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Self-Mastery Is something that has been on my mind

I looks like a lot has been going on back at home with everyone. This week was transfers, ill be staying here in Weatherly. my new companion is named Elder Whetton. He is from Saratoga Springs. Hes a great guy, we have been getting along very well. Hes Super good at the piano, and composes a little music here and there. Hes 22, so you could say hes a grandpa for the most part :P. He's been out about 5 months now, so hes just getting on his feat and everything. We both have a ton of stuff to learn from one another, It's going to be a great next few weeks I think.

I don't really have thinking really crazy coming to mind about what to write so i thought i would share a little bit about what i have been studying these last few days, Self-Mastery Is something that has been on my mind for a little bit. Being able to have full control over our Bodys and Minds. Understanding what drives me, what makes me to what i do. What i have done in the past that now has a HUGE influence on what i do now in the future. I have really started to see that everything is about control over what we think and what we have done. 

Over these last few months i have seen that the "NATURAL MAN" {Mosiah 3:19}... I think. I really our own human nature. Have we not all wanted more then we had, we all have our own guilty pleasures, we "All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God" So as I have been thinking about self mastery. Really all it is to me is just Trying to be Christian people. As we try to be more like Jesus Christ we change our self control. Our desires are no more about what we want now! but what we want in the future. Our actions are changed as we think. "would Christ be doing this" and we would think more about why we feel bad about sinning. we lose control of our own choice to do something we want NOW, and we give up want we want in the Future. 

A quote that I have found really sums up Self-mastery is this " Never give up something you want MOST, for something that you want NOW." Something that i have really been working on is looking to the future, Is what im doing helping me NOW, or Helping forever! I hope we all realize we fall and fail a LOT, so trust in God. Its only "natural" to fall to our own carnal desires. His grace is for us all as we reach out for him he will "Snatch us" and hold us up as we lean on him and take up with yoke. 

I love all y'all, i hope this week is as good as mine will be!!

LOVE Elder Aldana

it's amazing to hear about so much good still in the world

What an amazing story back home, it's amazing to hear about so much good still in the world. It reminds me a lot of the hoods and the ghettos, the people are just born into hard places. they are used to run drugs from the time there 10 11, no one knows their dads. The people are killed at young ages. Its hard for me to think about how God must feel. I feel that I have started to understand God much more as i have come on my mission. That ive started to understand more of how God feels, why he does things. 

“And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept; and Enoch bore record of it, saying… How is it that thou canst weep…? The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency; And unto thy brethren have I … given commandment, that they should love one another, and … choose me…; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood.” (Moses 7:28-29, 32-33)

I used to think how can someone like God a perfect God cry. I understand the crying is not always a sign of weakness. I have come to see that showing compassion and love often also bring tears. I think crying is a sign of deep love and is often a sign of deep emotional feelings. It's one of the few ways I think we can really show people that we care about them, and for them. I think to myself, How often has God looked down on me with tears for my mistakes? how often does God rejoice with me? 

thinking questions like this is really a big motivator for me. what do I want to be remembered as? If I only think about me... how many people go about everyday comforted. This week we have talked a lot about being Leaders. One thing i believe a good leader has is that they Strive to bring everyone with them. We push others to be better. I love to hear story's about those being helped not out of obligation, but out of love. If you could sum up Gods gospel in one word it would be "love" let us all look outside and love others out of love more.. we all could use more love in our life, its something I think were going to be working on our entire lives. 

transfers are this week. Elder Ihasz is going to be leaving me... I'm very excited to see how the new transfer goes. 

I love y'all. Keep changing the world!!!!!

Elder Landon ALdana

this week has been a great week

Thanks so much for everything the package, family history, and just an update of how everything is going. I'm very excited to see how everything works out for Cosmos? and his brother. I'm sure there lives are never going to be the same after thursday. I wish i had the chance to meet them but it will have to wait for another time.  

this week has been a great week, a huge testimony builder that were all in the work together! so... Elder Ihasz and I have been working in our area for a little bit. Not really anyone has wanted to talk, a few people have tried to bash, and few have chased us off with there dogs. It's been different but ive been loving it. its not so rude so say something a little more sassy back.

for example if you knock on a door and they come over to the door, open it. Look at you and tell you "Not Interested." before you have a chance to say anything, don't even look at us. one of my new favorite things to do is reply back "In What?" just a little something to get them talking more with ya. at least let them know you wanted to way hi. 

but were working and not a ton is happening. then out of the blue yesterday the sisters from the city over show up at church with an investigator. they went on to talk about how they have been teaching her in the city over for about 2 months now and shes ready to be baptized this week. The only thing was is that she was living in our ward boundary. she had asked a friends living in the city next to us if she could learn more about our church and wants to join. she really wants to meet the members closer to where she lives and where she could go if she wants to. 

she came to church and decided she wanted to be baptized into our ward so we will meet with her Wednesday, and Saturday she will be baptized. its amazing to see how even thou she lives in our area. a place we have tracked before. that God prepares people and we just need to put our effort in to be ready for them. 

were very excited for Jamie to be baptized on Saturday and just to be able to be a part of her conversion. one of my favorite things that President Hanks has trained on is. "there is no "My" baptism or "I" baptized. its all the lords" its been really cool to see just how true that is!! 

Gods work is moving, im super excited to be a part of it. ill have to take some more pictures and send them one day. im just awful at taking pictures. i love y'all!!!

Elder Landon ALdana!!

a different kind of hard then i am used to

Where to start about this week haha. Well, i very to happy to hear that everyone is having a good ol time back home, and that everyone is doing really good. Elder Ihasz and I have been doing really good over here also, nothing too crazy and nothing to boring haha. 

These last few weeks have been very hard, a different kind of hard then i am used to. There is a HUGE difference in the city im in right now then the rest of my mission. It's been different trying to figure everything out and how to best help here. It's weird, i felt like i was starting to get the hang of things up i just cant seem to figure anything out with Huntsville. haha, dont get me wrong I am fairly confident and love huntsville but its werid.

But Elder Ihasz and I do get along super well. we have been thinking of lots of ways that we can work differently here. trying to think of new ways to do missionary work. so well have to see what happens in the next few weeks, if we get an idea rolling with everyone. 

This week we had Zone Conference and we were able to hear from President Hanks, he gave a TON of really good training's. (a few hours of it), but... there were a few things that i really liked what he talk about. something that has really got me thinking. Just like an example..... if you dont know about it already go look at JustServe.org Super excited

Alabama is well, Still trying to find way around this big ol place but its a great place to be right now. 

LOVE Y'ALL

Elder Landon Aldana