Week 15: Another week in the books!

Hey Y'all!

It's another for the books. It's been great as always here in Athens Georgia.

I got new shoes so my feet are very happy about that :)

We've been out tracting and contacting lots this week. We've been trying to get back with some of the people we talked to last week who were interested. It's been kinda hard because everyone is working and has been so busy. So hopefully this week we can get in touch with them. 

We had one girl try to avoid us. We were stopping by when she drove up, and so she just kept driving by when she saw us. So we started walking home because we got the picture haha. But she ended up turning down the road where we live to get away. So she ended up running into us a few times which was hilarious! She finally had to drive by us to get back home and tried to act casual. So we smiled and waved really big so she had to acknowledge us. She smiled and waved back and she finally went back home so we didn't run into her on our way home again. We were dying laughing!

We also got to go to the temple with Anderson for her first time. It was so amazing and she loved it. It is just so special and has the most amazing spirit. I'm so glad we got to share that experience with her and that her dad got to come as well. 

We also found out that I will be training a new missionary this transfer! I'm so excited :) we had a meeting for all the new trainers to go to at the mission office and it was good. It was fun to see who is training. And tomorrow we get to meet the new missionaries coming in and find out who we are training! It's going to be amazing! And I'll be staying here at UGA to train her :) I love it here!

We also get pounded by a nice thunderstorm this weekend. We had to walk and then bike to a lesson and were so soaked. Luckily as missionaries we are able to just laugh about it the whole time. And smile at the people in the cars laughing at two soaking girls in dresses biking in the downpour haha. 

So it's been great and about to be another crazy and amazing week! Stay awesome and dry y'all!

Sister Nielson :D

Week 14: Happy New Year

Hey Y'all!

This week has been a week of sacrifice and miracles!! 

We went through our area book and contacted some people who had said they were interested or met with missionaries from before. Lots were interested but are home for the summer but excited to meet in August when they get back for school. One guy actually was in town and wanted to meet that same day. So we set up a time. He had a lot of questions, but wouldn't really listen to any answers given and wasn't open to letting the spirit confirm truths through feelings. I don't think he meant to be mean, but he kinda bashed us the whole lesson. So that was my first experience with that. But after that we ended up running into Ross again! He was the guy we had tracked into and he wanted us to come back but never was home. We thought he had maybe left for the summer, but turns out he just moved. So we got his number and he seemed really excited to see us again. So we are hoping to be able to meet with him this week. 

The rest of the week we've been tracting a ton. Sister Bronson and I have been working on inspired finding. We found out that our Mission President has asked all the missionaries to use half their miles allotted. Since we are on bikes it didn't affect us at all, so we've decided to have our own sacrifice to get the Lord's power and help here in finding. I am sacrificing my morning nap. We have some time to get ready, but I dont take all the time, so I've been using what I don't use to nap. But in the last few days we have already seen so many blessings. We've found three people who are really interested and we got their numbers to set up times around their busy schedules. 

We also stopped by Hunter who we had found last week. He hadn't been home a few times, but yesterday he was home. He was feeling a little bit under the weather so we asked if there was a better time, but he was down to talk then. So we had a great lesson talking about the plan of Salvation and what we know about life after this world. And he agreed to read the Book of Mormon. I'm so excited for him. He is going to love it. 

One day when we were knocking, we talked with an older gentleman who wasn't all there. When we were leaving he told us, Happy New Year! So happy new year y'all in the middle of summer :)

Love Y'all! Stay Awesome:)

Week 13:Angels' in the Outfield

Hey Y'all!

It's been another crazy awesome week, or crazy and awesome week 😂

We had a zone Pday where the AP's and President came up and played softball. It was so much fun! When we played the competitive game my team won! So everyone else had to do pushups haha. And I actually ran all the bases and got my team a point. It was a complete blast!

Well, all the college kids have gone home for the summer, so there is no one here. So we go tracting a lot. Lots of walking and knocking on doors and sweating. Apparently we are having record highs this May. It's been 95°+ all week. I'm thoroughly worried for July and August. But I've got plenty of sunscreen and water so I'll be alright.  

Wednesday was a hilarious day. Sister Bronson had to bike out somewhere we hadn't ever been before. And we ended up going the wrong way and adding 2 or 3 extra miles on to our ride and a huge hill! Going up the hill wasn't even the worst part. It was going down it! All the sidewalks were really broken and cars are everywhere and it was so steep. Angels definitely kept us from biffing it hard haha. But after that we stopped to check the navigation and we happened to be by stake and shake during their happy hour. So we got half priced shakes to get out of the heat. So almost dying was worth it :)

We also had exchanges this week. Man do miracles happen on exchanges. I was with Sister Lu, one of the STL's, in my area. And we actually ran into a guy who talked to us for 20 min. We had a great conversation about faith and beliefs in different religions. It was so awesome and we are going back this week to talk with him some more. 

Also, Anderson was baptized this week! It was so powerful! She is so strong and amazing! She has been waiting for this for a while because her mom didn't want her to, but she finally was able to get baptized and she is so happy about it. The Spirit was so strong the entire time. And it was awesome to see so many people come to support her. And so many of her friends that aren't members come support her. And to share with us how powerful the experience was for them. God's gospel is so beautiful and powerful. I'm so grateful for the knowledge and direction we have. That we have God's power and authority to make covenants to follow Him. It is such a blessing to live this and help others come to the same joy in Christ :)

I also got to go to our branch president's huge family bbq this Saturday. We got to talk with all of their neighbors and extended family. It was so much fun. And I learned some southern phrases. I'm slowly but surely learning how to speak southern ;) never would have thought I would back when I was knee-high to a grasshopper 😉 

Happy Memorial Day to everyone! I wanted to share some thoughts we discussed at church. We talked about how memorial day is to remember those who have gone on before us and sacrificed for our freedom. And how we are so blessed to get to focus on this all year with family history work. As we are able to learn about our ancestors and then to take their names to the temple and get to vicariously perform ordinances for them to get to enjoy the same blessing from the covenants that we have made. And also that each week we are able to partake of the sacrament and remember the ultimate sacrifice made for our freedom and salvation. And how Christ's infinite Atonement and grace are working in our lives and how we can repent and become better and more fully accept that power into our lives. I know that the Lord has given us the direction of what we must do to become like Him and to be able to use His power in our lives to become better each day. I know that Jesus Christ lives. That he is the Son of the Living God, the creator of all things, and my Father in Heaven. I am trying my best to serve Him with all that I can, but ultimately all the miracles and joy I have been able to see are all His doing. "I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." Alma 26:11-12

Take time to notice God's hand in your life and to enjoy the beauty of all that we have :)

Love you all! Stay awesome!

Sister Nielson :D

Week 12: Sweat is the Work

Hello everyone!!

The weather has been warming up over here. We are getting into the 90s with high humidity. I believe I will be constantly sweating for the next 4 months haha everyone says they love the people because they serve with them. Here in Georgia we love them because we sweat with them. 

Well, this week has been amazing! We've had some great lessons with those we are working with. We had a special experience with a member we are working with. He is struggling to feel love, and we didn't know what to do or how to help him. So we did a yellow pad prayer as a companionship. And after we had a few ideas we were going to do with him, the Lord stepped in and magnified all if our efforts. The next lesson we had with him we read a conference talk and he felt that one of the paragraphs was just for him. It was such a sweet experience to have with him. 

Matt had his baptism this Saturday and he was so excited!! We are all so happy for him. He was soaking up everything the speakers were saying. He still has a lot to learn and understand about the gospel, but he is ready to make covenants and progress on his path. His girlfriend, Mel, introduced him to the gospel, and her family has taken him in and has been so supportive and helped him understand things. They are such a blessing to him and us. And we also had a tender mercy at his baptism. All of the piano players in the branch have left for the summer, so we were just going to play it off of a speaker, but some elders were able to come,  and one of them could play! It was such a blessing. And he was good enough to play the songs he wanted including battle hymn of the republic. It all worked out so well. 

Also, since all the piano players are gone, I played at sacrament meeting haha. I had one I played both hands that I've kinda practiced when we go set up church, and the others I just played the top hand. It was so chill and everyone was so understanding and supportive and sang really loud. It wasn't perfect, but I'm glad I could help out in any way I can. And it was the best circumstances I could have done that in. So that was a cool new experience. 

I'm also getting a lot tanner, if you can actually believe it! We are outside much more now that lots of people are gone for the summer or vacations, so we have done a lot more contacting. I have a really good watch line. And I have been wearing my sunscreen but I'm going to have to start reapplying throughout the day. Haha

But I'm loving every second! There were so many miracles and beautiful learning experiences. I love being a missionary!!

Love y'all! Stay awesome!

Sister Nielson :D

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Week 11: Hey Y'all

Hello everyone!! 

As always it's been a fun and crazy week. Missionary life is the best! 

As I write, sister Bronson is practically burning down the house trying to bake chicken and cook rice. But despite our monthly detector tests, we know our smoke detector works in action :) haha

This week I gave a training at our district council, and it went well. I talked about meekness and how it is righteous responsiveness, willing submission, and strong self restraint. And how this helps us accomplish our purpose of bringing people closer to Christ. 

We also got to go to the temple with Emily! I love the temple! It truly is the house of the Lord and we can learn more about him and draw closer to him in it. I know that it is truly a blessing to be able to help others receive the ordinances of baptism and confirmation by standing in proxy for those who have passed on. And that the power of the temple is endowed upon us as we go.

We also had a mission-wide GANM (Georgia Atlanta North Mission) deep clean. We de-cluttered everything and got rid of anything that wasn't ours and isn't needed. Then we cleaned every nook and cranny. It is so nice to know everything is clean and it really brings the spirit when you dwell in cleanliness. 

We continue working with Matt and preparing him for baptism. It is amazing to see how this is truly the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. That we are able to make covenants through his power that allow us to become more like him. We have been blessed so much and I love being able to be so grateful for it and see it blessing others lives. 

Church was good this week. Sister Bronson and I spoke to the very small congregation. Everyone has started leaving with school being over and anyone with family close went home for mother's day. But we had around 8 YSA-Yong Single Adults and 7 adults.

I am so glad I got to call my mom and talk with my family yesterday! It is so fun and a boost to get to keep up in their lives and share my experiences and testimony with them. I know that this change was revelation from the Lord and to bless us each individually. 

I love you all and hope life is treating you good!

Love, Sister Nielson :)

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Week 10: I'm going to catch me some turtles!

Hello y'all!

This was a crazy busy week, but so very awesome!

First, I love Georgia! The weather is in the upper 80s and the humidity fluctuates from high to higher to straight micro bursts and sheets of rain. It's very interesting, but I love it! Also, Athens, the city I am in that basically was Built around the University if Georgia is nice, but you've got a great mix of middle class and a little more run down. And the people are awesome! The other day there were some guys walking along with nets, buckets, and fishing poles that educated us on where they were going. With some missing teeth they said, "I'm gonna go catch me a turtle!" It was so funny. I love Georgia!

Branch FHE this week was water balloon volleyball and it was so fun to watch. We got to be the balloon runners to start of the points ha ha. 

This week was transfers, and we lost sister Guillory. It was so sad! We got to go to transfer meeting though and hear her departing testimony. We also have a new set of Spanish sisters being put in the oconee area so they came back with us and stayed a few nights on our living room floor. It was a party. At Institute Tuesday I really came to understand that there is a big push for temple and family history work because we must prepare for the second coming. And that this work strengthens the bond and connection between heaven and earth and that must be stronger before the Lord can come again to reign on the earth. I know that it is divine work that is such a blessing for us to be able to participate in. I urge everyone to go to the temple as often as you can and make a regular habit of doing family history work. 

The rest of this week was crazy busy! We had 4+ lessons Thursday and Friday. And they were all so powerful and Spirit led. One of them was with a new guy named Andrew. He apparently had met with some sisters about a year-ish ago and texted us out of the blue wanting to learn more about our teachings on the Melchizedek Priesthood. He texted us!!! That just doesn't happen. But he was so cool! He really is trying to do what the Lord wants him to and to learn all that he can about God. He finds it kind of his duty to learn about God and all the knowledge he has given us. And I know the Spirit has helped guide him and will testify of the truthfulness of our gospel and understanding of God and Christ. I am so excited to see where he goes and how he grows and learns! The Lord also helped us not just with our lessons, but the timing of getting to all our lessons. We were constantly going and didn't have a ton of time in between things, but the Lord made sure everything worked out whether it be the random bus we got on taking us exactly where we needed to go, or having the right people around us for the lessons. This truly is his work and He is guiding us in the ways to help us best be an instrument in his hands. It is so amazing and such a blessing to get to serve God and share the Light of Christ! I love being a missionary!!

We also continue to work with Matt and prepare him for his baptism on the 18th. He is so excited and ready to make this commitment to follow God. I am so excited for him and so blessed to get the opportunity to work with him and see how the gospel truly changes lives around. That no matter the situation Christ has the power to truly change our hearts and redeem us from sin through His Atonement. 

 

Stay Awesome,

Sister Nielson

 

 

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Week9: Finals are killing us!!!

Hey everyone! I actually have time to write this week :)

First off, finals are about to start and everyone is finishing up other tests for classes and projects and studying. Everyone is so burnt out and tired. We feel bad for them, but everyone is so busy and doesn't want to meet, so it's making lesson planning really hard. But we still have had great progress!

We got to go to the temple this week for our zone trip. It was absolutely amazing! I love the temple. Everything about it is just so beautiful. And the person I was proxy for for the ordinances had such an excitement I could feel. She was so excited to be able to make these covenants with God to follow Him. It helped me realize how much of a blessing covenants are. Because we want to yearn to stand before God and testify that we followed Him and did what He asked of us, but in order to be able to do that we must first make those promises to follow Him. And so making covenants with God through baptism, and especially in the temple, are so exciting and blessings to us to be able to follow Christ though we are imperfect.

We continue to meet with Matt, and he is seriously amazing. His faith is such a huge motivation for him, and within the last 2-3 weeks that we've been meeting with him we can see his joy and light grow so much. He really has turned his life around, and with his heart open to the Savior this gospel is helping him build and grow so much! We asked him to be baptized and he was so excited. He wanted to get baptized that weekend. We had to tell him that we needed to help teach him more so he knew what he was promising to God and committing to do. He totally understood and agreed, but is just so excited to be able to take this first step and continue learning, growing, and becoming. 

We also met with Stephen this week. He doesn't believe in God, but he finds religion fascinating and even wants to raise his kids in the church when he gets older and has a family. We've been trying to help him understand the importance of reading the Book of Mormon and how this can help bless his life. But he isn't even sure if he wants to try and believe in a God. But he committed to reading the Book of Mormon and seeing if his desire to believe in God grows. I really hope he comes to understand it's importance. Because he knows that having a belief helps people through the struggles of life, but he isn't sure if he wants that in his life. I really believe and have faith that eventually he will come to believe in Christ and how it will be a blessing in his life and give him hope and strength. I just hope he comes to this sooner rather than going through more of life without it. But he is a great and smart kid. 

We also got to go to the temple a second time this week. We were able to take Josh down who was baptized last week. He got to perform the ordinances of baptism and confirmation for his dad who died in 2009. It was such a beautiful experience. And Josh loved the temple. He said he felt like his father had been waiting for a while to be able to accept these ordinances and covenants. And Josh can't wait to go back. He'd been to the grounds many times before and thought they were nice but he said that he now understands why everyone loves going to the temple. And he loved feeling the power of it and the peace it has. 

That night we had Emily's baptism. It went so well! Her hair stayed dry which was a huge blessing from God. And she felt so good. None of her family was able to make it, but she expressed to everyone in the branch who came to support her that she felt that they were her family. She shared the sweetest testimony and everyone was so excited for her. They all loved her and said she was a part of the branch for a while and now she had made the steps and covenants with God. We were so happy for her and with her. And then on Sunday she was confirmed a member of the church and given the gift of the Holy Ghost. She was so excited to get it because she understood the peace, help and strength it would bring into her life. 

Tomorrow is transfers, but Sister Bronson and I are staying in UGA which is perfect. But Sister Guillory is going home. We will be so sad to see her go, but know that she will continue to grow and that she is excited to see her family and show them the people and land she loves when the pick her up. 

I hope y'all stay awesome and find the miracles of God's hand in your life each and every day!

Love ya!

Sister Nielson :D