ALOHA OE

This is IT. Memories, experiences, and lessons learned are flying through my mind from these last marvelous 18 months. How do I wrap it up all in one email?

I'm afraid I do not have much to say in this final email. I now understand what Jeremy, then Elder Annen, had been talking about just before he left. Have I done enough?

I am SO happy that it's bursting out of my mouth as laughter and bursting out of my eyes as tears.

All I can say is that I love my Heavenly Father. I love Him so much.

All of my love each of you and ALOHA,

Sister Annen

Life is Good

Ni hau and aloha everbody!

This week was packed full of great, wonderful things. The goodness in my life really just never ends and it's a day in day out kind of a thing. Whether I deserve it or not, I have a testimony that "men are, that they might have joy".

I had my exit interview with President Warner on Saturday. It was so great and so needed! We talked and talked about my mission, and lessons I have learned, and experiences I have had, and my goals for the future. He gave me the most wonderful advice for my life ahead and he helped me to be just excited for life. He helped me to see that rather than being sad about leaving my mission, how happy I can be to live what I have learned these past 18 months. We finished at 3:40 pm, just in time to race to our dear Brian's baptism at 4:00!

Yes, Brian was baptized last Saturday! It was such a wonderful day. His uncle Travis just received his priesthood after years of inactivity and so he was able to baptize Brian. It was such a special day for the both of them. It was so wonderful and I felt so blessed from Heavenly Father to have this experience at the end of my mission. I was also able to go to TWO call openings from two amazing girls whom I taught a year ago! It was such a special day to see them bear testimony and to be called to serve Heavenly Father. Bri is going to Washington Everett, and Pare is going to Baltimore Maryland! Both leaving April 23. I've been just overwhelmed at the blessings I have seen, especially as I have looked back on my mission hoping I did everything I could.

On Sunday, the Visitors' Center had a fireside with Brother Quinn who is a professor at the University of Michigan and was the MIssion President in Australia. It was fabulous! Wow I learned so much. Even with the huge amounts of people there, he told us that he would be specifically talking to the full-time missionaries. In the end, I felt like he really should have said, "I will be specifically talking to Sister Annen." because it was hand written for me! I needed to hear every word of it. As I talked with the other missionaries afterwards, they told me they felt he was speaking directly to them, and I thought, "but wait, he was speaking to ME!" Hey, that's what happens when the speaker is inspired of Heavenly Father. How grateful we all were to him. There are so many things I want to improve on as a missionary and listening to his talk helped me to know what I can do better. I wish I had more than one week to work on it that's all! But it's all good because I'm going to make this last week, the best week of my mission. 

After Brother Quinn spoke, they had me sing for the last time. I have never sung a solo before, and I was planning on singing with another sister. But it was unanimous (except for me, which isn't unanimous, but what can you do 100 to 1? :D) that I sing "Where Can I Turn for Peace" on my own. I was terrified! But as I sang, I just pretended I was teaching a lesson about the Atonement which I get to do everyday. And I survived! :) I was really glad I did it, even though I'm not sure I want to do it again :) haha we'll see. It was a great experience though.

You see what I mean by my life being packed full of wonderful things? Goodness, I feel like I'm dreaming everyday! Life is good.

I love you all so very much and don't you ever forget it!

xoxoxoxo

Sister Annen

Ni Hau!

Aloha nui loa!

How are we all today? I just have so much to say so here we go!

First off, this is a total shout out to my man Hunter Annen!! Alpine German-Speaking Mission?! YES! Wow I am so so happy for you and couldn't be prouder. I actually met a couple whose oldest son was called there and will leave the same day as you! I wonder if you'll ever be companions. You know what's cool is that I have an investigator that I'm teaching online right now who is in the Alpine German-Speaking Mission boundaries so maybe you'll get to meet her! I'm just so happy right now. Sharing the gospel is the greatest thing you could ever do Hunter boy. Way to be :)

I had my last Zone Conference last week. It was wonderful and also a bit emotional for me. Whenever it's your last zone conference, they have you bear your testimony and so I had the chance to go up and say a few things to my La'ie zone. I wasn't sure how to express all that I had learned and gained a testimony of in the last year and a half, but I got up there and pretty much cried and closed my crying in the name of Jesus Christ and sat down. Ha there had to be some words said in there, but I can't really remember. 

I can't say I've ever been applauded for after testifying at the Visitors' Center...til now :) ha remember how I was telling you about how I have been practicing my double testifying in Chinese for when the day came? Well, it CAME :) A group of about 30 Chinese came to the VC the other day and Sister Su began the lesson/tour by showing the Christus and teaching/testifying of the Savior. She always does an excellent job especially doing it all on her own without a companion to help her out! It's why Heavenly Father called us to go two by two because it's really hard otherwise! but when you don't speak Chinese...Sister Su does all the work. Ah I just love and respect her so much. 

Anyway, so she did a wonderful job, and then in Chinese, she told all of them that I would be saying something to them in Chinese. I could tell when she said that, because all of a sudden 60 beautiful Asian eyes stared right at me just shocked and waiting to hear what would come out of this white girl's mouth. I began my spiel by telling them my name was Sister Annen and that I was learning Chinese, and that I knew what Sister Su said was true. Three sentences! Nothing big! But once I thanked them in Chinese, this ROAR of applause filled the Christus room! It was unreal! Ha all of the sisters were in shock, I was in shock, it was the greatest moment of my life :)

Once everyone dispersed and started looking around on their own, this one Chinese woman came up to me and started talking to me...in Chinese! Ha since I had said a few words at the beginning, she figured I could speak fluently! So here I am just standing there staring at her hoping that I would just suddenly understand what she was saying; but I didn't, so I turned to Sister Su to save me and the woman said, "Oh...you don't understand?" I should've just stopped her at the beginning, come on Sister Annen, but that didn't happen. Sorry that was kind of a long story! But it was such a great day and I feel so blessed to be surrounded by so many of Heavenly Father's children from all over the world. I can see why He loves all of them so so much! Why wouldn't He? I mean, I've only met wonderful people in my life.

I love you all so much and just couldn't be prouder of all of you. I couldn't ask for better examples in my life. What did I do to deserve this :D

Hugs and Kisses!

much Aloha,

Sister Annen

Hale sweet Hale (home sweet home)

Aloha from LA'IE!!!

How grateful I am to be BACK! Oh my goodness I have missed it so. Laie is definitely my home away from home. Leaving the people in Aiea and Pearl City was one of the hardest things I've had to do; but being back here in Laie couldn't make me happier. I have gained such a testimony of the spirit of the temple and temple grounds (having not lived around it each and every day). I felt the spirit each day out in Aiea and I experienced miracles daily. I will be forever grateful for the lessons I learned there. With that, I gained such a testimony of my call to the Laie Temple Visitors' Center. It is a place that people take with them when they go back to their home. Heavenly Father blessed me to meet and to see people I had already met from the PCC and VC while I was out there. Whether I was out tracting, teaching, or at IHOP of all places! I met people who had not forgotten the way they felt during their stay at the Visitors' Center. I could share loads and loads of stories! but I will save them for next month.

So THIS transfer is my last transfer...And it has already gone by too quickly. My new companion is Sister Su and she is from Taiwan. I love her oh so much! Her English is incredible and I can't imagine having to learn another language to teach the gospel. She is pretty amazing; I can't wait for you to meet her. There are choke people from China who come to the VC, and so I get to see Sister Su in action by teaching the gospel in Mandarin. It's awesome! We stay with each other in tours if it's not busy and so I get to just stand, listen to Sister Su and smile at all the beautiful asian faces :) I feel so pathetic and useless sometimes to be honest! I wish I could speak Mandarin so badly! Haha I try to run around and grab any pamphlets or Book of Mormons for her in Mandarin if someone is interested in one. I'm her "water boy" in a sense, and if that is how Heavenly Father needs me to be a missionary, then I am more than happy to do it :) The other day I decided that I wanted to do more than just deliver pamphlets. I asked Sister Su to teach me how to say, "I know that was she says is true." in Mandarin in order for me to double testify of all she teaches. So during her language study to learn English, I've been learning my ONE phrase and I just got it down! Boy, it was tough :) But I did it! Man, no wonder they are so smart! Just communicating and getting the intonations right makes you breathe hard ha. Props to them. Here my phrase (just to help me get it down a little more) 'Wo dzu dow ta shuwo duh, shoo doy duh'. I haven't had the chance to say it yet, but Sister Su and I are just waiting for the chance :) Oh how I love sharing the gospel so much! Good thing that doesn't have to end at the end of this transfer.

She and I are living at the little beach house :) The same one I lived in when I first came out and the same one I lived in when I was training Sister Knudsen. And now here I am again at the same pad!
This morning, we went to the temple which made my whole week. Love the temple!

What else can I update you on. Hmm...OH! We have a new VC Director! Duh Sister Annen! Ha ya, that's been new! He's great guys. He was a mission president before, and so he's good. Of course I miss my dear Mcdonoughs though. They were here for most of my mission. But the VC will be left in wonderful and inspired hands. The other two senior couples whom I've come to just love so much are leaving around the same time as me. I'm so happy we all live in UTAH! The blessings from living in Utah :)

Anyway, goodness I'm sorry let me just explode on you guys! Ha I just gave you a bus load there. I hope it all made sense. I am just so happy to be here, back at the VC, with my dear companion Sister Su, in the Laie 2nd Ward. Life is good.

I love you nui loa! I am thrilled to hear about my dear future Elder Annen and where Heavenly Father needs him! Please record the call opening ya. I am so happy. A mission has been the greatest, hardest, most rewarding blessing Heavenly Father could have ever given me.

Talk to you soon! xoxo

Much Aloha,

Sister Annen

For the Birds

Aloha and happy Monday everyone!

How's it family? It sounds like it's been quite the week for all of you my goodness. Keep doing what you do and show the world what the Annens are made of :) Know that you have a number one fan on a little island called O'ahu.

This week was wonderful. Which is normal over here. Just last Sunday, Quinton Kamaunu, who just got baptized in December, received the priesthood!! It was the greatest sight to see as he stood up in his suit and the ward sustained him. He was beaming just like he did after he was baptized and after he received the gift of the Holy Ghost. Feeling the spirit just does that to people. It truly is the greatest gift Heavenly Father can give us on this earth. I was so happy and I couldn't stop smiling all three hours or all day or all week.

I need to finish my favorite story about member missionary work! I'm so sorry it's taken me so long! Did you guess why the father looked for the birds? I will tell you. He knew that if he found the birds, he would find the fish since the birds eat the fish.

Now, why would I tell this story? Whenever my companion and I are teaching a member family after a dinner appointment, we will tell them that, we, as the full-time missionaries are the fishers in the boat. We try to find the 'fish' or those who are prepared and ready to hear the gospel. But sometimes, or a lot of the time, it is difficult to find people to teach on our own. So we look to...the birds! And who are the birds? YOU!! :) We look to you because you go to school with them, work with them, and play with them. You are their friends and family and we are here to help you guys. As my companion and I finished telling this story one time, this cute little boy said, "So we're the birds huh? So we eat the investigators?" haha oh man I was laughing so hard!

I have so many other stories and experiences to share but I'll have to save them for later.

Sorry this is kind of short! The length of my emails are definitely not a measure of how much I love you let me tell you that. If that were the case, this computer would crash because the email would be so long.

I love you!!

much aloha,

Sister Amen

Catching Fish

Mele Kalikimaka!

 

I know Christmas is over, but I really wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas in Hawaiian. What a special treat to talk and SEE you! Oh boy what a good looking family. And I mean that not only by your great looks, but, you all really just radiated and made me so happy. Thank you for helping me feel the true spirit of Christmas even more. We were so blessed to go to a baptism that same day. It was so special. Talk about giving a gift to the Savior.

 

This transfer with Sister Tui'moala has been so fun! Wow, do I have a testimony of working hard and having fun at the same time. She sure knows how to do it, and I love that. She is a great teammate as well as the spirit. I love our threesome!

 

We had the privilege and blessing to have Elder Auna, our Area Seventy, come and have a meeting with all the ward council leaders in our stake. He trained us on Hastening the work of Salvation and what we can specifically do to to work together as member missionaries and full-time missionaries. One of my favorite things he talked about was how we as a people right now are in the exact situation as the people in Helaman were. This is why. They were preparing for the Savior's coming. Aren't we doing the same?? We are preparing for the Savior's coming right now! This just happens to be His second time coming to this earth :) As the people were preparing and diligently sharing the gospel with others before the coming of the Savior, this is what happens: "And it came to pass that in this same year there was exceedingly great prosperity in the church, insomuch that there were thousands who did join themselves unto the church and were baptized unto repentance. And so great was the prosperity of the church, and so many the blessings which were poured out upon the people, that even the high priests and the teachers were themselves astonished beyond measure." (Helaman 3:24-25) Have you thought that perhaps the same thing could happen now? Absolutely! Heavenly Father has prepared those thousands-more even! already for each of us to share the gospel with them. What a wonderful thought. All we need to do is show our faith and be prepared. Heavenly Father will send the prepared to the prepared.

 

This training reminded my of one of my favorite stories I've learned out here on my mission and my companions and I love to share it with our members at dinner appointments. It's a Tahitian analogy of how full-time missionaries can work with the members to bring salvation to the Heavenly Father's people. As I tell you the story, think about how it relates to working together.

 

Once upon a time, there was a small boy and his father. The father wanted to teach his son how to fish; and not only to fish, but to fish well. One day, they brought their fishing spears and their little boat, and sailed into the ocean to catch some fish. The little boy was so excited because this was going to be his first time ever to catch a fish. He sat in the small boat with his spear ready to catch the first fish he saw. After many hours, the little boy couldn't catch one fish. He didn't even see one! Discouraged, he turned to his father, and asked, "Father, how are you catching the fish? I can't even see one let alone catch one." As he turned to his father, he noticed that rather than his father sitting in the boat with his spear looking into the water, his father was standing in the boat and looking out into the sky.

"Dad what are you doing?? We're trying to find fish here and you're standing and looking at the sky! How do you expect us to catch fish??"

The father turned around and said, "Son, I'm looking for the birds."

 

Now why would the father be looking for the birds instead of the fish?

 

Ah man this always seems to happen, but I'll have to save the rest for next time sorry family! Be thinking about it, and how it relates to working together and then I'll write more next time.

 

Have a wonderful week in the year 2014! I love you so so much! Muah! :)

 

love and much much aloha,

 

Sister Amen

Copy and Paste

Aloha to you!

 

I have so much to say. So much to say! I wish I could copy and paste my mind family :) I feel this way each Preparation day and I even feel this way every night before I'm about to write in my journal! Heavenly Father never ceases to bless me with unlimited experiences, lessons learned, people met, and miracles seen or felt that I'm dying to write down for others to read and for me to remember later on in the future. I'll be sitting like Nephi in front of a desk instead of a bolder, with a pen instead of a chisel, a paper journal instead of gold plates, and think to myself, "Where on earth am I going to start??" I never feel I can write fast enough. Can you imagine how Nephi must have felt as he tried to describe his father's dream, or his experiences with Heavenly Father, or the miracles that he witnessed unto golden plates letter by letter with a chisel? Wow, I'm just amazed. You've got to know that Nephi along with all the other prophets knew that what they were chiseling line after line, word after word, letter after letter was true. It was no copy paste. I am continually in awe of the scriptures!

 

I'm kind of going off, sorry about that. What I've been dying to tell you is that, as you know, Sister UV and I have been teaching Quentin. He has known that the gospel is true and even cried as he gave the closing prayer. It was so sweet. We met with him on Friday and he wants to be baptized this Sunday!!! He had his interview a couple days ago and it went great. We couldn't be more excited. What a wonderful Christmas present for Quentin, his family who are members, for me, and for the Savior.

 

Sister UV and I have also been teaching Shantel (age 8), Chanelle (age 8), and Naturelle (age 10) who are adorable recent converts. They have such strong testimonies and have been through so much already in their short little lives. They live with their grandma who is a member and also with their mom, Agnus, who is not a member. We have been trying to teach the girls' mom as we teach them their after baptism lessons, but with no success. She would normally leave or go take care of the baby. Due to certain circumstances, about a week ago, she accepted to start taking the lessons with us! Oh boy we were so excited :) We met with her for the first time on Friday to see where she's at, and to teach her the Restoration. Without hesitation, when we talked to her about baptism, she said "I want to be baptized and I want to baptized on the 22nd." Jaws dropped, hearts attacked, we finally get out, "Of January?"....

So let me stop here and tell you that we have two baptisms this Sunday the 22nd. Ah!! Two! Needless to say, it has already been a pretty crazy week getting everything ready for the both of them. I am so so happy. Nothing can beat seeing the gospel change the lives of people you care about ya. Nothing. It's the best feeling and the best present Heavenly Father could have given me this year.

 

Time is out already, but I also just have to say that I will SEE you on Christmas! Yep, there's this thing called Skype... :) WHOO!! I'm super happy and I can't wait to see you! And Elder Annen is coming home in TWO days!! Wow, that is amazing. Take pictures for me ya? I'm so happy for you all to see him!

 

I love you all so so much! Keep smiling and spreading your sunshine. It hits people. It really does.

 

Aloha!

 

Sister Amen

Called to Serve Over the Rainbow

Malolele everyone!

 

Well the time has come! I honestly cannot believe it's here. I am out for my full-field experience here in beautiful Aiea, Hawaii. It is part of the Waipahu Zone and boy am I loving it! Waipahu is the southern part of the island of O'ahu and it's beautiful. A completely different world from Laie that's all I have to say! There are big beautiful homes EVERYWHERE and we live right outside of the city. My new companion is a dear and her name is Sister Uasila'a-Vaha! Try to say THAT five times fast...or once :) ha. She is Tongan and you say her name like this: Wasila a vaha. Everyone has given her the nickname of Sister UV, but I'm taking the challenge to say her full name everytime I say it. I'm getting better. She just finished training and is solid. She doesn't have a license and so I have the privilege to drive in a city I have no idea where I'm going; but it's all good because Sister Uasila'a-Vaha is a wonderful navigator. Plus! driving in Hawaii-even though I'm convinced the island will sink from the choke amount of traffic, is so so much fun because if you ever need to merge lanes, you just throw out the shaka sign, and they will let you right in. It's called 'driving aloha' and it's a real thing. Ah I love Hawaii so much.

 

So I must talk to you about tracting. Well, I only LOVE it!! Oh my goodness I could tract all day. Ha maybe. It totally reminds me of serving in the VC! It's pretty much exactly the same except rather than waiting in a muumuu for people to come in to share the gospel, you go from house to house. At first, I was a little terrified because the homes we tract into are huge and beautiful and on this gigantic hill where you can see the entire city and you can see ALL of Pearl Harbor. People are very well off here. It's terrible on my part, but I figured people would slam doors in our faces (which I was ready for!) and be rude since they had everything they could want, or they think they could want. But anyway, they're not like that at all! If they aren't interested, they tell us so kindly and thank us for doing what we do. What missionary gets thanked for knocking on a door of someone they've never met before?? Who gets that luxury huh? Missionaries in Hawaii I guess :) I tell you ohana, Hawaii never ceases to amaze me. I ofa Hawaii. (Ofa in Tongan means 'love'. I learned that from my great companion. She is teaching me a LOT it's so cool!) Sorry for the choke tangents, I just have so so much to tell you! My first day tracting together, we ended up finding a Filipino man named George and he wants to learn more! We have an appointment with him again and I'm so excited. We have been so blessed with new investigators through tracting, member referrals, and listen to this!

So back in Laie, Sister Munoa and I were teaching this golden lady named Desiree who was progressing and learning and doing well. She wasn't from Laie but went to work at a member's home to take care of their son. She agreed to take the lessons and so that's how we had the privilege to teach her. She didn't want to be taught back home yet with her kids because she wanted to learn it for herself first. Well, a few weeks ago, she told us the exciting news that she is ready to have the missionaries back home teach her and take her to the ward she would go to after she was baptized! We were so excited! I guess it was bittersweet too because I had been the one teaching her, but hey, it's all the Lord's work whomever gets to share it. Anyway, knew I was leaving full-field anyway, so I told her goodbye, when I hear that I am being transferred to Waipahu. Guess who lives in Waipahu? Desiree!! Yes! Oh my goodness, I cried. I cried! Now I get to be the one to teach her and her family and I feel just so grateful.

 

Also! Man, sorry everyone, I'm going 100 miles per hour here. But listen to this. So, Sister Uasila'a-Vaha and I received a referral for a lady named Maria Castro. I looked at her name and thought, "Hmm...this name looks so familiar to me. But I don't know how because she's from Waipahu and I've been in Laie this entire time. How could I know this lady?" We went over to give her a copy of the Book of Mormon that she requested. She answered the door and when I saw her she looked familiar! Okay, I KNOW this lady I think to myself. We ask her how she became interested in reading the Book of Mormon when she says,

"Oh yes! Well my family and I went to the Polynesian Cultural Center a little while ago, and a sister took us on the tram tour to the Laie Temple Visitors' Center. Have you been there before?"......…..

Oh my goodness, have I been there before?! I raced through my brain and totally realized that I had been the sister who had been their tour guide and had taught them about the gospel at the VC and they were the ones who wanted to learn more! Once I realized all of this, I gasped/exclaimed and scared Maria poor thing :) She wants herself and her daughter to learn more and so we set up an appointment for Tuesday. I can't wait 'til Monday to tell you all about it! I never thought that I would get to see the other side of serving at a Visitors' Center. I knew that it wasn't possible to see all the fruits of my labors (as with all missionaries of course, but especially at a Visitors' Center) but for Heavenly Father to let me see and experience THIS! Wow, He is too good to me.

 

He is so good to ALL of us. I am seeing more and more each day how much He truly is aware of us and loves us.

 

Know that I am so grateful for all of you. I love you so much and am so so proud of you. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! xoxo!

 

Aloha,

 

Sister Amen

A Tour with the Savior

ALOHA my ohana!

Happy November! How was your Halloween? Are any of you still on a sugar high? Halloween over here was exciting. People come to Laie from literally all over to trick or treat. It's because Laie is so safe and Polynesians over here know how to have a good time. Poor Sister Munoa was sick so we had our own Halloween party at home eating chili and cornbread (that our Bishop and his family so kindly brought over) and watching Mormon Messages. Mormon Messages are wonderful, I have to say! Why didn't I watch them before? If you're ever just cruising on a weekend or something, you have to just sit down and watch them. I know I told you this before when I was a cyber sister, but it's still true. They are so inspired.

Sister Munoa and I were serving at the Polynesian Cultural Center a little while ago inviting everyone to join us on the Tram Tour. To our surprise, no one wanted to come! We were a little bummed because we only give five tours a week and we really wanted to work on being bold and just sharing the gospel with all of our tram guests. We wanted to do all we could to really weave gospel principles into our tours. Even as we talk about the PCC, BYU-H, and the community of Laie, we wanted to focus on giving a tour the Savior would give. We were so excited! But no luck this time :( As we were leaving with our sad empty tram, two older men ran to catch us on the tram! Yes! We asked where they were from and what had brought them here, when they both said, "We are priests for the Catholic church" ...gulp

And now this is where I must end. Sorry I don't have time to finish the story! That's a way to keep you in suspense ya? :) haha I totally didn't mean to do it on purpose I'm sorry. But I'll finish it next p-day! Just know that not only did I survive, but my testimony was strengthened from it.

I love you across the universe and back 100 times! Smile and keep your chin up :)

much aloha,

Sister Annen 

Forever Families

Aloha Ohana!

Happy Monday! How's it everyone? What a week you know what I mean? Goodness, I'm exhausted. A wonderful exhausted though. It always is out here :) 

We had a mission conference with Elder Schwitzer of the seventy this last week. It was amazing! All the missionaries from the islands except Big Island flew to O'ahu to hear him speak. I have never seen so many missionaries in one place! We normally can't all get together with flights and stuff so this was a treat. I got to see the VC sisters who are out full-field including Sister Ogawa! (my sweet Japanese companion from two transfers ago) She's on Kaua'i now so it was so fun to see her.

There are so many things that Elder Schwitzer talked about and I wish I could list them all! But one of the main things he talked about was the importance of the family unit. He said that when we are in Heaven, the organization of the family will be more important than the organization of the church. Have you thought of that before? I sure hadn't! Wow. The organization of the church is to help strengthen the organization of the family now, for the day when the family will help the organization of the church. I hope I explained that okay. Elder Schwitzer did a much better job. But how incredible is that? The family really IS ordained of God. It's why Heavenly Father has commanded us to cherish, strengthen, and nurture our families. We are preparing these small units on earth now to become eternal powerhouses with our Father in Heaven! I just tear up at the thought.

There are so many other experiences and lessons that I want to talk to you about but once again my time is up! Someday, I'll be able to just talk story with you all for hours. I feel like Mormon who talks about how the Book of Mormon is only 1/100 of what really happens. My emails are only 1/100 of what I get to learn or experience and I don't even have to engrave on gold plates! I have a keyboard! ha oh well. Life is good. Just know that missions are the best okay? I can't imagine my life without it.

I love you all more than my Hawaiian friends love poke, musubi, lepulu, spam or otai. (I'll tell you all about those someday.)

much aloha!

xoxo

Sister Annen

Aloha!

My Ohana! Aloha!

How ARE you all?? My my I have to ditto what Elder Annen said weeks ago about feeling like I just got back from a loooong vacation whenever I write the family email. Please forgive me! I promise I'll do better!... haha I think I said that last time. But I know repentance is a real thing! 

How is school and work all going?? Are you loving all your classes and homework? I hope so! I can't remember what it's like, but I hope you're loving it. I can't believe Elder Annen and I will BOTH be home before the end of the this school year! And Elder Annen will be home before the end of this YEAR! Wow, how the time flies. If the rest of my life zips by the way my mission has zipped by, my life's almost over! It's such a great life.

I don't have much to report this week because I was sick for all of it. Not fun. But I'm feeling great now! I didn't think it could be anything bad, but as day seven and eight came, they took me to the doctor in Kahuku to find out what I had. Apparently, I had a few sinus infections, and my ears were infected. So they gave me wonderful antibiotics, nasal sprays, and other medications to keep me alive and going. And now I'm better and ready to go. You know sometimes when you're a missionary, the little thought comes in to your mind that maybe just one day would be nice to just sleep. Or just an hour! You're always pretty exhausted and so the thought seems a little great. But I surely learned this week, that you are the HAPPIEST, when you can just be out and working your tail off. It's so worth being on the verge of passing out when you get home at 9 pm. There is nothing I'd rather be doing.

So I shook hands with an apostle of the Lord the other day. Can I just say wow! It was such an awesome experience being with Elder Holland. I'm not meaning the word 'awesome' as when we use it for anything cool or sweet, but I'm meaning 'awesome' the same way the atonement is described in our hymns and by our prophets. It was such a sacred experience; I can hardly type without crying. I totally want to be an even better missionary now and I want to be converted myself even more to my Heavenly Father. Why are these men so amazing? Yes, they have done incredible things are they truly are just unbelievably righteous people. But that's not the reason why. These men are awesome because of the person they are representing. It's our Savior Jesus Christ. They are literally STANDING in His place. Think about this for a second. If the Savior were to come up to you and say, "Hunter, I need you to please pray sincerely each day." or "Jessica, I need you to please study the scriptures". What would you do? Would you do it? I can't help but to think I would straightway stand up and jump at the chance! I know you would too! So after knowing that our prophets and apostles literally stand in our Savior's place, how will you react to their counsel this General Conference? Think about that this week, as we are privileged to prepare for the words of our apostles or words of our Heavenly Father-they are the same :) Who's excited for General Conference by the way?? I can't imagine how fun it will be to chill in your jamies and eat Mom's world famous cinnamon rolls for those two days. But remember, that as you're cozy and eating heaven, that this is your chance to draw from the powers of heaven. You can know exactly what Heavenly Father needs you to personally do in order to know Him better, and to one day live with Him again because you will be like Him. Isn't that cool? Ah! I'm so excited and even more so talking about it! Be sure to tell me all about your experiences and 'aha!' moments on Monday deal? This is truly a time to celebrate :)

I love you across the universe and back my loves!

much aloha,

Sister Annen

No Rain on Our Parade

Aloha Ohana!

Wow what a week. What a transfer! This week was the Polynesian Cultural Center's 50th Anniversary and I wish I could explain what it meant to be a part of it! Because us sisters get to give the tram tours at the PCC, we were invited to be in the PCC's 50th Parade. A Parade! And oh boy was it ever amazing! We wore our blue tram muu muus and stood on the tram waving to the people of Laie. Who gets to say that they were in a parade as a missionary?? All 30 of us sisters belted "Called to Serve" and "Army of Helaman" over and over and we could really feel the excitement in the air about missionary work. We got to throw candy, hold the hands of the children on the curb, sing, and represent the Lord Jesus Christ all in ONE parade! There were so many times where I tried to hold back the tears, as little girls would run along side us and shout,"I want to be a sister missionary like you someday!" or "When I grow up, I want to be just like you!" Ah, I'm crying just thinking back on it. Who knew a being a part of a parade could be such a spiritual experience :)

On September 21, our mission will be honored to have Elder Holland speak at our Mission Conference! Have you heard of him before? Oh man, I don't know if I can wait that long. The VC and the trams from PCC will all be closed that day so that all of us sisters can attend. It's going to be so special. I can't wait to tell you about it!

We have been and are so blessed here. Laie is such a special and inspired place. I can't say enough how blessed I am to serve on temple grounds almost my entire mission. I can honestly say it's my home away from home. But we can all say that ya? The temple is literally our home while we are away from home. Yes, I can be referring to our home here on earth, but I really mean that the temple is our home while we are away from our home with Heavenly Father. It always amazes me how much He truly loves us! He provides His House here on earth for us to help us feel closer to the home we used to reside. Life is oh so good.

Thank you for being the people you are. I love you so much. Thanks for being patient with me! I'll try to write more.

much ALOHA!

Sister Annen

Transfers!

Transfers this week! Dun dun dun :) haha so we found out transfer news this morning. Sister Knudsen and I knew we wouldn't be together since she's done training now (I can't believe that my daughter is growing up so fast!) and so we were trying to guess what would happen to the both of us! Here's what's going down. So, Sister Knudsen will be training a new sister! Whoo! And not only will she be training, but she is training out full-field! So exciting! She's leaving Laie and going to Honolulu. It TOTALLY caught us off guard since she just came out and normally you don't go outbound til later in your mission. And because I haven't even been outbound yet! But hey, we're happy to do whatever the Lord wants.
As for me...I'm staying in Laie for another transfer! Yeah! It'll be my seventh transfer here in my beautiful little Laie. Half of my mission so far! Holy smokes. And it looks like I'll be here for my eighth and ninth transfer as well because I have been called as the Sister Trainer for the 30 sisters here at the Visitors' Center! I'm so excited! President Warner called me last night and asked if I would accept the call, and even though I was taken back and I didn't think I heard him right, I must have stammered out a 'yes' because it was announced in our VC training this morning. :) I'm totally trusting Heavenly Father on this one.

I have a quick story I wanted to share! So when I first came out, Sister Johnston and I tried and tried to get a hold of and teach this cute Japanese girl named Julia. Time after time, we couldn't contact her. And when we did get a chance to teach her, she didn't seem like she cared during the lessons. At times, we wanted to just give up; but we knew Heavenly Father didn't want us to drop her. We were supposed to keep teaching her. We were both transferred out of the area and come to find out, Julia moved back home. Now fast forward to yesterday. Yesterday at church, Julia's fellow shipper Nathan came up to me and said, "Guess what Sister Annen?? Julia got baptized!" Yep! She had moved home and after that knew she needed to be baptized. Wow, Heavenly Father knows what He's doing. It's all in His timing isn't it? Even if we don't see the fruit of our efforts right away, it's still worth every minute to work hard and be obedient to our Father in Heaven who needs us. I love Him so much!

I have so much more to tell you, but of course time is up already!

Keep smiling and loving and know that I'm loving you right this second!

Lots of love! Aloha! xoxo

sister annen

Proud to be a child of God...and an American!

Happy 4th of July a few days ago! How was it?? Did you have a blast and eat hot dogs and do the lip sync (I'm actually really curious if you did that this year so let me know ;)) ha and watch the best fireworks with the fam? I hope so! The 4th of July was terrific here! It was interesting though just because Hawaii is funny when it comes to the 4th of July. Yes, it's one of the 50 states, but sometimes you forget that since it's so different. A lot of people over here actually don't know it's a state! ha I didn't know that was a thing, but hey it's cool.

So, yes the polys celebrated it since it's another excuse to party and get together with family, but it isn't as big over here as on the mainland. It was a blast though! All of the missionaries finished proselyting at five, and then we all got together and had a bbq. We felt very American, it was awesome.

We got our dear new mission president, President Warner this week! May I just say how much I love him! Really I do. He's from SLC just like Elder Annen's mission president is! (maybe they're pals who knows) He's this small little man who's so sweet and so smart. Very different from President Dalton- not in sweetness or smartness! But in stature haha. President Dalton was a tall big guy and I could always tell where he was even in a large group of elders. But with President Warner, he looks just like another Elder and it's hard to find him sometimes. He is so cute. I don't know how he would feel about me describing him that way, but it's definitely a good thing :) He and Sister Warner, are ready to work and love us all you can just tell. It's obvious that they are called of God to serve here. I'm so grateful to have the second half my mission to serve with the dear Warners.

What else let's see...I feel like there's so much since I haven't emailed in years I'm so sorry! I guess Elder Annen was MIA for a while there too so I'll apologize for the both of us. Anyway! Transfers are coming up next week! What's going to happen :) Who knows. Sister Knudsen and I are on our twelfth week together- she has grown up so fast! and I can't believe it! She's not a baby anymore, but she'll always be my daughter :) We have had some incredible times together that's all I can say. Some super funny and embarrassing times and some of the most spiritual, powerful times I've ever experienced. She is an amazing missionary. I felt like she trained me for sure! I'm going to miss her. Good thing about being a VC sister, is that even if you're not companions anymore, you'll see them everyday and sometimes even live with them again! So that's always a relief when change becomes hard sometimes.

What's going to happen to me next transfer?? Man who knows. Well of course I know who does ultimately! haha but let's just go with the expression for now. I could go to another island and be a full-field missionary for three months, or I could stay here a little longer, I don't know! We find out next P-day so I'll keep you in the loop on that.

Life has been really great and really hard these last few weeks. Our investigator Josh is having a really hard time coming to church. We had set a baptismal date, but because he has only come once, we keep having to move his date forward. The lessons will go really well when we can catch him, and his friend Tau whom he lives with (who's a member) is on board and great at bearing testimony. But because neither of them have a phone and their life motto is "hakuna matata", it's hard to catch and teach him. They are in an amazing reggae band called "The L81Z" (the late ones) and that takes them to Honolulu often. Anyway, they're amazing people, and we just love them.

Some days I would be confused thinking maybe we weren't obedient enough or thinking we were doing something wrong. I would say that I had faith in the Lord, but I didn't trust in His timing! That is totally part of having faith in Heavenly Father. Is having faith in His timing. It just comes down to listening to the spirit to discern what our friends need so that we can know how to best help them. In Josh's case, to come to church. We fasted just yesterday and hope to catch them this week. I'll tell you how it all goes next week too.

I'm so happy that the spirit is the one that teaches! You know what I mean? If it were just Sister Knudsen and I, our area would be bleh. The work wouldn't and couldn't move forward. Thank goodness Heavenly Father is in charge of His work. I know I say that in almost every email! But it's because it's so true and I've really gained a testimony of it.

Think of something that you're struggling with and think about how you can better trust in the Lord's timing. I promise that as you trust in the Lord's timing, you'll find that it's the BEST timing. More so than we can ever see on our own. Allow the Lord to lead you. Because He will.

I LOVE YOU oh so much ohana!

Aloha!!!

love always,

Sister Annen

Aloha!

Never Ending Upward Spiral

Much Aloooooha!! Gee whiz it's been way too long, I'm sorry about that! I promise I'm totally alive and well out here in beautiful Laie. How are you all?? Enjoying your summer break so far? There's no way it's summer over there already! How did that happen? The school year just started! Don't have too much fun swimming, getting tan, sleeping in, going to EFY, and eating ice cream all day everyday :D 

I'm doing outstanding over here! Another transfer has gone and we're already in week two of my sixth transfer. My dear Sister Knudsen and I are staying together one more transfer! Cheehoo! We're keeping our same wards, same pad, and same VC shifts pretty much so we're excited. We are so blessed to stay in our same wards because normally sisters here don't stay longer than a transfer in a ward!

 
All last transfer, we tried to get a hold of this girl named Amy, but we could never get a lesson with her. She was either busy, sick, or out of town. After trying and trying, we finally had a lesson with her yesterday! It went so well and we already love her so much. She is Korean actually which is awesome! I kept thinking about Elder Annen as we talked with her. She has been through a rough life and wants help. She told us that she doesn't think she can do it anymore; but she said she believes Sister Knudsen and I have power to help her. It was so sweet. All three of us were crying as the lesson was being taught. She is already gaining a testimony that through Christ's Atonement, she can be healed and given an enabling power to overcome her trials. The gospel is for EVERYONE.

I have one cool VC experience to share before I go! So Sundays at the VC are awesome. They're packed with people all day long. Members, non-members, you name it! Most of them are members enjoying their sabbath with the family and it's so fun. We love taking them on tours to give them a converting experience even as members. It gives them the opportunity to be more converted themselves and to give them missionary opportunities. One of our favorite things to show them is the video "God's Plan for His Family". Have you seen it before?? Ah heavens, it's my favorite movie in the whole world. Even though I've seen it hundreds of times, I bawl every time I watch it! It is truly inspired. Just last Sunday, Sister Knudsen and I took many wonderful members on tours and also showed them the video. The spirit was felt so strongly and I could feel my testimony building as we gave the tours. Now before each tour, we invite them to pray to know of someone who is ready and prepared to receive the gospel as they are here. We promise them that as they go on the tour and feel the spirit here, Heavenly Father will bring someone to their mind. And wow, Heavenly Father kept His promise. By the end of our shift (3 hrs), we had received 32 member referrals! Thirty-two! It was incredible and such an eye-opener to me on what Heavenly Father can really really do if we only have faith.

Think about how your faith in Jesus Christ has blessed you in your life. And think about what you can do this week to have an even greater increased faith in Him. I know that as you do, Heavenly Father will show you what your faith is capable of. He'll show you what He can and will do if we only have a little faith in Him. That evidence will increase your faith little by little as you act on those small evidences. It's a never-ending upward spiral. I love Heavenly Father so much! I love Him because I know Him. 

I know that He loves you. Let Him help you.

Know that I love you 75 miles per hour and miss you so much!

Aloha,

Sister Annen

"Words of Mother"

Sister Annen has had such a busy transfer that it's been hard for her to write much for the blog.....

AND now, I, Sister Annen's mother, speak somewhat concerning that which Sister Annen has written; for after I had searched among the records, I found these quotations which contained this small account of the dealings of the Lord with Sister Annen ..... I have made an abridgment from her last letter down to her next letter which will hopefully come soon.....

"How was your Memorial Day? What did you guys do?  Here in Laie it's been super busy and crowded with people since everyone has today off.  This winter is the PCC's 50th anniversary and we invited the first presidency to it! Ah! I'm so excited!  That week is going to be fantastic!  It's going to be HUGE! Another opportunity to bring people into the kingdom of God you know what I'm saying?"

"Yesterday, we walked in to sacrament meeting when bishop came up to us and asked if we could speak for 15 minutes IN 15 minutes since the stake presidency couldn't make it ... haha oh the life of a missionary. I was super nervous ... but it all worked out and the spirit just told me what to say.  I love him too :)"

"Just last week our zone got to go to Pearl Harbor for a service project!  We cleaned the Missouri and it was awesome! We washed the windows because they're filming another movie on it.  Afterward, they took us on a tour and fed us ice cream for cleaning for them!  It was so nice!  While we were cleaning, regular tourists were looking around the ship on tours and would ask us if this cleaning thing was a project for troubled teens -- little do they know :D.  Haha we told them who we were and hopefully because of that, a few seeds were planted!  It was so cool! They thought they were coming to see the Missouri ... heh heh little did they know they would be hit with the spirit! Oh yeah...."

"Sister Knudsen and I committed our investigator Josh to baptism yesterday! Whoo! We're just on cloud 100 at the moment.  Not that that's any different from how we usually feel, but we feel pretty awesome and grateful.  The last few weeks had been frustrating because no one had been home, and our last investigator Daniel didn't see a need to be baptized!  We had such a great lesson with the spirit totally teaching!  But nothing... We were really disappointed because we didn't know what to do.  So we fasted!  It was the only thing we knew that we could do and then ... batta bing batta boom, Josh is going to be baptized! Whoo! Heavenly Father is so good."

He's in Charge

What's happening everybody?? Happy May! Guess what day it is in six days! MOMMY'S Day! Aahhh! I can hardly stand it! Good thing I'm sitting ;D heh heh WOW Sister Annen has no sense of humor at all :D 

This transfer has been terrific and so fun as tough as it's been! Whitewashing an area is a little less than a walk in the park if you know what I mean. But it has been so incredible and I love our wards! Two of our wards are Young Single Adult wards and our other ward is a married student ward. They are the best. Sometimes, I'll be sitting in Sacrament meeting totally thinking I'm just back in my singles ward from back home and then when I go say hi to my friends, I'll remember I'm serving in the ward as a missionary when the first thing my friends do when they see me is throw out their right hand :D haha so funny. Btw! Whitewashing is when you and your companion serve in an area where neither of you have served in before. So it's close to starting over and getting to know everyone and contacting investigators and teaching them in preparation for baptism all before six weeks are over since that's when one or both of you could be transferred to another area. I'm making this sound really hard...and it is! But thing is, it works and is possible because the Lord is in charge of this work. If He wasn't in charge, this wouldn't be possible, it just wouldn't. I'm so grateful that He is! I've really come to learn this transfer that He's in charge and He WILL provide a way to move it along no matter how hard it may look ahead. He knows what He's doing I tell ya :) I love Him.

This is super short I apologize, but hey, I'll make it up next Sunday by calling you!! Cheehoo!  Less than a week. We got this. I love you all and hope you know how proud I am of you and how proud Heavenly Father is of you. 

Aloha Ohana!

xoxo 

Sister Annen

Due Tomorrow!

Helloha Ohana!

Happy Tuesday! How the heavens are you all? Did you have a super week? I sure hope so! Boy, do I have a week to tell you about :D

So today is the last day of transfers, which means, tomorrow is the first day of another transfer, which means, I'm not an online missionary anymore, which means, I'll be out in an actual area, which means, I'll have a new companion starting tomorrow, which means,.... I'm training a new missionary! Ahhhhh! I'm having a baby! (that's totally mish slang btw! I'm not literally pregnant for those of you unfamiliar with missionary language. There totally is one) I received the training packet in the mail Friday, and on Sunday night I had the training conference call with all the trainers and President. Her name is Sister Knudsen :) She is from Arizona, and she is 19! She'll be one of the first 19-year-olds in our mission! I can't wait to meet her tomorrow. I'll have to let you know all about my first week next Monday. I already love her.

Heavenly Father and Pres trusts me to do this huh? They trust me to train a new missionary huh? Since the call, I'll be praying and ask Heavenly Father, "You trust me huh?" And immediately the feeling of "Yes, I trust you" comes to me. So I'll ask, "So...you'll help me right?" :D ha and I know He's probably just chuckling and thinking, "Of course I'll help you! Who do you think I am?" :) I know He will help me. It's the only way that I can do it is through Him! So even though I'm nervous and I feel inadequate, I know Heavenly Father will help me.

Here's also something that blows my mind. I'm at my six month mark now! How in heavens did that come up so fast?? I remember being a greenie just yesterday! I'm still a greenie! I'll always feel like a greenie up to my last day!

I wanted to share a cute little experience I had at the VC a few days ago! So this big wonderful Hindu family came in the other day with all of their beautiful children. The kids were wandering around, having fun watching the kid kiosks about Jesus and Heavenly Father and where we go after we die, stuff like that. I went up to them and showed them the clip on the kiosk called, "What Happens when we Die?" After we watched it, I was talking to them about Heaven and what happens to us after our life here. One of the older kids said to me, "Oh I know! After this life, we will become either a tree, a leaf, a bug, or something like that!" And then his little baby sister replied, "Ya if you dress up." :D ha it was so cute and so funny and so true! I tried to hold in my laughter because she said it so matter of fact! This experience was so cute and so interesting to me and helped me to learn more about how pure and innocent children are. The older sibling had been taught, while the younger sibling had just recollected. Children are so close to the veil no matter how they are brought up! This helped me to understand more about what Christ meant when He said, "...whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God..." We need to keep our selves unspotted so that we too, can be pure and receptive to the Holy Ghost-a being, who, as a member of the Godhead, can and will open the channels of Heaven if we only let Him. Did you know He is capable of such a thing? I didn't really understand that until now! Allow Him to be capable of doing that to you. I challenge you to do what is necessary for that to happen. It is the ONLY way we can enter into Heavenly Father's presence. I want to find myself there. I want you to find yourself there. You can do it. He knows you can do it.

I better go back and move in to my new pad now (it's the same pad I lived in when I first got here!) and decorate my dear companion's planner. Make this your best week yet! Know that you are a tool in the Lord's hand wherever you go. No need to wear a badge to be an instrument :) I love you all! 

much aloha,

Sister Annen

Our Own Scripture

Happy Tuesday and Aloha family of mine!

How was General Conference for everyone?? Super great ya? How was it being all cozy all day, eating yummy food? Ah I just loved it. It was honestly more exciting than Christmas over here! All of us missionaries got to wake up at bright and early at five-Hawaii being four hours behind Salt Lake, and got to go to the Visitor's Center and watch the apostles on the big screen baby! So awesome! We were cuddled up in our blankies and pros clothes and just enjoyed listening to what Heavenly Father wanted all of us to learn. I had so many favorites it's not even funny. Of course I loved Elder Holland's talk. I really needed to hear what he said. I felt like every word was for me. I also loved Elder Falabella's where he said, "Shake hands with EVERYONE!" haha so funny and so cute. And President Monson's was incredible too! All about obedience! mmm.. so good. It totally pumped me up to be a better missionary and to be more exactly obedient. Not only here on my mission, but also when I'm off my mission. I know that I needed every single one of those talks at General Conference. Before my mission I would have argued with myself because how can EVERY talk be for me? I realized this conference that it is through the words of the apostles and prophets that I can receive my own revelation. No matter what the talk is about, I can know what Heavenly Father wants me to start doing or stop doing in order be a better person and be more of a disciple of Jesus Christ. So many promptings came to me as I watched and listened that I didn't even expect! And it didn't really have to do with the talk necessarily; But because the talks come by revelation, each of us can receive our OWN revelation just by listening and pondering with open hearts. Have you thought of that before? I sure hadn't! I didn't realize just how personal and powerful General Conference could be until this last weekend. It is a powerful blessing from our Heavenly Father. If you didn't feel like Heavenly Father taught you personally as you watched General Conference, I challenge you to watch it again. Watch it with the questions you have had these last six months. If it's important to you, then it's important to Him. You are entitled to receive your own personal revelation. He will tell you exactly what to do because He wants you to return to Him. He'll give you your own scripture. I know that's true. 

I wish I had more time to talk about everything! But I had to talk about General Conference! Know that I love you all oodles and oodles. I'll talk more about my week next week! 

xoxoxo

lots and lots and LOTS of love,

Sister Annen