Here comes 2013! Happy New Years Eve!‏ 31Dec 2012

Aloha Nielsen Ohana!

Well.. It was so good to talk to you guys on Christmas! And Chelsea, thanks sending the pictures on your blog, it was weird to see myself is the background in some of them. I'm like a giant! Anywho. I hope Christmas and everything else was great. :) Ours was really good. Way way way too much food and goodies.

This last week has been good, crazy with it being the end of the month but good. Were still trying to figure out juggling both areas, but we'll get it soon. Our mission has been suuuuuuuuuuuuper close to hitting our high water mark for the year 2012! The high is 1103 convert baptisms in the year, and I know as of yesterday we were at 1103! So we need one more to hit it! To set a new record and make Hawaii Honolulu mission history! There are suppose to be 3 more today. I know we're cutting it so close! Working on P-day! But we're going to hit it. President is soo happy! He's been calling everyone all week seeing if our with dates are going to happen and what the update is. But it's so good! Talking to President yesterday at church he was saying. "We're going to hit it! I have the faith." And then went on to say how we've done it, "With laser focus. We're all focused on the same thing, the whole mission. And that's having the eye single to the glory of God." .."Did you know that the average mission in American only has about 30 convert baptisms a month? And we're averaging about 100. What are we doing different? The prayer approach, and showing the Doctrine of Christ to our members." (Prayer approach: The approach we use while tracting, we say we are representatives of Jesus Christ and he has sent us to leave his peace and blessing, we then pray for their specific needs and then invite them to be baptized! It takes crazy courage and faith! But it works! We are able to find the elect. The ones who are prepared! If they say no, then we move along. And trust that the Lord will continue to work on them.--There are only two missions using the approach this way, fort lauderdale, flordia and hawaii. They are the two most baptizing in the Untied States. Sister Smoots brother is serving in that mission. :) ) (The district DVD. The one I wanted you guys to watch a while back.) I love President Dalton. He's so awesome and so dedicated to his calling. It's been fun seeing him around so much serving in his ward.

Kenny didn't get baptized on Saturday. :( But it's all good, everything happens in the Lord's timing. We went over and say him on Wednesday and asked him how he was doing, and he'd had a drink that day. Normally you have to be sober for 3 weeks unless the bishop approves it. So we'll for sure try for January. He's just gotta do it. He knows everything is true. He's just gotta quit completely and marry his girlfriend. But it's all on his timing.

Yesterday at church Katherine was able to stay for all 3 hours! And after gospel principles she turns to me and says, "I just feel good here. This just feels right. I know this is where I am suppose to me." Ah! It just made my heart swell and almost start crying! We just had this moment of happiness! I love that her so much. I really hope she finds more friends in the church to link on to. To keep her strong. Do you think it's a bad idea to request people toldssingles.com? Because I'm really tempted. She needs a good guy in her life to help her with Chris. Or maybe I just need to find him and baptism him. Either way, she deserves some support.

This morning I read the conference talk by President Oaks 'Protect the Children'. It's so good! And so interesting to read it and then think about the current events that have just happened. With the shooting and everything. He definitely knew what the future held. And he was preparing our hearts and minds for it. One of my professors at BYUI told us that when we read or listen to conference think, "What does he know about the future that I cannot see? How is what he saying going to prepare me?" I love General Conference.

Ahh. Life is just sooo good! I love Hawaii, I love being a missionary, and I just love everything! I feel so stinkin blessed! 2012 was soo good, but 2013 is going to be even better! Because there is always good things to come. I feel lucky too, that I get a whole year on my misison. Some sisters don't get that because of the time they report. So I'm sure you can imagine all my new years resolutions are going to be geared toward missionary work. Cause that's all I need to worry about right now. :)

I hope you guys have a fabulous week!  Continue to be awesome, and the best family ever.

Loooooooooooooooooooove, S. Nielsen

P.S. Dad.. We get to stay up with our Zone tonight till 12:30am and sleep in till 8am tomorrow. Mission rules in Nielsen rules right? Remember that in 2014. ;)

A Twist in Transfers? What the WHAT!? 24 Dec 2012

Aloha! And Happy Christmas Eve!

Oh my heavens.. This week has been CRAZY! Soo.. Transfers: Sister Wright got transfered to Big Island and my new companion is Sister Smoot, she's from Kayville, UT and came out with Sister Wright. And we're basicaly the same person, she went to BYU-Idaho, plays the flute, and likes to sing. She's an awesome misisonary. BUT! We're now covering both her area and my area! Her ward is in a completely different stake/zone, and is over by Diamond head. Soo look at a map, Diamond Head compared to where the airport is. It's not too far of a drive if there is no traffic. But.. Hawaii has the worst traffic in the nation. And on Tuesday we got stuck for an hour trying to go from one area to another. So basically President took our companions away, and put us together to work in both areas. We have 2 zones, 2 ZL's, have to report to 2 District Leaders, and everyone's kind of fighting for our attention. I feel bad, we have to cancel half of our dinner appts and some members were not happy. I'd definitely be lying if I said I was not stressed. But everything's all good! I'm happy President trusts me with this responsibility and hopefully I'll be able to put this stress to good use and be an effective missionary.

(Side Note: Kahala ward is a very rich area, and is in the ward boundries of the mission home. So President is in our ward. It also is the only ward with a deaf group on the island.)

To add on top of the craziness we had 2 baptisms on Saturday! Chee-hoo! One in the Kahala ward, and one in Aliamanu. And so in trying to prepare for both this week we were driving everywhere like crazy! Katherine was baptized and it was probably the most chaotic baptism I've ever been too. But funny how things work out it was perfect for Katherine. Our baptism was scheduled at 9 am, and another ward had a baptism at 8am. :/ We show up to the chapel and another ward was having chapel clean up. Vacuums and people cleaning and mopping everywhere. We then realized we only had an extra large jumpsuit for katherine, and well I guess it was going to have to work. We didn't have any other options. But it fit her just fine. The service finally started and our counselor in the bishopric welcomed us all out to sacrement meeting, I don't think he realized it either. And then while the baptism talk was happening, Katherine's son Chirs, 6 years old and has severe ADHD, was freaking out and punching the back of his chair the whole time, so that's where Katherine's attention went, luckally all the families there had there wild kids too, so it was fine. After she was baptized we helped her in the bathroom and I asked her how she felt and she said, "I feel good! The water was freezing, but then after a while I just felt warm all of a sudden." I'm SO happy the spirit is able to warm up the font! And also smooth things over. She was so happy. The chaos was perfect because it didn't make her feel like her son was the only thing being disruptive. Heavenly Father knows exactly what He's doing.

We then drove over to the other side and had the baptism for Kini! She's a sweetheart, from figi and suuuuuuuuper solid! She has such a strong testimony! She's been through so much and she's ahh just awesome. The baptism went well. And we were finaly able to breath a little bit, but not for long. We have SOO much work to do. And I don't want either area to be deprived. President just told us to go where the work is, and plan effectively that our time is precious. And it really really is! I think this is the thing Heavenly Father is trying to teach me this transfer, is how to be really organized and how to plan and work under a busy busy work load and stress. I've never been very good at that, but I'm excited to hopefully be shaped and refined to become better! All is well.

One more quick experience. Last night we went caroling with a few elders, and they took us to there area in federal housing. It smelt like pot and alcohol. While we were singing silent night to this one family, I think was a recent convert. It just reminded me of the place where Jesus was born. Poor and lowly. And that if it was in our day it would be very relatable to these circustances. The spirit just came over me and it make me so so very grateful, that He knows every situation. And He came here to this world to be born and help me to return to Heavenly Father's presence. What love He has for all of us.

I'll be talking to y'all tomorrow! I looooooooove you!

S. Nielsen

The Life of a Missionary.. in Hawaii. :)‏ 17 Dec 2012

Aloooooooha! Mele Kalihimaka!

This week seriously feels like a month! But yet also a day.. So weird. I'll get to that. Ok first things first. Erin, 2 DATES!? That's my girl. ;) Hahaha, I love that! Pumba would be so proud. Also.. It's Christmas already? Yikes. I don't know when I'll be calling.. But I only get 40 minutes, and we're not allowed to skype. President likes to keep things simple. Sooo I will be hearing all your lovely voices in a week! And if you don't answer.. I'll just call back later I'm sure. Mom, I've been asking about nativites, but there is never enough time on pday to find one, and I could go to target.. but.. That's really not Hawaiian. Good thing I have another Christmas here. I will find one!

Last week news!

Monday: P-Day and ice skating!

Tuesday: Sister Kimmons is back! She's getting transfered to our mission, and she stayed with us this whole week. I stinkin love her, little Texas girl. (And Erin, I cut her hair this morning. Woo!) Ooo, also President took us to lunch after we picked up Sis. Kimmons from the airport, and then that night we went to Outback for out 18 high water mark dinner! Suuuuuuuuper fun!

Wednesday: Crrrrazzzzzzziiiinnnnneeeesssss, service project for a member and then the cottage meeting- the whole Salimeda family  spoke! They are SO SOLID! I love them so much.

Thursday: Alllll day week plan session. It felt so good.

Friday: T passed her baptism interview!

Saturday: T's BAPTISM!!!

Well.. T got baptized on Saturday! She has been so prepared! We didn't have any problems or concerns with her, she wanted to be baptized so bad. She told us days before that she was so excited she couldn't sleep. But she's in Halawa boundries, so that was our only concern. And also trying to baptize a lady in a wheelchair, but we got it all figured out! She sat on her shower chair. After we dressed her in her whites we had about 15 mintues to spair till the program started and she kept telling everyone, "Let's get this started! I don't have all day ya know." She didn't care who was there, she just wanted to be baptized! After she came out of the water she said so excitedly "I'm baptized!" I can't even put words to describe how she's changed my life and my whole perspective on things. She's had a hard life, and her family doesn't support or help her very much at all. Sunday morning we woke up at 5 o'clock to go to her house and help her shower and get ready for her confirmation. After washing her good hand she said "This is the first time that hand has been washed." I know Sis. Wright and I were suppose to find her, not the Elders. There is a reason and purpose for everything. Heavenly Father is well aware of T. And He's been preparing her all these years. I was just blessed enough to see everything happen.

Well.. As you all know, we got transfer calls last night. Haha I know you all want me to see the different islands, but Heavenly Father wants me to stay and take over the area. :) Sister Wright is being transfered off island, our assumption is Big Island with Sister Barnes. It's all good though. I'm serving in Hawaii, I think anywhere I'm at is a blessing. I'm not worried about taking over the area, but I am worried about keeping the fire going. Sister Wright is a baller missionary. We have 2 more with date.. Katherine for this weekend and Kenny on the 29th. I just hope I'll be able to help them stay on track, that they wont fall through. And also once we baptize these two our teaching pool is gone! We baptized everyone! I know that not a big problem to have, but finding the elect is work. And I don't want to loose the baptizing fire we have in this area. I know I just need to do my part, and Heavenly Father will take care of everything. But those are just my little worries. But everything will be good. I hope I've doing everything Heavenly Father wants me to do in this area. And that I am becoming the person He wants me to become.

Anywho.. I love you all! Have a fabulous week and do good things!

Looooooooooooooooove, S. Nielsen

Wowza! Mele Kalikimaka!‏ 10Dec 2012

Alooooha! And good morning on this fabulous Monday!

This week has gone by SOOO fast! But at the same time I feel like a month has passed! I am soo exhausted, but somehow Heavenly Father gives me energy to keep going.

I'm glad to hear everything is going well! Ohh. Happy Aniversary Mom and Dad! Go to the star. :) It's weird to think about back home and how it's cold there. Because the weather hasn't changed much since I got here, besides the fact that it gets a little cooler at night. But other than that.. It's the same!

At this time we have 3 investigators with date! Tiresa, Katherine, and Kenny. Tiresa (we figured out how to spell her name.) is the gal in a wheelchair that God happen to place in our paths, she's not in our ward boundries.. But we don't think the elders would be very patient with her since she's hard to understand. .. Yeah I know.. We poach. It's ok. She's getting baptized this Saturday! And she is SOO excited! We still have to figure out all the little things like.. How we're going to get her in the font, but everything will be well. She's excited and everything will work out. I'm not worried. Katherine we invited this week, and she said yes! She's a single mom, in the military and is doing everything by herself right now. She had surgery this last week and we had our relief society jump on it and help her out, I know she's was so grateful. And I hope she is able to see what the church gives and what it will bring to her life. She's awesome though, I love her. We just need to get her more solid and build her testimony. Her baptism date is for the 22nd.  Kenny. AH! Kenny has been sober for 8 DAYS!! He's been drinking since he was 17 and hasn't stopped. But he's ready to quit, he got a priesthood blessing last Sunday after church and it's working! (Ofcourse.) This is the longest he's ever gone since he started! Yesterday he told us that he went to open a can of beer, and he looked at it and said it looked like puke, then he took a sip and couldn't stand it! That is was gross. AH! God is so good. He's doing so well. We just have to get him focused on the marriage part. He needs to marry Erika before he can get baptized, so that will be our next focus. He has his baptismal date for the 29th!

My eyes have been opened being a missionary. We are facing struggles in our zone, I've talked with one of our Zone Leaders and he feels the same way, that after we hit 18 everyone doesn't care anymore and have just sacked out. Nobody is focused on 20 this month. And it's so frustrating! If every companionship had 3 baptisms, we'd for sure hit it. It's so interesting to see who wants it, and who's out here to get their RM stamp. I thought all missionaries were obedient. But that's really not the case. You really get to see people true colors and testimonies here on a mission.

There is so much going on inside of my head, so much that I want to tell you and say, but I just don't know how to put it. These past couple of weeks I've been hearing and thinking so much about how our lives are way too busy, and how when we are we are in Satan's yoke, we take no time to ponder the meaningful things in life. We have no time to recieve spiritual guidance, because we are not listening to the Holy Ghost. We don't have time to. I think this is especially how people get during Christmas time, everyone is way to busy.. doing this and that, and nobody stops and recognizes the Savior, and the reason why we have Christmas. It's so sad to see, I feel like I've been running for years, school, work, school. I know when I got home my priorities and how I spend my time will be very different. It's just defined as what you take as your priority in life. And what is important to you. Good, better, and best. :)

Well I love you all! I hope you have a fabulous week and give the time to stop and enjoy the blessings God has already given us. :)

Much loooooooooooooove and Aloha!

S. Nielsen

18 Baby! 3 Dec 2012

Aloha!

Yep that's right.. Hon-Freakin-Best hit 18 BAPTISMS!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhh! It was the craziest last week of my life! But sooo good, so many miracles. God is good. :)

We had an investigator we were kind of teaching on and off (she was really hard to get in contact with) her name was Tina, 20 yr old from American Samoa. Last month we invited her to our ward halloween dance and she had a great time! But then she disappeared for two weeks, and later we found out she was in the hospital. Earlier in the month we went and visited her, and ended up calling the Elders to come and give her a blessings. After that blessing we committed her to be baptized on November 24th and she said yes! But then low and behold.. We lost contact again.. On friday the 23rd we dropped off a Samoan book of Mormon to her, and she was so excited. She then told us that she'd got to church with her friend to the Samoan ward on our "November 11th invite a friend sunday" . That was a suprise! Sis. Wright and I both left feeling and thinking that she was so prepared. As we were driving away Sis. Wright said, "She will for sure be baptized in December.." I thought about that for a while and then said. "Why not tomorrow!?" I didn't know if I was acting on the spirit or if it was just the modivation inside of me to baptize 18 this month. Whatever it was I made some crazy phone calls for splits (that was the night of Alex Hackett's interview) and for the samoan  ward elders to come and teach with us and commit her to be baptized the next day. The lesson went well, and I realized she understands so much more in Samoan than english. Everytime me or one of the other white elder tried to say something, she'd give our samoan elder a confused face. And then he'd explain things to her. We didn't commit her to baptism that night, it just didn't feel right for me when I got in there. But it was a good transfer over to the elders and the ward she would be attending. They kept working with her, she attended a baptism Saturday morning went to church on Sunday the 25th. And then recommitted her to be baptized on November 29th. She wanted to so bad, but she needed permission from her Dad. We were then praying like crazy! And he gave her the permission. Then next hurdle. Convincing the stake president to confirm her the same day. (Otherwise it counts for a Dec. Baptism.) Our Zone Leaders worked some magic and it was a go! AHH! I've never been so happy and exhausted in my life! BUT WE DID IT! 18 BAPTISMS IN NOVEMBER! It was the highest number than any other zone that month! It feels sooo good. I thought I would feel accomplished and done, but now we're all just motivated to hit 20 in december. We gotta do it! So we're still working hard and hitting the pavement.

Gosh, Bishop Lung.. What a sweetie. That was nice of him to email you guys. I'm so happy you had a great Thanksgiving! Mine is going to be one I will never forget. Mom, that's so crazy that you met Sis. Duke's mom! I just barely met Sis. Duke yesterday and she said "So our mom's met the other day in seagull book." That was weird to hear. But it was fun! I know she's a baller missionary, after being out for 6 weeks she became a mom and sister trainer. Tall, with red curly hair. :) Craziness. She came out with Sister Wright.

I seriously cannot believe it's December, it really doesn't feel like it at all. In my head it's still August when I got here, because the weather hasn't changed. But hopefully I'll still be having a "white Christmas" :) But everything is happening so fast. 4 months? What the what!? I still feel like I just barely got here!! I love Hawaii so much. It's gorgeous here. I love love love green. ( Which I don't see to much of.. Since I'm in the city. But when I do I love it!) I cannot imagine myself NOT being a missionary, I feel like I've learned so much.

We went to the temple this morning. (That's why pday was today) Oh my goodness, I looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove the temple. I feels like I hadn't been in forever. But I learn something new everytime and just feel so much strength afterwards. Heavenly Father has blessed us so much. I was thinking a lot about a year from now, and being here for the Salimeda's to be sealed. Ahh, I love this. I love being a missionary.

Well.. Transfers are in two weeks, and either Sis. Wright or I will probably be leaving.. Booooo. :( I really love that girl so much,  she my PERFECT trainer. And she loves the Savior so stinkin much. It's all over her face and love for this work. I will forever be changed because of her.

Lindsey is going to SAN DIEGO! Ahhh! That's AWESOME! I'm so excited for her! If you get a chance.. Tell her I love her, and that she will make and awesome missionary. :)

Well I gotta fly. But I love you all so much! OH! As for my Christmas package, clothes.. Jewelry (simple, mission approved) A cute watch, Idk.. I don't need much. Music. What ever you think is fitting. :)

Love you! Have a great week!

S. Nielsen

P.S. HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY CAMERON! .... HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIN!

P.S.S. Tata since you found my blog, if you are reading this.. I love you so stinkin much! You are beautiful and you have changed my life. :)

Message from the Mom of Sister Nielsen's Companion

Bishup Lung and the Nielsen's,

Wow!  You must have been confused when you got the weird email from me!  The internet I was on was weird and, without me knowing, it obviously cut out and only saved some of the note so here is sort of what I said.

It was Sister Wright's birthday on Thanksgiving and she was so excited that the Salimeda family was being baptized.  She is such a family girl that I was worried she would struggle not being home for her birthday.  However, she is having the time of her life in Hawaii and I fear she won't ever want to return!  She is such a blessing to us as she serves the Lord there.

Sister Wright, Teddy, calls Sister Nielsen her baby, since she is her trainer.  She has so much love for her!  She mentions her gratitude for Sister Nielsen every week in her letters home.  They are on fire together.  We were in Elko in October and, after we returned home, realized that Sister Nielsen was from there and we could have met!  We will simply have to make a short trip to Elko when Sister Nielsen comes home.  I am sure Teddy will want to visit.  

Thanks, Bishop, for taking the time to write and include the wonderful pictures.  They are precious to us.  Thanks, Nielsens, for your incredible daughter that is such a blessing to our daughter.  Take care and best wishes for a wonderful Christmas season!

Sis. VaLee Wright

Message from Sister Nielsen's Bishop...

On Thu, Nov 22, 2012 at 8:32 PM, Bishop Lung <bishoplung@mlpts.com> wrote:

To the parents of Sister Wright and Sister Nielsen, I cannot begin to express my gratitude to you for preparing such wonderful and faithful daughters of God. Through their efforts we were blessed with the Salimeda family being baptized this morning. I cannot think of a better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than to witness a family come unto Christ.


Even as I am writing this, I received a call from the Sisters informing me of another baptismal commitment for this Saturday. We are truly blessed to have your daughters serving in our ward.


The Lord bless you this Thanksgiving and Holiday season.


With Aloha,
Bishop Lung