Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! I don't even know how to start this thing, so I decided to go with my actual feelings instead of quiet dignity or anything like that.
I feel much too full of emotion to be able to express it all, but
let's just say that it's good emotion. I love my mission. I love the
people here whom I've served. And I love all of you. There's no way I
can ever explain everything that happened here to me or every lesson
that I've learned, but be forewarned that we've all changed (there's no
way around that) and I think it's all been a change for good. Bear with
me as I try to explain just a little bit about this past week.
It's been a good week. I feel happy. I feel like
I've been giving my best work, and that the Lord is accepting it and
forgiving me for the inadequacies that I have (because I am repenting
every day). I really do feel at peace. It's hard to know where to
concentrate, always, because there are a lot of things that I won't get
to see the end to here. But, like I said in an email to Mom, it's about
how many things you can START here on your mission, work on. It's not
about getting to see it all through because, when dealing with things
like eternal life, you just don't GET to see it through yet :)
So, wanna hear some big news???? Sister Palmer is
training, starting this Thursday!!!!!!!!! Wow! She's the youngest
trainer in quite a long time! But everything's changing soon, of course.
I am so excited for her and I am always in awe of her optimism,
down-to--earthness, and her joy of life. It has been such a blessing to
get to serve with her. Every day is fun.
Well, so what happened last week? Lots of good
things. We worked hard, taught lots of lessons, went finding, made phone
calls, tried to get people to church, etc. Penny went into the MTC! I
am so proud of her. She is going to have a miraculous mission, and I
plan to write her a lot. I really love her. Actually, this week I got to
think about a lot of people I haven't gotten to see in a long time
because on Sunday was a My Conversion Story mission fireside in which
recent converts got to share their stories and other RC's and
investigators got to come. Vina shared her story, and I got to see
Bessie, Chan JM, and many many other beloved people. Pictures attached.
Vina and her notes (written on hand) also pictured. It is amazing to see
how happy these people are. In case you were wondering, the gospel
really does bring happiness. And it's really the Spirit that does all
the work, not us. We are here to be instruments only. As I heard Vina's
testimony, I realized that because there were many parts of the story
that I had never heard before, that we missionaries had nothing to do
with, really. Amazing. I love all these people so much.
The other great news is that we had a miracle on
Sunday! Just another story of following a prompting that you didn't know
was a prompting at the time, and seeing a miracle. So, remember Wong
hing dai? Well, we have really been praying for him to be able to come
to church on Sunday, since he needs to and wants to. We think he's just a
little nervous to, especially since he has to bring his son with him
(one has autism and one doesn't. He takes turns with his wife taking
care of one or the other). Anyway, he didn't come again, on Sunday.
That's the saddest thing because you hear messages that THEY need to
hear (as well as you), but they didn't come to hear it. Sad. Well, we
were walking to an appointment after church and decided to walk a way we
never had because we thought it would be faster. We weren't in a rush.
We just thought we'd try that route. Well, who should we run into but
Wong HD and his WHOLE family! We were able to chat with his wife (she's
really nice!) and share a Family Proclamation with her, and YAY! This is
a big step for them. I think big things are to come for this family,
even if it takes time. A miracle.
Ng family is also doing well, but they were busy
this weekend and couldn't come to church. However, progress is being
made. The mother is starting to understand more about the Restoration
and about how she needs to find an answer for herself. And her daughter
is reading the BOM and praying! The husband is pretty nonplus about it
all (which is good, too, since he's willing to come to church at least).
Everyone else is doing well, too, and plugging along.
But I ran out of time to really say it all. Here's
the thing: we're never going to get the end of any of these stories
until we're on the other side. It's so exciting to get to participate at
all, though.
I love my mission. I love what it's taught me. I am
still processing a lot of it, but I know it's changed me in and out. I
will see you all very soon, but I just want to let you know that I KNOW
that God loves us. He sees potential in ourselves that we don't. He
loves us unconditionally. His son Jesus Christ really DID die for us so
that we can overcome our weaknesses. What a privilege to get to share
this message with others, and to understand it better myself.
I love you all.
Love,
Sister Nielsen
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