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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