The New Year of 2017

Family,

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wow, I can't believe it is already 2017! That means... this is the year I will be coming home... isn't that crazy...? Wow. But sorry, this letter may be a little short cuz I'm running out of time... I love the New Year because it means we get to have a fresh start. We get to make resolutions and hope to have them be accomplished. Last year I made a couple resolutions and one of them was to do all of my personal progress. I know that sounds a little weird, but back in March I found out that Sister missionaries who haven't completed their personal progress can do it during their missions. So I decided to give it a try cuz I've always felt like a little bit of a failure not getting my medallion ever since I came on the mission... So guess who actually accomplished one of their long time 2016 resolutions??? MEEEE! I completed my personal progress :) So I thought that was kinda cool. I really enjoyed doing it and I learned a lot as well. So I would recommend doing it because I think it is a good way to learn the divinity and role of women.

As for this new year.. I'm so excited to think of what I can do this year to make it meaningful and things. I was reading earlier in the week in the Old Testament in Ecclesiastes. In chapter three verses one to eight it says, 'To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate, a time of war, and a time of peace."

I really like these specific verses because it just shows that Heavenly Father has a perfect time and season for everything that we do and everything that happens in our lives. The best part is we can control a lot of things that happen, but sometimes we just have to follow His plan for each one of us and exercise faith in Him and pray that it is the correct one.

I know that there is a time for everything we do in our lives and that Heavenly Fathers timing is the perfect timing. He let us come to earth at this specific time so that we could learn and develop our own personal skills to become the people he wants us to become. I'm grateful that I get to use His time right now by being on a mission and serving the Lord with all of my heart. As I keep thinking about what 2017 will hold for me, my mind keeps going back to timing. Everything is in His timing and we can chose if we want to use our time wisely and do our best to be the best we can be and make this year the best it can be, or we can chose to waste time and do pointless, useless activities that have no eternal value.

I want to do things with a purpose. That is why I am grateful to be on a mission because everything we do everyday has a purpose. I know it will be different when I come home, but I know that I will continue to give my time to the Lord and I invite you to as well. As you make all your funny resolutions like loosing weight, saving money, not using electronics, or watching tv as much, I just encourage you to maybe make a more spiritual resolution that will help build the Kingdom of God and that will help you become more spiritual intune. I'm grateful for all of you and I am grateful for this wonderful gospel. I hope all of you have the best 2017 ever!

Mahal ko kayo!

Sister Barton