September 7, 2015 - I live in Tennessee now!

Greetings from Tennessee!
There is so much to tell! This week I got by cute little mission baby, Sister Havran, and we opened Bartlett, TN for ASL work.

Tuesday Sister Havran got here, we were at the mission home and went to Olive Garden with the Wakolos and the APs. Sister Havran is already a superb missionary and I am learning lots from her.

On Wednesday we got to our new apartment. It is SO NICE. It was recently refurbished, and there weren't missionaries living there before, so it is in great shape. AND we have our own bathrooms, I feel seriously blessed.

Also on Wednesday, we taught Mario, a deaf guy who has been going to church here all summer, and set a baptism date with him! It was pretty sweet.

We have done a lot of getting to know the member and the area, and doing some finding. This ward is on of the smallest geographical wards east of the Mississippi, there are members everywhere! So far, we met a really cool investigator Dorsey that used to live in Utah. Everyone here knows Mormons or has lived in Utah or something, it is really interesting. Sunday we introduced ourselves to our neighbor, and it turned out great. She is moving soon, and we offered to help, and she started tearing up and said that most people aren't like that. She told us she went to the LDS church a few times growing up, and she felt at home there. Then SHE told US she wants to learn more about the gospel. Holy cow! Miracles! Things are going to be great here.

Love y'all!
Sister Nielsen

I live in Tennessee now!

We live by A LOT of ducks! My favorite!

Our missionary friends helping us move in.



We have a fireplace!

Welcome to our apartment. We are pretty spoiled!

Homemade jam. The only jam worth eating.

Voodoo chips!

August 31, 2015 - Pray Always

Hello, hello!

       So this week has been crazy! They called Saturday at 4 and said I was leaving Sunday at 1! So we did a mad dash to get all of my things packed and then I had to say goodbye to everyone at church. Now I am staying with the Little Rock ASL sisters until tomorrow when I go to the mission home and meet my new companion, then on Wednesday we will be opening our new area!
       Then the rest of the week was just full of adventures and funny times. One night Sister Kennach was praying in her sleep. I was half awake and not sure what was happening. Sister Cawley woke up and heard the prayer, and she guess I even said amen! Taking the phrase "pray always" to a whole new level!

        On Wednesday we were texting Terry, and we accidentally called him. He texted back "why you call me, I deaf huh?" Haha oops. Then that night at the church we looked down and Terry was calling us. We looked down the hall and Terry was signing "hahaha." Well played Terry. 

        Thursday Hermana Reed and Sister Kennach went to Little Rock for a meeting, so me and Sister Cawley were with Sister Madsen. We met an awesome JW who was very nice and she showed us her paintings she does with nail polish! They look so good and you would never guess she did it with nail polish. Ripley's Believe it or Not Museums buy them from her. They prefer recognizable pieces, so she does things like the Mona Lisa and Van Goghs. So cool! Then we had signed up for a bunch of service, so we painted nails at nursing home and helped make chocolate covered bananas at a place for people with Alzheimer's. It was fun. 

          Sunday when I was saying goodbye to everyone at church, it really hit me how much they have all impacted my life. It is so interesting how we work to change lives, but our lives are changed as well. Service is a beautiful thing. I love the people of Southaven and all I have learned from them.

           Have a great week! Next week I'll be sharing some whole new adventures from Tennessee! 

Love y'all! 

Sister Nielsen

 

New address:

Sister Sharly Nielsen

6360 Corban Cv
Apt #301
Bartlett,  TN 38135