June 11, '97

AACK! I'm flustered! We found out yesterday that we're not allowed to run outdoors like we've been doing for 4 weeks. It's kind of depressing really because I need the fresh air almost more than I need the exercise! So we're trying to problem-solve and it didn't work today... (it's early a.m. -- we were supposed to wake up at the same time we usually do and study scriptures first and then run when it's light out -- that's the stipulation -- but we didn't. And being that I cherish my study time, I'll have to do without exercise this morning which probably means I'll be tired all day. But alas this is the day the Lord hath made! And it's a great day to study the Russian language! I will start my day with prayer, seek my Savior's help in all these things, and report back tonight! Love, Cectpa Bepi
Oh! We expect to receive travel plans today! AWESOME! I love prayer... I just got done and opened my scriptures to where I had taped the 7 habits of highly effective people... 7 is how many days there are in a week...I propose a goal to practice one of the habits each day, assigning one day to one habit and center activities around that -- like the scripture I memorize should come from that! I like this. I think I'll pray about it more. Wow, do I ever NEED the help of my Heavenly Father in these things. Sometimes I wonder why it takes me so long to appeal to him. Pride. Gotta get over it, Sister Berry!

1) GOT THE TRAVEL PLANS!!! It wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be until I started seeing people I know and then as I got to tell them I got more and more excited. I'm really leaving this place and going to a whole 'nother country! I'm the travel leader (who knows what that means) but it was fun to give my Elders (not in my district) their travel plans and see their eyes light up and they danced around a little bit. I get to write home about it TODAY (instead of waiting until P-day) so I'm looking forward to that, too. Oh, what a joy! It sure is exciting to be in this place at this time.
2) taking a walk this afternoon
3) eating ice cream for dinner (yum!)
4) cherishing yesterday's mail since I didn't get any today
5) striving a little harder to be a worker
15 min walk - 90 push-ups

I really need to feel the Spirit more. The Spirit is the only reason I want to be on a mission -- at least, the only reason that will keep me on a mission, when the going gets tough. It's occurred to me more and more lately to just go home. I don't feel like it's a spiritual prompting or anything -- in fact, I feel fairly sure that it is the adversary working on me. I want it to go away! Brother Jensen told us that when something like this happens, then we need to read a scripture, sing a hymn, and pray. I find this hard to do when I'm surrounded by a bunch of 19-year old boys that I'm not always confident want to feel the Spirit. :{
I just know I have a lot yet to learn.

Cectpa Bepi