Editor's note: This was a handwritten letter which I typed up. Any grammar/spelling issues should be taken up with the author...not the messenger.
Dear Family November
22, 2012
I’m not exactly sure if I’m allowed to be writing a letter
home right now, but it’s Thanksgiving and our schedule is fairly open so I’m
taking this chance to do so. However,
I’m really tired so ignore the poor English.
(There’s a point where every missionary forgets English, but doesn’t
know the mission language yet. I’m
getting there)
This
morning I woke up at 6:00am to get ready.
Sister L and I went outside the building 19m (where the devotional was
to be held) at 7:00am. There we met
elders from our district. We ate
cinnamon rolls for breakfast then got in line to get good seats for devo…which
didn’t start until 10:00am. We just got
in the hall in 10m. While we waited, we
studied Chinese and just talked. (pause, that awkward moment when one elder was
telling his dream last night. He dreamt
that I was dying of cancer and the doctor was on his way to save me, but he
(the elder) had to waltz with me so I wouldn’t die before the doctor came…mega
weird)
After a
while of waiting, my district sang some hymns.
Another district stood up and started singing “Called To Serve”. We stood and joined them. For the next half hour we just stood and
sang a bunch of hymns. Oh, I forgot to
mention, there is an elder in my district who is really discouraged about his
Chinese and stuff. Yesterday we bought
him a journal and we all wrote notes to him in it. We also got him some sweets. Sister L and I took it home to write in
it. After we finished, I wrapped the journal
in a couple pieces of paper and the sweets up in the BYU Bookstore bag. I cut out strips of paper to make a bow. I also stuck some stickers on the gifts. We gave it to Elder Broeder while we waited
for the devotional. It was a good moment
for him.
Around 9:30
we all piled into the auditorium. At
9:55 Elder Holland showed up and took his seat on the stand. Before he spoke he told us that he and Sister
Holland were our adoptive parents for the day.
He cried a bit when he told us how much he loves us. It was a tender moment. Then his grandson played the piano, a
grandson/granddaughter both bore their testimonies, and his other granddaughter
sang a song. It was amazing. Before he spoke, his wife spoke. She had some amazing things to say. She spoke mostly about the Book of
Mormon. It is the truest book and she
was so excited to share it with everyone.
We should be the same way.
When Elder
Holland spoke, I was so excited.
Honestly, I don’t ever remember much of what he said, but I do remember
how I felt. Elder Holland is truly a man
of God. The Spirit testified that so
strongly to me. He talked a little bit
(very powerfully) about how grateful we are (should be) to live in the last
days. If you think about the whole
history of time, there are more people/times without the Gospel as there are
people/times with the Gospel. We have a
great work to do to bring this truth to everyone we can. I encourage you all to read the Book of
Mormon. Pray for opportunities to give
one away. The Lord will direct you to
the people who are seeking the Gospel J
After the
devotional we had some time before lunch (aka Turkey Dinner) at 12:30pm. The elders in my district (plus Elders’
Hopper and Price) and Sister L and I walked to the temple (ps, Elder Heatton’s
mom sent him a counter things to click to count his happy thoughts…he’s changed
it to count how many times I snort…64 in the past 36 hours) While at the temple, I sang hymns with Elder Monson and
Gibson. Then we went to lunch. We had all the typical Thanksgiving foods,
but it was not nearly as good as what we eat at home. After lunch, we picked up sack meals for
dinner to eat at 5:00pm. We immediately
went to this meeting about service. It
was good, but I was really tired. Then
we did a service project. I put together
school kits. When it was over we had
time to relax. I ate dinner with my
roommates. Then I took a 10 minute
nap. Then we went to a special
Thanksgiving program. (they split us
into two groups to do the service project and the program…we switched) The program was hilarious and SO
Thanksgiving! We laughed a lot and also
had a good spiritual time too. After the
goofy stuff, two elders shared their conversion stories. They were really touching. We finished by watching a film of pictures of
Christ to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing a song about Christ (which I
can’t remember) I felt the spirit so
strongly. The church is true I was so touched by the fact that Christ died
for ME. Selfish. Prideful.
Judgmental. Me. I don’t know how I could have deserved such a
sacrifice. I am so humbled by the
thought that He gave His whole life…and in such a painful way… for me.
All I could
think of was how happy I am to be on a mission to tell others of this testimony
I have. During the prayer right after
the film, my tears came on much stronger.
Immediately following the prayer, I (and Sister L) ran to the
bathroom. On our way, President Brown
(the MTC mission pres) stopped me to see if I was okay. All I could say was “I’m just so happy to be
on a mission.” When I got back to the
auditorium, we had a half hour until our next meeting there. President Brown went to the pulpit as people
were filtering in and said, “ I was very touched today by a sister I saw
running out of the room with tears of joy in her eyes for the chance to serve a
mission. I hope all of you feel the same
way. To that sister, and you know how
you are, come talk to me after the next meeting. I want to get to know you.” The next meeting turned out not to be a
meeting at all. They gave us all popcorn
and we watched 17 Miracles. By the end of the film we were all in
tears. Once again I was so amazed by
what people sacrifice for this church. I
now I’m in the right place right now.
The Lord wants me on a mission and I hope I can live up to His
expectations.
After the
film I went to talk to President Brown.
He shook my hand and told me that I’m at the right place and he really
appreciates my willingness to serve. He
told me that he is grateful to have me there and he was so touched by my love
for the Lord. I just told him how
blessed and humble I feel for the Lord’s sacrifice. Then hu asked where Sister L and I are from
and where we are headed. That’s my whole
day. I honestly can’t put how I feel into
words.
All I can
say is that I don’t want to be anywhere else right now. Stay solid in the Gospel of Christ. It is such a blessing.
Love,
Sister Anderson
(chinese characters)
ps. Can you photo copy this letter and send it to me to put
in my journal? Thanks.
I love you all J
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