Miracle Week.

suuup errybody.

 

Well. We've just been doin' missionary stuff this week and it's been great!

 

We finally have investigators!

 

Big miracles happened this week :) We seriously picked up 4 new gators and have been very blessed. George we found in the Area Book.. that blessed book. We just visited him and he let us come back and we taught him about the Plan of Salvation because he said he is terrified of death.. But he seemed like he really wanted to learn more and have that faith in Christ. We invited him to be baptized and he said yes! He has been taught before and actually had a baptism date and it fell through.. But when we walked out of his house, we both looked at each other and just started crying. I was kinda in shock that that actually just happened.. We were so happy :) Then Sunday rolls around and George said that he was coming so we waited for him until church started then texted him and asked him if he was coming.. and he replied and said "I want to but i am nervous. I don't think i can commit to this.. Im sorry for wasting your time,  I dont think i am ready." Yes i lost it. I broke down dang it! I got my hopes up so high that we finally had someone to teach and that we were going to baptize him and everything would be fine. But no, of course thats not how it works and i was very upset the whole time at church. We talked about sacrifices in Sunday School and we all shared something that we have sacrificed. I said that this is the biggest sacrifice i have ever made, leaving my family and doing this 24/7. I was very emotional and said that this is the hardest thing i have ever done. I sacrifice all my time and effort on behalf of these people that i want to save and then they dont come to church. Gosh its so frustrating! Then in Relief Society, there was a lady who was visiting our ward and she has a daughter on a mission, and she turned to us and said "As a parent of a missionary, i just want to tell you that your parents love you so much. That they pray for you in every prayer and that you are all that they think about and that they are so proud of you." It was such a tender mercy from the Lord for this complete stranger to tell me that. I was so grateful for that sweet sister that I dont even know. I know that this work isn't easy..  I didnt expect it to be easy. The Savior's life wasn't easy by any means and I am representing Him so there is no reason that it will be easy for me. He had hard discouraging days just like i and every missionary out there do. But thats what we signed up for and thats what im going to take responsibility for. I am so glad that i do get to represent my Savior.

 

Anyways.... then we taught Mike the Restoration and he loved it, but has been out of town since :( But we have high hopes for another one, Taray, who did come to church! We think we can hopefully baptize her by the end of the month :) The other one, Jason, is part of a part member family and we cant tell if he is actually interested or not. So we'll see how things play out this week!

 

We got to go to the temple this week! Gosh i love that place. We had to watch the old one though because they didnt have chinese translation for the new one and there were chinese people there. But regardless, it was great :)

 

So from now on, we basically will have no contact with the elders.. haha. We used to have pday activities with our zone and go out to lunch after meetings and stuff... but we all got a text this week that said sisters and elders can no longer have pday activities together, or go out to lunch or do anything! Super lame cause we have fun with the elders.. So something big must have happened. But that was pretty crazy.

 

Things have been hard with Sister Greenwood.. I had to tell her that she needs to be more obedient. She was writing letters all week (we are only allowed to write letters on pday) and i had told her twice before that we cant do that and she still did.. so i confronted her about it and i think it made her feel bad but i had to do it. I also had to tell her the importance of waking up on time and having a full hour of personal study. That those hours are crucial to how your day is going to turn out. I told her that Elder Holland even said the hours between 6:30 and 10:00 in the morning can make or break  your mission. I have always remembered that and tried to have them "make" my mission. Anyway, I feel like i am babysitting sometimes which is really difficult. But i know that the Lord is forcing me to have more patience hahaha. I am working so hard on it! Sometimes i wish i could just snap my fingers and automatically have more patience :) But this transfer is really making me excersize that and helping me to have more charity.

 

I think thats about it for this week! It was a good one overall, we finally have people to teach! they just need to keep their appointments so we can teach them :) Haha i know that the Lord has big plans for this area. I am praying harder than i ever have before to find these precious souls. Thank you for all your prayers on their behalf and on mine. I love and appreciate you all so much! Just over a month and we can skype! So exciting!!

 

Hope you all have a great week! Dont be afraid to open your mouth to people you meet who need to hear the gospel. Every member a missionary ;) Read Elder Ballard's talk from this last conference, then do what he says :)

 

Love you all!

 

Sister Anderson :) 

 

p.s. while you are all cold and being snowed on.. im still gettin my tan on in 90 degree weather :) just thought i would rub that in your face :)