Week 86: Bound To Hilo! Woohoo!

 Aloha! Transfer news: I've been assigned to be a zone leader in the Hilo zone on the Big Island! (The biggest Hawaiian Island) 

My last week in the Mililani Wahiawa area was a good one. We had our interviews with our Mission President on Tuesday. It's nice being able to tell him about any questions you have about missionary work and such. He's an awesome guy that I really respect.

On Tuesday, me and Elder Carlson went around one area to try and meet some less active members of the church. We decided we didn't want to drive so we walked with umbrellas in the rain for about an hour and a half. It was great! It led us to meeting our two friends Jacob and Sharon! They were in a hurry but said they wanted to learn about Christ. We had dinner with a member named Sister Pearl who had never fed missionaries before. It was so fun! We had to eat outside, but the weather allowed us to and the food was delicious! Her family had missionaries over when she was growing up but was very proud to finally feed the missionaries. Thanks Sister Pearl!

I've finished filming another video that I made with the other missionaries in the Mililani area. It's about temples! If you want to learn about what a temple is or why we have them, then this video is for you! We filmed in some pretty cool locations. A botanical garden, the beachside (but not on the beach), and next to our church buildings. I hope it comes out OK.

We met with Juana again following her baptism. Missionaries will typically re-teach the basic lessons after someone is baptized in case they forget anything. While we were teaching her, I felt the strong presence of the Holy Ghost. And I realized it was because Juana now has the gift of the Holy Ghost and now it could be with her always. It was a really cool and touching experience. When I said goodbye to her on Monday, I told her that her testimony makes her a light to other people and that she should never abandon her testimony. She assured me she wouldn't. We're so proud of her!

We met an awesome guy named Paul! We were eating our dinner next to a river running through a park and he was fishing. He came up the hill where we were and we just started talking. He had met with missionaries before and wanted to see us more again. We shared a brief message about how God will always provide a way to keep his commandments (1 Nephi 3:7) in the Book of Mormon. I hope he'll be able to find peace that comes through Jesus Christ.

Straight up miracles happened on Sunday! After church, I started getting a migraine. So I took a power nap that lasted 3 hours. I was mad that we couldn't go see more people but at least I felt better. After a short comp study, I felt like stopping by a friend of ours named Lee. We taught him the Plan of Salvation last time when I met him and we wanted to try and teach him the message of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We were able to see him and we taught him in his home! We also found out that his wife was a member of the church and she passed away and so did his son. After sharing the restoration with him, I felt prompted to tell him about how families can be together forever through keeping covenants made in the temple. He said he absolutely wanted to be sealed with his wife and son and he committed to be baptized! I asked him if the 2 months (the month of May) was a good time to be baptized. He said he wants to be baptized on his anniversary, May 17th. He's now going to be baptized soon! I'm not in his area teaching him anymore, but he's in great hands now.

I'm now serving in the Hilo side of the Big Island and loving it so far. My trainer and companion Elder Clapper served here for a long time in the beginning and the end of his mission so a lot of people here know him. It's an awesome area! 

I know that the Lord provides us with experiences that test us, make us wiser, and fill us with joy. Sometimes the joy is not found in the moment, but the Lord promises us that we will obtain Heavenly rewards in the end. I've loved serving in the Wahiawa area with Elder Carlson and Elder Mulitalo. I learned a lot while I was there and I hope that I will continue to learn and grow the rest of my mission.

Love you all and thanks for your love and support! God bless!  

Love, Elder Nielsen