Guided by the Spirit

Hello!
This week was a week just guided by the Spirit!
On Friday, we had service all day. But last minute, they all fell through. Thankfully, we had backup plans. By the time we drove out to our area, we decided to change plans and go see some members. We stopped by Sister S, and she kept asking, "Why did you come?" We said, “We were prompted to come see ya!” She was very grateful. She vented to us for a while, and then we decided to teach a quick lesson. That is when her daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend walked in. Her daughter went and took a shower, but we invited her boyfriend, J, to come sit in on the lesson. He did! So we talked about James 1:5 and then brought up Joseph Smith. We asked J if we could teach him more about this message, he said yeah!! New Investigator number 1.
The next day, we went to an appointment the sisters set up for us during the blitz with V. We got there, and the lady had totally spaced. She said she only had 5 minutes to talk, we said "No worries. We can do that!" We really do practice 5 minute lessons.  I’m so glad we do! But 45 minutes later, we finally ended with a prayer. People are funny like that over here. They say they only have a short time, but they just love to talk so we end up being there for a long time. Anyways, we taught her the restoration, and asked her if she would be baptized. Then, like the typical southerner, she said "I've already been baptized." Sister Brakey laughs and says "But would you be baptized into this church if you knew this was the true church of God?" She then said "Oh yeah, sure!" New Investigator #2.
And our last new investigator for the week was K. She was not super open to the message, and said she had objections to what we were saying, but let us keep talking. By the end, I really thought she is just set in her ways and isn't going anywhere. But then we shares a scripture that talks about the fruits of the spirit. So we asked "Have you felt these feelings as we have talked today?" She stops and thinks for a second, and then looks up and says "Yeah, I think so." The spirit was super strong, and we knew she meant it. We didn't get a follow up appointment with her, but she does want to learn more! She should be available this week so we will stop by and keep bugging her till we can get in again!
So Transfers happened, and Elder Carr and Davis have arrived! They seem like some great Elders, and they are going to love Kempsville/Salem! Elder Carr is still getting the ropes as district leader, but we are cracking his shy shell little by little everyday!
We had steak with the Z Family the other day... Man that was so good! Not sure why I wanted to tell you that, but I just loved it so much!
It was WAY hot for a few days last week - in the high 80's. And it's not even June yet! Man, summer is going to be intense.
We had a lesson with R, and it went okay. He doesn't understand why church has to be 3 hours, or why he really needs it at all. We tried to explain it best we could, and he said he'd come to the first hour! Unfortunately, some drama happened with his dogs Saturday night, and cancelled on us last minute. We are gonna keep on him though! He is just loving the BofM so much, it's amazing to see him as he prays for the spirit, and then the spirit helps him to understand! T should be back next week, so we can then start teaching her and getting her working toward her date! It's all slow like I said, but there is progression :)
2 other really cool miracles happened as well! We get a phone call from this guy, M, who asks us what ward he is in. We type in his address, and he is in our ward! We ask him if he is a new move in or something, he says "No, I just want to come back to church" Wow!! So we prayed that he would be able to make it Sunday, and he totally did! He mentioned that he wants to go to the temple, so we introduced him to Bishop and they went and talked about it! The Elders are going to visit him often cuz he's in their area. But the cool thing is how in the world did he get our number? God is in the little things :)
Then, we came home a little early to do area book and numbers Saturday night, and 2 dudes started walking up to our car. Sister Brakey was hesitant, but she rolled down the window and greeted them. One of them said "Hey give my friend here a card. He wants to go to church." Woah! So we introduced to ourselves to I, and gave him a card. We were silly though and didn't find out where he lives so the Elders could teach him. But it was just pretty cool that they recognized us a missionaries and came and talked to us!  Even though he didn't end up coming to church, it was still a witness to me that people really watch us, and know we are here to help and uplift!
Well, that's all for now! Thought for the week: I know the scriptures are true. Sister Brakey has been writing scriptures on the top of her planner, to inspire us for the next day. Several times, we have followed the counsel the scriptures have given us and miracles have been seen! So challenge for the week: Read read read! It will help ya in more ways than you know :)
I love you all so much, thanks for all your support and prayers, you are amazing!
Have a blessed week!
-Love, Sista Poulsen

The Blitz

Me and Sis Brakey doing math

Hey y'all!
How fast this week went! We also had P-day on Tuesday last time, but it was still fast! This week was pretty chill! We did some service for a less active, I went ham on that bush! Her neighbors bush was creeping into her yard, so we trimmed it back and now it looks wonderful!
Poor Elders, Their investigator who was set to be baptized got cold feet and didn't do it. It was just all happening all too fast for her, I suppose. She really wanted her husband who is (or was) a less active to baptize her. But she got scared and didn't feel prepared. And he is actually being deported this week and won't be back for 6 months! So she's just gonna wait, I guess. We will get her visiting teachers, home teachers, and the missionaries will set up a weekly visit! Hopefully she will feel ready by then!
I met my first do-not-contact this week, pretty fun! *sarcasm*  He hadn't answered the door ever. So this time I knocked just a little extra loud. He still didn't' answer. So we got back in the car. But then we heard some yelling, and we looked up and he was there on his porch! We rolled down the window to say hello, but before we could say anything, he said "Why y'all gotta bang on my door so loud?!?" Then he used some choice words and told us to get off his property. So we did :) It was pretty funny actually, and hey, if it got him to answer the door, great!
BLITZ!! Wow, we say so many miracles come from that! The Elders found us come solid Investigators (3) and the Salem missionaries got us some sweet potentials and had some great stories about service! Elder Parkinson and Giles helped some guy get his car off the road and mowed some lady’s lawn! The Salem sisters contacted a less active that we hadn't ever met, and so that was great! So, we are going to be very busy for the next while, trying to follow up with all those people! It was really cool, that whole day you could just feel the work going forth in just our little tiny area of the vineyard. It was super inspired, thank you Elder Garcia!
Speaking of those guys: Transfers! Elder Garcia will be leaving and going to Yorktown, and Elder Parkinson will be leaving and going to Smithfield, NC. It's pretty sad to see them go, but The Lord knows where they need to be, and someone needs them there! Elder Hansen's new companion and our new District Leader will be Elder Carr. And Elder Giles will be getting Elder Davis. There are like 4 Elder Davis's in our mission, and 2 in our zone. It's going to be confusing!
We then had a member home lesson with R at the Z family home. It was pretty cool! He is just stubborn, and doesn't understand the gospel side of the BofM... How he is missing it, I don't know! He is just getting caught up in the story and doesn't understand when Nephi starts quoting Isaiah. We explained that he is reading the writings on the plates, and then explaining them. But he just doesn't get it still! We told him to pray before he reads and the spirit will help guide him.
T is in NY now, but we will try to keep tabs on her and check up on her reading daily! We will have to push her date back more cuz she hasn't been to church and we haven't even gone through all the lessons. It is a very slow but progressing thing!
Thought for the week: The spirit is the Teacher. If you asked me to re-say what I said in R’s lesson, I couldn't say it nearly as well as the spirit did! Somethings I said I know weren't me, and it was really cool to experience that! He's the one that converts people, not us! So I pray that the spirit can be with them to help them understand their reading and the message!
Well, hope y'all have a great of a week as ours was! Praying for y'all everyday, and I can feel your prayers as well!
Peace and Blessings,
Sista Poulsen

Look up an album called Redeemer. DO IT!  It is by Nashville Tribute Band. The "Solider and the Thief" is my favorite! Check it out!

Lisa 's Note about the picture: Tara celebrated 2 months on Sunday, same day that Sister Brakey celebrated 16... so together they equal a whole mission.

You Can't Do It Alone

Hey y'all!
What a quick week! I thought it would be extra long because P-day was moved, but here we are! And my 2 month mark is next Sunday.... how crazy is that?!? Time is so slow, but so fast! :)
So not a ton of lessons this week. We did however teach T and R! They still want us to come, and so we did! We brought a ward member, Sister Z, because we thought T was not going to be there and she was just going to plan on skyping us. But they were both there in the flesh! Member present lessons are really cool though! Some things she said were exactly what they needed to hear! We should hopefully be teaching them tomorrow about the Sabbath day, and get them to come to church!
Miracles: So Sister Brakey took a wrong turn... like she does a lot of the time ;) And so we were going down this dead end. She was just going to flip around and go back out when I saw an older lady trying to get all her groceries in the house. I thought "we should help her. Nah, we have got to our appointment, with Sister P." But then something inside me just said that was wrong and we needed to help her. So I said "Hey, let's help that lady." We pulled over and jumped out of the car. We asked "Hey, would you like some help?" Now most people are wary and are scared you are gonna jump them or something. But she said "Why not?!" We grabbed all the groceries and took them in! She then told us how she usually gets her groceries in. Several trips to the lawn. Several to the porch. Several to the door. Then finally a couple of trips into the house. Probably a total of 20-30 minutes. We did it in 1. Now she didn't want to hear our message, but we left her our number and told her to call us if she needed anything! She said "I will. Thank you, girls! I know God sent you!" So sweet. But I know it was the spirit guiding us to her house just to simply help her out! Super cool :)
We deep cleaned on Tuesday! Basically we set aside 3-4 hours to clean our house pretty dang good! We did an extra good job cuz we are moving the week of the 8th into an apartment in our area. We will start coordinating with our ward mission leader to get help from the ward to do that! Pretty excited!
Sister Brakey and I are bros man. We had a pretty good comp inventory where we talked about how similar we are! We decided to just be ourselves and be bros. So we are! When we are in sync (which is 93% of the time,) we call it a "Broment" A bro moment. Pretty legit :)
This coming Saturday we are doing something called a Blitz! That is where our whole district goes and works in one companions’ area for the day! And Elder Garcia was inspired to choose our area! We are so excited. We are going to see some great things happen! Hopefully we can find more investigators and track down some Less Actives! We are basically done planning this because we are so excited and on the ball on this one! I will tell y'all how that goes next week!
Thought for the week: You can't do it all, and you can't do it alone. Missionaries get stressed out because they try to be perfect all at once. Been there! But I have learned that we can't do it all at once. We just can't be perfect now. When Christ and His Apostles walked around and helped/taught, Christ was teaching them all along the way! They were nowhere near perfect, but with the Savior with them, they were constantly improving. Super cool! I am going to just take this whole thing one step at a time. With Christ on my side, I know He will help me and move me along the right way! And I know He'll help y'all too! So challenge for the week: find something you want to improve on (charity, scripture study, sincere prayers etc.) and work on it! Study it, pray about it, and then take action!
The work is moving along! Slowly but surely we are seeing hearts being softened and testimonies strengthened!
I love y'all bunches and bunches! Have a blessed week!
Love, your favorite missionary, Sista Poulsen

About Cape Henry

Cape Henry Lighthouse

Comisioned in the first session of the first Congress of the United States of America in 1789, this lighthouse became the the first federally funded project in our country

It was built to guide maritime commerce at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.

Standing near the “First Landing” site where English settlers arrived in 1607

Stood sentinel since it was completed in 1792

Authorized by George Washington and overseen by Alexander Hamilton

Designed by New York architect John McComb

It was built with Aquia Creek sandstone from the same source as the White House, Mount Vernon and the US Capital buildings.

The lighthouse was damaged by Confederate forces during the American Civil War, but was repaired by Union forces in 1863, who depended on the light for navigation.

Visitors can climb the 191 steps to look out from the top.

In active use for nearly a century before being replaced by a new cast iron lighthouse still standing nearby.

The lighthouse was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1964 and a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 2002.

"New" Cape Henry Lighthouse

The second Cape Henry Lighthouse was completed in 1881 and sits approximately 350 feet from the first lighthouse.

This lighthouse is maintained and operated by the U.S. Coast Guard, has been automated and remains in service today. It is not open to the public.

At 157 feet tall, it is the tallest cast-iron, fully enclosed lighthouse in the United States.

Its black and white checkerboard pattern is one of the most distinctive daymarks  to be found on a lighthouse anywhere in the world.

Fort Story, a military base operated by the U.S. Navy, lies within the city of Virginia Beach. Visitors should be aware that you must enter through Fort Story's security gates. All visitors over the age of 16 will be required to present valid identification.




First Landing

The Plaque Reads:
HERE AT CAPE HENRY FIRST LANDED IN AMERICA, UPON 26 APRIL 1607, THOSE ENGLISH COLONIST WHO, UPON 13 MAY 1607, ESTABLISHED AT JAMESTOWN VIRGINIA, THE FIRST PERMANENT ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN AMERICA.

Numbers Don't Matter, People Do!

Notes:  So P-day next week may be Monday or Tuesday next week. Interviews with Pres. Baker are then, and if ours is scheduled for Monday, our P-day will be moved to Tuesday. So don't freak if you don't hear from me!
Yes, we have heard about the missionaries in the Brussels bombing. What an amazing story of missionary power and service! How even after they were kicked off their feet and injured, they went around helping others. So cool :) We keep praying for them, and it looks like they are recovering well!

Family and Friends,
What a cool week! General Conference just made my life basically, I just loved it! It is different to listen to it as a missionary than as a 19 year old sitting on a couch in her PJ's. My whole perspective was just changed, and I was looking for things that would not only help me, but also those we are teaching! The biggest thing I got out of it is best summed up in Elder Gongs talk on remembering the Savior. He said "To be worthy doesn't mean you are perfect." And a re-occurring theme was that God still loves you and "Because He loves you, He will find you." -Elder Uchtdorf. That helped me a ton, to know that I don't have to be perfect now, but as long as I desire and strive for it, that is all God asks and He will help me along the way! What revelation did you receive from Conference?
Sounds like Y'all had a nice relaxing spring break! I was afraid it would be snowy all week, but it looks like it cleared up pretty nicely! It has been rain and shine over here. Getting a taste of humidity here and there. Snow is a foreign concept for us right now, it's weird!
Last P-day we got to visit the Cape Henry Light houses! How cool!! We first went the beach with the L’s (a member family from our ward) and had a lovely picnic. We built sand castles and looked for sea shells with their kiddos, there were some pretty ones! The beach was beautiful, and it was really cool to see the naval and cargo ships sail by as we sat there! Then me and Sis. Brakey walked over to the old Cape Henry! The big brown brick lighthouse one is the one you can go in, and was actually the first government official light house built! We had to walk about 9 flights of stairs to finally get to the top, I was getting pretty bad vertigo! It was hard to make the climb but it was so worth it (feeling a gospel message in there!) But it was a beautiful look out, pics are on the way! The little shop was cute too! It was really neat though, I can't wait to take y'all back!
This week was quite slow, and our numbers showed it. No one let us in, and if they did it was super awkward. But we did a lot of service for others this week, which shows that we still did good and what The Lord needed us to do!
We were trying to set up a church tour and a priesthood blessing with T and R. We asked our Elders to do it, but they spaced and planned a lesson over it. So we asked the Salem Elders to do it. They graciously accepted! Long story short, T and R couldn't make it, so we went to bible study class kinda depressed. We thanked the Elders for being willing to help, but told them it was cancelled. There was a woman in the study class though that voiced her troubles to us. Sister Stump related so well to her and tried to help. But you could see she was still distressed. After class, Sister Myers (Salem sister) asked the woman if she would like a blessing. She accepted, and the Elders were on top of it. We left the room so it could just be a Salem thing. Later we realized that because we had asked the Salem Elders to do the blessing earlier, they were spiritual preparing all day to do it! And even though they didn't give one to our investigator, they were able to help this other woman out! The Lord truly works in mysterious ways. :)
Speaking of T, she dropped us a few days ago. R told us that each year she leaves in April to go spend the summer with her dad... why she didn't care to tell us, we don't know. So that was pretty rough for us. I feel so bad. Like I did something wrong. I must have not explained well enough how important this is, and if she was truly being converted, she would have explained her situation. Sis. Brakey says we did our best, but I just keep beating myself up about it. Never again will I take teaching people about their salvation lightly!
One more cool story: We received a referral from a potential the other day. All he told us was that his friend needed help painting, and that he lives on Level Green Ct. We went there, it was a huge neighborhood! We asked Heavenly Father to help us receive revelation to which house it was. After the prayer we stood there and looked at each house. I was getting nothing. But it was time to decide. So I picked that house that I felt the best about and on the count of 3 we pointed to what house we were thinking. We pointed in the same direction, but at 2 different houses. We knocked on both. The first one we knocked, and a man answered the door. We asked him if he needed any service, and he said "man, I wish y'all had come by earlier when I was painting!"... We then asked "Do you know ___?" (the guy that gave us the street) He said "Yeah..." We found out that this was totally the guy, and that ___ had actually just called him about us!!! Testimony strengthened :)
Thought for the week: Kinda what I said at the beginning. As you simply have a desire to do good and be better, the Lord accepts that and helps you progress. Another great quote was "Opposition gives you the opportunity to choose the right and progress." -Elder Oaks. Take that Satan!
The Lord loves you, and wants you to grow every day! Get on your knees and ask Him to help you, cuz He totally will! We have to be willing to act on what promptings we receive though. But it is promised that as we do that, we will be blessed exceedingly!
Love you all SOOOOO much! Keep being awesome!
Love, your favorite missionary, Sista Poulsen

Spotting the "New" Cape Henry Lighthouse from the Old

View from the top of the old Cape Henry Lighthouse