12/31/2013 Happy New Years Everyone

Dallin Carlson

12/31/13

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 Happy New Year's everyone!
 You're probably wondering about Christmas traditions here - it's a lot the same as back home, just add Catholic masses.  But yes, Santa does   make it here to the Philippines and everyone knows about him.  they hangup stockings too, and they also have Christmas trees.
 President Schmutz gave us some advice about becoming like Christ this  CHRISTmas - as I did that and came closer to him, it became my best     Christmas ever! We also taught that to our investigators and members.
 In my reading the Book of Mormon lately, I came to 2Nephi1 where Lehi  tells his sons to"awaken" - it's sort of like right after we wake up,   when we're still groggy and stumbling around... we're doing stuff, but  not that focused. There's a definite difference betwe4en that and the   time that we truly wake up and doing stuff much more effectively - so to apply this I've been striving to drive out any spiritual grogginess in my life and do everything the best I can and not worry too much about   the mistakes I make, just only focus on how to fix them. I'll focus on  just my progression because if I focus on the areas where I'm lacking,  that will just make me frustrated and discouraged. I'll just take the   advice of someone else and focus on the things which I can control - onestep at a time, though I may be but a "awkward faltering toddler"  (Dieter f. Uchtdorf) in comparison with our Heavenly Father - I want to run, but I must not let that discourage me; one step after another.
 
 Anyways, g2g - happy new years again!
 -Elder Dallin Carlson