It's only the beginning... :)

Hello Everyone!!

Everything is going great here in England. I have a little over a week left at the MTC then ill be headed out! The days are so long but i feel like this past week went by pretty fast. Traveling here got pretty crazy. From salt lake I met up with 3 other sisters and two Elders. We made it to Chicago then waited for hours to get on the next plane ride to Manchester. When we boarded we probably sat for 2 hours and then they said the plane was broken somehow so everyone had to get off the plan and we had to reschedule our flight. 3 hours we got onto a plane that was headed to London. I just gotta say, that was a killer. It was long but Im glad we were able catch that plane. I sat next to a German girl my age on the plane. We got talking and I mentioned I was going on a mission. She heard of Mormons before but didnt know anything about us. We talked for proabably 3 hours about the gospel. She was really interested and thought it was pretty cool that i was the same age as her and that i was going on a mission to share the Gospel. Before we started to fall asleep I gave her my mini Book of Mormon. She was so surprised that i would give her my book. I told her I want her to read it and pray about it. She said she would. It felt pretty cool to hand out my first BOM. I hope we keep in touch, we have eachothers email. funny story, after we landed she wanted to see if we could go in the cockpit. They crew was so nice they even let us wear they're hats! haha!
So we arrived in London finally. but still needed to go to manchester. 4 or 5 hours later we got a flight to Manchester Airport. Arrived to the MTC at midnight. We were supposed to arrive 8 that morning. But they said we didnt miss much that day. It was just all checking in and unpacking. The first day in the MTC was rough though. So much to take in and working every second of the day. I dont even have time to think about anything else. Which is good in way. They really do keep me focused on the work here. Its a lot different then what i expected, It's better then what I expected though. My companions name is Sister Greenfield. She is from Sheffield, It's just an hour and half away from here. She will be coming to London with me as well. Within the first 2 days we noticed our accents are rubbing off on each other. I find my self talking like her at times and she says she catches her self talking in my accents. Its really funny. We try to teach eachother to talk in our own accents. Same goes with the other sisters in our room. Sister Crainfeild is from Sydney Austrialia, and Sister Varga is From Hungary. So we ALL have different accents and its so cool! We get a long so well. It feels like to me that i knew them before we even met eachother.

So this MTC is pretty small. We have 4 districts and in each distrct there is about 8 Elders/Sisters in each. So we all know eachother. We all arrived on the same day and leaving the same day. Everyone here is from practically all over. South Africa, Hong Kong, Australia, Hungary, Italy, California, Utah, and Enlgand. There's a good mix of us :) Today we attended the Preston Temple. Its just a walk up the street from the MTC. It was nice to go, its so beautiful. Me and Sister Greenfield went jogging the other day and got lost, we went pretty far but ended up turning around. Next time we decided we needed a map. She loves to run though. It's awesome how much a like we are. theres a field right below the temple where We played some football (soccer) yesterday and it was way fun. All our teachers joined in. Tomorrow we will be taking a train to Manchester to do some street contacting. Im excited for that! It should be interesting. These British accents caught me off guard the first few days but im getting used to it now. sometimes i cant understand them, just a few words they say, and when they talk so fast. Everything is going good here. Im still suffering from Jetlag. Its hard to stay awake for class sometimes. I do get good sleep though, Mckensey was right. Its nice to sleep all through the night.
Well Im not sure if i will have a Pday next week? because wednesday is when I will be traveling to London to my mission home.

Hope everything is going good at home. Love you Family! Write me Letters! :) I got Grandmas and it only took a few days to get here! Thank you so much!!

Love, Sister Andersen.

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Farewell Done Well

Thank you to everyone who came to my farewell!  I appreciate all the support you give me. I'm very glad it went well and that the spirit was present. It went a lot better then I thought it would. Still was nervous, but as I stood up there longer, I got more used to it ;)  I'm very happy to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This really is the only true church on this earth. I'm happy to be able to share my testimony with the people of England for these next 18 months. I fly out on Wednesday to the Preston MTC. I will let you all know how that travel goes.

A little story... This morning while I was getting ready for the day, I was listening to the radio. For anyone who listens to 100.3 you will know that they play Sunday music and have a "message" to share or scripture, things like that. Well, as I was listening, they presented the message for the day. And guess what it was! The exact same talk (By: Henry B. Eyring in the Oct. 2012 Conference) that I was speaking on this morning. That's no coincidence right there! They even presented all the quotes that I had planned to say. I thought it was funny but cool! 

Chris and Taten

My wonderful grandparents. 

One of my best friends, Sarah!
what good times we had together and sure we'll have many more :)

My sweet  little sister, Ashlee

England... Here I come

Mike an Emily

Thanks again for all the support you give me. See you in 18 months! 

Love, Sister Andersen 

Almost there!

Five days to go until I'll be flying out to England. Oh how time fly's by... It feels like just yesterday I opened my call. I'm a little nervous but still so excited to go! I received my name tag and visa/passport in the mail!! Felt pretty cool to put this tag on. Can't wait to wear it every day! Iv'e never felt so right about a decision before. I'm proud to be apart of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. It truly has been a blessing to have the fullness of the Gospel, I know without it doubt it is the true church. And I want others to be apart of it. I know It will bless them in so many ways.
Called to Serve!

-Sister Andersen

It's Arrived!

The best name tag ill ever wear

and yes, this will be my brother next week

My lesson learned

This past week I was asked to help with a lesson in Relief Society for today. When I was asked I defiantly was scared. Since I've never taught a lesson before, I never knew my way of teaching. Everyone has those different ways they teach. I kept thinking in my head, which way would be good for me. All week I've been thinking about what I should teach and how. Praying and studying for it, i knew it would help me at the moment I will speak. The scripture D&C 84:85 came to my mind.  "Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man."  I put  trust in those words. And acted upon them..

Even though it may not sound like it was a big deal to talk for 15 minutes in class, I wanted to make it good and teach in a way that the spirit will be in the room. This morning I decided to do my scripture study in Alma chapter 12. As i got to verses 24 through 27, the spirit really testified to me that I can do this! That I can teach this lesson! In verse 24 Ether says, "And thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the awkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou hast not made us mighty in writing like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them. (25)Though hast also made our words powerful and great, even that we cannot write them; wherefore, when we write we behold our weakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles shall mock at our words. (26) And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness." Either explains that his writing is not like the brother of Jared. His words are great and powerful but not very good at writing them. He was scared to write them because of what people may say to him. I don't feel very strong and powerful when I speak, but if I ponder in my head and write them down, I feel more confident about my writings but not my speaking. The Lord says, don't worry what they may say, "my grace is sufficient for the meek" He will help us when we are submissive/obedient to his words.  The Lord continues to say in verse 27 if we come unto him, he will show us our weaknesses. And by faith, he will make those weak things become strong. This testified to me, the Lord made us just as we need to be. No matter what weaknesses we may have. We have them that we will be strengthened through his grace. A way we learn is going through hard things. I know one of my weaknesses is speaking in large groups. I start shaking and stumble my words. This scripture brought me comfort  because I felt that I don't need to worry what others may think of me or what they may say, because I am strengthening my weakness by practicing it and having faith that It will become a strength. 

  

After a ton of studying and prayer, the time was for me to go up and do my part. My heart was pounding but I knew I had to do it. As I started, I felt more peace and wasn't too scared. I finished right on time and thought I did a good job. Before, I though I wouldn't have enough to say. I did better then i thought I would. The funny thing is that I didn't even talk about half the stuff I planned to. My lesson plan was changed but didn't even notice it until I was finished. I felt the spirit in the room, and knew I had it with me. I'm very grateful for the opportunity today to teach a part of the lesson. It is one of my weaknesses, I can say that. But now I will remember that weak things do become strong. As we continue to do the things that strengthen our weakness they will become strong. This opportunity did help me become more confident in my teaching.  I feel a little more prepared to leave for my mission. I know that I will be able to teach in a way that the spirit will be there if I treasure up in my mind the words of Christ. I have more confidence in my self now. I was happy to be able to share the Gospel to those sisters and share my testimony. I am even more excited now to share what I know to the people in England. 

Let the Journey Begin

 

I report in two weeks to the MTC and decided to start a blog for my mission. I figured id spend some of this time to try to figure out how to use it! I hope it will be useful to my friends and family to see the updates of me in England serving the Lord.

No better place for me!