** DAY 18 -- Down Sizing Everywhere

As this count down gets to 1 and then zero, that will mean we have entered the MTC.  What a joy.  As we enter the MTC, a new chapter will have begun.  We will be missionaries.  We will be putting to an end this infamous blog and starting a new one or two.  We will be using the new one to report our  mission to anyone interested.  When it is designed we will record info, experiences, challenges, miracles, and joy.   Any questions?

I was thinking today that soon we will not be thinking about STUFF, nor money, nor making our kids and grand kids happy. We will not be lamenting that we have to fill up the car again and again.  We will not be counting the number of shirts, skirts, slacks, tops, etc.  We will leave all those thoughts behind.

Instead we will be dwelling upon testimonies, saints, teaching the gospel, helping the gospel proceed, improving ourselves and helping organize institutes and seminaries.  We will be asking Father daily for help in touching and inspiring others with the beauties of the gospel.  We will be striving to understand a people who speak rapidly their language and speak it sloppily.

What a large change is coming in our lives.  I have been so bogged down with lists and things that must be done before departure day that I find it difficult to realize what is really finally coming.  What dream will we be realizing after I have waited for over forty years to realize.

Father has a work He wants us to do down there.  He wants us to touch, inspire, uplift, and bear testimony.  We will use the testimony that we have gleaned through the past years, the testimony that He has nurtured, possibly for this very mission call.

What comes after?  Who knows?  Who cares.  I know Father knows and will direct us when the time is right.  We are living by faith.  Faith that He will direct us.  We have cut, eliminated, given away, and minimized the "stuff" that we have saved.  We went from one over stuffed storage unit to one that is barely half filled.  We have "down sized" in almost every area.  Yes, it feels good.

It is coming and we are excited, though right now we are over burdened with the things that have to be done before.