Monday, November 24, 2014~Week 67

Cainta; 1:43 PM Mon (PH); 10:43 PM Sun (US)

Hello there everyone!

TODAY

So this week has been a good one! Just like every week here. I've never had a week that's just been full of bad. I don't think I ever will for my whole life and that's something I'm very grateful for. But, this week was definitely not without it's challenges. This area is actually pretty stressful and usually I just ignore how stressful it is and keep going with a smile. But I noticed it more this week because I could see that Sister Sauni is stressed out. Our investigators are pretty difficult sometimes. We had an investigator we were teaching about tithing and after we taught her she said, "Baka hind na ako interasado sa Mormons dahil sa ikapu nyo." {Translation: Well maybe I'm not interested in Mormons because of your tithing.} So sometimes it's just discouraging. But it made both Sister Sauni and I realize that we need to find more investigators. We really need to find those prepared people because otherwise we're just wasting time. So that hit us hard this week. I think the other thing I realized is that I can't be afraid to drop people. It's hard because we're taught to see the potential in everyone and I do! I see it in everyone! But sometimes it's just not their time and if I've done everything I can to help them understand, that's all I can do. I need to spend more time on the people that are really ready for this. But once again, I'm just so grateful for Sister Sauni because we just have fun together. We both just think we're both hilarious and we make each other laugh all day every day. So life is still good even though it's hard!

"Sometimes my hair gets REEEEEEEAL frizzy here in the Phillies. And sometimes all the kids everywhere in the Phillies call me "Aswang!" {meaning ghost} or "White Lady!" {White lady is a well known ghost here. So that's nice.} 
#ghost #whitelady #blackandwhitefiltertoaddeffect #imakethechildrencry #truestory #ithappens 

(I commented about something kids in my own mission said and she replied....)

Hahaha mom EVERYONE, not just the kids, say, "Ang laki oh! Ang laki!!" as I walk past. Yep. I'm just a huge, white lady!

That's a true story though really about the children crying. Children have definitely cried when they see me. Some of them though just stare at me in fear because they think they're looking at alien of some sort because of my white skin and hazel eyes. The eyes really scare them. So then I just make my eyes bigger and start walking like a zombie and chasing them. And then the tears come.......Hahahahahaha

It's worse if you have blue eyes though. They're more scared of that. Haha"

I was thinking this past week about why I'm still here in the area. I was pondering and trying to figure out why Heavenly Father is giving me another transfer here. And as I was thinking about it, there were certain names that came to my head that I know only Sister Sauni and I can help right now. Two of those names are Angelo and Andre. They are less actives in this ward and I'm set on rescuing them! We had a small miracle with them! On every Saturday night, the guys in the ward go and play basketball at the chapel. And after some coaxing and pushing and shoving from us and the ward missionaries, THEY WENT! And they enjoyed it! Yesterday, Andre, Anita, and Nanay all came to church. Angelo didn't but we're still making progress with that boy. Sister Sauni and both feel that if we can get Angelo back, we can get the other three to stay active too. Angelo is the key here! And we're gonna get him! :)

Angelo, Anita, and Andre! {We're gonna rescue these boys!}

Anita, Tin Tin, Nanay Feliza 

 Me and Nanay!

And as I was thinking about all of that, I was thinking about two of our investigators, Emma and William. They have been investigating the church for one year now but it wasn't until Sister Sauni and I were here together that they accepted baptism. It was just a testimony to me that God puts us in certain areas with certain companions and certain times for a purpose. There is never any mistake. He knows the whole plan and He knows what His children need. And as long as we're doing what we're supposed to be doing, we'll be able to help Him fulfill His eternal purposes.

Abigail :)

She's so darling!
This is her face when she's tired. But man
 this child has a LOT of energy at night! 

Miah :)

#models #clearly 

I don't know why Miah
 is doing that to Abigail's face. 

One more experience that I want to share from this week is just a little moment that I had last week. I was riding on a tricycle down a road called Floodway. It's a reeeeeeeally long trike ride and the whole of it is squatters. But as I was riding past everything and seeing everything--the boys playing basketball, the tindahans, the dogs, the cats, the naked children, the dirt, the broken homes, the old jeepneys, the moms, the old shirtless tatays with their big bellies, the Pasig River, the trees, the schools, the trash, the advertisements, the chess games happening in the mechanic shops, the smokers, the clouds, EVERYTHING--I was just overcome with such a great love for this place. Because this place is poor. And it's hard. And they live in it. And they see it. And I see it. And they love it. And I love it. It's amazing to me how much I feel sometimes. Sometimes I'm just completely overcome with Heavenly Father's love for His children, wherever they are in the world. And it's at those moments, when I feel His love for others, that I receive the strongest witness that He is there. And that He loves ME. I don't know why it's like that. But it is. And I'm grateful for that.

#riverside
That's trash....this isn't a pretty river in real life. It's stinky. And like....black.
These are two of our ward missionaries, Mark Ace is in front and Mike has the back pack. 

 It's pretty safe...... right? 
I cross it every few days now because we found
 new investigators there.
(She was asked how long the drop is....) 
Haha it's not the drop that would kill me!
 It's the diseases I would contract from falling in that thing!

So, that's been my week. It's been a good one. And it's gonna be another great one! I love being a missionary! It's the best experience in the world and I wouldn't trade it for anything!! Thank you all so much for everything you do for me! I'd be lost without you!! Have a wonderful week! LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUU!!!

Love, Sister Andersen

#pagod
{It basically means tired.}

Ang galing oh! Naks! 

Tuesday, November 18, 2014~Week 66
Cainta; 3:11 PM Tues (PH); 12:11 AM Tues (US)

Kamusta ang aking magandang pamilya?? I hope you all had a fabulous week because I sure did!!

TODAY

First off, I have some grand ol' news! We got transfer announcements and NOBODY IS TRANSFERRING!! I'm staying with Sister Suani and Sister Garcia and Sister Zollinger are staying together.

Just us cuties.

This is like a dream come true! Do you know how many prayers went in to this? Christmas in the mission field is kind of a big deal and of course, you wanna spend it with people you're close with. Heavenly Father is definitely in the details in our lives and he cares about the little things we care about. I knew I wasn't going to be transferring. I could feel it. We all kind of thought that Sister Garcia might get transferred though. She was so stressed out and her birthday is on the 26th and she was so sad that she was going to be transferring. Plus 500 other reasons but ALL IS WELL!! We're all staying and we're all as happy as can be:) And I'm now officially back in the 12 weeks program. The 12 weeks program is the training program you're in at the beginning of your mission. And crazily enough, I'M BACK. {I'm not training.... I just have 12 weeks left. If that makes sense.}

Taytay Zone!

Super Dylan! 

I don't know what happened to the other half of the moon.
 It was just gone. It was full when I took the pic. 

Sooooo this week was super duper great!! We definitely did not get punted half as much AND we were able to surpass our companion goals and the zone goals! Haha funny little story. So Sister Sauni and I went to one of our appointments last Thursday morning but when we got there, our investigator was gone. #punted Well, Sister Sauni was not happy about that because we walked a long way to get there and it was HOT. And so she turns around and looks at this old kind of drunk tatay who was smoking a big old cigarette and she walks right up to him and says, "Hoy Tatay. Kamusta ka?" in kind of a rough manner and the poor little tatay was a little startled and kind of looked scared for a second and I'm trying not to laugh but then we talked to him and gave him a pamphlet and stuff. And as we were talking to him, these two girls walked by and they just kind of stopped and sat down about 10 feet away on the ground and listened. As soon as we ended with Tatay, they got up and started to hurry and walk away and so of course, we did what any good stalker does, we followed them!! Then we walked with them and talked with them and then asked if we could just go share a message with them for a few minutes and they were like, sure! And that led us to get 8 new investigators!! #WINNING And then later that day, we were working with some ward missionaries and were walking down this path after we taught some of our investigators {where we also got another new investigator} and they said, "Sisters, I think if we go this way we'll get out of here faster!" So we were like okay let's go that way! And then it was a dead end.... BUT it was actually just a miracle! Because at that dead end, there were some former investigators that used to be taught by Elders ages ago and they were just waiting for someone to come back and find them!! #WINNINGAGAIN! So all in all, we were able to get 11 new investigators in that one day! 12 for the whole week! #MIRACLES #WINNINGSOHARD

My life is so greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen here! 

Mga Pinoy. 

#countryroads 

The straight and narrow path yo.

Sister Sauni! 

#friends 

Made it back to the door leading
straight to heaven

Garsha!

Soda anyone? 

Neature. That's pretty neat. 

Just tatay cuttin' some wood. 

#ninja

 Our district!

So next week on November 29th, we have two baptisms! Emma and William! I don't think I've told you about them yet but I'll just let you know more about them next week because I'm out of time. Man! I have so many miracles that happened this week but there's just no time to say everything! Here's one though! Jerry came to church!!! And then a million more!! But yeah, this has been a great week and life is wonderful and I'm so happy that no one is transferring and that I'm staying here for Christmas with the BEST ward ever!!! :) {They're gonna feed us SOOOOOOO much food!!!}

My Philllies. 

Thanks for all the support and love and prayers! You're all amazing!! Keep up the great work!!! I'll talk to you all next week!! LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUU!!!

Love, Sister Andersen

The requested health update: 

I'm okay!! Still just tired! But I'm healthy!

Guess what's on it's way to America??

Monday, November 10, 2014~Week 65
Cainta; 11:35 AM Mon (PH); 8:35 PM Sun (US)

Hello there family!! I hope you're all doing well this week! This past week has been a really good week. Actually... I think it might have been kind of a hard week but I usually forget {I just poked myself in the eye. #OUCH} everything bad that happens because there's ALWAYS at least one good thing every week and that's all I remember when it comes to emailing time. Let me think for a second though.

 Part of our district meeting last Tuesday. The great qualities of our district!

Ito sa akin! Haha we were all compared to an Apostle and I was compared to David A. Bednar. #hollaaaa
And then Elder Lindsey went through and told us all of the Disney characters we remind him of and I remind him of Jane from Tarzan. Because I always talk in a British accent and say weird phrases like, "What's all the hallabaloo about??" and then terrible things happen to me all the time {like when she gets attacked by a herd of crazy baboons} and I'm a little bit spastic sometimes. #thatsmeinanutshell

Who can spot my best friend?

There he is! 

OKAY I remember something. So last Thursday we went on exchanges with the STLs and Sister G. came with me. So we went to one of our investigators named Jerry who I've written about before. He's the one that I said has a SUPER hard heart and mind. That one that said, "Nga nga" to me in that one lesson. So the lessons that we have with Jerry are ALWAYS SOOOOO spiritual. The spirit is working SO hard on this guy. So I was following up with him on the commitments that we gave him last night. Especially with prayer. That was the biggest commitment that we left with him. We just want him to pray and ask Heavenly Father if this is all true. So I followed up with him and he said that yeah he prays, but he still hasn't asked God if it's all true. And then Sister G. shared something about her family. Sister G. and her family were baptized 4 or 5 years ago. She said that before they were baptized, she HATED her step-father. Because he wasn't a good person. He was in to illegal drugs and alcohol and smoking and had a ton of women and every other bad thing you can think of. And then the missionaries came to them and started teaching them and something began to change him. But he was exactly like Jerry. He would go through the motions of going to church, reading the Book of Mormon, praying, etc etc but he still hadn't asked God if it was all true. Then Sister G. said that when he decided to do that, when he decided he would finally just try and ask God, THAT'S when the real change took place. THAT'S when he could give up all his vices and THAT'S when he became a truly different person. She said that after he decided to ask if it was all true, that's when she started to feel love for him for the first time EVER. And then because of that, she decided to listen to the missionaries too and now look where she is. And her step-father is the branch president in their home branch now. I can't tell you how strong the spirit was as Sister G. testified that if he would just STOP hardening his heart and ask God if everything that the missionaries have been teaching him all these years is true, then he would literally feel everything inside him change. His heart would be completely different. After I testified to what she said, we committed him to kneel down later that night and just ASK. And ya know what he said? He said that he would give it a try! SO. We need everyone to pray that as he truly asks God, the spirit will literally just come punch him in the face as hard as he can!! Just like one of those knock-out punches that almost kill you ya know?? That's what we need! So PRAYYYY for Jerry!! :)

This rad little leaf bug thingy was in our room the other night! 

But it was a butterfly pala!

This is just Sister Garcia and her cute face
 trying to catch the leaf bug butterfly.

Hello Garsha.
{We call her Garsha because that's how everyone
pronounces Garcia.We're not sure why....}
She needs a kimono and some red lipstick and she's set! 

So that's all I really want to share this week. It's been kind of a rough week now that I think about it because we keep getting punted by everyone. It's beginning to be a trend. We just get punted ALL the time. And Sister Sauni and I just get a little discouraged because we go out and work every day and we're just not seeing very much progress. BUT there's always something to be grateful for and I'm grateful this week for the investigators that we do have that are SOLID. And I'm so grateful for my companion and how funny she is! Because every time we're punted she just makes this face and I just bust up laughing and then we walk away just dang tired with life but still happy! I don't know if that makes sense.

This is my cute companion shying away
from the camera. Haha she's adorable. 

And then here she is just being cute.

And this week I'm grateful for our investigator Ariel who was just being sooooo funny in the lesson that we had because he was telling us how he wants to become a street preacher for our church and walk along the road preaching about the Book of Mormon and giving away pamphlets to everyone he sees! And then after that he wants to be a ward missionary when he gets baptized! And as a ward missionary, he wants Bishop to assign him to give a talk and he'll speak and teach at the pulpit! And then he'll become a full-time missionary! And then right after that, BISHOP! Hahaha I was dying! I'm just so grateful for laughter and I'm grateful that not a day goes by that I don't laugh with my whole heart! I'm just a grateful soul right now! This list could go on and on!

TODAY

Okay well I hope that you all have a wonderful week! You're all amazing! Share the gospel with everyone! Everyone needs the gospel!! And we're lucky enough to have it! Study from Preach My Gospel in Chapter 6 about Charity and Love. Read about it and then study the scriptures it gives. And then work to develop it! Because if everyone would develop true charity and love, everyone would ALWAYS be sharing the gospel! Try it!! Thanks for all the love and support! I miss you all but I'll see you soon on skype!! It's less than 2 months away! LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!

Love, Sister Andersen

I asked for a health update: 

MEDICINE WORKS!! AS far as like stomach problems and such, everything is very much on the mend. I just have to be REALLY careful with what I eat. It's like he's sleeping in my stomach and if I eat anything or drink anything dirty, he'll wake up and attack again. He's just really rude! So right now I'm just working on getting all my energy back up. My body is kind of tired. Haha  I don't think I'll catch up on rest until I'm home again at which time I'M GONNA REST SO DANG HARD!

I asked if there were certain foods that were safe/gentle and what she is avoiding....like, is the baloot party out for New Years? (jk...gag! ha) As far as resting I'll plug in movies and she can vegetate for days.

I just have to make sure that everything I eat is CLEAN. Like, no more baloot {haha} or ANYTHING off the street. No drinking water or juice at people's houses if I'm not absolutely certain it's filtered. Just that kind of stuff. Ahhhhh yes that's perfect. I just want to REST and watch movies and REST and eat yogurt and REST when I get home. Because I'm tired. But I'm doing what Elder Holland said. "Start fast. Run hard. You can rest later."

.#themissionlife #liveandlearn #prayingforahealthyfinish 

Hello moon! :) 

 View from my bunk at night

Monday, November 3, 2014~Week 64
Cainta; 1:25 PM Mon (PH); 10:25 PM Sun (US)

Hey there everyone!

This represents me amongst the Filipinos. #tallerthaneveryone #andaverydifferentcolor 

TODAY

{I do realize that this is what I wore last week on P-Day...

 #awkward

 Right now Alena would say to me with an accusing tone, 

"Lizzie McGuire you're an outfit repeater!"}

Everything about her is just super adorable. 

So I hope you all had a fabulous Halloween! I sure did! I don't know if anyone remembers but DALLIN H. OAKS CAME AND SPOKE TO US!! Yeah it was absolutely fantastic! Before he came, we were all gathered together as a mission in the cultural hall and everyone was just studying and it was so quiet and nice. I was studying from Preach My Gospel and then suddenly I just stopped and looked up and right after I looked up, Elder Oaks walked in. And then everyone just stood as him and his wife set their stuff down. I know I've been around apostles and general authorities before but this time was just different. I felt the spirit SO strong. He was just glowing! Tears came to me eyes. None of them spilled out but my eyes were definitely wet. And then we all got the opportunity to shake his hand. When it was my turn, I shook his hand and looked straight into his eyes and he looked straight back and clasped my hand with both of his and gave the warmest smile. It was just a special moment. Anyway, that whole entire conference was just filled with wonderful messages and I got that flood of revelation that I was looking for! I can't even tell you everything that was said because there was so much covered so I'm just gonna have to let you all know when I get home. But I'll just share one little thing that I loved that he said. He was talking about the difference between testimony and conversion. He shared the example of when Christ asked his disciples, "Whom say ye that I am?" And Peter answers, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." And Jesus said to him, "Blessed art thou Simon-Barjona..." He bore his testimony and Jesus called him blessed. And then just a few months later, Christ tells that same apostle, "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Then Elder Oaks said, "Testimony is NOT enough. To testify is to declare and proclaim. Conversion is to change and DO." I loved it! It's so true! That we can have a burning testimony of this gospel but if we don't live it, if we don't use the power of the Atonement to change ourselves and become more Christ-like, we will never get anywhere. Not in this life or the next. So don't just gain a testimony! Be converted! My other favorite part was at the very end of his address to us when he said in his very deep, powerful, Dallin H. Oaks voice, "You are servants of the Lord Jesus Christ." And then very slowly and powerfully he stated, "You. Are. Called. Of. {pause} God." Bah! It was so powerful! I've heard that line a million times but it was so different coming from an Apostle of God! It was the BEST experience ever!

So this lady came up to me after the Mission Tour with Elder Oaks and says, "Are you Sister Andersen?" "Yes!" "Can I get a picture with you?" "Ummm... yeahhh...sure... {nervous laugh} Who are you?" So then she goes on to tell me that she knows my cousins and family from St. George! I can't even remember how now because my mind was kind of racing at the time she told me. But her name is Angie and she has a daughter named Kate! And so somebody tell me how she knows the family again! Haha

And then my world came crashing down on Saturday. So starting last Monday, I've had a fever off and on every day and my stomach was hurting but I just kind of brushed it aside because I was taking medicine and didn't know what else to do. {bad idea} Soooo Saturday, I was able to reach the temperature of 103.838 degrees Fahrenheit! #ithinkthatsarecordforme  I was burning up and I was so tired and so weak and I felt like I was gonna die. So Sister Revillo told me to go to the hospital and so off I went like a zombie to Medical City! And when I got there, haha.... I went to the ER and they immediately started pumping fluids into me because I was SOOOO dehydrated. So that was a very fun experience.

#fluids

#storyofmylife

#myfavoritejewlery
Haha and yeah that's my blood right there.
It adds a nice effect right? 

#theresatubeinmyveins 

Basically, I got to be wheeled around in a wheelchair until they put me on a bed where they took some blood from me and hooked me up to the fluids and I laid for 3 1/2 hours kind of dozing off here and there. And then they told me that I had a viral infection which explains the fevers all week and the stomach pains and the dehydration is due to an amoeba! I thought it went away but nope! He's still squirming around inside me! So they put me on like 7,000 pills and told me to be SUPER careful with what I eat and what I drink. So that was my super exciting adventure on Saturday! Yay! :)

#meds

And that's basically all I've got for ya this week! I learned so much and I can't wait to tell you more when I get home! Because there's just not enough time right now! Thanks for all the love! Hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week! Miss you! LOVE YOUUUUUUUUU!!!

Love, Sister Andersen

Elder Lindsey taught me how to write Disney the correct way.
He said it's still not perfect but it's getting better.
 #itsanart #ihadnoideaitrequiredsomuchstudy #mybad 

#proofthatitwasme