Christmas Conference :)

What a wonderful week. We had a Christmas conference with the north side of the mission and my favorite part of the whole thing was being able to sing Christmas hymns with all of the missionaries. The spirit just filled the room! I love this time of the year and I am grateful to be a missionary. 

 

I was able to bear my testimony as well, as one of the departing missionaries. I feel like I have changed since I have been out here and I am grateful for the small changes that I have made, but I am also grateful for the desire to continue to change and become better. My mission has given me the understanding and the importance of change. I don't want to remain the same. I want to continue to progress. 

 

Our APs texted me a scripture this last week and it I thought that it was just great! It is found in Moroni 8:3 " I am mindful of you always in my prayers, continually praying unto God the Father in the name of his Holy Child, Jesus, that he, through his infinite goodness and grace, will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name to the end." The end is not going to come with the ending of my mission. I will continue to prepare after, so that continual change will be a habit in my life. 

 

I love you all and I am grateful for your emails. Be safe :) 

 

Love, Sister Alisha Nielsen

Decembre

Seasons greetings my friends :) 

 

I hope that you enjoy this glorious photo with me and my friend James. James is an investigator and he is also dating a less active member. This photo is probably one of the classiest photos you will ever see. We were in this less-actives home and she has a lot of stuff and I saw these classy hats over in the corner and so we took pictures with them and then afterwards we taught James about the Book of Mormon. He committed to reading 3 Nephi chapter 11 and we will be seeing him this Friday. 

 

I was able to go on my last exchange with the STLs and I was with Sister Cottle. We are pretty similar and I am grateful that I have been able to exchange with her a lot. We were probably friends in the premortal existence. One thing that we talked about a lot was the reason why we serve those around us. I was thinking the other day about the Christmas initiative and the reason for all of the advertisement of "He is the Gift." I don't think that the first presidency intended to show the wealth of the church, but to reach out to as many people as possible so that they could discover the true meaning of Christmas.  I know that the leaders of the church are inspired men and women and they probably prayed a lot about this next step to spread the gospel. As I was looking back over the conferences, a new temple has not been announced since I have been on my mission, just the completion of those already being constructed. They probably were inspired to do this awhile ago and so they prepared in advance so that they could go about this new way to share the gospel. I know that our leaders are inspired and that God directs His work. His work won't be frustrated because He wanted everyone to remember the true meaning of Christmas. 

 

I hope that you all have a great week :) Stay safe and warm! 

 

Love, Sister Alisha Nielsen

Thanksgiving!

I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving:)

 

We were challenged by the stake presidency to tell the people around you what you are grateful for, so everyone, these are the things that I am grateful for:

 

I am grateful for the atonement. What an amazing gift that we have been given to better ourselves and to develop a relationship with God, our Savior, and those around us.

 

I am grateful for my family. I get to be with them forever! They are my best friends and I know that they were given to me for a reason.

 

I am grateful for missionary work. I would not be the same if I didn't come on my mission. I know that the principles that we teach to those around us are true.

 

I am grateful for wonderful members who live the standards of the gospel and try to share it with others. I love walking into members homes and feeling like I am in my own! I love feeling the spirit there.

 

Lastly, I am grateful for my companions. All of them! they have taught me things that I will remember for the rest of my life and I am so grateful for the friendships that we have developed out here!!

 

Everyone, life is so good. I couldn't tell you that enough :) I love you all and I hope that you all think of things that you are thankful for :)

 

Love, Sister Alisha Nielsen