May 25, 2015: The Sun is Ruthless!

Hola familia!! Everyone sounds great! I can't believe summer is here for you guys and all of the fun things you're up to!! I'm so proud of all of you too!! :) Maddie's wedding is sneaking up, time to do the last minute details. Thanks for sending the package; I'm sure I will get it soon :) Thanks for all your emails, too. You all make me laugh and smile. I love you guys so much!!

Okay, let's get down to business...(ha-ha the Mulan song just came into my head). I'm staying in Rio Nilo another transfer!!! I thought I would have been disappointed and ready for a change...but yesterday I got so scared they were going to take me out because I really love the people here and we are rolling with work now. So, I'm happy. We will be in a trio, so that should be fun!!! I'm staying with Hermana Ferrell and Hermana Diaz is coming in to join us. That will be something different, a trio for a whole transfer. I really like Hermana Diaz, so I think all 3 of us will get along really well. :) Here we go to work!!!

This week has been really good! My favorite experience from this week was on Saturday at the temple. We taught the Scouts on temple grounds about the 13 articles of faith. The scouts were doing an activity to know about other religions and one of their leaders is a sister of a man in our ward, so he asked us to teach the 12 and 13 year olds the basics of our beliefs. It was so fun!!!! :) They asked a lot of great questions and we gave away Book of Mormons and Restoration pamphlets....one of the leaders was writing things down and asked for all the material! I really enjoyed the activity and the time just flew by! I love just even being on temple grounds. There is just a special spirit there. It feels like home!!!!!! I wrote all the details in my journal, so one day I will tell all. We have a new investigator named Patty and when we went to go visit her the second time, she insisted that we go visit her friend with her too. Her friend wasn't all that interested, but it makes me happy to see that Patty already has figured out that the Gospel can bless her life and the lives of others. We found a guy with one leg from Tennessee here...he has a strong accent. I thought they exaggerated the accent in movies, but they don't!! We caught ourselves talking with it at the end of the conversation...oops!! Yeah, my mind is pulling a blank right now ha-ha. And I'm in a hurry because we are going to the park and museum today as a last district blast thing. Sooooo just know that we've had a lot of cool experiences. I'm so glad I'm out here!!!! It's heating up though...NOOO!!! I'm going to be so burnt!! The sun is ruthless.

This week Elder Christensen, one of the Presidents of the 70 came to visit us. He was super cool!! He asked us why God allows us to be missionaries if God can do His own work. It reminded me of a question from mission prep two years ago....really in the end it's for our benefit, too. We give service and bless other's lives, and in the process we change and bless our own lives. God is a great multi-tasker. I'm so grateful for the blessing I have to be a missionary!!! Elder Christensen reminded us also that change is a process, so to be patient with ourselves. Oh he was totally speaking to me at that point ha-ha.

My thought for you guys is going to come from the things I read in the Book of Mormon today. Alma 20:23, and 22:15,18.

It's about King Lamoni's father when he was learning about the gospel. He had three interesting quotes if you look closely. He said to save his life he would give Ammon up to half the kingdom. He then said to get eternal life he would give up all he possessed. He said to know God, he would give away all his sins....in other words, everything bad he liked to do, he would change and repent. I really liked the leveling up of the things he would give up for the things he wished for. Question for all of us to reflect on: TO KNOW GOD, WHAT WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO DO/CHANGE? We are all sinners, we all have weaknesses (which aren't sins, but we need to overcome them!!!), and we all have our favorite things that we don't want to give up, or that one commandment that's "impossible" to follow. It’s kind of like the rich man who wanted to follow Jesus, but didn't want to give away all of his goods. Granted, we will never reach perfection in this life, but we can demand improvement of ourselves. :) So, I know that with Christ's help, we can make the necessary changes!!! :)

Well, I love you all!! I hope that you have a great week and that all goes well for all of you! Thanks so much for all of your support and love!! #livingthedream XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO until next week!!! :) I have the best family!!!!

Con todo mi amor,

Hermana Anderton

Hermana Luly Lievano (Ward Mom, Center) with (L to R Standing) Elder Sanchez, Hermana Mercado, Hermana Ferrell, Elder Raymond,  (L to R Sitting) Hermana Diaz and Anderton

Raegan's district at the Ciudad Juarez Temple

A car full of missionaries......

Rio Nilo District

Teaching Scouts about religion at the Ciudad Juarez Temple

Elder Sanchez, Elder Raymond, Hermana Mercado, Anderton Ferrell, Diaz and unknown couple

May 18, 2015: Hermana ........the Keys!!!

Hello family!!! You all sounds like you're doing really good!!! I'm glad to hear Maddie's graduation went well and that summer is on its way for you all. Don't have too much fun without me ;) ha-ha....and everything looks so green in Poky!!

This week was great! We have some new investigators with lots of potential. One of them is named Veronica...at first she was hard as a rock, but was super curious about the Book of Mormon. We found a marriage to teach...and they're legally married: YAY!!!! Her name is Armida and his name is Julio. They have 4 kids, but they're all grown up and only the 19 year old lives at home. We showed them the "He Lives" video and explained how Christ was sent by our Heavenly Father to show us the way, and that Heavenly Father wants us to return to Him. She asked, "What do I have to do to get there?" Perfect question: we have the answer. Julio lived in Canada for a while as a field-worker and is obsessed with gardens and plants. He's fascinated by the idea that Idaho has big open fields for farming. He has a tiny little garden of broccoli in his back porch where they do laundry. He asked us to pray for it. Amelia is someone I met back in November, but wasn't all that interested. Long story short, she was gravely ill in the hospital for about 4 months and thought of us and wished she could get in touch with us. So, I supposed that experience has prepared her and now is her time! They've had some previous experiences with the Mormons and have liked what they have seen. We were pretty busy this week :)

Funnies from the week: My comp locked our keys in our house on Tuesday. The screen door doesn't have a handle on the front and we have to use the keys to even get it open. We had shut the screen and I was waiting for her to lock the door when she looked at me and said, "Hermana...the keys!" I laughed for a second at her...and then we thought quickly how we could break back into the house for the keys since we had an appointment. We put a little hole in the screen door, tied a few hair-ties together, and slipped it through the hole we made to pull the latch on the other side to open the screen...and then we broke into our own house :) But the highlight...probably one of the funniest days of my mission: Wednesday at lunch. There is a sister in the ward who is losing her mind but likes to give food to the missionaries. She sat down on the couch while we ate and started telling us things that have no rhyme or reason. She has an obsession with a letter-game that nobody understands and says we are all like the smurfs and that she lives in a boot. Anyways, we were almost done eating and she suddenly demanded that Elder Raymond leave the room and look out front. He complied, then she took a napkin and a pen and drew a stick figure of "San Juan" and told him to come back. She asked him what he saw and he said, "The street and a house." She got upset and told him, "No." and then showed him the picture she drew and said he should have seen him. She then sent Elder Sanchez to go look and sent Elder Raymond to the bathroom to see what was there. Hermana Ferrell and I had to keep our cool...but it was hard because she was sending the Elders on a wild-goose chase all over the house. When she finally let them sit back down, she asked them what they saw. She explained that logically this meant that she lived in a boot. What???? Anyway, that is one lunch I will never forget ha-ha :) I will tell you guys the entire story later. I have it in my journal.

I've fallen in love with the "Forget Me Not" talk from Elder Uchtdorf. I LOVE IT!!! Here's the link to go read it: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/forget-me-not?lang=eng as I have worked with members and less-actives, I've notices one difference...which is the fourth point of his talk that we should not forget: the WHY of the Gospel. He said, "While understanding the 'what' and 'how' of the gospel is necessary, the eternal fire and majesty of the gospel springs from the 'why.' When we understand 'why' our Heavenly Father has given us this pattern for living, when we remember why we committed to making it a foundational part of our lives, the gospel ceases to become a burden and instead, becomes a joy and a delight...the 'why' of obedience sanctifies our actions." It's true that sometimes gospel living becomes a checklist of "things I have to do" instead of an opportunity to show our Father in Heaven how much we love Him....and in the end receive blessings. If we never forget the "why", the "what" isn't a burden and we won't give up. I know each of the things that we are asked to do from the Lord have a purpose and He never asks us to do something we can't. And his promised blessings ALWAYS COME!!!!! It all requires sacrifice, obedience, and faith to become His disciples, but I figure I can always count on the Lord to follow through, so I will take the leap. We all can!!!! I know that He will always come through for us, and we will be blessed and happy if we do the things He has asked...with the "why" in mind. :)

Well, I love you all so much and really enjoyed your emails! Thanks for all the love and support that you give! I have the number one family!!! Keep up the great things you're all doing. I miss you all! Have a great week!!! XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

 

Con todo mi amor,

Hermana Anderton

Hermana Anderton asks............  Did you remember to say your prayers?

May 11, 2015: Mothers Day Skype

Hey guys! It was so good to talk to you all last night! It made me so happy to see you! You all look great. I can't believe all the crazy things you're all up to! Maddie is graduating and getting married (eeeeeeeeek!!!!) and Kennedy is a super-star! Mom and Dad, you look good, too! Sounds like all is well at home. It was great to hear your voices and talk to Grandma too! She is so funny :)

Well, I told you guys pretty much everything for this week. I'm not sure what more there is to say since we talked it all out. Seriously, it's so much easier to say things than write them ha-ha. But either way, thanks so much for your support and love. I'm so proud of you all and all that you are doing. It's weird to think the next time I talk to you guys face to face it will be in the airport. WHAT?!?!?!?! Time is a strange thing. I feel like I haven't been here that long, but at the same time it feels like this is all I have ever done my entire life.

This week I forgot to tell you that we found a man who was baptized 30 years ago in Utah, but was never confirmed. So, he will need to be re-baptized because it's been more than 10 years and the baptism wasn't complete. You always stumble upon different things in the mission. He is a really good guy and has beautiful memories of Utah and the church. We are teaching him and are working on getting him to church on Sunday. I don't think 10 am church is that early, but people talk about it like we are asking them to go at 4 am.

Seriously, I'm sorry I don't have much else to say...except I love you guys so much and am so thankful for the family I have. You are all so wonderful in your own ways. I think that's what makes our family so cool, we are all super different and have different talents. Well, I guess it takes 5 pieces to make a whole :) I'm so proud to have such a great family! Until next week! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

CON TODO MI AMOR,

Hermana Anderton

PS In case anyone was interested: my bean plant, Simba, is growing nicely :) I'm relieved because I am not good at growing things.

Mothers Day "Skyping"

It was exciting to talk to Hermana Anderton

Mothers Day at the Rilo Nilo Ward in Juarez, Mexico

May 4, 2015: I Named My Bean, "Simba"

Hey family! You all sound like you're doing great! I'm really excited to talk to you guys on Sunday. I will call at 7 pm as requested :) Make a list of questions you want to ask, each person gets 5 :) AHHHH! The Avengers???? WHY???? I forgot about them until now....oh well. I can wait. I love those movies so much!!! Ha-ha thanks Dad for the basketball updates!!! :)

This week was good. We had a zone meeting with the President on Tuesday, I always learn so much from those. He gave us a bean and cotton and told us we needed to grow a bean plant in the next 12 weeks so that the next time we have a zone meeting with him, we have to bring them. I am a little worried because I'm worse with plants than Mom is...but I figure if a primary kid can do it, then I should be able to, too. I named my bean "Simba" I guess you could say I miss the Lion King. And as my pics demonstrate, we bought a light-saber last week...a double edged one!! I was super excited!!!! I thought of Dad when we bought it ha-ha. This week we found a couple to teach. They are super funny...he's a really intense dude and she is super laid back. Their names are Enrique and Edith. He had some crazy beliefs...he mixed the Bible and Greek Mythology. I walked out of there with my brain hurting. It didn't really make any sense at all....but I think he will really like the Book of Mormon. We contacted a lot of people this week. One man just wanted a Book of Mormon sooooo bad...it was cool to talk to him. He didn't live in our area, but we got his address and passed it along. There was a guy selling corn that was a drug addict and really wanted to change his life. He said he had had help from psychologists but that he still struggled. We gave him a conference talk about overcoming addictions and invited him to church. Another man broke down crying saying that he was worried he was failing the Lord. It made me so sad!!! These people are so lost without the Gospel. I just want to get a megaphone and invite everyone to find the happiness they are looking for....because we have it!!!!!! We spent a lot of time in the street this week searching for people for us to teach who will progress. I know they are around here somewhere!! We keep finding golden people who live in other areas, but its okay, we are all on the same team here. The Lord has blessed us with a good attitude and the energy we need. It's really getting hot around here...I think we got up to 90 this past weekend. Idaho will feel super cold when I get home in the very far distant future ha-ha. We are worse than camels and drink a lot of water.

My thought for you guys is going to go with the bean-theme...and comes from a primary song. "Faith is like a little seed, if planted....IT WILL GROW!!!" About that I'm sure. We can all cultivate our faith daily. It's a process. We won't wake up tomorrow having all the faith in the world, but we can nurture our faith and eventually have it turn to knowledge that will help us get through almost everything in our lives. I want to challenge you guys to take a peek at Preach My Gospel's 6th chapter and look at faith. Put into action the things you find there. Growing in our faith requires diligence and effort....just like I have to remember to water Simba every day. Reading our scriptures, praying, going to church, serving, etc....they are the sunlight and the water. Never slack on those. It's always worth the effort!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, and read Alma 32!!!!!!!!! 

41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

 42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

 43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you. 

Well, I love you all and will see you on Sunday at 7pm!!! I really look forward to it!!!!!! I miss you all like crazy, but I'm happy and doing well here. Have a great week! Animo!!! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO thanks for all the support and love!!! I LOVE YOU ALLL SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!

CON TODO DE MI AMOR,

Hermana Anderton

Ready for action!

If a primary kid can grow a bean, so can I....

To be continued!