Hey, family!
I don't know whether you're still in Colorado or not, but I'm sure going to send you an email anyway!
This week went a little better than last week. I got a package from Grandma and Grandpa, full of Craisins and Jello and stuff. I'm good on Jello for probably the next six months between the two of you. :D
So every night I write down blessings or miracles or positive things i saw during the day. I just realized that I should probably be reviewing that so I know what good things to tell you about! I'll do that next week.
So it turns out that Andy and Florence are probably going to Australia in two weeks. We're pretty sad to hear that, because we have good times with them. It also means that probably the best we can do is commit them to investigate the church more in Australia, because we're not to the point where we can say, "Ok, will you be baptized before you head out to Australia?" They are not committed enough yet. But hopefully they will feel the Spirit, and feel like they need to learn more about this. Andy in particular thinks it's a really good church, and I hope they don't give up on it.
Ko Gwang Jin has made good progress on his smoking addiction! We're really excited. I don't know how much he actually wants to be baptized yet, but we'll see. I think he will be eventually, just maybe not on the goal that he set. If we can get him to really ask the Lord if the Book of Mormon and the Restoration are true, he'll be in great shape.
I learned a lot about repentance as i was pondering at Church. I changed my perspectives on it a little. It's not something that you HAVE to do so much as it's an opportunity to say, "Ok, Heavenly Father, I messed up. But you love me individually, so you care enough about me to help me with these things and forgive me for them if I put them out on the table. So here's what they are." It makes sense to me, I don't know how much that makes sense to anyone else. :D
Elder Pulsipher and I are going to the lake to ride bikes today. I'll take some sweet pictures for you. I might have time today to send some home over email, too, we'll see.
I got a letter from Denny! I was really excited. It was a good letter, and I'm sad that he's moving to St. George. Maybe I can visit him someday. He said they are buying a house more in the countryside where they can have horses. That's the life they really like, he said. So if they're happier there, I guess it's a good thing.
This week I improved my attitude about things. God knew what He was doing when He sent me here, and He knows how to help me. I still have to try my best, but He won't let me completely fail. I've been wondering about why I get so stressed and over-focused on perfection and all, and I think it's because my mind equates relaxation with failure. I don't know why, it just does. The mind is a funny thing, huh? But regardless of that, everything is going ok. I'm learning out here. I'm having spiritual experiences. I'm a missionary. What more could you ask for? We were visiting a member the other night, a returned missionary in his thirties, and he said we were so lucky to be missionaries and to have this spirit about us. He said he can feel the Spirit whenever he talks to us, and I can tell he really misses being a missionary. It really made me think about how blessed I am, and how much I've been taking that for granted. So I'm not having as hard of a time anymore. I'm still working hard, and still doing my best, and still making mistakes and learning how to be effective, but my mind is more at peace, and I'm drawing closer to the Lord.
So that's all. :D We get transfer calls a week from today, at night, so in two weeks I can tell you what went on. Oh, please send an English version of the Conference Ensign sometime in the future; I'd like one that I can mark up and not have to share. I should have just said yes when Mom asked me like two months ago. :D How is Caleb's family doing, by the way? Everything good? How's the business going?
I love you all!
Elder Matt Dean
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