Week 4: How many Mormons can you fit into a KIA?

This week went by way fast.  I've been sitting at the church for two hours, trying to figure out what to say.  

We were able to meet the bishop and his family.  He is the most involved and spiritual bishop I've ever met.  He's really young and works for the UCF sports department.  He filled us in on what's been going on in the ward.  He told us he was calling a ward mission leader so that was good to hear.  

Lessons have been short this week, but the Spirit has been strong and I've loved getting to know the members.  They are all so real.  They love the gospel and they love life, even though times are tough.  We had dinner with many different families and God to connect with them.  Those were the highlights of my week.

Friday, we went to the temple.  We are so blessed to have a temple in our mission.  It was really spiritually uplifting to be with all the missionaries.  We had a member drive us up and, long story short, we ended up with 6 missionaries in the car on the way back, so the answer to the above question is 7.

We met with a man named Cason.  He works at McDonald's and is really nice.  We are going to start reading the Book of Mormon with him and he's excited to learn about God.  He was the only knew investigator we were able to meet with this week.  The work is slow but God works in his timing.

Elder Cruz told me something that shocked me.  He told me that when he first met me on the frontliner to the airport 2 weeks ago, he thought I was standoffish.  This surprised me.  I thought I was very kind and open, but I was once again humbled by the fact that I am not openly friendly at first.  That it something I've been praying for and something I need to work on.

I have never in my life been so excited for General Conference as I am now.  It's going to be so wonderful to hear from the leaders of the Church.

I wish I had more to write about.  This really was a slow week but I was able to take lots of pictures.  I hope that you all have a relaxing and spiritual Easter.  I love you all.

Much love,

Elder Poulsen

Some pictures I got from my cousins.  I laughed so hard when I read them:

      A) I will never forget you.  I hope you have a grate life.  I'm crying wright now. - Ruby

      B) Wy did you leav in the first place.  We miss you - Lily 

      C) Dear, eldor Polson we will never forgit/forgive you.  I hope you get a good career.  We all love you so much. Love Millie.

      D) Dear Mr. Elder Polsen, we miss you over here, and we wish you could be here expeshaly your cosins. Sincerly, Claire

I don't know how we didn't get pulled over.

Elder Gallup, Elder Lester, me, Elder Cruz

Elder Gallup looking very photogenic

The O-Zion zone. #ALLIN

We are professional skyscraper architects at UAP

Week 4: Omni 1:26

This week, we took the car to the shop to get it serviced.  While we were waiting, we went to a customer lounge where there were a few Tv's.  We don't get a lot of opportunities to watch T.V. so we watched the news for a while.  5 minutes in, I felt overwhelmed and scared for this world.  Life is not easy.  It is stressful and unpredictable.  This weekend is General Conference and it allows us to listen to the uplifting words of the prophets.  No matter where you are spiritually.  No matter where you are in your happiness.  No matter where you are in your testimony.  If you get anything out of this Easter Sunday, let it be hope.  Let it be hope that our Savior lives.  Let it be hope that things will get better.  I promise that even when we go through trials, even "if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee" we can be happy.  Christ will bear our burdens.

"I have seen enough ups and downs throughout my life to know that winter will surely give way to the warmth and hope of a new spring. I am optimistic about the future.  For our part, we must remain steadfast in hope, work with all our strength, and trust in God." - Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I love you all and hope you have a great Easter weekend.

Much love,

Elder Poulsen

Week 3: Days Are Weeks, Weeks Are Days

What a week!  It feels like the days go by so slow but the weeks fly by, hence the title.

I finally made it to Florida.   Being on a mission hadn't really hit me until I stepped off the plane and everyone was staring at me.  I out of place and that friendly personality I had in the MTC completely vanished.  I was able to feel like myself again when I thought about my purpose and who I represent.

We met President and Sister Clark near the baggage claim and they took us to the Mission home.  We were having dinner there with all of the office staff when a Visa waiter going to Brazil came over.  He's been here for six weeks and was leaving that night.  I asked him what he's learned by being here and he said "Just like any mission, you can decide if you want to be a good missionary or a bad missionary.  The choice is completely up to you."

I took this in two different ways.  First, you can be an obedient or disobedient missionary and no one's really going to know, say, or do anything.  Second, you can be effective or ineffective in bringing others closer to Christ, depending on your study, work ethic, and obedience.  At this point I was nervous about getting a lazy trainer.

We slept in the mission home that night.  When we got up, the sunrise was hitting the pond in the backyard and it was so beautiful.  I've always made fun of Florida for being an unpleasant place, but it's so green and ponds are everywhere.  It is gorgeous in every aspect (scenery, people, wildlife, buildings) and it makes going outside much more enjoyable.  

We went to the chapel to meet our trainers.  My new companion's name is Elder Gallup from Chubbuck, Idaho.  He's a really great guy.  He's been out about eight months and spent all his time in the ghetto city of Sanford.  He has some crazy stories.  We are both very similar.  We have the same taste in music, perfectionist mentality, and hair color.  We got assigned to the University Park area.  It's just east of downtown Orlando and it covers the campus of UCF.  We are whitewashing this area.  For any of you that are unfamiliar with missionary lingo, it just means that both Elder Gallup and I are new to the area that we were assigned.  It makes it difficult because neither of us know anything about this place so we have to start building from, the ground up.

My P-Days are now on Mondays and here is my address:

3334 Mission Bay Blvd. Apt# 135 Orlando, Florida 32817

On Thursday, we went to UAP (United Against Poverty).  It's essentially a grocery store with cheaper food for the less fortunate.  We helped stock shelves of food and clear boxes.  It was a really great experience to meet different people from Orlando and immerse myself in the culture.  Service is one of the most important things we are challenged with on this Earth.  It was such a blessing to help other people and not do it for anything in return.  Seeing people in these circumstances really helps you feel love for them and I know that it's the Spirit working through me.

On Friday, we went to a family's house for dinner.  They are such awesome people.  We had a great time getting to know them and then we found out their son Nicolas is 9 and hasn't been baptized.  He expressed a huge interest and desire.  We asked them if we could come over and teach the discussions and they said yes!  It made my heart so happy, I can't explain what it feels like.  Nicolas also makes the best peanut butter cookies.  I usually hate peanut butter but they were so good, and he was kind enough to write the recipe down for us.

Saturday, I woke up really sick.  I couldn't get out of bed, and without being to graphic, I was not holding in any food.  It was a rough day and I felt bad for my companion, as he just had to sit there.  We were just starting to get things rolling and then had this set back.  My district leader Elder McArthur, a really loving person, called and asked if I needed a blessing.  He sent Elder Lester and Elder Cruz over to give me one.  They are the Elders we are sharing a car with.  They came over and Elder Lester gave such a strong blessing and I could feel the light and the love radiating from his body.  I know I've said this before but there is absolute power in Priesthood blessings.

This city is a melting pot.  There are so many ethnicities and languages everywhere.  It's so cool to meet many different people with different backgrounds.  Without sounding weird, my favorite this week has been the African Americans.  They're so real and loving, and even though I'm a little white boy from Utah they treat me like their own.

Here's some random stories:

Elder Gallup and I were studying when some Jehovah's Witnesses came and knocked on the door.  When two clean-cut men in white shirts and black name tags opened the door, they were a little shell-shocked.  We waited for a little bit and they didn't really say anything so we offered them The Book of Mormon.  They said they weren't interested in our literature and walked away.

Elder Gallup and I wanted to move a desk and chair out of the study room.  Before we knew it, we were deep cleaning the entire apartment.  We gutted out so much junk.  I wish I had taken a before and after picture.  It's clean and we feel the Spirit more.  It actually feels like a home.  Too much of a home actually.  I was making ramen and Elder Gallup was vacuuming.  I asked him if he wanted an ice cube because it was pretty hot, and it scared me for a second because it felt like I was married to him.  Pretty weird realization.

One night I walked into the bathroom and I saw the biggest cockroach I've ever seen, sitting right on the wall.  There wasn't any toilet paper left so I went to go get some from the kitchen.  When I came back, the cockroach was gone, and that is the story of how I burned the apartment down.  

One of the biggest things I've learned this week is that sin does not bring happiness.  The adversary is so good at what he does.  He tricks us into thinking that things will make us happy when in reality, those same things will drag us down to guilt and misery.  However, no matter where we are in life, God loves us more than we can comprehend.  He will never abandon us and it is never too late to come unto Christ.  

2 Nephi 28:32 "Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of Hosts! For notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts."

I apologize because I didn't take many pictures this week.  I will send the few that I have later on in the day and I promise I'll have more next week.

I'm sorry if this email seems a bit jumpy and unstructured.  It's been a jumpy and unstructured week so I guess it's only fitting.  I want all of you to know that God loves you.  I know, without a doubt in my mind, that Jesus lives.  I love you all so much.  Have a great week and look for small opportunities to serve the people around you.

Much love,

Elder Poulsen

Missionary trainer  

President and Sister Clark  

Week 3: 2 Nephi 31:20

Happy Monday everyone!

This week was pretty slow at first, because of the white wash situation.  God didn't let that affect anything.  We were able to find 4 new investigators.  It doesn't even feel like we did anything.  We were just doing what we were supposed to be doing.  Just like how Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes, He multiplies our efforts if we give everything we have and put faith in Him.  All things are possible through Christ if we trust in Him.  He knows how to succor us.  I know that this is true with all the energy of my soul.  Have a great week!

Much love,

Elder Poulsen

Week 2: Tide Pods and Goodbyes

The day is fast approaching.  I leave for the Promised Land of Orlando, Florida on Monday morning.

These couple of weeks have flown by, but at the same time it feels like I've been gone for months.  There have been great experiences and discouraging experiences.  I have felt a physical, mental, and spiritual exhaustion like never before in my life.  Surges of excitement, joy, and exhilaration.  My emotions have ranged from feeling like I could conquer the world, to feeling more inadequate and worthless than I ever have.  There have been sporadic feelings of frustration, glee, hopelessness, and enlightenment.  Missions really are the definition of an emotional roller coaster.  

One of our teachers, Brother Pratt said something that hit me hard.  He said "If you think your job is to teach people the gospel, you're dead wrong.  The Spirit teaches.  Your purpose is to help others come closer to Jesus Christ."  He's exactly right.  We are not teachers.  We are guides.  My purpose is to love everyone and testify of our Savior.

One experience I had this week was when Elder Riggs and I were doing a practice discussion with a teacher.  We went through it and the feedback we got was not good.  I questioned myself for a while.  I felt so deflated and worthless.  Later that night we had a devotional where President M. Russell Ballard came and did a Q&A.  One of the questions that a missionary had was "How can we obtain more confidence?"  He said "Have faith, take it day by day, and put trust in the Lord.  Don't be hard on yourself.  Don't go down the doubt road, go down the trust road."  This gave me some strength.  I can't doubt myself.  I know that I am far from perfect.  To be quite candid, I am not a good missionary, but Christ will be my guide.  "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4:13

Yesterday, we had a new district come into our zone.  The branch president called Elder Riggs and me to be Zone Leaders on Sunday so we had the opportunity to show the new missionaries around.  I told them some things that I felt were important.  I've only been here for a couple of weeks.  I don't know all the answers and I'm less than qualified to give advice, but I feel like these things have helped me.  First, I told them that they are representing Christ and they should act like it.  Always do the right thing even if no ones watching.  It's such an honor to carry His name next to our hearts.  Second, I told them to try their hardest, 100%, day in and day out, and they will be successful missionaries no matter what happens.  Third, I told them to enjoy it.  Don't be hard on yourselves.  Laugh through hard times.  Make lasting friendships with the people you meet, and love them, just as Christ would.  I believe this applies to everyone, not just missionaries.

There was something hard this week that I didn't think would be a big deal.  I had to say goodbye to my best friend on Sunday.  We sat next to each other during a devotional that night and watched a spiritual movie afterwards.  He came over to my residence to take a picture, we said "Godspeed", and then he was gone.  He left for Cincinnati the next morning.  The built up stress of missionary work, worry about family, and a knowledge that I won't see him for 2 years eventually came out.  I cried for the first time in the MTC later that night.  Even though we won't see each other for 2 years, we'll never lose the special bond we built throughout high school.

It's strange how we grow close to people.  I've only been with my district for 2 weeks but they are my family.  I love them so much and it will be so hard to say goodbye to them.  Wednesday night, we said goodbye to one of our teachers, Brother Bronson.  I could write an entire email about him.  He's so intelligent with the gospel.  We've learned so much from him and I can feel the love he has for the missionaries and God.

The longer I'm here, the more I know that I'm supposed to be in Orlando.  The adversary has been working hard on me, but I still push through with the help of Christ.  

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." - Ether 12:27

Have a great week!  

Much love,

Elder Poulsen

It's amazing what entertains you 

when you don't have a phone

Last time seeing Elder Santistevan

I met another Elder Poulsen

Don't worry, I didn't eat any

Our district with Brother Bronson

Our district with our Branch President

Week 2: Luke 22:42

In all of the pain and turmoil we go through, sometimes it's hard to find peace and comfort.  

I always find it hard to have faith when I don't see the light at the end of the tunnel.  When I think about faith, I sometimes make the mistake of thinking that it is the act of trusting in God, that He will give you what you are praying for.  This week I've rewired my brain to think differently.  Faith, for me, is knowing God's will and being at peace with it.

As cliché as it sounds, God has a plan.  He knows us and knows what we need.  His timing is not a coincidence.  When we learn to trust in God's timing, I know that we'll be happy, even if our world seems to be crashing down.

I listened to a talk by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, called Grateful in Any Circumstances.  He talks about having a grateful heart no matter what our circumstances are.

"It might sound contrary to the wisdom of the world to suggest that one who is burdened with sorrow should give thanks to God.  But those who set aside the bottle of bitterness and lift instead the goblet of gratitude can find a purifying drink of healing, peace, and understanding... 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."

I know that life is not easy, and sometimes there's nothing we can do about it.  However, if we put our faith in God, believe that everything will work out, and always have a grateful heart, we will be happy.

"If you do your best, it will all work out.  Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future.  The Lord will not forsake us." - President Gordon B. Hinckley

Have a great week, and remember that God loves you with an infinite love.

Much love,

Elder Poulsen

My Travel Information for March 12th

Greetings Elder Poulsen:

Your training at the Provo MTC is nearing completion. We hope you have found your time here inspiring and productive.

Attached you will find your itinerary for travel to your mission. Please read over the information carefully. The attachment includes your airline(s) and flight information along with luggage allowances. We recommend forwarding this information to your family so they will know your travel plans.

There is no need to print this itinerary. Please note the check out time and you will receive a copy of the itinerary when you depart.

If you have questions, please come to the Travel Office in S2-119 between the hours of 8:00am-5:00pm, Monday through Friday.

Sincerely,

MTC Travel Team