THE HOTTEST WEEK OF MY ENTIRE LIFE

Monday, November 11, 2014

If it wasn't for the grace of God and that we need to like preach the gospel to all of Gods children, I'm pretty sure I would have died. Three days in a row it was over 100 and Tuesday it was 118 degressssssssss! What is that?!?!

While I've been here I've seen so many dead animals (dogs, birds, turtles, toads, cats) just lying in the street. I dont like that! I bore my testimony last week, obviously in Portuguese. Good thing people are forgiving because I'm not even sure it made sense. (haha)

I've lowered my health standard here too because I've had to just go and eat food with hairs and bugs in it. God gives me the strength not to vomit. Haven't yet!! (haha) I did eat guinea pig the other day though, and before that piranha! Fun times in the mission :) Liked 'em both... Oh also, there are chickens everywhere here! Like as pets and on the streets and for eating...its great!

Everyone here tells me i look like this Brazilian actress lady or different American actors. I think that's funny because I'm pretty sure i don't :)

I've seen big improvements in my language and in my ability to express better how I feel when I testify and teach. One of our investigators, Carlos, has a date set for baptism too :) So cool to witness and be apart of the miracles of God.

Our ward is awesome! So is the bishop and ward mission leader!

Okay so this week was awesome with investigators and menos ativos! We taught so well together Sister Kelly and I. We can teach and one will think of a scripture or phrase or something and the other will share the exact thing! My favorite experience we had was with a menos ativo and talking about our opportunity and responsibility to share the gospel and open our mouths. I talked about D&C 33:8-11 and how in every verse we are told to "open our mouths" we are promised that if we come to know the word of God and the teachings of Christ first we will be giving in the exact moment what to say if we act in faith and open our mouths. I'm working on 100% being an instrument in the hands of the Lord and being prepared to have the spirit work and testify through me. Its not easy but I'm a lot better at it now than I ever have been.

Any and all, I invite you to come to know the word of God first and then have the courage to open your mouth and speak simple truths to people you care about. You never know what could happen :) I love you all! I love my Savior! Anything is possible through our faith in our Savior!

lovelove

Sister Anderson

Jaca Fruit

When it rained like a hurricane before our 3 days in fogo (fire haha). 

caju tree....???

Sunday at church!

AracSOLtuba!!!!!!!

Monday, November 3, 2014

IM HERE IN THE FIELD!!!!!!

Im in Aracatube right now and it is so so different from anything I've ever experienced. We left at 3:30 in the morning from the CTM and my curling iron caught on fire while I was using it. (haha) Oh well.  So after a short flight from Sao Paulo I met my companion! SISTER KELLY! Shes from IMPETRIZ MARANHAO BRAZIL! Anyway she looks like the princess from princess and the frog and she is SO SO lovely! She only speaks Portuguese and I only speak English so that's pretty interesting (haha) so she is so patient and understanding. She's been out 10 months and I'm her first daughter. :)

We live with two other sisters one American and a Chillean. The Chillean, Sister Alegria (Sister Joy-- haha), trained Sister Kelly! so we have A LOT of fun with that! It's just us four and our apartment is actually really nice.

So Aracatuba, if you compare it to the sun, it isn't that hot....but compared to any place on the livable planet earth its like being in the middle of a volcano! (haha) I sweat like an unreal amount here! Lucky for me though its not that humid so phew! My hair is out of control though! I always always wear it up (haha) I feel like I don't have a personality sometimes when I'm speaking (haha) but even over this past week my Portuguese has improved so much, and if I talk slow I can say everything I want to pretty much! I was pretty frustrated at first cuz I'm hard on myself, working on that, but I decided it's okay to talk slow because these people need to understand the message and they need to actually understand it in their language.

Pray for rain in brazil! They really really need it! And now that I'm also a temporary citizen I need it too! I saw a zebra the other day! that was weird... I have so very little time to write!

lovelovelove

Sister Anderson

New Companion, Sister Kelly

It was pouring rain, so naturally we danced in the rua!!!!

District in Aractuba!

Sister Baker!!!!

Campinas and my tag

CHICKZAO!!!!

CTM District, Sao Paulo Temple :)

Arrival in the mission and PICTURES!!!

Friday, October 31, 2014

We received a letter from Chloe's Mission President and the attached pictures today!  Here's an excerpt from the letter:

"Your daughter has already been assigned to her first area. She will be working in Santana in the city of Araçatuba, and will be trained by Sister Kelly. The area is very blessed, and your daughter’s trainer is a reliable and responsible missionary. Your daughter will certainly have much success and great spiritual experiences."

- Mauro Tupinambá Brum de Oliveira, Mission President

I forgot to say that last week was 1 MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday, October 24, 2014

I got made sister training leader here in the CTM for the last week (haha), but its been cool to experience that before the field.

One of my instructors Irma Bueno is 6 moths pregnant and adorable and she lets us feel her belly when little baby Bernardo kicks and its so wonderful! haha  Love me some pregnant ladies cuz they're just so cute!

Tuesday night we had our devotional and President and Sister Swenson.  He did this thing where he spoke all in Port of course and she would play hymns intermittently. The whole devo. was about the Prophet Joseph Smith and his life and it moved me to tears. So beautiful and powerful! I love the Spirit but man I cry all the time!

Also this week we where learning (I'm pretty sure) some made up verb tense grammer thing and I lost it!  Oh I just started crying in the middle of class (haha).  Our Elders are used to us girls by now (haha), after spending 6 weeks/16 hours a day straight with each other (haha).

Anyway--tangent I invite you all to listen if you haven't ever heard it or re-listen to "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief". SO MOVING and lovely...

One thought that Elder Albee in my district had was that when Joseph needed his leg amputated the only comfort he requested was to be in the arms of his father and that we need to have the desire to be in the ours of our Father in Heaven always for he will show us the way of all things we should do.

Irma Blanco, so freaking cute by the way, told us that there are just baby chickens, and big chickens too I suppose like all over RP! Yes!!! I love chicken! haha What I mean is I love eating chicken....

Since its our last couple days here Irmao Britto gave us the challenge of an English fast. I've been talking ONLY in Portuguese and it gets hard but then I look up words in my mini dictionary that I literally have with me always, even when I sleep sometimes. (haha) I can understand about 8/10 of what the natives in the city say to me and speak about 6/10! Those are both above average so I'm happy!!!!! (haha) THREE MORE DAYS AND I'LL BE IN THE CAMP! (mission field) and I can send pictures! I'll miss my time here in the CTM a lot but I cant wait to teach Gods beautiful children in R.P.

Love you all. Remember to pray always, love always, and be grateful always. They're are more than just one person on the earth at a time because we need help and we all have things we need to learn and discover from one another.  Never take people for granted. Especially the ones you love...

ate mais,

Sister Anderson

Weekly update!

Friday, October 17, 2014

P-days are my favorite because i get to go to the Temple and write my fambam!!!!  On Sundays the Bishop gets up and then announces the 4 people in your zone who are going to give talks....right then....in Portuguese...haha.  Good thing I always prepare because I had to speak!  My talk was about being an "instumento nas maos de Deus".  I used Alma Chapter 29 v. 9.  I love this whole chapter though, and I invite you all to read it!  I talked about the importance of weakness its the role in our lives especially as missionaries.  Something that I wish I had more time for was scripture study! I always wish I could just sit down and read and read and read! I gain so much confidence and knowledge when I do! I only read scriptures PME and actually everything else in Portuguese now!

This is our 5th week here in the CTM and there is as little English as possible! You should see my word book and planner from everyday learning of new words and phrases. The motivation is love though! I LOVE THE PEOPLE OF BRAZIL AND I LOVE THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST! Seriously though, that's what gets me through...love.

Sunday Night for devotional Elder Ballard spoke and talked about the importance of staying close to your families. I've seen this so much in my life and invite you all to find something about every family member everyday you appreciate and then to tell them! Sometimes acting on positive and sometimes challenging thoughts is the hardest part. Never hesitate to say a kind word!!!

My goal is to be able to speak almost fluently by Christmas! I think I can do it!!! Please pray for me though. (haha)  Our last week here we are going to sing one voice as a district and I'm actually really excited even though I do not possess the singing talent like my mother and Cameron. (haha) ...and dad and cole...haha

The two things I hear the most here in the CTM are, Where's my companion!!", and "Como se fala" or "How do you say" and then fill in an English word. (hahaha)  Such a good time!

Yesterday I spent 5 hours in the federal police station...long story but i was in cuffs and fingerprinted and they were yelling in port....jk we just need to be official citizerns of Brazil or something now. (hahaha)

There are such sweet workers here in the CTM and none of them are LDS and this tiny red-haired Brazilian lady with no teeth, who me and my companions call "minya mai" (my mom) and she hugs us and kisses us and tells us how much she loves us and that she will take care of us here in Brazil and be our mommy while were away from our own. (haha) SO CUTE I LOVE HER!

There are two South Africans--an elder and a sister in my zone and they sang this click song for us...um SO BEAUTIFUL! They are also beautiful beautiful people, and their accents are for sure my favorite out of any accent! (haha)

Invitations to all:

• Read Alma 29
• Pray every morning and every night
• Speak only words of kindness!
• Record your results and compare your thoughts and feelings. I can promise you that you'll feel closer to God and to everyone around you!

Love, Sister Anderson!

Surprise Wednesday!!!

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

We call Wednesday "Surprise Wednesday" here because you never know what your going to find on your clean sheets or your pizza!! (haha) This Wednesday we also went proselyting to like real people of Brazil and it was amazing!!!!!  I placed all my livros on the bus ride where we were supposed to contact people (hahaha) It was awesome!!!! I love being a missionary! Oh and did I mention this is all in Portuguese!! (casual.casual haha)

Anyway, I love love going to the temple every P-day! Today we went to the Campinas temple instead of Sao Paulo and that was wonderful!!! We moved from room to room and the entire session was in Portuguese! One of the most spiritual experiences I've had thus far on my mission and especially one the most I've had in the temple.  My favorite part is the celestial room.  Just how beautiful and sacred and holy everything is and how peaceful you truly feel in the house of the Lord.

Conference was so awesome last week. Especially to listen to it with all the other missionaries.  That was too cool!  Um, Jorg Klebingats talk! What!!!! He dropped some serious gospel! Okay family and friends, Mormons or not, I invite all of you to look up the Saturday afternoon talk by Richard G. Scott and to apply it to your life starting now!!! Also, usually the General Conference of the church is directed to members, but one talk at the end of conference was given specifically for non-members.  Check out the message from David A. Bednar titled "Come and See" here.

My sweet visiting teacher, Judy, sent me a letter and as you all know I love getting mail! But this letter came on a day and in a moment I truly needed it the most!

People here always point out how long my hair is here and then of course they touch it. I'm trying to get more patient with that. (haha) Okay so every morning for breakfast we have paninis but this week we had PANCAKES WITH SYRUP one morning! I never knew I could be so excited for those! Reminded me of the good old days and lunch bunch! Not nearly as good as my mommy's though. (haha) Well, I want you all to know how much I love this gospel. I know that the power of God is the strongest power on earth and that through it miracles are possible!  I love being a missionary and spreading the good word of God to anyone I see! This church is true and God is love!! My mommy taught me that!

Love love,

Sister Anderson

I love singing and speaking in Portuguese!

Friday, October 3, 2014

Hello there all you wonderful people!!!  Lots to say and so little time.

Sister Baker's parents (Sister Baker is my companion) are named Mark and Jennifer....of course hahaha

I have gone through 3 pens in 3 weeks because I write down so many new words write in my journal write letters and sometimes draw haha (mom will you please send more .38 pens to the mission home in RP)

In Portuguese I told the CTM President I liked his fork when I meant to say tie...woops! Gravata and garfa, close right!

Thought of my mommy during Tuesday night broadcast devo when we sang Battle Hymn of the Republic.  I sang it in port with so much spirit you would have been so proud mommy.  I LOVE SINGING AND SPEAKING IN PORTUGUESE, its such a beautiful language and I'm catching on pretty quickly. The Lord wants me to learn so I'm learning fast! We've taught 20 something lessons now and I can go in with just my scriptures and teach and pray and ask questions, answer questions, and bear my testimony!! Oh how I love the gift of tongues!! For my family back home read D&C 100. I hope it brings you peace as I'm away serving as i know it did to Josephs family when they needed it.

70 new US missionaries came in on Wednesday, so one of the instructors had me wear her name tag at lunch and go reprimand them for not speaking in Portuguese.  I told them, "somente fala em portuguese!!" They were all stunned and embarrassed, and didn't know what to say. I didn't laugh or smile and they were so confused. haha

The city isn't too too dirty which is nice. We have a certain area we get to walk around on p-day and I love it!!! Sometimes the CTM feels like a social experiment jail. (haha) Dress both guys and girls up all nice and then tell them not to flirt but how to speak an entirely new language...yeah okay!
They don't have sidewalks like on huge city streets. They have middle-of-the-street-walk. (haha) Too weird but kinda like an adventure!

Also, check out Mosiah 28:1-9.  This is a passage in the Book of Mormon that talks about missionary work among the people of that time.  Missionary work has been and will always be part of the plan!  Love it!

My favorite scriptures I read this week were in Hebrews 11. The whole chapter is about miracles and faith! Let me tell you that really APPLIES TO MY LIFE RIGHT NOW for sure!!!!! (sorry, didn't mean to yell that) hahahaha

Anyways I love you all and this Sister Anderson loves our Savior, loves Brazil and loves being a missionary!

love love,

Sister Anderson