10/24/16

 

Good morning citizens! I'm really happy this week because this is a good week. Nothing really happened, I just changed my attitude. That's the story of my mission. 

I can't say nothing happened because we got Sister Ward. I was a little nerveous because I've never been in a trio before, but it's been really good actually. I've been way less uncomfortable talking about how I feel and we've been more diligent. I'm working really hard to be more in tune with the spirit. Something that has been standing out to me a lot lately is this scripture in D&C 19: 

20 Wherefore, I command you again to repent, lest I humble you with my almighty power; and that you confess your sins, lest you suffer these punishments of which I have spoken, of which in the smallest, yea, even in the least degree you have tasted at the time I withdrew my Spirit.

I think basically Christ is saying that when we don't have the spirit that's a little tiny bit like the guilt we feel when we don't repent of our sins in this life. In other words a tiny bit like the atonement because that's what he's saying we'll have to go through if we don't repent in this life in the previous verses.
I love this scripture.

 Another one that has been standing out to me a lot lately is D&C 50:23 

And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness.

I've been realizing a lot that I'm not always a really nice person. In fact I say so many mean things all the time. My goal this transfer is to not say bad things about people. I didn't think it was going to be that hard but unfortunately it is INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT. I have learned that the extend to which I am always talking mad trash and straight roasting on people is way more than I previously assumed. 

James says in chapter 3:

 1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Basically he's saying that if you can get a handle on your speech and the language you use then you can do anything. I'm learning a lot though. Namely that mean humor is never a way to show love. There's a lot of missionaries that I know who are like "oh sarcasm is how we say I love you in my family." Not one of them NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THEM has a healthy self esteem. NOT A SINGLE ONE! It's not a coincidence. When President Orgill was here he said that he wished the entire idea of sarcasm could be utterly banished from off the face of the earth. I agree. 

I've been realizing on my mission that sometimes I'm ok with people teasing me and I think it's funny, but sometimes if I'm already feeling stressed or bad at all people can say the exact same kind of things to me and it hurts me really badly. It can even be the exact same people saying the exact same kind of things. If I'm stressed things effect me differently. So my point is that it's dangerous to use mean humor, but using kind words and edifying language is safe 100% of the time. Kind of like my dad always says you will never become addicted to cigarettes if you never smoke a cigarette. You will never hurt someone's feelings if you always use kind language. Ephesians 4: 

  29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

  30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
  31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
  32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted,forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Shout out to Sister Thacker for being a really good example of always using kind language. She is an angel. 

Helen came to church this week so that was good. We have been doing really well with Sister Ward. I like being in a trio. I thought it was going to be really awful, but it's fine so far. Teaching was a little awkward the first time, but we're figuring it out. Sister Baker is the only one that's been in a trio before so she's really helpful. It rained a lot today and yesterday. 

It's super funny because in ward council there's always this thing on the prayer list "pray for drought relief" and everyone always skips it. Yesterday Brother Garcia was subbing for Brother Mortensen and he said the prayer and didn't skip it. It basically hasn't stopped raining since. Brother Garcia must have so much faith right now. 

The reading assignment is this: 

Preach My Gospel Chapter 6 Developing Christlike Attributes. 

I might not have a super big amount of time for quotes but here's a few: 

*puts dino-nuggets in car* "BECAUSE I'M A MATURE ADULT!" -me

"My policy is that if I've heard a bishop say a joke I'm allowed to say it and my dad was a bishop for seven years so I can say a lot of jokes." -Elder Chain

"Elder Blue came in and made it awkward." -me 

"typical" -Elder Blue 

"Yeah yeah steel blue is a really common crayon color." -Elder Blue

"Well pardon me for being excited there's not very many crayons called Madeleine Atchley." -me 

"I was a wolf in flamingo's clothing." -Elder Richardson 

"I like the way potatoes look." -me 

"are you attracted to them?" -Sister Ward

"Why do you think she's into all these potato shaped men?" -Sister Baker

"This activity is for Laurals. I'm not a laural but I'm invited because I live here." -Marin

"I roll my Rs because... I'm good at it." -guy we contacted

"Seestors bring the car I have two boxes of breads for you." -Rosie Garcia 

"Shotgun, rifle, or handgun?" -Elder Radeke

"Two guns... for hands." -sister Baker

"My name is Elder Vaipulu I from Ephriam Utah." -Elder Vaipulu from Tonga 

"Elder Kieth how many lies to do you tell in a day?" -Elder Radeke

"I don't want to answer this question it might be a lie." -Elder Kieth 

"Did you and Sister Baker know each other before the mission." -someone 

"Believe it or not there are more than two people in Nebraska." -Elder Mask

"We were just talking about how Sister Byrne is 40 tops." -me 

"If she's 40 what am I?" -Brother Byrne 

"Cradle robber." -me 

"My skin is so thin now days I bump into anything and I get a bruise. I guess that's what happens when you turn 40." -Brother Byrne 

"Well I guess I'm a Mormon man and Susan is ONE of my wives..." -Brother Byrne. 

"Rain or shine the Mormons are here!" -me 

"We're like the USPS but more annoying." -Sister Baker 

"I want to run around and play in the rain too but I don't want my shoes to get wet I'm like a practical free spirited hippy ok?" -me 

SORRY FOR THE QUALITY OF MY EMAILS!