Made it to MINDORO

January 25, 2015

Good Morning!!

Well, these past two weeks have been insane! I think Sister Ramos and I only got a full 8 hours of sleep once in the past 2 and a half weeks or so.. Nor have we even been able to work in our area... We are just always on the go and working in everyone else areas! It is so true that the Lord is hastening the work of salvation, and he is going FAST!

We went on 4 exchanges with 4 companionships these past two weeks and then last week it was Zone Conference! The STLs had to give a workshop in the conference, and so we decided to do a "24 hour role-play" where we reenacted a full day in the mission, showing the missionaries how to do effective finding, teaching, planning, and all the other things that go along with missionary work. It was crazy to plan, but it all turned out well! We presented at the conference on Tuesday, went on exchanges on Wednesday, had another zone conference on Thursday, and then on Friday we woke up at 2:30am and headed to the airport with President and the TAs to go to MINDORO!! I finally made it to "The Rock"!!! I didn't know if I would ever make it out here to the island, because only 6 sisters are assigned out here, but I am here... too bad it's only for one week... But it's great!!! And ps... I get to go to the beach later today! Wahoo! Ah, and guess what else? They have a Mexican Restaurant here!!! It is a MIRACLE!! There is zero Mexican food here in the Philippines, or at least where I have been assigned, so eating a burrito was like heaven! haha the life of a missionary.. Gotta enjoy the simple things!

On Saturday, Sister Ramos and I, along with the two Elder Training Assistants, were basically in charge on the entire Mindoro Zone Conference. Sister Revillo (President's Wife) could not attend, so Sister Ramos and I were in charge of giving all of her training and discuss all of the mission business with the missionaries, and doing the 45 min role play... Yaaa, we have A LOT of responsibilities, but it is so fun! I love being able to help more in the mission, and in turn I am learning a lot! I really feel like I am able to fulfill my purpose.

I am so sorry that these emails are so boring and not really anything that exciting... BUT I am just LOVING life as a missionary and I am LOVING all the responsibilities the Lord is placing in my hands. It is a lot of work, lots of sleepless nights, lots of running around, but the most amazing thing that I have learned so far, is how real the Atonement is. I can't explain how exhausted I should be, BUT the through the Atonement, the Lord continues to provide me with the strength that I need. And along with that, I am just so happy! I just can't get mad or sad, even in the worst of circumstances. Life is just too good!! I can't stop smiling! And all I can do right now is just smile, because I have completely lost my voice.... So I guess I just have to figure out how to teach lessons in sign language.. At least the language of the Spirit is universal!

Hope all is well at home!! Starting next week, we will only have 1 hour of email, and I cannot email you back and forth, so if you don't hear too much from me, don't worry! I am doing great! I am sorry if I cannot respond to your emails, but keep sending them! I love reading them and hearing how you are doing!

Mahal na mahal ko kayo!! 
Sister Anderson

Exchanges!!

January 12, 2015

Magandang hapon!!!

Pasensya, no time to email!!! This past week was great though! I had the opportunity to go on my very first exchanges! I went with Sister Stotts, who is from California, and has only been out for two transfers. We had a great time though- talked to a lot of people, taught quite a few lessons and I really learned a lot. I know that President called me to this position not so I could help others, but so they could help me! It is such a blessing to have the opportunity to be learning from them and I get to apply what they teach me into my work. It is so cool!!

On Friday I went to my very first Missionary Leadership Council at the Mission Home. President and Sister Revillo were there, along with the Assistants to the President, all of the Zone Leaders and the Sister Training Leaders. It was way neat to see firsthand how the mission functions and we were able to discuss things to do in order to improve the mission and the missionaries. So much revelation has been received for our mission and you can see that the Lord really is hastening His work! It is time to start running!!

After MLC, President and Sister Revillo took us all bowling!! Wahooo!!! And I wore jeans for the VERY FIRST time in a one year! Weirdest feeling of my entire life.. I don't know what I am going to do when I get home!!

Well, sorry that was so short, but I am doing well and loving the work! I will try to email next week, but I am not sure if I will be able to because Sister Ramos and I are flying to Mindoro. Soooo if you don’t hear from me, it is okay!!! I love you all!!

Sister Anderson

Happy New Year

January 5, 2015

Hello to you all! I hope you all had a wonderful New Years, but I can guarantee you that mine was louder than all of yals! I am now serving in Pasig which is one of the highest populated cities in the Philippines, and New Years was insane!! There were so many people out and about all day that we couldn't even walk down the street because it was so busy!  And then when midnight hit, I literally felt like we were in a war zone! It was INSANELY loud! But it was a fun way to welcome in the New Year!!

So my new area is great!!!! We are really focusing on finding, especially families, and we did just that! Heavenly Father keeps blessing us right and left with people to teach. Especially part-member families. We were able to find 19 new investigators this week, all of which are very very potential. Now we just need to find time to go back to all of them!!

As for my companion, Sister Ramos is AMAZING! She is such a powerful teacher and I am learning loads from her! She always carries the Spirit with her and it is so apparent that she has been here in the mission for a while. It will be so sad to say goodbye to her in just a short 6 weeks, but I am so grateful for the time Heavenly Father has given me to be able to learn from her.

Man, the ward here in Pasig is just like a ward back in the states. The members are pretty well-off.. and some of them are like really wealthy! It is sooooo weird! I am so used to being in more of the humble circumstances, so it is kind of a strange adjustment, but this ward is amazing and I already love them! I think I'll be here for at least 3 transfers, so I am really excited for all the adventures that are awaiting us here!!

Well this week I will go on my first exchanges, so hopefully they go well! Thanks for all your prayers and support!!!!! Love you all!

Sister Anderson

 

The Call

Maligayang Pasko!!!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! It was definitely strange having my first Christmas without snow, but it was definitely one to remember! On Christmas Eve we had to be home by 5, so me and my kabahays made a Christmas dinner. I was in charge of the dessert, so I made muddy buddies and I ate so much that it literally made me sick. BUT it was so worth it! We then had a little Family Home Evening where we each studied about the Birth, life, death, of Jesus Christ and then shared it with one another. I decided to read out loud to them the birth of Jesus Christ as written in Luke 2. As I read the verse, "... that there was no room for him in the inn.." I literally felt the Spirit so strongly. It then hit me how sometimes in our lives, we don't "make room for Him in our in". We make, work, sports, school, or hobbies before Christ, and in turn don't give Him a place in our 'inn" to bless us.This Christmas, I have made myself the promise that I will always make room for Him, not matter what the circumstances.

On Christmas Day, we went to WORK!! We taught LOTS of lessons about the Birth, life, and most particularly the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I packaged up little bags of muddy buddies, candy, and other goodies, tied them with a ribbon, upon which I tied a picture of Jesus Christ and the Articles of Faith. It was so fun to give them to the tricycle drivers, as well as the people we taught. Lots of people made the comment that I was like Santa. It was a blast!!

On Saturday morning, our phone rang.. and guess who it was? President Revillo... Oh no. He asked to talk to me... He extended me the calling of a Sister Training Leader. What?! When he said that I broke down into tears! The Spirit testified to me that this was what the Lord has in store for me and an experience that I need. I know that it is going to be really hard and really stressful, but I couldn't be more excited!!! I have so many imperfections, so I am ready for heavenly Father to help me make them into strengths! Please keep me in your prayers though:)

Also on Saturday, Norma and Jose had their baptismal interview... And they Passed!!! They were baptized yesterday after church and it was absolutely amazing! I really don't want to leave them, but I know that now my work here in Morong is done. Now it is time to go to Pasig!!

 

Mahal na mahal ko kayo! And have a wonderful New Years!

Love,

Sister Anderson