On Mon, May 26, 2014 at 10:59 PM, Tahei Anderson wrote:

This week has been so great! Miracles, miracles every single day!

I think that is something my mission has taught me. That if we simply have faith , and act,  we will see the hand of God in our lives, His tender mercies. We will see them every single day. We will see MANY each day. 

It is simple. Yet, miracles cease because we lack faith. ( Mormon 9)

I will tell you one of the miracles which happened this week also.

This week I was sick for a few days and we were inside. I didn’t understand why I was sick out of nowhere. It was frustrating and hard for my companion and I to be positive about it all because we had plans set up for the day. But, my companion still worked as I was sick. She did area book calls.

She called a young man, who was a former investigator, and he agreed to meet with us.

Two days later, we met with him. He is a very nice person and had a lot of questions.

He said to us " Who told you to call me? Because the day before, I prayed to God for help and then you called me the very next day!"

When he said this, my companion and I looked at each other. Seriously, the Lord’s timing is so perfect. He knows the work inside out because it is His work.

There was a reason why I was sick that day.

My companion and I then testified to him that It was because God is his Father and loves him. He wants to help him and this was a sign that he wants to help him.

He had this experience once before- the missionaries started meeting with them and then he stopped. He told us that he just wanted to be Happy and then prayed to God and then we called!. He said that  The Lord keeps leading him back to " this church " and he has no idea why.

He doesn’t understand why some people who do not belong to this church can still be happy and why he cant be like them." Why does God keep leading me to you and this church?". 

We testified to Him that This Church is true. That The Lord has revealed His Plan Of Happiness through His prophets.

Only The Gospel and living it will bring him " true happiness" Happiness that will never die or fade away. Happiness that will last not only in this life but in the eternities. Eternal Happiness.

It is found in This Church. The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints. And that is why God keeps leading Him here. It is the Straight and narrow path to Eternal life-eternal happiness.

The Spirit was in this lesson and I could see that he has a desire to change and to follow God. 

How blessed we are to be on the straight and narrow path that leads to true happiness  and Eternal Life. I testify along with my brother Elder Anderson,  that nothing makes us happier than helping others  who are our brothers and sisters - and guiding them to this beautiful path.

It is a beautiful thing to see Christ call His Sheep, and seeing them follow Him.

I testify that Jesus Christ, The Holy Shepherd knows His sheep -the lost and the found. He will often send one of us to rescue them.

Let us be His helpers.

I love you xxx

Sister Anderson

Hello family! :)

I am doing great . I continue to see miracles and my relationship with my Heavenly Father is getting stronger. I know without a doubt that He is really Our Father and that He loves us. Im grateful that through prayer and the scriptures we can truely receive answers to our problems and concerns.

Our investigator is slowly progressing and we found out that he is actually a manager of a tea company! After our lessons with him, he didn’t feel ready and wants to postpone the baptism. He still has the desire to be baptised but doesnt feel ready just yet.

I tesified to him that he can know if The Word of Wisdom is a Commandment from God if He prays and comes to know That  Jospeh Smith is A Prophet of God and I promised him blessings.  He said " Okay, I will need some time, but I will pray to know if He is a prophet." We know that its going to be hard for him and after our lesson, my companion and I prayed together to know what we can do to help him. We had a feeling that we should pass him over to the elders to teach. We dont know why, but I do know that Heavenly Father knows hiss heart and what He needs and so we will be doing that this week. 

My testimony grows each day as I study to know what it is that each of our investigators need and how can I help them. I know that we can know how to help our brothers and sisters, our wife and husbands, and our family, through prayer and through the scriptures. :)

Cectpa Anderson

I love you my family. You are so special to me!  So good to skype you all on Monday.  You made me laugh so much, I loved it - and your accents are soooo straight, I didn’t realise how strong New Zealand accents are and how strong mine must sound here. 

28 April 14

Hey family!!

It looks beautiful in Pukehina!!

Its summer here right now and it is so beautiful!

We went out to the cellos last week and it honestly felt like I was

in Pukehina! Paradise!

So I’m getting transferred this week! I will be with a sister from the Donetsk mission ( their mission has been closed now so they are officially a part of the Kyiv mission!) and we will be serving as Sister Training Leaders in Nova Dornetsa east of Kyiv. I am so excited!  She’s a hard worker so I’m looking forward to serving with her!

 This week has been amazing.  We were able to meet with a babyshka in the park who just needed someone to talk to. She opened up straight away to us and started crying and told us what is troubling her and that she has lost all hope in life, in God.

 She was searching for peace in her life but doesn't believe she can find it. We bore testimony of The Gospel of Jesus Christ and that she can find peace in the message we have and that this is what she is looking for. I know that she had felt the Spirit as we looked into her eyes and as we comforted her.

She thanked us with tears in her eyes but did not accept our invitation and left. We felt so sad because we knew this was an opportunity the Lord had given her to find peace in her life. Although she didn't accept, I felt the Love of our Heavenly Father for this babyshka and He sent us to help her.

I know The Lord knows each of His children and it has been so beautiful to see the ways in which He shows His love to them. Im grateful to be a missionary and to be involved in such a marvelous work, a work of miracles and an outpouring of God’s love for His children.  

I love you all! Have an amazing week!

Love Sister Anderson

Happy Birthday Pepe!

Family, this week has been great! 

We had a huge conference with all the missionaries from Donetsk Mission and the zones from Kyiv. There were so many missionaries! Among them was my beautiful companion from the MTC - Sister Farmer.  I cannot describe the feelings I had as we reunited !! I gave her the biggest hug ever! It was a beautiful experience. We were both filled with emotion and tears.

I had been hoping and praying that I would get to see her again someday .  Heavenly Father answered my prayer. It  truly was a miracle! :) She is the sweetest, and it would be a dream come true if I got to serve with her again! The Donesk missionaries have been transferred here in Kyiv Mission. They are now part of our mission!

 This week we got a phone call from a babyshka  

( cute grandma, reminds me of Nanny Margret).  We had met outside on a bench and gave her a Book of Mormon a few weeks ago. 

She called us up and said " I made you some bleencheeki ( Ukrainian food). Meet me out in the park". This was a huge miracle  from the Lord and an answer to our prayers to teach and testify of the Restoration of the Gospel that day. We had a cute little picnic with her and were able to teach her about prayer . She wants us to go and help her with her potato garden. Opportunity to serve! We have a great relationship with her. She gets lonely. She loves that she can talk with us and be her friend, especially being young. I love these babyski. They are the cutest in the world!

Miracles are happening everyday of my mission. I could write pages and pages of the miracles that happen each day! It would take me forever! It is my simple testimony that God is a God of Miracles. 

Miracles do happpen. They are all around us. They happen everyday. And Faith is a big part of that. When we have Faith in Christ, we can work wonders and miracles! (Mormon 9:19)

Before I go.  Happy Birthday to my beautiful little girl!  I love you my Pepe! Hugs and kisses from me! I find it really funny how Elder Anderson and I go through similar experiences. It has also been a struggle for me  and I do miss her so much... A few days ago I was in personal study, reading the Book of Mormon. All of a sudden, all these memories of Pepe came flooding through my mind. I then realised that it was her birthday that day! 

I sat there contemplating on how much of a blessing she has been in my life and how  she makes me happy and how much of an example she is of what it means to be like a child - full of love, humble and like our Saviour. 

Her attributes are the attributes I am striving for as a missionary . I felt a deep love and appreciation for her and felt as though Heavenly Father wanted me to never forget her and the beautiful gift He has given to our family. I felt like The Lord wanted me to realise how much He loves little children - especially Pepe.

How blessed we are to have her xxx

 Im so grateful to be her older sister x

Love you x

Sister Anderson

This week...

My precious family !

First of all thank you so much for your fasting and prayers. It made me cry as I read that you had been praying and fasting for me as I have been unwell.

I can testify that we do have a loving Heavenly Father who answers our prayers. I know that He loves us. Thank you so much for praying for me and fasting for me, so now,  I can serve with all my heart might mind AND strength. I love you so much family. You are the best!!

Second, our mission just doubled in number of missionaries!  The whole entire Donetsk Mission( Elder Walmsley's mission) that is 96 missionaries,  got evacuated from Donetsk and moved into our mission for the time being. 

So on Friday they arrived! And in Brovary we recieved another set of Elders! That is 8 missionaries in a branch of 40-60 members ! And in some wards in central Kyiv they have like 21 missionaries in just one ward! Kyiv wont know what just hit them! haha. 

It's great to have so many missionaries and tomorrow we will have a conference with Donetsk Mission and Kyiv mission joined!!   Its so awesome because I get to see my companion from the MTC again!!  And my whole Zone from the MTC! what are the chances of that?!! They are not sending missionaries into Ukraine at the moment and they are trying their absolute best to keep the missionaries in Ukraine as long as they can and as circumstances will allow. So, things are very interesting here at the moment! 

General Conference was amazing! I loved President Packers talk  click here to hear it   about His witness of the Saviour. I received a lot of answers and reminders of how I can fulfill my purpose as a missionary and become a better person. 

I have a strong tesimony that we can receive answers to our prayers through The words of Living Prophets and Apostles. There words are like scripture.  Just like my brother Elder Anderson  said , They are truly Special Witnesses of Jesus Christ. 

I know that our Saviour lives. I see His love as I serve the people here. Thank you for your amazing examples my family! Study and ponder the words from this conference and let them become a part of your lives. I know that The Lord will bless our homes, families and  every aspect of our lives if we do so.

Love you all so much!!

Love Sister Anderson xxxx

The Lord will either " lead us to them, or He will lead them to us "

Seriously, where do I start?? This week has been so incredible. I love going out and talking to people. I have my moments where it takes so much courage to approach others and talk with them, and then somedays it will be so easy and I feel like I just want to do it all day! Yesterday, we went out and contacted for 4 hours, while on our way to contacting former investigators and stopping by less- actives. The weekends are great opportunities for proselyting and teaching when families  are home.

So last night, we were on our way to find this former investigator. We walked up the street and we were almost at her apartment. Then I had this feeling to turn around and walk back. I walked a few steps and I still had this feeling. So I told my companion how I felt and we turned around. As we were walking up the street I was looking around and thinking to myself " Who is it that we must talk to or what is it that we must do?" 

And then just out of nowhere, I saw this young man approaching me, he was  from Africa about 25yrs. We both looked at each other like we knew each other and he greeted me with a big " Heyy! How are you doing!!" in English. 

Seriously it was like we had already met each other before! His name is Joe and is from Nigera. He would get along so well with our new converts from Africa.We invited him to our English practice and to church on Sunday and he said he will come!

I know that The Lord will place people in our path everyday that are being prepared to receive the Gospel. My mission President emphasised the words " Being prepared " because many missionaries get discouraged that every contact or conversation they have doesn't turn into a 'baptism' or that they cant see immediate results of their efforts.

Being prepared means that they will eventually receive the Gospel. It could be right now. It may take them a few months. It may take them a few years or even decades. We just always need to be ready and in tune with the Spirit because The Lord will either " lead us to them, or He will lead them to us ". He will guide us by the Spirit if we are humble and ready to listen. I have found that is always the case in missionary work . Humility is so important! Whenever I have tried to do things my own way, it never works! We will only be successful if we do it the Lords way .

 How can we know His way?

Im so grateful for the Scriptures, for The teachings of the Prophets, For the example of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, The Restoration of The Gospel , Temples, that teach us of the Lords ways and of His Love for each of us. My testimony of these things has grow so much over the past 5 months I have been out on my mission. Wow, how time flies! Ill be reaching my 6 month mark very soon! Love you!!!!

Love Sister Andersonxxxx

$100 note...

It has been a big week! We had mission conference which was so inspirational! 

I received a confirmation there that my Mission President , President Kleibingat has been called by God to help us missionaries fulfill our purpose and to direct the work here in the Ukraine , Kyiv mission. Just like my brother Elder Anderson, I love my mission President! I'm very grateful for him. 

So, ill be here in Bovary for another transfer and I'm really looking forward to it. I love Brovary. Its a small cute town east of Kyiv.

We have a few recent converts here. Two of them are from Africa. They speak english. They are about 23, 24yrs and dont have very much . Last night, we went to their new apartment with the other missionaries.  A member had helped them move, and all they had were two bags full of clothes and a few other things. There apartment was bare . My heart really went out to them.

As my companion and I prayed last night about what we could do to help them in some way, my mind come across an experience I had when I was travelling to Ukraine out of the MTC. I came across a man in the Detroit airport. He was about 50yrs or so and looked like a wealthy man. I started talking to him and turns out he was a member- a faithful member. 

He had served a mission and his children also served missions. Just before I boarded the plane, he hands me a  US $100 note and says " Now, I want you to keep this until you come across someone or a family who really needs this and who you feel impressed to give it to.  Please do this for me. "

I felt really good about this and that these two young boys  really needed it and that this man, who I have never met before has been an answer to someones need and prayer. So today we went out and got them some cutlery for their home, some pots and plates, a picture of the Savior framed and a few other things. 

The other missionaries have also contributed  and the branch are going to help out too. Tonight we will have a family home evening with them and  give it to them. Im so excited for it! :)  I love serving others and helping them come closer to The Lord. It is the greatest feeling :) I love you all! and miss yous!

Love Sister Anderson xxx

Feeling the Spirit as a young man testifies of the Saviour...

Just a short one today my family! 

It was such a beautiful spring day today! Its getting a little warmer, all the snow has melted and its heating up! Soon I wont have to wear my big puffy jacket.

On Tuesday I had to go into downtown Kyiv to do registration, which is down the road from where the shooting happened. 

It was very sad to see the effects of what happened in central Kyiv. A lot of buildings have been ruined and burned down and there is just a big mess everywhere.The whole situation has calmed right down though. 

Things are looking like they are clearing up! Its still a little dangerous down south of Ukraine and they had to remove all the missionaries there but everything looks okay where I am in little Brovary. Such a  blessing. The Lord is watching out for us :) 

On the way back from registration, we caught the metro train and a young man about 23yrs walked in  and sat down. My companion and I had immediate impressions to talk to him. So we did and found out he is a really religious person and he started sharing with us his testimony of The Savior.

I have never felt the spirit so strong from a non member before, as he bore his testimony of The Savior. It was so powerful. My companion and I felt it.

We introduced him to and bore our testimonies of The Book Of Mormon and the Message of The Restoration. We are hoping to meet him tomorrow and pass him on to the Elders. I know that every person is given the light Of Christ and that " The Light Of Christ will lead the honest soul who ' hearkeneth to the voice' to find the true Gospel and true church ."

Our job as missionaries, members and teachers is  " making contact with the Spirit of Christ already there. "  - Preach my Gospel 

I love missionary work! Im grateful for the constant companionship of The Holy Ghost. It is truly a gift from The Lord, to have a member of The Godhead by your side each and everyday so long as we are worthy of it. What a blessing. :)

Love you all so much xx

 Sister Anderson

The faith of a young father in Ukraine...

Hey my family! How is everything going?

Things are doing okay back here. Its been a tough week but Im so grateful for The Gospel Of Jesus Christ that can give us comfort and peace through these troubling times. 

We have been in and out of our apartment due to whats happening in Ukraine, nevertheless, miracles never cease when you have faith!

On Tuesday we did some former investigator contacting. Despite the fact that none of them were home, we talked to everyone we saw on the way and had some very good conversations with people, invited them to our  English classes, church and gave out some pamphlets and invited a babushka to church! Its amazing to see The Lord put people in your way when you are doing your best to bring " Souls to Him". 

My companion and I were walking to English that night when we came to an intersection. We crossed and noticed a car stuck in the middle of the road with a young Mother and her little children in there. She was so stressed out and didnt know what to do. She had stalled! My companion and I turned around and walked out on the Road and asked if she needed help. 

There were lines and lines of cars at the back of her and on the other side of the road. She opened the door and said  Yes please!!" We helped push her car about 10 metres into a car park . It was a pretty cool moment and pretty funny pushing the car in our skirts! haha. My companion and I couldn't stop smiling . Her little daughter about Anataria's age was standing at the back looking out the window at us, smiling! It was so cute! That made my day :) 

We pushed her car into the parking lot, and she got out and said " Sank you!" She couldn't stop thanking us and was so grateful for what we had done. We got her number and invited her to our English practice and to church. I know that it wasn't a coincidence that we were there, at that moment to help this lady. I know the Lord will put opportunity before us to serve people if we just pray for them and look for them. that was an answer to our prayers that day to just serve someone.

Yesterday, we got to church and our members looked really down and sad about whats happening to their country. The Sisters and I planned to do something that night to uplift their Spirits. So we went around to all the members homes last night and sang some hymns and dropped them off some treats. 

They appreciated that so much and thanked us so much. 

We sang to a young father and his family who is so concerned about it all and it really uplifted them. The young father, Sasha said " It makes us happy when you are here. We are so happy that you are still here with us. We know that if you are still here, we will be okay ". It made us realize that there is a power and Spirit within missionary work and our calling as Missionaries. And that wherever the Lord decides to put missionaries is a blessing and strength to that area.

 Thank you for taking care of the Sister missionaries in our ward! :) Thank you Polly for all your work that you're doing. Im so proud of you my family! 

I love this work. Im so grateful to serve here in Ukraine. Its really tough here at the moment but I know That The Lord will guide and protect us. I know That Jesus Christ is our Saviour and that there is no suffering, no affliction , no pain , no trial that we go through  that is not swallowed up through His Atonement.

 I love My Saviour and I have felt Him so close on my mission  . He is in this work and He Directs it. He knows it. I know He knows each and everyone of us and understands everything we go through.

I love you my family. You are amazing. Keep up your missionary efforts.

Thank you so much for your email, I needed that dad,  It  really uplifted me :) thank you x

Yes President Klebingat has been communicating with us, I spoke to him on Tuesday.  Hes the best dad, I love President -he is on the outlook for us giving us updates through our district leaders.

Dad, dont worry okay, everything will be okay, President told me you wrote him, is that right dad??

Im glad to have a protective daddy :) So yeah dont worry Dad, If things get worse dad, 

all the missionaries will be moved out of Ukraine and into the State side missions in The US. 

But thats the very last option.   So dont worry dad, President has his plans. But I think everything will clear up soon and it will be okay :)

How are you? Hows the family? :) haha love the photos! :)

Thank you for all your prayers :) keep your heads up and keep smiling! :)

Love Cectpa Anderson

An interesting week...

This week was really intense and crazy! Its really sad whats happening here and everyone is being affected by it. We were on lockdown for 3 days this week. From Tuesday  to Friday night, we were not allowed out of our apartments.

Its okay in public right now but there is a big gathering going on just down the road from us and our appointment /lesson with a member has been canclled tonight because of it. Its just really sad.

The other night was crazy, we went to the store to get food to last us the three days or even more if it went for so long and the supermarket was packed! Everyone was going crazy, stocking food, all the bread and almost all the milk was gone, it felt like the world was going to end or something. It was scary, but we are okay now.

On Wednesday they closed down all the roads in Kyiv and the metro trains (that go under the ground) which made the situation worse and people were parachuting into Kyiv!

All the roads to Brovary were closed. People have built barricades everywhere, taking over government buildings. 

A lot of people have been killed as a result and its so sad, they have like a candle lit display down the road in the centre of Brovary.

Just a few days ago, people were pulling all their money out of the ATM machines and there were lines. Its calmed down a bit, but you never know!

We have power but we have this emergency plan that if the government was to turn it off or even we lost service for cell phones for more than 24 hours, the elders  from my district will come to our apartment and we will meet at the chapel with the other missionaries and go straight to where the mission office is. We have a day pack to take in which I have my journals and other precious things.

The police are all out of town! All the police stations in Kyiv are closed because they are out trying to deal with the 4000 plus protestors in Kyiv etc.

Theres also tanks  and that there

I hear gun shots all the time, but they are not so much in Brovary but coming from Kyiv yes, missionaries in central Kyiv about 16kms away are hearing gunshots from their apartment all the time - they are in lockdown right now.

Most people have been really affected by it, and the members cannot stop talking about it

and are very passionate when it is being discussed.  There are some  who are not so bothered and think it will end soon, but others think  this is the only beginning! 

I havent seen the army! But Ive seen an army truck on the side of the  street.

Being stuck inside for three days was fun! And it was so weird having so much time!

We studied, watched church movies, mormon messages and ordered pizza!  There were two other sister missionaries who stayed with us for those days, because they came for a mission conference and it was cancelled.

Heavenly Father has really been watching over us, we avoid all the dark places and only go the lighted areas. 

The amazing thing is, I am here where I have been sent by the Lord.  I'll stay here happily as long as he wants me here.

Love you my family

Sister Anderson

Letter from 17 Feb 2014

Im doing so good family. Just a quick one. I have learnt alot about the principle of Accountability this week and accounting all my efforts each day to the Lord through Prayer.

I have noticed the difference in my attitude to missionary work and the way I do things. I feel responsibility to fulfill my calling to the best I can.

In Preach my Gospel, it talks about accountability and that its a principle that influences how we begin, how we feel about the responsibility the Lord has given us. I have come to know this is true. 

When I give the Lord an accounting of every activity I do each day and what I will do tomorrow, He helps me to see things I didn't realize that day, blessings,  and things I did good, as well as things which I can do better. I have grown such a strong relationship with the Lord over the past week by doing this and it is something I want to continue to do every single day of my life. I know we can receive revelation and direction in our lives as we account to the Lord what we do each day. 

He will Listen to us. He will help us know what to do and give us direction in our lives.

I know that one day we will all be accountable for the time and opportunities The Lord has given us.

I know that if we live this principle, when Judgement day comes, we will be able to stand before The Lord with a clear conscience. Alma 12.

Im so grateful for The Atonement of Jesus Christ that allows us to improve each day and help draw us Closer to The Lord.

I love this work!

Love you all! xxx

Sister Anderson

Catchup by Dad

Sorry everyone for the lack of blog posts.

I will keep up from now on.

I won't try to catch up because it will take half a day.

Here are the main points I can recall:

• Sister Anderson and Sister Robinson opened an English tutoring service in Odessa and has success in meeting new contacts.  Their class had up to 40 each week.
• The temperature got as cold as -20c.
• Their fridge was broken but they just sat the cold food on the outside ledge of their fourth story apartment.

Sister Anderson loves the food.  She speaks lovingly of a loaf of chocolate filled bread!?

There is a dish that tastes like boilup.

Sister Anderson loves the members in her ward in Odessa.  They are a beautiful people.

Sister Anderson was assigned back to the outskirts of Kiev last week or so.  It is much colder being 500ks north.  She misses her new companion, sister Robinson of Peru.

She loves her new companion from Utah who is a chef.

Sister Anderson has realised that her language is going very well, as she needs to assist her new companion with the language at times.  

Sister Anderson has a wonderful appreciation of the gospel of Jesus Christ and we love to hear from her each week. Her testimony of the Book of Mormon has strengthened remarkably.  She witnessses the working of God in her life every single day as she works to bring the truths of the restored gospel to  His beloved children.

We miss this girl.

Thanks

Dale