Hi everyone! Sounds like you are all doing great and getting
excited for Christmas break. Ahhh, it doesn't look a thing like Christmas here
so I still can't believe it's just around the corner! I'm glad to hear that
everyone is happy!
Well, this week was definitely one I will never forget. At
some points I did not know if I should laugh or cry ha-ha. Luckily, I only
cried once really hard and let it all out, prayed, and then I just chose to
laugh at the rest. When we moved into our new house, we found it filthy dirty
without light, gas, warm water, and to top it off at that minute...our new
cellphone did not function. I wanted to just sit and eat a jar of Nutella at
that point ha-ha. I was standing in that front room going, "I HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT I AM DOING AND THIS IS THE ONE THING I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT!!!!" But really, I learned to apply the scripture that says not to
worry about where you will sleep when preaching the gospel...no worries though,
the tender mercy is that the other Hermanas live right below us in the
apartments so we just moved in with them for the week while we have been trying
to fix the house problem that we have. So in the end, it wasn't that big of a
deal. Oh my, it's a crazy house with 4 hermanas. As for the phone, I just had to
remind myself that missionaries navigated and communicated without them in the
past so we would be fine. And now it's working so WOOHOO!!! My journal entries
from this week are hilarious; I can't wait to read them to you guys. Oh my
goodness, I have rock solid abs from laughing so much this week at my situations.
They make for a good story.
We started from ground 0 with investigators since we are opening an area. As a
result, we talked with EVERY SINGLE PERSON in the street. It was pretty fun. I
really am getting over my fear of approaching random people in the street. I
used to be a little timid and have to talk myself into it every time, but now
it's becoming instinct. It's also a lot easier since we have the "He Is
the Gift" initiative. We just do a survey to see what comes first to
everyone's mind when we say "Navidad" and then invite them to
investigate the real meaning of Christmas with us and to come unto Christ. We
had interesting experiences on Saturday; a woman actually literally ran away
from us to her house, I didn't think we were being that insistent. We had
talked to a billion people it felt like, so finally I pulled my new companion,
Hermana Zepeda (she is really a serious person and doesn't talk or smile much,
but she has a really really strong testimony and is really obedient! And once
you break through her rock-solid wall and talk to her, she is actually really
funny, too. I think we are going to get along just fine.), over to the side and
said, "Vamos a orar por exito!" So we prayed for success in finding
someone and within the next 5 minutes someone accepted!!! Hallelujah! I am a believer
of prayers....especially this week I have become convinced of their power.
Our Christmas concert was amazing! I loved it! We sounded
like a herd of cows, but I think the Spirit was still there. I saw the Patlans
in the crowd, oh how they make me happy!!!! I also really love performing, so I
felt right at home on the stage. It was fun to do something familiar. Hmmm que
mas, oh I gave a shot to Hermana Ramirez yesterday...I have photos but forgot
my camera cord today. I am keeping up my skills ha-ha.
This week was a very testing week for me, but I have never
ever felt so much the influence of the Spirit in my life. I just really had to
let go and give the reins over to the Holy Ghost for what we should do. I
really am a firm believer that God never leaves His missionaries alone, EVER,
and comes quickly to their aide. I had a firm answer one night when I was
laying wide awake thinking, "WHAT THE HECK AM I DOING???" that said,
"Let me make you who you are." I know that we should be grateful for
our trials and for all the opportunities that our Heavenly Father gives us to
grow. Often times, the easiest way is not the best way for us to grow. I know
that I am doing my darn best so I don't feel bad anymore. Furthermore, the
Atonement of Christ gives us an enabling power to accomplish things we can't
even imagine possible. We exercise the power of repentance through the
atonement all the time, but I think this week I finally learned how to utilize
the empowerment of the Atonement. I will forever be grateful for the gift that
our Father in Heaven gave us, the best one we will ever receive, His Beloved
Son, Jesus the Christ.
I am happy and living the dream, being stretched a little ha-ha,
oh mannnnnn, but I am happy. I love you all and hope that you all have a great
week :)
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO You are all the best, I am so
blessed to have such an amazing family!!!!
Con Todo de Mi Amor,
Hermana Anderton
