Surprising

One of my biggest reservations about going on my mission was leaving my family. I tried to leave my family once, to go to college (25 minutes away). I ended up driving home once or twice a week and ultimately just moved home rather than waste money paying for a dorm that I only lived in part-time.

After that experience I realized that it would be really hard for me to move out when the time eventually came. I was still two years away from worrying about a mission so I didn't think about it too much. When I finally accepted the fact that it was in Heavenly Father's plan for me to go on a mission I said, okay, fine, I'll go, but it's going to be really really hard to be away from home.


I had that attitude in the back of my mind most of the time leading up to my mission. I knew that I could do it, and I knew that it would be worth it to do it. I knew that because of the Savior's promise he gave to some of the first missionaries...

"He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." 

Matthew 10:39

But despite that knowledge, I had the unbreakable idea in my mind that the hardest thing about my mission would be homesickness. I thought I would have to fight tooth and nail to never think about or talk about or remember my family. I figured that if I didn't think about them, then I wouldn't be able to miss them. So that was my initial plan, I was going to go 18 months without thinking about them at all.

If you have even glanced at my blog for just a few moments, you would know that I did not succeed in that particular endeavor. I think about and talk about and blog about my family often. They are a huge motivation for me and I have found thinking about them in terms of my love for them and my desire to be an eternal family with them has helped me to be cheerful and to keep going in this hard and amazing work I am engaged in.

Last night we were visiting with our Bishop (the ecclesiastical leader of our local congregation) and he asked Sister Barnes and me a question, he said "What has been the most surprising thing about your mission?" I thought about it for a second and I realized that the most surprising thing has been that I haven't been homesick.

Of course I love and miss my family, and I would love to be at my aunt's wedding this weekend or to be there for my great-grandpa's funeral. But I haven't really been homeSICK. It has never been debilitating, that I can recall. In all of my 6 months away from home I don't remember curling up in a ball and wishing I could be home.

I believe that is because the promise that the Savior made didn't mean we were supposed to lose the person we've always been. It meant that as we focus on doing the work of Heavenly Father the blessings that we have already been given (like our families) will be enriched and magnified.

I'm grateful for...

I've be contemplating gratitude a lot lately (go figure), and I was flipping through the Hymn book this morning and I came across this hymn.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one, 
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings—wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Count Your Blessings, 241 

Someone pointed the line, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done, out to me the other day and it has struck me ever since. When I think about my blessings, would I be surprised? Do I really recognize the Lord's hand in my life. So I've decided to share a list with you of some of the blessings in my life.

My parents found each other and chose to get married and start a family.

My little Sister, one of my best friends.

Fellow missionaries who are all so willing to serve the Lord.

Fun times with family!

Late night math homework with one of my other best friends!

Cupcake decorating!

My red shoes that brighten up 
even the most gloomy day away from home.

Our fan that creates great white
noise that allows me to sleep peacefully.

My scriptures, I am so blessed to have the word of God (including the Holy Bible and The Book of Mormon) so readily available to me!

My Savior, Jesus Christ made it possible for me to live Eternally with Heavenly Father, my family, and Him eternally.

 I know that this is just a short list of the many blessings I have. Try making a list for yourself and see how many things you can find that you have that Heavenly Father has blessed you with. It may surprise you to see what the "Lord hath done."

Grandpa Frank

This is my grandpa Kent and his dad, my grandpa Frank, at his 101st birthday party in January 2011. My great-grandpa was born in January of 1910 and he lived to be 101 years and 10 months old. I got a call yesterday from my mission "mom" (our mission president's wife) telling me that he passed away. I was surprised to hear that he had gone. I had sort of known to expect it. When I said goodbye to him in May, I imagined it would be the last time I would get to see him in this life, but at the same time there was a part of me that imagined that he would be around forever. 

The more I think about that though, the more I realize that that idea that has been in my head all of these years is true. He will be around forever, all of us will.

Now here is the part where people begin to roll their eyes and say, well of course, he's in heaven now, or he's in a better place. I know that he is in a sort of heaven now, which is a better place. I know that because I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and in it, a prophet of God, Alma states,

"Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

"And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow."

Alma 40:11-12

I know that Sunday night, my great grandpa's spirit was taken home to Heavenly Father. I know that he was a good man who lived a good life, I know that because of that he will be able to enjoy some peace and rest. I also know that he never fully accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ in his lifetime. So I know that he now has the opportunity to learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father's plan of happiness.* I know that in the future sacred ordinance work such as baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost will be done for him by proxy in the Lord's temples and he will be given the choice whether or not to accept that work done for him.

I know that if he chooses to accept Heavenly Father's plan and keep His commandments he will be able to live forever with Heavenly Father and Jesus and his family in heaven someday. I know that I will be able to be there with him too, as long as I do everything I can to accept Heavenly Father's plan now and keep His commandments.

How Is Your Faith?

So some crazy things happened last week...

A week ago Monday we got a phone call from our Mission President, he informed us that Sister Franson has been called by the Lord to serve in Clarksville with a new missionary that would be arriving the upcoming Wednesday. After he talked to Sister Franson for a bit he said to me, "Sister Anderson, how is your faith?" He proceeded to tell me that I will be staying where I am and I will be getting a new companion.

Since that phone call, all of the things that President told us would happen has happened. Sister Franson is in Clarksville and Sister Barnes is here. It has been a long week. But it's been good. I just keep coming back to that question he asked right before he gave us the big news."Sister Anderson, how is your faith?" I've spent a lot of time pondering why he asked me that question and what my response would have been if I had had some time to seriously formulate my answer. (The response I managed to come up with at the time was, "it's good...")


One thing I've done is look up a bunch of scriptures on faith, these are some of my favorites.

Faith is so important, that is why it is the *first principle of the gospel because without it everything else would be meaningless. I know I wouldn't be out here declaring the word of the Lord to strangers without faith. Without faith I likely would have had some sort of panic attack when I found out that suddenly my companion was leaving me and a new person whom I didn't know would come in her place.

It is my faith that helps me to get up everyday at 6:30 to serve the Lord. It is my faith that leads me to work hard every day far outside of my comfort zone. It is my faith that helps me know that it is okay that I am away from my family right now, because I have faith that Heavenly Father will let us live together for eternity in Heaven if we do what He asks of us.

I know that my faith is more than just blind hope, because I have many times received a "witness after the trial of [my] faith." Sometimes I do have to take a step into the dark relying completely on my faith that things will work out. But I know it will, because I know that I can rely on Christ "who is mighty to save."

So I guess that's my partial answer to President's question. I know my faith will continually grow and change as I go through this mortal experience, but I know that as I keep my faith in Jesus Christ it will always be where it needs to be.