Week 39: Scooter the DJ

Holy cow, what a week.  Literally... there are a lot of God-fearing cows out here.

This week I experienced my first Thanksgiving away from family.  It definitely wasn't the same, but it was good for what it was.  I was hoping to be in Melbourne for Thanksgiving, but the ward welcomed me in.

As I mentioned before, I've been transferred up to the Sumterville Ward which is considerably bigger than Viera 1.  We live in the city of Wildwood and cover roughly 600 square miles.  When I first got to the Sumterville bungalow, the musty smell hit me harder than transfer calls.  It was actually more humid inside the house than it was outside.  It is literally a cottage in the woods and I feel like I am at a summer camp.  It's pretty awesome.  I am no longer living the cushioned coastal life.

Let's talk about a few things this interesting area in Sumter County, Florida has to offer.

We cover 95% of Sumter County and it has the oldest median age in the country.  With my experiences at church and out proselyting, I can confirm that statement.  There is a massive community established here called The Villages.  It's hard to explain, you really have to experience it to understand, but it's basically where older folks go to retire.  Yes, that stereotype about Florida is real, and I'm living that reality.  There is plenty of entertainment, restaurants, clubs, and shopping.  Everyone gets around by golf cart.  There are golf cart specific paths.  There are about 700 golf holes in the villages and it's free if you live there.  I'm telling you, it's something else.  Words can't describe The Villages.  Most of our active members live there so we see a lot of it.

While walking around one of the town squares, we bumped into a guy who was visiting his mom for the week.  After talking for a little bit, we found out he is the Miami Marlins mascot!  He also works for the Florida Panthers and said he'd hook us up with free tickets anytime.  He was super chill.  It's not everyday that you get to meet a mascot for a professional baseball team.  On Thanksgiving night, we went to one of the town squares to walk around and talk to people.  No one was really interested in talking to us because they were too focused on the concert that was going on.  This guy named Scooter the DJ was up on a stage getting everyone hyped.  I've never seen 65+ year olds dance to "I'm Sexy and I Know It" quite like that.  It was an sight to behold and Scooter the DJ lived up to his name of being the best entertainer in The Villages.

The other parts of the Sumterville Ward are ghetto areas and rural areas.  There are some poorer areas in Wildwood that we went proselyting in.  There were tons of people outside playing dominoes and listening to music.  It was pretty fun.  There are also a lot of cows and fields.

On Sunday, we drove to the chapel for ward council.  When we got there, we realized that no one was there and that we probably weren't having it.  We waited in the chapel and a few ward members showed up.  I was introducing myself to people when the bishop came up to me.  He had a guy with him and told me his name was Mark.  The bishop walked away and I talked to the guy for a bit.  It turns out that he is going through some rough times and was looking for peace.  His fiancé is a member and told him that he could come to our church.  He stayed for all three hours and even asked questions and talked in Elders Quorum.  We struggled to find all week and then a new investigator fell into our laps.  During sacrament meeting, Elder Adair leaned over and said "President is here."  After a few seconds, it finally registered, and my first thought was, "What did I do?".  Of course, the one time he shows up we are teaching gospel principles.  President and Sister Clark were really helpful in answering questions and bringing the Spirit.  They had other obligations in the surrounding area and decided to stop by.  It was the most stressed I've ever been at church, but it ended up being really good.

Needless to say, it will be a very interesting time here.  I'm excited for the next five weeks.  My new companion's name is Elder Adair.  He's from American Fork, Utah and has been out for twenty-three months.  He finishes his mission this transfer so I will be killing him off and getting another companion when the new year rolls around.  I can't believe it's already November 26th.  I very distinctly remember that February day when I stepped into the MTC and had no idea what I was doing.  I still don't know what I'm doing but, the experiences I've had have changed me and I am so grateful for them.

"...and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.  The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?  Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever." (Doctrine and Covenants 122:7-9)

Love y'all!

Elder Poulsen

My last night in Viera.  

The Grover's and 1/2 of the Snavely's.

A Holy Cow

The Belleview District

Haven't fished since Apopka

New Address:

3220 County Road 511, Wildwood FL 34785

Week 39: Mosiah 5:2-5

Reading in the "How Do I Develop Christlike Attributes" section in Preach My Gospel, I read the section on hope.  It says "[Hope] is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance. It is believing and expecting that something will occur. When you have hope, you work through trials and difficulties with the confidence and assurance that all things will work together for your good."

There are many great blessings when we have hope.  I've taken it upon myself to have more hope in missionary work and in my own personal life.  I know that it is important to have hope in everything we do, because we will drive ourselves nuts if we don't.

In that same section, there is a quote written.  It reads, “Being blessed with hope, let us, as disciples, reach out to all who, for whatever reason, have ‘moved away from the hope of the gospel’  Let us reach to lift hands which hang hopelessly down.” - Elder Neal A. Maxwell

I encourage you all to pray for more hope and then spread that hope to others.  If we all do that, we will make the world a better place.

Elder Poulsen

Week 38: Bidding Adieu to Family

What an interesting week it was.  To cut to the chase, I'm being transferred to Sumterville which is in the Leesburg Zone.  I'm going to try to swing an exchange with the Apopka Elders.  I was also informed that Elder Lester is going there.  That's going to be so awesome.  Elder Hekking got his visa and left for Madagascar today.  Elder Changchum is going to stay in Viera 1.  I'll give a brief recap of the highlights of the week.

Tuesday night we were able to teach Daniela one of the new member lessons.  When I walked in the house and saw her, I was thrown back.  It was the first time I had seen her since her confirmation on Sunday and she looked physically different.  She had this absolute glow about her.  She was smiling more, laughing more, bearing testimony more.  It was amazing.  I have seen a very real change in her.  She always asks why she hasn't had this in her life sooner.  I am so excited for her to go to the temple and continue in this wonderful gospel.  She is a living testimony that the saving power of the atonement of Jesus Christ is real.  I have witnessed it.  I wasn't the only one who noticed the glow.  My companions and her aunt in the Viera 2nd ward noticed too.

"And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts? ... I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come, is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth. And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name."  (Alma 5:14, 48)

We went over to a guy's house on Saturday.  His name is Ben and he is planning on making a pathway in his backyard.  We dug up a lot of sand and moved it another part of the yard.  We also cut up some roots that were deep in the ground.  Something that would have taken him 4 times as long.  We sat down, had some water, and got to know him.  He is such a nice guy.  He really appreciated what we helped him with and respects what we do.  He was more than willing to have us back over.  He has so much potential.  I wish I could go back and talk to him more.

On Sunday, I had to say goodbye to a lot of great people.  I'm definitely going to miss Viera 1.  I've made so many friends and met some amazing families.  It was bittersweet to say goodbye to people yesterday.  People were very supportive and loving.  I'm so grateful for the members of this ward.  It has been a life changing experience for me.  I have learned and grown so much.  My heart is overflowing with gratitude for the great times and the hard times in this area.  I don't want to leave, but I know that the next chapter in Sumterville will be good for me.  I love this work and I know that Jesus Christ is at the head of the Church.

Elder Poulsen

Cocoa Zone

Brayden (A youth in our ward)

Little Brynn Baird

Brother Rojas (Our ward mission leader)

Daniela

This is something Brayden always does

Week 38: Matthew 26:39

I wanted to share an excerpt from a talk I was reading.  It's from Elder Uchtdorf's talk in the April 2014 General Conference titled "Grateful in Any Circumstances".

"We can choose to be grateful, no matter what.  This type of gratitude transcends whatever is happening around us. It surpasses disappointment, discouragement, and despair. It blooms just as beautifully in the icy landscape of winter as it does in the pleasant warmth of summer.  When we are grateful to God in our circumstances, we can experience gentle peace in the midst of tribulation. In grief, we can still lift up our hearts in praise. In pain, we can glory in Christ’s Atonement. In the cold of bitter sorrow, we can experience the closeness and warmth of heaven’s embrace.  We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly short sighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?  Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased with our circumstances. It does mean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present-day challenges.  This is not a gratitude of the lips but of the soul. It is a gratitude that heals the heart and expands the mind."

I know this statement by Elder Uchtdorf is true.  We don't have to happy with what's going on, but when we have a full grateful attitude, we will be happier and the Lord will bless us.

Elder Poulsen

Week 37: Daniela Got Dunked

I wrote this email and it deleted itself so we'll try this again.  I got pretty frustrated that it deleted itself.  Sadly it's never the same when you write it the second time.  This week was one that I will remember forever.  I am absolutely exhausted, but it's the good kind of exhausted.  So much happened that I will probably forget to say a few things.  They won't be in chronological order.

We woke up a little early on Tuesday and went to our ward's Seminary class.  Brother Grover is a great Seminary teacher and invited us to come join.  They were reading Doctrine and Covenants 52.  One scripture that was read was verse 4.  "And inasmuch as they are faithful unto me, it shall be made known unto them what they shall do;"  I really like this scripture because as I've been out on my mission, I've tried to take it day by day.  I have noticed the blessings I receive of knowing what to do and where to go when I am faithful.

We had an experience while knocking. We knocked into a young woman name to Kara. We introduce the church to her pretty early on in the contact and she wasn't interested. She was apprehensive and about to shut the door when we decided to ask questions about her. She then brightened up and we talked for the next 10 minutes about her school, job, and family. We didn't teach her a lesson or get a return appointment but it really showed me the importance of getting to know those that we.  We have to genuinely care about people in order to know how we can help them.

We had our exchange with the Zone Leaders. Elder Hekking and I went down to Melbourne with Elder Allen. We had 4 teaching appointment set up and 3 of them fell through. We knocked a lot of doors without much success. It was one of those days that could get you unmotivated. However I saw the bright side of things. I saw it as a successful day because we did exactly what was asked of us and we included the Lord. At the end of the day, baptisms, lessons, and contacts don't matter in measuring success. The way we measure success is our desire and what we do with it. I'm not 100% there yet, but I want to do missionary work not because I'm scared of the consequences if I don't, not because I have to do it or should just do it. I want to do missionary work because I want to do it.  When we have that desire it will make us more happy. 

I got to see former Elder DeVroom on Sunday.  That was cool to see him and talk about old times.  It's weird to see him in his current stage.  I feel like I've been out for forever but 1 day at the same time.  I know I'll be home soon, so I want to make the most of every second and enjoy every aspect of this wonderful life.  I want to continue to improve myself.  I want to be more selfless, more humble, and more obedient.  I want to be the best man I can be for my future wife.  I want to be a better servant to the Lord.  I know there is no better place for me to learn those things than Melbourne, Florida.

Friday night was Daniela's baptism. It was full of the Spirit and was an amazing experience for her. She bore a simple and powerful testimony about her gratefulness to God for giving her the chance to join Jesus Christ's true church.  It was really cool because most of her family is of Columbian decent, so it was entirely in Spanish.  One of the family members translated into headsets so we could understand.  Sunday was her confirmation and it was equally spiritual.  Being a part of that circle while her uncle confirmed her a member of the Church was a great experience.  I didn't understand any of it, but the Spirit was strong and it testified to me the truthfulness of this work.

I apologize for the choppiness of this email.  I promise the previous one was better.  I love you all.  Have a great rest of your Veterans Day and a great week!

Elder Poulsen

Blake DeVroom

Daniela

Cleaning the font

Us with the Viera 2 sisters

Email to Mom:

I'm really glad sister Schaefer sent those pictures! It's funny that she took some during the baptism,

To answer your questions, there aren't any Spanish speaking missionaries in this Zone. The only one is Elder Thomas and he doesn't know a ton because he's served in English ward's his whole mission. Daniela understands English mostly but we had help from her family so it went well. 

We asked her aunt who Daniela wanted to perform the baptism. 20 minutes later we got a text "Is it OK if Elder Poulsen baptizes Daniela?" I told her that I would be honored and humbled to. I don't feel like I did much to deserve her asking me to do that. I feel really special and humbled. 

The Spirit was strong at the baptism. She was so happy to make this covenant.  She was crying when her aunts and cousins were speaking.  I haven't quite reached that point to be tearing up about the gospel but she was and it was awesome. 

Elder Poulsen

The blessing was at Sister Kmoch's house right before she left for the hospital. 

We asked her who should say the blessing and she asked me to give it.

 I really can't remember what was said but I know it was prompted by the spirit.  

It was really great with 5 priesthood holders.

Week 37: John 21:15-17

With the hurricanes in the panhandle, many members of our ward have gone up to help clean up.

A certain member that went up there came back and talked about all the damage.  He talked about the hundreds of pine trees that were absolutely obliterated.  Miles of forest were wiped out due to high speed winds.  He mentioned that you see all of these trees ripped out, however not a single one of them is a palm tree.  Palm trees are thick, stiff, and the roots are very strong.  Strong enough to withhold strong winds.  I thought about it, and related it to testimonies.

How strong are our testimonies?  We may think that we have tall, beautiful testimonies that flourish in the sunlight, but what happens when strong winds come?  What happens when things aren't going our way?  Do we have a strong enough testimony and strong enough faith to stay in the ground like a palm tree, or are we easily wiped out when the going gets tough?

I invite you to evaluate your testimony.  We should be striving to stay strong in good times and in bad times.

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12)

Elder Poulsen

Week 36: Steezy Ocean Breezy

I tend to get caught up in playing Gatorball and procrastinate writing these weekly emails.  I'll get right into it.

Tuesday we had Zone Conference.  It was easily the best Zone Conference I've had on my mission.  It was full of the Spirit and I had many calls to repentance.  I went away knowing exactly what I needed to improve on.  I could write a lot about what was said, but I felt the Spirit and was extremely excited to do missionary work.  Our Zone performed the musical number.  We sang "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy".  It's a really pretty song and brought the Spirit to a whole new level. We also had interviews with our President after.  I have developed more of a relationship with President Clark as I've met and talked with him.  He is so helpful and caring.  He understands me and I love him a lot.

We taught Daniela a lot this week.  She is so prepared.  Her baptism is scheduled to happen on the 9th and we couldn't be more happy.  She is taking steps to improve her life and come closer to Jesus Christ.  It really is amazing how far she's come since the first lesson only a few weeks ago.  We love her a lot and are so grateful for God's hand in this process.  I find it so crazy that a boy from Utah, a boy from Thailand, and a boy from Ohio who was born in France, (who also have no idea what they are doing) are able to teach a girl from Columbia, in English, and actually have her understand and gain a testimony.  That tells me that God lives.  The Spirit teaches and converts and I am so blessed to take part.

A weird thing about one of my companions:  Elder Changchum puts sugar in his ramen.  It's actually pretty dang good with a boiled egg in it.

The biggest highlight of the week was church.  I bore my testimony in Sacrament meeting.  I didn't know if I'd be able to do it again.  It was a great experience for me to bear my simple but pure testimony of our Savior and thank the ward for everything they've done for me.  We then went to Relief Society for third hour.  We were invited by Sister Schaefer who is extremely missionary minded.  We gave each woman a Book of Mormon and helped them mark it and write their testimonies inside.  We want them to share it with family and friends.  We handed out 27 copies of the Book of Mormon!  It was pretty amazing to see the potential they all had to share the gospel.

Other than that, pretty much the same stuff.  I'm loving it out here.  The weather is getting nicer, I'm finally feeling the ocean breeze, and I'm loving the people.  Even though times can be tough and I have thoughts of quitting, I love being a missionary.  I love serving the Lord and doing what He would do if He were here.

I love you all.

Elder Poulsen

A good friend of ours who puts on parties in the 

complex asked us to help stock the cooler with beers.  

Definitely something I didn't expect to do 

on my mission but she did appreciate it!

You have to drink a Mango Loco on Halloween.

Elder Thomas and I did a very 

Florida thing and carved pineapples.

We play RISK when we are bored.

Week 36: Mosiah 28:3

The Assistants gave a great training in Zone Conference on praying for miracles.  Particularly in finding people to teach.  They had 5 steps to finding more people to teach.

Step 1: Pray

  We need to pray and ask for guidance in finding people.  Everything is possible through the lord and we must pray for Him to help us.  I have a huge testimony of the power of prayer.

Step 2: Thought

  We need to throw out everything we know about logic, people, and our area.  When we put our trust in the Lord, He will give us specific thoughts of what to do and where to go.

Step 3: Go

  When we receive this prompting, we need to go.  We need to do what we've been told to do.  Nothing happens until we act.

Step 4: Expect

  We need to expect the Lord to provide miracles.  We won't accomplish anything if we don't have the faith that He will help us.

Step 5: Persist

  Things won't always go our way.  Sometimes the Lord wants to test our faith.  When things don't go as planned, we need to keep going and repeat the steps.

I know this applies to everything, not just missionary work.  I know that the Lord is with us, guiding us in everything we do, and is waiting for us to ask Him for help.

"Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day."  (Alma 37:37)

Elder Poulsen

Email to Mom:

Zone Conference was great.  There were a lot of things about praying about every single thing you do.  A lot of missionaries think that they "get it done" when they go out and knock 50 doors.  It's all about including the Lord.  Asking him for guidance in EVERYTHING.  Not just the normal stuff we pray for.  I realized that I needed to pray more.  I needed to persist more and not murmur or give up. There was a training on how we can politely cut people off when they take a conversation way out to where it's not relevant.  There were lots of things that helped me know what I can work on.

I really loved the APs training.  I knew that was what I was missing in my finding aspect.  I really love what you said about not murmuring.  That is key.  I can't be successful or in tune with the Spirit if I'm constantly complaining about my bad circumstances.  I love that.