Community Service ~ Special Olympics

I have been meaning on telling you about this forever... BUT... I keep forgetting :) A couple of weeks ago (like 4 or 5) Sister Westberg and I were able to help with the Special Olympics in Naples. I guess if you go to the Collier County Special Olympics website or something,  there is a pretty cool picture of us :) We were in charge of the long jump, so we did the wave and cheering all day long :) fun community service!  :)   

Letter #21

Dear Family!!
My week went a lot better! So much has happened in such a short
time, so i'll start with the highlights. Only because i'll never get to tell you all i want too :(
Yesterday we had a conference up in Tampa. We were able to hear from Elder Andersen! That's right no typo here, good old "Uncle Andersen" from the Quorum of the 12 came and talked to our whole mission! It was the best!! It is the reason why we did not email yesterday... (sorry I didn't tell you, it was kinda last minute) I guess they were dividing up the Tampa Stake so Sister Andersen (Elder Andersen wife, not me. Funny Story... He kept saying Sister Andersen when he was speaking/talking about his wife of course. It keep throwing me off. And the rest of my zone too! :D )
Anyways; she grew up in Tampa and LOVES IT HERE!!!! He was the Stake President in the Tampa Stake... and was planning on living here his whole life, before he got called to serve. It was pretty much the coolest thing, the love they have for our mission! Also the excitement they showed for the work going on here :) Sister Andersen talked a lot about her family that still lives here. Brother Andersen was so funny and personable (still scary ;) but he talked about how he probably assigned some of us here... because it is his favorite place :) He would say when a "special" picture came up he would be inspired, and think... this is a very special missionary so they need to go to a very special place :) I.E. the Tampa Florida Mission- from the mouth of my seves it is the same is all I have to say :)

I'm out.
~Sister Sharon Andersen

Letter #20

Ohhh My Goodness!! YOU HAD THE BABY!!! I'M SO EXCITED!!! SHE'S BEAUTIFUL :) I LOVE HER ALREADY :D

 

Anyways I can't focus now. I'm so excited and the tears are making it hard to type! :) This week has been crazy! And not in a good way. :( 

I better warn you; I’m going to repeat a lot from my last letter. Sadly not much has changed. Being in a trio is SUPER hard! Training in a trio is even harder. I hate saying that but I am having a really hard time. Last transfer I was just really nervous about training but then it came so easy, it was WAY easier. When Sister Westberg came out we talked everything through. I told her that I needed her involvement and help in every decision we make; because I am still learning. And we had so much fun learning TOGETHER.

Honestly, she was exactly what I needed after having Sister Williamson for a companion. I could totally be myself around her and she starting to understand me. She gets my jokes, and my sense of humor kinda! :) We laugh at each other a lot :)  I really learned more from her than I could ever teach her! She helped and is still helping me so much. I was very blessed to have her my first time training, my trainee came pre-trained. She was ready to work and was fully involved from day one. 

And with this transfer that just not really the case... I told Sister Godwin the same thing when she came in; that it did not matter that I've been out longer than her; we are equals. I wanted her to feel comfortable getting used to missionary work as soon a possible. She took what we said in a completely different way. I feel like she took it as "we don’t know anything". So from the beginning she just has an attitude like she knows it all already. I’m not a controlling or argumentative person AT ALL! But for some reason everything become a debate. Like she felt like she has to prove that she knows more. We have just been struggling how to go about training her without causing problems or yet another debate. It's just really killing the spirit. Any advice?? I'll take whatever you can give me because I can't keep going on like this...

 

And the 'cherry on the top' of this horrible week was we got DROPPED HARD from one of our progressing investigators. Probably the worst drop know to man-kind! I don't even know where to start...We all left crying; in tears, and that included the member that came with us. The investigator was yelling, and hitting himself with the Bible and the Book of Mormon (I might want to clarify; not hitting us; just himself) I don't know if I told you much about him; his name is Leon. He is 50 something, weighs about 300 pounds, and he is Haitian man that was yelling at us! It was scary to say the least. We keep trying to say we weren't there to argue; but then he would say we weren't arguing and continue to yell. It was pretty much the worst day ever!

 

Well now that I've been a total Debbie Dower lol...Not my best week on the mission field! It has been a pretty trying and hard week. ( On the bright side, we have gotten 4 new investigators this week!! So there is a positive :)  Next week is going to be good though; I can just feel it! I'm making the choice to be happy.

 

WELL DANG IT I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME... I hope you know I want pictures in the mail a.s.a.p! And I want to be kept up to date with how she doing... do you hear me Melissa??  That means you have to take a ton of pictures, AND WRITE BIG FAT LETTERS which shouldn't be to hard ;) She looks beautiful!!! Such a doll. I can't believe how tiny she is! :D  You were in the hospital for 10 days?? Are you kidding me, I want to hear the whole story! Once you put in on your blog you could just forward it to me please? LOVES IT!! I CANT WAIT TO HEAR AND SEE MORE PICTURES. I hope that everyone doing well! Sounds like it! Tell Hayhay (Hailey) and Landon to be good to mommy! And be good big brothers and sisters :)

 

Love you guys so much!!! I am so thankful for you guys!!! Please keep me in your prayers:) Actually mommy could you please put my name on the prayer list at the temple...?

LOVE YOU!!!!!!! MISS YOU ALWAYS- TILL WE MEET AGAIN.

 

Sister Sharon Andersen :)

 

 

Letter #19

Dear family!

 

This week has been CRAZY! I didn't know being in a trio was so hard!  I've heard both sides (from other missionaries; mostly elders and you never know with them ;) that being in a trio is either really good or really BAD and you get nothing done either way.  I've kinda seen both sides this week, we've had our highs and lows. mostly highs but some real lows! This week has been a little rocky and rough.

One thing that we're really struggling with is making decisions; I think it's because Sister Westberg and I have gotten SO use to each other. We were starting to understand the way each other thinks and work through things. we could honestly finish each other thoughts and sentences. And then it's a new transfer and we're adding in someone new into the mix. I don't think we were ready for it. We were just honestly so excited we got to stay together. We weren't ready to train someone together. Because this whole time we were training each other -- cause she was honestly helping me out as much as I was helping her. Cause there is still so much I don't know......I was thinking about it though. I've been out almost 5 months at the end of this transfer, I'll be out 6 months which is 1/3 of my mission! That's crazy!!! It's gone by fast but then it hasn't. It's so true the days are LONG but the weeks are short. Every time we've gone and picked up a new missionary, I just think back when I was in their shoes and it feels like it was so long ago but honestly it wasn't.

 

  ANYWAYS  my new companion :) her name is Sister Godwin -- yes, I typed that right GODWIN! We're planning on using that to our advantage in our lessons somehow but haven't figured it out yet.....but we will! She's 23 going to turn 24 soon (which is kinda weird cause I'm training someone older than me? :) Anyways, she's from Turlock, California. which I love because in our companionship we outnumber Sister Westberg now, cause I'm always telling Sister Westberg how much better California is than Utah :) Now it's 2 versus 1. :)

So Sister Godwin is great!  Not going to lie, it's sometimes hard with 3 people. I kinda feel like someone always feels left out or not included. But luckily, we had a really great night last night!!! We were all talking and worked everything out. And just some such said and out. So we're all really trying to make everyone feel included and LOVED!!! 

 

LOVE YOU!!!!!

 

Sister Sharon Andersen

 

Letter #18

Dear Family!!!

This week has been crazy so much to tell you and NEVER enough time :( I guess i will start with the question mommy send me :) 

1- Know any more about the transfers?- Yes :) 

2- Do you have a new address yet? (Will need to know ASAP so we can send you the tape of Preston getting his call!) - For the time being we are still in the same apartment. :( Our background checks got denied! Can you believe it? Who has a better credit score than the church? ;) Just Kidding! We got denied because we couldn't say/guaranty that we be there for a year. :( It is OK we are going to keep looking at other places to rent. Right now our apartment is in a pretty crappy place...It is super south for our area and we don't have many members by us. The cherry on top is that there is a ton of construction where we live. It's actually kinda scary to ride our bike by that area. I should take pictures so you can understand. (Maybe NOT because I think it would freak mom out a little bit) ....send a tape? Couldn't you record it on your camera or something because I kinda want to see Preston's face when he opens it... and you could just send it in an email??? I can just rent some headphones from the Library. Just let me know. :) 

3- So are you getting a new companion? Getting to train two people at one? (We all want to know!!) I'm going to be in a trio!!! We are getting another sister! :) I'm so excited!! I get to be with Sister Westberg for another 6 weeks :) We are both super excited. I kept getting the feeling that I was going to leave, but honestly I think I was just preparing myself for the worst. I am not ready to leave Naples yet. I love it here!!! I'm honestly just starting to get the hang of things :) However, some of the Elders in our district said "Once you get comfortable, that is when they move you!" :( So I don't know.... but I am staying for at least another 6 weeks :) I can't wait to meet the new sister :) We are picking her up on Tuesday... wait... that is tomorrow!!! I think we have to leave at like 3 or 4 in the morning again; but it's worth it!@! I don't know anything about her yet, but you will find out in my next letter. The same member is driving us up to Tampa so maybe she'll send a picture of the three of us so you don't have to wait until Monday!!?? I guess we will see. I'm super duper excited! I'm praying for her daily! I'm a little worried... I don't know anything about her; even though I love her already! I really don't want her to feel left out since Sister Westberg and I get along so well. I just hope and pray she's fun and ready to for a good time! Because missionary life is crazy!! You have to make it fun, you make the best of what you are given. Just like the quote mommy has at home on the tile "Life is to be ENJOYED not just Endured!!" 

4- Tell dad that I can re-do your room? The guy is holding me back! He does not believe me that you said I could do what I want with your room and if you don't like it, you can change it when you get back. ( I think that you are going to love it! BTW)- Thank You Daddy for keeping your end of the bargain :) Yes, I did tell mom she can do whatever to the room. I totally trust her taste :) Where do you think I got mine from? :D But again; Please don't throw away my stuff, none of my clothes please! A lot of money went into buying those ;) and I wouldn't want to do that again. 


Sounds like you had an awesome Birthday Mom!!! I'm so glad! I can't wait to see the kitchen! Please take before and after pictures! :) How long did they say it was going to take? Hopefully not to long... So I totally blanked and didn't send a card to Kimmy or Preston yet!! I'm a horrible auntie/sister... Sorry!!! Good thing I bought something for Kimmy before I left! :) Some jewelry  I think?? And your next birthday I'll buy you double to make up for it! :) Preston; what did you say you wanted from Florida??  Gator or Dolphin's shirt or hat? Sorry i'm lame. HAPPY LATE B-DAY!!!! Well I am running out of time. :( LOVE YOU ALL!!!!! Pray for you always! Till we meet again!

Sister Sharon Andersen 

Letter #17

 Dear family!

I just wanted to send a couple pictures before I ran out of time :) because that always happens....and those are from Sister Westberg's camera (because my camera died) at Jessica's baptism. :(  But she was nice enough to let me steal some pictures from hers.  I'm planning on sending my SD card today...but I wanted to make sure you get some pictures from Jessica's baptism.

And the other pictures -- I just want to start sending more pictures of Florida so you guys can see how beautiful it is. :)  That picture is from a pretty crazy day!!!  Everything was falling through; even our dinner appointment fell through. :(  So we ended up going to Subway (thank you family for the gift cards; definitely putting those to good use) and we just rode by and had to go back and take a picture because it's so pretty.  That's one thing I've learned and really appreciate about Sister Westberg -- she's very go-with-the flow and doesn't let things upset her.  She really, really helps me when I'm starting to freak out.  It's hard now because I'm the trainer and am trying to show her and... really we're just learning together because there's so much I don't know. 

But I'm starting to get sad because this transfer is almost over because it's only 5 weeks instead of 6.  And I keep getting the feeling that I'm not staying in Naples much longer and that I'm going to get a new companion because we're having too much fun. :)  And because there are 21 sisters coming out in this transfer.....can you believe it?  So in the next couple transfers, it's going to be about even sisters to elders :) which is very exciting!!!  Of that 21, nine (9) Spanish sisters are coming out and I think we only have 6 total Spanish sisters....so we don't know how they're going to get everyone trained.  Some sisters might be training 2 sisters, some might have to be trained by English sisters...we don't know.  President said some sisters are going to be training after only 5 weeks!! which is crazy :/  I was scared enough training after 12 weeks.

So Sister Westberg and I keep trying to guess what they're going to do with all the new sisters. I'm really hoping I get to spend at least another transfer with Sister Westberg or that they add another sister to us so we're a  trio  :)  But we won't know until next week.  Transfer calls happen on Saturday morning; so next week I guess we'll all find out.  I'll keep you updated!!!

BTW, Mommy, did you get my letter????  I hope it got to you on time :)  And please let me know when you get it.  Sorry, it's nothing big.  I should have asked weeks in advance what you wanted but i didn't -- sorry.  I want to hear all about your birthday in next letter!!  I hope you have an amazing birthday!!!  I LOVE YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!! AND MISS YOU ALWAYS, I wish I could be there; UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN!!!!

Sister Sharon Andersen

Letter #16

 DEAR FAMILY!!
 THIS LAST WEEK WAS AWESOME!!! The highlight defiantly being Jessica getting baptized!! We had her baptism on Saturday :) It was a crazy, crazy day; luckily everything worked out. So I don't think i told you last week... (Because when we first meet with Jessica we set a date with her for February 23 to be baptized.) We later found out that stake conference was that Sunday and they don't usually do confirmations in stake conference. IDK?? (=I don't know) So we started freaking out! We decided to call the district leader to see if there was anything we could do. Sister Westberg and I felt impressed that was the day she could be ready. After talking with the Elders (who had the similar experiences and had to move there date back a week.) Sister Westberg and I were totally bummed thinking that there was nothing we could do :(  We started to think about moving it back; but we both just got sick to our stomach; that just didn't feel right! Not at all!!  So we both just got on our knees and we prayed and prayed about what we should do.  We had already prayed about it and felt like the 23rd was the correct day and moving it back another week didn't feel right so we were just stuck... and getting super discouraged. THEN, we both felt like we should move it up a week. (meaning we had one week to go through the rest of the lessons, and put a baptism together!) Once that thought came to both of our minds we knew!!! We just had to break the news to Jessica; which we were both really worried about ( I don't know why? Because she was so ready!)   We ended up doing a church tour (which is just taking investigators around the church building and showing all the beautiful artwork and explaining the background :) I guess these church tours have been very successful in our mission area. Anyways... we changed it around a little and ended the tour in the room with the baptismal font and we broke the news to Jessica. We  had to ask her if she thinks she could be really a week earlier....... and she was so EXCITED!!!!! She said "I don't have to wait an extra week?" and then she said she would love too!
 Sister Westburg and I were so thankful, we didn't want to wait any longer either. She was beyond ready, and she knew it too! So the baptism was totally last minute throw everything together! :/ On top of that the Elders (in our ward) did the same thing; so we did a joint baptism. On the day of the baptism for Jessica we spend all day at the church cleaning the building. We were trying to clean the baptismal font (it was so gross~ the water comes out green :/ but that is another story) And we also had to make a TON OF refreshments! (we texted 35+ people and no one could help us out; everyone that texted us back was out of town :( or busy) and Sister Westberg and I ended up making 100+ cookies that day! It was crazy! That is why my letter last week was so lame. I was worried about all the stuff we needed to get for her baptism... we did our best and it turned out great! She loved it all and couldn't stop smiling. We actually did a special musical number in it as well! All the missionaries from our zone sang I believe in Christ it was so neat :)  It was such a testimony builder for me! Once again the Lord will provided a way! We just need to always have faith and truth in him!
 Dang it, I am already out of time and didn't get to tell you all the other stuff that happened this week! Why does that always happen??? I'm really going to try to start writing you during the week because there is always more stuff I want to tell you, there is just never enough time and I am getting jewed 30 minutes because the Library is closing. The Library here closes at 7? Really? It is just because everyone is super old and they go to bed at like 4. LOL. (=Laugh out Loud)

 Sister Sharon Andersen