I'm coming HOME!!

Helloo everyone. Short last email today... This is not REAL!! I honestly can't believe it. ''Mixed feelings'' doesn't even  begin to describe it. ''Bi-polar'' is probably more accurate for how I have been feeling the past few days. My stomach has been hurting and I haven't had an appetite, haven't hardly even EATEN which is soo not like me. But... Gotta just accept it. Ahhh crazy!!!

Norma's baptism went super well. :)  She was excited, not nervous or anything. It was a great way to finish my mission, seeing one more child of God enter into the waters of baptism and make a covenant with Him. Sending photoos. :) 

Happy birthday Mommy! Love you mucho and your birthday present will be ME in two days! Muahaha! Sooo weeird....

Well, I wrote my big long ''last hurrah'' email last week. Soo I think I'm good for today. LOVE YOU ALL! See you way soon!

Con mucho mucho amor,
HERMANA DANIELLE MARIE ANDERTON

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Hola!!! So this was a great week. Norma is doing soo well, she is happy and READY for her baptism this Saturday. She is soo cute. It is just amazing how when the Spirit touches someone's heart and they recognize the truth, they can make any and all changes necessary to continue. For example: that kind-of boyfriend she said she had, she decided she was done with that. The very same day we taught her the Word of Wisdom was the day she had her last tea (now she enjoys herbal tea). We taught her about tithing and she's already asking us how she pays it because she needs the Lord's blessings. She is amazing! I know the Spirit has been working with her since day 1 preparing her to make this convenant with the Lord. She told someone the other day that the first time she saw us she felt something in her chest-- the Spirit. She felt happy and peace and so when we invited her to church, or to be baptized, or to read the Book of Mormon or anything, she knew it was the right thing to do. Because she felt it and recognized it from the beignning. She's been inviting all her friends and is excited for this Saturday. :)  Please pray that all goes well!

Jessica, we didn't get to see this week.  :(  Her mother-in-law came and she's sick so she hasn't had much time. Also her daughter is home from college... So yeah. It's been a bit of a bummer, but she is great and we are hoping to start teaching her again this week and help her keep progressing. We have 3 other investigators with fechas right now! Nicole, who is 16 and sooo special. She is like super wise and mature and spiritual for such a young girl. She is also friends with this awesome 15-year old recent convert here in the branch, so that's been great. Nicole accepted a baptismal date for May 25th. Also, we found and have been teaching Nancy and her mom Delia. Delia is like 80 and Nancy maybe 60. They are sweet and accepted dates for the 25th too! So we are working with all of them now and trying to find more new investigators. :)

So things here are really good. It's been rainy on and off but we are happy and working hard. It really, truly, does not hit me that this is my last week in the mission. Sometimes I get sad, sometimes I get excited, but usually it doesn't even feel real. Which is the best. I want to just keep working and enjoying it until the very end, so I am glad that all is feeling pretty normal for me still...

.* . * . * . * . * .

On the morning of November 2nd, 2011, the day I entered the Provo MTC and began my mission, a good friend of mine sent me a text message with verses 1-4 of Alma 26 in the Book of Mormon. I was excited beyond all belief to be starting my mission, and I loved the words I read in that text. At that time, I truly had no idea what was lying ahead of me, and what those verses would mean for me 18 months down the road. Now, at the end of my mission, I share with you those same words, as well as some other verses from Alma chapter 26 (which in my opinion is one of the BEST chapters on missionary work in all scripture).

''How great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed when we started that God would have granted unto us such great blessings?... What great blessings has be bestowed upon us?... Our brethren, the CHILEANS, were in darkness, but behold, how many of them are brought to the marvelous light of God! And this is the great blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work'' (v. 1-3).

It has been absolutely amazing to have been an instrument in the hands of God to help His children return to Him. There are truly no words to explain it! I can't believe He trusts ME, a person so weak and imperfect, to bring His perfect Gospel to His children, to preach and teach of Christ and His eternal sacrifice, to help others come to Him! It is worth the exhaustion, it is worth not having any time for myself. It is worth the bug bites, rainy, days, and cold nights. It is worth the doors slammed in my face, it is worth being so far away from home, it is worth every other difficulty and inconvenience I have had. Why, you ask? Because there is NO work more important than the eternal salvation of God's children, my brothers and sisters. I cannot ever thank my Lord enough for this opportunity that He has given me to represent Him and contribute to His work. 

''And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul. Our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some (v. 30). Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we'' (v. 35).

It's true. I'm so HAPPY! My misiosn has had it's fair share of trials... That's for sure. I have been tried and pushed and tested more than ever before. But I have learned to trust in the Lord through those trials. And I am truly grateful for every one of them. I have felt the joy that comes from living the Gospel of Jesus Christ and helping others to do the same! I have truly learned SO much, and I have become a better person. 

I could never find adequate words to explain my mission, what I have learned, and the way it has changed my life. I am forever grateful to my Father in Heaven for this experience. ''Therefore, let us glory... We will praise our God forever. Who can say too much of His great power, and mercy, and long-suffering towards the children of me? Behold, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel'' (v. 16). 

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to my absolutely wonderful parents. For supporting me, for writing me every week, for giving me encouragement when times were tough and for celebrating with me when times were great. I love you both so much, and I could never thank you enough for the people you are and what you have done for me-- my whole life, and my whole mission. Mom and Dad, I love you.

I am grateful to my awesome friends who have kept in touch with me (and to those who haven't, it's okay I still love you). I LOVE love love every single one of my companions! They are amazing women and have all taught me SO much. I truly could not have gone on in my mission without all of you and your support, love, and hugs. Friends. For. Ever.

I love my converts so much. The people I have been able to see grow and change for the better... They will truly  be a part of my heart and my life forever. I'm grateful for the Chilean people, the members, everyone they are so great and loving. I LOVE CHILE! And I can't believe I'm leaving.

I am grateful for the Holy Spirit. I KNOW He is real. He has been my constant companion and has taught me, helped me, given me instruction and correction each day. I know that Christ lives, that He is our Savior, and that through his Infinite Atonement we can be happy in this life and return to live in His presence after this life. I know this is all true! I know it. I feel it with my heart, my mind, with everything I have. This all isn't just a nice idea, it's real. This IS the work of the Lord. He loves us more than we could possibly imagine. I know that the true gospel of Jesus Christ was restored in these days by the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that Christ stands at the head of HIS church in these days, and that He directs and guides us through His prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. It is beautiful, true, gives us guidance and inspiration. I know that God hears and answers prayers. I know all these things through the Spirit of God, who testifies, always, of truth. I know that each person can receive a personal testimony of these things and so many more, if they just ask! ''Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you'' (Matthew 7:7).

I could go on for days but frankly I don't have any more time to write. I love you all. Truly. So much. I know that God lives, that He loves us, and that He is ever mindful of us. Don't give up. Keep going, keep smiling. ''And if ye keep my commandments and endure to the end, ye shall have eternal life; which gift is the GREATEST of all the gifts of God'' (Doctrine and Covenants 14:7). Let us always keep our goal in mind, eternal life with our families and with our Heavenly Father, and let us each day ''Try a little harder to be a little better'' (President Gordon B. Hinckley). I know that as we try our best, the Lord will do the rest. :) I know these things are true. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

With love,

Hermana Danielle Marie Anderton

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HEY!

 

We had another great week here in Victoria! Well, part of it was spent in Talcahuano, which was super fun too! Wednesday we went up, we didn't get to Independencia until 8:30pm, which was lame, later than we had hoped to get there. But it was great. Short and sweet.. Not everyone we went to look for was home, but I got to see all of my very favorite people. Obispo, familia Coloma, familia Jimenez, and we stayed with Hermana Beatrice and her daughter Gaby. It was so nice. I love the members there! :)  Thursday we had a conference with the WHOLE mission, which never happens! Hasn't happened my whole time here so it was really a blessing to be able to have one right before I go home. To be able to see all of my friends that are still here was great. We had the visit of Elder Zwick, he is a General Authority in the Church. He served his mission in Argentina and Bolivia years ago, and was a mission president in Santiago and lots of other great callings in the Church. He was actually President Martinez's mission president when he was a missionary serving in Santiago! So that was really special. He and his wife shared great counsel as well as President and Hermana Martinez, of course. It was great!

 

NORMA is doing so well!!! This week we taught her the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom. She's like... 65-70 and widowed.. We thought the Law of Chastity would be a breeze, but something inspired me (probably the Spirit, because I have no recollection of planning to ask her this)... But I asked her if she had a boyfriend!! Surprised myself with that question, ha! And what was even more surprising was that she said yes. Haaaa, we were not expecting that! But she said he doesn't live in Victoria and they haven't seen each other in like a month, so the relationship is basically ending anyway. Hahah.. awkward. But yeah she accepted to live the law of chastity and knows it's the truth. She said if he comes back that she will tell him they need to get married or it's just gonna be over. Haha. The word of wisdom wasn't too hard as she doesn't drink, smoke, or drink coffee. She does drink tea though, she said she is a tea addict! We bought her a box of herbal tea and invited her to start drinking that instead. Well Sunday morning we went by her house to pick her up for church, and she was in a SKIRT this week (last week she went in pants), and she was drinking her herbal tea finishing up breakfast. We were so proud of her!! She loved church again and has already been inviting her family to her baptism May 4th.  :)  :)  :)

 

Jessica.. Hmm. Jessica. Last Monday she accepted a fecha for May 4th as well!! That was awesome. Then we saw her Tuesday and all was well. Wed and Thurs we were in Conce, and Friday we had a cita with her but she wasn't there. We called her and she said she was busy Saturday so she couldn't get together, her daughter had come up from Temuco and they were going out to do something.. She said she didn't know if she was going to be able to make it for church Sunday and that she'd call us when she has time for another appointment. Hmm. We're hoping she keeps progressing and that we can see her soon! She is great.

 

We are finding a few new investigators, but no one that's progressing a ton so far so we're lookin for more...

 

Today we are in TEMUCO! In Caupolican, my first sector in the mission! I am here saying BYE to people, it's crazy. I seriously can't believe I'm going home. Truly it does not feel real... But in any case, it's been fun to get to visit the people in Independencia and now Caupolican. Love those Chileans! :) I only have 2 MORE WEEKS here in Chile!!! Wow wow wow. That is too crazy. Sometimes, I feel like my mission has been long. Sometimes I can't believe it's already over. Sometimes I want to cry, other times I am super excited to come home.... But usually, it just doesn't feel real so it doesn't bother me too much. But either way, I am coming home in 2 weeks so I gotta get used to the idea. I am SO grateful for my mission. I had no idea when I got started what I would have waiting up ahead for me.... I'm a different person. I have experienced and learned and grown SO much... But I'll save the sentimental e.mail for next week. ;)   Hopefully I'm not super awkward when I get home, but don't be suprised if I am. The mission has been my life for so long now that I'm not sure I remember how to be a normal person haha. Well anyway now I'm just rambling.

 

I wanted to share this week a Book of Mormon story from the very beginning of the Book. Many of you will be familiar with it: it's the vision of the Tree of Life. In this beautiful story which was actually a dream a BoM prophet (Lehi) had, we learn of the importance of the word of God, faith, and enduring to the end. The vision tells of a tree which is pure and beautiful and white. The people find themselves in a dark wasteland, with the tree the only thing glowing in the distance. There is a rod of iron which represents the word of God (the scriptures), and as the people hold fast to the rod they make it through the the mists of darkness (temptations and challenges of this world) to the tree of life, which represents the love of God. Here are a few verses that I LOVE:

''And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy. And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen. And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit'' -1 Nephi 8:10-12.  As Lehi, I have partaken of the fruit. I have found the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, and it truly IS desirable above all else. It makes me HAPPY, and fills me with love for God and everyone else. I am on a mission because I want others to have this amazing, life-changing, enriching, fulfilling, happiness in their lives like I do. I hope that one day everyone will be able to experience the JOY I have now. But until then, I am going to keep doing my best to help others find it.

 

I love this gospel, and I love all of you. I hope you have a fantastic week and that you don't get too antsy waiting for me to come home!

 

Amor y abrazos,

Hermana Danielle Anderton

                                                                                         

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Hello everyone! 

This was another great week. SUPER fast!! We can't believe it's P-day again. But we had a really good week. Norma is doing really well, she came to church again yesterday and stayed for all of it. She really liked it! She is a little nervous for her baptism, because she feels like she doesn't know enough. But she feels really good about everything. She feels the Spirit and feels peace when we teach her, when she goes to church, when she reads the Book of Mormon and prays.. She'll be fine. There's still a couple weeks til her baptism and we'll be here to help her be ready! But she is doing really well and we love her and are so excited for her.  :) 

This week, we only saw Jessica and Edwin like twice. Edwin has a lot of doubts, he's not as religious and doesn't have as much faith as Jessica. But he is a good guy and is willing to listen to us when we go over to their house to teach. It was funny, Jessica is great. Edwin had some questions and Jessica was answering them for him, not us! Haha it was awesome. She didn't go to church yesterday because she got a bad cold. But we will see her tonight and we are hoping to help them both accept baptism dates so they can keep progressing! Because what happens when we don't have a measurable goal? We don't progress towards that goal very well and often times we don't acheive it. So, we are gonna keep working with them to help them reach that great and ever-important goal of baptism in the Lord's church.  :)  

Soo I think this past week my dear friend Madeline Derenze had a birthday! But I'm not 100% sure. If so, happy birthday my dear! 

Someone should tell Chile about central heating. Or even insulation in their houses. Seriously, it's colder inside our house than it is outside. And last week was really cold! Thankfully it's sunny and warm today and should be a warmer week in general. :)

This week we have a huge conference with the whole mission! That never happens. I am so grateful that I will be able to see everyone before I leave, AND that we are having a general authority from the Church come speak to us! It's gonna be awesome. The conference will be in Talcahuano, so I got permission to go say bye to a few people in Independencia when we get up there Wednesday. Woo hoo! Shall be a fun week.

Sad news- The neighbors in front of our house moved! And they took Renata with them!!! We had no idea. We left Saturday morning to go out to work and didn't go back home until night time. When we left in the morning everything was fine, and at night when we got back the neighbors were gone and there were already new neighbors moved in! Sad, we miss our dog. I sent a picture so you can all see the cute little Renata.

Last P-day, hermana Ferrell and I went to lunch and the lady that works there asked us where we were from. We both said the US and she looked at me and said ''You look Italian. Really really Italian!'' I was like ahhh yesss my family is from Italy! I took it as a GREAT compliment.  ;)

Okay this week I wanted to send a scripture that talks about God's purpose- maybe I've already sent it but I love it. ''Now behold, this is my work and my glory- to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.'' Our Heavenly Father loves us so much. WE are His most prized and important creation! All He does is to help us achieve eternal life, ''which is the greatest of all the gifts of God.'' I love this Gospel and I know it is true. It is through the gospel and the Atonement of Jesus Christ that we can do our part to receive these amazing blessings Heavenly Father has in store for us. 

I love you all so much! Can't believe I'll be home with you all again in just 3 weeks. Ciao!!!!

Hermana Danielle Anderton

               4                                                                                                                                                      Hola!!

Lots of blessings this week! One, of course, was General Conference! Man, how I love Conference. I just feel so happy and renewed. I know that these men are truly men of God, and that He has called them to help instruct us in these days. They teach so clearly and beautifully the doctrine of Christ and give us guidance for our days. It's such a blessing!

Jessica, her husband Edwin, and our other great investigator Norma all came to the conference!! We were sooo happy! They all liked it (obviously). Norma is really sweet. She's maybe 65 or so, and her husband died 8 years ago. She lives alone but during the week her daughter, Pilar, and Pilar's husband and two kids come to stay with her. We found her and Pilar about 2 weeks ago just knocking doors. We just shared a quick 10 minutes with them the first time, but we felt the Spirit so much. They are special! We went back the following week and couldn't find them one day, and then the next time we did and they are just awesome! Norma had shared before with  missionaries, but she never went to church. She has The Book of Mormon though, and now she is reading it. She loves it. She and Pilar are both really receptive, but Pilar's husband doesn't like the church (obviously because he doesn't know anything about it). So they asked us to pray for him that he would soften his heart. Norma goes back to her home with her family on the weekends, so she didn't come to conference. But Norma did! AND she accepted a fecha for May 4th!!! She is still praying and going to church and reading the Book of Mormon, she doesn't have a for sure answer yet that it is true, but she feels the Spirit every time we're there and she felt it at church. She can recognize that she feels peace and happiness and that God is leading her in this way. 

Jessica and Edwin are doing really well also!! Jessica really liked church last Sunday and invited her husband Edwin to come this week. We have been sharing with them both this week and they are reading the  BoM too and praying and excited to learn. They have not accepted a baptismal date yet, but they are great and progressing really well. 

Please, pray for Norma, Jessica, and Edwin! That they will receive their answer from Heavenly Father and that they will have the faith to follow the answer they receive and be baptized!! It would be soo amazing to see another baptism before I leave. Obviously, this is not about me, and if they aren't ready to get baptized yet I will still go home happy. But it would just be so great if they were ready to make that step and I could be there for it.  :)  

I miss the temple!!!! Soooo much, and I am going in 4 weeks! AHHH so excited!!!!!! 

It is freeezing cold here in Victoria. Like, really cold. But everyone keeps saying it's not even cold yet, that it's about to get a loot colder. Brrrr. At least it only rained one day last week. I'll take cold over the rain. And I just hope the real cold/rain holds out another month :P  hehe. 

So this past week or so, I've been studying/ trying to master the skill of listening. It's so important in missionary work and also ''real life.'' A quote from Preach My Gospel, our missionary manual:  ''When you listen carefully to others, you understand them better... While others talk to you, avoid the tendency to think about what you are going to say. Make sure you are really concentrating on the person rather than planning your response...'' And a quote by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:  ''Perhaps more important than speaking is listening. These people are children of God, our brothers and sisters, and they need what we have... If we listen with love, we won't have to wonder what to say. It will be given to us- by the Spirit and by our friends.'' I loove studying about this. I have always had a problem with really focusing in and giving all my attention. I am trying to be better about this, and truly listen with my ears and with my heart. Let us all try to be better about that! Give people our full attention, our time, our love. I know that Heavenly Father always listens to us, especially when we sincerely pray to Him. 

I love this Gospel, I know it is true, and I love life! I hope you all have a great week! See you soon.

Hermana Danielle Anderton :)

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                                                                                                                                                                      Hi!!

Well this week was.. Different. Sunday and Monday we were in Concepcion, and Wednesday we had to go to Temuco for an emergency... We have a senior couple serving here in Victoria, the Babcocks. They are awesome. But Elder Babcock got really sick... Like, really sick... And so we went down to the Hospital Wed to be with Hermana Babcock (Prayers for them, please!). So anyway because of all the traveling, we didn't get to work too much in the sector and we are so TIRED! Me especially. Seriously, I have never been so tired in all my life! Ahhhhh it is so hard. But that's okay! I will keep going as best I can til the end!!

We are getting a little bummed because we've been working here in Tolhuaca 5 weeks now and haven't seen much progress. The number of lessons we are teaching and new people that we are finding, are all improving. But people who are actually progressing... Not so much. :/ BUT on Friday we found this great new investigator. Her name is Jessica. She's like 40 or so, has two kids who are like 20ish, and she lives with them and her husband. She is super receptive and already came to church! Yesterday she went, and she really liked it!! It was awesome in church yesterday, everyone focusing completely on the Savior and His resurrection. Loved it. She also already knows like 4 of the members in the branch. Victoria is kind of a small town and she has lived here her whole life, so she knows some of them. So that was GREAT, she already went to church and she already has friends there. Her husband is really nice too. We didn't teach him on Friday when we went the first time but he dropped us all off at church Sunday morning. Of course I invited him while we were in the car to stay with us at church! But he said next week he would go. And he seems like he meant that haha. So the members were great, telling her how happy they were to see her and how great of an opportunity she has to learn about the church. We are so excited for her! We will be teaching her again tomorrow and we are hoping to teach her husband too, and commit them to go to General Conference this weekend!!! It will be a great opportunity for them to hear the prophet and apostles and learn more about the marvelous true church of Jesus Christ! :)

We have been working and having some success with some less-active members, too. Hermana Edith, is great. She has been wanting to go back to church for a long time, but has been nervous or scared to take that first step and go back. We visited her like twice, and she already went to church last Sunday. Yesterday, she went again, and brought her 12-year-old son with her too. She has another son who's like 20, and we want to help him come back too. Her husband Mario isn't a member, so hopefully he will start coming soon too. They are a great family and we are going to start having lunch with them every week. :)

This week I wanted to share a scripture about what Easter is all about!

''And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of Him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of Him: that He lives!'' (Doctrine and Covenants 76:22)

I, too, know that Christ lives. I know that He lived a perfect life, sacrficed Himself for each one of us, and that He rose again. He lives and loves us! He stands at the head of His church, and speaks to His prophet today. I hope we all take the time this week to reflect on the love of the Savior for us and our love for Him, and that we watch General Conference to hear the words and wisdom of His prophet and apostles! I know this gospel is true, and I stinkin love it!!! :)

Have a wonderful week. Love you all so much!

Hermana Danielle Marie Anderton <3

 ULTIMO. CAMBIO.                                                                                                                    Wooow. That is weird. I am starting my last transfer of my mission today!!!! It's hard to wrap my head around, and usually I'd just rather not think about it. But everyone keeps telling me I have no time left and asking me how I feel. SO I have to confront it. I feel great. Happy, tired, sometimes really excited to go home, sometimes really sad. But I am just doing my best here with my lovely companion, working til the end!

We are staying here in Tolhuaca 2 together. And we are not getting a 3rd companion! Yay! It would have been interesting... But I thiiiiink I've had enough of ''interesting'' in my mission. Happy to just finish out strong with my great companion. We are busy and happy! Sadly we still don't have investigators progressing, going to church, preparing for baptism... But we have been finding and teaching a lot more which are the first steps to having people progressing and getting baptized. We are doing our best and praying for miracles!! We want so badly to help someone be baptized; to develop more faith in Jesus Christ and make covenants with Him. I especially would love to see another baptism before I go home! But we will see what the Lord has in store for us these next 6 weeks. We are just going to keep doing our very best and trust in Him. :) We'll help however we can.

We live behind a family, in our new house that we're in. And this family has a dog. Her name is Renata. She's pretty cute, we like her and everything. But lately, she has taken to following us. EVERYWHERE. In the mornings when we go running, when we go to teaching appointments, when we knock doors, everywhere. It was cute at first but now we're kinda annoyed! She's a pretty house dog and all the street dogs bark and follow her wherever she goes! And they are scary. And then we get stuck in the middle of them because she gets scared and hides behind us, basically putting us in front of the scary dogs. Soo, that's not so cool. She waits for us outside of houses while we're teaching and does not go home! She also likes to sit on the door step when we knock doors. Haha. It's ridiculous! We gotta get her to stay home. Crazy dog!

GENERAL CONFERENCE is next weekend!!! April 6th and 7th and I am so excited. I hope you all watch it!!!

This week I wanted to share about Charity and Love. Attributes that are hard to develop, but so very important. When asked which of all the commandments is the greatest, Christ replied ''Love the Lord God, and love thy neighbor'' (Matthew 22:37-39). I have learned so much about charity, which is the pure love of Christ. We should all try to develop this kind of love for others. For everyone, even people we don't like that much. In the Book of Mormon, there is a beautiful scripture that helps me a lot. It says: ''Cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail- But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. Wherefore, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love'' (Moroni 7:46-48). I know that as we pray and ask for help, Heavenly Father will help us! He wants us to be better people, He wants us to love and serve those around us. I have found great happiness as I have tried to be better, love fully, serve selflessly. I know He loves us more than we can possibly imagine. And whether or not we recognize that love, we can make a difference in the lives of others by loving and serving them.

I love you all sooo much! Have a fabulous week!  :)                                                                               

  Hermana Anderton              me with some ducks on the side of the road in victoria. :)

    

                                   at the mission activity: the champion volleyball team. we won 4 times in a row!

                                        mi hija and i our first night in tolhuaca!          

Great week

Heyy!!

 

This was a goood week. The best we've had so far here in Tolhuaca. We have some investigators that have been progressing and are starting to feel organized and everything. We moved into our house last Monday night. We had to clean a LOT but now it is looking great. And the Elders from the office brought us spankin new mattresses, the other ones were killing us, I think they were more spring than cushion! We made a great map and put the names of members, less actives, investigators, recent converts, former investigators.. everyone so that way when we do our daily planning it's easy to see where we can go for backup plans and everything. So yep, finally we are all organized and are working well.

 

Today we are in TEMUCO!!!! We decided to explore a little. It is super weird being in my first sector again! I left Caupolican a YEAR ago. Suuuper weird. We aren't doing anything too exciting, we're just at the mall and enjoying a change of scenery. Next month, we will come back down and I will get to say bye to my converts here (Domitila and Dalila) and visit a couple of the members too. Super weird. But it will be awesome to get to do that.  :)

 

It is a small Mormon world, as we all know... This week, we found out that Hermana Ferrell knows Drew Starr and Cole Turner. They lived in the same apartment complex! Suuper weird. She like hung out with them sometimes too, and when she got her mission call apparently Drew was all excited because I'm here. So Drew, if you're reading this, I am training Morgan Ferrell haha. :)

She is great I love her. Transfers are already coming up! Next week. We are about 100% sure we're staying here together, it would just be so crazy if they changed us after opening a sector and training and only having a 4-week cambio to do it. Still, ya never know. The one thing that might happen is that they might give us a third companion.. another new one. Ie: another new one for me to train. And we would be a trio. THAT would be interesting! We shall see. We decided that if we get another one, we are making her run with us in the mornings.  ;)

 

So. Our investigators! We put a fecha with this lady named Rosa. She is a little older (well not THAT old, 66...) but she seems older. She is kinda sick and can't really leave the house that much because she has problems with her legs. But she believes completely in God and wants to do His will. She has always wondered why there are so many churches. We taught her about the Restoration and she says she wants to know if it is true, and that she will get baptized if she gets her answer. She has a fecha tentatively for April 13th. We were really excited but when we went back Saturday she said that her pastor came over and told her she didn't need to go to church beacuse ''she already has a church'' and she doesn't need to be going around to lots of different churches. It was really lame. We tried to help her see that she needs to go to our church if she wants to get to know it and get an answer that it is true. But she was really stubborn. :(  Darn it. We had a family from the Branch that was willing to pick her up for church in their car and everything...

 

Next is Sigrid! Cute girl, weird name. She is 17 and we met her the other week. Went back to see her Friday and she didn't have much time but she let us in. She believes in God but doesn't go to any church. She doesn't like churches because they are all different and fight against each other and it is confusing. We taught her a bit about the Restoration, about how the church of Christ was lost but has been restored. She said, ''I believe that what you're telling me is the truth.'' I asked her why she believed that and she said, ''I don't know, I feel it.''  SOOOO that was great!!! We are going to see her Tuesday and it is gonna be awesome. :)

 

Well, those are the big noticias (news) here this past week. We are happy, working hard, running, laughing, and hopefully soon we will be baptizing. :)

 

I love this gospel. I know it is true, and I know that God loves us so much. He only wants us to be happy, now and forever, and through the sacrifice of His son Jesus Christ and through living the Gospel, that end can be achieved.  :)

 

Love you all, have a great week!!!

Hermanita Anderton :)

8

Hey!! Okay sorry, I don't have a lot of time!

This week was pretty good... We knocked too many doors. Like quite literally, the entire day Thursday and Friday. And we only got into one house in those two whole days!!! it was lame. There are sometimes when knocking is good and we find new investigators that way. But we know there is a better way to find people, and that is working with the members. We got a few members to go out with us this week and got some references from them too. References are people they know who might be interested in hearing about the Gospel. Soo we are going to work a lot more with them this week to have our work be more effective! 

I was sick this week, too, which was lame. After being so excited to go running every day! Ha! We ran one day and then I got sick. Just a cold, nothing serious, but it lasted a few days. I am better now and we are taking up the running again. :)

Soo, this sector, Tolhuaca 2. Lemme just give y'all the scoop on this poor sector. There was a cambio January 15th, right? So everything was normal and the Elders were here working. Until like 4 weeks into the cambio, when something happened with one of the Elders and he had to go home. So, his companion was left alone, so he worked in a trio with Elders in other sectors for like a week or so. Then, for the last week of the cambio, he came back here and got a new companion. They worked together for one week in the sector and then they both left, and that is where Hermana Ferrell and I come in. The Area Book is a disaster. There is like, no information on their recent converts that we are supposed to be visiting, they DON'T have a map, something they have been stressing so much in the mission the past like 5 months! It is all just crazy. We also divided the sector again.. There are 4 of us Hermanas here in the ward (branch) of Tolhuaca. They had it divided another way with the Elders before but Hermana Soldan who was here last cambio too said it wasn't divided well so we did it again. And now we have to re-organize a lot of things. SOO... we are doing the best we can (basically I am doing what I can, cause Hermana Ferrell is brand new and doesn't know what to do) to organize all of this nonsense to be able to work well and efficiently here. We just want to work and find the people who are searching for the gospel! Is that so much to ask? But I guess Heavenly Father thought that I could handle doing this while training a new missionary, so I hope to not let Him down. Good thing Hermana Ferrell is so great, if not, I think I would die!

I'm sorry this is so short, but I am out of time! Love you ALL, have a fabulous week!!!

Mucho amor,

Hermana Danielle Anderton

''Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the son of God. I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people, that they might have everlasting life.''  -3 Nephi 5:13.

I love being a missionary. :)

9

Heyyy!

So, not much has changed seeing as it's only been 3 days since I last wrote. But they've been a really good 3 days! Saturday we got to work all day, which was awesome haha it was my first time in like 2 months! How weird. But it was great. We did a lot of knocking doors and street contacts, we're in the process of trying to find new investigators. We found this AWESOME young family knocking! Nicolas, Isabel, and their 5 day old baby! We just got to know them a bit, talked about our purpose as missionaries, and testified of the Savior and His gospel- didn't even teach them that much but Isabel was totally CRYING she completely felt the Spirit! I asked her how she felt and she said peace, full, and happiness. It was awesome. We have an appointment with them Wednesday so we are super excited about that.  :)  

The people here in Victoria are way nice. Like,  noticeably nicer than they have been in I think any other sector in my mission. So that's fun. Makes life better for us! Also I love the water here. We haven't been running yet but tomorrow we are going to start! And no, they haven't cleaned the house up yet.  :(  Ugh. But we are okay in the other house with the Hermanas. It's kinda small for 4 but it's all good. I told Hermana Ferrell the other day, ''Sorry for not warning you, but the fact that you're my companion means that we're probably gonna have lots of inconveniences, because my whole mission seems to have been like that.'' Haha. So we are patiently (but anxiously) waiting for our casa and doing the best we can till then.

I was going to send a few pictures, buuutt I forgot my camera at home. Darn it. NEXT week I will send some so you can see my lovely daughter and all the other fun things I've been up to!

I got lots of emails from friends and family today, and I just want to thank everyone! I love you all so much and it means a lot to me to hear from you. Makes me happy.  :) 

Well, that's about it for this week. Told you there wasn't too much to write about. We already have a few members that are going to come out to work with us this week so that should be great. Love you all tons! Be good! ;)

Hermana Danielle Anderton

PS. I hate pulgas.

    180   degrees                                                                                                                                                                                              Wellllll hello. Wow. So much has changed in the past almost 2 weeks. Don't even know where to start.

1. Hermana Zapata went home Monday. The last week was absolutely horrible. Her sickness went from bad to way worse. We went to the emergency room all day Friday when she passed out and started having convulsions. Passed out Thursday night too. At the clinic, they did a CAT scan and blood tests, and everything was normal. She had convulsions and loss of consciousness about 3 or 4 times Friday. Friday night in the middle of the night she passed out again, was seeing people, Saturday had I'm not kidding, convulsions 12 times and yes it was traumatic. President Martinez came Saturday and picked us up. We had about 30 minutes to pack all our stuff, both of us. We both left Independencia. We stayed at the mission home Saturday-Monday and Hermana Zapata went home Mon. It was awful. The past 2 months have just been... So hard. So, so hard. Sunday I ended up making myself sick with a migraine and stomach ache that wouldn't go away with any meds or food or sleep. Monday I felt sick too but am doing better now. They are attributing everything with Hermana Zapata's sickness to anxiety. She just missed home too much, the mission wasn't what she expected it to be, and as much as she tried she just couldn't get accustomed here. :( It breaks my heart but I know I did all I could. One nice thing was that I got to be with Hermana Barbosa her last night (Monday night) and got to take her to the airport Tuesday with the Asistants because she finished her mission!! So that was a little blessing to be able to be with her and feel peace and relax a little after everything.

2. I left Independencia and now I am in Tolhuaca in the little town of Victoria. In the south!! I am so happy, that's what I was hoping for. I am also training again. So, that means I am opening the area AND training this time. In Tolhuaca, there were 2 Hermanas and 2 Elders. But we kicked out the Elders so now we're 4 Hermanas. :) My hija is Hermana Ferrell, from Utah. She is really great. She is one of the first sister missionaries to start the mission at 19!! She's 20 now, she had her birthday in the MTC. But she is awesome. She has wanted to serve a mission her whole life and so she put in her mission papers 48 hours after the Prophet made the announcement that girls can leave at 19 haha. She is full of energy and faith and has just a great Spirit and attitude. She is ready to work and to give her whole heart to the Lord and these people here. We haven't been able to work too much just yet, but tomorrow we will and it is going to be a great day. :) Another great thing about her- the day I picked her up, I asked her what she liked to do for exercise. And she said, ''Everything. The more the better.'' I was like ohhhhh I love you!!! So, we are going to run every day. :) That makes me VERY happy, you have no idea. :D We have a couple issues here in the sector (like the part where we don't have a house) but we are working on it and it's all gonna be fine.

I feel kind of a lot of pressure right now. With the things that are required of me... And with comments people have been making, it seems they have high hopes/expectations of me. Sometimes I worry that I will dissappoint. But I am trying to remember that I can't do anything alone, so if they are hoping for miracles from me, they're gonna be dissappointed. HOWEVER, if I trust in God, we can work miracles in the lives of His children here in Tolhuaca. So I am doing my best to remember that He has it all in control, even if I don't feel like I do. :)

Last week, in my scripture study, I found something really great. Talking about the life of the Savior, ''And he received not of the fulness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness; and thus he was called the Son of God, because he received not of the fulness at the first... If you keep my commandments you shall receive of His fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace'' (Doctrine and Covenants 93:13-14, 20). I loved this because it teaches us that even Jesus Christ, the only perfect person to ever walk the earth, didn't understand or know the fulness of all things at first. Additionally, it says that his not having a fulness at first qualified Him to be called the Son of God. WE are all children of God, and a part of being children of God means that we don't know everything at first but that we progress! If we keep the commandments of God, He will bless us so much. He will bless us to be able to grow and improve in every way in our lives. I read an African proverb today. It says simply, ''Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.'' I can testify of that. I know that we need trials in our lives to be able to improve. And as we trust in God, He will help us. I am grateful for the trials and experiences I have been given. I know that I have grown so much, and am grateful for that and for the experiences I will yet have.

I know God lives, and that He loves us! Have a great weekend, I'll be writing again on Monday. :)

Love y'all.

Hermana Anderton

P-day March 1

My dearly beloved family and friends!

Hellooo! This week was another long one! I swear, this is the longest cambio of my LIFE!! It has seriously crawwwleedd by, but it is almost over. One more week. Don't get me wrong, we are happy here and doing well. I'm just ready for a change. Hermana Zapata this week has been in better spirits. More determined to get better and be positive. So that has made this week better than recent ones. We also had a conference and those are always great! So this cambio has been so long, but the next one is going to be way short- only 4 weeks! I don't exactly know why, but something changed and we had to cut two weeks off the mission. Soooo, I have this next 4-week cambio and then my LAST one which will be the normal 6 weeks. So, yep, you guessed it- (if you don't already know) I will be coming home 2 weeks earlier than my anticipated May 21st return date. May 7th. Crazy how soon that is!

Next Monday, we DON'T have P-day. So, you're all gonna have to wait until next Friday, March 1st to hear what my cambio is! If I left, got a new companion, etc. We are having a huge activity with the WHOOLE mission Friday March 1st, we are all going to get together (all 200 of us, which hardly ever ever happens) and just have a day off to have fun. :) So instead of having P-day Monday and then another day off Friday, we're gonna have a normal day Monday the 25th, transfers Tuesday the 26th, and Friday the 1st the activity and also the P-day stuff like writing home and grocery shopping. And then the next Monday, March 4th, we will have P-day again. Just so ya know!

Wow, I have like little or nothing to say, how lame.

I can tell a story that's a few weeks old that I haven't shared yet...

There is this little shop that this couple has in their house, they sell like everything- jewelry, paper stuff, pens, school supplies, candy, etc, etc. With Hermana Barbosa we went by a couple times I think to make photocopies and buy little things we needed. We also got to know the owners a bit. They are named Jeannette and Rene. They are married and are super nice, they have two kids also. Well we passed by a few times and talked with them, they are religious and believe in God but don't go to any church. We always tried to get into their house to teach them, but they always said that they couldn't because the store and they were busy and stuff, but they always were really nice and talked to us in their store. Well one day I felt like I should give Rene (the husband) a pass along card with the family on it. There is a DVD that you can call to receive it's called ''Together Forever'' and it talks about the family, our purpoe on earth, that the families can be eternal, that we are children of God. Lots of stuff like that. Well I told him to call the phone number but I wasn't sure if it worked cause the cards are kinda old. :P So he said he was interested and would call. Well, a couple weeks went by and one day we were in their area with Hermana Zapata, and I saw Rene outside and I said hi and we kept walking to the appointment we were going to. But I felt impressed to ask him if he'd called for the DVD. So I turned around and asked him and he said he called but that no one picked up. So, I said okay I will get you your DVD and bring it by. So we went to the office, I got one, and we brought it by. Next time we passed by their store, he said they had watched it and really loved it. THEN finally they let us in! So we taught him and his wife and got to know them better. They are really great people. They've been having some marriage problems lately they told us, but watching the video really helped them! They watched it more than once and they loved it. While we were teaching them, they told us they were skeptical of us because they didn't know much about ''The Mormons'' and didn't know what to expect or if they should let us in their house. But that while we were there, they felt very comfortable, they felt like we've known each other for years and they felt something special (it's called the Spirit!). So, it was awesome. :) Rene said he prayed and feels like Heavenly Father told him to keep receiving us. Woo hoo! We haven't been able to teach them too much, because well you know, we don't leave that much because my companion is sick and also they are busy with the store. But we know that whenever we can put an appointment with them, they are willing to receive us. I LOVE it when the Spirit prompts me to do things and I don't even realize it! That has happened various times on my mission, and it is a great blessing. :)

Aileen is still out of town, and we saw Berny this week but someone in her family passed away so we only got to teach her one time because after that everything has been busy and such. Carla went out of town, but we are going to pass by tonight and we think everything should be fine for her baptism this weekend. :)

I'm super anxious for cambios, because if I leave, it will probably be my last sector!!! And if I stay, I'll probably stay til the end. We shall see!!

Love you all, mucho mucho!! Have a fabulous week. Thank you for all your love and support! :)

Un gran abrazo,

Hermana Danielle Anderton

Hey everyone,

I would love to be able to tell you I have lots of news. But, I don't. :( Hna. Zapata is still sick, if anything she's doing worse. Poor thing. We went to the Doc Friday but of course we have to go back again for them to tell her what the results are. We shall see if it really is a problem with her ears or if it is all mental, which is what we're thinking now more than anything... That she misses home and the mission isn't what she expected it would be, and so she's so stressed or something that she's causing her own health problems. :( I didn't really believe in that before, but now I am seeing the HUGE difference that our attitude makes on our lives. Our happiness, health, energy, everything. So, we'll see.. It's really a bummer. I feel sad for her. That I haven't been able to help her love the mission. But I am trying not to be too hard on myself, I need to remember that I can only do my best, but SHE needs to decide the attitude she's going to have and what she's going to make of her mission. I hope to be able to help her decide to stay and help her get better. We'll see how it goes.

I went out on divisions Tuesday. Two great sisters in the ward helped us out. We were able to find a new investigator and do a couple other visits, but nothing too exciting. It was good to get out and work a bit. My comp. doesn't really like it because she doesn't like to inconvenience the other members when she has to stay in their house. But she is a good sport. We went out together for a couple hours Friday, so that was nice! But she just gets really dizzy and her head hurts a lot so we only did a little bit. The Elders were great and came and worked in our sector for 2-3 hours Wednesday. They found lots of new investigators that we can go back and teach when we are able to. So that's good news! (For whenever it is that we can go out again!)

Some other good news is that I got 3 packages and 2 letters the other day! Woooo, thanks family and friends! Love y'all. :) One of my letters though... was... MY TRUNKY LETTER!! Noooooo!!! For those of you who don't know, ''trunky'' is a missionary word. Back in the day, people used big trunks for their stuff, instead of suitcases. So when a missionary was wanting to go home or missing home or anything like that, they called him or her ''trunky.'' Well, I'm not trunky, don't you worry. But they do send out a letter when you have only 3 months left in the mission and they call it ''The Trunky Letter.'' They have you confirm your home address, airport, Bishop's address, etc... And then... they make your flight plans. Boooooo. :(

All the other packages and letters, I enjoyed though! Thanks!

This week I wanted to close with a scripture from the Bible that I have been memorizing and applying to myself lately. It says, ''And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.'' -2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

So, here I am, with difficulties and distresses and trials. Grateful for the gospel in my life and grateful to have the help of the Lord to deal with the trials I face. When I pray, I feel the Spirit tell me it's going to be okay, help me be patient, and help me have more love for my companion.

2 weeks til cambios- we'll see what happens!

Have a great semana, and remember- Choose the right!

Love love love,

Hermana A.

Hello my lovely family and friends.

My MOMMY got a job and I am so happy!

My companion is still sick, not much new there. But she has an appointment this Friday (finally) with an ear doctor who is going to do some sort of study on her ears to see if its her inner ear that's causing all these problems. She's pretty sure it's not, that it's something with her head, but Hermana Martinez wants to make sure that it's not from her ears first before we go to other doctors. If it turns out that her ears are fine, we'll probably go to a neurologist next. Trying not to go crazy here in the hosue!

This week, various ladies from our ward are gonna go out to work with me! Woo! They are great, the members here. They are excited, and me too, but also kinda nervous. I don't like going out without my companion. But it will be okay. I am excited to be able to get out and visit some people and share the gospel! Woooo!! Tuesday and Thursday I'll be going out with them. The Elders from our District are also coming to our sector to do an ''attack'' Wednesday. Meaning: everyone's coming here to knock doors, find new investigators, visit people for us, etc. So, this week should be good!

Some good news this week: We put a fecha (baptism date) with little Carla! She's the one whose mom died a bit ago, and she's living with her grandparents here in our sector now... She is 8, so it will be a baptism for the ward, but we are still helping prepare her for her baptism, February 23rd. She is so cute. So that will be fun to finish the transfer with a baptism. :)

Alsoo, Aileen came to church yesterday!! Woooo!!! Wednesday morning we went to visit her, and asked her how work was going. She was like, ''Good, I quit.'' Haha. She didn't like it that much and her co-workers weren't that nice to her she said, so she's looking for a new job now. Right after she told us that she was like, ''So I'll be able to come to church on Sundays now!'' We were like ohhh yes you willl! Haha we were so happy. She came yesterday and it was really good. She liked it. We're gonna go see her tomorrow I think and see if she has any questions and find out more about what she thought. She is really good, and truly wants to follow the Lord. So, if she feels like this is the truth she will get baptized. Hoping she gets her answer and can keep progressing! :)

Berny didn't come this week, she's having some problems with her family but we did see her and she told us to come by this week so we will hopefully help her and motivate her to come to church again this Sunday.

In other news, I think I'm addicted to the Ensign (the Church magazine). Especially the General Conference talks. Ahhh, I read those all day practically! For those who are not members of the church, General Conference is a meeting for the whole world, that happens every 6 months (in April and October). The prophet and the 12 Apostles and other church leaders speak to us. Their remarks are broadcast to the whole world, and then printed in the magazine so we can re-read them and study them. And let me just tell you, they are amazing. I often find myself crying as I read them; their stories, experiences, and testimony and the way they apply the gospel to our lives today is just amazing. I highly recommend you look at this site, and read some of the talks! http://www.lds.org/general-conference/conferences?lang=eng

From President Monson at the end of October's conference, a quote I loved: ''Let us be of good cheer as we go about our lives. Although we live in increasingly perilous times, the Lord loves us and is mindful of us. He is always on our side as we do what is right. He will help us in time of need. Difficulties come into our lives, problems we do not anticipate and which we would never choose. None of us is immune. The purpose of mortality is to learn and to grow to be more like our Father, and it is often during the difficult times that we learn the most, as painful as the lessons may be. Our lives can also be filled with joy as we follow the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.''

I am going to do my best to endure this trial well. To love and serve my companion and to learn more patience. To do the best I can and be cheerful! I hope you all will do the same this week, whatever your circumstances may be. Let us always be grateful for the blessings we have in our lives, and try our very best to be better people each day. :)

Love you all. Have a fabulous week!!

Hermana Danielle Marie Anderton

Patience

Hi!

WELLLL not too much is new here. We've still been in the house. My companion isn't doing so well. The medications they gave her for her ear that were supposed to help her with her dizziness aren't doing anything. She is still dizzy and having bad headaches, and is starting to get more discouraged. We are starting to think that all her problems are mental, like she is stressed out or sad or something and that is making her physically sick. We don't know. I feel incapable of this, I don't know what to do a lot of the time. But I am trying to keep the faith, keep positive, and help my companion to do the same. 

Patricia- we finally got ahold of her! We had stopped by her house lots of times but she was never home, and we called her but she never answered. Finally we called her at work this week and she told us she is moving and that her phone is broken so she sent it in to get fixed, so that's why we haven't been able to get ahold of her. Anyway, I'm sad because she's sooo great and now she's moving. :(  But what can you do? Nada. Hopefully I will get to say bye to her, she said she's gonna call us. 

Berny came to church yesterday! That was awesome. She came in a skirt and everything :)  She is great! Her family didn't come with her, but hopefully this weekend they will. They are a great family! We also saw Aileen last night. She is great, too. She works a lot so we only saw her once last week, and she still wasn't able to go to church. But she is understanding about the restoration of the Gospel and is doing well.

The picture I sent is of us going crazy, a little bit. We are bored.  :)

This week I wanted to talk a little bit about change... Our Bishop here said the other day, ''Everything can change, absolutely everything. But it depends on us.'' I loved that. It's true! Our current situations don't define us, nor are they permanent. We can decide what we want to do with our lives, where we are going, who we will become. We have a potential that is so great we can't even imagine. I, for example, have lots of things I would like to change. Sometimes I get impatient with myself when I don't see immediate results. But we need to remember to be patient with ourselves as well as with others. I often remember a scripture that I am sure I have shared before, in The Book of Mormon. ''And if men come unto me, I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble, and my grace is sufficient for all men who humble themselves before me. And if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them'' (Ether 12:27). The Lord gives us our weaknesses (and our strengths). He wants us to be humble and try to be our best. We need to be patient and keep going! We can always change, we can always improve and do GREAT things with our lives. But it is up to us!

This time in my mission is really hard for me, for a few reasons. But I am going to keep going, going to keep doing my best! I know that if we are companions, we are companions for a reason. I need to help her in this time and I need to learn more patience or something. :)  Praying that Hermana Zapata will start to feel better, and that we can go to work soon! 

I love being a missionary and I love serving here in Chile. I am praying for you all, love you so much! Have a fabulous week! :)

xoxox

Hermana Anderton                                                                   

Runninnggg

HI!

Okay first news: my lovely companion told me that I can go running and she doesn't mind sitting outside while I do so. Wooo happy.

It was a good week! We found some great new investigators! One is a family!! The new lady I found with Hermana Hamblin last summer, Berni is her name, we went back Wednesday and her husband Pablo was there and they are both so GREAT. We left a passage for them to read in the Book of Mormon and they read it like 3 times, and so did their son! And they read more in the same chapter! We had such a good lesson with them Wed and then the dad said, ''come back tomorrow!'' Ohh it was great. They still haven't prayed about if what we've shared is true or if they should be baptized, I think because they're scared of what the answer will be haha. But they are reading in the Book of Mormon and loving it. They went out of town this weekend so they didn't go to church. But hopefully this Sunday they'll go!

Another great investigator is Aileen. She is the roommate of another investigator, Sonnia, and a less active member Camila. They are all like 19 or 20 and are great people. Sonnia and Camila aren't progessing that much but we still see them like once a week. Monday we went and Aileen came out to listen too. She shared with missionaries when she was like 13 and said she almost got baptized but backed out at the last minute. Then she studied a lot with the Jehovah's Witnesses, and almost got baptized with them too, but didn't. So she doesn't really go to any church, but if people ask she says she's JW. She's so good!! We were reading the Introduction of the BoM (Book of Mormon) and we asked her what would it mean for her if the book is true? And said well for one, I would get baptized. YES! She really does want to know, and she is reading and praying to find out if it is the truth. Woo she's awesome. :)  

So, my companion is still sick. We are bored! But we had 4 great days of work this past week. Saturday and Sunday we had to be in the house. Buttt.... we are going to go to another doctor this week or soon hopefully, so they can do a study on her ears to see why she is still experiencing vertigo. Booo sick companion. :(  

In other news, the tradition I had going with my first 3 companions of being together 2 cambios and being with them for their birthday is back in swing! Hermana Zapata's bday is Feb 11th. She'll be 24. :)  

This week I wanted to talk about the Book of Mormon. Many people don't know exactly what it is or why it is so important to our religion. So I will attempt to shed some light on that for y'all. First of all, the Book of Mormon does NOT replace the Bible. We study the Bible also, and believe in it! ''The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It is a record of God's dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains, as does the Bible, the fulness of the everlasting gospel'' (Intro, BoM). So while the Bible was written in Jerusalem, the Book of Mormon was written on the American continent. Christ said, ''Other sheep I have which are not of this fold, them also must I visit, and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd'' (John 10:16). The other sheep he was talking about were His people in the Americas! And the Book of Mormon tells of when He came here! The BoM was written by ancient prophets, not Joseph Smith as some people believe. Joseph Smith, after he was called as a prophet, was instructed to translate the book into English. In the October 2009 General Conference, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave an amazing talk about the Book of Mormon. He said, ''I stand with my own great-grandfather, who said simply enough, 'No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so.''' Anyone who reads the book with an open heart will feel the Spirit and know that Joseph Smith or anyone else wrote it to confuse or trick us. The book only testifies of Christ and helps us come unto Him.  :)

The Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ. It is amazing. There is an invitation in the Introduction that says, ''We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost.'' So the invitation is to read it and pray about it, not to take our word for it but rather to ask God. I know it is true, and it has changed my life! Because if this book is true, that means Joseph Smith was a prophet, and THIS is the church of Jesus Christ that has been restored on the earth again in these days. The age of darkness and confusion has ENDED and we have the fulness of the gospel as Christ preached it 2,000 years ago. Like I always say, same orgainzation, same authority, same doctrine, same ordinances necessary for our salvation. THAT is pretty amazing. And the fact that God invites us all to ask Him for ourselves so we can know is something that we should all take full advantage of! I know God answers prayers. He wants to guide us in our lives. As we pray with a sincere heart and with faith, He will respond to us, by the power of His spirit.

I love this gospel and I love being a missionary. Please pray for our investigators and my companion! And keep on being happy and enjoying life, friends. That's what we're here for- to be happy! :) Until next week.

Lots of love from your Chilean missionary,

Hermana Danielle Anderton