This past week has been really good. Honestly, it's been hard to be here in Tucson but it has also been so good. I've really enjoyed my experience here and know that I've been here for a reason. So last night we got transfer calls... and I'm going back to St. David! There is a really sad part though, Sister Mackay is getting transferred to the Gila Valley. She'll be opening up a new area and training. We're both pretty bummed because we were both assured that we'd be staying together for at least one more but I guess that the Lord has other things in mind. My companion will be Sister Curley. It will be her 2nd transfer out in the field. This transfer she's been with Sister Aquino so I'm sure that she's been taught well. It turns out that Sister Mackay's companion is still in the MTC today and wasn't able to come out yet because she's sick so we'll have a few more days together. Sister Howard will be training again and is terrified but she'll be great. She's a great missionary. I've really enjoyed serving with her for the past little bit. It's funny because it seems like we're practically the same person. We are a lot a like and have really helped each other out a lot.
So yeah, we've had a bunch of great experiences these past few days. We've been teaching this woman named Jennifer
who has been through a lot in her life. Because of her experiences she has a lot of lasting issues. It is amazing to see the transformation that has taken place over the past week with her. At the beginning of the week she was in hysterics and out of control. We were able to calm her down and told her that now is the time for her to take over her life. To look forward and never look back and to let Christ become her foundation. As we told her these things it kind of seemed like it was all going over her head or in one ear and out the other but we said what we knew needed to be said boldly. Well, every day since than she has progressively gotten better and better. It is nothing less than a miracle. She has now taken control and is focused on Christ. It was amazing because yesterday morning she called us to tell us that she was going out of town for a few days and asked us to come over before hand. So we went over and some of her fellow shippers that live in her apartment complex were fighting. As she found out she calmly had her son go get their son and bring him over to her apartment and asked us to pray with her for them. This may not seem like a big deal but it was huge. In less than a week she has gone from a woman in hysterics to having great control over herself and her family. It's all because of the atonement. She's taken Helaman 5:12 to heart and is strong. It is so amazing. 
Melissa, Grandpa Anderson's sister Annette & Sister HowardWe've also been teaching this man named David. He approached the elders at Taco Bell and gave him his info and said that he wanted to be baptized. Needless to say, he's getting baptized! Last night he told us that he had been a smoker for over 10 years but could never quit. On the day that we taught him the Word of Wisdom he knew that he had to change. So he went home and got on his knees and plead with the Lord that He would take away his addiction. Well, apparently later on that night he went to smoke. He had the cigarette in his mouth and every time that he would put the lighter next to it the flame would go out. He tried over and over again but nothing worked. Well, since that day he hasn't touched a cigarette! He has no cravings and no problem. We asked him how it happened and he said that it was because he had put it all on the Lord. He knew that as he asked for help that the Lord would provide. He also said that the Book of Mormon has helped him to stay strong.
These aren't just nice stories, they're real life. I know that as we put our complete trust in the Lord that we can overcome all and that the Book of Mormon is a tool to help us. The Book of Mormon is powerful and miracles come from consistent reading. It is amazing! I think that often we don't think that we can receive the miracles but we can. We're the only person stopping ourselves.
Since I've been here, Sister Howard and I have been super diligent in our search for new investigators but hadn't had much success. This means that we've been knocking on doors in 110 degree weather. As a companionship yesterday we prayed and plead with the Lord to give us a miracle and to have someone find us. Well, we had our miracle. About a minute after we ended the prayer we received a text referral saying that this woman wanted a Book of Mormon. We called her and she said that she is a former investigator and that now is the time to join the Church and to change her life. No one can tell me that prayers aren't answered and that miracles don't happen. I've seen too many answered prayers and too many miracles to say that. It reminds me of Moroni 7. Miracles aren't what bring us faith. Faith brings the miracles. It is true. Our lack of faith is what holds us back from receiving the miracles.
(Look close and you can see that Melissa is pointing at her name on the family tree hanging in The Stricklands home)The Gospel is definitely true. There is no doubt about it. I hope that we can all stay true to it. I hope that you all have a great week! Love you lots!
Love,
Sister Anderson
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