Cause I'm Happy~

I've been thinking about my mission a lot lately. It really does come up in any conversation. But I'll write about that later. 

This week, I wanted to talk about how we view our lives and how that can affect us. My mission changed my way of viewing life! Let me summarize this in just two words: 

THINK POSITIVELY

It's as simple as that. Do you want to be happier? Do you want to find success on your mission (another topic for later)? Do you want to radiate the light of Christ about you as a missionary?

Then you must start to first see the good in this world 

I had a time on my mission where (emotionally) I hit rock bottom. I got so depressed and just felt hopeless. I would work as hard as I could everyday -- and I'm thankful that this rock bottom didn't affect that -- but every time I was out and about I would think, " What's the point? They're not interested and we're just setting ourselves up for failure and rejection." Our investigators were gone for the winter break, so we had no one to teach. It seemed like no one was interested in the gospel. It was the holiday season and so that just adding more to my sadness, too.

Talk about pessimistic. 

My mission president could tell I was struggling. My companion was brand new and so she didn't know how to help me. All I could do was just mope in my sorrows.

Until one day, after weeks of my mission President reminding me to be happy and the Lord telling me through prayer that I am being successful, I somehow began pulling myself out of the hole that I had dug for myself. I'm not sure how it happened, to be honest. I think it really was a tender mercy of the Lord that got me out of the hole. 

I felt the Lord's hand pull me up and out. 

That was a turning point for me. I began to think more positively and kept telling myself that I could do this. A day full of rejection was a good day because that meant I talked to all of God's children. A day full of "failure" meant a successful good day because I fulfilled my purpose as a missionary to "invite others to come unto Christ." If an investigator didn't want to learn or read or get baptized, I kept my head up high because I was doing my part in reaching out in love. 

Optimism helps you move forward.

Now don't get me wrong. Remember, optimism does not equal indifference. Nor does it mean you cannot be sad. Optimism is more like the opposite of discouragement. If your investigator doesn't want to get baptized and quits coming to church, be sad! You should be sad if you truly love them! But that does not mean you quit. You keep moving forward as a missionary, and you keep your faith that there are prepared people out there. 

After I climbed out of that pessimistic hold of mine, I felt like I became a different kind of missionary. One who was more motivated and driven to do the Lord's work. (I was also on the downhill of my mission, so maybe that's why too ha) Nothing changed, people still rejected us, people didn't come to church, etc. But my view of everything changed. And the Lord was with me. That was all I needed. 

Even now, after my mission, I still fight that kind of pessimism in my life. It impacted me forever. No, I was not and am not diagnosed with depression. It wasn't that bad. But the power of prayer (again, a different topic) continues to give me an optimistic view of life. Find the good in every situation. I definitely see the difference this has made me now; my mom once asked me if optimism is the only thing I learned on my mission because I bring it up so much haha! 

The Lord, the gospel, life, is all about goodness. God wants us to be happy and we can be no matter what. Whether it's receiving optimism through prayer or just seeing the good always, that gives you strength as a missionary and as a person!!

I invite each of you to make a conscious effort to be happier and smile more. :)   

The Final Countdown!!!

I had my farewell today; and I leave in 10 days. WHAT?!

How did this sneak up on me so fast?! I'm already down to 10 days?! I feel like there's so much to do still, and hardly any time now!! In 5 minutes, I'm going to be officially in the single digits. *_*

First off, I'm super stoked. Scared out of my mind, but excited to experience this. I've never been away from home in this kind of manner yet, so this is going to be quite the new adventure! My family has also always had the experiences of life through my older sister first, but she is married and so I'm the first (and last) missionary in our family! I don't like being the guinea pig (all the more reason why I'm glad my sister is the older one)!!!

I also had my farewell today (except, in one minute it'll be midnight, so technically yesterday). That was weird, in a good way. It just never seemed like the day I would be hosting a farewell would come. And yet here we are; it's come and gone. And I'm so glad it went the way it did. I think I gave a pretty good talk, but that's always up for judgment to the audience. Then we had lunch at our house and it was quite the success. So. Much. Food. And almost all of it was gone!! Apparently my dad counted how many people came and there were over 50! I feel so loved :')

I was really grateful for everyone that was there, and all the support and love they've given me all these years. I'm also really grateful for the friends that took the effort to come to my farewell, especially my friends who live in Provo. That's not a short drive, and so it was so good to see them, and it made me so happy. I've truly been blessed with such great friends who are strong in the Gospel and uplift me to be better. 

I'm grateful for the home ward and all the people who are in it. This ward is seriously so great. I'm going to miss the people here. It's funny, I've realized there are quite a bit of people in this ward who have known me since I was really little. Those people have been a wonderful blessing in my life as well. 

I'm so glad my talk is over though!! Won't have to worry about that for a while :) 

It's now the final wind down of life, as I now transition from normal person to a missionary of the Lord. 

I'll post back again soon (I hope)!! In the words of my sista, Party Rock. 

What I Love To Do

Well hey there, blogger. It's been quite a while, hasn't it? I feel like I've depraved you, and here I am to feed you with a little update on my life.

First the picture...

I had a really great experience just this past Friday. Being part of BYU's hip hop club, I was able to perform for a program called Project Youth. Let me first tell you what that is. 
Project Youth is a program that BYU holds every year. A few hundred 6th graders from different elementary schools come and spend their morning on campus, doing a variety of things and activities. They then have lunch and then move to the DeJong Hall for a performance by different clubs and organizations from BYU. The point of Project Youth is to encourage these kids to stick with school and be excited about it. And to study hard now so that they can make it to college because it's fun! The fun motivation partially comes from the performance that they get. 

So, with that being explained, not only did I get to perform for them, but I knew a couple people involved with Project Youth so I got to talk with some of the 6th graders and just have some fun with them during their lunch break. It was so much fun!! They're all so full of energy....

And we felt it when we danced! I wish all our performances were for elementary school kids. They really give you their energy and give you so much more power to do better for them. And they're the best audience! They cheer whenever anything happens, they sing with the song and they're so loud (in a good way)!  BYU Hip Hop gets to be a part of this performance every year and it's always the favorite performance. Even though we don't do much, we still are part of a wonderful program that encourages these kids to stay in school. We show them that life isn't full of stress and pessimism, but that it's fun and exciting as well. And to be able to do that through dance....it's a wonderful thing. 

I love what I do and I'm so happy I get to use it for good! Everyday I keep finding things I'm so blessed with and thanking my Heavenly Father for what he's given me.

Called to Serve!!!!

What better way to start to blogging new year than to announce something that's super important in my life, and something that will bless me with the best experience ever!!!!

I have been called to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!! I have been called to serve in the California Oakland/San Francisco English speaking mission! As well as preaching the Gospel to the people of California, I will also be serving in the Oakland Temple Visitors' Center. I report to the Provo MTC on May 29, and I can't wait!!

The picture shows my mission area!!! As you can see, it's right along the bay area pretty much. Super awesome. I've never been to this area of California, so it's going to be a new experience! I've also only heard good things about the area and the people. :)

I'm so so excited to serve a mission, and I can't wait to go out there and spread the Gospel! It has blessed me all my life in so many aspects, and I want others to have that same happiness and joy eternally. Heavenly Father loves me so much, and I want other people to know that He loves them just as much and wants them to return to Him. This truly is the one and only Gospel; this is Christ's church. 

If you have any questions about life, please, contact the LDS missionaries. They can help you. With an open mind and open heart, read the Book of Mormon and then pray to God, asking Him if what it contains is true. I promise you that you will gain an assurance that it is true doctrine. 

I love this church, and I hope that I will be a great missionary! I know these will be the best 18 months of my life. :) 

Happy New Years Everyone!! (Yes, I know I'm late)

My new years resolution is to blog more than 7 times this year; 2012 was really rough on the blog....

TGIF

It's Friday!!! Work 1-6 and then it's the weekend!! Not that I have the free time since I have homework and studying to do but hey, it's better than nothing. 
Aaaaaand that means that I'm finally going home for a weekend! It's been far too long since I've been at home. I need so much stuff from there. And I get to see my awesome parents, whom I haven't seen in the longest time. You would think your parents' schedule wouldn't be as busy as yours....

I'm in definite need of this weekend so you can say that I'm happy today. I wish I wasn't working so I could head home earlier but oh well. 

Random fact I learned today in my English language class: Apparently Dr. Seuss teaches you different allophones of phonemes through various minimal pairs through his simple texts. So you're learning phonemes and phones without even realizing it.
Sorry I never read any of your books, Dr. Seuss. Maybe I'll read one when I have my own kids. 
Awesome, eh?

Happy weekend everyone!!