This is REAL LIFE! (Jeffrey R. Holland)
February 29, 2012 email
I got your package, which has been a godsend for the service projects Sister Sessions [Sister Nelson's companion] and I have done for the other sisters in our district. Our district has 3 elder companionships and 3 sister companionships. It's a pretty large family but STELLAR teachers. We all enjoy laughing with each other; however, I sometimes feel picked on and not allowed to act silly because I'm the smart one. Sister Sessions and I are called the Gospel Scholars of our district. We baaasically rock. The first few days, my comp and I would do things that would weird us out because we would do them at the same time. Sister Sessions is from the Seattle, WA, area. What IS IT about the awesome Washingtonians?? Only four of us in the district are not from Utah; we represent Vacaville, CA; Seattle, WA; Gilbert, AZ; and Las Vegas, NV. Everyone else is from Utah. Elders Riley, Pancheri, Keller, Thompson, Stufflebeam, DeYoung, and Sister Jasper are going to OMAHA, NEBRASKA. So, Cody and Jessi can look out for those peeps. If they serve near you, tell them I love them. Sister Arnold is in the piloting program [a new language-learning program that is a MUCH shorter stay in the Missionary Training Center] for Tagalog and is going to the Philippines. Sisters Patton and Gilbert are going to Jacksonville, FL. I love my district, but...well...Mom, I finally understand what you've been telling me my whole life. All my life, I've been sheltered from an accurate representation of what my age-group acts like, because:
#1 I've had awesome Mormon friends;
#2 I've had brilliant school friends; and
#3 I attended BYU.
But it's okay. There is no temptation whatsoever.
Sister Sessions and I are the only ones in our 6-woman room who are also in our district. The other four are going to...you guessed it...Mongolia! And, boy, is THAT a foreign language. I feel like every time they are talking to me, I'm on the verge of being spit on. Sister Schiffler, my bunkmate (who snores louder than Dad) gave me this NAYSTY, hard, dense, jaw-breaking, stanky bread stuff that is apparently from Mongolia. No refrigeration required. I think it is actually from the bottom of a zoo delivery truck tire; but hey, I tried it. However, it causes our room to smell like stinky feet to the utmost capacity. Sister Schiffler, though, gave me a french manicure last night. Who knew my first manicure would be on the mish? She is a quirky, talkative lady; so I can't help but forgive her for snoring the kind of snores that blast through ear plugs. It's getting better...thank goodness.
Going back to my most AMAZING COMPANION I WILL EVER HAVE... Sister Sessions and I are like two peas in a pod. She is quirky, sassy, giggly, sarcastic, klutzy, funny, spiritual, loving, hard-working, and LOVES to work out! We, right off the bat, got along. Megan Chipman, in fact, told me to look out for her the night before I reported! It's such a small world. She's also in the piloting program, going to Brazil, Porto Alegre; and if we get our visas at the same time, we will be reporting to the Sao Paulo MTC on the same day. When we were playing the "what if" game with each other--like what if one gets a visa and the other doesn't--Sister Sessions straight up said, "Okay, I can't think about that because every time I think of NOT being your comp, I want to throw up." She is such a hoot. The other night, I gave her a GREEN sticky note that said, "Will you be my Eternal Companion? Please??" Baaaahahahaha! This place has been a godsend. I know this is where I am supposed to be, and the mantle of being a disciple of Jesus Christ has finally sunk in. I have been able to overcome more bad habits than I EVER have! [Is she talking about her procrastination?] Becoming a master of time is a godly trait. Y'ALL BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT TODAY AND CHANGE NOW. Why does God not have to abide by time? Because He's a master of it.
These investigators we have--even though they are fake, their stories are real--I want them, with all the energy of my soul, to know what I know and to live how I live. This is not because I think I'm awesome or I live perfectly, but I KNOW that HOW I live is aligned with the path HE wants all His children to follow. ALL! He wants all to understand the urgency of the message every latter-day saint lives, knows, and has a testimony of. Do you have a testimony that can be described as a forest fire: overpowering all, consuming everything in its path? Not in a destructive way but in a sanctifying way. Do you leave people better than when you found them? Do you have the fire in your eyes that ignites the souls of others so they will yearn to add to their smoldering charcoal? Do you feed those who look like they're about to be snuffed out? If your answer is "no" to any of these questions, then why NOT? THE most important thing you could ever, ever, ever do is bring a soul closer to Christ so they can repent and return to our Heavenly Father. There is NOTHING else you can do in your life that is more important.
Moms, dads, how would you feel toward someone who saved your child's life or kept them out of danger? Immensely grateful, indebted. That is EXACTLY how Heavenly Father feels when you risk your popularity, sanity, friendship, whatever to save one of His children from eternal damnation and spiritual death. So, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? An invitation? OK! Come unto Christ and be perfected in Him. Feed my sheep. Lift the hand that hangs down. Strengthen thy brethren. Strengthen the feeble knee, for He is the refiner's fire and fuller's soap. If ye bring save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy in the kingdom of my Father. Love thy neighbor as thyself. GO AND DO! Share what's true.
Love the Lord,
Sister Nelson
P.S. My watch died after I dropped it twice. I mean--come on. They just don't make them like they used to. They need to make all things Sister Nelson-klutzy-proof. Duh. THANK-YOU AGAIN FOR THE BOX!!!
I got your package, which has been a godsend for the service projects Sister Sessions [Sister Nelson's companion] and I have done for the other sisters in our district. Our district has 3 elder companionships and 3 sister companionships. It's a pretty large family but STELLAR teachers. We all enjoy laughing with each other; however, I sometimes feel picked on and not allowed to act silly because I'm the smart one. Sister Sessions and I are called the Gospel Scholars of our district. We baaasically rock. The first few days, my comp and I would do things that would weird us out because we would do them at the same time. Sister Sessions is from the Seattle, WA, area. What IS IT about the awesome Washingtonians?? Only four of us in the district are not from Utah; we represent Vacaville, CA; Seattle, WA; Gilbert, AZ; and Las Vegas, NV. Everyone else is from Utah. Elders Riley, Pancheri, Keller, Thompson, Stufflebeam, DeYoung, and Sister Jasper are going to OMAHA, NEBRASKA. So, Cody and Jessi can look out for those peeps. If they serve near you, tell them I love them. Sister Arnold is in the piloting program [a new language-learning program that is a MUCH shorter stay in the Missionary Training Center] for Tagalog and is going to the Philippines. Sisters Patton and Gilbert are going to Jacksonville, FL. I love my district, but...well...Mom, I finally understand what you've been telling me my whole life. All my life, I've been sheltered from an accurate representation of what my age-group acts like, because:
#1 I've had awesome Mormon friends;
#2 I've had brilliant school friends; and
#3 I attended BYU.
But it's okay. There is no temptation whatsoever.
Sister Sessions and I are the only ones in our 6-woman room who are also in our district. The other four are going to...you guessed it...Mongolia! And, boy, is THAT a foreign language. I feel like every time they are talking to me, I'm on the verge of being spit on. Sister Schiffler, my bunkmate (who snores louder than Dad) gave me this NAYSTY, hard, dense, jaw-breaking, stanky bread stuff that is apparently from Mongolia. No refrigeration required. I think it is actually from the bottom of a zoo delivery truck tire; but hey, I tried it. However, it causes our room to smell like stinky feet to the utmost capacity. Sister Schiffler, though, gave me a french manicure last night. Who knew my first manicure would be on the mish? She is a quirky, talkative lady; so I can't help but forgive her for snoring the kind of snores that blast through ear plugs. It's getting better...thank goodness.
Going back to my most AMAZING COMPANION I WILL EVER HAVE... Sister Sessions and I are like two peas in a pod. She is quirky, sassy, giggly, sarcastic, klutzy, funny, spiritual, loving, hard-working, and LOVES to work out! We, right off the bat, got along. Megan Chipman, in fact, told me to look out for her the night before I reported! It's such a small world. She's also in the piloting program, going to Brazil, Porto Alegre; and if we get our visas at the same time, we will be reporting to the Sao Paulo MTC on the same day. When we were playing the "what if" game with each other--like what if one gets a visa and the other doesn't--Sister Sessions straight up said, "Okay, I can't think about that because every time I think of NOT being your comp, I want to throw up." She is such a hoot. The other night, I gave her a GREEN sticky note that said, "Will you be my Eternal Companion? Please??" Baaaahahahaha! This place has been a godsend. I know this is where I am supposed to be, and the mantle of being a disciple of Jesus Christ has finally sunk in. I have been able to overcome more bad habits than I EVER have! [Is she talking about her procrastination?] Becoming a master of time is a godly trait. Y'ALL BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT TODAY AND CHANGE NOW. Why does God not have to abide by time? Because He's a master of it.
These investigators we have--even though they are fake, their stories are real--I want them, with all the energy of my soul, to know what I know and to live how I live. This is not because I think I'm awesome or I live perfectly, but I KNOW that HOW I live is aligned with the path HE wants all His children to follow. ALL! He wants all to understand the urgency of the message every latter-day saint lives, knows, and has a testimony of. Do you have a testimony that can be described as a forest fire: overpowering all, consuming everything in its path? Not in a destructive way but in a sanctifying way. Do you leave people better than when you found them? Do you have the fire in your eyes that ignites the souls of others so they will yearn to add to their smoldering charcoal? Do you feed those who look like they're about to be snuffed out? If your answer is "no" to any of these questions, then why NOT? THE most important thing you could ever, ever, ever do is bring a soul closer to Christ so they can repent and return to our Heavenly Father. There is NOTHING else you can do in your life that is more important.
Moms, dads, how would you feel toward someone who saved your child's life or kept them out of danger? Immensely grateful, indebted. That is EXACTLY how Heavenly Father feels when you risk your popularity, sanity, friendship, whatever to save one of His children from eternal damnation and spiritual death. So, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? An invitation? OK! Come unto Christ and be perfected in Him. Feed my sheep. Lift the hand that hangs down. Strengthen thy brethren. Strengthen the feeble knee, for He is the refiner's fire and fuller's soap. If ye bring save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy in the kingdom of my Father. Love thy neighbor as thyself. GO AND DO! Share what's true.
Love the Lord,
Sister Nelson
P.S. My watch died after I dropped it twice. I mean--come on. They just don't make them like they used to. They need to make all things Sister Nelson-klutzy-proof. Duh. THANK-YOU AGAIN FOR THE BOX!!!