TALOFA!

HI!!!!!                                                 March 23, 2016

This week went by so fast.. and with my new companion being so chatty I hardly wrote in my journal and so I can't remember anything!!!! AHHH! also we bought food and the members feed us so much that we hardly ate anything.. I am already so sick of rice and so much meat haha. the struggle. But the people in the Samoan and 8th wards are so so nice. And all have the hardest last names haha. The Samoan people are all loud and crazy. They had such a fun Relief Society birthday party haha. 

Samoans

So did I ever tell you about Fransisca?? She's from south africa! We get to call her and teach her more about the gospel because there aren't missionaries that live close to her. But it is such a humbling experience. (every conversation with people from all over the world is so humbling) but She really knows this church is true and she has met missionaries in person once, they didn't even give her a BOM so she hasn't even read it yet, she doesnt have enough money to travel to the chapel until the end of this month, but she is saving up so she can come meet the congregation there. But her situation is so humbling, yet she is so faithful. And helping her to realize the gospel and how she really can overcome sin and sorrows through the Atonement is such a great experience. I love being an instrument in the hands of God!!!  

Another awesome experience was from a member referral at the VC. I think oftentimes people leave referrals or dont leave them thinking their friend or family will be mad at them. But someone left a referral for their aunt, and GUESS WHAT. She has many family members that are members of the church, but from us calling her and the message we shared with her over the phone, she was interested with meeting the local missionaries and for us to call and share more. The coolest part is that they have upgraded the referral system, and since the auntie lives in Hawaii, we got a call from the missionaries wanting to know more only 30 minutes later!!!! So we were able to send the referral and the Auntie could have met the missionaries all in the same day!! DO YOU KNOW HOW AMAZING THAT IS. so so amazing. (bonus tender mercy was that our old District leader that just got moved out of Laie will be teaching her <3). Also other really awesome thing, with the new video and us working really hard, as a VC this week we were able to send local missionaries to 136 different people. The work really is moving forward so much. I am so grateful to be apart of it. 

Service at Pearl Harbor

Also, there has been a lot of mixed feelings because some of us might not get to go full field on our missions, but we had a really good meeting and were reminded how special we are to be able to be at a VC. only 2% of sister missionaries are able to be at a VC. That is something really special. We get to have people come to us and experience golden investigators every single day. We get to let everyone from all over the world, whether members or not, really feel the spirit and the love of God. I couldn’t feel more grateful for my opportunity. The only thing I don't love is having my picture taken all the time haha.

Cleaning at the temple

I love sister Yau. She leaves at the end of the transfer, so I am trying to keep her from being trunky, but mostly just trying to learn as much as i can from her. I am trying to learn patience and charity with her. Not just with her being so crazy and different than me, but that she really has taught me more about noticing the people around me, like the other sisters, that really need our love. That even if it doesn't fit nicely with our schedule, helping others is more important and that is truly what Jesus Christ would do. So this is the challenge this week: Think about the last time you really paused your day so you could really get to know someone and show them love. Then pray and decide on one person you really want to try to get to know better this week and do it. that's what Jesus Christ would do, and we all need each other to strengthen each other. That is one of the problems with the wards here. Everyone is SO BUSY, that no one takes the time to show love to their neighbors, and then there are so many LA's because of it. So go show love to others!!! and I love you all so much!

Thanks for all the emails. And have a great Easter!!! Watch the new Hallelujah video. It is soooooo awesome. I get to see it all day every day ;) 

Be good,

Love sister Nielsen 

TALOFA!