Dear Family and Friends,
This week it has rained, rained again, and rained some. So me and Jeremy (That's the name of my umbrella) got to know each other very well this week. I noticed that Jeremy had some things in disrepair and so with the help of one of the members, we were able to nurse him back to health. Jeremy has been through a lot since he's been with me. He has fought off angry dogs, been run over by a tricycle, been used to collect mangos, etc.Needless to say, he's been a trooper this week.
In our area we don't have a ton of cement roads, so we spent most of our time walking through the mud. I was surprised by how well my shoes took it. I never went puddle jumping as a kid, so I gave it a try this week. Didn't get dirty, don't if it was physics that kept me clean or external forces, but I was glad anyways!
I was reminded this week of a book used to read as a kid called "You are Special". If you know anything about the book it's about a village of wooden people that give each other stars and dots depending on their looks and what they do. The main puppet, Punchinello, has received many dots and finds it to be a sign that he isn't special. But he eventually talks to the "wood carver" and he removes the dots this puppet has received and tells him that he is special. To me, I think the biggest problem we have today is that all too often we give ourselves "dots", we tell ourselves too often that we aren't enough, and we mentally put negative or degrading thoughts in our heads. I have been guilty of this, and I'm most of us are as well. The best thing we can do is to remove the "dots" and look and focus on the "stars" instead. It sounds simple, because it is. Don't give yourself a reason to be less then you are.
I have been very blessed being on a mission, everyday with the people here, is another day in heaven with fellow brothers and sisters of God. I miss you all though, and hope you are all doing well!
Elder Trevor Kent Johnson (TWMYK)
This week it has rained, rained again, and rained some. So me and Jeremy (That's the name of my umbrella) got to know each other very well this week. I noticed that Jeremy had some things in disrepair and so with the help of one of the members, we were able to nurse him back to health. Jeremy has been through a lot since he's been with me. He has fought off angry dogs, been run over by a tricycle, been used to collect mangos, etc.Needless to say, he's been a trooper this week.
In our area we don't have a ton of cement roads, so we spent most of our time walking through the mud. I was surprised by how well my shoes took it. I never went puddle jumping as a kid, so I gave it a try this week. Didn't get dirty, don't if it was physics that kept me clean or external forces, but I was glad anyways!
I was reminded this week of a book used to read as a kid called "You are Special". If you know anything about the book it's about a village of wooden people that give each other stars and dots depending on their looks and what they do. The main puppet, Punchinello, has received many dots and finds it to be a sign that he isn't special. But he eventually talks to the "wood carver" and he removes the dots this puppet has received and tells him that he is special. To me, I think the biggest problem we have today is that all too often we give ourselves "dots", we tell ourselves too often that we aren't enough, and we mentally put negative or degrading thoughts in our heads. I have been guilty of this, and I'm most of us are as well. The best thing we can do is to remove the "dots" and look and focus on the "stars" instead. It sounds simple, because it is. Don't give yourself a reason to be less then you are.
I have been very blessed being on a mission, everyday with the people here, is another day in heaven with fellow brothers and sisters of God. I miss you all though, and hope you are all doing well!
Elder Trevor Kent Johnson (TWMYK)