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.

Week 35: Boo at the Zoo and a Spiritual Audible

Trying to recollect the week, I can think of four major events.

First, we did quite a bit of service.  Outside of our normal service at the Rockledge Sharing Center, we did yard work for a woman named Caryn.  She lives across the street from our Relief Society President.  She spends the winters in Florida and arrived a few weeks ago.  She suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, so working in her yard would he extremely difficult.  We were able to change her pool filter, removed weeds, and moved a grill to the back.  We also trimmed palm trees which was really cool.  I've never done that before, and I finally feel like a real Florida native now that I've checked that off my list.  It felt really nice to be able to help her and give some of our time to her and the Lord.

Second, we went over to Shishi's house.  She's been investigating the church for a long time.  She's originally from China but moved over here with her daughter.  For the two transfers that Elder Pottle (I miss that man) and I were here, we struggled to meet with Shishi.  She would cancel last minute or always have a busy schedule, so it was a huge breakthrough when we were able to have lunch with her.  We read the Book of Mormon with her and gave her a blessing.  It was a huge leap in her progression.  We are meeting with her again this week.

Third, we went to an event at the Brevard County Zoo.  Many different companies and organizations had tables to hand out to the kids walking around.  They would also give cards and whatever materials they had to promote their business or organization.  The Viera Wards had a table, so we went over for a few hours on Friday and Saturday night to pass out "Just Serve" and "Family Search" pamphlets.  It was a lot of fun to meet people in a non-threatening way.  There was even a mom that wanted her kid to be in a picture with us.  It was nice to be able to be in public in a unique way.

Fourth, we taught Daniela twice this week.  Wednesday we were able to teach her the Plan of Salvation.  She really enjoyed that because her grandmother just recently passed away.  They were very close and she felt empty when she lost her.  She was comforted in the knowledge that she would see her grandmother again and could be with her for eternity.  On Sunday, we decided to use the second hour of church to teach her a lesson.  During weekly planning, we had decided to teach her about scripture study, prayer, and keeping the Sabbath day holy.  When we got into the lesson, Elder Changchum started to teach the Word of Wisdom.  I was confused, but went with it.  The lesson went really well.  She responded well to commitments and said she would keep the Word of Wisdom.  After the lesson, I talked to my companions and made the joke that Elder Changchum called a "spiritual audible".  He was confused, and after I explained, he told us that the Word of Wisdom was in the lesson plan in our area book.  I checked it and he wqs right!  I was so confused because I know for a fact that I filled out the lesson plan and I wrote the other three things.  I realized that Daniela needed to hear the Word of Wisdom.  I know God had a part in the change.  I can't explain it, but I recognize that His hand was in our lesson.  It was a wonderful tender mercy that blessed both us and Daniela.  

It reminded me of something Ronald A. Rasband said in General Conference:  "Through the experience of my own life’s journey, I know that the Lord will move us on that seeming chessboard to do His work. What may appear to be a random chance is, in fact, overseen by a loving Father in Heaven, who can number the hairs of every head. Not even a sparrow falls to the ground without our Father’s notice. The Lord is in the small details of our lives, and those incidents and opportunities are to prepare us to lift our families and others as we build the kingdom of God on earth."

I know that God is in the small details of our lives.  I have noticed many tender mercies in my days as a missionary.  I am forever grateful for them.

Enjoy your week!

Elder Poulsen

Elder Hekking and Elder Changchum

Week 35: Alma 44:4

While reading the Book of Mormon Institute Manual, I read Mosiah 13:28 that says:

"And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses."

Then there was a quote tied to this scripture:

“Men and women unquestionably have impressive powers and can bring to pass great things.  But after all our obedience and good works, we cannot be saved from death or the effects of our individual sins without the grace extended by the atonement of Jesus Christ.  The Book of Mormon makes this clear.  It teaches that ‘salvation doth not come by the law alone'.  In other words, salvation does not come simply by keeping the commandments.  ‘By the law no flesh is justified’.  Even those who try to obey and serve God with all their heart, might, mind, and strength are ‘unprofitable servants’.  Man cannot earn his own salvation.” - Elder Dallin H. Oaks

I love this idea of complete reliance on the Lord.  I know that no matter what I do, I cannot be the missionary I want to be, the man I want to be, without constant help and guidance from God.  I know that to be true.

Elder Poulsen

Week 34: Daniela

This week was pretty interesting.

Last week, we got a referral from Brother Rojas who is our ward mission leader.  It kind of gets confusing, but his sister is also in our ward, and his daughter is in the Viera 2nd ward.  That being said, there is a lot of Columbian family around the area for the referral.  Her name is Daniela and she is super awesome.  She is living here for a few months with the Florenz' (Brother Rojas' sister).  She understands English but isn't confident enough to speak it much.  We taught her the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on Monday night.  It went really well as Brother and Sister Florenz were there along with brother Rojas. During the lesson, we read from the restoration pamphlet and read Scriptures.  We could tell instantly that she was prepared and willing to change.  We had Elder Hekking invite her to be baptized on November 9th and she said yes!  It was such a relief.  After months of grinding in this area, we finally got a golden member referral.  We haven't done anything except show up the house and present the doctrine.  She is so ready.  We asked her to read 3 Nephi 11 before our next visit. 

We taught Daniela the Gospel of Jesus Christ on Wednesday night.  When we asked her how her study and prayer went from the last visit, she opened up el Libro de Mormón and there were markings and writings.  Our jaws hit the floor as we saw what she had studied and the questions she had.  It was awesome.  As we taught the lesson, we read 3 Nephi 27 and explained the five steps of the gospel.  She understood it and committed to come to church.  She also really loves the idea of repentance.  She wants to change and become a better person.  That got us so hyped.  She's ready and we are just witnessing it.  In the matter of a week, we received a referral, taught two lessons, and set a date for baptism.  It is crazy how the Lord works.

On Saturday, we went to Sister Guillaume's house for lunch.  She made us Haitian food that was unbelievably good.  Her husband Lucien was there.  He and Elder Hekking talked in French for 20 minutes.  I was totally lost but it was so cool.  It was like I was in Haiti without actually being there.

Other than that, it was a week full of finding, planning, and studying.  Elder Hekking received his visa so he will be leaving on November 19th.  Until then, we will continue to work and help him adjust to missionary life.  The members are so awesome.  They love us and support us.  They are willing to have us in their homes and treat us like family.  We are just focusing on helping them share the gospel.

"And it came to pass that many of the Lamanites did come down into the land of Zarahemla, and did declare unto the people of the Nephites the manner of their conversion, and did exhort them to faith and repentance.  Yea, and many did preach with exceedingly great power and authority, unto the bringing down many of them into the depths of humility, to be the humble followers of God and the Lamb."  (Helaman 6:4-5)

Have a fantastic week!

Elder Poulsen

 Elder Thomas and I

We don't use handlebars

At the Reese's home

Happy Fall Y'all

A burned, boarded up house

Week 34: 3 Nephi 18:19-21

Something I've been thinking of and trying to do these last couple weeks is to be more bold in my testimony.  Bold in my teaching.  Bold in everything.

In the first part of my mission, I was nervous to teach and share testimony, but I've tried to pray for courage and follow the counsel of Alma when he said:

"And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness.  Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness."  (Alma 38:9,12)

As I've tried to apply this knowledge I've been able to see the power that comes from bearing testimony with boldness.  I know that as we are bold with love, we can enjoy the blessings of being proud of what we know.  

Elder Poulsen