November 25, 2014 - This Week in Arkansas

This week in Arkansas:

First of all, I had a "we definitely aren't in Utah any more" moment. We went to Walmart and it took us a good 10 minutes to find any hair products that were for white people! Oh man, I love Little Rock.

This week, Keith got the priesthood, he was very excited. And he finally got a picture Book of Mormon (before this he had the video ASL one and a normal English one). That picture book was the one for him! He used that and the English one together, and he understands so much better! He loved it so much he stayed up all night reading, it was awesome.

       So this week Jim, our stubborn eternal investigator, had some humbling things happen to him. He had asked for that, but it didn't help him. He instead was angry. It is crazy to see the difference between him and Ray. Ray's life is falling apart, but his testimony is so strong. He is relying on the Lord, and knows that the Lord has a plan for him. It seems like he has been abandoned, but he still has so much faith. And he told us that the experiences he has now will just enable him to be an example in the future. I know the Lord has a plan for Ray, and I wish I had the faith that Ray does. Great things will happen for Ray, just in the Lord's timing. We all have to be patient. Ray is so elect, I know his testimony will continue to grow and he will be baptized in the future, even though we all want it to happen now.

Have a happy Thanksgiving y'all! I am so grateful for all of you and for this Gospel, and I am especially grateful for the atonement of our Savior.

love,

Sister Nielsen

Specialized training

Brother Wells

Teaching Jim at the Wakolo's house.

Dinner with Sister Culwell and her neighbors Jamie and Don. It is always a party, every Wednesday!

Stuckey House

Ronika is a diva!

The Bowies always call it a Mormon party when the missionaries visit.



Sis G got this shirt from a kid in our ward who made this website. "Cowseatinggrass.com, tell your friends, tell your dad, tell your mom."

November 17, 2014 - Wards really are like families!

Hey y'all!

I don't really know what to write this week. It all of a sudden got real cold here. But still not as cold as Utah. One morning there was a teeny tiny bit of snow, and it was a big deal since this is the earliest it has snowed here since like 1951. We are keeping warm though, we are so grateful to have a car this week! 

     The man who was baptized last week, Karl, is so cool! He told us that for Sunday, we needed to "prepare ourselves" because we were going to take pictures. He has a file in his phone that has pictures of the ward members so he can show people his family! It is so cool how much he loves the ward and feels accepted there. Wards really are like families, I love it! 

     Well, that is about it. Ray is still looking for a house, and he is getting discouraged, but he is such a fighter. He has so many trials, but he keeps saying, "God can do everything but fail." I love Ray and his trust in the Lord, I know things will work out for him. 

Have a great week, love ya!

Sister Nielsen 

Dinner with the Duncans, the Lewises, and Gisheera. Sam and Isaiah actually smiled for a picture, but me and Sis G ruined it with our crazy-looking legs. 

This bridge looks a lot cooler and patriotic in real life, but we tried for a good pic :)

Our picture with Karl. He is a very snazzy dresser. 

November 10, 2014 - Pray for Ray

Hello, Hello!

     This week was pretty good. We have been working with Ray towards his baptism day. He really wanted to be baptized this weekend, but he still has not found a place to live. (Right now he is living with a woman that he used to date). Ray was very sad he couldn't get baptized yet, but with much fasting and prayer, he has some good options of where to go. He wants to get baptized so bad, so it will definitely happen as soon as he moves out. He understands how important baptism is, and even said that it is important for the rest of his family so he can do their temple work. Ray just gets it. 

     Yesterday Keith got confirmed, he really liked it. The other sisters in our ward also baptized a man named Karl who is very cool and will be a great member of our ward. His cousins came and they really enjoyed it, so maybe they can be baptized some day too :) The missionary work is rolling here in Little Rock!  

     Other than that, not much happened this week. We had a really fun dinner with the Locketts at Applebees. They taught us how to make ghetto lemonade: a glass of water, 2 lemons, and 3 packs of artificial sweetener. I was pretty impressed with our ghetto lemonade, you will have to try it! 

     For my birthday we had dinner with the Hawkes in our ward. They made a yummy pumpkin cake and loaded baked potatoes. It was a good birthday! 

    Have a good week y'all! Pray for Ray! That is a pretty good catch phrase, so it will be easy to remember :)

Love you!

Sister Nielsen

(Thanks to the Hawkes family for taking care of my girl on her birthday and sending me the pics!)

The Hawkes family made me a DELICIOUS "pumpkin dump cake." So good!

 

 

 

Dinner with the Locketts!

 

I love my new outfit Mom and Dad!

 

November 3, 2014 - Baptisms!!

Hello, Hello!

This week was incredible. Keith and Jessie got baptized on Saturday! It was an amazing baptism, and all of the prayers, talks, and ordinances were in ASL. Jessie and Keith loved it. The ward thought it was pretty cool as well. The spirit was very strong there. Jessie told me and Sis G all week that we were going to cry at his baptism. He was right! He cried as well, and kept signing "spirit" right next to his heart. He and Keith were both just smiling from ear to ear. And after the baptism, Keith told Jessie that they will always be friends. It was so sweet.

     We went to visit Ronika and Jessie later after the baptism. The spirit in their house was so strong. Before, it was kind of there because Ronika was a member, but now you can practically touch the spirit in the air. And Jessie was signing better and was just happier. We had written him a card with our testimonies on it so we signed it to him. He loved it. And he told us about his dream where his mom came to him and helped him understand baptism better. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father found a way to help Jessie understand fully and be willing to be baptized. And right after the baptism, they were already talking about going to the temple next year. And he was interviewed and will get the Aaronic Priesthood next week. Things are so good for their family and I am so grateful to see all this happen for them. I love them so much! 

The Gospel is true and I love being a missionary! Have a fabulous week y'all!

Sister Nielsen 

Keith

Jessie, Ronika, Deon

 

Looking festive, thanks to Aunt Stacie, Mom, and Target :)

Happy Halloween!