January 26, 2015 - A Few Awkward Moments

Hey y'all!

This week we have actually done a lot more spiritual harvesting, so that has been good. We are figuring out how to interpret and teach and work it out. 

A few awkward moments:

That awkward moment when...you are spiritual harvesting and you knock on a member's door. And you don't really know them. And they don't know why you are there. The Utah license plate should have been a clue.

That awkward moment when...you are teaching your hard of hearing, uneducated investigator that doesn't know ASL, the law of chastity. On his porch. And Sister Garcia is yelling but he can't understand. So you have to repeat her. And the neighbors think you are crazy. 

Now for an awesome moment: Yesterday I interpreted for Crystal and Bronzie (Sister Grindstaff's deaf converts) to get their recommend for endowments. They are super excited! Bronzie's husband Armando got his too, and they are going to get sealed. It was really cool and helped me remember why I am here. This week was hard, but everything is worth it because missionaries are here so families can be together forever. It is such a blessing to be a part of this work. 

Much love,

Sister Nielsen  

January 19, 2015 - Southaven, Mississippi

Hello from Mississippi!

Ok, my last week in Little Rock was awesome. We got three new deaf investigators that some elders found, it was amazing! And a deaf less active came to the relief society activity. Things are hoppin' in Little Rock.

         Southaven is awesome! It is like 20 minutes from Memphis. I would compare it to Lehi. The houses are about the same and everything. It kind of has the same aura. It just has a lot less Mormons! But it has tons of churches that look like Mormon churches and some that look like temples. It is bizarre. The ward here is very nice, a lot of them are from the West and moved here for optometry school.

     We have 5 active deaf members and 1 less active deaf member. We are focusing on deaf work and less actives (hearing and deaf), so it is a lot different from Little Rock. I had just started to love spiritual harvesting (knocking on doors) and now we hardly ever do it. We took a little road trip to a deaf event in Germantown (where the rich people in the Blind Side live). That was a fun day. The work is just very different so I am adjusting.

      I love Sister Garcia. She became deaf when she was 7. She voices Spanish and English very well, so that is nice that I usually don't have to voice interpret for her. It is exhausting doing ASL all day though! But my signing is improving and Sister Garcia is super helpful. Sister Garcia is also a jokester. She is always teasing the Hermanas we live with and loves to lock them out. We have fun :)

Peace out, girl scouts. Love you!  

Sister Nielsen

 

My new address:

Sister Sharly Nielsen

4744 W.E. Ross Parkway

#34-205

Southaven, MS 38671

 

A nice sunset on the drive to a dinner in Walls, MS.

My new companion! Sister Garcia.

Another pic with sister Kalihiki.

Saying good bye to Sister Loken :(

Last P-day in Little Rock.

Saying goodbye to Sister Warner.

Me and Sister Garcia and Jelena (a deaf member) and her Indian date. That was a crazy dinner to interpret for!

 

January 12, 2015 - I am getting transferred

This week has been super crazy! First of all, I am getting transferred! I am going to Southaven Mississippi to be companions with Sister Garcia. (Well, unless there is some other ASL missionaries or areas we haven't heard of). So, that will be fun. It will be quite the experience to have a deaf companion!

       Other things: We interpreted for a religious freedom meeting that had speakers from the Muslim, Methodist, and Catholic churches around here as well as the governor and the family council and an LDS law professor. It was all put together by our stake president. It was a very cool event, but definitely difficult to interpret for! Luckily Sister Loken did most of it.

      We also got the oil changed for the car, had a confusing mix up as to which building we had interviews with president at, and said goodbye to Hermana Warner, our roommate. So, like I said, crazy week. But we have also gotten deaf referrals, and met a few legit investigators. So life is good, I love serving the Lord.

Love y'all!

Sister Nielsen

Advertising chicken, Elvis style.

Trying the famous Purple Cow burger joint (I miss Training Table and Woody's, but this will have to do).

Last night with Hermana Warner. IDK why all our pictures recently have been in PJs.

We built this bookshelf all by ourselves, you should be proud Mom! It took all week, but we had a little too much fun :) .

January 5, 2015 - Happy New Year

Happy 2015!

This bike week has been super rainy. Super Arkansas rainy, not Utah rainy. It was quite the adventure. Sometimes it was awful, but sometimes it was kind of fun. Biking in the rain feels kind of like an extreme sport. And Hermana Warner pointed out to me that biking in rain is a sacrifice I will never forget. So it turned out pretty good. One night, after biking all day, we ending up at Sim's BBQ and pigged out. When I went to the cashier, she said, "Did you eat that whole half chicken?" I said, "Yes ma'am, I was hungry. We've been biking all day." They thought that was pretty crazy.

       So New Year's: On New Year's Eve we went to a deaf event. We met a ton of new deaf people, and watched a super cool talent show. We also met AN ENTIRELY DEAF LESS ACTIVE FAMILY. It was crazy! They just moved here and didn't know where the church was, or that we have interpreters. The parents and kids are all deaf, the dad is Church of Christ but the rest are LDS. We hopefully will start working with them. It was such a miracle to find them!

       We also knocked on a deaf guy's door this week. That never happens! He was super skeptical of us and wouldn't tell us his name, but we will go back. It still is just awesome that the Lord has blessed us with so many miracles in the deaf work.

Well, that's all folks. Love you!

Sister Nielsen

The roomies celebrate New Year's...2 hours early.