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 

And then there were three... - Provo Utah MTC

Hey guys!! I hope everyone has had a good week 

We lost many loved ones this week. We had our last classes on Saturday and had to say goodbye to our 8 beloved elders over the past three days, which really sucked because we have become like a little family over the past few weeks. They'll all be amazing missionaries though and I wish them the best of luck out in the real world. We also lost one of our hermanas, she got the flu and is now in isolation so we adopted her companion and we're now a trio. Pretty much everyone else in the MTC left this week and it felt eerily empty for a couple days. Even the weather was sad! Pretty much as soon as they left it started snowing (which was actually really exciting for me lol) but it was gloomy and it started affecting our mood haha 

We started our historic site training this week! All the sisters in our class are either going to the Mormon Trail historic sites in Iowa/Nebraska or the Mormon Battalion with us. It's been kind of hard actually. A lot of the information we've been learning about for giving tours doesn't really pertain to us because our site is so scripted, so we don't have the creative liberty of adjusting our tours. But, we've been giving tours of the gorgeous murals in our building and that's been okay. We're learning the script slowly but surely and we're getting excited to get out there and learn how to do it for real.

We were feeling super down for a couple days and it was just hard, but we realized that we hadn't opened our scriptures at all this week! We just don't ever talk about doctrine in our historic site classes and it has definitely made a difference in how we feel. So, we decided to read a couple chapters of the Book of Mormon together as a trio and it instantly made everything better. We read in 2 Nephi 4 about how God is the rock of our salvation and it's so true! The scriptures have been my constant with everything changing and I'm learning how to rely on the word of God when life gets hard. 

2 Nephi 4:20 - My God hath been my support; he hath led me in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. 

I forget what day this happened because all the days blend together but we heard fireworks from BYU one night and ran to go see them! We had a perfect view through the trees from where we were at and we watched them for about 10 minutes. Definitely a highlight of my week. 

Anyway sorry this was a long one and also kind of boring lol but I hope you all had a good week and have an amazing sabbath celebrating our Savior this week! 

Sister Anderson

Snow!

how learning our script is going 

how learning our script is going 

last classes with our amazing teachers, Sister Taylor and Sister Vorwaller 

last picture of district 3-G all together :,(

last classes with our amazing teachers, Sister Taylor and Sister Vorwaller 

Feels like I'm drinking out of a spiritual fire hydrant - Provo Utah MTC

This week was so good!!! We got to hear from our prophets and apostles in general conference this weekend, I don't think there's ever been a better time to be a missionary in the MTC. They talked a lot about missionary work and it was so cool to be surrounded by hundreds of other missionaries as we heard their council and felt the spirit. 

A lot happened this week but it's all kind of a blur, the days are so long but time also flies by it's crazy. It's been a super fun week though. We had a devotional on Sunday from the MTC presidency and one on Tuesday night with Sister Bonnie H. Cordon of the general young women's presidency. Both were super powerful! My whole district sang in the choir for that devotional which was super fun. There are actually more sisters than elders at the MTC right now fun fact. Sister Cordon shared a lot about how we can be directed in the work when we trust in the Lord. Proverbs 3:5-6 so good!!

I'm running out of time but I love you all and so does God! We sang a bunch of veggie tales songs this week and that kind of sounds like one of them but it's true hahaha

Sister Anderson 

Time flies when you're having fun! - Provo MTC

Made it to Provo! Yesterday, I said goodbye to my loved ones and worldly possessions to officially serve the Lord whole-heartedly for the next 18 months. It was hard but I know it's not forever and I'm so excited for the blessings I will see for the rest of my life because of this decision. I flew with about 10 other missionaries all headed to the MTC as well and got to meet a few of them. They're all amazing people! Today is my p-day but it really feels like this whole week has been a series of p-days lol. I haven't had a normal day at the MTC yet but so far I'm really enjoying it! 

We had an amazing devotional last night about developing the character of Christ and how when we turn outward to love and serve others before ourselves like the Savior does, we see more growth and blessings for ourselves than if we always focus on ourselves and our needs. Kind of an interesting paradox but it's so true! I challenge everyone to find someone to selflessly serve this week :)

We got to go to the temple today!! The temple is my happy place. Forget Disney, the House of the Lord really is the happiest place on earth. 

I don't have a ton to say this week but the spirit is so strong here and the mountains always seem like they're close enough to reach out and touch them, it's so pretty and an amazing example of God's love for His children. I love my district and the sisters I room with, and I love being surrounded by disciples of Christ 24/7. 

Love you all!

-Sister Anderson

Ellie picked me up from the airport!

Mountains 

My cute comp and both of our missions- she's serving in Atlanta,
Georgia when we're done at the Mormon Battalion!

Provo temple with my district :) 

Airport Farewell - Phoenix, Arizona