"Onward EVER Onward"

Yesterday we had an awesome sacrament meeting. A new member in our ward named Brother Harprie gave a talk about "Are you sleeping through the Restoration" by President Utchdorf. Well first off Brother and Sister Harprie just moved from Provo, but second their last name is the coolest ever. They could get away with naming their son Champ Harprie and he would probably be the coolest athlete around. haha 

Back to his talk. I haven't had the chance to read over this talk yet but I think that President Utchdorf is very inspired. He says, "In reality, the restoration is an ongoing process; we are living it right now. It included 'all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal,' and the 'many great and important things' that 'He will yet reveal.' Brethren, the exciting developments of today are part of that long-foretold period of preparation that will culminate in the glorious Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ."  The Restoration of the Gospel is happening right now! So many Prophets saw this time and now it is our turn to make it happen. We were called and prepared for this time!!! We are already on the team it is just up to us if we are going to put the jersey on and play. 

I just love this because it makes me realize that the Gospel is so important, more important to me than it was a year ago and I want to do everything I can to do my part. Brother Harprie talked about the hymn, "Called to Serve." In the chorus when it says "onward ever onward" it means onward [always pressing] onward. It does not mean onward [when we feel like it] onward. It will happen no matter what, we can either be a part of it or not. It is our choice. 

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's the same shall find it" Mark 8:34-35

Love you crazies! Peace

Love, Alisha :)

Sister Hamm & Sister Nielsen

"Courage brethren and on; ON TO THE VICTORY."

I ate a piece of squirrel last night. haha Check that one off the list. 

Everyone, remember Paul? Hopefully you do, because I don't know what I tell you all about certain things. Because I kind of get lazy at writing emails. 

Paul. He is no longer being taught by us because it would go against what his wife wants. But the killer part is that he knows that the church is true. He studies out of the Book of Mormon and has read the first 19 sections of the Doctrine and Covenants. It kills me that we can't go over anymore and talk to him. I basically poured my heart out to this man and he changed. He is actually a person that I have seen change before my eyes. I am grateful for this experience though because it makes me realize that this can happen and hearts can really change. I was just bearing my simple testimony and he actually listened. Not many people do, and he took it to heart. One day he will get the chance to be baptized and I hope I hear about it in the future. Bro. Ruick is still staying in contact with him and being a wonderful fellow shipper. 

The Gospel is true it has the power to change hearts. Even stubborn ones like mine. haha  God allows us the opportunity to love. But with that comes heartache. It makes me wonder if His heart ever hurts for us down here. I am sure it does because we are a little senseless sometimes and choose to disobey. That would be rough. I think Pres. Uchtdorf mentioned one time that God works with toddlers. haha or something along those lines. That is us. But even though we cause Him some great heartache He still loves us completely. I am not even close to comprehending this love but I have been able to recognize it more in my life. Blessings of a mission. When I don't want to do it anymore (oh it happens more than you know), He strengthens me and helps me push through until the end of the day. I can do all things through Him. 

The Church is true. It can change your life but only if you let it. God loves you, but only if you accept that love will you start to realize it. 

Love you all :) 

Love, Alisha 

Sweaty, but not shaken

Wow, sometimes it feels like it was yesterday that I was emailing and then sometimes it feels like I haven't been on a computer for decades...haha weird how that all works! 

This week I got my new companion! Her name is Sister Hamm and she is from Ogden, Utah. She has been out for 3 months and she just got done training, so we will get some great insights on how we can help our area. 

We have been biking a lot and I turn into a sweaty monster so it is kind of funny! But the people don't seem to mind. We had the opportunity to have dinner with a less-active family and it was a really cool experience because we were able to talk to them about why they don't attend church. It was a neat experience for me because I have been studying a lot about conversion and how we need to get to a point in our testimonies where others can't shake us. Kind of like Jacob when Korihor came along and he said "I could not be shaken," I think that we all need to get to that point. I think that is a major reason why Heavenly Father wanted me to serve a mission. So I could figure that out, or at least gain more understanding than I had before. 

I hope you all have a great week and I hope that you are doing all you can to strengthen your testimonies every day. 

Love, Alisha 

Moore Miracles :)

I get the chance to stay in Moore for another transfer! Yeah! Sister Swensen will be going down to Texas and I will be getting Sister Hamm! 

The greatest experience happened this week! I think I have told you all about Paul? We found him knocking. We have seen his heart change and it has been so wonderful to see. He knew that transfers were coming up so he offered to take me and Sister Swensen to Red Lobster (deal, man!) haha and so that is what we did on Tuesday! It was such a cool thing because he just thanked us over and over again for putting his life back on course and how he is going to try harder in his marriage! He has been studying everyday and He can tell that his relationship with God has been strengthened! At the end he shook our hands and told us that we have saved his life. Such a cool man. I am grateful for the chance to meet him because I know that every contact doesn't turn out at baptism but that doesn't mean that it was unsuccessful. Paul will not get baptized because his wife doesn't agree with that, and he wants to make her happy. But he has changed, and that is what is important! Baptism can come later :) 

I love you all and I hope that you have a great week :) 

Love, Alisha

The District

"Let Us All Press On"

Hello! 

This week we had a couple of hard times, as we have recently have had a drought in our teaching pool. haha We have seen so many first contact miracles and then they fizzle out. How do you prevent this? No clue. If you know, help a sister out and spit some advice this way :) But anyway, after waking up in the morning after a rough day of work, "Let us all press on" was stuck in my head. What a tender mercy :) I had to write the first verse in my journal just to explain how happy it made me feel! haha and then I almost yelled "courage, for the Lord is on our side," but I thought writing it down would be a better form or expression at 6:30 in the morning!

Another miracle! We have been seeing a less active named Abby, recently she has had a huge change of heart and she has decided to come back to church. She has been there the last two weeks! Abby has just made a huge impact on my heart. She is a single mother to two autistic children, and every time I have been in her home and something arises she is so quick to respond with love to her kids. She talks to them with love and she talks to them about their Heavenly Father and how He would want them to treat themselves and others. I wish you all could see what an amazing lady she is. This realization just got stronger as I was sitting by them in sacrament and they were fussy and so I was doing the best I could to have them draw in my notebook or play with my Plan of Salvation cut out pieces. Life as a mother is rough but super rewarding; and I am not even there yet! haha 

Later on this week we had someone approach us with Anti information and at first it was scary and I doubted some things but right there the thought "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith" popped into my head then the spirit just confirmed to me that I had not been led astray as this person had thought. I have had so many spiritual confirmations that I know that God would not confuse me like that, or anyone for that matter. I just thought that was a really neat experience and I am grateful that it happened. We didn't try to convince this person of anything, but I just bore my testimony about how I have come to find happiness and that is through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I hope that you all have a great week :) thank you for your prayers :)

Love, Sister Nielsen