Aloha!

Sis Nielsen and Yun

HIIIII :)

This has been a pretty quick week and a really good one as well.  Sister Yun and I are getting along great (did i tell you that her first trainer is also one of the only other blondes in the VC, from Idaho and is also a twin...) we both are trying to become better and i feel like i can see progress... slow but steady :)

Sis O'Brien and Nielsen eating sushi

It's been kind of hard to transition back to the VC but i feel pretty adjusted. I got to go on exchanges with former comp, Sis O'Brien :D It was really nice. She is so good at building people up and helping me get back on my two feet here and not to stress. I'm really grateful she is my Sister Training Leader right now. The visitor center is filled with so many wonderful sisters that have really made me feel welcomed. Of course being in here has its challenges, but I really like this group of sisters and feel blessed to get to know them!

So guess who I met... Elder Oaks! And Sister Oaks! And the former BYUI Pres, Elder and Sister Clark! :) They gave us a few words of encouragement and also a few experiences. IT was so neat. Just a typical Saturday afternoon here in Laie ;) 

Sis Makihele's cousin

Elder Oaks shared how he used to be the church something in Asia. He told a story about how when he stayed in this hotel there, he was saying his evening prayer. He was saying it out loud and then he felt prompted that not just Heavenly Father was listening, but that they had put something in his room to hear all he said or something. So he was able to pray for them and say lots of things that would show the country his sincerity and such. Then the next day in the interview he had, the lady brought up things he had only talked about in his prayer lol. But cool experience! 

I love these Asians but sadly a lot of them aren't too open hearted, but the members we have over in our YSA from there are pretty strong! :) 

studying 

Our investigator from China is taking the vacation in the mainland because the semester just ended, so right now we are just trying to give the students a moment to move to new hales and to find out who is in our wards still. Good thing for online missionary work! I saw many little blessings/miracles. People had their hearts softened, I was prompted to talk to certain people and so forth, and it has been really amazing! 

I'm still not the best at "getting a guest card" from the visitors that come to our VC, but i do see a lot of improvement for how I am doing online. I've always like it but always been so horrible at it haha but I am finally starting to see what I need to do to help others to want to learn more. It's pretty funnnnn and uplifting!!! 

Oh! I was studying this morning and felt like I should share this little scriptures with you! So in Alma 36, which is one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon, he is sharing his repentance and conversion to his son. In verses 17-20 he says:  

17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.  18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.  19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.  20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

but the part that is so important to remember, is that it was the words of this father that he remembered when he was in the moment to change. So parents--- what are you doing to teach your children or show your children the power of Jesus Christ's Atonement so that they can also remember it when in that time of need?? Just something to think about :)

Anyway, Mahalo and Aloha,  Sister Nielsen

killing roaches like none other

Visitor Center

Aloha :)

Well.... Here I am. Back in the Visitors' Center. I'm not gonna lie. It's been a rough transition. a lot has changed here.. many sisters left and many have come. and it's a completely different experience. But the more I "thrust in the sickle" (or however that goes lol) the more I am feeling at least that I can fulfill my purpose here. It is really different, but I am grateful for many things. My YSA area is always changing but that means there are different and more nonmembers in the area than when I served here before. It sounds so weird to other missionaries haha but seriously having less than 15 nonmembers within 5 wards is a struggle. Luckily, if you choose to come to BYUH you probably will at least investigate once throughout the time being there. 

Right now 2 of our investigators are from Mongolia and Mainland China. It's really different to teach them but they are very awesome women. It really takes teaching simply to a new level. Good to remember to teach/talk slow and to also use simple words. And it's always great for me to have these people that aren't Christian because then we have to start with helping them build faith in Jesus Christ, which if you're teaching Christians you wouldn't have to do that. So I'm grateful for that. We're sort of whitewashing in a sense. I served here before but of course in school everyone is always moving around. So we've met some students that are recent converts and others who are also going to let us practice teach or continue to review the lessons with them (Asians- so it's still hard to understand a lot of the gospel even though they believe), So I am grateful.

My companion is Sister Yun from Korea. But even though this is her second transfer she has great English. It's funny to be with someone learning the language again to remind me of the weird phrases we use haha. "everybody and their dog does this" hahaha like what. But she's really sweet too. 

We also get to spend a good amount of time online calling referrals and such. I think my least favorite thing is when someone fills out a guest card and seems interested... and then they don't leave the apt #.... whyyyyyyyy haha. Still really fun to do online. People are so interesting and also it's great moments to help people to want to meet with missionaries. One of the online investigators I had got baptized while i was in Honolulu! (lol somehow I thought he was a girl because the name was tricky and we only taught through texting and emailing.... then i called and found out that he's a man hahaha he's so awesome though. He is sooo happy because of the gospel. :)

Yeah, change makes you grow. I hope I can become a better person because of this!

Also I talked to Elder Swinton. I think unless there's a reason to, I will be serving until Aug 1st! Or soemthing like that. So 5 more months to serve :) ahhhh so fast! 

Love you greatly and "one more fun thing to share before you get off the tram today, in hawaiian, "alo" means to share and "ha" means the breath of life. So thank you for sharing some of your life with us! ALOHA" ;) my life lol

Sister Nielsen

Also the sisters said "your moms cousin is here to see you...." and i'm thinking. wow that could be like 300 different people hahah fun to meet her new husband. they are so cute.

Back to the VC

I'm So shocked to be leaving the area :,,,,,(                                        

Well not really lol but I am sad! There is one wonderful blessing of being a VC sister. If anyone misses me here, they can come visit the VC ;) yay! I have been so blessed to serve here. It's different than most areas being mostly military, and I am so grateful I had the experience. Everyone I have met has really changed me in a better way! Hon-west zone is the Hon-best zone :) I am glad i get to visit back here when I do pearl harbor service.

This week has flown by. I am so excited for the two new sisters coming to this area. I think they will really be able to take what we have done and just run with it and God will do wonders! :) 

It's sad to say goodbye, but the people here are so loving. I hope that they will continue to press forward and when I come back to visit someday I'll be able to see they are still strong in Christ! 

The gospel really does change people for the better and give greater direction and peace. It is evident in the lives of members all over the world!!! But faith is a choice, so let's choose to have more faith!!! :)

Love yall so much! I hope you write me a letter so I can know what's going on it your life!!

😘happy Valentines Day

Love Sister Nielsen

🌸ALOHA🌸

How are you??? Things are going great here in the Hawaii Honolulu mission :). Love and miss you all! Time goes so fast, let's see. There were some really great lessons and people we met this week! I love when we talk to the least expected to be interested person, and they turn out to be even small interested!!! :) One little tracting miracle (well it seems like as soon as we knock on someone's door, they drive up behind us lol) but we knocked, no answer, moved to the next house or too but we looked back and guess what?!?! Someone had just pulled in. He was walking fast so sister Makihele basically ran over and stopped him -which btw this area is the hardest place to find anyone that would be interested because all older, rich, and buddhist- and this guy was actually really interested! Even in that area, there are still young poor christians ;) haha but really, so grateful for answer to prayers and to have been placed right where we needed to be to meet him! Hopefully it all goes well! But little things like that make up a mission. But they only happen when there's a prayer in heart and a willingness to step out of comfort zones. 

Because there's only one more week and I am going back to the VC, it's hard to not get lazy. BUT I won't. I'm hoping we can leave the best "assist" of missionary work so the next missionaries can make great success! 

Prayer works, the spirit guides, and God is watching out for us. :) 

Sorry it's short, but I love ya and hope you have a wonderful week!!!

Love Sister Nielsen