Moving

I'm going to miss this girl.

I am so grateful for my dear friend, Sister Neufville. She has taught me how to better teach with the passion and love I have for this gospel, shown me true friendship, and has helped me dream big. I am grateful for the 18 weeks we have spent together doing the beautiful work of the Lord and loving His children. She also inspired me to have a quote book.

So thanks. You are a rockstar missionary and I will hold dear the time we have served together.

much love,
sister nelson

Overcoming.

So, we all have weaknesses. It is a fact of life. Recently I've come to understand better what they really are.
first off, the difference between Sin and Weakness:

"Sin can lead us to hell, when Weakness can lead us to Heaven."

Weaknesses are meant to help us draw closer to, and rely more on our Heavenly Father.
In Ether, chapter 12, verse 27 is reads:  
 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
My whole life, I (and every one who talked to me about this), related this as basically "if you are humble and work hard, Heavenly Father will take away your weaknesses!", when in reality He doesn't always take away those weaknesses, He will make you stronger so they aren't stumbling blocks anymore. When WE are weak, we can become stronger through His power.

Through Him, we can all do anything "For with God nothing shall be impossible." Luke 1:37


Be good! Remember who you are!

much love,
sister nelson

This is your time to shine!

Never shy from a complement or shrug it off trying to be humble. Anything complementary about you is a gift from God. To deny that you are worthy of the complement is to deny the gifts of God. Accept praise as it comes, but praise God always and give thanks to Him in all things. - Jarem (click his name and check out his mormon.org video)

This weekend, I learned about Talents. We had an awesome Gospel Principles class about it on sunday and figured I'd share a few things I learned!

*Letting your light shine LIBERATES others to share their light
*The talents we've been given are not for us- Not sharing them is selfish, get out of your box and help lift people with the talents you've been given
* "Faith without Works is DEAD"(See the Book of James in the New Testament) ... also "Talents without Works is DEAD"

This is definitely something I need to work on, I really don't use my talents as much as I should and I really don't want them taken away as a result of my neglect...
So here's to using talents!

much love,
sister nelson


ps last week I ate 12 tacos in one sitting. (aka I broke the record in a members home for how many tacos a sister missionary can eat, soon I will break the all time record of 18... wish me luck).

Year Mark Reflections

Hey Y'all

 I wish I could describe every little amazing thing that happens, but I don't have the words to do it. There are so many things that have happened that I haven't even touched on- but, if you throw it all together, I'd say I've had an amazing mission so far. This week I will hit my year mark and I can't even describe how grateful I am for everything that has happened in the past year. I've had so many moments of joy, heartache, and everything in between and I am grateful for all of it. For the moments I wanted to throw in the towel or "ring the bell", for the moments I was strengthened by the Lord to continue on. For the people I've met, the conversations I've had... All of it. Sometimes, it is hard to see how far I've come, particularly recently, but I know that even if I can't always see it, I am a changed woman- and because of that change, I can help others change.

"THIS IS WHERE HAPPINESS IS!" - Elder Bott

This Gospel is where we can know complete and true happiness. Yeah, there will still be hard times, but having the knowledge that you can be with your Family for Eternity and live in the presence of God, that you can be forgiven of your mistakes and sins, that we have a Savior and Redeemer who knows each of us personally can eliminate any darkness.

I love y'all and I love these crazy wonderful Alabamians with all my heart. Don't give up the good fight.

much love,

sister nelson

Independence Day

In honor of Independence day, here is a short poem. 
Don't let this one just be a day of celebrating. Remember those who help keep us free because of their blood.

Here dead lie we because we did not choose
To live and shame the land from which we sprung.
Life, to be sure, is nothing much to lose;
But young men think it is, and we were young.
A.E. Housman

Have a beautiful week and stay Steadfast.

love,
sister nelson

Holy Ground.

This week has been amazing!
We were playing volleyball with some of the youth Saturday- most of them had left and we were playing sand soccer with the two who were still there. I had the thought " Man! We are not fulfilling our purpose right now!" But for some reason I couldn't get myself to initiate leaving. WELL. about 5 minutes later, this group of kids came up to the volleyball courts and asked us to take a picture of them. We ended up having the most powerful conversation I've ever had. There were two of the kids in particular who seemed more interested than the others, but they all were so open to talking to us and we were able to clarify some half-truths and much more. Well, we needed to get home but it would have been so wrong to just leave. So we all knelt on the sand courts, held hands, and thanked God for the experience we had... even cooler, was while we were the ones who suggested praying, one of the kids spoke up and said, " I was just about to ask if we could pray!" and no one hesitated to kneel. It was so beautiful and I'll tell ya! I had the hardest time holding back tears. Miracles Happen. And while things like that don't happen everyday, it is something I can hold onto on days that seem unbearable.

Now, those sand volleyball courts are holy ground to those who were there.


Also, two weeks ago, we got to go to the Temple!

basically my favorite place ever.

Now, here is another message from District Meeting! This week was about Opportunity! Our District leader is a Rugby Player and relates everything to the great sport. So, he drew a play-by-play on the board that showed all of the choices he could make if the ball was passed to him. He could either pass it to the guy next to him, or the guy next to that guy, he could kick it down the field, he could plow into the guy in front of him and hope his team gets the ball... a multitude of options. Now, whatever decision he makes, he has to give 110% to it and not hesitate- if he hesitates, he gets tackled. Done. A decision wasted. That is how it is for everything else! We have decisions we make every single moment of every single day! Some of them really important decisions, some of them of seemingly small importance- but in everything, we need to make a decision and run with it. Give it your all and have faith that God will either tell you it isn't the decision He'd have you make, or He'll support you through it. All in all Don't Hesitate! Make every second count. (see talk by Bishop Gary E. Stevenson, Your Four Minutes, from general conference).





Anyways, y'all make this week the best one yet!


Love y'all,
sister nelson

Don't Ring the Bell!

This week, we had a meeting with some of the missionaries in the area (called District Meeting) and our District Leader talked to us about Navy Seal Training and how grueling it is. That the training is meant to find those who will not give up- so the drill Sargent's (.. I think that is what they are called, I apologize for my lack of military knowledge) goal is to get people to give up. Throughout all of this, people go and ring this bell- I call it the pansy bell- and go home. Well, in everything we do we have that bell we can ring and give up, but will we? Will we make all the hard work we do lay to waste because we couldn't handle it? (Now, I know there are certain times when we have to because if we were to continue, we would put ourselves at harm- mentally, emotionally, spiritually or physically). What is going to motivate YOU to keep working your behind off at whatever it is you are doing?
I cannot ring the bell. I am here, thousands of miles away from my very loved friends and family, in Alabama serving- laboring for God. I cannot, and will not give up. In running cross country, you are supposed to run 80 feet past the finish line at the end of the race and you better believe that is what I am going to do! No pansy bells for me!
Really, I love this work. I love being able to serve Heavenly Father by spreading His gospel. I love that I get to give up everything, EXCEPT Him for 7 more months. I love being able to meet so many beautiful people and see them as their faith in Christ grows.
 I know, without a shadow of a doubt that what I share with people is true. Joseph Smith really did see Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ. Through Joseph, Christ restored His gospel on earth after it was gone for years and years after He suffered for us and was crucified.

Keep working hard and loving everyone! Those are the two best things you can ever do in this crazy, beautiful life.

love y'all!
sister nelson