June 12, '97

1) The picture Sister Rolly re-drew so as to be complimentary to sisters
2) the self-discipline (with the Lord's help) I was able to show this morning in getting up & studying first, then running -- may it continue
3) the thunder today! It sounded like a cadence for God's army!
4) ice cream for lunch! yum!
5) Letter from Elder Stone! He loves me!
20 min running; 90 push-ups

I don't like to admit it because it complicates life a little bit... but I was very pleased to receive a letter from Elder Stone wherein he appreciated my "mooshy" card that I sent last week that told him how much I appreciated him. He's got a list going of things we're going to do together when I get home. He pointed out that this can be a good thing but at the same time frustrating because it turly is pretty far away. He's so sensible, though, also, because he leaves things in the Lord's hands. He isn't making unreasonable commitments or seeking any such thing from me. He simply wants what's best for both of us and that's whatever the Lord wants! I love his attitude of trust and reliance in the Lord and his plan for each of us.

I can tell he honors his priesthood and works to be worthy of the many gifts this power to act in God's name provides. That's important to me.

I love the Gospel so much. I simply want to feel the Spirit more. Tomorrow is temple day, so I will try to soak up all that I can. I honestly believe it is the best way to learn.

Anyways, I want to adopt Elder Stone's perspective to trust in the Lord and not stress about the future. As long as we feel like we are doing and living according to the guidelines he's given us (including personal revelation) we will be taken care of.

Sometimes I just really want the Lord to tell me, but the hymn "Lead Kindly Light" comes to mind... "I loved to choose and see my path but now, Lead thou me on!" May my faith grow to this level! {Bo imya Iicyca Xpicta, Amin} In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Cectpa Bepi

NOTE: Attached to this page was a portion of a letter from Elder Stone, with pressed flowers taped to it. It said:

I hope you like these flowers. I usually prefer to give them in person, but this will have to do. I picked them in Star Valley, Wyoming on Thursday and pressed them in my scriptures. Have you heard of Star Valley? Beautiful place, so I wanted to share part of it with you.

June 3, '97

1) familiar faces
2) new clothes! - Nicole & Elder Stone
3) the fact I'm not an MTC teacher (yet)-- and that when I AM it won't be for MY district
4) my companion's patience with me
5) the Spirit I felt so regularly today
run: 25 min; 40 push-ups

Today I received a t-shirt from Elder Stone. I try not to dwell on it, and rarely admit it to myself, but he's really a remarkable guy! I feel so blessed to just be corresponding with him. I don't know what it would be like to know him personally -- if he could ever convince me of his commitment to eternity -- but for the time being he's got a pretty good hold on my heart!

I've decided that being on a mission is a wonderful thing! I am so blessed to be here! Granted it is filling me BOTH spiritually and physically but for the most part I'm only benefiting from this experience and growing a TON. I pray I can be the means of miracles!

{Bo Imya Iicyca Xpicta, Amin} In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

May 29, '97

1) the REALITY of the GIFT of TONGUES -- particularly as it applies to missionaries
2) getting a letter from "Dawnello" -- it's always good to keep in touch with old friends
3) the new journal I bought
4) having a knowledge that all is well at home
5) receiving yet another uplifting letter from Elder Stone
30 min of Callanetics; 50 push-ups; (couldn't run due to ankle problems)

We again spoke all in Russian in class tonight -- it was wonderful (see insert).

INSERT (small notebook page taped into the journal): I am having the most awesome experience! I am feeling the Spirit as we discuss the atonement in Russian. Oh, how sweet! Truly the Spirit is not bounded by language, but always he testifies of truth and what an awesome truth this is: {iskupleniye} atonement! {Ya xochy podelitsa etim principom i vsyo yevangyeliye c russkim lyudyea} I want to share this principle and all of the gospel with the Russian people. I am so grateful to be my Savior's messenger of such a {prekrasniy} message! {Eto kruto!} It's cool!
(End of insert)

We were also invited to write our feelings about the atonement in our {dnevnik) journal.

I have but a small idea of what the atonement really is... yet the more I learn, the more I treasure the knowledge of the reality of it. Christ, my brother and God's son, gave his life for me! He suffered beyond what I can imagine and through that, I can be forgiven of my sins, live with my Father, and become like him. How grateful I am for this! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Cectpa Bepi

May 22, '97

1) the opportunity to be delving into something so focused-like
2) my companion's laugh
3) the uplifting stories told today at LGM
4) the increasing unity of our district
5) the "sense" I am making of grammar!
run- 15 min; 80 sit-ups; 30 push-ups

Today went much faster than yesterday. Quite honestly, I think all of our time here will go much faster than we think and we will be out on the field in no time. How exciting!

Monday night we did that TRC (I dunno what the initials stand for) but pretty much people are staged as investigators and we get to teach them. My companion and I did it in English and the first time I don't think she was totally comfortable but the second time she caught on fire!

The Spirit is there when you need it, when you see it, and when you trust in it.

Tonight, our {staryeishini} Elders really impressed me. They led the discussions about gospel study. Our district leader, Elder Day, hadn't (in my opinion) been doing his complete duties, as far as keeping things under control and particularly in the area of setting a good example. But tonight, he was able to lead the discussion in such a way that the Spirit was indeed there and that several of the {staryeishini} Elders were impressed to bear their testimonies. And, in answer to my personal prayers, the testimony of Elder Miller was just what I needed to hear. Apparently he has been touched by the Spirit in the way that he needs to be to be motivated to dig in and learn this language so he can teach effectively.

It's wonderful for me to witness the hand of the Lord in others' lives!

I know these next 18 months will be full of such opportunities -- how grateful I am for that!

{Vo imya Iicyca Xpista, Amin} In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
Cectpa Bepi

May 16, '97

1) THE TEMPLE!! (I could put that for all five!)
2) The potential "my" Elders are showing
3) P-day and the letters I got to write
4) How well I am provided for as I serve
5) My knowledge of the Gospel
run- 30 minutes! 150 sit-ups, 25 push-ups

Tonight I am fulfilling a commitment to write in my journal my feelings regarding Joseph Smith.

I know that he was a man -- meaning he suffered just as I do. But more than that, I know he was a prophet and that I am indebted to him for the knowledge that blesses my life and makes it worth living.

As I learn greater and greater truths that were provided by this prophet, I am almost overwhelmed by the possibilities it introduces into my future. I am excited to learn more and share more and pray I can be guided by the Spirit as I do both!

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sister Berry

May 13, '97

1) Others' testimonies
2) Each of our individual talents and how they combine for the benefit of everyone
3) My friends and family who are writing and supporting me
4) Growth through struggle (hard to admit)
5) the example of Christ
run- 25 minutes - 140 sit-ups - 25 push-ups

Well, tomorrow marks one full week at the MTC. We sure learn a lot in a little time!

We memorized phrases that help us to bear our testimony today! It was particularly gratifying when some of the Elders, who have been struggling all along, "got" a key concept in grammar... I could tell it was a success that came at the right time! I'm excited for them.

As I am in the midst of this great work, indulging in the Spirit so strongly and regularly, I recognize the forces of Satan to be discouragement and doubt -- things we don't often attribute to him. I pray for the strength to overcome and know I will be blessed!

Love, Sister Berry

May 12, '97

1) Nature - especially mountains because they make me look up and think of God and his creations
2) reality of repentance and reliance on the Savior
3) my precious companion and her patience with me and my oddities
4) the overwhelming strength of the Spirit to swell my heart and humble me
5) mail! letters! packages!!
run- 20 minutes - 130 sit-ups, 20 push-ups

Oh my, how I desired some personal quiet time today, but being a missionary at the MTC, that's something I don't get a lot of. I just wanted to spend some time on my knees, praying and pleading for the Spirit to guide me and direct me.

I have chosen to serve this full-time mission, to go where the Lord wants me to go and say what he wants me to say -- even if it's {po-ruski} in Russian.

It is overwhelming to me that I have the truth of the gospel and that I am among the few chosen to go forth and preach it to others!

How great is my calling!

Love, Sister Berry

May 10, '97

1) My letter from Elder Stone
2) The beautiful blue sky and sunshine today
3) The opportunity to bear my testimony
4) The friendship in the district
5) The fact tomorrow's the Sabbath!
110 sit-ups, 20 push-ups, 20 min running

Oh, my, the cafeteria food is already getting old! I never ate this well on my own, so I hope the exercise is balancing it out and I won't get too "big."

The Spirit continues to be strong here as I strive to get things in perspective.

It seems like I've been here much longer than just 3 days... we cram SO much into every minute but it still seems like "eat and study" and that's about it -- even hardly any sleep! But that's because we haven't been as diligent about obeying the "go to bed" rule as we have the "get up on time" rule.

I do indeed feel the gift of tongues and even the interpretation thereof! I'm excited to write some letters tomorrow!

Love, Sister Regan Berry

May 9, '97

NOTE: In today's entry, I attempted to write in Russian a little bit. As I type in English, I am just using whatever English letters seem to correspond with the Russian, but then I put the Russian in {brackets} and italics and translate it immediately thereafter! If you happen to speak Russian, you might notice that I went ahead and left the mistakes as they were. No need to pretend that I knew more than I did!

1) My call to serve in this great work
2) Familiar faces around the MTC
3) the Spirit in Brother Jensen's class
4) the breathing exercises Sister Halford does
5) Praying in Russian
20 min running, 110 sit-ups, 20 push-ups

Wow, today seemed long! My comp and I were going to try to get to bed on time tonight... it's already 10:32, so, oh well!

But I did feel lots of progression with the language today! We learned some very basic prayer phrases. I feel like I was guided to study Russian the little that I did. It just made me familiar enough with how to read it, and doing the independent studies project of taping scriptures in my bible made me feel comfortable with certain religious phrases.

I worry about the Elders in my district -- they seem a little discouraged. However, they also have a real Spirit of the truth and reality of the work. May God bless them with strength of mind!

No mail today :{ but I'll survive it. It only comes every 9 or 10 days in the mission field, so I suppose I'd best get used to it.

{Ya xochy picat pa-ruski kogda ya mogy. Takzhe goborit. Sis. Smyth tozhe xochit - spasibo. Ya blagodary Bozhe za klasni i krasibi komp!} I want to write in Russian when I can and also speak. Sister Smyth also wants to, thankfully. I thank God for a cool and beautiful companion! As you can see, I often don't quite know exactly what to say, but I know, {ya znayu, shto ya bydy mozhet vsyo goborit.} I know, that I will be able to say everything.

What an amazing Spirit abides in this work. It certainly is like a stone cut without hands! We took a little "missionary evaluation" survey this morning that asked some pretty searching questions about my testimony and faith level. I pray I answered them honestly!

I do love the Lord and His gospel and His Russian Saints. {Bo imya Iicyca Xpicta, Amin.} In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.