"If it's going to be, it's up to me."

Three more concepts today.  One more than my goal for the week.  I have accomplished all my goals except two.  Those goals are: Finish The Book of Mormon and finish reading five chapters in Jesus The Christ.  I have tomorrow morning and I think that I will be able to get them done.

It was really neat how the Lord blessed me today.  I had the "thought" for the morning.  We are supposed to give them in Spanish.  However hardly anybody has given them in Spanish.  I almost decided to go along and give mine in English too.  I then thought of the words "If it's going to be, it's up to me."  I spent the morning translating my thoughts into Spanish while I could have been studying the scriptures (for myself) or getting a head start on the first concept like a lot of us try to do.

It was interesting because after I gave my thought I sat down and I was the first one done with my concept!!  Later, Elder Casey was joking that he was mad because I got a headstart like he did!!  He had memorized half the concept before class.  Before I even got around to opening the discussion book.  I know the key to my fast learning was the fact that while he was memorizing before class (for himself) I was translating a thought (for others) and the Lord blessed me accordingly.  I hope that htis will be something that I can keep in my mind while out in the field.

All About Elder Brown & A Funny Dream

It is about 5:30 on Wednesday morning and today is P-Day.  I hope that I can budget my time wisely enough so that I can make this day profitable.

I am trying to adjust to the long hours and I must say that the Lord is sustaining me.  Monday night I think that I dreamed that an alarm clock went off because I woke up.  Elder Nelson got out of bed and walked out of the room.  I got up and got all my things ready for a shower.  When I walked in the bathroom I felt proud of the fact that I was the first one up.  I looked at my watch to see what time this memorable event was taking place at.  To my amazement it was 11:30 pm!!  That was quite a shock.  But it did feel rather good to be able to climb back into bed.

I feel as though we are in a very choice district.  There is not one bad apple in the whole bunch.  Every day I see many examples of love.  Everyone wants the district to succeed.  Last night in our room prayer the four of us elders placed our arms around each other as Elder Nelson thanked the Lord for our countless blessings.  I felt loved and I felt love for them.

Last night Elder Marion D. Hanks spoke in a devotional.  He emphasized the importance of really learning to love the scriptures.  I was truly impressed with his knowledge and ability to use the scriptures.

Elder Brown and I have decided to try and get up at 5:00 am every morning.  We will see how it works out.  While on the subject of Elder Brown, I would like to write some impressions of him.  He is pretty big.  From Cincinnati, Ohio.  He has had four years of Spanish and he really picks it up fast and speaks it well.  This ability is sometimes frustrating to me.  I feel as though we get along well as companions.  I feel that we can both give and take a little so that we compromise rather well.  It is hard for me to really describe him.  Maybe I will try again later.  I do feel that the Lord inspired this companionship!!

A Prompting About Elder Christensen's Dad

I only have a few minutes now between dinner and class.  Yesterday was really neat.  I had a good interview with my Branch President.  President Barrett helped me get a few things off my mind.

We all attended the mission conference.  It was really neat.  They are re-organizing the MTC Presidency so all of the old MTC presidency members and their wives spoke.  President Pinegar is a real neat man.  The spirit was so strong that I almost cried with every song.  Every song was absolutely beautiful with 2,000 missionaries singing their hearts out.

After dinner and studying we went to our culture class.  It is really neat and it made me really excited to get to Bolivia.

After class and some more studying we had Family Night with my district.  We had a testimony meeting that was bar-none.  It was really neat and I felt the spirit as perhaps never before.

The most special event of the day though was when we were walking over to the administrative building afterwards.  For some reason my thoughts were directed to my father and I received the most wonderful spirit.  It filled my whole body, bringing tears to my eyes.  I didn't hear any voices but I felt as never before that things would be alright with my father and that things are going to change in his life.

I got up at 5:30 this morning and got right into things.  I am almost finished with The Book of Mormon.  It will be the first time in my life that I have read it clear through.  It won't be the last time.  I also passed off my third concepts in Spanish.  I know the Lord has blessed me tremendously and I pray that I can do better everyday so that I can be a good tool in His work and glory.