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