I think the hardest part about writing a weekly email home is the fact that I have a daily journal that is basically my thoughts of the day on paper. When I sit down at the computer, I have no idea what to write. As soon as I get home, I'll just hand over my journal. That's fine with me, and it's easy. I just go blank when I sit in front of the screen or with a pen and paper in hand. But, I've always been that way. I'm not much for letter-writing, I guess.
Well, my focus for the week is "Obedience". It's one of those things where I notice when others aren't being obedient, but at the same time, it's not like I'm even close to being exactly obedient. It's an instance when "why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" So I've been setting some goals and working on my self-discipline in actually focusing on my own obedience instead of getting annoyed by other's disobedience. It's going well. I've continued to notice a new perspective on the purpose of life and what I can do to better safeguard myself against all the things that this world throws at us. Also, it really does make life better and you find so much more joy in things when you've been exactly obedient. I am always tempted to just photocopy my journal and just send it in. My journal has become my scrapbook, quote collection, daily log, feelings record, venting session, study log, goal book, etc. But honestly, every time I write in my journal, I'm always thinking of how the things I say can impact the future generation. I have turned it into a venting session for a few weeks, but I'm trying to get it back on track. And still, every day I end my journal entree with a "tender mercy" and "something I learned". I fear I'll need to get a new journal before the end of my mission. Hope not! I fit nine months in my first journal. I'd like to fit the other nine months in this journal. We'll see...
On Saturday, we were able to gain permission to attend the ASL Thanksgiving Dinner in the Oviedo Ward. The members had called us to see if we could come and help. I was so happy to receive the permission to be able to attend. It was great! We helped set up the cultural hall, and we had over one hundred people show up - fifteen to twenty people were Deaf or Hard of Hearing. It was amazing! I was able to visit with the members and even see people I hadn't seen since I first came to Orlando. I can't believe that was eight months ago! Time flies!!! If one of the interpreters wasn't able to come (she's pregnant and due any time now), I was asked to voice interpret the program. Thankfully, she did arrive; and it was wonderful to visit with her and the other interpreters. I miss Oviedo! I'm curious if I'll be able to serve there again before the end of my mission.
Well, I sent another package - oops! I'm just decluttering my luggage I guess. This package is a parcel post through USPS and it is basically full of old letters people have sent to me. If you want to read them, Mom, I don't care. I'm sure there isn't much to learn from them, but it's got things from my MTC District and past companions, etc. But the main reason for sending the package was to ship home a "painting" that I've had since I first got to Orlando. The box was the right size to fit it. It's "The Judgments of Job". It was a cheap sale at Boyd’s LDS Book. It seemed to fit with my studies and such at the time so I bought it. It's been shown in my apt since I got it, but I had no idea how I'd get it home. I finally found a box that it would fit in safely so I sent it off.
Onward,
Sister Ellsworth
‘Make no small plans: They have no magic to stir man’s souls.’ This is the vision I have for the South. I believe that one day the South will baptize more people into the church than all other English speaking missions in the world together. There are great hosts of marvelous Baptists, and members of the church of Christ, Methodists and Catholics who are honorable people, and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and love him. As they see their church veering off to the right or to the left of these basic teachings, they will begin to search for the truth. And as pivotal teachers come into the church and have influence, we will see the time when we baptize hundreds and thousands, tens of thousands. In your day you will see a million members of the church in the South. There will be Temples plural in the Southern States. What a great call you have to serve with these marvelous people. ~Spencer W Kimball (1974)
