Moroni 10:32. 16 Sept 2013

My Dear Family.. Aloha! 

I am SO EXCITED for Erin going to Peru! What a perfect mission! But.. December 18th!? Goodness me that is so soon! I didn't even know that they had an MTC in Peru. Start working on your visa now! I hear sometimes they take forever! I don't know much about them.. Just to get it done quick!  I'm sad we're going to miss each other, but obviously Heavenly Father has a time and a place for everything. This is His plan. Erin needs to get to Peru quick! Start practicing that Spanish! What a blessing.. to have TWO missionaries from our family serving at the same time! :)

Well this week has been really crazy and quite a blur actually. Time passes by so quickly sometimes. On Tuesday we met with Meg, and had a really good lesson with her! We read from the Book of Mormon Moroni 7. She kept comparing the things we were reading to the Bible and how they relate and go hand in hand. She then paraphrased the whole restoration for us of how she understands how the Book of Mormon plays a part. She gets it! She said that she has been praying but doesn't quite feel that she has received an answer yet. We then committed her to a "HW assignment" to help her find answers. Find a quiet place that you wont be bothered, think of a question you would like answered and write it down, pray out loud and ask for the spirit to help you understand, read ... from the Book of Mormon. Pray again. We think prayer is so simple sometimes, but really getting answers and praying with real purpose takes WORK as the bible dictionary says. She agreed to the Homework assignment and committed to come to church just for sacrament because she had to work and also because we were singing and speaking. Well sacrament meeting came and she called us and told us that she is just over whelmed right now, that she can't come to church and that she doesn't want to meet with us this week because of everything that's happening in her life right now. Oi.. We were really excited that our lessons were finally starting to go somewhere, but of course the adversary just has to make her busy and she doesn't have time for us. Or to pray and receive answers. Come what may.

We had Zone Exchanges on Wednesday evening-Friday morning. I was in Kona for a day, I was with Sister Tuimoala, she's been out for about 2 months, Tongan and lived in Samoan, but moved to Utah about 3 or 4 years ago. We had a good exchange. In the morning we did service for some of their older members by helping pick up mac nuts. That was really fun and quite refreshing actually! The old auntie explained it like an Easter egg hunt! Look for the green ones! Later the elders asked us to help them find this woman in their ward who's mom was requesting that they go over and give a blessing to, she is very less active and wasn't expecting them to come. So they asked if we would assist them. We walked around forever trying to figure out where this lady lived. And Kona. Is. Hot. We finally found her and then she was in a hurry and needed to leave.. But it was a good day/exchange!

Friday Morning was Zone Conference in Waimea combined with Hilo zone.  First one with President Warner and it was really, REALLY good! I definitely felt so pumped afterwards and knew the areas I need to improve on. The Zone Leaders and I had a training to prepare. We trained on using time wisely with a theme of 'fishers of man' and I thought it went well. I learned a lot from the whole conference, they even gave a "health tip" and we watched a little clip that I'd seen before in one of my Health classes at college. Which I thought was really fun!

Sunday Sister Weaver and I sang in church and also gave talks. We sang with our ward mission leader! He played the guitar and we sand "How great shall be your joy" Do you remember that song? I know we have it on some CD. The spirit took over and it was really good. I spoke on how sharing the gospel can bring us joy. And I read parts of the emails you've been sending me about Whitney and how much our family has been able to have joy and the spirit by sharing the gospel. I ran out of time. But oh well! I really enjoy speaking in church.

Well.. Everything is going well. This morning for pday we got up at 2 am and watched the sun rise on mauna kea! It was so beautiful. I am so grateful to be serving my mission in Hawaii. I could not think of a better place I could be. I love these people and I love the time I have to serve the Lord. Moroni 10:32 has been on my mind a lot recently. Come unto Christ, give Him EVERYTHING and let Him perfect you.

I love you all! Have a wonderful week!

Aloha and LOVE!

S. Nielsen 

My own personal BOM challenge. 9 Sept 2013

Alooooooha my Nielsen Ohana!

Well. ERIN'S STATUS IS ASSIGNED!!! Ohh my goodess. That is just so crazy! I remember those exactly feelings. Ahhh.. Well I've been trying to think of my guess all week and I really cannot decided just one! I would love to say. HAWAII HONOLULU MISSION! I would love you be your trainer, that would be so cool! But in real life I'm going to have to pick New York-State Side or Ghana or Nigeria for foreign. Yep that is what the spirit has revealed to me. Next week/Wednesday is going to be crazyy! I'm so excited for you Erin!

Well this last week has been good! We are definitely seeing small and simple miracles. But great things are going to be brought to pass! We were really struggling at night with our planning, we have a few potentials, but it's like beating a dead horse because they really aren't that interested. And we can't pick names from the ward list who are less active because we don't know where they live with P.O. boxes. But one Wednesday we decided to go see our ward mission leader who know everyone in Kohala. We explained our situation to him and he gave us 14 referrals! That is amazing! He just told us to throw his name out there. We've contacted a few and one said that recently she has been searching for a church. (Church shopping.) Well I have the church for you! So we are seeing some prepared people. :) Now we just gotta teach them.

We also went out with one of the ladies of the relief society presidency and she showed us where a lot of PM families live! SO amazing. That is really the only way we can learn where people live is if a member takes us out. That was really good.

We have about 2 progressing investos. Meg and Patrick. Meg is an older lady and has been turning lately into an eternal investigator. She loves the church and I think she has more of a social concern than a doctrinal concern. She loves the fellowship. And when I first got here I didn't really know how the situation was, but really it was the missionaries just sharing casual messages while talking story. So I've been trying really hard to help her understand our purpose, and Sister Weaver and I are both on the same page now of what we need to do. Last night we watched the Joseph Smith movie with her and I think that has helped alot with her praying about JS and the BOM. We're praying and crossing our fingers for a miracle.

Patrick is the 14 year old boy I talked about last week. We had an awesome gospel of JC lesson with him and he prayed 3 times last week! Like we asked him too! He has a hard time understand the if God is really there but he prayed 3 times!! I am just so happy! I have really grown a love for this kid. He murmurs alot but deep down I know that he is really searching and wants this happiness and joy that we have. Ahh I just want him to get baptized so bad.

This last week I was feeling pretty junk in my teaching. I knew the doctrine, but I just felt like it was all fluff. Like the spirit wasn't with what we've been teaching. I woke up early one morning and just starting studying PMG-teaching skills/making and keeping commitments, trying to get back to the basics of what I was doing wrong! And I realized that I needed to use the scriptures more in my teaching. They bring the spirit and teach us everything we need to know! Also I just feel like I need to read the Book of Mormon again. Cover to cover, Fast!  But I don't have time to waste! My studying time as a missionary is limited, especially as time keeps going faster and faster. So I've decided that I want to wake up an hour earlier and just read the Book of Mormon. Like a story book. I remember when the missionaries in Elko had to read it in one sitting, (Sister Little and Sister Judd) And I just want to refresh myself in the whole thing. So I have made a goal to read the BOM and finish it in 2weeks or before General Conference. I haven't started yet. But I will keep you updated on how it's going. :)

I love being a missionary. This work is so important. I cannot believe how fast time is going and how quickly things change. Blows my mind! Hope you have a wonderful week! Send me pictures of the mission call opening! I love you all. "Missions are a family affair"-President Monson.

Love and Aloha!

S. Nielsen

Ask and ye shall receive 2 Sept 2013

Aloha! 

Well another week come and gone! I cannot believe Erin's papers are IN!! That's just.. CRAZY! And kind of makes me sad a little. I'm not going to see my darling sister for .. EVER! :/ Good thing we're sealed and have eternity together. Heavenly Father's plan is so good! Crazy how fast things change.  

Well this last week was a little slower number wise. We didn't teach as many lessons but I feel like we know where we need to improve and how to get our investos progressing. So all is well.

We are teaching this one kid named Patrick. He's 14 years old and friends with a lot of members in our ward. He suffers a little bit from depression and a low self esteem. Soo teaching his is sometimes a little bit of a struggle because he answers every question of.. "Sorta.." or "It's alright".. Not a lot of concern. We've invited him to come to church and he didn't want to come because he had to "wake up early". So we decided to give him a church tour. On Saturday our bishop came with us with his son (who knows Patrick) and we tried to give him a 'fun tour' we're really trying to get him to trust us. Bishop was even able to take us "upstairs!" (all the vents and dakine) .Everything went so perfect! Our Bishop bore powerful testimony in the chapel about the sacrament and explained it in a way that he could understand. And he agreed to come to church! He complained a little bit.. But that's just him. Murmur murmur. Bishop set him up with a white shirt and tie and volunteered to pick him up. Heavenly Father was definitely guiding everything. And I think he liked church a lot more than he anticipated!

We dropped our investigator Anne who was Buddhist. She basically said that she feels like Buddhism is the path for her. It was a good lesson, we talked a lot about the Book of Mormon and how it testifies of Christ. It was interesting we went in there not knowing if we were going to drop her or not. And the lesson was going so well that I thought maybe we wont have to! And so toward the end of the lesson we were starting to give her her next reading assignment and this time I wanted to give her questions to think about as she read. And to pray about these questions. I was trying to figure out which questions to give her. Alma 7 popped into my head for her to read. But I was fighting a little bit about the questions I needed her to think about. After we gave them to her she we invited her to come to church and she expressed her concern that Buddhism is the right path for her. And I knew that we couldn't continue. But the questions I left with her were.. 1. What is the role or purpose of a redeemer? 2. .I can't remember.. 3. How would accepting Christ change us? All about the Savior! And Jesus Christ. I know that it was definitely the spirit prompting to write and ask those questions. To leave her with something to think about if she does get around to it again.

I was able to help out with our District Meeting training this last week. To kick off the transfer and get everyone exciting. We had our zone theme like I told you last week. HE>i Bring on the Miracles Mormon 9:18-19. I'd put all these negative excuses in one room and then in another the theme and 20 everywhere. To just look out the windows in each room and see what they saw. I feel like the spirit was strong and hopefully our missionaries will have the faith to see miracles this transfer. I'd had this training earlier when I was a new missionary and I remember it having a big effect on me. I really enjoy doing training..

On Saturday night.. I was just struggling a bit. Maybe discouraged or whatever. And I was just seeking and looking for comfort. It was amazing to me how fast my answer came. I said a quiet prayer with faith and opened my scriptures. I opened to D&C 31. And it was exactly what I needed. A letter from Christ to his missionary. I love how much Heavenly Father loves each of us. Especially those who have the faith.

MLC was today! Sorry that's why your getting a late reply. It was really really good. Our mission president is making some changes now. He's doing a really good job. 

I love you all so much! Have a fabulous week!

Love and Aloha, 

S. Nielsen  

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