Week 55: The World is shutting down.

Hello everyone! I hope you are all safe and healthy. It's a crazy world out there.


We are doing great over here. Not sick, and other than church and meetings being cancelled we are not limited at all in what we do. We have been using tons of hand sanitizer so psshh we fine ;) we do have supplies in case we get quarantined (minus toilet paper because everyone bought it all before Monday- but a member is a real pal and bringing us some). So we are set for whatever does happen.


This week got really weird with everyone talking about covid-19 and freaking out and church being cancelled. It just feels like a weird dream haha.


We finally did some biking this week, and man, cumming has so many steep hills. Even driving around is crazy in some neighborhoods. There's one place in the neighborhood we biked to that has a steep hill with a stop sign at the top. Even in a car you don't 100% fully stop. It's kinda crazy. But it was fun and only my lungs hated me, and maybe the cars behind us on the hills haha. Lots of construction going on so sometimes we have to be right in traffic (always at the big hills) but sometimes have our own lane blocked off by cones. So ups and downs to it.


We have had lot as of stop bys of people who had shown some interest before but hadn't had much contact after. Not lots of them are interested so we haven't had too much progression happening. But we had an amazing lesson with this older couple. Ricardo referred them to us as he helped move them in and works with their son. They are the cutest old couple. We thought she was late 60's, but she is 86! She's killing it! But they loved having us over and the message we shared. They are super excited to read the Book of Mormon and meet with us again. They even were planning on coming to church until it got cancelled :/ but they are awesome and so loving. Oh, their names are Luis Manuel and Maria Isabel. When they welcomed us Luis went for the handshake and cheek besos, but maria was kinda reproaching him to not because of Corona. It was really funny :)


But until further notice, the work chugs on, now with sunscreen. A few days have had good weather and have been sunny and when we were out walking for a few hours we got a little burnt. Not bad, but time for sunscreen.


One little thought my companion and I were talking about was from a sign we saw. It was a spa place called Back to Eden. And we were talking about how so many people just want to go back to the Garden because they don't understand the purpose of life. And they just want things to be perfect and no troubles. But it's our trials and troubles that truly make us grow the most. But growing hurts, and growth spurts bring growing pains. But our work as missionaries is to help people change their direction to look forward to growing their garden with God and not back. So during this time I ask each of you to take a moment to reflect on where your attention is, and how you need to cultivate your gardens. Do you need extra light, nutrients, new plants fitted for the situation? Do you have weeds of doubt or distraction you need to pull? Are you letting Christ, the master Gardener do the work he needs to do? How can you help others in their gardens and how have you seen the harvest of your labors?


Love you and stay safe!
Hermana Nielson :)

Quick update: The missionaries in the Georgia North on now on Self quartantine. They are able to stay in contact with their investigators through skype and texting. If you have a moment she would love a hello via email. Emiline.nielson@missionary.org

Week 54: Hey y'all

Hello everyone!

I'm doing great here in Coal Mountain living my life up! 

This week has been busy but great! Our focus for the zone this week is what we call Ganm news. A new in the mission is someone you've had a lesson with and then have a return appointment set up. A ganm news is when you are able to have that second lesson that was set up. So we went through our areabook at all the people who had been taught once, but never had the second lesson and have been stopping by to see if they are interested. We had a lesson with one guy who was "open to hear about others religions" but really just told us his opinions and didn't let us talk. So he's happy where he is at, but we had another great lesson. It was with a lady named Aurelia who was amazing! We were talking about the plan of salvation and the fall of adam and eve and she was telling us about how there were two deaths, temporal and spiritual. It's so excited when people already understand so much about the truth and how it applies into our lives. We are excited to go back and see her again this week.

We also had a temple trip on Wednesday. I love the temple!! It is such a blessing to get to go to the House of the Lord. Even as a missionary it is still a break from the world and helps realign our thoughts with God's and refocus our lives. We also had interviews with the mission president the next day. A missionary had apples to apples the bible version so we played and that was really fun. We think someone should make a book of Mormon one or the quad set. More scripture really just open up the possibilities.

Something I've been thinking about this week is how we have been given a mark as disciples of Jesus Christ. Although everyone is given the light of Christ, we can shine brighter the more we choose to follow Christ. And through baptism we have made a covenant with Him and are his covenant people. Our blessing and mark from this is having his name upon us, and the gift of the Holy spirit. We truly can see Christ in our countenance as we live up to the covenants we've made and keep our hearts centered on the truth. I love you all and hope this is a wonderful week!

Love, Hermana Nielson :)

Post 53: Rain Rain Rain

HOLA!

It's been a bit rainy here, but between the rain the sunshine is coming and it is warming up :) 

So, into the week. It was another crazy one and I think it's just how the transfer is going to be. But we have lots of visits to people they found before I got here so we are busy with trying to contact and have lessons with all of them. 

But, we had some time to go tracking and had prayed about a new zone to find in. When we drove over to check it out, it seemed great, other than all the giant hills, so biking is going to be very interesting haha. But as the weather gets better I'm excited for nice bike rides where the sun is shining, the breeze, sweet dripping from everywhere and re-situating the skirt :)

Ricardo and Eloisa got baptized!! It was amazing. I don't think I've ever been so stressed in my mission though. The baptizer showed up just in time, and little things kept popping up. Eloisa had to be baptized three times because she was kinda struggling with the whole going all the way under water in a calm manner. But it all worked out, and we found Ricardo's towel and it ended up great! And one of the missionaries who knocked on their door came and got to bear her testimony. And all the missionaries who taught them got to video call in. It was so great! 

We've been working with a guy who seems to kinda be on the fence with things. He really likes things, but is kind of struggling with the commitment of baptism and somehow it is in contradiction to some other deal he made with God? So we could use some extra prayers to know how to help him and help his heart be open to what he needs to do. Also for another guy who is a recent convert who has dealt with some tough mental things, but recently got offended by one of his best friends in the church. (We are pretty sure it was just a language misunderstanding) but we could use prayers to help him understand the importance of church, and hold to the testimony he does have about God and Jesus Christ.

But I just want to say that things are busy but great! I love my companion, this area, and the people in the ward and group. I'm so grateful for this opportunity to serve as a missionary bringing the truth of Christ's restored church to the people here in Georgia. I know revelation is real, and that we can be guided to the people, help, or knowledge we need. That we have the amazing opportunity to hear from the living apostles and prophets next month. I invite you all to reaffirm your testimony of prophets, and especially of Joseph Smith as we prepare for the 200th anniversary of the first vision! Joseph smith received an answer to his prayer and I promise that we can too. We can receive our own witness from the Godhead, simply called revelation. 

I love you all!

Hermana Nielson :D

 

Week 52: The Best is Cumming!

Hello everyone! I got transferred on Tuesday up to Coal Mountain by Cumming Georgia! It's great up here! Things are more spread out than my last area, so there are really pretty fields all over. 

My new companion is Sister Smith :) she is from Payson Utah and has been out for 6 months now. So this is her 4th transfer in the field and I'm her first companion beside her trainer. She is a really hard worker and this is going to be a great transfer! 

It's been a crazy busy week. Transfers are always a bit crazy anyway, but I came in and they had a wedding planned this week and then the couple's baptism next week. So this Saturday I got to go to their wedding. Ricardo y Eloisa are so cute, and they have 2 daughters and a little boy. We are pumped for their baptism this Saturday. 

Also, I got asked to give a talk in sacrament meeting. We are working here with a group soon hopefully to be a branch. So it wasn't too crowded, but it was my first talk in Spanish and was quite nerve wracking but actually went really well. Luckily it was on the plan of salvation and agency, so basically taught a revised version of the lesson ha ha

But this week we have the baptism and lots of lessons to figure out. The miracle of this last week, though, was Luis. The sisters met him about 2 months ago super quick, but never were able to catch him again. We tried at a different time and he was there and told us to come back in two hours. So we came back, taught him the resto, and gave him a book of Mormon. He loved it! He texted how excited he was to read it and learn more from us. It is amazing how God prepares people and guides us to them at the right times. God has his perfect timing, but we still need to do our part and we need to be looking for the opportunities God is giving us. So this week, in your prayers ask for opportunities, and then actively look for them and seek them out, and I promise more opportunities will come than those you seek out. 

Have a wonderful week!

Love, hermana Nielson :D 

 

Week 51: pictures tell a story

Week 50: (Snow) Angels in Georgia

Hey y'all! It's been a great week!

We met this cute family. The mom's named Alba and we got to teach her and two of her daughters Maria and Yensi. We even got to meet with them again so that was a blessing. We are trying to meet with people multiple times a week instead of just once a week, because it helps them progress better, but it can be really hard with their schedules. 

At the end of our English class with Beatriz, we taught her how God wants to hear from us and that we can communicate to Him through prayer. She was really excited to try with us, which was so sweet. Most people are really nervous and want to do it by themselves first. I think she is very ready for the gospel and has the desire to get closer to Christ. 

It snowed!!! Enough for it to stick. So we made a snowman :) it was so fun! Also, we weren't allowed to drive because the drivers are crazy already and even more so with snow. But we got to talk to some people out walking too. And found out the hard way my boot had a whole in it haha.

Also, I saved a duck. We have ducks that live in the complex, and one morning we saw one with a plastic bag stuck around his neck. So picture a girl in a skirt chasing and pinning down a flapping duck wearing a plastic bag. But he didn't bite me and I got to rip it off and save the day. After he knew I helped, but still gave me the side eye 😒

Overall it's been a good week :)

Love, Hermana Nielson :D

 

Week 49: Driving, Driving, Driving

Howdy folks! This weeks news:

We had a pretty great week with lots going on. First, we had interviews. We usually do district council that same day while we have them, and the zone leaders have a small popcorn maker they bring, so it's always a party :) 

We also had international zone conference. In our mission we have a lot of Spanish missionaries and a few Portuguese. They used to have a set of french before I came in. But it's all the missionaries in the mission who are speaking a language. And we get to have a zone conference to specifically talk about language and cultures and ways to best help the people we work with which are basically all immigrants at some point. We are so blesses to have the leaders we do who can help us so specifically. 

We went on exchanges with the stls after zone conference, but didn't have a whole ton of time after we drove home. But they are great and so fun. I always know how much they love and care for us and are such good examples of how we should be as leaders.

We also had a lesson with Roxanna who was someone we knocked into. She doesn't have a huge background in religion, but her dad believed in La Virgin Guadalupe, the mother of all Mexicans. So we taught her about God and how we are his literal children, and that he loves us and wants to hear from us. She was crying and didn't know why so we were able to explain it was the spirit telling her it was true that God loves her. She is so sweet, can't wait to have more lessons with her.

We also had a lesson with Catalina and Nicolas and explained more about the Book of Mormon and why it is important. I have been thinking about that and the restoration lately. How grateful I am to have the Book of Mormon. It is the most correct book, and brings us closer to God than any other book. It truly has changed my life by bringing me closer to the savior. Through it we understand misunderstood and lost doctrines. We have the power of the spirit with us, and the authority and keys to use the power of God again on the earth. With these sacred ordinances, the power of God is in our lives. Without the testimony I have from the Book of Mormon I would be so lost. It is why I am on a mission. Because I have been blessed with the knowledge, power, and peace I find in the Book of Mormon, I needed to share that joy with other people so they can have it too.

Love y'all!

Emiline