September's Coming!! Yay!

Monday, August 31, 2015

Here's my message to my mission president!

We had exchanges. I have to say that all of my sister training leaders have been really, really great examples to me of hard work and dedicated, Christlike service. But I was SO impressed with Sister Johnson as we had the opportunity to serve together in my area. Because she worked so hard with me, because she gave me such loving advice, because she is so on-purpose in everything she does, it's been so easy for me to make the necessary changes in my own missionary service. It has given me the courage to counsel with my companion about the things we can work on. I am so grateful for my leaders and that we can be open in counseling with them as well. We have been trying so hard as a companionship to stay focused on our missions and on our purpose, to find joy in the journey, even if that means to find joy in going home. Or to find joy in putting yourself in a super awkward situation to talk to everyone you see. I'm grateful that the doctrine of Christ helps us improve and be better missionaries.

We recently took both of our on-date (for baptism) investigators off-date. We talked to you yesterday about Lilian (we haven't been able to get ahold of her). We planned out some things to text her during weekly planning, so we've been texting her scriptures and reading assignments. Hopefully she's getting them. We haven't met with Stephanie, Vonna, and Lee since they came to church last week. We met with Stephanie once, but apparently she's out of town. Last we heard about Vonna and Lee, they'd gotten into an argument about something— hopefully not church!— so we're hoping to see them soon.

One cool story from this week: We had the impression to go to Pioneer Park a couple of nights ago. As we parked, we saw a couple sitting on the table next to our car. We had a really great conversation with Jose, but Gina didn't seem too interested. We were able to teach him some basic Restoration principles and he accepted a Book of Mormon! He wasn't too interested to set up a return appointment, unfortunately. But he was open enough to pray with us, so that was good. :)

Afterward (and I'm so glad that we stopped and talked to Jose and Gina, or else we would've never had this experience), we came across a kid with a couple of large backpacks and a suitcase. He looked pretty raggedy, but we didn't really notice at first. I made a comment about his suitcases, and we found out that he'd been homeless and was on his way, with all that he owned, to live with his friend on the other side of town. Alex told us more about all the hard things he'd been going through, and how at 16, he's been sober from a meth addiction for a year and a half. We testified that we knew we were there at the park to meet him and help him, and we taught a good portion of the Restoration. He was so open to listen and really loved what we had to say. By the end of our conversation, he accepted a Book of Mormon and was quite excited to get started reading it. After we'd finished giving him our information, we found out he was going to be walking a really long way, and it was already getting quite dark. We called our ward mission leader and were able to get him a ride. It was such a cool experience. I know he was prepared for us to meet him!

This truly is the Lord's work. Love you all!

~Sister Nielsen