Attitude of Gratitude

I was studying about the Pioneers in this LDS History book that a lot of missionaries have. I was so impressed by faith they had.  There were several accounts of the hardships they had to endure, but with every trial, they had a good attitude. One man, who came with the Martin and Willie Handcart Companies, was quoted as saying that he would be forever grateful for all they went through because it got them closer to God than anything else would have.  The early Saints were counseled repeatedly by the prophet to have a good attitude and always show their gratitude to God through music, dance, and prayer.  One thing that our mission president has been focusing on lately is the importance of a good attitude or - how we say it down here in the Rio Grande Valley - ánimo.  Happiness is not a matter of luck, but rather it is a choice independent of circumstances.  As I've learned to apply that every day, I've learned to become a better missionary and a better person and I've been better able to help others come to Christ.

"Adversity is Necessary, Misery is Optional"

We had another great week!  We found more new investigators in these two weeks than I have found in my mission!  They have been fantastic!  We have seen so many little miracles and we have been blessed to work with wonderful less-active members who are willing to act, investigators who easily accept the invitations to pray about Joseph Smith and be baptized, and an absolutely fantastic ward that is sooooo mission minded, it doesn't seem possible.

Needless to say, I am very happy with where I am at right now.   I'm still learning so much every day!  Yesterday, my companion and I were able to go to a meeting where a general authority was present.  He said something that made me think a lot:

"Adversity is necessary, misery is optional...Our salvation is not dependent on whether or not someone loves us, but it is dependent on whether or not we loved them."

I know that no matter where we are in life, we always are given opportunities to make us happy.  It's up to us to take them and be grateful for what we have.

Zone Conference! Be Happy!

We had zone conference this last week.  It was really good .  President Maluenda spoke about the importance of having "ánimo" or "excited motivation" (I honestly don't quite know how to translate that word) in missionary work and in life in general.  It really is a choice for us to be happy.  He said that when we truly work hard, plan well, and repent every day, we will always have ánimo.  He said that if we plan well, we can accomplish anything we want in life.  It really applied to missionary work because attitude really is everything.  If  you have a good attitude, you'll do better.  People mirror your mood.  So if investigators think you're happy, they'll be happy, they'll feel the spirit, and they'll get baptized.  Easy as that!

Preparation Day Happenings!

February 24, 2014

Everything here in Texas is going fantastic.  I gave a talk on Sunday in the Spanish Ward about the Plan of Salvation.

It went really well.

Right now, I am watching the other missionaries play basketball.  I would be playing, but I hurt my wrist.  :/

This week was fantastic.  Right now, we're teaching a family who has a daughter named...wait for it...Abril - the name

we use for one of my good friends at home!

We're also teaching this guy who has the most adorable dog EVER.  It's a chihuahua that is so overweight it is unable

to bark or run.  It has bulging eyes and has lost all its teeth so its tongue doesn't stay in his mouth and hangs off to the

side...I'm trying to relearn to like dogs haha.

So the story about me hurting my wrist, because I am sure Mom worried is that this morning, I was happily skipping

down the stairs and I had forgotten that I had mopped so I jumped from the third step to the wet kitchen floor and well...

the rest is history.  Don't worry, I don't think anything is broken :)  Moral of the story:  Be safe when you're happy.

"Disfruten la Misión. No la Sufran."

President Maluenda is famous for saying, "Disfruten la misión.  No la sufran."  Which means, "enjoy your mission, don't suffer through it."  I've found that to enjoy your mission, you've got to let yourself have fun, don't sweat the small stuff, and constantly work to be better.  That's what I've been working on this transfer, and every day is more enjoyable.

Yes, life is great down here in Southern Texas...not without its stresses, but it's still fun! :D  Hope all is going well for you!

Happiness!

I have learned the importance of being a happy missionary.  Happiness is a choice and even if things don't go our way, we can still choose to have a good day.  When others see how happy we are, they want what we have.  A happy missionary baptizes and an unhappy missionary doesn't.  We can't share how wonderful our lives are because of the gospel, if we don't show that we are happy!

So be happy every day! It's a lot more fun that way, too! That beings said, I still believe there is such thing as being too happy....so keep it in control! LOL