Trainings, Changes, and Yoga Pants

 Hey Family!

This week was wonderful!! And thanks for all of the birthday wishes:)

This week we got to go to Tampa for a special training that has been called the Metro Training Center or MTC. It covered EVERYTHING that we need to know as missionaries, and as disciples of Christ. This training really changed me in a lot of ways, and I hope that I can share some of those things with you in a way that will inspire you to make some changes too.

The first thing that we were trained on is nutrition. Obviously nutrition is super important for missionaries, because we need to stay healthy! They made a big deal about how the things discussed in the MTC training are things that apply to our whole lives. So why is nutrition so important? Well for obvious reasons! Our body is a gift, we need to take care of it. And that is definitely true. But my eyes were also opened to the other side of it: Satan wants us to be fat and unhealthy. We talk all the time about how he is jealous of our bodies so he tempts us to misuse them, but how often do we apply that to nutrition and exercise? Not very often. Satan wants you to eat that second piece of chocolate cake. Why? Because the more unhealthy you are, the less effective you are as a servant of the Lord. Maybe you guys already knew this, but I had never thought about it that way!! Satan tries anything he can to make us less effective tools for good, and that includes tempting us to overeat and to eat things that aren't good for us.

So I have made some significant changes in my diet. What can you do to change?

The next thing that we were trained on is budgeting. I hate budgeting. My budget includes just not spending money. But that doesn't work, right? We have to buy things and we are counseled to live within our means.

So I have created a budget and I know exactly how much I can spend. How can you be more wise in how your money is spent?

Next was apartment cleanliness. How would you feel if Christ walked into your home right now? Would you feel comfortable having him sit on your couch or at your kitchen table? We had some repenting to do here. I know that keeping things clean is hard. Especially with little kids. But helping them learn to keep things clean at a young age is going to bless their lives! And the spirit can be felt so much stronger when the house is clean. Homes are sacred places where we can be safe from the filth of the world. We need them to be clean and clutter free so that when we are there we can feel that safety and we can soak in the spirit. I am no angel when it comes to this! Any of you that have ever been in my room at home know this! But I'm really trying to change my habits. And I promise you that it makes a difference.

We were also trained on how to study. And the only part that I really feel like I need to mention is that we were taught that most of our study should be pondering and writing. Very little of it should be spent reading. That is how we get personal revelation.

Next: Personal appearance. This was another one that really called me to repentance. Lets be honest guys, I would love to just chill out in sweat pants with my hair up and no make up on ALL THE TIME! And I knew that when I came on a mission I wouldn't be able to do that anymore. But I planned on going right back to it the second I came home. But just because I wont have a black name tag on doesn't mean that I still wont represent Jesus Christ. We covenanted when we were baptized to take His name upon us. And that means that the way we dress, act, and talk all reflect our Savior. For the Strength of Youth counsels us to not be overly casual in dress and appearance. This was a hard one for me to swallow, but its not vain to always try and look your best. It is a reflection of the love you have for your Savior, and how you want to represent him. Along with personal appearance, they spent a good long time talking about spandex yoga pants. Guys, I LOVE SPANDEX YOGA PANTS. But lets be honest, just because they cover you doesn't mean that they really cover you. We are a peculiar people, and we are going to have to be different from the world. Gods standards don't change.

I bought a pair of men's exercise pants that are nice and loose and I can still work out just as well without having to show anything off. I take a little extra time in the morning to put on a little extra make up to make sure I look my best. Whether we are a full time missionary or not we carry a message to the world, and the way we look must reflect that.

FYI take all of this as you will, but I encourage you to take these things to the Lord and ask him how you can improve. I know that it will change your life!

We spent most of our time learning about how to more effectively work with members. People, we as missionaries in the Florida Tampa Mission DO NOT TRACT and now we do not go street contacting either. We still talk to anyone and everyone that we can, but we do not wander empty streets for hours on end. Why? Because it doesn't work. In this day and age it doesn't work.

Our purpose as missionaries is to help strengthen the members faith to do missionary work.

We no longer have "our investigators". These are the members investigators. The members need to do the finding and inviting, we are called and set apart to teach. This is a very different concept to some people, but prophets and apostles have been trying to tell us this for years! And its going to take some time to help people truly grasp this. But all of our efforts are focused on this, on helping the members become missionaries. We are trying to change the culture, and its not easy. But once it happens, just imagine! The Hastening doesn't mean more missionaries going out to serve. I used to think it did! But it doesn't. The Hastening means everyone. And the only reason there is an increase of full time missionaries is so that we can get a head start on becoming effective member missionaries.

We also learned about presenting ourselves with confidence. And we focused a lot on all of the gifts and abilities that we have in order to do this work.

I really sincerely hope that the spirit will touch you, and that you will set some goals and make some changes. We MUST be different from the world if we want to make a difference in the world. We are called to live a higher law, and a higher standard. There is no such thing as being "too good". If the thought "well, everyone else is doing it" enters your mind, its probably a pretty good indicator that you shouldn't do it. We are God's "peculiar treasure". And we are pretty darn peculiar, and that is so wonderful! :)

I know that God loves us so much! And I know that He is so proud of the progress we are all making! I know that through Christ's atonement we can all be made better.

Mosiah 3:19 teaches us that we become a saint only through the atonement of Christ.

 Our weaknesses can be made strong. And we can be made into GOLD. Don't get discouraged if you aren't where you would like to be. Just keep moving forward, rely on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Remember that baby steps in His direction are exactly what God asks from us.

I read something really interesting today in Luke 2 verse 40. Speaking of Christ, the one who is perfect, our savior and redeemer it says," And the child grew, and waxed strong in the spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him."

Even Christ learned line upon line, precept upon precept. He will help us to become all that we can be but we need to be humble and allow him to do so!

I've also learned some pretty incredible lessons of humility, from Christ and also from his precious mother. I have been captivated by Mary and her courage and her humility to be able to say, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."

She understood that the hard times that she would soon face because of her divine mission would make her into more than she and anyone else thought she could be:

Luke 1:46-49 And Mary said, my soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden, for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things: and holy is his name.

 God will shape us if we let him. But we have to have a soft heart.

This time of year is the perfect time to change:) I would love to hear about some of the changes that you are making! I love you all so much! And I hope you have an amazing week!

Love always, Sister Rowland