With The Hollingsworths!

HEY FAMILY / HAPPY HALLOWEEN (They dont celebrate halloween here.... so sad)

Well its starting to get hotter now and I am starting to get a little tan....my hair might not make it through another summer here....its getting so much blonder...so wierd....oh well. So this has beena  great week. Elder and Hermana Hollingsworth came and it was soooo good to see them. It was so funny we were in a cita and we had to finish it up and then run like 30 mins back to the pench and so we called the Hermanas and they just ran around the pench cleaning everything really fast and bleaching everything..hahahahah so funny. So they were waiting outside our apt. building and as we walked up Dr. Hollingsworth just walked up and I put my hand out to shake his and he just grabbed me in a hug I was like like oh uh...uh.. hahaha. He was like I am hugging you....this is for your parents..haha. Then I gave a big hug to Hermana Hollingsworth. It was so strange they kept calling me Rebecca and the other hermanas were there and some elders from the offices and so I was just feeling so out of place haha. So he was all ready to do a surgery and didnt have to so it was a blessing really. He did check out my knee cause its been getting worse and he said he thinks I need to get a surgery when I get home.....lovely....Anyways so it was good to see them and I know he was happy to have been able to come down and get so much of the work done. So funny. God really does work in mysterious ways....Anyways then we have zone conference and President Aidukaitis from the area 70 came to train us....so funny story we all went up to shake his hand and he read my name tag and was like anderson anderson.......did you have a sister that just married an owens? I was shocked and said yes just barely....so he was like he was one of my missionaries in Brazil! So he was Danes mission President! So funny such a small world! So that was kinda cool. Anyways his training was seriously incredible! I learned so much about faith and how to work better and all about the right way to plan ect. We are going to completely change the way we have been doing things and have so much more success. So I was really grateful for that. So also we found this man last week who was super depressed and has lots of problems and was suicidal at one point and anyways we talked to him and taught him a little outside and he came to church this Sunday and loved it. We are going to baptize him either this weekend or the one after so we are super stoked for that. So the other Hermanas in our pench had this golden family in their area that they baptized on Saturday and we went to it and it was beautiful but the funny thing was they were evangelico before and one of their friends from their old church came and knocked on their door at 7 in the morning saturday the day of their baptism and just started telling them they were making a terrible mistake etc and telling them all this anti mormon stuff and so they called the Hermanas and they went over and taught them for like 3 hours it was so intense! Satan is working so hard here. We really feel it. Anyways I have really felt him too. Attacking me in many different ways. I know we are going to have lots of success this next transfer together so I just need to buckle down and push through it and God will help us. Anyways today I bought a dress for my birthday mom hope that was okay. It was really really cute and pretty cheap soooooo THANKS! I also got the package but I havent opened it yet I made one of the other Hermanas open and check if it was the birthday package it they checked and said yes and then hid it so I couldnt look. So Friday I will open that up. Thanks so much!!!!! It actually one of our zone leaders birthdays too Elder Obaldia on Saturday the 5th so we are going to do something fun. Anyways I cant think of anything else. I hope everything goes well with your party and that you all have a lot of fun. I would love it if someone could send some pictures of it and mom also if you could send me some pictures of you and dad all dressed up. That would be great. Oh ya I forgot. Tommorow Hermana John are doing an English Fast.....no more English....so we will see how that goes...

LOVE YOU!!

Hermana Anderson

Hey Family!!

This week has really just flown by super fast! I really dont even remember anything that happened. We had exchanges so I went to another area for a few days. That was pretty cool. We went to translate for some of the teachers at an elementary school (since it was parent teacher day) and while we were there waiting we got to read some of teh stories on the outside of the classroom walls and I just was laughing so hard at some of the stuff. It made me remember when I was in elementary and some of the stuff I wrote. One of my favorites went something like this. " Have you ever been jumped by goats? Well I have and let me tell you about it.  hahah so this kid talks about how he went out into his backyard and there was 2 goats staring at him. One brown goat and one white goat. Then the next thing he knew he said one goat tied him up and the other one splashed a bucket of water on him. hahahaha I dont know if thats funny to you guys or if I am just wierd but I seriously couldn't stop laughing. hahaha then the teacher commented on it and was like. I really cant belive that that happened to you. hahahah it was so funny. I think was mightve happened is the goat was on a leash and accidently caught his feet in it and then the other hit a bucket of water over or somthing. It was so funny. That was probably the highlite for funny events. The other experience I had was really really cool and almost made me cry.

Something that you have to understand here is that most of the hispanic people are illegal and the Dads have to work really far away from home sometimes because the economy here isn't the best and to find a job is really hard. With the construction jobs many of the people often leave the state for periods at a time to work in say Alabama, South Carolina etc.. So often times the kids and the moms stay at home and see the dads every weekend if they are luck or every other. So when we were at the school translating one of the boys came in with his dad and the teacher started to express concern about the boys working habit. How she can literally tell when Dad is leaving for work and when he is coming home. The days he has left the boy would come to school almost in tears and just wouldn't want to do anything the entire day at all. He would get frustrated with the teacher and really just shutdown. The days leading up to the dads return she would see a huge improvement and he would work super hard. This kid was super smart too. Almost all A's. As she talked about it the boy started to cry because he missed his dad and I think it really hit his dad just how much his son loved him. He said he was aware that his son got sad when he had to leave but didn't realize to what extent it really affected him. It was really sad but cool to see that because it really made me want to always be there for my family. Obviously the Dad has to work and things and thats respectful but I guess it just showed me how important that is for the kids. It was cool.

Thats pretty much everything I can think of. Tonight we get calls to see who is transfered and who stays. It should be intersesting!

Love ya!

Elder Anderson 

HEY FAMILY!!

This week we had a milagro!!! Do you remember the woman we have been working with forever who was struggling with smoking....well she has had about 20 different fetchas for baptism which always keep falling because she would always smoke! So this week the traveling asistants came and they were helping out our zone with all our investigators. They came with us to see her and let me just tell you. She completely changed! We went the next day and she was like chicas I am not going to smoke anymore!! We were like NOOOOOO WAY!!!!! We were so happy! So we passed all the time this last weekend and between us and the elders she didnt even have a chance to smoke and Saturday she was baptized!!!! Sunday confirmed!! It litterally was a miracle! I was so happy and excited for her I couldnt even sleep the night before!!! It was so funny she went around to all the kioscos and told them all not to sell her cigarrettes because she wasnt going to smoke anymore! She has had desire but she said now she understands. She said we were always telling her this but sometimes you just need someone else to tell you. The asistents were those other people. It was awesome because her daughter and her daughters mother in law came to the baptism who both are not members and they really felt the spirit strong. Hermana John and I sang Joseph Smiths first prayer to the music of come thou fount and it was so powerful the spirit was so strong there and it was such a beautiful baptism. She was just soooo happy and just kept telling us it. She said all her neighbors were getting mad at her asking her why she was meeting with us and that we were a cult and she was just like whatever!! They dont even know!! I was so happy to see her begin to defend the church and her testimony is growing everyday. What a miracle and blessing. Tonight we are going to have a FHE with another one of our inv. with a member family and some menos activos so its going to be really good. We are going to teach them how to make German Pancakes!! Its going to be fun. 

So today we got a big surprise. The zone leaders called us last night and wanted to know what we Hermanas were going to be doing today this morning at like  10 so we said nothing and they told us to be at our church at 10 so we got up and did our studies cleaned a big got ready and headed to the church. We were a bit skepticle of what we were going to be doing and we walked into the church and the 2 zone leaders had prepared breakfast for us 4 hermanas!! They had a table all set up with china and drinks and facturas etc. It was sooooooooo nice of them! We were shocked!! So we ate together and just visited and chatted One of them is from Buenos Aires and the other is from Panama. So it was really fun. They after that we got invited by one of the members in one of the elders areas to an asado. So almost all of our zone went and it was really fun! We had churi pan (which is like a smokie sort of) and we just had fun. Then we had a little testimony meeting thing and then to end it the mom sang and played the guitar to folklore music. I loved it so much!! I was just enjoying it and so content. So that was fun. Really to feel like a family with everyone and just really to be part of the culture. So Hermana John and I have some great plans for the end of the transfer for our next transfer together. I cannot believe how fast the time is going on the mission. I have 4 transfers left.....that just makes me sad. I feel like I dont ever want to leave but at the same time I feel like I want to continue on and use what I have learned here and apply it to my life back home........but for now this is my home and I am just trying to do everything I can to have success and enjoy the mission.

We are going to be looking for a ton of news this next week since we just baptized one of our investigators and so that will be good to get some fresh blood in here. We feel like we are going to really change around this barrio and we are excited!  This week we have conferences with Presidente Avila and we are having a 70 here who is in the area presidency for America Sur. Its going to be really really good so I am pretty excited for that. And Dr. Hollingsworth will be here this week to. So that will be good to see him and let him check out my feet. I think they are doing fine but we will see what he has to say about them. They feel much better because I was able to pop out of the the last internal stiches about a week or so ago.....so we will see I guess. Other than that this week has been great I am really going to miss a lot of the people and friends I have met here when they leave. We are having transfers here in 2 weeks. So I will stay with Hna. John again. So its going to be good. We hope to get a ton of baptisms! :)

Anyways I hope you are all doing well thanks for the letters and for everything you do for me. I love you all!!

LOVE.
Hermana Anderson

P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARTIN!!!

HEY!!!

This week was probably the coolest week ever!! We had like 50 parties for Elder Celis since it was his birthday on the 22nd and it was fun to celebrate that with him. Ok maybe not 50 but like 2 or 3. hahaha We had a really cool one at one of our investigators homes that was baptized on sunday here and after the party he said that was the best birthday party he had ever had before so it was really cool. They had a ton of people and there was probalby only like 3 members there so it was good to meet alot of new people and break down the misconseptions about missionaries or things like that. We spent a little bit out in the backyard playing soccer with the kids and some of the people were watching us and they could tell that we are normal people and just want the best for them so it was cool. But yeah Saturday we were able to baptize a guy who has been waiting 7 or 8 months to get baptized and it was so awesome to see him join the rest of his family who are members. It was especially nice because he is the dad and next week will get the priesthood so that will be a huge blessing. Sunday I was able to confirm him a member of the church and that was really cool. It was scary to do it all in spanish but it went well. Then right after church we got to baptize a family and it was super cool!! I got to baptize the daughter and then confirm the son and Elder celis did the others. It was awesome!! Probably the best part of my mission so far. I love just seeing families being affected by the gospel. Its amazing when its one person but when a whole family is invovled its relaly special!! So thats the exciting news for this week!! Everything else is going super good. We have transfers on the 2nd so we will know by next monday night who is staying and who is going. Hopefully we can both stay another one even though its unlikely to stay with a comp in this mission for 3 transfers but we will just have to wait and see.  I love y'all!

Elder Anderson

xx

P.S. Did you like that southern y'all?

Hey Family

So I have decided that my letters as of late have been quite serious and I dont want you to think that I never have any fun here in the misión so I decided this week will be dedicated to my favorites.

I dedicate this letter to you Hilary you inspired the topic.

WHY I LOVE ARGENTINA

1.       1. I love this country so much I love the beautiful scenery the campo and the humility that many of the people have. You really can feel it here.

2.       2. I love that the boys all have mullets or rat tails and the girls still wear clothes from the 80´s. The 80´s is big here and they work it well!

3.       3. I love all the little street vendors that sell everything from fruit to magazines to touristy stuff to underwear. It just love them all!

4.       4. I love the smell of panaderias! They are little bakery shops that sell bread and factures (pastry type things) It smell like heaven! Especially when you are starving its tastes like heaven too!

5.       5. I love the people all ride bicycles here. It doesn’t matter if your 2 or 92 everyone is on a bike and sometimes there is a whole family on one bike. I would never have believed it possible but these people are very innovative and think of everything I swear!

6.       6. I love that they have a holiday just about every other week it seems and just for whatever thing. And that birthday´s are soooo important here they have huge fiestas even if it´s for your second cousin twice removed!

7.       7. I love that in just about every dish we eat with people there is eggs and mayonnaise…..yes it is possible I know what your thinking….. J

8.       8. I love walking around and seeing everyone drinking their matte and just talking and visiting. The people here really love to visit and just have a good time…sometimes I think we need to do that a little more and stress a little less.

9.       9. I love that anywhere I walk in the streets I hear music whether its from the kids and their cell phones or its from the peoples houses. It just makes it a little more special when your walking down a tree enclosed street and all you can hear is Italian Spanish music….it just speaks to your soul.

10.   10. I love that everyone is so affectionate here. If you walk into a room or someone else does or just joins a group everyone gets besoed. (kissed) or (hand shakes from the boys for us Hermanas ;)  ) But no I really love it because it really sets you at ease and you instantly feel welcome.

These are just the ten reasons I could think of, of why I love Argentina so much. So these are just blessings on top of the ones we get for being missionaries. What a great blessing it is! There is something powerful in looking for reasons why you love something or someone because instead of focusing on the bad you think on the good and then you forget why you didn’t like something. That is something I am trying more this transfer…..to try and see the good in everyday and every person. A reason to love them, the way God loves them. It is going to help me develop a lot more Charity,which is something we as missionaries but really every person needs if we really want to be like Christ. We had mothers day here in Argentina yesterday and it was really special to walk around and see everyone buying flowers or something special for their moms. It made me think about my mom and how special and important she is to me. We are so blessed to have you mom. Sometimes we may not show it but you really are the best and one of my biggest examples. I love you so much and hope you know that even if I am down here in Argentina I still talk to my investigators and my companions about you and your example to me. So thank you for everything you do!  I LOVE YOU!

That’s it for this week I will try to come up with something a little different for next week so look for that!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Hermana Anderson

Hey Family!

This week has been crazy. Our baptism wasn't able to go through because the divorce wasn't finalized quick enough and so they didn't want to rush the wedding so we are going to do it this weekend instead so thats still good. Sounds like everyone is doing well. Do you know who the 4 kids were that passed away? Thats so crazy. Its so much different when people your age pass away. I dont really know what more to say. Wow. Thats crazy. Its super wierd to think that I have been out for nearly a year now and it kinda scares me in some ways. Its wierd to think that the mission is actually going to end because it seems like I will be here for ever. The thoughts of what I am going to do when I get home and which career path I need to follow seem to be crossing my thoughts more and I dunno its wierd. Its wierd that we actually grow up.

      We are super excited for this weekend though. Saturday we will be having a wedding and a baptism right after so we are super excited and then right after church we will be having 3 more so I couldn't ask for anything better. Its just awesome. I think I will probably get transfered this next transfer Nov 2, because I have been here for about 4 months now. 6 months if you include my first time here at the beginning of my mission. Its one of those things where you dont want to leave because you love the people here so much but you also want to get out and see and meet more people. Kinda a bitter sweet situation.

      

Love ya!

Elder Anderson

Hey Fam! So this week has been great but I forgot to tell you  something that happened like 2 weeks ago. As you  know one of the mission curses is getting bit by a dog  among other things. Hermana Wilde and I were in the  church with a investigator about to Finding Faith in Christ  but we didnt have the remote to change the langauge and  so we ran to one of the members house so we could get  the key to the room it was in. So we are running. (Yes skirts  and all...the people just stare at us its quite funny actually)  Anyways so we are running and we pass this house and I  was on the inside closer to the houses and all of a sudden  this huge dog just jumps out and bite me on the hip! I was like  WOAH!!!!! But I just kept running I didnt stop. Which was a  blessing because I was running ¨soooo fast¨¨ haha but really  the momentum of me running would allow the dog to really get  a good bite so I just kinda ran through it. I was very very blessed!  Anyways I succesfully evaded that one! Also we saw these two  little little dogs in the street yesterday and it was raining and so they  were soaked and looked really mangy and ugly and H. John and I  were just laughing and thinking they were some ugly dogs and I think  we said that out loud right in front of them. They were just looking at  us calmly but as soon as we called them ugly they seriously attacked  us and were barking so loud and trying to bite our ankles we were laughing  and running so fast it was so funny. Who knew dogs can have the  gift of tounges too!!!!  Also before I forget mom there is a mission blog  its argentinamendozamission.blogspot.com. Okay now for this week. So its been a rainy week for two reasons  one because we had 2 or 3 days of just strait gloom and rain on  and off. But also I feel like God has been raining down blessing  on me. I have really been trying for a while now to figure out how  I can be a better missionary and I have been really trying to apply  what I learned from President Avila in the work and I have really  been trying to apply all of that this week. What a difference!! I seriously  dont know how to explain it but this has been such an incredible week.  I feel like I have changed so much! In just one week like a great growth  has taken place. I have refocused the way Hermana John and I work  and we have seen success. We found 2 girls well sisters that live together  and taught them 2 times this week left them with The Book of Mormon  and they have been reading and praying. They didnt come to church but  we arent sure why so we are going to stop by tonight and see what happened . But seriously I felt like I was doing everything I could this week but in a better  way than before. I feel like God is helping me with this new focus to have for  organization in my mind and in the work. We have a lot of people that we have  dates for baptism within the next month and we are just working with them and  trying to get them to church which seems to be the hardest thing to do for some  reason. But we are going to continue to do so.....So ya its been really wonderful  to see this change in myself and to really see a maturing process take place. I  am so grateful for the decision I made to come on the mission. It litterally has  changed my life. I cant imagine what my life would have been like without the  things that I am learning here. I was reading in Mosiah 5:2 the other day and it  has become one of my favorite scriptures how it talks about a mighty change of  heart and how that change comes through the spirit and how when we experience  this change we have no more desire to do evil. I was thinking about the mission  and about how here it is like that if you want it to be. You loose your desire to do  things that before were fine to do. Even things that you have to question if they are  okay here you just say no. I love that and I never want to loose it. That is really  true conversion when you litteraly loose the desire to partake in the evil things of  the world. We all need to really look inside and ask ourselves that question sometimes.  What are we willing to sacrifice. I have been thinking a lot about addictions lately as  we are still working with one of our investigators who has a smoking problem and just  thinks that she cannot quit. I was pondering one day about what we could share with  her and I kept thinking about how smart Satan is. He always takes things that are pure  and good and true and twists just a part or portion of it. Well I was thinking about how  as children of God we crave that connection with Him. We have that connection through  the Holy Ghost. We recieve feelings of peace, happiness, joy, etc. These are the  feelings that everyone wants. Satan knows this so he tries to mimic these feelings  he cannot ever mimic or create peace so he tries to do things that help us feel like  we are calm or really happy etc. Drugs or addictions for example. When someone is  on drugs they are on a high and feel unstoppable or really happy or tranquilo etc.  When we have the Spirit which is also addicting in a way we have so much happiness  and peace etc. So Satan knows that so he confuses the world to think that is how you  get those feelings and that you can get it easily. Whereas with the Spirit you have the  work for it. But when we are working we are progressing when we just do things the easy  way we are stagnant. I love it the brethren talk sometimes how being a memeber of The  Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is not easy.....there is a weight to it. But just  like exercising without that weight we don´t really gain the muscle or progress. That weight  or responsability is there to help not hinder us. I know that is true because I have really felt  that in the mission. Yesterday we had such a beautiful testimony meeting and I felt the spirit  so strong and as I testified about the Gospel and about Jesus Christ I felt the words ring true  in my heart. There is no place I would rather be right now. Does that mean that this is easy?  Absolutely not...but I wouldn´t have it any other way. I have learned things here in this short  time that I would never have learned at home or maybe I would have but over a long long  period of time. One of the most important things I think I am learning (which was touched  on at conference which I LOVED) is really what is our purpose here in this life. I feel like  sometimes we feel like we understand the Plan of Salvation. Yes our goal is to return and  live with God and our families forever. We do that through sacred ordinances and the  priesthood power but we sometimes forget that we are here to be like Christ. When we  took upon His name at baptism I don´t know if we fully realized what that meant. We  litterally need to do what He would do if He were here. What would He do? Dedicate His  life in the service of His Fathers work. Litterally dedicate everything. Use His talents His  creativity etc. That is why we are given those things. We need to focus not just on helping  our immediate family to return back to Him but to help everyone. We don´t have to be  on a mission to be missionaries. We need to dedicate our lives to furthering the work of  the Lord. We need to be examples of the believers in action thought in word and deed like  it says in Timothy. We need to look for every opportunity to share our testimonies with  others not to be pushy or anything like that but to invite people to drink from the water that  will give them life eternal. The only water that will do so. So what are we here for? To be  like Christ......we need to love everyone and serve everyone like He did. So that has just been some of my thoughts this week and I am sorry if that sounds like  I am up on my soap box I just feel like God is showing me what I need to be doing with  my life not just here on the mission . But after too. That is why we are here. We need to  be instruments in His hands to bring out His work. I love this work I know that it is the  most important work in the world and I am so proud to be here in the mission a part of it.  I am so blessed with amazing parents that taught me correct principles as a kid and  helped me grow up with an incredible faith in God. For incredible Brothers and Sisters  who continue to amaze me and teach me so much through their examples and wise words.  I feel so blessed and lucky to have had the life I have as I look at the people around me  everyday. I know who I am and where I come from and more importantly where I am going.  The Gospel is True and it is the only Truth. What a blessing. I am just filled with gratitude  and Love for this work and our Heavenly Father.....Thanks for everything all your support  and Love. I feel it everyday and it strengthens me when I am weak. I love you all and I  will talk to you next week!!  H. Anderson

Hey Family! This week has been super awesome!! We are getting ready for our baptism this saturday and then 3 more for the next sunday! We are super excited! Also we had an awesome party at the church for all of the different countries and got to try food from Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica etc... haha it was super fun and I loved watching all the people do special dances from their countries! It was super fun. Sounds like Thanksgiving was fun and you all had a sweet time at conference. Things are starting to get colder here and its dropped into the 60's today.. I think it will get up to the 70's though so that should be sweet! We are having our Zone pday today so I am super excited to go see all the other missionaries and play a ton of sports. I dont know if I told you last week or not but we got a visa waiter who is waiting to go to Brazil so that is cool. So now me and Elder Celis are in a trio and pretty much training? Kinda but not really? ITs wierd but different so we are kinda excited. He can leave anyday so pretty much we are just waiting for the call that his visa is ready. Its hard to believe that I have been gone for 11 months today! Practically a year. Its going by so fast and I am learning so much and I love it! I am still in the same area that I was trained in and so its wierd because the seasons are changing to how it was my first time here and it brings back so many memories! hahaha Its awesome! I love you all and dont really have too much else to say today.. My mind isn't really focused cuz I am just excited to go play sports hahaha love ya! Elder Anderson

Hey Family!!

Wasn't General Conference amazing?!! I loved all the talks so much!! I felt like they were completely specialized for what I needed to hear in that moment. This week has been really good. We got a new missionary who is waiting for his visa to go to Brazil so we are in a group of 3 now and I guess kinda training him? haha Everything is going really good with our investigators and they are getting ready to be baptized in the next 2 weeks so we are really excited with that. I know you cant come online today because your driving but I thought I would write a quick note anyways. I love you! Talk to you next week!!

Elder Anderson

Hey Family!

So this week has been such a rollercoaster of emotions and events that I am not really sure where to start. We had transfers on Wednesday and Hermana Wilde and I took a bus up to Mendoza and she had to catch another one to San Juan and I had to go to the offices to get my new companion fresh from the MTC! So saying goodbye to H. Wilde was really hard. We grew so close and I consider her one of my best friends. But it was a quick goodbye (just like ripping off a bandaid it hurts but its fast) then H. Ricks (the other Hermana training) and I ran to get a taxi and head to the offices. We arrived a were greeted with a large breakfast....so good. Then we had some training. They have this new training program that is from Salt Lake and it is sooooo incredible!! Its for 2 transfers so I will be with my new companion Hermana John for 2 transfers. But we have this booklet and it tells us all the things we need to be studying together etc. This program is to help all those being trained be able to train after their first 2 transfers. They have evidence Elder Tillman (yes mom) was there its his third transfer and he is training! So cool!! His Spanish is really good already though. So that will be really cool! I love it though I am learning so much. But it was really good the training and everything. My companion Hermana John is from North Carolina and she is cool. She likes to do theater and other stuff like that so its cool. We get along good and she should be pretty easy to train as she already has a good basic knowledge of the language. Hahah definately not like me when I came. So Hermana Gutierrez and Hermana Pelton went home this last transfer and its so weird to think!!! Especially Hermana Pelton as she had the same time I do in the mission or a little less and she is home now!! Time has flown!! So ya we came back that night after receiving training in the offices and I have been fighting off an infection for the last 2 days and it finally settled in on the bus so that wasnt fun and my right foot was hurting really bad and was really swolen anyways so Friday rolls around and seriously my foot is hurting really bad I have a bad infection in my head and I had to take a nap in the siesta because I couldnt even think. I woke up and my foot was an angry red all around my scar and my head was pounding. So I went and showed the other Hermanas and they called a member who is a nurse and I called the mission nurse. She told me to go to the hospital here and have a doctor take a look at it. So we ended up meeting up with one of the members from the Hermanas barrio and after waiting for about 3 hours we got in and a doctor took a look. She said it is just filled with infection and she wasnt going to cut it open because it would just explode and have a more serious risk of getting more infected so I was just like oh joy!! So she gave me some antibiotics and I have to wash my foot with this antibacterial soap twice a day and then put manzanilla tea soaked guaze on my foot (its herbal dont worry) haha. And then like an iodine type thing with gauze covering it for the day. Well lets just say that its working!! The infection is going down and I am feeling a lot better. I feel kinda bad. My poor body has just been fighting infection for sooooo long I feel. But I am going back to the same doctor this week to see if its all good so dont worry. I am being well taken care of. So ya this week has been a little tough from missing Hermana Wilde a lot and being sick and having this infection. Conference was just the thing to help me push through it. I loved it so much. Just like Scotty was saying when you are on the mission conference is so much more powerful I think because we are just so focused on the things of the lord or should be all the time and enveloped in the spirit. I felt so much peace and calm as I heard the voice of the prophet and the 12 and the other speakers and the wonderful music. I loved it so much. It was cool thinking that you were all there watching it at the same time as I was even though it was 1 in the afternoon here and 10 in the morning there. I still felt pretty excited at the chance to see you.....but no luck! Oh well. Anyways I am feeling really blessed right now and I know God is blessing us so much and I am learning so much from training again. Its funny I am always praying for God to help me be a better person and missionary and the learn the things he wants me to learn and so he calls me to train again.....dang it! hahaha. No its a great opportunity to learn and grow so I am excited for that. I just never feel qualified enough to train is all. But the lord always qualifies those whom he calls so I at least have that promise to help me feel better!

Anyways this next week should be interesting. I look forward to getting things back to normal and getting back to work. Thanks so much for all the support and love I feel it and need it everyday.

I love you all!
Hermana Anderson