First week in the California Anaheim Mission!! - Huntington Beach, California

My first week has not been what I expected haha but it's been so good! The adjustment into a proselyting field hasn't really been that hard. It's definitely different, in a lot of different ways than I thought, but it's not bad at all. The mission and the missionaries here are so awesome and there's just such a good environment of love and encouragement. It's so good! My trainer is Sister Langi, who's polynesian and from Hawaii! She's so cool I love her 

I'm in an MSA ward! (Middle-aged single adults) Yes, it is really as fun as it sounds. Haha no it actually is such a good ward. Our first Sunday in the ward they had a break the fast/linger longer, which was not just a light lunch - it was an all you can eat gourmet buffet. I kid you not there's an entire committee for the lunches they do. We came to help in the morning and we got here around 10am for 1 pm church, just to help food prep hahahaha. It was so fire though. We're gonna get fed WELL in this ward for sure. Plus it was a great way to socialize and get to know the ward better! We're whitewashing the area, which means that both my companion and I are brand new to the area. So this week has been a lot of calling members and other people in our area book just to get to know what we're working with a little better. We have some awesomeee ward and stake leaders that I'm so excited to work with! We aren't teaching any friends right now, but we have a literal golden referral that's being taught by some other missionaries that they're passing off to us this week!! We're so excited to meet her she sounds so cool  

My companion doesn't drive, so we finally got me set up with the tiwi system and got our car today, but we've been on bike and bus and foot all week :/ idk how people do that their entire missions it seriously takes so much time to travel haha. We'll be able to do 5x more work now I'm so excited. I sent a picture of our bikes because they're just so funny. They're beach cruisers that our bishop lent to us, and they've got an extra seat for someone on the back! Just lmk if you ever want a ride around Huntington beach I got you

I think that's everything I have to say about this week! I have a super awesome zone and I'm so excited to get to know them all better! Love you all :)

P.S. my mailing address is now: 

2500 N Bristol St 

Santa Ana CA 92706

Sister Anderson

The best STLs! 

Del taco drive thru after a long day of biking haha 

Break the fast 

Huntington Beach Zone 

My mobat/Anaheim bestie 

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