2017-1-9 Sunshine!

Kamusta po kayo!

And we're back! We have had some beautiful weather here, the breezes have been so perfect, and the views aren't bad. A lot of the rice has been harvested but they will be planting again soon so they're still irrigated, and it's kind of like the ocean even though a cannon ball would be very inadvisable. I'm loving the area right now.

My companion and one of our young men that worked with us! We knocked on a lot of doors this day, exploring a different part of the area. And he does have an arm.

Last week I realized I needed to make a change in my mentality, and so I read up a little about that. I found a great source in the last prophet before Thomas S Monson: Gordon B. Hinckley. His teachings on this subject were just rattling for me. Being optimistic is something I've always appreciated in other people, and respected in them. But I've never been very great at nailing it in my own life. I mean, day in, day out. It's not an easy thing to do. But here's some things I learned about this:

We will cultivate an attitude of happiness and optimism by walking in faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature (whether it's 4 feet of snow or 4 inches of water), recognizing the goodness in others, and relying on our testimony in things divine. In Matt 5:5 it says the meek shall inherit the earth, which means being grateful. Being grateful rather than adopting an attitude of self-sufficiency. We live in such an awesome time. Medical care, technology, the restored gospel, we are so blessed by all these things that we look over every day. 

This life is tough, for sure. But it's meant to be enjoyed. I'm learning I need to stop complaining, because there will always be work to do. More work than can be accomplished in reality. So just continue in faith, and remember the Lord's promise in Matt 11:28-30

We see in the Old Testament a clear example of how being optimistic and faithful can bless us. When the Israelites came upon the land of Canaan out of the wilderness, they sent 12 spies from the 12 tribes. 10 came back with bad news: the Canaanites cant be defeated. Caleb and Joshua came back saying that through the Lord they would succeed. Because the pessimistic were the majority, they chose not to trust the Lord, and we know that of those people, only Caleb and Joshua lived long enough after the 40 years in the wilderness to see this promised land. I testify that the Lord will be with us in our afflictions, and I will be developing and trying actively to be grateful for the things I have, and for the future. Let's not look at the past mistakes, that's why we have repentance. Thanks everyone for reading, love you all!

Elder Fish