December 19, 2010

Sister Anderson, dad, Janeth & Sister Young 12/17/10

Hello!!!!

We went grocery shopping and dad knows how that goes.  The mall can be a very busy place and to get home we don't have cars we ride in triks which can be very small for Americans and especially for Americans that are 5'6 feet tall.  Went over to Bishops house and ate dinner.  There were about 20 lizards on the wall.  And I am not lying!!!!  The walls are made out of cement but then a lot of times the ceiling are just what ever they can find to put up there, so there are holes and gaps.  It was pretty cool.  It reminded me of when mom opened the jockey box and the lizards that Kyle put in there came out.  Good times.

Had District meeting and talked a lot about agency and how it effects us as missionaries and our investigators.  We had a really good lesson with some of our investigators and we could really feel the spirit.  It is going to take some time with the mother but we are willing to wait because we want to baptize them as a family.  Baguio Mission is really trying to stay away from individuals and focus on families.

We were teaching or visiting with a recently converted family and here in the Philippines they do some things differently then we do in the states.  We were talking and there little one year old girl squats, pulls down pants, and starts...We were outside though, but different.  This family lives in a bamboo tree house and so they don't have a "real" bathroom, most don't here and they don't use TP either.  We are trying to contact some of the less actives in the Ward which is hard because the houses here sometimes don't make any sense. 

Went to Baguio. And it was fun to see the batch of missionaries that we came in with.  We had a new missionary training day which did not take that long.  But we had fun.  And ate PIZZA!!!as close to American as I was going to get.  I was nervous that I would not be able to get back in time for Janeth's baptism, but we did.  She is very cute and her non-member dad was there too.  He would be a member but he is in the army and is never home long enough to get the discussions, but he reads the Book of Mormon. 

I have had my good days and even my really bad days.  When I have my bad days Heavenly Father is kind of funny because on those days all the signs that I see and the scriptures that I read have to do with prayer and your never alone or "I never said it would be easy, I only said that it would be worth it".  I could not do this without prayer. 

I love you all and hope that all the missionaries in our Ward are doing well.  This gospel is so true and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve.  My journal is a great thing and it has everything in it all from my feelings to what we did.  Love you all so much and pray for you everyday.  Love your missionary Sister Anderson xoxoxoxoxox

December 12, 2010

"chocolates" and Sister Anderson

Hey family!!!

President Jensen just gave us the most exciting Christmas present I have ever gotten.  We are able to have e-mail for one hour like it used to be 45 minutes for family and 15 for him. 

I am doing good.  This last week was definitely interesting.  Me and Sister Nielsen were companions for four days while our trainers went to a training conference.  We spent two days in my area and then two days in her area.  We got chased by a dog that I thought was going to attack us.  And we got lost in Sister Nielsen's area for about two hours.  Such fun times.  But at least my rubber shoes are now broken in!!!!!

Christmas devotional from the 1st Presidency yesterday night i really enjoyed.  I took notes and loved to hear about the true meaning of Christmas as I am out here serving. 

We had to drop the Ramos family because they were just not interested and they could never make our appointments.  It feels awful to drop a family or investigator and you know that the gospel can help them and their life so much.

The breads and pastries here are super delicious.  Good thing we walk a lot because I would not be able to fit in my clothes.

We tried this thing called Banana-que and it tasted really interesting.  It is banana that they sugar and BBQ I think, but it was cold and soggy so it tasted like a "slug".

O' me and Sister Nielsen were walking along the street and this guy comes up to us and tells us that we need to meet his friends.  His friend we found out is from San Diego and he is full Filipino, but doesn't speak any Tagalog.  And he gave us this HUGE box of chocolates.  So last week chocolate was our comfort. 

Primary Sacrament meetings are the same every where I think.  You always get those kids that sing at the top of their lungs and speak so loud into the microphone.  But it was so cute and everyone in the congregation would laugh and giggle throughout the program.

The kids here are so very cute.  They play with their shoes in the streets and are always outside.  Kids in America could learn from the kids here.  I also love how family is a big thing here.  And they take care of each other.  If someone is old and can't take care of themselves they don't send them to another home but bring them to their home and care for them.

Love you all so much and for this Christmas really really remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Always in my prayers and thoughts, your favorite daughter and missionary, Sister Kelli Anderson, Mahal Kita.

December 5, 2010



Carabow and Sister Anderson



bus back to Urdaneta



small farmland house



Sisters, Anderson, Young, Boekweg & Nielsen

Zone hike 12/6/10



"Butiki" - lizard

  Hey Family,

Sorry we went on a hike this morning and had to wake up at 5:30am to get there so it wouldn't take our whole day.  It was really fun and I enjoyed being outside. 

I am sure glad that all of my shoes are very comfy because we do a lot of walking.  And last week we got a little lost.  We thought we were in East when really we were in West but don't worry it was light outside.

I am kind of nervous because tomorrow me and Sister Nielsen will be companions again for four days without our trainers. 

We tried cooking spaghetti yesterday and it WAS NOT the same as yours mom.  I do like adobo and you all would like that too. 

Christmas is right around the corner I can't believe it.  It is going to be so hard to teach people because around the holidays and New Years, President Jensen likes us to be in before dark and it gets dark around 6 here.

The people here definitely know how to cook their breads and pastries. 

O' we were teaching sister Marvic and there were some little girls that saw us and became very interested in what we were doing.  So they came over and listened for a while.  Then they saw our name tags.  Their eyes lit up like little Christmas lights.  They almost took our name tags right off of us.  We thought it was pretty funny but had to explain why we needed them.

We haven't had any visitors in our apartment yet besides some lizards, really really small spiders and ants.  But that is good.

Miss you all, but this is where I am supposed to be and I am figuring that out.  Although it is hard there are people here that need the gospel and they don't know where to find it.  Christ has entrusted us missionaries with this responsibility and I am going to do my best each day.

Love your favorite daughter,  Sister Kelli Anderson xoxoxoxoxoxoxox:):):):):)

November 28, 2010



Sister Anderson - Thanksgiving Day

 Now we only have 30 minutes to e-mail family.   I am glad that everyone had fun on Thanksgiving.  We had Thanksgiving here also.  I didn't like the turkey this year but it was okay.  I forgot about the jello because it was holding in the frig so I put it in the freezer.  The next day we found it and it was like a slushy.

The people here are really nice and I am enjoying this work.  It is hard sometimes because I can't understand what the heck they are saying because they speak so fast, but I am learning.  We don't have hot water but I won't want it because it is hot enough.  Last night was the first night that I actually slept with a light sheet over me. 

We have one little girl with an IBD.  We have about 5 new investigators now and we are really excited.  Tagalog is a working progress but I think it will be that way through my whole mission.  But I have learned that the spirit has its own language and that is through the feelings.

The other night our power went out so we lit candles and had our planning meeting like that.  And yesterday night after we got back we lit candles and went out on top of our roof and just sat under the stars and talked for a couple hours.  We talk a lot about ourselves and the gospel too.

Good thing that I like rice.  Because we eat rice a lot.  Filipino's eat rice for almost every meal.

The church is the same throughout the world and I am so thankful for that.  When I get back I will never complain about some of the things that I have or don't have.  We are so blessed for those things and don't even know it.

Mahal Kita,
Sister Kelli Anderson

November 21, 2010



"trik" motorcycle w/sidecart seats 3-4



"Jeepnie"

Transfer day - Sister Nielsen w/new companion Sister Boekweg
Sister Anderson w/new companion Sister Young
(and Elder Oblimar)

Sister Anderson at Mission Office "thumbs up"

New Sisters - Batingal, Anderson, Nielsen & Fajardo
and Sister Jensen at Mission Home-Baguio

"sign"  Taipe Airport

Plane from Taipe to Manila

Enjoying her first mean abroad - Taipe Airport

Sister Anderson "Hello Kitty" Taipe Airport

 

 Hey Family, It was so good to talk to you a couple times when I was leaving.  I was glad to be able to talk also to grandma and grandpa and grandma Kaye as well as you three.  The plane ride was really long and I didn't get anything done, reading or studying, but it was good to have a lot of rest.

The bus ride from Manila to Baguio was the craziest thing I have ever been on.  Good thing you sent me those Dramamine.  We stayed at the Mission Home until Friday afternoon and then left for transfer.  On Thursday we helped Sister Jensen put up the Christmas Tree.  And that was a lot of fun.  The food that was prepared was really good and I enjoyed it.

My new companion is Sister Young and she is American.  She is from Georgia. 

The Philippines is VERY DIFFERENT then anything I have ever seen.  They are even poorer then some of the parts of Mexico I've seen.  I was very shocked at the difference in culture and especially the HEAT.  Our apartment doesn't have AC, but we have two fans.  Our apartment is a three story made out of cement.  The stairs are really steep.  They drive so crazy here.  Way worse then Mexico.  They don't have cars, they have jeepnies and tricks.

I love teaching the people.  They are all really nice.  There was one man that we went to see on Saturday.  He is a member but inactive because he is unable to get to church because of health problems.  And he lives in the same area as his family but they ignore him.  It was amazing to see how much faith he has in the Lord and to listen to all the things that he is grateful for even though he has practically nothing.  I am so grateful for everything that the United States has. 

Thanks so much and I love you all
Love Sister Kelli Anderson

November 15, 2010

Sister Nielsen & Sister Anderson
Bus from MTC to SLC Airport 11/15/10

MTC District



 

Sister Anderson & Sister Nielsen



MTC Sister's






Brother Nordstrom & District (MTC)

Class & Brother Day (MTC)

Guess What???  I LEAVE TODAY!!!  Just in case you forgot.

This past few weeks have gone by so fast and I don't know where the time has gone.  I have so many emotions right now and I don't know what to do with all of them.  Good thing I have a really awesome companion and she is always there for me.  I will be "back home" for a couple of hours.  Well, at least in California.

Tagalog is such a cool language.  I have learned more here in two months then i have learned in Spanish for those eight years.  It is amazing to see what the Lord can do and how your faith builds as you are put into certain situations.

I am all packed.  Well just have the last minute things to pack.  i am very proud to say that BOTH of my bags only weigh 43-45 lbs.

My testimony has grown so much in these past two months and even more in these past three weeks.  Elder Bednar came and spoke to us last Tuesday night.  President Stott says that we are the only group of missionaries that he knows of that had the opportunity to listen to four apostles while here in the MTC.  They are amazing men and to hear them speak in the same room as you is such an experience.

The gospel is such a simple thing and if we would just keep it simple then it would be closer to our hearts.  This is the true church and I know this because of prayer and because our Heavenly Father loves us so he sent us his son.  The Book of Mormon is true and there are Prophets today.

Mahal Kita, Sister Kelli Anderson :)

November 8, 2010



President, Elders LaFevre, Christensen, Barrer, Lowry, Gree, Bacera
and Sisters Nielsen & Anderson

 This week has been really good.  I have been doing really well about being more confident with the language and with teaching.  Guess what!!!!  We had a other Apostle come and talk with us last Tuesday!!  It was President Ballard - we need to become master communicators; to take care of our converts and to help them with the transition; to keep the message of the Restoration and about the Church simple, to treasure up the gospel because it is something really special; to be confident when teaching because we know about the gospel.

I am soooo excited to leave in ONE WEEK from today.  The Philippines started celebrating Christmas a long time ago because of course they don't have Thanksgiving.  So we have already started singing Christmas songs.

Be a bee not a fly.  Bees are more productive and put forth the same effort, but have better results.  Right now there are about 2300 missionaries in the MTC.

Flight plans -  11/15 SLC 4:50pm - 11/15 LAX 5:44pm
                      11/15 LAX 10:45pm - 11/17 Taiwan 5:30am (15/16 hour time difference)
                      11/17 Taiwan 9:30am - 11/17 Manila 11:45am
                      Then a 6 hour bus ride to Baguio

What a flight.  This experience has been the best thing that I could be doing right now.  My testimony has grown so much these past two months.  And I love sharing the gospel with others.

Tagalog is very fun to learn and I am learning to love it.

Love sister Anderson XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX:):):):)