Bonjour everyone! I don't have much time today. We got to go clean the temple this morning, and it lasted about 3 & 1/2 hours, so we're short on time today. Cleaning the temple was so cool! We got to disassemble each individual crystal from the chandeliers, clean them, then reassemble them in the sealing rooms. It was tedious, but so cool! That was my last time in the temple for 17 months :( It was a really special way to end it though. It's not every day you get to clean the House of the Lord. So, you won't hear from me again for another 2 weeks! Next week at this time I'll be flying across the world, and my new P-day won't be until the following Monday. I can't believe in 7 days I'll be in FRANCE!!!
So, you know how last week we thought we would hear President Monson? Well, turns out rumors around here can really spread. We didn't hear from President Monson, but we did get to hear from Elder Christofferson!! He talked all about the worth of every single soul. It was so inspiring. Every person is so special to our Lord and He loves every single one of us so much. We should never look at someone as anything other than the beloved son or daughter of God that they are. Another cool part--Elder Nelson, Oaks, Ballard, Anderson, and Bednar were up on the stand as well. So, I've got to hear from 3 Apostles while here and see 7 total. Talk about being blessed!! You can feel so much power from their words, and from their presence. They truly are the mouthpiece of the Lord. When they bare their testimonies, every fiber of my being can feel the truthfulness behind their words. These men are so humble, and so selfless. I just wish you could see all the little things that they do, off-screen. I'd tell you about it on here if I had time. So just take my word for it! Fun fact: I was on TV for the choir number (the devotional was broadcasted to MTC's around the world) and Jacqueline and Liesel said they saw me on TV down in Argentina!!
I have been so especially grateful for my companion and district this past week. We really are all one big family, and I'm so blessed to be surrounded with such wonderful people 24/7. We all started talking about next week when we won't see each other anymore, and it brought everyone to tears. It's really hard to think about leaving them all next week. But, I am SO stoked to get to France. I am so so so ready to be there. Not only am I just ready to get out of the confines of the MTC, but I can not wait to meet the people there. Even if I can hardly communicate with them at first, I just want to meet them so bad. I already love them so much. My testimony has been strengthened so much here, and there are times where I literally feel like I could burst with how badly I want to share it with others. I feel so privileged and blessed to get to spend the next 17 months telling people about what I love so much, and that is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
With every hour I study here, with every lesson I hear, every talk that is spoken, every song that is sung, and every prayer I speak, I am reassured over and over again that this gospel is true. The simple truths are the things that are reiterated to me over and over again. I know that Heavenly Father is our Father, and that we are His children. He loves us so much. I wish I could explain to you how deep that love is. He wants to do anything He can to help us get through this life, which is why He provided us with a Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus was the only perfect being to ever come to the earth. Because He atoned for our sins, died for us, and then overcame death by resurrecting, we can do the same thing. We can be forgiven of our sins because of this, and can ask God for comfort and strength when we need it. If we obey the commandments of God, and partake of the ordinances of the priesthood (baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, etc.)-- that same priesthood power that Christ Himself had and then restored through Joseph Smith-- we can return and live with God again after this life, as well as with our families, forever. The Book of Mormon, along with the Bible, give us the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. One is not complete without the other. The Bible testifies of Christ in the old world, and the Book of Mormon testifies of Christ in the new world. I am so grateful that I have the knowledge that I do. I am SO excited to go share this knowledge with others.
Friends and family, at times if you ever feel yourself lost or doubting, pray about the simple truths. Read the Book of Mormon and the Bible, and pray to know about its truth. Pray to God and ask if He's there and if He loves you. Pray for the answers to your questions. If you do these things, God WILL answer you. It may not be in the way you expect or the time you expect, but He will answer. How blessed we are to have a merciful and loving God. I am proud to be a representative of Jesus Christ, and in just a few days I get to go put this testimony I have to good use. I've never been so excited for anything in my whole life! I know not everyone will be ready to accept this message, but as long as I give them the chance to be invited to come unto Christ, then that's what matters to me. 17 months doesn't seem like long enough. This is already going way too fast! I have so much work to do and I can't wait to do it!
Love you all! Thank you for your many sweet messages. I feel so grateful for all of the support I'm getting. You all are the greatest! I wish I could write each of you back, but know that every word you send me blesses me and I'm so thankful for it!
Continue on in faith, because through God, all things are possible!!
Love,
Soeur Shields
P.S. France is killin' it in the World Cup!! VIVA LA FRANCE!!
Strobe waffles just like in the movie, The Best Two Years. They were disgusting though
So, you know how last week we thought we would hear President Monson? Well, turns out rumors around here can really spread. We didn't hear from President Monson, but we did get to hear from Elder Christofferson!! He talked all about the worth of every single soul. It was so inspiring. Every person is so special to our Lord and He loves every single one of us so much. We should never look at someone as anything other than the beloved son or daughter of God that they are. Another cool part--Elder Nelson, Oaks, Ballard, Anderson, and Bednar were up on the stand as well. So, I've got to hear from 3 Apostles while here and see 7 total. Talk about being blessed!! You can feel so much power from their words, and from their presence. They truly are the mouthpiece of the Lord. When they bare their testimonies, every fiber of my being can feel the truthfulness behind their words. These men are so humble, and so selfless. I just wish you could see all the little things that they do, off-screen. I'd tell you about it on here if I had time. So just take my word for it! Fun fact: I was on TV for the choir number (the devotional was broadcasted to MTC's around the world) and Jacqueline and Liesel said they saw me on TV down in Argentina!!
I have been so especially grateful for my companion and district this past week. We really are all one big family, and I'm so blessed to be surrounded with such wonderful people 24/7. We all started talking about next week when we won't see each other anymore, and it brought everyone to tears. It's really hard to think about leaving them all next week. But, I am SO stoked to get to France. I am so so so ready to be there. Not only am I just ready to get out of the confines of the MTC, but I can not wait to meet the people there. Even if I can hardly communicate with them at first, I just want to meet them so bad. I already love them so much. My testimony has been strengthened so much here, and there are times where I literally feel like I could burst with how badly I want to share it with others. I feel so privileged and blessed to get to spend the next 17 months telling people about what I love so much, and that is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
With every hour I study here, with every lesson I hear, every talk that is spoken, every song that is sung, and every prayer I speak, I am reassured over and over again that this gospel is true. The simple truths are the things that are reiterated to me over and over again. I know that Heavenly Father is our Father, and that we are His children. He loves us so much. I wish I could explain to you how deep that love is. He wants to do anything He can to help us get through this life, which is why He provided us with a Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus was the only perfect being to ever come to the earth. Because He atoned for our sins, died for us, and then overcame death by resurrecting, we can do the same thing. We can be forgiven of our sins because of this, and can ask God for comfort and strength when we need it. If we obey the commandments of God, and partake of the ordinances of the priesthood (baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, etc.)-- that same priesthood power that Christ Himself had and then restored through Joseph Smith-- we can return and live with God again after this life, as well as with our families, forever. The Book of Mormon, along with the Bible, give us the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. One is not complete without the other. The Bible testifies of Christ in the old world, and the Book of Mormon testifies of Christ in the new world. I am so grateful that I have the knowledge that I do. I am SO excited to go share this knowledge with others.
Friends and family, at times if you ever feel yourself lost or doubting, pray about the simple truths. Read the Book of Mormon and the Bible, and pray to know about its truth. Pray to God and ask if He's there and if He loves you. Pray for the answers to your questions. If you do these things, God WILL answer you. It may not be in the way you expect or the time you expect, but He will answer. How blessed we are to have a merciful and loving God. I am proud to be a representative of Jesus Christ, and in just a few days I get to go put this testimony I have to good use. I've never been so excited for anything in my whole life! I know not everyone will be ready to accept this message, but as long as I give them the chance to be invited to come unto Christ, then that's what matters to me. 17 months doesn't seem like long enough. This is already going way too fast! I have so much work to do and I can't wait to do it!
Love you all! Thank you for your many sweet messages. I feel so grateful for all of the support I'm getting. You all are the greatest! I wish I could write each of you back, but know that every word you send me blesses me and I'm so thankful for it!
Continue on in faith, because through God, all things are possible!!
Love,
Soeur Shields
P.S. France is killin' it in the World Cup!! VIVA LA FRANCE!!
Strobe waffles just like in the movie, The Best Two Years. They were disgusting though
Seour Bardsley and I pointing to Lyon
We added four new sisters to our district today. They are going to Montreal, French speaking. Our little district of 4 sisters has grown to 12!
Every Sunday we pick a new color and all match. We nailed it this week!