When You're Happy and You Know It

This week for the Sunday film, we watched the Testaments for the 3rd time (in Chinese, then English, then Chinese again). It was fun to see how much more we could understand than the first time we saw it (which was our very first week here). We still couldn't really understand a lot, but we got more than before! And I just love that movie, in any language it's really powerful.

Yesterday morning, super early, the district that got here 2 weeks before us left for Taiwan. It was a little sad, because we got to know some of them pretty well. But it was mostly just exciting! They all went to the Taipei mission; they'll be our neighbors. So that last day was full of signing books, making candy grams, giving hugs, and trying (failing) to focus on our studies. 

So this week I think I've learned a lot and been reminded of some things that I needed. First, in the devotional last night he was talking about focusing on what you can control. You can control you and your emotions and your obedience and dedication. But we can't control others and they're choices; they have their agency. If we focus on what we can control and not getting upset or angry or annoyed, they only thing it will do is make us happier. We can choose to be happy all the time or we can choose to take offense. This is so much easier said than done, but it's something that I want to work on and I know will make your life and those around you much happier. The second thing kind of goes along with that, which is, we all have trials. We all are struggling, there's not a single person who has a perfect life no matter what we think by looking at them. And by choosing to be happy, to smile, to serve, and to love we can brighten someone else's day. Plus, when we focus on serving others we tend to forget about our own trials and become happier. So pretty much, just be happy :)

An amazing packing job by Taylor and Q.

Oh PS. I wanted to clarify that my building did not burn down last week. Someone just doesn't know how to cook popcorn. That tends to happen a lot. But that's the first time it set off the fire alarm. Haha.

So I hope all of you have a fantabulous week! 

Do something for some else, and choose to be happy.

-Sister Biancardi