Friday, January 9, 2008

Wow, what a mess last p-day was. We went with the Elders to play Roller Hockey, got back mid afternoon and purged our apartment of Christmas decorations and just purged in general. We had to empty out the vacuum twice we picked up so much dirt. We made it to go email around 5 and had an appointment at 6:30 so we went to the closest building on campus that only had a few computers - that saved us 20 minutes. Unfortunately I got the bad computer with a mouse that didn't work. I tried to use the arrows to move stuff around and did ok with that but it took so much more time than it normally should I barley had time to write anyone.

So let me tell you about last week. It's a whopper so here it goes.

Monday the 29th: We watched the Gorden B. Hinckley movie I got while writing thank you letters to people for stuff they sent. I really liked it, it was fun 'cause we were with the Elders and they were doing boy things and they slowly came over and starred mesmerized at the TV as the story progressed. Good times. We thought Seth (the boy that was supposed to get baptized) was back in town so we went to go visit him but no he was still in Lakeland - stinker.

Tuesday the 30th: We got a referral from an Investigator in Crawfordville. We had a lesson with her at 9:30 am right before our District meeting. Her name is Farrah, she is very sweet and I have very high hopes for her.

I had an epiphany on Tuesday - all the missionaries had been discussing our relationship with Heavenly Father, and we all had a different view of Him. But He doesn't change - He just shows different aspects of His Being to each of His individual children and their needs and understanding. Then I thought of President and how every single missionary out here loves President and he loves them. I concluded that the ability to communicate with Gods children with love and understanding is a Christlike attribute. To allow different parts of ones self to shine through with others is not hypocritical you are simply relating to them in a way and level that creates an environment of safety. So I have to work on yet another thing as I go through life.

Wednesday the 31st: We organized the Institute Library in a desperate attempt to have something to do. It looks good. We contacted at stores for many hours and went to a lesson that was HBH (Home but Hiding) - played Phase 10 with Sister Short till 10:35 (yes we're rebels) and went to bed.

Thursday the 1st: Happy New Year! We planned in the morning and went to FAMU to see what tracting opportunities there are up there.

Friday the 2nd: We had a lesson with Farrah or were supposed to anyway but after 20 minutes had passed and she hadn't come we called her - her mom wasn't being supportive - we had many hours of panic about that. But it all worked out 'cause we called her later that night and her mom answered and apologized. She said she didn't know that this was important to Farrah until it was too late and she had never seen her daughter so passionate about anything before and she invited us over to her home so she could hear about it too. How cool is that?

We were at the Ronald McDonald House too - we took down all the Christmas Decorations which was fun. Followed by dinner with members and the TCC Elders. The FSU Elders had an appointment.

Saturday the 3rd: Sister Short has very vivid nightmares - she yells and kicks in her sleep when she dreams and it doesn't make for restful sleep. So Saturday she asked the Elders for a blessing - she also had a cold. And they gave her a really sweet blessing. Elder Rasmussen gave the blessing - he commanded her to, "let go of the past", "be at peace", and to "be healed". He blessed her that the Holy Ghost would be with her at night to protect her mind as she slept. It was amazing. Sister Short said that as Elder Rasmussen said "be healed" she immediately felt fine. I love the Priesthood!

After that we had a lesson with yet another referral - she and her 4 cousins were there giving us 5 new investigators in one day! It was really cool. The referral is Jerika - her parents are taking the discussions in Jacksonville so she decided to try it out too and invited her cousins along as well. Miracle after Miracle! It isn't me and Sister Short doing all this. We couldn't do this alone.

Sunday the 4th: We had a meeting with President it was an experience. He made me District Leader for about 1/2 an hour but then gave it to Rasmussen. I guess I didn't do that well:) A few things that President said that made me really happy, "Never discredit the council of a woman", "If you are always right you are always wrong" and, "It's not worth it to be right." At the end of the meeting he gave almost a dedicatory prayer for our district and the campuses. He told us that when we were in unity we would see great success but if we weren't unified the work would reflect it.

Talked to Tasha and Amanda, listened to Whitney's voice mail and changed the settings on it so that I could "further the Lords work". She testified and promised blessings - I didn't doubt her word so I expect great things to come of that change. (Mom here - While Amanda and Tasha were here last week - Amanda called Kelli to ask her a question - she didn't answer so Whitney left her a message and advised her to change her message)

And Amanda tattled on you! My movies are not in alphabetical order! Shame on you! It will take me at least 20 min to fix that mess. That is a whole 20 min I could be spending time with you but no. I trusted you and you just let me down. Sigh.

Well now you are all caught up and I will write again on Monday!

I love you all so much and hope you have a blessed day! (That's a southern thing) Kelli

Monday, January 5, 2009

(Mom here - we had Amanda and Sister Tasha Benfield for dinner Sunday. Amanda calls Kelli Willie - it was wonderful to have them and hear about Kelli and her adventures - Whitney's roommate Megan came also. Michael was surrounded by estrogen!)

I'm glad you had fun with Amanda and Tasha - I like them lots. I'm really sorry but I do not have time to write a long letter today. So what I'm going to do is go home and hand write a letter and get it in the mail tomorrow so you can know what I've been up to. Sister Short has a blog too - she wrote her family the details of our week and her mom will post it. Her blog address is similar to mine, www.sistershort.blogspot.com.

I'll be at the Ronald McDonald House on Friday and can write then - that will work. I'm so sorry but today kind of got away from us. I love you all very much and am so grateful for all you do!

All my love, Kelli