Monday, April 28, 2014~Week 37
Antipolo; 12:17 PM Mon (PH); 10:17 PM Sun (US)

Hello everyone!! I hope you all had a wonderful week because I sure did! Let me tell you about my week here in Antipolo! First of all, it is definitely not the province I was expecting! Haha it is still definitely city. BUT it's more provincey than I've ever had! And there actually is one part of our area that it is pure mountain and dirt road and trees and fresh air and BEAUTIFUL and I LOVE IT! It's not as hot here either as it was in Pateros.

 The view from my new mountain!

It was soooooooooooooo hot in Pateros but here, it's actually quite bearable and there's usually a nice breeze that comes through. So I'm liking the weather here a lot more!

Shakey's is a pizza place.
We went there for an Elder in our Zone's birthday! 

 Me and Sister Oyler last Tuesday!

 Me and my Zone Leader Elder Harris!

My companion is Sister Dowe! She's pretty quiet and soft spoken but she's super sweet and kind and she's a really good missionary. She's 2 transfers ahead of me. Our companionship is super great though! It's not as fun or crazy or anything like my last companionships but it's so good because we teach so well together.

Sister Dowe!

From the very first day we just went into the lessons and we just bounced off of each other so well. It's actually the very first time that I've taught this well on my entire mission. Because with my last companions, they've been really bold and outgoing and I'm a little bit more on the quieter side during teaching and so sometimes they would end up teaching most of the lesson and I would just add in anything that they maybe missed or something. But now, we just bounce off of each other and we're both teaching equally the entire time. And I love it!! It's seriously like the first time that I've honestly truly felt like the things that I'm saying are helping these people every single lesson. I would feel it every once in a while in my past companionships but I feel it every single time now. And also, my last companions have always been the more bold ones during the lessons and the invitations and commitments that we give, but because Sister Dowe is quieter than me, now I'm the one that does all that cool powerful stuff in the lessons. Haha okay she is really powerful too but from the very first day that I got here, I've just been more bold and truly felt stronger in everything that we're teaching and in asking and expecting the investigators, recent converts, and less actives to follow through on the commitments that we give them. And then truly following up with them and helping them understand the importance of what we're sharing. And if they didn't follow through on a commitment, we talk about it until the understand that they need to do it if they really want to gain a testimony and come to know their Savior. It's just been a really good experience for me since I've been here. I really really feel like a true missionary now with extra power! I love it!

Hear ye!

There is one downside to this place though. WE HAVE LOTS OF COCKROACHES IN OUR HOUSE. I'm dying. I hate cockroaches. It is a dang good thing that I've been blessed with companions and kabahays that are not afraid to kill those bloody things because whenever I see a cockroach, I just kind of point at it and say, "Bahhhhhh a cockroach!" And then I kind of moan and groan and whine and pretend cry and hide and wait for her to kill it. And then I say thank you when she's done and life moves on. That's pretty much how that goes every single time. Haha

The house!

 Random side note, the other day I heard, "Country Roads" by John Denver playing and I thought of you dad! Hahaha and then I thought about our trip to Montana and how you tried to teach me the Montana song and I was completely out of tune. Ohhhh man good times. But just let it be clear that missions are a blessing as a far as singing goes because we sing in every lesson and so it's like you have singing practice all day every day. My voice has definitely gotten better since I've been on a mission I think. I'm not saying I'm American Idol status now or anything but I could probably sing that song now and be in tune. Wait, who am I kidding? I'm Hannah Montana. Duhhh I can sing. #sillyme #iforgot #hannahmontanaforlife

 Me and my other Zone Leader Elder Quiencio! 

So on Thursday, we were at a member's house and on the way there it had been perfectly sunny and beautiful and hot and there was like 2 clouds in the sky. And then about 5 minutes after we'd been in the house, it just starts POURING rain. Like seriously it was POURING!!! HARD! I got all excited and happy because it hasn't rained here in a long time! But the best part was, this is the very first time that the rain has actually smelt like rain! Because in the city, it just makes everything stink and so it's not a very happy smell. But out here, there's dirt and trees and actual life and so it smelled fresh and clean and beautiful and it made my heart so happy!! I looooooooooooooooved it!!

On Saturday, Cholo was indeed baptized and I was not there for it. :(  But it's okay because I walked right into another one! There were three people baptized on Saturday! Sister Dowe and her last companion's investigator, Irene and then the other Sisters' two investigators Jun and Marvin.

Irene!

Jun and Marvin!

I met Marvin on my first day here in Antipolo and he reminded me SOOOO much of Aaron! Because he was wearing a soccer jersey and he was tall and skinny and his hair was all crazy! I was like WOAH! It's a Filipino Aaron! Haha so that was fun. I told him that and so now he tells everyone that we're siblings. He's pretty precious.

Sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves!

Masarap! (means Delicious)

Anywayyyyyyyyyyyyy. It has been a really good week here. I love this area already and I hope that I stay here for a long time. I've learned so much already in the short amount of time that I've been here. My testimony has grown insanely already and I'm so excited for the rest of this transfer and the rest of my time here. I know it's going to be great! I'm so grateful to be a missionary. I love it. Yes it's hard and tiring and some days you just wanna go to sleep for a really long time but it's all so worth it!

TODAY!

 I'm so excited for my lil Jan Bug!! I never would have guessed Uruguay but I know that it's perfect for her! Haha ummm I have a nice powerpoint somewhere all about Uruguay because me and Melissa had to do a presentation on that country for Spanish class in 7th grade. It was pretty legit. I was very proud of our presentation actually. ANYWAY, she'll do amazing things! I'm so super duper excited for her!! Thank you all for everything! Thanks for the support and constant prayers in my behalf! I think that's the only reason I've been able to stay alive for the past 7 months that I've been here in the Philippines! Thank you so much! I miss you all like crazy! Hope you all have a super great week! LOVE YOUUUUUUUU!!!!

Love, Sister Andersen

Sorry 'bout dat....

*Thanks for everything Mom!! This computer is really really slow so I'm not sure if I can upload very many pictures.  I'll upload more next week! LOVE YOU!!! MWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAA!

*I'M SO BLOODY EXCITED FOR MOTHER'S DAY!! I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU!! And we'll be skyping on my       

"9 Months Left Mark!" Hahaha anyway, I'll let you know everything next week!

Tuesday, April 22, 2014~Week 36
Pateros; 12:26 PM Tues (PH); 10:26 PM Mon (US)

Welp, hey there everybody!! First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSHY BEAR!!! You are literally the biggest stud in the whole world!! I sent you a birthday letter but I'm not sure when it will get there! Sorry it's late!! But I hope that you have such a great birthday and are spoiled rotten on your special day!!! YOU. ARE. DA. BEST. Keep up the great work my friend!! I love you soooooooo much!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU CUTE LITTLE 15 YEAR OLD YOU! 

Me and our investigator's puppy, Yuki!

Our investigator, Cholo!
He's getting baptized on Saturday! 

So I've got news! I'm being transferred!!! Haha I only spent one little transfer here in Pateros and now I'm going to Cogeooooooooo!! Antipolo, Cogeo! I could actually feel that I was going to get transferred. I actually felt it from when I first got here. I just knew that I would not be staying in this area for a long time. I could just feel that. And my hunch was right! Cogeo is pretty far away from here. Like 2 hours or something. And it's province! So YAYYYYY I get to go die of heat in the province in the middle of summer! Haha it's okay though! I'm excited! My new companion is Sister Dowe. She's from Australia. I've never met her but she's from Australia and so maybe I'll pick up a cool accent and that's all that matters. Sister Quiban is training!! And Sister Rimano is becoming an STL! Her new companion is Sister Wilson!

 Sister Quiban and I with our darling STLs
 Sister Cutia and Sister Wilson.
 Sister Cutia was Sister Quiban's trainer! 

Sister Rimano! The newest STL in the mission!
Haha she's adorable! I love her!
And Tibs is an STL now too! CALLED THAT ONE!

Last week we had Zone Interviews and it was great!! I love these things because we get great workshops from our leaders!! It was all truly inspired! I love all of our leaders so so much! And I love President! He's so great! He really is like our father here in the mission! I went in for my interview and we just talked and he asked me a few questions and then he said, "Alright! Keep up the great work Sister Andersen! You're doing awesome! We love you here!" And then it was over! Haha super fast but it was good! I just love President! My love for him has grown so much and I'm sure it will continue to grow. Gah I love my mission!

Sometimes this happens in the Philippines.

Sometimes this happens too.

Me and Sister Oyler!

So I just want to talk about Easter for a second. First of all, Happy {belated} Easter!! Easter is truly one of the most remarkable times of the year! But it was a little different for me this year. I was a little bit sad to not be at home to celebrate it with family and friends. Not because I was missing out and the egg coloring or the hunts or the Easter baskets or candy or even the usual new Easter clothes that we get.

Easter Eggs :)

Colors :)

Just chillin' with my peeps on Easter.
 #easter #peeps #thuglife 

But because I missed being able to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ with those who KNOW the truth. On Good Friday, there were so many processions with these giant, overdone, fancy statues of Jesus Christ and Mary and people walking behind or in front singing songs and holding candles and being all sad. And then there was a huge procession of people who walk for miles and miles and miles barefoot and whipping themselves with these awful whips that they have made. There are even some people who go the extreme and crucify themselves. And it makes me sad. I just want to shout to the world DON'T YOU KNOW??? DON'T ANY OF YOU KNOW??? You don't have to do that to yourself! Jesus Christ did it for you so that you wouldn't have to! It makes me sad because as much as they think they are worshiping the Savior of the world and giving their respect and love and devotion to him, they don't understand the Atonement AT ALL. It actually makes me think of D&C 19:16-17:

 "For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;"  

I'm just so grateful to know the truth about His resurrection and that I truly understand the Atonement. And that all my life I've been blessed to grow up with family and friends who also know the truth and celebrate His glorious life! Because that's what Easter is truly about! It's amazing what a different outlook you have on a mission about holidays like Easter and Christmas. It's definitely not the Easter I had back home but it was still just as sweet and wonderful because I was more able to focus on my Savior. Words cannot even describe how much I love this gospel!! It's just so incredible!

http://easter.mormon.org/

Also, I just want to say what I've learned this past transfer. This last transfer I really learned what it means to humble yourself before the Lord. Sister Quiban is kind of a hot blooded chick and so sometimes she would get frustrated really fast or something the first few weeks of us being together. And I would get so confused! I kept wondering why she gets so upset so quickly! And then I realized that I need to stop looking at her and look at myself. I had to say to myself after praying, maybe she wouldn't get so frustrated if I would do this better. Or try harder at that. Or whatever it was. And once I started trying to fix myself instead of her, our companionship became 100 times better!! It was amazing! So I truly learned what it means to become humble and go to the Lord to figure how to do it. It was a valuable lesson for me and I'm so grateful for my companion. She is so amazing! Her faith and her strength, after all that she has been through in her life, is SO incredible. I have been so blessed to be with her this past transfer! She's going to be an AMAZING trainer:)

TODAY!
My hair is wet!
We went and played basketball this morning
with the Elders and the other sisters!
So I hurried and showered before coming here!

Thanks for all of your support everyone! You're all so amazing!! My heart could not be happier for my dearest SISTER LEXIE NICOLE SIMS who will be returning to my presence sometime in the near future! I'm so dang excited!!! She truly is my sister and I can't even wait for her to get back here so I can hug her and never let her go!!  Since I know she's reading this letter, I LOVE YOU LEXIE!!! YOU ARE MY HERO!!!!!  I miss you like crazy and can't wait to see your beautiful face here!! LOVE YOUU!!! 

Sister Sims announcing to Sister Andersen she is returning to QC!
"It's more fun in the Philippines!"

And I love everyone else too!! You're always in my thoughts and in my prayers! And Joe Gordon is getting baptized! I STARTED CRYING WHEN I READ THAT!! LITERALLY!! Have a great week! LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!

Love, Sister Andersen

This is a goat.

 Kidsssss 

Taho!
 Not sure what it's made of but
 it only costs 10 pesos and it's delish! 

Monday, April 14, 2014~Week 35 

Pateros; 9:08 AM Mon (PH); 7:08 PM Sun (US)

Heyyyyy there everyone.  

Yayyyyyyyy :)

 Look what caaaaaaaaaaaaaame :)

I love Easter and I love Mom!!

So firstly, HAPPY 8 MONTH MARK TO MEEEEE!!!! Only 10 months left! That's so crazy to my heart and soul! It's like, happy....and sad. I don't know. But enough trunky talk. Let's talk about conference! 

I LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE SO MUCH AND I REALLY REALLY WISH THAT GENERAL CONFERENCE WOULD HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE!  I'm just gonna talk about some of my favorite talks! So siyempre, Elder Holland's talk was outstanding! I loved it when he said,  "You may wonder if it is worth it to take a courageous moral stand in high school or to go on a mission only to have your most cherished beliefs reviled or to strive against much in society that sometimes ridicules a life of religious devotion. Yes, it is worth it."  And then when he said, "Friends, especially my young friends, take heart. 

 Pure Christlike love flowing from true righteousness can change the world."  "Christlike love is the greatest need we have on this planet." I testify to what he said. When we are teaching investigators, the very first thing that we teach them is that they are children of their Heavenly Father and they are loved. Because that's all anyone ever really wants and needs to know. And members of this church, knowing what we know about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, we need to help people see that and feel that by OUR love for them. It's so important! And Yes! It's so worth it! 

So this was a little neato boat thingamajig. 

I also loved Elder Christofferson's talk! It was so powerful in a very quiet way. Exactly how the resurrection of Jesus Christ should be talked about! My favorite line was at the very end of his talk when he said, "Under the glance of His all-seeing eye, I stand myself as a witness that Jesus of Nazareth is the resurrected Redeemer, and I testify of all that follows of the fact of His Resurrection." I LOVE that he used the word fact. Because His resurrection IS a fact! There is absolutely no argument against it. Jesus Christ IS our Savior and Redeemer and He DOES live! That's just simply how it is. It's a  f a c t.

Cuties :)

 Sister Rimano's cute laundry washing boots!
I loooooove her.

I think that my personal favorite talk though was from President Packer. I love to listen to him speak. It is just so apparent in his countenance, in his words, and in his actions that he truly KNOWS the Savior. They are friends. There is no question about that. So listening to him speak just has a different power for me. He's on a whole different level. I loved it when he quoted from John 6: 

“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

“Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

“And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God”

I truly love these verses. Because they're so true! There is honestly nothing else or no one else to turn to. Jesus Christ holds everything! He has ALL the answers! There is nothing that He cannot help us with! He truly is the way! So honestly, I feel like just like Peter. Who else would I go to? I already know that He is all I need. It would be foolish to try to go somewhere else. And then President Packer said, "'And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him!' Their words are my words." I had tears running down my face. There is no clearer message than that. President Packer has one of the strongest testimonies of the Savior that I have ever heard. "I know the Lord. I am his witness." I believe it. I am so grateful for His testimony. It strengthens mine. I kind of tried to imagine the day that Elder Packer leaves this frail mortal existence and returns to the presence of His Lord. I just imagine Jesus Christ waiting there for him with a big smile on His face and then they just embrace and and Jesus tells him, "Welcome back friend." Gahhhhhh! What a day! Because I truly believe that they are the best of friends and will be for all eternity!

TODAY! {Christmas shirt...Easter skirt}

So that's basically all I have to say this week because I wrote to you all 5 days ago. So sorry that this is kind of short. But I want you all to know that I know that this church is true! I know, without one single doubt that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God and that he was an instrument in the hands of the Lord in restoring this glorious gospel to the earth again. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that it contains the fullness of the gospel and that through reading it individually and as a family, we can invoke the powers of heaven in our lives and be more able and more willing to utilize the amazing power of the atonement. The plan of salvation is outlined so simply in that book and all we have to do is read it and then pray! It's not hard to do! I know that Thomas S. Monson leads and guides this church today with direct revelation from our Heavenly Father and that he truly does hold all the keys that we need to be able to return the presence of our Heavenly Father. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and I know, with every fiber in my being that He lives! I may not be an apostle and my testimony may not be as firm and strong and unshakable as theirs yet, but I know that it can be. And in time, I believe it will be. As for now, I'm grateful for what I do know. Thank you all for the love and support and prayers. I pray for you all daily. I miss you like crazy but just like Elder Holland said, it's worth it! I hope you all have a great week! Thanks for everything!! LOVE YOUUUUUUU!!

Love, Sister Andersen 

 Hahaha so I saw this picture of an Elder in our mission
and I have no idea who he is but
I think that this is hilarious!

Monday, April 9, 2014~Week 34
Pateros; 3:20 PM Mon (PH); 1:20 AM Mon (US)

Hey there errybody!

First off, President Eyring told me to send a smile to my mom RIGHT NOW so :)! That's for you mom! Haha

TODAY

 I saw a pillar of light...... Joke lang.
 Right outside our apartment, the sun peeks
through this tree every morning and I love it!

So this has been a C R A Z Y week!  First of all, we had a service project on Saturday where we went and cut down a bunch of grass and weeds in this huge field and we all got hats and machetes and it was funnnnnnnn!

 The field that we chopped down! 

But I definitely don't have a picture of myself with a machete on my camera. I'll get it off Sister Oyler's camera next week! It was really fun though. I love the missionaries in my zone! They're all just so dang funny! They make me laugh so hard! {Not that it's very hard to make me laugh.....}

Our zone leader
Elder Quihencio

Elder Ah Hong at the
Service Project

Behold!
Sister Kylie Oyler!

 And our other zone leader
Elder Harris

Sunset.  Phillies style.

And then we went to the General Women's Broadcast and OH MY WORD IT WAS SO AMAZING!!  I loved it!  Those women just glow with the spirit!  My goal is to one day literally shine the way they do! And then President Eyring!  He's just so sweet and soft and wonderful!  I love his shakey voice when he gets emotional!  I just seriously love the leaders of our church so much and I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL I GET TO SEE GENERAL CONFERENCE!!  It sounds like it was pretty amazing and so I'm super duper stoked!!!  This is my favorite thing in the world! :)  Secondly, my dear companion Sister Quiban has a goiter!  {Shes likes to tell people that she's pregnant in her neck.}  SO! This week we got to go to St. Luke's Hospital which is one of the nicest hospitals in the Philippines and I was in H E A V E N!

 Because first of all, the streets all around in that area are so clean! There's no jeepneys or tricycles or anything like that! Only cars! So the streets are clean and quiet and there's trees and it's beautiful! I felt like I was in America! Almost like Salt Lake! It was so amazing! And then you walk in to the hospital and it was SO BEAUTIFUL AND BIG AND SMELLED LIKE A REAL HOSPITAL! It was pretty much the best experience of my life almost.

I think the secretary is Mormon!...

Anyway! So we went there on Monday to get some blood tests done and then we went back again on Tuesday to get another blood test and for her to get an ultra sound on her neck. And honestly, I was really grateful for the opportunity that I had to go there with her. Because watching the nurses pull her blood just got me really excited to do that when I get home. Like, it was kind of a confirmation for me that that's what I want to do while I'm going to school. And I know that I'd be good at it. So it was fun for me to see that!

My future:)

So mom! When it's about time for me to come home, figure out what I need to do to get right on that! And THEN! She went and got her ultra sound and that was just super interesting to watch! Technology is so dang amazing! Like seriously!! It's so incredible!

The other part of my future! .....kind of. 

So THAT got me super excited to work in the labor and delivery field! It was actually a tender mercy I think because that's kind of been weighing down on my mind a little bit. Because I keep reading my patriarchal blessing and it tells me that I need to choose a career that takes advantage of all my talents and gifts that I've been blessed with. And so I kept thinking, well I don't know if nursing actually does that! What if there's something else that takes better advantage of the gifts I've been blessed with? But I realized that the gifts that I do have can definitely be put to use in that field. And I also feel like the desire that I have to go into that field is from Heavenly Father too. He wouldn't bless me with a desire to go after something that I wouldn't be good at it. So for right now, I feel very at peace with that. :)

Tingan tingan pag may time.

Her response when I asked what it means: Looking looking when there's time. Haha.... It's a common phrase here in the Phillies. You just repeat a verb twice and then say pag may time. Like, sulat sulat pag may time. Or update update pag may time. It's super popular. Haha"
Alsooooooo! Today we got to go to the temple and let me tell you. It was very much needed! My heart and soul have just been craving that peace and comfort that comes from going to that holy place and it was just so wonderful to finally be there! I am so blessed to be in a mission that is so close to the temple.

Sunrise at the temple!

And today I just felt extra blessed because one, it's usually super hard to stay awake and I was able to stay awake and alert the WHOLE time without a problem. Two, I went through for a girl named Mary Magdeline Cook born on July 25, 1898 in North Carolina. I don't know why but that brought me some comfort. And three, I had a very tender personal experience in the celestial room.

Long time no see.

 Ya know when you hear those stories about how people say a prayer and asked a question or something and then they opened up their scriptures and HOLY MOLY THIS VERSE JUST SOLVED ALL MY PROBLEMS! Haha well I've never had one of those experiences. Until today. So I got to the celestial room and I was sitting there for a minute just thinking and then I bowed my head and said a prayer. Then I just decided to open the Book of Mormon and I literally just let the book flop open in my lap and I started to read what was there. Now what I read didn't actually answer my questions directly or solve all my problems or anything huge. But it was EXACTLY what I needed to hear and because of what I read, I just felt so much peace and relief and love from my Heavenly Father. It was a tender experience for me and I'm grateful for the opportunity that I had to go to the temple and that I can continue to go every six weeks for the rest of my mission. It's so incredible. Do NOT take the temple for granted! I testify that we can get personal revelation there in ways that we can't anywhere else in the world! The blessings of the temple are literally beyond compare! I LOVE THE TEMPLE!

This is the story of an American's life in the
Philippines. Even if you're not huge,
you're huge when compared to a Filipino. 

So sorry that this is kind of a short letter! It was a good week though. I learned a lot about myself. I'm so grateful for my mission. I've learned more here than I have ever in my life and I know that I will continue to learn and grow here. Thanks for all your love and support! You're all so incredible! I miss you all!! Have a great week! ! LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUU!!!!:)

Love, Sister Andersen
P.S. Just to let you know, Mary Joy ended up passing away. So pray for her family. 

Sooooo I FOUND PINK LEMONADE FROM AMERICA!
And so I bought it!
Aaaaand it was on the day Morgan went in to the MTC
so I thought it was an appropriate action
seeing as that is "our" drink :)