I Am a Child of God

The week here was good! We got a ton of rain. Probably the most rain that I have had on my entire mission. We had a couple of really sunny days, but on both of those days we had a ton of appointments inside and planning and stuff so we weren't outside on those days. Bu it was nice to be able to at least have the sunshine! The week in general was kind of slow, but it will get better. Just gotta keep working hard and trusting in Him. Personally, I'm trying to recognize that I need to be patient with myself. I expect so much out of myself and expect change to happen so immediately that sometimes I forget that it is all in His timing and that all I can do is try my best, do all that I can, repent when I fall short, and then He will help me to reach that potential that I know I have and that He knows I can reach. It's a process, but I know it'll come with time. 

I have been studying a lot this week about our true identity, in the context of the Plan of Salvation. I'm coming to realize that the more that I am able to remember that I am actually a child of God and that He loves me, it helps me to remember how important our choices are and how to keep my heart in line more with His will. And being able to look at others that way is huge! It inspires me to serve them because I can remember that Heavenly Father loves them just as much as He loves me! 

I'm still working on my goal of not eating out.  I haven't had any fast food again this week.  I'm coming to realize how important self-mastery is. When we can learn how to be the masters of our own wants and desires, then we can be more effective agents in actively making choices that bring us closer to Heavenly Father and ultimately help us realize our divine potential. 

I'm glad that you guys had a good visit with the Grahams. They really are awesome people. He is really focused on sharing the gospel with others, so it is great to be able to work with him out here. We can talk to any member, less active or fully active, and sometimes even random people that we meet, and they all know him because of how he has helped them in one way or another. Definitely a good example to follow.

Here's a picture of Mount Jefferson. I think it's cool because I could always see it from madras and now I can see it on the sunny days out here in Stayton!