Even MORE miracles!

Hey hey everybody!

This week was INSANE!

Okay so from the beginning.. My companions and I are finding out we are really bad at waking up in the morning. We all just turn the alarm off and go to bed without realizing it so we have been kinda disobedient this week which is NOT GOOD. At the beginning of the week we had a really hard time going out because no one listens to us and it almost seems like a waste of time because people just laugh at us and don't listen, so it has been really hard to be motivated. But on that note, we were tracting one day and we came across a house that we had tracted before. The guy who lived there was Patrick and we had talked to him and had given him a Book of Mormon like 3 weeks ago? Anyway we had tried contacting him again but he never answered so this time he was home but he came out sort of in a panic and told us today was not a good day because he was getting kicked out of his house and if he needed any prayer, today would be the day. So we literally walked down around the corner and prayed that he would find somewhere to live and that whoever he needed to help him would be put in his path.

THE NEXT DAY we were doing our weekly planning, which takes like 3 hours and we get really restless, so we went to get lunch. We were arguing over where to go and finally decided on a sandwich shop we always go to. We walk in and literally 30 seconds later guess who walks in? Yup, Patrick! So we were able to talk to him and get his number and stuff but after that we were so confused. We had prayed for the right people to be in his path and obviously that was us but we still don't know where to go from there! But it was really cool just that we got to talk to him and get some more information from him so we could better help him. We are currently trying to help him find somewhere to live? and trying to figure out how to teach him through all of this. It's quite interesting!

Okay, I don't remember if I told you anything about Dakota Edwards and his family so I'll just tell you everything! We found his family on the day that Mandy dropped us (we still can't get ahold of her) because when she didn't answer we decided to go to their house because the dad, Sean, is less active. Anyway we went over and the 19 yr old son, Dakota, was the only one home. The rest of his family had gone to the beach and he decided not to go that one day, which is a miracle in itself. Anyway, we had committed him to baptism during that lesson for the last week of July which was really exciting! Since then we had taught him and his family maybe 5 lessons? He has a 12 yr old sister and a 14 yr old brother, and his dad served a mission then fell away from the church and actually got some of his rights taken away... But their family is AWESOME. They always say the perfect answers and their dad has taught them so much. So Thursdaywe confirmed everything for Dakota's baptism on the 27th and we were all really excited! We left that appointment and went to another less active family and during that appointment Dakota texted us and said he had a question, so we got really nervous thinking he was backing out. BUT his question was if he could get baptized on Sunday!!! We FREAKED out! We were in a parking lot jumping up and down and screaming and crying and all that. We were so happy! He said he had family in town that he wanted to be at his baptism so he wanted to do it sooner. The District Leader interviewed him and said he is the most prepared that he has ever seen. Since it was so close, we planned a baptism in 3 days :) His mom is really against it and thinks her family is being taken away from her so that is a major drawback but we are working with the rest of the family and hoping that their light will shine through to the mom. The 12 yr old, Shay, is super cute and is actually going to girls camp this week and we are planning on getting her baptized the next week.

So anyway, his baptism was yesterday and is was so great! I bawled like a baby but it really was so special. He is so strong and has such a strong testimony for the short time that we have taught him. He is definitely one of the elect and one that the Lord has prepared even before I got here. I'm just grateful that I was able to be a tool in the Lord's hands and to be apart of this amazing miracle!

It was interesting because like I said earlier we haven't been as obedient as we should have been this week, I feel like we did a lot of things wrong.. So we were really confused as to why we saw so many miracles this week. We realized it was because we took some advice that we got from our mission president so pray for and accept miracles. In almost every prayer (which is honestly like 35 every day) we pray for miracles to happen. We pray to recognize those when then do happen and we always say that we are expecting them to happen. I know that that is why Dakota got baptized this week and not next and why we ran into Patrick again. I know that Heavenly Father really does hear our prayers and is just waiting for us to ask for things like that so he can help us and to strengthen our faith. I am so glad that we have our great Mission President to guide us and give us that inspired revelation.

That was for sure the highlight of the week, the rest was really nothing. There were a few days where we hardly talked to anyone cause no one would listen, but there were a few other days where we got into some more bashes with people. Those are kinda fun but we always stop before it gets too out of hand haha.

We pulled some GREAT pranks on Sister Pack this week. We took her planner again and put it in the car, along with the lanyard (but took the car key off) so it looked like the keys were locked in the car with her planner. She freaked out and was almost crying haha it was so funny. She ran back into the house because she was going to get a wire hanger to unlock the car and when she came back out we were sitting in the car. She was walking down the driveway yelling at us and throwing a fit haha. Sister Nelson and I were crying we were laughing so hard! Gosh I don't want to leave them! Transfers are on Monday, we find out Friday who leaves and I really am dreading it! It's weird that this is how it will be for the rest of my mission though. We finally get used to each other and then we leave. Oh well, is all what the Lord wants, not me.

I had another flat tire as well as Sister Pack so we took the car a lot this week which was great :) It was seriously an answer to our prayers, except Sister Pack. She's a weirdo and likes riding her bike haha. But that was definitely a blessing this week.

Promise me if you come to California, any of you, DON'T TRY TO SEE ME. I'm still at the point where I still get home sick thinking about you all so I'm emotionally not stable enough to see you and have to say goodbye again! You're more than welcome to leave a package or something but I am here for the Lord and I can't afford any other distractions. I would love to see you and I miss you a lot, but that's why I can't see you. I hope you understand that! But I also hope you have so much fun at Kimi's! If you do decide to leave me something, I need more of that black chapstick I love! That would be great :) Also my blow dryer broke but I'm getting a new one today.

Anyway, I love you all and I love what I'm doing here. Even though it's hard and really hot, I love it and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Thank you for your letters (trek sounded AWESOME) and all your love! I pray for you always!

MUCH love,

Sister Anderson :)