I Know That My Redeemer Lives. 25 Feb 2013

Aloha Mi Familia!

What the what.. I don't get to find out who won the championship games!? .. Darn. I'll just have to wait till next week. Well I hope and pray that all went well and that you had an awesome time in Vegas, whatever the outcome. :)

Well.. This week was good. I don't think there are really any major events that happen. We're just working hard and trying to cover both areas. Just trying to keep going and push strong to the end! (March 13th-transfers.. aka Kahala and Aliamanu get their own miissionaries again! Phew.)

We had one baptism for the Kahala ward this week! Her name is Brianne, she's 16 and just the sweetest spirit ever. She was introduced to the church by a ward member who works at her school. Auntie Fine, her husband is the Bishop. She noticed that some of the girls were mean to her and so she told Brianne that she doesn't need them that she would be her friend. She later invited Brianne to church and she fit right in with the Young Women. She's been coming to church since like October, but her parents just barely decided to let her get baptized. Her parents actually came to the baptism as well! It was an awesome service the spirit was really strong.

I had to give a talk in church on Sunday (Aliamanu ward) on the Plan of Salvation. And Bishop just said to take it from preach my gospel and split the lesson between Sis. Kuok and I. It was kind of a hard talk to prepare. Speaking in church is way different than teaching a lesson. Especially when your used to teaching to people who don't know anything about the gospel. So my first bullet point was the atonement. And I'd been studying that all week, and I felt like I'd learned so much, yet I was having such a hard time to decide which way I wanted to take it. Some things I've learned that stood out to me is that the atonement is not only for the sinners but it's also for the saints. (Mosiah 3:19) That we need to rely on in order for us to become better. The atonement makes bad men good and good men better. I wish I could share all of my new discoveries and insights. I love personal study, I learn so much everyday.

I love seeing how the spirit is able to use me as an instrument in His hands. There are so many times that I know they spirit just takes over my words and is able to touch the hearts of the people I am serving. I feel like I am learning so many different things, my thoughts and perspective is changing. Alot because of the things I observe and the experiences I have. Being a missionary is not a cake walk, but I absolutely love it! I am so happy I made this decision to serve.

Well I better get going. I love you all! I hope you have a fabulous week and have some time to breathe and relax. I know it's tax season, don't stress out too much! :) And take time to do the things that matter most.

I loooooooooooooooove Mom, Dad, Chelsea & Brian, Erin, Cody, Summer, Carly, and Adelaide! All you guys! And I am so grateful and blessed to have you as my family here on earth. :)

Much Aloha,

S. Nielsen

P.S. Pictures are of Kehnie's Wedaptism. And my tri-panionship in our brand new Corolla. :)

My Sisters are Dropping Like Flies! 18 Feb 2013

Aloha! 

Well.. What an exciting week for you guys! Sounds busy. I'm so excited
you're going to Vegas Go! Fight! Win! Get better Erin and Cody! I love
you guys and cheering for you an ocean away! 

 I feel like this week for me has been a blur as well. I don't even
know where to start. SO much has happen. So many emotions, good and
bad. Everything is so good. And I love this gospel. I love being a
missionary. I know I say that all the time, but there are so many
things that I learn everyday I could not have learned at home. I know
that my mission is preparing me for.. basically everything!

Wednesday.. I went on exchanges with the Sisters in Kahala. I went
with Sister Fong to her area, she is from Japan and is also a visitors
center sister. Being full pros is a lot different. We had a good day,
and it's so interesting to be in the leadership position on the
exchange. I'm not very good at.. taking charge? But hopefully just
loving and leading by example. 

 Thursday.. Kehnie got MARRIED and BAPTIZED!! It was the best
Valentine's Day EVER! I was going to send pictures but.. I forgot my
camera. Sorry. Next week for sure. It was seriously the best thing
ever! I was so happy I got to be there to see it. I met Kehnie the 1st
or 2nd day I was in Hawaii and he's had to overcome a lot. He's so
awesome. I am so happy I was able to be a small part and see the
miracle and changes he's made in himself. My heart was so full that
night, their whole family came and the spirit was sooooo strong. I
really wish I could put into words how it was, but I really just..
don't know how. But I definitely know that it was one of the reasons I
needed to come back to Hon-West. 

 Later that night I got a call from President. He told me that Sister
Fong's companion Sister Johnston, was going to go home. She got in a
car accident 3 months ago and in her MRI found something on her
thyroid. So now.. I am in a 3-some and we are back to covering both
areas. Kahala and Aliamanu. I was so high and then all of a sudden
became very stressed. You know me. I don't stress! But for some reason
as a missionary I.. Stress. I think it's because I know this work is
so important! And I focus and try to give it my all everyday and make
sure I'm being the best missionary I can be for our Heavenly Father.
So I now taking over both area and trying to meet the expectations
that come with both.. Heavenly Father is definitely building me for
something. 

 Friday.. We picked up Sister Fong at the mission office that night.
And said our goodbyes to Sister Johnston. It was so sad because I came
out with her and I imagined myself going home right now. And.. Oh boy,
I'd rather take over 2 areas than go home. It's just cannot be over in
6 months. That's way too short. But Sister Johnston had a really good
attitude and she knew that that was what she needed to do. She's
probably going to go get married. Let's be real. Sister Woodruff, (the
sister who got in a car accident in Kaneohe) went home the week before
as well. I can't handle all my sisters leaving! I need them here! 

 Well.. That's basically been the most important things in my week! It
been so.. stretching? Is that the right word to use? I feel like
Heavenly Father is teaching me so much. I love my two companions.
Sister Fong and Sister Kuok are awesome. But with them being
international and visitors center.. I'm the one leading out a lot. I
kinda feel like I'm training, but not really. Just with little things.
The VC is in it's own world. 

 I love you all! Have a safe drive to Vegas and make me proud! I'll be
looking forward to hearing what happens. Thanks for the emails!
They're the best! 

Loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove,
S. Nielsen

Ambazon? 11 Feb 2013

Aloha Family!

Well.. I got your package Mother! Mahalo! I loved EVERYTHING. And that peanut butter dakine is SO good! But.. it's 89 calories a tablespoon! Yikes! Eat sparingly. :) And.. You really call my card board cut out ambazon? How disrespectful! You need to be treating me lovingly and with kind words. And bring it everywhere you go! FHE, dinner, basketball games.. Just kidding. But really? Ambazon!?

You're all probably wondering what happened this last week with transfers!! Weeeeeeeellllllll... I am now BACK in Aliamanu. So I left for 3 weeks. A little vacay to Waimanolo, and now I'm back to Hon-West and in the concrete jungle. I know weird. But it's all good. I really did miss it here. I had an intersting experience with coming back too, it was on Thursday I think, I was thinking about why Sister Smoot left, and why I came back and thought about how the transfer could have been different, and then the spirit immediately chastised me and I just had this strong impression, "There are experiences you need to have HERE." I didn't feel like I was complaining about being back, but I had obviously offended the spirit by even thinking or questioning if everything was inspired I guess. It was really interesting, and VERY humbling. Almost as if it is a blessing to be back, I just don't know it yet, and I just need to be grateful for.. everything! It was crazy. Everyone in the ward was excited to have me back, I got a very warm loving welcome. I must say.. I learned SO much in those three weeks away. Getting transferred is a lot different than I had anticipated. But I loved it there. And I love it here. So all is well. :)

My new companion's name is Sister Kuok. She's from Macau, which is next to Hong Kong. She's so tiny and stinkin cute! She's been out on her mission for 3 months and is serving in the Visitors Center. So she's out with me for her 2 transfers full proselyting. She's still learning English, but she does a lot better than she thinks. She went to school in Beijing and graduated in fashion design. Which she's going to need to help me with, because since I've been a missionary, my 'fashion' has gone to the pits! And I only wear whatever is most comfortable! Whatever. But she's teaching me a lot about her culture and how things are different. It's really kind of fun! She has the coolest Chinese book of mormon!

Miracles are continuing to happen! I feel like I'm just picked up right where I left off. Kehnie and Erika are getting MARRIED on Thursday! And then Kehnie is getting baptized! I'm so excited! Best V-Day ever. They are so ready, and we've been working with them ever since i got on my mission, so I am so blessed to be able to be here for it! Erika is too. She didn't like that I got transferred.

On Saturday there were a bunch of names in our ward list that I didn't recognize. So I wrote some down and then planned of just going and visiting with them. One of them, this lady answered the door and we asked if this person lived there, she then said no, so then we used the prayer approach with her and she let us right in! She said she had just been reading her bible and looking for comfort as her mom just was rushed to the emergency room that morning, she had a blood clot in her lung. And this lady, her name is Molisha, was really just distressed. We prayed with her and she definitely felt the spirit! We invited her to be baptized and she said YES! I then briefly explained the about the Book of Mormon and gave her 2 Nephi 4 to read.  We set up a return appt for Sunday.. I was SO excited! It was So cool to be a part of that! We went over yesterday and she wasn't home.. :( But we'll for sure try and contact her sometime this week!

I love you all! and I'm so happy your beat Spring Creek. :) Have a suuuuuuuuuper week! Happy Valentines Day! I loooooooooooooooooooove you!

S. Nielsen

Life is NEVER boring as a missionary! 4 Feb 2013

AlllloooooooooHA Nielsen Ohhhhhhhana!!

What a week. Craziness! Why is everyone getting hurt?! No need! I hope both Erin and Cody recover fast so they can start paying to the best of their ability! We need em! I'm happy everything else is going well. :) I haven't gotten my package yet, but I'm sure it's at the office. I'll be there on Wed.

Well.. Let's take a sneak peak into this last week. Cottage meeting, laryngitis!, 3 Bap dates!, transfers, Sister Trainer!?, Blessings. :)

Heavenly Father is so tricky sometimes, just when I think I'm finally getting the hang of something He throws something else at me. Hopefully I'm becoming a good catcher in the baseball game of life! :) But all is well and He knows exactly what He's doing! So just gotta trust Him.

Cottage meeting was this last week, and as always the assistants need speakers, so we were able to ask one of our members who is a convert to come and speak. They feed us every Monday, and I love them! I can see now how when you eat with a certain family everyweek you just get used to being there and it really does feel like home. It's always fun to go to the mission presidents home. Such an awesome spirit there.

Heavenly Father sometimes has a funny way of answering our prayers. I was praying that Sister Piutau and I would be able to become more unifed when we teach, and to teach with 'one voice.' I didn't know that that was literally going to happen! I was had a little cold the week before and was getting over it, but I woke up Wednesday morning and couldn't talk! My throat didn't hurt at all, but I just couldn't talk! So our members googles my symptons and Laryngitis was what we decided! My vocal cords were swollen I guess. It's hard to be a missionary when you can't talk! We were out tracting and a little old auntie answered the door, I gave our approach and she then looked at me and said, "I can't hear you. You're voice is too high." :( Booo. I then just looked to Sister Piutau to do all the talking. So I took that as a sign and just kept quiet. This is Heavenly Fathers way of letting me know to just stop talking. Everything went well though. I can now talk again. :) Finally!

We now have 3 bap dates for Olomana! Chee-hoo! We working hard to keep them progressing and to get all our other investos with a date. I feel like they are all ready, they just need the little extra push into the font. :) Not that we're pushing, just guiding!

Weeeelllll... Transfers! And a big comotion of all the new trainers/callings is going around the mission! Usually if you are training a new missionary you get a packet in the mail the Friday before transfers. I was terrifed to check the mail, I'm not nervous to train, but I just didn't want to know. I had a referal for Sister Smoot so I was able to call her and she told me that she had gotten a packet, and that president called her. She's Sister Trainer over Makakilo and Mililani zones, training, and white washing. (That's like everything you can do in froms of responsibility.) I was then all curious! So we checked out mail, and we didn't get anything. We just were just to wait until Sunday to find out the rest of transfer plans. But then President called me later and extended the calling to be Sister Trainer over Kaneohe, Honolulu, and Hon-West. What the what!? I'm excited, but I still feel like a baby missionary! I still have learning to do! But I guess I'm doing something right. So I assumed I would be staying here in Kaneohe, and we'd just have to see if Sister Piutau would be leaving or not. All the other Elders told me I would be staying too, but transfer calls came last night and I'm leaving! I have no idea what President is thinking! I finally feel like I'm starting to know this area and BAM. Transfered. I'm either getting transfered back to my greenie area, Aliamanu, or Kahala. The other ward Sister Smoot and I covered for 4 weeks before I got ETed. Sooo.. Idk! We'll just have to wait and see what happens on Wednesday!

I love being a missionary, I feel like I'm learning something new every single day! I'm able to be in different family situations and to watch and observe how the choices they make effect them. I'm a people watcher. But really the only way we can progress and be happy is by living the gospel! That is the ONLY way! I can't believe I only have a year left. Does it feel like to you that I'm been gone for 6 months?

Thanks for being the best family ever! I stinkin love you guys. And miss all of you. But I love the support. It helps a lot!

Have a suuuuuuuuuuper week!

Love love love love!

S. Nielsen

Crazy Rain and Flash Flood Warnings! 28 Jan 2013

Aloha from Hawaii! How'z it?

Well.. These weeks keep flying by! I can't believe it's almost February! 6 months? That's just weird. I still feel like I just got here. But guess it's just what Grandpa Nielsen told me before I left for the MTC, "The harder you work, the faster it goes." Truth.

BOOOOOO! :( Darn. I'm sad the girls lost to Spring Creek. But you got a second chance! And all will be well! You'll get them this time Stinketh! Thank you mom for informing me about Grandma Croft! She will definitely be in my prayers.

Well this week has been really good! Sister Piutau and I are working hard. We were both not feeling well on Friday. There's a bug going around the island. And I'm still trying to learn the area and the people in the ward. I'm having a hard time with all these local names. They're crazy and just hard to remember. Right now everyone is either auntie or uncle. But I'll get there! Sister Piutau and I are doing a lot better teaching together as well. There is still room for improvement, but we've done some role playing and that's helped a lot. She runs into everybody she knows a the time! La'ie is just around the corner. The other day at zone conference her auntie was helping with the lunch. I can't imagine if that was me! I'd have the hardest time being focused. She handles it very well though.

We have a with date for February 23rd! Cynthia, an eternal investigator (she's been taught for a long time.) in our former investo folder. She's in her 30s, and dating/living with a Less Active. We went by to go and visit her and had her watch the Robles Temple DVD. (Look it up! That's what I keep telling you about.) And talked about what was holding her back from being baptized and she said it was just committing and starting it. She' knows everything true, and she wants to get sealed with her family in the temple. We set her with the 23rd and she seemed completely fine with it! She willing to get married and everything. I guess it's just time! Its crazy, I don't even really feel like we did anything, just went and asked her basically. But Heavenly Father has been preparing her this whole time, and I guess all we needed to do was ask.

We had another cool experience. So one of our investos, Eddie, Sister Piutau tracted into him a while back. He got in an accident in the ocean and has a slipped disk. He's in a lot of pain right now and has been for about a month! On bed rest and everything. So we went by to go and see him and had a little discussion about miracles, and offered if he would like a priesthood blessing. He accepted. The next day we brought some Elders and Eddie was wheeled out to the font lawn, it started raining a little bit, but no worries. The Elders gave him an awesome blessing! And elder who sealed was a greenie and you could tell he was suuper nervous. But the spirit took over and he did such a good job. Anywho, a few days later we went by again and visited, he looked SO much better. And he told us that everytime after we come he feels better. (Ha! The spirit!!)  I referred him to LDS.org to watch mormon messages because he has a lot of down time on youtube I guess. But then about 10 mintues after we left he called and said that he had walked from his bedroom to the kitchen WITHOUT his cane! Which he hasn't able to do in a month! The priesthood is real. And miracles happen! He's what Sister Piutau calls "low hanging fruit" I think he'll be baptized very soon. He's very prepared.

I feel like they are choke investigators in this area, but none of them are really progressing. So that's what we need to focus on, is just getting the desire there and a goal to all the lessons they've had. So hopefully lots of baptisms coming soon!

Transfers in on the 6th. So there is a chance that myself or Sis. Piutau could leave. We are getting all of our 18 and 19 year olds. There are choke Sisters coming in. 7 full pros this transfer and 10 the next. And only 1 is leaving. There is only 18 full pros right now (I think..). So everyone will be training. Lots of new areas will be opening and this next transfer is just going to be crazy! So.. We'll see what happens!

It's been raining a lot. And HARD! I love it! But there's been flash flood warnings yesterday and all today. There's a lot of water on the roads, but I think it's so fun. I loooove puddles! But it cools everything down as well, something I've realized while I've been a missionary. I love jacket weather! :)

Well.. I hope you all are doing soo soo soo good! I love and miss y'all. I am so happy I made this decision to go on a misison. I can't imagine my life without it. I am so happy and grateful for all the experieneces I've already had and are going to come. I get to learn! And hopefully become more like my Savior and the person God wants me to become. I also get to watch lives change. And how humbling it is, to watch miracles and be an instrument in the hands of the Lord. I hope I do or check off everything I am suppose to do while here in Hawaii. That I am not letting anything be undone. It's weird, I feel like my life just barely started. Or like I didn't know anything before my mission. I love teaching, that's probably my favorite aspect of this work. I am so happy I was called to Hawaii! This is becoming my new home. Just like good ol' Elko and Rexburg. Hawaii is right in there.

I love you! Refer your friends to the missionaries! Everyone needs the gospel! :)

Much Aloha,

S. Nielsen