Well it's official...I love Andover! I despised this place when I got here but I've had a change of heart. This ward is amazing! There are so many incredible people here and I am learning so much.

I also LOVE the temple. Satan did not want our district to go to the temple. Everyone had rides lined up and everything fell apart the night before. Our ride got pink eye and all of the Elders rides bailed. Between us and the Elders I think we called everyone in the ward and Sister Hansen saved the day and was able to drive us last minute. 

There was a funeral on Saturday for a man in our ward. I don't think there have ever been so many non members in the Anoka church building. We helped set up and then helped with the luncheon. Everyone was making fun of me because I had never been to a funeral that they didn't have ham and funeral potatoes. People here are really big into Taco Salad! My skills from helping Susan with receptions sure came in handy! 

There was also the Ward Halloween Party on Saturday which was really great. We have been committing everyone we eat dinner with to invite their friends to the party and we had a pretty good turn out of non members. 

The funniest moment of the week during a lesson. We were teaching Sister M the law of chastity and in Sister Hulets training she is supposed to lead out in teaching commandments so we had practiced and had a good lesson plan. I look over at her to start and there is pure fear in her eyes. It took everything in me not to laugh. 

We are going on exchanges this week and I get to go to Shingle Creek. I am so excited to go teach me some Africans! 

We had a mission goal to get 250 investigators to church and we have been falling just a little short every week and we finally hit it this week! Sister M and Sister J came to church! We used all of our miles to drive to have Sister J follow us to church but it was worth it! Yay for riding bikes in the rain.

 Sister M is going to get baptized on Nov 9 if she gets her answer by then that the Book of Mormon is true! Yeah Buddy! 

The church is so true and the gospel is incredible! Happy Halloween! 

Say what? It's already P-day again. I don't even know where this week went. If I had a dime for every time I got mistaken for a Jevoahs Witness I would be set for life. Our ward is doing a 40 day fast for missionary work and it is working miracles! We have been working with two girls in the Anoka ward named C and J. J was baptized when she was 12 but fell off soon after. Their mom committed suicide last month and they have been going through the wringer. We had to wake them up and bring them breakfast but we got them to church yesterday! Last night we went with M and S to Bloomington to the Presidents Fireside where a few recent coverts share tell their story. The fact that we got to go was a miracle in its self. Our ride bailed last minute so we were calling everyone and their dog for a ride. Brother S an old recently reactivated man saved the day and drove us all. M leaned over during it and said she was nervous about when she will have to get up there and share her story! We are going to the temple as a district this week which will be amazing and is much needed!! It's getting COLD. I forgot about the frigged wind. Poor Sister Hulet from St. George is already wearing all her winter gear. She has never shoveled snow! Apparently Anoka is the Halloween Captial of the country. Don't know if that is true but people are going ALL out. It's weird and creepy but it gives us something to talk to people about about when we are knocking down their doors. 

Life is good. The church is true. I love you all and to all a goodnight. Love, Sister Szabo

Funniest thing I saw this week was a church that was advertising that they had an ATM machine inside. 

Greatest moments of the week: 

Zone training and interviews with President. My interview with President was incredible. 

M*** finally started reading the Book of Mormon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love her!

S**** came to church and we set a baptism date with her!

We knocked into a family and taught them the restoration and are going back to see them this week.

Did I tell you Sister Ballif is my sister lead trainer? Well she is and she is amazing. 

We are going on exchanges this week!

Sister Hulet nailed a squirrel with the car. 

Meeting one of our investigators Pastor. Intense. 

Rainy Rainy days. 

I love the Book of Mormon.

I'm learning a lot about patience. 

Life is good.

The church is true. 

I have the best family in the entire world. 

Love, Sister Szabo

                       can't you just feel the companionship unity radiating from this picture

 

I debated sending this picture home. But it is what it is. Take it or leave it.

Hello Hello! GENERAL CONFERENCE IS THE BEST THING EVER. I was eating up every second. I was thinking about my first General Conference in St. Cloud and I remember wondering where I would be in October. Never would have dreamed at that point that I would be training and opening an area. My my my. Wonder were I will be next Conference. Melodie came to General Conference, which was incredible! Elder Dube came with Elder Holland when they came to Minnesota so I really enjoyed his talk. Africans are the best. Believe it or not his accent is pretty mild! 

  We helped a family in our ward who is moving to Eagle Mountain pack. If you could only see her craft room. I'm still trying to decide if her or grandma has more fabric. Our temple square family dropped us which was depressing. But I know they will get baptized someday. So all is well. BUT, The Elders gave us a family that they have been working with and the Anoka Elders in our district gave us a 11 year old girl that they are teaching. I LOVVVVVVE teaching kids. She lives in a really really bad situation and I know that gospel and the young women's program is going to change her life. Hope you don't mind if I bring her home with me along with Budda, Preness and Diego. (I figure they can take Drew's room since he'll be gone :) ) 

 It has been raining a bunch. They rain storms are incredible but not so ideal to be a missionary in. 

  Thank you SOOOOO SOOOO much for the package. Packages are the best. I can literally feel the love come out of them when I open them. Earlier that day I was telling Sister Hulet about conference bingo so we had a good laugh when I pulled it out and said "see I told you, it's the best thing ever." The new shade shirts are super. Thank you much! I started laughing when I put them next to my old ones which I though were white. How did you know I love dried pineapple? It's the best thing ever. Aunt Susan sent me some a while ago and I have been obsessed with it ever since. 

 Thomas S. Monson is a prophet and this is Jesus Christ's church. I love Heavenly Father and I love all of you! Until next week..love, sister szabo.