Launch Out Into The Deep and Feed My Sheep

(Written Monday, March 14, 2016)

My beloved family and friends,

This week has been a miracle. I feel as though this was a turning point in my mission.

We had a wonderful zone training conference where we as leadership felt inspired to train on our purpose which is to "invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through FAITH in Jesus Christ and his ATONEMENT, REPENTANCE, BAPTISM, receiving the gift of the HOLY GHOST, and ENDURING to the end."  The all caps words were what we trained on. I started by training on faith and being willing to put it all on the table and launch out into the deep knowing that Christ would make every part of us like him.  Then Elder Jones trained on the atonement and repentance and how we can apply that in our lives, which in turn allows us to help our investigators apply it.  We moved to Elder Walker who counseled us to not run away from the promises we made at baptism and to find the elect who need baptism.  And Sister Faucette continued the powerful spirit by teaching us what can get on the way of hearing promptings and how we can cut those things out of our lives. We closed by sitting in a circle and talking about why each of us endures the hardships of the mission. Some profound things were said there and the spirit was strong as we sang the spirit of God, I felt angels singing with us. So many things are coming full circle and looking back towards the close of this precious time is changing so much. We left that meeting and began seeing more miracles than ever before. The Holy Ghost prompted us to say and do things that we knew were not from us, like listen to some hard trials that our ward mission leader was going through and to pray with him, or the less active husband of an active member. One of the most profound things I've heard was said and I knew it wasn't coming from me because I was astonished as I said it. We watched the video "Reclaimed" which talks about turning our lives around through Christ's sacrifice and at the end we were talking about the scars that life gives us. I remember saying something along the lines of "You know, scars are actually one of the most beautiful things. Christ has scars that remind Him of us always, our scars allow us to remember the scars He took on for us and that through Him, they are no longer open wounds, but a reminder of his infinite love for us." Sister Faucette and I got in the car and were thinking where in the world did that come from, we were both surprised but I know it's what he needed to hear and I feel grateful that I was a worthy vessel to let the spirit speak through me to him.

So many wonderful things are happening here and I'm so grateful to be a representative of Jesus Christ. This means everything to me and I'd never trade it for anything in the world. I'm coming to know my Savior in a much more personal way than ever before. I know He's covered up many wounds of mine through the wounds he took on for me and I have many scars but those scars mean I've healed through Him and that's a need for rejoicing.

We closed the week off with a mini mission for our stake where the youth came out with us for a day. I missed a good portion of it because I evidently had an allergic reaction to the weather (I've never had allergies in my life) and my eyes swelled up really bad and became super itchy and then it moved to my cheeks. (I'll refrain from sending the ugly pictures of me...) but I got hooked up with some medicine. Being an old missionary, I've pretty much run out of money so when we went to drop off my prescription, we were walking around and this lady followed us. She came over and said, I had a prompting that I need to give you 20 dollars... I started crying because it had been a crazy day and I was so thankful for the money because when I got to the counter, my medicine was going to cost 45 dollars and I definitely wouldn't have had enough on my own. Heavenly Father is definitely looking out for me. Someone else later that day gave me 20 bucks too. I feel so grateful for the prayers and help I receive from on high.

I also was able to see Tracy get baptized and got to skype in Sister George. It was so great to see all my wonderful ward family out there, I love Boulder (The puffiness was kinda going down in my face, but definitely still visible) We have a baptism coming up this week and I just feel so happy.

There are 7 weeks left to make miracles happen and leave everything on the table. I plan to do so. I find out what happens with transfers on Saturday and then the new transfer begins next Tuesday, I can't believe this is it. Last transfer here we come.

I love you all so much! May you have a wonderful spirit filled week!
Love,
Sister Nelson

PS: We've been going on so many temple tours, our investigators love it and it's so peaceful there.

There Can Be Miracles

(Written Monday, March 7, 2016)

Hello wonderful family and friends,

This week was a week of miracles, every day goes by so quickly it's hard to remember it all but when we get a chance to sit down and email and reflect on the week, there are so many blessings that the Lord gives us daily. Let me share some of these miracles with you.

The picture below was Erica on her baptism day this past Saturday, it was a cray day and the baptism was on and off a couple times the days leading up to it because Satan was working really hard on her emotions. We were able to sit on the temple grounds and feel the peace there and have a really great talk that ultimately lead her to firmly desiring to be baptized and look how happy she was. She's a great woman and we love her so much. It was a great day.

Another miracle, not in the pictures below was that we've been working with a less active family who, after a couple visits really desires to go be sealed as a family in the temple. They just needed to know they were loved and thought of. I love going to their house because the spirit is there and I know that the work that we're doing there is just as important. We saw our work pay off when the family was at church yesterday. They haven't been in a long time and they haven't been regularly coming in even longer, but to see them there warmed my heart. I know that we can get them to the temple and the Lord is pleased with our work. I know we are here to teach them.

Also while at church, our sweet little eight year old investigator Keyana was sitting next to me and she asked me if I'd go and share my testimony for her and so I got up to do it. I am so grateful for her faith because she's such a wonderful example to me. Two Sunday's ago her cousin wanted to come to church with her but his mom wouldn't let him, we said that we should say a prayer and so Keyana said it and they went and asked and his mom said he could. He loved church and primary and he said afterwards, "Sister Nelson, I want to get baptized too." We also had another experience with Keyana where we lost our car key in their yard and it was dark and we couldn't find it.   Keyana was the first one to think of saying a prayer and not two minutes after she said it her brother found our key. She now has such a strong testimony of prayer and mine has grown by seeing faith filled prayers answered. I love that sweet girl. We also got to drive up to the temple and show her how to use familysearch.org a free program for anyone in the world to find their ancestors and find stories and photos and records about them. It was great fun and she felt the peace there as we walked around.

Last but not least, I got to spend some quality time with one of my favorite people, Sister Navarro on exchanges, we were able to talk about life and the mission and since we go home together, we got to chat about the future a bit. She's so great and it was fun. I know the last picture makes us look so ugly, but we are tired and worn out but most of all happy in the service of the Lord and I will take that tired and happy any day. (And yes mom, that is mace on my keychain, we are so safe).

I love this gospel, every moment is precious. Reach out to those who's hands hang down this week, visit the people on your home teaching or visiting teaching route, every time we reach out, our life becomes richer, Ive seen it time and time again as a missionary and oh it is wonderful to me.
Love you all,
Sister Nelson

"Just Say No to Meetings"

(Written Monday, February 29, 2016)

Hey y'all

There goes another week down in history. I think I blinked and now I'm sitting at the church writing another email. We had a ton of meetings this week and trainings given by districts and by President.  We had interviews with President and meetings with the Stake High Councilor, Stake President and Bishop. My trainer, Sister Defreitas, had a notepad that hung on the fridge that said, "Just say no to meetings."  I understand now -haha.

But other than that it was a great week, we taught a lot of lessons and saw a ton of miracles. We met a family and as we talked about the great apostasy they said that it made so much sense and that although the truth is on the earth in the fullness today there are still people walking around in their own apostasy. It was such a cool way to describe it that I'd never heard of before. It makes perfect sense and is so true. That's why God loves us and sends out missionaries so that no one has to walk through that apostasy, but can have eternal life. How cool is that, he is so celestial and is pictured below.

Many other great miracles happened. I'm so glad to be a part of this. Life is good! Also, I'm emailing later because we've been running all over the place celebrating Sister Faucette's 20th birthday! Technically she's only five though since she's a leap year baby. It's been a fun day haha.

So here are some pictures from my wonderful week. We have a baptism coming up this Saturday and we've got a ton of sweet kids that love when we come to teach them.

I'm so glad to be here. I know this is where I'm supposed to be.
Love,
Sister Nelson

A People Prepared

(Written Monday,  February 22, 2016)

Hello world!
It's been another great week!  Our immune systems are just so great that we have to just catch every little thing that's going around so we caught another little bug and were wiped out in the mornings, I think it was a combination of allergies and kind of some respiratory stuff that just made us not feel so great at the beginning of the week, but we just kept working despite it and saw lots of miracles this week!

We had so many of our investigators at church and we found many new elect people. The picture below is us with Blaine, it's kinda awkward, but missionaries are awkward.

We took him on a temple tour and he loves what he's learning and wants to be baptized.

We also had little Keyana and her sisters with us at church this Sunday, they are holding so fast to the gospel, she's only 8 but she came! God has prepared some great youth here like Donea and Maya who are so accepting of the gospel and applying it in their lives.

We've also seen some great miracles with going on exchanges with our sisters. Our sisters are growing and doing so well!

I am loving every minute of my service and trying to savor them since there aren't many more left. What a privilege it is to serve the Lord and teach His children. One thing I did notice this week was I was always feeling super crummy and not-with-it until we were teaching a lesson and then I didn't feel sick at all as the spirit worked through us to teach these precious sons and daughters the truths they already know.  Right afterwards, however, I'd feel sick again.
The spirit of God is amazing. I love this gospel. I know it's true with all my heart and I can't wait to continue to share great miracles with you!

Love you all so much,
Sister Nelson

These are the Forty

(Written Monday, February 15, 2016)

My awesome family and friends,

It's been a great week. I truly have seen miracles and the hand of God in my life this week. We were above the standard of excellence for our key indicators this week which means our hard work to show the Lord and God's children our love paid off. I truly feel like I'm fulfilling my calling and I'm running, time is running out. Eleven weeks to talk to everyone and give away millions of book of Mormons and testify of Christ as a representative of him. We have set a goal that there are 20 people in this area who need to get baptized before May 4th. I know they are here we just have to find them. I plan to have many stories and miracles to share in the coming weeks.  I love this area, it's so ripe and prepared to hear the gospel. The members are great and the work is moving forward.

I'd like to tell you a little more about our zone and the vision we have created together. This zone has so much potential to find the elect and bring them to the waters of baptism to help them access the atonement and receive a remission of their sins. The highest baptisms per month has been 39 but we know it's so possible to do more for the lord. We have 15 companionships in the zone so each companionship only needs three baptisms to achieve this goal and it is a righteous goal. We set the vision as "Make ready a people prepared for he knows his sheep and they are numbered" it comes from combining a scripture in the New Testament and one in the Book of Mormon. Christ knows there are sheep here that need the gospel, they have stories of hard lives and challenges that can be overcome by His sacrifice, we are keeping that in the back of our mind as we search. Anyone could be part of the forty. Missionaries in the zone are taking pictures with the people they are teaching and sharing their stories on a group we have in the zone to help us see that baptisms aren't just a number but a person with a beautiful story and it's so great to be learning about and feeling connected with these people who God sent us to touch.  We are finding many elect and prepared and I can't wait to start sharing the stories of our forty with you over the coming weeks.

I feel blessed to be serving the Lord in this area at this time, to bring as many souls until him as I can. I know God's church is on the earth once more in its fullness with the entirety of his blessings, revelation and it's priesthood, I know Christ is at the head of this church directing all the work that is moving forward. I'm grateful to see the lasting changes in people's lives. I know it works and I know this is the best way.

I hope you all had a happy Valentine's Day, cherishing your loved ones and remembering the greatest love we can feel of all, the love of God and Christ. As we move into the season of luck, remember where all luck comes from.
So much love,
Sister Nelson

PS:  We got heart attacked this week!

This is Raul, he's a florist and he's the neighbor of one of our members, he gave us free flowers for Valentine's Day and we are going to teach his family.

Our area is so celestial, Kolob exists here!

We also got to do exchanges with two of our sisters in the zone Sister Hansen and Sister Gacke.

It was a wonderful week. May this one be even better! Check the blog for more pictures!

"This Could be Para Para Paradise"

(Written Monday, February 8, 2016)

Hello wonderful family and friends,

Coming to you live from the heart of Vegas, where the hit TV show Cops originally began is Sister Nelson, starting her last two transfers off to a great start! This place is nuts! There is always something happening out here, I can tell I'm going to have crazy stories, but I already know that this place is paradise for missionary work, the people are so humble and ready to listen and our area is so big and so high (meaning lots of apartment complexes) that we'll never run out of work to do or places to find new people, I wish there were more of me so I could go all over and be super effective.

I still feel really tired but I feel like I have the energizer bunny coursing through my veins prepping me to do really good work here! I'm ready! I got into our area on Tuesday and met my new companion Sister Faucette. She's the sweetest most nurturing person I've been companions with. She really cares about the sisters and about the work here and we'll be able to do more than we've ever done. The only sad part about this week was that she got really really sick with a horrible sinus infection that made the whole left side of her body go numb and made her teeth sore, crazy.  I've never seen it so strong like that. I was able to go out with a member a few times when we found one willing to go, but it was hard since I'm very new to the area and don't know where anything is. So this week wasn't up to what this area normally is capable of doing, but this week better be ready because we're going to blow it out of the water. "THIS ZONE IS ON FIREEEE!" heck yeah it is, I think I'm back to my old crazy self. The mission hasn't allowed me to lose that trait, but I'm using it to my advantage these days.

As I've gone throughout this week though, I've had some neat conversations with members and with Sister Faucette that have led to really ponder on gods greatest gift to us. Yes we have agency and our bodies and Christ's sacrifice for us and many other things, but the one thing that helps us get through this life and helps protect us, comfort us, helps us find truth in this confusing world and brings peace in times of trial is the Holy Ghost. What a beautiful gift that God gives the constant companionship of a member of the godhead after priesthood and baptism by immersion to anyone willing. There's a scripture in the Bible that says even the very elect will be deceived. I've always worried that could somehow happen to me, but I've learned that if we're doing all we can to have the Holy Ghost with us, we cannot fall. What a great blessing that when things become confusing I can pray, read my scriptures, attend church and build my faith daily, I can get answers that keep me on the path of making correct choices even when it's unpopular, uncommon, or hard. I'm not adequately describing what I learned, but just know that I learned how important the Holy Ghost is in my life this week and how important it will be for me to teach my kids how to have the Holy Ghost with them and how to listen to it.

I'm so happy to be in this area. I'm grateful for the gospel and for the opportunity to have the Holy Ghost with me.
I love you all, may you have a blessed week!
Sister Nelson

This is me and Sister Faucette this morning, I didn't get a chance to take any more pictures this week since she was sick but just know there will be many this next week! Love you all!

Boulder Baptisms

(Written Monday, February 1, 2016)

Hey friends,

It's been an amazing week! We got to do a fireside for the youth in Boulder about doing missionary work which was so fun! We had three baptisms, Dave and Cat got baptized and another investigator named Eliza.

I've felt the spirit a lot this week but especially as I watched Dave's friend of twelve years finally fulfill a promise his patriarchal blessing said that he would bring a close friend into the gospel, they cried and hugged before the baptism and the spirit was incredible.  He came up to us afterwards and said, "Sisters I've never felt this clean in my life," he was glowing. I'm so glad for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the cleansing power of the priesthood of God that allows us to be cleaner than ever before. I know they could feel it and I felt it as well. The spirit of God brings peace, love and joy.

My time in Boulder has come to an end and I'll be finishing my mission in the Paradise East Zone, I get to die in "paradise" it will be an adventure, but I'm ready for it. My new companion's name is Sister Faucette.

I love my savior, I love this gospel and I love being a missionary.  May each of us draw closer to him that we might learn more and feel more of his never ending love for us.

Love,
Sister Nelson

PS: I walked out of my house today and there was snow on the mountain right by our house, this doesn't happen so it was exciting! Sending you all love, stay warm! Hugs!