'Washington is just great'

From Sister Nielsen to her mom and dad

Monday, March 30, 2015

I don't have a lot of time, but I loved being able to talk to you before I left! The work is slow, but great! President and Sister Ware are wonderful and sweet as can be! He loves us all so genuinely! I can't decide if he's the one that gave me the bear, but I really don't care either way! :)

I sent you the mass email! Washington is just great. Things in Pasco are great, but slow. My companion is Samoan and very patient with me. I love her.

The members in Pasco are golden! I'm already growing to love it here so much. However, there are zero mountains. Hills. And like two bigger hills that they call mountains. It's the weirdest. I never know which way is which. If it weren't for the sun, I would never know!!

Send me letters, too! It'd be great to get mail from everyone during the week, too!

Love,
Sister Nielsen

On that note, we received a letter today from the mission home regarding mail. All letters and packages are to be sent by way of the US Postal Service. If sent any other way, they may come with an additional cost to forward them to her. They are also to be sent to the mission home. That address is (and should read):

Sister Melanie Nielsen
Washington Kennewick Mission
8202 W. Quinault Ave. #D
Kennewick, WA 99336-1017

Please see to it that the packages are practical... like treats that she can share or consume. That way she won't have to pack them from one apartment to another when she is assigned to a new area.

The images pictured are a map of the tri-city area (so when you hear Sister Nielsen mention Pasco, like she did in this message, you'll know what she is talking about), and a view of the tri-city area so you can understand how flat it is.





Thank you for all you do to support our missionary!

Love to all,
Russell and Cindy

Here comes Kennewick!

Monday, March 23, 2015

This week has been so crazy!! I don't know how I'll summarize it all! Mostly just MTC classes non-stop and appointments with investigators.

At the MTC, there's something called the TRC (Teaching Resource Center), and we're sent as missionaries to teach actual investigators there for like a week. My companion, Sister Crofts, and I were so intimidated at first. But it's been such a blessing to be in these classes. They've been so crucial in helping us understand what it really is to teach these investigators. It really is all about love— sincere, 100% genuine love.

Our TRC investigator is an evangelical Christian and we were so intimidated by that! We were worried that it was just going to be a lot of Bible bashing and that she was going to be mean to us and not listen. At first, on Monday, that's kind of how it was— at least, that's how it felt. She mostly just sat there and told us all about her problems and traumas. I eventually just started crying right in front of her because I HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO SAY! We left confirming our next appointment with her and promised to have more helpful things to say next time. We didn't have another appointment with her until that Wednesday, and we were nervous!

As we were sitting at the cafeteria for lunch, though, she came in and sat next to us! We kind of just looked at each other like, "WHAT DO WE DO?!" But it gave us a chance to really talk about her and what she was dealing with and what she liked and what she did in her spare time... little trivial things like that. Later that night and through the rest of the week, we spent our appointments with her just openly talking about what she was struggling with. As my companion and I prepared ourselves with study and prayer, the Spirit was able to guide us to scriptures she needed to hear and things we needed to say, especially regarding the peace the Savior brings us. I even sang "Where Can I Turn For Peace?" for her because she had sang a gospel song for us the day before. She has a BEEAAUUTIFUL voice.

Our last few appointments, we got to be with her and a few other of the missionaries who came to see her (going to Cambodia). There we were introduced to a brand new way to open hard-boiled eggs and tried them with some flamin' hot Cheetos— sounds gross, but is actually tasty. (I also don't open my hard-boiled eggs any other way now. So there's that.) It was things like this that really just opened us up to having great conversations with her. By the time our appointments were done with her this week, we came to find out that we had greatly touched her and helped her have a closer relationship with her Savior. And that's the point, isn't it?! Our purpose as missionaries is to invite others to come unto Christ!

I was so amazed by how the Spirit had brought her peace that she was searching for. She even (halfway) accepted the invitation we gave her to read the Book of Mormon and look for the Savior in it. She sang us a song before we left! She made "Let It Be" by the Beatles into a missionary song: "In my hour of darkness, missionaries came to me. Speaking words of wisdom, 'Let it be.'"

OH MY WORD. It's been an amazing week! I love being here and I love the Gospel so much! Being a missionary is great! Especially when you can touch others and help change their lives!

Off to Kennewick tomorrow morning! Write me!

Sister Melanie Rose Nielsen
Washington Kennewick Mission
8202 W. Quinault Ave. Ste. D
Kennewick, WA 99336-1017

Alma 26:27

Welcome to the MTC

Monday, March 16, 2015

Email to Lisa
I don't have anyone's email address! I am so ill-prepared!

We truly do share the halls with angels here at the MTC. There's definitely something special and sacred at this place. I haven't tried the mac and cheese yet, and now I know not to! Ha! The rest of the food has been delightful. Some a little bland, but so delicious. I also ran into Jim... I mean, Elder and Sister Young... in the cafeteria a couple/maybe three days ago! Sister Young came up and hugged me and Elder Young just kind of half smiled at me from his table. I ran into him by the mail room the other day as well. It sounded like that was the day they left. It was really great to see them!

I can't even believe it's only been five days! I felt like a completely different person even three days in, and it definitely didn't feel like it'd only been three days at that time as well. The MTC has been so challenging mentally, spiritually, and emotionally, but by the time you've realized you're struggling with one thing, another thing comes along and completely changes your perspective. The most significant thing I've learned is to work hard and focus on the investigators. If you're not focused on the investigators' needs and loving them for who they are and trying to teach them accordingly, the scriptures teach, "Ye are as tinkling brass and sound cymbals" (or something along those lines!)

Oh, that I could share everything I've learned! There is so much! Every day I'm so inspired by being a missionary. As I'm learning to be exactly obedient and give my heart to the work, I really am feeling the spirit of the work. You can't help but love the people around you, as a result. You can't help but want to serve them. We went to the temple this morning. Wow! What a great work! There was an ordinance worker who was just as sweet as sweet can be. She glowed and was just bright and happy as she spoke, and her interest in me and my life was inspiring. (Apparently she knows where Glenwood is, so that's a first!) She asked me if I was a missionary then said she could tell by the light in my eyes and the way I glowed and that Heavenly Father was so proud of the work I've committed to do. That was such a great feeling.

Email to Mom & Dad
Week 1 in the MTC has been the best and longest week I've ever experienced! I can't even believe it's only been five days! The MTC is truly a sacred place filled with angels and missionaries alike, ready to spread the Gospel and bless lives!

Even three days in, I was so surprised by how much I've learned and grown! The most significant things I've learned have been about how important it is to focus on the people you're teaching and their needs. A lot of times, I tend to focus on getting through a lesson and saying what needs to be said, but the MTC has been so great as to teach me that loving the investigator is the most important aspect of your work. As we reach out to others and care more about their concerns and needs, we bring a spirit to them that teaches MUCH louder than anything we will ever say or do.

I've also been so inspired by the way losing myself in the work has lifted my spirits. Truly this is the spirit of Christ. We've learned that charity was a part of every aspect of the Savior's life, especially when he was going through some of his hardest experiences. As we concern ourselves more with the needs of others and with serving them — or, as we turn ourselves outward in service — we will find our spirits lifted, our hearts changed, and our abilities strengthened through the grace of God. Ether 12:27 and Alma 26:12 teach this principle perfectly. I suggest them for reading. Especially where, for me, as a missionary, it's so hard to imagine myself capable of doing the work that's required of me because it is SO daunting, and the MTC has been SO challenging in that aspect. But Christ's grace is sufficient after all we can do! Isn't that fantastic?! I love the Gospel and the message of hope it brings! I hope all is well for you!

Melanie



Saying goodbye to the family in Provo


Welcome to the MTC!


"I'm so in love with my awesome district!"


An awesome day at the temple

Note from Lisa: Her email is melanien(at)myldsmail(dot)net. She is supposed to email family first and she may not get back to you right away, but she appreciates hearing from everyone!

Welcome!

Keep checking back for more updates about Sister Nielsen and her adventures on her mission!

Thanks for stopping by!