Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

I wasn't sure how I was going to fell about being away from home for thanksgiving, but it was awesome even though I am away. We had the AMAZING! pleasure of having Elder Jeffry R. Holland come talk to us for our Thanksgiving devotional. He brought his entire family, and his 13 grandchildren gave a musical performance. In the spirit of thanksgiving we had a service project where we put together backpack kits. My district was assigned to tracing the fabric for the backpacks. In the end as a mission we had made 33,400 kits. We been thinking this last about the string of physical misfortune that accompanies our district. We've had two rolled ankles, one case of severe bronchitis(i don't know how to spell it), one case of severe sleep apnea, two broken hands, five colds, and twelve cases of bad gas. Next Wednesday we'll be receiving our reassignments. I'm praying that it will be somewhere Portuguese speaking. Visas are starting to trickle in. Apparently the same thing happened last year and all of them came in right after Christmas. Going to Brazil wouldn't be the worst Christmas pressent. Every morning I wake up, realize where I am, and go "Oh my goodness....I'm a missionary" The other thing I wake up thinking is "I've been here almost two months" I want to get out of here so bad, so that I can teach someone real, who's not a teacher, or another missionary. So many missionary try to interrupt you so that they can practice bearing their testimony, or try to contact you, but it gets to the point where it's almost every five minutes, that if my companion and I see anyone coming up to us while start praying and people usually leave us alone. I had one condition for Thanksgiving and that was that they better have stuffing, and they did, so it was all good. This year I am thankful for my family and their support, my district, the opportunity to serve a mission, the restored gospel, the talents God has given me, and pumpkin pie. Love you all

Love,
Elder David Short

Dearest Family

The pattern was broken this week. After a month of hearing Apostles of the Quorum of the Twelve speak, we had Elder Pearson of the Seventy come speak to us about being called to succeed. Not one of us was call on a mission to fail.
We in our District had the awesome experience of hosting the new missionaries who came into the MTC this wednesday. We were the welcoming commitee as Elders got dropped off at the curb, and then we would show them to their rooms and classrooms to meet their district.
I haven't really seen classrooms in other buildings before that day, so now I know how lucky I as was in getting the desks I have. Ours have storage space and are separate from the chairs, but everyone else in other builders have those desks that are little pallets attached to folding chairs.
A lot of people were crying as they dropped off their missionaries, but it was great to give the families a little bit of comfort and let them know that everything was going to be alright and that they get to see them again in two years.
Anything that doesn't really fit into the definition our pupose from the PMG is nicknamed Babylon
So when missionaries have to go to the doctors or to the bank to sort something out, we call it entering Babylon.
I'm living in a bubble right now and I am so anxious to get out and start serving.
I love you all so so so so much.
Let me know if there is anything I can do
Love Elder Short

Quatros Apostolos!

Once again this week we have been blessed to have an apostle come visit us. On Tuesday we had Elder David A. Bednar come and speak to us about concentrating on the Doutrina do Evangelho. Every week we think that it will be the last apostle we'll listen to in the MTC, but then another week comes and we get another apostle. The weather up here has been chilly, but I don't mind it. I find it funny to watch people go outside and immediately double over in the cold. It has snowed a couple times but each time it just melts when it hits the ground. I really want it to truly snow before I leave here. The visa situation has improved a little bit. Visas have slowly started to come in, but all of the ones that are coming are coming through the Seattle consulate so all the people going to Brazil are from the Washington and Oregon areas, but it's all moving along so it's all good. The scones are deliscious! I haven't heard back about those fake credit cards I requested (raised eyebrow). Everything remains fantastic. Our progressive investigator here (our teacher) is getting baptized this weekend, and he finally got married to his wife. I always have trouble thinking of things to write, but if there is anything specifically you want me to write let me know. I love you all.

Love, Elder Short

The Epistle of Elder Short

 

 I Elder Short write a proceeding of my time among the Elders in the land of MTC. It being the 5th day of the eleventh month in the year 2000 and 10 years since the birth of Lord. 

2 I know not why I write, save it be P-day and my companion compels me. Nevertheless so has passed the second fortnight since my arrival in the land of MTC.

3 I know not the ways of the Lord, but I see the blessings that he has bestowed upon me. On the eve of our last devotional we were visited for a third time by an Apostle of the Lord. M. Russel Ballard did come and preach the word of the Lord concerning our role as "Master Communicators."

4 It compelleth me that I request fake credit cards for mine decoy wallet to give unto thieves and robbers. I and mine companion grown in our understanding of the gift of tongues, for our teacher did challenge us to speak only the words of Portuguese for the space of three days.

5 I have obtained great strength in the gospel and in my own stature, for I can now do all of forty push-ups.

6 We have received joyous news concerning visas. The calling of the chief judge of Brazil is now over and word of the progression of visas does spread

7 My time is now short upon this computer and I make a end of my  writings. May the Lord be with you in all your travels. Peace be unto you my brethren in the land of Babylon. Amen.

Photos

District in front of the Provo Temple

Sister Owens and Sister Lund

Distrito Chefe

Elder Gubler 

Candid Photo

Hard at work

Elder Grandy w/ Siamese Sourpatch Kids

Dearborn       Higley       Duncan      Hurst      Hales

Short       Patterson       Buttars      Gubler

Grandy