Week43: Feliz Navidad

Hola! This has been another good week. 

We had zone conference this week which was absolutely amazing! It was exactly what I needed to get new ideas and re energized. We also got to sing a few Christmas hymns all together at the end and sister Marsh (mission president's wife) put up a fireplace video for "atmosphere" ha ha! 

We had exchanges with the STL's, which was a blast! They are also Spanish so that was great. I went to riverside with sister brooks and sister Gray was with sister zuniga. We were on bikes for the exchange which I actually liked. I miss biking, but I'm grateful for the car when it's really cold or raining. We also went caroling with their district which was really fun. Light the world is so amazing to just share light and love with others. 

Our miracle this week happened right after exchanges. We were over in the far corner of our area so we decided to stop by some people the elders had referred to us from others or contacts. We stopped by looking for angelica, but a woman named Alice opened the door. She had just moved in with this family the day before. And get this, on the plane ride from Chile she sat next to a missionary who was able to give her a copy of the book of Mormon with her testimony in it. We both know that we were brought together by God and are excited to get to work with her more and help her. 

We also did an activity with the elders in our district. We passed out candy canes with the light the world cards and invitations to the special christmas service on Sunday. It was really fun, and we did it out in front of a massive talpas supermercado. 

I am so excited for Christmas and getting to spend time with those we are teaching and the members. May we all continue to feel this spirit of love and giving. Christ's birth was not the end, it was what followed that really brought miracles and changed the world. 

Love y'all and Feliz Navidad!

Hermana Nielson :)

Week 42: Another Great Week

Howdy!

This was another good week.

We were able to stop by some people we had made contact with and have little lessons, which was great. I love getting to light the world! There is so much love and hope. And sharing with others just increases those. 

We have been teaching more private English classes which is going great! Ofelia is really loving meeting with us and really wants to come to church and activities, but has a hard work schedule. So we are really praying for her to have the opportunities she so wants. 

Catalina and Nicolas are reading the Book of Mormon and praying :) they really have noticed the difference in their lives from meeting with us. The spirit really works miracles and it is such a blessing to have the first row to see their lives becoming happier. 

I know the gospel is true and that God has given us everything he has to help us be happy. To be truly happy that comes from the inside out and lasts forever. We can be happy in whatever circumstances because this happiness comes from who we are, how we have the spirit with us, and focusing on gratitude.

Thanks for all the prayers and love!

Have a fantabulous week!

Hermana Nielson :D

 

 

Week 41: Always a little uncomfortable

Hello everyone!!

This was quite the week.

It started with finally moving in on Tuesday. Our new place is so nice! And it is actually by Hispanics. We are the 3rd floor so we were a bit sore after moving in haha. But this place has a gym, and resident ducks :) we love it!

President Marsh is doing great. Nothing was amiss and so he is good to go, but thanks for all the prayers. And things worked out for interviews on Thursday too.

The best part of the week was of course mission conference. Elder Bednar came!! It was absolutely incredible to learn from him. He had us prepare by studying four of his addresses. And then we got to ask questions and he would ask questions back or make suggestions. And then would have us notice the patter of learning. Ultimately we learned how we should learn. Along with our own personal answers. He showed us how to learn by the spirit one on one with a group of people. One comment he made about relying on the spirit was that if we are doing it right we will always be a bit uncomfortable. Because revelation takes preparation, but it is an individual thing specific to who, when, and where. So sometimes at stake conferences he would take peoples talks/notes and make them speak by the spirit. Crazy!! But it was a very powerful experience and completely draining!

Catalina and Nicolas are doing really well! They have been praying and when we come for lessons and ask them if they have their Book of Mormons with them they pull them out and immediately open asking what page we are going to. They are really amazing!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week and takes time to notice and create Holy moments in their week

Hermana Nielson :)

Week 40: Two dinners

Hey everyone!

This has been a good but busy week. We are preparing to move into a new apartment so we had to get all our new house stuff and pack and clean up so I don't have lots of time. But we were able to have good lessons with Catalina and she is really opening up to us.

Also, thanksgiving was great! I got to talk with my family and have two dinners. One with the mission office couple and the other with a member family. I love the people here and am so grateful for their love and receptiveness.

My Spanish is getting better. I need to focus on understanding when others are talking to us, but we are coming along. Stay tuned because this Saturday we have a mission conference and Elder Bednar is going to talk with us! Woot woot! I'm so pumped! Any ways, love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

Hermana Nielson :D

Week 39: Feliz Día de Gracias!

Hola a todos!

This week has been good. The first week of the transfer is off to a good start. We have been bopping to the new 2020 youth album haha. I think they make those specifically for missionaries :) we appreciate them. 

Things seem to be moving forward on the apartment but slowly. If everything goes well we might be able to move in December 2nd. So here is hoping! 

To help our english class and for reaching more people we have been making some videos for it. We did a news show thing to help explain thanksgiving and it was so funny. We did a few takes, but the missionary manning the camera figured out how to pause and then just hit play, so there are some funny blooper moments we left in to laugh at. So my Spanish continues to get better which is good.

We had a branch Thanksgiving activity which was great! And after eating they moved the tables and chairs and had a dance party. They pulled us in and made us dance haha. It was so fun and such a different culture of branch party. But they loved our dancing and we won their hearts. 

We had a miracle happen this week. We were out knocking on Saturday and met a guy named José. He is so prepared for the gospel! He is going through some things, and I know we were led to him now to help him come to Jesus Christ! I am so grateful to Christ for everything he has done. For creating the earth, being the perfect example, and being my savior and redeemer. I am so excited for this upcoming Christmas season and light the world! The new Christ Child video is absolutely amazing!! Please go watch it and share it with your friends, coworkers, and everyone. We all can use more light in our lives. 

Remember this week to focus on what is important- family and showing gratitude to the Lord for all He is and does. I love you all! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

- Hermana Nielson :)

Week 38:: Kikiriki

Hello everyone!!

I am so sorry I didn't send out an email last week. P-day was a zone activity that went all day, but was a ton of fun and very much needed :) 

But now to explain everything. So, from two weeks ago we had international zone conference. It was really awesome! We had a training on language studies and working with the members. It was great because we've been focusing on building our relationship with the members and helping them. Things have been going well with that :)  we also found out that the apartments didn't work out and so that's been frustrating. But I know it will all work out the way it needs to in the time it needs to. We had a scheduled time to stop by a part member family and we went early to knock around them, but they saw us and were excited we were early because she was hoping to feed us. So we got dinner too :) it was tacos and I definitely got on her good side by eating a lot. So that was good, and after we knocked around their neighbors and met a guy named Frank who had met missionaries before and had some questions about the Book of Mormon. It's just been hard to meet with him again because him and his wife work opposite schedules. We had exchanges with the STL's who are Spanish so that was actually really fun :) and we were the first time they actually exchanged with another Spanish companionship. They are so fun, I love them. 

This week we've had some private English classes which are really fun. It's such a blessing to be able to help people and see how grateful they are to God for this chance. 

We also did a challenge the counselor in the mission presidency over the languages challenged us to do. It was to knock for dinner. So we went around asking if people would be willing to feed servants of the Lord. There have been really cool experiences people have had with this. So we tried it and it was kinda scary. And we didn't get fed. I believe that it wasn't meant that we had to be fed to prove our faith, but that in doing it we showed and strengthened our faith. It's like having the faith to not be healed. So that was an interesting experience. 

We also found a husband and wife. We shared with Catalina and Nicolas 2 Nefi 1:5-6 and they loved it! It talks about being brought to this land by the hand of the Lord. It is so true. All these people are here for the opportunities they have, and most importantly the chance to hear the message of the restored gospel. We met with her again while he was at work in Mississippi. We are excited for them to receive the gospel and the blessings of it too :)

My Spanish has been coming a long well, I know my years in high school have really helped. God prepares us in ways we don't always know or understand. 

The title is what roosters say in Spanish. One day we were stopping by some less actives and this rooster came strutting out in the yard. He was cool, and sister Zuniga wanted to try and touch it but didn't get it ha ha, so of course I tried and decided to just go for it and got scared when he flapped his wings thinking he was coming for me haha. So I'm learning and growing, but still do bad ideas ha ha

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week :)

 

Hermana Nielson

Week 36: Juan Del Ban~o

This week was a good week, but had it's ups and downs. 

Tuesday night was the branch Halloween party. I dressed up like an old lady, my great great grandma Mary Ann Hurley Pratt. It was fun to talk with everyone, and the music was hilarious. They would play thriller or Ghost busters or some Halloween song and then some random spanish song. But that night was a lot of fun to see everyone dressed up and having fun. 

We had zone conference on Wednesday which was very inspiring. They talked a lot about truly becoming. Also how we can better plan and focus our lessons on helping the individuals prepare to receive blessings and make covenants with God. It was a really inspiring conference. 

Halloween night we couldn't be out knocking, so we had a zone activity where we got together and played 9 square and had a fire with s'mores. It was so much fun! I love 9 square and hadn't played in forever. 

This week we were also told to find an apartment again, so we looked around a lot and toured some and found one that should work. We should hear back today or tomorrow about it, so here is hoping. It is actually up in the area we are working in. So that has been kinda rough just rezoning our working area multiple times and not being able to quite settle down, but we are hoping to move in this week. Especially because the basement we live in right now is always 66° 

The title comes because we met Juan and set up an appointment for the next day. When we showed up he was just getting out of his truck and told us to go visit the neighbors because he had to use the bathroom and would be in there for a bit... so we went back a bit later and it smelled like weed, so we aren't sure if it was coming from the bathroom or the neighbors, but that was unfortunate. We think teaching the word of wisdom will help with his bowels haha. 

But we met some people this week and had lessons, but they usually flake and don't answer for our return appointment. It's sad knowing what blessings and happiness people are missing out on, but it is a reminder for all of us to turn to God openly to receive those blessings. 

Also, I bore my testimony! It was super simple and I wrote it down, but I shared it in Spanish for the first time. And I also taught the spiritual thought at our member dinner that night too. My Spanish is improving :)

Love y'all!

Hermana Nielson :D