WRITING A NEW CHAPTER

Dear Kalli,

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.” ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” -Ben Franklin (I guess you’re doing both!!)

“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” -Ernest Hemingway

“Writing in a journal reminds you of your goals and of your learning in life. It offers a place where you can hold a deliberate, thoughtful conversation with yourself.” – Robin S. Sharma

H. David Burton said in 1998, “Yes, today is, indeed, a season of many opportunities. It is a season to reach out to touch the life of someone, a season to commit to keeping the Sabbath day holy, and a season to help keep the lights of our temples burning brightly, to name just a very few. I testify of a living Father in Heaven and of His Son, our Savior and our Redeemer, both who love us unconditionally and are anxious for us to seize the many opportunities They have provided.”

Aaaaaaaaaaand, for your work with the little ones:

“Teaching Is Opportunity to Follow Christ,” President Uchtdorf Says:

https://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/teaching-is-opportunity-to-follow-christ-president-uchtdorf-says?lang=eng

Although this is directly about missions, I think it can be more universally applied to each of our life-missions. Brother Waddell said in 2011, “A milestone in the life of a missionary is his or her final, or “exit,” interview with the mission president. At the heart of the interview will be a discussion of what seems to be a lifetime of memorable experiences and key lessons that have been gained in just 18 to 24 months.

While many of these experiences and lessons may be common to missionary service, each mission is unique, with challenges and opportunities that stretch and test us according to our particular needs and personalities.

Long before leaving our earthly home to serve a full-time mission, we left heavenly parents to fulfill our mortal mission. We have a Father in Heaven, who knows us—our strengths and weaknesses, our abilities and potential. He knows which mission president and companions and which members and investigators we need in order to become the missionary, the husband and father, and the priesthood holder we are capable of becoming.

Prophets, seers, and revelators assign missionaries under the direction and influence of the Holy Ghost. Inspired mission presidents direct transfers every six weeks and quickly learn that the Lord knows exactly where He wants each missionary to serve.”

 In other words, this mission is unique to you, with “challenges and opportunities that stretch and test [you] according to [your] particular needs and personalit[y].” The Lord knows where to send us on our life-missions in order to help us become the person we are capable of becoming. You are there for a reason Kalli! I sooo look forward to hearing about your new chapter and reading your book when you join us in July =)

We love you!

Love,

Sarah and US