The Latest from Hermana Anderson

Familita!!

So I know mom is probably freaking out that she didn´t receive a letter on Monday...but that is because we had zone conference yesterday-which was really great! The president talked about our supplications unto the Lord before we leave the apartment and that we really can ask to get specifics and we need to have faith. He also showed a video on the importance of being happy and having fun, that´s one thing me and Hermana Hermansen like learning, that this work really is fun and brings so much joy. President also showed a video on the BOM and I loved it...the Book of Mormon really does have so much power in it and all people have to do is ask God sincerely and they will know and will want to be baptized. Hermana Kahlein talked about being a missionary now and always and what we teach and do as missionaries...so my first zone conference was a success (oh did I mention I was called on to bear my testimony...that was a bit scary in front of all this missionaries who know Spanish) it was good though and the president said my Spanish is really improving...which was good.  and I even saw Hermana Stott there...which was fun to talk and get to know each other experiences. Zone conferences are amazing and remind us that we really do have the power to preach and teach...after the conference on the way back me and Hermana Hermansen were able to contact a few people...it´s nice to get pumped up for the work!

So we used the book of Mormon last night with a lesson with one of our investatores which his fecha is actually on Easter...he has been meeting with missionaries for 5 years and we are really using our faith and praying for him that this time he will have the desire to go through with his baptism...he feels like he hasn´t received his answer...but we now he has...so yea last night was a good lesson and we feel like he felt the spirit and we were able to testify of the Book of Mormon and re-read the promise and the last two paragraphs of the introduction. 

We had a lesson with Carlos who is getting married to a less active, Alicia, but she is really great she basically started her own coming back to church and knows what God wants and is willing to do it...that is why they are getting married, we asked her why they were getting married and she said it´s usually something she wouldn´t do but that she knows it´s what God wants...she is pretty much amazing and has a strong testimony in fasting. So yea they have to get married and he also has to quit smoking than he can get baptized...He comes to church when he is in town...but he is gone a lot for work...but they are working with the bishop and she is super strong I know the Lord is working with them right now. 

Oh on Sunday we had a noche de hogar with a member (Hno Bernales) which is the faithful man who has the bad legs and can´t walk very well but walks all the way to church Sunday! ..let's see anyway he said he was inviting some non member friends so we show up to his house and started talking to them and found out that he had lied to them and told them it was his birthday...and she was Catholic "in her own way" they all say that...and her husband was a Jehovah's Witness...so it was a really awkward weird environment...we tried to teach the first lesson..but it just wasn´t working...they did like the pamphlet of temples and eternal families...she was a super nice lady just stubborn to the spirit...maybe someday...but yea thankfully I can´t  fully understand what is going on..so things were less awkward for me..Ha-ha. But a funny thing, she was talking to me and  saying how I have to get used to Chile and that Chileans are mean and I just shook my head yea and smiled...because I had no idea what she was saying...Hermana Hermansen got a good laugh out of that...oops. 

Let´s see those are the big highlights out of the week, I guess. Me and Hermana Hermansen are doing better with our contacts and talking to people..We actually found a man who lived in San Francisco for 20 years with his wife so he knew English that was fun.  Oh and I don't know if I told you about the new members of one year, but how he is a bit confused with public prayers (prayed that his wife would have patience over the pulpit) so when we had lunch with them this week we taught about the difference between personal and public prayers...and felt that he totally got it...but then in Sunday school he was asked to prayer and we were crossing our fingers and he started out great but then prayed again for his kids and wife...It´s definitely a work in progress...but humbles me and shows me how much people really are trying and learning. 

This Gospel is so real and just makes sense- The more I learn the harder and sadder it is to see people who are confused and who won´t accept it in this moment of their lives. I am glad mom had a wonderful Birthday, sounds like she had a great time! And mom don´t worry about being older...just like I learned in zone conference..have fun! I love that mom is reading the book about temples..I love the quote you shared..because me and Hermana Hermansen were studying this week how all laws are eternal and none of the commandments are temporary...that´s what makes this life so great it´s a time to prepare to meet God and learn and grow and practice and fail and start over in the process...which, this process is available to us all through our Savior, Jesus Christ! I  know Jesus is our Savior and is through and only him that we have way back to our Father in Heaven, so many people here say there are many paths to God, which is just not true and makes me sad...oh did I tell you we met an old man who when we said families could be together forever he said no, nothing is forever and he things religion is just political...it broke my heart and I wanted to cry for him...because families are forever and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is not just a religion it is a way of life..and lives can truly be changed through Christ!

Dad sounds like you had a great time in Arizona, I guess I don´t need to remind you to have fun...you know how to do that! Thanks for being an example to me on how to work hard but also to have fun!

I hope my sisters are having fun and not having too much drama, and going to Young Women and appreciate what they have...and yea if I am going to gain weight I guess they can use my clothes...but not till you see pictures of me with my gained weight can they wear my clothes ha-ha. But Hermana Hermansen says I just need accept getting fat hahaha but literally sometimes my stomach after lunch hurts because it can feel it stretching...and people here show their love by giving us food...so it´s like every house they give us food and our mamaita brings us ice cream and such while we study...and you can´t just not eat food that poor people give you...ah missions there is so much to love and accept its such a fun growing experience. so uh yea send my love to the sisters and everyone really

  

Missions truly are great...I learn so much about people and the gospel every day. I am blessed to have a great companion who helps me and wants to work just as hard as I do!  The Lord truly is in every aspect of our lives.  Love you all so much! I am so blessed to have the Gospel in my life and an amazing loving family. I hope everyone is doing well and that my nieces aren´t growing up too fast. Ha-ha. hasta proximo semana. les quiero!

Con Amor

Hermana Morgan Anderson

The latest from Hermana Anderson

Hola,

 

Okay, well first of all I figured Mom´s letter was a lack of her technology skills haha j-k, but thanks for sending it to me..I knew you wouldn´t forget me and I figured dad would have said something about you if you weren´t doing well. Also I am glad I guess to hear that Gabby had a hard time understanding the Chileans... it is comforting to know that everyone struggles with something or other on the mission or even in life...and when we realize that it´s easier to be willing to help others and truly be an instrument in the lords hands. 

 

This week was hard in finding investigators, but we did receive some references so hopefully they work out...we also met a friend of our mamaita who´s mom and some family are Mormon and she got all excited when she told us that...so she likes Mormons..So we have plans to go visit her this week and hopefully have her become an investigator. We stopped by Jacqueline this week and she was really sad because her ex (son's dad) was dying so she let us in to give a prayer...so we ended up teaching a lesson and then gave a prayer...but she also wanted us to give her a blessing but we explained how we couldn´t do that but said if she came to church she could receive more peace and a blessing from members and invited her to church...we went over the next day and her ex had died and when we went to pick her up for church on Sunday she didn´t answer...but Sunday night our bishop and new ward mission leader went to visit her and they said it went well...so I hope she continues to be receptive to the Spirit and receive the gospel..It could really help her. On Sunday we had an investigator come for his 3rd time...so hopefully he feels he is ready for baptism and a less active we have been working with also came...It truly is so good to see people at church and to see the peace they receive. 

 

Also at district meeting I shared the spiritual thought...I get nervous when I speak Spanish in front of people who know how to speak it but it went well and I tried to present our investigators...also the practice this week was on inviting investigators to church by showing them the blessings...we received revelation on things and questions we could ask other investigators..Sometimes practices seem useless but they really are great and I have gained a testimony of the fact that we can gain revelation just in practices. 

 

Our ward is really great with mission work and our new mission leader was called yesterday (Jair) yea don´t worry I can´t pronounce his name either...That´s why I just say Hermano for now...He has been home a little less than a year...but he is truly all about the work and said we can call him any time before 7 and he will come on our appointments with us...so we just have to get appointments and hope they don't fall through. Saturday was a hard day because I think there was a futbol (soccer) game and no one was in the street or answering their doors...that was a true test of our diligence. But it´s fun I am learning to truly think of others and be happy with the work and not focus on oh if this were to happen I would be happier. But yea like Dad said, working with members really is key...we have been studying that chapter in Preach My Gospel and our ward is really great. But I have definitely seen how when we work with the members and show our hard work they give us references...and usually these are the people who are searching for the truth. Also one of our investigators who is 25 and has a 2 yr old and has met with the missionaries for forever...basically gave herself a frank lesson and told us that she felt like this was her time and if she didn´t get baptized now she would be to scared and never do it...but she has an aunt who is a member and she has been chatting with her and she has been really helping her. 

 

So fun things that happened this week one of our investigators wives who has the mental capacity of a like 13 yr old answered the door and we asked how she was and she was like I am cold...well that was because she wasn´t wearing pants...ha-ha oh man I love meeting and working with people it´s so interesting. Eduardo (her husband) wasn´t there but we saw him walking home when we left so we were talking to him about coming to church and he said he just didn´t have time and he had to work...ah and I wish I would have thought of the scripture in 3 Nephi like the quote mom sent that says when we put God first other things fall into place..That´s really what helped me come on my mission and keep going...It truly is when we seek God first when things work for the better.   Also a newish investigator prayed for his wife to have patience over the pulpit in church yesterday...it was funny. Oh and a crazy hippie lady (who I wish I understood) but Hermana Hermansen told me what she said after said she used to have to wrap herself up in a diaper when she had her cough because she would just start coughing and not be able to control it...so uh yea maybe it´s good I can´t understand so well because I also need to learn not to laugh when such things happen. But me and Hermana Hermansen have a good laugh when we get back to the pension at night. 

 

Austin sounds spoiled on his b-day...which mom I hope you have a happy birthday!  Speaking of birthdays I can´t wait to buy myself something Chilean.

 

Haha no the dogs don´t bite...Usually...they just get annoying sometimes and sometimes we gain another companion with us for a while because they follow us. But yea we actually saw a dog get hit by a car this week...right in front of us...but it survived and ran off and we saw it again...so it just got a little shook up...but yea that´s another thing they drive so fast all the time here..It´s crazy sometimes when our mamaita gives us rides to the stake center I get scared...but I am alive don´t worry. Oh also the Bishop's 1 yr old had a cleft lip and small cleft pallet when he was born. He had a the surgery on this lip which looks great now but he is getting ready for his surgery on the interior...so I thought of baby Emma.

 

Sounds like everyone is doing great and enjoying the spring weather. Me and Hermana Hermansen forgot it was St. Patrick's Day until later in the day...so yea we didn't wear green...I don´t even think I have anything green...haha but that´s missionary life I guess, we just forget little holidays...sad I guess. Oh Saturday I had my first ansado...which is a barbeque basically it´s like Rodizio but the same meat and they just keep giving it to you...SOOO MUCH MEAT...sometimes its definitely overload

 

I think that´s about it...oh an old guy in our ward who always brings the flowers for Sunday brought me and Hermana Hermansen flowers...he is so sweet, she said he had never brought them flowers before and she has been here for 6 months...he is really sweet. I feel bad for him because he had some sort of accident and can´t walk well and his wife died..But his testimony is so strong and he says if people just understood the gospel they would accept it. Speaking of understanding I started reading Our Search for Happiness this week, I love it and I am trying to read it from the view of an investigator and it´s really interesting I love our unique and real our message is and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints is the restored church. 

 

Oh and mom when I read what you sent from the missionaries blog. That is our mission goal or rule idk what you call it but we are always supposed to walk with a book of Mormon in our hands...it´s fun and unique so whenever we walk out the door we have a book of Mormon in our hands and if we run out we carry pamphlets in our hands. Okay well I think that´s all for this week. Love you all, thanks for your prayers and examples...enjoy March madness, spring break and mom enjoy your birthday! les quiero mucho!!!!

 

con amor, 

 

Hermana Anderson 

 

p.s Kari also sounds spoiled going to San Fran for the visa..lucky missionary..can´t wait to get her letters, in dear elder form. Okay well hopefully I didn´t forget anything and I answered all your questions, have a great week! Oh and Hermana Hermansen is great at motivating and be honest in her compliments when she says my Spanish is getting better and how I am a good missionary..I am trying but one thing I have learned is that we aren´t perfect and there really is no such thing as a perfect missionary...So I just do my best and follow the rules and work and have faith that blessings will follow and we will find people to teach. 

Hola

Familita!

Well here we are on another p-day..I can´t believe how fast times goes by. So the language: I am starting to understand better but speaking is hard and whenever I hear them speaking I get frustrated that it can´t come out of my mouth like that...but I am learning that it truly is a step by step process, just like anything. Especially with the gospel there is one principle we have to understand and let investigators understand that they can´t learn everything all at once, that´s a problem I have in just hoping I could know it all right now..I guess lots of us have those problems...but here I am learning and struggling..esta bien. 

This week was spent searching for less actives and helping the ward know where they live and who needs visiting teachings or home teachers and such. Me y Hermana Hermansen are trying to do better at contacting..it's definitely hard and scary for me especially since I don´t understand them or really know what to say..but that´s our goal this week to really get out, contact and find people to baptize..plus Hermana Hermansen said one thing that really helps her when she starts feeling in a weird mood is just getting out and talking the people and bringing the Gospel to them..because an investigator we had a baptism date with who had come to church 2 weeks in a row didn´t show up or rather slept in yesterday...we are trying to help him understand how to sincerely search for his answer and that God is our Heavenly Father. 

So the area I am in was closed for a while because the missionaries before were not obedient..that was like a year ago or so..but I am just learning the importance of our example and the relationship boundaries we create with investigators and members. We went to visit one less active lady who was talking about a missionary like 50  years ago that she was in love with and he was in love with her but the love letter he wrote her she never received or something...but the fact that she is still hung up on it is so sad.. So me and Hermana Hermansen are really focusing on how to create those relationships and let people who are and what we are there to do.

This week we met with a less active old lady who always gives us cookies when we leave..but anyway we were leaving and she was asking us how old we were and she told Hermana Hermansen that she seemed older but that it was only because she was ´fatter´ we just laughed about it...oh Latin Americans are just open with things like that and it doesn't really matter. It's interesting to find out cultural things as we go along doing the work. Oh ha another funny moment this week was when we were searching for menos activies we contacted this lady who seemed interested and knew some people in the ward so we taught her or rather my companion taught her some points of the Restoration and than we asked him she would follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized and she shook her head and was like yea...and we were like ahhh what...yea she didn´t fully understand the question BUT she seemed like a humble lady and we hope to get back and teach her soon. I am trying to do better in lessons and share my thoughts and testify..it´s just frustrating that I can´t teach as much as I like and we taught the class in church yesterday but I just clammed up..I know it´s not about me but it´s hard because I want to be able to be open to people and share my thoughts fully...it´s coming with time and my companion is doing really well with encouraging me and telling me that I am actually doing a good job with showing the members that I love them...so yea Oh also I had my first little tremborles (small earthquake) meaning it was a really small shake but we were in a member's house and they just paused to feel is more was going to happen...it was weird. Oh also I had watermelon juice, delicious, just blend up the watermelon and there ya go...also they do just have fruit for dessert thankfully they do have chocolate to buy in the stores and our mamamita buys us chocolate or helado (ice cream) and brings it to us when we study..I definitely feel like I am a spoiled missionary here being fed every day by members, having a member do our laundry...a mamaita that brings us things and an awesome companion who helps me feel the spirit and strengthen my testimony so I can bring others to Christ. 

Well that´s about it for today..Mom, are you okay? Just wondering because I don´t think I received an email from you..and just like you would freak out when you don´t receive one from me..I kinda do the same..so just wondering. Also dad mentioned my birthday package...um maybe some fuzzy socks...my companion gave me one pair  but its nice to wear them in the mornings when we study and at night. Good lotion, head bands..cute ones...and uh yea  oh maybe some pictures in like those plastic picture album things I don't know how to describe them..but missionaries have them and it´s  a good place to hold pictures. One thing  I wish I would have brought is more light weight skirts, but my companion said the heavy ones well be good for winter, plus there are places here I can buy light weight skirts if I need. 

Sometimes I get nervous thinking about the fact that i should be prepared to train in 12 weeks and with getting to know the area and everything...but this is advice for everyone, just plan our your day, think of the moment you are in, work hard, and have the Spirit with you and you don´t need to worry about anything.

okay well I think that´s about all for this week. I did pushups this morning...and my arms are definitely getting weak haha it was funny. I am getting more and more excited to truly be immersed in this work and become an instrument in the Lords hands. les amo mucho!!!!! 

con amor,

Hermana Morgan Anderson

I am glad it´s warming up for you guys in Utah..its´great weather here sometimes even hot...but the evenings are awesome. Oh I don´t know if i mentioned this in my last email or not but the dogs here are out of control they are everywhere  and our schedule is we wake up at 7 am and in  bed by 11...Hope you all have a good week. Remember if you are feeling down look for someone to serve!!

Estoy en Chile!!!

Hola Familia!

Well I am glad you received the picture with me and the President and his wife...they are super nice and their kids are so cute..I just wish I could communicate with their kids more...but now I am in the field and it doesn't matter. So right after that picture was taken in front of the flower clock we were split into companionships, given a BOM or LDM, given the address of the mission home and told to give the BOM away try to get a contact or number and find our way to the mission home. Thankfully my companion, even though she was gringa understood what people were saying to us...we were able to give the BOM away but we didn't receive numbers or address...also we contacted one man who walked us all the way to the mission home but wouldn't let us get his number because he doesn't want any religion...K should have born my testimony more strongly but it was hard because I didn't know why he was saying he didn't like religion and then when he left, my companion said it was because he feels like they just take your money...ah so yea if I could only understand! Then after that we had pizza and just waited around in the mission home for interviews which took awhile and than the sisters slept at a ´hotel´ and were able to go to bed early. We also had once which is like bread and ´cafe´or echo don´t worry we are allowed to have it. 

Wednesday was full of orientation then at 5 we had the meeting and changes...I was so nervous to be leaving my district and companion or comfort zone...BUT my companion now is great! She has been in the field for a year and she is a gringa from Sandy area..I can´t remember the town right now...anyway she is super awesome. Actually Wednesday was her birthday and she turned 22. I am her first gringa companion so she is kinda excited to speak English and I am excited to speak Spanish so we speak English in the pencion (I don't know how to spell that word but it means apartment). She said she gained like 20 lbs here on the mission....so yea you can expect me to gain some weight...the pan is SO delicious and they bake it fresh everyday and the members make like everything from scratch. So Hermana Hermansen, which is my companion said I am starting out in the most perfect ward because we have a mamamita...which our house is actually behind hers and the Relief Society president arranges for members to feed us everyday and than someone does our laundry and the ward loves missionary work..so actually our ward mission leader just got called as 2nd counselor in the bishopric yesterday...so we don´t have one at the moment, but he was really great and our new bishop is 30 and loves missionary work..the former bishop was bishop for 7 years...crazy. A lady in the ward asked us yesterday if it was okay to have a new bishop..she is sweet lady is just went through the temple a couple months ago.

Our apartment is pretty nice..I don't know, at first I didn't see a difference in things, but yea houses here are def not as clean, but the water is safe to drink and we can eat the fish.. amazingly enough I haven´t gotten sick. So how they do meals is they have a small breakfast and lunch is the biggest. We have an hour and half for lunch which is with members so we talk with them and share a lesson. and they don´t really have dinner just like cookies and the ´cafe´ con pan...I actually could get used to eating just cookies for dinner....but lunch is really hard to eat everything they give us, oh and they don´t drink water only like juice and pop uh so I guess I have to give up my no pop rule...but the strawberry juice is SO good...all their juice is super sweet. So that´s how meals are...so when they fast here they fast from lunch to lunch so they have lunch on Saturday than they skip the once and breakfast than they have lunch on Sunday at like 2.  Our mamamita is super nice she is menos activo so we have been ´practicing´ lessons on her but we tried to get her to come to church this Sunday but she couldn't...they seem to always be sick here haha...but one of the investigators who I haven't taught yet but met yesterday at church came even though he was sick, you could here it in his throat so I hope he is doing well. 

So on with the important stuff, the work...so with training we study for like fourish hours in the morning so when I first got here I felt like I wasn't doing missionary work because we didn't have much time to go out and talk with people...but I have learned it´s not about the numbers is about bringing others to Christ and doing all we can by following the rules and being obedient. It is hard because they love to talk here....so the language, yes it's super hard to understand because they talk super fast and Chile has their own vocabulary..it´s really hard and I get nervous to speak and sometimes I don't know what to say because I have no idea what is going on, but it is getting better and my companion says even though I can´t see it, that I am progressing. I just get nervous thinking about the future but I can´t do that...right now I am just trying to get to know the area, remember names, and say as much as I can, as often as I can. So one really cool experience was when we went back to follow up with a menos activio...so the day before we had stopped by and his mom said to come back the next day and she was Catholic so didn't want our religion...but the next day we  waited outside the door for 10 min. She finally answered, got her son, and even sat and listened to us...we gave her a BOM and she had lots of questions...it was awesome and the spirit was there and I was able to share why the gospel was important in my life...we are meeting with her again tomorrow...that was a tender mercy to me and showed me how important persistence is in the fact that we didn't just leave after waiting for like 3 min. I also shared a scripture in like our 2nd lesson but it was with a member so I wasn't that scared. Oh so one of the members we had lunch with, she thought I was latina haha it was funny. 

I love the story of the Elder from Mexico..I guess you could say that´s how i feel..I shared my testimony on Sunday even though I told them my Spanish was bad, they all said I did pretty well...so we will see. I definitely get frustrated in the fact that I can´t communicate very much with the people and I feel like I look like the super shy quiet companion and I felt useless at first like I couldn't help in any way..but it is getting better. The language is hard and I love listening to the little kids speak Spanish.  So today we still have to get my visa stuff figured out so hopefully it all goes well and doesn't take too long. We are getting empanadas for lunch so I am excited about that. Also our mamaita gave us mini coconuts so I can´t wait to try those. 

Like I said, our mission leader is now in the the bishopric so we don´t have one as of today...but the bishop told us to be thinking of someone so basically Hermana Hermansen is thinking since I don´t know very many people in the ward yet. Oh and the money here, it looks like play money and Hermana Hermansen is helping me learn conversion and everything..I am glad I have a gringa to explain things so I understand. She said for the longest time she really had no idea what was going on. She also makes me feel better in our work because right now for me the most important thing is to be obedient, use study time and share a simple testimony..because that´s all I can really do. The sun feels good here..it´s starting to get cool at night so we take sweaters with us and the kids are starting school today..it was weird to get here and have it be their summer. Oh one cool thing is that they have a center where there are a bunch of stores and the main area than around it are the houses...it´s actually pretty fun. So the center is where we come to shop and email...they do have smaller shops around houses and such. Oh my area is called Villa Norte and it´s just like west of Vina I believe...also we had a district meeting where we practiced contacting and talked about investigators. 

Okay well I believe that is all....I can´t belive tomorrow I will have been here for 1 week..it feels like a long time since I have been here and I don´t know much yet but everything takes time which is hard to understand sometimes. I am sorry you didn't get to go to St. George, hopefully you make up for that by going to Disneyland for spring break or something haha. Love you all, thanks for the letters and I got a little sad when Dad started talking about baseball starting up, I forgot about that ha a little bit but hopefully it´s a good season for baseball. Hopefully they get the floor done during spring break and you can get furniture. Okay well I better go now. I am attaching some pictures with me and my comp and mamaita or Hermana Jenni. Also some of the day I got to Vina. Hope all is well! Love you all, don´t worry about me, it´s great here

con amor
Hermana Morgan Anderson