Hello and Merry Christmas,

   Yeah for the Birth of Christ :)! Yeah for His great work! Yeah for God's perfect plan! This has been a wonderful week. I know I am talking with you tomorrow so I will keep it short, but I have a few miracles that I feel I should share. On Sunday we were asked to go visit a guy who was so prepared to hear the gospel. In missionary terms he is "golden". He lives with members and so they told us to look up his address in the ward list. So.. I got so excited and looked up the address and the next day he was the first on our list to visit. We knocked on the door and a nice lady let us in, she introduced us to her cutest little 3 year old daughter and we started talking. After a few min. we asked if Joe lived there. "No.. are you at the wrong house?" "uh.. no! Are you a member?" "Yes.. but I haven't gone to church in 10 years and my husband isn't a member." So of course, we taught her. She told us that she was so glad that we came back, every time missionaries stopped by she was putting her little girl down for a nap or it just wasn't a good time. She thanked us multiple times for coming back and she had been thinking a lot about how she needs to come back to the church. I never seem to be amazed at how perfect the work of God is, and I love with all my heart being a part of it. She is overwhelmed by all the things she needs to change, yet so unhappy with her current lifestyle. The commandments really do work, if everyone followed them no one would ever wonder if there was a God. There is and He is trying to help us, we just have to listen, and when we do, we see that He is there to help and guide us, He just allows us to choose. It was a miracle that we were there that day at that time.

  Another "right place at the right time" moment was yesterday. We had 2 appointments at the same time so we each took a member and split up. Of course the lesson that I went to fell through, along with all of the back ups. The poor lady that came with me was wearing the most uncomfortable shoes and we were walking all over the place. We ended up by a former investigators house that she knew. Roy if you remember him. He was home and let us in. We started talking and I could just tell that something was weird. I was pretty sure he was drunk. As we talked he could not think of words and would insert random words. The worst was when we asked him to read he could not read more than one word and then he would get lost and start talking about "my priorities have changed". It was weird. I finally asked him if he had been drinking and he said no. Long story short we found out he was in a car accident. He couldn't tell us if he hit his head, and I am not sure if he even knew where the accident was. He started talking about his daughter (he doesn't have kids) and his pet dog (doesn't have a dog either. He was coherent enough to tell us that he was not going to the doctor until next year. He is unemployed and doesn't have insurance. He wouldn't go to the doctor so we brought the doctors to him. After and ambulance, police car, and fire truck escorted him to the hospital we were told that he has a brain tumor and bleeding in his brain. After a lot of tears and a heartfelt prayer we got a call and were told that if we did not go over there that day and send him to the hospital he most likely wouldn't have made it. It was hard.. He is dear to me. I hope he will be alright. I know he is in Gods hands. I am grateful that He knows what He is doing.

  I love you all so much! Talk to you tomorrow!

Sister Poulson

We had a wonderful week! It was filled with miracles :). We have been teaching a less active and he definitely has the gift of the gab. Every time we go over there it is hard to get a word in. This week he didn't do his scripture reading, so we decided to read with him. As we started reading his non member son came in from a smoking break and sat down on the couch next to us. We looked at him and then of course offered him a Book of Mormon and asked if he wanted to join a long. We got through 4 verses before he started asking a lot of questions about baptism. Then his other brother came in (also not a member) and started asking questions about the Word of Wisdom and asking for our advice on how to help him quit. It was an amazing lesson and I have a strong testimony of the power of the Scriptures. Anyways, this Sunday we walk in and our less-active, his son and his fiance and his 2 grandsons were sitting on the bench. I couldn't have been happier. Then the lesson was on families and how the gospel blesses families and the importance of teaching Children that they are Children of God and how to have that relationship. It was a great sacrament. Not to mention Melany got confirmed!! I cried of course and I strongly believe that she will serve a mission! Goodness I love the gospel! Everything about it is true. Not easy, but true, and always worth it!

   I also have to share another story about a less active. We were talking about her experience at Church and she talked about how she didn't feel like she was good enough. After a long talk on the atonement and about how Christ didn't suffer the atonement with exceptions, He suffered for all and for everything. However, I know that I make a lot of mistakes and I know for me, the only time I feel the acceptance of my Heavenly Father is when I am doing His will, and then my testimony grows stronger as I realize His will is for our happiness and success. Anyways.. she was worried about tattoos turns out, and that because of her tattoos she couldn't serve a mission. WAIT WHAT?! A mission!!!! Anyways long story short, I am so glad that I went out that rainy day and that I didn't walk past a stranger when it would have been easy. If I would have done that her life would be a lot different. It is always worth it, see? Sometimes we don't see success, but it is in those times that we do that I know it is all worth it, and that if I would have given up when there wasn't success I would have never found the success around the corner. Anyways I love her. She sent us a text the other night and I just wanted to share it "Thank you Sisters you guys have really helped me a lot. I'll probably never get to repay you guys as much as you guys have helped me and changed my life. But I know the blessings you guys will get will be amazing. Thank you Sister so very much". 

  It is amazing because I feel like I haven't done anything, and that she has  been the one to change our lives.

Well family, I love you. Thanks for all your love and kindness. Have a wonderfully Christmas week!

Love Sister Poulson

 

Weekly funny: We were at Melany's baptismal interview and the Elders doing the interview asked if they could help with yard work. Nilson said no but the missionaries thought they would give him his number in case he ever would like help with anything. It was about 4:30 and we had to be somewhere at 5. The Elder starts off "It's 5:03" In a panic I look at my watch and say "IT IS?!" and then he proceeds to give his phone number... 

Hola Familia!

   It has been a really great week. I have never done so much service in my life, nor been so exhausted, nor have I been so happy. I love helping people. This week we have been learning a lot about Charity and the pure love of Christ. As I was helping these people that I would have never talked to if I wasn't on a mission, I was thinking why on earth have I not done this more and stopped and helped someone that was struggling even if I didn't know them. It brings me so much joy. I hope to do it forever :). I was telling dad that I feel so in debt to the Lord, and so grateful for what He has done for me. No matter what I do I cannot repay Him, but I can show that I am grateful and that I love Him by following him and by helping His children out. We all know I don't have any children.. however sometimes I feel like my love for all of you is similar to that of a parent, and I know for me that when I see someone do something nice for any of you that it brings me more joy than anything else. I can see why we can bring God happiness by helping out His children. We have a few people that we will hopefully be able to teach because of it as well. One of them is really struggling with life right now, I know that the Gospel can help her and help her realize how blessed she is and how much God is aware of her and loves her. 

   We have a baptism next week. We are so excited. Nilsons daughter who is 11 is getting baptized and just guess who gets to baptize her... AHHH!!!! I cannot even believe it, it is going to be one of the greatest days on my mission! Nilsons girlfriend came back to Oregon and I was really nervous about it at first. But now I am so happy, they are working towards having an eternal family and she could not be happier with the change that she has seen in Neilson. Also if I didn't tell you before, turns out she is a member, not active but that will soon change :)! It is going to be so neat for Melanie to have all of the family support. I will make sure to send pictures!

I love you!

Love,

Sister Poulson

So.. in the VC we have these huge glass windows, and every night in December we are having Christmas musical numbers from 7-7:30. Last night a group of Philippine group came in to sing and one of the ladies was walking into the Visitors Center when she slammed right into the front window.. I saw the whole thing.. She bounced off and flew back. It was so funny... it was like one of those Windex commercials! Ha ha ha ha 

 

After trying to hold in my laugh and compose myself for 10 min. turned out she got a compound fractured wrist. I felt so bad. I will be praying for her. 

also! Here is a great video for you all to watch!

http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/mormon-messages?lang=eng&start=25&end=36&order=alpha#2009-12-41-the-christmas-spirit

On Mon, Nov 26, 2012 at 3:03 PM, Aubrey Poulson <aubrey.poulson@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Hello Family

  I don't have a whole lot to say this week but I am loving the Christmas Spirit. We have been watching a lot of Christmas films in the Visitors Center and I have really been thinking about why we celebrate the Saviors birth so much. My conclusion: because He was born for us. Each and every one of us. This week has been a little rougher, but it was still fun. It's helped me to continue moving forward knowing that our Lord and Savior never gives up on me. Which I cannot tell you how grateful I am for that. We heard a testimony on Sunday of someone who served in a 3rd world country, he talked about how he was teaching a family who soon after got leprosy  They were cast out by the people and from almost everything around them, however when the missionaries asked them to pray they expressed all of the blessings that God has blessed them with. I thought, they have reason to complain and be upset, but instead they recognize how much God has blessed them. It helped me to express my gratitude in prayers more, I have been given so much, so so much, and I have everything to give thanks for. 

   I am so lucky to be on a mission. I am so lucky in every aspect of my life. God really loves us doesn't He :). I wish everyone could know that. 

I love you!

Sister Poulson

 

Hello Family!

   Happy Thanksgiving! Make sure you all sit around the table and remember all the things that God has blessed you with. I have been thinking about gratitude a lot recently and I am the luckiest girl in the world to have such an amazing family and such great friends. I know I wouldn't be here on a mission or have come as far as I have it wasn't for all the great people God has given to me. I know that God helps me through other people and you have all helped me so much along with so many other people. So I just want to say thank you, and that I love you so so so so so so so so so so so stinkin much!

  It wasn't one of our best weeks. We had a lot of lessons fall through, but a lot of ones that came up and a lot of miracles that we have seen. The member we are living with brought her dad to stay with her because he is getting old and can't take care of himself. He is the sweetest old man. He can't hear worth a lick of him... but every morning he wakes up and says "good morning Sisters, what work do you have for us today?!" Then we will tell him about our lessons we have planned (who knows how much he hears of it) and then he tells Wendy (who is his daughter) to leave those times open so they can come with us. It is fun having them come to so many lessons with us. Sister Garner (wendy) has the strongest testimony of the Book of Mormon, it is so great having her there and having her share the many times that the Book of Mormon has helped her in every aspect of her life. Then Grandpa (that is what we call him) usually pipes in and repeats something we had just taught because he didn't hear. It is  great :)!

   In one of our meetings we were asked to choose a Christlike quality that we wanted to work on during the next few weeks. I chose humility and I can see that God is really helping me. None of our investigators made it to church, it was sad because I know how helpful church is in giving someone a spiritual boost to conquer the temptations and evils of this world. But it is ok.. there is always next week. Church is still there and God never ever gives up. 

   I really am so grateful for all of the wonderful people that God has entrusted to me. Missionary work is hard, but it always worth it. I hope you all are well! I am sorry it is a shorter email. 

I love you,

Sister Poulson

Hi family,

   I decided this week that my new favorite Hymn is I Stand all Amazed... my poor companion is probably so annoyed because we listen to it over and over again. I just think it is so pwerful! We really are so blessed to know what Christ did for us. It was a good week. All missionaries dream of being asked by an investigator "what is the purpose of life" well we actually got asked that this week. Our 16 year old investigator is so engaged with all the things we are teaching him. It was so great to have an answer for him. It was amazing how all of his concerns could be answered with the Book of Mormon.. I am not sure I have ever used the Book of Mormon so much in a lesson.. now I have been wondering why not. We read with him Mosiah 27, which is a great chapter on repentance. I don't know what things he has done in his life but something seemed to be weighing him down, by the end of the lesson and talking about Christ and the power of forgiveness you could just see a huge sigh of relief. It made me look back to my own conversion of the Book of Mormon. I read it over and over again.. and it wasn't until I really desired to know if it was from God and prayed with faith until I really knew. Even then I only had a small testimony of it, but once the teachings are applied there is no way to deny that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.

  Miracle: We were going to visit some less active families in this appartment complex. We had just gotten out of the car and we saw a lady a few cars over standing there smoking. I told Hermana "we should go talk to her". We started talking to her and immediately she says "ok.. who sent you?" I asked if she was a memeber and she said that she was.. she moved here about 3 years ago and no one has ever come and talked to her. She said it was funny because that day happened to be her day off.. and normally she wouldn't have been home. We didn't talk for long but she agreed to meet with us later the next week. So we met with her this week. Less Actives scare me.. because most of them know what they are supposed to be doing and they are willingly rebeling against God. In other words they are harder.. However when she walked into the Visitors Center I loved her with all my heart. Turns out she is 22 and I can see her being one of my really good friends. We talked and she broke down in sobs "I know it is true.. I knew it when I walked onto the temple grounds, and I knew that it was no coincidence that you ran into me the other day and I have been thinking about that a lot." It was a miracle. I love doing the Lords work! I love seeing people who think that they are lost or aren't good enough and seeing them change and realise that they are a child of God. I wish we could meet witrh her more but she is getting passed off to the singles ward, but I will never forget it!

  Funny: We stopped by 7-11 to get a slurpie and walked past the red box. I realised that I didn't know one movie that was in there, and also none of them looked good. On the way out I saw one and said to Hermana "that one doesn't look to bad; People Like Us." her response.. "they do?"

I love you so much! Have a fantastic week. Keep the faith

Sister Poulson

Hello hello!

  It was a week full of funnies so just brace yourself.. I will start off with the Spiritual! We met with a less active earlier this week. He is really struggling with a needy child. However sad it is, God is humbling him. He is realizing now more than ever that he doesn't have the strength to do life alone. It is sad to see his trials and see how much pain he is going through because of the not so great decisions of a child. I have really learned the power and the influence of one person... I have grown so grateful for the gospel because it helps us, it helps us in trials and also in the good times. We aren't left here alone but we have guidance, and if we just follow that guidance from the scriptures prophets and ultimately Christ our life will still be hard, but we will have strength and we will have understanding, and we will know that everything in this life is working towards a greater picture; eternal life. He knows that.. he knows the gospel will help him he is just being stubborn as to put in the action. He talks and talks of his daughter making bad decisions and the effect that it is having on the whole family, I wish he could just see that by him making good decisions it will have just as big of an effect but in a positive way for his family. Agency is frustrating.. ha ha it is hard to see people struggle and know what will help them, but can't help them myself. It is all based on their own choices, and I just have to pray that they make ones that will truly benefit them. 

    This month is our Stakes "bring a friend to the Visitors Center month". One of the youth that comes to lessons with us a lot brought in her friend. We taught the restoration and Hermana was awesome!! He accepted a soft baptismal invitation (meaning that once he knows the Book of Mormon is true he will be baptized) and even accepted missionaries! (Here is where the funnies comes in) I was so excited to have such an awesome new investigator to give to the missionaries. I raced back and got on the phone "HELLO! Is this Elder Hatch?" "no" "Oh Hi Elder Byum this is Sister Poulson.." "Uh.. I think you have the wrong number" ...long pause (considering hanging up) "Oh sorry! Bye" I realized after that I had called the friend that just accepted missionaries.. it was pretty embarrassing. Then shortly after my tongue got stuck to a metal spoon.. Hermana was laughing so hard only sqeeks came out lol. However I just have to say, that I love the members! They are so awesome and they truly understand the importance of sharing the gospel with their friends, even if it is just inviting them to activities or something. 

 Well.. the rest of the week was filled with embarasments ha ha. We got home and were done with our planning and studies and everything and were just playing a game before bed when we heard a loud knock (just one knock).. of course we were terrified being in a house alone and I made Hermana say a prayer. After 10 min. of getting the nerve to go out and check the house and coming up with any comforting excuse for the sound "maybe a squirrel ran into the door" we saw that her extra large heavy umbrella had just tipped over.. 

  I love our investigators. The family that is preparing to get baptized on December 8th has the cutest little boy ever. We went over and taught a lesson and the whole time the 2 year old was walking up to each person and shaking their hands. This lasted the whole hour.. ha ha. I guess he is getting used to us and our "missionary" behaviors. 

    Hermana is doing awesome! She is really livining up the Spanish population in our area. We went out talking to people yesterday, well I guess she did ha ha, and it was awesome! Everyone she would talk to just loved her and then she got referrals. The Spanish Elders probably love having her in the area because they get multiple referrals a day. I have no idea what she is saying but it is working.. ususally I just stand there and smile and every once in a while when they laugh I will laugh along, which probably just makes them laugh harder considering they know i have no idea what they are saying. It is sweet!

  Well those are just a few things from the week. Missionary work is awesome! I love you eternally!

Sister Poulson

Hola!

  It is amazing how every week is filled with good and bad, but at the end of the week, the good far outweighs the bad, and I couldn't be happier about the people that I get to serve and meet each day. We have been teaching Ken for a while now and we went over there to plan for his baptism on the 3rd of November. His whole family was there, and it was awesome because that is what we have all been praying for since we started meeting with him. We started planning his baptism and his wife, who was completely opposed when we first started meeting with Ken decided that she wants to be baptized too. In short it was a miracle. The spirit was so strong as we taught their little family. One of the greatest parts of being a missionary is seeing others feel the Spirit and watching it teach them. Ken the night before woke up at 5:00am and was in tears.. he didn't know why. He decided to get up and turn on the computer and listen to General Conference again, by the end he was sobbing. "I felt so good, I felt so much peace, I am so happy" that is all he said and I just thought... "this is what it is all about". He is a great example to me of trusting the Lord, and just having faith. He never asked "why" or second guessed the commandments, he had faith, and not just faith he put in the action. After much prayer and feeling uneasy about him not being baptized with his family, he called us at 6:00 am and said that he was ready, but he wanted to wait and do this as a family. I am so excited for all the support and love he now has all because of prayer and trusting that if he followed the Savior, things would work out. The power of one example right?! His family will be getting baptized December 8th :). Wanna come?! He he jk! 

   Don't worry.. my birthday was great! I got overfed.. heard happy birthday about 22 times.. and I think I have more wrinkles. Sorry it was a short email. So much more happened ha ha but you will just have to wait to hear!

Much love,

Sister Poulson

 

Funny: I think my companion has ADD.. we were driving down the street after a very spiritual lesson and she says "the spirit was so... hey look! 2 taco's for a dollar!!" With much enthusiasm I might add. 

Hola! Como estas? Bien!? Espero que todos esten Bien! Los Amo a todos!

   Good right?! Ha ha it would have been better if I actually wrote it. Unfortunately I only know a few words.. one day I will be able to speak a sentence.. maybe when I come home I can ever bear my testimony in espanol! Maybe not though.. It has been a good week! Hermana is livenin up the place! We have 4 baptisms coming up! It is crazy.. I didn't know it was possible for things to go so smoothly. This week I have really come to believe that scripture "whom the Lord calls He qualifies" actually I'm not sure that is even a scripture ha ha however that is how I feel. I remember when I decided to serve I had so many doubts about if I could do the work ahead of me. However, when I put in the effort and studied, and went to mission prep, and truly tried to prepare myself God qualified me. I didn't know I could be who I am becoming... Then when I was called as a trainer I at first though "yes! I got this! This will be awesome!" Then I started thinking about the huge responsibility it was and wondering if I really was fit for the job. I feel like since I have been training God has given me this extra strength and knowledge. I have really gained a testimony on just trusting the Lord. He knows what he is doing, and I have realized that if I just do what he asks of me, he will provide a way for his work to be accomplished. 

   I just have one story that I want to share! Kenny has been meeting with us for a while. (He is the one that listens to Mormon Tabernacle Choir all the time.) We have been praying for his family. The thing he wants most is for his family to join him. He has such a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and the other day he even called us to tell us that he read the Joseph Smith pamphlet then he said in the most humble way.. "I believe". It was so amazing, he is so spiritually sensitive. As we read with him from the Book of Mormon all he can say is "wow" and then a huge smile comes on his face. Anyways, we asked him to come to the church early yesterday so we could show him the baptismal font and show him what will happen on that day. When he walked into the church I saw another guy with him, we went up and greeted them and found out that his son Sampson wanted to join him at church. He was so nervous, he told us that he has never been to church before. After showing them the font we got Sampson a Book of Mormon, we taught him the whole restoration and I have to say that Hermana is doing so awesome! She really has such a great testimony and she knows how to follow the Spirit! Afterwords we invited him to pray and ask if the Book of Mormon is true, we read with him the last paragraph on the introduction of the Book of Mormon and promised him that if he read he really would come to know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World, and also.. that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints really is the Lords Kingdom once again established on the earth. I don't think he has ever prayed before. We taught him how and then one of the most heartfelt prayer followed "dear Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me this opportunity to change my life, and helping me to come to know thee, please, please let me know that the Book of Mormon is true" I think he was even in tears.. it was so spiritual. He is 16 btw.. which is perfect age for a future missionary ;)! 

   It has been a great week! We have had a lot of meetings but we have managed to get a lot done as well! I love you lots! Keep pushing forth the gospel at home!

Love,

Sister Poulson 

Hello hello!

   It has been a crazy week! It was Sister Bothwells birthday and we got more than spoiled.. we got fattened :)! It was a great birthday and I will tell you why! We had been teaching a family for a while, they were golden! It was a younger dad with 2 kids ages 14 and 11. I loved them! They were praying about a baptismal date and were planning on coming to church for the first time. We texted them right before church and asked if they needed directions. Their response "Oh we aren't coming". :((((( We were devastated to say the least. We asked if they needed a ride, church clothes, or if they were just nervous because it was new. They said it was neither and they just weren't ready. So.. we asked if we could come over and they said they just wanted to study the Book of Mormon and pray about it, when we asked if we could study with them they said they wanted to do it on their own. It was sad.. and we continued to text them and invite them to things and see how they were doing with little results. This Sunday, after weeks without contact we were at church. One of the members came up to me and pointed out that there was a family in street clothes and she wasn't sure if they were members. So.. I looked and my heart stopped beating. There in the back row was this little family. I was sooo happy I pracitaclly leaped out of my seat and ran over and shook their hands (I am sure the look on my face was priceless because they couldn't stop laughing). I have never been so happy! Well.. what helped is that we also had 6 investigators at church. I was so nervous ha ha.. but it was fast and testimony meeting and once people start sharing what is in their heart and what they know to be true the Spirit is so strong. 

   Then yesterday was transfers. Sister Bothwell is now full time proselyting . I'm not sure if she's excited or not. I have a new companion, a Spanish Hermana (that means Sister). She just came from the MTC which means I get to train her! First I was so excited, what an honor that President Morby trusts me to train a new missionary. Then I was terrified ha ha how do I train a new missionary? Well.. I love her! She is so cute! There is something about new missionaries.. it's a new energy, I love it. I decided the best way to train her would be to just throw her into it. So we went over to Nilsons and decided to extend a baptismal date to his daughter. Well.. she was so scared, but she did awesome! She tried so hard and she opened her mouth, which is the most important thing. The Spirit was so strong. Melanie (Nilsons daughter) shared with us that since she has been praying she has seen the Lord help her in her day to day life. She told us that she had a math class coming up, she decided that she was going to pray and ask for help with it because she was really nervous. After she prayed she had this strong feeling that she was going to do alright, and that she didn't need to worry. It was so neat to see that she knew God cared about her, he cared about everything even her math test and was more than ready to help her if she just asked. She did really good on the test! The Spirit is amazing, it really helps us to find comfort in scary situations and guide us in our life. Also.. last but not least she is getting baptized! And Hermana even invited her on her first day! November 17th! She is awesome! 

   It was an awesome week! I love being a missionary! Everyone should go!

I love you so much!

Sister Poulson 

---

Hello Family,

    This week was great! We started off by teaching a group of Spanish people English. Well.. Sister Denault did! It was simple, they had a hard time pronouncing their v's.. but Sister Denault was so encouraging and loving. Not to mention very energetic, and patient.. I need to work on that! Then we went to the 12 step program. Don't worry.. I haven't taken up alcohol or drugs or anything like that on a mission, we were just visiting :). I walked into the room and I was overcome by the Spirit. I looked around thinking, I love these people. They were so humble to come, so humble to bare testimony, and they were soo supportive of each other. I thought to myself, this i what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is about, helping people become better.. helping them and myself to find God and know that we are never alone.. we don't have to bare it alone because we never are. Nilson struggles with his testimony in English.. he was so nervous, but he tried so hard and I was so proud of him to just open his mouth and to say he felt blessed. I loved so many people in that room and I kept praying for God to help them. My prayers aren't always as sincere as they could be so when my heart is full of love and really broken and contrite I try to pray in that moment. Earlier that day we went to a new investigators that we are teaching, Shay. It was soo awesome! Guess what I got to do?! Have you guessed mow a lawn because if you have you are wrong.. we painted a fence! I felt like Tom Sawyer.. ha ha. It was awesome! It was nice being outside working on something while talking about the Gospel. The Spirit was there, at least I thought so.. She's a little closed but not completely. I really think is trust us :). She said she was going to read the Book of Mormon :)! I have really learned that being a part of the true Church does not make us higher up than anyone else, I know many people who are more spiritual than I without the fullness of the Gospel, it really just provides us with more knowledge and reminds me of how important it is to share it. 

    Conference was amazing!  I loved Elder Hollands talk! I keep telling Sister Bothwell that he will be the prophet in the last days.. she disagrees lol. I don't know what it is about him but it just pierces me to the soul when he speaks. The whole time I was sitting there thinking... be the best I can.. because I love God.. I love Christ.. not because of what other people are.. don't be stupid and don't ever give up.. I am his disciple, I represent him. It was a good reminder that serving the Lord is too important not to give my best 100% of the time. After Elder Hollands talk our investigator Roy who wont pray was sobbing.. something really got him in that talk. And I had this strong feeling that he was ready to follow Christ, to trust him. Then President Monson got up and he said "never delay a prompting." After thinking about any prompting I might have passed up, I got this feeling that I needed to invite Roy to be baptized again.. I was terrified. You think it would get easier with time but it doesn't.. it is still hard! So after he dropped us and after about 5 invites to be baptized I got the courage to sit him and Sister Bothwell down and this is how it went: "Roy... Do you love Christ?" "yes..." "then will you follow him and be baptized by someone holding that authority from God on Oct. 27th?" His answer was almost yes.. then he had the same issues he has had before even after every conference talk spoke on the atonement and feeling worthy as we accept and follow Christ (key words being follow Christ). However, he gave God an ultimatum. Which if you ask me isn't the greatest. If you love Christ, keep his commandments. We are already so indebted to Him that who am I to ask for an ultimatum. But he said if he gets a job before the end of the month he will be baptized and he's see that as a way of God telling him that this is the right path for him to follow. So.. I will be doing a lot of fasting and praying. Ken also came, he loved conference! 

     Ether 12:6. It is not in the busyness of the world that brings us success, it is in following Christ and feeling of his atonement. That is the only way to feel a broken soul, to follow him! Also we follow Christ because we trust him, and we love him, not because we have seen a sign or were struck by lightning. However I have to say that sometimes I wish people could be struck dumb, it always seemed to remind them to get their act together and follow Christ. However.. I have found in my life that it is when I take a leap of faith, knowing that somehow something will work out, that that is when miracles happen. Remember how I almost had to wait 6 months to go on a mission to earn money.. well we all knew that God needed me to go then, so because we all had faith that it was going to work out and we did our parts, look where I am :).

   Have the greatest week ever! I love you,

Sister Poulson

Hello and Merry Christmas,

   Yeah for the Birth of Christ :)! Yeah for His great work! Yeah for God's perfect plan! This has been a wonderful week. I know I am talking with you tomorrow so I will keep it short, but I have a few miracles that I feel I should share. On Sunday we were asked to go visit a guy who was so prepared to hear the gospel. In missionary terms he is "golden". He lives with members and so they told us to look up his address in the ward list. So.. I got so excited and looked up the address and the next day he was the first on our list to visit. We knocked on the door and a nice lady let us in, she introduced us to her cutest little 3 year old daughter and we started talking. After a few min. we asked if Joe lived there. "No.. are you at the wrong house?" "uh.. no! Are you a member?" "Yes.. but I haven't gone to church in 10 years and my husband isn't a member." So of course, we taught her. She told us that she was so glad that we came back, every time missionaries stopped by she was putting her little girl down for a nap or it just wasn't a good time. She thanked us multiple times for coming back and she had been thinking a lot about how she needs to come back to the church. I never seem to be amazed at how perfect the work of God is, and I love with all my heart being a part of it. She is overwhelmed by all the things she needs to change, yet so unhappy with her current lifestyle. The commandments really do work, if everyone followed them no one would ever wonder if there was a God. There is and He is trying to help us, we just have to listen, and when we do, we see that He is there to help and guide us, He just allows us to choose. It was a miracle that we were there that day at that time.

  Another "right place at the right time" moment was yesterday. We had 2 appointments at the same time so we each took a member and split up. Of course the lesson that I went to fell through, along with all of the back ups. The poor lady that came with me was wearing the most uncomfortable shoes and we were walking all over the place. We ended up by a former investigators house that she knew. Roy if you remember him. He was home and let us in. We started talking and I could just tell that something was weird. I was pretty sure he was drunk. As we talked he could not think of words and would insert random words. The worst was when we asked him to read he could not read more than one word and then he would get lost and start talking about "my priorities have changed". It was weird. I finally asked him if he had been drinking and he said no. Long story short we found out he was in a car accident. He couldn't tell us if he hit his head, and I am not sure if he even knew where the accident was. He started talking about his daughter (he doesn't have kids) and his pet dog (doesn't have a dog either. He was coherent enough to tell us that he was not going to the doctor until next year. He is unemployed and doesn't have insurance. He wouldn't go to the doctor so we brought the doctors to him. After and ambulance, police car, and fire truck escorted him to the hospital we were told that he has a brain tumor and bleeding in his brain. After a lot of tears and a heartfelt prayer we got a call and were told that if we did not go over there that day and send him to the hospital he most likely wouldn't have made it. It was hard.. He is dear to me. I hope he will be alright. I know he is in Gods hands. I am grateful that He knows what He is doing.

  I love you all so much! Talk to you tomorrow!

Sister Poulson

 

What a week!

    This week there were 2 baptisms and zone conference! Zone conference was great. Zone Conference was when I really realized that my mission has truly changed my life... also that I never want to stop being a missionary. I always want to do this. Yes it is hard, but the more I loose myself in the work the more I find myself.. and somehow gradually along the way God is shaping me into a better person. Someone a little more like Christ. I've learned humility.. and I've learned that I really want to love more. And to not see the bad in people, but always look for the good in them. I realized I was more negative than I wanted to be, and I have found things that I can work on and improve my life and hopefully improve the lives around me as well. 

    Also, as you know, there were 2 baptisms this week! I have to admit that I was a stress case.. probably more than I should have been. Ha ha.. I have never really organized a baptism before so Sister Bothwell got to see a whole new side of me. You know how when I was waiting for a school dance I would get really nervous and start pacing and saying things like "he's not coming..." well.. this was worse haha. It was all worked out so I don't know why I was even stressed. However.. it was another very humbling experience. Nelson went first. His daughter didn't come and it really broke my heart. But he was there.. and he was ready. Before it started I remember him saying "she didn't come, so it's just me alone". As sad as it was, I was so proud of him, to make this step when everyone around him didn't support it. I am so grateful for him, teaching him has changed my life. He is what I hope to be someday.. just so eager to follow God. He wasn't even concerned about what was going on around him, he knew what he needed to do, he had the faith to do it, and his life is changed for the better. He doesn't know a whole lot, but he doesn't care. He wants to share his testimony with the world. We didn't even talk about testimonies before he asked if he could go up and share his. Watching him come out of the water flooded me with a joy that words can't describe. It was a beautiful ceremony! One of the girls that had been teaching him with us gave a talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost. First of all she is a very "tough" girl, but when she got up there she just sobbed. She thanked him over and over again for his example and for the chance she had to teach him. She expressed that by teaching him, she found her testimony. It is amazing to me that by teaching someone else, it helps me and those who are teaching to really find our own testimony. The humility part came during the song me and Sister Bothwell sang.. lets just say it wasn't very good.. ha ha and that I probably won't be singing at baptisms again lol. But as bad as we both knew it was, one of our investigators who came sobbed.. and I realized that it didn't matter how humiliating it was.. Roy needed to hear that song, and I was happy, and felt good knowing that it touched at least one person. 

  Eli went next. Everyone loves him so much. He is a lifey for sure. He was at the door greeting everyone, so full of excitement. The Spirit was sooo strong. So many people he loved were there. It was amazing how much love and support was around him. After he was baptized  he gave Jon Taylor (yes ironic I know), the guy who baptized him, the biggest hug in the world, and of course I cried. His life is changed, and he is so grateful. I was so grateful for the help of the members with him. His support was awesome, and his friends were the greatest examples to him. I know he wouldn't have gotten baptized if it weren't for that. So just remember.. that example really does matter, and sharing your testimony can change someones life. So never pass up opportunities. His 2 non-member kids came and his son cried.. well I should say sobbed.. it was a bit crazy haha the whole time. I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints really is Christs church, because the Spirit confirms it to me and so many people I see time and time again. I don't think it will be long until his kids are baptized as well. 

     Now that it is over it really confirms to me that that is not the end. That there is so much more and baptism is just a step. Endurance is crucial and will be the thing that will truly change both of their lives and they will look back and think "I wish I would have known about this sooner" and see how much they have grown and how much the gospel has been a blessing in their life. 

   It was a very spiritual and educational week. I love the Book of Mormon.. It is amazing that I really would put all my money.. all my life.. on the book. I love that I can hand someone a Book of Mormon and with full confidence know that if they put in the effort to read it and prayed to know if it was true that they would know. They would know.. because it is true. I couldn't teach without it, baptisms couldn't happen without it.. I am so grateful for it. 

   I hope you all have the greatest week, know you are in my prayers and thoughts. I love you!

Love,

Sister Poulson 

Hello again!

   This week there have been a lot of transfer predictions... apparently this upcoming transfer (which isn't till Oct. I'll have you know) is going to be a huge transfer for sisters. We were told that during the winter months some of the Visitor Center Sisters will be transferred out and go full time proselyting for a few transfers, also we are supposed to be getting two new spanish sisters for the center. A lot of the Sisters have said I will train.. which would terrify me out of my mind.. but if that is the case I might learn Spanish!! Wouldn't that be awesome. Or really hard.. I can't decide which one, probably both! However, I love my area! So much! I have grown to love the ward so much! They are so supportive and loving and just awesome, and also the people we are teaching are the greatest! I feel so blessed. We had Eli and Nilsons (if I forgot their fake names again I am sorry..) baptismal interviews this week. It was so fun to watch them both walk into the church scared out of their minds for the interview but of course with giant smiles on their faces and then leave with such gratitude and the attitude of changing the world! They announced their baptisms in church on Sunday and Eli was so excited that when they called his name he just jumped up and waved to all the ward. Then we noticed that Nilson wasn't there.. (keep in mind he doesn't have a car) so we look for the usual members that bring him to church and they weren't there either. Mid sacrament we had to find someone to go pick him up and then bring him to church. But he finally came and walked in with a new suit jacket and this brief case with all his spiritual books! It was the sweetest thing! During our gospel principles call Sister Denault asked if she could come to Nilsons baptism and he just lit up and was soo happy. "YES! Everyone is invited! Everyone come to my baptism!" It was like a little kid waiting for his birthday party.

    We also had a conversion fireside this week, which is where converts in our ward share their conversion stories. Nilson and Eli came and loved it. Afterwards I was talking to Eli and he was talking about all the spiritual experiences he had leading up to his conversion. He told me about the defining moment he had where he was overcome with the spirit and a wave of memories of meeting with us and with church and with his mormon co-workers and how he just knew. Then of course he said he wanted to share his conversion at the next fireside next month. Then.. I saw Nilson who was holding the hand of the Christus just looking up at Christ with such humbleness. I told him thanks for coming to the fireside and he asked if he could do that (meaning share his conversion at the fireside). I told him of course as long as he wanted to. Then I asked if he was ready and with tears in his eyes and a huge smile he nodded. They are both so ready.. I cannot even wait. I could talk about them all day and it wouldn't even come close to the miracles I have witnessed in both of them. They both want to shout their testimony to the world. They have taught me so much, and how to truly become humble and teachable like a child.

  Our other investigator won't pray.. It is hard because he feels like he cannot be forgiven.. or that he has to become worthy before he can pray. But I know that we cannot become worthy without prayer. He is in a catch 22.. but I won't lose hope. I won't let myself. Faith brings about miracles! I believe that!

  Sorry for just rambling on and on about Eli and Nilson. I am just so excited. I love the work!

I love you too, don't worry :)!

Sister Poulson

 

Funny of the week: We were teaching Nilson and he had to leave at 6:00 to go to a back to school night for his daughter. So we made sure we were out on time so he could go to that. Sure enough we get to the car and I realize that I had lost the keys.. So we go back to Nilsons and pretty much pull apart the couch.. walk up and down the street and all the good stuff. 20 min. later I look in my purse and there are the keys.. "oops". So Nilson was late and the keys were with me the whole time.

 

Oh!!! I forgot to tell you about the Marshallese guy! We taught him again and we realized that no matter what we said it wouldn't be enough to portray the important message we have. So.. we were led by the Spirit I'm sure to lds.org and the conference talks. We got to the April General Conference and guess what.. they had Marshallese! We listened to the merciful shall obtain mercy by Elder Uchtdorf, and he just sobbed. It is amazing the Spirit that the prophet and apostles have! They really are inspired of God. It was such an awesome lesson!

Family!

  I feel like not much happened this week, but then when I really think about it the beginning of this week felt like months ago (which means a lot happened lol). We have a great reputation for finding people with weird languages. Our chuukese friend is getting baptized on the 29th :), which was a great testimony to me of the gift of tongues.. I realized it is not only being able to speak in other languages, but really being able to teach in a way that the spirit can teach him, because without that there would be no baptism coming up I can tell you that. So if you haven't heard of Chuukese you might have heard of Martialeeze.. I don't even know how to spell it. He is from the Martial Islands and when Sister Bothwell asked if he spoke Martialeeze I thought it was a joke.. but nope.. it's real.. and the language barrier was even harder. It was so hard because as simply as we tried to teach it was like nothing was getting through. I would ask him a question and he would respond "yes". I was beginning to relate him to dad and his German "the yes/no man". Finally we decided that we couldn't do much so we watched the restoration. And can you believe that out of the 20+ languages it is in Martialeeze isn't one of them. I guess I wasn't too supprised.. I remember being so nervous when it was showing Joseph Smith going from church to church trying to find which one was right, if any. One of the preachers was stating "God has given us minds to be logic.. we don't need prayer to reason", and when I looked over he was nodding.. I was scared he would only get pieces out of it and then at the end I realized that it really doesn't matter what was said.. ok well maybe a little.. but the most important part is that the spirit was there. Because afterall the Spirit is the main teacher. I remember listening to a talk and I think I went off day dreaming about one thing he said and missed the rest, however, I know that the Spirit was speaking to me what I needed to hear at that time. And as much as I would like to read the minds of my investigators.. ok maybe not all the time.. however, it just doesn't happen like that. I can ask a million questions and still not understand them completely. Only God can. And that is why he teaches us :). 

   I remember one day this week just feeling so alone.. I know you are thinking "you are with a companion 24-7 Sister Poulson.. how can that even possible" but it is. You know those times where you just feel like no one else understands, or whatever it is. Well I decided to watch the Easter Film in the Visitors Center. It is a Mormon Message and it is all about our Savior. By the end I was in tears because I had to realize again that there is nothing in this life that I can feel or go through, that the Savior hasn't been through with me. I thought even deeper and I realized that there had to be times in the Saviors life where He felt he wasn't going to make it back.. because he had to understand what every single person on this earth had to feel. But because of His suffering alone, I don't ever have to be. I know there is always someone who understands, and better yet He understands perfectly and loves perfectly so He knows exactly how to help us. I just love that... 

    We have 2 baptisms on the 29th :). I might need some waterproof mascara sent to me.. just sayin. We are going to sing "Image in your countenance".. pray for me lol. It is really going to be an amazing day. I have seen the transformation of these two guys.. and I truly know that no matter who the person is or where they are at in their life that the gospel and the teachings of Jesus Christ can help them. Pray for missionary opportunities, there is no better feeling than being an instrument in Gods hands. I still have a lot of growth and learning to do, and I don't always know the answers, but I love knowing I can help and seeing how happy these people are. PS I will send pictures!!

I LOVE YOU!

Sister Poulson 

 

Funny of the week: Sister Bothwell thought it would be a great idea to make her own trail mix and bring them on our P-day road trip. Well.. she is messy.. ha ha ok JK! But I guess not because somehow she managed to drop a few chocolate chips onto the seat without noticing (or maybe it was intentional lol). A little later that chocolate had made a beautiful art exhibit on my pants. It wasn't the most enjoyable thing... but others got a good laugh at it.

No time to say hello goodbye, I'm late I'm late I'm late!
   But I can say, it was a great week! I am so happy!! So so happy! We have the greatest investigators and I feel blessed just to be a part of their spiritual journey. We have 2 investigators preparing to be baptized on the 29th :). It is going to be a good day. I have to say that I feel so bad. One of our investigators from Chuuk (yes it is a real place), somewhere in Micronesia I guess.. but when we first starting meeting with him I just thought "there is no way he is going to understand what we are teaching him", "his culture makes it really difficult so he'll probably back down with word of wisdom". I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG! AHH.. I love him! He doesn't just get it, he follows it. We went to his house and he was soooo happy. He was like a kid in a candy store. He couldn't wait to share with us his testimony. It started off "when the Sister Missionaries invited me to come unto God I decided to do just that. I have come closer to God and even though my family isn't doing it I want to learn, please pray for me to continue to learn, and to share this with my family". Well of course I was crying after that. He is just like a child.. so submissive, meek, humble, teachable, loving, awesome! It taught me not to judge, and definitely not to give up! So much more has happened but there is no time. He will be getting baptized on the 29th along with another investigator who we are teaching. I cannot tell you the joy that the gospel has brought into their lives. Even with the challenges they have faced. We had a lesson in Relief Society about faith, I learned so much! And I just wanted to share a bit with you...
"Miracles do not produce faith, but miracles can confirm faith.. faith comes by righteous living and following the commandments. If we are not living the commandments it will be hard to have faith. Most importantly faith is a gift." I have found that the things that I think about a lot and that I really take care of, are the things that produce the most good fruit. So I decided I wanted to make sure I KNOW what is important to me, so that I can take care of that and make sure that the goals in my life can produce good fruit. Such as family :)
Well I love you so much!
Sister Poulson

Good Evening and Happy Labor Day!

   I have to say it was funny watching Sister Bothwell go and check the mailbox at least 3 times this afternoon only to find out that the mail doesn't come on labor day. However, we have no complaints.We decided today was going to be a nap day but of course when we decide to do that something always comes in the way, today it was a phone call. I tried to just sleep while Sister Bothwell talked and then she put it on speaker.. I heard the voice of one of our investigators Eli "I have been praying a lot about if I should be baptized and I just had this overwhelming feeling at church that I should... I decided I would go home and pray again and see how I felt about it in the morning. When I woke up this morning I had this sense of peace come over me, similar to the feeling of peace I had when I joined AA and quit drinking, and I think I am ready to be baptized." Well if that wasn't a wake up call I don't know what is :)! I was so excited I couldn't nap again. It is so great to see that when people really put in the effort, God will do his part. Oh and I forgot to tell you the story of last week. So Monday after emailing we were headed up to Moltnoma Falls to hike and see the falls when we get a phone call from Eli, he has been searching so hard to know if this church is true. He does everything we ask him to.. he reads, he prays, he comes to church, and he just hasn't seemed to find an answer. If anyone is searching it would be him. We promised him he would find his answer if he would read the Book of Mormon and continue to pray, but that it would come in the Lords time. Well.. Fri he really wanted to just know if the Book of Mormon was true. So.. he spent from 9am-5pm reading the Book of Mormon. He said he would get tired at times and that he would go and read on the excersice bike or switch from tapes to cd's. At one point he got his ipod and went out walking while listening to the Book. He had never done this before but he stopped by the side of the road and decided to say a prayer. When he opened his eyes he saw on the ground a very worn picture of the Portland Oregon Temple. I asked if he recognized this as an answer and his response "definitely, the hairs on my arm stood up".

   So pretty much every Monday Eli calls us with the amazing spiritual experiences he has been having! I love it! I love being a part of it! I am so happy for his baptism. It will be either the end of this month or Oct. I will make sure to send pictures. 

    Also you remember Roy? Well.. We have been having a lot of meetings on the importance of understanding. If people really understood what they were saying no to then they wouldn't do it. Well.. after this meeting Roy came into my head, and I knew that there was something he wasn't understanding. Because if he really understood the atonement, he would have no fear to pray. In fact he would fear not to pray. Because only by not repenting can Gods wrath come upon us. However, no matter how awful the things we have done may seem to be, we can always be forgiven. That is a promise from God and He ALWAYS keeps his promises. So long story short we decided to go back and teach him the plan of Salvation. Help him understand that God has a plan for him, that He has a plan for all of us. And I know that God doesn't send any of us to this earth with the intention of not getting us back. He loves us, and the potential is truly ours. We have never had a better lesson! I just love him. Not in a creepy way of course. Every time we go over I just see how lonely he is, and how much better his life would be with the atonement, and with the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. I think because we truly do care for him, the lesson was centered on what he needed. I wish that it could have been filmed because the spirit was so strong that anyone could have been touched by it and truly converted by the Spirit. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets baptized in the near future. Oh and did I mention he prayed. It was the sweetest most humble prayer. He pleaded that Gods mercy would be greater than his wrath. I don't know how hard that step was for him, but I know it was hard, and I know God loves him and will definitely recognize this huge step and help him to see his mercy and love. 

   Anyway.. we had 4 investigators at church! It was such a powerful testimony meeting, I had to get up! I feel like the luckiest person in the world, because I see miracles everyday. 

Thanks be to the greatest family in the world! I LOVE YOU!

Sister Poulson 

Dearest Family,

   What a week! We have a lot of great investigators right now and they are just awesome! I was thinking about it and it is weird but almost all of them are males.. I really don't know why. Turns out there are a lot single fathers out there that are ready to receive the gospel. 

   We had been trying to meet with this guy and his son for a while. But of course he had ramadon, and like most others "excuses". We figured he just wasn't interested (that tends to happen ever so often :S) and that we should just use the Lords time elsewhere. Well.. it was great! He texted us and he was in need of food. He is struggling financially to get as much food as his kids eat. Of course we were willing to help him! We called so many people. Then he said "regardless of if you can find help for me, I would like to take the lessons". It was one of the greatest texts we have gotten! It was so great to see that he didn't have to be helped first to learn more, but that he recognized it as something he needed regardless of what we could offer him in return. I also have to say I love the perfect example of Christ. I love that He doesn't ask for things in return for all the blessings he gives us. He gives just because he loves us and he wants us to have joy. I am sure it would have been easy for the church to not be willing to help him because he isn't a member, but that just wasn't an option. They help everyone, and I am so grateful for that! Anyways, we have taught him and his 2 kids. They couldn't be more prepared. He is such a great example to his kids and so willing to help them with their spiritual journey and it is so great to see. I honestly wish that the lesson could have been filmed. I can't describe how submissive to the spirit and willing to learn they are, and how eager they are to become close to Christ. I wish it was like that with everyone. 

   There is just one out of many great experiences that I have been able to have this week. Missions are great! Hard, but there is nothing that bring more joy than watching the miracles from God in other peoples lives. There is nothing quite like not thinking about myself and only worrying about others. I used to think that it was sad when people didn't come talk to me at church or what not, now I realize that life is much better when I am the one thinking about who needs to be sat by and who needs me. 

Much love,

Sister Poulson 

 

Weekly Funny: It was our first lesson with one of our investigators Bob. We like to have the investigator say the closing prayer so we invited him to do so. We were in a hurry and he expressed that he didn't really know how to. Well.. in the back of our pamphlets we have this handy dandy "how to pray" chart. We were in a hurry so we told him to look at the "How do I pray?" example. He starts to pray: "address your Heavenly Father... express the feelings of your heart... request to confirm the truth of the Book of Mormon... close in the name of Jesus Christ.." ha ha ha ha it was so cute! He was so humble and he even said it reverently  but it was so hard not to laugh.. 

Hi there!

   It has been a pretty great week! It has been pretty hot here, but I guess I can't really complain compared to Utah weather. It is funny how so much time in the rain and in the cooler temperatures makes 78 degrees feel like I am about to shrivel and prune and bake into a cobbler. (yes I said cobbler because that is probably what I eat at least once a week thanks to all the blackberries on the sides of the road) We had some awesome lessons and we are working with some fantastic people. I love missionary work. I decided watching people come unto Christ and seeing them change things that are hard for them is the most beautiful miracle I could witness. We are working with a guy who used to be heavily into alcohol. He was married and had a cute little family, but because of something he didn't consider to be a sin, his life was taken over by the alcohol and he saw for himself how not keeping the commandments only hurt himself. His family split and he started rehab. He is now a huge part of AA (alcoholics anonymous). I just love seeing how the commandments really are for us. They are not a burden, they are a freedom. They allow us to be free to live life to the fullest, and most importantly to gain joy in this life and eternal salvation. He was a refferal from a friend and he has been prepared by the Lord. Every time before he goes to church or we meet with him he prays to have an open mind and be receptive to Gods teaching. I wish I was more like this, so willing to learn and be teachable. After all this is what the Savior asks us to become. He keeps all the commitments we give to him, and he is truly trying. I know that if all the people we taught keep all the commitments we teach them and search for the answer, then every single person would come to know that it was true. Simply, because it is. And it is beautiful. More and more I see how the gospel is for everyone, how it really blesses everyone if they chose to follow it, and I grow more grateful to have it. I don't think I am as scared anymore to raise a family in this world, because I know what to teach my children and I will try my best to keep them "unspotted from the world". 

     There was a girl who came into the Visitors Center the other day. She was 14 and a non-member. I gave her a Book of Mormon and then they left. I was slightly sad that I didn't get to teach more. While I sat there, slightly disappointing with myself for not doing my best, they came back into the center. :). Her and her friend walked up to me and the friend asked if I could teach her the Plan of Salvation. Of course I practically leaped on them with excitement and said yes. After teaching for a little bit I realized that she felt she just wanted to give up, she felt unimportant to God and that no matter what she did she wouldn't be good enough. I decided it is such a shame how the devil can have such a great hold on us as to make us feel that we are not good enough, or that God doesn't care. It is hard to share with someone that he does.. to be honest I feel as though no one is good enough.. but somehow and for some reason, our souls are the most important thing to him. You know that feeling where you just give 110% and realize that it just isn't enough. You know that feeling where you just try and try to make things better but you can't, well that is how I feel sometimes. But that is when I understand the atonement. There are times where I feel like I have given it my all, and that is when our Savior cries to God for us and says "she has given all she can, let me make up for what she can't". For that I am eternally grateful. 

   I love you, and am eternally grateful for your great example to me, for helping me to get here, and teaching me how to endure to the end, and do it with joy!

Sister Poulson 

 

Weekly funny: We were baking a cobbler (surprise I am sure) and I realized that we forgot about the cobbler and it was still in the oven. So I run to go get it while Sister Bothwell has a little freak attack about how she could hear the cobbler sizzling and bubbling. Anyways.. the cobbler wasn't even burnt, and turns out the sizzling and bubbling she freaked out about, was just the sound of the sprinklers turning on outside. 

 

Hello again!

   I realize that my emails probably bore you to death with experience after experience.. ha ha and going on page after page.. ha ha so I am sorry. I know it is only going to get worse when I get to tell you them in person.. and then you will really get sick of it. But hey, we are trying to tell our investigator that experience is the way to know there is a God, experience is the way to build a testimony and it is also a way that we can share our testimony. So.. I will keep sharing :).

   I had an awesome experience the other day at the VC. A guy came in with his daughter and they walked right past me. It would have been easy to just let them browse on their own but I decided to go up and talk to them. I guess this where I learn to never ignore the promptings of the spirit, because then important moments could be gone forever. I love the spirit in the VC and so I started talking about how I knew they would feel the spirit as they went around the center. Immediately he filled up with tears and told me that he felt the spirit there. Through the whole narration he was in tears. (PS he was a big hancho man so whoever says that "tuff" guys don't cry just needs to go on a mission and watch the humbling power of the spirit) Of course I was terrified because I knew how much he was feeling the spirit and I did not want to stand in the way or mess anything up. Somehow I managed to get the courage and continue taking them around the center. I found out he was not a member and that his teenage daughter had just recently gotten baptized less than a year ago. It was amazing how the Spirit guided. Some random kid came up to one of the displays and played the testimony of Elder Uchdorf and then ran off... ha ha however, the whole time the guy was crying. After a long tour haha I knew I needed to ask him if he wanted to meet with missionaries and learn how to feel that spirit all the time. (I really should have just invited him to be baptized). He told me that missionaries were already coming over every Sat. since his daughter was baptized. Then he started sobbing.. I think it is so great when guys cry (not in a mean way of course), anyways, he chocked out "When I woke up this morning I had a very strong feeling that I needed to come to the Center today, and I know that I was supposed to be here." It was just so amazing to be a part of the Lords work. To watch him work miracles and just hope I don't get in the way. It was such a spiritual experience that even after he left the center I had to just sit down and ponder on how amazing God is, and how true the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is. If it weren't from God then the power of God couldn't work in all the ways I have seen it. 

   Also.. We got a refferal. PS I love those! So if you are not talking to the gospel with someone at least once a week, maybe reevaluate priorities ;). I was thinking about it, and when I was in my last area teaching Jane and Ludy (sorry I always forget their made up names) they only met with us because someone invited them to come to church and then later invited to them to meet with us a learn more. We asked them if they would have talked to us if we came knocking on their door, they were honest and said "no". Ludy is kinda prideful and if 2 strangers came to his door and said that they want to bring him closer to Christ and knew that what they had to share would change every aspect of their life for the better, he wouldn't believe them. Because after all, we didn't know him, but his friends did and they could really know that the gospel would bless his life. Long story short, share the gospel, otherwise the work doesn't progress! Also I have to thank you for your example to me mom and dad! :) Thanks for showing me how and why the gospel could bless me and loving me enough to make sure that I was a part of it.

I love you!

Sister Poulson 

 

Hello!

       Sometimes I wish members would hang out with us all day. One of the laurels from the ward spend half a day with us and it was so nice being able to have her testimony and her spirit with us. We went over to Normans with her and he was supposed to have read Alma 32, but again didn't have time. We both knew he needed the word of wisdom but we were so worried about his reaction. We read a few scriptures from Alma 32 and then we dove right in. It seemed a bit choppy at first but somehow the spoirit was there. His questions about it were sincere and honest. At first he wondered why God would put alcohol, tobacoo, tea and coffee on the earth if they were bad for us. We talked about opposition in all things and our purpose for being on the earth. I don't know how it works but God performs miracles right before our eyes. He agreed to live the word of wisdom! He was so sweet and he was even super eager to write down his goals on how he would keep it and then asked the sweetest question of all. He told us that he is really close with his family (they all kinda live in the same house) and that they all drink and do things against the word of wisdom. Then he thanked us so sincerely and said that this was the change he has been looking for and continued to tell us that he was going to share it with all of his family and help them to follow as well. People will ask me what my favorite part about being a missionary is and I have to say that it is watching people take steps that are so difficult for them, and then watching the miracles come into their lives. I love seeing them change for the better and just knowing that because they choose to make the right choice, it will bless them forever. (as long as they stick with it of course)

     So yesterday was funny. We were going to do some visits and there was this group of people sitting on the grass talking. Just so you all know.. talking to people my own age is for some reason the scariest thing in the world.. I much prefer 80 year olds. Anyways.. we talked to them and they invited us to sit down. This one boy Spencer was super anti.. he said something about Joseph Smith eating mushrooms and then finding plates, which if you ask me seems more bizarre than what actually happened. Anyways, it would have been so easy to have contention.. to just prove to him why he was wrong or to argue. However, I am so grateful for Sister Bothwell and for the spirit that was there. I find I have to tell myself a lot "I love them, I love them, I love them" and then.. I really do. I rememeber that some day I will be with them after this life and they will be my brothers and sister, and I would be so sad if I got to heaven and I saw how sad they were to have not known of the greatness of God and his gospel. By the end, he asked for a Book of Mormon and said he was excited to read it. I just love seeing how the spirit works. I know that if we would have argueed with him that we wouldn't have gotten anywhere. But because we truly cared for the welfare of their souls and happyness, the spirit touched them.

  I love being a missionary! It's hard but I know there is no growth in a comfort zone, and no comfort in a growth zone.

PS I love you all too :)!

Sister Poulson

 

Funny of the week: So.. we were in this appartment building that had a lot of stairs. As we were going down of course it is dark and of course there is a pot hole that my ankle happens to find. So I biffed it and now have this cute little swell the size of a golf ball attached to my ankle. It doesn't hurt.. it's just kinda hainess!

 

Well Hello again!

    Note to self: never make a whole cobbler and let it sit around the house for a week. You think out of all the things I learn on a mission self control would be one. However, I have to say that blackberries off the side of the road taste much better than any store bought berry I have had. Maybe it's the spiders that usually come along with them, or maybe it's the fact that they were free. Actually scratch both of those, they are just better! Picking them however is not as fun.. did you know they are weeds? Or should we say thorns haha. I'm sure It was a great show for those driving past to see 2 girls in skirts bending off the side of the road, trampling through thorns and trying not to fall into them. But we thought of a great analogy. So just hold on tight and brace yourselves. We have found that "every rose has it's thorn" (name the song), the thorns were painful and sometimes we thought not worth it, but after when we ate the berries we realized that regardless of the small battle scars it was worth going back and getting more. 

   This week started off a little thorny. We had 3 investigators in the beginning and by Fri. we had 1. It was a little discouraging thinking that we keep finding all these people but somehow they weren't ready for the gospel. It is hard not to blame ourselves and think about all the ways that we could have taught better or if we were the reason they didn't understand how true and important the gospel would be for them. However, as sad as it was to move on, I knew we needed to, and I couldn't let myself believe that any of that time with them was wasted. 

  It was hard to go back out and keep the faith that God would place someone who was prepared in our path. However, I knew that I could either be sad and stay that way, or I could keep going and make sure that something good did happen. (PS this is where is gets good.) So we went to dinner one night and the family was more than rambunctious... they were fighting and sorta didn't know when they had crossed a line. By the end the dad desperately asked when we could take one of the older daughters on splits with us. We told her we had a lesson that night and we would love if she would come. She really didn't want to, but grabbed a skirt and came along. She made sure we knew that she didn't want to say anything. We got to the lesson and it was maybe our 3rd lesson with him. We had invited him to read 3rd Nephi and he had said at the beginning that he didn't have the time to do that. So we decided that instead of teaching him how to multiply before adding we would read with him. We started reading and it talked about Jesus Christ teaching the people in America his gospel and how to be baptized. It started out slow due to his language barrier (oh ya, he speaks Chuukeese) and I was thinking about how bored Nancy (member) must have been. After a little while a man walked around the corner (ps we were outside on their smoke couches haha) and looked really though. He had tattoos all over, he was wearing a wife beater, and was coming to take a smoke break. However since we were there he asked if he could join. Of course we said yes! Sister Bothwell handed him a book of Mormon and he started reading along with us. After reading vrs. 29-31 about contention and how it was of the devil he started asking a lot of questions and getting really involved. He asked how he could avoid those angry feelings and he was really interested in what we were teaching. He somehow told us that he stopped going to church 4 years ago and stopped praying because his dad died. As we read on we asked how they felt and they both said they believed it was true. I couldn't believe what was happening! I don't know if I've ever been so excited nor happy. At the end of the lesson we had planned on asking Norman (not real name) if he would be baptized. I felt strongly to not just direct it at Norman but just ask. We invited them to be baptized Aug. 25th (because everyone knows the 25th is the best day of every month). It was quiet for a min. and then they both nodded their heads and said yes. John (not real name), who had joined us ten min. before asked us how he should prepare. We told him that he would need to meet with us a little more, because there was still things to learn and that he should come to church. We asked when we could come over next and he said "how about mon-fri, each day next week". I could not believe what was happening. We then told them that they needed to pray about it and make sure that this date was what God intended for them. We asked them to pray and they fought back in forth for a little bit over who would say it. Then I asked John since he hasn't prayed in 4 years if he would say it. He was reluctant but after I told him I would tell him what to say and he would just repeat he bowed his head. I started to pray and to our surprise, John and Norman both repeated. Nancy was in tears. The spirit was so strong. 

   I think it was one of the best experiences I have ever had on my mission. It was so worth it to go back out and to teach with my heart might mind and strength. 

   I love you! Thanks for all you have taught me

Sister Poulson 

"Don’t worry about how inexperienced you are or think you are, but think about what, with the Lord’s help, you can become."

Hello Hello!

   This week was the bomb! Started off with splits with two girls that just got back from their missions. Of course I went with the one that is majorly intimidating, but super awesome! She loves the work and it was so fun seeing how much she loved it. I learned to never leave an area without talking with someone. We hit up some formers with the luck of no one being home.. but then we reached the last person on the list. When we got to her house, it wasn't her. Luckily for missionaries it isn't awkward to knock on the wrong door because you just invite them to hear the message as well. Anyway, it is so great that we were sent to that door. The girl looked about our age and she was telling us about how she only goes to church on Easter on Christmas. As we continued talking, we found out that she goes to the Mormon church on those occasions and that her mother was raised Mormon. Long story short, we were meant to go to that door, and we will be meeting with the whole family sometime this upcoming week.

   Miracles really are wrought by faith.  Saturday we were starting "hour of power" with our district, where we go to a members and share a message on faith, pray with them and then go to their neighbors for the next hour having the faith to find someone that the Lord was preparing for us. I was terrified haha, we went to the members home and her boy was really sick. So... Miracle #1 we went to a members house just up the street and not only were they home but they were so willing to hop on board. We shared the scripture on how miracles come after the trial of our faith. Then we went out to try our faith in the neighborhood. We only made it next door.. A man answered the door who was not interested. However we asked if there was anything we could do for him. He is having a lot of back problems so the offer was a godsend for him. We helped him rake and get his yard in better order. By the end we started talking about why we were on missions, the Book of Mormon got brought up and we talked about how God loves everyone and even sent His gospel to the Americas. We also talked a lot about trials and God's hand in our lives, by the end he accepted a book of Mormon and we are going back to help some more! It is amazing what a little service can do!

    We are working with a few people and Roy is doing awesome! He came to church again! He just needs to pray. Sometimes I forget the importance of prayer. Well, I love you!

Love,

Sister Poulson

Funny of the week: We were picking raspberries outside when Sister Bothwell decided she was done, on the way inside she didn't realize that the screen was shut. Her face was priceless!

 Also.. A member was telling us about someone on their mission whose name was Pag-ee-ma, he asked how she got the name and she said it was the name of someone in a magazine... pajama.. lol!

This one is spell checked.. ha ha 07/16/12

Hello again!

    This was a good week! Slow on the lessons, but still a great week. We had zone conference and I love how God knows exactly what we need. This week I have prayed for a miracle, and yet again, God still listens to my prayers. We have been meeting with Roy for a while now and he has been very slowly progressing. For some reason it is near impossible to get people to read the Book of Mormon.. we live in a lazy society, that’s all! Anyway, we are finally moving along with him. On Saturday we called him and he started talking about how he needs to come to church and then the miracle happened. Normally it would be "I know I need to come" but then when he would come wouldn't exist in the conversation. Saturday, he said he would come! I know you are all thinking.. wow.. big deal.. but really! It is a huge deal! Why you might ask? Because he knows the importance of Church, before he just came, now he sees church as a step in changing his ways and aligning them with Gods. Why else? Because he knows that church is a place where he can go and feel of God’s love, before he wouldn't even pray because he was so fearful that he wasn't worthy, or that God had all this wrath waiting for him. What he is now starting to realize is that God may have wrath, but that’s only when we don't try.. when we continue in the opposing path and willfully rebel. When we try, we won't be perfect, but that wrath won’t be upon us. Anyway, he came to church!!!!!!!!! I don't think there can be enough explanation points for that! He showed up a few min. late and I don't think Sister Bothwell could have been more nervous. For some reason, I wasn't nervous, I knew he would be there, and sure enough he was. A member stood up in church and bore his testimony on the power of prayer and fasting. It was meant for Roy! He has had such a hard time praying, which for me isn't easy to understand because I have always done it, I just hope he knows that nothing bad can come from it. Heavenly Father wants to hear us! I mean if I stopped talking to you, would that make your wrath less towards me? (first of all I hope there isn't wrath) but I just think that because you love me, you want to hear from me, no matter how much I have screwed up.

   So mom, i was thinking about emotions and how "blessed" I am to receive your "tender heart". But I finally know why the spirit brings out my emotions, it is because God is love, and when I talk about God or those who love me, it is so attached to my heart that all I can do is cry.

  Another random tangent.. I find it interesting how I don't realize the importance of a situation/person/lesson until the situation arises. There is a quote in one of the mormon.org videos that says "once the time for decision has come, the time for preparation is over" and it is so true. It is then when I wish I was more prepared. I can only imagine what it will be like at the judgment seat.

   Well, there are more stories to tell, no time for them! I love you all so much!

Sister Poulson

Weekly funny: Yesterday Sister Bothwell was reckless driving and our cupcakes we had flew across the car and all got smashed except for one. So I took the one cupcake and I placed it on the middle arm rest. Sure enough, Sister Bothwells arm goes straight into it.. haha so when we were driving out of church realizing we didn't have a napkin we pulled over and asked a lady if she had a baby wipe.. Well.. she didn't. But she did have a diaper.. ha ha and insisted that we use that to wipe off her arm. First of all why does she have diapers and no wipes with only baby girls 2nd of all.. the other Sisters we share a car with loved seeing a "dirty" diaper laying on the car floor.