Attitude is Everything!

February 15, 2017

This is the Finns mascot Bernie, who has been passed down from each Finn "generation" here at the MTC. Our teachers moved him because they thought he was getting a little "idol-like" :P 

Fear Not!  

 Once a farm girl always a farm girl. I kinda had to beg to take a pic. The guy behind me doesn't look too happy!

Hello Everyone! It's been another AMAZING week here at the MTC!! Each day just seems to get better and better! A few highlights from this week are:

1)  We discovered that if you sing Disney in the showers, others you don't know will belt along with you.

2)  A mini MnM container makes a great musical instrument and weapon....

3) One of the Elders in our Zone sang a super catchy song on the new EFY album that once you hear it, it just stays in your head! SO GOOD! (Priceless. Look it up!) 

4)  Valentines day is the most obnoxious day in the MTC. In our missionary handbooks on page 33 it outlines how you should act around missionaries of the opposite gender. Our Elders take this VERY seriously. How do I know this?  A) our Elders run around yelling "PAGE 33!!" at you if you even look at a male human being and B) they yell it even when you're not.

5) When your roomies going to Norway and Sweden make you laugh until you cry and sing all their favorite songs :)

6) That the Lord has called prophets and apostles in our day.

Let me just elaborate on that last point. Elder M. Russell Ballard of the quorum of the 12 apostles came to our Devotional on Tuesday. Lemme just say that again. M. RUSSELL BALLARD CAME TO OUR DEVOTIONAL!!! Woah! And that's not even the best part!! He even SPOKE!!!! But really he said some of the most amazing things. My favorite thing he said though was that we are building our lives as we speak. It can be weak and leaky, or it can be tall and strong, DEPENDING ON YOUR ATTITUDE. I love this! As a missionary, we choose to leave home and have limited communication with our families. Many missionaries have homesickness and just feel sad because they miss their families and friends. BUT if we choose to have a good attitude, and smile through the sadness and laugh in pains face, we are building such a strong foundation for our lives! If I am having a bad day and I am struggling to understand this crazy language called Finnish or wondering if I can do this, I take a deep breathe and I take the advice of Mr. Bing Crosby and I "count my blessings instead of sheep". (props if you get the movie reference!). I challenge whoever reads my emails (Hi mom) to do the same. Attitude really is everything. Your attitude can be the difference between a happy day or a crappy day. BE HAPPY! :D Count your blessings.

I'll sign off with one of my favorites. D&C 6:33-34

"Fear not to do good, my sons [and daughters], for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward. Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good."

Carry on the work my friends, do good, be happy and smile :)

Lots of missionary love,

Sisar Phipps