Monday, June 30, 2014~Week 46
Antipolo; 2:11 PM Mon (PH); 12:11 AM Mon (US)

Kamustaaaaaaaaaa!!!

Hello everyone!! First and foremost!! HAPPY {early} BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!! I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July because it's basically one of the greatest holidays ever invented. Ever. I feel so blessed to live in a place where we are so free. I truly know that America is a blessed land and that Heavenly Father prepared it for His children so that we could be free to worship as we feel. What an incredible concept! I can truly say that I'm proud to be an American! Despite the fact that at the moment we may have corrupt leaders that are trying to distort the laws laid down by our founding fathers, I know that the Lord will never let it go far enough so as to take away our freedom to live our religion. He has promised that the work of Salvation shall never be halted again and it doesn't matter how many corrupt leaders we have, they cannot stop the hand of God. What a comfort and a blessing to know that! I have so much pride in my country and if I had an American flag I would probably wave it around with me the whole day and tell everyone that I LOVE AMERICA!! #GodblesstheUSA Have fun with all the fireworks and snowcones and swimming and hot dogs and chips and soda and family and friends and pictures and sparklers and music and FREEDOM!

We wanted to go to this last p-day.... 

 But of course.... the only day it's closed is Monday.

So we took a walk instead.

Look how far away from the city I am! 
I couldn't be happier out here!

Anyway, this week was gooooooood as always! On Saturday, the STLs came and did exchanges with Sister Hernandez and I. Of course, I'm super used to it. I've got no problem with it because now it's just part of life. Hahaha but Sister Hernandez was soooooooo scared. She was freaking out! She was going with Sister Rimano and I kept trying to tell her that it was going to be okay because Sister Rimano's the nicest human being ever and she's one of the greatest missionaries I've ever seen! But she was still super nervous! I on the other hand was going with Sister Franks. She's from Ohio and she goes home in November. I've never ever really met her until this transfer because we've never been in the same zone or anything. So it was a fun experience. After the day when we were doing evaluations, she told me two things that were kind of like "Okay phew, I'm doing okay." First, she told me that I'm one of the best at speaking Tagalog of all the foreigners she's heard. {I don't entirely think it's true but it's okay... we'll pretend for a minute.} And she also told me that both she and Sister Rimano can tell that I'm a really good trainer. She basically told me that I'm doing everything I should be doing and more. She said that one of the most important parts of training is making sure that your trainee feels loved and she said that's something that she can CLEARLY see. I told her that that was the easy part of training her! They said that because I'm training her the right way, she really already has become such a strong teacher. And then because of that, they left us a commitment to have Sister Hernandez lead EVERYTHING. Meaning that she will lead all the lessons, all the planning, all the coordinating with leaders, the area, everything. Hahaha I wish you could have seen her face when they said it. It was priceless. But I know that she can do it! She really is so amazing!

Eden!

Training has given me a new perspective of parenthood. Whenever I see Sister Hernandez learning and growing and getting stronger and happier, it just makes me feel so good! And so happy! And it made me think about my mom and dad who basically went through the same thing except on a deeper level. Mom and dad knew A LOT more about life than we ever did {and they still do} and they tried to teach us everything we could so that we could be successful in life. They got sad when we made decisions that didn't benefit us or help us to grow. But I'm sure they must have just been so happy when we made the right decisions that helped us to progress and become stronger and more wise. And it's the same thing with our Heavenly Father except for that it's at an even deeper level of love. Heavenly Father has given us all that He can to teach us and to help us know how to make right decisions. And I know that He is so saddened when we choose to disobey or rebel or make wrong decisions that halt our progression. But can you imagine the joy that He must feel every single time that one of His precious children makes a choice that leads them back to His eternal presence?! I literally can't imagine it! But I know that it must be soooo immense! What a blessing to know that we have a Heavenly Father who is always there for us and who rejoices with us when we succeed!

Top of the mountain on Saturday!

Sooooo it's been a pretty great week! Friday will be a great day because it's the 4th of July, Sister Hernandez celebrates her 1 month mark, and Sister Atu'ake celebrates her 1 year mark!! We're gonna p a r t y. {As much as missionaries can party...basically it means we'll probably buy some chocolate and soda or something! Woo hooooo!!!!} Anyway, I hope you all know how much your Father in Heaven loves you! If you don't know, go find out for yourself! But I promise everyone in the whole entire universe that he does!! And guess what?? I love you all too!! Thanks for all the support and prayers!! You're all amazing!! Have a great week!! Miss you all!! LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUU!!!

TODAY!

Love, Sister Andersen

Monday, June 23, 2014~Week 45
Antipolo; 1:23 PM Mon (PH); 11:23 PM Sun (US)

Hey everyone! How's life in America? Probably good because it's America. #GodblesstheUSA #andthePhilippinestoo #butmostlytheUSA #causeimproudtobeanAmerican Anywayyyyyyyyy, hope everyone had a really super duper great week! So this week was actually just a pretty normal week of missionary work! And I don't have much to share except for maybe a few things that I've learned this past week. 

FHE games! Object of the game-
Get the cookie from your forehead
 into your mouth without using your hands!

So I've been reading through the General Conference talks because we just barely got them in like the middle of June! {The only downside of being in the Philippines} And I was just really really touched again by the talks about Joseph Smith, the Savior's Resurrection, and President Packer's testimony of the eternal truths that he's learned in this lifetime. And as I was reading about these wonderful truths that have been given to us and pondering them, I was thinking about how strong the testimonies are of those that gave those talks on those sacred truths and then I started thinking about my own testimony and how much it truly has grown. Before my mission, I had a testimony. I knew that Heavenly Father loved me and that Jesus Christ was my Savior. I knew that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. I never would have left on a mission if I didn't know those things to be true. At the beginning of my mission, I still knew those things to be true. I had absolutely no doubt. And facing the culture shock and homesickness that I did at the beginning of my mission only strengthened my testimony of those things. Especially my testimony about the Atonement because at that time, I was leaning on it with everything that I had.

But n o w. I don't know. Something has happened in the last 6 months that has changed my testimony. It's a different kind of knowing. It's the knowing that only comes when you connect the thoughts in your mind that come from the inspiration of the Holy Ghost and the feelings in your heart that also come from that same Spirit. I knew it all before, but now I know it. I know it with every fiber in my being. I know that God is my Father in Heaven. I know it because I've felt it. I've seen it in everything I do and everything that happens to me. I know that the Holy Ghost is real and that he always testifies of truth. I know that he will reveal truth to me when I seek it and am worthy to receive those sacred revelations. And I know, I mean I truly know, that Jesus Christ is my Savior, my Redeemer, and my Brother. I know that He is there. I know because I have felt the power of His Atonement in my life countless times. At times when I feel like I can't go a step further, both physically, emotionally, and spiritually, He carries me until I have enough energy to get back up and go. I know that He loves me. I know Him. And I made a personal commitment to continue to strengthen that knowing for the rest of my life so that when it's time for me to leave this frail existence and am able to stand in front of Him again, I will know no better then, than I knew here in this life, that He is my Savior.

Palm leaves and blue skies. #happiness

#lovethekiddos 

I'm a fan of the Philippines.

Yesterday at church it started POURING soooo hard!
 #rain #ulan #phillies

I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve the Lord every single day here. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Thank you all so much for the support, in every aspect of the word, the prayers, and the love. I miss you all but it's all worth it and I know I'll be home sooner than I want to. Thanks for EVERYTHING!! I hope you all have a great week!! LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!

TODAY

Love, Sister Andersen

Wednesday, June 18, 2014~Week 44 

Antipolo; 2:18 PM Wed (PH); 12:18 AM Wed (US)

Heyyyyyyyyyy so it feels like a really long time since I emailed and I honestly can't remember much of anything that happened this week so this might be a kind of short letter. Sorryyyyyyyyy. First of all though, HAPPY {LATE} FATHER'S DAY DAD!!! You are the greatest father ever and I am beyond grateful for everything that you have done for me. I know that I would not be where I am today without you. Thank you for all of the support and love and foot massages and movie nights and chocolate milk and baby food and moon gazing and E V E R Y T H I N G! You're the BEST dad in the world!! I love you so much! Aaaaaaaaand happy late birthday to Melissa! You're 19! Yayyyyyyyy!! This will be a great year for you to write me a letter!! Love youuuuuuuu!!! 

Sometimes it starts raining really really
hard and so you get out your umbrella and
take pictures while you're still dry. 

And then sometimes you just say,  "Bahala na!"
and you stand in the rain and let your
companion take pictures of your joy!

Sometimes when it rains, you step in mud.

And then you have a nice sock. 

Okay so I'm really wracking my brain for things that happened this week but I honestly cannot remember at all. 
(Her photos fill in the blanks)

The ward had an outing and they invited us to come to the lunch part...... 

.....because the other part is bawal for us. :(

She's cute huh Actually she super duper reminds me of
Emily Wade! Especially when she laughs! It's crazy!

Yes this happened on Sunday.

Hey whatever works right?

Sooooo I'll just tell you about yesterday and today.

So we had pizza the other day that we could all eat.
Because Sister Hernandez is allergic to cheese and
 I'm allergic to wheat. So this was our solution.
#gummy pizza

So yesterday we went to a trainer-trainee meeting with everyone and were given workshops by President and Sister Revillo and the APs. It was really really good. I LOVE President Revillo! They really focused on obedience and whenever they talk about that, you just WANT to obey because you can tell that they're saying everything because they truly LOVE us. It's the best effect ever! Hahaha but Sister Revillo said something that made everyone laugh. She was talking about how we have rules but that doesn't mean that you aren't free. She said, "How can you have freedom if you don't have limitation? How can you know you're guwapo if you don't know what pangit looks like??" {How can you know you're handsome if you don't know what ugly looks like?} And then she said, "Ya know like me, I'm not going to sit by a payat because I'll look mataba! I'm going to sit by a mataba so I look like a payat! There must be opposition in all things diba?" {I'm not going to sit by a skinny person because I'll look fat! I'm going to sit by a fat person so I look like a skinny person!"} Everyone busted up laughing! Ohhhh man I love Sister Revillo. I feel so blessed to have them in my mission.

Temple this morning!

What a beaut.

And then the temple this morning! It was so beautiful! I loooooooooove the temple. And I have been craving so much to go and so today was such a relief. My experience in the temple today was more spiritual than the last few times have been. I don't know why. But it just was. And I know so strongly that Heavenly Father is there for me and that He loves me and He's always listening. But sometimes you just want to have it reconfirmed ya know? Or to really really feel it. Well today, while I was in the celestial room, I was just praying to Heavenly Father and I really really just felt it so strongly. He was there. He was listening. And I knew by feelings in my heart and words that I actually heard in my head, "Hannah, I love you. You are my daughter." I knew it before. I never doubted it. But sometimes, you just need to hear it. And today, I received that tender mercy from my Father. I was completely overwhelmed. Isn't it great to KNOW that He loves all of us and He's literally always there? And today, when I was just talking to Him, he let me know that He was listening to me at that very moment. I'm just so grateful today.

#panoramic

Elder Suarez was just a little tired this morning.

Elder Romney {zone leader}, Elder Salisbury
{my "twin" from my first district that just came off Mindoro!},
Elder Saurez {my zone leader/step-father/asawa}, {meeeee},
and Elder Phelps {Elder Brock Johnson's cousin}

I love my anak.

TODAY

Well that's all I've got for you folks! Sorry it's so short!! I'm sorry for all the people that wrote this week! I don't have time to respond today but I'll respond next week! Special shout out to my girl Katelin Turley that wrote me this week! I'll write back next week! Sorry! Thanks for all the love and support! You're all amazing!! Have a great week! LOVE YOUUUUUUU!!!!

Love, Sister Andersen

I just liked my companion's cool shirt. 

Ant party. You're invited.

Monday, June 9, 2014~Week 43
Antipolo; 12:56 PM Mon (PH); 10:56 PM Sun (US)

Hello family and friends! 

TODAY

First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AARON!!!!! I can't believe that you're already 14 years old! Whaaaaaaaaaaaat??? Everyone is getting so old and it's driving me crazy! Speaking of old, I turn 20 in like 3 months. #weird #ayawko #ijustrealizedthatmaybeishouldntdohastagsintagalogbecauseyoudontknowwherethespacesare #ayawko = ayaw ko. Anywayyyy.... Happy Happy Birthday Aaron!! You are such a stud! Thanks for always being such a great example to me of how to be yourself and love life and all that great stuff that you do so well!! Keep it up! Keep being YOU! Because YOU are awesome! I sent you a nice little birthday letter but I can assure you that it will be late! I apologize! At least it's coming though! So have a great birthday kid brother! 
Love youuuuu!!!

So it's been a super great and tiring week! So on Wednesday morning, we went to the mission home with all the trainers and and trainees and we ate breakfast together and then started into the day! We don't get to find out who our anak is until the end of the day! Bastos iyan diba? 

All the newbies! Can you guess which one is mine?

Anyway, so at one point during the day, they split up the trainers and the trainees and they did like a workshop type thing. Basically though, President and the APs just kept saying how important this calling to be a trainer is. President told us that every time he does transfers, he doesn't pick the new APs or Zone Leaders or Sister Training Leaders or anything else first. The very first thing he does is choose the trainers. He told us that the trainers are the best in the mission at the time. The trainers honestly hold the future of the mission. The influence that the trainers have on the trainees effects how those missionaries will turn out and ultimately effects the entire mission. So it's a very sacred and important calling. He told us that it's the most important calling you will have on your mission. So c l e a r l y this is super important! I just got super humbled though that Heavenly Father and President both trust me enough to give me a brand new missionary to train. I remember when i got my trainer and I thought that she knew everything and was super perfect and wonderful and I thought about the fact that that's how all these missionaries are. They are scared and far away from home and don't really know and understand missionary life yet and we've been given this great opportunity to see everything wonderful about a mission and make their faith strong right from the very beginning! 
{PAUSE! Sooo just to let you all know, it just started raining SO FREAKING HARD OUTSIDE! IT'S CRAZYYYYYYYYY!!! Holy cow we're gonna die on the way home! Hahahaha I love the Philippines! It was bloody hot and sunny like an hour ago!}

This is Elder Ballon! We came into the field at the same time!
 He's one of my best friends here in the mission!

Okay and then after that, we all went to the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial. It was sooooo amazing. 

They gave us all the opportunity to go around and just explore by ourselves and feel the spirit there. And the spirit really was there. It was so quiet and peaceful and beautiful.

Elder Ballon and Elder Houston

 I just walked through the tunnels where all the names of thousands of soldiers are written and thought about the sacrifice that they made. They sacrificed their very lives so that millions of people could go free. And they succeeded.

 

 And because they succeeded, President Gordon B. Hinckley was able to come to the Philippines and dedicate this beautiful country for missionary work. He went to that very cemetery and offered such a beautiful prayer that President Revillo read to us for the opening up of missionary work here. 

This is the chapel where President Hinckley
dedicated the Philippines for missionary work.

The spirit was so strong and I am so grateful for the opportunity we had to go there, on the way out of the cemetery, I saw engraved on one of the walls, "Let us here highly resolve that the cause for which they died shall live."

 That had a huge impact on me. All of those people that died in that war, died so that people could be free; so that they could be free to choose their religion and choose how they worship. They died so that missionaries could come here and share the true and everlasting gospel with everyone that they could. They died so that I, Sister Andersen, could be a missionary today in the Philippines. Which means that it's my duty to God, to those men who died, to the people here in the Philippines, to my family, to President Revillo, and to myself to make sure that I do everything I can right now so that they did not die in vain. What a privilege and a blessing. I'm so so grateful to be a part of this right now!

The long awaited picture for mom! Me with Pres and Sis Revillo.

Anyway, after that, we went back to the mission home and they announced companionships! First of all, I would just like to say that this batch that came in is soooooooooooo strong! They all have the greatest testimonies and spirits and I'm so grateful that I got to hear all of them bear their testimonies because they really strengthened mine so much! Anyway, so they called up one elder and announced who his companion would be. And then they called up Sister Hernandez. And when she stood up there, I could feel it. I was like, that's my companion. She's my anak! And then they said, "And her nanay is......wearing a purple dress!" {I was wearing a purple dress.... just to let you know.} I was like I knew it!!

 Family Picture! 

Soooo my anak is 19 years old and cute as ever! She's from Tacloban City and she's a survivor of Yolanda. You know that story of the ten Sister missionaries that were on top of the roof for 5 hours after their apartment flooded? Sister Hernandez was there! She was supposed to go on a short term mission for a week or two but the day after she started, the storm hit. She's a trooper. I looooooove her! I'll have to tell you more about her next week because my time is basically up! But she's super awesome and I'm so lucky to have her as my companion!

Really quick, the baptism was super a w e s o m e!!

I've never seen Jayson cry but he cried when he bore his testimony! It's just so amazing to see the change that people go through and how wonderful it is when they truly let the gospel change their lives! I looooooooove baptisms! It was wonderful!!

Jayson and Liane's Baptism!

That's my tatay Elder Cendana (my DL/"father" from my first area)
 He went home in April but he went to the temple
 and was visiting one of the members in his old area
and it happened to be our dinner appointment!

 So basically, this was a really great week and I'm so tired! But we've got another great week ahead of us and I'm excited for it!! I'm excited to have an anak because I know that I'm gonna learn so much more from training her than she will ever learn from me! This is gonna be an awesome transfer!!

 Last night at Bishop's house for dinner!

CONGRATS TO MY BEST FRIEND JANESSA MARIE HOUSTON!! I cried when I read where you were going!! You are going to be the BEST missionary ever and I'm so super duper excited for you! I'm gonna go home and write you a nice letter! I really miss your hugs by the way! I got a little jealous of all the pictures of you hugging everyone! It's okay! April 2016!!! Hollaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! Congrats girl! LOVE YOU! Happy Birthday again to Aaron! Hope it's a super great day filled with every fatty food you can find because you don't ever put on weight anyway! Thanks for all the love and support! You never cease to amaze me! I'm so lucky to have such wonderful family and friends!! Have a great week!! LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!

Love, Sister Andersen

PS: Hahahahahaha before I go I have to tell you that I just remembered that I did my laundry today and hung it up to dry. Yeahhhhhhhhhhh it's not dry. Hahahahaha I love the Philippines!