Unpredictably Me

The Miracle of Repentance

2012-02-07T20:07:00.001-08:00

It is evening. I should be doing homework. I have been having a reoccurring illness that is currently occurring. I’ll go back to the specialist tomorrow for more results. It has put me behind in my school work but by the end of the day my mind digests about as well as my stomach does so instead I’ll blog then off to bed for me.

I got a new district of elders at the MTC last Tuesday. At first they were pretty shell-shocked then the shell shock turned to tension. Everyone kept telling them the old tale that if they made it to the first Sunday they would be fine. By Saturday, anxiety was at a peak. The elders have been stripped away from all things familiar, are following a new model for life and are constantly being followed by a companion they don’t know. I arrived at my shift Saturday night but the room was empty. I sat for ten minutes before the first set casually rolled in. They greeted me and I sat there. Devastation came naturally. Once they all arrived I loving chastised them for the next 20 minutes. They could not expect to teach the gospel if they were not living it. I invited them to repent and to be the missionaries the Savior would have them be.

On Monday evening, after a long day of medical tests in Salt Lake and a school test at BYU I arrived at work to all the elders were sitting in class 5 minutes early. When they came in the spirit came in with them. On Sunday, as a district, they banned together and changed. Their repentance provided them a fresh view of God, themselves and the world. I was overcome with joy. What a blessing it is to see the rapid growth that occurs at the Missionary Training Center. I too have committed to repent and be the person Christ would have me be.

Love

2012-01-16T21:53:00.001-08:00

Have you ever wondered if God really knows you? There was a long period of time when I wondered if He was watching. I knew He loved me but I blamed myself for all my sorrows and believed he could not take the consequences of agency. I would bear those for possibly the rest of my life.

Time passed and now my question is a little different. God, are you sure you are blessing the right person? How am I so happy every day? I certainly did nothing to deserve such happiness. Yes trials come but they pass so quickly! When Sister Taliauli and I were doubled into Morgantown I experienced the hardest week of my entire mission but not a week later wee saw so much joy and success. I told Sister Pitt how thankful I was for the trial of that first week so we could appreciate the good that followed. Her jaw almost dropped, “One week? Your trial was one week? Is that even a trial for a missionary?”

Well, coming home has been much the same. Of course there are hard times when I have felt out of place but in only five weeks I have a wonderful job at the MTC, I am loving the classes that I am taking, have a place in my new ward and catch myself daily walking around with a grin on my face. Does Heavenly Father know me? I feel too blessed and just so happy. I want everyone to be this happy!

A Quote by Elder Holland

2012-01-01T22:28:00.001-08:00

What do you do when you are scheduled to give your homecoming talk after returning from your mission and just minutes before the meeting begins an Apostle of the Lord enters the chapel taking a seat on the stand? Well, this is the exact situation that I found myself in today. The chapel was packed despite Elder Holland’s visit being a surprise. Family and friends were there for me as well as the family of a baby being blessed. We all looked astonished when Elder Holland walked in. In the audience, My cousin Brad and his wife Amy were were thinking about how funny it would be if my talk had a pile of quotes by Elder Holland in it. Little did they know that my ENTIRE talk was based around a quote by Elder Holland which I intended to expound. This seemed like a good idea until I was actually in the same room as Elder Holland!

Despite my fear, the room was filled with love. Love for the ward I grew up in, Love for my family who has supported me and love for this dear apostle who influenced me more as a missionary than any other apostle. I was blessed to give my talk with little nervousness and to feel the strength of the spirit envelop us.

After the meeting I had a good chat with Elder Holland which I began with, “You scared me!” He chuckled and was too kind expressing his gratitude for my talk and telling me that he was brought to tears. I shook his hand twice and hugged him twice. When we parted he told the bishop, “how can you say no to that?” in reference to me. I was just so excited that he was there.

It was a spiritual and wonderful day. If you had asked me if I would like to give my talk in front of an apostle I would have certainly said no but in the end it was a blessing for me most of all and I feel that the Lord led him there on this day for me to feel that spirit. Thank you to all who came. I am constantly astounded by the network of caring people I have been blessed with.

P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!

First P-day Home

2011-12-19T14:01:00.001-08:00

I guess it is time to post again on my blog. I’m back and sadly my family is as wicked as ever. They say crap, watch TV on Sunday and get frustrated with people that work at toll booths instead of smiling and telling them about Mormon.org. Oh well, haha!

I guess the biggest shock of coming home is how natural it actually feels. Of course there are small things that make me “weird,” I can’t answer the phone and say my first name, I flinch when men invade my personal space and I follow the urge to pray much more often than I did before I served a mission. Over many years, I have learned that there are seasons to life. We are not expected to live in the past but to learn all we can, allow ourselves to be changed and move forward to conquer the next journey ahead of us.

The most shocking part for my body was not being able to follow a routine. The first night home I only slept five hours and the next night (my first on my own) I slept an hour and a half. I spent the rest of the night putting my bedroom together, writing in my journal, packing for our trip and taking care of the online bare necessities. Caleb had said goodnight leaving me in a room where the floor could not be spotted under the bins of stuff everywhere and described walking into my room the next morning like the department store wonderland created by Elf. I have not only unpacked but even built a new shelf and decorated.

I also accomplished something I had thought often about during my mission, I had a burn party. I didn’t burn skirts, nylons, and study materials. I dug up things in my many boxes that represented the more casual self of my past and burned them. Like King Lamoni’s father, I have wanted to give all my sins to Christ, not just to leave them for 18 months but to bury them deep in the earth.

I think I have caught up on my sleep and a regular eating routine will soon fall into place as well. I was glad to be in South Carolina my first Sunday home. Although we were visitors at church, I found myself scanning for people who looked new or out of place. I may have been more comfortable there than I will be on the 1^st when I return to speak in my home ward full of familiar faces. At least I will have two weeks to rest before then!

The End is just the beginning

2011-12-13T15:58:00.000-08:00

My first thought concerning this final e-mail was to write about the happenings of Morgantown and missionary work as usual disregarding the fact that I will be standing in Utah roughly 50 hours from now. Then I changed my mind and decided to embrace my fate and write a cheerful top 10 things I have learned as a missionary list. Now I am sitting at the computer feeling melancholy and a little overwhelmed, torn as to what to write home in this my final e-mail. I have been in denial.

People talk about my going home, I have short conversations then change the subject never letting it sink in. Yesterday I broke down. During our comp study, without any words, I began to cry. Sister Lowe thought she had done something terribly wrong but gave me about 15 minutes to kneel, pray and cry. I just had to get it all out. I am assuming that I am not alone in these feelings. Yes, I am ready to go home. No, I am not ready to end my mission. How does a person deal with these conflicting feelings? The scriptures have brought much comfort in the last week when I have felt so small and confused.

The work this past week was wonderful! The highlight was when Sister Lowe and I got to accompany Kristine and Lizzie for their patriarchal blessings. I have seen them both progress to baptism, have formed lifelong friendships and now, together, we got a glimpse of what the Lord has in store for their futures. Baptism is only the gate on this journey to Eternal Life. Another highlight was a girls night we had Saturday night at the institute with Lizzie, Kristine, Adrianna and Viola, four of the most amazing freshman girls who I love so much. I gave them all gifts from my mission . . . my "will". No matter if they serve through full time service or not, these women are going to play a big part in building up the kingdom of God and preparing His children for Christ's second coming.

I have loved being a missionary. I will always thank Heavenly Father for opening my heart and my spirit through missionary service. I know who I am, I know God's plan and I'll follow in His ways. I am not exactly sure what the future will bring. My mind refuses to compute past Thursday but whatever He has in store I know that it will be because He loves me and wants me to become more like Him. I have found that Heavenly Father will always give us the maximum opportunities to grow if we take them. Thank you for all your support, I have certainly felt loved here and I can promise that Heavenly Father used letters from home to answer my needs, teach my and give me comfort when I have been down. I hope that together we all continue to feel the blessings and spirit of missionary work.

Nothing can stop this work from progressing! Hurrah For Israel!

Life is Good

2011-12-05T09:41:00.000-08:00

This has been a finding week as our students and investigators have been "too busy". We have however been blessed to have taught two wonderful new investigators who have both been prepared long before

this week. Contacting on campus is certainly a different experience. There is a "free speech zone" where anyone can give out fliers, set up booths and solicit students. It is a high traffic areas typically filled with people but unfortunately, people are used to just walking through and grabbing things as they go. This week we brought some members and went on exchanges across the free speech zone. We give out lots of Mormon.org cards, have the occasional gospel conversation and even give out copies of the Book of Mormon. Few and far between are those who actually want to set an appointment but they are out there.

One of the perks of being at a party school is that the chasm between us and the world is so large and we are easy for the righteous seeker to find. They are more easily drawn to us. Because of the topography of the campus, there are large almost impossible hills between the different campuses. To make life easier,
the university has a personal rapid transit "PRT" system for getting from one side to the other. When we ride it we try to talk to people on the small cars while we have their full attention.

On Saturday, we boarded with four students, all wearing white earbuds and holding audio devices. I wondered what aliens would think if they came to the planet earth. Would they think the ear buds were chargers for our energy? Perhaps they would assume we were not an anti social society and we were communicating telepathically through them! Nope, we are just filling our minds with stuff. Oh well, it is a funny world that we live in.

We had zone conference this past week in Clarksburg which always leaves me overflowing spiritually. I remember going to my very first zone conference and feeling lost. Now I can't seem to grasp enough
when I go! We also went to Clarksburg for a Christmas music fireside before the First Presidency Devotional. The weather has managed to stay relatively warm but is was wonderful to fill the spirit of

Christmas and the season.

Christ is more that the reason for the season, he is the reason for everything and I am thankful for this
time of the year when more people remember, even for a brief moment, who to center their lives on. Nothing can stop this work from progressing! I love it, I love the Book of Mormon and the message we
have to share with the world. If only more people knew . . . We gotta tell them!

Finishing the semester.....

2011-11-28T18:53:00.000-08:00

We are back in Morgantown to finish out the semester here. This is the last week of classes, next week is cram week then finals week and the campus shuts down again for Christmas. Already, investigators are telling us that they are interested but not to contact them until January. Bummer. We have been tracting a fair bit this week and anticipate doing more in the weeks to come! We are continuing the ongoing process of developing the faith to find God’s prepared children. Thanksgiving Day was much more relaxed this year than last. For our exercise we ran a 5k with members of the 2nd ward, took it easy in the morning and had Thanksgiving dinner at the Morris’s with two of the Elders. It was wonderful and the food divine! Perhaps it was because we were not running from place to place surrounded with lots of unfamiliar faces but I can hardly believe that Thanksgiving is through. Perhaps I am also in shock that no more holidays are left to anticipate as a missionary.

After Thanksgiving dinner we met up with our whole district and Brother Morris to play basketball at the
church. It was good to exercise before and after the large meal! The following day we exhausted ourselves one last time working the concession stand at the WVU football games. This was the biggest game of the year WVU vs. Pitt and we barely pulled out a win. The concession stand was a mad house but as most missionaries know, adversity brings you closer together. We have a pretty tight knit district and the stress of the game just left us happier and closer!

Recently I have been studying the gospels and more and more am astonished by how little of the gospel they contain. The New Testament truly tells us of Christ’s life and provides the critical key of his perfect example for us but it is in the pages of the Book of Mormon that we learn the why and the how; The Plan of Salvation and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love this message, especially at this season when we can all have a little more charity in our hearts and love for our fellow man, the Savior Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. This is the true gospel which provides pure and lasting happiness. Love, sister Anderson

Sisters Conference

2011-11-21T11:21:00.000-08:00

this week was pretty crazy! All the students are on Thanksgiving break
and the campus is shut down. On Friday morning we drove down to
Charleston for a one day sister's conference which Sister Lowe and I
planned and conducted. It really helped the sisters get to know each
other and create unity! Each companionship taught a principle (except
sister Lowe and I) we hosted a mad game of WVCM jeopardy! It was cool
to hear the other sisters teach and see the dynamic of their
companionship's. At conference I decided that I am going through
"mission menopause" I am the oldest serving sister and am prone to
random bouts of tears and hot flashes. Not to mention that I was
beginning to get sick and trying with all my might to prevent it.

On Saturday we had a mission conference with Elder Andersen of the
quorum of the 12 apostles. It was incredible to see all the
missionaries there and hear the words of an apostle. In addition to
all the missionaries, Jenny from Paintsville and her mom surprised me
by coming! It was an amazing experience. All the sisters got to sit
front and center. I was on the first row right of the pulpit and with
tears on my face the whole time there were several times that Elder
Andersen looked down at me and just gave me a smile. I'm sure he could
tell this is the end for me.

After the conference we went and taught a lesson to an investigator
who was in Charleston for the holiday. Sister Pitt accompanied us
which was a treat for us and especially for her as there are no sister
missionaries in the Charleston Zone. Poor Sister Pitt! On our way to
the lesson I was getting sicker and sicker but a story Elder Andersen
shared came into my mind. To an elder who was ready to go home after a
terrible first week he said "the Lord must have big things for you to
accomplish here with the adversary working so hard against you!" As we
walked into the church with our investigator we found that we had
arrived right in the middle of a baptism and began out lesson on
baptism by watching a young man make that covenant. The spirit was
perfect and the lesson wonderful!

After the lesson we sat down with Sister Pitt over lunch to discuss
the role of Sister Assistants/Reps as that calling is becoming more
and more permanent. We are hoping to have a pretty good grasp of it
before I leave and another Sister takes my place. Because the
university will shut down the three weeks of Christmas it would be the
perfect time for traveling sisters! The work will not cease to
progress until the Great Jehovah will say "the work is done".

I guess that is all for now. We are not in Buckhannon, WV with Sister
Ormsby and Sister Webster until Thursday. I wish I could say we are
working hard but the sickness eventually took me full force and I
could not eat and barely kept down 12 oz of water for about 40 hours.
Now I am on the mend but still pretty nauseous forcing myself to eat.
Oh well, God must have big plans for us! HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!

My new assignment Assistant to the President ('s wife) Official, honorary and temporary

2011-11-14T09:51:00.000-08:00

After over 17 months of thinking that I am going to be the next district or zone leader ;), I finally got a promotion! Sister Lowe and I are the first ever in the WVCM "Official Honorary Temporary
Assistants to the President's Wife" YAY! What does that mean? Well, mostly it means that we are the oldest sisters companionship in the mission. I am next to die and sister Lowe will be in the following group. There are 18 sisters in our mission and while I am the only sister going home in my group, the next group is 5 sisters and only 1 elder! Very soon, the sisters in the middle stretch are going to have to step up as the leaders of the mission. Most of the companionship are a pairing of an experienced sister and a progressing sister, except us. We're old! So, we are assisting Sister Pitt in figuring out how to transition this young group of sisters into leaders. Sister Pitt is a very involved mission mom. As a returned missionary herself, she is hands on and works diligently to serve us. I absolutely love and admire her. Next Saturday, Elder Neal L. Andersen (quorum of the 12 apostles) will be coming for a mission conference in Charleston and all the Sisters will be coming the day before for 9 hours of training.

Since President Pitt has two counselors and two assistants, it seemed logical for Sister Pitt to get us involved. She asked Sister Lowe and I to consider an agenda for the training. We prayed for and discussed each companionship before writing an agenda allowing each companionship to teach and edify the others. The only major changes Sister Pitt made were to add a group lunch and Sister Lowe and I
wouldn't be the ones assigned to pick up Elder and Sister Andersen from the airport Saturday morning. Too Bad! It was fun to call all the sister's in the mission and let them know how excited we are about
this upcoming training and how much we love them and the work. This next week is going to be pretty crazy! We are going to Charleston for two days but will not be returning to Morgantown after that. For

awesome dude

the 10 days around Thanksgiving the university shuts down. The buildings are locked and the dorms close. Everyone goes home for a rather extended vacation before returning for the last three weeks of school. Sister Lowe and I will be leaving campus too. We are scheduled to go work with the sisters in Buckhannon, WV, Sister Ormsby and Sister Webster.

A lot of great things are going to be happening in the next month. Time is flying . . . much too fast! GRRR! Sister Lowe and I are like identical twins. We work hard and play hard! The greatest work we can do is to work for the Lord! Nothing can stop this work from progressing!

Love, Lauren

Sister Lauren Anderson

111 Morgan Point

Morgantown, WV 26505

Morgantown and Cooper's Rock

2011-11-07T15:07:00.000-08:00

Sister Lowe is awesome! Once I got over my greenie shock, my trainer (Sister Harris) and I were super unified. We served together for 4 transfers after all! Well, since then I have been serving with new
missionaries, helping them adjust and learn to work hard. Now I have Sister Lowe and for the tail-end, I am experiencing missionary work like I never thought possible. She has been out over a year and like me, is
very confident. She is a convert with a huge and solid testimony. On our first full day together we set up a hot chocolate booth on campus where we had huge success and later taught three lessons.

Our unity seems to be built in because we both are listening to the spirit. There is also an immediate trust with her that I have not ever had before. I should have immediately trusted Sister Harris but first I had to learn how to trust. With Sister Lowe we are in the same spot wanting to serve the Lord.

The p-day before transfers our district went to Cooper's Rock and took some fun pictures. While there we met a girl named Jessie. Jessie often goes to Cooper's rock to be closer to God. She took some pictures for us then I sat down and talked to her for over a half hour. Mostly I listened to her desires in life and her views of prior religions. Then I taught her a bit of the restoration and set up an appointment at the institute. Sister Lowe and I taught her with a member, Ryan who is preparing for a mission. We gave her a tour of the

building and taught most of the lesson in the chapel. The spirit was incredibly strong and it was clear that Jessie's desires were to give up her sins to know God. It was also clear that she was terrified of what that would really mean to her family and her job.

At the end of the lesson we knelt and Jessie offered the most sincere prayer. Still on their knees, Ryan leaned over to Jessie and opened the Book of Mormon. He opened to the Introduction and using the last two paragraphs explained to her what to pray for and the answer to expect. The spirit grew and Sister Lowe and I began to tear up as she read. This is going to be a transfer of the spirit and of miracles. I love this work! I love the gospel. Nothing can stop the work from progressing! Love, Lauren

Sister Lauren Anderson
111 Morgan Point
Morgantown, WV 26505

My last transfer day..... staying put with a new companion- I will meet her tomorrow.

2011-11-02T06:19:00.000-07:00

farewell Sister Taliaui

Our district of 6

Well, this is it. Transfers are tomorrow and I am heading into my last
transfer in the West Virginia Charleston Mission. To all of our
surprise Sister Taliauli will be transferring to Portsmouth Ohio and I
will be staying here in Morgantown with Sister Lowe. I don't know much
about Sister Lowe but from what I hear she will be perfect for the
University Ward. I am excited to see the influence that she has on the
people here! This transfer will be pretty crazy. Our District of 6
missionaries will become a district of 8 and three of them will be
greenies.

This week we kicked off our "Prepare to Share" program where we are
turning missionary work over to the members for 20 days leading up to
Thanksgiving break. All the members have kits full of missionary
supplies so that they can be prepared when the opportunities arise.

I'll be honest, there is more to say but today has already been
hectic. Thanks for all the letters I have been getting! I love all of
you and I especially love the Lord. He has been too good to me. I can
never out-give Him. Love, Sister Anderson
--
Love, Lauren

Sister Lauren Anderson
111 Morgan Point
Morgantown, WV 26505

Members are the key!

2011-10-24T16:44:00.000-07:00

I had a couple cute Halloween pictures from carving pumpkins at FHE
but oh well . . .I forgot my camera cord.

We have seen lots of miracles this week! Actually, President Pitt
called asking us for some tips on how we are getting so much member
excitement. We typed up a three page letter all about how awesome the
members are here in the University Ward! Starting next Sunday we are
starting a 20-day program where we are turning missionary work over to
the members and going to work closely with them as they do missionary
work! The bishop has ordered a whole bunch of missionary materials so
that we can kick-off the project by putting together "prepare to share
kits" in ziplock bags so that our member-missionaries are ready to
respond to their call. The kits include a Book of Mormon, a few
pamphlets, referral and pass-a-long cards, mini Strength of Youth
pamphlets and a few other assorted things. We are really excited!

Member involvement is certainly the best part about serving here. We
try to teach as many lessons as possible at the Institute and invite
anyone that is just "hanging out" to join us. We have had up to to five
members in a lesson adding their testimonies, support and friendship.
They are in the habit of peeking into the library to see what we are
up to and join us if they can. This past week we received a referral
from a freshman who referred himself. We called him up and arranged to
meet him in his dorm lobby to give him a Book of Mormon and teach him
his first lesson. We were pretty excited and in telling the members
where we were headed they wanted to come a long. We tried not to be
intimidating but he was outnumbered five of us (three members) to one. Actually, Heavenly Father knows and sent us the right person
because the referral, was not only NOT intimidated but really excited
to meet so many people who were excited to meet him. He had a list of
questions he had come up with and all of them allowed us to teach him
to restoration. members are the best!

Sorry again about the lack of pictures. I'm actually surprised at how
often I have not forgot little things like that!

Repentance lesson

2011-10-17T17:15:00.000-07:00

Sorry this is going to be short! I have had a lot of other things to

do today trying to finish thinking about my winter school schedule

yuck! That is not true, it bums be out looking beyond mission life but

at the same time serving in a student ward has gotten me excited to be

a student again! YAY!"To every thing there is a season, and a time to

every purpose under the heaven."

This week has been an adventure! We have been working very closely

with the members in helping them to take the inviting steps of

missionary work so we can do the teaching part. This past week we got

to teach both Hayden's roommate and Lizzie's roommate and friend. It

is great to see the gospel flow naturally in friendship!

Our top investigators, Stephen and Dan came to church for the second

time this past week! I have learned a lot from teaching them. They

have both seen the positive examples of members and wanted to be like

them but did not know how to. We taught them about repentance and

while the word was not foreign, the concept was. Yes, a person need to

repent of stealing and lying and committing adultery but how do you

become become better if you are not doing any of those things. We

taught that repenting is also developing Christlike attributes,

gaining knowledge in the scriptures and serving others. They are

seeing exciting effects from personal repentance which of course has

helped me to reevaluate myself. How wonderful this gospel is. God

lovingly helps us to each day become better than we currently are and

overcome the natural man! I love this work, nothing can stop it from

progressing! Hurrah for Israel!

Triple baptism..... We needed a shirt!

2011-10-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

Well, here is how it started . . .

Hayden was baptized five weeks ago and brought a friend with him that he met in ROTC. We met Kristine at Hayden's baptism. Pam (who we had only been teaching a week and a half) and Lizzie (investigating with a member friend since January minus a summer break to go home) we also met
both at Hayden's baptism. Before long the three of them were all on the same track and it seemed like the Lord had planned that their paths would cross at this specific time to be baptized together on the
8th of October. I thought that by having them all in one day our stress level would be somewhere around that of a normal baptism but no... it was tripled.

There was a little bit of a mess finding sufficient amounts of baptism clothing for five people. We had the Zone Leaders bring some clothes up for us but still at the last minute found that there was not a white shirt suitable for Hayden to baptize in. When the problem was brought to me I just quickly responded,
"There are at least four white shirts walking around here. Find an Elder and take his!"
"Which one?", they asked?

Triple baptism

"I really don't care, find the one closest to Hayden's size and just pull him into the bathroom."
They did. One Elder went home that night wearing a partly wet shirt.

The baptism was amazing and very emotional. We all cried as one by one these three amazing women entered the water making eternal covenants with their Heavenly Father. The relationships we make as missionaries are eternal friendships based on the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The night before the baptism Lizzie and Kristine especially were practically beside themselves with excitement and nervousness.
Kristine was feeling a little sick and decided to walk with us and a member, Viola,as we headed out tracting. Well, Kristine decided to come along too. We walked quite a way up a very large hill to the
area sister Taliauli and I had prayerfully selected but it was so worth it when Viola and I began talking to a man in his late 20s who had truly been questioning religion as a result of military deployment. He saw all the hate and anger and had begun to question if there was a God. We told him about the restoration and the Book of Mormon. He was touched and recognized the restoration as a miracle.

Heart attack

Soon Sister Taliauli and Kristine abandoned the doors they were knocking (people were looking right at them and not answering their doors haha) and joined in our conversation in this man's garage. It
was so cool, especially since Viola and Kristine have future missions in their view!

Let's see, what else did we do in this crazy week . . . We worked another football game and we heart attacked an investigators door. It was the week of midterms so we tried to spread love and NOT stress!
Missions really are all about love! Well, I guess this whole life is all about love :) Nothing can stop this work from progressing!

The Work Continues………..

2011-10-03T09:16:00.001-07:00

This week flew by faster than perhaps any other before it. We were
busy with on campus events, a zone meeting, General Conference and
interviews with President Pitt in addition to our normal work. This
week we held two campus events, one was a booth in the center of
campus where we with members talked to students for the morning and
afternoon. It was awesome to see the members getting out there,
talking to strangers and bearing testimony. The rice krispy treats we
made also helped to soften the students hearts. The following day a
group of our members walked in the homecoming parade passing out
cards and candy along the way. When I interviewed with President he
told me that after my mission life would go on in the Lord's plans for
me it just might not be as fun as when I was a missionary. Then he
stopped and said he was certain I would make it fun.
While President did interviews we got to steal away our mission mom,
Sister Pitt and bring her to two lessons that we had scheduled with
members who are both preparing for upcoming baptisms. It was such a
joy for all of us! Because we are so spread out I never thought we
would be able to go with our mission mom like the elders get to go out
with President. There was a great spirit in both those lessons and
Sister Pitt was excited to do "real" :) missionary work with us as a
former proselyting missionary herself (She was in Germany with President Ron Stoddard… many years ago).
Conference was AMAZING! We had five investigators on Sunday and the
best part was hearing the revelations they received during the
meetings. Kristine moved here from Hawaii for her freshman year and
her choice for school seemed completely random but after President
Monson's talk about the man being led to the temple not knowing why,
Kristine knew that she had followed that same spirit and too was ready
to act on the things He led her here to do. Stephen and Dan had never
been to our church before and were both happily surprised to hear
President Monson speak too! They expected a solemn reverence like the
pope but found a profound man full of love, life and and a learned
faith in Christ.
Thank you for all your support and love! This is a truly great work we
are engaged in! Nothing can stop the work from progressing. Not even a
university competing for the #1 party school in America.

ESPN/ Poor WVU

2011-09-26T09:08:00.001-07:00

As many of you might know this past week was crazy on WVU campus. ESPN
came for game-day on our campus and not only are we the only campus
that has camped out for their broadcast this year but our students
(and members) camped out for two nights! We did missionary work by
visiting the members at their tents and meeting their friends. We
worked concessions at the WVU/LSU game until our 9pm curfew. We were
stomped on but made lots of money for the youth on concessions!
Pre-game sales alone were crazy. Sadly night games provide a seemingly
infinite greater number of drunks compared to the other games. Sad.
Finding new people to teach is difficult here. Our best sources are
the members and Mormon.org so we spend our time pushing those two
things. In my last areas we had lots of success finding people to
teach one or two lessons to but they failed to progress. Here, we
rarely teach first lessons but the people we do teach are quickly
progressing. When they come through members they have a jump start in
the social conversion and when they come through Mormon.org they have
a jump started spiritual conversion. All we have to do is LOVE them
and the rest falls into place.
There was a baptism this past week. No, I did not get to go but
Saleena who we were teaching in my last area got baptized and I
was SOOO excited when I got the letter from Sister Scannell. God led
us to their Family and they are finding the joy that the gospel
brings. There is a reason we Mormons are so happy, we know God loves
us and we have the way to free ourselves from the burdens that we
carry. The greatest miracles God works are when hearts are changes and
happiness fills their eyes. We had two investigators at the general
woman's conference (which we watched on Sunday because of the game).
We all left floating on air. President Uchdorf has a way of making
women feel really good about themselves. I also realized during Sister
Allred's talk that Satan tried to hide one of the greatest sources of
happiness. He tells us that to be happy we need to be selfish when in
reality it is to selflessly serve. We stand out when we serve because
it is such a rare thing in the world today. One investigator noted
that not only do we serve more than anyone she has met but we do it so
cheerfully! The secret is out . . . service makes us happy!
I love serving the Lord. Every time I talk to President Pitt he tries
to offer me extensions on my mission. This morning we had to call him
and he made his biggest offer yet . . . A whole year! At first I
accepted then I realized that I had to turn him down. Ah man,
somewhere in this world I have a life in which I am supposed to
progress beyond what I can as a missionary.

2011-09-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

My stamped letters.....

Institute

Training and more training

I finally did something that I have been waiting much of my mission to
do. This week is the first week of my last two transfers. As much as I
have LOVED getting letters from everyone over the past year, I am so
sick of writing letters! So . . . I addressed 30ish envelopes and over
the next few weeks will be writing final letters. Maybe it seems early
to be doing this but I am anticipating about two months of letter
writing free p-days! YAY! I'll continue send my weekly e-mail and
perhaps I'll make more audio recordings but the days of stamps,
printing pictures at wal-mart and handwritten letters are almost in my
past. I hope that no one is saddened by this. Keep and eternal
perspective and remember that this certainly does not mean that ya'll
should stop writing me. You are sacrificing letters FROM me so that
the work of the Lord can progress full force :)

This past week has been amazing! We had a big training in Charleston
on Wednesday with all the Zone Leaders, District Leaders and trainers.
The greenies and leader's companions all stayed in neighboring areas
with other missionaries but because of the distance it would have been
to drop Sister Taliauli with the nearest sisters she got to come to
the meeting too! What a blessing that was. I never could have conveyed
the spirit and excitement of the meeting to her sufficiently. There
were two big-shot missionary trainers from the MTC that flew out to
inspire us and train us. It really helped me to regain my focus on the
most important things and the reason that we do this work. Elders are
spoiled in getting to go to rejuvenating training meeting (zone leader
counsel and district leader training) all the time. So is the life of
a sister missionary.

I am sure that many missionaries learn first hand the power of fasting
but it has really hit me that past few months as we have fasted for
our area and with investigators who are preparing for baptism. On
Saturday we fasted with a student named Lizzy who was taking a trip
home to talk to her parents (Jewish and Catholic) about her decision
to be baptized. They were not supportive but in the precess she
discovered how deep her testimony is and how much this decision really
means to her. She is changed.

One of the highlight of our week was with a referral. A student had
been on Mormon.org last spring but referred himself just before the
sister's were pulled out for the summer. He never got to meet with
them but read a bit of the Book of Mormon online and tried again now
that school was back in session. We called him and set up an
appointment for Monday but he called us Saturday asking if we could
re-schedule. We offered to come over that night and he accepted. We
went to his apartment with a member and he invited us into a typical
collage boys apartment where three of his friends were playing video
games. The first thing we all noticed was the stack/crafted tower of
cans next to the TV. This stood out because all the cans were soda cans
and not the typical beer cans that we see lining collage apartment
windows, decks and living rooms. The game was turned off, one guy left
and the two others turned around ready to learn more about what we
believe. Each of them found faults in the religion they were raised in.
One student's two best friends are at BYU and his favorite collage
professor was our former Stake President. They had heard some of the
strange things but from personal experience had only good things to say
about the church. We taught the restoration, answered some questions,
gave them each a Book on Mormon which they each agreed to read and
pray about and scheduled to come back this Thursday. WOW! These men
have certainly been prepared! The three of us walked out of that
appointment not knowing exactly what had happened but feeling so good!

Nothing can stop this work from progressing! Hurrah for Israel!
--
Love, Lauren

Sister Lauren Anderson
111 Morgan Point
Morgantown, WV 26505

Game day on a College Campus

2011-09-12T09:57:00.000-07:00

Being a missionary on a college campus is certainly different. I
really don't know how to be a missionary on a Saturday night after a
football game. We can't really knock doors because quite frankly we
gave ourselves a three strike rule which gets us out in less than ten
minutes. The rule is that after three drunk, high or stupid people hit
on us or are rude to us we are done. Also, most of the people are
congregated into drinking parties which we absolutely avoid. We have
tried to arrange to play games or do something social with members and
their friends in an environment where we can invite them to learn more
but so far members have their own plans for a fun Saturday night.

This past Saturday however we were able to do one meaningful service
activity. This "service project" is probably the most coveted service
project in the mission. The two family wards have joined together in
their youth fundraisers and volunteered to manage a concession stand
at the football stadium. The stand has seven tills and requires 15-17
people to run. Our district volunteered to be cashiers. Our stand is
in the student section and we got to see many members, investigators,
less actives and potential investigators. The work was fun but I don't
know if I have worked so hard for such a long period of time. The
whole game there was really no break and no place to sit down. We were
on our feet and at the end they were sore and tender. The game was not
too busy though compared to what it will be for the LSU game two weeks
from now.

Yesterday was stake conference. We drove an hour to get there and had
two investigators with us. One of them came to an early morning
meeting taught by President Tingey (D.C. Temple President) to new
members about the temple. Our investigator was touched that our
marital promises are more than just till death and after a few hours
of thinking about it she decided that she wants to get married in a
temple. Per my request, I got to sit down with President Tingey for a
few moments before the main meeting. He and his wife were lovely and
the timing of their counsel for me was appropriate. He was also happy
to hear about Grandpa and Grandma Clark's call to Morristown, NJ!

Oh, I also got to watch the CES fireside last night as we had an
investigator there and it was fun to see my little sister Janell for a
moment singing in the Ephraim, UT institute choir!

The gospel is true, the work continues to progress!

Institute project

2011-09-06T18:47:00.000-07:00

This is new project I conceived and headed up for advertising around
campus. The members have been really excited about it. We are going to
get the posters up and the institute is going to pay for our own
mormon.org cards!

Baptism and some Bathsheba Smith family history

2011-09-06T17:02:00.000-07:00

This week came out of nowhere and surprised us as possibly the craziest week
I have had as a missionary. On our second Sunday in the ward we
met lots of new faces and one, Hxxxxx, blended in to most of
the ward as another new freshman but upon getting to know him we found
he was not even a member but had been investigating in Colorado before
moving here for school. He had been to a member's home, felt the
spirit and found himself on Mormon.org without knowing exactly how he
got there. After watching several videos he began reading the Book of
Mormon online and decided it would be helpful to have his own copy. He
did not realize that it would be accompanied by two missionaries until
he was done hitting the request key. He began meeting with the
missionaries and attending church. He made great friends in Colorado
and six weeks after meeting the elders moved into our ward. We began
teaching him and he was excited to be involved. A week ago, Monday 29
Aug 2011, he pulled us aside after FHE and told us he had read Alma
13:27. Alma was pained at the thought of people procrastinating their
repentance and he felt it was time to get baptized. We were thrilled
and pulled out our calendars to pick a date. The only date that felt
right was 3 Sept, five days away. He called his family and friends
that night. We called the bishop, mission leader, district leader and
mission president. Everything fell into place, a testimony that God
knew all along this was the day he was to get baptized. H's
baptism was wonderful! We had two investigators there and he brought a

Baptism

friend from ROTC who we are now teaching. The ward is so excited for
H and many testimonies on Sunday were about what an example he
has been to all of us. He is now taking mission prep through the
institute.

We are also teaching a woman named P. who is not a student but lives
in the retirement home next to our building. She and a member there
have special permission to join our group. Pam is wonderful! We met
her out walking and she was HAPPY! She is always happy. We gave her a
Book of Mormon. The day after we met her all our plans fell through so
we knelt together at the institute to pray and the distinct feeling
came to visit Pam. She had already begun the Book of Mormon. Several
years ago she was in a terrible accident leaving her in a coma for
months. When she woke up she could not remember most of her life
including her job and her fiance but she woke up knowing how much God
loved her. She has been on a journey for happiness since then and has
brought such a light to all of us! She is preparing to be baptized at
the end of the month. We don't know who is growing more from our
lessons, us, the member we teach with or P. We all grow and are
edified together.

The ward has been a HUGE example to us in doing missionary work. Most
of the people we are teaching are friends of members. Last Friday was
our ward opening social at a park and several people brought their
friends but perhaps the most impressive act of missionary work was
K. We were all playing volleyball and basketball together when
K saw a Chinese man eating a pizza by himself. She invited him to
play with us. He told us he was there because he had been having a
hard day and felt he might find some comfort there. He is here for a
master's program and had listened to missionaries a bit when one of
his roommates investigated. The members embraced him and he asked
questions the whole night about the church. He noted that sometimes he
feels lost and members of our church are so satisfied with their
lives. At the end of the night we gave him a Book of Mormon and he
expressed a desire to truly study it. The church is not complete
without a spirit of missionary work and that spirit is beginning to
consume our members.

I love being a missionary here. We can go out and give the website to
hundreds of people each day but the most successful way is through the
members and we love them. I have also found that we have been blessed
with more meaningful conversations in our personal contacting. The

History of my ancestors in the area

field is white. Nothing can stop the work from progressing!

P.S. many of you won't be interested in this last little note but I
am. When I was in the MTC I discovered in a book that My ancestor
Bathsheba W. Bigler Smith was one of the first convert families in
West Virginia. She was baptized less than a half hour from here in
Shinnston, WV. She married the elder that baptized them, George A.
Smith. He was the first missionary that I know of from our family and
I discovered yesterday in a book from the institute library that Elder
Smith preached here in Morgantown. Several excerpts from his mission
journal were in the book recounting the unique missionary experiences
that he had. In one instance there was a preacher who would follow him
around and try to preach to the crowds Elder Smith gathered after
Elder Smith was done. This preacher on his own could only gather 20-30
where Elder Smith could gather up to 300. On one instance Elder Smith
invited the preacher to go first but he declined so Elder Smith found
the longest passage in the Bible, read it as slowly as possible then
recited a hymn very slowly followed by a two and a half hour sermon.
When he was finished the people we hungry and dispersed as soon as the
preacher began. The preacher warned Elder Smith that if he ever came
to his part of the country he had best bring his own coat of tar and
feathers. When a neighbor family of the preacher heard this they
invited Elder Smith to their home to preach accompanied by the
families large red headed son.

Apparently a member here once looked for where the Bigler family
originally lived. I don't know if he ever found out where but if he
did I'm going to see if we can go there on a P-day. Who knew that I
would be seeped in family history here in West Virginia. We are not in
this work alone!

Well…….

2011-08-29T10:16:00.001-07:00

This week has been busy and lots of fun! Institute began and school
began. To kick off, there was something going on at the Institute
building every day last week. It was an awesome opportunity for
students to get their friends in the building and participating. We
are really excited about the possibilities that we have this coming
semester. We are working closely with the Institute council to make
Institute our main finding resource.
W got baptized this past week. She found the church
through a past boyfriend and has been taught for the past few years.
The sisters taught her in the spring, the elders in the summer and we
got to be a part of her final moments. The spirit was so strong at her
baptism. Some members of her family (not members of our church) were
also able to attend.
Sister T and I are not fully adjusted to contacting on a
college campus but we are getting there. It can be frightening walking
up to a group of college kids and asking them personal questions about
God. Sadly, many kids were raised in a church, intend on raising
their own kids in church but view this period of their lives as a five
or so year break where they get to find themselves and see what the
word has to offer. There are earnest seekers out there and each day we
pray to be able to recognize them.
We have started running again in the mornings. Our bodies have been
adjusting to all the walking up and down hills but Sister M
(who feeds us twice a week) inspired us to get up at 6AM three days a
week and go running with her. She came over the first morning and I
could not find my sneakers. I tore the apartment apart and finally
texted the assistants who texted Sister Sl and found my shoes in
Paintsville. Instead of patiently waiting for them to arrive, Sister
M decided that buying us shoes was a small price to pay for
running buddies so we went to Dick's Sporting Goods store and I am now
he proud owner of my very first pair of Asics (fancy running shoes).
Thanks to Sister Harris training me from the beginning to be healthy,
my life will never be the same.

Morgantown…. Lets get creative!

2011-08-23T09:42:00.001-07:00

Morgantown has been an adventure much different than the rest of
my mission. The first week was painfully slow! There was no one on
campus and we struggled to know what to do. Last Thursday was freshman
move in day which is extremely hectic so looking semi-official with
our badges we spent a few hours helping freshman carry all their
things which had been dumped on the curb up to their dorms and
inviting them to institute. We were exhausted and sweaty but were
happy to be serving!

Church our first week had attendance under 30. The second week we were
near 70 people! Students had brought their friends and there was an
excitement and energy for the new semester. Sister Taliauli and I both
spoke on sacrament on in importance of missionary work and how to do
it. This past week we have been on our feet running. Institute and the
members are going to be our biggest resource for finding so we are
working closely with the institute council. I know my time is limited
here so each idea that I get we run with and go full force.
One idea that I had was to make our own "I am a Mormon" campaign
featuring our institute students wearing WVU gear. We got it approved
by the ward and President Pitt and a few phone calls later we have a
volunteer member photographer coming to our institute kick off tonight
with his equipment to take the pictures and another member will do the
editing for us. We hope to flood campus with the faces of Mormons.
I have some other incentive ideas for bringing friends to church and
institute. The best part about being a missionary here, one that the
prior missionaries have not taken advantage of, is that we get to
attend institute. They have classes Tues.-Fri. plus FHE on Monday. These
are inspired programs and a sanctuary for the students attending the
formerly #1 party school in the nation.
There is so much potential here. We are busier than we have ever been
and in a different way than I have ever been. Sister Pitt told me that
I can stay as long as I want so I told her I will be staying until
March. She laughed and told me that I would have to break the news to
my mom. OK, OK, eventually the fun and games of missionary work will
end but for now I am just loving it.

Yesterday in Zone Conference I got to teach a little portion about our purpose and I know that our purpose is the same as God's purpose and it is not a purpose constrained to missionaries but one that each member has a role in. Missionary work is so much more than finding and teaching, we get to be creative and have fun and be social! All while feeling the spirit
and fining more meaning in our lives. Have a wonderful week!

Saga of last week.........Those darn Elders....

2011-08-15T09:28:00.000-07:00

Well, last week I wrote that I was going to Welch, WV. It was a lie.

Not on my part but on the part of my Zone Leaders. Here is what

happened:

A week and a half prior to transfers I got a call from President Pi

who asked me if I would train. Because I had been in Paintsville I

assumed that I would be transferred out and with my greenie take the

place of two elders. During breakfast a few mornings later an Elder

from my district texted and asked if it was true that I would be

opening up the Morgantown WVU Student ward which had been closed for

the summer. I said that I had heard no such thing and was not even

aware that the area had been closed or would be opening. I pride

myself on tuning out mission gossip and all things not pertaining to

me, my companion or our remote areas. But the rumor of my going to

Morgantown had been started and at the thought I felt sick.

I threw away the rest of my breakfast, thought I would throw up and curled up

with my blanket in our comfy chair. Sister S secretly got part

of my melt down on video. Sister H, my trainer can attest that

when I found out there were two university areas in our mission I

immediately began praying I would not serve in one. Remote is what I do

best.

Well, for the next few days I began to emotionally prepare myself to

serve in a university ward off nothing more than a rumor. On the day

of transfer calls we promised the Zone Leaders cookies if they would

call us first that evening. They did and the great news was I was not

going to Morgantown, I would be training in Welch! I was so relieved

and slept so soundly that night. The next day I packed, wrote home,

said goodbye and got ready for transfers the next morning. When we got

to transfers the next morning I jumped out of the van and the first

person I saw asked where I was headed,

"Welch!" I replied.

"No you're not, You'll get killed . . . Oh this is a joke!

Where are you really going?”

“Welch, it is not a joke, I am going to Welch.”

- "no you're not, who told you that?"

- "My zone leaders on Monday night."

- "You're not going to Welch. Aren't you opening Morgantown University?"

I walked off confused and had two other similar conversations until I

met an elder who claimed he was headed to Welch. Immediately I tracked

down an assistant to the President, Elder H, and pointing a very

stern finger demanded to know where I was going.

"You're going to Morgantown."

"What? I can't go to Morgantown!"

Well, all the pieces came together and I was in fact going to

Morgantown. My gift of tuning out unimportant mission gossip was the

culprit. Apparently, Welch is one of the more dangerous areas in our

mission and for good reason sisters are not allowed to serve there. If

I had ever heard this I had not paid attention. My zone leaders

thought that my going to Morgantown was common knowledge and that I

had already heard it right from president so they "joked" that I was

headed to Welch. They never called back to straighten out the joke,

they just assumed that I knew.

Well, We had made them more than cookies. We had made them a homemade cream pie with a

homemade crust at a member's house. Needless to say, at transfers they did NOT get

the pie. We gave it to Elder H and his new missionary who were

headed to open the other university area.

President did not hear all this until the following morning but at

transfers he pulled me aside and assured me that although I had spent

over a year in remote branches that he had prayed much over sending me

to Morgantown and to rest assured that it is where the Lord wants me.

Other than the drama, transfers were a lot of fun. ALL my conpanions

except my trainer, who is home, was there. There is me with my three

Sister Anderson and her trainees

greenies, add sister Roberts and it makes all of them :)

I am now serving with Sister Talaiuli! She was born in Salt Lake and

reised in Hawaii! She is great and I have LOVED doing the worldwide

training program with her. Our area is tiny, we don't have a car and

are not allowed to ride bikes. We live at the top of a VERY steep hill

that is about a half mile long and leads down to campus. The students

don't arrive until this week so we have been struggling to find anyone

to teach. There is HUGE potential and despite all my initial fears, I

know I am supposed to be here and am really excited for this new

Morgantown WV, College town

challenge. Pray for us!!!!

3rd area and 3rd trainee

2011-08-11T06:08:00.000-07:00

Lauren: I hope that the third time really is the charm! I am getting transferred for my third time to my third area in my third state with my third new missionary (greenie) and I only have three transfers remaining on my mission. AHHHHHH! All of that is exciting except the last statement :) I am headed to the Welch, WV branch in the land of my heritage. One of my first ancestors to be baptized, Bathesheba W. Smith was baptized on 21 August 1837 in Shinnston, WV at the age of 15. When she was 17, then living in Nauvoo, she married the elder that baptized her only 14 days after he returned home from a mission in England. Don't worry, I don't intend to follow in the exact footsteps of my ancestors.

The reviews I have heard of Welch are very mixed. The city was apparently built in a canyon and is a depressed coal mining town notorious for it's gang problems. YAY! Every senior couple is encouraged to go and see Welch for it's unique landscape but to go with someone who knows the area. I guess I won't be taking my new missionary tracting until we can talk to some members about where we should and should not go. The Lord will watch over us though, I have full faith in that. Those are all just rumors anyway . . .

(From mom: we found out Lauren is going to Morgantown WV, a college town. Not Welch known for drugs and gangs. The elders played a trick on her leaving her 2 days to stew about the wrong area)

Sisters S and Anderson

My mission has taken me full circle. My trainer and I were doubled into the city of Bedford when I was fresh of the plane and she had a year of experience. We both grew a lot through that experience. Now, I am the trainer and I am certain that this new missionary and I will grow as we strive together in a new place. I expect to see many miracles throughout this process. I love Paintsville and have become more and more in awe of God's orchestration of individuals. I know that I was intended to be here when I was, serving with who I have. The spirit has witnessed that to me over and over. It is tough to say goodbye but I know that Paintsville is in good hands and the work will progress as a stone cut out of a mountain without hands! This is a marvelous work and a wonder!

A quick update…..

2011-08-01T14:33:00.001-07:00

I got a call from President Pitt this morning. I'll be training . . . again. The next transfer starts on the 10th and I don't know if I will be training in Paintsville or if we will be doubled into a new area. We'll find that out later. The church is beginning a huge missionary training effort worldwide starting this month so even though I have trained twice I will have to go through some MORE training on how to be a trainer using the new program. Fun times ahead.

Last week we were at an investigators house for a birthday party and we met the family’s landlord Bill. Bill is 70 and basically the patriarch of his Baptist based church. He knows the Bible better than any other person at his church and so he is the go-to man for doctrinal questions. At the party we had a good chat with him about continued revelation (which he does not believe in) and gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon. Now, every time we go to their house Bill seems to make his way over at the same time. Last week, Bill invited our investigator's family to his church for a special occasion. At the beginning of the service he stood up in front of everyone and said, "Last night I talked with two Mormon missionaries," Our investigator was mortified not knowing what he was going to say in front of all these Baptists he knows. He went on, "These two young women know their Bible better than any other person I have met their age and they have dedicated their lives to their Savior. I admire them. We all need to be more like the Mormon missionaries." Then he sat down. Bill is currently reading the Book of Mormon. He has given us referrals of his less active friends in his church we may “relate to.”

Well, sorry I don't have time for more inspiring stories. There are so many. I can tell you that the answers to all of life's questions can be found in the scriptures, that God loves his children and has an individual purpose for each of them. This is HIS work!

back to blond

2011-07-27T20:40:00.000-07:00

We have been so blessed to be teaching FAMILIES! We have 7 investigators 13 and under. It is such a joy to see families fulfilling God's plan together. This past week we were teaching a family with three kids 11, 9 and 6. We read Mosiah 18:8-10 and were writing down what we promise when we are baptized and what God promises in return. We tried to give hints for one of our promises, "we promise to be called . . ." "MORMONS!" they yelled. We busted up laughing. That's a close answer. . .

The other bonus of teaching children is that children still have fun birthdays. I don't think I have ever been to as many birthday parties in a row as I have in these past few months. What a treat! The picture is of us at Brady's 9th birthday! We are teaching Bobbi (mom) and Seline (10). Missions aren't just tracting and teaching like some might think. In fact, I don't think I have been tracting with Sister Scannell more than an hour a day and 4 hours a week. Stark contrast to the 6 hour stretches we were doing last summer. I am so thankful for the variety I have seen in this marvelous work. Maybe I'll get sent to another area still in the tracting phase next . . .

Church this week was wonderful. Elder and Sister Bray from our mission came and spoke before their release and call as a temple president. Sister Bray spoke on pioneers and Elder Bray spoke on the miracle of the Book of Mormon. Their talks were perfect for James who came to church for the first time. He LOVED the service and so did we.

Lately I have been really really excited about family mission plans. Growing up in the heart of Mormondom I never really understood how a family mission plan worked with actual missionary work but over the past year it has become clearer and clearer. Now, we excitedly help people see their role as member missionaries and how a mission plan will allow them to do that. We have them choose, through prayer and counsel, five people or families who are either less-active or non-members. We then discuss all the different ways that we can fellowship them and PREPARE them to be taught by the missionaries. The process of preparing might take a single conversation, it might take a month and it might take a few years but every time there is a church activity you are to think of these people. When you have a family night, watch a church video, have an inspiration thought . . . share it with this person. We are the angels preparing the hearts of the children of men to accept his word. We have seen miracles as the members have come to understand the power of a written mission plan and we expect many more miracles to follow!

This is the greatest work that there is. It is God's work to fulfil His great and eternal purposes of bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. When we are doing His work we become capable of things we could never imagine. He has blessed me in so many ways.

This is the true gospel of Christ
Love, Lauren

us and Sister Beavers

back to blond

I am sorry I can't hold you....

Paintsville Ky lap dog

Pictures: Baby Kyley who serious did not understand why we couldn't hold her

The Ramey's now dog who thinks he is a lap dog

oh and I got my hair cut and am officially a blond

--

Hello!

2011-07-18T15:02:00.001-07:00

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I made a mistake today. The first one of my mission . . . yeah, that’s not true. President Pitt is coming around for interviews and ours was scheduled for 12:30 today with Elder and Sister Hansen at our apartment. We decided that we would make them lunch since they are on the road a lot and often eat fast food. Last night I made the most amazing homemade rolls and today after study we were busy making chicken salad for sandwiches and sides. The Hansen's brought a watermelon. Everything was ready and we waited. They did not come. We waited and they still did not come. We were hungry but came up with reason after reason explaining why they could be late and why we should wait for them. Finally we thought to check the text announcing his schedule and discovered that interviews are tomorrow and not today. Oh well, everyone has to make a mistake every once and a while. Our lamps are full of oil for tomorrow.

This past week we had 5 YW go to youth conference on a three day trek (pioneer themed hike where they dress and cook like pioneers pulling handcarts along the way). They reported that it required extreme physical exertion and there were many small miracles along the way. One of these miracles was a puppy that arrived in their camp the first night. He appeared to be abandoned so the youth happily cared for him and loved him. The puppy was spoiled. That night the kids were all asleep in their tents when the puppy began to go crazy barking and making all sorts of noise. One of the leaders got up to see what was going on when he found the puppy fighting with a copperhead snake just outside the tent of two youth. The puppy was bit and died a few hours later. Along the trail they dug a grave and held a funeral for it. The puppy was a tender mercy from the Lord for the youth to be protected and feel the spirit of sacrifice offered by our pioneer ancestors.

One of the miracles we saw this week was with James Blair. He was a golden referral from the Lord, we tracted into him. As he has been meeting with us he brought up his son who investigated with him 6 years ago and now lives with his mom and stepdad in Arizona. James was not certain if his son had kept up with the church until this past week when he called and told him he was preparing for a mission in November. What a miracle! Our investigator has a son going on a mission and is now very motivated to find out for himself if this really is true!

I love this work and I love the Book of Mormon. We have been so blessed in Paintsville to be seeing success not just among investigators but to see the members getting on board too. It occurred to me this past week as I read the apostolic commission in the last two verses of Matthew that an apostles purpose is not to entertain those of us that are members but to go into the world and preach the gospel. Sharing what we know is the most important calling that we all have. This church is the true church of God.

Lots of Love,

Sister Lauren Anderson

p.s. the pictures are from a thank you card we sent out to members of the branch :)

25!

2011-07-04T08:55:00.001-07:00

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Well, the deed is done. I am officially a quarter of a century. Even though I have been in the branch for over four months, the members still could not believe how old I am. I guess they are used to Elders turning 20 and 21 so many of them thought I was turning 21. When I would tell them 25 it was not just shock but disbelief as if I was lying to them. One person even walked away and told me he would think about if I were turning 25 as if it were up for debate. In other parts of the world this would not be a big deal but in Paintsville, making it to 20 years old without having a child is rare, 25 is unheard of. They just don't know what to think of me. Oh well, I am HAPPY to be 25!
The best part of my birthday was that a little girl named Sarah got baptized. We had never actually met Sarah before her baptism but her family used to live in the branch and wanted it here. Normally, we organize baptisms and on the actual day get to sit with the investigator and relax but today the scene was flipped on us. We were each asked to speak, I spoke on baptism and Sister Scannell on the Holy Ghost. We sang an a'capella duet for the opening hymn and I played the piano. We basically ran the show. The spirit was so strong there it was exactly where I wanted to be on my birthday.
Even though my birthday was only a day, it was a week of birthdays. Jenny threw me a little party on Saturday at a member's house with a couple we are teaching and the Senior missionaries. Jenny also made me an adorable cake and a gift painted with D&C 4:6. Sister Long made dinner. It was wonderful! The day prior was Kaylynn's birthday. Kaylynn's grandma Mary who is raising her was baptized last October. Sister Scannell and I volunteered to bring a cake and our camera to the party. Sister Scannell got a little excited and I assisted as she made an adorable castle cake. Kaylynn was so excited, especially when the cake was cut and she got to dig in picking off all the candies and sparkle ice cream cones.
James kept praying about us and the church and this past week wrote out the things God told him in his heart. He has a very close relationship with Heavenly Father. The things he wrote were in the first person from Heavenly Father. He was told that we were sent to minister to and help him. Our concern for him was genuine and God loved us very much. As he shared these things with us we could feel how deeply he had been taught these things. He also laughed that he must be on the right track because Satan is coming at his subtly from many different directions that he was not expecting.
Edith is a woman we have been teaching for a few weeks. Her granddaughter Abby is the one we made the yo-yo flowers with. Well, Edith came to church yesterday for the first time despite her fears. She was pretty quite the whole time compared to our lessons in the comfort of her home but she had a big smile on her face the whole time. What blessings we are seeing!
I love this gospel. It is the way to eternal life. Our branch is having a Fourth of July BBQ which we are so excited about. There should be several investigators there! Happy fourth! Oh, and most importantly, happy 17 year anniversary of my baptism to me!
--
Love, Lauren
Sister Lauren Anderson
303 Broadway Ave Apt #1
Paintsville, KY 41240

the Branch

2011-06-27T09:04:00.000-07:00

On Sunday our High Counselor described stake correlation as a draft pick. All the other wards and branches are trying to trade 3 or 4 of their elders for one of our sisters. Oh well.
This past week has been amazing. One day we just had enough time to knock on a few doors before a lesson. The first house was empty and the second house was a man named James in his late 30s sitting on the porch. He invited us to sit down. He told us that 6 years ago he had lived in Florida in the Marines and had been going to our church. He loved the Elders there but had not been very serious about it. A lot had happened in his life since then. He had been saved, learned the Bible backwards and forwards but felt recently he was slipping and needed more. He asked if he could have a Book of Mormon. He said that he was not sure if Joseph Smith was a prophet, it seemed likely, he just had not prayed about it yet. When we returned for our next appointment he had read the testimonies in the Book of Mormon and a little bit of Jacob. He had prayed but not yet received an answer about the Book of Mormon being from Christ or not. Together we read 3 Nephi 11. The spirit was there and in the middle of the chapter he stopped us and told us he had received an answer. The Book of Mormon really is Another Testament of Jesus Christ as it claims to be. "Can I come to your church?" he asked. Ummmm, please do!
We have seen so many miracles but perhaps the greatest is that the members are changing. In the past month we have seen them transform into a missionary minded branch. We still have a lot to do but the kindling is lit and as I have said before, God will send His prepared children to His prepared saints. We are ready and they are coming. Our focus in July will be on creating family mission plans and actually learning how to use them, a skill I did not have or even know about before my mission but now cherish and exercise. Maybe it is because we are now seeing the branch on their missionary feet but I could not help compare ourselves to Mary Poppins (go ahead and smirk). Mary only stayed with a family until her work was done and the family could sustain themselves. Her greatest joy came in seeing that they did not need her. When I left Bedford I felt that I had done what I was supposed to do. Of course I wanted to stay and be a part of all the blessings but the Lord moved me to start over. I have at least one more transfer here but my goal is for stone to keep rolling.
President and Sister Thornock go home this week and the Pitts will arrive. I am so thankful that I have been about to know and work with the Thornocks. Thank you for your love and support. I LOVE being a missionary!

Still Moving Forward

2011-06-21T19:38:00.000-07:00

Last week were were teaching Jaime and Mason. Mason is a member and Jaime is investigating. They are in their 20s. We taught about Joseph Smith and the influence that his prayer had including the growth of the church. One of us mentioned that today the church has over 14 million members. Mason interrupted and said, "well not to burst your bubble but World of War Craft started in 2002 and has about that many members". Oh well, it goes to show that religion is harder to sell than addictive games.

Although we drive a truck, the church limits the amount of miles we can drive. Unfortunately, our investigators live in five totally different directions some of them 40 minutes to an hour away. We have had to rely a lot on the members for rides and to participate in lessons. We have been praying to get them more involved and this past week taught 9 lessons with members and only 7 lessons without. Not only did our lessons with members go up but our overall teaching opportunities went up too.

Every week we are required to write President Thornock a letter updating him on our area. How he has time to read 160 missionary letters each week is beyond me but he does. Once, when I stamped my letter with the HURAH FOR ISREAL stamp Sister Harris got me he sent a text reply commenting that my stamp had made him covet. That is the only response I have gotten from a president's letter until this morning. Apparently, without planning it Sister Scannell and I both asked him some questions about Satan which may have worried him because he called us to discuss it. One of the questions we had already researched out and came to the same conclusion he had and the other question he did not have an answer for. We are really going to miss the Thornocks when they go home at the end of the month!

Well, the area is doing well and Sister Scannell and I might get along TOO well. Hopefully we will stay companions for a while as we are both learning and growing so much in our testimonies and in character and that is what life is all about . . . learning and growing.

I am thankful for the gospel and the blessings that it brings into my life every moment of every day. When I first came out we would meet people who I would consider "zealous" and I thought they were strange. Now, I am one of them. Every thought I have is somehow influenced by my relationship with my Heavenly Father. How lucky we are to know that He lives and the He loves us.

Pictures: Our new missionary ad for members and Sister Scannell singing Karaoke at the BBQ Shack on the way home from district meeting.

Love, Lauren

Sister Lauren Anderson

303 Broadway Ave Apt #1

Paintsville, KY 41240

talents from my father

2011-06-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

Missionary work in Paintsville is going exactly as missionary work should. It is such a miracle to see. We had five investigators at church on Sunday as well as six less actives we are working with. Our top five investigators are all either related to or friends of less actives so we are doing a lot of reactivation in the process!

Last week we were teaching a 26 year old member and his girlfriend. We assigned her to start the Book of Mormon which she is doing and feels so drawn to. We assigned him the Armor of God section of Ephesians 6. When we met with them again her had read the Armor of God so many times he had it practically memorized and had shared it with his dad and others. He continued reading in Ephesians and also got into the Book of Mormon. The girlfriend was recounting the hurt she had felt when her dad passed away when she was 11 and not a single person from their church came to comfort them or help them out. Reflecting on the experience, she said that perhaps if it were not SO bad that they would have stayed with that church and not be open to more now. The Lord works in wonderful ways.

We are always praying to find those who are prepared. People who we don’t need to coax or plead with the keep commitments but those that follow the spirits coaxing. Well, we went to an appointment and both Mom and Dad were 2 days smoke free without us ever mentioning it! The tension was high and they were down each other's throats on edge but when we left the spirit was there. There are people whose hearts are soft and who are prepared.

We are also teaching a 50 year old woman who is living with her member-mom. They are the sweetest people and we offered to help them out around the house if they needed. Actually, they did need some help moving a book shelf. We moved it and next time we came they had a few more things for us to rearrange and move to the garage. Two times ago we set up and bed and I noticed an over the range microwave on the floor of the kitchen in a box. Ocie said that it had been sitting there since the beginning of December when their other one broke but her nephew had looked at it and thought the top cabinet would have to come down to get the old one out. Sister Scannell and I went to work and in no time had the old one down. I told her we would put it up for her next time.

The next time we went we borrowed a drill and some other tools from her neighbor (who we had met tracting) and put the new one up. Sister Scannell had never done a project like that so she LOVED it and these two women were so amazed and proud of us. Ocie could not wait to call her nephew and tell him who had installed the microwave . . . the sister missionaries.

I guess that is the gift I am giving my dad this year for father’s day. I am using the gifts that he gave to me.

Lots of Love, Sister Anderson

clones and Abby

2011-06-06T07:32:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a busy week! Sister Scannell and I are finding that we are more and more alike. It must be middle-of-five syndrome but we have almost identical reactions to stress, happiness, awkwardness and a bunch of other things. I imagine that if they keep us together too long we will turn into clones from living together too long. It happened to Sister Harris and I after 6 months together. Cloning must work best in trainer/trainee situations.

I am not sure why but I am drawing a blank on what to write. We have an hour but I have primarily just been staring at the screen and looking at photos on my jump drive and now I have ten minutes left with only three good lines written. It is not because we are not working hard and striving every day to do better.

I just wrote a few more paragraphs but I erased them because they were lame. Missionary work is too cool for lame sounding paragraphs. I guess I'll just share my testimony because D&C 62:3 promises lots of blessings for that.

I know that Christ is my Savior. I know that baptism, the Holy Ghost and the sacrament are cleansing agents allowing us to live free from sin day to day. I lay in bed so often asking myself what on earth I did to be so blessed and the answer is nothing. There are valiant people all around us walking throughout life without the knowledge that their Father in Heaven loves them. I feel that the only reason I have been given such a precious gift is to share it with others. I know that our trails and blessings are not randomly drawn out of a hat but that they are specifically tailored to optimal progression in becoming like our Savior. I am so thankful for the trails that have shaped me and taught me about the debt that I owe to God. I know that God loves each one of his children no matter what their outside circumstances look like and that each of us has the power to teach others how to find happiness through words, actions and especially example.

I love y'all back home! I hope that you are enjoying summer. This is the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

Love, Lauren

Picture. Abby is five and we are teaching her mom and ma-maw. Abby LOVES sewing. She hand sews random scraps of fabric together, cuts up her barbie clothes and sews them back together. After our last lesson I taught her how to make yo-yo flowers. It was perfect for her level :)

Is it one year all ready?

2011-05-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

As usual, this week has been a busy whirlwind. We Spent Monday night in Charleston with the Thornocks for a training the following day. Thursday was my year mark which I was not too excited about and Friday we went to Huntington for our last zone conference with President and Sister Thornock. It was the last time I will see them as a missionary. So many changes but oh so much goodness!

Thinking back on the past year it feels as if life didn't start until May 26th 2010. I remember vividly the day I entered the MTC, my first day in the field and each day from there to here but before the MTC is where my life seems like a blur. People and places have faded. The things I liked and the movies I watched have faded. Some missionaries keep lists of the movies they missed, the places they want to go and the things they want to do after their missions. I don't. It sounds lame but I want to be a missionary after my mission and I feel lists would interfere with that. I don't want a stack of movies I feel obligated to watch or things I feel obligated to do. None of that seems important anymore.

What is important? Seeking revelation daily, always maintaining the Holy Ghost, serving all of God's children . . . These are the important things and although my year mark made me sick inside I am so thankful for the months ahead.

On Saturday we were teaching a woman named Cheryl. She is 41, living with a member and has members in her family. We had planned to teach the Plan of Salvation. She had done some reading online and as soon as we arrived she asked us how families could be eternal if there are kingdoms separating those who chose easier paths. I immediately knew that question would lead to a deeper question weighing on her soul so we stopped and said a prayer. The member tried to answer using the standard Mormon answer to the question but that was not enough. That answer just frustrated her and tension built. For about fifteen minutes I sat and prayed until the time was right and revelation came. I took a piece of paper and drew the plan of Salvation "holding pattern" I learned in primary giving the impression that we are ushered from one holding location to the next. Then I explained that this map is for children and to personalize it can be deceptive. I scratched out the chart and drew another diagram. One that I had never seen or thought of before but it personalized the Plan of Salvation in a way I never knew. We taught doctrine that aligned with the scriptures but had never learned and the spirit confirmed it's truth. We left that lesson in awe. I love the doctrines of the church and the endless well of knowledge we can obtain.

The following day Cheryl came to church. The lessons all seemed to point to her and between the second and third hour she told us she wanted to be baptized as soon as possible. That statement surprised herself most of all. We have a lot to finish teaching her but she is ready and will be baptized in a week and a half to two weeks. These are miracles we can't deny. As time passes on my mission I become more and more thankful that the Holy Ghost works full time. We try to keep up and do all that we can but the more we do the more we see we do very little.

I love being a missionary, I am so thankful that Heavenly Father has given me this opportunity then qualified me in ways I could never imagine. We are unworthy of so many blessings and our debt to him is great.

I am a Kentuckyian trainer

2011-05-23T21:08:00.000-07:00

Good bye Sister Roberts

Hello Sister Scannell

Last Wednesday I sent Sister Roberts off to West Virginia and welcomed Sister Scannell into the mission. Yes, I have trained before and I have read the trainer's manual President Thornock gives us but I did not review it before picking up Sister Scannell. Laken and Caitlin (19 year old twins) took us to transfers and per my great idea we dressed in "traditional" apparel, plaid and pigtails. When we got to transfers President Thornock remarked on how casual I was looking. I tucked in my shirt and reminded him I am serving in Eastern Kentucky. When the van of new missionaries arrived I sent Caitlin over to find my new companion while wearing my name tag. Unfortunately, Sister Scannell had seen a picture of me and was more confused than anything. We made it to Paintsville, had a busy first night and eventually I read the trainers manual and repented. Apparently I was supposed to arrive "sharply dressed" and greet my new companion with a firm handshake while telling her how excited I was to be training her. Luckily President and Sister Thornock spoke in our branch last Sunday and I asked for forgiveness.

Sister Scannell is an awesome missionary. She has a scary resemblance to me as a new missionary which of course is frightening. Poor Sister Harris. But at the same time I can't imagine a companionship in the entire world more unified than Sister Harris and I became so I see A LOT of potential for Sister Scannell and I. Looking at Sister Scannell, the Joni Mitchel song Both Sides Now seems too true. I am seeing missionary work from both sides now. Young and old. Actually, my companions keep getting younger and younger. 26, 25, 23 and now and eager young 21 year old who has been preparing for a mission since infancy. One thing we both have in common is to love the things most people hate. I told her I love tracting and guess what, she is determined to love it more. She does not let the world tell her that things are too hard too boring or too discouraging and guess what . . . neither do I. Yesterday we tracted in pouring rain that turned into a pretty bad hail storm but the hail was a blessing because it allowed us to force ourselves into a woman's house and we got to teach her. When we finished teaching the rain had lightened up.

Yesterday during PEC I accidentally let slip that we have three people with baptismal dates. President Thornock was there and of course the branch wanted to know who they were as we had only told them about one. We had to explain that one person has a baptism date the branch can know about, one asked us not to reveal it yet and the last has one but she has not revealed it to US yet . . . she put it on her calender though and it is tied to the date she quits smoking. Probably should have kept that can of worms shut.

This past Sunday was the biggest turnout we have had since I have been here but it was no surprise. We have a new missionary, the Thornocks spoke, we had a big branch meal after church and two members were taking free family portraits for a branch scrapbook.

It is awesome to be a missionary! I can't remember if I have ever said this before (haha) but there is no greater work!
Sister Lauren Anderson

303 Broadway Ave Apt #1

Paintsville, KY 41240

I am getting a greenie tomorrow

2011-05-17T19:54:00.001-07:00

This is going to be short which is too bad because I have SOOOO much that I would love to say. Tomorrow I am getting another greenie and I can't wait for a young fresh missionary. I don't think I was a bad trainer to Sister Webster but I had only been out six months and was going through my own challenge of parting from my trainer. Now that I have been out a year and through three companions I am ready for the new one. Probably too ready! I have been cleaning our apartment SPOTLESS every spare minute I get, have set up "training models" she will be subject to and have even filled in a perfectly organized planner for her so that when she arrives we can hit the road running. The only thing missing in the schedule is time for her to unpack but I'm sure we will find a way to fit it in.

Sister Roberts and I have been really busy. Although today is P-day we have a scheduled appointment right in the middle of it. Something's are more important than personal time. In fact, if it would night frighten the greenie I have been thinking about giving up P-day all together. The Lord asks us to leave behind all personal affairs and p-day seems a little selfish. Yeah, that might scare her into going home I'll be nice but a few weeks ago Sister Roberts inspired me into making this sign as the first thing we see entering the apartment. It reminds us that we want to be celestial.

Yesterday at a family home evening we had Australian Tim Tam Slams courtesy of Carolina, my favorite Australian! They were AMAZING and the members loved them too.

Stake Conference last Sunday was awesome and basically everything about life right now is wonderful. What can I say more. Enjoy the pictures, hopefully they say more than I do.

Oh, funny story, we were driving yesterday and went over some road kill. For a moment I got excited and honestly thought about stopping. The first thing that came out of my mouth was, "Hey, that looks fresh! I don't think it's been run over even two times!" Wish I had that on tape!
--

So many blessings

2011-05-02T07:06:00.000-07:00

Wow, there have been so many blessings and miracles here is Paintsville. I can never remember what I write week to week so here is what we have been up to.

We are teaching a young couple with two children. The wife was baptized as a teenager and was not active long but they have decided this is where they need to be and the husband is now preparing to be baptized and confirmed! They are a very humble couple who are taking large leaps to full activity! We teach them as often as we can but they live 40 minutes from us so we don't get out there more than once or twice a week.

Helen is amazing! She was found by the prior missionaries and her faith is a tender seed being nurtured and loved. She writes beautiful poems and cooks great dinners. She is really comfortable with us so it was no big deal when my companion fell asleep for a half hour in the last lesson. She'll probably kill me when she someday finds out that I wrote this. I wanted so bad to take a picture of her asleep in the lesson but Helen would not let me. While she was asleep I taught Helen about tithing. She is preparing to be baptized hopefully next month!

Stacy knows that what we teach is true but has heard so much prior to our arriving on her doorstep that she is scared to come to church. She knows the Bible and calls herself a drifter as she goes from church to church gathering truth to add to her personal relationship with Christ. She studies out what we teach and has found everything from the three degrees of glory to the steps of repentance to be true!

we are also teaching a few other people who are progressing to baptism and others who are tearing down brick walls in the process. One woman spent Easter with her family and has had a hard time recovering after all the anti things they told her. I am so thankful for the confidence we have in prayer and the answers we can receive when our hearts are soft.

When I first came out Sister Harris would read Ensigns during lunch and on P-day. I thought she was crazy as there is already so much to read in the scriptures and Preach My Gospel but now I find that I can't get enough of the church magazines. We have a huge box of old editions and I spend spare moments reading in them. We are so blessed to have the words of living prophets who are special witnesses of the Savior. This is the true gospel of Jesus Christ!

off Topic- lauren on BYU Independent study home page rotation

2011-04-27T18:45:00.000-07:00

Lauren was asked to be on the BYU Independent Study Advertisement. She did Independent Study in Australia.

HAPPY EASTER

2011-04-25T14:52:00.000-07:00

Almost a year ago I walked into a shoe store in my very highest highheel shoes and walked out with two pair of mary jane style shoes (black and brown). Today I walked into Goodwill in a very battered pair of black mary janes. Their pattened leather is chipped but the soles are still very durable. While Sister Robers was in the dressing room I tried on a pair of American Eagle black kitten heels and coveted them. There was once I day when I rarely wore anything other than heels. My favorite naps were in pencil skirts and high heels under the covers. I walked around in the cute shoes and gloried in the hard floor clicking under me as I walked. I bought them and walked out happy. I doubt I'll wear them hardly at all but 11 months is apparently my breaking point. $3.00 is a small price to pay to feel such joy.

Easter was great! We decorated eggs with Jenny (a member), Stacy and Stacy's two girls (investigators). They are an adorable family who are looking for exactly what this church offers.

I love the Easter Season as a missionary. The local Methodist church hosted a free lunch and sermon each day preached by local preachers. We went one day and it was wonderful to see so many people celebrating the savior. On Good Friday it was a little strange to see parades of people with tambourines walking down the street following someone carrying a cross. We read a talk by president Hinkley reinforcing that the way we live is the symbol of the living Christ. We live for him and we represent him.

There was an Easter surprise Sunday morning at the church, a little nest of four baby bunnies. What a fun surprise.

I love you tons, sorry this is short and not detailed, the library is closing!

The king of road kill

2011-04-22T07:08:00.001-07:00

We tracted this man and he has a little crush on us. We could not teach him because he was too busy telling us how he studies about Indians and makes himself Indian accessories out of road kill. Yes, he collects road kill including the owl on his hat and makes stuff.) I wish I could have asked to buy something because he probably would have just given it to me. You meet a lot of fun people when you are a missionary

We've converted them all by force!

2011-04-18T11:55:00.000-07:00

what's this in my town? a Civil War reenactment

"We converted them all by force"

This has been a great week! First, we were walking from our apartment to an investigators and found ourselves in the middle of the Civil War. There was a reenactment of a battle taking place on the bridge just outside our house. The Confederates were organized in ranks but the Yankees were disorganized and hid behind cars, trash cans and lamp posts. I think there were more reenactors than spectators but we certainly enjoyed the battle. The reenactors were flattered when we asked if we could have a picture with some of them. One joked that we could caption it "we converted them all by force."

A goal of my mission has been to improve all missionary apartments that I live in. I have been working on it. We currently live in a townhouse and the washing machine is upstairs. I was downstairs and heard what sounded like water in the wall. Our washer had a leak but with all the other things to be fixed I had thought little of it assuming there was a drain underneath. Nope, no drain. Missionaries have probably been sending water into the wall for the past five years so I called the landlord to see if it was his or ours. He said it was his, left by a prior tenant and that he had been meaning to remove it as it has been leaking for at least a year and we should not have been using it. He hauled it away that day leaving us washer-less. So much for doing the right thing. We are lucky to have the Hansens (a senior couple) who let us e-mail and do laundry at their house on preparation day. In addition, on Saturday our truck battery died. We took it to Advanced Auto Parts and they said we had probably left the light on. Well, by the end of the night we needed a jump every time we stopped and had to get rides all day Sunday. The battery was replaced this morning. We were blessed though. At one stop on Saturday, the nearest person we knew of was a less-active and his girlfriend. We had not met either of them but we called them up and they said they had been thinking about coming back to church and the importance of a temple marriage. SO GOOD and worth all the inconvenience!

Sister Faith was at church. Because of her health we had not seen her in over a week and were really worried. We felt inspired that she needed to start reading the Book of Mormon from the beginning rather than the jumping around study she had been doing so each morning I have studied a chapter starting with 1 Nephi 1 and wrote down some of my thoughts, notes, cross references and additional talks or quotes to help the scriptures come alive for her. We put them in envelopes each day and tucked them under her door. She did not call or contact us about our deliveries but surprised us by coming to church. At the end of the meetings she told us and the Hansens that for the past hour and a half the spirit had been telling her clearly and insistently that she needed to be baptized and she want to do it. "What should I do next?" she asked. Pray about the date to do it on! As we talked there were tears of joy, of course there were tears, our district teases us but tears are the secret weapon of the sister missionaries! We are so excited for the choice Sister Faith is making.

Sister Anderson's jewlery

On Saturday our Young Women hosted a Spaghetti Dinner and Auction Fund Raiser and raised about $2,400 for girls camp an a trip to Nauvoo. Businesses had donated a ping-pong table, vogue sunglasses, red's tickets, gift certificates and more. Sister Roberts and I made some jewelry which the YW and their friends bid against each other to win. We even had some people ask if we could make more with our left over supplies and they would donate the money to the church. There was a great turn out of members, members from other areas and non-members!

One of the worst sights for a missionary is when we arrive at an appointment and there is a bag hanging on the door with a rejection note and the Book of Mormon. I joked with Sister Roberts that we should save them and wallpaper a wall of our apartment. The wall would not be a symbol or rejection but a symbol of talking to everyone and giving everyone a chance to hold the Book of Mormon in their hands and to read from it themselves. For every ten books we give out we get 5-7 back and one of those usually comes with a note. There is joy in all things, even the dreaded plastic bag hanging on the door.

Sisters Roberts and Anderson lunch

I love missionary work. This is what life is all about. We are sharing the greatest gift we have and seeing others healed by Christ. Enjoy the Easter season!

Small World........

2011-04-11T11:31:00.000-07:00

I taught Sunday School yesterday then Sister Roberts and I both taught primary. After our lesson, the children were to have singing time but the chorister was gone so the two teachers and pianist asked if we could stay and lead the music. It was a lot of fun but I am glad I don't have to produce that much energy every Sunday. After church, a visiting girl from a rough home asked if she could get a hug. Of course! Little children recognize those with the spirit so easily and want to be close to it.

Easter Sunday is in two weeks and our branch pianist/primary pianist will be gone. I was asked if I could learn some Easter songs for sacrament meeting. For a Sunday when other churches will be hiring special choirs and musicians, Sister Anderson will be spending her p-days at the church practicing to stumble though the traditional hymns but I guess it is better than having the congregation sing to a CD on Easter. After I committed to that I was told that the primary children have been preparing 2 songs to sing that Sunday. Would I see if I can learn those? I guess, as long and the Lord is being called on to seriously bless me, what are two more songs for the primary children. It might seem odd but in the next two weeks would you include in your prayers a specific prayer for my piano playing? It's gonna take a miracle.

A sister in our branch had a baby this week and her parents (the Giles) from Omaha, Nebraska are here to visit. They recognized me leading the Sacrament music from visiting their ward (my sister's prior ward) in Nebraska a few summers ago. They know my sister, my parents and my brother. They also know my extended family through their daughter-in-law. Small world.

The other day I was talking and stopped myself mid-sentence. "Was I speaking proper English?" I asked Sister Roberts. She confirmed that I had been but it still felt funny. The first step is questioning and the next is loosing proper grammar all together. Oh well, I am counting on the teachings of elementary school kicking in when I get home and until then I guess I won't worry too much about it.

Sister Roberts and I have been trying to work more with the Young Women. We have no solid young men or male YSA that these girls can look up to and they are selling themselves short without even knowing that there is better out there. How can they when they all have friends who dropped out of school at 16 and either got married, pregnant or both? We want them to see what they are worth and what their potential is. If they could only see a good guy who is keeping the covenants he made at baptism! I have also thought Heavenly Father is saying something similar to us no matter how developed our testimonies are. If they could only see their potential for the next step. He will continue to say this to us until the great and last day when we see Him as He is and we become perfect as He is prefect. Then we will look back and say, "Oh, this is what you saw in me. Thank you for leading me here."

Missionary work is the best. We get to envision everyone, no matter their situation, dressed in white progressing in the gospel. We see the potential they don't even know they have. Everyone needs the healing power of Christ. Everyone.

General Conference

2011-04-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

General Conference was wonderful. I can honestly say that it has never passed so quickly or been so applicable to my life. I can't imagine a missionary in the world not wanting to jump up and kiss President Uchtdorf after his talk.

An amazing thing about being a missionary is that life is so clear and simple. When something in wrong, all we need to do is find the commandment or rule we are struggling with, repent and life balances again. When we meet people who are searching for more, missionaries diagnose the commandment and teach them how to repent. "You need to make the Sabbath day a priority, here are the blessings you can expect." "The reason you have disharmony is because you are not living the law of chastity, word of wisdom, or loving your neighbor." These are the cures to all our ailments in life. Wow, I love the gospel and pray life will remain this clear after this time set apart.

Each year, my family celebrates April 6th. It is the day the Savior was born, the day the church was restored and the day of many other sacred event. Usually my mom takes us to a church book store and we are allowed to choose something within a price range as a gift to celebrate. Well, we had a Deseret Book catalogue and I coveted many of the things in there but what I really want is a little trickier to find. I have a talk by Elder Holland called The Divine Companionship given at a New Mission Presidents Seminar at the Provo MTC. It has shaped my mission and I have studied it over and over again. I want the audio version of this talk. I want to hear the intonations in Elder Holland's voice. Does anyone know how to get a copy? If I had full access to the Internet I would begin by searching there, then call the Provo MTC and search out people who have recently returned from the Adelaide, Australia mission. I heard rumor it was passed around there. If you have it or know how to get it please let my mom know by leaving a comment. You would be doing a sister missionary a great service!

I hope we all take the opportunity to celebrate the special day and remember who we are and why we are here.

Oh, and Thank You to my mom who still remembers my growing stamp collection. I don't know where she is getting vintage stamps from but the letters sure are exciting!

Fishers of Men

2011-03-28T13:02:00.000-07:00

fishers of Men. Sister Roberts and Anderson

Looking back a lot happened this week and we were very busy but as the week passed it felt a little long and slow. We began teaching a woman named Tammy who has a baptism date. No one loves the Book of Mormon as much as Tammy! She needs reading glasses so we gave her a large print book and the Book of Mormon on CD. The next time we came she had listened to the first CD four times and could not stop talking about it! She has no doubt that it is true and is plotting ways that she can get her friends and family to listen to the first CD without telling them what it is. She needs to quit smoking but is really excited about the gospel! Her excitement about the scriptures is contagious.

Derrick and his family have been investigating for over a year but have never been to church. They are among those we have to praying to know how to get them to drop us :). Well, prayers are answered! This Sunday Dad, Mom, a friend and two kids all arrived on time. What a blessing! Sister Faith is also progressing very quickly as she lets the Savior into her life. She is amazing! It is so rewarding to see the light grow in people's eyes.

Possibly the most exciting news I did not even get to witness. Yesterday was a TRIPLE baptism in Bedford. David Robertson, Carl Barton and Carol Cook were all baptized. They are all amazing members who have fought every brick wall Satan tried to throw at them. I am so proud and blessed to have seen these three in their earliest testimonies. Sister Harris and I tracted into Brother Barton and Brother Robertson and Sister Webster and I tracted into Sister Cook. The constant battle is working with members but I will always have a soft spot in my heart for good 'ol tracting.

Yesterday we finally got our new branch president, President Spurlock. We are really excited to be working with him. He has big plans for missionary work and obviously so do we. He and his family are great member missionaries and it won't be long before the whole branch catches it! Keep praying for us.

Legs, Baptisms and Service

2011-03-22T07:17:00.000-07:00

A few weeks prior to my mission I had the following conversation with a man:

Him: So once you become a missionary just promise me you won't do anything gross like stop shaving your legs.

Me: Ha ha, I am still a woman after all. Don't worry about it

Him: Just promise

Me: OK, I won't.

Unfortunately, the idea was planted and eventually I broke my promise. When Sister Webster arrived (my greenie in Bedford) she brought with her the new sister missionary dress guidelines and to the shock of my eyes, bare nylon free legs. I looked at my own legs which I had been shaving once a week and realized I had forgotten the past week. Oh well. Rather than reveal myself as a careless woman who had forgotten how to groom herself, I convinced my new missionary that for the sake of companionship unity we should both abstain from shaving until the first day of spring (4 months for me 3 1/2 months for her). It took me a few days to convince and commit her but according to her last letter, although we have since been separated, neither of us broke and we both looked anxiously to the 20th of March. When the day came, shaving was just not going to be enough for my wolverine legs so I bought a waxing kit and went to town. It was pretty gross but it is true what they say, nothing beats clean sheets and smooth legs . . . even for a missionary.

Church yesterday was AWESOME. Sister Roberts and I spoke and prayed that many people would attend. In a branch that averages 60-70 people we had 91 in sacrament meeting! What an amazing sight. The spirit and energy that built before sacrament as more and more people poured into the church was phenomenal. The best part was that Sister Roberts spoke on the importance of church attendance and not taking offence and I spoke on member missionary work. Inspired topics! Our joy was overflowing.

Paintsville is becoming home. Sitting on the stand and watching people in the audience was great for me as I realized how much I love the people here. We came in and have done a lot of tracting but slowly are making the shift to working with members better. Last week we received ten referrals for members which is much higher than I have ever before seen.

Sister Roberts is great. We have been learning and growing together and seeing the fruits of those labors. Two cute girls were baptized yesterday (Sisters Castle and Bowens) and lots of people attended including an investigator who too is preparing to be baptized.

We also did a service project picking up trash at the Jenny Wiley State Park with some members. Jenny Burden (the red head next to Sister Roberts) is our killer member missionary. She is 16 and comes to lessons with us all the time. She especially loves tracting! You can't see Sister Robert's red hair very well in the picture but we joke that people will think all Mormon's have red hair. Just another odd thing they can add to their list of reasons Mormon's are weird. We are a peculiar people but that is the way God intended it. We are meant to stand out, to be the city set on a hill.

Eternigators

2011-03-14T13:35:00.000-07:00

Recall the months leading up to my mission. I was determined to learn a few hymns on the piano. Well, I hardly touched a piano in Bedford and thought I could hide my talent under a bushel until I got here to Paintsville. I am the only person in the Relief Society who can play and the only one in our district as well. I only know about five hymns but I am counting on the Lord to magnify my meager talent as the new Relief Society pianist.

It has been a slow week filled with sickness and a funeral. The members have been somber. The weather went up to 70 and down to snow. Paintsville is often called sinus valley. Everyone is sick, including ourselves.

Each area is unique and has its own set of challenges. In Paintsville, we have a whole pile of "eternigators" (people who have investigated much past the recommended time before baptism). They love missionaries and love learning but don't progress toward baptism and true conversion. Sister Robert's and I have been pondering what to do. A thought keeps coming into our head from President Hinkley that we don't give up on anyone when there is the slightest bit of interest. I also got a letter from my uncle advising us to never let it be said that we gave up on anyone. They can give up on us but we don't give up on them. So, this leaves two options: 1) people get baptized or 2) people drop us. New goal: Get them to drop us. It sounds crazy but so far we are seeing great success. We are laying out on the table what the Lord expects of them and when they don't progress we are DEVASTATED! The kind of devastation that only sisters can pull off as tears are often involved. One investigator is now progressing and others are either going to progress or feel so awkward around our devastation that they ask us to not come back. Genius!

Paintsville has also brought with it a whole new lingo. Most people live in hollows (pronounced hollers) with their ma-maw and pa-paw. Us-ens, You-ens and We-ens make up groups of people. Many people work is mines and I still don't understand all the mining jargon. In Virginia I was amazed at how many people in this world still smoke. Front shirt pockets were indented with the lining of a cigarette box. Here, back pant pockets are worn to the circular tin of chew tobacco. I will never get used to talking to people while they spit into a soda . . . oops, I mean pop bottle. Things are certainly different in this coal mining town in Kentucky.

The work moves forward! I love the gospel! Keep us in your prayers and pray for opportunities to share the most precious gift we have with those around you.

humm

2011-03-07T08:45:00.000-08:00

Sisters Anderson and Roberts

Summers growing up meant that the entire family was very rarely gathered under the same roof. Between summer camps, church activities and assorted trips there were always people coming and going. On one particular week my dad was the only one home and took it upon himself to clean out the fridge by eating everything we had left straight out of the jars and cans. By the time I got home all that remained in the fridge were a few assorted condiments. Perhaps my dad is the reason I enjoy using things to the bitter end. When I arrived in Paintsville I did an inventory of our food and rearranged everything into an orderly fashion. We tossed food that had gone bad and gave the elders the food we would not eat. My creativity is challenged in my efforts to use all the random food we have. It has also saved us money as we only buy the basics!

There are two words I can't stand. One I would like to delete from the English language and the other primarily from missionary language: busy and just.

How many times a day do we hear the word busy? I'm too busy, we were too busy, busy busy busy! What does that even mean? What it means is meeting with you is not a priority. I obviously could have cut off the TV and read from the Book of Mormon but I did not care. I'm still interested but I honestly forgot. Each of these honest answers is substituted in the world with "I'm too busy." Will you all, as you read this commit to NEVER using this phrase again? I can promise that when that phrase is removed we will live in a more honest society and will all better understand what our priorities actually are. Time is one of our greatest gifts and we are free to choose how to use it.

Word #2: Just. Missionaries everywhere, we are not JUST missionaries. We don't JUST want to give you a copy of the Book of Mormon. And we don't JUST want you to be baptized. This is so much bigger than JUST. Own it. We are missionaries sent to share with you the greatest gift we have to offer. The Book of Mormon will change your perspective on life and influence your happiness for eternity. That is what we want to give you.

So guess what? I hit my half way mark about a week and a half ago. I obviously have many mixed emotions but now more than ever I cherish inspiring, motivating, missionary themed letters. So, Sister Roberts and I want you help to motivate and inspire us. We don't care who you are, if you know us, if you are old or young or even speak English. All we want is an inspiring mission story and a picture of you from your mission. If you have not served a mission than tell us how you have been a member missionary or about your own conversion. Honestly, we can't wait!

Paintsville is doing great. I was sick then Sister Roberts was sick and now I am sick again but we have been so blessed to have been able to work through the congestion, stomach and head problems. We can't wait for a day when we are both chipper and healthy. It snowed yesterday. They are calling for 70 degree weather later this week. Sign of the times?

On a sad note, our Branch President, President Miller passed away this morning. The phone calls began at 6:17am. It was an unexpected heart attack. I am so thankful for God's perfect plan of salvation. We are blessed that our branch has a strong core of priesthood but I am sure the next few weeks will be interesting. Keep the miller family in your prayers!

Hello Paintsville Kentucky.... Claustrophobic

2011-02-28T14:33:00.000-08:00

The library closes in 15 minutes so I will be brief.

Sisters Roberts and Anderson take on Paintsville Kentucky in their 4X4

I used to hear of people who did not like Utah Valley because they felt trapped by the mountains. They have obviously never been to Paintsville, KY. There are 5000 people in the city and a whole bunch of people in Hollows (hollers) outside the city. We drive a 2008 Chevy Colorado and trust me, we need it. The main work here is mining. Our area covers 5 counties and last week at church we had about 60 people in attendance. We have our work cut out for us. We did a lot of tracting this past week. I have been out of practice and my body can feel it. The greatest part about Paintsville is the solid core of members and getting to work with a senior couple, the Hansens. They have only been out a month and a half and we LOVE them. It has been an adjustment for me in just about every way. The work is different, the feel is different and the surroundings are much different. I am thankful that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the same.

When I first came out my dad told me that it I ever wanted to go out to dinner with my companion or just spend a little extra money that he would give me some extra money to do that. Well, we have not gone out to dinner but I did spend $50.00 at Lowes buying bathroom caulk, cleaning supplies, desk knobs, towels hooks and other things our apartment was in serious need of. We also got permission from the mission to buy a vacuum. I don't know how long it has been since the apartment had one but we emptied the canister twice on our initial vacuum through. Now it feels much more like a home.

Missionary work is awesome! It stretches you and molds you and reminds you to always trust in the Lord. There is so much potential here and we are hitting the road running!
Love y'all tons! Love, Lauren

Sister Lauren Anderson
303 Broadway Ave Apt #1
Paintsville, KY 11240

Good Bye Bedford........ Hello

2011-02-23T11:46:00.000-08:00

Sometimes when I sit down to e-mail home my mind is blank. What happened this past week? Did we do anything anyone but me would want to read about? Other times my mind is overwhelmed with all that has happened and I go into shut down mode knowing that a few paragraphs will never do justice to the experiences we are having.

Downtown Bedford

Sisters Conference

We had sister's conference in Charleston which was awesome. There are a whopping 18 sisters in our mission right now which is crazy! Oddly, the highlight for me was the lesson that Sister Webster and I taught on seeing the greater vision. It allowed me to put into words so many thoughts I've had and I learned more from the spirit in that hour than we actually prepared. Amazing how that works. It pumped us up.

We came back, worked hard, had an awesome week and on Saturday received the dreaded call. I'm getting transferred. I know I have been here for 9 months which is unheard of but somehow I convinced myself that against all odds I would pull out ten and a half. Sad to say but the call was a surprise. On Saturday they would not tell who was coming or where I was going but I stared saying difficult goodbyes to members investigators and former investigators who did not progress but I still love deeply. So much of my heart is here is Bedford. We sat down with the branch president and laughed about all that has happened since my arrival and ended with him giving us each blessings which brought all the peace we needed. We left his office excited for the next phase of life the Lord has in store for us.

This morning we finally did a hike I have been thinking about for ages. It is called Sharp Top on the Peaks of Otter. We went with Sister Martin, a member. From the top you can look down on Bedford and see Roanoke and Lynchburg in the distance. The hike was awesome but the view not so much. We hiked in dense fog knowing there would be no view but happy to be out of doors.

Our last mountain to climb in Bedford area

I leave for Paintsville, Kentucky at 4:30 tomorrow morning. I'll be serving with Sister Robert's who came out with Sister Webster. Sister Durham (also trained by Sister Harris) will be coming here. I could not be more at peace leaving Bedford knowing the kind of missionaries Sister Webster and Sister Durham are.

My new Address is

Sister Anderson

303 Broadway Ave Apt #1

Paintsville, KY 11240

Exchanges and a baptism

2011-02-14T14:41:00.000-08:00

If companionships are like marriage then exchanges are like authorized cheating. We went on our first sister's exchange this past week and I won't lie, it was awkward. I went to Vinton with Sister Craft and Sister Thuet took my place in Bedford. For 24 hours life was awesome! We tracted, we taught, we chatted and did a service project with Habitat for Humanity. I might have gloried in the orange jacket a little too much. Compared to the monotony of married life a weekend fling was exciting. Then it came to an end and Sister Webster and I were put back together. I downplayed the awesomeness of Vinton to not make her feel bad and she exaggerated the awesomeness of Sister Thuet to prove she did not miss anything by staying. Finally we had to stop the madness and decided to not allow this be a dividing affair but a learning experience of unity. We sat down and discussed how we can do better and what things we learned. Our companionship could not be better. What a fun learning experience!

Waunetta Dooley was baptized yesterday. She was referred by Norman Hancock, a recent Convert on 1 Dec 2010. It was such a wonderful experience and the branch has been so supportive. I think we had a record number of members in attendance along with five investigators. I don't know what is going on the the world but people seem to be flooding the church! We had 109 people yesterday which is a tie for the most ever in the Bedford Branch. The last time that happened was Sister Harris and my first Sunday when everyone wanted to come gawk at the new sister missionaries. Now it is home and I could not be happier.

Sister Anderson, sister Dooley and Sister Webster

Habitat for Humanity Service

Happy Valentines Day

What is different about Bedford......

2011-02-07T16:24:00.000-08:00

Oh the joys of being a missionary! There are too many to count. We had six investigators in church and several are preparing for baptism. The Super Bowl was a missionary tool as one investigator went to a Super Bowl party with some men in the branch. We are busy busy busy but what is new.

Yesterday during church our High Counselor pulled Sister Webster and I aside. He said that although the Bedford Branch covers a third of our stake geographically we have usually just been the distant branch not too involved. However, in the past months we have taken the stake by storm and everyone keeps asking him what is happening in Bedford and how is it happening. A fire has ignited here and apparently everyone in Roanoke is talking about it. He asked us to share what is different about Bedford compared to the other areas we have served it. Hmmm, that must have been a trick question because neither of us have served anywhere except Bedford but we could tell him that the Lord loves Bedford. We related missionary work to the Brother of Jared. We know God's plan and we are giving Him all the we have to make this plan a success. Sister Webster, myself and others in the Branch have been blessed to see the finger of the Lord in ways we could have never imagined and following the manifestation of himself comes a vision of all that is to come. I feel like we have been caught up in the Lord's vision which motivates our day to day action. We see the bigger picture.
First Bedford will be a ward then a stake. I have also been so blessed to develop strong relationships over my eight months in Bedford. I love the people here. We are all in the work of the Lord together. I don't know what is different about Bedford compared to other areas but my prayer is nothing. I hope that everywhere I serve can have the same fire and excitement for missionary work that has been ignited here.

We had Zone Conference this past week which was amazing as usual. It is a reminder that there is always more we can be doing. Time is short and this is the greatest work to be done.

Curtis Belcher moved to Floyd and we helped him pack up his truck which is pictured.

The gospel is true. The basic truths of the restoration, plan of salvation and gospel and ones to be studied over and over through out our whole lives. I love the scriptures and the greater perspective they bring to my life. I hope all is well!

Bedford loves us, The virtues of Texas Toast

2011-01-31T10:02:00.000-08:00

If mail is an indication of how much people love missionaries then Bedford loves us the most. Bedford sends us the Bedford Bullet every Saturday. The only exception is when holidays fall on Saturday. In that case they deliver it to us one day early. If only others were so prompt.

Food. Typical missionary question: What was the weirdest thing you ate on your mission? Answer: Texas Toast. There are so many things wrong with this mass produced, supermarket purchased, overly greased garlic bread. Sadly, I like it. To me Texas Toast is like a french fry, it is only good when warmed the first time. Once the grease solidifies in the cooling process it becomes a hazardous material. Anyway, we eat a lot of Texas Toast in Bedford but you have not had Texas Toast until you have had a homemade Texas Toast cheeseburger. While eating this overly cheesy greasy burger I had to ask myself how long we would have to run to burn this one off. While this question processed in my mind, the father of the home commented to his wife that it seems she cooks healthier for sisters than she did for elders. What could be worse than a Texas Toast cheeseburger?!

In the past week I have been pondering Christ's experience with the woman who had an issue of blood. She touched his robe and Christ felt virtue leave him in her healing. Sister Webster and I taught a woman who hit her brick wall in progressing to Christ this past week. She called us in the morning and we immediately called our mission president who counseled us for a half hour then we went to her house. Sister Webster prayed that angels would attend the lesson. I know they were there. After an hour in the highways and byways of this woman's life we were both depleted and exhausted. The spirit can be exhausting. Sometimes after a very spiritual lesson there is a spiritual crash that follows. Temperance is a virtue. After this lesson our next three back to back appointments cancelled. I am certain God knew we needed a few hours of knocking doors to regain our strength.

Missionary work is wonderful. It truly is the work of changing hearts, lives and souls. When people come to Christ they are healed. It can be a very hard process and as missionaries we help bear their burdens to be filled again by Christ's constant flow into us.

I know this gospel is true. There is a power that only comes from God.

Good things are happening

2011-01-24T13:18:00.000-08:00

In the past few weeks I have been thinking a lot about gratitude. I will try to quickly convey some of my feelings here. Cam Black, the husband of a member is retired from the Rail Road. He supervised crossing equipment. In the high stress job where often quick decisions need to be made they were taught (from the results of psychological studies) that people make the best decisions when in a spirit of gratitude. This has prompted much study and thought for me. The first lesson in Preach My Gospel (the missionary guidebook) is on the restoration of the church through the Prophet Joseph Smith. The first two points in this lesson is a discussion on God and how the gospel of Jesus Christ blesses families. God is the greatest physiologist and understands perfectly that beginning a lesson with things we are grateful for opens our hearts to inspiration from the Holy Ghost.

We had 8 investigators at church yesterday which may sound wonderful for a branch with an average attendance of 90-100 but the truth is it means we have investigators who have been investigating too long and need to be baptized! Our branch has been accustom to people investigating form 4-9 months before baptism and we are working on helping them recognize that when the spirit works we trust and act. These people are ready and it is such a blessing to see.

I love the branch. I love PEC meeting every Sunday morning because it is a time of collaboration, business and moving forward with a common purpose. The branch is so supportive. In the past months we have developed wonderful relationships of love and trust.

An investigator named Carol came to church for the first time yesterday. She has overcome so much opposition, fear and doubt in the past few weeks since we met her. She was very nervous about church but we walked her through the services before hand and arranged a ride with a member so she would not have to walk in alone. Despite the fears, she LOVED it and even stayed to join our tiny women's choir. After church we went by to answer any questions she had and her only questions were why aren't more people carrying note pads and taking notes with so much to learn and where was the collection plate. We told her a bit about tithing but her comment really made me ponder the process she went through getting ready to attend a new church. In addition to overcoming social fears she had to make sure she had enough cash in her pocket to donate to the congregation. The tithing program is one truly of inspiration that I am so grateful for!

The work continues! I hope you are all finding joy and comfort each day in the words of the Book of Mormon.

Amazing Missionary work

2011-01-17T12:40:00.000-08:00

Missionary work is wonderful in Bedford as usual. We made it through another transfer and are home free for another 5 weeks. We have not yet had a district meeting with our new awesome 66% sister's district but we will have one on Tuesday. We can't wait to go on exchanges with them.

Our area is pretty big. Bedford county is a two hour drive top to bottom and and hour and a half side to side. To save miles we got permission to work in one area two days and sleep over and a member's house. We had our first sleep over at the Neal's house so that we could work around Smith Mountain Lake visiting potentials, former investigators and less-active members. It was a great two days but oddly we were happy to get home. I have become a creature of routine.

Dickie Witt (Baptized in October) is an awesome fellowshipper. We have been having lessons with our next baptismal candidate at Brother Witt's house and they are becoming great friends. Maybe after the mission I should become a social planner. Missionaries learn A LOT about psychology and social planning.

I really don't know what else to say. Missionary work is amazing. There is no place I would rather be than here serving the Lord. Don't get me wrong, I love y'all tons but honestly what did you do today better than loaning copies of the Book of Mormon and talking to people about how they can have a better relationship with Jesus Christ. Yesterday we were tracting and all I wanted to do was go into someones house and read the Book of Mormon with them. I think my favorite visits are when we unexpectedly drop by investigator's homes and just read in the Book of Mormon wherever they are reading. Can I still do that when I get home? Can I just read in the Book of Mormon with random people?

The gospel is true. It is simple and true. Have a wonderful week and pray that we will find those who are prepared here in Bedford and be able to discern their needs leading them to their Savior.

So Many Good Things

2011-01-11T10:51:00.000-08:00

I have often pondered the routine of missionary work. Every morning I wake up roughly two minutes before the alarm goes off and come out of the dream state. The alarm goes off, I turn on the light, reset the alarm and kneel to pray. Sister Webster goes into the bathroom then she prays and I use the bathroom. We exercise until 7:00. I do my personal study while she showers and gets ready. We swap. An hour later we pray and study together. After study we pray again and leave the apartment for the day. We find. We teach. We follow up. Lunch. We find. We teach. We follow up. Dinner. We find. We teach. We follow up. We go back to the apartment and say a long prayer accounting for the day then plan for the following day. We exercise a little more, write in our journals and the lights go out at 10:30. Laying in bed we sing a hymn, evaluate the positive parts of the day and say I love you. I role over to my other side and put my hand above my head in the exact same position every night before falling asleep and waking up again.

Never has my life been more routine and never has each day been so different.

Amid the routine, last night we taught the most amazing Plan of Salvation lesson. We met the Carson's over the summer and taught them the restoration but they were busy and we could never set another appointment though they were kind and Brother Carson has a particular interest in religion and discovering truth. He had a question about Adam and Eve so we referred him to 2 Nephi 2. Last night when we went to our appointment he had only read the first few verses so we read it together. His mind was racing as he compared all that he had been taught with the teachings in the Book of Mormon. Never before had he thought that the fall of Adam could have been God's plan all along. His questions naturally progressed though each part of the plan. If Adam had not fallen there would have been no need for a Savior. But the savior was chosen before the foundation of the world. Did God know all along Adam would take the fruit? Why? What is our purpose here? Why couldn't we have just stayed in God's presence? Why is it important we are resurrected? What happens to spirits after they die and before the resurrection? The spirit taught us as much as he taught the Carsons. It was a powerful experience to truly see the Plan of Salvation as not a line of boxes and circles but as a perfect plan for our salvation. I am thankful for these experiences to be taught by the spirit as we teach.

Last night we got official calls about transfers and as I already knew, we are both staying here in Bedford. The awesome news is that our nearest area, Vinton, is getting doubled in with Sisters!!! After six months of being the lone sisters in our zone not only are we getting another set but our district will be four sisters and two elders! We will get to go on splits in Vinton! Sister Craft and Sister Thuet arrive tomorrow and we can't wait!

The work in progressing. We have to run to keep up with the wonderful vision God has for Bedford. I wish y'all the best and know that the gospel is true.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2011-01-03T09:45:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Sister Webster and I happily spent New Years Eve with our branch President, President Scott, two of his kids and President and Sister Thornock. The Thornock's came through for our quarterly interviews so we all went to a Chinese place for dinner. We tried to be productive the rest of the night but on our visit to an investigator talked to one drunk guy and decided to call it good. So sad.

For the new year, Sister Webster and I set 2011 goals for Bedford. They include receiving 70 member referrals, baptizing an awesome family, having 12 convert baptisms and much much more. Big things are happening in Bedford. In the picture you can see the result of our planning session on the wall. Speaking of Bedford, transfers are next week (reminder that I will e-mail on Tuesday) and it looks like I will be spending another transfer here. YAY!

2011 Bedford goals

One of the perks of training this past transfer has been an extra half hour of study time but unfortunately there is never enough! When I talked to my family on Christmas I decided to enlist them to study common questions for me utilizing the standard works and other (possibly missionary apostate) materials. The first study topic is something we hear on door steps a lot and I am looking for a response. Statement: We all worship the same God. All churches and good and will get us to heaven. Question: How can we help them understand that there is one specific way though Jesus Christ?

Ponder it, study it and write me!

We have been blessed here in Bedford to continue finding and teaching. We were excited for church yesterday as it was cancelled for the snow on the 26th. Four investigators came. Smoking is still the biggest hold up in people progressing toward baptism but we are fasting and praying that they may overcome this snare of the Devil.

Victory is through Jesus Christ. I am excited for 2011. 2010 was great but life only seems to get better each day. Lots of love from Bedford!

Hygiene

2010-12-13T11:33:00.000-08:00

A highlight of this week was trimming my fingernails. Next transfer I might shave my legs and the transfer after pluck my eyebrows. Ok, it is not that bad but there is truth in every joke . . .

Sister Webster and I continue to adjust to each other and keep busy. We have been tight on miles this month with an assortment of trainings and meeting in Roanoke but no one seems to mind that we are the farthest away and being sisters can't carpool. Oh well. We also discovered that as the only sisters in our zone and the farthest from the mission home news gets to us rather late. Apparently we have not had to wear nylons for months but did not get the word until not only are we wearing nylons but my record is five layers so far for warmth. I am expecting that number to go up.

Brother Barton is smoke free as of yesterday and was at church feeling pretty good. Keep him in your prayers so that he can be ready for his baptism the day after Christmas! Brother Robertson was also at church and is quitting smoking. For Christmas he made us a little Christmas tree out of some scrap wood. He even painted it and got ornaments for us to hang. We are certainly loved in Bedford. We have two other investigators working toward baptism at the beginning of the year.

This week we went by a former investigator's home from August to see how he is doing. He is 30 and had a lot going on which is why we stopped meeting but he had his Book of Mormon out and is through Ether chapter 8 with intentions of starting over when he gets to the end. What a miracle for us to see! We can't wait for the branch to fellowship him and his wife.

I wish everyone the best this holiday season! Hurrah for Isreal!

--
Love, Lauren

Sister Lauren Anderson
915 A. Greenwood St.
Bedford, VA 24523

Sister Webster

2010-12-11T10:52:00.000-08:00

This computer is incredibly slow so I don't know if you will get any
pictures as it might take all day and we just don't have that kind of
time.

As I said last time I am training a new missionary. Her name is
Jerusha Webster and she is from Lindon Utah. Believe it or not she
spent some time in the Sunset Heights 1st ward. With p-day, transfers,
weekly planning and two days of training in Roanoke we did not have
much time to pound the pavement but enough that the work continues to
progress. Actually, I have several bloody knuckles this week but not
because there have more doors knocked, only because it is freezing
cold out and dry. The cold here is accompanied by a bone chilling wind
which I don't think I will ever get used to. Oh well, Heavenly Father
knows we are out doing the work in this weather and he does not seem
to mind so we should not mind either.

Brother Robertson came to church as did a new investigator Nini
Dooley. Both really enjoyed it. Maybe they are just saying that
because I taught Sunday School but both should are planning on being
back next week.

Bother Barton did not make it to church but we had an awesome lesson
on tithing at a members home. While we were teaching, tithing reminded
me of our relationship with our neighbor Sandy. Last week we had the
urge to make brownies but did not have enough eggs. We went to Sandy's
and she gave us more eggs than we needed. We thanked her, made awesome
brownies and brought her a little plate in return. We could not have
had a yummy finished product without her eggs just like we can't have
anything in life without the abundance that God gives us. All that he
asks is when we get the finished product to return some of it to him
out of love, respect, gratitude and abedience.

I hope all is well in Utah, it sure is cold here!
--
Love, Lauren

Sister Lauren Anderson
915 A. Greenwood St.
Bedford, VA 24523

Me a trainer?

2010-11-30T12:44:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday Brother Belcher received the priesthood and Brother Hancock passed the sacrament for the first time. There were so many highlights in this past week but I think the greatest was going to Brother Hancock's first ever Family Home Evening. He is a single man in his 50s without family here in Bedford but we taught him about Family Home Evening and encouraged him to hold one. He went all out inviting us, a member family and a non-member. He had a little lesson and created a scripture based board game comparable to some that I have unveiled at my own family's home evenings. Sister Harris and I were asked to provide the musical number and the treat.

We had two investigators at church, one for the second and one for the first time. Both are working toward baptism and are single men over 40, just our type. We have been teaching Brother Barton for a few months and is loving the Book of Mormon. One of our Thanksgiving dinners was with with his family. Brother Robertson lives in a trailer/ camper on the outskirts of our area but we met him in town. He does not have an address as he is parked on his uncles property and has overcome a lot in his life leading him to the restored gospel. He had a great first Sunday the the branch has embraced him.

Transfers are tomorrow and Sister Harris is going home. I will be staying in Bedford and training a new missionary. Pray for both her and me as I am not too sure I am ready to train but Heavenly Father knows better than I do what will be best. The work is wonderful! The Book of Mormon is wonderful! As missionaries we have the amazing privilege of seeing the atonement work wonders.

Hurrah for Israel!

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T14:39:00.000-08:00

Our Thanksgiving has begun at our Branch President's house. After months of training with Sister Harris I ran my first ever 5k with Sister Harris, Sister Scott and two of their daughters. It was Awesome! We have three dinners lined up, one with an investigator and his extended family, one with a member and one with a part-member family. Wish our stomachs luck!

The past week and a half has been huge for us. We had Zone conference in Roanoke and Elder Christensen from the First Quorum of the 70 spoke on the Atonement. What an amazing thing to be grateful for! Missions are a time of miracles. The Atonement works faster than I have ever seen. Every day we see the hand of the Lord in our lives and in the work.

It has been exceptionally warm this November but we are certainly not the hot stinky messes that we were a few months ago in the heat of summer. With less sweat I decided to start only washing my hair every other day but soon found after a week that letting the smell of smoke accumulate it much worse than the sweat. Yucky greasy smoke hair!

Tomorrow is my six month mark as a missionary. Where did time go! Bedford is home, I have never been so acquainted with the people around me before. We go to birthday parties, dinners, activities and have an awesome social life blending investigators, recent converts and members. Last Sunday we had dinner at the Thomas's house where they were celebrating a 4th birthday. The Thomas's have 8 kids under the age of ten and Sister Harris and I attacked the dishes. Unfortunately, while we were washing dishes a pipe broke under the sink, don't you worry . . . my mad plumbing skills finally shone! Dad would be proud.

Transfers are next week. I will be staying here is Bedford, P-day will be on Tuesday. Sorry this is quick and sloppy, I'll write again soon!

Sister Anderson fixes breakfast

hunting season

2010-11-15T19:04:00.000-08:00

Last Monday we took our district P-day in Roanoke playing Frisbee golf. I needed to buy myself a pair of boots so we ate lunch at Panara and shopped at the mall. We both prayed I would find a good pair of boots quickly and did. Good shopping tip for everyone. I remember a time when I loved big cities. I still do I just don't know how to be a missionary in a city so the experience of shopping in the mall was a little nerve racking. Long story short, we survived and I got new boots which I will probably live in this winter.

I think I mentioned that it is hunting season. Families will go out and shoot three or four deer in a Saturday, take them home and package them for the winter months. It is not uncommon to tract into men chopping up deer. Feels like home. Everyone in this Appalachian town is preparing for winter. Killing deer, splitting wood starting their wood stoves. It smells beautiful.

I understand that missions can be diverse from missionary to missionary but I have to wonder if all missionaries also double as social planners as we do. Our planners are detailed and we are constantly on the phone arranging for this dinner at this members house with this investigator. We make sure that investigators and recent converts are involved and have lots of friends in the branch. Not only does their spirituality spike when they meet us but so does their social life!

Missionary work is fabulous. We have been blessed to be teaching so many wonderful people. Thank you for your prayers and enjoy the holiday season! My morning routine:

Halloween, my costume, baptism

2010-11-01T18:07:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween (yesterday). The Bedford Branch had a Trunk-or-Treat on Friday. Sister Harris and I decorated our trunk with a Temple Square theme hanging a picture from our apartment and giving out temple chocolates and scripture pencils my mom sent from Utah. Sister Harris and I fed into an outdated but enduring stereotype and dressed as Temple Square missionaries. We wore lots of makeup, poofed our hair and offered tours in English. A side effect of the makeup and hair was that we became exceptionally peppy. That must be what is feels like on Temple Square. The branch got a kick out of us though we regret not asking EVERYONE for referrals.

I also secretly dressed up for actual Halloween in a costume I wear pretty regularly. I dressed as Zuster Erickson my patron saint of clothing!

In the last package my mom sent were a pair tights with the $1 tag still attached. To describe the color it is better to tell you what they are not. They are not silver, they are not gold, they are not grey and they are not brown. They go with nothing which to a missionary means they go with everything. I am still not sick of my limited wardrobe but I will admit, wearing clothes that match has become less and less common. :)

Brother Dickie Witt was baptized on Halloween! He investigated for 8 months and when asked how he felt about baptism he was not hesitant to reply the greatest burden that would be lifted was US. He claims that his arms are sore from us twisting them. In all honesty, we love Brother Witt so much and he loved us too. When we arrived he had heard all the lessons and wanted to be baptized but over the past months we saw him through getting married and giving up smoking. It was such a joy to see him partake on the blessing of baptism after a long road of repentance and change.

Hunting season is in full swing. We hear shots and meet hunters everywhere. When I lived in North Carolina we joked that you could not give accurate directions anywhere without including at least one turn at a trailer park. In Virginia, you turn at the trailer park and take the next left past the shooting range. Wild Turkey is already on the Thanksgiving menu.

The gospel is true, the Lord is truly preforming a miraculous work!
Love, Lauren

P.S. I would like to thank whoever continued to pray that I would receive a pull-up bar. At dinner last Monday a member let us borrow his really fancy door frame one as their new house has one built in. It is only a matter of time before I can do one! haha

Never too many dads

2010-10-25T10:38:00.000-07:00

Bedford is amazing. Fall is amazing. I don't think there has ever been a more beautiful fall. Maybe it is because I missed fall last year but being in Virginia for fall is wonderful. Another reason I love fall is for the pumpkin. I have a pumpkin obsession. Pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin oatmeal and pumpkin spice bars are common in our apartment. Thank you Sister Harris's mom for the AMAZING treats from the pumpkin festival in Ohio. We have a permanent Tupperware of pumpkin puree in our fridge.

Yesterday, Brother Belcher was confirmed a member and Brother Hancock was baptized. Brother Belcher in in his 20s and Brother Hancock is one our our four dads in Bedford. We have four investigators who are men in their late 50s. Why that is exactly I have no idea but it is the Lord's will and we get the perks of so many dads.

Brother Hancock is baptized

Brother Hancock was tracted into one month and two days prior to his baptism. He was found in the fourth quarter. We had gotten into our car to leave the area but decided to get out and knock four more doors before calling it a night. We loaned him a Book of Mormon, set an appointment and a month later he was baptized. When he came up out of the water he felt so light he wished he had wings and could fly to heaven. I think we all could have done that. Sister Harris and I have been incorporating hymns into our lessons by singing with investigators before the opening prayer. The down side of this is that Brother Hancock asked us to sing at his baptism. We sang Hymn 15 I Saw a Mighty Angel Fly and were blessed to have sang it much better at the baptism then when we would practice.

I have not completely quit popping my back but have made huge improvement with the Stop Smoking program in the past week. Fortunately, Bother Witt did much better and has quit smoking! He is scheduled for baptism next week. Pray for him and his family!

I love you all and wish you the best!

Baptism and a wedding, what can be better?

2010-10-19T16:50:00.000-07:00

Sister Harris and I arrived in Bedford, VA on 16 June earlier this year. On 19 June we met Curtis and began teaching him. He lives with his family, was tattooed, pierced and started his days with a few beers. We began meeting with him and had a vision of his family at the church to see him baptized. He is humble, faithful and willing to change and invite the Holy Ghost into his life. Last Sunday (17 Oct) that vision became a reality as his mom, sister and three friends came to support him in thec person he has become through the atonement. I am so grateful that I could have been a witness to his conversion and commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The day prior, Brother Witt got married at the church to his long-time girlfriend and the ceremony was beautiful. Sister Harris and I spent weeks making the cake and doing whatever we could to help their day be a success. Sister Harris played the piano and I was the coordinator behind the stage. We love both of them so much and could not be happier about the decision they made. The cake went a long way! Left over cake was served at the baptism and a big chunk was delivered to another investigator for her birthday! It was worth the butter cream film that now lines our apartment.

In other news, I would like to declare that as of this morning I am smoke free. Ok, I have always been smoke free but today is day one of stopping cracking my back cold turkey. Sister Harris and I are doing the stop-smoking workshop with an investigator as he is down to crunch time to make his baptism date so we are supporting him by taking care of our bodies and spirits as well. Pray for all of us that we can stay strong!

Transfers are tomorrow and Sister Harris and I are staying together for our fourth transfer. This is her last transfer which means I will most likely stay one more after that (Mid-January) to turn over the area. Bedford is wonderful! There is no greater work than missionary work! I hope all is well back home and remember that the atonement is for all people in all places at all times. Use it.

Love Lauren

General Conference

2010-10-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

When arriving to an appointment there are several things that bring fear to our hearts. First is mail in the mailbox, usually a good sign they are not home. Second is no car in the drive and third is a plastic bag hanging from the doorknob. Nothing is more sad then the prospect of someone returning a Book of Mormon without even talking to us.

In June when people missed appointments we would joke that it was because they were in the bathroom and we would just return when they were done. In August everyone was on vacation and we should return when they got back. In the past few weeks we have had two stood up appointments as investigators spend time in prison. I guess we will just have to try back when they get probation.

Sister Harris is terrible at identifying drunk people. She does much better when identifying people who are high. Fortunately the Lord takes care of his sisters even if we do end up teaching someone who we later discover has little potential of actually feeling the spirit. The great thing about drunk people is that they are incredibly honest. They know when they are sinning and are usually very quick to tell ministers of Christ that they are drunk. Thanks.

Norman loved General Conference. Before conference we moved his baptismal date up from the seventh of November to the twenty-fourth of October. After the last session of General Conference he told us that even the 24th might be too long to wait. Norman is obedient. When we told him about the Word of Wisdom he threw out all his coffee and tea and bought mass amounts of juice. He was pretty dependent on coffee but now bears testimony that juice is just as energizing. We are sure it is the spirit and not the juice.

General Conference was amazing. The sessions have never felt shorter in my entire life. I wanted to watch our investigators reactions to the words but selfishly could not take my eyes off the screen. Fortunately, they were all riveted as well. Conference was great but to be honest I will be glad to have regular services again next week. Less coordination and less stress for us poor missionaries.

The Lord strengthens us daily. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father sees fit to use us, as insignificant as we are, in this great and marvelous latter-day work.

Love, Lauren

Boring

2010-09-27T12:14:00.000-07:00

A postcard we sent to members of our Branch

"I liked your picture from your last letter but you have got to cut your hair or style it really cute. The hair makes you look A LOT older then you really are but I love you anyway!"
- Janell (my little sister)

I apologize for the sad looking hair. I don't think that it has hindered the missionary work here and just so everyone knows, I am starting to style it a little different since it is growing out. I hope y'all can sleep better now.

I got a letter this week asking if missionary work is boring. I would like to publicly reply that is is the complete opposite. I have never been more busy or focused in my entire life. There is no time to think of anything EXCEPT missionary work!

Normally in these e-mails I avoid talking about specific investigators for a myriad of reasons, one of which is that there is too much to tell so why even start. However, this week was too amazing to keep in. Everyday we were overcome by the spirit and would often sit into our car after lessons grinning ear to ear with watering eyes from being able to witness the power of the gospel changing people's lives. Dickie and Curtis are still on track for baptism and we also had four other investigators at church on Sunday as well as a potential investigator who we have yet to teach. All are progressing and excited to learn and grow more in the gospel.

The most astounding of our church attenders was Norman. We met Norman a week ago Sunday night. He is a single man who lives with an 18 year old boy he has sort of adopted. When we knocked on his door it was close to curfew so we loaned him a Book of Mormon, asked him to read the introduction and set a return appointment. When we returned he had read the introduction and had been praying. He said he was ready to do whatever God asks him to do. He has spent the past several years studying the Bible but no matter what church he goes to or how closely he lives its teachings, something has been missing. We told him the void would be filled as he read the Book of Mormon.

Two days latter where we brought a member couple to the lesson. When we got there Norman was glowing. He had woken up in the night and before he knew what he was doing the Book of Mormon was in his hands. He didn't stop until he got through 1st Nephi at which time he got up and set his suit out for church (three days in advance). He knew that Heavenly Father had sent us to him and was excited for our return. After we taught the restoration, we asked him if he would follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the Priesthood authority on November 7th. He lowered his voice, stood up and said that he would be honored to.

Norman loved church and the members loved him. We dropped by on Sunday afternoon to talk to him more about it. He told us that he had finally found home and would see this this through as far as it will go. We can't wait until he learns about the temple!

The work is amazing. Sister Harris and I are learning together that this is not our work or our time. we are here in body to let the Holy Ghost work through us and HE is. The miracles we are seeing are beyond words.

I hope all is well wherever y'all may be. The past four months have gone by much quicker then I could have ever anticipated.
Love, Lauren

Sister Lauren Anderson
915 A. Greenwood St.
Bedford, VA 24523

Power in the Word

2010-09-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

My first item of business is to announce that I reached my push-up goal of doing two sets of 30. It only took me three months to get there. My new goal is to do two pull-ups. However, we do not have a pull-up bar. Is it possible to train without one? Someone should know or can find out. All we have is simple hand weights.

Speaking of three months, that is how long Sister Harris and I have been serving together here in Bedford. I won't lie, our adjustment to each other and my adjustment to missionary work was riddled with frustration and some emotional companionship inventories but last week at church a member called Sister Harris out on finishing my sentence. Neither of us noticed. I guess that is what they mean when they ask us to teach in unity, we fully trust each other to finish the other's thought.

Yesterday we taught one of the most powerful lessons we have taught together. We met Lewis two weeks ago and loaned him a Book of Mormon. He said that he had been thinking about pursuing a degree in Bible Studies and was interested in being an Evangelist too. He agreed to read from the Book of Mormon and meet with us in a week. The first meeting was good. He talked a lot about his experiences with the Bible and how since we first talked to him and gave him the Book of Mormon his path to study more has become more clear. We encouraged him to keep reading and to pray to know if the Book of Mormon was true. When we returned yesterday to teach him we brought a member of our congregation with us, Sister Hillie. Lewis started by telling us that he had prayed and he felt like the Book of Mormon was the same as the Bible. It was great for us to read but for him, he is to study and proclaim the Bible. We sat down and studied Alma 32:28 line by line with him. As we spoke the spirit grew stronger and stronger. We asked him how he felt and he said he felt like he was about the burst with excitement. His desire was that strong to share the word of God with all the he met. He said our book was true but again not for him. When Sister Harris and I spoke I could feel the authority of our calling in the room. We were not Sister Harris and Sister Anderson but we were servants of Christ, standing in his place. When we finished, Lewis rationalized. He recognized the spirit, felt that the Book of Mormon was true but rationalized and gave the Book of Mormon back saying that God had sent us to him, ignited his desire to learn and now he could do that without us and without the Book of Mormon. We left by telling him that when he desires this feeling again, the only place it will be found is in the Book of Mormon. He did not believe that the spirit would go out the door with us but I know that it did. Once out the door, Sister Hillie wanted to run back and shake him. Lewis will never be able to deny the power of the Book of Mormon.

The work is wonderful. The spirit is the strongest teaching tool. Whether people accept the gospel or not, if the spirit is the teacher then we have done what God wanted us to do.

Love, Lauren

I Don't think I came out on my mission naive but........

2010-09-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

I don't think I came out on my mission naive but missions are funny things. Although we are living sheltered lives protected in our spirit focused bubble, I have never been more in the world and seen the troubles that are out there. I am grateful for the protection and fortification of the spirit through lots of prayer and daily study. One thing that I have been exposed to that I never before realized is how many old people are on the roads who should not be. For example, yesterday we knock on a door and a man in his late 80s answers. He asks who we are as he is mostly blind and can barely make out our figures. We explained and he says that he already has a church, in fact, he was blessed to drive himself to services this morning. He goes to the 8:30 services where there are the least amount of cars on the road and can't go to evening services as once it gets dark he can't manage seeing from his car to his front door. WHAT IS THIS MAN DOING DRIVING AT ALL? The list goes on and the experiences piled together are astounding. Once we were knocking a door when the owner pulled up. He explained that he was too drunk to be taught and needed to lie down. WHY WERE YOU JUST DRIVING THEN? Was I naive? I am leaning so much and we are truly protected by our Heavenly Father.

We spent a large part of Saturday at a genealogy fair with two members of our branch, Sister Ball and Sister Tabor. Some of the booths were selling things and advertising and others were just enthusiastic people who brought their Bedford genealogy in hopes of making connections. I realized how little I actually know about genealogy and I know NOTHING about Bedford family names. It was fun though to talk to people about why our church does so much genealogy and talk to non-members who love our website, family history centers or some who had even taken trips to Salt Lake City. The church is doing some amazing work.

This past week, industrial roach bait arrived in the mail ordered by my mom. I was getting really used to squishing 10-15 roaches a day with paper towel pieces and now we just wake up in the morning and wipe the counter and sweep the floor of the dead ones. I am not sure which one is more disturbing.

We are having amazing teaching and finding opportunities and the Lord has put several former investigators back in our path who we will continue to teach. Bedford is blessed.

I hope all is well back home or wherever you may be! Love, Lauren

Still in Bedford

2010-09-07T12:04:00.000-07:00

Sister Harris's Birthday Party with our District

Transfers are tomorrow and Sister Harris and I are staying together in Bedford which we are both SO excited about! The first week we were doubled in here we taught 10 lessons and had no progressing investigators. This week from Wednesday to Friday we are booked solid with 23 appointments and are teaching four investigators with baptismal dates. It can all be overwhelming but I know that Heavenly Father can do more with us then we can do with ourselves. My planning skills are being stretched beyond what I thought possible.

Fast Sundays are notoriously terrible for us. We tried really hard this past fast Sunday to break the cycle but it seems like nothing good happens on fast Sunday. At the end of the day we taught zero lessons, zero of our investigators came to church and we had zero new investigators. Our one saving grace of the day was loaning one Book of Mormon while tracting. We were having no success so Sister Harris decided it was time to implement her emergency backup plan she had been saving since the MTC. Instead of knocking on doors and asking them to bear their souls to us, we would bear our souls to them by offering to sing them a song. It sounded horribly awkward and embarrassing but what about missionary work is not? The first house we knocked we asked if we could sing and the man agreed to let us. We sang I am a Child of God, I bore my testimony and he softened and accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon. The spirit was strong and he agreed to let us come back on Monday. Sadly, when we came back he admitted that he had not read any of it. His aunt had seen it and forbid him from reading. He recommended we leave before she saw us. At least we know that he felt the spirit when we sang even if he did not read from the Book of Mormon.

Yesterday (Monday) was an awesome finding day and as I said before, the next few days we have piles of teaching appointments and are working on getting as many members to those as possible. Members are the BEST! Keep praying for us. Missionary work is the most amazing work there is!

Stamps and Sisters training

2010-08-30T10:48:00.000-07:00

A family story came to my mind this week and I am not sure what it means. When my older sisters Rachael and Frances were young they had a brilliant idea. Taking note from older children's birthday party activities, they decided to play a party game and go on their own neighborhood scavenger hunt. The only item on their self written list was candy wrappers. As you can guess, most neighbors had more candy with the wrappers still on then trashed candy wrappers.

On an unrelated note. Sister Harris and I have decided to start mission stamp collections. If you have any cool stamps and are thinking of the perfect person to send them to then just send them our way. You can decide if you want to put the stamp on the inside or outside of the envelope .. . Does not matter to us . . . We just love stamps so much . . .

Sisters training

Sister training was awesome! The new curriculum that I was part of in the MTC is going worldwide and our three day training was a condensed version of the same MTC lesson plans. We were also surprised to see the new training videos, "The District 2" which features one of our MTC teachers, Brother Bott as a missionary. We did tons of role playing and had full days of lessons capped off by a West Virginia museum tour in Charleston. This could easily be the most sisters I see in one place over my whole mission as even at zone conference we are the only sisters!

All the other sisters were jealous that Sister Harris and I thought ahead to wear matching outfits all three days of sister's training. It was a mission long dream of sister Harris's and this was the perfect time to not look too weird!

Matching outfits

The rumor is true, sisters skirts are getting shorter. The new rule is that they have to cover the knee when both standing and sitting. After it was announced I had a dream that I got to go home and dig through my boxes of clothes for my now mission appropriate skirts. I might want some of them sent to me at a future date but Australia prepared me for living with a limited wardrobe. I'm not sick of what I have yet!

Getting back into the work after training was exciting but also pretty exhausting. I did not realize how dependent my body was on our daily routine until I was taken out of it for a bit but we are glad to be back in Bedford! This is the last week of the transfer and anything could happen next week!

I love you all tons and can't wait to see all your super cool stamps!

Lauren

Pest control and Dickie

2010-08-25T16:12:00.000-07:00

This week have been crazy so here are some of the things that are on my mind . . .

WELCOME HOME CALEB. Wow, I can't believe it and won't lie, I am a little envious of those who get to be there with you.
CONGRATULATIONS RACHAEL. Another Boy . . . OH Boy! haha, love ya'll tons.

Pest control. When we first moved into our apartment we had a bit of an ant problem. We started with spray and worked up to traps. That did the trick but I have an odd feeling that the ants were somehow keeping the roach population under control. Traps are pretty good but we still kill five or six roaches a day. (note from mom- I sent her some apartment roach killer)

Monday: we are leaving for Roanoke until Thursday we have a sister's training that we are SO excited for. Because we live in the far reaches of the mission, we have lots of travelling to do. We will be picked up today by the APs and travel back on Thursday with President Thornock!

Curtis is still progressing toward baptism. He is trying to quit smoking and we have him saying a kneeling prayer before each cigarette. After church yesterday he was due for one but we had munch and mingle. He tried to find a quiet place to pray and smoke but there were kids everywhere so he knelt down with some kids, said a prayer and lit a cigarette. I can only imagine what the kids were thinking. We love Curtis!

The picture is of another investigator, Dickie. He loves hunting and is among the many to offer personal post-mission hunting trips. In Australia, hunting is almost unheard of. In Utah it is a tag requiring process full of hiking and camping. Dickie shot the deer on the wall in his back yard after work.

Numbers game

2010-08-16T11:19:00.000-07:00

Sometimes missionary work is a numbers game. The more people we talk to the more lessons we teach, the more lessons we teach the more people become new investigators. The more investigators we have the more people will accept the gospel and be baptized. Our goals here in Bedford have usually sat around teaching 10-12 lessons a week and teaching five new investigators. Sometimes it takes a miracle to reach these numbers. Two weeks ago we taught six lessons and only one was to a new investigator. Last week we taught 18 lessons with eleven new investigators. Every week we just need to trust the Lord. I love the scripture Alma 20:30. Ammon is describing the imprisoned condition of starvation and nakedness that he found his brothers in while doing missionary work after which he says, "And, as it happened, it was their lot to have fallen into the hands of a more hardened and a more stiff necked people." We all have trials, no one is exempt, that is what life is for. What is important is that we hold fast to out testimonies.

So I am a pretty forgetful person in general. Planners are a MUST and something I depend greatly on. Unfortunately, planners are little help when a person forgets their name. About a week ago Sister Harris and I met a family outside in their front yard. I walked up to the father while watching Sister Harris out of the corner of my eye with the mother then out of my mouth came, "Hi, I'm Sister Harris." I think this confused Sister Harris as much as it confused me. The poor people though we were crazy when we bust up laughing.

The work is wonderful, Bedford is wonderful.

Picture: Not the message you want your mechanic to be banking on!

Holy Land USA... not anymore

2010-08-09T11:16:00.000-07:00

One of the first things we discovered when we arrived in Bedford, that Sister Harris had heard rumors of, was Holy Land USA. Only in the south will you find a recreation of the Holy Land allowing you to "walk where Jesus walked" right here in Bedford, Virginia USA! We were hoping to have a district P-day and visit Holy Land USA together only to discover that the park had been abandoned. I can not fully understand how the people of Jerusalem crucified Christ but to abandon his Holy Land in the USA seems heartless as well. A drive by of the park when we were in the area revealed that most of the wood cut outs were still in tact so we planned a picnic dinner for the two of us at the abandoned Hold Land. I made falafles the day before with fresh vegetables and hummus. Delicious and totally appropriate!

serious missionary breakfast

Sister Harris and I take breakfast very seriously. It is the most important meal of the day after all. We have a small selection of jams in our food storage (all home made and a result of several member visits) and usually cut up a five fruit variety over oatmeal. We also enjoy breakfast burritos and egg dishes. Great mornings make for great days!

The work in Bedford is progressing! I am ready to settle down here until the end of my days. Won't happen but oh well!

National D Day Memorial

2010-08-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

With a few disappointments last week, we are gearing up to focus on finding new investigators who have been prepared to accept the restored gospel. We began our Monday preparation day with a trip to the National D-Day Memorial (one of Bedford's treasures). It does not open until 10am and is $7 for adults but we arrived at 6:45am and asked the night guard if we could jog around the memorial before guests arrive. He agreed and we got to do so for free!

Something I am coming to cherish are back-up plans. It is amazing how many people fail to keep their appointments with us. Oh well, we can only do so much. Parts of missionary work are extremely structured such as the hours between 6:30 and 10am as well at 9pm nightly planning. The rest of the day is completely out of our hands. We plan the best that we can but in the end, our schedules are in the hands of other people. Sometimes, we are knocking a street, see someone pull into their house and go inside then not answer when we knock their door. Sister Harris has a theory that 90% of people go to the bathroom right when they get home which explains why they can't get to the door even though we know they are home. It makes sense . . .

Another phrase I have come to enjoy when we teach lessons is anything that sounds like, "after all that I have been through, it seems God is saving me for something," "I'm just waiting for a sign as to what I should do with my life," or "yeah, God speaks to us, I'm just waiting to hear what he wants me to do." HELLO! TWO MISSIONARIES STANDING HERE! COULD THERE BE A GREATER SIGN OR MESSAGE? Those who are ready and receptive get it, those who aren't watch us walk down the road still waiting for God to lead them.

All is well in Bedford, the area is great, the work is great, Sister Harris is great!

running running.....

2010-07-27T11:53:00.000-07:00

I am sorry I did not give you the heads up but our P-day is Tuesday on transfer weeks. Sister Harris and I are both staying in Bedford. Thanks for the package! I have enough nuts now to last me the next 14 months and I am sure that you woke up from a nap inspired to include the bee sting cream at the very same moment I was stung by a bee at the farmer's market. Mother's intuition haha.

How has my morning routine helped me in my missionary labors? Every morning we have a half hour of exercise. Sister Harris likes to run. For the first time in my life I am on a running routine three times a weeks and have seen massive improvement. Last Sunday we planned to pick an investigator up for church (walking per mission rules) a half mile from the church. Our meetings went late and we found ourselves running to her apartment in full skirts and all. We got several funny looks and shouted as we passed that we were late for church. Every so often when we find ourselves literally running late to appointments we wonder if locals mistake us for Holiness Pentecostals. Most people who think we are, look down on me for cutting my hair and piercing my ears but praise Sister Harris for doing neither of those. Oh well.

It has been around 100 degrees here with humidity. We have permission to do our companionship study in the middle of the day after lunch if we don't have an appointment scheduled then. Yesterday, our backup plan for an appointment with very little chance of cancelling was to go to Dairy Queen and contact there while eating ice cream. When the appointment fell through I reminded Sister Harris that we told the Lord we would be at Dairy Queen and we had better get on over there. We met a man there who we will teach later this week.

With lots of prayers, there will be two baptisms this next transfer. The date has been set and they are progressing. When the invitation was extended and Carrol and her daughter said yes Sister Harris took a time out to jump for joy. It was an amazing moment and Carrol could not wait to tell everyone at church!

Missionary work is amazing. All we do every day is talk about things that make people happy. What could be better?

PICTURE: One investigator did not come to church because he had nothing to wear. Some of the men we teach ,we have never seen with a shirt on and can't tell if it is because they don't own one or don't like them. The next day we dropped off some clothes that were left by prior elders in our apartment. Hopefully they go to good use! Love, Lauren

The Book of Mormon is true

2010-07-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

The Book of Mormon is true.
This week we met Demetrius. He is 19, loves rap and is already living with child custody arrangements. We taught him for about 45 minutes. He allowed us to read from the scriptures but would not touch them himself. We gave him a pamphlet with a picture of the Book of Mormon on the back and for a moment he thought we were tricking him into taking scriptures. He knows he is not in line with God, he knows that by the scriptures he will be judged so he wants nothing to do with them as if that frees him of responsibility at the judgement bar. Sister Harris and I preached Hell, Fire and Damnation. I read to him 2 Nephi 28:7-8 and he agreed that the scriptures were prophesying of him. He said he has a lot of stuff he wants to do before he gets into church and he hopes that all happens before he dies. We tried to give him an eternal perspective and shared with him the church being for those in need of a physician not those who are well. He is letting us come back and teach him again later this week. When sister Harris and I walked away we were both dumbfounded that the scriptures spoke so plainly of Demetrius.

In the Bible belt it is not uncommon for people to tattoo scriptures on various parts of their bodies. This is my tattoo scripture of the month:

I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell. (2 Nephi 33:6)

Sister Harris and I have to be creative in our finding efforts in such a small town. Twice a week there is a small farmer's market where we tried to do some street contacting. It was tough with so few people and such an intimate group of growers and buyers. We talked to the man in charge and he loved our idea of setting up a booth for our church. We bought a Tri-fold, made some family history and family night handouts and have been going during the peak hour twice a week. We have not gotten any appointments from it yet but have shared lots of messages and even ran into an inactive member who has invited us over! Missionary work is amazing! Thanks for all the letters and love! Lauren