Sunday, February 16, 2014
Friday, February 14, 2014
January 27th, 2014
Well this week went quick! They all seem to now. Here is some advice.
Become best friends with the workers at the library. When the computer line gets crowded, they give you extra time on your computer, so you don’t have to log off, wait, and then back on. Thank you Milton!
Southern Moment: Things that only happen in the South: Recently, we have been going around knocking on doors with a new approach. We let them know that we are representative of Jesus Christ and then say that we would like to say a prayer with them for their family or home. Then they let us! Everyone loves a prayer! Even if they aren't intrested, they usually won't turn down a blessing. "So when life gets dark and dreary" or "So when the weather gets dark and dreary"...don't forget to pray! It will help you into a nice warm home.
This week was truly humbling. We went to meet with a family of a man who wanted to come back to church. They had no running water, or food, or money. Something I am learning a lot about in the South is our needs. We really don’t need all that we think we do. Half of the people we teach have no bike or car or really anything. We are so blessed to have both!
Well here is a thought I had about a story I was reading:
There is a story in the Book of Mormon of a group of people who got in a lot of fights. They fought so much that they killed many in battle. One day a great missionary came and taught them about the gospel and forgiveness. They repented of their sins and decided to not fight anymore. They were so committed that they buried all of their swords deep in the earth so that they could not sin and be tempted. I love that concept! We need to get rid of all the things that cause sin and temptation in our lives. If we smoke, get rid of the cigarettes. If we want to go on a diet, get rid of the sweets!
The second part to this story goes as follows: They put away all of their swords. “Since it has been as much as we could do to get our stains taken away from us, and our swords made bright, let us hide them away that they may be kept bright, as a testimony to our God.” (Alma 24:15) They knew repentance was hard and they didn’t want to risk having to repent of that sin again. They knew they needed to get rid of the things, so that they would not relapse, and fall back into their old ways.
Well they went on with that, but soon the enemy came to attack. The Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s decided to not fight back. “But behold, they had rather sacrifice their lives than even to take the life of their enemy” (Alma 26:32). They cared for their enemy, children of God, so much that they wouldn’t fight back becuase that would take another life. They decided instead, to sacrifice their own.
The enemy took advantage of that and started slaying them, so they started praying. Many were killed, but pretty soon the enemy noticed that they weren’t fighting and felt guilty. They saw their good example and decided to not fight them and come closer to Christ.
Friends! This story is very relatable to our lives. When we set a good example, others will see it. Some, like the Lamanites, will take advantage of us, but some will also see our good example and then join with us. “And it came to pass that the people of God were joined that day by more than the number who had been slain” (Alma 24:26). I know that as you set a good example, others will see it and follow. Some peoplpe will still give you a hard time, but it will give you an opprotunity to pray!
Well, I love ya'll! Next week I will write down some of the crazy things that happen. Miracles and Mission Moments!
Weekly Invitation: Will ya'll go and burry your swords. Will you dispose of that which is holding you back and distancing you from God? I know that if you do, you will set a good example for others!
Love Always,
Sister Anderson
Pictures:
1) Sister Daniel and I cooking in her kitchen! I love her family! They were baptized on October, she was not active in the church, she is now!
2) Ssiter Stanley and I in the car
3) Atalya- means "watchtower" in spanish. An older castle of sort built in the 1900's.
February 10th, 2014
This week I learned that often times, we don't see the impact that we have until long after events transpire.
--Questions: Our purpose is Clear
This week we were at a going away party of our friend (we had an investigator there). While at the party, we met a man who belives in being spiritual, but not religion. We were sitting at her house having a conversation when he looked into my eyes and asked us "Your trying to convert people to Mormonism, right?". At first I was taken back, I struggled for the correct words to say. The longer the pause was, the more awkard it got, becuase in essence we are, but we aren't. Moment later (seeming like an eternity) I told him, that we aren't converting people to Mormonism, but to Christ. That as a result of following Christ, they choose to become baptized, thereby joining His church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ.
He seemed to take that answer then moved onto another topic. I am grateful that our purpose is clear, we invite others to come closer to Christ. Everything else, such as attending church, reading the Book of Mormon, praying, its all a result of following Christ.
--"Let there be light": The miracle of a prayer.
Before Christmas, my companion and I visited a less-active member, named Leotta. Less-active, means that she is not very active in the Church. She was baptized a couple of years ago, but has not gone in a while, a long while. We taught a lesson, which wasn't to out of the ordinary, then as we went to leave, asked to conlcude with a prayer. She accepted. We eagerly asked if there was anything in specific that we could pray for. She responded finincail help, so we offered a heartfelt prayer and left. Well a month or so went by.
Yesterday, Sister Stanley felt that we needed to visit her, so we went! Upon coming to her home, she welcomed us in and shared this story. She said that she went to pay her power bill a while ago after we left and found that it had already been payed. Apparently, she had filed papers for financial help a while back and she recieved it. The orgniazation she filed with had some extra money at the end of the month, and found her name. They paid all the money plus they gave her a $25 credit. She told us that she knew that this blessing happened becuase we prayed for her.
I smiled at this. I knew that the Lord did hear our prayers and answered them. He is "so good" as everyone loves to say! This just stuck out to me becuase often we do things and we don't know if anything came of it. My faith was boosted to know that something did indeed happen. Something that helped her come closer to God.
--5 Months in the Making:
Another blessing from this week! Tim,26, was baptized in Ocotober. Well this past week, his Mother came to Book of Mormon class and then to a lesson! She wants to be baptized! So you may read this email and think, "ok, thats great...but nothing too unormal." Wrong! She was never interested in the church before. She would hardly speak to us and we never once were allowed inside the house! We always taught on the sidewalk. Tim has been missing church for a while, but he randomly came to BOM class. Turns out she asked him is she could come! It took 5 months, but she saw his example and wants to join the church! It may not be immediate, but others do see our example!
--Giant Frog:
This week, I ate fried frog legs again. They are from a giant frog, bull frog I think. Enough said.
--Kindness goes a long way! :
Before Christmas, we were in Loris hopeiong to visit a less-active member when we met a kind family on their porch. We spoke for about 10 minutes, got to know them, and sang happy birthday to their father. Their Father was in his late 80's had flown a bomber in the war. Well Becca, told us that she was moving store locations for work to Conway from Loris, about 20 miles. Then we never saw them again.
Well, one of our dear friends was evicted and had about 24 hours to move. So we came over to help her frantically move. We packed and packed, but then they ran out of boxes and had no money for more. I had the idea to go to a store and look through their dumpster. So we went with a member to the nearest one, a dollar general. We went inside to ask if could have their left over boxes that we saw in the back.
The clerks name was Becca. Before we could speak to her, she rememebered us and thanked us for our kindess! She willing complied to letting us have the boxes! So we went and go the boxes. There was a huge stack and it had rained that day soaking them. But there was one pile that was dry. It was a miracle! We brought them to the Sister in need and it was just what they needed.
It was amazing that Becca remembered us and then helped us! There are TONS of dollar general's here. Almost as many as there are churches. She just happened to be at this one and willing to help us out. What a blesing!
--Thoughts:
I know that Heavenly Father answeres our prayers and watches out for us! Sometimes, we don't see the fruits of our labors until long afterwards, but they are there. I am grateful to be a missionary! I love being a missionary!
I know that if ya'll look for these blessings, you will see them! Will you think about a prayer for offered a while ago and then look for the answer or blessing that came from it. I know that if you look for God's hand in your life, you will find it, becuase it is always there.
Love,
Sister Susan Anderson
P.S. If anyone doesn't want to be on the email list anymore, just let me know :)
The story
Monday, February 3, 2014
February 3rd, 2014
Hello Ya’ll! This week it snowed in Conway, South Carolina!
The people went crazy! School was canceled for four days because there was so much black ice on the road. The whole county was covered in an inch or ice for two full days! We weren’t allowed to drive, but when the weather got better, we were able to go door knocking. It was a very successful week because it was so cold that everyone was home.
There was just sheet of ice everywhere, we could walk across it over the grass and it wouldn’t even crack! The weather is typically warm here, so everyone freaked out. They bought all the milk, eggs, and bread out of the stores. They warned us for days that this would happen. It was like the end of the world was coming. Stores were closed, people stayed bundled up inside, and jobs were cancelled. Then everyone referenced that we must be use to this being from Utah, I just smiled and laughed. Everyone member naturally assumes we are from Utah.
Something that I have been thinking about it a scripture from Mark 8:36 which reads “What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Here are a couple situations from this week:
1) A lady we are teaching is going through a difficult time financially and family wise. Sadly, she has made very poor decision in her past that are now catching up with her. Well, she wants to change and be baptized! In order to do such she needs to stop smoking and live the law of chastity. She has been trying to do both because the Lord has a clear standard. After just moving into a new home, she must kick her boyfriend out (she chose not to marry him) and during this stressful time (when she wants cigarettes even more) she must quit.
2) We have been teaching a very well known and respected Reverend for a couple of months now. He is like our church a lot and he is a wonderful man. But he must be baptized into Christ church to receive all the blessings, by doing so, he would be denouncing his past church. The whole community will take notice.
The first part of the scripture reads: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his soul? What will a man give in exchange for his soul? We are all called upon to give up certain habits, life styles, pasts, or futures. I guess the question is: What will be give? Or rather, what will we not give? I know that there is no price to big, no cost too heavy in order to follow Christ.
There was a King in the Book of Mormon, named Kind Middoni, who was taught by a missionary named Aaron. He learned about eternal life and said: “What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? He then continued: “I will give up all that I posses, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.” (Alma 22:15)
King Middoni realized that gaining the world will not carry with him in the life to come. On this subject, President Uchtdorf, an apostle of the Lord, stated: “You could pile up the accumulated currency of the entire world and it could not buy you a loaf of bread in the economy of heaven.” I know that if we follow Christ, we can have that eternal life. He already paid the price, for us, we just need to follow him to receive the gift.
It’s called the Bible Belt for a reason: Many people study their bible throughout the day. Some people, even debate it for fun with each other. We started teaching a lady named Iris, who every week, has her sister come over and they debate the Bible. Well we happen to be teaching Iris, when, her Sister came over for that weekly appointment during out appointment (of course). We were able to stand our own because “we have been called of God to share what we know, and we know that our message is true.” I enjoyed having another person to teach, two is better than one, but it was exhausting! Needless to say, I went home and memorized some more Bible scriptures. Its really not that bad all the time. Some people know the Bible up and down, but some people really don’t. It just depends.
The South and The Super Bowl: We were invited by an investigator, to come to her church’s super bowl Sunday service; she even kindly gave me tickets.Welcome to the South. From what I can tell, southerners love football and they love church. Therefore someone thought, so why not put them together? They had food, games, fun, and what not, and then the service. It was a nice idea to get people to church. But, I prefer having things seperate. (disclaimer: We didn’t go and kindly thanked her for the offer.)
Well Ya'll. Life is great here! The next time a task or decision seems tough, will you ask yourself: What will I give in exchange for my soul? I know that if you do, it will make a difference. Love Ya!
Love,
Sister Anderson
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