Catch the Wave! 24 June 2013

Aloha! Nielsen Ohana!

Well.. Another week gone. I seriously cannot believe that june is almost over. I feel like yesterday was my birthday. Our new mission president comes in on the Saturday the 29th and president Dalton leaves Sunday morning. Then on Monday we're having MLC with the new mission president. I'm sure to talk about everything that was talked about in the Training yesterday. So that should be exciting!

We did not get to watch the worldwide leadership training because our stake didn't want to cancel meetings, so they are rebroadcasting it on July 9th. (Booooo...) But our Zone Leaders are going to download it and we're going to get together on Wednesday to watch it. Man.. I really hate watching important things AFTER the whole world knows about everything. Like General Conference.. I hate missing it. But we did have a very productive day yesterday so.. Guess we just needed to be working. :) We heard all about the facebook dakine and ipads or something.. That is.. Suuuper crazy! But it will make missionary work so much easier. There was one time Sister Hudson and I were trying to contact one of our investigators we couldn't get a hold of.. So we drove by there house to see if we could catch them. I turned to her and said, "Ya know.. Facebook stalking prepared me for my mission! It's just not on the computer now!"

This past week was pretty good. We have a few investigators who I don't know if I've really told you about. I'll just update you. :)

Jenny- She is of the Bahhi faith, her husband is less active and she's told us that she has no interest in joining our church. (Her in-laws have put some pressure on her.) But they welcomed us into their home for lessons. But over time they have come to really trust us. This last week Andy was on the mainland for a funeral and he called us to go over and clean the litter box. (Jenny is prego with their first) That's service I never thought I'd do! But we went over and then started talking to Jenny about how she feels about the BOM. She said that she believes it could be true and had a little discussion about it. We committed her to a "HW assignment" to 1.Pray before you read. 2. Read the chapters. (3 Nephi 11&12) 3. Answer these questions in draft from. a. Why is it important to be baptized on someone who Jesus Christ has given authority to? b. What is Christ's doctrine? c. Why would Jesus give the same 'sermon on the mount' to the people in ancient america? 4. Pray and tell heavenly father that you're going to read the chapters one more time and to help you gain a deeper understanding. 5 read the chapters again. 6 Revise what you have wrote with you deeper understanding. 7 Pray on final time to know if what you have written and read is true. (That is a very summarized description of "HW assignment" instructions.) But she accepted! And I know that if she does THIS the spirit will touch her heart and she will want to be baptized. I really think she's a lot closer that we think.

Rachel- I think I've talked a little bit about Rachel before. But this girl is testing my knowlegde! Most of my personal studies are directed for her lately. She is very catholic and wants to know all the references of what we are telling her from the bible. Our lessons with Rachel are always so intense. The spirit it so strong. Our fellowshipper that we bring served her mission is Italy! So she knows all about the catholic religion and that helps us out a ton!  But it's been really good for me. We've also given her a "HW assignment" and to let Heavenly Father resolve her own concerns. In our first lesson she came out with everything that bothers her in one sentence. Garments, baptism at 8, tithing, apostasy. So the next lesson her reading was from Mosiah 18 and Moroni 8 with the questions. Why is baptism important? Why is God offended when we baptize little children? and.. One more.. I can't remember. But this last week we were suppose to have another lesson. We called her and she told us that she did the homework assignment (EEEKKKKK!) and that she wanted another week to "chew" on everything. I really hope and pray that her heart was open for the spirit to teach her. So our lesson with her is tomorrow night. She's doing really well though. I feel so blessed to teach her.

Those are really our only progressing investigators.. But we're teaching a few others. But's it's just a confusing mess and not very steady.

I am so grateful to be a missionary right now! I looooove being a missionary. I read the talk "catch the wave" by Elder Nelson this morning and ahh.. I really just pumped me up! Also one of the things that was said in Elder Anderson's talk was that with more missionaries Heavenly Father is preparing more people. That really hit me. There are more people ready to hear this gospel and they are waiting for me. I am so happy to be a missionary.

Today I learned how to hula dance! One of the members in my ward is going to competitions all the time. She's a Hawaiian musician as well. So all the sisters I'm over went over and we learned how to hula! I'm definitely starting to feel it in my hips. But it was really fun!

I love you all so much! Keep opening you mouth and praying for missionary opportunities! I know Heavenly Father will bless us.

Aloha (Which means.. I love you.)

S. Nielsen

President Dalton's Dying Zone Conference 17 June 2013

Aloha Nielsen Ohana!

Well.. another week come and gone! So many crazy things have happen this last week! It's been so good. Our numbers were really kind of low.. But we saw so many miracles and I know that it is Heavenly Father blessing us.

On Wednesday was our last Zone Conferene with President Dalton. It was so good! Yet so sad. We sang Aloha Oe to them. I really am going to miss him and Sister Dalton. They've done so much for this mission. They leave the morning of June 30th. And he said that when President Warner lands in Hawaii, he is the new mission president. That every phone call he gets he will hand over the phone and say "It's for you." That just blew my mind! President Dalton isn't going to tell him anything that we've been doing how about any of the missionaries, that that is for President Warner to figure out and how he's going to influence this mission. Soo.. basically everything is going to change! But it will be a good change. At Zone Conference Presdient basically gave us all the advice that he gives to missionaries in their dying interview. (Last interview before they fly home.) It was so good, then he opened the floor for a Q and A. We were all able to ask questions. It was soooo good!

That night we only had about 3 hours to work. But we got so much done! We were able to try and contact a former investigator and in the mean while we ran into a less active member who isn't on our ward list. We say hi as we we were walking by and then stopped and talked to him a bit. He said he's been wanting to come back to church, and that his wife and kids weren't members. (That's what I like to hear!! :) ) So we scheduled an appt for this next week! We we also able to go and contact one of our referrals, they live across the street from one of the members in our ward and they told us to go and see them. Their 10 year old  daughter has come to church with the family and is ALWAYS over at their home. (It's kind of like Megan or Cristina for us back in the day..) But we contacted the Mom and she said that she is always so busy.. So then we asked if we could teach her daughter and she said that we could! Chee-hoo!

Later that night, we went as saw Carl. Our stubborn crusty 68 year old phillipino investigator whom I love so much. He's always so excited to see us and that just warms my heart! We stopped by and then went over the baptismal interview questions with him, he answered "whatever" (his favorite word) to most of the questions. But we've learned that "whatever" usually means yes. At the end we bore testimony that he's knows this, that he's ready to be baptized. I don't really remember how everything played out, his family was in on the conversation, "Grandpa, when you get baptized?" And we committed him to be baptized on Saturday. And he accepted! Ahhh.. I love getting solid with dates! It's the best feeling in the world! Sister Hudson and I were both SOOOO excited!

The next day we popped over and the adversary was already working on Carl. He explained that he wasn't sure.. Because baptism is the end right? He was afraid baptism is the last thing that he needed to do and that maybe soon after he would pass away. A legit concern! We retaught the doctrine of Christ and confirmed that baptism is just the first step. That it's opening the gateway. Sister Hudson wasn't feeling good during that lesson, and at one point she was trying to explain some personal story. As she was explaining I just had the thought come to mind, "you needed to be here to teach Carl".. Carl was being sassy and Sister Hudson wasn't taking it very well at all.. I could see the tension in her face and her frustration. She started crying a little bit, I knew that we needed to finish this lesson up soon. Anyways.. I was just so grateful for that experience. It really helped me to remember that I am here to teach specific people who God has prepared for ME.

Carl was baptized Saturday morning.. And oh what a glorious baptism it was! He was so funny.. Saying "whatever" the whole time. But I knew he was excited and I could see the joy in his face. Carl is baptized!!!! :) It was just a miracle and a blessing! I think I really needed to see that Heavenly Father knows our situation and He knows what needs to happen. He's the one working on these peoples hearts. I just bear testimony!

I feel like I have learned a lot these past few transfers. Really. But if there is one thing I hope to master it's to completely surrender my will. And to do the will of Heavenly Father in all things.

Thanks so much for the prayers and support. I love you guys all so much! I have the best family in the world. :)

Love,

S. Nielsen

First Ewa Baptism. 10 Jun 2013

Aloooooooha!

I got my package today! Sister Hudson had a doctor appt and it was at the office. Thanks so much for the dress! And all the little goodies! I haven't tried it on yet, but it's suuuuper cute! Thanks so much! I had a wonderful 22nd birthday. :)

Well.. Our week was.. A lot like the rest of our weeks had been. Sister Hudson hasn't been feeling very well at all and tt's hard to get out and work, but she's a trooper. I am so grateful for this experience. I am happy to be Sister Hudson's companion. She wants to be here, her heart is in it. I was talking to one of the assistants some time this week and he used to be my zone leader, but he always guesses what's going to happen with transfers with me and is always right. He predicted at the beginning of my 2nd tranfer training that we would stay together one more, and it happen. But after talking to him about staying together with Sister Hudson he just told me that I was perfect for her. I think I needed to hear that. It was comforting to know that I am needed, that God called me to this task.

On Saturday we went to a baptism for Sister Wright and Sister Hagberg, and it just make me so.. frustrated? I'm not quite sure what the word is. I was so happy for them and for the people who were getting baptized, they were a miracle. The sisters taught they for 2 weeks and they were ready to be baptized. I think I was just wanted to have see success so bad that seeing the other sisters baptizing made me wonder what we needed to do better. But I know that our situation is a lot different than theirs. That we're going through different experiences. Everything will work out.

But we did have a baptism! Shane, our 9 year old unbaptized keiki got baptized on Sunday. The elders had been working with him before and then we jumped in. His dad is a single dad who's been less active for a long time, his "baby momma" died a year or two ago and now he's left to raise 5 kids from ages 16-7. I really love this family, it was our bishop who helped us get the baptism and help them come to church. He has a good relationship with the father. But it was good to finally see a baptism after this drought. I know that more are going to come.

Well.. Carl is still being stubborn, but I think he's really close. I think he really likes Sister Hudson and I. He knows everything, and when he just flips the switch and says yes. We're going! Just need to pray for his heart to be soften. He's so close.

I had a nice little suprise on Sunday! The Daniels family walked into our ward! It was so crazy and werid to see them, it was like combining both world together! But it was fun to talk to them for a few minutes and to see Trevor. I'd been a long time. He'd  never been to ewa beach before.. :)

Well I love you all so stinkin much! Thank you for your prayers and support. I love being a missionary. My time is running short and that's terrifying! I just hope I'm doing everything Heavenly Father wants me to do. I'm trying to be the best missionary I can be.

Choke Aloha and LOVE,

S. Nielsen

Older.. and wiser? 22! 4 Jun 2013

Aloha!

Well it's been quite and exciting day! Thanks so much for the pictures! I loved em! You guys are seriously the best. :) Yesterday I was suprised with a brownie cake from the zone and some balloons. This morning Sister Wright and Sister Hagberg showed up at our appt and they made me breakfast. Complete with pancakes, sausage, eggs and OJ. Then our zone leaders showed up with a cookies and cream cake. It's SO good! I'm definitely going to have to snag that reciepe. It's been so great so far!

 

I'm so happy to hear about such and exciting week! I really love and enjoy your emails home.

Well... I'm am for sure staying another transfer with Sister Hudson here in ewa beach. Which I was expecting from what everyone was saying. And like I said last week, I'm ready. I'm ready to baptize. Dispite whatever situation I'm in. Heavenly Father will provide a way. He knows what He's doing. Guess I just have a little more refining to do. I'm totally ok with that. But I'm just hoping I'm doing everything right. Sometimes I just really.. Don't know what to do. I love Sister Hudson. And I want what's best for her, but I just don't know.. what to do. Our numbers were really low this last week, we have a few progressing investigators which I am very grateful for. I just want to be the best missionary I can be.

I feel like I need to take a step back, and just be grateful for everything I am already blessed with. Maybe I have been looking in Sister Nielsen eyes instead of Heavenly Father. I am so grateful to have a wonderful family back home who loves and supports me. I am so grateful for loving fellow missionaries, who have become some very dear friends. I am grateful that I didn't get married and was able to serve a mission in Hawaii! Where it's beautiful everyday and I get to watch peoples lives change. As well as myself.

One thing I always like to do on my birthday is to make a list of everything that happen in that past year. And most of that is my mission. I really cannot believe I've been out here for that long. But it's been SO good. I really wouldn't change anything. And 22 is going to be even better! (That's sounds.. so old.)

I love you all so much! You're the best family in the world! I am so grateful to have been taught the gospel in my home growing up. And to have parents who don't only have testimonies, but who are converted to this gospel.

Have a fabulous week!

Much Aloha and LOVE,

S. Nielsen

Defying Gravity! 28 May 2013

Dearest Nielsen Family, Aloha!

Last week.. At-A-Glance

Monday: PDay- Zone Breakfast and Basketball Tourny!

Tuesday: District Meeting, drive to Honolulu for Heath Insurence

Wednesday: Exchange with Sister Millet in Makakilo!

Thursday: Comp reports due, Inventory with Sister Hudson. Lesson with Rachel.

Friday: Sister Hudson's Doctors Appt.

Saturday: Taught Mana and Lei the law of Chastity

Sunday: Church, Taught Mana and Lei the Word of Wisdom

Monday: MLC

Tuesday: TODAY! :)

This week has been a little bit.. crazy. Well what's not to expect right? But really, it's been so rewarding too. I feel like I've learned so much just in this last week. About faith and how much my Heavenly Father expects from me and knows the details of my life.

Sister Hudson had an appt last on Friday to get a biopsy of a lump on her thyroid. They were to test the cells to see if it was cancerous. She was really stressed out about it this whole week.  She was trying not to be but there was a lot of things we needed to do to prepare for her appt. Sister Hudson doesn't have health insurence and the Biopsy would cost 5,000. Our mission nurse called on Tuesday to figure everything out of how this procedure was going to be paid for. She suggested for Sister Hudson to apply for state Health insurence. So we hopped online Tuesday after district meeting to see what needed to be done. She printed off these papers, filled them out and we drove to Honoulu to go and turn them in, it needed to atleast be pending by the time her procedure was to be done on Friday. Well.. The office was closed when we got there. So Sister Hudson was going to have to go the following day while I was in Makakilo on exchanges.

Exchanges was really fun! Sister Millet is a VC sister who is out full pros at this time, and she is actually the sister who I went to efy with a million years ago and we lost contact until now. Sister Hudson got everything done she needed to do in town and it took her a good chunk of the day.

Thursday was the day I needed to get comp reports done. (Transfers is next week) I fill them out for the sisters that I am over.  So I met with the Zone Leaders to discuss about the sisters in the Zone and then our suggestions for president about the upcoming transfer. While I was talking with them and about my concerns for Sister Hudson. That I just thought that maybe it would be better for her to have a different companion because then she pushes herself to work. I feel like I'm not ready to leave. But I just felt like.. Something needed to change. They said that the assistants and mentioned to them about keeping all the sister in the zone, and having a sisters freeze. That I was already used to Sister Hudson and knew how to handle the situation. It was good to talk to them. And I knew that if we were going to stay together another transfer or not she needed to know how I was feeling.

We went home and were going to finish our week plan, but she wasn't feeling well, so she laid down on her bed and I just sat on the floor and started asking questions, what we needed to do to get our area going. Things that we both need to change. Etc. It was a really good conversation. I explained to her how I felt and she'd mentioned some things too.She's been getting down on herself that it's her fault that we can't work.  I expressed how much I needed her. I need a companion. And even if she's not feeling well to just trust me and be by my side so that we could teach and get our investigators moving. I tried to emphasize that this is OUR area, not just mine, and not hers on exchange. That when she's not feeling good it's not just her problem, but mine as well. We're in this together. Both Sister Hudson and I needed it. Everything starts in the home, even missionary work. I really do love Sister Hudson.

That night we went and taught Rachel. A part member family, the husband is a RM. We had a really good lesson. Rachel has a lot of really good questions. She's catholic, but it seems to me that she's still hungry for something more. But I'm excited for her to read from the book of Mormon and get answers for herself.

On Friday Sister Hudson had her doctors appt. And everything went well! She got approved for Health Insurence and her lump is actually gone, they didn't have anything to biopsy! That was a miracle and a relief for both of us. I just stayed in the mission office, and President Dalton came in for a bit. He told me that ewa beach was going to need to be a big part for june. He basically said in a non direct way that I was staying in Ewa Beach, and that it needed to baptize. No pressure. 

 I've been feeling this weight on my shoulders these past couple of weeks. And all these different things on my mind that I am responsible for. I catagorized them into four different catagories. 1.Sister Hudson- Training, her medical problems, emotions.. Etc. 2. Sister Trainer- Exchanges, helping the other sisters, half load, building the zone.. Etc. 3.Ewa Beach 2nd Ward- Baptizing, helping my investigators progress, getting them to church, listening to the spirit in what we need to do, building ward trust. Baptizing.. Etc. 4.Sister Nielsen- being obedient, setting goals for myself, overcoming the natural man. Etc. And with all these things I feel like I just haven't been able to be sucessful in any of them. We haven't been able to focus on our area, we haven't been able to baptize yet. But I think I was thinking about about myself, I want to baptize, I want this and that. I need to be thinking about what GOD wants. And what His will is. I know that baptizing is possible. But I think maybe I've just been trying to juggle all these things by myself, and not place them on the Savior feet and let him take control. I've given myself a theme for next transfer. Defy Gravity. 1 Nephi 3:7 Infact I've already made my planner cover and it has a picture of Jesus walking on water. I know that these things that God has commanded me to do can happen. There might be obstacles getting in the way, that are going to try and pull me under, but if I put my trust and faith in Jesus Christ. Even with the little time we'll have to work. Miracles will happen. He knows my situation. But if it's His will.. Everything will work out. I'm excited to see the miracles coming. I'm ready to defy gravity, with the Savior on my side. All is well.

Well.. Sorry for the book! But I really have learned so much just in this last week. I'm ready. I am so happy that Heavenly Father loves me enough to cut me down. :)

Have a fantastic week with Chelsea! Love y'all so much!

Much Aloha,

S. Nielsen

We Succeed, When We Invite 20 May 2013

Aloha my dear family!

Well.. this has been a crazy week. And it's really weird to think about Erin graduating! Well.. Congrats! Graduation is a HUGE deal here, you can't even see people's necks because they have so many lei's! But it's getting in the way of scheduling appts.

Well this week Sister Hudson hasn't really been feeling very well. She's tried a lot. So she slept a lot the first half of the week. And we didn't get much done. Ya know, at the beggining of my mission I used to think, ohh it'd be nice to have a sick comp, then I could just study all day! Once you do enough study.. You're just ready to work. And then your brain has time to wonder. No good. I don't want to wish for sick comps anymore! That was a dumb desire. But I was just trying to think.. We have so many investigators, why are they not progressing! Why can't we get them progressing! I know they just need a little push and invitations and to feel the spirit and they could get baptized. But having Sister Hudson being sick a lot does effect our area. It's like we are working, but we just can't give them our whole attention all the time. She feels bad, but I just keep telling her that it's fine because it is OUR area, not just mine. So we need to work together.

On Friday I went on exchange with Sister Wright in her area. Oh.. It just felt SO GOOD! Just like the good ol' days back in Aliamanu. We just reminised about all the many miracles we had and ahhh it was just so good. We may or may not have talked all night. We had a few lessons that day and teaching with her, it was just so easy! I was like.. there wasn't this weight on my shoulders. We were able to transition nicely and even out the lesson. Tracting was just a blast! She's such a fabulous missionary. I didn't want the day to end. But towards the end of the day, we got a voicemail from the "miracle sisters" (That's Sister Hudson and I) that they had gotten 7 blessings (Prayers while tracting) and it just killed me. I just didn't understand, why is it that when I'm not in my area, she's able to work? But then I thought, maybe it was just a better day for her and she felt better. Not a big deal.

The next day I brought Sister Flores to my area for exchange, and Sister Hudson went to makakilo-a walking area. And I told Sister Flores, ok are you ready to work? Because we are going to have such a good day tomorrow! There are so many people I want to go and see. And our day was good. We got 5 blessings, and have a few lessons. Contacted some requests from the ward council. But when we exchanged back and I was with Sister Hudson, she did fine. She worked hard in Makakilo. And so.. I was just so frustrated. I don't know if it's because she's gotten to comfortable being with me. Or if I'm not pushing her enough. I just don't know. But I know that something needs to change. Because our area is struggleing.

In sacrement meeting yesterday, I was still just distressed about everything and I began writing on a sticky note how I was feeling.. And as I was writing I was calmed, and to see things in perspective. That I would be able to learn from this experience. When I am older and a mother I am going to need to discipline my children. And to help them reach their fullest potential. It's going to stretch them a bit, but it's going to be for their growth and good. Baby-ing doesn't help anyone. So this week we will see how things go. And I need to help her to push herself, because she can do this. I know she can. And if I really love her, I can stretch her to become the missionary she needs to be.

Anyways.. That's been my week! But I am so grateful for it. And for every experience I've been givien as a missionary. I am just so blessed. :)

Ehem. Ok Memeber Missionary Lesson number 1: We succeed when we invite. To often people will think that they are a failure when they finally build up the courage to invite someone to do something and then get declined. Our job it to invite everyone, and then let them use their agency to choose whether to accept it or not. But all Heavenly Father asks of us is to open our mouth. :)

Well.. I love you all so much! I hope you are having a fabulous week!

Much Aloha,

S. Nielsen

In This Family, We're Missionaries 13 May 2013

Aloha Nielsen Family!

Is was so good to hear from all of you! I miss your faces! But it sounds like all good things are happening.

Well.. Umm.. For an update on this last week. We had so many amazing miracles! We have so many new investigators in this area.. It's crazy! But one in particular, Mana. I tracted into him on exchanges and then him and his girlfriend sat in on the lesson. And we committed both of them to a baptizmal date of June 29th! And they said yes! We got some WoW and Law of Chasitiy to work with, but nothing that hasn't been done before. :)

I don't have much more time, today's been a crazy P-day. But I love being a missionary. I know I say that just about every week. But it is seriously the best! The gospel is just so good!

This work is so important! And Dad, I loved what you told me yesterday. If the members don't get involved then they are going to be left behind. They need to catch the wave! Because it's big! I want in each of my emails these next couple of weeks include one of the member missionary lessons that our ward is doing, because in this family, we're missionaries! We are going to serve and share our joy with others! That is going to become the culture of our family. I forgot it today. But I'll be sure to remember it for next week. Stay tuned!

I love you all so much. We have the best family in the world! I am so grateful Heavenly Father sent me to a home where the gospel has been taught. Where justification isn't tolerated. I've just been so blessed.

Sorry this is so short. I hope this week goes great!

Looooooooove you!

S. Nielsen