Week 1

Monday, February 1, 2016

Something I love about the mission and life is that there are always new beginnings and God always gives us second chances and third and fourth....for everything!!

My last companion is from Natal, Rio Grande do Norte and I LOVE HER! I love all my companions so much and i see how the Lord blesses me with wonderful people in my life. We can't handle not talking and laughing together to the point that I haven't written in my journal for four days now :) I told Sister Peregriuno that she need to go sit in another room so I can actually get something done. haha I love her and reminds me so much of my first companion. I thought it was funny to start and end my mission with basically the same person :) I love how the Lord surprises us in the little things and gives us little blessings...

I have been re-reading all the general conference talks from this last conference and I really liked a talk where President Deiter F. Uchtdorf asks us a few questions:

Do we stand loyal to God?
Do we practice what we preach , or are we Sunday Christians only?
Do our daily actions reflect clearly what we claim to believe?
Do we help "the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted?"
Do we just talk the talk, or do we enthusiastically walk the walk?

I loved these questions and pray daily to the Lord so that I have the strength to really fulfill what the Lord requires of me. I love that there is always change in life because I recognize the need to be better and strive to be perfect.

We are meeting a lot of wonderful people and preparing others to be baptized but what I value the most are the daily spiritual experiences that I'm having in a place and with people I love!! I love this life!

com amor
Sister Anderson

Sister Peregrino!

Rain!! Karina just got her mission call to Columbia!

Our welcome "cupcakes" for Sister Dunlop :) we need more practice...or a different oven...

Sweet Baby Rays!!!

Me and my comp. she's okay I guess. :)

Divisions w Sister Muniz!!

The last transfer :(

Monday, January 25, 2016

Last companion: Sister Peregrino
Last area: Ala 1 Sao jose do Rio Preto (I stayed in my favorite area!)

I'm excited for this new transfer bc sister Carvalho who lived w my my last transfer will train a new missionary and I LOVE new missionaries! My companion (don't know her yet but I will later today) I'm sure is wonderful. :)

This last week was pretty interesting sending my companion home and then staying w the other two sisters I live with. We had to work in the two areas and I am VERY TIRED haha, but missions in general make you tired...

SO EXCITED FOR THIS TRANSFER AND I KNOW GOD WILL BLESS US!!

I read a wonderful talk from the Prophet Thomas S. Monson that I would love everyone of you to read! "Keep the Commandments" You can find it on mormon.org :)

Love you all and have a wonderful week!

Sister Anderson

p.s. my hair is almost blonde....

My last week with Sister Araújo!!

Monday, January 18, 2016

This last week of the transfer that starts today is the last week that my wonderful companion will have before she goes back to Recife, Pernambuco. She has helped me and supported me so much and we have eaten SO MUCH ice cream and açaí together that its incredible that we have money to ride the bus still. Just another little miracle on the mission :)

We went back to Josiane after 3 weeks to let her decide if she really wanted to keep learning about the gospel and commit to be baptized. She accepted a baptismal date, but when Sunday came she didn't show up... The enemy that is Satan works with our little weaknesses bringing us to a point that we don't "feel like" following the commandments and being obedient to the laws and ordinances that He has set in place to bless us. I hope and pray that she'll make it! Pray for her too!

President and Sister Brum came to São José do Rio Preto and spoke in sacrament meeting. The spirit was so powerful and I felt the spirit so strongly as Sister Arauújo and Vitor (a young man that will be leaving to serve in Arizona) bore their testimonies on missionary work... It was so power and I cried a little hahah, but that's super normal for me.

I LOVE the scripture in 2 Nephi 31:20!  If you are not familiar with it I invite you to read and ponder it and apply it in your life. God loves us. His plan for us is perfect! He wants to bless us and will when we take the first step toward Him, when we use our faith daily!

Love you family and friends!
Sister Anderson

Sister Araújo!!!!!!!!!!

Division with Sister Carvalho AND rain! LOTS OF RAIN!

Me with makeup (from a church activity) and crazy hair haha

The tan lines...

He Lives.

Monday, January 11, 2015

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

1. I know that my Redeemer lives.
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead.
He lives, my ever-living Head.
He lives to bless me with his love.
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed.
He lives to bless in time of need.

2. He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with his eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives to hear my soul's complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
He lives all blessings to impart.

3. He lives, my kind, wise heav'nly Friend.
He lives and loves me to the end.
He lives, and while he lives, I'll sing.
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.
He lives and grants me daily breath.
He lives, and I shall conquer death.
He lives my mansion to prepare.
He lives to bring me safely there.

4. He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
"I know that my Redeemer lives!"
He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/i-know-that-my-redeemer-lives?lang=eng

"He Lives." Two simple words, one awesome truth. And because He lives we can live joyfully with Him.  We had a cool experience this week walking with Sister Angela and she stopped and started talking to this lady playing with her grandson and then asked her, "Have you ever wondered where he was before he came into this world?" The lady stopped and without saying anything opened her gate and let us in, without saying ANYTHING ahhh! It was incredible! No one ever does that!

Love you all! Boa semana!
Sister Anderson

Haircut!!!!!

Sister de Oliveira!

Sister Brum- the mission presidentes wife :) she LOVES taking pictures!

I "mustache" you a question President Brum...

A tiny pizza after a long day...

NEW YEARS

Monday, January 4, 2016

This week was very interesting. The city felt like something from the apocalypse where there are only dogs in the road that want to bite you and not a single living human soul!! haha We visited the same two people every single day because everyone else fell off the face of the planet it felt like!

We were able to go to Brother Aissa´s funeral and we sang hymns that talk about the hope in the Savior and how much he loves us. It was all very emotional because all of us felt like he was actually there comforting his wife and that he is no longer in pain but resting from the pain and sins and hardships of the mortal world. It was truly a remarkable experience...

We wanted to wake up to see the fireworks but the tiredness won and we slept right through until 6:30 like normal... :0 Oh well! There is always next year!

Other than that we have been eating and studying a lot because we couldn't even go out on new years day because of all the drunk men in the streets that like to talk to sister missionaries...

I do however have a spiritual thought that I loved reading from Randall L Ridd. He says, "The most important 'why' behind everything you do is that you love the Lord and recognize His perfect love for you." I LOVE THAT! I LOVE THE LORD! I hope that we can all allow the Lord to change us so that we can change our lives and those of others that we love.

I love the mission and hope and pray that everyday the Lord shows me His love. And he does!!

love you all
Sister Anderson

And now the pictures!!

All the missionaries in São José do Rio Preto

More food from Lusia :)

Sexy sister feet...........

Division with Sister Camila!

Divisions with Sister Muniz!

I found the weird fruit my mom likes!!!!!

NEW YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stir fry!!!!!!!

FELIZ NATAL!

Monday, December 28, 2015

CHRISTMAS IS LOVE IN ACTION. EVERY TIME WE LOVE, EVERY TIME WE GIVE, ITS CHRISTMAS! -Dale Evans

My hair on Christmas morning haha

I wanted this dog for Christmas but....

Me and the Anderfam!

Got it yesterday after 2 months...but i got it!

Our decoration corner :) thanks mom!

The Role of Christ

Monday, December 21, 2015

(If you don't speak Portuguese I apologize in advance and hope that google translating works :) )

Alfa
Advogado
Caminho
Bom Pastor
Consolador
Cordeiro
Emanuel
Esposo
Filho de Homem
Ungido
Senhor
Redentor
Salvador
ômega
Jeová
Libertador
Luz
Primogênito
Mediador
Supremo
Água viva
Senhor dos Senhores
Rei dos Reis
Profeta
Professor
Vida
O Exemplo
Santo de Israel
Cabeça da Igreja
Autor
Aperfeiçoador
Juiz
Amado
Escolhido
O Pão
A Rocha
A Palavra
Mestre
Príncipe
Graça
Sangue
Maravilhoso
Mensageiro dos Convênios
O primeiro
O princípio
O Último
O Fim
Criador
Sacrifício
Messias
Ser Supremo
Vidente
Infinito
Grandioso
Preservador

These are just a few of the things that Jesus Christ is for me personally, every moment of every day. I LOVE Christmas and can't help but connect it to my feelings of the atonement and crucifixion during Easter. Because he was born He could die and atone for me and my sins and weaknesses and and sickness and pain. I love a scripture in Psalms 27:1 that says "The Lord is my Light and my Salvation; whom shall i fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" A scripture from The Book of Mormon testifies confirming this "..there is none other name given under Heaven save it be this Jesus Christ...whereby man can be saved." (2 Nephi 25:20)  I know these things to be true and I know that through Christ, with Him by my side and in my heart, I am able to do do more and be more than I ever could alone. Neill F. Marriott asks us this: "Can we love Jesus Christ and His way more than we love ourselves and our own agenda?"

I accept Christ's invite to come unto him daily and I allow Him to be everything in my life. Without Him I can't and frankly wouldn't want to do anything. Who is the Savior to you during this Christmas season? What miracles does He work in your life?

I love Christmas and love my family and am grateful to have been taught the ways of the Lord as I grew up. I fear no evil for the Lord is my light! He was born and then died for ME AND YOU. Give Him thanks.

With much love
com muito amor
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Sister Anderson

Sister Rodrigues whom I love dearly!

rainnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Sister Araújo's Birthday!!!

My favorite part of our apartment :)