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

 

Survived my first week as a missionary!! - Home MTC, Mesa Arizona

Hey everyone!! I debated on whether or not I wanted to send an email on my first p-day because I've been a missionary for four days lol but even if no one reads this, I want it for my own records to look back on.

Being in the MTC at home is so great! I love wearing the tag as a representative of Christ! Even though 2/4 of these mornings I've rolled out of bed for companion study and forgotten to put it on until I see myself in the zoom camera hahaha my companion is so patient with me. Sometimes it gets really tiring sitting in front of the computer for 7+ hours a day so I’m excited to go to Provo and sit in a classroom instead, but I’m learning so much and feeling the Spirit so strongly even though I am not in the physical MTC yet. I love my district SO much, literally the coolest group of people ever and we've all felt so close from the very first day. It makes our classes so great. Super stoked to have big (separate elders and sisters, of course) group hugs when we meet in person haha.

My companion Sister Newman is my new best friend. She is so so awesome, we work so well together, and I'm super stoked that she's going to the Mormon Battalion as well so we get to be with each other till October! The Lord knows who we need in our lives for sure!! We taught our first lesson to a pretend investigator last night and it was so epic. The Spirit led every part of our discussion and I mean we still don't really know anything, BUT we totally crushed it as far as first lessons go. 

I've had a very uplifting week full of awesome lessons with the sweetest teachers, meetings with all the incoming missionaries starting MTC this week (around 250!!), an awesome devotional with President and Sister Renlund from the Quorum of the Twelve, and hanging out with my family! It has definitely been a spiritual feast.

My favorite scripture from this week is Enos 1:15-17. When we ask in faith, God answers our prayers!!

Have a good week everyone! God loves you!

-Sister Anderson <3

first day with district 03-G lets gooo

on wednesdays we wear pink 

me and Sister Newman freeeaking out after
hanging up our helping others appointment
hahah literally the coolest feeling ever

the desk setup (sodarush is a must)

temple trip with my sweet aunt Teresa :)

Talk in Sacrament Meeting

Mission Call