Hello Everybody!
I'd like to start off by quoting my mom as she would always say that "Happiness is a choice." That is so true. Not only did this idea shape my childhood but also is a key doctrine in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are meant to be happy! It is a part of God's eternal plan for us.
2 Nephi 2:25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.
There it is. We are to have joy. Our life on earth isn't always joyful though is it? Is it because of the situations we are in? The things we have? Don't have? No. We are agents able to act and choose joy.
2 Nephi 10:23 Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life.
This is something to be happy about! We can CHOOSE to be happy and we are able to choose the path we follow. No we don't always choose the situations we are into, but yes, we are able to choose the way we react to them.
This simple principle applied a lot to this last week. We had a 4 day rain storm/tornado weather. It was a bunch of flash floods and sirens. Luckily nothing was damaged and the weather was never a threat to our safety. But it sure did rain a lot! We got caught in an especially impressive storm while on our bikes on the way home. We had rain jackets in our bag but the rain came so fast we were soaked to the core before we could even get them out! Luckily some other missionaries drove by, but they didn't have a bike rack. So what we did was put all of our things (bags, books, tablets, wallets, phone) in their car, and then we biked the rest of the way home. It was so fun. We were able to get back, change our clothes, and get back out working. It definitely made my day a little brighter. Some might have chosen to be discouraged or upset in the rain, but for me it was a blessing. It gave me a new perspective and an increased desire to work hard. (Picture attached below)
Elder Sotomarino, who has been serving with us in the Little Rock area is going to be going back home to Peru this week. We had a fun last week with him while getting ready to send him off. We had a "funeral" for him (Picture below) and were able to have some fun dinner appointments with members and the branch. We are going to miss him but another elder from Peru will be coming to take his place!
Other than that not many changes are happening. I will be staying in little rock for another 6 weeks! After that I am for sure going to be changed to another area, as President told me, but for the next 6 weeks j will get to stay here! I'm sure excited for that. My companion will still be elder Merrill. Elder Gonzalez (Chile) and Elder Padilla (Peru) will be serving in the south little rock area as well. Also some sister missionaries are coming back to the branch so that is very exciting! It's going to be a good transfer.
My Spanish is slowly improving each week and I hope that I can eventually get to the point of speaking without having to think so hard about it! But I know that it will take time, hard work, and earnest prayer. It's been such a blessing to be serving in Spanish though. These people are so amazing.
My love goes out to all of you and I look forward to another exciting week! Let's all go choose to be happy and spread a little light wherever we may be. Have an amazing week!
Elder C.R. Anderson
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