Wednesday, February 26, 2014~Week 28
Quezon City; 12:22 PM Wed (PH); 9:22 PM Tues (US)

Kamustaaaaaaa! It feels like it's been an eternity since I last wrote to you all! Today is a much needed p-day! Sooo I'm just gonna hurry and go through the week for ya all.

     

Today!

Tibs Today!

After I emailed you on Monday, we had a zone activity where we just played games and stuff and ate food. So that was nice. We went and got chocolate shakes after and that was probably the happiest moment of my whole p-day. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Then it was a completely regular week until Saturday!  

On Saturday we got to do a service project and I LOVED it!! We don't get to do those very often and so it was fun to do some good hard labor for once! We went to a member's house for the service. Our entire zone came because it was a HUGE project to tackle.Basically, her backyard is just a million of these cement fish ponds that weren't filled with fish. They were filled with dirt, trash, pipes, plants, ants, and other various objects of that sort. So we all got to work and everyone was sweating like no body's business because it's bloody hot here! But we got done really quick! ........Until we walked a little further and saw that there was an entire other section of the same thing only bigger! Hahaha sooo we started on that and it was even hotter and so we sweat even more and I would like to proclaim that it was the most disgusting I have felt my entire mission! I was covered in dirt and sweat. Yummm.

BUT! It's all good because HannsBoNanns got to use a real life MACHETE! Yes I did. I was hacking away at this tangled up bush thing that they wanted gone. I felt like Indiana Jones. Like really. I felt legit. Obviously there were people who were worried about me handling such a tool but I just thought YOLO because duhhh I'm in the Philippines and I wanna have funnnnn. I promise I was careful though mom and dad! I may be a clutz but I'm still smart! Luckily, there were no HannsBoNanns moments that day.

And honestly, that's the only exciting thing that happened this week. Except for yesterday, Vanessa Sudario worked with us and we took pictures of her and she's a baaaaaaaaaabe. Haha no but really. I love her so much because she reminds me of the Laurels that I used to look up to when I was still a Beehive. She's just like Michelle Morley, Aubrey and Amber Peacock, Amanda Nelson, etc.

She is so beautiful on the outside but she's even more beautiful because she literally glows with the light of Christ. We're super excited because we're going over to her house today to do her hair and make up and get her all dolled up to take pictures of her because she's turning 18 and I guess there's something called a debut here when you turn 18 and it's a pretty big deal I guess. Anywayyyy that'll be funnn.

As far as investigators go, it's been a rough week. Our newer investigator, Cesar, was set to be baptized on March 29 and he was SO excited! He is literally SO prepared for the gospel! He was completely golden! He smoked 10 cigarettes a day and after we taught him the Word of Wisdom, he immediately went down to 1. THAT'S A MIRACLE! He came to church! ANOTHER MIRACLE! He's so so SO receptive to the spirit! BUT! He's going to Boracay for a month for work and there are no missionaries in Borcay! It's the worst possible thing that can happen. And it happened. So everyone PRAY FOR CESAR. And A., too. His baptism has been postponed because he has Word of Wisdom problems. We're working on it though! And just pray for everyone else here too syempre.

The temple this morning was, as always, wonderful! Haha it was a little tough to stay awake though. Speaking of that, Tibs and I need everyone's prayers that we'll be able to sleep at night. We have basically had no real sleep since Friday night. We're not exactly sure why. We just can't! So prayyyy please. I need sleeeeeeeeeeep. I think it might just be because we're stressed or something but I don't know.  But really, I love the temple. The celestial room of ANY temple is my favorite place in the world. We are literally in the world but not of the world. We are truly in a heaven on earth. The blessings of the temple are sooo amazing! And to think that I don't even understand them all the way! There's MORE! It blows my mind how generous our Heavenly Father is with us. We are so blessed. 

 My favorite experience out of the whole week though was when I stayed home with Sister Campbell on Saturday because she was sick. So the other sisters went out to teach. Sister Campbell was upstairs asleep and so I had a few hours just to study and it was amazing. I studied the Book of Mormon first. And then I decided to watch the Joseph Smith movie. We all know how that ended right? HannsBoNanns in tears because I have the strongest love for the Prophet Joseph Smith and when he's riding away on the horse, I feel like I'm there. Every time. And my heart just begins to hurt.  But there's a scene where Joseph is in Carthage and it starts to play back different scenes from his life. All the miracles that happened during his lifetime. The first vision, angels, temples, etc. And then the last scene they play from his life is when he was a little boy and he's riding on the back of his brother Alvin and Hyrum is running along side them. They were so happy! And then a tear rolls down Joseph's face. And then the mob comes and Joseph is martyred. But at the end of the movie, the words come up, "Shall we not go on in so great a cause?"

And my mind went immediately to the scene where he's with his brothers. THAT'S what this is all about! God sent us here to obtain joy! Especially within the bonds of family and friends. And then he sent his Son to help us understand that we can have that FOREVER! That's why I'm here! Because I want people to know that they can be with their families for eternity and have a fullness of joy that we can't even comprehend in this life! I was overwhelmed with gratefulness to KNOW that this is true! I know without a doubt that families are forever! All we have to do is come unto Christ and do our part. It's so amazing! I sat there crying because I was so happy and grateful and felt so much love from my Heavenly Father. This was a sensitive subject anyway because Sister Tibungcog and I had just talked about a certain part member family in our ward the day before during weekly planning. We love them so so much. And I sat there crying because I could feel the love that our Heavenly Father has for each one of them and I just want them to have what I have because I know that there is nothing else in the world that will bring more happiness and joy. Anyway, it was just a really great experience for me and I felt blessed that I got to stay home with Sister Campbell. Hahaha twisted I know. I don't know if anything I just said made any sense but I'm too tired to go back through and read it. 

Cute little wall in Pansol!

 

Okayyy anyway! Thanks for all the support and love and prayers! I promise that I'll try to be more careful! Hopefully the HannsBoNanns moments will decrease in number as I go along but who knows. All I know is that I'm so grateful for all of you and I love you all SO much!! I'll talk to ya next week!!! LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUU!!

Love, Sister Andersen

That's my burn. It looks SO much better now.
This was a few days after it happened.
And those are my dirty feet after a whole day of work.
#welcometothephillies 

Twisting on the chair and it broke!

Kawawa siya naman.

Cuter than Wonder Woman!

Monday, February 17, 2014~Week 27 

Quezon City; 1:31 PM Mon (PH); 10:31 PM Sun (US)


Hey there everyone!! First and foremost! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!! Family birthdays always make me a tiny bit sad because I just wanna be there to make crepes and stuff but it's okay! I trust that everyone will take good care of you this week! I hope that your birthday is filled with lots of food and cake and ice cream and pies and chocolate and movies and songs and birds and rainbows and sunshine! Because that's what you deserve daddio!! I'm sending you lots of hugs and kisses and birthday wishes and I hope you can feel it! LOVE YOU!

   

So this has been an interesting week for me! Hahaha HannsBoNanns moment. I gave myself a second degree burn because I'm me and I'm clutzy and that's just my life. I boiled some water for myself so I could take a hot shower but on the way up the two stairs to the bathroom, I tripped and the boiling water splashed on my leg and IT HURT SO BAD!!! Yeah I definitely cried this time. It was the morning of Zone Conference too. It was probably one of the more painful experiences in my entire life. Haha it blistered up real bad and I'm sorry that I didn't take pictures of it but it's on the mend and I'm sure it will be better in no time! It's probably gonna leave another nasty scar though. I've already accepted the fact that I will have ugly legs when I come home due to bug bites and me being me!:)

Zone Conference was on Wednesday and it was super amazing! Everything was so inspired and I loved it all! We have such great leaders and missionaries here and I'm so so grateful! One thing that was really stressed was that they wanted all the missionaries to know that President and Sister Revillo really really love all the missionaries here so so much. And you can really feel that love despite all the challenges that might come up. I'm just so lucky here! 

Me and Heps at Zone Conference!
We missed each other so much!
Haha we started crying when we saw each other again!

This was my Valentine. Isn't she a cutie??

So much love was happening in our house!

Funny story. Haha so we went to our investigator E's house and the second that we get there she lifts her baby's shirt up and tells me that I have to lick my thumb and then rub my spit on her baby's bellybutton. I was like ummmmmmm whyyyyyyy.....that's weird...... Haha but I did it and it turns out it's because I cursed her baby! Her baby has been sick for about a month now and so they took him to some albularyo doctor to see if he had a curse. The doctor said that he did have a curse and the curse was given to the baby by a tall girl with long hair and that the only way to break the curse was if I rubbed my spit on his bellybutton. Sooooo that happened. Hopefully I broke curse! Hahaha I love the Philippines.

This is his face EVERY time I take a picture of him!

Elder Smith! He's the new office secretary
and he's literally the younger version of the guy in UP!
He's always so darn happy!

Half Day Mission in Kaingin!

We had a half day mission in Kaingin on Saturday and it was awesome! All the priesthood went around with the missionaries and we visited less actives and I think it was really really effective! We just want these members to know that the ward loves them and misses them and WANTS them to come back to church! I really hope that we can continue to help them see that! So far so good though!

 Cutest little cupcake shop ever!
 Makes me think of Kenna Benna every time!

I'm sorry that this is a shorter email! I don't know where my time went today! But just know that I love you all and I pray for you all every day! I'm lovin' life here in the Phillies! I love my companion! I love my kabahays! I love my zone! I love my area! I love my investigators! I love the gospel! I love being a missionary! I LOVE EVERYTHING! And I love you!!!! Thanks for everything! Talk to you all next week! Mahal ko po kayong lahat!!!

TODAY!

Love, Sister Andersen

Monday, February 10, 2014~Week 26
Quezon City; 1:47 PM Mon (PH); 10:47 PM Sun (US)

Happy Valentine's Day my beautiful, wonderful family and friends! Today is kind of a cool date because 4 years ago today, Nick went into the MTC to serve his mission in Russia! And in one year from tomorrow, I'll be home!! Craaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy! PLUS! Friday is not only Valentine's Day, but it's MY 6 MONTH MARK!!!!! I can't even believe it honestly. I have no idea how I've already been out here for 6 months. Sometimes it feels like an eternity that I've lived here, and sometimes it feels like I just stepped out of the car and shook hands with Brock and Sam at the MTC. I don't really understand time here on my mission. It's like time doesn't exist. It's just like a schedule without time. Get up, study, work, teach, plan, sleep, repeat. Hahaha I don't know if this makes any sense but I would just like to convey that time does not exist when you're a missionary! Yung lang.

TODAY!

Tibs Today!

Sooo I had a HannsBoNanns moment last Tuesday. I was reaching for something underneath our staircase and when I stood up, I stood up REALLY fast and then the back of my head hit the edge of the staircase SOOOOOOOOO HARD. It honestly dazed me for a second and then the pain set in and I just crunched up into a ball and sat there rocking back and forth for like 5 minutes. I wasn't crying though. It hurt too much to cry. Haha so that happened and it hurts to this day but it's on the mend! There was no blood so I consider that a successful bump. I'm excited for the next life because my head won't be so lopsided anymore from all the times I hit my head! And then Thursday I was sick all day. I had body malaise and the biggest headache ever and a weird sharp pain in my side. It was a long day. But then we went to dinner at the Dulalia's and she gave me some medicine to help with the headache and the body malaise and the sharp pain and it worked! Haha I'm doing okay now! So there's my sick stories for the week!

I forgot to tell you.
We had to reorganize our room because they
wanted everyone's desks to be facing each other.
So this is our room now!

My Happy Wall

So I'm super super excited because our investigator Arnel, Jenie's husband, has been coming to church every week and he's really really receptive to everything that we share with him and when he doesn't understand something or wants to know more, he asks! Which is something a lot of people don't do! He really understands that being baptized is a sacred ordinance and he truly wants to be ready for it. He's doing everything that he can to understand the gospel and gain a testimony for himself! It's so amazing! This is basically the first time that I've really had an investigator who has such a strong desire to learn and understand the gospel. His baptism is on March 8 and he's so excited! And so are we! It's my first real CONVERT baptism and I'm stoked! I'm glad that he'll be able to be baptized before I leave! And Jenie! Jenie is soooooo happy! Ah! THIS is the best part about being a missionary! Is watching the gospel take root in people's lives and give them true happiness and joy that can't be found anywhere else! It's just so so amazing and I feel so blessed to be able to experience this as a missionary! There's nothing else like it in the world!

Somewhere in Kaingin

As far as the rest of the week goes, it was pretty normal! The Kaingin sacrament meeting was stupendous! 42 saints were there! What a blessing and a miracle! I can't believe how much this ward and area has grown since I got here!

Our "little" group in the mountain!
It started out so small and look at it now!
It's a miracle!

Future Missionaries!

Priesthood Power!

This is me in the Kaingin sacrament meeting
yesterday DYING because it
was SOOOOO hot!

I LOVE being a missionary! There are ups and downs and sometimes the downs really hit hard, but the ups are ALWAYS there directly after to lift you back up and I end up forgetting the downs anyway! If you were to ask me if there was something sad about yesterday, I wouldn't be able to answer you. But if you were to ask me about something happy from yesterday, I could give you an entire list! I have a testimony that the Lord blesses us with added strength to overcome our hardships here in the mission. No matter what they are. I've seen it in other missionaries and I've experienced it first hand. I'm so grateful for this opportunity that I've had to be a missionary for these past 6 months and I'm so lucky that I still have 12 more! Missionary work is the greatest work!

I hope that you all have a LOVELY Valentine's Day on Friday! Eat some chocolate and smell some roses and sing some love songs and hug lots of people and don't kiss people unless you're married to them and just feel the LOVE!! I LOVE all of you so so much! I miss ya tons.....but not too much! Thanks for everything! Thanks for all the support and the prayers and the LOVE! You're all the greatest!! MAHAL KO PO KAYONG LAHAT!!!! LOVE YOUUUUUU!!!!!

LOVE, Sister Andersen 

Monday, February 3, 2014~Week 25
Quezon City; 1:27 PM Mon (PH); 10: 27 PM Sun (US)

Heyyyyyyyyy everyone! HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY!!! I'm slightly sad that I missed the movie watching but I honestly have seen that movie so many times that I can practically just watch in my head and have it be the same. I'm excited to watch next year though! I can't believe that in like a week, I'll be home in a year! Whaaaaaaaaaat? How did that happen so stinkin' fast?! I've almost been out for 6 months! I don't even know where the time went! And by the end of this transfer, I will have been out for 7 months and will have been in this area for 6 months! Soooooo weird! I don't even know what to do with myself!

TODAY!

I'm a dog!

Anyway, this week had it's ups and downs just like every week does! The biggest down probably being that Hepworth left us. I got to go with her to say goodbye to her Balacuit children while the other sister's went to PEC meeting. It was actually really sad. And you know me, I'm a crier. (Thanks Mom.) And so I cried with her while she said goodbye, cried with her on the way home, cried with her when we got ice cream, cried with her while we ate ice cream and then laughed with her at the end of the night because we were both cried out. I miss her the most out of all of us I think but it's okay because I'll see her again on the 12th at Zone Conference! I'm excited! 

But there were so many ups too! One of them being Sister Campbell! She's from Boise, Idaho but she's half Filipino. Sister Campbell is on her last transfer in the field! She goes home at the end of this one. Her last companion was Sister Jones and they were STLs! She's been an STL for a long time but for her last transfer, she's just here finishing up Sister Monticalbo's training! I seriously loved her from the moment she walked in the house though! She's great! She is just ALWAYS happy and loves missionary work and life and is so excited about the gospel! She's not trunky at all! She's soooooo funny! And soooo bold! She's just a really awesome and great missionary! We're excited to have her here!    

On Saturday we got to do a Missionary Fireside for some of the ward and it went pretty well I think. It's just really awesome to see the ward and the ward leaders focusing so much on missionary work! It's amazing! Hahaha and then yesterday ALL the ward missionaries and other members of the ward were asking to work with us because they said that the second coming is fast approaching and they need to repent and fulfill their calling. Hahaha it was great. I just love watching people catch onto the spirit of missionary work!

Angela with her Aklat ni Mormon

RJ!

Jessica!

Probably my favorite part of the whole week though was when Jenie, the recent convert whose husband we're teaching now, got up in fast and testimony meeting and bore her testimony in front of the ward for the first time EVER! It was so amazing! She was so so scared and so shy to do it but she just got up and did it and expressed her gratitude to her Heavenly Father for answering her prayers. She's just so happy to have her family back together and complete and she's so grateful that her husband, Arnel, wants to learn and understand the gospel and be baptized so that he can go to the temple and make it possible to be with his family forever. It was the sweetest testimony and I was so proud of her. She is such a strength to her family and such an incredible example to Arnel. I absolutely LOVE her! Sister Tibungcog promised to come back for when they get sealed in the temple and they'd put me on skype so that I could see them all that day since I won't be here! I'm so stinkin happy for them though!

More children!

Lahat ng mga bata!

This gospel is the most incredible thing in the world. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the fact that I'm a missionary and have this opportunity to help people come closer to their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. There is nothing else in the world that I would rather be doing and I actually dread the day that I have to take off my name tag. There's just a certain power that comes with bearing the name of Jesus Christ with the authority bestowed upon us by God's servants. Anyone and everyone can share the gospel. But this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be set apart from the world and give ALL my time and talents to the Lord and nothing else. I am just so blessed. I know that this gospel is true with my whole heart. I hope that you all have such a great week!! I miss you all but I know that I'll see you in no time! Thanks for the constant love and support! I'm more grateful for you than you know!! Love you all so much!!!!

So this accidentally happened today...
Companionship unity.

Love, Sister Andersen

P.S. For Jorgi: "What excellent boiled potatoes."

Fun Fact: McDonald's delivers here!