HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

This week went by so fast, I can't even believe that it's already Tuesday. But this evening is our youth activity where the youth will go teach the restoration to people in the ward. Hopefully they have a good experience. They did some roleplay in our lesson to them on sunday, but i'm a little nervous that either no one will show up tonight or that it will terrify them all out of serving in the future hahah we will see!!! 

This week we have really grown in our love for our area and the people we are focusing on. I love them so much. I just want them to see how much the gospel can make them a better father, mother, family, citizen, sister, brother, etc and all these people are trying to be the best they can be, but it really is through the teachings of Jesus Christ that we can really find that. 

We did a lot of tram tours this last week. I'm pretty tired of the PCC haha. the new sisters want to go there today for pday but i'm not sure about that... so much pcc. But its pretty amazing that we have over 400 people coming over from the PCC every night. Apparently there was a small tropical storm on Sunday and 900 people came to the VC anyways! crazy. But during the storm we were having this amazing spiritual lesson and the power kept going off and on. So intense haha. 

But I really felt the spirit testify how true the gospel is. Sometimes I hear people bear testimony and it just sounds fake or like they don’t really seem to know, but I love to hear the testimony of those who sincerely share what they know. Our investigators wife is struggling with faith (she grew up in the church but hasn't really gone since 18 yrs old) and its so hard because i feel like i can understand where she's coming from and what she's struggling with, but also no one else really can so I know it really is going to come down to her. But because of my experiences I have been able to share things that have helped me, like scriptures, GC talks, and fasting and prayer. We will have to see how bad she wants it though. It's just so crazy. some people accept everything so easily and others have to really feel it so deeply within. I hope we can be led by the spirit to know how to help. 

sis lees first time eating deer. These Asians will
 eat a raw fish but think it's so crazy to eat deer hahah

There's been a lot of good. I love sister lee. She's so unique and so loud. She loves movies so i think we are spending some time today watching the NeW MeEt ThE mOrMoNs.... whooooo hooo hahha they are sooo good actually. And only play in VCs. You should go see it. 

Anyways, everything is good. I can't believe how much ups and downs I've had, but i'm grateful to be here still. I'm grateful to be in Hauula and in the VC. It's crazy to be in Hawaii but there's nothing i love more than the people here and being able to share the gospel with them. 

I love the Book of Mormon!!!! The iron rod story in 1 Nephi 8 is soooo good and applies to everyone. Go and read it. You will love it. And hold on to the iron rod 4 life :) I love you!!!

Love Sister Nielsen

Monday P-day

Aloha!                                     

My pday just keeps getting closer and closer haha but i think next week it'll probably be on wednesday :( BUT GUESS WHAT :) Sister Lee and I get to stay together in Hau'ula 3rd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are going to be able to do so much, we just know it. And aren't going to take it for granted to stay together in the same area. (oh fun news, sister weygandt is training again! I'm excited to watch from the outside haha and be grateful i'm not training ;)) 

This week was really great! So sad to lose sister o'brien but she got to come to the baptism so it was all good! Kayla got baptized :D it was so wonderful. I'll send pics. Everything seemed to work out perfect, the Holy Ghost talk speaker didn't come lol but the elders got to pull through and talk. The Trio, aka us, got to perform a musical number where I got to play ukulele for the first time here haha it was cute. And the baptism was so happy. And the confirmation was even better. She kept hugging us and thanking us. She said if she has triplets in the future she is naming them after us ;) But there's a chance i would be here for her temple sealing in a year depending when i choose to go home :) AHhh!!! and She has so much faith and just really sees the fruits of the gospel. I'm so happy for her. 

Also we got a text from this guy, Josh, and he has been reading the book of mormon and wanted to meet with us :) So of course we went yesterday. He is so awesome. His wife has a lot of a problems with the church (shes less active for many years) but they are both willing to give it a chance. And we are shooting to have the baptism for him at the end of august :) I can see he already has been influenced by the example of the members around him because he keeps saying how the members live it in church and OUTSIDE of church, which is different than a lot of religions. I am so excited to help him come closer to God and hopefully his wife will be sincere in her search for a testimony.

We got to attend the temple and do the family names! Hallelujiah! It was my first time ever doing family names. I loved it! I'm so grateful to be so close to the temple all the time. 

Apparently we hit a record for the number of people that came over from the PCC tram in one day, 400! And elder swinton is always thinking of new ideas. I guess right now we have 25 sisters, but by the end of the year we might have 38 sisters! I don't know where they're going to stick everyone but it's pretty amazing that we are soo busy.

Also I got to attend 2 wedding receptions for a dinner apt. these people have such cool wedding receptions haha. And of course SO MUCH FOOD. I'm not a huge fan of the squid luau or poi but i'm always willing to try all these crazy things haha. 

I've been loving the Book of mormon lately. The end of alma and beginning of helaman are soo good. I feel like it's so applicable to these last days where even members are being wicked. But it's good to always know that if we repent, we will be prospered and forgiven. 

I love ya and have a wonderful week!

xoxo Sister Nielsen

Tuesday P-day

Aloha Ohana :) I'm so proud of you guys for writing me haha my comps and i were betting to see if anyone actually wrote us this week with a surprise in pday days haha. You all make me a winnnnnerrr :) I like jamie's hair lol. Also, why is she in my clothes -_- AHHHHH. I get all of your clothes when I get home. 

This week was the first time my whole mission where i was close to the ocean and was so tempted to put my burning hot feet from walking all day in there... but don't you worry! I am obedient and prevailed ;). I really love tracting and our area is pretty much all along the beach! What a lovely ocean breeze and lovely view as people reject us ;). It has been a really good week though! Actually so Wednesday last week we were able to go to Kailua to grab some things we needed from Target and also go see Kayla, our investigator. It was perfect because she really opened up to us and wanted to push her baptism back one more week to make sure she was ready. SO no baptism for her on

Kayla and the trio

Saturday, but the best thing ever. Saturday the elders had a baptism for a family (and one of the daughters that brought the whole family into the church had gone to girl's camp and they came to the VC. Us 3 got to give them a tour and bear our testimonies to them. ANd it was after that evening that she set a baptismal date and brought her family with her!). So we were able to go to that and bring Kayla with us. They always say to get your investigators to attend a baptism before being baptized so they will feel the spirit and know what God wants for them, but there aren't really that many baptisms going on here. SO it worked our perfectly and now she is SO excited for Saturday!!! :) I love that girl and her fiance hahah they are so funny.

Also we had a music fireside at the VC which was great! Guess who even performed... yours truly ;) but it was like 7 of us so not that crazy or out of my comfort zone too much haha. We sang Plant a Seed in Your Heart. It is such a cute song. But the sisters at the VC are sooo talented. As i listened to them all perform these great performances, i realized there is nothing I have to offer to this VC. I don't speak any languages other than ENglsih, i don't have these amazing musical talents, and I don't really even like being around girls very much. But it's really cool to try to see why God would want me around all these amazing people. I might not have much to offer, but God is able to use me for the purpose that he put me here. If we let him, he can make something of us. I just need to learn how to let him do that for me. 

Potatoes for dinner

This Wednesday, one of the sisters is going home (a week sooner than the usual day because her temple in Japan is having the opening and she wants to be there) which means as a trio, we have to split for the last week so her comp isn't alone... Sadly Sis OBrien will be with her comp for a week. Then the actually transfer news is on this Saturday where we will find out the official stuff for next transfer. I really hope I stay in this area, but also, either way it's gong to be wayyyy different without having a trio. We just have great ideas to help the people get excited about missionary work, but WIthout all of us, it might not be as amazing as it could be. We will see!! 

The Lessarys

Oh also, we met our new mission president and his wife. They seem really nice and happy! I hope they aren't too stressed out. This would be a hard mission to cover, all the islands, all the laid back people, the ocean, and tourists everywhere. But he really seems like he will do a great job. It's weird to think of the changes that will probably occur in the next year, but also exciting! I am looking forward to some changes. 

Aw, also I've really come to appreciate members that reach out to Less actives and nonmembers. I know it can be scary but it really makes such a big difference.  We had so many of our less actives and nonmembers come to church, but the ones that stayed were the ones that had a member really help them feel welcome.. the others left :( So my challenge to all of you is to really reach out to those you don't know or those that you don't recognize at church. It could mean everything to them and their families!!!! 

Love you! 

Love Sister Nielsen

ps have you read Our Search for Happiness? It's so good! That missionary library book set is way good, i can't believe i didn't buy it hahah. Good thing i have a billion other missionaries around me. 

I almost held  this mantis for Robert... but the fear was too great. that thing literally chased me at first hahah. 

Let's start this tour the Hawaiian way with a big ALLLLOOOOOHAAAAAA :D

haha I think Aloha is my most used word here.. for sure it is actually hahah I was thinking about it the other day, we always knock and yell aloha at every door, but in Idaho, it sounds so much ruder and impolite to knock and yell hello or something haha. 

This week has been pretty good! We have a lot of potential investigators right now and also some really great people that want to change and I feel like we are helping them. It's such a good feeling to see the change in people. Especially their desire, not us trying to help them see the need for change to find true happiness. I love my area sooo much. It has been the greatest so far. we are working so hard to get the member trust, one of these sundays/tuesdays we are going to do a missionary activity with the youth (like the thing we did in 2nd ward-which btw i would love to hear ideas of how that was effective :)). Also going on splits with the missionareis is sooo helpful for us. This girl came with us on sunday and we were able to contact and reach out to so many more people! It's such a good opportunity. Jamie, you should do that! :) 

We got to celebrate Canada Day and the 4th of July!! We had a pot luck as a VC and everyone brought a dish, so it was pretty much the most International meal ever adn the funniest way to celebrate America haha. But no fireworks :( 

We should be having a baptism this Saturday! Her name is Kayla and her and her fiance are sooo funny. Today is the day we find out if she really is ready and understands it all! I hope she is :) 

There have been lots of spiritual moments and funny moments... It's been a great week! I just wish us 3 could stay together for another transfer :( oh well! Love you all!

Have a great week! Always remember to pray! 2 nephi 32:8!!!

love sister nielsen