Smells Like Spring

So it smells like spring, looks like summer, feels like fall, but yet it's winter... welcome to Virginia!

Not too much has gone on this week though. Just work work work! V (blind friend) gets all upset at us sometimes. It's like 7pm and she says "now go home and rest your bodies" And we say "we've got 2 more hours!" She gets all huffy and mad at us, but we just give her a hug and all is well :)

On Monday we went to a Less-active brothers house and the elders and a few members gave him a blessing for his upcoming double knee replacement. It was a great visit, and the spirit was present. Sure love being a part of stuff like this. The priesthood is so real guys. You can just feel it when it is manifest :)

Then on Tuesday, we helped good ol' downtown D & S pass out papers and a survey to ALL of downtown! Yup all 85 businesses! Some of them were closed, some moved, and just some we could not find! But we got most of them, and met a lot of nice people! We would walk in, and they would look us up and down and say, "Can I help you?" As soon as we told them we were volunteers for the downtown association, they perked right up and we left on a lovely note! Good ol' southerners!

The elder's investigator got baptized on Saturday! What a sweet experience! He looked super happy, and the spirit was truly there! After he was confirmed on Sunday, he truly glowed with the spirit!

The ward dinner was a big success! There was lots of chili, too many dishes of it to try! But all were delicious, and everyone seemed to have a great time! We even got V to come! We had her in her wheelchair and tried to explain things to her because she can't see. She seemed to enjoy herself! Other non-members came as well, including L's family! What a treat :)

We also helped a less active sister move into her new home. Poor thing she was so stressed out about it. But we got to work and she seemed much better by the end of it!

We are working with members a bunch too! They take us to see people. One sister even made cookies for someone! So sweet! Members are the best :)

This week we had a serious talk with D and told him we would not meet with him for 2 weeks and give him time to read and pray about the message. If he is truly ready for this, he will do it. This is something we do with people sometimes. They kind of get a chance to see for themselves, and not have us tell them or influence them in anyway. We'll see what he has concluded in 2 weeks!

Other than that there has not been a lot of people to teach. We are working with less-active members a lot and trying to find new people to share the gospel with! I have been praying to find a family, and trying to listen to the spirit to tell us where we need to be. I have felt the spirit in more abundance this week, and my prayers have been more sincere. God truly sees our effort and I know he is going to help us out!

Thought for the week: Something cool we do each day is send a "Scripture of the day" text.  A few days this week, people have mentioned how our scripture was an answer to prayer of just what they needed. It is cool to see how the Holy Spirit works in such small means! And that is exactly what I have been reading about in my Book of Mormon studies! Alma is talking to his sons, and he tells them how the Lord works with the children of men. He warns them not to be caught in the wiles of Satan and be blown in the wind. But be firm in your belief in Christ and be patient and look at the little things. God is truly in the details. He does not speak loud... but in a still small voice.

Sure love y'all bunches and bunches!!! Have a blessed week!
Sista Poulsen     XOXOXO

Bonus from the Question email:

I have been reading in the Book of Mormon a lot about how Alma wants to be an angel and proclaim that word to everyone! But he humbles himself and says that whatever God calls me to do it my duty and that is all He expects. We each  have a puzzle piece to put in the picture. Just one. I truly believe every missionary has their very own purpose on their mission. As long as they pray for the direction and follow it, they have been 100% successful. That has really kept me going this last bit here. I feel that it was an answer to prayer. I was struggling with not doing EVERYTHING that I was "supposed to do" But I was looking at it all wrong. Follow the spirit day to day, and that is what you are supposed to do. My favorite line is "Don't be the missionary you want to be. Be the missionary God wants you to be." Yup THE END 

[ Alma chapter 29:  " O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God..."

I just have one more thing. We heard a really neat story about a man named Arnold Williams. He was in an airplane crash and did an incredibly heroic thing. See if you can find the story.

[ Here is the Arnold Williams story: The Man in the Water  ]

Photos: Spring blooms and swampy swamps

Week of Rad

This week was full of rad!

We made some Valentines Day cookies and delivered them to people we felt inspired to - both member and non-member. It was wonderful! We did not have a rolling pin though, so we had to use our brains and use a PAM cooking spray bottle... it was quite the adventure. And this lady from the apartment complex came during our big mess to inspect our apartment... don't worry we gave her a cookie :)

We did some service for a LA member, she needed help just clearing out a closet. And then, come to find out, her daughter needs help moving! So, we volunteered the church members and we will be helping out on Saturday! Along with the elders baptism in the morning, and the ward dinner in the evening... should be a good day!

Exchanges were this week! I was with Sister Weibye in Great Bridge, it was so fun! Poor sister Weibye though, she has only been in the area for a week and a half and she had to take over! She did a super good job, and we just rolled with the flow. We were trying to find this ranch in the dark... and the GPS was not taking us to it. But after a phone call or two, we found it! It was sooo cool! They had like 45 horses, a mini donkey, a turkey, wild roaming sheep and a goat... Sister Weibye loves goats so it was a dream come true! Then we went in and had pizza and a lesson... was rad. Another fun adventure, we passed a house we were trying to get to so I just pulled off onto this side road thinking I could just turn around... again it was dark and I could not see. So I turn, and realize I am on an on ramp... oops. So I just think it will be easy to find an exit.... but a sign suddenly appeared that said "toll. 1/2 mile ahead." AHHH I tried to stop to see if I could turn around and another sign said "No Stopping" Wow. The signs were not helping. So we just had to go on through the toll and pay a $3 fee. It is kinda cool I guess to say I payed toll! But never again...

There was a great miracle on exchanges though. We were trying to find this T lady they had an appointment with. Sister Weibye did not have the address. So we ended up not going and just clicked on a random address that was in the GPS and went by faith. We got the the house, no answer. Well the Lord had put us there for a reason, so we knocked another door. She was so sweet and let us right in. And guess what... her name was T! WOW We set  up a time to go see her again, and she said the sweetest prayer to help us on our way. It was so cool.

While I was away, the sisters taught D about family history, sounded like he really enjoyed it!

This Sunday was ward conference, it was wonderful! We had some great classed and counselled from out stake leaders! It was cool to be with them in ward council as well. They are called of God, you can just feel it.

Thought from the week: It comes from the stake president here. He said "Salvation isn't in any program. Salvation is in the Lord Jesus Christ." Yes the church has wonderful programs, but ultimately only The Savior and His grace bring us to salvation. It was a good reminder not to get caught in the details and things and focus on the Son of God for salvation and support.

Sure love y'all a ton!!!!! Have a blessed week, I will try to send some of this nice weather your way!!
Sista Poulsen

[Bonus from Questions Email:
Q: Did you make the Sour Cream Cookies for Valentine's Day?
A: Yup sour cream all the way! I had accidentally bought sour cream instead of cottage cheese... so we had the great idea to use it up! #inspiredmistake

Q: So, how are you spending your extra time with the new P-day schedule?
A: We go shopping earlier or do yoga with this lady we are teaching or go downtown and shop at the cute stores and stuff. But we also just hang too and sleep and clean our apt... We did some fun little things this morning.... we went and brushed and hung out with a member's horses! Twas fun. Pics to come :)

Q: I love pics of your district from 2 weeks ago.  Do you get to see them often or are you too spread out like in Rocky Mount?
A: YES!! Such a good time. We go with exchanges with our sister training leaders (not in the pic) once every 6 weeks. We did that this week so I'll talk about that in my weekly. It's pretty fun! We see our district on a weekly basis, every Friday.
 ]

One Year Mark

What a week y'all!

So first miracle. We went to an appointment we had set up a few days earlier. They were not home. So we were going to try the head quarter referral that lived near. We had tried to contact her before with no response. We got there and there were a bunch of moving trucks and stuff, WHAT? So we found the lady and she said she was moving out, that day! She said "this is the only day I have been home in like forever, and this is the last day I was going to be here! WOAH! So we gave her her bible and she didn't have time to talk, but she appreciated it. It was just cool to see how The Lord puts you in the right places at the right times :)

It was [fav member] L's birthday on Tuesday, so we had a birthday lunch with her! Unfortunately her Applebee's sandwich was not as good as she had hoped, but we brought her her favorite ice cream to make up for it :)

Then we headed to a members to help her clean her house up a bit! She still had some boxes to unpack from moving so we did that for her. Then she gave us this couch she didn't want, so it was a plus for both of us! Service is just the bomb :)

Another great thing! We met with a less active that I have never really sat down and talked to before. She was super sweet, and we were telling her about all the ward activities coming up, she was super excited! We were telling her about mutual for her kids and stuff like that. She just lit up and said she would try to come! AWE I just loved it. Helping people come back to the fold of God one step at a time. Helping people is all we do, and I love it!

WE also found a new investigator, J!  His sister ordered a bible. So we went to deliver it. But she was not there, so we gave it to him, as well as the book or Mormon! He accepted both, and said he would read it! What is cool about this guy is that he has no legs. But he is always outside, and waves/smiles at everyone! He also told us he has a bad habit of smoking, and he wants to stop. So I just straight up told him if he read the book or Mormon, he would, through the help of God, be able to stop smoking. It was a powerful experience. We are excited to keep meeting with him!

On Saturday, we helped V [older blind lady] clean her house a bit! Then she said "Hey girls, want some pizza?" YEA! So we went and got us a pizza. It was delicious. Then V told us that she had some bad bread to feed the birds. So we went outside on the porch and threw bread for the birds. She was so adorable! She ripped up a piece so fast she looked at us and said "see how fast I am?!?" HAHA she is the best

The weather sure had been odd lately! It was basically 70 on Sunday! WOW But I am wearing a jacket this morning... I don't get it. This week we hear is gonna be cold... we'll see what mother nature cooks up!

We also gave talks on Sunday! All 4 of us missionaries! We were asked to speak on charity and love and how it effects the missionary work! It was pretty good, I guess! I was nervous at first, but then I got over it, and it was great to get up there! I talked about how repentance it love, and as missionaries that is what we do is teach repentance! So really all we do is love :)

Other then that we have just been working hard to spread the word! The Lord is blessing us in little ways, God is good y'all!

Thought for the week:

 "Kindness is the power that God has given us to unlock hard hearts and subdue stubborn souls."  - Elder Robbins.

Since this week is the week of Love, I though this was good because it talked about softening hard hearts. That is all we do as missionaries is try to help people come to understand the true gospel of Jesus Christ, and therefore there hearts will become soft and they can spread that love to others. It is just a big circle of love! It's great. So be kind to some one this week, and they will be kind to another, and them another, and we will make a big circle of love :)

Oh I almost forgot... I will hit my YEAR MARK THIS WEEK!?!?! :O Man I can't believe it. I mentioned in my talk on Sunday how I was speaking at this same time last year. It really threw me back! I read the talk I gave, and I was able to think of how I think now as opposed to then. It wasn't too different. But it is true that you see things in a different light as a missionary. SOO yeah.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY Y'ALL!! Hope it is full of CHRIST LIKE love :) He loves you more than you comprehend. I know it.

LOVE  YOU ALL TOO MORE THAN YOU KNOW!!
Sista Poulsen

A Simple Testimony

Hellooooo!
So some exciting news this week... THE ELDERS ARE GETTING A CAR!!! WOW It has been super crazy hard to coordinate the car with them... and yeah. We will stop there. We are just feeling quite blessed :) Our feet have about had it with the walking...

[Lisa says: remember that with Tara's foot problems that it was good that this is typically a driving mission - the elder's car accident just has derailed that for a few months and had these sisters sharing a car with them and walking or biking part time. This is was difficult in this rural area with their contacts being so far away from each other.  It has been a blessing because they have been able to meet more people doing street contacting and walking in their neighborhoods more.]

Also, transfers! We are both STAYING!!! Wahooo Franklin for 6 months! And this transfer has an extra week actually so 6 months and a week! HA let's see what the next 7 weeks brings!

We sure were working hard this week, and The Lord truly blessed us! We had a solid lesson with D, sorta. He had just woken up so he was super out of it... but we just told him our purpose and kind of determined if he was serious or not. It was good, we are still praying about it but we are getting there!

We didn't get to meet with R [10 yr old]  this week, But we will see him this Wednesday! At church yesterday, he had a little name tag that said "Missionary in training!" AWE it was sooo cute! We will have to get a pic for sure :)

We traveled down to the far reaches of NC to visit a less active member with the Ws. They are such a sweet couple :) He just kept telling us how he fell in love the first time he saw his wife #precious. But this less active member totally wants to come, he just needs a ride! He also has health problems, so it will be a week by week thing. But it was great to meet with him and re kindle his flame of the gospel.

Met a super cool guy on the street named K! We stopped and started talking to him, and he was all, "Wow, I just feel the spirit when I see people like y'all spreading the word!" Then he even started to get emotional and told us about how Christ helped him back out of some hard times. Then he was all,  "Do  you have a card or something?" We both, shocked, fumbled around to find a card and we told him we would be in contact! WOW it was great! He loved our names too, everyone does :) [meaning that they rhyme - Sister Poulsen and Sister Olsen]

Then more blessings on Sunday! We were going to deliver a bible, but was unable to find the address. So we just started knocking. One girl was nice and sent us on our way with a smile. Then next door let us right in! We stood there and talked for a bit! They had just moved in, so we told them they could call us any time they needed help and they appreciated it so much! The man just kept saying "I love missionaries, out working in the vineyard!" HA it was awesome! Then we walked a bit more down the street and knocked on a potential who I thought was a woman named  Mary. But Mi. opened the door. She was sooo sweet and just so happy to talk to us! She talked about how she was an alcoholic 10 years ago, but through her brothers death and the "grace of God" she got sober and has had a great relationship with Christ ever since! We gave her a Book of Mormon and set up a time to come talk to her about it later!

On a side note, while we were talking to her, they had the superbowl on and I saw Atlanta score their first touchdown!!!! WAHOOO! God put us there just at the right time ;) HA it was a score for the Falcons and the spirit! [remember that Tara has been a falcon fan for years and was sad to not be able to see her team in the big game this year.]

Then before going in for the night to eat dinner, we tried one more referral. She had ordered a Bible and a Book or Mormon. Now, when we tried to stop by a few days earlier, she had opened the door and closed it and did not open it when we knocked. So I was less than expecting her to answer. But, as we were walking up to the door, she opened it and we quickly said hello and we introduced our selves! We told her we were here to deliver her items! She let us right in, and seemed to be touched by the message of the Book or Mormon! We are seeing her again Thursday! WOW it is crazy how nothing can happen for weeks... and then BOOM! #blessed

We had a wonderful testimony meeting yesterday, and that is where my thought from the week comes. It is from Elder Cook. It says "Our testimonies of [Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ] need to remain pure and simple." A member of the ward got up and bore a strong, but super simple testimony. Now context, he is in the Navy and he interrogates people for a living. Let's just say if you didn't know him, you would not look at him wrong in fear of him breaking your arm. But he got up and just simply said "I know that this church is true." And with tears in his eyes he expressed gratitude for it and how it has helped him out of a dark place he was in. Then he sat down. But I don't think there was a dry eye in the room. It was amazing. And it hit me that I have a testimony, but it is so wide that it isn't pure and simple as elder cook says it should be. So I am going to focus more on strengthening my testimony in the Savior and Heavenly Father. And I know as I do that, that all the other principles will fall into place.

[watch above or read Elder Cook's talk here]

Have a very blessed week y'all, LOVE YA!!!
Sista Poulsen

[bonus from Question email:
Q: We have heard about the neat changes to missionary schedules but I have been reading about other parts of that training day.  What did you learn there that will help you to be a better missionary?
A: WOW that is a deep question. Basically what I have seen change the most is that with not counting lessons anymore, I don't feel that I need to push a conversation into a lesson and I can just be a normal human and have a conversation with another person and not force anything. I mean we need to teach the message of the restoration always but that I am not focusing on the numbers anymore and just truly on the people and what the spirit is telling me. That has been super awesome and a big help for me. ]