The Desire Model - how to get what we desire

Some of this is way outdated o.O as we didn't get Preach My Gospel until I was six or eight months out.  Also, I believe we went over the Control Model this day too, but I didn't take any extra notes on it.  The control model can also be viewed in the models tab.

***06/18/2004 Orientation: Day Two, Part Two
         1. Desire Model (see model tab /\)
               A. 1 Nephi 2:16 - I did believe
               B. Alma 29:1-4 - God works according to our desires
               C. Mark 9:23 - All things are possible if we believe it
               D. Hebrews 11 - faith
               E. Ether 12 - faith
               F. Isaiah 55:8-9 - thy will be done
               G. Jacob 4:6 - in obtaining all these witnesses we develop hope

          2. Building the kingdom --> Build the people
               A. Baptize worthy converts
                    1) Doctrine and Covenants 20:37
                    2) A testimony of the restoration
               B. Strengthening New converts
                    1) A Friend - Members are the key.  Try to get a member at every discussion
                    2) Responsibility - Calling
                    3) Nourishing by the word of God - continue to teach
                         a) six discussions for new missionaries
                         b) re-teach the six standard discussions

               C. Strengthen Leadership

23 April 2013

This week I am studying Elder Ballard's talk, "This is My Work and My Glory"

This morning I was reading in 2 Nephi.  Chapter 31 talks about Christ's baptism.  It says that Christ was baptized to fulfill all righteousness and to show us that He, Jesus Christ, was willing to follow and keep the commandments of His (and our) Father.  In verse 10 we are reminded that Jesus Christ commands us to follow Him and ends with this phrase, "can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?"  As Jesus Christ was willing to follow the commandments, we too should keep the commandments and directions of our Heavenly Father.  In the MTC we were taught the value of obedience with exactness.  As I was out in the mission field I learned that if I was diligent in being obedient to the commandments of the Lord in all things, I would be blessed with the knowledge and help I desired.

Each weekday morning (weather permitting) we walk Lloyd to school.  After six weeks I was cleared by my doctor to return to "life as usual," kind of.  I decided it was time to start working down the baby fat.  I am fully aware of the rule of thumb that it took nine months to gain the weight and it should take at least that long to loose the extra weight.

I wasn't quite ready to return to the gym again, so I thought taking a walk in the morning after dropping Lloyd off at school would be the way to go.  In the first few weeks I lost, nothing.  I thought to myself, I'm walking further than I used to, pushing a stroller with two kiddies and sometimes carrying a third baby in the baby carrier.  How am I not losing the pound a week that is recommended?  So I decided to cut back on sweets going back to the no sweets after 8pm rule that I like to keep.  After another week of that I still lost no weight.  Note that I didn't gain any weight either.  I thought to myself, well if I'm not going to lose weight whether or not I keep all these rules, then I might as well give up on it and do whatever makes me happy.

I didn't give up.  I decided it was time to increase the intensity.  So I implemented a half block jog, half block walk routine (when I only have two babies, and am not watching my infant client).  After the first morning I felt slow.  I could barely make it.  But walking past a bunch of skinny-bodied high school girls gives one motivation beyond belief!  So I kept at it. A few mornings I woke up and got out and thought, I just don't have time to do this today.  Then I began thinking, the faster I move, the faster I will get home.  The faster I move, the faster I will get home.

Now, almost four weeks later, I am finally starting to hit that pound a week mark and it feels great! Also the benefits are great for my self esteem and my food choices during the day.  I still eat sweets during the day if they are around and I want it, but not as much and not after 8pm unless I am not paying attention to the time.

2013

***6/4/2004 MEETING NOTES: How to Begin Teaching
          1. Gaining trust through the spirit: The unique thing about our message it it's either true or it's not - will only know through prayer
          2. Be gentle, sincere honest, enthusiastic and positive
               a. who you are
               b. why you are there
               c. what the message can do for them

***June 4, 2004 JOURNAL: We were humbled
          We did the 2nd discussion twice this morning at the resource center.  Good experience.  We were taped and should have got feed back but Bro. Robinson wasn't that worried about Sis. Wagstaff and me.
          Part way through our MDT, (missionary directed time) Elder Wright, was trying to get us to convince him, about why he (posing as an investigator) should change his life.  After some people tried, I told him to ask Elder Duthrie (a convert of just over a year at the time.)  And we were humbled.  He reminded us that it's the spirit that converts, not us, and that we should remember the basic doctrine and not get so caught up in deep doctrine.
          GOOD: taught the 2nd and 3rd discussion, played volleyball
          COMPANION: teaches by the spirit, patient, willing to learn, humble, fun
          GOALS: obtain principles in 4th discussion, start looking over 5th/6th discussion, smile

1 January 2013

Sneaking one in here before the day ends.  Going back to life as normal after week of fun is generally depressing.  That will be for tomorrow.

Up until a couple of years ago, we were allowed to play with fireworks in Hawaii.  The past two years have been boring on New Year's Eve.  There are folk that go out and buy permits to purchase and burn legal firecrackers to pop.  Then there are the one's who get the illegal stuff and burn them for us all to enjoy.  The babies didn't make it until midnight, and I almost didn't make it either.  But we did spend New Year's Eve and New Year's Day together with our family.  That is what mattered to me the most.  The food was great!  We grilled meat and sausages and had some soup and baked beans for New Year's Eve.  When we played tetris on xbox and watched movies and tv to keep ourselves awake between short naps.  We have a tradition in the Smith family of local Hawaiian food for New Year's Day.  We prepared, wrapped and cooked pork and pork and fish laulau.  Nakeu made squid luau, kalua pig and lomi salmon and also boiled peanuts.  Mommy-Daddy have a sushi tradition, so they brought over rolled and cone sushi.  Jorell and Leilani brought some lumpia.  Oh, so yummy!

28 Days

***6/1/2004 MEETING NOTES: Teaching and Finding by the Spirit - Bro. Nelson
          1. Without the spirit you will never succeed regardless of your talent and ability
               A. You are not the teacher
               B. The spirit is the teacher, the Lord is preparing people
          2. How do I prepare to teach by the spirit?  Become the Lord's favorite pen
               A. Not my message, the Lord's message
               B. the Lords work, in His way, on His timetable, without back talk
               C. Always full of ink (scriptural knowledge, doctrine ...)
               D. Be who I am and grow into what He wants me to become
               E. If I am prepared, it will happen
          3. Finding
               A. Work with members, teach in member's homes
               B.  Missionaries "fishing lines" should be in the water the moment they leave the house

***6/1/2004 DEVOTIONAL NOTES OF NOTE: Elder Merril J. Oakes
          1. Don't under estimate what the spirit can do.
          2. Spencer W. Kimball: “If you could only see the vision I have. I wish I had your bodies to do this work. I would run from house to house telling everyone of the gospel, and after I lost strength to run I would begin to walk, and after I collapsed from walking, I would begin to crawl, and after my knees were so bloody that I could not use them I would use my arms to drag myself, and once my muscle in my body was gone I would begin to yell…oh, only if you could see the vision as I have.” 
          3. Never be afraid to share the gospel
          4. Live so that the spirit of the Lord can be with you

***June 1, 2004 JOURNAL: So Good or No Good? Sooo-- Good!
          Good day!
          We went to the referral center again.  I really appreciate that place and the opportunity it provides.  I got to talk to two people today, would've been more but my phone was being funny :(.
          One lady wanted a Finding Faith in Christ video, and she would allow missionaries to deliver it.  She just recently had a hear attack, in addition to being diabetic.  She is home on disability and wanted to know more about Christ.  I felt prompted  to do two things 1) teach her about asking for a priesthood blessing and 2) have her read 3Nephi11.
          The second caller was a man and he also wanted a Finding Faith in Christ video.  I was so impressed that he would call because he wanted his kids to know about Jesus Christ.  I really wanted to lay out  the families can be together forever plan for him, but, I felt like I shouldn't.  But, I know that he is going to check out the website, so hopefully he'll get something out if it.
          We heart attacked two doors tonight - the sisters in our branch.  It was really funny because the other sisters had the same idea at the same time.
          GOOD: Outlined Disc. 2, Service this morning
          COMPANION: helpful, fun
          GOALS: help new missionaries (especially sisters) feel welcome tomorrow.

27 November 2012

According to my count down there are 28 days left until Christmas!  Our house is just busting with excitement.  Last night we decorated the Christmas tree.  In the very true words of Nake'u, it looks like Christmas exploded all over the tree.  The babies had real fun getting ornaments and putting them up on the tree.

Thoughts, thoughts, thoughts

Day 17 and going strong.  Now that that's been stated, tomorrow will likely be a bust!

It should be known and noted that while I was in the MTC, we were not memorizing discussions.  We were using outlines and encouraged to teach by and with the Spirit.  We were told that the teaching methods were changing and a big change would come while we were in the mission field.  After a very few months of being out in the field we were introduced to Preach My Gospel.  I still love that book.

Also, there will be some notes from my personal scripture study and it should be noted that we were encouraged by our District President to study 2 Nephi 9 for 30 days.

***5/28/2004 NOTES of note from group meetings and classes:
          -"Ok, Lord, what can I do next?"  Then follow with exactness
          -Every good thought that comes to your mind is guidance from the spirit ... -Richard G. Scott
          -Get in --> Get powerful --> Get out!
          -At the end, invite them to change
          -Our goal is to help people come unto Christ
          --2Nephi9:  atonement is infinite and eternal, without the atonement we cannot return to God
               -righteous before = righteous after, filthy before = filthy after
               -Endured the crosses of the world: -joy shall be full forever  -so-- worth it!
          --Teaching No Greater Call: Teaching with Testimony: "... Nothing short of a testimony by the power of the Holy Ghost would bring wight and knowledge to them - bring them to repentance...." Pres. Young

*** May 28, 2004 JOURNAL: Day Three
          I got mail today.  I almost let it get to me.  I wanted to open it right there in class.  But I know the Elders were getting anxious about letters and so, so I'm thankful for teh example of my companion to put it away until a later time.
          The spirit is so strong here, and I'm grateful for it.  It helps me to learn at a much more accelerated rate than I would be able to do outside of the MTC.  And the spirit isn't afraid to testify of the truths, the doctrines and the principles that we learn here.  I'm grateful for the teachers that unload this wealth of knowledge on us - and like sponges we just take it all in.  I'm grateful for Elders that are excited about missionary work and push our district to newer and higher levels.
          GOOD: on time to more things, learning by the spirit, bore testimony, memorization
          COMPANION: humble, patient, helpful

17 November 2012

On waking up early.  I trained myself to be an early riser because in high school I needed to be on a bus that left at 6:15 am.  There after waking up early was not difficult for me.  In college, taking early classes meant I didn't have to be in class all at once in the middle of the day and could usually avoid evening and late afternoon classes, which I liked.  Waking up as a missionary at 6:30 am was not difficult for me.  Even now, my husband and I are early risers.  I see great benefits of being in the habit of an early riser.  We get to enjoy quiet time together before the babies wake up, although, they don't sleep much past 6:30 am.  We are able to get a lot done in the mornings before the sluggish post-lunch time of the day.  More accomplished in the morning/pre-noon time means less that needs to be done later.  It's not for everyone, but it works for us.

Today we took our annual pictures.  This year we went to the Olan Mills at KMart.  In previous years we'd go to Sears.  I had a coupon for cheaper and good looking Christmas greetings and cheaper great portraits that I am so excited about.  It's going to be like waiting for forever for the next two weeks until we get our pictures and cards.

As I type, I'm sitting here watching Nake'u play with Alessandra.  Pwopwo has her daddy wrapped and knows how to work him over.  And Nake'u loves that about her.  The babies love him and they love playing with him and that makes me smile.  I know there will be times in the future when our babies will disagree with us and hate us, so I am soaking in these moments when they love us.

On My Way to the MTC

***May 23, 2004 JOURNAL: Last Night Here

***May 25, 2004 JOURNAL:From San Francisco
          I didn't cry at the airport.  I thought I would, but I guess because I didn't hug anyone, outside of my family, there was less of an emotional goodbye, or because I've been saying goodbye to people for the past two weeks.  I'm almost surprised at how alright I am, maybe it just hasn't "sunk-in"yet.
          Besides my own family, Greg Sessions and two others also came to see me off.  I have gained a great appreciation for Greg.  Especially for his spirit and his counsel.  When he told he some of his fears, I emailed him my favorite talk by Sheri Dew about seeing the "Big Finish."  He returned the favor of sorts at the airport.  He gave me a talk by Elder Packer (The Candle of the Lord) and a letter of counsel to never settle for less than I deserve.
          The plane is about to board and I'm still not excited, like I think should be.  I know I have work to do.  I know that work can and will only be accomplished with the help of and by the direction of the Lord.  I am ready to work.  I am ready to learn and to grow and to help those around me in anyway I can.  I am as ready as I will ever be.  I look forward to the experiences both good and bad that lay before me.  I know that the spirit of the Lord is with me and I am not afraid.  We'll see how long that lasts.

13 November 2012

I don't know if I was ever really excited to about getting to the MTC or even to the mission field.  I think determined might be a better word.  Besides, I had taught myself not to get excited over things, that way I don't get disappointed when things don't work out. ... What a sad outlook on life.  Now I get excited to anticipate many things.  Currently, I am super excited that next week is Thanksgiving.  Time to spend with my family, enjoying great food and remembering everything I have to be grateful for.  I am so excited for Black Friday I could bust!  When we drove past the Home Depot today I was already looking out for those refrigerated-Matson containers that would be holding the Christmas tree will soon be standing in our front room.  I've learned it's better to get excited and happy about things and life and face occasional disappointment then to always live in fear of disappointment.