A week of miracles

I can't remember if I told you that President Smart has asked us to pray and then expect miracles? I think I did and let me tell you, there is NO WAY or ANY POSSIBILITY that the church isn't true!

Let's start on Wednesday night shall we?

There was about 2 hours left before we had to be home, but we had no one to visit, so we started to try and do follow-ups on people we had left harvesting blessings with a while ago.

Now I also can't remember if I told you about Patrick? If not here is a short synopsis: 

I OYM'd him by myself a few weeks ago and ended up giving him a harvesting blessing. He said the only reason he accepted one is because just the night before he was thinking about how after the last time someone blessed his house everything had gone wrong so he thought that it was actually a curse and the blessing that I was offering could reverse that...(weirdo).

He was a nice guy though and so we had tried to stop by a few times after that, but no one was home. 

Wednesday night when we stopped by there was a group of Hispanic people outside and so we asked if Patrick was home. One guy went and got him and when Patrick walked out, he looked very shocked and said:

"Girls, right now is not a good time. I am actually moving out right this second so I have to go finish packing, but if there was ever a day that I needed to pray I can't think of a better one than today." 

That's all he said then went back inside. (That was miracle #1...that we caught Patrick the same day that he was moving out.) 

So, we walked away and no one really said anything because we were all a little shocked. 

Then we saw two men at the end of the street and Sister Pack told me to go OYM them and I said "let's pray for Patrick first!" 

So we did. Right in the middle of the street, 3 houses down from Patrick. We asked Heavenly Father if he would watch over Patrick and to put people in his path that could help guide him to where he needed to go. 

After the prayer we all kind of stood there and wanted to turn back and help him, but there was nothing we could do (since he is a single male) so we just continued throughout the rest of our night.

The next day we had to do "weekly planning" which is a three hour long planning session that includes companionship inventory. With the three of us together we get off track frequently and this week it was really rough. 

We were being disobedient out of laziness so I said "I think we should take the car, go get lunch and then pound out planning after." 

Sister Pack jumped up real fast and said "let's go!" (That was miracle #2 because Sister Pack hates to take the car and we normally have to beg.) 

We got in the car and started driving still not knowing where we were going. Sister Pack really wanted to go to Five Guys and that was the plan until I noticed that Sister Anderson wasn't too excited. Turns out Sister Anderson hates Five Guys. 

So I said that I want everyone to enjoy our special lunch, but Sister Anderson insisted that it wasn't a big deal and to go to Five Guys. 

All of the sudden I said "turn left!" 

Which Sister Pack did while screaming "WHAT, WHY?!"

I told her that we were going to Jersey Mikes (Side note: we LOVE Jersey Mikes and eat there frequently and there is one in Seattle! Get a #9, Mike's way.) 

We walked into Jersey Mikes and not two minutes later did we hear "well, look who it is!" 

It was Patrick! (miracle #3) He was in line right behind us!! 

We ended up having lunch with him and he told us that he has nowhere to live and only has money for a hotel for the next two nights. 

He asked if we prayed for him and I told him what I did and what I said about putting the right people in his path, which then I testified to him that I know we are here to help him. 

He said "you know, I think you're right. It would be one thing if you came in after me because I would think you were stalking me, but you didn't...." 

I told him that we weren't even going to go to Jersey Mike's and he told us that he took a way he NEVER goes which added 5 minutes to his driving time! Totally cray!

We went home freaking out!!! Planning was very difficult after that, but we eventually got it done before we had to go to the Edwards home (remember Dakota and his Dad?)

When we had gone over to the Edward's on Tuesday we invited Dakota to pray about his date so that we could start preparing him for his baptism on the 27th. We might have told him that he can be baptized at any time, especially sooner if he wanted too. :) 

We also challenged Shay and Skyler (Dakota's younger brother and sister) to pray about the church and baptism. 

So, Thursday was our day to follow up with all of that. We were so excited to go over there especially after our miracle in the afternoon we were praying for one more that night. 

When we got there we asked how their prayers were. First, we specifically asked Dakota and he said that he talked to his dad and prayed and all is good to go for the 27th! 

We were so happy for him! We then set up a schedule. (We like to meet with them almost every day before their baptism because Satan is a hater.) 

We then asked Skyler and Shay and they both said that they felt really good about everything, but wanted to continue to pray about baptism (Shay had only been to 2 lessons and Skyler 1.) 

We said that we understood and encouraged them to continue to pray and not to be afraid of the answers they receive. 

We then taught an awesome lesson about the Atonement! We were doing a "team-up" with Brother Danely from our ward which was perfect! He shared a personal story which Brother Edwards could connect with and the spirit was so strong!! EVERYONE was in tears. We left and were so grateful for that family and for the spirit which we felt. (Miracle #4.)

Now here comes miracle #5 the biggest of them all...

We got out of our lesson late and still needed 20 more OYM's so we went to a park when we received a text from Dakota. Sister Pack was driving and asked me to read it out loud. This is what it said...

"Hi sisters! It's Dakota. Can I ask you a question?"

We were freaking out. We prayed right there and then that Dakota would be strong. That he would remember what we said about Satan and recognize the adversary in his life.

We responded back and said "of course! What's up?"

It took him a while to respond. I still had the phone and said "oh Dakota texted back... AHHHH OH MY GOSH! I AM GOING TO START CRYING!" which I did. Of course, Sister Anderson and Sister Pack were freaking out and screaming at me to read it out loud.

He said "My uncle and aunt are down until Sunday night, and I was wondering if this Sunday evening would be a possible time to have the baptism?"

I am crying again just writing about it. We were ECSTATIC! We were in the middle of the parking lot jumping and screaming and crying and hugging each other. 

What a miracle.

He was baptized yesterday afternoon! :)

Nat, Skyler, Dakota, Brother Postoien, Shay, Sister Anderson and Sister Pack

He had me speak on baptism and Sister Pack speak on the Holy Ghost. The whole room was packed. The spirit was so strong. 

When I got up to speak I started to cry and told Dakota that when we are set apart as missionaries we are able to feel the love that the Savior and Heavenly Father have for all those we come in contact with and that I have never felt His love for someone so strongly as I did right then.

Brother Postoien the Elders Quorm President (the one who initially visited them and invited them back to church) baptized Dakota. He was sobbing the whole time.

I can honestly say I have never felt anything like that before. No one in that room could deny that the spirit was there and that Dakota made the right decision.

I am so grateful that I am here. I am so grateful I have the opportunity to witness miracles every day. I am so grateful that I am able to be an instrument in Heavenly Father's hands in bringing his children to the truth.

I love this gospel. I love this mission. I love all of you.

Thank you for all of your prayers for Dakota! Satan worked really hard on him the two days before he was baptized, but he never looked back and continued to stay strong.

Sister Nelson

(email received July 22, 2013)

"This is what all ice cream trucks should be. We love this truck so much that we stop to get shaved ice everytime we see it. Brilliant idea!"

Anyone want some prayer?

Totes busy over here! Another "abnormal" week for us missionaries...

We had multi-zone conference, a stake breakfast and 3 flat tires!! Oh and some miracles here and there. Ya know, missionary stuff :)

Our zone at the multi-zone conference

My favorite thing that happened this week was probably with the County family. At the very beginning of this transfer we were tracting when we found them. (Side note: they're African American.)  

Angie (the daughter who is 26) answered the door and goes "Oh you're Mormons!" 

Then turns around and yells into the house "The Mormons are here! Anyone want some prayer?!" 

Her mom, Linda, came down with one of her sons and they decided that they could all use more prayer and let us in. 

They were so kind to us and really funny. We had a whole list of things and people to include in the blessing and so we were at their home for an hour, which is very unusual. 

The spirit was so strong and it was such a great blessing, but when we left they told us that we are welcome to stop by anytime, but that they didn't want to learn more about the Gospel. 

So, we stopped in on them the following week to see how they were doing and to see if there were any miracles that happened after we left. 

Linda let us in and chatted with us and filled up our water bottles with ice. She told us about her faith and how she goes to church every week and is very involved with that. But, we still asked if they would be interested in just simply learning more about Jesus Christ...

She said "no" and then yelled out "does anyone want church from the Mormons?" 

Her sons made a joke about it, but no one seemed interested. Angie is always so sweet and told us that we were still welcome back anytime.

Then, a couple of weeks ago when we were working at Picnic in the Park, we had a break and decided to walk around the nearby neighborhoods. It was 110 degrees that day and I forgot my water bottle so I was feeling really sick. We decided to stop in on the County's to see if I could get a glass of water. 

They immediately let us in and gave us multiple glasses full of ice and let us stay for a bit while in the air conditioning. 

We started talking about Picnic in the Park, which lead to church attendance, which lead to keeping the sabbath day holy, which lead to commandments, which lead to word of wisdom, the law of chastity and tithing, which lead to Bishops, which lead to the priesthood, which lead to the restoration! 

We pretty much talked about every aspect of the gospel in a simplified manner, but it was really great. 

They told us about their church and we told them about the similarities between their church and ours. They had so many questions for us so we ended up being there for a little over an hour. But again, when we asked if they wanted to learn more they said "no." 

So we asked if there was anything that we could do help them and told them that we LOVED to serve.

They were shocked (which shocked us a little bit) and said that they really appreciate the offer and that they think what we are doing is great...blah, blah blah.

Linda said that maybe sometime when we stop by we can help her pick peaches so she can make us peach jam (we had mentioned earlier how none of us have ever made jam before.) So, we gave her our number and then left.

Now to this week....

On Thursday we were at a ward members house while our bike tires were being fixed and Linda called and asked us if we could come over on Friday to help clean her floor. 

We. Were. So. EXCITED! 

The next day we went over and helped her clean for 2 hours. We were literally on our hands and knees scrubbing the floor, but we were laughing and having a good ole' time. 

Linda said that she was so grateful for us, not only because we helped her clean, but because we had a good attitude too. We asked her if we could come by the next day and she said "yes!"

So, the next day we went over and helped her paint her house. She was almost emotional while we were there. Apparently she had just yelled at her family about how ridiculous it is that she has to call girl missionaries to come over and help her when she has healthy bodies in her own home that could do the work. 

We told her we were so happy that we could be there and that we don't mind because we love her family and we love feeling the spirit in her home. 

Each time we go over there we get closer and closer to them and now we have dinner scheduled with them next week! 

No, we haven't had an official discussion or committed them to baptism or church, but we have become their friends and they know who we are and what we stand for and that's the foundation of our relationship.

I am so grateful for them! I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve and develop pure charity for them. 

I don't know if they are going to be baptized next month or in 20 years, but I know that if we are obedient and serve and teach through love that their lives will be blessed and their hearts will be softened to the gospel.

I love you all so much! I love this gospel so much! I love being a missionary so much!

Sister Nelson 

(email received July 15, 2013)

"the best friends anyone could ask for"

"Sister Pack FINALLY fell off her bike and it was the best fall so far!"

Something really great is about to happen

Um...this past week was sweeeeeeet! More specifically, Friday might have been the BEST day of my life thus far.

So, Friday we have our regular appointment with Mandi (I can't remember if I told you about her. She recognized miracles after we left a blessing with her a few weeks ago and now has been meeting with us multiple times a week. Committed to baptism, but without a date)> 

Well...we show up and she wasn't there! What the heck? So weird right? We were super bummed because we had a lesson planned and we were gonna use the "power of the pause" and everything! But, then she wasn't home. 

So, we were like "Dang it...this is GREAT!" (Because we are trying to be positive about EVERYTHING.) 

But, we didn't have a back up plan so we quickly decided to go check in on the Edwards. They're a family of 5 and the Dad is the only member. He served a mission in Costa Rica, but then went inactive. He and his 19 year old son, Dakota, have been coming to church the past couple of weeks and last week Dakota dropped the bomb on everyone that he wasn't a member! What the-?! How did we not know this?

So we rode our bikes in the heat (it was around 100 allllll week) over to their house and as we were walking toward the house I said "Hey guess what? Something really great is about to happen." 

Sister Pack said, "Oh yeah? and what's that?"  

I said "we are going to go into this house and ask if there is anything we can do for this family and then we are going to clean their entire house and Dakota will say gosh these Mormons are great people, I want to be baptized!"

Before we knock, we pray that Dakota will be home and will soften his heart to us and recognize the importance of being baptized. 

We knock on the door and what do you know...Dakota answered!!!! Hahaha I think I am so funny. But, this isn't funny. It's serious. Anyways, he said that he was the only one home and that everyone else was at the beach, but he decided not to go!! 

So, he let us in and agreed to take the discussions from us. Then bold Sister Anderson said "let's do one right now!" and so we did. 

We opened with a hymn (which is the best thing ever, it immediately invites the spirit) then said a prayer and began to discuss the restoration. HE. KNEW. EVERYTHING! We were like "why haven't you been baptized?!" 

Okay not like that, but we did say that we were shocked about how much he knew for being a non-member and asked why he hasn't been baptized considering he knows the Book of Mormon is true and is very in tune with the spirit. 

He told us that he feels like he needs to read the entire Book of Mormon and know all of it before he can be baptized. We explained to him that that isn't necessary and taught him all about the Holy Ghost and the principle of faith. 

We had probably only been there for 20 minutes when I said "Dakota, if you pray about baptism and receive an answer to your prayer that this is something you need to do, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized?" to which he said "Yes I will." 

WAHOOO!! He is getting baptized July 27th! :) We are meeting with him and his dad on Thursday so we can officially teach him about the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity.

After that lesson we were on cloud nine! It was the most spiritual lesson experience I have had. I could feel the spirit working through us. It was very powerful and emotional (I may or may not have cried when I asked him to be baptized and when I bore my testimony. And he may or may not have cried too...) I know that this is the restored gospel and I am so grateful for it!

I am also grateful for everyone who wrote me letters!! That night when we got home I had 2 packages from mom (THANK YOU SO MUCH MOM THEY ARE PERFECT!!!!!) and 5 letters from friends and family! :) You could say that Friday was emotional all day long. It truly does make my day to receive letters from everyone. I feel of your love, support and prayers daily. Thank you, thank you. :)

Now to the funniest miracle of the week...

Saturday night we had dinner at Sister Liu's house. (We eat at a Chinese members house about once a week and I am really good with chopsticks, don't love the food though.) 

Plus, I think it is really funny to offer lots of food to Sister Pack because she can't say no, especially to the Chinese members. 

We sit down at the table and Sister Liu has made 3 HEAPING plates of dumplings and that's it! Sister Anderson hates dumplings and Sister Pack isn't a fan either so this was set up for fun. :) 

As we started to eat the dumplings we were eating really slow because if we take our time she won't offer us as much and then when she sees we are full,  she will think we are just continuing to eat to be polite. (This is the tactic we use at all members homes when we aren't a fan of the food.) 

But, then Sister Liu says "I am cooking soup so save some room!" 

I DO NOT like Chinese soup. It is very watery, has floating eggs, little fish that still have a faces (eyeballs and all) and seaweed. So, obviously I started to eat as many dumplings as possible so I could pass on the soup. 

Well Sister Liu's 90 year old mother who doesn't speak a lick of English poured me up a bowl so I had to get it down and let me tell you...it smelled like I was eating a bowl of the excess juice from the fish in a fishing bucket and it tasted like it too.

Sister Anderson took some soup so she didn't have to eat any more dumplings and Sister Pack was still eating dumplings so she didn't have to have soup. 

Yeah...like I was going to let that happen...

(Side note: Sister Pack was out for 2 days this week because she was really sick.  She finally took some Chinese medicine where they rub a rock on your neck and back until you bruise and then you're all better. It actually worked! But, this was her first full day back...)

"This is what Chinese medicine looks like"

I turned to Sister Liu and said "Would this soup be good for you if you've been sick?" 

and she said "I guess. Why, you sick?" 

I said "No, Sister Pack has been sick all week and I just thought that maybe your soup would help settle her stomach." 

Sister Liu said "Oh yes yes yes yes!" as she filled up Sister Packs bowl with soup. :) 

Sister Anderson and I were fighting back the giggles for 20 minutes straight as Sister Pack ate the soup. Then when she was done I tried to encourage her to eat more, which of course Sister Liu had my back, but Sister Pack said she was too full and couldn't eat any more. 

So Sister Liu sent her home with the rest of the soup and a whole plate of dumplings which we made her carry in her backpack. There was LOTS of laughter and tooting (obviously on Sister Packs end) on our way to our next appointment. 

Sister Pack started praying that we would run into the Elders so we could give them the food. Not a minute later did Sister Pack say "No way...the church is true!" A few feet away the Elders had pulled over to say hi to us. Lucky Sister Pack.

I LOVE YOU ALLLLL AND MISS YOU DAILY!!!!

THE CHURCH IS TRUE!

Sister Nelson

Booths and Bashing in the park

Another CRAZY week in sunny California! Seriously, I can't remember the last "normal" week we've had.

This week there was a 3-day carnival in Eastvale called "Picnic in the Park."  There were all kinds of rides and yummy food and lots of booths for businesses and things. Our ward has a booth every year and this year they wanted the missionaries to be working it the entire time. 

It was so fun! The Elders were there pretty much the entire time since they are the only ones who speak Chinese. The Hermanas (spanish speaking sisters) were there most of the time and then we split the time between our ward and Eastvale 2nd ward for the English missionaries.

It was a BLAST except for the fact that it was 110 degrees all weekend! I seriously have never been in heat like that. I was constantly sweating. Some members of the Bishopric brought us misters and I am sure you can imagine how much fun a group of hot, sweaty missionaries, who aren't allowed to go swimming, had with these ice cold misters. It was a REAL. GOOD. TIME.

We talked to SOOOO many people! We probably invited 200 people to a scripture study class that we are starting (as a companionship) this Saturday. It will be interesting to see if anyone shows up.

Most of the people were really nice. Some people came over to ask specific questions and we had about 25 people come over and ask for a Book of Mormon. We have a few appointments this week from the contacts so it will be interesting to see where they go.

There was only one person who came to bash...as in "Bible Bashing." It was my very first bash and I have to say, it ended up being a cool experience. 

Every single day, our testimonies get challenged and lately it was sort of getting to me. I never questioned if I should be here or if the church is true, just if I am living what I am preaching sort of a thing. 

Anyway, I was sitting in the tent and I noticed that there was a boy that had been talking to Hermana Ruiz and Elder Opeda (one of the Chinese speaking Elders in my ward) for a while so I decided to get in on the convo. 

The boy was only 16, but by the questions he was asking, we could tell he had done his research. He knew all about Joseph Smith and the Plan of Salvation all the way down to the 3 kingdoms. He started to state things we believe such as the Godhead being 3 separate beings and that's when the bashing began...

He started stating how we were wrong and was throwing all sorts of Bible verses at us. Thank goodness Elder Opeda was there because he was able to quote quite a few verses in the Bible to help back up our beliefs. 

I began to challenge him and asked if he believed that God came to earth as Jesus Christ (which he did) then what happened when He was baptized or when He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemene or when He died on the cross? 

He didn't really have any answers which frustrated him. He started pulling out all sorts of "historical proof" on why the church wasn't true. So, I asked him where he got his research and when he said the internet and books written by scholars I told him that if he was trying to find out if the church was true he might want to read books that are published by the church. 

At this point there were about 6 missionaries against this one boy and we were all starting to get offended. So we were trying to cool it down when the boy said "let me give you a challenge."

and I said "only if I can give you one too."

He agreed and said "I am 16 years old and actually grew up a member. When I was 14,  I went on a Christian retreat and had a spiritual experience where the truth was revealed to me. For the past two years I have been on the right path by choosing not to be a part of any specific religion, but I follow Jesus Christ.  I want each of you to really ponder your testimonies to figure out if you truly believe what you're preaching or if it's just what you have been taught since you were little and know no other way."

In unison we all said "We have. That's why we're here!" 

It was sweet. That's when the spirit was REALLY strong. 

So I said to him "Now, can I tell you something? I am so grateful that you came here and talked with us today because you have strengthened my testimony. I know that this is the true church and I know that it is the only way we can live with our Father in Heaven again." 

He shook his head and said "but you don't have any proof!" 

I said "Okay. Who on earth loves you the most...your mom or your dad? Maybe a brother or sister?"

He said "my parents" 

I said "how do you know that?" 

He said "they tell me" 

I said "so what? I am telling you this church is true and you are saying it's not. Where is the proof? Give me some proof that your mom loves you" 

He said "she takes care of me" 

I said "so then does your doctor love you? No. Give me some proof." 

He said "she does things for me" 

I said "like drive you places or make you food? Does that mean that the bus driver or chef at a restaurant loves you? No. You know that your mom loves you because you can feel it. You feel the love that your mom has for you in your heart. It is the same thing with the gospel. I don't know that this is the only true Gospel because of the proof, I know it because I can feel it. Because Heavenly Father through the power of the Holy Ghost has testified to me that this is the only way to return and live with Him. Now, I challenge you to find that desire within yourself to truly know if this is the true church and I promise you that if you pray with faith that the revelation you will receive will be something you cannot deny as long as you are willing to follow Him."

He just shook his head and told us that he felt bad for us and was ALMOST emotional and then walked away. I have not been able to stop thinking about that boy. 

When we are looking for "evidence" the church isn't true, Satan will be your right hand man. But, if we strive to learn for ourselves that the gospel is true, we will have revelation so strong that like Joseph Smith said "I knew it and I knew that God knew it and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it."

I KNOW that this is the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I KNOW that through our faith in Him and our obedience to our Heavenly Father's commandments we can experience true joy and happiness.

I love you all so much and I love this gospel and the opportunity I have to be on a mission.

Sister Nelson

PS.  The bruise Sister Anderson sustained from her bike crash last week...

(email received July 1, 2013)