Things have been good here this week. We were able to go to the temple!
It was amazing! The spirit was so strong and it brought so much peace to me. It was amazing to be able to walk into the Celestial Room and be greeted by President and Sister Walker. It is something that I'll never forget. I just loved it. 
(Hermana Curlee & Anderson)
So this is the last email that you'll be getting from St. David. Like my subject says, I guess that all good things must come to an end. I'll be going to an area called San Manuel. It is the very tip of the mission on the Tucson side. I have a lot of mixed feelings about it. I'm excited for a change but I sure love St. David. It has been very good to me and I realized this morning that I had been there for almost half a year. That's crazy! Time goes by so fast!
(the person who first translated the Book of Mormon in Spanish)
I've learned a lot here in St. David. Here are some of the things that I've learned:
* Exact obedience brings forth the blessings of heaven. I've always considered myself to be a very obedient missionary but Sister Mackay and I found ways to be even more obedient and it made all of the difference. We even made the goal of never speeding and we saw so many blessings even when it meant that we were going to be late. I truly think that this area has been successful as a result of our exact obedience. Elder Holland once said, "Selective obedience is not obedience." Amen! If we're not willing to follow all of the rules than we're not being obedient.
* How to work well with members. I feel like the people in St. David are my family. I've loved working with them and learning to a greater degree that missionary work is most effective when members are involved. I truly love the people in this town. They've changed my life and made me a better person. From them I've also learned how to do a lot of manual labor. Here are some of the things that we did with members: built brick walls, cleaned out horse stables, tiled floors, dug trenches, put in drip sprinkling systems, set up class rooms, alphabetized hundreds of books in the school library, and the list goes on and on. I really would do anything for the people here. I feel like one of the reasons that we have such great relationships with the members is because we have a relationship of service. We help them and they help us. It's amazing!
* I've learned that time can not be wasted. When we meet someone we need to immediately start teaching. The spirit can't testify of something not being said.
* The temple is where we all must be. We need to do all that we can in order to be able to go to the temple. It isn't just a pretty structure that we see as we drive down the street. It really is the House of the Lord. It is where we make essential covenants with God. We need the temples in order to live with Heavenly Father, Christ, and our families again. What's stopping us from going? We can't afford to take our eyes off of the temple. But just like when Peter was walking on water, if we lose sight of Christ and begin to sink we can call out to Him and He'll immediately pull us up and bring us back to where we belong.
* I've learned to love. I love people for who they are and where they are going. It doesn't matter where we've been in the past, what matters is where we're going. We're all children of our Heavenly Father and we all have the same divine potential. We can't lose sight of that. As we see people for who they really are, it is impossible not to love them. "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God." D&C 18:10
(David P Kimball's Headstone)So these are just a few of the things that I've learned since arriving in St. David on March 3. I have truly loved this area but feel peace about going to this new area with Sister Rust. Sister Rust has had her struggles since coming out in January and when the Assistants called they said that they just new that I was right for the job. We'll see what that means. I've heard a lot of different things about San Manuel (mostly bad) but I'm confidant that it will be a good area and it will teach me so much. I'm excited for a new challenge.
This week is going to be a great week because we'll have the opportunity to hear from Elder Christofferson. It will be great to be with all of the missionaries and be strengthened together. I'm excited!
Well, I hope that you all have a great week! Cling to the truth and you'll always be safe and happy! I love you all! The Church is definitely true!
Love, Sister Anderson
(A Giant moth at there house)
(The biggest risk in St. David)
No comments:
Post a Comment