Cinderella Week

What a perfect last week to end on... God is so good and He provided exactly what I needed for my last week in the mission field. We were super busy going to and from appointments, as well as serving at every opportunity and continuing to meet great people! The Spirit

One exciting thing, we went on exchanges with the Hermanas! I was in their area, so I awkwardly stood there while she taught the restoration is Spanish. It was really neat though because the spirit was just as strong. We all understand the language of the spirit. And I felt 100% about my missionary purpose. We were teaching and testifying of Jesus Christ, and that is what matters.

I call this week "Cinderella week" because so many houses we went into needed some help cleaning up in some way! It was great to serve people at the drop of a hat! God placed us right where we needed to be.

We had S at the bishop's house for dinner! It was a great experience! They had some powerhouse testimonies of the plan of salvation! And it was cool to see bishop in his role as a father of a 3 and 6 year old. Pretty cool how God calls ordinary men (and women) to do extraordinary things.

Had my last District Meeting... and the Weed's came!! They always pick a random one to go to every week, and they chose us! So fun to have them there!

The youth over the weekend read the BofM in 2 days?!?!? Crazy! So on Sunday they all bore their testimonies of the spirit they felt. We popped in Saturday and read a little of Ether with them. The spirit in that building was truly powerful.

Well, I guess this is it. The last one as Sister Poulsen. It has been an absolute honor and privilege to serve my God for these 18 months. I can never repay Him for all the experiences I have had, the INCREDIBLE people I have met, and the great change that has taken place in my heart. I have truly come to begin to understand who God wants me to become. I came on a mission for selfish reasons. To go to another state/country. To possibly speak another language. To increase my testimony. Oh how wrong I was! As I have learned to surrender my will to God's, He had shaped me. I promise that is y'all want to find yourself or build yourself up, the key is to forget about yourself. Loose yourself in the service of others, and that is truly when you come to find yourself.

I know that God is real. That He hears and answers your prayers. I know that He inspired men to write the Book of Mormon. That book has brought me closer to Jesus Christ than any other book. It is true, and as we read it each day, we will be able to withstand the temptations of the devil and the trials that we all face. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet and restored Christ's church to the earth. Thomas S. Monson leads and guides this church today. And I know that Jesus Christ lives. He is so aware of us. He is with us every step of the way as we turn to Him, and exercise "a particle of Faith." He is the one that can and will save us from our sins as we come unto Him. "Come unto Christ, and be perfected in Him."

Thought for the week: In the song "Lord I would follow thee" Verse 4 reads

Savior, may I learn to love thee,
Walk the path that thou hast shown,
Pause to help and lift another,
Finding strength beyond my own.
Savior, may I learn to love thee—
Lord, I would follow thee.

As this song pleads, it is us singing to Christ to ask Him to help us come closer to Him. I desire to draw closer to Him each day. This song teaches us that we can learn to love Christ by loving others. That as you strive to be in others service, your love for The Savior will increase. I have see that so strong on my mission!

Thank you all for your support and love over this long, amazing journey! Each of you is special in God's eyes, and He loves you and blesses you for all you do!
I love Virginia. The trees will be missed :)
Be blessed y'all
See ya in 2
Sista Poulsen

Looking to the Last Week

Another week in the mission field... one more to go *bites nails* WHAT EVEN

Anyway let's not think about that...

Our investigator on date is doing  SOOOO well! She is amazing. She has a hard time remembering things so when we read we read slow, and have to explain things many times. BUT this last week we went over and she had read 3 chapters from the Book of Mormon and remembered ALL OF IT :0 That is HUGE for her!! She was even understanding all the symbolism in the vision of the tree of life! AHHHH I love the Book of Mormon! I testify of it's reality and power, it's amazing. This book will truly bring someone closer to God than any other book.

We had interviews with President and Sister Weed. It was my departing interview, so he gave me a lot of council and advice on life ahead. He asked about my goals and plans. Good thing "My Plan" helped me figure all that out! I love them though. I will miss them terribly.

We picked up a few new investigators as well! One is an unbaptized youth of a less active/ returning family! She is 10, and we are preparing her for baptism! We are so excited to be bringing the light of the gospel into their home! The bishop is working with them really hard too so they are going to come back strong I can feel it! Another girl was a referral from the elders. They were at Cafe Rio and she noticed how nicely they were dressed and made a comment. They jumped on the opportunity and started talking about what we do! She said she has been looking for a church and was more than happy to have us come over!  We taught her and she is amazing! She is super open, and has such a close relationship with God. She is so excited to receive a Book of Mormon. I am so excited to give her one!!

This girl and another one we taught had some simple questions about some pure doctrine. I loved simply explaining, and testifying of those things. Such as what is the Holy Spirit? Who is Joseph Smith? Etc. I am always nervous before I start - I don't want to teach false doctrine! But in the end the Spirit just takes over, puts words in my mouth, and fills the room with the spirit of truth. It is my favorite setting to be in.

One night we had some plans to visit a few people, but we both felt impressed to go to a members home. We showed up, and this member, who is in her late 60's, was mowing her lawn!! So we jumped right out and finished up for her! She was so thankful, and even said "God truly sent you tonight girls" *gives the Spirit a high five*

Saturday morning we went and cleaned up the chapel with the relief society. It was a great de-stresser, as well as it was so wonderful to make this sacred place nice and beautiful. In ward council we talked about how people are mistreating the chapel. They are not seeing it for the sacred thing that it is. It just reminded me truly how sacred and holy that place is. It is the place we partake of the emblems of Christ's body. The table is a symbol of his tomb. We should treat that room as such.

My thought for the week comes from a sign on the wall of a members home. "Someday is not a day of the week." Straight up. With being so into goal setting and keeping lately, I loved this quote. And then I had this thought. This is totally one of God's favorite quotes too. Elder Eyring even said "There is danger in the word someday." God whole purpose in this life is to help up progress. When procrastination steps in, it halts our progression, hence halts our progression to our eternal salvation... WOAH. So how do we progress? In Alma 34, Amulek testifies of the importance of Faith UNTO repentance. Faith in Christ comes first. Then after we truly believe Him to be the Son of God and believe in His redeeming power, that motivates us to want to change, aka repent. So when we do those things, that helps us change to who God wants us to become, and then we begin to progress to our eternal goal. Faith and Repentance is the key for eternal happiness.

It has been an incredible honor to serve as a full time missionary. I still have one week to go. I will do no more and no less that what The Lord expects of me right here, right now. As someone told me lately, where you are right now is exactly where God would have you be.

Love you all so very much! I am excited to see you, but you'll have to give me one more week! "Called to serve Him, Heavenly King of Glory!"
Be blessed
Sista Poulsen

Photos: The L's took us to Norfolk to see the ship yard... largest in the US I believe.... sooo cool!!!,
mowing that lawn,and colonial Williamsburg, another fun sister sunrise.

We Go To the Hospital (Don't Worry)

Aloha!

Another whirlwind week! This Monday the bishop's wife took us to the Virginia Living Museum! It was full of Virginia native wildlife and trees and such. Super cool! You know me and animals :) We took plenty of pictures to capture the magic of the beauty of Virginia!

This week was also full of random acts of service. We walked out of a complex and saw some lady struggling with a big box, walking her dog, and trying to talk on the phone at the same time. Talk about multitasking... so we jumped right in! She was grateful and we sent her on her way with a smile :) Another thing the same night was a member needed some help ASAP and we happened to be super close to her area so we went right over and helped her out a ton! God is just perfect at putting us in the right places at the right time... want more examples? Here they come.

We had planned to visit a less active member. We were in another area and we were deciding whether to stay and do a little more work in that area or go see the less active. They came to my mind strongly so we headed over there. Turns out they were having some issues with their printer! They did not know how to put the ink in, so I showed them how to do it! (thanks mom and dad for teaching me how to do that or I would have been stumped!) Then they were having more issues printing the thing they wanted to print. After a while we finally figured out the problem and got it going for them again! They kept saying "Wow, you sisters don't know how much that helped! God truly sent you today!" Then later that evening, we had to head back to the church to do something that we were going to do earlier in the day but ran out of time. We walked in and there was a husband and wife cleaning the church... alone! They looked at us and asked if we could possibly help... YES! So that was also a miracle. God loves all His children, and helps them whenever they need! It was such a privilege to be in the service of God this week.

We have also visited the hospital a few times this week... don't freak out it was not for us! Our investigator's mom is in the hospital as well as a less active member. Both times we had to wear these very fashionable gowns and gloves. I loved it being all about the medical field stuff. Both people are doing well, so no worries there :)

We have also done a lot with organizing our map and area boundaries this week, phew! We have a map in the apartment that we are putting stickers on with all the names of the people in our area. It's long and tedious, but must be done!

The Spanish missionaries also met with us and re-arranged their borders. Spanish work is SO much different than English. They cover LARGE amounts of area, with not a ton of ward support. But they are on fire teaching and preaching the gospel! I have so much respect for them. They are amazing!

More business stuff: We met with President Hamilton again! He is one of the greatest stake presidents ever let me tell ya! We told him that the ward mission leaders in our zone were struggling to fulfill their calling just because they need a little guidance. It is hindering the missionary work. So President Hamilton was all "Okay. Well, let's just have a meeting with them and train them on their calling!" BOOM done. It is already set up and in motion. I will be long gone by that time but that does not matter. I am just excited that it is happening!!! He rocks!

Then I went on exchanges in Yorktown and met some wonderful wonderful people! I always learn something new and amazing on exchanges! Sister Jones is a powerful teacher and loves everyone and this work! Her enthusiasm really gave me the boost that I needed!

Our recent convert that fell down her stairs and broke her foot is doing so much better! Now that she is back on meds and feeling better she is going to get into a "serious study of the Book of Mormon" she says. Can't wait! The Book of Mormon changes lives!

My thought for the week comes from the wonderful sacrament meeting we had about the peace that the Holy Ghost brings. One of the speakers said something that I just loved. He talked about how the Holy Ghost is our "Moral Compass." Lots of people describe the Holy Ghost as their conscious. And that is totally true! Our spirit and the Holy Spirit talk to each other. They are on the same path, to return to the Father. But when "the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak." Our physical shell is the enemy. That is where the Lord's commission to "put off the natural man" comes in. How??? How do we do such a seemingly impossible thing?? Let me finish the scripture. "...and become a saint THROUGH the atonement of Jesus Christ the Lord, and become as a CHILD..." When we center our life on Jesus Christ and what He would have us do, by becoming like a child, that is when out body and our spirit can become aligned and the Holy Ghost can be our moral compass to help us return to our heavenly home.

This week is looking pretty good! Got interviews with the Mission President and I get to go on exchanges in the Spanish area! I don't speak Spanish so this should be interesting :)

Love you all so very very much and I will talk to ya next week!
PEACE OUT, BE BLESSED
Sista Poulsen

Happy Birthday America!!

I will try to condense the craziness and AWESOMENESS of this week to the short version.

Monday: A member took us shopping! It was such a fun time, have not done that in an while! It was nice to get some cute new clothes :) So mom don't worry about sending me anything else, I am praying it will all fit in my suit case! Then we just had some good powerful lessons after with some of our solid investigators.

Tuesday: 4th of JULY!!! SO fun! In the morning, the ward put together a pancake breakfast! S and M (investigators) came and had a great time! Everyone was all dressed up and the food was delicious! I love our ward :) Then we had a good lesson with M, studied the scriptures, and then got ready for a rocking party at the H's! They invited all the sisters in the stake over to celebrate the day! It was so nice of them to invite us over! We had a DELICIOUS meal (hamburgers, watermelon, chips, cake etc) Just the way America should eat :) Then we played some super fun games with even more candy! I was on a sugar high for sure! It was fun to just be with the sisters and have a good time! then we had a water balloon fight to seal the deal! Perfect. Then the rest of the day we cleaned our apartment and prepared for our training in zone conference. But in the evening we went firework hunting! We found a bit empty parking lot and just chilled on our car waiting to see something. We did see some so we counted it as a success! And to wrap up the night perfectly, we got Fro-yo at 10 at night. #blessed #GodblessAmerica It was a fantastic day

Wednesday: Zone conference! It was wonderful! Our training went well, all thanks to the spirit! We are trying to prepare the mission to receive LOTS of new missionaries! 30 this next transfer, and 26 the next! PHEW that is a lot! So we talked about how to help these new missionaries adjust to their new way of life. President Weed gave his thoughts on obedience. They were wonderful. He talked about Striving to be obedient. Only Christ was perfect and could be exactly obedient. We can only strive to do our best. That is what God asks. Lots of good things :)

Then the BIGGEST miracle happened! A month a go we were teaching this guy who had a lot of potential and wanted to know God! But he disappeared on us! For a month we have not been able to contact him. But Wednesday, we were in the area and decided to try one more time... we were walking up to his complex and THERE HE WAS... Outside! I yelled out to him, he turned and smiled! I was afraid he was going to run away... phew glad because I would have run after him to give him the Book of Mormon we promised to give him! Anyway, he told us he had been in Chicago for the last month... OH NO WONDER. And that he was moving there... LIKE THAT NIGHT... IN 2 HOURS... WOAH. It was such a miracle that we saw him! God set us up for that perfectly, thanks! We gave him the Book of Mormon, and told him to text us his address when he got there... HE TEXTED US! AHHHHH so we immediately sent his info to the missionaries there! It was such a tender mercy, he will be baptized one day!

Thursday: We did some service for a member, she needed a vacuum so we brought ours and vacuumed her living room! Silly me though. I did not know how to empty the darn thing. But when I finally figured it out, I used my big muscles to pull it out. It seemed to not like that so he opened up on me and dumped all the nasty cat hair, dead bugs, cheeto crumbs onto my skirt... thanks. Good thing it was a skirt that I do not like.

Friday: More service! A member has been CRAZY busy keeping watch over her grandchildren, so we miraculously caught her home and just helped her out around the house! Made the beds, vacuumed (no incident this time) and other things she needed. Then she fed us dinner, she is a rockstar!

Saturday: Exchanges with the Poquoson Sisters! We did some service in the morning at the C's, we chopped wood! But not with your ordinary axe... we used a horizontal log splitter! You just used some leverage and arm strength to force the log against the axe head and "pop" it splits nicely for you! The rest of the day was just filled with teaching and testifying, my favorite thing! We taught tithing using goldfish too, that was very fun, and delicious (thanks mom for sending those!)

Sunday: Sister Fahey gave a GREAT talk in sacrament! As I was in the chapel, I just felt so much love for EVERYONE. I love being a missionary :) The other meetings were great too, and both our our wonderful investigators were there and had a great time! Our members just scooped them up, we don't even have to worry! Then we stayed after for choir... just the 6 of us! We were praying for angels :) Then we had a great meal with some members, and then had a super productive meeting with the High priest group leader about helping out the single sister in the ward and helping him out with home and visiting teaching stuff. This ward is finally coming together!

PHEW. Short enough for ya? So yeah, let's just wrap up and say it was a swell week :)

Thought for the week: Something I have been thinking about lately is the fact that our purpose on this earth has 2 parts. One: to prepare to return to God. We prepare by living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But Two: Is to be successful in this life. I read that in Preach my Gospel this morning, twice! That not only does God want us to return to Him again, but He also wants us to be successful and happy here. I have been pondering that since I have been making goals for my future and planning on what I want to do when I return home. I know God will not leave me alone. Nor any of us alone in our decision. As we strive to be obedient (as president weed has confirmed) then God will guide us along the path to not only be with Him, but find SUCCESS and HAPPINESS in this life, something i think we all strive for.

http://www.ldsliving.com/3-Questions-to-Help-You-Transition-after-a-Mission/s/79872

Being a missionary is BLESSED y'all. I love it.
Have a fabulous week, catch you later!
LOVE Sista Poulsen

Love this sisters!

Finally getting and home grilled hamburger! 

Sister Poulsen's Planner collection

What a Wonderful World

Hey there one and all! This week was a bit on the long side, but that is okay because we had adventures everyday! Sister Fahey is good at picking out the good, fun, adventurous things throughout the day so it turns out being awesome!

We started the week off right by going to the Mariners Museum here in NN. And the best part was tickets were on sale... normally $13 a person... each ticket was literally $1!!! WOAH #weareblessed #Godlovesus It was a pretty neat museum! LOTS to read, but it was all about how the navy got started and wars and such. It was very neat and quite worth $1.  http://www.marinersmuseum.org/

Then we had a big meeting with the leadership in the mission on Wednesday! Good things were discussed about the upcoming transfers. This transfer, Aug 1 there will be 28 missionaries leaving the mission, and 30+ coming in. And the transfer after that we will get 25 ish more. That totals in about 50 new missionaries in the next few months... WOAH. That is a lot of new people! So we are preparing all the missionaries this transfer to be prepared to recieve and train all these newbies! It is going to be LEGENDARY!

Our ward, again, is amazing. Our recent convert F fell down the stairs and broke 3 bones in one ankle and fractured the other! There were neighbors there right away to help her. Her sister called us ASAP and we got over there the next day to see her in the hospital. We started spreading the word through our ward mission leader and relief society president. They did their jobs perfectly and priesthood blessings were given and visits were made. F felt SO loved and cannot wait to be able to go to church to fellowship with all the wonderful people who helped her in her time of need! She is recovering well now back and home and sisters are bringing her meals and love. It's so wonderful what a community of Christ can do for people in need :)

We helped out a returning less active then clean her house up a bit! And then she took us to Tuscanos Brazilian grill... that was quite the adventure! Meat was just walked around and dropped on our plate and all this yummy interesting Brazilian food in a HUGE salad bar. It was so cool!

Then more service of moving wood and harvesting seeds from exotic flowers. I have sure learned a lot about gardening here on the mission!

Sunday we attended both fast and testimony meetings. One on base and one in the ward. Both were filled with the spirit of patriotism and love for Jesus Christ! Those two go together pretty well I think :)

Thought for the week: In Alma 60:36, Moroni is writing a letter to the judge over the land. The judge has not been helping the army in their war against the lamanites. Moroni ends his letter by saying this "...I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country..." I feel so honored and privileged to be in the birthplace of America, as well as to be surrounded by men and women like Moroni. When we talk to the soldiers on base, they are always talking about how glad they are to be serving their country. They fight so others don't have to. They keep the peace so their children can grow up free. Their testimonies of how this country was based upon God and doing the right things are strong. I love being here to celebrate with them. It is truly an honor.

This coming week is CRAZY! The 4th is tomorrow, and the H family (members) have invited all the missionaries in the stake to come over for a cook out, games (missionary appropriate of course) and a water balloon fight! SO EXCITED! There is also a breakfast in the morning at the church for the ward as well. Lots of food tomorrow! Then Wednesday, we have our zone conference, and then lots of set appointments after that! We also have service lined up a few days, and then an exchange at the end of the week! PHEW it's going to be busy but so good! Can't wait!

HAPPY 4th of JULY!!! 'MERICA!!
Be blessed
Sista Poulsen

Q:  Yesterday was your last Fast Sunday on the mission.  How was that?
A: We went onto base for my last one and I stood up and talked about goals and how that literally is our whole purpose in life! Our  ultimate goal is to get to the celestial kingdom again! And when we extend commitments and such as missionaries we are helping people make sub-goals to accomplish that plan! It was great :)
Speaking of goals, thanks for the FABULOUS package! It totally made my day! And now we have some sweet stuff to wear tomorrow! YEAH! And all the goals helps were sooo good! Especially Makayla's blog post, that was awesome. THANKS!