August 27, 2012

Last week was enjoyable and not-so-much. The not-so-much, somehow I got a really bad cough. It is bad enough that when I try to say something, the cough prevents me from talking. This has been going on for the last week or so, and this is just me, my companion had a sinus infection, so we didn’t do anything on Tuesday, just stayed in the apartment and studied or went to bed early. 

Our apartment is known as the Taj Mahal. It is the best apartment in the mission by far (according to the other missionaries), the bad news, THE AC IS BROKEN. And it will be broken till at most this Friday. If it is fixed then, the amount of time we will last with NO AC is 12 DAYS, that’s a miracle. (I hope it is fixed soon)

Now for some good news. Monday (August 20), we went to the Jefferson Davis Monument for P-Day. It is about 1/3 the size of the Washington Monument, but the Jefferson Davis is built on a limestone foundation, while the other is on a sandy foundation. Remember; "The wise man built his house upon the sand...and it washed away" hahaha 

On Thursday, (August 23) we went to a trainer/trainee meeting in Nashville. We did an activity that I will never forget. President McKee had all of us stand close together in lines of three, while one person (everyone eventually did, just one at a time) was held up by everyone else from start to finish. One fairly new Hermana (Sister) could not have been 5' 0", but she still tried to support everyone in case you fell, luckily nobody did. The application could be that the person on top is you, and everyone underneath is Christ. He is always there to support you no matter what. That activity was the highlight of the meeting, then eating at Cracker Barrell for dinner...yum, that’s good stuff.  

There was a baptism on Saturday, but for the Bishop's second oldest/middle daughter. During the program, 3 primary children (including one that was baptized) sang my favorite primary song of all time: I’M TRYING TO BE LIKE JESUS. I remember when I was in primary (wow, that is a long time ago) we learned this song in American Sign Language. Now I only remember parts of it, slowly parts of it are coming back, but it is still my favorite primary song. With me on the mission, I’m Trying To Be Like Jesus is a perfect motto. That is missionary work PERIOD--I'M TRYING TO BE LIKE JESUS 

Keep it cool y'all (I'm sweating buckets)
Elder Terre K. Short

August 20, 2012

I got some Mr. Tuffy tire liners from my family to put on my bike. It's a little ironic, the day after they were put in the tires, we helped a family move, we parked the bikes, 3 hours later, A FLAT TIRE on my bike (second one total) no idea why, but we went to Walmart and purchased a thicker tire that I put on the back tire so it won't happen again. (hopefully)

We had a cool week. There was a zone conference with a third of the mission, Elder Kopischke taught us. He was the mission President in Frankfurt, Germany, and now he is part of the FIRST QUORUM OF 70. Yea!!! Somebody high up the list (sort of) his lesson was really cool. He started out saying write a question down, that question will be the subject for today. Basically saying when you pay attention, ponder the question and it will be answered. Kind of cool and a different way to approach it, but the question was answered. So I challenge you to do the same. Before church, General Conference (coming soon) have a question in your mind and heart and see if the words said will answer it. Write it down so you don't forget your question. It worked for me as well as other missionaries in the zone. 

Well, P-Day today will be doozy. We are going with the traveling Elders to the Jefferson Davis Monument (exact replica as Washington Monument in DC) and the Trail of Tears Park which is where two of the Indian Chiefs are actually buried. I'll see how I can apply this experience to the gospel.

We have an investigator that has committed to Baptism, sad to say, it will not happen. He works A LOT, and we were unable to teach him all the lessons, so it will have to be pushed back. We told him the bad news and he was heartbroken. But since it was broken, I feel that it will be taken more seriously and he will want to listen and have us over a lot more.

Talk to ya'll later

Elder Terre K. Short

August 13, 2013

   Here it is August, we had a lesson with an investigator, this was a good one we finished reading the Restoration Pamphlet with him. We read where the Priesthood was restored back to the Earth by Christs Apostles. It made since to the investigator, he was first taught by missionaries 27 years ago and now he knows that the Priesthood is one of those differences that none of the other churches have. We are still working on having him attend church so he can be baptized. We have a few more families that are chugging along. We did commit someone for baptism yesterday that is two scheduled and waiting for the special day. We are excited.

   I would now like to bear my testimony to y'all. I'll admit it, my testimony was based on everyone else's. I haven't learned for myself the truth. Reading the Book of Mormon chapter by chapter and taking notes has helped. Reading Omni vs. 9, the brother witnesses his brother writing the words on the plates. A simple verse like that struck me and made it known that I do belong to the one true Church on the Earth. Even in 1 Nephi 1:3 tells the truth. Those verses have helped me out here to know the truth. So, I exhort y'all to think to yourselves, do I know this Church is true? I didn't know, I can say I know without a shadow of doubt that it is.

Sincerely,

Elder Terre Short