Happy Thai New Year! Happy Easter! Happy Baptisms! Happy Happy!

Hello Everyone I Love!

Life is swell at the square. Cool new news!:

• Top secret! The church has produced a new movie that will play in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building instead of the Movie about Joseph Smith and the restoration. It is really good, Sister mulliner and I ushered for the General Authorities to watch it (Tad Callister was there! With another famous one I cannot remember his name but he is African American!) and got to watch it as well. IT is a very good introduction to the church for those who are just learning or have never heard of it. IT focuses on the lives of members around the world, its kind of like a documentary. One family they focus on live in Atlanta Georgia and he is a black bishop, another is a couple from brazil and the wife and husband work together teaching boxing while the wife does it at a professional level, another is a man from Peru who is a humanitarian  and the last is a missionary mom and her conversion! I was slightly critical until I saw it, but its amazing and i wish every investigator could  watch it. it shows how applying the teachings of Christ can help everyone despite their situation and it gets rid of stereo types. It should be publicly accessible soon they just have to have the General Authorities approve it!

• Sister Mulliner and I are preparing for our Zone training meeting for this Tuesday. We will teach our purpose as missionaries and how to better fulfill it.  By comparing my bball skills with Jimmer's . (Nelson VS Jimmer) Whats the difference? The FOCUS hahaahh. We have more spiritual points than that, but we thought it would give the sisters a good visual. If we are focused on our purpose and goals we will be able to achieve them. If our purpose (to find, teach, baptize and help reach the temple) becomes our drive behind all we do, we will achieve it. Our goal this transfer is 24 converts in our zone. I know its achievable and so does the Lord. Its his work and he is moving it along, we just have to be focused enough to be part of it.

• also I am famous! you didnt know? Well check it out, I look good right? ahah Deseret newssss foool
  
   

Crazy stuff just found out our progressing investigator in Brazil got baptized! We were teaching her through email. We found her through mormon.org chat and helped her until the local missionaries got to her, than helped her when they couldn't (like odd hrs and with things she wasn't comfortable asking them about. Christianie is the best! I love her!

We finally got a hold of one of our potential investigators Ureco. Ureco lives in Florida and is deaf. Sister Mulliner  has been calling him over the video phone for months now and finally last week he answered it! I am learning ASL with sister mulliner and I want to keep on learning about it. Mostly because it is really hard for deaf people to go to church. If they dont have someone to interpret for them it is really boring. I can only imagine it would be like going to a Chinese ward week after week for me. So that was our big concern for Ureco. Find him a translator for church. There are sometimes deaf branches in big cities but often not. And in his area there was not. We told him that if he prayed and we would pray with him the Lord would provide a way. And guess what HE DID!. The moment we finished talking with him we started to call the bishops in his designated steak. We Left a message one ones phone telling him the situation. We were so appointed at the time, but went out on the square to help take tours and proselyte that way leaving it in the hands of the lord. We got back the next day to our computers and found a message in our voice mails, from that very same bishop. When we called him back he said that he had correlated with the bishop that is the bishop for Ureco's designated ward (thats a miracle in itself! Bishops are so busy, they have good reason to be with a full time career, family and service in the church. I have never worked with such quick and resourceful bishops before!) When we called that bishop he told us....wait for it.......wait for it.....their was a member of their congregation who translates for a deaf member as well. WOW we only prayed for a translator but now he has a potential friend too! Heavenly Father really does answer our prayers and works in the details of our lives! 

http://easter.mormon.org/?cid=HPTU041514694  

As written in John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every onewhich seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. I know this is true I have witnessed it. heavenly Father hears and knows all of his children. Happiness will come from living the commandments, sometimes it takes awhile but it comes.

A disappointing part of this miracle is that despite all of this Ureco still chose not to go to church this past Sunday. All that effort and he didn't go. That's life, that's the father's plan. He helps us as much as he possibly can with out taking away our agency, but than it is in our hands. That's when the saying, "chose to be happy" really applies. We must do our part. Here comes an invitation I will relay to all those reading this, mostly aimed at my family (mom and dad you too, you can't play in palm springs and Australia forever hahah) 

Some things to think about....

• " The only things that really need to be accomplished in the home are daily scripture study and prayer and weekly family home evening.”

• We were trying to do these things, but they were not always the priority and, amidst the chaos, were sometimes neglected. We changed our focus..... and tried not to worry about the less-important things. Our focus became to talk, rejoice, preach, and testify of Christ by striving to daily pray and study the scriptures and have weekly family home evening.

• A friend recently cautioned, “When you ask the sisters to read the scriptures and pray more, it stresses them out. They already feel like they have too much to do.”

Brothers and sisters, because I know from my own experiences, and those of my husband, I must testify of the blessings of daily scripture study and prayer and weekly family home evening. These are the very practices that help take away stress, give direction to our lives, and add protection to our homes. Then, if pornography or other challenges do strike our families, we can petition the Lord for help and expect great guidance from the Spirit, knowing that we have done what our Father has asked us to do.

Brothers and sisters, if these have not been practices in our homes, we can all begin now. If our children are older and refuse to join us, we can start with ourselves. As we do, the influence of the Spirit will begin to fill our homes and our lives and, over time, children may respond.

Remember that living Apostles have also promised that as we search out our ancestors and prepare our own family names for the temple, we will be protected now and throughout our lives as we keep ourselves worthy of a temple recommend.⁵ What promises!"

Protection from Pornography—a Christ-Focused Home By Linda S. Reeves

(Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency)

There you go! That's your invite to FOCUS and prioritize your lives to make scripture study and family prayer EVERY DAY and family home evening. The Lord will help you fulfill this commandment as you put forth effort and you will witness his help intervening in your life. I testify to you, not just as Vickie, or vicbic or as Sister Nelson but as a representative of Jesus Christ that He lives. As you follow in Christ's footsteps you will someday look up and be before your Father who is in heaven. I know as you do these 3 simple things you will be able to, "look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands.... having the image of God engraven upon your countenances" (Alma 5:19). I promise this in the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.

CTR keep up the good work!

"Seek Ye the Kingdom of God"

Hello lovely favorite people!

Life is good, no Life is the BEST. I am back with sister Barros teaching up a storm. But first watch this video, it is Christ teaching as a young boy. Every time I learn more about the life and ministry of Jesus Christ I strive with more devotion to be more like him. I hope it does the same for you:

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-01-003-young-jesus-teaches-in-the-temple?category=bible-videos-the-life-of-jesus-christ&lang=eng

I finally feel like I know what I am doing here! it only took alittle over a year but I got it! ahahah I seriously would do this for the rest of my life if i was permitted to have the family move here. When ever I think of how short I have left I get sad and have to stop thinking about it. We are teach a guy named troy from Ogden UT. Both of his sisters are baptized members, him and I assume his parents are still catholic. We taught him the restored gospel yesterday with a member on the phone as well. The spirit was so strong and I can tell he is being prepared by the lord because he is catholic and excepted the need for a restoration of Christ's teachings with is very uncommon. When the spirit was strong my companion asked him: "when you come to know these teachings are true troy, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the restored authority of God?" Without hesitation and conviction he agreed. Than I was prompted to say, "How would you come to know these things are true?" This is why I love Troy so much, he said, "by living them". he is so smart and I know he has already felt this because he has gone to church several times with his sisters. Than we extended the goal to be baptized on March 30th. He agreed again without hesitation and conviction. These are litterally the happiest moments of my life. Guiding others to Christ so He can lead them to their Heavenly Father.


It is good to be back at temple square!

  This is a painting by Sister Briggs mom Sister Briggs haha a sister from Oregon. I love it, I got to go in the temple this morning for the first time in 4 months! I know I am super blessed compared to other missionaries who don't even see a temple their whole mission but man I missed it.  John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." I love the temple when ever I go in I really feel peace.

eu te amo! (I love you all)

-Sister Nelson

Ps. Shout out to Tanner for the letter and sharon, mom, dad, friends from wisconsin and sister Johnson for the email! Letters and emails are a rarity for sisters in my class, so one goes a long way. gracias los amigos

From irmã to 姐妹

Olá beautiful people! This week has been a marvelous work and a wonder. So many changes, so many lessons and even one baptism! Last Wednesday morning President Cutler (president of the Wisconsin Milwaukee Mission) called me to inform me I had missed my 8am flight to SLC neither of us knew about! He than informed me that my next flight was leaving the following morning at 9am. This gave me just enough time to say goodbyes:


 Alex (the sisters recent convert)


the elders  in my district

Sister Training leaders (Hurst & Zebly)

packed my belongings, do some good old fashion door knocking and mall contacting, part from my companion sadly and hop on a plane. It was so quick, that day and serving in Wisconsin. I am so greaetful for all that I learned and experienced there. I learned from the best missionaries I know in the world (believe me I know, this was my 3rd mission people!). I also learned to rely completely on the Lord, the spirit and my companion. I feel blessed to have that experience. King Benjamin can explain it much better than I can:

"as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have ^atasted of his love, and have received a ^bremission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own ^cnothingness, and his^dgoodness and long-suffering towards you and humble yourselves even in the depths of ^ehumility, ^fcalling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing ^gsteadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel."

-Mosiah 4:11

I really feel it was necessary for me to be humbled and rely on Jesus Christ more fully not only in this service but also in my life. I am also greateful for the many people I met and even though I may have only taught them once or had brief contact with them I know both sides were effected.

Well when I got off the plane I was greeted by sister Garrick! It was a joyous reunion! (we served together in the mission office 6 months ago.) And seeing many other sisters I have missed. Walking back to the Square from the apartments I felt at home and peace. Not only have I grasped my purpose as a missionary ( To invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.) but now I have the knowledge of how to do that here on Temple Square. 

 
After a long day we got a well deserved milk shake at chick-fil-a! It had been too long :)
  

This week I had some interesting lessons over the phone and on the square with Sister Barros (from Brazil in her 3rd transfer. She is one of the most soft spoken yet powerful missionaries I have ever met, she has taught me so much in this little time we have had together). We called one of our chat investigators (anna from the UK) from the summer and recieved the lovely news she had been baptized that past sunday! She is so sweet and it took awhile for her to know the church was Christ's true church today restored, but once she started to actually read the Book of Mormon she knew. Every single conversion I have heard always has to do with the Book of Mormon. Once we actually read the book, think about it and pray to ask Heavenly Father about the teachings in it we are more converted. Its that simple and its that true!

On thursday after relief society I recieved a text from the Assistants that they want to see us. THey than asked me if I would go back to the office for 2 weeks while Sister brock recoveres from being sick. So back to the office I go! I am happy to help, I have an amazing Companion there and I will be back to regular missionary work in 2 weeks. So that is why I am emailing on friday now! another zone has a different p-day!

 Sister Yeung is from Hong Kong! Yeah! back to the Asian life for me! We had an investigator lesson with Zhu Yue (PHD student at U of U) from Taiwan. She struggles with comparing Budhism to the doctrines of the church but when we explained she can gain wisdom from the Holy Ghost by praying and studying the scriptures she became more convicted in her faith in Jesus Christ which is HUGE!

Love you all! 再见 (bye!)

February 10th 2014

Miracle Day for the WIN!!

No pain no gain right? We are frrrrreeezing but we had a neat experience right before debbie's appointment. We were driving to her house and I felt prompted to stop at certain complex of apartments. Sister reed and I felt strongly a miracle was going to be there waiting for us! We prayed that we would be able to have the spirit to help us recognize it and be given the words to say when it did. We knocked the WHOLE thing and nothing! So disappointed we headed back to the car. As we were getting in we heard a young man calling us back saying, "did you know on my door?". We ran back to the door and started teaching him. As we did sister reed connected right away with some of the issues he was currently struggling with and I was prompted to share the account of Jesus praying for the children in 3 Nephi 17. Christian, standing in his shorts and a T-shirt almost freezing to death stayed outside adn talked with us for at least 20 mins. After we said a prayer with him and were about to leave he tld us that he took awhile to get to the door because he was nervous to answer it. When we knocked he had been praying to God that if he really wanted to help him that he would send a miracle to his front door. WOW. We told him of how we ended up knocking on this apartment building. The spirit was very strong as we bore witness to him of his worth and How Heavenly Father really did love him and that's why he sent us, to share with him the restored Gospel! IT was by far one of the coolest experiences I have had while serving. The church is true! Christian is heavily involved with his church right now so we are doing what we can to meet with him and teach him.

Ps Mormon was 10 years old when he was called sober in heart and commissioned to find the plates of Nephi when he turned 24 and at the age of 15 "was ^{visited of the Lord, and tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus." (Mormon 1:15) If he can do it than we can do it now as 20 year olds! YEEEHAWWW church is true!}

 ^{Fun facts:}

•  I have learned to love salads so much that i have 1 or 2 everyday!!!! I even crave them!
• It was colder in Wisconsin than the arctic a couple of weeks ago!
• We found a bird while tracting that was sitting in our path not moving. We thought it was injured and were worried for it. As we tried to pick it up to move it out of the snow and to a warmer place it just flew away. It was bazaar and we know that there is someone on the planet lazier than me! haah

Love you fam and friends!

February 3rd 2014

Chello Family and friends!

                                                                  Milwaukee District 1

This week completely turned around. Through diligence and obedience miracles are a reality. On Saturday we realized that our weekly goals were not going to be met unless we did something about it. We decided to contact at the mall ( yes we walk around and approuch people before or after shopping but we have to, people only go outside for a few reasons here. 1. alcohol 2. Custard 4. foot ball 3. get there shop on) for 5 hrs. Although there were many times we became discouraged we pressed forward. Heavenly Father put many people in our paths we had met before but had not led to anything (Caitlyn the 20 something makeup artist who was excited to learn and become more spiritual along with her mother), other investigators that we had not had contact with in awhile (we helped Melonie and her daughters prepare for her daughters play. We ran into them at Chipotle ate with them and helped the youngest apply her stage makeup because the mom was clueless) or members who were preparing others for meeting with us (the berry family has a close friend who has been reading from the book of Mormon and want those same strong family ties she sees in the berry family). All in all we were able to teach 9 other lessons, receive 3 new investigators (Adam the manager at 5 guys who is really funny and open to learn more, and Michelle the hyper but sweat manager at a bedding store who has been trying a variety of ways to find peace in her life but has yet to try learning about and conecting with God and Jesus Christ, and Dan a friend of another investigator we have), teach 1 less active family, receive many potential investigators and speak to over 28 people (our goal for the day) about the gospel. Wow! We are so grateful for our father in heaven who hears and answers our prayers.

"Think of that one person's posterity - they are cheering for you, eagerly waiting for you to help baptize that one person so they can be born in the Covenant and go on to serve missions where they will baptize many, many people." (-quote from fellow missionary)

This is soo true as we were talking with one person (maria the devout catholic who had gotta be at least 102 years old haha) I was going to give up, I felt it was not going any where.Than I thought of her beloved husband, who passed away a couple of years ago. I knew he was being taught on the other side of the veil. I than was filled with more desire to reunite these two people through the covenants that are essential. As she went on about how the boy who shovels her side walk had tried to scam her out of more money, I asked her how that made her feel in the end. Through this random tangent we were able to teach her how to utilize the atonement to repent and feel refreshed and full of love towards all men. Right than and there I asked her to try it to pray and repent. She said I could ahahaha. So I prayed and repented for her ahhaaha. Not exactly how its done but she did feel the spirit and committed to continue to try this for herself. THis is great I figure she already has immense faith in Jesus Christ, she is now repenting the next step in the gospel is baptism right? hahaha or I can somehow take a picture of her birth certificate and get baptized for her, I would just have to wait a couple years or sooo......hey! it worked for repentance! ahhahaah

Love you all! KEEP CALM & READ  BOOK OF MORMON

LOVE SISTER NELSON :)

                                                     1 YEAR wiser and colder too!

Family and Forever Friends

Hi there!

Sweet! Shawn bought a bike (im either gonna have to get a scooter or bike licence to fit in the family now!), Diana has a new puppy, DAD IS GOING TO AUSTRALIA!!! and Michelle has found her dress! wow big stuff! 

(city branch ward it is the first chapel in Wisconsin, it was bought back from another church several years ago! this was Tuesday and freakin' freezing!)

I am living I survived -45 C!!!! Now its much warmer again! i was shocked this morning when I went outside and I did not have to wear gloves! Lucky meee (lucky my companion too, Ariel she suffers from that thing that you do where if you get cold you swell up and its painful, YIKES!)

Here is the update with our people we are teaching(or trying to. I have changed the names) We have not been able to meet with Sarah and Megan, although we have tried, but texting daily scriptures has been the only communication they have responded to and are appreciative of. The Smith's family (Megan's fellowshippers) are trying to set up a lesson this week.

We have met with Murray (a less active member of many years now, but has shown some interest in returning in the past couple months) with the ward mission leader and his family which went well. It is difficult for him to attend church because of work conflicts. We have recently built a better relationship with Bishop Nussbaun, He is an amazing leader (while being a young father and an ER doctor) and is striving to work with all of the members especially our recent convert who is fighting depression currently. For her we are scheduling regular appointments again but always having her home teachers, visiting teachers or fellow members leading the discussion to help her build faith. We have been able to teach several lessons through mall contacting and door knocking. It is fun! We also had a pretty funny experience with a Lutherine Family who was referred by members of our ward. Judy and Bob were borne Lutherine and go to Bible studies and hymn singing every week! They love singing the Lords prayer so much that in the middle of our discussion of Romans 8:16-17 how we are literal children of God Judy stood up and started playing and singing! It was lovely and strange. Bless their hearts, we may go back when they get back from snow-birding in Arizona.

All my mission I have planted seeds, never fully able to see the fruits of my labors. It had me down this week a bit until the Elders in our ward sent us this scripture:

1 Corinthians 3:8-10

 Now he [she] that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his ownreward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s ^bhusbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the ^agrace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid   the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

This Gave me so much comfort, I think my expectations for outbound were to finally reap all the rewards of my labours on Temple square. I know this is not Heavenly Fathers way. I also have faith in and have seen many progressions in those around me. This is His work and I am greatful to help build those foundations for Him.

I love you all! I think and pray about you often!

Merry Christmas!

What did Santa get you for Christmas? I got a self heating jacket, fuzzy warm PJs and Davids tea! (herbal tea yum) the best. We went to families houses all Christmas eve and day. We shared the Christmas story from the Book of Mormon with Nephi and angels telling the story!

And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.  - Alma 7:10
Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets. - 3 Nephi 1:13

 It is awesome the spirit comes so quickly because it is Christ himself speaking hrs before he was born in a manger.

Some funny experiences happened while tracting this week so i decided to draw them out.....

A man unhappily answered his door and opening it a crack he said, "cant you see?!" while gesturing up. We were so confused. He continued to gesture up and than said, "just above the door, you see it right?" We finally were able to see a tiny metal fish hung just over his door. We said "oh the fish?" "YES, I'm Lutherine" followed by a large door slam. What is that about? We laughed so hard.

Here's a cool picture (literally and figuratively of us tracting as well..

WE DID IT!!! The Wisconsin Milwaukee Mission reached 300 Baptisms for 2013! This is very great and memorable time for the mission. This is a goal that we have been striving for, for a long time! Through faith and diligence!

 "And now, i ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell? Behold i answer for you; for our brethren [and sisters], the [Wisconsinites], were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest [coldest] abyss, but behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work. Behold, [300] of them do rejoice, and have been brought into the fold of god." Alma 26:2-5 

Love you all family! Thanks for all the cards and presents that were sent (from fam and friedns) LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU ALL

Sister Nelson the Mish-i-cal