Oi Família!

February 23, 2015

So its the last week of this transfer and there is the possibility that I stay here at the end of the world close to the hot place where Satan lives OR that I'll be transferred. We'll see! I already have 3 transfers here so anything is possible.

Last week in our district meeting and then again today we had a training that talked about "What are our Dreams?" that we have to set more than specific goals but actually have dreams for our lives (and right now for our missions).  We talked about the "Why" behind the dreams, that if there isn't a motive for the dream why would you ever complete it? And then the "How". The How really is the most important. God expects us to use our free agency and make our plans and then show them to him. We show God our plans and dreams through our actions and most importantly through our daily and divine communication: prayer. On of my mission dreams that I'll share is to find, teach, baptize, and then accompany to the temple to make the highest covenants with our Heavenly Father. I delight in seeing miracles and change and the hand of God actively working in the life of someone who before, barely had a seed of faith. But to achieve this goal I HAVE TO talk with as many people that I can! I only have 5 months on the mission and while I speak really well for people to understand me I still struggle with the fear that they won't and that because of my inability to communicate they wont receive the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in there lives. But as I've been praying and reading and studying and trying I've learned that the only thing that will make the fear go away is my confidence in my savior and Heavenly Father. Elder Bednar (a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) said once in a talk he gave that if we do what we have always done we will have what we always had. That really made me think, because I don't want to settle just for what i have right now, I want to get the closest I possibly can to becoming perfect like my Savior.

This week we had a farewell of young man that will leave to serve in the very south part of Brazil. (people say it snows there but i think its impossible to have snow in Brazil) haha  We had lunch with his family and it was so neat to see and here some of his goals and dreams for his mission and how much his parents love and support his decision and yet don't what 2 years apart will be like. Made me think about my family. How much I love you guys and how happy it makes me knowing that I will be with you forever in this life and into the eternities; that families are forever.

One of my favorite young women here in the Santana ward turned 13 this week and instead of going out with friends on her birthday she told us that she wanted to come with us and teach...how awesome is that! 13 years old and shes already preparing herself to serve a mission. We always joke about how she'll be called to Colorado and that one day shell knock on my door (hahah), that would be too cool!!!

Well.....I'm tired but I'm so very happy and I'm working hard. Only one request: PRAY. Pray for me and my companion and the mission and for you too. Everyone needs the strength that comes from prayer.

até mais

Sis Anderson

JuJu Birthday Girl!

taking pictures because we were waiting for Noah and his arc...

swinginggggg

Valentines day.....

Monday, February 16, 2015

So I forget when holidays happen in the US and didn't realize until the morning of the 14th that it was Valentines Day :) BUT, I made cute little valentines for the sisters I live with and my companion so phew!

Also shout out to BIG COLE ANDERSON!!!!! WOOHOOOOOOOO 16 YEARS OLD!!!! I would say little brother but he is far from little now with 16 years of age and I don't even know how tall haha BUT HAPPY BIRTHDAY to him! Man i love my family! That saying that says you don't truly appreciate something until its not there (or something like that, i forget English) is so true when it comes to how i feel about the anderfam...

Before I tear up I wanted to talk about love in honor of Valentines Day! Reasons why I LOVE serving a mission and being a missionary. I love to love and I love to serve. I was called to be a missionary before this life and I know my Heavenly Father is pleased that I'm fulfilling that calling.

God is hastening the work of spreading the gospel and the prophet has told all young people who are worthy and have a desire to serve a mission. I want to be obedient to the prophet of God because he is God's mouthpiece on the earth. I love building relationships with other missionaries and finding people, like my trainer Sister Kelly, that I'll always have to support me throughout this life and the next. I've seen the blessings of the gospel in my life and my family and I am SO BEYOND HAPPY when other families are able to enjoy those sames blessings.

I get to walk! i love walking! I'm completely submerged in a new and very different culture with new food and customs and language and I'm lovin it! I love being able to dedicate my whole self and all my time in thinking about others and their needs above my own. Most importantly, I love being a missionary because I love my savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ. He is the reason.

My mom sent me a quote a while back that says:

"Someone has written "Love is a verb". It requires doing-not just saying and thinking. The test is in what one does, how one acts,for love is conveyed in word and deed."

Love your family above anyone else on this earth and love God above ALL else that exists. For He created you and me and put us in families to learn and grow and progress until one day all His children can return to His presence and live with Him again.

ALL MY BRAZILLIAN LOVE

Sis Anderson

My throne

Are there limits in what we are willing to do in order to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

I have a lot of quotes and scriptures that I thought I'd share as my weekly email because I loved them so much!!

"Preach the gospel at all times, when necessary, use words."

"And blessed are they who do HUNGER and THIRST after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost" - 3 Nephi 12:6

Humility isn't a sign of weakness, its a sign of spiritual strength.-Preach My Gospel

Mormon não diz o que sabe, presta testemunho
Mormon não afirma, testifica
Para Mormon não existe mentira, existe apostasia
Mormon não paqueira, procura um parceiro celestial
Mormon não casa até o morte e separe, sela para toda a eternidade
Mormon não pensa, pondera
Mormon não cuida da saúde, guarda a palavra de sabedoria
Mormon não tem intuiçaõ, tem o dom do espírito santo
Mormon não tem energia, tem fogo nos osos
Mormon não tem problemas, pasa por provações
Mormon não supera dificuldades, sobrepuja fraquezas
Mormon não morre, vai para mundo espiritual
Mormon não peca, fubeca
Mormon não lê só a biblia, estuda as escrituras
Mormon não reza, conversa com o Pai Celestial
Mormon não aconselha, exorta
Mormon não faz acord, faz convênio
Mormon não chama a atenção, quima
Mormon não é mormon, é Santos Dos Últimos Dias!

I realize its in Portuguese, but the message is clear: being different from the world in these times means to me following the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and humbly recognizing the Lord's hand in EVERYTHING we are blessed with. All he asks in return is humble service to the rest of His children who are searching for peace and happiness.

My love all the way from Brazil!!!

Sis Anderson

I GOT A BUNCH OF PACKAGES THIS WEEK!!!

SUNDAY RAIN!!!!!

OBEDIENCE

Monday, February 2, 2015

"Sim desde aquele ocasião até agora tenho trabalhado sem cessar para conseguir trazer almas ao arrependimento; para fazer com que elas experimentem a intensa alegria que eu experimentei; para que também nasçam de Deus e encham-se do Espírito Santo." -Alma 36:24

WE NEED TO DO OUR BEST TO SHOW OUR SAVIOR WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE BY SHARING IT WITH THOSE THAT WE LOVE!

So i know the scripture is in português but thats the only language I read now :)

I've actually been pretty physically sick lately BUT this has helped me to have really good meaningful studies the afternoons when we don't leave the house. I was reading a talk by President Thomas S. Monson (the prophet of the church) about obedience. (My wonderful guardian angel Judy sent to me!) and these are some of the thoughts i had:

• Obedience is and forever will be the 1st law of Heaven, it is absolutely ESSENTIAL to our eternal salvation.
• The Lord requires our hearts and minds to be WILLING to follow the commandments and then to repent when we mess up. Never put off repentance.
• Most importantly our Father in Heaven asks us to follow Christ's example: refusing to deviate from what we know is right. There are going to be decisions we make where one option might be a lot easier. But we need to choose the option that is right and fulfills the will of the Lord.

I'm realizing more and more and more each day how imperfect I am and how much I have to work on, but also how powerful the atonement is and the love from our Father.

"Except in the case of His only Begotten son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we." -Elder Holland

One more week here in beautiful Brazil! I love it here and I'm grateful I still have a lot of time to learn and grow!

Até Mais
Sis Anderson

Faith (like a little seed)

Monday, January 26, 2015

I studied faith and pray this week :) As I was reading and pondering over the scriptures I came across a talk in the Liahona (a church magazine) and I felt prompted to share my study, or at least a part of it. In Alma it talks about our faith being like a seed and that just our hoping to have faith is enough to bring to pass miracles in our lives and be a part of the miracles in the lives of others.

"...exercedes uma partícula de fé, sim, mesmo que não tenhais mais que o desejo de acreditar, dexai que esse desejo opere em vós, até acreditardes..."
Alma 32:26-34

I realized that more and more each day I need to exercise my faith and then take my findings and questions to the Lord in prayer. Prayer is our personal sacred time to really converse with our Father in Heaven. And I know that He hears us and he answers us; maybe not in the time or manner we want, but he always answers.

"The size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the issue-it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have and the truth you already know"

"Be as candid about your questions as you need to be; life is full of them on one subject or another...don't let those questions stand in the way of faith working its miracle."
Lord, I Believe, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Apply your faith in your personal prays and in your daily actions! You WILL see miracles!

com amor
até mais

Sister Anderson

Sister Silva!

On the bus!!!!!

TRANSFERS....

Monday, January 19, 2015

So here's how it is on the mission: every 6 weeks there are these sometimes wonderful and sometimes sad (and usually both) events called "transfer".  What happens is that you switch companions, switch areas, switch climates (hot for more hot or for a baby bit less hot) and basically everything.  BUT, whats cool is that its a surprise the Friday before the 6 week period ends and then the next Monday you travel and all that fun stuff.  So....we received transfers and I got separated from my Mamãe Sister Kelly :( That made me pretty sad because outside of the MTC she is the only person I've been companions with so far. We started off loving each-other and just grew from there. I have a lot of respect and love for her and I'll sure miss being her companion. The kind of missionary I will ultimately be is because of the things I came with (which was actually very little) and the 12 weeks of training with Sister Kelly. I LOVE HER! BUT, no worries because I'm still in Araçatuba and my new companion will get here this next week, Sister L. Silva.  Both Sister Young and Sister Kelly stayed too!!!! They are the new Sister Training Leaders now which basically means the leadership for all the Sister missionaries within our zone and a few of the surrounding zones. :) Its gonna be great.  I'm actually really excited!!! Everything will be the same, just spicing things up with a new companion!

Highlight of my week: We were in a trio because Sister Sperry (previous companion to Sis Young) finished her mission and is headed home, and when we were doing contacts on the street more than a few people mistook me for a Brazilian... that is such a cool feeling! haha  I only have 4 months on the mission and I'm actually feeling really good about my abilities speaking :) FINALLY!

Anyway...I have wonderful examples here and the best example: my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I know that the only reason I can preach and speak and do this work is because of Him. He is all mighty, all powerful, and all loving!

com amor

Sister Anderson

Sister Young, Anderson, Kelly waiting for the bus!

The Gratitude List

Monday, January 12, 2015

So one of the Sisters that I live with, (I love her, she is wonderful and she is also from Colorado) Sister Sperry, showed me this personal study she did. After she showed me I LOVED IT and adapted it to me and entitled it "The Gratitude List".  So here's the challenge: At the beginning of every month you write 10 of each of the following that you are grateful for:

Physical abilities
Material items
Living people
People that have passed on
Nature things
Things I'm specifically grateful for that day/time in my life
Places
Inventions
Foods
Gospel principles

So yes, I loved this because I KNOW that God loves to bless us but when we are living with Gratitude. I'ts like we are literally touching Heaven and God is there ready to bless us EVEN MORE!

SHOW YOUR GRATITUDE! especially in moments when you feel lost or forgotten by God...
I had a wonderful spiritual experience this week as the four of us Sisters in the Santana Ward here in Araçatuba sang acapella "Nearer My God to Thee" in Portuguese (obviously haha). We went up there and really bore our testimonies to the congregation and I don't know about all of you, but music speaks to me and I could feel the spirit of the Lord so strong in that moment. Listen to good and uplifting music. If you are like me you know the effect music has on you, either good or bad. Listen to and partake of things that open the channel for God to softly whisper promptings to your heart and mind. Live with gratitude!!!

Random thoughts:
- I bought new leather sandals for the rainy season and im VERY excited about using them! :)
- It's a custom here in Brazil to give each-other kisses on the cheek (like men and women or all ages, married or not), sooooooooo this bus driver-that sister Kelly and i have become friends with over our time here pulled a fast one on both of us and kissed us...that was not cool, 1. Because he was so sweaty (and actually it's burning hot outside) and 2. Because we are missionaries!! oh man....
- This lady that I'm like 73 percent positive is not mentally well in the head slapped me the other day right after telling me that I looked like a "fofinha boneca" (pretty little doll) haha, yup that happened!
ADVENTURES OF THE MISSION

lovelove
até mais

Sister Anderson

New leather "rain walking" sandals :)

I love them!!!

And my crushed toes and weird tan lines ayyyy yaaaaa... feet of a missionary :)

The Brazil Bird :) I dont know its real name....haha

I LOVE MONKEYS!!!