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