Facebook Good-bye post - Mormon Battalion Historic Site

Well, my time at the Mormon Battalion Historic Site has officially come to an end. I don't think I ever expected to feel such a strong connection with this place, this story, or these people, but it truly has become so special to my heart. I have loved serving on this sacred ground every day for the last six months and I will forever look back on it with fondness. This is a place where I have learned so much about myself, about the Savior's infinite grace and goodness, and about how He views and values each person that I got to meet there (and all of His children!) The Battalion's story of service, sacrifice, and faith in Jesus Christ has inspired me to strengthen those qualities in myself and has made me a better missionary and disciple of Christ. Their story truly is so inspiring to me. As I continue my mission in Anaheim starting this week, I will take with me what I learned and I know the love of the amazing people I served with and the "Mormon Battlion in the sky" will carry me. I'm so grateful for my time here and everything that it's taught me. I'm grateful for the Lord's hand in my service here. I love my Savior. I'm so infinitely grateful for His Atoning Sacrifice that makes second chances and eternal glory possible. I know He lives. I love living this gospel. It brings me so much JOY! God is so good:)

If you're ever in San Diego, stop by and say hi for me;) I promise you'll fall in love with it too!

Officially Discharged. - Mormon Battalion Historic Site

Sorry for such a long email today, but it's a big day! I am leaving San Diego and driving up to Anaheim today to continue my mission there! Its so crazy how fast the time has flown. As cliché as it sounds, it really does feel like yesterday that I got here haha. I have really really loved serving at the Mormon Battalion. It has touched my heart and given me a new perspective on so many things. I'm so sad to leave but I know I'll have many amazing experiences in Anaheim too. 

My very last tour was my family! I didn't realize at the time that it would be my last tour, so I wasn't as sentimental as I probably would've been haha but it was a really good tour:)

Last week we had a battalion field trip, which, let's just say, was the adventure of a lifetime. We all got lost in the desert and ended up getting our cars stuck in some places on the rocky trails. President Top blames it all on me for being excited about off-roading hahaha but that's fine with me. It actually ended up being so much fun and definitely a mission story I'll remember. It was also super cool to walk the trail that the Battalion walked and carved out themselves so that wagons could use it. It's always so powerful to put yourself in someone's shoes like that.

Now that my time is up at the mobat, here are some fun statistics: 

• I've given over 300 tours (+short tours and partial tours)

• I've given tours to people from 25 different states, and the following countries:

Switzerland, Australia, China, Tahiti, South Africa, England, Japan, Scotland, France, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, Canada, Greece, the Phillipines, Sweden, Ukraine, Taiwan, Hungary, Wales, Chile, and Saudi Arabia 

• I've given out 27 Books of Mormon, in the following languages: 

English, Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, German, Italian, French, Japanese, and Traditional Chinese 

Most importantly, I have loved all of the people I've served and served with these last six months. I wouldn't trade my experiences here for the world! This new chapter will be so different but so good too. I'm excited to see what's to come :)

 Sister Anderson 

Message from President and Sister Top - Mormon Battalion Historic Site

 We may not be the largest geographically or numerically, but this “mission” known as the Mormon Battalion Historic Site at San Diego is “supersized” with the power of God. These remarkable people are deeply devoted to the Lord and their fellowmen. Everyday they exhibit the faith, sacrifice and service of the 1846-47 Mormon Battalion, whose story they so beautifully tell at our historic site. The service they give to the community is exemplary. They reflect the Divine Light wherever they go. I’m proud to serve alongside them.

weekly - Mormon Battalion Historic Site

Hey everyone!! We have had a busy week over here at the Mormon Battalion - busy but good!

The coolest thing I have to say is that we get to work inside the temple now!! It's a rule that proselyting missionaries can't work in the temple, but since we're not proselyting missionaries, we got it set up to help where they need us a couple times a week. So far we've gotten to help in the laundry and in administration! So we helped fold temple clothing (I folded over 100 pairs of men's socks ) and I got to help record name cards for different ordinances that have been done for our ancestors who have passed on! I feel like it's been so cool to see how systematic and orderly and neat everything is in the temple. The Lord's house is a house of order! I'm kind of sad that this is all happening at the end of my time here haha but still so grateful for chance I get to be involved in it at all! Historic site missions are the GOAT 

We had 50+ mandarin speakers come in for tours on Saturday morning (luckily they gave us a heads up) but we don't have any mandarin sisters here yet so we had some mandarin elders come and help us talk to them and we had translators in all the tours. So we played the videos in mandarin and gave the tour to the best of our abilities in English and waited for the translation after every part. It was interesting haha but I'm so glad all those people could come in and take the tour still 

My bestie Caitlin stopped by the Battalion the other day and I got to see her:) she's about to leave for her mission in Chile and she's gonna kill it! 

Because it's my last transfer, I get to go to preach my gospel bootcamp! (Basically an MTC refresher getting us ready to teach again) President Top was a dean of religion at BYU for many years so he knows a LOT about the gospel. Role-playing and teaching him about the gospel is intimidating to say the least haha but he makes it fun and it's been super helpful so far 

Missionary work is awesome, any form it comes in! Have a good week everyone. Jesus loves you 

Sister Anderson

Nat Pad will forever live on in our hearts 

Last pic with my trio girls before they headed off to Boston and Atlanta :,( love them sm 

Comp study/craft night- same thing 

Caitlin bestie!!!

Just enlisted in the US army of the west! - Mormon Battalion Historic Site

I made it!! This weekend has felt crazy long but only a few big things really happened lol 

First of all, I got to go to temple square on Saturday! All of the historic site sisters got to take the train down to Salt Lake and shadow some sisters there. It was super fun and I learned a lot from my awesome companion for the day, Sister Mortensen (I asked, she doesn't have any relatives in AZ lol). We had assignments on the roof of the conference center, in the tabernacle, and outside around temple square to just go up to people and make conversation. When they said they talk to everyone they see, they weren't joking haha. I'm super impressed with the sisters there, especially because they get a lot of people that come to argue with them and they have to know how to handle it cooly and be steadfast in their testimony. I have so much respect for all the Sisters that serve in that mission because I don't think I could do it haha. It was fun to get a "day in the life" of what it's like to be at a visitors center and I'm super glad I got to finally go to the conference center and feel the spirit that's in that room, even though there's no conference going on. There was a noticeable difference between the spirit we can constantly feel in the MTC and in holy places like the conference room, versus out in the real world. 

On Sunday we got to watch Lamb of God by Rob Gardner! A local choir came and performed the oratorio for us and it was beautiful. What a great way to celebrate Easter!! I forgot to say this last week but we also got to have a concert by BYU vocal point at the MTC that was super cool as well! 

Yesterday, we left the MTC at about 4 in the morning and flew from Salt Lake to Dallas (don't ask me why) and then finally to San Diego! After almost a full day of traveling, we finally landed with palm trees and the ocean in view. It was kind of a surreal feeling, but I love this place and I'm so excited that I get to live here! President and Sister Top and our STLs were waiting for us right away to give us all hugs :,) Everyone here is so sweet and fun and I'm so excited to get to know them all! My MTC comp Sister Newman and I were split up :,( but my trainer, Sister Kirkman is super nice and I'm excited to learn from her! I picked out my pioneer dresses and did my first tour tonight!! I only know a few lines right now but luckily I didn't forget anything in the moment so I feel good about it! My comp is super awesome and has everything down so she made up for where I lacked hahah. 

Being in the field after being in the mtc for so long is definitely an adjustment but I know the Lord is on my side and I'll feel right at home in a week or two. Love you all, have a good week! 

Pretty Utah mountains 

Temple square! The temple is under so much construction,
I didn't recognize it at first honestly but I learned
a lot of cool facts about what they're doing to it! 

Being out in the real world again ~ spooky

Ran into Elder Mortensen a few times at the Provo mtc!
Everyone pray for his visa to come before he leaves for England 

Leaving the sisters in my district was the worst but they'll do amazing things 

Pretty Utah mountains 

Arriving at the Mobat!!
President and Sister Top

My cute dress!! 

Sister Kirkman and I