Choudai!!!

My sweet Family,

I am so sorry the last two weeks have been so short! Today, I will try to make it a little longer. So! We did stay in Niihama, and my new companion straight from the MTC is named Owens Shimai. She is really great and excited to be in the field. 

We are teaching a lot of investigators, and really want to actively seek to invite them to come unto Christ. It is such a privilege. This week I really felt like this must be like motherhood. Yesterday, riding my bike, I thought of how you think it will get easier, how you are so excited to have another child coming, you do more prep, and probably some smarter prep from having the experience, but in the end--you find out you are still human, and kind of close to the same person you were --you are still mortal ha ha. It was such a realization for me as I knew I would probably feel like that with every child I have. Ha ha! Who knew what prep I would get in Japan! It is so wonderful though. I wouldn't trade it for the world. I love my Savior and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So this week, Hino Shimai read the monogatari (The Book of Mormon picture book) we gave her.  She read it 6 times, and moved forward on her own to begin reading the Book of Mormon, which she told the other sisters that she couldn't do! It's so neat because it wasn't something we really did, the spirit is just working with her. She has a very depth of knowledge about the story of the Book of Mormon, probably more than most any investigator.

Jedley and Melody, our Phillipino investigators, came to church this week. It was so special. I got to speak in Sacrament meeting, and felt Heavenly Father's love for them so strongly. I felt how happy He was that everyone was there. I shared an experience about the Sacrament, and the power I felt it had in my life when I was such a new missionary, with my first Japanese companion in Akashi. I love the Sacrament. Our other investigators we haven't met a lot, except for Yuushi, who we taught about the Spirit--I had him do a pop quiz and listed feelings of the Spirit to see if he's felt them. He had. It was so neat to see his mom just testify to him and try to teach him.

We love the work. It is interesting to me to be on this last stretch of my mission, but I am feeling the excitement and the drive to go and find the elect. They are waiting here. It is such a privilege to work in the vineyard! I wish I had hours to tell you about all of those we are teaching. They are all just so special.

We were asked to do a family home evening last night at the Branch President's, to which Yuushi kun and his family and another guy and family came. We acted out Lehi's dream, and put Liahona's in their little backpacks when they stepped on the stuff that wasn't the path. They had to find their path on their own, with both forces (the great and spacious building people used the party hats and kazoos Mom sent for my birthday!), with some Japanese treats that were white at the end, where the other team was eating and cheering. It was so cute - the girl heard the voices, even though she was blindfolded, and walked almost straight to them. The other boy struggled for maybe 10 minutes, and kept getting magazines and eventually fruit in his back pack. When he finally came to the rod, we took off his backpack at Baptism... it is empty when we are baptized (we had the path as the Gospel of Christ). It was so fun. You wouldn't believe that our Branch President knows the Abraham dance that Yoshiko Shimai taught us in Akashi. One day I will show you that video. I haven't laughed that hard on my whole mission!!!

The work is rich, and we are rich because we have it. I love to share the wealth!
Whether a person is new to the gospel or filled with the Gospel light - no matter where each of us is on that Gospel path, His help is real, and  we are not too far from His reach. "Come unto me, all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

That is the Savior's invitation to each of us. He loves us all so much. 

Sending my love from this blessed land,
Sister Anderson

PS

 have to tell you about one of the most tender moments of my mission. We were going to district meeting, maybe an hour and a half away. These cute elementary kids got on the train. I always bring stickers to give out to kids on the street and start talking to families,  and I had just re-stocked. I gave one away, and for the next twenty minutes there were all of these little faces with their matching yellow hats sneaking over, all peering. They are so cute. We became friends. I gave one boy two, and there were thirty little hands saying "Choudai!" They were so precious.

You wouldn't believe it, but when we came home at one pm, they came on the same train. This time, we were on the receiving end. These cute little children, under eight, came grasping seashells and leftover candy from their lunches, a few of the precious caramels that each of them had received, a pine cone or two from a boy who liked them. Tears sprung my eyes as they told us they liked karate, asked us to speak English, asked if we'd tasted this kind of candy. They were so anxious to give from what they had. They are so Christ-like. We were even sitting by a lady who they became friends with, and they gave her candy, because we said she was our friend. I want to be like them when I grow up. It impressed me so much. I have a precious bag of seashells covered in seaweed, a beautiful little shell that a little girl gathered, and they are all so precious. Do you think I could get them through customs? :)

  

 The party hats came in handy at eikaiwa 

(English conversation school)! haha!

 An English Group we volunteer for --they took us on a tour of the mine for our last Preparation Day! They are so sweet. 

In the mine,,,

Nothing is impossible!!!! 

  I found Japanese Aunt Laura in Japan! ha ha 

(beautiful, sweet ward-member)

Funny story:  Mom sent two packages for my birthday in December and I only got one.  Sometime in February the other one was returned to Bluffdale.  Mom immediately re-mailed it and now I have the rest of the presents and the party hats mentioned in this letter!  haha!  Thanks Mom! 333

Konshu honto ni sugokata desu yo!

yummy!

(pic from Sister Dobson's blog - thanks for sharing!)

My Dear Family,

Konnichiwa! Wow, what a week. I love you so much. I am so grateful for
all of the love, notes, pictures, letters from nieces, nephews,
brothers, sisters, that I have been receiving. Thank you for much for
sharing your families and the "goings-on" with me in Japan! I love you so much
and can't believe how big the kids are!! And, I am always amazed by your
testimonies and your diligence. Ganbatte Kudasai!!

Do miracles ever cease? I think, so often, like President Eyring
talked of in Conference, it is we who turn away from that opportunity.
Like it says in Mormon 9:20... "And the reason why he ceaseth to do
miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in
unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom
they should trust." I have learned so much about that trust recently.
The Lord really can work to the putting away of our stumbling blocks
as we RELY ON HIM. I know that this is crucial. The well of my faith,
step by step, is getting deeper. I love Jesus Christ. Through Him, we
can return to Heavenly Father and live forever. I love this Gospel!!!

I got to speak in Church this week, and I knew my Japanese probably
wasn't the best but I got to testify of Jesus Christ. It filled my whole soul. It
is amazing as missionaries to receive messages for someone else, and
just to act as a messenger. That is what I want to be all throughout
my mission, and throughout my life. Our prophet is so great at
exemplifying this, being "on the Lord's errand." My family, I wish I
could tell you of the blessings and miracles involved in God's work. I
testify that this is His work.

This week the PI family we have been trying to teach (since we came
here) finally became investigators! She is so amazing. Their husband/dad 
was a Church member who passed away... and last night we had such an
amazing lesson, unlike any first lesson we've ever had--but the Spirit led
it. Sometimes you just naturally love an investigator so much. I know
the Lord has prepared this family, I'm so grateful we get to teach. That was 
an incredible miracle. The Lord has been in her life, preparing her so much 
for this.

I am so grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost. I am realizing more and
more the security we should, and can, feel with the Holy Ghost at our
side, within us, teaching with us. We have the best third member of
our companionship! It is so true. The Holy Ghost is incredible. I
strive to constantly simplify my teaching, to understand the doctrine
more, but when it comes down to it--I know the Holy Ghost bears
witness to the hearts of those we teach. Only the Gospel can heal the
wounded world, only Jesus Christ is strong enough. I know that balm is
there. I got to testify about the healing power of the Atonement
yesterday, and just cried through the whole thing. A cute sister came
up after Church and gave me some friendly feedback...that maybe it would
be better to talk on the same tone/level... I'm not sure they are
quite used to those kind of talks and testimonies! But how I love Him.

We get to teach our two new families today. The work is so delightful, 
life is so delightful. I think of the Savior's promise to draw from the well of 
"living water," that doesn't have an end... and He is that. I know it is true.

Other things: we were asked to do games at the ward Halloween party,
and we flew in like witches! ha ha. 

We had the members do a plastic bag fashion show and make 
witch outfits - the final products were hilarious.  
We had such a great time!

We also found a delicious place to eat called Santa's diner...
homemade hamburgers!

 I didn't think I missed American food until I ate at SANTA'S!  ha ha!

I LOVE YOU SWEET FAMILY AND FRIENDS! Congrats to cousins who got
mission calls, and to those who will get them soon.  We are all in this together!
It is SO WONDERFUL!! This is the best time for missionary work in the history 
of the world. This is the best time to be a Latter-day Saint, in these last days.
I love this work!!

Love you Fam! I know the Lord has slipped into my heart and made a
better home there, and through the Spirit has worked to help me develop
into the person He hopes I will become. I know He loves you and
watches over you and I pray for you!! Through the Spirit, we can do
whatever the Lord requires... let us rejoice and enjoy in the sanctuary 
He offers us.

I love you!
Love,
Your extremely blessed Sister Anderson



Dearest Daughter,

Thanks so much for your GLORIOUS letter including the pic of you and your 
cousin Elder Lythgoe!  We are so happy that you finally met up with each other
and that he is your ZL! How fun!  Two cousin missionaries from Utah serving in 
Japan with all their might, mind, and strength! Who would have thought?

And you will be joined by another cousin, Emmy Anderson, who just got her call 
(drum roll please...) 
Sister Anderson, You are hereby called to serve a missionary of The Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the 
France Paris Mission. 

She enters the MTC on January 9, 2013. What about that????!!!!  There is more.  
Your cousin Lindsay Castleton (age 19)  has put her papers in and will receive 
her call probably this week!   And...your cousin Brandon Garlick (age 18) has his 
papers in and is also awaiting a call. Drew Hunt (a sort of cousin) is awaiting 
his call, too!

COUSIN POWER!!!! 

Is it getting colder there?  The rains are pouring down in abundance, I hear. I can 
just picture you sitting on a back road in your rain coats, eating your cold rice while the 
rain descended upon you and your bikes. What troopers! Unstoppable!!! And the Lord 
led you to two families.  How are they doing?  We are excited to hear. How incredible that 
you found a member so close by who knew Japanese sign language and could help you teach.  The day of miracles has not ceased!  Especially in Takamatsu. You are so right, 
the Lord does know His sheep and they are numbered! You and Sister Dobson are His sheep and He knows you.  He is guiding you to other sheep and you are finding them. 
He is so grateful for your service, and so are we!

In case you didn't know it, our picture (taken at the Institute) is on the header for http://www.moregoodfoundation.org/ - you are famous! What an amazing organization - one that is truly doing "more good" than we can fathom.  

And mormon.org is now translated to Japanese -WOW! What a blessing that will be to missionary work there, and to the saints. Quoting my daughter: "This is the most wonderful, exciting work in the history of the world. We are involved in the work of Salvation, helping invite people unto Jesus Christ, working directly leading people to access the Atonement in their lives. What a work, what a promise."  Amen!!!

There is a lot of Halloween fun around these parts lately.  And... happy Halloween to you next week!!! Its a crazy holiday - but the kids sure do love getting candy...and getting dressed up in costumes. We do, too!  Dad and I became Mr. Darcy and Lizzy (in their later years, of course) for a YSA dance.  We were stunning!  And yes, Dad says he is still bewitched - body and soul!  And me...I love love love him!  

The BAC play was this last week-end - the Legends of Sleepy Hollow.  Yes, Legends.  It was not that well written, but the cast had fun and did well.  The costumes were amazing, of course!  I asked Seth if he liked it and he answered that the people were sort of weird.  Then he said, "I want to write a play. it will be about cowboys...and cow girls. It wouldn't be a bad play it would be a good one. I will put it on at Grandma Jan's on Monday and Wednesday and Thursday...and Friday." Is he one of the clan or what???

I just returned from the YSA stake where Dad taught Sunday School for a combined block meeting of four wards.  He taught from 3rd Nephi and it was powerful.  I know that he is working miracles with the young adults, and that this is exactly where the Lord wants him right now.  He was the only member of the stake presidency there for the meetings - the other two are out of town.  But, you know Dad - he held his own and presided well on the stand by himself.

Is there anything you need?  I will work on a few more family history stories.  I feel so close to some of our ancestors lately.  More than likely they are the ones who have been by your side so many times.  I am so grateful to them. Won't the reunion be sweet when we finally are with them again, and we will know all about the connections and the great love we have for each other? The veil seems so thin sometimes.  I was reading today in Moroni and had such a marvelous time contemplating the work of angels.  His father, Mormon, says in chapter 7:

 25 Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ.

and in verse 37 - Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.

And another personal favorite reference:
3 Nephi 17:24 And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them.

And...
2 Nephi 32:3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

Elder Holland: (Ensign October 2008):

My beloved brothers and sisters, I testify of angels, both the heavenly and the mortal kind. In doing so I am testifying that God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face. “[N]or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man [or woman or child] upon the face thereof to be saved.”  (Moroni 7:36). On occasions, global or personal, we may feel we are distanced from God, shut out from heaven, lost, alone in dark and dreary places. Often enough that distress can be of our own making, but even then the Father of us all is watching and assisting. And always there are those angels who come and go all around us, seen and unseen, known and unknown, mortal and immortal.

May we all believe more readily in, and have more gratitude for, the Lord’s promise as contained in one of President Monson’s favorite scriptures: “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, … my Spirit shall be in your [heart], and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” (D&C 84:88). In the process of praying for those angels to attend us, may we all try to be a little more angelic ourselves—with a kind word, a strong arm, a declaration of faith and “the covenant wherewith [we] have covenanted.” (D&C 90:24). Perhaps then we can be emissaries sent from God..."

You are His emissary. Take heart in knowing you are not alone. This morning Dad spoke of standing in the circle during the setting apart a sister missionary.  He was her Bishop, and had just spoken of how he felt there were unseen visitors so interested in her mission that were in the room.  When she was set apart, she was told that those spirits in attendance were the ancestors of those to whom she would bring the gospel message.  Wow!  And this morning in Sacrament meeting, a letter from the First Presidency was read that was so much about doing temple work for OUR ancestors when we possible can.  I LOVE FAMILY HISTORY AND TEMPLE WORK!!!! Remember when you attended that family history class with me? I think you were in Jr. High. I told you how grateful I was that you were my helper.  You informed me that I had it wrong...I was YOUR helper!  Amen!  And we will always have fun doing family history work together!

Thanks for being you and for being ours. Onward and upward sweet little missionary - you are doing more good than you could possible know!

With love from your helper,
Mom
333

Hug Sister D. for us!

Quincy turned 12 last Wednesday, Eli will be 12 on Thursday, and Joseph will be 12 on Saturday.  They will all be ordained on Sunday!!!
Marissa is now 8 and will be baptized on Saturday!
Coy is turning 18 on Friday!

Amen!

Hey you beautiful people! 


The work is rolling forward. Today's letter will probably be short...
we are going to NARA today for P-day... woooo!


SO! Kana Chan's baptism date is July 12, which she is moving right up
towards... and keeping the Word of Wisdom! (pretty awesome in a nation
that really loves various teas... and she's 11!) Tonight we are having
a Katei no Yube (FHE) with her and probably a member on the Sabbath
day. We tried on Baptism clothes with her this week. She is such a
light for her family, and prayed straight from her heart that the
missionaries told her that she could talk to Heavenly Father about
anything, and she looked forward to talking with Him about the boys
she likes. (specifically by name). :) So pure. One of our other
investigators is progressing, Mai Chan, we are going to work a lot
with her this week... or try to invite the Spirit to work with her!


Missionary work is great! President says regularly that the work will go 
forward, we just get to decide our involvement in it.


So -  funny story... we had a lesson with two Seventh Day Adventists this
week, they were trying to teach us pretty rigorously... over some very
healthy foods. Really nice though! They weren't super interested in
listening, just a bit of testimony about the Restoration and
Joseph Smith, at the end they wanted to do a prayer circle... and
while we are praying, these ladies (who have got to be in their 60s or
70s and super thin from healthy foods haha), spouted out in little voices: "Amen!" every so often throughout our prayers (every few sentences or so). They gave us some food when we left. At the gateway, I said we didn't have many gifts but one gift... this book! And we left the Morumon Sho on their table. It left me loving the Book of Mormon so much for how it clarifies the
nature of Jesus Christ, and how we really can know Him through the
testimony of these two witnesses: The Book of Mormon and the Bible. I
love Him so much! I know that the Book of Mormon brings us closer to
Him than any other book, and how much more we know His character,
attributes, and love. I love Him! Such great memories. Truly, everyone
is doing what they can with the light they have. God loves us!


This work is true!! We are going to do a Katei no Yube for the ward...
I had this idea for all of these potential investigators we play
basketball with, to have a place they could hear a little bit of the
Gospel in a non-threatening place. So we are going to do it! I'm going
to do the games! I had no idea how the Lord was preparing me in all
these ways throughout my life with things I would need. Yesterday I
made a book with a bunch of my previous game ideas, we are using one

in our lesson today and probably a bunch for the ward! I am so
excited. I am amazed at how the Lord truly does use anything we have,
each of us, how He knows us so well. I had no idea when working with youth 
and young adults at Aspen Grove, EFY, etc. that he was preparing me in subtle ways for my mission in Japan. Probably like now when I have no idea what He is preparing me for in the future! I know that this is true for each of us. I promise that He has a greater plan, and He is working hidden miracles, blessings, joys in each of our lives. 


I know the power of the fast is real, I felt is yesterday so much for me. I know 
Jesus Christ lives. I know that Faith is not just belief, but it is a KNOWLEDGE,
a commitment to Him. How I love Him! When we understand and feel the
Atonement, we want to share this knowledge. Share it!
Fukuin o wakachiamasho!! Let's share the Gospel! It is true. I know I
have had ministrations in my personal life her in Japan, and for those
we love here. He is watching over us so closely, even closer than we
know.


We got to attend sister's training in Kobe - it was soooooooo fun!

Note from Sister Jen's mom:
In the words of Sister Zinke: Last week we had the sisters come to Kobe for some training.  We had a wonderful day being together and learning from each other.  The President and the Assistants had never heard so much giggling at a conference!  



I love you sweet Fam! Choose the Right! Proclaim that Jesus Christ
lives... and that the fullness of His Gospel has been Restored, so
that Heavenly Father can completely and fully bless us with all of the
wonderful power, love, and mercy He so wants to give. It is true!


Sister A

 Honing my baking skills in Japan!  this is a cake my companion and I put together...

 "American" food!!!

 Random really cute pink house...

 Amazing grape vine house...

black thunder ice