Letter # 30

Dear family!

 Sorry I didn't write a long letter yesterday.  We only had a couple minutes on the computer...The Elders in our ward let us use their computers at their apartment; but no one else had access to computers so everyone else was already at the church playing games and things.....so we just send a little e-mail  reminding you that it was a Holiday.  You are getting better at remembering. I think it worked out better this way cause you guys were driving home.:)

It sounds like it was a good trip!! They never seem long enough, and you can never see everyone...but it was so nice seeing everyone right before I entered.  I'm glad Preston got to see a lot of family:)  it's a really hard goodbye, I  just had to keep reminding myself that it wasn't a “good bye” just “see you soon”.  Honestly it's really only an extra 6 months for me cause we usually only get to see them once a year :(   I can't believe they were not tears!!!  Dropping him off....so does it get easier each time?  Did you just know what to expect...I'm so proud of him!! I can’t wait to get his letter and hear how he's doing.  Please forward them to me. :)

This week has been pretty interesting...I'm really trying to learn something new with each of my Companions....Sister Calder really is helping me relax!  She is all about having a good time and laughing. One of the many things I've learned on my mission is that I stress! A lot! Don't know where I get that from? ;)  I just worry a lot.  About what other people are thinking, how there feeling, and what I can be doing differently.  I just worry a lot! So I'm really just trying to live in the moment and love my mission!! Even when it gets hard :)

Random side note- doesn’t know if I've told you yet. I'm known as the zone "mom"  :) whenever anyone get hurt (which happens a LOT, MOSTLY FROM P-DAY the elders are really rough playing sports and hurt themself all the time at one point, we have 2 people in boots one on crutches, or anything else.  Like picking on each other…ha ha  I have to be the voice of reason and tell them to calm down :) I forgot I've been meaning on telling you that.... I need to make a list of all the funny stuff that happens :) 

This week was great- Except being on bike! I hate bike week! But anyways Monday was great! P-day are the best; and much needed!  It’s so nice to just hang out with the whole zone, and relax for a little bit.  Even though P-day aren’t super relaxing cause everyone super excited....so usually were  in a huge rush doing everything.  Trying to get shopping, and everything done; so we can all hang out.   We usually go to the church and play sport. The Elders ALWAYS play basketball ha ha.  We sometime play volleyball; we’ve played ultament Frisbee once I think...and have gone shopping a couple times :)  The Elders have even come with us :) Love the elders in our ward their awesome :)  

Tuesday- we did services for Habitat for Humanity; which is so fun!!   Everything we do is something different.   I'm going to come home and be a master house builder :)   I've painted the inside and outside of homes.  Laied tile, grass, did molding and filling in the molding It’s so great and a really neat origination.  This house goes to a recent convert that's trying to get a house.  They have to do a total of 500 hours than she gets it for her to own :) So we have a huge group of missionaries going to help she get 30 hours in one day instead of 7 or 8.  She's great the Elders taught her almost a year ago she has 2 young kids and a baby on the way. :0  Then we went out to eat. Love going out to eat with all the missionaries...its weird now is on a mission. No one looks at my face anymore they go straight to my black name tag :)  We got some interesting looks :) ....we also ate at a members house, whose husband is less active.  There such a different feel to a home w/o the priesthood. I've been so blessed to have amazing priesthood holders to always be such an example to me. Thank you Daddy and Preston!! That something else I've learned on a mission. I've really learned to love and respect Elders that honor and respect the priesthood.  I defiantly want someone that worthy holds the priesthood :)

Wednesday is the day we usually do district meeting! I love district meeting :) We get training and get to feel the love and support of our zone of missionaries. Getting to talk about the work that's going on and being able to be around other missionaries that understand what we’re going through. We also started a fast on Wednesday as a zone our Senior Missionaries...Elder Brower was having eye surgery.  Fun fact fasting and bike week do not mix. :(  We have to bike like 10 miles that day that was pretty rough.  But the surgery went well, so it was all worth it in the end :)

Running out of time so I'll jump to Saturday :) I got to see the Grinstain’s :)   At Brother Coulten main wedding reception. It was great seeing her!!  She is just the sweetest thing; she was intruding me to everyone and telling them about me serving a mission and about Preston too :) There such a great family and love them so much!!! She said she took a picture and said she was going to put it on Facebook so you could see. Hope she did... and if she didn’t I'll send pictures next week I forgot my cord again, Sorry! (*see picture below)

Well I have to go! I love you all so much!!!

 Sister Sharon Andersen

Letter #29

Hello family!!

How's everyone? Yeah, I know what you mean!  I'm still on a high from talking and getting to see everyone :), but I forgot to thank mom for sharing her time with everyone. :) I really enjoyed getting to see everyone on Google chat. I felt bad it took forever to get it finally working, but at least I got to see everyone. :)

 

And one thing Crystal said really got me thinking. Next time I get to talk with everyone won't be until Christmas :/ which is kinda crazy. But time is going by so fast,  it will be here before long. :) Everyone says once you hit a year that time goes twice as fast....so next year will be a little different with Preston serving as well. Hopefully we'll be able to work it out with each other's schedule. 

 

Another thing I didn’t think of until Melissa brought it up, she wrote me this week and reminded me I won't be seeing Preston for 3 years!! Which is crazy! I mean, I knew when I was saying bye to him it would probably be that long, but...that's a long time. He's going to be so big by the time he gets back :(  Speaking of that...can someone send me more info on Preston's mission? :) I want to hear all about it. I don’t know much about Texas. All I know is everything is bigger there :)

 

But anyways, I know it will all be worth it in the end and that Preston's going to be a great missionary!! He gets along with most everyone and has a great personality that I think people will be naturally drawn too :)

 

Anyways :)...this has been a crazy but slow week. We had appointments fall through all week!  :( The couple of investigators we are currently working with, have just had a busy week and couldn’t meet with us.

One of our investigators is in and out of the hospital, and we could only meet with her once this week. She's kinda interesting...but I’ve learned that we all are :) and that you need to remember that we're all brothers and sisters of our Heavenly Father.

 

I forget which conference talk it was.... but to always try to imagine everyone in white? :) That really helps, too. I mean, we're all on earth to be tested, and we're all doing to best we can. We're all holding on the iron rod, and we're all in different stages. It's just about doing what we can and to keep moving forward, even if it's just baby steps :)

 

 We're also trying to set a date with another one of our investigators, but I’m worried she's becoming an “eternal–gator” (an eternal investigator) cause she knows it's all true. It’s just helping her to commit to a date and really sticking to it.

So this week went by really SLOW with a LOT of tracking. But then at the same time, I can’t believe we’re so close to this transfer being over. We're getting transfer calls on Saturday:/ , so I’m most likely staying cause I haven't finished 12 weeks with Sister Calder...but you never know. :)  Well, I’ll let everyone know as soon as I can. :) I LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH!!!! 

 

Sister Sharon Andersen

Letter # 28

Dear Family!!

 IT WAS SO GOOD SEEING EVERYONE :)  I loved talking with everyone and being able to see everyone once we finally got it working... It put me at ease that nobody has changed a ton (the only one I'm worried about is Kylie she's going to be so BIG when I get home) but she looked so cute! I loved her outfit, please remind Melissa I want more  pictures! Well actually that can go for everyone! I want updated pictures of everyone:) Wait Kim too! She looks so mature now! (in a good way of course) she getting so big and is going into High School I can't believe it.

Well MOMMY; I HOPE YOU HAD A GOOD MOTHER'S DAY!! I hope you'll get my letter soon, and your mother day present looks awesome!! The kitchen looks great :) and my room looks good (not that i doubted you anyways...) I HAD to get my style from somewhere... sounds like they took pretty good care of you :)

 That's his Mormon message right? Yeah I've seen it:) It's great! I love the Summerhays!! They are great! :). Did you know they were actually called to go on a proselyting mission and then got called last minute to be mission president? I think they were called to... Scotland? Which is really cool :) I love all the senior couples! They are the best Mission Mom's and Dad's :) I am planning on going on many more missions when I am older. Mommy and Daddy are you planning on serving a mission together? You would be the best missionaries! You have taught me everything that I know!!

Being out on my mission... has made me realized how much I was taught! (even from such a young age) Also, how much I have taken for granted. I have an amazing life!!! I have a family that love and support me! I have the gospel; which is such a huge part of me! I love being Mormon! In High School I just wanted to fit in with everyone; I didn't want to be different, but now I love that I am different... that I have different values, beliefs, and standards. I get to share all that with other people:) I have a relationship with my Heavenly Father! I know that he loves me, and has a plan for me! I'm so blessed to have the knowledge I do, because not everyone does. That's what breaks my heart ~ when people are so closed off and don't want to hear anything we have to share. They think they are happy where they are at...

That is why I'm so thankful for this time in my life that I get to be on a mission and serve. In no way I am saying it's easy... because it's not! But It's so worth it :) It is hard being away for everyone and missing huge events, but I know there is a reason why I'm here. I love trying to figure that out everyday; figuring out why the Lord  put me where he did :) I see his hand in my life everyday... I feel his protection over me, and I know he is watching over all of us. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!! I am so thankful for you! :)  Please keep me in your prayers always!

~ Sister Sharon Andersen

Mother's Day TREAT ~

We were ALL able to see Sister Andersen on Mother's Day!!

Our family used Google Hangout to chat!

It sure was a nice!

Thanks Mom for sharing your Mother's Day Call with us all!

Letter # 27

DEAR FAMILY!!
Thank you for pictures from Kylie's blessing! She looks beautiful :) Mom
did a great job on the dress (not that it comes as a huge surprise or
anything :D). But there weren't any pictures with Melissa in them.....
What's up with that?? I want to see how she doing....anyways I loved
the picture of Preston; he cleans up pretty good. I can see him as a
missionary already, nice suit!! :) So how is everything with him going??
Have all the shopping and everything done?? When are you guys driving
down....I haven't heard anything :(

btw, Preston, there's a young man (from the ward I'm serving in now) that is
entering the MTC next Wednesday. His name is Elder Ortiz; he's going to
Provo Utah mission Spanish speaking....and we went to his farewell
last night and I told him to look out for you...

And Preston, I have a favor to ask? Ok? When you get to the MTC, can you
order a Florida Tampa mission shirt for me? The 2 Spanish sisters
living with us... ordered them and they're really cool :)  (I didn't know
that they even made them) You can get them for every mission at the
MTC...it's the state flag and your mission on it....I guess you just
have to request them at the front, idk? Or if mom could figure out how
to do that.....I'm trying to get shirts or something from every area I
serve and I want to make a mission quilt or something :) Let me know?
And I've been asking the language missionaries for tips for you...I'll try
to make a list for when we talk on Mothers day :)

Speaking of Mothers day :) so no news yet! on how long we get to talk
or anything...so I'm just assuming we get an hour and a half again
and hopefully we'll get to call beforehand to set up a time.  The
Seamons--the member house I went to for Christmas--is letting us come and
use her skype again :) So I'll let you know if I get any more info...
They might let us know on Wednesday at district meeting. So expect either
a call or letter home soon :)  Speaking of letters, did you get my
letter with my sd card in???  And start now sending my letters to the
mission home...cause guess what--we're finally moving :) On Wednesday
we're moving to our new apartment!!! Actually you could send it to the
new address....so my new address is 7779 Jewel Ln #101, Naples FL
34109.  Pretty excited about that :) It's a really nice place; it's 3
bedrooms (way too big for the 2 of us), 2 bathrooms, and I CAN WALK INTO
MY CLOSET :)  And the best part of course is it's in our area :) no more
biking 5 miles just to get into our area :)

So this week has been pretty crazy. And next week isn't looking so
great either :)  But on the bright side...we have our first real
Florida storm :)  Actually it wasn't bright at all; it was crazy dark
:) with lighting and everything, it kinda sucked though because we were
stuck in the house most of the day...but I've survived my first summer
storm... So we've been working with a lot of less active members  Our
Relief Society president has been helping a lot....we’ve been trying
to visit everyone in the ward to get to know them and at least let them
know that the ward got split and that we’re meeting at a different time
:) So that equals a lot of cleaning up the ward roster with people
that have moved. And we've also been tracting -- which honestly isn't my
favorite thing... Sister Calder got her first door slam this week :0
....So we mostly go around offering to leave the Savior's peace and
blessing. Haven't found anyone solid yet; but we're working with a
couple people. Since we're taking over the elders' area, we got a
couple of people they were teaching. But I'll have to tell you more
about that in my next letter cause I'm running out of time :(  Well, I
love you so much! and pray for you daily!! Can't wait to talk with you.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

Sister Sharon Andersen

 Sister Andersen and Sister Calder and a snake...