Okay sooo... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. =)
First I want to ask for a HUGE favor. My companion is sick, really sick. She has Dengue Fever. It’s like West Nile of steroids. I’m really worried about her because I saw how sick my Momma’s friend Dani got with the West Nile. I can’t tell you how much and how often our family prayed for Dani and her Dr’s and her family. My momma said she can’t heal her but she knew of a guy who could all we needed to do was pray. I’ve always believed in prayer but until then, I don’t think I knew how much my Momma believed in prayer. So please keep my companion in your prayers. This isn’t something anyone wants. There is no cure. I thought that the bats that came into the house would keep out the bad mosquitoes out. We sleep with long sleves and pants and the fan on high with a light sheet over us so the mosquitoes don’t bite at night but they get us still while we are out. I get bitten almost daily at leasst 10 times. I’m not worried about me right now because I’m fine. I need prayers for my sister. You can google the Dengue Fever if you would like, it’s not pretty. Ok now onto better things that make me smile!
This was honestly the best Christmas of my life so far. On Christmas eve we gave service all day long and then in the night time one of the single sisters in our ward cooked us christmas dinner and it was oh so tasty. I think it was probably the nicest meal I have ever eaten in my entire life and I promise I am not exaggerating. There were candles on the table and everything.
If you have ever seen the movie cheaper by the dozen I hope you understand why this is so funny. haha so he had the hat on and we were all joking that he was the little kid that nobody loved from that movie all he needed was his pet frog and then when we were digging up some rocks we found a bunch of frogs so it was super funny. I pretty much died laughing.
On Christmas we got to call our families so that was super great. I love my family a whole bunch!
We had a Christmas dinner as a district and made a cake and the elders tried to make fried chicken but it was all raw, so we had mashed potatoes and cake for dinner and had a secret santa type thing which was super fun because we are all poor missionaries so the gifts were hilarious. I am super glad that I have this opportunity to serve my mission and be here during Christmas because I really got to see how unimportant all of the gifts and nonsense are and what Christmas really means. Serving people never gets old, because to see other people happy, naturally makes you happy. =)
I wanted to tell all of you some important things but I don't really have much time. I spent it writing a really long email. haha
Yesterday we caught a poison dart frog and put him in a coke bottle and it had the name David on it so I thought of my brother. I miss you bubba. One of the Elders took a picture but I don't have it so I will send it to yall next week. Lets see... what else... oh yeah I saw a bunch of toucans and a sloth so that was pretty awesome! I love all the animals around here.
I was thinking a lot about goals and goal setting and it is something that I hope all of yall are doing for this new year. Make sure that they are goals that are reachable but they make you stretch, and then put forth the effort to actually accomplish the thing that it is that you want to do. I love yall a whole bunch and I hope everything is going super well.
I don't know how to express my love for my savior and this work in a way that yall can understand. Everyone tries and I honestly think that until you live it, its not something that you can comprehend. because I tried to understand antes but now I really do get it.
I love my Savior. I know that He lives. I’m forever grateful for the sacrifice that He made for me. For that, and because I know of the happiness that comes from living the gospel. I hope that everyone in this new year 2015, will share the gospel light with someone they love.
I loved this and wanted to share it with all ya’ll
Here are 15 goals from the prophets to help you center your life on Christ during 2015.
Elder Quentin L. Cook said, “I encourage everyone, young and old, to review goals and objectives and strive to exercise greater discipline. Our daily conduct and choices should be consistent with our goals. We need to rise above rationalizations and distractions. It is especially important to make choices consistent with our covenants to serve Jesus Christ in righteousness.”
1. Avoid contention
Today’s world—especially the online social media world—is fraught with arguments and differing opinions. Church members can emulate Christ by being peacemakers even when they disagree with others.
“On the subject of public discourse, we should all follow the gospel teachings to love our neighbor and avoid contention,” Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught. “Followers of Christ should be examples of civility. We should love all people, be good listeners, and show concern for their sincere beliefs. Though we may disagree, we should not be disagreeable. . . . We should be wise in explaining and pursuing our positions and in exercising our influence.”
2. Find more meaning in temple service
With a new temple set for dedication in Utah County during 2015, now is a great time to recommit to meaningful temple worship. Elder Richard G. Scott taught, “Don’t let anyone or anything prevent you from being there. While you are in the temple, listen to the words of the ordinances, ponder them, pray about them, and seek to understand their meaning. The temple is one of the best places to come to understand the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Seek Him there. Remember that many more blessings come from providing your own family names in the temple.”
3. Take care of your body
Physical well-being is closely connected to mental, emotional and spiritual health.
“Take responsibility for your own physical well-being,” Elder Jörg Klebingat taught. “Feeding the spirit while neglecting the body, which is a temple, usually leads to spiritual dissonance and lowered self-esteem. If you are out of shape, if you are uncomfortable in your own body and can do something about it, then do it! … [P]lease use good judgment in what and especially how much you eat, and regularly give your body the exercise it needs and deserves.“
4. Learn more about the gospel
“In searching the scriptures and the words of past and current apostles and prophets, we should focus on studying, living, and loving the doctrine of Christ,” he taught. “In addition to developing the habit of personal scripture reading, we need to be like the sons of Mosiah and give ourselves ‘to much prayer, and fasting.’ It seems that these things which are not easily measured are of great importance. Stay focused on these simple things, and avoid becoming distracted.”
5. Be a better parent
Children are the future of our homes, the Church and the world. Therefore, the role of parents is of paramount importance.
“It is my firm conviction that there has never been a period in my many years of life when our Father in Heaven’s children have needed the guiding hand of faithful, devoted parents more,” Elder L. Tom Perry taught. “… We must find within ourselves that same determined spirit and overcome the challenges we face with the same spirit of sacrifice. We must instill in future generations an ever stronger reliance on the teachings of our Lord and Savior.”
6. Improve personal scripture study
Prophets have repeatedly counseled that scripture study is essential to gaining a testimony and maintaining the companionship of the Spirit.
“Don’t yield to Satan’s lie that you don’t have time to study the scriptures,” Elder Richard G. Scott taught. “Choose to take time to study them. Feasting on the word of God each day is more important than sleep, school, work, television shows, video games, or social media. You may need to reorganize your priorities to provide time for the study of the word of God. If so, do it!”
7. Serve someone every day
The small acts of service we offer may seem insignificant, but Elder Jeffery R. Holland taught that when we do what we can, our offering will make a difference.
“A journalist once questioned Mother Teresa of Calcutta about her hopeless task of rescuing the destitute in that city,” Elder Holland said. “He said that, statistically speaking, she was accomplishing absolutely nothing. This remarkable little woman shot back that her work was about love, not statistics. Notwithstanding the staggering number beyond her reach, she said she could keep the commandment to love God and her neighbor by serving those within her reach with whatever resources she had.”
8. Have more meaningful prayer
Improving prayer habits can improve every facet of life. Elder Richard G. Scott taught, “Choose to converse with your Father in Heaven often. Make time every day to share your thoughts and feelings with Him. Tell Him everything that concerns you. He is interested in the most important as well as the most mundane facets of your life. Share with Him your full range of feelings and experiences.”
9. Increase your fast offering
When speaking about caring for the poor, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland asked Church members to be “as generous as circumstances permit” in their contributions.
“Cherish that sacred privilege [to fast] at least monthly, and be as generous as circumstances permit in your fast offering and other humanitarian, educational, and missionary contributions,” he said. “I promise that God will be generous to you, and those who find relief at your hand will call your name blessed forever.”
“Because the Atonement of Jesus Christ is very practical, you should apply it generously 24/7, for it never runs out.” —Elder Jörg Klebingat, Of the Seventy
10. Repent daily
Repentance has some negative connotations, but daily repentance helps disciples of Christ become closer to the Savior.
“Because the Atonement of Jesus Christ is very practical, you should apply it generously 24/7, for it never runs out,” Elder Jörg Klebingat said. “Embrace the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance as things that are to be welcomed and applied daily according to the Great Physician’s orders. Establish an attitude of ongoing, happy, joyful repentance by making it your lifestyle of choice. … Keeping your eyes on the Savior, care more about what He thinks of you, and let the consequences follow.”
11. Have Family Home Evening
As Church members strengthen their own testimonies, teaching family members gospel truths will increase their understanding and increase the influence of the Spirit in family members’ lives.
“Be cautious not to make your family home evening just an afterthought of a busy day,” Elder Richard G. Scott taught. “Decide that on Monday night your family will be together at home for the evening. Do not let employment demands, sports, extracurricular activities, homework, or anything else become more important than that time you spend together at home with your family. The structure of your evening is not as important as the time invested.”
12. Forgive quickly
People who forgive others relieve themselves of heavy burdens that decrease happiness. Immediate forgiveness increases joy and strengthens relationships.
“Forgive everyone, everything, all the time, or at least strive to do so, thus allowing forgiveness into your own life,” Elder Jörg Klebingat said. “Don’t hold grudges, don’t be easily offended, forgive and forget quickly, and don’t ever think that you are exempt from this commandment. Spiritual confidence increases when you know that the Lord knows that you bear no ill feelings toward another soul.”
13. Maintain a clear vision
As Church members set new goals and resolve to become better, it’s important to keep the end goal in mind. Elder Carlos A. Godoy taught this important principle: “Making decisions that can impact our lives and those we love without having the broader vision of their consequences can bring some risks. However, if we project the possible consequences of these decisions into the future, we can see with greater clarity the best path to take in the present. Understanding who we are, why we are here, and what the Lord expects from us in this life will help give us the broader vision we need. … We have the scriptures, the temple, living prophets, our patriarchal blessings, inspired leaders, and, above all, the right to receive personal revelation to guide our decisions.”
14. Evaluate yourself honestly
As people improve their lives and become more committed disciples, constant self-evaluation helps the process continue. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave this helpful formula for self-evaluation:
“[H]ow can we shine the pure light of God’s truth into our souls and see ourselves as He sees us? May I suggest that the holy scriptures and the talks given at general conference are an effective mirror we can hold up for self-examination. As you hear or read the words of the ancient and modern prophets, refrain from thinking about how the words apply to someone else and ask the simple question: ‘Lord, is it I?'”
15. Emulate Jesus Christ
The best goals and resolutions lead Church members toward Jesus Christ. President Thomas S. Monson taught, “As we strive to place Christ at the center of our lives by learning His words, by following His teachings, and by walking in His path, He has promised to share with us the eternal life that He died to gain. There is no higher end than this, that we should choose to accept His discipline and become His disciples and do His work throughout our lives. Nothing else, no other choice we make, can make of us what He can.”
Love ya’ll and I pray for you daily. I hope everyone finds someone to share the Love of Christ with Daily. Pray for it, ask God to put people who are ready to recieve his message in your life. Be ready to answer that call when it happens. God is good and I know He loves us more than we could ever know. Stay safe till next week. I love ya'll
Brooke
