This week has been really good! We taught quite a bit and saw miracles! Thursday was really neat because Elder Paul V. Johnson on the 70 and his wife here for a mission tour. They were so nice! Before it even started they took the time to meet us all. They had 2 conferences, one for the Tucson side of the mission and one for the other. I always love being with huge groups of missionaries. It's always so neat and the spirit is always so strong.
Elder Johnson taught us about the importance of being diligent and "heeding" the word of the Lord. He talked about how we can have a super powerful lesson but that that wont do anything until our investigators act. If we don't act, we're not going to get anywhere. None of us can progress in the Gospel without acting.
We've really seen that here. I can't remember if I told you last week, if I did please forgive me. Well, our investigator Sondra just didn't seem to want to progress. She would never "heed" the word but we just have felt like we couldn't drop her. Well, about a week and a half ago we decided that we needed to do all that we could to help her read the Book of Mormon. So every day we would go over there and read with her. Well, things are really starting to change. There is a new light in her life and she is now reading it on her own and has gotten her sons to join her. I know that that Book of Mormon is the word of God and that it truly does save lives. She was struggling with a lot of issues but it seems like since she's started making reading more of a priority those issues seem smaller. Sometimes when we get to her trailer she's out smoking and we've really come to know that there is no point in sharing the Gospel when that is going on. It's amazing because as she's smoking we never know what to say to her but when she's done, our mouths are filled and we're able to have great lessons. It's too bad that everyone doesn't see the way we do. Sometimes I just want to shake people because the truth is so apparent but they can't see it. They're not "heeding" to the word.
During the lunch break of the zone conference we were eating and having a pleasant time and then the assistants came and told me and Sister Aquino that Elder Johnson wanted to meet with us individually.
Well, needless to say, we got a little bit nervous. It turns out that we picked a few missionaries that he wanted to have interviews with and we were some of them. It was really neat to be able to have a one on one conversation with a member of the 70. Pretty much he wanted to get to know me. One question that he asked me was how I felt about serving a mission. For a few seconds I just stared at him. I have no idea how to put into words how I feel about being a missionary. I started to cry and shared with him how it has changed me. I'll always be grateful for what serving a mission has done for me. I don't even know how to express it but to say that it has made me better. It's made me know who I am and be confidant in that. I've come to trust more and to love more. It's amazing how being gone and serving the Lord for a few months can do so much to someone. I'm so thankful. I'm so glad that I'm here in the heat rather than in a classroom.
Well, we saw some great miracles yesterday! 2 investigators, 2 less-active families, and 2 less-active sisters that we've been working with came to church! Woo! Ben, one of our investigators is 11 years old. Well, he decided that he was going to come to church no matter what. His family is a part-member family and very very less-active. Yesterday morning came around and none of them wanted to come to church. Instead of using that as an excuse, Ben got up and ready and rode his bike to church by himself. He was even there a half hour early. He is such a good example. We have to do the right things even if they are hard. Roy (10 years old) came along with his mom. He had his baptismal interview yesterday and is going to get baptized on Saturday! Woo! I'm so excited! I love working with part-member families because I'm helping them become closer to becoming eternal families. Eternal families is what it's all about. The whole reason that we're here on the earth to be tried and tested so that we can live with our families forever.
Yesterday in church I also got to teach Gospel Principals. The lesson was on obedience. Part of the lesson talks about being obedient even though things seem meaningless or small. It reminded me of Elder Bednar's talk last October about how the small things make the biggest difference. He talks about how testimonies are grown one scripture study, one prayer, and one family night at a time. Those things all seem pretty minor and small but when you add them up they become big things and make all of the difference in the world.
A few days ago we met these 13 year old alter boys from the Catholic church. They were so nice and really want to know that truth and live it. Well, we taught them the first lesson. After sharing the first vision we of course asked how they felt. I really liked their answer. They said that they felt "free." It reminds me of the scripture that says that the truth will make us free. People often are worried about accepting the Gospel because they say that there are too many "restrictions" but this really isn't the case. The Gospel liberates us. It makes us free. It brings light, joy, and meaning into our lives. We all desperately need to Gospel! It is definitely true.
Well, I hope that you all have a great week! Look to God and Live!
Love, Sister Anderson
FYI ~ Melissa will be released December 18th and will be speaking in Sacrament Meeting December 19th at 10:50 A.M.
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