Week 37- Linear Comparisons

 WHATS UP BROTHER!☝️



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Not gonna lie I'm a little down with transfers coming up. I think I'm going to be heading out from Fukuoka which is a real shame. After lots of work a lot of things started happening! But that's for highlights. Today I wanted to talk about comparisons. 

We've all heard the phrase “Comparison is the thief of joy.” 

I kinda agree with that. But I want to add a little bit.

Comparison is the thief of joy, when we compare ourselves to others. But when we look inwards and compare ourselves to who we were before then we can look to improve. We are able to see our growth and also our shortcomings. 

Life is never us against other people. It's ourselves against who we used to be. God will never look at us and then look at another person and say “I love you less because (blank) is better looking than you are.” WE are LOVED for who WE are. God only asks us to improve. To be better than who we used to be. Recently I've found myself comparing myself to other people as if I were breathing. And I kinda always have. Without even a second thought I've compared myself subconsciously to someone else. Whether it be about sports, looks, experiences. Literally anything. And it just happens. Like how we don't think about breathing or how to walk we subconsciously compare ourselves to other people ALL the time. AND IT SUCKS. I find myself either extremely down and self conscious or I find myself prideful and my ego overflowing. Both are NOT good. But as I've begun to look at my past self and how I've grown and become better I feel more peace. I don't feel prideful or self conscious, but I find myself wanting to improve more but also satisfied with how far I HAVE come. This week it's been a real focus for me and I still slip up (obviously we can't change immediately) but slowly I will continue to improve. I ask that you try as well. IT'S HARD! Change isn't easy. But through change we can grow to become better. 

Something that helped spark this line of thought was an awesome BYU devotional talk and I encourage you all to read/listen to it! 

Wrestling With Comparisons

Let me know what you guys think! I'd love to hear from everyone about this :)

Highlights:

-Hirotaka is getting baptized!
-One Piece
-Sleepovers
-Transfers 


Hirotaka is getting baptized!

DUDEEEEEEEE basically if you don't know Hirotaka go to da blog and read the past emails. FR MIRACLE. Honestly if you told me just 2 or 3 weeks ago Hirotaka would be getting baptized this next Sunday I would honestly think you're joking. I'd probably be a little annoyed too. But BRO IS READY. IM SO HAPPY AND I DONT WANNA TRANSFER SO I CAN SEE HIM GET BAPTIZED. BUT if it is God's will I will go where he what's me to go. I'm actually so happy for him. We also got two members that he made good connections with to baptize him and confirm him! I'm so happy! I love members' work and I feel so much joy when I see friends being baptized by members! Building long lasting relationships for them to hold onto as we (missionaries) move on. But I'm definitely hitting up Hirotaka after I move FS and after the mish too. 

One piece TCG: 

Never got the hype behind Pokémon but here I am… all I'll say is that it's bad. And I'm in wayyyy deep. But the one piece trading card game is such a helpful tool for missionary work. Some of you might be like “ayo what's dis fool doing now” BUT FR. FR. I've met so many awesome young dudes through one piece and made some awesome connections! The mission prez wants us to focus on young people and I guarantee you that you go into a card shop and as far as the eye can see you will see males 40 years old and under playing card games with each other. And one big Hawaiian Otaku LOL

Sleepovers:

We realized that in the Fukuoka District you can do Sleepovers while not breaking mission rules since we have the same area boundaries as the other Elders. So we be hitting that up. It's pretty fun especially since the other Elders are a floor below us. It's super easy and then we just run a quick workout in the morning after! 

Transfers:

I don't want Transfers to happen but maybe change might be good. Transfers are this Thursday and we find out this Tuesday. I don't know what'll happen yet but I really don't wanna leave :( I'll keep yall posted 

Kay Das it

SHOOTS

愛してるよ！
エリス長老
TheRisingSon

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