Sunday, September 28, 2014

Okay update for this week!!

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Hardest most beautiful week of my entire life. Life as a missionary goes something like wake up at six and don't get back to your room till 10. In between nos fallamos portuguese sempre (haha). Seriously, like we cant speak in English our teacher says, so ever since day 1 we communicate pretty minimally (haha) no worries though when we have really good detailed funny stories to tell we tell them in English.

We eat a lot of weird stuff. The Brazilians like to make EVERYTHING into pudding. Wow mom, I was thinking about how much you would probably actually love it (haha).  The toilet paper here is exactly like an upside down tissue box, so that's different and the soap comes out in little spritz.

Everything we read and is said to us is in Portuguese and it forces us to pretty much learn fast or die (haha).  There are big scales everywhere to weigh luggage but we just weigh ourselves before and after meals for fun (haha).  They're in kg so you feel good about yourself.

Im typing on a port keyboard btw, and they are weird and different so I can't put all the smiley faces I want or the punctuation (mehhhh).  Anyway, we have lots of interesting fruits everyday and they make all of them into juice too! I love mixing flavaflaves and yesterday like most days we had rice and beans with a side of beans and rice.  LOVED IT.  We listened to a broadcast devotional Sunday night by Elder Scott and I'm 60 percent sure i saw my friend Sister Helton singing in the choir. I freaked out! Our teacher Irmao Britto is 23 and the nicest Brazilian man. He laughs at our English when we ask him how to say things in port (haha).

The presiding bishop came to the CTM and spoke to all of us last night. He said something really profound BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND (the end being exhalation and eternal life).

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! Sorry this email is pretty jumbled and rushed but I wanted to tell you about fun things about Brasil.  I need all the prayers I can get so thanks for them all!

Love you,

SISTER ANDERSON

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Your missionary´s arrival at the Brazil MTC

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Dear Parents,

Sister Swensen and I are very happy to let you know that your missionary has arrived safely at the Brazil Missionary Training Center.  What a great joy and privilege it is to greet each missionary as they begin their missionary experiences with us. We will surely take good care of your missionary.                                                                                                    
The missionaries now have companions and are settled into their rooms.  They are assigned to a district with capable and caring instructors for language and lesson study.  Their branch presidents and wives, will meet them this Sunday.  These wonderful couples are richly blessed as they work with, motivate, and interview the missionaries assigned to their branch.

The MTC has a full-time live-in physician to care for their health needs.  He is assisted by his able wife who is a nurse. We are also happy to report that the cafeteria food is plentiful, healthy and very good.

Your missionary will be able to e-mail home on Preparation Day after a morning at the Temple.  This will be either Wednesday or Friday, depending on individual assignments.

Your missionary is about to make an eternal difference in the lives of many others. President Lorenzo Snow said: “There is no mortal man that is as interested in the success of an elder when he is preaching the Gospel as is the Lord who sent him to preach to the people who are the Lord's children".  We love these missionaries as if they were our own.  We will watch over them carefully to ensure they are ready for a wonderful missionary experience after the rewarding time they will have in the MTC.

We thank you for preparing such a wonderful representative of the Lord.

President Robert Swensen and Sister Julie Swensen


Sister Anderson is alive!!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Hello family!

Made it through the Atlanta airport just fine to my gate for Sao Paulo!  Met up with three more sisters. One was a visa waiter who has been serving in Mesa for four and a half months. The other two got their visas and were reporting today as well! The flight to Brazil was 10 hours and the lady next to me didn't speak any English, so there's that (haha).  She also coughed and sucked in boogers all ten hours. It added to the adventure! They gave us a dinner meal around 10:30 and then breakfast around 7.  They both made my tummy hurt, but I was hungry so I didn't care!  I fell asleep on and off for like three hours. I guess I was tired because I drooled a little (haha).  I have two companions in the MTC,  Sister Clement and Sister Baker, who are both lovely.  Sister Baker and I especially get along really well and she is such a good time!!  Anyways, pretty uneventful getting to the MTC which I guess is such a blessing.  I did notice that everyone has motorcycles and they weave in and out of cars SO FAST.  Scary!!  I love you all and I love Brazil and I love being a missionary!!

Love always,

Sister Anderson

P.S. I would send pictures of all the elders and sisters I traveled with but i dont know how yet...sorry mommy

Monday, September 15, 2014

I'm a missionary now!

Monday, September 15, 2014

Officially set apart as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Chirst of Latter-day Saints

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Final packing

Out the door

Super Sister!

Checking in

One last kiss goodbye

Last family selfie