Aloha Kākou!
This week was all about preparing for the special sacrament meeting we had yesterday. But it all started this week with transfer mayhem! Every six weeks in the mission there are transfers where new missionaries come in, current ones could possibly move to other areas, and the finished missionaries leave.
We had a very emotional parting day for Elder Hayes. He has such a strong testimony that I learned so much from. He and Elder Clapper must have been the perfect companionship if they are both as great as what I've seen. It was a very sad goodbye and we wish him the best in life.
Now on to happier things!
Tons of new missionaries came into our zone. (Like 17) which is a lot for a zone. They are all super amazing and really fun and hardworking missionaries.
Tons of new missionaries came into our zone. (Like 17) which is a lot for a zone. They are all super amazing and really fun and hardworking missionaries. Me and Elder Clapper had another lesson with the Fenton family and Paul the investigator told us he was going to try to go to church this week! And no less on the special sacrament meeting Sunday! His testimony about the Book of Mormon has gotten so strong as he's read with his family. We're so proud of him!
The next day we got to do food distribution with the whole zone. This was our first activity we did as a new zone and it so fun! Probably not as spectacular as when I got free coconuts my first day 
but still amazing.
but still amazing.Then another miracle happened! So a few weeks ago we were helping the Strain family move rocks and concrete out of their backyard into their car on the street. While we were doing so, we met a woman named Jasmine. We talked for a bit and she seemed interested but was busy at the time and didn't give us an address or number which was kinda our fault. But then just this last week we found her again! We got her number and shared a message with her. She loved the message and wants to meet up again! 
She mentioned that her mom was in the hospital and could use our prayers. If you would like to help out Jasmine with her situation then please pray for her! Thanks! 
She mentioned that her mom was in the hospital and could use our prayers. If you would like to help out Jasmine with her situation then please pray for her! Thanks! And then the sacrament meeting came around. 
Now if you don't know this about me, I'm not necessarily scared to give talks. What freaks me out is not knowing what to say! The talks are all about the Restoration so we wrote our talks based on that. But my first draft was so bad and just didn't work. Then on Sunday morning I decided to spend my 5 hours before church to rewrite the whole thing but this time with just bullet points. I usually write my talks word for word, but I decided to give more time for the spirit to talk. The result was more marvelous than ever imagined.
Now if you don't know this about me, I'm not necessarily scared to give talks. What freaks me out is not knowing what to say! The talks are all about the Restoration so we wrote our talks based on that. But my first draft was so bad and just didn't work. Then on Sunday morning I decided to spend my 5 hours before church to rewrite the whole thing but this time with just bullet points. I usually write my talks word for word, but I decided to give more time for the spirit to talk. The result was more marvelous than ever imagined.The Holy Ghost spoke the entire time and there wasn't a single instant that I didn't know what to say. Elder Clapper has a strong testimony about how the restored gospel is an absolute necessity in this last dispensation of time. I totally felt the spirit during his talk and know that whoever was watching did too. Also Brother and Sister Durret sang and played guitar it was great. Then afterwards, we took a closer look at the audience and we were shocked. Inactive members, nonmembers, investigators, and less active members who took our invitation were all there! Paul and Imelda, the 2nd counselor in the bishopric less active daughter and her boyfriend were there, and tons of other people we invited were there! But the most surprising audience member of all, former Elder Hayes and his whole family were there too.
it was great. Then afterwards, we took a closer look at the audience and we were shocked. Inactive members, nonmembers, investigators, and less active members who took our invitation were all there! Paul and Imelda, the 2nd counselor in the bishopric less active daughter and her boyfriend were there, and tons of other people we invited were there! But the most surprising audience member of all, former Elder Hayes and his whole family were there too.I know I've mentioned this once before, but so many miracles are able to happen if we just believe and excercise our faith. If we had not looked for Jasmine after seeing her once on the street, she wouldn't have been able to here the message of Jesus Christ and been given peace during her family trials. If all us, missionaries and members, didn't take the time to invite so many people, some of which probably wouldn't ever come, then the outcome wouldn't have been as miraculous.
So yeah that's what happened this week So much more trust in our ward has been built as a result of that sacrament meeting and now I can't wait to see who's lives we'll be able to change as a ward family.
So much more trust in our ward has been built as a result of that sacrament meeting and now I can't wait to see who's lives we'll be able to change as a ward family.I love and miss you all so much! Keep believing in hope and stay happy! If there's ever anything I can do you any of you just let me know.
Have a great week!
Love, Elder Nielsen
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| Emotional goodbye. |
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| Clapper and Hayes |
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| Elder Clapper has gotten put of hand with his weekly plan poses |
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| More rainbows(It rains a lot here). |
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P-day yesterday at the beautiful botanical gardens. |
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