November 18th, 2013

Dear Family and Friends: This has been a GREAT week!

We had 6 baptisms this week in our ward and we have another 3 baptisms scheduled for his Wednesday! God certainly is blessings us! So, here they are:

 We taught: Miss Harriet 50's, Janiya 14, Malaki 10, and Demari 8. Miss Harriet is the great aunt who watches her 3 "grandchildren." They just love the gospel in every single way! [photo of us and the family]. Also, the Elders taught Candice and Debrah who also got baptized! Candice is the Grandma, Debrah the Mom, and Debrah's 2 kids: Naceem 14and Rashawn 16: were baptized in September, so now they are one big happy family! [photo of Candace+Debrah holding hands with Harriet and Janiya].

This week: Three of our investigators are getting baptized! Here is a little bit about them and their stories:

 1) Charles King: An older man who lost his wife a year ago and recently had his foot amputated. He wants to set a good example for his family and therefore is getting baptized this week! Please pray for him, he spent the last week in the hospital with some heart problems.

2) Pamela Ogg: She is in her 30's, a mom of two kids: Aiden 7 and Shanaya 5. Her husband Shawn is a less-active. Since teaching them for the past few months, they have both lived the word of widsom and frequently attend church with their family! Another family!

3) Gail Rodgers: She is also in her 50's and is a lively lady! Her daughter Jessica was baptized in September (our first baptism!). She is a grandma and just wants to follow God. Gail has a lot of turmoil in her life so please pray for her too! Pray for peace!

Also, Elder Bednar came and spoke to us on Saturday! Yes, you read that right! Elder David A, Bednar, an apostle of the Lord! (For those of you who don't already know, we have 12 apostles on the earth today just as in Jesus Christ's time here on the earth. Ya'll might know about Peter, James, and John, ... our curent apostles act in the same way as they did!) He held a question and answer meeting for 3 hours with us! We could ask anything! He taught us how to ask question and let the Spirit answer them. After leaving the meeting, I realized that I didn't need him to answer my questions becuase I can pray to God and ask Him and be answered through the Holy Ghost. He also shook all of our hands! Around 236 missionaries! Then he also took a group picture.

Here is some of what he taught: Do ya'll remember the story about Peter walking on water in the Bible? Elder Bednar spoke to us about "jumping out of the boat" meaning having faith to act. Peter didn't know if he could walk on water until he jumped out of the boat and had his feet touch the water. Likewise, we must first act and do. When we jump out of the boat we must have our gaze fixed on Christ. Peter was walking on water until he took his sight away from Christ and looked down. So we likewise must act in faith and then continue to look towards Christ. In regards to acting in faith Elder Bednar said something along the lines of "It means that you walk in the river Jordan and your feet get wet before the water parts."

It was amazing to be in the presence of an apostle of the Lord. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's church upon the earth. I know that he has called a prophet and 12 apostles to help lead it. I know that Elder Bednar is truly an apostle of the Lord! (For more of his talks, go to http://www.lds.org/church/leader/david-a-bednar )

Also, we got a new bishopric this week! So our new bishop is: Bishop Christ (who previously, was one of the best missionaries in our stake! He was always seting up events for missionaries to attend and was ALWAYS helping us). The 1st Counselor: Our ward mission leader (the man in charge of us missionaries in the ward). The 2nd Counselor: The assistant ward mission leader. So, if you haven't gotten the hint yet, this ward is going to continue to move forward with missionary work. I. can't. wait! The old bishopric was amazing as well and we look forward to be meeting with them.

Well, since so many of our investigators have been getting baptized, we are looking for more people to teach. Last night we went to vist 2 people whom we had been teaching. They very harshly dropped us and told us to not come back. It really hurt my heart knowing what they were giving up and them not even explaining why, but I knew that God would provide. On our way back to the car, Sister Lundholm and I spoke about finding the people to teach who are ready for the gospel. We thanked God for helping us to know that Rachel and Maddy were not quite ready at that time so we can focus on people who are. The very next house we went to was a lady in the ward who gave us a list of people who she wants to share the gospel with. Brothers and Sisters, Friends and Family, I want to testify that God does provide for us! He hears and answers our prayers. This, I know is true!

On a side note, my companion goes home next week. I love her so much, she truly is my best friend. God sent me to South Carolina to find her! I am so grateful for Sister Amanda Lundholm! She has taught me so much. She truly represent Christ in every thought, action, and deed. Please pray for us this week! She wants to stay here forever, so this week will be emotionally a little harder but that's alright because we are going to be working harder than ever before!

Also, another miracle moment! We were at a devotional last week and met a man name James and his friend. James was preparing to be  baptized in Myrtle Beach, the city next to us, that Saturday. It turns out that James is friends with Charles King and Jame's friend, can't remember his name, was Charles brother!! Charles brother is a member of the church too! They apparently haven't been in good contact lately, so neither knew! Blessings! We had been praying to find a friend for Charles in the church and the Lord provided. He always does.

I just want ya'll to know that I love being a missionary. I love it so very much! The Lord certainly has blessed me sending me here to the south! Will ya'll go out this week and share something about your baptism with someone else? If you haven't been baptized, will you ponder the question: Why is baptism important? I promise to answer that next week. Also, if you do it, I know that it will invite the Spirit into your life and converstation as you speak about your baptism in which you followed Jesus Christ.

LOVE YA'LL

Sister Susan Anderson

110 Oak Park Dr #B

Irmo, SC 29063

P.S. Sister Lundholm and I have been celebrating Christmas since October! I can't wait! I love CHRISTmas! It's never to early to start celebrating Christ and his birth!

November 11th, 2013

Dear Family and Friends:

It's that time again! Another email update!

COMPANION: Well the South is the best, as you all know by now, but what ya'll may not know is that I have THE best companion in the whole entire world. She is amazing! I love Sister Lundholm! She is so self-less, kind, obedient, understanding, and a great friend. I could not have picked a better companion had I been given the chance. I am so grateful for her! I am just so happy. I love being a missionary!

FUN NOTE: I learned how to make fried chicken today! I learned from an old African-American lady! The only way to learn! So everyone, be ready, someday I will be making ya'll fried chicken the Southern way.

CHOICES: Recently I was thinking about where I am in life, as we all do from time to time. I was thinking, how did I get here? I mean, I have so many friends and family members who grew up practically the same way as me, yet we all seem to  be in such different places. (Just bear with me on this one.) I decided that the answer was that we all made 90% of the same decisions but it was that other 10% that was different. It was that 10% that put us in different places.

Small choices are so important. They are what make us who we are. Often we think, "oh its not that big of a deal" or "it doesn't really matter in the long run", but I am here to tell you today that it does! All choices are important. In the scriptures we learn that "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass." So, I guess what I am trying to say is that be cautious of your small choices. Choices such as: Will I attend church this week? Will I pray today, even though I am tired? Will I watch this movie? Our small choices affect our lives as much as our big ones do.

It is these small choices that have prepared many of my friends to be baptized this weekend! That right everyone: Baptisms again in Conway! These people are all from different walks of life, yet they are now changing that 10% and preparing for baptism! 

WILL YOU: Will ya'll, the next time you are going to make a decision, imagine the Savior right beside you as you make that choice? I know that if you do, then you will make the right one. If you do what the Savior would do, you will never go wrong, for He is our perfect example.

I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. He has given me everything. I know that he is real and that he lives. I am so grateful for this knowledge. Always remember that you are never alone, never. You can always pray to your Heavenly Father and He will always listen. 

Also, please pray for us! We will need the prayers this week. Our faith and endurance often gets tried before great things! Know that I pray for many of you! 

Love Ya,

Sister Anderson

November 4th, 2013

Dear Family and Friends: Happy Fall Ya'll!

 

I hope this message finds you warm this fall season!

 

To everyone who asked, thank you so much, I had a wonderful birthday! It was so much fun! I had a huge tender mercy with that:

I went to a members home for a birthday lunch and guess what? I felt like I had walked into my home. Her house looked just like mine at home. Same type of couch, with decorated red cushions, some of the same decorations and accessories in the kitchen as we have at home, everything just looked as if my Mom had done it. She even played classical music, the type my Dad likes and even had my favorite food! Frozen fruit-she didn't even know it was my favorite! It made me secretly smile knowing what Heavenly Father had done for me.

 

 I want to testify that God's tender mercies are all over the place. He gives us tender mercies to remind us of His love for us. The Lord's tender mercies are extended to all, the trick is to keep your eyes open to it! Will all of you this week pay attention to your blessing and then thank God for them? I promise you that if you do, that you will see the Lord's hand in your life!

 

Story: Last night Sister Lundholm and I went to a lady's home. Her name is Christina and she has two kittens. She is having a very hard time in her life right now and we were listening intently to her as she tearfully shared her feelings...then I look down and see a black furry face with two paws (and claws) pop out of my companions skirt! It was laying on its back underneath her skirt playing with the end of it. It was hilarious! My companion had a long flowy skirt on and the kitten and climed under her skirt and proceeded to cause all sorts of mayhem for about 10 minutes. I know that this doesn't sound too funny, but take my word for it. It was!

 

Truth:I want everyone to know that my Mom is always right! Growing up she use to have us sing: " I say to myself, remember this, kindness begins with me!" It is so true! This week we really focused on loving others and showing kindess to everyone that we meet. Kindness opens up doors! Who doesn't love someone who is kind right off the bat to them? I saw it work miracles, people who previously were not very open, opened right up! Strangers let us come into their homes because of it. Always remember: Kindess begins with me! When people are speaking, listen. When someone looks sad, offer to give them a hug!

 

I know that our Savior Jesus Christ was the perfect example of kindness. I want to be just like Him. Will all of you show your love for the Savior Jesus Christ and follow His example by showing love to others? Will ya'll be extra kind this week? I promise you that if you do, that you will be happier in life and notice a difference!

 

Love Ya'll,

 

Sister Susan Anderson

110 Oak Park Dr # B

Irmo, SC 29063

October 28th, 2013

Hello Ya'll!

 

I use ya'll all the time now! At first, I worked on using it to try and seem more "native" but now its just a habit! I am afraid that I will be using ya'll for the rest of my life.

 

Well updates: Sister Lundholm is still the best companion. South Carolina is still the best mission. And Conway is still the best ward in the mission. Bascially, I am very blessed to be where I am. Thank you to all of you who helped me get here in any way!

 

This week we started teaching some new families! Two quick stories with that:

1) The Jones family was a referal. A couple of years ago they had the missionaries over, who were very kind to them and always offered to help. Well Sister Jones rememebred that and one day she asked he neighbor ( a less active member who we have been visiting quite often) for the missionaries phone number. She called and we came! Now they are to be baptized in a few weeks! Everywhere we go, the people have good memiories of the missionaries always offering to help. So go and be good examples!

 

2)  I taught my first lesson, with a member and my companion, almost ALL in spanish. The member did more teaching that I did, but wow! It was amazing. I was able to teach and bear testimony. The most powerful time was when I read (I didn't have it memorized in spanish) the First Vision. The lady said that this was the first time that she didn't feel aprehensive about what we were teaching. The Spirit is Universal! It truly is. I did not understanding everything she said and she did not unerstanding everything I said, but the Spirit was the teacher.

 

Inspiring Story: A few weeks ago in Stake Conference, Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Seventy shared this story with us:

 

When his grandson was 9 years old he was diagonsed with bone cancer. His grandson fought it for two years and eventually it went away, but the diagnosis was given that he would have to have his leg amputated. They were to do a new surgery in which they would amputate from his knee to his ankle.

 

So they amputated his leg and then re-attached his ankle to his knee, but backwards. The reason for this was to preserve the joint and to allow the foot to slide into a prostect leg. The surgery went well and the time came for the boy to go to physical therapy to learn to use his new knee/anckle with a prostect leg to walk. He tried and tried, but the progress was not happening, it only caused pain when pressure was put on it. One day he was walking and broke his leg.

 

His parents rusehd him to the hospital and the surgeon said that it was only a small brake, but that they would need to go into surgery again to re-brake the leg. By this point, after two years it began to be too much for the Mom. She wondered, why? Why is this happening. Hasn't be already gone through enough?!

 

Well the surgery happened, they readjusted the angle of the ankle. The boy was in terrible pain. He was able to do all the chemo with a good attitude and the first amptutation/surgery, but this one hurt more than all the rest. Once again, everyone wondered why?

 

Evenutally the leg healed and soon the boy was able to walk and then run! He nows plays on a soccer team. You see, the leg needed to be re-broken so that the ankle could be put on again but this time at a different angle. When everyone questioned, why is his happening, God had a plan. Had the boy not broken his leg, he would have made the big progress that he did to be able to walk and run.

 

I loved this story because it reminds me that God is aware of us. He knows every struggle that we are going through and if we just trust in Him and remain faithful, then we will be able to see his plan. Sometimes we are allowed to go through hard things so that we can be in the spot where God wants us to be so that we can experience the most growth. The boy breaking his leg was criticaly to his development.

 

Well ya'll, I am very happy and I am very happy to recieve letters as well! (Hint, hint) Send me your Christmas cards please! Also, how are ya'll doing on the goals that I sent ya? Remember, be a missionary! We are ALL missionaries! Spread the gospel, whether that is going out with the missionaries, sharing your beliefs on facebook, doing a good deed, or just giving a smile. You can do it! You need to do it!

 

Love,

Sister Anderson

October 21st, 2013

Dear Family and Friends! Another great week in Conway, South Carolina!

Great things happened this week starting with the THREE baptisms of Tim, Jessica, and Zach!

Sister Lundholm and I have been teaching all of them for a weeks now and it has been amazing! What I have learned from this experience is that people can change. Many of our investigators had to give up a lot of habits to become more Christlike and it hasn't been easy for them but it is possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. So, for all you people out there who feel like you can't change...your wrong, you can! Just start reading the Book of Mormon today!

Other fun news: FOOD Update: This week I ate ALL of the following...

alligator, fried giant frog legs, shark, sword fish, squid, octopus, muscle, clams, shrimp, chicken bog, grits, and crab...plus the traditional pasta and what not :)

Yes, I ate ALL of these with a SMILE on my face. Did I mention that I don't particullary care for sea food? Haha, oh well! I will include some photos. Seeing is believeing. I do not recomend frog, so if someone offers, I would suggest declining, unless it would be rude or if your a missionary. (Dad, I know you are proud!)

This week, I went to the Loris bog off. Its basically a big fair. We are able to talk to so many people, everyone was SO very southern. Loved it! Also, miracle moment. We made lunch for an investigator of ours who is struggling finanically and we invited another investigator. Then we realized we needed a ride for investigator #2 so we asked a memeber to come to lunch with us. Turns out it was the members birthday! She is a widow and no one knew that it was her birthday, but God knew! So she didn't have to be lonley that day. We tried our best to spoil her, she said she had prayed and all she wanted was to not be alone on her birthday. The story gets better. Miracle after miracle happened... it just shows me that God is so very aware of us! We learn in 1 Nephi 21:16 "Behold, I have engraven thee upon the palms of my hands." I know that God loves us so much, that He loved us enough to send his Son Jesus Christ to die for us so that we can live again and never have to feel alone. So when you feel lonely and forgotten remember that Christ remembers you and is there for you....also during those times, shoot me an email!

Well my birthday is next week and I would love it if ya'll would do something for me:

Please do one or all of the following :)

1) One random act of kindess!

2) Share your testimony with one person!

3) Tell the missionaries that you appreciate them and the offer to help.

4) Have family prayer and scripture study tonight.

Thanks so much, I love ya'll!

Sister Susan Anderson

October 14th, 2013

Good Morning!

 

Update from here in South Carolina! First embarassing/proud moment of mine:

As missionaries we teach lessons to everyone to be able to learn more about the gospel. So the other night, my compaion gets up in the middle of the night to use the restroom and she hears me teaching the Plan of Salvation (lesson two) in my sleep! She said that she wanted to testify of what I was saying (as missionaries we double testify) but that she was too tired and went to bed. When she told me in the morning I was a little embarassed for

sleep talking, but SO proud! I don't remember dreaming or even thinking about that lesson so it made me feel really good. This made me feel like I have made it in life as a missionary to have taught in my sleep!

 

Good News: We have 3 baptisms on Saturday! One is a 24 year old man named Tim who LOVES the gospel. The two others are siblings: Zach (16) and Jessica (19). Both of their parents were less active for 16 years but are now all very active. His Dad is even going to baptize them. It is so wonderful!

 

This week I was able to go to the Temple. It was so wondeful to be in the House of the Lord and feel peace there. For those of you who haven't gone to the Temple in a while, GO! Go this week! While there, our mission President, President Holm joined us. Shout out to the Hares and Brewers: Their daughter served a mission in Rochester, NY and is now getting married in two weeks!

 

Miracle Moment: As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we belive in the Word of Wisdom, which is a commandment that helps our body to stay healthy and clean so that the Spirit can dwell with us. One of our investigators, Pamela, gave us her coffee maker, tea, and all her coffee! One of the proudest moments of my mission! We didn't even have to ask for that. She gave it to us to show her committment to follow God and keep the word of wisdom which prohibits coffee and tea! We have been teaching her family for a little while now and she is going to be getting baptized next month! Love it! (I'll attach a photo later).

 

This week we had a day that was somewhat difficult. Everything, I mean everything started to fall apart, appointments, rides,  investigators, just everything. Somtimes in life this happens, things start to get hard or go bad, often all at once, but believe it or not these are some of my favorite days! I love hard days becuase I know that a miracle is going to happen right afterwards. I expect it. We learn in Ether 12:6 that we "receive no witness until after the trial of your (our) faith." I know that is true. When things get hard we just say, wow, Satan must be trying really hard right now because something good is about to happen! So I invite all yall to apply that to your life. View tough things as a trial and a blessing. Stay postive, rely on the Lord, and get through it. I promise you that if you do that then you will be blessed and see God's hand in your life.

 

Lastly, I would like to close with a story that was shared to us in Stake Conference by a memeber of the 70, Elder Johnson:He said that one day is daughter was shopping in the store for Christmas and found these beautiful music boxes, the kind that play music and have a ballerina dance. She knew that her two young daughters would just love them. She spent a while debating whether or not she should get the big ones or small ones. She finally decided to get two big ones, as she was about to check out, she realized that her neices birthday was about to come up and she needed a present, so she went back and got a small music box as well.

 

She came home and showed her 4 year old, Marcy, the small music box that they were going to give to her cousin. Upon seeing the box, Marcy started to cry. Her Mom, totally bewildered, asked Marcy what was wrong. She replied that the music box was just what she wanted and continued to cry more. Her Mom, smiling to herself, told Marcy that maybe she would get one for Christmas, a better one. Marcy then started to cry even more (for 30 minutes) stating that that wasn't possible becuause this was the most perfect on there ever could be and she wanted this one. Marcy was unable to comprehend that there could be something better in store for her.

 

This relates perfectly to us. God must smile knowing what he has in store for us. He see's the big picture, the end from the beggining. Often we state firmly that we want something now and we want just that, but he knows that there is something better in store for us if we can just wait. He has something much bigger and better than we could possibly imagine. He has the large music box when we think that we want the small.

 

I know that God, our Heavenly Father, just wants the best for us. While we have a limited perspective, he has an all knowing one. He knows what is best for us and that's what He wants to give us if we can just wait and trust Him. We all need to trust God a little more and believe that He does want the best for us and will give us the best if we can only follow and trust His word.

 

Funny Moment: We biked a good amount this week! We were biking in some slight rain and ran into an older gentleman on his bike. He said " Ya'll better be get going, you know, sugar melts in the rain!" It made us laugh!

 

Love Ya'll,

 

Sister Anderson

 

 

October 7th, 2013

Hello Everyone!

Time for an update from the South! This week was General Conference! For all of you who don't know what that is, I am going to tell you! We have a prophet on the earth today and he has 12 apostles, just like in Jesus' time. Twice a year they speak to the whole world in a conference that is broadcasted into 52 languages. They teach us about things that God would have us do. I LOVE General Conference! Go watch it! www.lds.org then click "General Conference."

One of my favorite talks from General Conference was given by our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. He spoke about enduring to the end, finishing strong. He said that when we are tested to our limits we are aloud to change and become better than we were before. I love that! I know that stress can greatly increase our growth. Then he continued saying that "During the best of times or the worst of times He (God) is with us. He has promised this will never change." I know that God is always with us and is always aware of us. We are His children. He loves us! Like any good Father he wants the best for us and wants us to grow, that is why he allows hard things to happen. Another quote by President Monson that was given to the women of the Church last weekend said " He has assured us that He will be there to help us if we just ask." So when times get hard, when times are good, when times are in between, turn to God, your Heavenly Father, and pray! He will be there to help you!

STORY: About two or three weeks ago I was walking through a neighborhood, knocking on doors, when I saw an older lady outside scrubbing green stuff off of her white picket fence. My companion and I walked over and started to talk to her and offered to help, she refused saying that she was only doing on section of the fence and was almost done. She insisted that she was having someone else do it tomorrow or something and then went inside. About twenty minutes later we drove past the house and saw her scrubbing her fence! I told my companion that we needed to go and help, my companion agreed but it was awkward because the lady did not want our help or even company before.

So we got out of the car, crossed the street, and started towards the lady. She was surprised to see us and looked a little uneasy. We offered to help her again, then we begged her to let us help. I told her that we are missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that we strive to represent our Savior Jesus Christ. This means that we try to do good and do the things that He would have done. Then I told her that I know that the Savior would have helped her clean off her fence. (Five minutes later)  We promised to not preach to her if she would let us help. She let us help!

She then told us that she used old rags with bleach to scrub off the fence. (As I am wearing a black dress. Bleach + black = disaster!) I insisted that it did not matter that we wear clothes that we don't mind getting dirty because we are on missions to serve people! (It didn't matter one bit about our clothes!) We were able to help clean and scrub her fence. It was such an amazing experience as she slowly opened up to us. We became good friends and we met her disabled grandson who she cares for and raises by herself. We became his friend too; he was 14 and loved airplanes! We were able to learn about her life. True to our word we didn't bring up the gospel although she asked some questions and we slipped good old family values in. We helped her scrub the green slim for a while and then left.

The whole point of this story is that to share the gospel we don't have to talk about scriptures, about the first vision, or church. All we have to do is serve and follow the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. Sometimes we don't preach with words but with actions. One of my favorite quotes it "Preach the gospel and if necessary use words." I love that because I believe that sometimes the Savior would just simply serve other, lighten their day, lift their load without teaching a sermon. I love being a missionary. I love being able to serve others and do it in the name of our Savior.

Will you all find one way to serve another this week? Just a random act of kindness. Open a door. Ask someone how they are doing. Give a compliment. I promise you that as you do this you will be uplifted yourself as your follow the example of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Love Always!

Sister Susan Anderson

Exciting new!

This week I get to go to the Temple! I am so excited! Also, last weekend I went to a mission conference in Irmo (a suburb of Columbia) and I got to stay in the mission home! It was so great!