January 28th

This week has been good! I am loving Hermana Funes and feel blessed to have such a strong companion--I can´t believe that she´s only been a full-time missionary for a few weeks!

 

One funny story from this week was with Brett. He´s a member´s son and is 3 years old and too cute. He was telling us a story about Nephi with some pictures and when he finished I asked him if he could tell us the Joseph Smith story.

 

"Do you know who Joseph Smith is?"

"Yes!"

"What did he do?" 

Brett paused for a moment and then exclaimed "He found the thing!"

"What thing, Brett?"

"THE BOOK!" he shouted in frustration hahaha. It was pretty funny.

 

I´ve been thinking about the part of the Book of Mormon where Moroni asks "Have miracles ceased?" And goes on to tell us that no, miracles have not ceased. And IF the miracles have ceased it is because of the unbelief of the people. I would assert that it is also because we are being lazy and forgetful. Every night when I go to write in my miracle journal I think of at least one small miracle that happened throughout the day. Some days they don´t really feel like miracles. But today I was reflecting on our week and I felt like it was FULL of miracles. I just wasn´t seeing with my eyes all the way open, if that makes sense. There ARE miracles EVERY DAY in our lives. We have to look for them. We have to thank the Lord for them. Miracles have not ceased among the children of men!

 

May the Lord bless you to see the many miracles in your life!

 

With all my love,

 

Hermana Anderson

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0ByRUZeow-VaVS1NrNGVsMHhsa00&usp=sharing 
 
 

January 21st

This week was my first week as a trainer and it went very well, mostly because my "hija" is a pro. She is hard-working, patient with my Spanish, incredibly comfortable in the lessons, and a very good teacher. I couldn't have asked for a better companion. And I will have her as a companion for at least 12 weeks! A new record! 

One funny thing that happened this week: we were walking around, trying to find an address (more difficult than you would think in this country) and we stopped in front of two men to ask directions. One of the men was Dominican and one was an old Canadian man who appeared to have suffered from a stroke or some sort of trauma that caused him to be a little wack-o. He didn't even notice us there, but the Dominican guy was like, "look, she's American, and you're Canadian!" And he turned around and began to say very slowly with long pauses between each word "Ohhhh....yes.....American. You need.....to treat......her well.....take.....care.....of her......your.....future.....wife." We left before we got the directions from them haha.

I've been reading the General Conference Lianhona and I love it! I especially enjoyed re reading President Uchtdorf's talk about light and truth. Another favorite has been the one by President Eyring from the Priesthood session. He talked about teaching by trusting which I thought was an interesting concept. We teach most efficiently as we confide and trust in those we are teaching. We give them responsibility and show that we believe in them by doing so and this gives them confidence and power. I think this doctrine applies not only to the priesthood, but to every teaching situation in life. If you want to teach someone, trust them with something.

I hope you all have a great week! 

January 14th

This week was transfers! I said goodbye to my mini-missionary Hermana Cruz, but not for long because we will be lifelong friends. And I received my new companion who is fresh from the MTC. That´s right, I´m training! Hermana Funes is from El Salvador and I think we are going to absolutley love our time together in Tierra Alta. She is my 7th companion in less than 7 months!!!!

The highlight of the week for me was definitely the Sisters´ Meeting we had. Everything was about unity and individuality and how the two mix beautifully. Each of us is COMPLETELY unique. Heavenly Father knows us each personally and perfectly. We are eternal. Your uniqueness has always existed and always will. It´s incredible, isn´t it?

This week we started teaching this guy and I fell in love with his soul. Let me explain. Not romantic. But it was such an instantaneous and passive thing that falling is the best term. He is soooooo human. I don´t know how else to explain it. He opened up to us with genuine questions and concerns and all of a sudden his soul was of infinite worth to me. I´ve never felt that way about any of the people I´ve taught--not even the ones who have been baptized. I feel like the Savior is instilling some of His perfect love in me to help and take care of one of God´s children. 

I am loving the work here!

Hope all is well and may the Lord shower blessings upon you!

Love Hermana Anderson

January 7th

Happy New Year! I did not make any official resolutions this year, but I did start a miracle journal, and I have been FILLING it. The greatest miracle of all happened on Saturday in my old area of Bonao when John and Stefany were baptized. I believe I mentioned the beginning of the story looooong long ago. Back at the end of August probably. But let me start again....

...Once upon a time on a faraway island there was a Sister Missionary who was trying to share the gospel. She and her companion mounted a guagua and she was anticipating talking with whoever would sit next to her...until that person was a moustached-man who seemed a bit intimidating. Her companion dozed off on the rather long bus ride and the poor Sister Missionary was having an internal war with herself, trying to decide whether or not to speak to the man. "What's the worst that could happen?" She asked herself. After a good 15 minutes she mustered up the courage to start a conversation. The man turned out to be incredibly friendly! He showed her pictures of his family on his phone and even invited her and her companion to have lunch with them in their home the following Sunday! The Sister Missionary was sure he would forget the invitation, but her called on Saturday afternoon to confirm with them. And so to lunch the Sisters went. Little did they know that it was a BIRTHDAY celebration! They had the grandest lunch and had a total BLAST with the family. The Sister Missionary thought to herself Ëven if this people have no interest in the gospel whatsoever, I think I will just have to keep visiting here!" And visit they did. Many lessons were had in the house of William and Edita Gabriech with their two teenaged children. One day Edita even revealed that she had once been baptized in the Mormon church but had not gone since she was a teenager. The Sisters continued to work hard with the family, inviting them to all the activities and to come to church every Sunday, but they were often busy and could not make it. Sadly, the Sister Missionary was transferred from that area and did not hear much of the family of the man on the bus. UNTIL one sunny day she was walking in the streets of her new area when she heard the jingle of the cell phone. It was her old companion calling to tell her that Edita was now fully active in the church and that her two children, John and Stefany were to be baptized the following afternoon! Pure, radiant joy filled the heart of the Sister Missionary. A scripture came to mind, Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how manyof them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work. 31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us. 31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us. (Alma 26: 3 and 31) And the Sister Missionary will one day embrace this family, filled with pure joy and love. And they will live happily in the mansions of the Lord forever after.

It is always, always, ALWAYS worth it to open your mouth to those around you. I was very fortunate to know rather immediately of the fruits of my labors. That may not be the case with us every time we share the gospel. But there is fruit, even when we don't see it. There is a restored gospel to be shared. There are lives to be blessed. There are families to be united. Open your mouths and the Lord will do the rest.

With all my love

Hermana Anderson