Excerpt from Josh's email September 23- Lately i have had a lot of things on my mind. Mostly about my Patriarchal blessing. It's kinda crazy. It blows my mind how real it all is.  I have been reading the scriptures a lot too. I have been cooking a little lately. I made Biscuits and gravy the other night and i made a turkey the week before. It was really great! We have been teaching a couple people but they have things that keep holding them back from baptism. It's hard to see. It's life though. We all have things that we struggle with, we aren't perfect and we won't be perfect in this life. That is why our Heavenly Father sent his son Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that it is real and isn't just something that is nice to talk about. I wish i could do more to show my gratitude for it. I have been reading a lot in this thing called the GKLM Atonement Packet which is something our mission president put together for all of the missionaries. It's basically a bunch of talks and things that talk about the atonement. Did I tell you all to read 2 Nephi 4? I love that chapter. It's so great. There is just so much good stuff in the Book of Mormon!! I could sit here all day long and just tell you some of my favorite scriptures and why they are important to me and hopefully someday i will actually get to do that. That's what we can do the first night i'm back. I love the scriptures and knowing what a difference they can make in our lives and everyone's life if we are just willing to study, learn and apply what we learn from the scriptures. 2 Timothy 3:14-15 I believe talks about what the scriptures are for. To become wise unto salvation. We know Salvation cometh only through our Savior Jesus Christ, and his Gospel. We read in 2 Nephi 31 what his gospel includes. Faith, Repentance, Baptism for the remission of sins, Receiveing the gift of the Holy Ghost, And last Enduring to the End. 2 Nephi 31:20. I love the scriptures, and i have learned so much from them. I have also started reading Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage. It's a super good book. I love to study the life of the savior. When we do, we can build a stronger relationship with him. I am so very grateful for my mission. I take it for granted and sometimes i wish i was at home, but i know where i am supposed to be. Sometimes i think i don't want to come home. Sounds crazy but I know i am going to miss it when i have to leave. The time that we have to serve the lord, as it says in the white handbook, is extremely short. At first i didn't really think so. but now i totally understand. 2 years is such a short amount of time. I am almost half way and it kinda scares me. I know the Lord is shaping me to become the person he needs me to be. I hope that i will be able and willing to continually do what the lord wants me to do. I love the Gospel and I love and am so grateful to be on a mission. I love you! :)