Greetings from Thatcher, AZ!

THE Gila Valley Temple

HOLA FAMILIA!!!!!  Congratulations on SBO Tommy!  I hope that you'll still have time to write your favorite sister next year!  Also, Dad that's great that you have time to rest now!  Think of all that you can do!  Thanks for always being a good example to me!

Greetings from Thatcher, AZ!  Oh my goodness, this is like a dream come true!  All of us sisters got here around 1 yesterday.  We're all sharing one apt building with 4 apts in it.  It's a little cramped but sooo much fun!  It feels a bit like college because there are 5 of us in each apt and we all just go from apt to apt to visit each other.  There are 21 of us here!  It's like an amazing reunion for all of us!  Last night they had a quick planning meeting for us and then we had the rest of the time to ourselves.  All of us sisters went up to the temple.  I don't think that I've ever been so happy to see a temple.  There were few dry eyes as we walked around our temple and could feel the strength found there, a strength that we've all been aching for.  It is amazing what just standing on the sacred grounds of the temple can do.  We all sat in front of it and sang hymns.  The spirit was so strong and powerful.  We're all so so blessed to be here.  It's such a rare opportunity to be able to take place at a temple open house as a full-time missionary.  We're so so happy!  The temple is BEAUTIFUL! 

(The traveling trio, Sister Aquino, Mackay & I. The 3 of us are super close.)
Hopefully today or tomorrow we'll be able to walk inside.  I think that I told you this before but in a prophesy made around a hundred years ago they said that this temple would be one of the most beautiful in the rocky mountains and at least from the outside, it is true.  It's amazing!  While we're here we'll all work at the temple answering questions/mingling with guests for 6 hrs a day.  The rest of the time we're not quite positive what we're doing but we believe that it will involve working with less actives and part member families.  It will all be so much fun! 

This past week has been amazing as all ways!  I think that I much have accidentally told you wrong last week.  We didn't have a baptism.  We do have 3 scheduled for May 2nd though!  I'm super excited!  Unless Elder Walker of the 70 tells us otherwise, we'll be able to go back to St. David for it. (Things you find on the road in St. David.)
So as you know, last week was transfers.  Sister Mackay and I were so scared that we'd be transferred.  It was funny because all of the members were so worried and one of the bishops even wrote President Walker to ask for us to stay.  Despite all of that we were really scared.  Well, Monday night we were in an appointment and got the phone call.  The first thing that we were told is that we were staying together!  We were screaming because we were so happy!  But then they said that we'd become a threesome and that our third companion would be... Sister Rodriguez!  Honestly, I thought that after being companions with her for over 4 months I wouldn't be her companion again but I am.  It's been really fun so far.  We're just trying to help her end her mission with a bang! 

So last week was pretty busy because we got a new companion and we also had to prepare our area for us to be gone for 4 weeks.  We made lots of plans with the elders who are taking care of our area and took them around to meet everyone.  It was a little scary to leave but I know that they'll do a great job because they are obedient elders who love to work hard and follow the Lord.  
(My Companionship)

We had a great turn out at church again on Sunday.  It has EVERYTHING to do with the members.  The members in our area have really stepped it up and shown their faith in the Lord.  Because of it, miracles have happened.  I really have a strong testimony that when we show the Lord our faith by acting on it we see miracles.  I love the members in St. David because they do their job and make our job easy.  It's such a great area.  All of the good things that have happened in that area are from the Lord and the desire of the people to do the right thing. 

I often think about how the Lord leads the way for us.  He goes before us and prepares/softens the hearts of the people for His message and even after we leave, He's still there working on them.  It's beautiful.  It makes me so so happy!  
   
Well, I hope that you all have a fantastic week! 

Friends, good luck with finals!  I can't believe that some of you are graduating this week (I'm guessing that it's this week)!  Weird!  Mom and Grandpa, Happy Birthday on Friday!  If you all have time, go to the temple this week!  It's powerful and true!  It's where we all need to be! 

The Church is DEFINITELY true!  It's up to us to stay true too!

Love,
Hermana Anderson