Surprise Photos

Lisa says:
I occasional get these wonderful photos from members in Sister Poulsen's area.  They are so much fun and i spend way too much time zooming in and looking at every little thing over and over.  Then finally I set it as my background so i can see it every time i look at my phone (which is a lot!)
Thank You! Thank You!

This is a pic of Sista P and her comps and the Elders from their area serving at a local members funeral.  Notice that the girls are both wearing jackets.  Perhaps the AC feels too cold to their heat acclimatized bodies.

This next one is a pic of the Comps with their new mini missionary, Sister Taylor. They are shelling butter beans (I called them Lima beans.. *does some research*) Anyway, it was a first for the Utah girls and they were glad to serve.

Here is what this neat sister shared with the missionary moms: "I cut a watermelon so they could take half back to their apt. Sister Smith likes our Dill strips - pickles made in Mount Olive, NC. we were talking about how you guys [us Utah folks] are use to cream of wheat and we eat grits.  We have to make sure they try a few things like fried green tomatoes, and collards." "Collards are greens darker than cabbage."

She was asked what is put on grits, to which she replied,"you usually fry eggs sunny side up, which we call 'juicy' (when the white part is totally done and the yellow part runs if you put a fork in it.) on top to the grits. This sounds crazy describing it. "

What a fun adventure our girl is having!

Miracles and Protection

Lisa Says: We didn't get too much info about Sister Poulsen's companion today but in a letter to me she talked about how well prepared Sister Smith is for her mission, and how gung-ho she is to teach.   It is a little sad for them both that things are so slow as far as finding folks that want to be taught the gospel. Sis Smith sounds very excited to share her testimony. That is so great and I counselled that they should use that new enthusiasm to brainstorm for new finding ideas. Blessings will come to all. Keep praying for them!

Good morning Vietnam!
Brother H quoted that in ward council yesterday, it was so great! Thought I should just throw it in there.
Well, this week was full of wonderful miracles! The Lord was just testing us to see if we truly wanted it. We worked hard to show it, and He blessed us so much! And here's how :)
We were trying to contact a referral that ordered a bible. She was not home, so we were gonna just walk back to the car, but we decided to knock a few doors. The lady wasn't interested and we moved on. Sis Smith was still carrying that bible, and I just knew that we needed to give it to someone here. Someone needed it. So I remembered that experience I had with Brakey once, where we prayed and found this duded house through the spirit. So we prayed, and asked God who needed this bible. Then we just started walking down the street. Smith noticed a man on his porch so we jumped on the opportunity! We introduced our selves, and offered the bible. His name is A. He graciously took it! Then we asked if he would like to hear a message, and he also said yes! WAHOO! So we talked about the restoration of Christ gospel, and he loved it! He said he would be baptized, and we are going back soon to talk about the BofM! But that's not even the cool part. We told him we had prayed and were lead here to talk to him. Then he said "Yeah I saw you ladies walking, and then you came up to me. I really needed to hear that, so thank you." I love the spirit!
But the miracles don't stop there! We were able to contact 2 Less Actives that we have no information on, and we are going to visit them this week! We are excited about that, and hopefully we can help them out!
But here's the greatest one of all. We have been working with a part member family, the M's. Sweet family. The mom is a member but her 2 older girls and husband are not. Their little boy is 7. But missionaries have been working with them for a while. But in RS yesterday, Sister M walks up to us and asks "Are y'all available tonight at 7:30?" Of course we said yes! She then said "Okay, great. We just want to get things going I think. How many lessons are there?" I rambled through my already full brain and told her there were about 9 left that they need. She said "Okay, when you come over tonight we can schedule stuff because we just want to get things going with the girls. I don't know about my husband, but he's not holding them back." We were speechless. It was such a miracle to see how excited and determined Sister M was to help her daughters finally receive the ordinance of baptism! We walked around church the rest of the day just smiling! People kept commenting on how happy we looked. We were very very happy!! We unfortunately didn't actually see them last night though, Brother M wasn't feeling well, but we rescheduled for Thursday, so exciting!
So those were some of the amazing miracles we saw! Our scripture study class is still limping along, we are working on getting more consistent people there and hopefully that will spark interest around!
The W's moved a few houses down from their old one. And we actually didn't know they were moving till the elders called and said it was happening right then! So we finished up our lesson and jetted over there! We were still in our skirts though... so people tried to give us small, mundane tasks. Psh nah man, we carried heavy boxes and furniture and showed them up! Sister Power :) Everyone was quite impressed.
One more super cool thing. Stake conf is happening on Aug 20. Guess who will be coming??? Yeah... just an apostle. Which one you may ask? Oh, just Jeffery R. Holland. No big. :D Everyone is soooo excited! Our stake pres. is being switched around, so that's why he is visiting. But I'm afraid we won't even have any seats to sit at in the stake center! It will be a full house :)
Thought for the week: The spirit is the one that protects us. We had a few possibly dangerous experiences that we dodged because the spirit warned and protected us. One, I was driving up to a stop light, and had the impression to slow down sooner. Then next thing I know I was completely stopped, 10 feet before the line. I thought, "weird" and was about to pull forward when some crazy car just made a crazy turn and pulled right in front of us very much illegally! The spirit is the driver, not me! We were then walking down a street, feeling prompted to go to a certain house when we saw a few dudes on their porch. The situation didn't feel right. We both turned and walked away. So I am just grateful for the spirit. He warns us of danger and if we head it, we will be protected!
Well, I hope your week goes as great as ours did!  Have a blessed one :)
Love ya lots! Sista Poulsen

Bonus from the ?s email:
1) Did you get the package?
We got the package, thanks! It came at a great time too! We had just had a great experience teaching this random dude on the street, then we both came home to packages from our moms! I have yet to try it on, "ain't noby got time when you're a missionary." But I was planning on doing that today! I'll write ya a letter maybe or something.
2) It has been 93% humidity there this week.  How are you coping?
The heat actually isn't bad. It is the worst when your comp complains about it every 10 minutes though. I've tried to subtly say to stop, cuz when you complain it only makes it worse. But is didn't work. I am just used to the sweat. But we are inside the car most of the time, and I also think it's just a blessing from God that I'm not dying :)
3) How is the training and planning going this week?
Things went a little better this week. But we are getting a mini missionary this week. She's a sister from the Greenville ward (about 45 min away) and she will be with us till Sunday the 31. So yeah. I'm now training 2 people - and one hasn't even been to the MTC. So this week is going to possibly be a nightmare. But we'll see :)
4) How are you feeling as a missionary?  Give me the emotional scoop.
It was rough for a little while. I didn't feel like God was answering me. And that He wasn't even there and I was just fending for myself all alone in this big area with a new missionary. My prayers meant nothing to me really, and I just trudged through each day. But we had a lesson with someone last week and they mentioned that when they pray, they ask God for something, and then they don't try to do it themselves, but rely on his help as they are trying to accomplish the thing they are doing. That was an answer to prayer for sure. So I have been working on going out with God at my side. I have felt a greater presence of the spirit since then and my prayers are sincere, and I believe that someone really is listening to me now. So yeah, that's life right now :) But it is all good, and I'm learning lots! on Sunday, I was looking out at the congregation and felt great love for all of them.
Peace out, TTYL
Sista P

And from Justin's letter:
Q: I wondering about mission companion relationships is it like friendship or just like a co-worker thing?
A: It is a bit of both! We work together to teach the gospel yes, but we are also with each other literally 24/7 so we have to be friends. So it is both :) Me and Sister Smith get along quite well! So we have fun :)

And from Stacie's Hyde Park Firework Report:
Q:How's your Companion?
A: I miss the fireworks :( I won't see them for 2 years I just realized... you'll have to film it or something next year for me to see!
Things are good! Training is great! She's got this missionary thing down. But we are having a member from another ward come up and spend a week with us this week and try out missionary life. So I'll be training 2 basically. I've got twins! Haha but yeah. That's gonna be a stress, but all things are possible with God :)

Small World

Lisa Says: There is a family in Hyde Park that we love: The Yorgasons.  One son, Dallas (a good friend of Stacie's) and his wife are "Back East" working door-to-door sales for the summer.  Sister P and her comp walked into a frozen yogurt store and ran into them out of the blue.  Dallas's mom knew that they were in North Carolina but it is a big ol state and didn't think to tell Dallas to watch out for our girl.  What are the chances that they would have run into each other?
Here is the note Sister P. sent about it:

PS I almost forgot...
I SAW DALLAS YORGASON!!!
It was crazy! I was so awk as I was like, "um, hey, oh hi. yeah um I'm Stacie Poulsen's sister so... yeah."  He eventually recognized me, but MAN it was cray to see him! He and his wife were selling pest control.
SMALL WORLD!!

And the Rain Came a Tumblin' Down

Hello there!
This week was an odd one for sure! With transfers and such, schedules got changed up and things popped up unexpectedly, so a very unusual start to Sister Smiths mission! She is just amazing! She is already great at talking to people, and it doing well with these southern folks and their talking! She came at a bad time with the weather though. We are getting into the warmest part of summer so... I am seriously considering cutting my hair. Not really cuz it's hot, but because it is just annoying, and I'm ready for something new! It will also be easier to do. What do y'all think?!?!
We had one last hoot n' nanny as a send off for sister Steifeldt. Brother B brought his cello and played the bass line for us, it was soooo cool and beautiful! Hope we can do another one soon!
Sister Steinfeldt wanted to get adjusted by Brother T [a chiropractor in their ward that gives the missionaries free adjustments] at his clinic one last time, so we went there Monday. Seeing him tweak and push on her back made me a little more scared to do it! But I think if would feel great too. So that's something else fun and exciting I may try!
So, Wednesday was the big day. We got up there and waited for a while for pres. weed to come out and have a trainers meeting with us. As we were waiting, Elders Carr, Davis, Hansen and Giles all walked in! It was so good to see them!! Carr and Davis are training, Giles is here in Rocky Mount, and Hansen went to our neighboring zone. So things are getting switched up around here! But it's all good :) The training meeting was good. Lots of good advice on what to do, and what not to do. Then we went in and met our trainees! They called us one by and one and told us who we would be with. It was kinda awk doing it in front of everyone, but sweet too! Then we did a quick role play and more advice, and we were off! Laura drove us (thank goodness for her!) And we were back home!
I didn't have a lot planned for the day, so I was worried about that. I wanted to have a full first day for Sister Smith, but it just didn't work out like that! But God is good, and the day was actually packed! We went to the H’a and role played a lesson we would be teaching later in the day. That was helpful for Sis Smith I think, and the lesson late went well! Then we went to dinner with the A’s which is always a treat! They are a pack of southerness, but I love them to death! Then we actually picked up a new investigator! So that was something cool, miracles abound! We slept well that night :)
Thursday we had our first scripture study class, it was great! Only 4 active members showed up, but we had a great discussion on the first article of faith and learned a few things! Then we had cookies (that we baked) afterwards! They kinda got all stuck together though, so it was hard for peeps to peel them off, but good times :)
There was a crazy storm too! We were eating at the T’s and the thunder was so loud, you could feel it! Then the sheets of rain came down and it was so thick you could barely see the trees in the distance!
The next day there was another storm too! We actually got a flash flood warning on our phone! And we were supposed to be going to a dinner app! So we started heading over, and the rain descended. I could not drive anymore, and water was filling the streets, so I looked for a place to pull off. Up in the distance I saw a glowing sign that said "Cornerstone Baptists Church." Praise the Lord! We pulled into their parking lot which was up on a hill and out of the water and called the B’s to  have them pick us up. They had a big car, so there's could withstand the rain. So that was quite the adventure! Even though that church isn't the true church, I was still very grateful for it and I'm sure God was watching out for us.
I hit my 5 month mark yesterday... It feels like it's been years. But people keep telling me when I hit 6 months, it will fly! We'll see about that :) But we are gonna go celebrate today by introducing Sister Smith to  Sheetz and buying me this delicious looking peanut butter doughnut... it has been calling my name!
Thought for the week: Our District Leader asked us to read in the back of our Gospel of Jesus Christ pamphlet and do the additional scripture study. One of the questions was "What is the gospel" The references it took us to was 3 Nephi 27:13-22. It said something along these lines; The gospel is THE way, not A way, to live a happy life and live on into an eternal one. It is the way to find our purpose in this life. It is a way to be free of guilt and find peace. It just laid it out so simply for me, and that is all the gospel is. It is simple. With diving back into 12 week [training lessons], I'm being forced to look back upon the basics. One of the questions it asks us missionaries is "Do you show those you are teaching how to develop faith in Jesus Christ?" I have really pondered that, and I could use some improvement! That is our whole purpose. To help people find faith in Christ. I'm excited to train, because It is kind of like I'm being re trained again! Let's see what God would have us learn :)
This upcoming week has got a lot going on, but being busy is good! I hope y'all have another great summer week, don't let it fly by too fast!
Love y'all lots! Have a blessed week
Sista Poulsen

Questions email bonus:
It was a crazy week! We are way low on miles right now, so we have been trying to work around that. But we didn't do any of the 1 week 12 week training last week cuz things were just not going as planned. #Worsttrainerever But Sister Smith is wonderful! Way more confident and out there than I was as a greenie! And she isn't home sick at all, which is good cuz we wouldn't want 2 cry babies in the house, but there is still one :P

The Original Nashville

Lisa says:  So apparently there is a "super cute little town" called Nashville, North Carolina about 12 miles from where Sister Poulsen is in Rocky Mount.  This one is the "Original" Nashville.  Accept no substitutes!! I googled this sign then I told our favorite missionary that she needs a pic of herself next to it... just to prove that she has been to Nashville! 

She let me know that "it's pronounced Nashvul :) "

This is the picture that I did get of the "Jesus sign in downtown Nashville."  I think that it is neat and shows the people and main street of the town in the Lord's hands - not going over 20 mph, of course.

The Lord Must Trust Me or Something

Hello from the South side! Get it? I was trying to be Adele... kinda corny hu :)
Hello from the South side! Get it? I was trying to be Adele... kinda corny hu :)

Anyways, cooleo week! Hope y'all had a wonderful wonderful 4th of July celebration! We had a non eventful, but fun filled night! We bought 2 watermelons, a bag of pretzels, and mallows and had a party! We roasted our pretzel mallows over our fake fire, and cut our watermelons in half and ate them with spoons. Super yummy! The elders were judging us hard core, but we were nice and full :) Then we drove and parked next to Engelwood Baptist Church and watched their firework show, pretty fun!

Pretend Paper Fire

We had a super awesome service project Saturday helping out the boys and girls club! They were fixing up the old building and hoping to start up the organization again! We scraped pain off of windows so they could repaint, and swept and dusted the gym area so that would look nice! The next step is painting and touch ups, so we will be going back! But all the people were just so nice, and super genuine! They appreciated our help, and I think it made a stir in the community about missionaries, wahoo! But we are excited to go back and help!

There was a super crazy storm the other night! We were driving to a lesson, and all the sudden this huge black cloud comes tearing across the sky, black and ominous. It was swirling too... we thought it was a tornado! it wasn't green though, so we weren't too worries, but then the leaves and branches started to be torn off the trees, we booked it to her house! We got there and she opens the door and yells "hurry!!" We scrambled inside and slam the door behind us. The sky then opens up and rain just pores down! Thankfully it wasn't a hurricane or tornado, just a severe thunder storm. But it was super cool and scary all at the same time!

Super Cool and Scary Storm

We were in a lesson and we decided to open up to a random scrip in the BofM and apply it to ourselves. I opened to mine... and it straight up told me I needed to write in my journal. I felt quite chastised! I hadn't been writing in it cuz we were getting in so late and planning so long so there was no time. So the next day I took time out and wrote my week down! I will try to stay on top of it now, because it is apparently important!

We had a super cool lesson on faith with the M family. They may take a while to get to baptism, but we can just testify and teach them as they come to know for themselves! Which is good too, because it is way more important to be baptized when you know it's true rather than pressure.

You are all probably dying to know about transfers... it wasn't anything too exciting... [this is sarcasm, I think] Just the fact that Sister Steinfeldt is leaving me to take over the area (reminder I have only been here for 6 weeks) and going to Glostner VA. And on top of that... President Weed has asked me to train a new missionary... no pressure!! I am super super nervous, and I pray that I can be good enough to get her on her feet! I was reading in D&C and I found a scrip that was perfect for me! God was talking to Oliver about being strong. And He said something along the lines of "I will be your arm, and there is no need to fear because I have called you to this work and you are prepared." So I will just trust that God is near me, and let him be the trainer, not me!

Thought for the week: This comes from 3 Nephi 13:33-34. Christ was promising the people that God will provide you with everything you need to get through this life. He asks us not to worry, because He's got this! All we need to do it take things one step at a time, line upon line, precept upon precept. The one person we can trust perfectly is our Heavenly Father. So trust and have faith that He is there, and He always will be.

I am excited to meet my greenie, and I can't wait to introduce her to y'all! Lots of prayers for her... and me too!
Hope y'all have a blessed week, keep having lots of fun in the sun!

Love, Sista Poulsen

What is with her traffic obsession?

Happy Birthday America!

Good morning!

How is everyone doing? Seems like another long week without writing to you guys, Thursday was a dragggggggg. We were low on miles, so we stayed in pretty much all day. But we had to walk to the store real fast, which turned out being super inspired! I grabbed a few pass along cards before we left. As we were walking, we were handing them to people saying "Here's a picture of Jesus we know you'll love!" Or "Call this number for a free bible!" Then we met V. Super cool, and nice. He said he was Catholic but that there aren't any Catholic churches around here so it's hard for him to go to church. It was a perfect lead, to point around the corner and say "Our church is just around the corner if you ever want to visit!" We also said "We also have a Catholic that visits our church as well!" He was very interested after that! We gave him the address and our number. The sad part of the story is that we did not see him at church, but it was still fun to talk to him, as well as, a bunch of other people and give them the chance to "hear the word!" as the black people say :)

President Weed and Sister Weed have arrived! They are both so sweet, and very spiritual! But they are also super nervous! They expressed how overwhelmed they felt, and that they were scared. But that they feel humbled, and the the Lord has been blessing them! We are going to go to a big service project with him and 18 other missionaries on Saturday, so that will be lots of fun!

Have y'all seen the new broken vessel video from Elder Holland? It's great! We have been sharing that with people, along with Mormon 5:18 and talking about how we can repair our broken vessels. So here's my challenge for you this week, search this in your studies and come back with ways to repair broken vessels - Both in ourselves, and in others!

We had a great exchange on Wednesday! Sister Olesen and Hermana Coombs came with me to Rocky Mount! Which was crazy because I don't know the area very well! But we got a lot done! We taught M, who is stubborn and just wanted us to visit but not give her anything or ask her to be baptized. But the sisters were like "If that's her thoughts, then you probably shouldn't teach her anymore." Which I agree on. So we went in there, thinking that we were gonna have to drop her. But she accepted a Book of Mormon, said she'd read it, and said she would be baptized if she came to know it was true! Wahooo! That was a huge step! Now we just have to stay on her reading and such! We saw our recent convert, B, who is moving soon :( But it'll be good for him. He needs some new scenery. But we taught a lot more lessons that day too, which was fabulous! Got a lot of good work done :)

Our amazing investigator, K, is amazing! Oh sorry, I already said that. But he really is!! He totally gets the apostasy, which is hard for most people to understand! And he is loving the message! We are going to try to set him with a date this week, and he will be on the road for eternal life! His sweet little girl was climbing all over me during the lesson though. Pretty distracting. But the spirit was still there! We were both crying, and he said "I am not gonna cry in front of y'all, cuz then we would all look like a bunch of cry babies. But I'm crying on the inside."  So cool.

We had to drop our other investigator K though. She just said she "didn't want to mix up teachings and that she needed more time." Kind of a bummer. But maybe we could try again later in the year. Satan is working hard on people here. Like the M family too. But we will hopefully have a lesson with them this week, and ask them why they haven't been baptized yet! It's gonna be good.

Thought for the week: Happy Birthday America!! How blessed we are to live in a country where we can live freely and peaceably! This place was called "The promise land" for a reason. Lehi led his family there so they could be free, and that still stands strong today! Alma 46:35-36. Moroni lead his people in freedom and love! And that's the spirit we should all have! God bless America, land that I love!

Transfer calls are this week... I know, it feels like they just happened! And Sister Brakey is leaving?!?! Gonna be weird not having my mama in the mission anymore! But she is ready and willing for her next stage in life! So excited for her :)  So hopefully I don't get left in this area alone... cuz it's HUGE! And Elder Hyman is taking over cuz Elder Haddock is dying*, so we would both just be like headless chickens, running around doing who knows what! But Pres. Weed is going to be lead by the spirit, and I will do what He commands!

Have a super blessed week this week! Love you all lots and lots!!

Love, Sista Poulsen

*[this is missionary code for heading back home from the mission – they have moms and dads (mission trainers) that teach “greenies” about being a missionary when they are “born” into the field.  It is a mission “life”, as a metaphor, I suppose.]

Bonus tidbits from the questions email:

Have you seen lightning bugs/fireflies yet?

Oh yeah, we totally caught some a few weeks ago! The pics are horrible though, cuz it was all dark. They are super slow and easy to catch, so hopefully you can see them! 

Have you met the new Mission President yet?

YES! We had a meet the president meeting on Friday. They are very sweet! Super overwhelmed though. And we had to personally call him yesterday about a specific question we had. Poor guy, he's so overloaded! But he appreciated us understanding their slow learning! Lots of prayers their way please! 

Do the spray/mister bottles I sent help to beat the heat?

We LOVE those bottles! We were listening to some music, and spraying the bottles to the tune, it was very funny! 

Also a chastisement:

Okay... so you posted that pic of our district with the wizard wands on facebook?!?! So many people have seen it! We heard from the secretary in the mission office! The mission pres. has probs seen it! Man, he must think we are crazy. 

About the member photos that were texted to us this week:

How did you like the pics from Sis A? She had no idea how to do it, so we helped her out. It was weird to use an iphone!