Alma 13:24

Okay this week was great!

So Monday we went to our dinner appointment to this 82 year old named Buffy. She had been on a walk earlier in the day and met this family and invited them to dinner and they came! So we had dinner with 4 nonmembers literally just off the street. So Irma is the mom, Karen is 15, Carolina is 10 and Jasmine is 8 :) Perfect right? As we were talking the Spirit told me that we needed to teach them the Restoration. Well Sister Martin and I haven't had a chance to do that yet... But we did, well I did (she didn't really help me out but that's okay) and that lesson was so powerful. As I was talking about Joseph Smith, the Spirit was so strong. I could literally feel it enter the room as I recited the First Vision. I could tell they were all touched by it. It was actually quite amazing. Karen, the 15 year old, said that she had never heard anything like that, but she thought it was amazing. We met with them again a few days later, gave them a church tour so they were familiar with it, and taught them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and committed them to be baptized on May 17th :) I honestly feel like they will be able to make that date. They came to church yesterday and they made so many friends! We have been praying for miracles to happen and I know that this was a miracle that Heavenly Father let us be a part of because we are being obedient and working hard. It was just another testament to me of what can happen when you OPEN YOUR MOUTH! All Buffy did was invite them to dinner, and since their hearts were prepared, like it says in Alma 13:24, they accepted and they were able to learn about the truth that is here on the earth. But that would have never happened if she wouldn't have followed the promptings she got and opened her mouth.

We also found this recent convert named Latisha. She had been baptized into a different ward, then kinda dropped. She never had home teachers or visiting teachers or anyone come over after she had been baptized so she was super lost and she said she was going to leave the church if no one came over, then we showed up! So that was an answer to her prayers. And she also has a 21 year old daughter named Ashley that we are teaching as well :) We have been beyond blessed this week!

We were blessed in other ways too.. One night we got 2 dinners! Okay so not so blessed because I literally thought I was going to blow up. We were driving around during the day and got hungry, so we went and got some fries and a shake.. Then our dinner was sick so they brought us dinner which was Carls Jr., then we went to an appointment and they fed us dinner too! I seriously felt so sick. I didn't eat anything the next day and I totally lost my appetite. That's only the second time on my mission that we had 2 dinners but I hope it never happens again haha.

Sister Martin and I are getting along great. We are totally different but she's pretty cool. She is still having a hard time talking to people but we are working on it! I am forcing her to talk to people haha. But she had never gotten gas before.. and acts like she has never used a phone.. So one day for comp study I showed her how to get gas and how to use the phone. It was pretty funny haha I was laughing so hard.

We also did Mormon Helping Hands this week and painted a fence at the community pool. It was pretty fun and we got black paint allll over our hands. I looked like Grandpa Byron when he gets home from doing a roof! It was all up in my fingernails and everything. We got to wear the yellow vests that you always see so we all felt pretty cool :) It was good to get out and to let people see Mormons doing good things!

Well thats about it! We are safe :) The only freaky thing was that we talked to a man who had just gotten out of jail the day before and he had a 5150 tatoo on his neck.. So that was cool. Haha but no we are safe! Actually Sister Martin's home got broken into this past week and her sister called her and told her, so that night we were kinda freaked out and didn't go to sleep until like 12:30. But other than that everything is good!

I know that angles are preparing the hearts of MANY at this time in OUR land! We need to do our part and open our mouths and INVITE them to learn more about the truth that we are so blessed to have in our lives. I am so glad I get to be out here helping people learn about the truth. There is nowhere else I would rather be right now than Hemet California! Haha :) Love you all and have a great week!

Sister Anderson :)

Because of Him

So what's up!?

This week was better than last week.

We were able to go to the temple this week, which is always a huge blessing. I love that beautiful place. Plus going to the temple means going to Cafe Rio after! The only one is up by the temple so that is always a plus :) We also got to have our last interview with President Smart before he goes home :( I will seriously miss that man. He has been such a great example and leader!

So we are still trying to find people, but our two main investigators, Wesley and Leo are pretty golden. Welsey didn't get baptized this last week, but we are shooting for the 3rd of May. Leo is working on quitting smoking and hopefully that will be by May 8th. So May will be a good month. Also cause we get to SKYPE and it's my BIRTHDAY and I'm turning 20! In case you forgot ;)

Things with Sister Martin and I are good. We get along which is good, I still feel like i am babysitting a little bit... But thats okay :) She reminds me of the guy on the best 2 years.. "should i write that down?" she writes everything down that I tell her! It's kinda funny but whatever works! It's still a little weird that everything is on me.. and it's weird, there are times where i can feel that she isn't set apart, and i think she can too. It's crazy what power that gives us as missionaries to honestly say that we are representing the Lord for these short 18 months. I mean I am already almost at 11.. that is insane to me!

Easter was good! We had dinner at our bishop's home. He is pretty intimidating but he gets things done so I can't complain.. But Easter is such a good time to reflect on life and especially about Christ. It's sad that we need to be reminded to do so, but we are human and don't think straight sometimes! We have been sharing an Easter video with everyone called Because of Him. It's actually really good. The church is so good at making videos! But you should all check it out, then share it on your Facebook page :) you can find it on Mormon.org!

Really though I thought a lot about Easter and the meaning of it this year. What a miracle that was that our Savior was able to raise from the dead and be able to be resurrected. And because He did that, we will all be able to as well. Because of Him we have eternal families. Because of Him we can live again. Because of Him we will see those who have passed on again. Because of Him we are happy! We are so blessed to have this beautiful gospel in our lives and we are selfish if we are not sharing it! :) So go share it!

Everything else seems to be going good. We feel safe and we have been going home early if we have nothing going on, President told us to do that so we are safe. A member told us this week that the state of California pays the city of Hemet to send all the prisoners that they dont have room for here. So that was comforting.... Don't worry, we are safe :)

Sorry this is a shorty! Our emailing situation is super messed up and we have to be done so the dumb elders can email. Haha have a good week and be safe!

Sister Anderson

#BecauseofHim

Double Time

Alright everybody!

This week was rough rough rough! It's always interesting getting doubled into an area, always kinda hard to pick things up, but this week will be better!

So I am in the straight up GHETTO. It's awesome. There are so many people here that need the gospel! There is beyond a lot of work to do.

So my comp, Sister Martin, is a little different.. She went to the MTC and tore her ACL so she had to come home for surgery. So until then, which is in June, she is my companion! But she isn't set apart so legally she's not a real missionary.. So I'm doing everything kinda alone! She is a great girl, a little strange.. She talks to herself.. but everyone has their own quirks i guess. She is really nervous to talk to people and to talk in lessons, so we are quickly working on that, but I do have a lot of respect for her because she doesn't have to be doing this while she is waiting for surgery, she chose to, so that shows a lot about her desire to serve! 

So the YSA ward..... Probably the worst thing about my whole mission.. HAHA it's SO AWKWARD. There are like 20 people who actually go and it's just extremely awkward. That'll be a challenge... But I think we can make it fun.

The other ward we are in is really good and was really welcoming! The bishop is awesome and is really missionary minded so that's a plus. However, two wards means double faces, double names, double meetings, double responsibilities, and double church. we were are church from 8-4:30 yesterday so I NEVER want to hear another complaint of how long church is. That was the longest day of my life! 

We have a couple investigators, Leo who is on date for May 8th and Wesley who is on date for this weekend! Hopefully that goes through, we'll see. But there is definitely a lot of work to do around here. Since there are so many black people I started acting black... I've also decided that I'm super white and from Utah which isn't really that exciting... So I'm going to start saying I'm from Denmark or something so I dont keep getting this "oh of course" response when I say I'm from Utah haha. 

I am so glad I get to be in this area, there are so many lost souls here that NEED the gospel. I am excited to find them and to help them truly find Christ. I know I have been sent here to find those who have been prepared for me! Even though it was hard to leave Corona, I am excited for this new change and new people to work with. The Lord is good! He LIVES! Have a GREAT Easter and know that I am doing what my Heavenly Father wants me to do. I love you all!

Sister Anderson :)

p.s. sorry i couldnt send pictures this week! the computer was going crazy. but i will next week! 

Bye Bye Corona :(

Hey heeeey

OKAY so lets get down to the nitty gritty....

I got transferred!

Actually.. We both did! Crazy right? We didn't see that coming at all! But Cho is going to Menifee and I am going to Hemet which is basically straight up GHETTO. Oh and I'm covering a young single adult ward. Shoot me in the face. I was praying to never be in a YSA ward but apparently the Lord has other ideas! We are both super sad to leave but we are excited as well to have a fresh start and a change. SO my companion... This is the weirdest thing ever. She lives in the mission! She got her call to Oregon, went to the MTC and then came home because she needed knee surgery or something. So while she is waiting to have surgery, she is still going to be a proselyting missionary. So she will be my companion and I am kinda unofficially training her! So we are getting doubled in to our area which is what I wanted :) But I have never heard of that happening before so this will be pretty interesting! I don't know what President is thinking! Haha but what he says goes! 

So Saturday night we were so anxious, excited, nervous, all that and we couldnt sleep... So we both stayed up until 3 in the morning packing! Just a liiiiiittle disobedient.... But we got a lot done so we could say goodbye to everyone. But NOW I know why we go to bed at 10:30. I'm exhausted!  

So Sunday we spent the day saying goodbye to everyone. THAT was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I was excited to leave just because this area has been so mentally and emotionally exhausting... But I actually hated saying goodbye to everyone. We went to the Minton's, and they were both super sad. Awhile ago we made Brother Minton promise that he would say the closing prayer if we ever both got transfered (because he would never pray for us). So he had prepared his prayer the night before, he typed it all up because he was really nervous and because he wanted to make sure he didn't forget anything! I thought that was pretty cute. He gave us a copy of his prayer, probably the sweetest thing I have heard my whole mission, especially coming from him:

"Dear Heavenly Father,

You should be so proud of these two missionaries, Sister Anderson and Sister Cho.

Bless them, O Lord, for the commitment and the sacrifice they are making to serve you on their mission.

Grant them the knowledge and the wisdom to perform their duties and the work in Your name.

Stay with them and protect them, that they will always be safe as they enter harm's way.

Return the love they have for You, to each of them.

I thank them for the help they gave to me.

We hope and will pray that Darla and I will meet them again.

In Jesus name,

Amen."

This big, ex-marine, stubborn man that I got so frustrated with, sobbed through the whole prayer. This experience was the sweetest, and most tender part of my whole mission. Sister Cho and I cried the rest of the day because of this sweet prayer that he said for us. It may seem small, but it meant the whole world to me and showed how much we were able to accomplish with him. I don't think I have ever had so much frustration and so much love for one of my investigators as I do for Brother Minton. I know I will see him baptized one day, and what a sweet day that will be!

We were able to say goodbye to the Segura family as well, another family that has blessed my mission so much! Skylar, the 15 year old, is like my sister, and I told them all that they will come to my wedding one day!

When we went to the Cuadra's, Steven, the 11 year old, thanked us for how much we helped his family and helped them come closer to Jesus Christ. We cried again :)

I think Sister Cho and I didn't realize the impact that we were able to make on the people that we were working with. We just thought we were being annoying and not getting anything accomplished, but yesterday definitely changed our minds! I am so grateful that I was able to serve in this area with Sister Cho. These past two transfers were definitely my favorites on my mission so far, the hard times and the good times.

On another note: Conference was so good! I loved it. I will admit I didn't catch most of the Sunday sessions because I was so flipping tired.. But that's why they publish it in the Ensign right? :) We are so lucky to be able to hear from those greatly inspired men and women every 6 months. I think we take that for granted!

I think thats about it for this week. I am ready for this new adventure and new part of my life to start! I hit 10 months this week, only 8 more to go! Oh AND we get to skype this transfer AND in case you forgot I'm turning 20 this transfer on MAY 13TH. Goodbye glory teenage days. Then I'll have to act like a responsible adult..... HAHAHAHA yeah right! Anyway, I came up with a birthday list so anyone and everyone can send me a package! Haha :)

-Mormon Message DVDs

-A CUTE temple bag

-My curling iron I asked for forever ago....

-CARDIGANS

-A new camera cause the one I have is wacked

-Picture of yooooou (meaning the family)

-Stamps! Always need stamps..

-Black and White downeast undershirts

-Target gift cards :)

-CDs. Those are always a request :)

-ANY kind of clothes. I am in desperate need of new clothes because I am going crazy wearing the same thing for 10 months in a row!

-Anything from Bath & Body Works or Charming Charlies :)

-Anything for the cruise!

-And talks! Any favorites or I came up with some that I would like :)

 *Profile of a Prophet - Hugh B. Brown

 *The Mortal Christ

 *Swallowed up in the Will of the Father - Neal A. Maxwell

 *Cast not away, therefore your confidence - Jeffrey R. Holland

 *Our identity and our destiny - Tad Callister

 *The Voice of the Lord - Gerald Lund 

 *His Grace is Sufficient - Brad Wilcox

Those are just some ideas :) Haha it's fine, just my 20th birthday.. no biggie ;)

Okay well I love you all! Pray for me that I dont get kidnapped in Hemet or the YSA ward........ Haha

Have a beatiful week! I know I will!

Love you all!

Sister Anderson :)

p.s. the pictures are of the Segura's, Mintons and the Graves!