Sept. 29

Hi my sweet family :)

Well. From the beginning, this letter won't be anything special.

This week was just like the last. We still have no one to teach... And I have found that it is extremely hard to be motivated when you go out aimlessly knocking on doors. Go figure? We have tried to contact former investigators from our area book but have had no success. Either they are not interested, or moved, or don't answer. So this week our bishop gave us a list of less active people to visit so hopefully we get something out of contacting those people.

Elder Richards was able to come, and that was good to be able to hear from him. He is definitely an inspired man that knew what he was talking about! He talked a lot about faith and trusting in God, which is exactly what I needed. I know that this whole trial is a test of my faith, and I am trying to keep up my faith and not get discouraged, as hard as that is.

We also got to go to the General Relief Society meeting which was really good! I thought it was cool how the whole meeting was centered on keeping our covenants and if we REALLY love our Savior, we would have no problem keeping them. Well duh. Obviously He knows that we are mortal and that we will mess up and not be perfect, but it made me think, how much do I really love Him? He gave me so much that the least I can do is do my best to be like Him, to not complain about this dumb trial I am going through.. I really loved that whole meeting. I got a lot out of it that I really needed to hear.

I feel a lot better this week. My strep is completely gone which is really good because that is one last thing to worry about! I was telling Sister Pyper, I feel bad for her because she has really never had the opportunity to do missionary work. Since she has been here we have hardly taught any lessons. She doesn't even know what it's like to see the change in people and to see the Spirit work in them. All she knows is dumb tracting and I know it's not, but I feel like that is partly my fault. I feel like I don't know how to train her when we have no one to practice for! It's been really hard to not have any investigators. However, an elder in my zone was talking to me and said that every missionary has to go through something like this. He said consider it a blessing that it is happening at the beginning of my mission so I can get it over with! I hope that's true and that it doesn't happen again, although I'm sure it will haha.

I loved the letters and support I got this week. I can definitely feel the love from everyone at home and it is greatly appreciated! I love it because I feel like I am alone in this companionship so it is good to have the support from home. Sister Pyper and I don't argue or fight or anything like that, but I feel like our companionship is very one sided. I always make all the decisions, I start everything and she copies everything I do. It's so irritating. I told her she doesn't have to do that and she can take initiative for herself.. but so far that has done nothing. We hardly talk to each other, only when we have to, and we never laugh or joke or anything. She doesn't take jokes very well so it's pretty awkward 95% of the time.

I try to be happy and I try to find the good in everything, as hard as that is. I try to just keep going and to do what I know I need to do. Please pray for me though... I am trying my hardest to just keep going and to know that we have to walk the hard road to get to the good. I knew that a mission wouldn't be easy. I mean I represent Christ, and His life was in no way easy, so why would my mission be? I know that He was mocked, persecuted, crucified and killed for my benefit so that He would know every little thought that ran through my mind. So that He could be there and help me when I am going through hard times like this. I am so eternally grateful for Him and His sacrifice for ME. I KNOW that He is my Savior and that He is waiting to help and bless each one of us. I know the power of the Atonement and the strength that we can gain from knowing that He is waiting to stretch forth His hand to help us. I'm so grateful for my Savior and for the knowledge that I have of this gospel. I know that we will find people to teach soon. I know that we are put through trails to grow stronger and to learn something new and learn to become more like Christ. I know that He trusts me and knows that I can get through this trial. I am so grateful for all of you and all your love, prayers, letters, and support that I get from you everyday. I am SO blessed to have such an amazing family.

I love you all. Know that I am happy and that I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world, despite the hard times I am going through. I love this gospel with all my heart.

Love you all,

Sister Anderson

p.s. Sorry this was so depressing. Hopefully next week will be more successful and I will actually have something to talk about!