A Word About Eating Heathy, FAIL!

​Week 5: 

Only four more weeks to go!!

In one month, I will finally be serving the people in Taiwan. I feel like the language has been coming slow, but I always look at the new missionaries and think about how I used to be on there level of Chinese. This week we have set new goals, to Speak Your Language every Tuesday and Friday. I feel like I know enough Chinese to make it through the day, but I know once I’m in the field, I won’t know anything. The MTC has been making new rules and some of them I don't understand. Now, our Zone isn't allowed to have district prayer and we are now assigned what to ponder in our pondering time on Sunday, instead of letting us chose. Always adding rules. I just have to remember, obey today, understand tomorrow.

A couple days ago, I ate a family size bag of extra hot Cheetos and I felt sick for a couple days. It was amazing. Then when I felt better, I ate another family bag of extra hot Funyuns. Then I proceeded to go to dinner and ate 3 entrees and 3 bowls of Frosted Mini Wheats. My district always talk about how I’m able to eat this much food. I’ve been gaining so much weight (Sorry mom and dad).

My good friend, Elder Fullerton left to Indianapolis last week and I forgot to include him in my last email!! I hope you are doing well and finding Joy bringing people to Christ. See you in 2.

Elder Andersen

耶穌基督後期聖徒教會

Note from Jacobs Mom:

*Unfortunately, I wasn't able to open the pictures that Jacob sent this week. I took the liberty of finding some and adding it in.  Just know I'm not recommending nor endorsing any of it.  

Come To The Edge

Week 4:

This picture was texted to me {Elder Andersen's mom) today by a stranger that was visiting the Provo Temple. What perfect timing as I didn't receive any pictures from Elder Andersen this week. Thank you to this kind person. THANK YOU SO MUCH! This makes me so happy.

What a great group of missionaries.  Elder Andersen is far right.  He is taking a look at the back of his eyelids, but smiling.  :)

Onto Elder Andersen's Letter for the week:

I'm now 1 month down and almost halfway through the MTC. It's also getting cooler and there has been a cold spreading. luckily, I don't have it yet.

Recently, I set new goals to memorize 35 Chinese words and phrases a day. This is especially hard because that means I'll have to be studying in during every second of my free time, which includes meal times. Recently, I've found a way to make studying time more enjoyable and how I can memorize words more easily. I've always prioritized studying chinese over personal scripture study. Once I switched that, I was able to invite the spirit while studying. Making learning chinese a more spiritual experience than a stressful experience has helped me alot in the past couple days. I am so thankful for the gift of tongues. I know that I wouldn't have been able to progress this far without it.

Yesterday, I watched a talk by Elder Holland, Your Mission is Forever. It is now my favorite talk because he talked to me about the worthiness of missionaries. He mentioned a German story that went something like this:

Come to the edge

     no, we are going to fall off

Come to the edge

     no, we are going to fall off

Come to the edge

     we came to the edge

He pushed us off

      and we flew

There are many interpretations of this, but I look at it as a missionary's ability. Many think that they won't reach their full potential, but when they work their hardest, God will bless you to far exceed your goal.

My companion and I have been getting along better (Not that we don't get along). Our unity in preparing and presenting our lessons have been getting so much better. There has been a steady progression of improvement in our teaching skills. We were both able to watch an unreleased district video for missionary training. When we were interviewed about the video, I completely forgot the english word for companion. I told the sister interviewing us the importance of teaching with 我的同伴。That was awkward.

I love you all

Elder Andersen

耶穌基督後期聖徒教會

The Book of Mormon is NOT about childbirth...

Week 3:

Hey Everyone!!

Another challenging week at the MTC. Yesterday I was released from District leader and assigned to be an Online Coordinator, which is funny because I’m in the only chinese district that don't have ipads. As an online coordinator, I have to teach new missionaries how to use their ipads responsibly. Our district is disappointed because other missionaries with our same missions have ipads for the MTC. I’m still praying hard for the gift of tongues. Some days I feel like a fluent speaker while some, I feel like I only know 10 words.

My time at the MTC is starting to move much faster as I’m getting more used to the busy schedule and become more in tune with the spirit. Last night, I was able to watch the Joseph Smith movie. It always amazes me how much he was able to accomplish at such a young age; even when it seemed like everyone wanted to kill him and destroy the church. The spirit during the video was so strong and confirmed to me that Joseph Smith was a true prophet and did translate the Book of Mormon, restoring the gospel to its glory.

Many Elders from our Zone today. Definitely a bittersweet moment for everyone. We had a ceremony where we passed down some ‘ancient chinese relics’ to new missionaries. Some items being a dragon scroll, a 1000 year old spoon, some pink crocs, and a tie with aids. Oh and I can't forget to talk about the banjo man. That ritual has scared me for life. We should be getting 3 new elders this week, which means there will be plenty of open showers in the morning.

This week I was able to teach some fake investigators that were native chinese speakers. The first lesson went really well but the second one was rough. Apparently I confused the second investigator because I was telling her that the Book of Mormon was about childbirth. My chinese is so good… Maby I’ll have a better experience with teaching by next pday.

Elder Andersen

耶穌基督後期聖徒教會

Elder Andersen's famous pose lives on.....

October 9, 2017: Almost Two Weeks in the MTC

Week 2:

Hello Everyone!!

In front of the Provo, Temple

Quick thanks to everyone that sent me emails / pictures this week. It means alot to me, even when I completely forgot who you are and it takes me a while to remember. Haha. There are so many emails to read and reply to. It would really help me out if you sent me emails from www.dearelder.com. (Unit number 147). That way the emails are printed and mailed to me. It would give me more time to respond to all your great messages.

I’ve survived my second week at the MTC, and I’ve already learned so many new things: Eating cereal for every meal is better than eating whatever deep fried dish they have, 8 hours of sleep is not enough, being “glued” to my companion exercises my patience, and most importantly, how important personal and companion study is. I’m not even able to explain how much my chinese has improved from. I’m now able to say my own personal prayers while understanding other people's prayers and testify in chinese. I still feel overwhelmed, but can definitely feel the gift of tongues working in me.

A couple days ago, one if the mandarin speaking missionaries did a backflip on flat ground, in our dorm. After, Elder Airoso, a 280lb elder who always had to one up everyone, tried to do a backflip and landed straight on his knees. He ended up cracking his knee cap. We thought he would have to be sent home. I’m not sure what his current condition is right now.

I feel like I wouldn’t be able to recognize myself from 3 weeks ago. If someone asked me what brought me happiness, I’d say Taco bell, Friends, and ghetto cars. Now I know that teaching (or in this case, getting prepared to teach) is what really brings me happiness. I wish I could write more, But I'm running out of time. I have to do my laundry now.

Keep the emails coming because they comfort me when I feel overwhelmed. Learning Chinese feels like getting kicked in the balls 24/7.

Elder Andersen

耶穌基督後期聖徒教會

October 2, 2017: First Letter from Elder Jacob Andersen

Week 1:

I've checked everyday for an email, granted he has only been in the MTC for 5 days, but it's here, it's finally here.  For those that don't know this will be the blog if you would like to follow Elder Andersen's mission.  He reported to the MTC on September 27, 2017 where he will be for 9 weeks.  From then he will fly off to Taipei, Taiwan and serve a total of two years.  It's bittersweet for me thinking it won't be for two years until I can wrap my arms around him again, but I couldn't be more proud of him and the choice he has made to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and teach others what he believes in.  

I'm still tweeking the blog as there is info I'd like to include on his blog page. I'm just having technical difficulty right now so until that happens, there isn't really any info on his actual blog page.  I didn't want to fall behind though so I went ahead and posted his first letter even though it's still in the design stages so don't worry Jacob, it'll get better.  :)  

So on to his first letter........

MY first P-day is finally here.

The first night was really rough. I have a clock that resets itself at midnight to the atomic time. My clock changed to the wrong time zone and when it went off, some of my roomates started to take showers. We became very suspicious of why none of the other rooms were awake. We checked another clock and it was actually 4:30am. My roomates still remind me of this incident.

Learning Chinese has been a struggle these past few days. By the second day, our district was expected to say prayers in Chinese and by the third day, my companion and I had to teach our first investigator, who didn't understand any English. Lets just say that our lesson didn't go as planned. There is nowhere to go but up from here. I've been studying really hard and am suprised how much I know compared to when I first reported to the MTC. My companion, Elder Pilling is super funny and is from Canada. 

General conferece was a blast. This is the first time that I've watched all Saturday and Sunday sessions in full. The preisthood session stood out to me because many of the principles applied to me as a missionary. Another part that stood out to me was when the congregation was invited to sing with the choir. Countless missionaries inviting the spirit almost put me to tears. 

I have also been called to be a district leader. With this call, I have been trying to set a better example by getting ready and arriving to classes on time, making sure we are setting enough time to study Chinese and our scriptures, and practicing EXACT obedience. These last days have been so hard but I know that the Lord will help me if I give it my all. 

The cafeteria food has been making me feel sick lately. I'm not sure how I'm going to live without tacobell and dominoes by my side. I'm in for a rough 9 weeks. 

I forgot my camera in my dorm so I'll try to send pictures later. I don't think I'll be able to though. expect many pictures next week. 

Elder Andersen

耶穌基督後期聖徒教會

Since Jacob did not have pictures for his first letter, I have included pictures of September 27, 2017, the day he checked into the MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Provo, Utah.

Jacob is in the middle.  On the left is his brother who returned last October from his mission in Melbourne, Australia.  Even with the second it does not get easier.   They each brought their own chaos to the family and I miss it. I am on the right, his mom.  Just like Jordan, I know that Jacob will be a great missionary.  

Always a mom.  At least I didn't wipe spit on my fingers and try to groom his hair or wipe something off his face.  Just say'n.  

Thank you for to my family for coming to support Jacob.  

And just like that, he is gone.