A crazy stressful but wonderful week!

This week was nuts!!!! But the best thing that happen was Yeni did get baptized!!! But I will get to that in a bit. 

Well last Monday the AP’s called and whenever they call I usually have emergency changes. So my stomach dropped. But it was just to tell my daughter that her visa came through and that she needs to go to Guate and that we needed to be at Xela at 1:30 on Wednesday. So Wednesday morning I woke up with a feeling that someone was going to rob me and guess what happened?  Someone robbed me! But don’t freak out, it wasn’t in a violent way or anything. I also told my companion to give me the phone when we get to the office but she gave it to me right then and there. Well we got to Xela and we entered a jam packed bus and I gave my companion the seat and I was standing and it was so packed.  I wasn’t able to notice that someone was touching my bag. And they took the phone and my Book of Mormon. The phone sucked because we lost all of our contacts but they were able to keep the number. And I would have preferred if they stole 500 quetz than steal my BOM. I still can’t believe it’s gone. Thirteen months of study cards and various pictures gone. But I know Heavenly Father is trying to teach me something, I just don’t know what. But I swear I had my BOM when I went back to Toto. So I’m so confused about the BOM part. And it’s kind of hard to live in Guatemala for a year and a half without getting something stolen. Part of the experience. And I’m just happy it was pick pocketing and nothing more. 

So we got to the mission office and there was other sisters whose visa left so we did divisions and I had a gringa companion for two days. Her name is Hna Busk and she rocks. And I totally was freaking out because I didn’t want to be with a gringa because of lot of them are nut jobs but she is great. Hna Busk´s companion is a gringa and is from Payson. But it was so fun to be with Hna Busk. We talked English the whooooole time. She is in Hue Hue right now and since Toto is closer we went back to Toto. And Hna Busk and I have so much in common. We had a blast together and she is such a great little missionary.  This was on a Wednesday and that night Yeni had her baptism interview with Pres. Bautista. It was his last night working before he went home and Yeni passed the interview. So here is what went down with Yeni. She isn’t married, but for sure is getting married in September and her husband doesn’t live with her. So the president told us that she can get baptized if she understands really really good the law of Chasity. We have taught so many times and in so many different ways. And she gets it and her husband as well. So president said she can get baptized and he did the interview so she wouldn’t have any problems. I was kind of worried about all this but we prayed about it and told Heavenly Father we don’t want her to get baptized if it isn’t your will. And if it is your will let it happen and it happened. So I am praying every day that Yeni won’t break her covenants that she made. Her baptism was amazing the elders also had a baptism the same night. Yeni started crying tears of joy after her baptism she was so happy. Hna Castillo and Hna Dryden came to the baptism because they are the first ppl that started teaching her. The confirmation of Yeni was also beautiful and during her blessing I had the strongest feeling her husband will get baptized and soon and she felt the same thing! Hopefully it happens. But this baptism was a pure miracle. The bishop didn’t want her to be baptized even though the president of the mission said so.  He has the authority to do baptisms and the bishop doesn’t. But it all worked out in the end. I also made 5 cakes for the baptism. I forgot to take a pic but they were beautiful. 

So I have a horrible cold again. What a surprise. I feel like I have been sick my whole mission. But Saturday night Hna Dryden and her companion stayed at our house. I couldn’t sleep to save my life. We shared a bed and she is a bed hog. And then my cough was horrible and I couldn’t sleep so I went and made myself tea at 4am and gave the cat some food. I was so ready to sleep again but when I went back to sleep the cat started labor and was freaking out. Let me tell ya I was so dead on Sunday. But the cat had its kittens and they are adorable. There are three of them. 

A little bit more about my time with Hna Busk. They told us that they would call us the next day to let us know when we need to go back to Xela and get our companions. They never told us when they were coming back. So after calling them thousands of times they finally let us know when the sisters were like 30 mins away from Xela and it takes like an hour to get to Xela from here. And it was 5pm when they told us and the last bus that leaves for Hue Hue leaves at 6. So Hna Busk and her comp got stuck there. But it was all her companions fault because she never answered the phone because she was scared to answer it. Even though we sent a text to her. So dumb. Sorry I’m super scattered brain like always. 

But it was such an amazing baptism. Yeni is the sweetest woman on the planet. And she feels so happy to be baptized and I’m so happy for her. I hope everything will be ok with her. Also one thing I know for sure is if it’s in God´s plan things will happen, doesn’t matter what opposition we have.  Heavenly Father will always get us to where we need to be. But love you guys! Thanks for all your support! 

Hna Anderson

And have a wonderful 4th of July. I didn’t even feel sad that I wasn’t home for Christmas but the 4th of July makes me a little sad. So you all better enjoy it for me! 

Super awesome week

This week was just a great week. On Tuesday we had what we call plan Duncan with the cutest little old lady and we made Mexican food with her. She is so adorable and told us that it’s very rare that she allows ppl in her house. She is adorable! She is super evangelic but miracles do happen and she allowed us into her house for a reason. 

Also Yeni´s baptism is planned for this Saturday and yesterday we had the pre-interview with us and she told us the coolest thing ever. She told us that she already knew the church was true before the sisters came to her house and that she had a dream that all her kids were lost and she couldn’t find them for a long time but found them in the Mormon Church and knew that she needed to be part of it. But I think the president will be doing the interview. The bishop isn’t supporting us that much. But if it’s meant to happen it will happen!!!! Because this is God´s work not ours. 

Also the greatest miracle was that Chris (the investigator that came to church in a black shirt) finally made his decision. He has decided to get baptized and yesterday he went to church for all 3 hours! And he liked what was taught there. But he is GETTING BAPTIZED PEOPLE, after 19 missionaries that have visited him and years waiting for his answer he has finally made the decision to be baptized. I know it’s only through pure miracles and through the power of God. We didn’t do anything. He really has changed in these last few weeks. I can see a light that I have never seen in him before and he just wants to serve a mission. I am so happy!!! Love this kid like crazy and I’m so excited to see him so happy to that he has made his decision. Best thing ever. 

Also on Saturday a guy contacted us. A ton of ppl contacted us. It was so weird. But we thought that he was drunk, turns out that he is just special.  He is sooo flippin hilarious!!! He is a little cornfield farmer. He introduced us to his pastor of his church and she got all mad that we were talking to him but he came to church with us on Sunday. It was so great. And he showed up in a hat a sweatshirt with muddy rain boots and his field hoe. It was so great. We went and got him in a tuk (taxi). And it was super stressful because all the streets were full of Catholics.  It was a huge celebration on Sunday. But by the pure help of Heavenly Father we got to church on time with Miguel the little guy that contacted us. He told us that he didn’t tell his mom that he is going to church and that she is going to hit him with a whip if she knew even though he is 21 years old. 

Just all in all in was a great week. We have met a ton of new ppl that look pretty positive so we will see where they go. I really hope Yeni will be getting baptized this Saturday. This woman is so amazing. Anyways that’s about all. Sorry I’m all over the place but love you all!!! 

Hna Anderson 

P.S. Also this time next we have a new mission president. So I probably won’t have that much time to write. 

Also this time next we have a new mission president. So I probably won’t have that much time to write. 

MIRACLES DO HAPPEN!!!!

This week was wonderful! But it was a wild ride to get there. So on Wednesday we were going to a visit an investigator and we ran into the drunk dad of our investigator who wore the black shirt to church. We told him lets go to your house and he decided to go with us. We told him we would sing hymns and he was fine with that. But every five steps he was like no I don’t want to go to my house my wife is going to tell me off. We were like no one will, let’s just go and sing hymns and he finally got him to the house and the door was shut and it was raining. So we knocked and knocked and knocked but nobody answered. We called them as well but nobody answered, so we started to sing him hymns outside of his house in the rain and it was getting dark. One of their sons finally answered the phone and said that his family was coming back from Xela and that they will be there soon. So we decided to go buy him food to buy some time. We sang him hymns in the restaurant but it was so funny because he was trying to sing with us but didn’t know the words. I was trying so hard not to laugh. Afterwards he told me, Hna Anderson, I really like how you sing and I told him, you are the first one who has ever told me that hahaha. So in guess I have a pretty singing voice when you’re drunk. Cracked me up. But his family never showed up. But he stayed with other family members. 

The next day we went by to see how he was, but he wasn’t home.  He went drinking again. But the young man was there and he invited us in. His brother who works in the capital was home. So we had the best lesson in the entire world. First of all we couldn’t believe he let us in and second of all we couldn’t believe what he told us. He told us he was thinking a lot about what happened on Sunday and that it’s hard to erase what the member said and sometimes it comes back to his mind and makes him feel sad. But he decided it’s one of two things. That one…it was God saying the church isn’t true or two it was Satan getting in the way from his progression. And he has decided to give the church another chance and he came on Sunday!!! He also told us that one morning he couldn’t sleep and a thought came to his mind that he needs to serve a mission. He wants to know the church is true so he can help others who are struggling like he is and what he did to get his answer. And dad, I did tell him you wear color shirts and it doesn’t matter as long as he is there. He also told us that he is going to make his decision at the end of this month about getting baptized. It’s so exciting and one of the greatest miracles that has happened. So we are praying a lot for him and his family. 

So my companion and my goal is to help this ward out and help them have a stronger testimony because this ward needs a little love and attention. So Saturday we dedicated a bunch of time to visit and get to know the members more. It was really good and we found a bunch of houses of less actives. So hopefully we can achieve our goal. 

Yeni is doing great. We are reading the BOM with her and she loves it and is learning a lot. So hopefully all works out and she will be able to be baptized on the 28th. 

I don’t know if I have told you about Edvin, you say it like Edwin. He is basically a Mormon, just needs to get baptized. We taught him about the word of wisdom and he told us that he has given up drinking and coffee years ago. And he just has so much strength and faith. He also made us a drink were you boil water and then put milk and beaten eggs. It was soooo good. It tasted like custard and it made me a little tiny bit trunky in that moment. But the problem with Edvin is he works a lot and can’t make it to church. But if he is ready he is ready and we will see miracles with him as well. 

Also I don’t remember if I told you this, but there are fireflies here. And I have always dreamed to see fireflies in real life. And there is a part of our area that is really really pretty and there was a huge field and it was FULL of fireflies. It was so beautiful. 

But that was the week, it was great. I know that miracles do happen and one thing I can never doubt is that God loves his children and does answer in our prayers. But always in his own time and his own way! 

Pictures

Love you all have a great week! Thanks for all the support! 

Hna Anderson 

Well this week was... interesting

So last Monday was raining like crazy!!!!!  so all of our investigators we invited to the FHE didn’t come. Nobody came. And the sister asked us to make 2 cakes. It was lame that nobody showed up. And it was so worried about the cakes I totally forgot my bag!!! Which had the keys in it. But we were able to get back into our house by going through our cute little old lady neighbor house. 

On Wednesday Hna Lopez called me and said that we had exchanges - I think that’s what it’s called in English. I went to Momostenango with Hna Lopez and my companion stayed here in Toto with Hna Estrada. Momos is so beautiful. It’s high up in the mountains. It’s super green and mountainous. And it was sooooooooooooooooooooo GREAT to be with Hna Lopez. Love that woman to pieces. We went to lunch and went out to eat because they don’t have lunches from the members here. Only like two times during the week, but sometimes they have dinners instead. So we went out to eat. I got to catch up a little bit. It was so funny when two young guys were trying to hit on us and they sent us chocolates. It was so funny. But one thing really cool is Hna Lopez has two aunts that live in Momos and she is teaching both of them. So we went and visited her aunts. It was really weird and they were talking in tu form. In Spanish there are two different ways to say you. And as missionaries we don’t use tu. And sometimes they would say her first name. But one of her aunts will probably get baptized the last week of the mission of Sister Lopez and her family are going to come to the baptism and come and get her from the mission. I just think that is so awesome. 

Anyways that night we had dinner with a really awesome family and there is a white girl living with them for a month. She is teaching English in a school in Momos. The poor thing doesn’t know any Spanish so I was translating everything the whole dinner it was pretty sweet. We finished up the day and Hna Lopez and I talked for hours! We stayed up really late but it was so needed. She is one of my best friends in this whole world. 

Good news - Yeni is getting baptized at the end of this month.  We have special permission from the president to do so. So I’m pretty excited about that. She told us she has felt she has changed a lot and is a better person since she started to know more about the church. 

But I’m not going to lie yesterday was probably the one of the hardest days of my entire mission. I cried from 10am-5pm. We have been working with a young man who has been trying to get his answers for a year or more. All his family is baptized. His dad has drinking problems. And he was doing SO good but fell again. And a whole lot of things happened and we called this young man on Saturday night inviting him to go to church and he told us that he will try to come and he came all by himself without his family. So he could feel better and help him get his answer. He stayed for the first two hours, after Sunday school he left with tears in his eyes. We asked him what happened and he didn’t want to tell us. He finally told us and this is what happened. He was wearing a black shirt and tie and a member (we don’t know who) told him why did you show up in a black shirt? You shouldn’t have shown up at all if you came in a black shirt. And he started crying. He told us he doesn’t ever want to come back. After church we went to his house and he didn’t even want us in to talk to him. He doesn’t want us to visit him until he tells us so. It broke my heart. I cried and cried and cried. People don’t understand how much we love and work for our investigators. He was progressing so much!!! I feel so upset and heartbroken that someone could do such a thing. But I’m not going to let this pass by. But I just beg every single one of you if someone who isn’t a member or who is a less active member comes back to church. SHOW THEM YOUR LOVE, make them feel welcome. We are part of the true church and we should act like it. It doesn’t matter if someone shows up in a black, yellow or purple shirt. The thing is they are at church and that is enough!!! I know God is happy to see one of his sons or daughters at church.  It doesn’t matter how they are dressed. 

But I’m going to keep on moving forward. One thing I learned on my mission is God never abandons us. Even through all our trials He is there for us even if we can’t feel it. I know this church is true and perfect but the ppl are not. But we will see what happens this week. Hope all is well with you all. Thanks for the support. 

Love, 

Hna Anderson 

Well folks its official - I now have one year in the mission

So I can hardly believe that it has been a year since I have left on the mission. Time goes by so fast. And the truth is I feel like I don’t have that much time left on the mission. But I’m going to enjoy every last minute of it!   But the truth is this week was kind of uneventful. So it will probably be a kind of boring letter. 

So every Monday night we go to a FHE with a sister here. And I wanted learn how to make rellenitos, which is planato or banana but they aren’t the same as bananas that we eat there. I don’t know what they are called in English but its banana filled with refried beans with sugar and sour cream on top. Writing about it sounds disgusting but they are so goooooooooooooood. And now I know how to make them!!! I love them so much. So we learned how to do that last Monday with Hna Mary. 

On Tuesday we visited the redheaded family. The son that is 16 was just diagnosed with heart problems so we brought him a little gift so they could give it to him in the hospital. But when we visit this family it’s impossible to leave. Every time we tell them bye they are like wait - wait - wait. But they are great. But before that we had a really great lesson with Chris and his dad. I asked his dad why he goes to church, which I was kind of scared to do. Because when I asked Chris’s mom that she told us she only got baptized to support her husband and doesn’t really believe it’s true. But brother Puacs answer was awesome! It was a super spiritual lesson. He told us he has gone to a ton of churches but the only one where he feels good is in our church. Which rocked. 

So the mission only had 55 baptisms the month of May. So we received a little bit of machetes on Thursday. But getting to the meeting with the AP’s was the biggest joke in the world. They told us the meeting was going to be at 4 in san cris. which is like 30 - 40 mins on bus. So we all got together as a zone and left around 3 and got there at 3:30 and when we got there. The chapel was CLOSED!  And I had to pee sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo bad! But the church isn’t close to anything. So I went to every single business asking them if I could use their bathroom because I was ready to explode. And finally someone let me use their bathroom and when we left from the bathroom there was our whole zone walking back to the bus because they changed the meeting to be at Toto. So we all piled on the bus and went back to Toto. And when we got to Toto they told us the meeting wasn’t going to start until 5:30 and it was 4:45. In the end the meeting started at 6:00 and ended at 8:00. It took the whole day. It was so super lame. But the meeting was pretty good for the most part. 

Yesterday we ran into the less active that lives on the mountain top. and we decided to go and visit him right then and there with his wife because his neighbors have a ton of crazy dogs! Well this less active drinks a ton and wants to get back to the church. We went to his house and his house burnt down in January. He lives in a tiny room with metal sheets and what’s left of his house as the walls and the roof. They have a wooden board with a ton of blankets as their bed and his cute little wife doesn’t speak a lot of Spanish but understands all of it. We are hoping we can help him get back to church and back on the right path. 

Saturday we had a lesson thing with an Emily and her 2nd cousin. Emily is a 13 year old girl who is the only member of the church and because of her experiences and what she says about church her cousin wants to learn more which is great! We had what’s called a plan Duncan and we made pizza with them. It was really fun. Hopefully everything will work out well with her. 

That’s about all I can think of. Sorry this letter is boring. I will try to have a better one next week. But love you all. Have a wonderful week 

Hna Anderson