Letter: Jan 31, 2022

Dear Friends and Family,

I am happy to write to you once again! I have good news in regards to missionary work, but also my personal development.

I've been reading Jordan Peterson's new book "Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life", and I finished chapter 7: Work as hard as you possible can on at least one thing and see what happens. At the beginning of that chapter, JP talks about the cost of not picking something, and basically describes the horrible life of a undergrad student without a major: something I have both experienced and witnessed my peers experiencing. At the end of this first part of the chapter, he says, "Do you really want to be everything you could be? Is that not too much? Might it not be better to be something specific (and then, perhaps, add to that)? Would that not come as a relief- even though it is also a sacrifice?"

I stood up from reading that and said, "I'm going to be a science teacher!" It pretty much just clicked. Being a science teacher will satisfy my curiosity, desire to work with children, my itch to engage an audience, and provide a sense of meaning to the work that I do. So I'm now very excited to go back to BYU and become a science teacher. I'm also delightfully aware that I will be following in the footsteps of my Grandpa Dahle, my cousin Kay, and all the Dahle family teaching legacy. I suppose I always knew I'd follow suit. Just wandered a bit back and forth before I became confident. 

Picking this has also engaged in me a new sort of hope. Now that the burden of what to become first is removed, I can thoroughly look forward to all the things I will add to that! I can become a sufficient seamstress, cook, gardener/horticulturist, singer, actress, etc. on the side. I can become well versed in classic literature, music, art history: because all these sorts of classes are free on Khan Academy and other online sites. I have all the meaningful part of college available for free on the internet; I can keep learning and becoming all my life! And it isn't stressful because I know what I'm going to be first- a science teacher. Probably middle school. :D

In other news, we successfully introduced fellowship (introducing them to friends from the local congregation) to both of the people we are teaching who are progressing this week and I feel wonderfully excited about their prospects. I was surprised to find at the end of the day (we introduced both fellowships to both of the people we are teaching on the same day) that I felt a large burden lifted off my shoulders. A building anxiety about what would happen to these women I love when I inevitably left Fruita had been occupying my unconscious. When I saw members of the ward who I love and trust take these wonderful women under their wings, it lifted that amassing uncertainty. And, on a side note, increased the statistical likelihood that my friends will choose to get baptized one day, and stay active in the church afterward.

So that's been my week! I really love being a missionary! Arbitrary rules, frustrating people, and disappointing days aside, missionary work is meaningful, rewarding, and sometimes downright fun! :D

I'd encourage each of you to touch base with Heavenly Father again. If it's been a while, pull out your scriptures! Read something meaningful and feel how it nourishes your heart and mind! Try to remember what God's love for you feels like and write about it! There is nothing that could so improve your afternoon, day, or week as reconnecting with our Father in Heaven. 

Sending Love,

Sister Emily Elise Shill

P.S. The Gospel is true! 

My water mug with Butterfly sticker from my Grandma💕, and "Rise and Shine" sticker from Sister Campa as an inside joke. (Not that inside though, because anyone who knows me KNOWS I'm not a morning person!😂)