Letter 12/14/14

Dear Blog,

I'm going to start today with a quote from my mom's email to me (she's so cute :) )

     Quote for the day - "The Atonement is an enabling power.  As we turn to the Lord in prayer, He will make our weakness our strengths.  We can trust in the Lord.  You can trust the Lord with all your heart, and your faith will give you the power beyond your own."

I love that! We really don't realize how much we can go through and come out okay until we do. I look back on times in my life--and my mission--where I felt completely without the ability to even want to do more let alone the ability to do it. It's just SO hard. And it still is sometimes. But I've found that as I reach out to the Lord and ask for help he always answers me. Every single time. There has never been a cry so pained or helpless that he hasn't heard, Sometimes those answers are slow to come and experience makes them clear, but always I feel him close. Always when I ask for help I know he IS helping. This season we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world--but also the Savior of YOU. Sometimes we forget that. Sometimes we don't comprehend that he saved us each INDIVIDUALLY. He not only saved us from being sinful, but he saved us FOR something. He helps us BE something. HE ENABLES US. He is there to keep us going when we don't know how we can possibly go any more. 

Now, if ANYONE out there doesn't know this for themselves yet, or wants to know more (whatever faith you are--including LDS) then ASK. Ask God. He WILL tell you. You need to know. 

I have an experience from this week about asking. There is a man we are teaching who I met for the first time this last week--he had dropped off the map and hadn't been taught for a long while. We ran into him at a community dinner. He started telling us about all the things that were going on in his life (very hard, overwhelming, painful things). He was really struggling. So we talked a bit and offered to help in the way that helps us. He agreed. So, we went and sat outside and talked. We were prompted to have him say a prayer telling God what was going on. Then we asked him to just open a Book of Mormon up and start reading. We got a few verses in and he wanted to show us the thing in the scriptures that had been on his mind--he went off talking about it. Throughout this all I just kept getting the prompting that he needed to keep reading--he had given up too early. So I asked him to keep reading in the Book of Mormon as I looked up the topic he had been talking about. As he read my companion and I both prayed in our minds that he would get that answer he was looking for. We could feel the still that came as he began to actually receive those answers he was looking for. It got very still, and then he started laughing! He told us how simple it was--that it was written right there! The joy we saw in his face as he received the answer to the questions of his heart was wonderful. I know that God will answer our prayers. I know that as we diligently seek those answers we gain a witness in our own heart. I know God will lead us. 

I hope each of you took up my challenge from last week. It is an opportunity to ask and receive that will strengthen your faith. Remember I want to hear about them! :)

Love,

Sister Short

Letter 12/7/14

Dear Everybody,

How's life? Hope it's good for you! You know what? It's pretty good for me. It's nearing Christmas here and the joy of the season is everywhere. Downtown is decked out it white lights, Christmas music cascades from mounted speakers, and cute old streetlights makes me feel like I stepped back into the 1930. It seems like everyone is soaking up the season--and loving every second of it!

As for us and our work, we have been working hard. We talk and talk and talk. We even go caroling! Well, sort of--since both my companion and I have a recovering winter cold and I myself am a bit tone deaf, we pop open a portable player and show everyone the He is the Gift video. Then, if someone doesn't have the time for our fantastic 3 minute video we give them a card with:

" Discover the Gift

Embrace the Gift

#SharetheGift "

and the link to Christmas.mormon.org to watch the video

This is a time in the world with a great need for ALL to draw a little closer to Christ. Some of us still need to spiritually meet him, some need to become reacquainted, and some need to give him more time. Whether it's time to discover His church, or time to simply pray more fervently--it really doesn't matter. If we will just do what we can to do what WE can--both in our own lives (which we CAN do) and for others (which we CAN help and encourage!)--then the world would be so much brighter. 

I would hope--and in fact INVITE--everyone who reads this to do SOMETHING (prayerfully identified) to both draw themselves nearer to Christ and to help another. If we each will take a leap of faith and not fear--just love Christ and our fellow man--we will know in our hearts we have given Christ a gift he truly desired.

Now is the time--"Tis the Season" after all ;)

Love,

Sister Short

Letter 11/30/14

(Hand written letter from Desiree sent Dec. 5th)

Dear Blog,
     Anyone out there who hears from missionaries besides me has probably noticed a difference.  I don't tend to say how my whole week went.  I hope that isn't boring.
     I struggle so hard with words.  I am only eloquent when guided by the Spirit.  I struggle - even in these blog posts.  But I know I'm trying.  I know why I write you all and why I'm out here - because I love you all.  I love people.  I love seeing them happy.  I love seeing the Spirit touch them.
     I'm weak.  I'm imperfect.  I'm totally, completely, and terribly human.  But do you know what?  My soul is noble.  My future is bright.  My destiny is eternal.  SO IS YOURS!
     I know that if you'll pray and ask - truly and with intent - God will tell you this too.

Love,
    Sister Short

Letter 11/23/14

Dear Everybody,

Well here's the update on me--I'm in Pawhuska, OK! :) It's Osage Nation land (my memory failed me and I thought it was Creek...oops). This new area has a really slow feel to it--small town sleepy. BUT it has such great potential! The members are fantastic and there's just this feeling that there's been so much preparation done by the Lord here. I really REALLY want to see it get moving great! I'll have to send pics soon. Most the buildings here are falling apart and crumbly--I LOVE it! I could spend weeks here taking pictures of all the textures and be happy :) But no time for that now--missionary work is way more awesome!

My new companion is named Sister Booms and she is GREAT. She is super happy and bubbly and really sees the potential of this area. She's got WONDERFUL ideas and a lot of love for the area. The funny thing about Sister Booms and I? We are super similar personality wise! It's super funny to be able to be on almost the same wave-length! 

Funny story of the week--so when I got here there was no ride to take us back to Bartlesville so we could drive to Pawhuska. Luckily the Bartlesville 2nd Sisters were there and offered to fit us. The Problem? it was in a little 5 seater car...so we got creative. We crammed 2 big suitcases in the back, a pillow, and 2 carry-ons. Problem numero two? We had 2 more suitcases, some purses, a box, and a guitar left. But lest you think this was a major problem let me assure you Emily (our driver who I know from when I was in Bartlesville) is a pack-master. So a few purses on the floor, 3 sisters in back, 2 heavier-than-we-anticipated suitcases over our laps, and, to top it off, a guitar on top of those suitcases (the box fitting nicely on the lap of the passenger-seat-Sister's lap) and off we went! I have never been so sardined in my life--it was completely awesome! I quickly learned how to keep the guitar away from my face. Ha ha it was SO fun! ADVENTURE!

To share my amazing Mom's thought:

Thought for the day is from the book called "Filled with Mercy"  (daily reflections on the atonement).  "Every attempt to reflect upon the Atonement, to study it, to embrace it, to express appreciation for it, however small or feeble it may be, will kindle the fires of faith and work its miracle towards a more Christlike life.  It is an inescapable consequence of so doing.  We become like those things we habitually love and admire.  And thus, as we study Christ's life and live his teachings, we become more like him." 

My mom picked a great one. I dearly hope that each of us will take some time to  reflect, study, embrace, and express our appreciation for the atonement. The atonement is the center of it all. 

Love, 

Sister Short

Letter 11/16/14

Dear Everybody!

So here's the news from Bentonville--I'm heading out. It's hard. I really love it here. It was so sad to get the call, but I also know it's time to go. This area is picking up really well. We've been doing lot's of family history work with everyone and it's been WONDERFUL to get to know the members. Ultimately though, the Lord has blessed us. He really has. I'm going to miss it here, but I'm so glad Sister Powell is staying here--it's going to get AMAZING. She's a fantastic missionary. 

I'm heading to Pawhuska, OK. The cool thing? I've been there before! I was on exchanges a few times there when I was serving in Bartlesville! Also cool? It's on Creek Nation land! I'm literally on the reservation! I'm kind of excited for that :) So Thursday I head out!

Love,

Sister Short

PS: A thought.  Enos 1:16

"And I had faith, and I did cry unto God that he would preserve the records; and he covenanted with me that he would bring them forth..."

The Book of Mormon is the answer to millions of prayers of those gone past. That is a great gift. 

Letter 11/9/14

Dear Blog,

Ok, so, I have some stories this week!

First, we were blessed with 3 new investigators! I am so excited! They know TONS of people in the ward and TONS more really want to meet them! I am so excited!

Second, we came home from our meeting on Tuesday really ready to do amazing things. We had lunch and as we were eating we heard a knock at the door (of the member's house). So Sister Powell feels like we should answer it and I feel like I should take my bag. Anyways, we end up talking to the man and giving him a Book of Mormon and a pass-along card! We totally would have taught him except he lived in Georgia. So, in other words, a lesson knocked on OUR door! The hastening is real!

Also this week I had to get a flu shot and my insurance wasn't working so I had to pay for it out of pocket--I didn't like that. I was actually really annoyed. But you know what? God is so kind! He knew I was upset. So, later in that week there was a member who was telling me about some boots she bought and I told her I needed some new ones (mine were sort of falling apart) and she offered to get me some. I said sure, let me just go see if I have enough cash in the car for some. But no. Our feet were the same size and so she GAVE me the brand-new ones she had just bought. It was SO kind! And this member wasn't even in my ward! It was just a kind tender mercy from God. All week these little things were tender mercies from God. 

Scripture for today;

3 Nephi 18:25   "And ye see that I have commanded that none of you should go away, but rather have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world;"

With love and hope,

Sister Short

Letter 11/2/14

Dear Blog,

So here's a thought that I hope I say right. When Elder Bednar came here he talked about the hastening of the work as not a call for more missionary work, but rather "a call for individual repentance". The Lord can hasten His work in His time, but "the question is really whether or not we will keep up".(I hope quoted that right!) 

Now, I don't think Elder Bednar was meaning that we can stop doing missionary work--rather I feel he was pointing out our own individual responsibility for our own individual life. Our job is to be ready and willing to the Lord's call. Our job is to become more Christlike. Our job is to align our wills with His. And if we do these things, then all things will flow which should. Will we not love our neighbor if the atonement has changed our hearts? Will we not listen to the Spirit if we love our Lord's commands? Will we not do all things that are in our power to give all people as much of Christ's love as we possibly can--even the love they can experience from covenants, specifically temple covenants, and even the sacraments renewal of baptismal covenants--if we have a Christlike heart?

 I hope that each of us takes the time to do all things we know we should, and most especially we pray to God that he will help us, strengthen us, and change us to become more like the Savior through the atonement of Jesus Christ. We don't have to get there alone. We have help--we have the ultimate act of love by our Savior. Through baptism with proper priesthood authority we have access to the atonement. And if you don't have it yet, then get it. It's a blessing that the Savior wants you to have and use.

Alma 7:11-13  "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the band of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according tho the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities,

Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people that he might blot out their transgressions, according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me."

Love,

Sister Short

PS: you know what? It's awesome to be a missionary. You really get to see how God takes care of all his children in such tender little ways. Like on Sunday, a little girl got up and bore her testimony and I swear it was just for me. It was everything I needed to hear. I am so thankful for that--and for her for being so brave. God is so kind.