Letter 3/29/15

Dear everyone,

How are you all? :) Good I hope! 

I'm just brand new to my new area! It's weird because I know I only have six weeks here--so I know how long I have to work. I think it's making me somewhat frenzied. Six weeks is really not very long. 

Something I'm coming to be more and more aware of is how everything we are taught in the church are linked. It's easy to look at a doctrine and not understand it. It's so easy. But if we look at every teaching it will inevitably link to a doctrine which inevitably leads back to the atonement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And the reason for the atonement? The reason is, simply, because God loves us. God loves us and we are His children. Simple. Each and every true doctrine and teaching leads back to that central idea--so when we live that teaching we learn more about God's love and our Savior's atonement. It's not enough to spend our lives living the doctrine. We aren't saved by living the teachings of the Savior or any of his designated prophets. That's not the point. The point is for us to be changed in our hearts to become who we are meant to become. I have seen so much how people miss the point and it's so very sad. But when people get it? That's why I serve. Because when people actually get it they are forever changed. That's what makes it worth it.

I hope each of us takes the opportunities that God gives us to deepen our understanding of the Atonement and our Heavenly Father's love. 

Love,

Sister Short

Letter 3/22/15

Dear Blog,

I'm getting transferred! Off I'm heading to Arkansas and I'm so very excited :) I really feel like I'm meant to be there.

Something that I've come to realize is that when one prays for missionaries, one should specifically pray that they end strong. I've only recently come to realize this but it's a true true true. Our mission President had a conversation with us about ending strong and he told us that the last 3 months or so--the feelings and memories--are what stick with you. I want good things stuck to me.

I know I'm not perfect. I'm not even close. But I'm so glad I am serving as a missionary. I am so glad for the time I do have left. I know it's enough. I know God is in charge of all my life--and I know he is intimately in charge of this time in my life. I can't wait to see what miracles he has in store for me in my next area :) I'm so excited! :)

Prayers would be really appreciated :)

Love,

Sister Short

Pictures

Letter 3/15/15

Dear Everybody,

How are you all? :) How was your week? :) I hope it was great :) 

Mine was really awesome :) I got to see a girl (WHO IS AMAZING) get baptized. She is just 13 and has worked SO hard to be baptized. She has been reading the Book of Mormon and praying all on her own (what 13 year old would do that?!) Anyways, she is just amazing and I am just so proud of her! She's already decided she wants to go on a mission when she gets older :)

Something I've been thinking about a lot is the ideas of testimony and conversion. (I've probably gone through this before) When we have a testimony we know something is "true" or right or correct or "what I should/shouldn't be doing". Being converted is not being able to live without that truth--or, in other words, living true to what you know. You can know the Gospel is true and still now pray, read your scriptures, come to church, or keep the commandments. But once someone is converted to the truth they cannot live without those things in their life--they don't want to let them go. They see the blessings of those things and desire them always. Those things become a part of who they are in such a way that giving them up would make them incomplete. They would not be them. We are each responsible for our own testimony, and our eternal happiness depends on our personal conversion.

Conversion is how we become the sort of being who desires to be in heaven and doesn't get bored and miserable without all the sins of this world. This is a process that we each take part in daily as we choose God. Without this process we can't be who we are supposed to be. Without conversion we do not experience true happiness.

So how do we become converted? Just pray and ask; that's always step one. 

Love,

Sister Short

Letter 3/8/15

Blog;

Hello Everyone! :) Hope you're having a fantastic week!

As for me, I'm looking forward to a great one :) It's whatever you make it right? :)

You know what's something I've been thinking about? I've been thinking about how we, as people, don't ask God enough. (Not ask God FOR enough). Why don't we make it a habit to ask him questions? Not "why me" type negative questions, but genuine "is this right?" and "what would you have me do?" type questions. I think sometimes we are scared of an answer. But, in that case, why don't we ask for faith to overcome our fear? :)

Love,

Sister Short

Letter 3/1/15

Dear Blog,

I wanted to share this thought that my mom sent to me in her email.

Thought for the day - from "Filled With Mercy."  The Atonement guarantees all will survive mortality, but growth is optional. Christ is not forcing progress on us, nor can He change us against our wills. We have the right to accept or reject His offering.  We can acknowledge and appreciate it or ridicule and despise it, but we can't fault Christ for giving us the opportunity to reach our potential.  By Brad Wilcox

I don't think I could say it any better than that. Honestly it is up to us to choose what to do--what knowledge seek and what to do with it. It's our choice how we react. It's our choice what we become.

Read 2 Nephi 2 in the Book of Mormon for more on agency.

Love,

Sister Short