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| Anxiously awaiting our missionary! |
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| Getting some loves from Dad. |
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| Three cute Arkansas girls! |
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| Aunt Chris with Dad and Alyssa on the shuttle. |
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
December 16, 2015 - She's Home!!
December 12, 2015 - A Pretty Fabulous Week
Hola!
This week has been a pretty fabulous week to end a mission on! Monday we had a fun secret Santa with the other missionaries. The long-sleeve, full-length, button-up plaid dress Sister Bryce got was top notch. And of course don't forget the shoulder pads. Then we had some great lessons. We went to see some less active teenagers and shared the "A Savior is Born" video with all ten kids in the house. They were mesmerized. We showed them a few more. The mom said, "Man I got to get me an iPad if it keeps them that quiet," but we knew it was the Spirit, not the iPad. It was a really precious experience and I'm so glad to be a missionary and share a little bit of the gospel with children who need it so much.
Tuesday all the sisters went to Little Rock for sisters day. We did a project to make 10000 meals for people in the mission area. Arkansas is number one in food instability. We funneled different dry ingredients into packages that were then sealed. It was really cool. Then we learned a dance, did crafts, made fudge and Oreo balls, and caroled to the elderly. It was a great day and I got to see all my friends in the mission one last time.
Wednesday was a wild exchange with the sister training leaders, complete with ex-Mormons, 7th Day Adventists, and a dog peeing on Sister Jones' shoes.
Thursday was the Christmas zone conference. We ate Christmas dinner, watched a movie, had a talent show, and even played the "left right" game, which I thought was hilarious. Then that night our plans to go to the Relief Society activity became a wreck, but instead we found a great new investigator and had a good ASL class. Beth, a non-member who attends the class, gave us the cutest gifts. The night turned out great.
Yesterday we really focused on talking with everyone and sharing the Christmas video. We went up to a group of people outside a super-decked out house and turns out, their sister got baptized last year and they have been wanting to know more about the church! Yay!
Today I've been packing, then tonight is the ward Christmas party. Monday is the temple then Tuesday I'll be home! I am so grateful for my experience as a full-time missionary, it is priceless. I know the Book of Mormon is true, Christ is our Savior, and God is good. I love my Heavenly Father and am grateful for all He has done for me and all His children. I am so grateful for all the lessons I have learned, all the friends I have made, and all the miracles I have seen. Today in studies I was pondering if I accomplished all God wanted me to on my mission. I realized that it is not about what I did, it is about what He did. I have seen so many miracles by His hand. I am just blessed to be there to witness them and to do my small part. I'm eternally grateful for my mission and for my Savior.
Thanks for all your support, I love y'all,
Sister Nielsen
This week has been a pretty fabulous week to end a mission on! Monday we had a fun secret Santa with the other missionaries. The long-sleeve, full-length, button-up plaid dress Sister Bryce got was top notch. And of course don't forget the shoulder pads. Then we had some great lessons. We went to see some less active teenagers and shared the "A Savior is Born" video with all ten kids in the house. They were mesmerized. We showed them a few more. The mom said, "Man I got to get me an iPad if it keeps them that quiet," but we knew it was the Spirit, not the iPad. It was a really precious experience and I'm so glad to be a missionary and share a little bit of the gospel with children who need it so much.
Tuesday all the sisters went to Little Rock for sisters day. We did a project to make 10000 meals for people in the mission area. Arkansas is number one in food instability. We funneled different dry ingredients into packages that were then sealed. It was really cool. Then we learned a dance, did crafts, made fudge and Oreo balls, and caroled to the elderly. It was a great day and I got to see all my friends in the mission one last time.
Wednesday was a wild exchange with the sister training leaders, complete with ex-Mormons, 7th Day Adventists, and a dog peeing on Sister Jones' shoes.
Thursday was the Christmas zone conference. We ate Christmas dinner, watched a movie, had a talent show, and even played the "left right" game, which I thought was hilarious. Then that night our plans to go to the Relief Society activity became a wreck, but instead we found a great new investigator and had a good ASL class. Beth, a non-member who attends the class, gave us the cutest gifts. The night turned out great.
Yesterday we really focused on talking with everyone and sharing the Christmas video. We went up to a group of people outside a super-decked out house and turns out, their sister got baptized last year and they have been wanting to know more about the church! Yay!
Today I've been packing, then tonight is the ward Christmas party. Monday is the temple then Tuesday I'll be home! I am so grateful for my experience as a full-time missionary, it is priceless. I know the Book of Mormon is true, Christ is our Savior, and God is good. I love my Heavenly Father and am grateful for all He has done for me and all His children. I am so grateful for all the lessons I have learned, all the friends I have made, and all the miracles I have seen. Today in studies I was pondering if I accomplished all God wanted me to on my mission. I realized that it is not about what I did, it is about what He did. I have seen so many miracles by His hand. I am just blessed to be there to witness them and to do my small part. I'm eternally grateful for my mission and for my Savior.
Thanks for all your support, I love y'all,
Sister Nielsen
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| The stake gave us these shirts for Christmas. It is a president Wakolo catch phrase. |
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| ASL sisters at the sisters day. Our color scheme is super impressive. |
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
December 7, 2015 - Healing
Hey y'all!
This week was off to a great start. Monday we met a cool new investigator Keyon. He lives two houses down from some members. He has read a little of the Book of Mormon before and accepted the invitation to read more. We went back and he had been reading every night at work! He asked us why our church is different and if it matters where we go since we all worship Christ. We taught him a little about the Restoration and plan to teach his whole family together soon.
Sunday we felt prompted to change our plans and go finding on a certain street. It was inspired, we definitely found who God wanted us too! There was a lady from Kenya. She was pleased that we were "building God's kingdom" and she comprehended very well when we discussed prophets. She is a smart lady. Then we met her neighbor, he let us right in and asked us to share our message. We taught him the whole Restoration and he was very receptive and grateful. We had lots of good contact with the rest of the street, many of them were foreigners and many of them had had good contact with the church before.
Sunday we also had the great chance to teach the Gospel Doctrine class and talk about how we can share the new "A Savior is Born" video with our friends. The members had lots of great ideas, like putting a pass along card on the plates of cookies they give to their neighbors, or giving one to an overwhelmed cashier. They are great member missionaries and excited to share the things that are important to them.
I love the two videos and have been thinking lots about how we need a Savior. One thing I have learned a lot about lately is "healing." In 3 Nephi, Christ keeps saying how we can be healed as we come unto Him. It gives me so much hope to know that when I feel disappointment, guilt, anxiety, pain, or sadness, I have a Savior who can heal me. Those feelings won't stay forever. The bad days or weeks or months will come to an end. I am not stuck in my sins or sorrow. Christ can fix the mistakes that I can't. Even though I hate times when I feel any of these negative things, it brings me closer to the Savior and I must rely on the hope I have in Him. And I love what President Packer said, that physical wounds leave scars when they heal, but when our spirit heals, there are no scars. I am eternally grateful for a Savior heals me and makes me whole.
Love,
Sister Nielsen
This week was off to a great start. Monday we met a cool new investigator Keyon. He lives two houses down from some members. He has read a little of the Book of Mormon before and accepted the invitation to read more. We went back and he had been reading every night at work! He asked us why our church is different and if it matters where we go since we all worship Christ. We taught him a little about the Restoration and plan to teach his whole family together soon.
Sunday we felt prompted to change our plans and go finding on a certain street. It was inspired, we definitely found who God wanted us too! There was a lady from Kenya. She was pleased that we were "building God's kingdom" and she comprehended very well when we discussed prophets. She is a smart lady. Then we met her neighbor, he let us right in and asked us to share our message. We taught him the whole Restoration and he was very receptive and grateful. We had lots of good contact with the rest of the street, many of them were foreigners and many of them had had good contact with the church before.
Sunday we also had the great chance to teach the Gospel Doctrine class and talk about how we can share the new "A Savior is Born" video with our friends. The members had lots of great ideas, like putting a pass along card on the plates of cookies they give to their neighbors, or giving one to an overwhelmed cashier. They are great member missionaries and excited to share the things that are important to them.
I love the two videos and have been thinking lots about how we need a Savior. One thing I have learned a lot about lately is "healing." In 3 Nephi, Christ keeps saying how we can be healed as we come unto Him. It gives me so much hope to know that when I feel disappointment, guilt, anxiety, pain, or sadness, I have a Savior who can heal me. Those feelings won't stay forever. The bad days or weeks or months will come to an end. I am not stuck in my sins or sorrow. Christ can fix the mistakes that I can't. Even though I hate times when I feel any of these negative things, it brings me closer to the Savior and I must rely on the hope I have in Him. And I love what President Packer said, that physical wounds leave scars when they heal, but when our spirit heals, there are no scars. I am eternally grateful for a Savior heals me and makes me whole.
Love,
Sister Nielsen
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| Our baby Christmas tree. |
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| Fried Oreos. Tasty, but worth a heart attack? I think not. |
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| Sister Kent took us to Popeye's, she's our favorite. |
Thursday, December 3, 2015
November 30, 2015 - Update from Tennessee
Hey y'all!
Update from Tennessee:
-Wednesday we met a girl our age who is converting to Judaism and her best friend is Mormon. We talked with her a good minute and were able to answer a lot of her questions about the church, and she told us a lot about her beliefs too. One thing I really liked is the concept that when we make a mistake or fail to fulfill a commandment, we miss an opportunity to be our best selves.
-We had a great Thanksgiving. We visited members and shared the Christmas video and gave them pass along cards to share with their friends. It was a great way to spend the holiday and help members with their missionary work. We felt the spirit a lot!
-Saturday we had a great miracle! Sister Jensen, another ASL missionary, met a deaf couple at a restaurant just before she left. We hadn't been able to set up something with them, so we finally just went to their house. We thought we would just say hello for a minute, but I felt I should bring an ASL Book of Mormon anyways. They let us in and we had 2 hour lesson! Two hour lessons are normal for deaf people, but still. We chatted a bit, then they started asking questions about why God lets bad things happen. We answered with a scripture Sister Havran read that morning. They had more questions and we taught the whole restoration lesson. They have great questions, like, "How could the people trust Moses?" Good question! So we talked about prayer and the spirit and how the prophets always teach good things. They have so many questions of the soul and a desire to learn God's word. They are excited to read/watch to Book of Mormon. They also want to share the word and have tons of referrals for us. Serious miracles! They will be such a blessing for the deaf community here. It felt so good to teach them, we teach much better in ASL than English, and the gospel just makes more sense to me in ASL. I know we are definitely supposed to be here teaching the deaf.
Love you, have a good week!
Sister Nielsen
Update from Tennessee:
-Wednesday we met a girl our age who is converting to Judaism and her best friend is Mormon. We talked with her a good minute and were able to answer a lot of her questions about the church, and she told us a lot about her beliefs too. One thing I really liked is the concept that when we make a mistake or fail to fulfill a commandment, we miss an opportunity to be our best selves.
-We had a great Thanksgiving. We visited members and shared the Christmas video and gave them pass along cards to share with their friends. It was a great way to spend the holiday and help members with their missionary work. We felt the spirit a lot!
-Saturday we had a great miracle! Sister Jensen, another ASL missionary, met a deaf couple at a restaurant just before she left. We hadn't been able to set up something with them, so we finally just went to their house. We thought we would just say hello for a minute, but I felt I should bring an ASL Book of Mormon anyways. They let us in and we had 2 hour lesson! Two hour lessons are normal for deaf people, but still. We chatted a bit, then they started asking questions about why God lets bad things happen. We answered with a scripture Sister Havran read that morning. They had more questions and we taught the whole restoration lesson. They have great questions, like, "How could the people trust Moses?" Good question! So we talked about prayer and the spirit and how the prophets always teach good things. They have so many questions of the soul and a desire to learn God's word. They are excited to read/watch to Book of Mormon. They also want to share the word and have tons of referrals for us. Serious miracles! They will be such a blessing for the deaf community here. It felt so good to teach them, we teach much better in ASL than English, and the gospel just makes more sense to me in ASL. I know we are definitely supposed to be here teaching the deaf.
Love you, have a good week!
Sister Nielsen
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| Had to use the emergency TP this week. Thanks Mom! |
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| Sister Dean lives in our building, she's a super cute neighbor! |
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| Made cookies for a Vietnamese family we are teaching. |
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| Thanksgiving with the Molines from the temple presidency. |
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| Ready to proselytize in the rain! |
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