in Ghana! Her other concern was a lot deeper. Her husband has never come in a participated when we've come over because he is really solid in the Catholic church. Hodalo told us that if she gets baptized, he would kick her out and she's afraid. We shared 3 Nephi 13:30-33 with her about putting God first and letting him take care of the rest. I'll NEVER EVER forget what she said after that. She said, "I'll talk to my husband tonight when he gets home from work. If I get kicked out, I'll do it. I'll do anything for Jesus." It was such a tender moment, that I will never be able to put into words what it was like. The spirit was so strong. We were all crying and just sat there while her words sunk in. She has so much faith. This was only our fourth lesson with her, and she has already come so far. I want my faith to be that strong. Poor Hodalo. It was such a bitter sweet moment. Sweet because she KNOWS this is where God wants her to be, but bitter because it feels like it's our fault that we're tearing a family apart. I know that God will work everything out in the end, but it's still so hard. Please pray for Hodalo. And please pray that her husband's heart will soften. I really wish he would just listen to us! Then their family could progress toward becoming an eternal family, sealed together forever.

We've had lots of other miracles this week. A lot of them have come from me opening my mouth and just going for it. There was a guy in the elevator that I started talking to while my companion was deep in conversation with other missionaries. He said that he just moved into the area, so right as he got off the elevator, I invited him to come to church! He then stopped and talked with us for a while. He said taht his 8 year old son needs friends and that he works with Mormons! We gave him a Book of Mormon and got his number. Pretty cool. 

There have been so many little miracles just like that one and everyone that the Lord has placed in our path has been open in some way. It's amazing. I know we're seeing miracles because Sis Savage and I decided to "BE ALL IN", which is our mission's theme of the year. We recommitted ourselves to be completely consecrated, and we're already seeing the blessings that come from it. God is so good!!!

Well. I love you all! I hope you have a wonderful week! 

I love you so much!
Sister Anderson 

HEY~Look!  It's Elder Hernandez!

Sterling Park Districk

Snow

Frozen wiper.

Tracting in the snow.

No driving in the snow.

Cold and tired!

Anderson And Savage!

February 16, 2015

This week was good. We went on some more exchanges with our sisters.
They were super fun and I learned a ton from them. One of the
exchanges was with Cray Cray Sister Gray. We just have so much fun together. Being with her was
such a relief. We have fun and work hard together. We tracted all
night and I felt super productive. :)

We had an awesome lesson with our investigator, Hodalo!!!! She is from
Togo, west Africa. It's right next to Ghana! Anyways, we taught her
when we were on exchanges and Sister Chandler was with me. We taught
the Plan of Salvation so simply and it really clicked with her. Her
eyes popped out of her head when we taught about the Spirit World and
how she can get baptized for her kindred dead. It was the most spirit
filled lesson I've been in for a long time. I really needed that
lesson.

We went to the temple today :) Sister Gray came with us! One of my
favorite members, Sister Dallen, drove us.

It's sooo cold here!! It's 8 degrees with a major wind chill factor.
Thankfully we have a car. I feel bad for our District Leader and his
companion don't have a car and their heater broke :( They have really
good attitudes about it though.

Oh we taught at both the Ashburn and Leesburg Zones on Tuesday about
how to set effective goals and how to keep them on our minds. I felt a
liiiitle hypocritical, only because I have always struggled with
setting effective goals for myself. But it was good to be able to
relate to the people we were teaching at the same time.

Things are going really well. Transfers are coming up this week. I
have no idea if I'm going to be transferred. But I have a hunch
though, I might be transferred.... But I won't know for sure till
tomorrow night. UGH. Transfers are always so stressful.

Oh yeah I met with President Riggs on Sunday. He helped me figure a
lot of things out. He encouraged me to set super high goals for my
last transfer. I'm totally freaking out about the fact that this is my
last transfer ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Well. Have a good week! Love you! Keep it up with the Book of Mormon! :)
Love,
Sister Anderson

Sister's Savage and Anderson

Strike a pose!

Sister Savage, pizza party.

Temple Trip

Sister Savage, Sister Anderson, Sister Gray - Temple Trip

Temple trip

Sister Anderson and Sister Gray

Sister Anderson and Sister Chandler

February 9, 2015

Hello there!

 

Here are some events from the week.

We found a new investigator! Her name is Maddy and she's so cute! We were checking up on the part member family list- no one in the ward seems to know a lot of the families, so we've been going through and visiting all of them. We stopped by Maddy's house and she let us right in! She's 16 and said that she hasn't' grown up with religion because her mom stopped going to church before she was born, but she's interested in learning more! Woo!

We had a member lesson with the Morans. They're such a fun family in the ward. They have four kids under the age of 6, so you can imagine how much fun I have at their house! They all have such a deep desire to do missionary work. We're working so closely with them because they have a couple families that they want to refer to us so we can teach them!!! Well, as we had our little lesson with them to help build their excitement, I was talking about the importance of following up and one of the boys, Bryan, jumps in and out of the blue and says, "Besides the point, I'm better than you." and then sits back down. It was SO FUNNY!!! 

Another funny quotable kid moment was at another member's home. We were role playing with the Bennions to help them know how they can invite their friends to church activities. The five year old boy was role playing asking one of his friends to come to church. His mom was role playing as his friend and the boy walks up with his hands in his pockets and in his "Girl voice" asks, "Do you wanna go to Young Womens with me?" HAHAHAHAHA. His mom asked, "Oh what's that?" And he replied, "Oh well, the women aren't actually YOUNG, but that's just what it's called! It's so much fuuuuuun!" Kids are always so entertaining.

 

We had a Mission Leadership Council Meeting on Friday. It was pretty fun. It's an ALL DAY meeting. But I've learned to like meetings on my mission because I now know how to get things out of them. Well, one of the highlights of the meeting is always after lunch when President Riggs plays a big game of Bump (or Lightning or Speed or whatever you call it) with all of us. He wins just about every time, but it's always fun to try to get him out. I was excited this time because I actually stayed in longer than I usually do! hahahahaha. I felt pretty accomplished. :) After lunch, Sister Savage and I were some of the first people back into the classroom to sit down. I noticed that the elder that was sitting in front of me had left his suit coat jacket on his chair so he could play basketball during lunch, and he wasn't back yet. Without anyone noticing, I switched our name tags!!! The best part was that he didn't even notice that he was walking around as Sister Anderson for two whole hours! His companion didn't even say anything to him!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA

Sister Savage and I were doing our weekly planning on Thursday. Around lunch time we decided to go to Burger 21. It's a restaurant that's right underneath our apartment building....(which is dangerous considering that they make reeeeeally good milkshakes.) Anyway. We walked in and the first person we see says, "Hello sisters! What ward are you serving in?!" As it turns out, this man was from the Brambleton Ward, which meets in our same building right before we do on Sundays. He said that we should sit with him and his family and that we should say hi to his inactive son. So we ordered our food and sat with them. The inactive son turned out to be someone on the part member family list that we've been checking up on and he said that he and his wife would love to have us over in a few weeks when he gets back from a big work trip!!!! I love it when God uses my stomach to bring me to a place where there's a miracle about to happen! 

 

We had an exchange with the sisters serving in the Leesburg ward. I was with Sister Stewart. She's so sweet. The coolest part about being a Sister Training Leader is that I get to learn from so many sisters other than just my companion. On this exchange, she helped ME with a lot of things I've been struggling with.

 

Oh hey. I found something in my studies that I know Dad would appreciate. I was reading the General Conference talk that President Monson gave in the most recent Priesthood Session. He basically announced to the whole world that Jesus Christ is a Mariner's fan. He says, "we need the guidance of that Eternal Mariner--even the great Jehovah." So now we know which team is the one true baseball team! And I testify that this is true!!!!!!!! hahaha

Speaking of baseball, we did a few Family Home Evenings for some of the families in the ward, and it just doesn't feel right without singing the baseball song. 

 

Anyways. I love you all so much! I'm loving my mission and working as hard as I can! I hope you have a great week! 

 

Love you!
Sister Anderson

Not sure what this was about, but it is funny!

Always great at making faces!

Sister Savage and Sister Anderson