Transfer 9 Week 2

From: Lindsay Sanders <lindsay.sanders@myldsmail.net>

Date: October 4, 2015 6:37:33 PM MST

Subject: Transfer 9 Week 2

Transfer 9 Week 2

Hello! Well, it is already getting cool here in Ube... I have to wear
tights at night! Definitely a big change from Kumamoto! I really like
this area. The branch members are so cool! Almost all of the adults
are return missionaries! They were kind of hard on me at first (I
guess they had to see if I was up to snuff) but we decided to go visit
them. It is so important to show the members that you are here to
work. We shared a short video with them and invited them to pray with
us... Then we would tract in their neighborhood for a few hours, then
come back and report. I've seen a lot of success with this. All of
these visits went well. That Sunday afterwards, we were invited to
three dinners, everyone asked if we had investigators they could pray
for, many people offered to joint for lessons, and given 4 referrals
(Sister Sanders mission record!), and a mother asked us to teach her
son the lessons before he turns 8 and is baptized. I was shocked. A
little effort goes a long way. People don't care about how much you
know until they know how much you care.

I have been reading PMG cover-to-cover each transfer since being in
the field. I really love PMG! We can apply it in every aspect of our
lives! This week I have been reading Chapter 8- How to use time
wisely! there is a section called How to Set Goals, which is what I
want to talk about today.

"Goals reflect he desires of our hearts and our vision of what we can
accomplish. Through goals and plans, our hopes are transformed into
action." (PMG 146)

I have always been a go-with-the-flow kind of person. Before my
mission, I never really made goals or attempts to deliberately improve
myself. I was just accidentally becoming a product of the experiences
that came my way. A dear friend of mine, Sister Sanford, is very good
at making goals AND achieving them! She helped me see how growing on
purpose will benefit me and bring me more happiness than just being
acted upon.

Her formula:
1. Have a vision
2. Make a plan
3. Move from one degree of intelligence to the next
4. Let go, and let God
5. Forget the cost

First we have to have an idea (vision) of who we want to be. Then, we
decide how we are going to get there. For example, I decided I wanted
to be more organized. I started with my desk. I decided I would spend
five minutes every night before bed just cleaning up my desk. It
became a habit and now I look forward to cleaning my desk. It actually
stays cleaner throughout the day. As we try to follow through with our
plan, we move from one degree of intelligence to the next by making
necessary revisions to our plan. Remember, our goals should be
realistic. If I said "my desk always has to be spotless!" Is that
realistic? No. Keep it simple. Next, we let go. Let go of what is
keeping you from achieving your goal. Let go of "It's hard..." "I
don't want to put in the effort..." "It will take too long...". Allow
the Atonement to work in your life. Put in the effort you promised,
and God will help you. He loves you! He wants to see you succeed in
becoming who you want to be! He has helped me, and He will help you,
too. Last, we forget the cost. The time, the effort, the struggles are
all caught up in your success of achieving your goal! God's will for
you is to succeed and be HAPPY! (2Ne2:25) I know this is true!

I am sure when Christ suffered the Atonement, He did not count the
cost. He kept His goal in mind, and even though it was hard,
ultimately He completed His Father's will.

I believe that God wants to help me, and you, and everyone, live up to
our eternal potential. It is essential to keep the commandments. When
it comes to improving ourselves, God says "For behold, it is not meet
that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all
things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he
receiveth no reward. Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in
a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to
pass much righteousness" (D&C 58:26-27)

Are we anxiously engaged in becoming our best selves? Are we bringing
to pass much righteousness through our good works?

In the October Liahona, there Is an awesome article called "Living
with Real Intent" about choosing the Lord's will and remembering your
eternal purpose. When I read it, this section stuck out to me:

"I encourage you to live a deliberate and focused life--even if you
haven't consistently done so in the past. Don't be discouraged by
thoughts of what you have already done or not done. Let the Savior
wipe the slate clean. Remember what He has said: "As oft as they
repented and sought forgiveness, with real intent, they were forgiven"
(Moroni 6:8).
"Start now. Live an intentional life, understanding why you do what
you do and where it will lead. As you do these things, you will
discover that the most important "why" behind everything you do is
that you love the Lord and recognize His perfect love for you. May you
find great joy in your search for perfection and in understanding and
doing His will."

I have been trying really hard to deliberately change into the person
I want to be. With God's help, I can do it. We can be soooooo happy,
if we choose to be.

I really just want to be more like the Savior.... But that might take
more than a lifetime. がんばります！

Have an awesome week! Share the gospel! Smile a lot, please! Lots of
love from Ube :)

Sanders Shimai

サンダーズ姉妹より