Monday, August 14, 2017

Come Unto Christ

Well, it´s officially my last week in Brazil and the last email I will send out! If you´re surprised, don´t worry, because I´m just as surprised as you are! The time has seriously flown by-- and I would never trade these last 18 months for anything!!
A while ago Sister Taylor and I had a conversation about how we can´t imagine how our lives would be without our missions. It has made such a big difference for the better that I really can´t imagine how my life would be without all of the things I have learned and all of the ways I´ve grown!
This week we were able to have a mission council with President and Sister Houseman. Something that really touched me was when President talked about how he wants us to be converted to CHRIST and not just to His work. Sister Houseman added that our missions shouldn´t be a spiritual peak in our lives, but instead create a base for how the rest of our lives will be. I can truly feel that during this time here in Brazil I´ve come to know my Savior and be converted to HIM. In Elder Eyring´s talk from the last General Conference in the Priesthood Session he said, "I testify that we come to know Him best by working with Him and serving Him in the great work of bringing salvation to God´s children."  I know that this is true and I´m so grateful that I was able to see the conversion of so many people to Christ, including my own!
I know that Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. He lives! I know that He has power to change any heart and any life-- I´ve had the immense blessing in my life to see that over and over again. I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real and that the peace we receive from repentance is real and powerful. I know that´s Christ´s invitation for us to COME UNTO HIM truly is for all and that there is NOTHING more important that we can do in this life.
This is a scripture from my studies today that really touched me--
Mosiah 26:23-24
23 For it is that taketh upon me the sins of the world; for it is that hath created them; and it is that granteth unto him that believeth unto the end place at my right hand.
24 For behold, in my name are they called; and if they know me they shall come forth, and shall have place eternally at my right hand.
It is my hope and prayer that one day we can all be found at the right hand of God to live with Him in a state of never ending happiness! (Mosiah 2:41)
Thanks for all of the love, support, and prayers!
Love you all so much! 
Sister Anderson 


The group that´s going home with me! (taken at mission council)

My trio

Sister L. Silva and I

Monday, August 7, 2017

Saturday Night Miracles

Óla meus amigos! 

I hope everyone is doing great! 
This week was a little more challenging, not gonna lie. Lots of rejection-- everything from angry moms to having people literally run away from us. It was almost hard to believe just how much it happened this week! But at the end of every trial there´s always a blessing, and that´s what happened for us! 

There we were saturday night, without anyone to visit, and without anyone to go to church on sunday. Well after a lot of prayer and actually starting a fast to be able to have investigators in church, the dear Sister Leite remembered a man named Sergio-- a reference from some members that we had been trying to contact, but who we had never been able to find home. BUT, we thought we would give it just one more shot, and guess who was home-- Sergio! He loved hearing the message of the Restoration and canceled a work appointment that he had for sunday morning to be able to go to church! He was seated in the chapel on sunday even before we got there! :) 

That´s the miracle part of the story. And now the funny part of the story-- Sergio has a pet monkey-- the kind that´s in the movie Rio that likes to steal everything! Well, first thing was that I learned that I have a serious fear of monkeys. Like I start crying fear haha. Second funny thing is that during the lesson it was laying on Sister Taylors lap. She just sat there petting it and it was actually really cute! But then suddenly he sat up, stayed there for a second and then started hopping all over the place again. And do you know what was in Sister Taylor´s lap? A huge puddle of monkey pee!! Hahaha. It was way hilarious :D 

Sunday was a super happy day though! I love being able to go to church to learn more about the Gospel and to partake of the sacrament! One of the best parts was that Gabriella got up in sacrament meeting to bear her testimony! Everyone told us afterwards that it was the best part of the meeting :) 

I love being a missionary more than I can express and I am beyond grateful for the way that it has changed my life and changed my testimony! I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeember and that this is His Restored Church here on the earth! 

Lots of love! 
Sister Anderson