Week 69: We get to go outside a little

Hello everyone. Sorry for missing my email last week. But this week has been pretty good.

We had zone conference in person!!!!!! It was so fun!!! And usually we have multiple zones so it's more of a half the mission conference, but this one was just our zone which only has 17 people. So it was small. But we got to see some people for the first time and it was really great to socialize. This is the last one before my mission president leaves. They talked about our divine potential and building our ebenezer (Hebrew for stone of help). Very great day. And after we got to play softball one last time with president marsh. I'm very sad to see them go, but I'm excited to see how things will change with the new president.

We are able to eat with people outside and got to do that twice this week. At one house we got to play four square in their driveway. It was so much fun. I really have learned to enjoy the simple fun moments with people. Just having fun and enjoying others company. 

But we get transfer calls tonight so we will see what happens. I'm kinda excited for whatever happens whether I'm transferred, or stay, or we get a third. But I have two transfers left, so it might be my last big change. We will see. 

Thanks for all the love and support!

Hermana Nielson  :D

Week 67: Bytheway Zone call

Hello a todos!


This week has been pretty good. We had some good things happening.


First things first, Juan popped back up! Still haven't been able to have a lesson or talk to him, so he's still acting kinda weird, but we have had contact and he has responded to a few of our messages. So hopefully we can figure out what he needs and how we can help him. But the great thing as missionaries is that we represent and are disciples of Jesus Christ and he is the one who can help best, and help perfectly.


Also, Emili was able to join the zoom call for the branch on Sunday. We have been teaching her English and the gospel and is so cute. She reads the children's book of Mormon with her daughter. And her full name is Emilina, so that is pretty coincidental haha. But she sometimes struggles a bit with working technology, but was able to join with audio and actually hear the testimonies. She is very sweet and so nice. It was their daughter Emili's 3rd bday this week, and with the virus they couldn't have people over for a party, but they wanted to invite us over to eat, so instead they gave us some food from a Japanese steakhouse that her husband works at. She had us go and ask for him, Benjamin, but the front desk people said they didn't find any chef with that name. So we called her and she said it was the right place and to go back. And when a Hispanic woman tells you to do something you do it. Luckily this time they did find him, or we don't know what we would have done. But it was very nice of them.


And then to end it all, we had another zoom meeting with John Bytheway. It was for all the youth and their parents in the mission ( or basically anyone that wants to join) and then us. It was really good, and wasn't the same talk. This time he talked about the youth theme of go and do. And how God can only guide our footsteps if we are making steps. And about setting goals. He told us that whenever we set goals for ourselves, someone else has goals for us. Netflix has goals for us, disney plus has goals for us, and he didn't even mention this, but Satan has goals for us. And we need to not be distracted and do nothing but to work towards our goals. Or as he says, "not sit and stew but go and do."


I am so grateful for the resources and the blessings we have. That although it can be tough and tiring, we have all the help we need. God really us there for us but we need to act to be able to let in his help.


Love y'all!
Hermana Nielson :D

 

Week 66: Hey Ho Everyone!

Hola Buena Todas!

Hey, this week has been interesting as normal haha. We sadly haven't been able to get in contact with Juan, and don't know why he stopped responding to us. So we are holding out hope that he pops back up. He was so prepared to receive the truths of the gospel. But life happens and we just move on.


We had international zone conference this week. But because of quarantine, it was by zoom call. It was very good though. Lots of helpful, motivating, and specific trainings for us. So that was good, but sitting in zoom calls for multiple hours is just kinda rough on the body haha. Too much sitting, it gets to ya 😂


We got to take the sacrament with Ricardo and Eloisa's family again. Such a blessing to be able to meet with families and participate in ordinances with them. The spirit is just so present in righteous homes and as families gather together to worship. It's been a cool experience, but we are all excited to be able to meet again at the church building.


Something I wanted to share after talking to my mom is about what my mission president has taught us. We have always had a motto of being cool and flexible, and that's all we can be recently when things change in minutes. But the other kinda mantra we have is "build like you'll be here forever." It comes from when the early saints were asked to build a city knowing they would have to leave it in a few years because of persecution. The prophets counsel was build like you'll be here forever. We need to put all our effort in and give our best. Even if we don't enjoy the rewards of our works, the next people can. We need to "be not weary in well doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a good work." I am so grateful that my mission president didn't just want us to not get bored or wait out the virus. He put us to work immediately in finding new ways to communicate and find those who need the gospel. We are revolutionizing the way missionary work is done, in quarantine, and forever as we can get back out in person. It's a lot of foundational work, but it will be built upon for future generations, and each of us was called to do our part. And right now that calling is building like we'll be here forever. So maybe take a moment yourself and ask have I just been waiting it out or am I using it to grow and to build?


Love you all and keep building!


Hermana Nielson :D