Life of a Sister Misionary: the Dreaded Morning

She had some interesting habits.  When ever someone was sitting in front of her, she would cut their hair.  I was not excited to go to the lesson.  Kinda like my hair, don't really want it cut.  We were about to go into the door when BEEP BEEP BEEP.....6:30 a.m.  Day begins now.

Each morning we wake up at 6:30.  Mornings and I are not friends, but we are learning to get along.  Doctrine and Covenants 88:124 Cease to be ^aidle; cease to be ^bunclean; cease to ^cfind fault one with another; cease to ^dsleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be ^einvigorated. 

The saying "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise" is so true.  My mind has been so much more aware of things since I have regularly gotten to be early and woken up early.  It's been hard, but so worth it.

Life's Short, but Exciting. Write it Down

My big goal for the mission has been to write in my journal everyday.  This may not seem like anything big, but it is huge to me.  Never in my life have I kept a journal.  There may have been random notebooks that have a thought or two written down, but never any consistent "journal" or "diary" entries.  So far, I have written in my journal every day since entering the MTC.  I have discovered that it is very therapeutic.  Journal writing helps me to express my feelings about the day.  Allows for spiritual promptings and feelings to be written down and read again later.  Not only are they read again, they get to be felt again.  But, it has been a habit that has had to develop over time.  Lets just say, the beginning was very rough.

Towards the beginning of the mission, some of the journal entries were pathetic!  You would have thought I had been in a cave all day and experienced nothing.  Here is one of the entries: "Today was the same.  Nothing really exciting to say".  There's no way I did nothing.  No one can be that boring.  Not only did I have to just write in my journal, I had to pay attention to my day.  Reflect on what happened, how I felt, what conversations I had, and just realize how much goes on in the day.  After realizing this, the goal became much bigger than previously thought.

The latest journal entries are far from perfect, but they are improving.  There are a few things that have helped me to improve my journal-writing skills.  One way my entries have been better is that I write things down throughout the day that stick out to me.  Things that I want to remember and write more about later.  These things can be anything from how a lesson went, "a-ha" moments in the day, funny stories or events, and people I have met.  My memory is equivalent to that of a gold fish.  If it doesn't get jotted down in the moment it happens, it won't be remembered.  Making notes about things throughout the day has made my nightly journal writing that much more memorable and more worthwhile.  

The goal is now a habit.  It is continuing to develop and is becoming something I look forward to.  There are blessings that I never could have imagined from keeping a journal.  Going through past entries helps me to remember how much the Lord really is looking out for me.  He has guided me through everything, whether I realized it at the time or not.  My journal has helped me see where I was, where I am, and set goals to where I want to be.  Life's short, but oh so exciting.  Write it down.

Have you had an "Ah-Ha" moment today?

Each morning, as a missionary, we study for 2 or more hours.  To some, this may be considered the ultimate torture.  Others, don't think this is even close to enough time.  I'll admit, sometimes, the first one is how I feel.  Studying has never been a strong point for me, but I am learning to develop it.  As I have been developing my study habits, I have found that the more effort I put into it, the more results I see.  Yes, a shock I know.  But, it truly does make all the difference.  The days I am completely engrossed in the study are the days when I have put forth the right amount of effort.  We get what we put into our studies.  As that effort is applied when studying the scriptures and other church doctrine, the spirit will manifest new truths that we have not known before.  “True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.” (PRESIDENT BOYD K. PACKER).  We can each have our own "Ah-Ha" moments as we study the scriptures.  We will realize truth both in our heart and mind.  Open your heart and mind so you can learn the things that the spirit will make manifest.  I know it has helped me and can help others.