HF>i 26 Aug 2013

Alooooooooha my dear Ohana!

Well I didn't even realize it was the first day of school! I've been in summer time for.. quite a while. But I hope everyone's first day back went well! 

This last week was SOOO GOOD! We saw so many miracles and got to much work done. Heavenly Father is really blessing us! I forgot my planner.. a week seems like month as a missionary! And when I asked Sister Weaver what happen this last week she sent me her email. She did a really good job writing everything! So I think I'm going to copy and paste some of her email home.. if you don't mind. :)

-----"Oh my goodness, we seriously had a crazy week this week. I loved it! Monday we started off strong. We're supposed to start prosyliting again after 6pm, but here in Hawaii, its so hard to get appointments with people after 6, because that's everyone's dinner time, and then everyone goes to bed at like.... 7. No joke. And we usually have a dinner with memebers at 6 on Mondays. But this week, right after dinner, we hurried off to an appointment. :D It was so cool! It was with a wonderful mother and daughter. Sister Nielsen and I both instantly clicked with the 19 year old girl, all of us seemed familiar to each other, like we'd met before. And then we had an amazing discussion about Heavenly Father, and how much He loves us, and watches out for us.

Tuesday, we had a couple small miracles. We kind of had an appointment with someone down in Hawaiian Homes (about 45 minutes away from where we live, but on the way back home from our Tuesday meetings down in Kona). But they called us, and said they weren't home yet. So we decided to go visit someone else who lives just down the street from them, but sister nielsen and I ended up talking in the car for about 15 minutes. Just as we were about to get out of the car, we got a call from Miki (the guy we were originally going to go see) and he asked, "Is that your silver car down there?"

"yes it is! We were just visiting someone else real quick. Are you home now?"

"yes I am. You should come now." :D

Miki is awesome. It was perfect how things worked out. I can't even explain it. lol it was just so cool!

Later that day, we were kind of double booked. I say kind of because at 4 on Tuesdays we have a standing appointment with this wonderful lady named Anne. But this Tuesday, a member really wanted to take us and introduce us to a friend of his that he believes would be interested in hearing the gospel, and the only time he can take us there, is Tuesdays at 4. Any tuesday. So we were desperately trying to find 2 girls that could go on splits with us (its kind of like being in 2 places at once) and finally we got ahold of the twins. :D I LOVE the twins. Whitney and Mariah. They're 18 and graduated from High School. They actually come out and do missionary work with us a lot. And they were both available! So Maraih came with me and Whitney went with Sister Nielsen and we were able to go to both of our appointments :D It was super amazing-fatastic-ness and all that Heavenly Father's totally watching out for us.

Wednesday Sister Nielsen and I had dinner with a family in our ward (just as usual) except there was someone there we'd never met before. One of their sons who still lives at home, 23, but doesn't come to church. The mother told us that since we were there, her son probably wouldn't show himself. That's not too unusual. People hide from us all the time. Ooooo scary missionary girls! ;) But she was wrong. Oh boy, she was wrong. Her son came out, and ended up joining us for dinner (they had to add an extra chair and place setting for him), and then throughout dinner, we got to hear all about this young man, and how he became an Olympic swimmer for the Phillipines at age 18. And he spent the whole night fumbling over himself and failing miserably at hitting on sister nielsen and I. Yes, there was no doubt in either of our minds that this poor guy was hitting on us. I wonder if he realized that hitting on sister missionaries is about as pointless as hitting on a nun.

Thursday was packed. Friday brought more miracles, but explaining them just wouldn't do it justice. Saturday was a little bit slow, but still very productive. And Sunday (yesterday...) brought church ^^ I love church. We also got to go to a musical fireside in Waimea. It was astounding. You should look up Keha'u Cast. I think i spelled his first name wrong. But he's a blind musical prodigy. He's amazing. And he played the organ for us. There's even a mormon message about him. You should look it up."----  End of Quote by Sister Weaver. :)

Yess! There was our week! I feel so grateful and blessed! During our Friday Kona Zone leadership meeting we wanted to think of a theme for this next transfer. We have an awesome missionaries in our zone and are really want to refocus on hitting high water. We decided something about faith and miracles, and in Hawaii everyone was stickers on the back of there cars. It's a big deal. But one that is really popular is HE>i. Meaning HE-Jesus Christ is greater than I. I'm not sure if it's a specific religion or if it's just a christian thing. But I had a thought to change it a little to HF (Heavenly Father) >i. (I'd seen another missionary use a cricket and make this. Haha.) I don't know if we're going to use it or not, but it's definitely true. And I've definitely feel like we've seen that this last week. Heavenly Father is so much greater than ourselves. His plan if the way, we just have to do all we can and exercise our faith in him. Miracles will only come through faith.

I am so excited for this next transfer. We have 2 missionaries going home, but the rest of us are staying! Sister Weaver and I get atleast one more together. I'm really excited, it's kind of weird sometimes being around all these youngster missionaries. It's amazing what a difference 2 years do, but I love Sister Weaver and we work really well together.

Well.. The gospel is true! The Savior Lives! I am so grateful to have the gospel in my life, what a blessing. Have a wonderful first week of school! "Study hard, learn alot.. CTR and RWH. And share the gospel!" :)

Love,

S. Nielsen

Pictures from the last email that I didn't get up...

You Get What You Focus On. 19 Aug 2013

Alooooooha!

I'm so glad everything with Whitney's baptism went well. Opposition will always come, her story kind of reminded me of Lenny's baptism. And look where he is now! A zone leader in PA! Good things are coming for her. I hope she loves college and takes this new chapter and just embraces the gospel!

Well we had our baptism this week as well! Shiko and Ma'lie were baptized. This was such a miracle. I really feel like it sort of just fell into our laps. Their grandma is less actice, both parents aren't members. But the whole family was able to come to the baptism and support! We had a lovely service. We've been teaching Shiko and Ma'lie in our 'power of primary' class Tuesday nights. It's basically all the almost 8 year olds in the ward and any unbaptized keikis. These two are they only ones who have been coming since I got here, so we're gotta go and invite more to come. During the baptism usually the missionaries give a message about the restoration while the people are getting changed. So before the baptism started I turned to Sister Weaver and said.. Let's just sing the "joseph smith's first prayer".. (I did that all the time with Sister Wright..) I think she was a little nervous seeing as we never practiced, but I think it turned out well! I think we nielsens are good at 'winging' things.

Other than that I wish I could say we did more, but we were preping for the baptism most of the week. I went on exchange with Sister Haws on tuesday. She's Sister Smoots daughter. It was really good! I am so impressed how Heavenly Father made this age change, but also how he prepared so many of these youngsters to be here. I'm seeing that more and more as I meet all these new missionaries. Heavenly Father definitely knows what He's doing.

Sister Weaver and I are seeing miracles though! We have 9 scheduled appts for this next week! I am SO excited! After church on Sunday Shiko and Ma'lie's 13 year old cousin came up to us and started talking. We asked if she's been baptized and she said no but that her grandma wanted her too. We then set up an appt with her for Wednesday! It looks like she has lots of friends in the church.. Ooo! I'm just so happy! Heavenly Father is blessing us so much! Then later that day a ward member introduced us to his neighbor and we got 2 new investos! We're going back to teach them tonight. The work is pressing onward!

Jeffrey R. Holland is coming to the Big Island to speak to only our stake September 22. It's a 'special conference' that popped out of nowhere I guess. Everyone is really excited and anxious to see why he's coming. Apostles don't just come for no reason. But that will be exciting to see!

Well we find out transfers news on Sunday. I know.. I know! I cannot even believe how fast time is going! I just want it to slow down. I need more time as a missionary. I really hope Sister Weaver and I stay together, we got the flow of being unified, working, and things are starting to happen!

I love you so much! I love this gospel! And I LOVE being a missionary! Have a wonderful week.

Aloha and Love,

S. Nielsen

P.S. I went fishing today.. In the ocean! And I caught some sort of tropical fish! Yepp.. It was really cool. I have the best mission ever!

Mission is Like a Marathon. 12 Aug 2013

Alooooha from Big Island! My beloved Ohana!

Well first things first. I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT WHITNEY!! That is so amazing! I've been prayin for her. If I wrote a little note would you give it to her? Ahh please please please send me pictures! What a miracle, Heavenly Father is so good. I can feel the missionary fire in your emails. Keep going! Don't just stop with the one. There are more people who need our family's fellowship. Let Heavenly Father trust us with His prepared people and being an instrument for this wonderful work! Catch the wave and don't get off! He needs us now more than ever. What an amazing miracle, how blessed we are to be a small part of it.

This week was VERY eventful! I cannot believe I'm starting week 5 of this transfer! I feel like I just barely got here. It's so crazy how fast time is going. I can't keep up with it. Boooooo.

Monday-Pday

Tuesday-Kona Temple and district meeting, Lesson with Anne and Power of Primary.

Wednesday-Got. Work. Done., ward cordination meeting.

Thursday- Week Plan and lesson with Kalei.

Friday-Exchange with Kona Sisters.

Saturday-LICE!

Sunday- Church, Lesson with Keith, and Youth Fireside about social media.

Today- AMAZING hike! Waipio Valley!

We went to the Kona temple!  It's such a cute little temple, the 2nd smallest temple in the world. It's located right next to the stake center, and I think they are about the same size. I'd been needing a little temple in my life, it was so good and just reenergized. I learn so much everytime I go. And I'd send you pictures.. But I left my camera in the kona sister's backpack from the hike this morning. :/ I know I have so many things I need to send you. I'll get there.

On Friday I went on exchanges with Sister Robertson. She's from the 'ghetto' LA. I'm not sure where at but she said it's about an hour away from Glendale. She's samoan and has such an incredible story. Most of her siblings are 'gang bangers' and comes from a rough background. But she's here and she's a missionary. I cannot imagine her life. She's awesome. I love all the people you meet as a missionary. We had a good exchange.

Saturday morning I was having an itchy head again and so I took my little comb and went through my head again. And this time I was finding tiny little nits. Yep it's LICE! Sister Weaver and I spent most of the day washing/cleaning and going through my hair. I told Sister Smoot about it today and she said she got lice on maui and couldn't get rid of it until a samoan went through her whole head and picked them all out. Hmmm. It's common among the polys. Hopefully I don't have any more trouble.

We have an new investigator, Keith. He's a single guy and in his 30s. We met him at the dump. Haha.. But we had an awesome Restoration lesson with him yesterday. He's kind of a earthy, nature is my God kind of a guy. He has a lot of good beliefs, but just has a hard time with organized religion. He also thinks that there is so much bad in the world that God needs to flood the earth again.. Or something like that. We had planned to bring our elders quorum president but then at church somehow it got out that we had a lesson and we had another ward member come and ask if he could come. And then the whole ward wanted to know how it went. It was interesting, can't get any fellowship for some lessons, but then this one we had the whole ward wanting to come!

Well.. Other than that we're working hard, looking for miracles, and loving every second. This last week I think it's kind of hit me that I only have 6 months. Ahh I hate that. But I had this analogy explained to me this last week that missions are like marathons. Some missionaries sprint to the end, others are so exhausted and have to walk. Or they just give up. You definitely see all these kinds of missionaries. I've been thinking about that, and I feel like I came out running. But then through my experiences and challenges I was hitting my "wall", just having to keep pushing to work with the situations I was in.. Now I've broke through the wall and I'm ready to just fly! I wanna sprint to the end. I talked to Sister Wright the other day when Sister Hudson was going home, she will be home in 2 weeks ish, she said.. "Go big or go home.. Or both!" The plan was 9 baptized if all goes according to plan. I love that girl.

I love you all so much! Have a wonderful week and a wonderful baptism. Baptisms are the best! We tell our investigators to invite people to their baptisms like it's their wedding reception. Let everyone be a part of it and witness the priesthood firsthand. Keep being amazing. :)

Love,
S. Nielsen

Count Your Many Blessings. 5 Aug 2013

Aloooooha! My wonderful Ohana!

What a week.. I feel like it's been sooo long! But so good! I love being a missionary. :)

Our area is really picking up! Sister Weaver is really excited and so am I.. I'm just wondering what it is that we need to do more to get this area on fire! We have a few pretty good investigators, but are kind of flakey with committments. We were able to see a miracle this week though! We have a "power of primary" class, which is basically the lessons and a lot of the unbaptized kiekis come and we have a good time. Well the first week I was here we committed these two girls who are sisters to ask their mom if they could get baptized. Shiko (11) and Mali'e (8 turning 9 on the 11th). We knew that we would probably have to talk to them to make sure it happened, but they said they would. This last week when we stopped by to see if they were coming to the class we were able to talk to the grandma and mom, and they asked US about getting them baptized. They said that the girls had come to them and asked them and that they were really excited about it. What a shock to us! But we decided on a date of August 17th. Heavenly Father is so good. :)

So..Wednesday I noticed that my head was kind of ichy. I didn't really think anything of it. I'm in Hawaii I just thought maybe the misquitos had gotten to my head. But then that night I noticed that it wasn't a normal kine ichy. So I had Sister Weaver check my head to see if she saw anything and she pulled out this little tiny bug and said that I had a few of them in my hair. Ahh.. Lice? So we called Sister Rapier and she said to come over first thing in the morning. We went over and she checked my head. She said she didn't see any white nits but she did see a few bites and that I should just use the lice conditioner just in case. We drove to Kona to get lice shampoo and also to pick up Sister Weaver's new glasses. In the lice dakine they also include this nice little tiny pic/comb. That night I got in the shower and just starting using that little comb and going to town on my head.. I started to pull out these bigger looking bugs than the one Sister Weaver pulled out!I still have no clue what they are. I took pictures so maybe you guys can do some investigating for me. I'm getting ichy just typing about it. But whatever it was.. it's gone now! Phew.

We had interviews this week with the new mission president and they went really well. I always enjoy our little interviews with our mission presidents wife too. They are both wonderful people. Still kind of green, and a very different feel. President in our interview talked a lot about exercising in the morning. ( That is not something President Dalton would have ever brought up..) I'm doing really good here, with Sister Hudson is was hard to exercise. But it was good to hear and he gave great council.

I got a phone call yesterday telling me that SIster Hudson wasn't doing to well and that she was going to go home. I don't even know how to explain how I felt. I guess being her "mom"/Trainer my heart broke alittle bit. I really just wanted her to have such a wonderful amazing mission experience. When I was with her we talked a lot about her going home those last few weeks. But I was always the one fighting for her to stay.. to help her keep the positive outlook on things. The help her believe in herself and that she could do anything she put her mind to. And that's how I really felt. But now it's time for her to go home. I was able to talk to Sister Hudson for a good 30 minutes yesterday and she feels at peace with everything. President was leaning that direction but it it was definitely her choice to go. She was very grateful for the experiences we had together and said that I was one of her best friends. That girl has seriously changed my life forever. It was such a challenging time, but I feel confident that I did everything I needed to do for her. She's definitely changed from when she first got out on the mission. She'll fly out tonight. Definitely a bittersweet.

I love the law of obedience. When I first got here the night Sister Weaver and I were driving to our area I just asked her how she felt like she was doing on obedience. She admitted that some rules she was kind of struggling with and I just told her that I wanted to be obedient and that I was ready to see miracles and to work as hard as I could. She's joined me on this quest and we've been doing really well. Yesterday we had a goal to get 7 investigators at sac. And we focused really hard and went and invited everyone and we had a lot who said they would come and then didn't. I think Sister Weaver was really bummed out and really questioned our "obedience" and what was the point. We had a good little talk about it and I know that blessings come only after the trial of our faith! So.. Miracles are coming. I really hope to help Sister Weaver see how the best way in life is to be obedient!

Well.. I am so grateful to be a missionary! These past two days I've just been really grateful for all the amazing things Heavenly Father has blessed me with. Having an attitude of gratitude is really the only way to live our lives and to be happy. I am so grateful for all the many wonderful blessings and experiences I've had as a missionary. Mortality is hard. But it's also ohh so good.

Have a wonderful week! Keep sharing the gospel and being awesome. :)

Love,

S. Nielsen