I can't believe that this is my last transfer!

(This ones for Heather. Home in our area).

Hey everyone! Like always I just have to say that I love being a missionary. Seriously, it is SO amazing! I love every part of it.

I can't believe that this is my last transfer. There is so much to do and so little time! I'll be ending here in San Manuel and I'm so excited about it! It is going to be an amazing transfer!

Well, we just had an amazing week. It was so great. For a few weeks I've been thinking about this lady that I contacted when I was in the North West this summer. I've tried to explain to the sisters how to get to her house but the couldn't figure it out so I went to the North West to be with Sister Bodily from Monday night to Wednesday morning so that we could find that lady. Well, it was easy for us to find this home. We knocked on the door and they woman's husband opened the door. I basically said, "Hi! We're missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We have a message for you that will bring you closer to Christ and will bless your family." He was like "really?!? I'm busy right now but can you please come back?" Isn't that cool! The Spirit is amazing because I talked to that lady in June for like 5 minutes but I knew that now was the time to go back. The Spirit just tells us what we need to do and when we need to do it. Our lives are so much easier when we are worthy to hear the promptings of the spirit and when we actually open up to hear it. It's like in 3rd Nephi 11. We need to open ourselves to hearing and understanding the words of the Lord.

This week we continued to work with Devon, Rycca, and Candy. It's amazing to see people who have truly been prepared and really want to follow the Lord. They are all doing so great and all came to church! Saturday night President Walker called us and told us that he and Sister Walker would be joining us for church on Sunday. He needed to talk to my companion about some family issues and so he said that Sister Walker would be coming to sunday school with me. Well, I never prepare my sunday school lessons but I read through it twice so that I would be prepared for them to be there. The lesson was on the spirit world and I was pretty sure that it would be a great class.

Well, It was so funny because this elderly less-active sister that hasn't ever been active came and she had all of these crazy comments. They were so funny and I just would smile and try to bring the class back on the subject. One of the comments was so funny that Sister Walker and I just lost it and started to laugh. I was so thankful that Sister Walker laughed with me. The whole time I was wondering what she was thinking. President came in for the end of the lesson and a less-active brother tried to argue with him because he said it doesn't matter what we do in this life because we'll have a second chance in the spirit world. President said, "don't procrastinate the day of your repentance!" That got the man fired up and I just had to end it by saying "thank goodness Christ knows best and He asks us to give Him our very best and then He'll make up the rest." It was really funny. After the crazy lesson Sister Walker hugged me for a long time and said, "Sister Anderson, I just love you. Keep smiling and laughing." I guess that they understood that I did the best that I could considering the comments. President said that we need to visit with the brother about Alma 34. Should be fun!

(District Meeting)

Despite all of that church really was amazing on Sunday. It was probably the best sacrament meeting we've had since I've been here. There wasn't a lull at all in the testimony bearing. When I got up, our investigator Devon gave me a rock on and punched the air in support. Lucky for us he was on the back row. He is so funny. He is probably our age, a redneck, plays Madden football all day, and has a curly mohawk. One lady got up and said, "I'm old and I'm slow but I still love the Gospel!" Amen! It doesn't matter how old we are, we can and should still love the Gospel!

We were so excited before church because Rycca, Devon, and tons of less-actives were there. During the opening song Candy walked in with her 4 little girls. I was so happy that I just lost it and started crying. I'm not a cryer but when I see people that want to come closer to Christ and are willing to put effort into it I'm so happy. It makes everything worth it.

After Sacrament Meeting everyone greeted the Walkers like they were celebrities. It was so funny. In his interview with Sister Thomas, President Walker told her that he could tell that we were being obedient because of the miracles that he is seeing in our area. This area was reopened to missionaries last year and it had been closed for 8 years because of some dumb things done by missionaries. When I first got here everyone (especially members) told me that they were sorry for me because this is the worst area but we are proving them wrong! At church on sunday everyone was saying that this area is changing and that they're so happy to be a part of it. It was so good to hear that. People are starting to want to be missionaries and to help those in the community. I love it!

Yesterday a lot of the missionaries in our zone were getting together for lunch. It was kind of one last hurrah before some went home. Sister Thomas and I really wanted to go but decided that it was a good thing but not the best so we stayed here and we saw so many miracles. When we got to Candy's house she had her daughter Alissia waiting to learn more. Alissia turns 8 two days before Candy's baptismal date so we plan on her getting baptized then as well. I have a strong testimony that when we give up our will and do what the Lord would have us do we are blessed. Sometimes it's hard because we want to do "good" things but they're not always the "best" things. We have to keep everything in perspective.

Last night we stopped by a ward FHE and the brother giving the lesson said, "You can't stand still in the Gospel. Either you're going forward or you're going backwards but you don't stand in place." So true. What are we doing to make sure that we are going forward?

I just really love the Gospel. It's so simple. When we do what Heavenly Father asks we are blessed. When we don't, we aren't. Strait is the gate and narrow is the way. Yesterday we visited with a sister who had lots of issues with going to church but it boiled down to tithing. I know that sometimes people just get overwhelmed and think that they aren't doing enough/can't do enough and just give up. All Heavenly Father asks is for us to do our best.

One of my favorite scriptures is 2nd Nephi 31:20. It says, "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." I know that I want to live with Heavenly Father, Christ, and my family forever and all that Heavenly Father asks is for me to go forward. Heavenly Father is merciful as long as we are doing are part. We just need to take things step by step, little by little until those things that we used to think were so hard become easier.

The Gospel is definitely true and we are so lucky to be able to take part in it. I hope that you all have a great week and remember who you are. We're children of a king and entitled to so many blessings. Act the part.
I love you all! Bye!
Love, Sister Anderson
Remember, come what may and love it!