Dear Family,
Mom, I was surprised by your question. I don't know how happy I look in my pictures but I sure feel pretty happy. I can't honestly say I have a big grin on my face all the time but I am working on it. You know me. Sometimes I get frustrated over things and then look back later and wonder what I was fretting about. I am really trying to control myself. Getting frustrated doesn't help anything. It actually hurts things, especially in my line of work where having the Spirit is necessary. Getting frustrated frustrates revelation. So I am working on that. But yes I am definitely happy.
Especially this week because Mya Wildman is getting baptized on Wednesday. She was at Church yesterday and everything is looking great for Wednesday night. We went to Primary with her yesterday to make sure she understood everything. I don't know if I have told you but she doesn't speak Spanish. But everything is looking great. We are going over tonight to work out logistics and talk some more about Baptism and Confirmation. If I remember you should receive some pictures next week.
Thank you Amy, David, and Mom for your letters. And Mom, I did receive your postcard. I enjoyed it. And it helped me out. One day last week when I was getting frustrated, Elder Carpenter just pointed to the postcard and I just had to laugh. Satan is good at pushing my buttons and I just need to ignore him. David, I'm glad to hear everything is going well with school. What you said about preparing now for then is something that President Hale has been emphasizing a lot recently. He stresses very strongly that the experiences one has on the mission will forever influence the kind of person he or she is. Remember that, Amy. God will use your mission to shape you into who he wants you to be. He is definitely doing it to me. I am way excited for you Amy. You enter the MTC on Transfer day for me. I may be having a smaller scale version of what you will be experiencing. But I doubt it. I think I will still be here for a while yet. But Amy, what you said in your email is so true. The Gospel is simple and so is our purpose as missionaries. Memorize it quick and never let it become a rote thing. In everything that we do, we as missionaries should be seeking to increase the faith of those around us. When Brother Watson came to visit us, he focused a lot on the Atonement and our purpose as missionaries. He gave us four questions to ask ourselves after every lesson, whether it be with invesigators, recent converts, in-actives, or strong members. 1) What evidences were there that their faith was increasing?; 2) What evidences were there that they are repenting?; 3) What evidences were there that they are preparing to enter into the covenant of baptism? or evidences that they are keeping their covenants?; 4) What evidences were there that the Holy Ghost was present and guiding the teaching? Discussing these four questions helps us stay more focused on our purpose. I would suggest getting into that habit from the beginning at the MTC. Or at least keep that in mind. There is a lot of other stuff you will be worrying about in the MTC. I don't want to add more to your plate. But that will help you focus less on yourself and more on the person you are teaching and what they need.
Well sorry about that missionary tangent. I hope it can help more than just Amy. We should all be striving to daily increase our faith, repent, keep our covenants, and strive to be led by the Spirit. That is the process of enduring to the end. The Gospel truly is amazing. We really do have a wonderful message to take to all the world. Amy, strive to really internalize your purpose. I am still striving to so so. It will change everything.
Well time to go. I love you all so much. Thank you for the Birthday wishes. I am going to enjoy my last three days as a teenager. ;-D
Love,
Elder Reece
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