Happy Summer :)

Hello Everyone! 

This week was a little hard because we have decided to drop people and then we have been dropped by people that we would never want to drop. haha missionary work :) 

This week I have had some pretty great studies and honestly I think that studies could be one of my many favorite things about a mission! haha So this week I studied about our purpose, not just our purpose as missionaries but also as members of the church. I was reading Moses 1:39 "For behold, this is my work and my glory - to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." That is His purpose so He provided a way to get back to Him through the atonement. Christ was sent to "do His Father's will" and we are asked to follow Christ! We all have the same purpose, just different jobs :) Many of you probably knew that but Sister Nielsen over here, some times needs a little time to have things sink in :) Do missionary work people, haha or temple work! 2 Nephi 2:30 "I have none other object save it be the everlasting welfare of your souls." 

Have a great week everyone :) I love ya! 

Sister Nielsen

"All you need is love"

hello! 

This week was great! I had the chance to speak in sacrament meeting yesterday and it is still really hard for me. But I always feel like I get a lot out of speaking, so I am pretty grateful for it but don't sign me up for a little while :) 

This week was pretty great and we had the chance to experience many miracles! The best (not to compare miracles here) was when we went over to a less-active's house named Abby. Such a cool lady and she is super smart because she is a licensed counselor and all that jazz, so she gives us a lot of advice. The reason that she is less active is because she has two autistic children which makes church difficult. Well we went over this last Saturday and we were sitting on her patio and she just came out and said that she will be going to church next week!! WHAT?!?! haha she was offended a little while back and so she didn't show signs of coming back but she recently had surgery on her throat and through some experiences she and her ex husband want to come to church! oh man, it was the coolest thing ever because that is all we talked about! Her change of heart. 

So my talk this week was given on President Monson's talk on Love- the essence of the Gospel. It was great because honestly this is my whole testimony. The Gospel is based on LOVE. Love is the driving force behind the Gospel because Heavenly Father loved and still loves us so much that He provided us a way to return to Him and He is continuing to provide a way! I am grateful that He loves us enough that He has given us the fullness of truth here on earth today! WE ARE BLESSED! 

I hope you all have a great week! I LOVE you all! Stay classy. 

Sister Alisha Nielsen 

I have the greatest family ever.

Hey there. 

Happy Mother's Day. 

I was graced to be able to chat with the coolest family on the planet, which happens to be my family haha it was great to talk to you fellas and especially to my homie Elder Ethan Nielsen. haha really, though. I am grateful for my opportunity to be able to be with my family forever :) Mom, I hope that you had a great Mother's Day! 

This week was full of service and it was so great! We were able to help BB and her family (investigators) sand a room and we will be painting it this week. Oh my, is sanding hard work! haha I thought that my arms were going to fall off. But I was grateful for the chance to serve! Bobbie and her family are so great we have only been able to teach them a little bit but when we do teach them they have a desire to learn. We committed them to read from the Book of Mormon last week and hopefully we will be able to set up a church tour to help them get to church next week! They are really great! 

Yesterday I was studying about motherhood. Mothers day celebrated as a missionary by studying motherhood. I was studying and the first thing that came to my mind was the Stripling Warriors and their mothers. They had faith in the Lord because their mothers taught them to. I mean think about it, if you were to have children that did not doubt that they were children of God and that He can provide and protect them, wouldn't that be the greatest blessing of all? I think so. To see that your children are "firm in the faith" and they are supported by their testimonies and nothing in the world will shake them. I think that would be a parent's greatest joy....but I am not parent, I just studied about motherhood. :) haha 

Good tidings to all of you. I love you guys! 

Love, Sister Nielsen! 

GOOD. BETTER. BEST.

"Sacrifice is giving up something good for something better"

This quote was said at our adult session of stake conference this last week and it really stuck with me. Giving up something good for something better sounds like it would be pretty easy right? I mean if you think about it, of course you would want to do the better thing! If you wanted a single scoop ice cream cone that would be good, but a double scoop dipped in chocolate with nuts and a cherry on top would be better. (Not better for you, but better nonetheless) 

So I was thinking about this and wondering how we can become 'Better" and then voila! the Doctrine of Christ allows this in our life. Let's give an example of Sister Nielsen praying every single night. That is good and wonderful but maybe she just goes through the motions and checks things off a list when she prays? It is still good, but what would be better? If Sister Nielsen sincerely talked to Heavenly Father and let Him know of her desires and concerns and then she gave Him the chance to reply. This is just an example, but what good things are we holding back that could be better? I have a ton of things. So this week I have been working on my prayers. :) 

"It doesn't matter the speed, but the direction" It might take my whole mortal life to become better, (It for sure will, and then some), but it doesnt matter how fast I become better but it matters what direction I am going. Because if it was a race or about speed, we all know that I would lose because I am dang slow. :) 

I love you all. I hope that you have a great week :) Happy 2 years to Erika and Trevor :) and Happy 12th birthday to Evan :) 

"The church is not a museum of perfect saints, but a laboratory for learning saints" 

Love, Alisha