Florida Tallahassee Mission Adventures: April 2015

Monday, April 27, 2015

Sister Nielson at the MTC

Sunday April 19, 2015, Sister Nielson, President Kim Gerke, an MTC Branch President and our Home Teacher, and Sister Laub.

A note that Ana Johnson found on her white board where she teaches at the MTC from Sister Sabrina Nielson

Two beautiful brown-eyed girls - Wednesday, April 22. Sister Nielson gives a big hug to her first cousin, Ana Johnson, who is a French and Tahitian Instructor at the MTC. Ana served her mission in Tahiti and has been a mentor to Sabrina as she prepared for her mission, including giving a series of Tips from the Mission field, which Sabrina read and took to heart! This is written letter sent home from the MTC: "Hey Y'all! (We are now saying this that because one of the Counselors in our branch lived in Georgia for 8 years and told us to say Y'all instead of guys, cause sometimes we forget to say Sisters and Elders LOL) Well, here at the MTC everyone says "Make it through Sunday!" Well, I did! Wow! When I think about the MTC it feels like I have been here for like 8 years or more! Haha. Awesome, huh? Even though it feels like forever and a day, time goes by fast, too, it's so interesting. I have no idea how that works, but it does! Anyway, the MTC is such a holy place, filled with love and the Spirit 100% of the time. What's better than that? Oh, nothing! :) I have leaned 5,000,000 X 100,000 about the gospel in just the short few days I have been here! It's crazy! But that's how the Spirit and Missionary work works! I want to share what I have come to know is so true about Mission work this week, "Ultimate exercise of agency is to give it all to Heavenly Father." I didn't really get this, but now I do! As learning my purpose as a missionary, we must learn to give 100% to God. 100% obedience, love, charity, kindness and instead of focusing inward about yourself, we need to be a character of Christ and look outward and serve and love ultimately like He did and still does! I am not going to sugar coat it, but the MTC is freaking hard. It's probably the hardest thing ever. Have I cried? Uh - yes, a lot. Have I missed home and all you? Uh - yes, but have I prayed a lot and come unto Christ when I need Him? YES! That is the only way to feel peace and comfort, relying on Christ. Man! My eyes are so opened to HIS work. I love my companion and the other two sisters! Oh my, we are all just good friends! The Elders in our district are awesome and so funny! Even though boys are boys, they are sooooo loving! They show Christlike love everyday! Our district is the best!!! We give each other compliments in the morning for one of our goals, it's so rad! It reminds me of home and I enjoy that! :) Wow I'm so glad I am here, even though sometimes it is so hard, more of it is good! Well love you all a lot! One week left! Sister Nielson."

Sister Nielson with her District at the MTC Map.

This is our district at the Provo temple grounds on our Sunday temple walk, April 26 Front row: left-right is Elder Gneiting, Elder Nordin, Elder Turner back row: left-right is Sister Stradinger, Sister Laub, Me (Sister Nielson) and Sister Rinlisbacher! "April 27, 2015 Hey Everyone! I have survived one whole week at the MTC! Its crazy to think that i will be leaving tomorrow for TAL!!! We are all so so so excited!! Im ready for a change of food and to get into the field!! But this week has been good! It has had its ups and downs, but mostly ups! This week we got to start teaching a girl named Leah in TRC. She defiantly is not LDS, and she likes to study different religions!! She has been a hard investigator because all she wants us to do is Feed her the Gospel, we can teach and love her, but to come unto Christ she needs to Act. She doesnt want to, so it has been a challenge!! Teaching her was amazing, but so hard!! But the main lesson I learned while getting to know her and her religion and what she thought about missionaries, is that when you think you can't do it, you have cried multiple times for someone you barely know because all you want is the best for them, (I HAVE CRIED SO MANY TIMES) LOL! When you have prayed constantly for the spirit of love, and when you just fall to your knees and plead to feel comfort, that it is OKAY. I have also realized that Christ will always come to our level and help us up That's something we have to do as missionaries!!;) I haven't felt so much love for someone in just 3 times meeting with them, not just love but Christlike love!!She told us that we helped her heart change but in all honesty she CHANGED mine. And even though she was a pain in the butt to teach she taught me a lesson I knew I needed to be taught. I am so thankful for her, she has made me more excited to go out to the field!!

This is Sister Nielson, investigator Leah and Sister Laub

This is the district and two teachers in the Center: Sister Draney on the left side and our other teacher Sister Smith on the right side! "We had a devotional this week and it was amazing!! I forgot his name but he spoke in conference, about dancing with music...anyways! He talked about how we need to gain Brain knowledge, which is learning the doctrine, Heart knowledge where we feel the Spirit and Soul knowledge where we Act upon all the feelings and things we have learned. As missionaries this is amazing and same with investigators! I loved it so much! Well I LOVED the MTC, and all the people I have met. I would love to volunteer here when I return. (It's that amazing!) :) Love, Sister Nielson"

Sister Nielson's tag and the Provo Temple. Time to say goodbye and leave for Florida - tomorrow!!!

Last day at the MTC and in front of the Provo Temple, Missionary companions Sisters Nielson and Laub will go their separate ways on Tuesday, April 28, 2015. Next stop for Sister Nielson: Tallahassee, Florida!

Left to Right: Third: All of us Girls at the temple today!!! left-right, Sis Laub, Me, Sis Rindlisbacher, and Sis Stradinger;)

Monday, April 20, 2015

Sister Sabrina Nielson Enters the Provo MTC

Sister Nielson Missionary Photo, American Fork Canyon, Utah April, 2015

Sabrina was incredibly prepared to serve her mission. She studied long, hard and often for the months after her call. She said goodbye to everyone. Below is saying goodbye to Missionary Cousins on her last Sunday dinner, Ana (Tahati) and Joel (Denmark) Johnson. Goodbye hugs to Mom, niece Isabel, and to Dad just before leaving for the MTC

Sister Sabrina Nielson was set apart as a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 14, 2015 by President Andrew O. Horton, assisted by counselor, President Roger Prete, father Asa S. Nielson, brother James A. Nielson and brother-in-law Bill P. Witt. In her blessing she was promised she would become fluent in the language of pure love, given health from her head to her toes, to be a great resource to her mission president, to be patient with companions, other missionaries and members, to learn that through weaknesses, that is how we grow. She was blessed to recognize her own weaknesses and humbly turn to Heavenly Father and His Son to overcome those weaknesses through the grace and love of Christ. She was blessed to learn quickly the discussions and the best ways to teach, to recognize promptings and react accordingly and to appreciate the Atonement of Jesus Christ. She was encouraged to write in her journal and that her entries would become a tool for the conversion of those struggling and trying to find hope. She was told she would strengthen others by her cute personality and exceeding glow that she carried about her and that she would be blessed through her talents to transmit her feelings to those she would teach. In this photo, L-R Front row Asa Alex Nielson, 16, Sister Sabrina Nielson, 19, nephew Paxton, 10, Isabel, 5 and Deiderik, 7 Witt Middle/back row, L-R niece Samantha Witt, 13, sister Kara Nielson, 21, Mom Karla Nielson, Dad Asa Nielson, sister Necia Witt and husband Bill Witt, brothers Joey and James Nielson

She packed up all her things into boxes, and closed her personal life at home so that she could, as she said, "give 100% to the Lord." She entered the MTC glowing with happiness and excitement!

First MTC Letter sent by mail on April 15, 2015 Hey Everyone! :) I made it through the day! WOW! I don't even know how to it, but the Spirit is soooo strong. YES! It is overwhelming but in a good way. Everyone is so loving and kind. I've seen a few people I know so I love that! eBut hey! I tried the Diet Coke Caffeine Free. And It's not bad at all! So I will live! :) They are right about the chocolate milk. The food is definately not homemade Haha. Oh well! Overall I love it here! I'm happy and alive! Something I learned today...Not only is the mission purpose about bringing people unto Christ but with Charity!! Once we learn Love, the Spirit does the rest! Well I love all of you!, Sister Nielson On Sunday, April 19, this photo was sent by Mark Wolfert, our neighbor and former Stake President and a former Mission President of Georgia Atlanta North Mission, now serving a mission at the Provo MTC. This is of Sabrina and Carol Wolfert. When Sabrina first came to America, she became friends with Tess Wolfert, and spent many hours on Carol's lap. Today Sabrina adores Sister Carol Wolfert. We often have said to each other, "When we grow up, we want to be Carol Wolfert!"

MTC first email: Hey Mother! This is the right email!!! (: Oh man i am so loving it here so far!!! I sent you a letter today so hope you get that!! Well my companions name is Sis Laub, she is from Napa Idaho !! She has such an amazing spirit, we are so different, but we work so well together!! I love her so much!!! We also have 2 other girls in our district, Sister Rinslbacher, from Idaho and Sister Strandger from Vernal!! We are all like best friends - it is so fun with them!! We have 3 elders in our district,too! Elder Neight who is also from Idaho, Elder Turner from Idaho and Elder Nordinn from Houston, Texas!! WE ARE THE BEST DISTRICT HERE. Haha I am sure everyone says that, but ours is the best!! We are known as a district of love, which I love so much because isn't that what mission work is all about!?!? Man. It's hard here, but I love, love, love it here and know I will miss the spirit I feel here when we leave.

So I am in a room where sending pictures is hard on this computer so if I have time I will send some if not I definitely will next week. Sorry - I am taking pics i promise!! Oh so I forget my temple recommend so maybe you could see if it is in my temple bag!? If not its okay(: Well the MTC is like the temple in a way. It's dedicated and the only thing you feel is the Spirit 100% of the time. I love it so much, I'm really going to miss it, the food is definitely not your food which I miss a ton but I just have to endure one more week of that(; Has it been hard!? YES. This probably has been the hardest thing I have ever done, but I am so happy I am here. I have learned the Lord will always bless us if we Trust and Love him. Overall the main thing is LOVE. With love anything is possible because of Christ. I have learned so much, I wish I had time to write it all but just know this is exactly where I am supposed to be. Have a great week Y'all!!! LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!!!!! Sis Nielson(;