Day 30 of my full-time mission
Area: Afton, Wyoming

Last night after I wrote in my journal, I read my setting apart as a missionary. It says that “whatever may befall you during your mission will be for your good, and that you will have no need or cause to worry about it.” I prayed this afternoon because I didn’t understand my purpose here, but that phrase came back strong to me, so I shouldn’t worry. You’d think I would have learned by now that God is all-wise and all-knowing and experiences may not seem important to me now, but one day they will be.

The APs did finally show up at 10 p.m. Man, were they rowdy. They really cracked me up. It was like a comedy act all night. They were hungry, so we went to Pizza Hut and stayed out until 11:20 p.m. Do you believe that? Our own APs breaking mission rules. And they even decided to drive back to Ogden last night because we weren’t having a district meeting and they didn’t want to sleep on the floor. And that’s a three-hour drive! Those guys were hard to get to be serious. I was asking questions, and they would eventually answer them honestly, but only after a lot of joking around. Now I’m not anyone to judge, but it seemed like they were ready to go home “in 57 days.”

I was reading tonight from Joseph Smith’s account of the restoration, and I think this applies:

“I frequently fell into many foolish errors, and displayed the weakness of youth… I was guilty of levity, and sometimes associated with jovial company, etc., not consistent with that character which ought to be maintained by one who was called of God.”

That made me really wonder about our APs. But, I guess it’s just an example to me of what can happen if you aren’t always trying to set a good example.

Today we studied all morning and tracted all afternoon, like the rest of the week. But tonight we didn’t have any appointments, so I got to study for two-and-a-half more hours. Like I said last night, I guess as long as I’m studying, I’m still serving “with all my might, mind and strength.” I don’t know what else to do? I wish I had a better example to follow. Gatlin’s been out playing with three little girls for the past two-and-a-half hours. He said he hates to study. I guess that means he likes to waste time.

I made a resolution today to always be up at 6:30 a.m. I’ve gotten slothful in that area, and it’s not necessary. I can get up. I will.

I only wish we were accomplishing more. I want to do my best! I got a letter from Evan today, and he said, “I hope you’re a better missionary than I am.” Well, I don’t know. I don’t feel like I’m getting much done. I do plan to get my certification on Monday, though, and that’s pretty quick.

As I studied this morning, I felt really good about being here, if only because I have time to study and ponder the scriptures. They’re wonderful!

My Scripture: 2 Nephi 31:20 — Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ