February 23

This week went alright.  Nothing to shout for joy about (other than getting a new companion).  Monday was almost all day packing then Tuesday was all day in Greely, so by Wednesday we were already pooped out for the week.  A big storm hit and we actually missed church.  We were told not to drive anywhere by direction of the mission president.  We were stuck indoors for a day and a half.  It was pretty crappy.  We went up and down the streets next to us and shoveled snow but even then that ended quickly and we could only study more and more.  No cat or chicken stories this week.  I'm told I shouldn't share them anyway.  For the spiritual moment I thought I might share one of Fathers favorite Scriptures.  Mosiah 3:19 - It basically says that when we do everything for our own personal gain and nothing for others we are of the natural man.  Elder Bednar described the natural man like unto the cookie monster, "I want cookie, NOW!"  That, while funny, really emphasized the simplicity of what the natural man really is.  But even better than King Benjamin telling us (or at least the people of his time) only about what not to do and be, he gave us things to work for.  Those things are Christ-like attributes.  And when worked on they help us become better people.  In a District Meeting a few weeks ago the Elder Giving the "Training" (or lesson) wrote out all the Christ-like attributes we could think of.  And then all the problems we were or could experience while being on a mission.  I then realized the point he was trying to make and stated how if we work on at least one attribute a day those problems will eventually become lesser and lesser until they seem almost non-existent.  And even though I understood it so well and felt the spirit so strongly at the time I have trouble working on those attributes daily.  That's my goal for the week and I hope it makes it to yours.  I know blessing will come when we at least try, Because trying is all we can do. I love you guys!