Week 34: Lights, Ladders and Leaves

Hola todos!

This week was my first week in the new area and it is awesome! It has been a little bit stressful, but nothing too bad. We white-washed in as new sisters, meaning we are both new to the area. And we moved into the apartment of the old office sisters, and they left it really trashed. We spent the first two days cleaning and took 12-15 trash bags out.

 

My new companion is Sister Zuniga! She is from Washington and we get along really well. She is so funny. She has been serving her whole mission in Rome, for the last 11 months. So she switched missions when we gained that side of the mission. But she got switched to spanish right after she finished training so her 3rd month. So she knows what I am going to switching to Spanish. But I'm super excited for the transfer to get in working hard and getting to know the area, culture, and people.

We also live on the other side of the area from where all the Hispanics live, so we've been looking for an apartment up there. There are two sets of elders also working in the area and they have some plans and ideas they are sharing. It just has taken some time and effort to get that communicated. But it is a great area and the branch is great. 

My first Sunday, yesterday, I didn't know a whole ton of what was happening haha. But I'll get it as I get more used to being around spanish. I also learned how to scout where they live. If they have Christmas lights up, ladders and the white vans, and plants all over. It's actually fairly easy to pick out, but might be harder with the holiday season coming up haha. 

But we have been able to meet a few people and set up some lessons. The first guy we really met was named Oscar and we are pretty sure he is a single dad, which is pretty ironic. We were telling the elders that if they need help with single women or people who don't have men at home for the elders to be able to go inside we could help and the first person we find probably won't have a woman for us to he able to go in haha. But we are so pumped for this new area so stay posted! :) 

Also, I know that God is able to use what we give him to work with. The little Spanish I know, the little knowledge we have of the area, when we don't have as much time to get out talking to people can all be used by Him. And if we are willing to try our hardest and be open to his guidance he can cause miracles to happen. And that is how we were able to find Oscar. This is God's work and he just blesses us with the chance to help. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve him.

I love y'all!

Hermana Nielson :)

  We cleaned 14 bags of trash out of the apartment we moved into.

 

Week 33: Dawg Days are Over

Hola!

This week has been pretty good. 

I gave a training at district council. I talked about some of the ideas at conference like our defensive and offensive plans against satan and pulled out all my remembering of learning about the anatomy of castles from my family history class. It actually went pretty well. (*disclude from email- other than my companions not really paying attention and actually getting up to eat while I gave it because it was over video chat) 

We met some really cool people on campus. There was a Chinese girl named Xinyi who was super cute and nice. We also met a girl who seems really interested named Lisa, which is funny because the other sisters just had a Lisa get baptized. So hopefully these people continue meeting with us. 

Sister Trussell got a call and will be training a new missionary so we got to go down to trainers meeting. That was good as always. We went to eat with lots of the sisters after at a place called Don Pedro's. It was so cheap and soooooo good. 

Jeana is doing so well. She keeps growing in her faith and light. She came to church on Sunday and even got up and bore her testimony. It was awesome!!! 

So I am being transferred tomorrow. It's pretty bitter sweet. I'm excited to experience something new and a family ward, but I am going to really miss campus and the ysa branch here. They really have become family. But I got switched to Spanish so I will be learning that! And I am going to an area called Stone Mountain. It is down at the bottom of the mission, close to Atlanta and the mission office. They have two sets of Elders there right now, but we will be the first sisters there. My companion is sister Zuniga :) she was in the stake that got moved into our mission a few months ago. I've heard that she is the funniest. I am excited :) (*I'm also a little worried because I got a call explaining that we would be living in a members basement apartment, and that she has been going through some rough things and to just be my loving supporting self. So we will see how that goes. Especially since we are white washing and she is training someone in spanish. So lots of stress, but I know the Lord will support us and I think she seems pretty cool from the little I have met her.)

This week has really been a testimony builder about how much good can be done without knowing it. And how much love is the best influence. I've been able to create such good relationships with the branch members and have gotten to see little bits of how I was able to help lots of them personally just by loving and serving them. I'm really going to miss them, but I'll be back. Go Dawgs!!

Love y'all!

Sister Nielson

P.s. the place I'm going is the place we got Don Pedro's! 🌮

 

 

Week 32:Meetings, Meetings, Meetings!!!

Hey everybody! 

This was a good week full of lots of uplifting. 

We had sister's conference this week, which is like a big zone conference for all the sisters in the mission. It was really cool and very uplifting and motivating. It was out in Roswell and went over by two hours so it took the whole day, but it was so needed. 

There was one day when we had lots of lessons planned, but almost everyone cancelled or didn't show up. But, at the end of the day we had our lesson with Jeana and it went so well. It made up for everything else. She is sincerely looking for the truth and has finally found it :) she even came to the Sunday morning session of conference! And when someone, I believe president Nelson, talked about meeting with the missionaries she held up her water cup in cheers. It was hilarious! We are so excited for her. 

We have also been working with Brice and Stephen. They are very involved in their own church but are seeking more truth and have lots of great questions. Things are kinda slow but because I know they are honest seekers they will one come to know of the truth of what we share. But they are awesome! And Stephen looks kinda like my ultimate Frisbee coach and even plays Frisbee too ha ha.

General conference was amazing! We are so loved and blessed to be able to hear from the living prophets and apostles. Christ truly directs this church and has given much inspiration and revelation to the leaders of the church in how to best help the members live the principles of the gospel and move forward in strengthening and building the kingdom of God. Please take the time to go back and study, read, re-watch the talks because they answer our questions and let the spirit confirm truth and what we need to do. 

It's the last week of the transfer and I will probably be leaving. But I still have a week to do all I can and hopefully help leave the people here better than I found them. 

Love y'all! 

Sister Nielson :D 

Week 31: Ups and Downs

Hello everyone! It's been another week

We got a call on Tuesday and our quad was split into two companionships. We were basically functioning that way already so it wasn't too much different. Now we just don't do studies together so I don't get to do 12 week, the new missionary training anymore, but it's ok.

We met an amazing girl on campus named Jeana. She has been searching for the gospel without knowing it. She was wondering/worried about her brother in the life to come since he doesn't believe in Christ. She was so interested to hear about the Plan God has for us and the way Christ has prepared for everyone. I am so excited to meet with her she comes back from visiting her family! 

We also had our friend Heidi stop wanting to meet with us. She texted us really out of the blue, and so we don't know why. So that was really sad because we were seeing how much the gospel was blessing her life and bringing her happiness. But we can't force this on anyone, just share and hope they find the joy in it to stay.

We also got to help out at a family history youth activity on Saturday. We were in charge of teaching a rotation about family history journals and how to make them on their phones. I know there is strength in learning about our ancestors and their lives and stories. It really does bring a connection to heaven. I have seen the strength come from this and am amazed at the hard things they went through with cheerful hearts. Please go learn about your ancestors. It is such a blessing!

We also wanted to get the branch more involved with missionary work and feeling comfortable with sharing their beliefs and what is important to them, so we created a little challenge. We made an amazing race with different acts or ways to invite people or share the gospel for different amounts of points. They are in groups competing to win. And after we announced it everyone seemed really pumped and excited! We are so excited to see them really get out and sharing :) I know it is scary to go out and share the gospel, or sometimes we don't even know where to start, but member missionary work isn't a program, it is a lifestyle. So just talk about what you did with your ward, church, share a scripture that was meaningful to you. This church isn't a one day a week thing. It is what we live so it should be easy to talk about. I want you each to pray about a way you can share something this week and then to pray for the courage to do it. 

Have a wonderful week!!

Love, sister Nielson :D

Week 30: Stadium Service

Howdy y'all! This was such a good week :)

We talked with so many people and found quite a few who are interested in learning more and strengthening their relationships with Christ. 

We had zone conference this week which was probably the best zone conference I've been to. It was so inspiring and motivating. We got some great ideas and have had a sense of urgency in talking with people and helping them understand the importance of the restored gospel. We really liked an idea about sharing the why then the how, and then the what. It really helps show how it applies to everyone and is meant to help them each personally.  

After zone conference we had exchanges with the senior sister training leaders. One of them went back to UGA with my companions and I went to Lilburn with another. It was also a 3 way exchange with the Oconee Spanish sisters. It was such a fun exchange. They sisters I was with only have 9 weeks left in their mission and they are just absolutely amazing and powerful. I loved getting to learn from them about being able to follow the spirit in testifying in simple but powerful statements. 

One of the recent converts was ordained to the priesthood this week. It was wonderful to get to be there for that. And to see how excited Matthaeus is to be able to help people with God's power. It was a very wonderful night.

Then Saturday was Game Day!! We got to help put out the shaker pompoms on all the seats. A member in the branch is in the air force ROTC and invited us to come help. It was a lot of work and very very hot, but it was so fun!! And we were actually in the stadium! I touched the grass haha after we talked with tons of people, set church up, pulled out our table and lemonade and talked with more people. One guy saw us and said, "every time I've taken a card the dawgs have won Since the game didn't start until 8 people were getting really drunk, so we left just after seven to go home and do our studies. It was a long, exhausting day but so amazing!! 

On Sunday we talked about fortifying our lives and homes and learned from the war chapters in the Book of Mormon. I love when it talks about Captain Moroni because I look up to him so much and am trying to be like him. I love alma 48:13 "Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his blood." And it really hit me this time, haven't I made that same promise? I'm really trying to live by the same principles and motivation. I may not have to fight in a battle like him, but I still must live as righteously and valiantly as him with Christ central to my life. I cannot forget what truly matters most. And neither can you! So hold strong and find your purpose.

I love you all!

Sister Nielson :)

 

week 29: Hey Y'all

Hey y'all! 

This has been a good week full of laughing. We got to go to the temple this week! Always such a blessing :) I've been thinking a lot about having been anointed versus being anointed. Christ had been anointed, but also was and is anointed. It's not as much about the specific responsibilities or power than it is how we are living to fulfill them. That is the same with the covenants we make to God. The covenant is important because we live it. 

We had our semiannual deep clean this week. So everything was scrubbed and cleaned and organized.Cleanliness truly is near to Godliness. The spirit is more welcome and resides more easily when everything is clean.

We also had exchanges with the sister training leaders. Sister Witham came here and was mainly with me. 

She is amazing! I love her! And learned so much about how to try new approaches. Also, saturday was game day! Since the game started at 12 we were out at 9, so it was a long fun day! When it got hot after the game everyone was so excited for the lemonade :) and the dawgs won 53-0. Apparently we pay 

them to come play so that we can practice for the Notre Dame game. That should be a good one this week. 

Sadly, this week we took Elena off date to be baptized. But it is only going to be pushed back. Her dad wants to learn more and even come to church with her and do bible studies to become more familiar with the church and hopefully support Elena in being baptized. So in two months she can choose to continue with baptism! I know that she has a testimony of this gospel and will be baptized. I am a little sad that the blessings that await her after baptism will be delayed.

But overall it has been a good week :)

Love y'all!

Sister Nielson :D 

Week 28: 2 for the Dawgs!

So this week was a good week :)

I got to go to transfer meeting and see all the new people coming in and feel of the spirit there. It is so uplifting and motivating. You have that many missionaries together and it can't not be powerful. So that was a blessing to get to go. 

This week we found a cool guy named Brice who we taught the restoration to when we met him and he had lots of good deep questions. When we had a lesson with him he actually brought his roommate. So that is cool! We have been able to talk with tons of people, and I think we've all pretty much gotten past the awkward part and just stop people as they are walking even when they have headphones. It's amazing to see how much you can grow and overcome things with hardwork and relying on the Lord. I know He gives strength for us to accomplish anything He asks of us. He truly is my strength and I will boast in my God for I can do nothing without Him.

A girl named Lisa that sister Ferris and Coleman are working with wants to get baptized! She had been praying and saw one of the branch members on campus that she recognized and they talked. He shared his conversion experience and was the answer to her prayer. Right after was their lesson and she chose a date to be baptized on!! So exciting!

The Dawgs played Murray state and destroyed them 63-17! But what can you expect when Georgia is 3rd in the nation. (Trying to be humble over here 😉) but it was exciting. The game was at 4 and we were out all afternoon talking to people and passing out cards to everyone and their dog! Got a bit burned but not too bad. And then we went over by the stadium and we could see in from a road by the student center. It was amazing!! And so cool to hear the crowd as we biked up. We couldn't really see much but it was quite the experience! 

This is going to be a transfer to remember for sure! UGA football season baby!

Love y'all!

Sister Nielson :D