MeRrY ChRiStMaS

Love you!!! :) good to see you all!! Happy New years to you too!!!!

Love sister Nielsen

opening presents

Celebrating Jen's birthday

MELE KALIKIMAKA 🎶

Hope all is well over in the freezing tundra haha. 

This week has been really good and lots of tender mercies from God and working with our investigators. Unfortunately I don't feel like this Christmas spirit is really opening many people up, they'd rather just have us visit after the holidays (which is the end of the transfer -_-) but luckily there are many people everywhere we go and pretty much no one has the gospel that will make their season bright :) 

Okay one little lesson learned-the hard way- but we have tried to be as obedient as we can and we see the fruits of it. But it's easy to forget the difference that makes. Saturday we had many appointments set and guess what. We accidentally slept in :o And guess what. Almost all of them cancelled-which is pretty unusual. I just have to say, there is a big difference in our lives when we are obedient. Some blessings you see right away and some not as much, but when we aren't obedient and lost those blessings, we can be quick to repent and God will always help us to have those blessings again. BE OBEDIENT haha :)

Also, I really love this area.there are such great people, Heavenly Father definitely put me here for a reason. Even through mean people, and scary dogs, there are so many humble people waiting to learn the gospel. I have learned a lot and as I come closer to my year mark, I look back and feel like I'm not even close to the same person I was. I can't believe the experiences, but I am so glad that i am here on a mission. It's not easy, still isn't easy, but what better time to really find yourself and to help others come unto Christ. Everyone should serve a mission... ;) 

Also, even though this is the first Christmas away from home, and no snow or anything like that, I am so happy and GRATEFUL to be here in Honolulu at this time. I love my companion, I love this area, and I love Heavenly Father for giving me all these blessings and allowing me to be an instrument to help others as well. I'm not a perfect missionary, but I'm trying my best to be worthy of all that God can do through me. Small means are great things brought to pass <3

Love you alll!!!!

Be good and pay attention to the shephards in the story of Christ's birth :)

Sister NIelsen

Merry Christmas from Sister Nielsen

Aloha Aloha Aloha Aloha Aloha Aloha :)

Happy 11th month

Hi!!

This week has been so good. I am so shocked it's already emailing day. I feel like the longer I'm out, the more I just feel like i'll tell stories when I get home. :))))

I am loving this holiday season. It is so warm and lovely (sometimes rainy) but pretty wonderful weather here and also people, especially the military people decorate all out, so it's fun to get best of both worlds. This morning we were listening to Christmas music with AC full blast trying to get the feel hahah it's a little different, but nothing better as a missionary :) Also some families have different Christmas trees-like fake palm trees or something. Fun. 

But I am so grateful. We have been trying to work hard and be obedient, and of course we have improvements still, but we have already seen fruit from the efforts. We have many investigators and I feel like we get to meet many potentials too. Luckily we are surrounded by filapinos, who are so much more open then everyone else. So at least we have a chance to share the gospel. I know other areas here are really difficult to find. But also, being military is different because we can't find on our own. But it's great because it reminds me back of BYUH days where we relied so much on members, and finding new ideas how to work with these members here. I also have grown a greater appreciation for those who serve our country. What a sacrifice! To them and their families. 

We had one of our wards Christmas parties. It was a blast. I have really come to learn the importance of members in missionary work. I hope and pray anyone reading this will make a bigger effort to reach out to those they don't know at church functions or other events, because that can be a big moment for that person in feeling loved and welcomed. Never ignore those promptings to talk to someone else :) 

I really love my companion as well. We work really well together and are laughing a lot as well, which makes me happy :) I am glad to see how being humble and patient can lead to more charity and also more happiness :) 

I'm so grateful for the emails, letters, ward poster haha, packages, and all the prayers. It doesn't make me trunky at all, actually, it just makes me smile! I am glad to have this Christmas here. It's so fun and I miss you all, but it'll be great to see your faces on Christmas! Plus I get to experience other families traditions and spirit. I'm pumped :) Love you all so much.

I hope your Light the World challenge is still going. The gospel really is all about loving others and service. it's through the teachings of Jesus Christ that we can return back to God, but how to uplift others along the way. It's the best. 

Love sister Nielsen 🌸

Concrete Jungle

Not quite as beautiful as North Shore!!

GUESS WHAT!!! It's so fun that it's december!!! Basically feels like it always does, except people are starting to decorate and also Christmas music playing through the streets :) (that's just where all the houses are so close that you can always hear everyone's music haha) 

I feel like we have had such great experiences finding new investigators and doing service for many who really need it. I'm grateful when others let them serve us. I think military wives tend to be very independent. So when they let us help out in any way, i think it's a miracle! There's one family we have been able to spend a lot of time serving and it's true, when you serve someone, you grow in so much love for them!!! And I know I always hear it, but even when i get a little bothered by my companion, if I immediately look for ways to serve her, I grow even a little bit more love for her :). 

I think almost everyone we are teaching right now is filipino! They are very nice. I think it's partially just their culture to be so kind and listen, but hopefully they will feel the spirit and let it change them! The hard thing about one of our wards is it's half local/half military, and almost all the locals are less active :( I hope we can find ways to change that. it's interesting dynamic, but we have great members that are willing to help us, which I really appreciate :)

Oh but one of the new investigators we have doesn't speak super good english, but the one thing he kept saying clearly "I love Mormons" haha so cute :) Plus he wasn't even who we had originally gone to see in that house. It's cool to see how God will put us where we need to be to meet who will accept the message!

I'm going blank on what else to share (sorry! haha I just woke up from a nap)

But I love you all. I love the Christmas card haha. I hope you send me a copy :D 

Love Sister Nielsen