Week 51: Elder Andersen!!!
Hey y'all! We had a lot of errands to run today and went bowling, so I don't have a ton of time but it was a wonderful week!
Monday we went to a zoo and saw a llama that almost spit on us! Tuesday we had our last practice for the musical number!
Wednesday Elder Neil L. Andersen and Presiding Bishop Waddell came! We were super stressed for the special musical number, but it turned out great! Elder Andersen came down off the stand (he is actually incredibly fast) when I wasn't looking and shook the hands of all those who participated. I didn't see him until he was right in front of me, and I was shocked! A very special experience to shake the hand of an apostle of the Lord! I can testify that he is an apostle of Jesus Christ and that this is the church of Jesus Christ!
Jesus knows and loves each one of us!
Chau chau,
Hermana Anderson
Week 48: A miraculous finding and a classic scripture! (May 22, 2023 update)
Hey hey hey!
This week went by kind of as a blur. Time honestly goes by so fast, and days and weeks blur together on a missionary schedule of: wake up, study, get to work, go to bed. We have not had the greatest week with regard to our goals, but we saw some real miracles this week! The goals we set help us do our best, to find those who are prepared, and help them have opportunities to feel the Spirit.
One of the biggest miracles was our friend Jesus. He is a member who stopped attending church over 30 years ago; he is excited to go to the temple and came to church for the first time in a LONG time yesterday! We were so happy! The way we found him was a miracle too! We were looking for another family, and he said it would be okay if we stopped by and shared a message with him!
Ether 12:27 – This is a classic scripture, but it's a goodie. We all have weaknesses that come from having this mortal experience, and the best way to overcome these difficulties is to humble ourselves and have faith and ACT!: And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
Chau chau,
Hermana Anderson
Week 46: Going to the temple ... with a silly goofy bunch!
Hello!
Our P-day got moved to today so we could go to the temple! We had to wake up super early, but it was so beautiful! We barely made it in time, all of our district packed inside a van!
It was a good week! We found lots of new friends, which was super exciting! We have been crushing our goals every week, and I just love being a missionary!
We asked one of our new friends why they decided to meet with us, and she told us, "I was in a really bad mood, but then y'all started talking to me, and [you] have such a calm and happy aura. I don't know how, but I noticed my mood changing and I felt so happy!" Y'all, the Spirit is REAL. It is so incredible when others can recognize the Spirit that we bring as representatives of Jesus Christ, and that this Spirit can testify to them of the truth of our message!
We also had exchanges this week, and I spent a day in San German with Hermana Esquivel, which was super fun! I was so close to my old area and ran into an awesome member who told me everyone was shocked that now they have Elders! Hermana Esquivel and I reminisced about Ama Kella and also Hermana Rich, who were basically both of our mothers!
I am not sure if I have shared this before, but if I have, y'all are going to read it again. Or not, if you don't want to hehe.
Alma 57:25- 27 -- a lil long but worth the read. CONTEXT -- the Nephites were at war with the Lamanites, and a group of people who had previously been wicked and blood thirsty had repented and made a promise not to fight ever again. So to protect the liberty of the Nephites, their sons joined the battle. 2,060 young, unexperienced, but faithful warriors:
25 And it came to pass that there were two hundred, out of my two thousand and sixty, who had fainted because of the loss of blood; nevertheless, according to the goodness of God, and to our great astonishment, and also the joy of our whole army, there was not one soul of them who did perish; yea, and neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds.
26 And now, their preservation was astonishing to our whole army, yea, that they should be spared while there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain. And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe—that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power.
27 Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually.
Anywho, what caught my attention is that ALL of the young men were brave and faithful. NEVERTHELESS, ALL were wounded. I thought of my friends and family who experience terrible things ... good people who have spiritual, mental, and emotional wounds. Yet having these wounds does not mean we are abandoned by God. We really don't have any guarantees in this life, but we can survive and not perish IF we have faith in a just God who will make everything right in His way. (To me, perishing is not death but rather willfully rejecting God and therefore taking upon ourselves all the guilt and consequences of our mistakes).
I love you all so much and hope you enjoyed my lil thought.
Chau chau,
Hermana Anderson
Week 44: Birthday!
I am so grateful for all of you!
This week I got the sweetest birthday surprise! My sweet tía Noemi brought me a huge bouquet of flowers and printed out the notes from social media; and my lovely pensionista picked them up and decorated my door! Literally the best surprise ever! And thank you for all of the sweet emails. Today was a wild P-day, so I have had zero time to respond :( But I appreciated all of them so so much! They really helped me feel the love of family and friends although I am so far from home!
We had a pretty epic Sunday as we were able to bring some friends to church. And some of their 'lil friends accompanied us, and now we are going to teach a whole new family!
I had to lead a discussion in district counsel about the importance of members in missionary work, and I just love how the Book of Mormon connects to every gospel topic and principle! -- Alma 5:62:
I speak by way of command unto you that belong to the church; and unto those who do not belong to the church I speak by way of invitation, saying: Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life.
Lots of love,
Hermana Anderson
This week I got the sweetest birthday surprise! My sweet tía Noemi brought me a huge bouquet of flowers and printed out the notes from social media; and my lovely pensionista picked them up and decorated my door! Literally the best surprise ever! And thank you for all of the sweet emails. Today was a wild P-day, so I have had zero time to respond :( But I appreciated all of them so so much! They really helped me feel the love of family and friends although I am so far from home!
We had a pretty epic Sunday as we were able to bring some friends to church. And some of their 'lil friends accompanied us, and now we are going to teach a whole new family!
I had to lead a discussion in district counsel about the importance of members in missionary work, and I just love how the Book of Mormon connects to every gospel topic and principle! -- Alma 5:62:
I speak by way of command unto you that belong to the church; and unto those who do not belong to the church I speak by way of invitation, saying: Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life.
Lots of love,
Hermana Anderson
Week 43: I love the mission (April 17, 2023 update)
Wow, this is one of my favorite weeks I have had on the mission!
First off, the Cerro is everything I would have hoped it would be! It's a literal LABYRINTH of concrete houses, stairs leading who knows where, dogs, and some of the most loving people I have ever met!
Secondly, Hermana Muncibay is the best! She works super hard and knows Preach My Gospel like no other! We are going to work so hard this transfer! She got here a week before me because of some wild emergency transfers, so we are both brand new and trying to figure out who we are teaching and where the limits are.
In the building where we live, lives the bishop, our PENSIONISTA who is an ANGEL and cooks amazing breakfasts and lunches for us, and the rest of the people are members too!
I am so excited to have my birthday here (cough cough, on the 22nd, cough cough, yesterday, COUGH COUGH)! ha ha ha, but literally this ward is the best!
This week has been a lil tough as it does get pretty sketchy around here, and it felt like I had a weird mental block with my Spanish and regressed back to where I was when I got here. But hey, gets better and easier with time and the help of Jesus Christ!
I was a little nervous to always be running up and down the hills, but my strong Peruvian genes kicked in, and we have been running and finding and serving others, and not fainted! #blessingsofthekeepingthecommandments
Anywho, on a spiritual note, i am just so grateful for this gospel! It has blessed my life so much and the lives of so many people I have met.
Psalm 23:1-41:
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.
Signing off,
Hermana Anderson
First off, the Cerro is everything I would have hoped it would be! It's a literal LABYRINTH of concrete houses, stairs leading who knows where, dogs, and some of the most loving people I have ever met!
Secondly, Hermana Muncibay is the best! She works super hard and knows Preach My Gospel like no other! We are going to work so hard this transfer! She got here a week before me because of some wild emergency transfers, so we are both brand new and trying to figure out who we are teaching and where the limits are.
In the building where we live, lives the bishop, our PENSIONISTA who is an ANGEL and cooks amazing breakfasts and lunches for us, and the rest of the people are members too!
I am so excited to have my birthday here (cough cough, on the 22nd, cough cough, yesterday, COUGH COUGH)! ha ha ha, but literally this ward is the best!
This week has been a lil tough as it does get pretty sketchy around here, and it felt like I had a weird mental block with my Spanish and regressed back to where I was when I got here. But hey, gets better and easier with time and the help of Jesus Christ!
I was a little nervous to always be running up and down the hills, but my strong Peruvian genes kicked in, and we have been running and finding and serving others, and not fainted! #blessingsofthekeepingthecommandments
Anywho, on a spiritual note, i am just so grateful for this gospel! It has blessed my life so much and the lives of so many people I have met.
Psalm 23:1-41:
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.
Signing off,
Hermana Anderson
Week 39: Carlos and Anabel are back 🎉
Howdy howdy!
Well, there are pros and cons to staying in one area for four transfers! One pro is that people who go off on vacation for months don't escape the missionaries forever! Carlos and Anabel are super-awesome people who I taught my first month here in Peru! They just got back in town and came to church after being gone for three months! I was so happy to see them! We are going over to teach them later today!
Our cute little friends Massiel and Steffano are on date! Prayers for them and that their family will see their example and live the gospel of Jesus Christ! We had an epic noche de hogar with them and a few families from the ward!
I have started playing the violin every Sunday as we sing the hymns; it has honestly been such a sweet way to serve the people here and show them my love. Maybe I can't express myself too well in Spanish, but at least they can understand my violin!
I love the Book of Mormon!! I find so much hope and joy in studying it every day, and here is a scripture that we have shared a few times this week (Mosiah 24:13-14)! :
And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
Covenants bring power and the Lord promises us peace and strength to be able to persevere through the trials, that we may remember and be witnesses to others (and to our future selves) that the Lord lives and loves us!
Chow chow,
Hermana Anderson
Well, there are pros and cons to staying in one area for four transfers! One pro is that people who go off on vacation for months don't escape the missionaries forever! Carlos and Anabel are super-awesome people who I taught my first month here in Peru! They just got back in town and came to church after being gone for three months! I was so happy to see them! We are going over to teach them later today!
Our cute little friends Massiel and Steffano are on date! Prayers for them and that their family will see their example and live the gospel of Jesus Christ! We had an epic noche de hogar with them and a few families from the ward!
I have started playing the violin every Sunday as we sing the hymns; it has honestly been such a sweet way to serve the people here and show them my love. Maybe I can't express myself too well in Spanish, but at least they can understand my violin!
I love the Book of Mormon!! I find so much hope and joy in studying it every day, and here is a scripture that we have shared a few times this week (Mosiah 24:13-14)! :
And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
Covenants bring power and the Lord promises us peace and strength to be able to persevere through the trials, that we may remember and be witnesses to others (and to our future selves) that the Lord lives and loves us!
Chow chow,
Hermana Anderson
Week 38: Conference with Elder Becerra!!!!!
Hola hola!
This was a wild week!!
Hermana Rios is my new companion, here for the next few weeks! She is super awesome! She is from the jungle of Peru!
We had two all-day conferences with Elder Becerra and the Ferrells and wow, it literally felt like a mission-changing experience! I learned soooo much and feel so blessed from everything they shared! Some particularly impactful thoughts: Sometimes failure after failure leads us to the places we need to be to be blessed by God, and that as a missionary as we work our hardest we can be sure our family is blessed. (Maybe in ways we can't see right now!)
This is a quote that I found recently that I just love, from Elder Lynn G Robbins! :
"Success, it has been said, isn’t the absence of failure, but going from failure to failure without any loss of enthusiasm. ... Repentance is God’s ever-accessible gift that allows and enables us to go from failure to failure without any loss of enthusiasm. Repentance isn’t His backup plan in the event we might fail. Repentance is His plan, knowing that we will. This is the gospel of repentance, and as President Russell M. Nelson has observed, it will be 'a lifetime curriculum.'"
And to top things off, we were told last-minute that two hermanas from the Cusco mission would join us for the night because they didn't have their passports and got stuck in Lima for a day! I was super excited, especially when I found out it would be Hermana Lee from my MTC district! Such a tender mercy to see her!
Chau chau
Hermana Anderson
This was a wild week!!
Hermana Rios is my new companion, here for the next few weeks! She is super awesome! She is from the jungle of Peru!
We had two all-day conferences with Elder Becerra and the Ferrells and wow, it literally felt like a mission-changing experience! I learned soooo much and feel so blessed from everything they shared! Some particularly impactful thoughts: Sometimes failure after failure leads us to the places we need to be to be blessed by God, and that as a missionary as we work our hardest we can be sure our family is blessed. (Maybe in ways we can't see right now!)
This is a quote that I found recently that I just love, from Elder Lynn G Robbins! :
"Success, it has been said, isn’t the absence of failure, but going from failure to failure without any loss of enthusiasm. ... Repentance is God’s ever-accessible gift that allows and enables us to go from failure to failure without any loss of enthusiasm. Repentance isn’t His backup plan in the event we might fail. Repentance is His plan, knowing that we will. This is the gospel of repentance, and as President Russell M. Nelson has observed, it will be 'a lifetime curriculum.'"
And to top things off, we were told last-minute that two hermanas from the Cusco mission would join us for the night because they didn't have their passports and got stuck in Lima for a day! I was super excited, especially when I found out it would be Hermana Lee from my MTC district! Such a tender mercy to see her!
Chau chau
Hermana Anderson
Week 34: Bowling!! and puppies!!
Hey everyone! I hope you had a wonderful week!
It has been an average week on the mission, so pretty great!
We had a training meeting this week in the mission office. The office is like 10 miles away, or 2 hours by bus ha ha, and in a whole 'nother mission. They gave us the opportunity to go out and try to give 2 copies of the Book of Mormon in 20 minutes! My first thought was that it was something hard they were asking us to do, but my companion Hermana Garcia was so excited. And I decided to give it my all! And we did it; it was honestly a sweet experience to be able to introduce the Book of Mormon into the lives of two different people! The Book of Mormon has been such a blessing in my life, and it is a great responsibility to share it with the world!
Last P-day we went bowling as a zone, and that was pretty awesome! Another highlight from the week was playing with the puppies of our pensionista!
Here's a scripture that I just love! :
Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
It is so true that on the mission as you grow closer to and come unto Christ, you see your weaknesses! But in those times, He wants us to turn to Him for help, not to the world. And we can change and become new creatures, not all at once, but step by step with His power, not our own.
Chauuu,
Hermana Anderson
It has been an average week on the mission, so pretty great!
We had a training meeting this week in the mission office. The office is like 10 miles away, or 2 hours by bus ha ha, and in a whole 'nother mission. They gave us the opportunity to go out and try to give 2 copies of the Book of Mormon in 20 minutes! My first thought was that it was something hard they were asking us to do, but my companion Hermana Garcia was so excited. And I decided to give it my all! And we did it; it was honestly a sweet experience to be able to introduce the Book of Mormon into the lives of two different people! The Book of Mormon has been such a blessing in my life, and it is a great responsibility to share it with the world!
Last P-day we went bowling as a zone, and that was pretty awesome! Another highlight from the week was playing with the puppies of our pensionista!
Here's a scripture that I just love! :
Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
It is so true that on the mission as you grow closer to and come unto Christ, you see your weaknesses! But in those times, He wants us to turn to Him for help, not to the world. And we can change and become new creatures, not all at once, but step by step with His power, not our own.
Chauuu,
Hermana Anderson
Week 32: Lima the gray (update from 1/30/2023)
Heyo!
Fun fact! Lima is known as "Lima the gray" for its often cloudy (sometimes pollution-filled) skies!
This week has not been one of my favorites as a missionary, although we definitely experienced many tender mercies! For example, we started teaching a friend Yassira because we felt the impression to go visit a member of our ward! She was so touched by what we shared about prayer that it brought her to tears, recognizing the answers to prayers in her life!
Yet all in all, it was a tough week for me emotionally and mentally. I am a perfectionist, and sometimes it just hurts to see how many ways I fall short as a missionary. Yet I know that the Lord loves me and sees my effort. Satan is definitely real and always attacking, and he knows how best to get to us. This upcoming week can be hopeful and joyful; we just need to take things one step at a time. Sorry if this sounded like a lil pity party. I just want to share with you all that I love you, and while this was a tough week, I am doing so much better! Jesus loves you so much, and we can find words of comfort in our hardest times in the words of the prophets, ancient and modern!
Chau chau,
Hermana Anderson
Fun fact! Lima is known as "Lima the gray" for its often cloudy (sometimes pollution-filled) skies!
This week has not been one of my favorites as a missionary, although we definitely experienced many tender mercies! For example, we started teaching a friend Yassira because we felt the impression to go visit a member of our ward! She was so touched by what we shared about prayer that it brought her to tears, recognizing the answers to prayers in her life!
Yet all in all, it was a tough week for me emotionally and mentally. I am a perfectionist, and sometimes it just hurts to see how many ways I fall short as a missionary. Yet I know that the Lord loves me and sees my effort. Satan is definitely real and always attacking, and he knows how best to get to us. This upcoming week can be hopeful and joyful; we just need to take things one step at a time. Sorry if this sounded like a lil pity party. I just want to share with you all that I love you, and while this was a tough week, I am doing so much better! Jesus loves you so much, and we can find words of comfort in our hardest times in the words of the prophets, ancient and modern!
Chau chau,
Hermana Anderson
Week 31: Certified drama llamas😎
Hola hola,
So about the protests and terrible things going down in Peru right now, our mission has been mostly unaffected so far. I have heard that some other areas closer to the center of Lima or in Callao have had to be more careful, but we have been quite blessed! Pray for Peru and the missionaries all serving here!
But our area, although we have been told many times by the members that it is pretty rough, has been pretty chill! We got transfer news, and me and Hermana Garcia got worked up over nothing bahaha! We were convinced big changes were going to affect us, yet the only thing is that we were removed from the team of the Facebook page😳 😂 We were so dramatic, yet both of us are staying in Ama Kella! I'm glad to be staying here a transfer longer, although I'm not used to things staying stable after going from trainee->trainer->trainee Peru edition->trainer😂 but I'm grateful to be able to finish training with Hermana Garcia!
This week we had a Noche Blanca, and an hour before our friend Sandra texted us and told us she no longer was going to be baptized! 😳 We ran over (Hermana Garcia asked if it was a good time to cry. I said, "If you can run at the same time!"😂🏃) and she was feeling suuuper sick and suuper sad to miss the baptism! We ran back to the chapel!🏃 and asked the Elders to give her a blessing of health! We ran back with the Elders!🏃 After the blessing, she started to feel better and decided to go to the baptism! We ran to the noche blanca🏃! During the event, we ran around and guided everyone from room to room,🏃 and also had to rearrange who had to baptize her and who could preside! Literally the craziest night of my mission and possibly my life!
But it was incredible to see the power of the priesthood in action! Just like in the New Testament as Jesus bestowed priesthood power upon his disciples, we have the priesthood power on the Earth once more! Obviously, we must always be willing to accept the will of God, and won't see the miracles we want every time! Or maybe the miracle all along is that He can support and love us unconditionally no matter what. We will see miracles every time as we let God prevail and see His plan unfold in our lives!
Luke 9:1-2: "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick."
Chauuuu,
Hermana Anderson
Photos: Hermana Garcia and I having a dramatic photoshoot after realizing we were fools for getting anxious for nothing😂 about noche blanca! Hermana Shuler and I unintentionally matching like queens!
So about the protests and terrible things going down in Peru right now, our mission has been mostly unaffected so far. I have heard that some other areas closer to the center of Lima or in Callao have had to be more careful, but we have been quite blessed! Pray for Peru and the missionaries all serving here!
But our area, although we have been told many times by the members that it is pretty rough, has been pretty chill! We got transfer news, and me and Hermana Garcia got worked up over nothing bahaha! We were convinced big changes were going to affect us, yet the only thing is that we were removed from the team of the Facebook page😳 😂 We were so dramatic, yet both of us are staying in Ama Kella! I'm glad to be staying here a transfer longer, although I'm not used to things staying stable after going from trainee->trainer->trainee Peru edition->trainer😂 but I'm grateful to be able to finish training with Hermana Garcia!
This week we had a Noche Blanca, and an hour before our friend Sandra texted us and told us she no longer was going to be baptized! 😳 We ran over (Hermana Garcia asked if it was a good time to cry. I said, "If you can run at the same time!"😂🏃) and she was feeling suuuper sick and suuper sad to miss the baptism! We ran back to the chapel!🏃 and asked the Elders to give her a blessing of health! We ran back with the Elders!🏃 After the blessing, she started to feel better and decided to go to the baptism! We ran to the noche blanca🏃! During the event, we ran around and guided everyone from room to room,🏃 and also had to rearrange who had to baptize her and who could preside! Literally the craziest night of my mission and possibly my life!
But it was incredible to see the power of the priesthood in action! Just like in the New Testament as Jesus bestowed priesthood power upon his disciples, we have the priesthood power on the Earth once more! Obviously, we must always be willing to accept the will of God, and won't see the miracles we want every time! Or maybe the miracle all along is that He can support and love us unconditionally no matter what. We will see miracles every time as we let God prevail and see His plan unfold in our lives!
Luke 9:1-2: "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick."
Chauuuu,
Hermana Anderson
Photos: Hermana Garcia and I having a dramatic photoshoot after realizing we were fools for getting anxious for nothing😂 about noche blanca! Hermana Shuler and I unintentionally matching like queens!
Week 29: "I'll go to church every week if you teach me in English"😉
Hola hola Inca Cola!
I hope you had a SPECTACULAR first week of the year! Hermana Garcia and I hit the ground running and accomplished our finding goal! We had been having kind of a tough time getting momentum, but had a decent amount of lessons this past week!
The subject line comes from a dude we had a lesson with; (he was) obsessed with getting me to teach him English and kindly offered to walk us home. (We declined.) My poor comp understood all his flirty comments that I was oblivious to, but I very clearly understood the vibe jajaja. I love the mission😅!
Lately I have been loving sharing this scripture with those we have lessons with! Life just keeps on getting harder! Trials will never go away, and there's only one way to find peace in the storm! :
John 14:27: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Thank you for all the emails you send😊. Let me know what's going on in your lives!!
Hermana Anderson
I hope you had a SPECTACULAR first week of the year! Hermana Garcia and I hit the ground running and accomplished our finding goal! We had been having kind of a tough time getting momentum, but had a decent amount of lessons this past week!
The subject line comes from a dude we had a lesson with; (he was) obsessed with getting me to teach him English and kindly offered to walk us home. (We declined.) My poor comp understood all his flirty comments that I was oblivious to, but I very clearly understood the vibe jajaja. I love the mission😅!
Lately I have been loving sharing this scripture with those we have lessons with! Life just keeps on getting harder! Trials will never go away, and there's only one way to find peace in the storm! :
John 14:27: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Thank you for all the emails you send😊. Let me know what's going on in your lives!!
Hermana Anderson
Week 28: I love packing everything up last minute! and a war against termites
Hey everyone! Hope you had a happy new year!
This has been a WEEK! We had exchanges with the hermana caps, then interviews with President, where he told us that Hermana Shuler was headed to another area in the mission! Then we celebrated the new year with a ton of fireworks! Also we had the baptism of Julissa!!! So amazing, and miracles definitely happened to pull it off!
So yeah, President Ferrell told each of us in our interviews that Hermana Shuler would be moved soon. We were thinking it would be in a day or two so we would have time to adjust. But we got a text at 9pm saying she needed to be ready to leave the next morning at 8:30am! But six hands make quick work, and we packed everything up in a frenzy in 1 hour or so! I miss her so much, but they need her where she is now!
Anywho, with the termites...Christmas Day we came home and found tons in the apartment! We have been sweeping and spraying our wooden doors (everything else is concrete) like crazy! I would much rather have issues with termites than cockroaches! From what I've heard, basically all the missionaries have termites or cockroaches, but we'll figure it out. It has not been the most fun, but I feel that fighting the termites with brooms and spray has strengthened our bond as companions like no other thing might! So, tender mercy!
But yeah, besides that it has been a good first two days of the year! Today we went to Plaza San Miguel, and I almost cried because it is basically America in the middle of Peru! So much fun!
We have been watching "The Chosen" as a mission over Zoom, and season 3 is amazing! The episode we watched yesterday showed what it must have been like for Jesus as he attempted to teach in his own town. He was rejected! I thought to myself, of course I would never reject Him, but then I realized how many times I turn to the things of the world rather than to Him. I will never be perfect, and He doesn't expect that of me; He wants me to just to keep trying and know I am not alone. Jesus loves and knows each one of you perfectly, in spite of whatever weaknesses we have or how many times we may have rejected Him before!
1 Nephi 21:15-16:
"For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands."
Jesus loves you!
Hermana Anderson
This has been a WEEK! We had exchanges with the hermana caps, then interviews with President, where he told us that Hermana Shuler was headed to another area in the mission! Then we celebrated the new year with a ton of fireworks! Also we had the baptism of Julissa!!! So amazing, and miracles definitely happened to pull it off!
So yeah, President Ferrell told each of us in our interviews that Hermana Shuler would be moved soon. We were thinking it would be in a day or two so we would have time to adjust. But we got a text at 9pm saying she needed to be ready to leave the next morning at 8:30am! But six hands make quick work, and we packed everything up in a frenzy in 1 hour or so! I miss her so much, but they need her where she is now!
Anywho, with the termites...Christmas Day we came home and found tons in the apartment! We have been sweeping and spraying our wooden doors (everything else is concrete) like crazy! I would much rather have issues with termites than cockroaches! From what I've heard, basically all the missionaries have termites or cockroaches, but we'll figure it out. It has not been the most fun, but I feel that fighting the termites with brooms and spray has strengthened our bond as companions like no other thing might! So, tender mercy!
But yeah, besides that it has been a good first two days of the year! Today we went to Plaza San Miguel, and I almost cried because it is basically America in the middle of Peru! So much fun!
We have been watching "The Chosen" as a mission over Zoom, and season 3 is amazing! The episode we watched yesterday showed what it must have been like for Jesus as he attempted to teach in his own town. He was rejected! I thought to myself, of course I would never reject Him, but then I realized how many times I turn to the things of the world rather than to Him. I will never be perfect, and He doesn't expect that of me; He wants me to just to keep trying and know I am not alone. Jesus loves and knows each one of you perfectly, in spite of whatever weaknesses we have or how many times we may have rejected Him before!
1 Nephi 21:15-16:
"For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands."
Jesus loves you!
Hermana Anderson
Week 27: Paneton season is over! 🎉
Hope y'all had a very merry Christmas!!
I hit 6 months on the mission, and exactly a year from now I will be hours away from flying home! It is crazy how quickly the time flies!
We honestly had a great time [this Christmas season]! We had dinner on Christmas Eve with a wonderful family, went to hot chocolate parties, had the funnest zone conference (I played my violin for a special musical number), saw an insane amount of fireworks, and I think that the past few days I've had the best food I've had yet in Peru! It was tough to see my family all gathered together for Christmas, but Christmas morning I felt full of Christmas spirit! We sang a special musical number in church: We sang "Silent Night" in English, with the Elders from Jorge Chavez with the members of the English class! I also got to meet my mother's cousin's family for the first time!
I was nervous for Christmas alone, and it was a little sad, but the whole time I did have a feeling of peace, and I'm so grateful for the Christmas messages I received! (Also...for any who wonder about my personal opinion on paneton, I do not personally love it. I will eat it. My family has had it for Christmas my entire life, but it is an acquired taste I have never acquired.)
I hope that all of you have a wonderful last week of 2022! It has been a life-changing year for me, and I know my life won't be the same! I am excited for a year of missionary service in 2023, I know the time will fly on by!
Last scripture for you all from 2022 that I hope to make my theme for 2023:
Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." I would like to challenge you all to pick a scripture to be your theme for 2023!
Have a happy new year!
Hermana Anderson
I hit 6 months on the mission, and exactly a year from now I will be hours away from flying home! It is crazy how quickly the time flies!
We honestly had a great time [this Christmas season]! We had dinner on Christmas Eve with a wonderful family, went to hot chocolate parties, had the funnest zone conference (I played my violin for a special musical number), saw an insane amount of fireworks, and I think that the past few days I've had the best food I've had yet in Peru! It was tough to see my family all gathered together for Christmas, but Christmas morning I felt full of Christmas spirit! We sang a special musical number in church: We sang "Silent Night" in English, with the Elders from Jorge Chavez with the members of the English class! I also got to meet my mother's cousin's family for the first time!
I was nervous for Christmas alone, and it was a little sad, but the whole time I did have a feeling of peace, and I'm so grateful for the Christmas messages I received! (Also...for any who wonder about my personal opinion on paneton, I do not personally love it. I will eat it. My family has had it for Christmas my entire life, but it is an acquired taste I have never acquired.)
I hope that all of you have a wonderful last week of 2022! It has been a life-changing year for me, and I know my life won't be the same! I am excited for a year of missionary service in 2023, I know the time will fly on by!
Last scripture for you all from 2022 that I hope to make my theme for 2023:
Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." I would like to challenge you all to pick a scripture to be your theme for 2023!
Have a happy new year!
Hermana Anderson
Week 26: TRIO and a trunky Christmas
🎄❤🎁¡Hola a todos!🎁❤🎄
I hope you all have a very merry Christmas this week!!!!!!!
I am trio training this transfer with Hermana Shuler! It has been very fun so far! Our daughter/trainee is Hermana Garcia! My second daughter from the mission and I am only three transfers old! Speaking of which, my first daughter is now trio training this transfer, making me a grandmother! Sheesh! I fully believe in her, and I am sure she is making an incredible impact! Love you, Hermana Walsh!!
The homesickness is REAL, but I am very excited for the events we have planned as a mission and for the ward!
I´d like to invite you all to read the Christmas story in Luke chapter 2! Remember the reason behind the season, folks! Here´s a little snippet for you all now:
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Peace out.
Hermana Anderson
I hope you all have a very merry Christmas this week!!!!!!!
I am trio training this transfer with Hermana Shuler! It has been very fun so far! Our daughter/trainee is Hermana Garcia! My second daughter from the mission and I am only three transfers old! Speaking of which, my first daughter is now trio training this transfer, making me a grandmother! Sheesh! I fully believe in her, and I am sure she is making an incredible impact! Love you, Hermana Walsh!!
The homesickness is REAL, but I am very excited for the events we have planned as a mission and for the ward!
I´d like to invite you all to read the Christmas story in Luke chapter 2! Remember the reason behind the season, folks! Here´s a little snippet for you all now:
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Peace out.
Hermana Anderson
Week 25: CAROLING and TRAINING again!
Hey hey hey!
Last week we went to the temple in La Molina, and I had like zero time! It was wonderful to go to the temple, and I hope y'all have been having a wonderful time participating in Light The World!!
This week has been crazy! Due to some political unrest, a few of our activities were canceled! There was also a random holiday last Thursday and Friday, so there's been nonstop parties and a few firework shows! We got to go carol as a district in a park in another area, which was super fun!
People here love to go all out on their Christmas decorations, and I LOVE IT! Christmas is my favorite holiday! I have been kind of dreading it as I will miss my family and cozy Christmas traditions. But I am excited to be a missionary this Christmas and to share with everyone the gospel of Jesus Christ! He was born to redeem us! We celebrate together as families, as we have been given those families to help us on our journey here on the Earth to become more like Christ! I love my family so much!! Hug your families tight and tell them you love them today!
Also we got transfer news: Hermana Rich has been in Ama Kella for 6 months, and she is now heading out to an area along the coast! I will be in a trio and training a new missionary, co-training with another missionary who served in the USA for a bit before coming here! I am super excited!
Let me know what's going on in y'alls' lives! Spread some Christmas cheer by emailing a missionary or two ;)
Lovely quote:
"Life can be difficult, and hard times can threaten our faith. When we confront trial and tragedy, we may wonder if our faith in God’s Son is a vain hope. But trials are designed to draw us toward the Savior so that He can make us better able to lift others to Him. As we share the “good cheer” (3 Nephi 1:13) of His coming, we lift heads and soften hearts. I promise that the day will come, if it has not already, when your faith in His coming will be confirmed. That will be a happy day. Christmas is a time of love, hope, and joy. It is also a time of gratitude and reflection. During Christmas we make new memories and relive old ones. We miss family and friends who have passed on. We wonder where the years have gone and what the new year will bring. And in the midst of our reverie, we give gratitude to God for the glorious gift called 'Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.'” (Isaiah 9:6)." -- President Henry B. Eyring
And as the song says, "May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmases be white!" (Imagine it sung by Michael Buble.)
Hermana Anderson
Photos: caroling (1st photo)! temple! photos with the cutest family ever that we are teaching and with some awesome members!
Last week we went to the temple in La Molina, and I had like zero time! It was wonderful to go to the temple, and I hope y'all have been having a wonderful time participating in Light The World!!
This week has been crazy! Due to some political unrest, a few of our activities were canceled! There was also a random holiday last Thursday and Friday, so there's been nonstop parties and a few firework shows! We got to go carol as a district in a park in another area, which was super fun!
People here love to go all out on their Christmas decorations, and I LOVE IT! Christmas is my favorite holiday! I have been kind of dreading it as I will miss my family and cozy Christmas traditions. But I am excited to be a missionary this Christmas and to share with everyone the gospel of Jesus Christ! He was born to redeem us! We celebrate together as families, as we have been given those families to help us on our journey here on the Earth to become more like Christ! I love my family so much!! Hug your families tight and tell them you love them today!
Also we got transfer news: Hermana Rich has been in Ama Kella for 6 months, and she is now heading out to an area along the coast! I will be in a trio and training a new missionary, co-training with another missionary who served in the USA for a bit before coming here! I am super excited!
Let me know what's going on in y'alls' lives! Spread some Christmas cheer by emailing a missionary or two ;)
Lovely quote:
"Life can be difficult, and hard times can threaten our faith. When we confront trial and tragedy, we may wonder if our faith in God’s Son is a vain hope. But trials are designed to draw us toward the Savior so that He can make us better able to lift others to Him. As we share the “good cheer” (3 Nephi 1:13) of His coming, we lift heads and soften hearts. I promise that the day will come, if it has not already, when your faith in His coming will be confirmed. That will be a happy day. Christmas is a time of love, hope, and joy. It is also a time of gratitude and reflection. During Christmas we make new memories and relive old ones. We miss family and friends who have passed on. We wonder where the years have gone and what the new year will bring. And in the midst of our reverie, we give gratitude to God for the glorious gift called 'Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.'” (Isaiah 9:6)." -- President Henry B. Eyring
And as the song says, "May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmases be white!" (Imagine it sung by Michael Buble.)
Hermana Anderson
Photos: caroling (1st photo)! temple! photos with the cutest family ever that we are teaching and with some awesome members!
Week 22: Thanksgiving every day
Hey y'all!
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving this week! Over here, it's starting to heat up because the weather in the Southern Hemisphere is opposite; so it's going to start getting cold in May next year! I am going to be sad to miss Thanksgiving with my family, but here the members of the Church are so sweet and feed us like it's Thanksgiving every day! A blessing and a curse ha ha!
Last week we went to a place with a bunch of touristy stuff to buy and they had fake alpacas with real alpaca fur that was the softest thing I have ever felt (photo below)!!
This week was good! It felt long but also very short? I am starting to feel a little bit more comfortable in my area and knowing the people here!
Definitely crazy that this week I will hit 5 MONTHS on the mission! It seems like a short time in the grand scheme of things, yet I can't believe that around this time next year I will be getting ready to go home!
MILAGRO THIS WEEK! We have been trying hard to find people who want to hear our message by getting to know and having lil lessons with members! Yesterday, this sweet lil old lady told us about a family she lives with; we shared a message with them and, y'all, they are SO COOL! Super cute family and they are definitely the people who are the most interested in our message that I have met so far on my mission! Literally a golden referral, and we feel so honored to have the responsibility in this little area of Peru to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and to help people to change their lives!
Luke 15:4-6:
"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost."
Love
Hermana Anderson
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving this week! Over here, it's starting to heat up because the weather in the Southern Hemisphere is opposite; so it's going to start getting cold in May next year! I am going to be sad to miss Thanksgiving with my family, but here the members of the Church are so sweet and feed us like it's Thanksgiving every day! A blessing and a curse ha ha!
Last week we went to a place with a bunch of touristy stuff to buy and they had fake alpacas with real alpaca fur that was the softest thing I have ever felt (photo below)!!
This week was good! It felt long but also very short? I am starting to feel a little bit more comfortable in my area and knowing the people here!
Definitely crazy that this week I will hit 5 MONTHS on the mission! It seems like a short time in the grand scheme of things, yet I can't believe that around this time next year I will be getting ready to go home!
MILAGRO THIS WEEK! We have been trying hard to find people who want to hear our message by getting to know and having lil lessons with members! Yesterday, this sweet lil old lady told us about a family she lives with; we shared a message with them and, y'all, they are SO COOL! Super cute family and they are definitely the people who are the most interested in our message that I have met so far on my mission! Literally a golden referral, and we feel so honored to have the responsibility in this little area of Peru to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and to help people to change their lives!
Luke 15:4-6:
"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost."
Love
Hermana Anderson
Nov. 7, 2022 update: Weeks 19 & 20 -- The rumors are true!
¡Hola, buenas tardes!
I am in PERU! It has been a wild ride... a wild adjustment for sure. A part of my heart will always be in the California Sacramento Mission, for sure! Sadly, I am not quite fluent in Spanish just yet ha ha. People talk very quickly, but I can understand about 70% of what's going on!
Fun facts about the week:
- Everything my mom told me about Peru is true. It's so crazy to think about being in the same area where my mother grew up (full-circle kinda moment).
- So many dogs! Some are cute-ish, but the majority are quite mangy.
- The traffic reminds me of ants, all going as fast as they can and winding around each other and paying zero heed to pedestrians.
- There are a million small stores where you just look through a window at what they have to sell, then you ask them for it and give them the money. They're actually so handy and convenient!
- Everyone is friendly! Every single person we pass by, we exchange "Buenos dias! Como esta?" It surprises me every time.
- I got pooped on by a bird!
- The members of the Church here are so lovely and missionary minded! They share stories of how living the gospel has blessed their lives, and they give us a lottt of food!
- We have a pensionista who makes us lunch Tues.-Fri. The first time we got food from her, there was so much pet hair in the food!! Ever since then, it hasn´t been too bad, but yeah.
- Look up "Mototaxi Peru." I rode in one of those today on the way to a store, and I cannot believe they are street legal ha ha.
- My companion, Sister Rich (pictured), is also from the United States, and we're like the only companionship in the mission that is two gringos ha ha. It's nice to be able to talk in English, yet we also wonder how much we're missing in conversations.
- I have had some amazing food including: lomo saltado y ceviche y papa la huancaina y aji de gallina.
A scripture that was a highlight for me during my last week in Sacramento was Alma 36:27 - "And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in Him, and He will still deliver me."
I do trust in God, that He needs me here in this mission for a reason. It can be hard at times to remember, yet I am grateful for the many blessings I have and the wonderful miracles I have seen thus far. I am so grateful for my time I spent in Sacramento, for all the wonderful people I met. Sacramento also helped me so much to learn how to be a missionary. Honestly, the work is the same all over the world!
Love y'all so much! (I think I will say "y'all" forever after my time in the Cal Sac mission.) Let me know what is going on in your lives and advice about adjusting to missions (especially reassignments ha ha). I hope you have a wonderful week!
Ciao,
Hermana Anderson
I am in PERU! It has been a wild ride... a wild adjustment for sure. A part of my heart will always be in the California Sacramento Mission, for sure! Sadly, I am not quite fluent in Spanish just yet ha ha. People talk very quickly, but I can understand about 70% of what's going on!
Fun facts about the week:
- Everything my mom told me about Peru is true. It's so crazy to think about being in the same area where my mother grew up (full-circle kinda moment).
- So many dogs! Some are cute-ish, but the majority are quite mangy.
- The traffic reminds me of ants, all going as fast as they can and winding around each other and paying zero heed to pedestrians.
- There are a million small stores where you just look through a window at what they have to sell, then you ask them for it and give them the money. They're actually so handy and convenient!
- Everyone is friendly! Every single person we pass by, we exchange "Buenos dias! Como esta?" It surprises me every time.
- I got pooped on by a bird!
- The members of the Church here are so lovely and missionary minded! They share stories of how living the gospel has blessed their lives, and they give us a lottt of food!
- We have a pensionista who makes us lunch Tues.-Fri. The first time we got food from her, there was so much pet hair in the food!! Ever since then, it hasn´t been too bad, but yeah.
- Look up "Mototaxi Peru." I rode in one of those today on the way to a store, and I cannot believe they are street legal ha ha.
- My companion, Sister Rich (pictured), is also from the United States, and we're like the only companionship in the mission that is two gringos ha ha. It's nice to be able to talk in English, yet we also wonder how much we're missing in conversations.
- I have had some amazing food including: lomo saltado y ceviche y papa la huancaina y aji de gallina.
A scripture that was a highlight for me during my last week in Sacramento was Alma 36:27 - "And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in Him, and He will still deliver me."
I do trust in God, that He needs me here in this mission for a reason. It can be hard at times to remember, yet I am grateful for the many blessings I have and the wonderful miracles I have seen thus far. I am so grateful for my time I spent in Sacramento, for all the wonderful people I met. Sacramento also helped me so much to learn how to be a missionary. Honestly, the work is the same all over the world!
Love y'all so much! (I think I will say "y'all" forever after my time in the Cal Sac mission.) Let me know what is going on in your lives and advice about adjusting to missions (especially reassignments ha ha). I hope you have a wonderful week!
Ciao,
Hermana Anderson
Week 17: Popping the question
Buenos tardes!
It was such a good week this past week here in Tracy, California!
We put our friend, Audrey, on date for baptism! We popped the question this past week! She is the one we painted a Book of Mormon for last week! Part of her family was baptized a few months ago, but she was out of town, and she is so excited to be baptized!
We went on exchanges with the STLs and had the most chaotic time! We gave out three copies of the Book of Mormon and
also had zone conference, which was wonderful... my last conference with President and Sister Zimmerman! At zone conference, the assistants to the president talked about how there are so many people who are prepared and want to accept the gospel and their Savior; we just have to extend the invitation to be baptized! We put Audrey on date the day after; we really took their invite to heart! Recently my favorite scripture about baptism is Alma 7:14-16. In a world where it is so easy to fall victim to being angry, judgmental, and just unkind in general, we can draw on our covenant relationship with Christ to become more like Him!
Email me what you're going to be for Halloween! Or tips for learning Spanish! And continued tips for being a trainer!
Hope y'all have an amazing week!
Hermana Anderson
Pics: Above: The district including me and my companion Hermana Walsh--We played throw throw burrito, the best P-day ever! Below: Spanish Book of Mormon study!
It was such a good week this past week here in Tracy, California!
We put our friend, Audrey, on date for baptism! We popped the question this past week! She is the one we painted a Book of Mormon for last week! Part of her family was baptized a few months ago, but she was out of town, and she is so excited to be baptized!
We went on exchanges with the STLs and had the most chaotic time! We gave out three copies of the Book of Mormon and
also had zone conference, which was wonderful... my last conference with President and Sister Zimmerman! At zone conference, the assistants to the president talked about how there are so many people who are prepared and want to accept the gospel and their Savior; we just have to extend the invitation to be baptized! We put Audrey on date the day after; we really took their invite to heart! Recently my favorite scripture about baptism is Alma 7:14-16. In a world where it is so easy to fall victim to being angry, judgmental, and just unkind in general, we can draw on our covenant relationship with Christ to become more like Him!
Email me what you're going to be for Halloween! Or tips for learning Spanish! And continued tips for being a trainer!
Hope y'all have an amazing week!
Hermana Anderson
Pics: Above: The district including me and my companion Hermana Walsh--We played throw throw burrito, the best P-day ever! Below: Spanish Book of Mormon study!
Week 16: Missions make you tough, but they also make you soft!
Hi y'all!
Note about my visa: I fly out on Halloween! I fly first to L.A., then to Lima!
This week flew by! We had interviews with President and Sister Zimmerman, and that was awesome! But on the way there a car merged into my lane, at a time when I was slightly distracted and had one hand on the wheel, and it almost crashed into us! Somehow I swerved off the road just in time. Hermana Walsh and I were screaming, but we were definitely protected by angels! Missionaries are definitely some of the most prayed-for people in the world! And I definitely feel the blessings of those prayers!
We have been painting a few copies of the Book of Mormon to personalize them for a few people we are hoping to teach, and it was super sweet giving out our first one this past week!
About the subject line above, I feel that every day I face opposition and trials that make me stronger, yet I also have been growing in love for the people I have been serving here in Tracy. The other day one of our friends, who we found my first day here!!, told us about the challenges she's been facing and I started crying with her?! Anyone who knows me knows I don't cry easily... at least not in front of people I don't know very well. I have been praying a lot to be able to develop love for these people, and it surprised me to realize how much I care for her individually, as well as others I come in contact with every day! So my heart has been toughened and roughened to withstand the hard things, yet softened at the same time to empathize with those I meet. Missions are incredible.
Mosiah 5:2
Alma 34:40-41
Alma 36:27
Con amor!
Hermana Anderson
Note about my visa: I fly out on Halloween! I fly first to L.A., then to Lima!
This week flew by! We had interviews with President and Sister Zimmerman, and that was awesome! But on the way there a car merged into my lane, at a time when I was slightly distracted and had one hand on the wheel, and it almost crashed into us! Somehow I swerved off the road just in time. Hermana Walsh and I were screaming, but we were definitely protected by angels! Missionaries are definitely some of the most prayed-for people in the world! And I definitely feel the blessings of those prayers!
We have been painting a few copies of the Book of Mormon to personalize them for a few people we are hoping to teach, and it was super sweet giving out our first one this past week!
About the subject line above, I feel that every day I face opposition and trials that make me stronger, yet I also have been growing in love for the people I have been serving here in Tracy. The other day one of our friends, who we found my first day here!!, told us about the challenges she's been facing and I started crying with her?! Anyone who knows me knows I don't cry easily... at least not in front of people I don't know very well. I have been praying a lot to be able to develop love for these people, and it surprised me to realize how much I care for her individually, as well as others I come in contact with every day! So my heart has been toughened and roughened to withstand the hard things, yet softened at the same time to empathize with those I meet. Missions are incredible.
Mosiah 5:2
Alma 34:40-41
Alma 36:27
Con amor!
Hermana Anderson
Week 14: Life is a highway, filled with potholes and crazy California drivers!
Hola!
Thank you so much for all the heartfelt advice or life updates! It has definitely been one of the toughest weeks of my mission so far!! So I would love/appreciate your thoughts and hearing about your adventures!
John's baptism was so wonderful! I'm so happy for him! He is such a Christ-like person! I feel that I learn so much from the people I meet!
I'm so grateful for my trainee, Hermana Walsh! She is so incredible! Definitely landed here on crazy week with planning the baptism and everything, but she's hit the ground running!
There were quite a few little tender mercies that happened this week that touched my heart and reignited my love for missionary work! One was getting to paint flowers on rocks for the yard of a sweet lady. Another was all your sweet emails :') (Sorry, this week I was quite stressed and didn't get the chance to write people back. I'm making a goal to catch up this week!) Yet another was crocheting, of course. And one of my STL's brought me an extra Spanish "choose the right" ring that she found (I lost mine from the MTC), and so I literally cried!
1 Nephi 3:7: And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save He shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which He commandeth them.
Pressing forward!
Hermana Anderson
Thank you so much for all the heartfelt advice or life updates! It has definitely been one of the toughest weeks of my mission so far!! So I would love/appreciate your thoughts and hearing about your adventures!
John's baptism was so wonderful! I'm so happy for him! He is such a Christ-like person! I feel that I learn so much from the people I meet!
I'm so grateful for my trainee, Hermana Walsh! She is so incredible! Definitely landed here on crazy week with planning the baptism and everything, but she's hit the ground running!
There were quite a few little tender mercies that happened this week that touched my heart and reignited my love for missionary work! One was getting to paint flowers on rocks for the yard of a sweet lady. Another was all your sweet emails :') (Sorry, this week I was quite stressed and didn't get the chance to write people back. I'm making a goal to catch up this week!) Yet another was crocheting, of course. And one of my STL's brought me an extra Spanish "choose the right" ring that she found (I lost mine from the MTC), and so I literally cried!
1 Nephi 3:7: And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save He shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which He commandeth them.
Pressing forward!
Hermana Anderson
Week 13: I am an expectant mother!
AHSGGSHAGAGAHHS! OK! That was my mental reaction when I was asked to be a trainer after having completed only one transfer (six weeks!). Normally missionaries are "in training" for 12 weeks, which means they get some extra study time, etc. Not every missionary gets the opportunity to train a brand-new missionary; fewer still are asked after two transfers, and rarer still after one! It's a huge responsibility, so I'm quite nervous and would love to hear any advice, yet I'm super excited to be a trainer! I will meet my new companion tomorrow! She is also a reassigned hermana. And my trainer is going to be a sister training leader!
This week was a slam dunk! John is doing incredibly and is super excited for his baptism on Saturday! The past few days we've given out so many copies of the Book of Mormon (and in Spanish too!). We met this woman named Lucia at a lesson we were having with her friend who is a member. Lucia speaks mostly Spanish, so I full sent it and spoke Spanish and went off the lesson plan a bit and taught her the entire restoration! We have another lesson this week, but we'll probably have to pass her off to the missionaries who are assigned here (Spanish-speaking) :( But I love her and am so happy that the gospel can bring more peace into her life!
A TANGENT: Thank you to all who send me emails. They honestly brighten my day! I get so excited to hear a 'lil bit about your lives, and it strengthens me when I'm down! Also I had to type out all the emails on my phone this week because I didn't have access to a computer to be able to copy/paste them; seeing all your names and emails made me so grateful for each of you, especially for being willing to hear my weekly spiel!
It rained this week! Everyone has been so grateful, because of this ongoing drought! It's been kinda humid, but the weather has been much cooler than last week! It was super windy as well! But we've heard the temperature's supposed to climb back up next week, so we're enjoying it while it lasts!
Spiritual moment: Helaman 5:12 is so good every time I read it! When life is crazy and whirlwinds are constantly trying to sweep us away, we can always rely on the Savior to be our anchor and our sure foundation in the storm! Through faith in Him we may draw our strength to endure to the end!
Until next week!
Hermana Anderson
Pics: Me + Sister Arnell; Manteca zone (All the elders put their arms around each other, so that is not the sisters' hands on their shoulders hahaha)
This week was a slam dunk! John is doing incredibly and is super excited for his baptism on Saturday! The past few days we've given out so many copies of the Book of Mormon (and in Spanish too!). We met this woman named Lucia at a lesson we were having with her friend who is a member. Lucia speaks mostly Spanish, so I full sent it and spoke Spanish and went off the lesson plan a bit and taught her the entire restoration! We have another lesson this week, but we'll probably have to pass her off to the missionaries who are assigned here (Spanish-speaking) :( But I love her and am so happy that the gospel can bring more peace into her life!
A TANGENT: Thank you to all who send me emails. They honestly brighten my day! I get so excited to hear a 'lil bit about your lives, and it strengthens me when I'm down! Also I had to type out all the emails on my phone this week because I didn't have access to a computer to be able to copy/paste them; seeing all your names and emails made me so grateful for each of you, especially for being willing to hear my weekly spiel!
It rained this week! Everyone has been so grateful, because of this ongoing drought! It's been kinda humid, but the weather has been much cooler than last week! It was super windy as well! But we've heard the temperature's supposed to climb back up next week, so we're enjoying it while it lasts!
Spiritual moment: Helaman 5:12 is so good every time I read it! When life is crazy and whirlwinds are constantly trying to sweep us away, we can always rely on the Savior to be our anchor and our sure foundation in the storm! Through faith in Him we may draw our strength to endure to the end!
Until next week!
Hermana Anderson
Pics: Me + Sister Arnell; Manteca zone (All the elders put their arms around each other, so that is not the sisters' hands on their shoulders hahaha)
September 13, 2022 letter -- Week 12: Crochet master
Hey hey hey!
This was a good week! Today Hermana Schofield taught me how to crochet, so I've got a new favorite pastime! She crocheted a jacket for this little plastic dinosaur toy she brings from apartment to apartment, and we named him Herb! I don't have a picture of Herb, but maybe next week!
We had interviews with our mission president. He is the best! He talked to our whole Manteca Zone for a little while before and kinda called me out and said, "All of you think Hermana Anderson is here because of the visa work. But you are wrong; the real reason that she is here is because the Lord wants her to be here!" It was super powerful! It's kinda awkward explaining the temporary reassignment sometimes and people seem to feel sorry for me. But the Spirit just confirmed to me that I will be here as long as the Savior needs me to be here! I love the Sacramento California mission!
We had exchanges again and I was with Sister Sanft! We had a blast together! We taught the word of wisdom to John, and we were nervous to tell him that he needed to give up coffee, as he is preparing to be baptized. But he said, "That won't be hard at all!" I'm so excited for him to see the blessings that come as he comes closer to the Savior! The word of wisdom, to me, is really a guideline to be able to take care of our bodies and minds! Not smoking, not drinking alcohol or coffee, and not partaking of other substances will obviously keep our bodies healthy, but I believe that it is also important so that we are always in control of ourselves and our choices! That way one could always be in a state of mind to be able to feel the Spirit!
One funny event: We planned to go make emapanadas with Sara (a sweet, awesome girl who was baptized a few months ago), so we ate a big dinner beforehand in case we wouldn't have time to eat the empanadas we made. But when we got there, the empanadas were all done, and we ended up having dinner again! I was so full, but they were delicious! I smuggled and brought home half of an empanada I couldn't finish!
The past week we had some days with record-breaking heat! Well, basically ordinary AZ summer days ha ha. We barely made it to 112 (and there was a nice breeze!). But everyone we talked to was so kind and asked how we were doing and offered us water! #nicepeoplearethebest
Sincerely,
Hermana Anderson
This was a good week! Today Hermana Schofield taught me how to crochet, so I've got a new favorite pastime! She crocheted a jacket for this little plastic dinosaur toy she brings from apartment to apartment, and we named him Herb! I don't have a picture of Herb, but maybe next week!
We had interviews with our mission president. He is the best! He talked to our whole Manteca Zone for a little while before and kinda called me out and said, "All of you think Hermana Anderson is here because of the visa work. But you are wrong; the real reason that she is here is because the Lord wants her to be here!" It was super powerful! It's kinda awkward explaining the temporary reassignment sometimes and people seem to feel sorry for me. But the Spirit just confirmed to me that I will be here as long as the Savior needs me to be here! I love the Sacramento California mission!
We had exchanges again and I was with Sister Sanft! We had a blast together! We taught the word of wisdom to John, and we were nervous to tell him that he needed to give up coffee, as he is preparing to be baptized. But he said, "That won't be hard at all!" I'm so excited for him to see the blessings that come as he comes closer to the Savior! The word of wisdom, to me, is really a guideline to be able to take care of our bodies and minds! Not smoking, not drinking alcohol or coffee, and not partaking of other substances will obviously keep our bodies healthy, but I believe that it is also important so that we are always in control of ourselves and our choices! That way one could always be in a state of mind to be able to feel the Spirit!
One funny event: We planned to go make emapanadas with Sara (a sweet, awesome girl who was baptized a few months ago), so we ate a big dinner beforehand in case we wouldn't have time to eat the empanadas we made. But when we got there, the empanadas were all done, and we ended up having dinner again! I was so full, but they were delicious! I smuggled and brought home half of an empanada I couldn't finish!
The past week we had some days with record-breaking heat! Well, basically ordinary AZ summer days ha ha. We barely made it to 112 (and there was a nice breeze!). But everyone we talked to was so kind and asked how we were doing and offered us water! #nicepeoplearethebest
Sincerely,
Hermana Anderson
August 16, 2022 letter -- Guau (pronounced gwow) donde estan las montañas?
Hey everybody!!!
Last week at the MTC was great! It was fun getting excited to go to the field, and finally leave the MTC cafeteria food behind jajaja! But I miss my MTC district! Los aprecio mucho con todo mi amor!
This first week in California has been great! Definitely a rollercoaster of emotions! When we landed in California, I looked around and could not see any mountains for the first time in my life! It's a lot like Arizona but with lots of random tall trees! President and Sister Zimmerman are so wonderful and welcoming. I love them so much!
I'm in the Tracy/Hidden Lake area, which is English speaking! Don't worry, I still get time every day to study to keep up our Spanish, and we live in an apartment with two Spanish-speaking missionaries, Hermana Sanchez and Hermana Schofield! They are super nice, and we speak Spanish and practice a lil bit every day! I love my trainer, Sister Arnell (pictured in top two photos with this letter)! I've taught her some Spanish phrases already (like the classic "No me digas!"). It was her birthday yesterday, and we got so many goodies! She has been on the mission for almost 1 year!
Today we did an activity with all the missionaries in our zone: We had marshmallow gun wars! Afterwards, Sister Arnell, I, and the hermanas got some In-N-Out Burger food, and it was awesome!
One highlight from the week, besides Sister Arnell's birthday celebration, was a lesson we had where we discussed tender mercies -- finding the little miracles every day that help us to feel God's love. It was such a spiritual lesson! God loves everyone!
Email me with mission advice, [reports on] how your lives are going, some tender mercies you've seen this week, or any pretty pictures of mountains!
1 Nephi 13:37
Adios,
Hermana Anderson
Last week at the MTC was great! It was fun getting excited to go to the field, and finally leave the MTC cafeteria food behind jajaja! But I miss my MTC district! Los aprecio mucho con todo mi amor!
This first week in California has been great! Definitely a rollercoaster of emotions! When we landed in California, I looked around and could not see any mountains for the first time in my life! It's a lot like Arizona but with lots of random tall trees! President and Sister Zimmerman are so wonderful and welcoming. I love them so much!
I'm in the Tracy/Hidden Lake area, which is English speaking! Don't worry, I still get time every day to study to keep up our Spanish, and we live in an apartment with two Spanish-speaking missionaries, Hermana Sanchez and Hermana Schofield! They are super nice, and we speak Spanish and practice a lil bit every day! I love my trainer, Sister Arnell (pictured in top two photos with this letter)! I've taught her some Spanish phrases already (like the classic "No me digas!"). It was her birthday yesterday, and we got so many goodies! She has been on the mission for almost 1 year!
Today we did an activity with all the missionaries in our zone: We had marshmallow gun wars! Afterwards, Sister Arnell, I, and the hermanas got some In-N-Out Burger food, and it was awesome!
One highlight from the week, besides Sister Arnell's birthday celebration, was a lesson we had where we discussed tender mercies -- finding the little miracles every day that help us to feel God's love. It was such a spiritual lesson! God loves everyone!
Email me with mission advice, [reports on] how your lives are going, some tender mercies you've seen this week, or any pretty pictures of mountains!
1 Nephi 13:37
Adios,
Hermana Anderson
August 3, 2022 letter -- Week 6: Surfin' USA
Bienvenidos!
I received my temporary reassignment to the California Sacramento mission (hence the title of this email ha ha)! I'm super excited! I fly out next Tuesday to Cali (unless I were to receive my visa before Friday)!
This week has gone by so fast! One of our teachers had his last week at the MTC as a teacher, and it was sad to say bye, but our new teacher is nice!
This week we have been challenged to speak Spanish 24/7 (speak your language!), which has been fun, but Hermana Burbank and I have forgotten and spoken English so many times! We've promised to be better from now on, so we'll see how it goes!
One night around 9:40 pm, the fire alarm in our dorm building went off. There was no fire, but it was pretty exciting to evacuate, and everybody was taking photos in the light of the police cars. 🤣
I'm excited to get out and begin serving the people of California or maybe Peru!
I really enjoyed participating in the choir. The last song we sang was "Where Can I Turn For Peace?" And I really loved it so much! We had about 500 missionaries in the choir singing, and it was beautiful! I know we can turn to the gospel of Jesus Christ to find peace! There have definitely been times at the MTC where I have felt exhaustion, stress, and pain in my soul, and the only way I have felt peace is by turning to Him! It doesn't always come instantly, but it calms my troubled heart and comes in a personally meaningful way!
I received my temporary reassignment to the California Sacramento mission (hence the title of this email ha ha)! I'm super excited! I fly out next Tuesday to Cali (unless I were to receive my visa before Friday)!
This week has gone by so fast! One of our teachers had his last week at the MTC as a teacher, and it was sad to say bye, but our new teacher is nice!
This week we have been challenged to speak Spanish 24/7 (speak your language!), which has been fun, but Hermana Burbank and I have forgotten and spoken English so many times! We've promised to be better from now on, so we'll see how it goes!
One night around 9:40 pm, the fire alarm in our dorm building went off. There was no fire, but it was pretty exciting to evacuate, and everybody was taking photos in the light of the police cars. 🤣
I'm excited to get out and begin serving the people of California or maybe Peru!
I really enjoyed participating in the choir. The last song we sang was "Where Can I Turn For Peace?" And I really loved it so much! We had about 500 missionaries in the choir singing, and it was beautiful! I know we can turn to the gospel of Jesus Christ to find peace! There have definitely been times at the MTC where I have felt exhaustion, stress, and pain in my soul, and the only way I have felt peace is by turning to Him! It doesn't always come instantly, but it calms my troubled heart and comes in a personally meaningful way!
July 27, 2022 letter, still at Provo MTC: Officially been a missionary for a month?!
Hey hey hey!
This week has had ups and downs.
Ups include seeing good friends like Brother Ensign, Hermana Palmer, Elder Burton, and Hermana Davidson around campus! It's been so fun to be able to learn Spanish and play volleyball and go to the temple alongside my district! I love them so much!
But this is the last week for one of my teachers. We're getting a different one for the last week, and we are so sad! But it'll be OK! It just makes it more real that we're going to be heading out to the field super soon! More visas are coming in, so crossing my fingers I'll be able to head straight to Peru!
A highlight of this week was the devotional! I sang in the choir, and the choir director was hilarious! The person who spoke at the devotional, Elder LeGrand Curtis, is in charge of the filming of the Book of Mormon videos. He showed us some sneak peeks, and they were wonderful!
Also my wonderful FHE group sent me a care package that made me so happy, I literally can't shut up about it!! Shoutout to those who put it together/contributed. Love you mucho!!
Adios for now!
Hermana Anderson
This week has had ups and downs.
Ups include seeing good friends like Brother Ensign, Hermana Palmer, Elder Burton, and Hermana Davidson around campus! It's been so fun to be able to learn Spanish and play volleyball and go to the temple alongside my district! I love them so much!
But this is the last week for one of my teachers. We're getting a different one for the last week, and we are so sad! But it'll be OK! It just makes it more real that we're going to be heading out to the field super soon! More visas are coming in, so crossing my fingers I'll be able to head straight to Peru!
A highlight of this week was the devotional! I sang in the choir, and the choir director was hilarious! The person who spoke at the devotional, Elder LeGrand Curtis, is in charge of the filming of the Book of Mormon videos. He showed us some sneak peeks, and they were wonderful!
Also my wonderful FHE group sent me a care package that made me so happy, I literally can't shut up about it!! Shoutout to those who put it together/contributed. Love you mucho!!
Adios for now!
Hermana Anderson
July 20, 2022 -- Letter while at the Provo MTC
Hola a todos!
Last week was super crazy! I woke up at 3 to get to the airport for my 6 a.m. flight. The highlights were that one of the flight attendants was a member of the Church as well (his son went to Nigeria!), and the lady sitting next to me was flying with her pet, a tiny white doggy! It was super cute and didn't bark at all, although it almost escaped once! I was rooting for it to escape but alas.
When I arrived, it was fun to meet my district and my companion (I LOVE HER SO MUCH) in person! We have gotten super close already. Also I love my teachers; they are so sweet!
I love speaking in Spanish all the time! I am not great, but I am able to help out my fellow district members, and I feel like struggling and learning together has helped me, I am definitely improving!
My first day here I saw five friends and it made me so happy on what was a fun and exhausting day! The week has been more of the same: We keep busy but always have a blast!
Love,
Hermana Anderson
Last week was super crazy! I woke up at 3 to get to the airport for my 6 a.m. flight. The highlights were that one of the flight attendants was a member of the Church as well (his son went to Nigeria!), and the lady sitting next to me was flying with her pet, a tiny white doggy! It was super cute and didn't bark at all, although it almost escaped once! I was rooting for it to escape but alas.
When I arrived, it was fun to meet my district and my companion (I LOVE HER SO MUCH) in person! We have gotten super close already. Also I love my teachers; they are so sweet!
I love speaking in Spanish all the time! I am not great, but I am able to help out my fellow district members, and I feel like struggling and learning together has helped me, I am definitely improving!
My first day here I saw five friends and it made me so happy on what was a fun and exhausting day! The week has been more of the same: We keep busy but always have a blast!
Love,
Hermana Anderson