3 Months

I love you guys!! I am realizing just how much I love you each week. Sometimes I just need a Pday to be able to sit and think about my family! I miss y´all but seriously I am too busy to ever have time to think about myself! Which I think is perfect because I love thinking about other people and how to help them.

So Bulnes is really awesome! I spent all day today on a Bus to Conce because I am getting my tooth fixed here.

Funny Story...so you know how I felt sketchy about the dentists in Bulnes...well I had good reason to be. They just went in and shaved off half my tooth! Yeah so now I am here in Conce with real dentists getting it fixed. I am still mad about that but I am learning to just deal with it.

 

This week was crazy! It rained all day Tuesday! So now I know that my rain coat and rain skirt work. I just didn't have an umbrella...hahaha oh the joys of being poor ;) Just kidding!! We decided it was raining because the angels were sad that the Elders left Bulnes! :)

Friday, I had a mini cambio with the Sister Trainers Hermana Antillon came to Bulnes and we worked here. It was surprising! We actually had lessons with everyone and we found 3 new investigators! One they came through contacting the day before! They are super Bakan and ready to have the gospel I can just feel it!!!! I am still waiting for the people that have been prepared, it is frustrating when they don't progress....but I know that this is trying my faith.

We have Noche de Hogars with converts every week and then a branch NDH every Sunday. It is super fun to get to know the members. There is a 22 year old convert named àngel!!! He is so cool, even though all he does is make fun of the way I talk! I just have learned to laugh it off. I will always have a Gringa Accent;) But seriously my Spanish is coming along well, I am able to make phone calls and talk to pretty much anyone!!! I know the gift of tongues is real!! I have noticed that the days I don´t do language study or read the Book of Mormon in Spanish I REALLY CAN¨T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE!!!!

My advice to everyone is to go back and read the conference talks!! With conference coming up I can´t wait to hear the Prophet! I GET TO WATCH IT IN ENGLISH ON A LAPTOP!!!! I AM FREAKING EXCITED!!!

I read a talk from April 2014,  Your Four Minutes. I want to share a part with you.  "you trained and prepared to come to earth for a brief moment and, well, perform. This life is your four minutes. While you are here, your actions will determine whether you win the prize of eternal life." 

"IN a sense your four minutes have already begun. The clock is ticking."

"what do i need to do to ensure my medal?...Whatever it may be do it now. Don´t wait. Your four minutes will pass quickly, and you´ll have eternity to think about what you did in this life."

"it it not to late to repent. But it soon may be, because no one really knows when your four minutes will be over."

And that is my spiritual thought for the week. You never know when your time will be up. Everyday you need to think about what you are doing and how you can ensure your GOLD MEDAL!!! 

THIS IS OUR MOMENT TO PERFORM! THIS IS OUR FOUR MINUTES! THE TIME IS NOW!!!!

Love you all :)

Love,

Hermana Poulson

YO SE QUE VIVE MI SENOR!

Cambios

March 23, 2015

I have been out for 6 weeks and I honestly love it. It is super hard some days. Everyday I have people telling me that they have their religion and they don´t need the Devil. There are members here that don't like me because I don´t speak with the spirit and they can´t understand me. But honestly I don´t think I would be doing anything else. 

I have learned so much out here and have such greater appreciation for the missionaries and for Jesus Christ. I feel so grateful for this opportunity to represent him. I didn't really think about that before I left. I really am representing Jesus Christ. For all he has done for me I need to do this for him. I think the thing that has changed the most is my love and my relationship with the Savior and with our Heavenly Father. As I testify that he lives and loves us, I feel the power of those words and they have changed my life. 

Well this week was CAMBIOS!!!! I couldn't sleep last night. I wasn't worried for myself at all. I knew I would be here in Bulnes. (we have this inside joke with the missionaries and the Ward Mission Leader that we are MISSION BULNES!!! Every missionary has either been born here or is here for 6 months 4 cambios) We are MIssion Bulnes!!! Anyways with Cambios this week here are the changes: They closed the Sector of Elders. Elder Palacio and Elder Allen are both leaving. It is just the 4 Hermanas: Lino, Godown, Canchan, Poulson. It is going to be super hard and super sad to say bye to the Elders. And our Rama will really struggle with losing them. They trust the Elders so much. They love the Hermanas but it just isn't the same. 

I am doing better at the language. I am able to participate in the lecciones more and its really getting better I promise! I am praying for the Gift of Tongues DAILY!!! And I have learned that if I don´t pray for it, and I don´t do language study that day and don´t read the LDM in Spanish, then I seriously CAN¨T SPEAK with anyone.

Yesterday was Ward Conference...I mean Branch Conference. The Stake Pres came and spoke a lot about strenghtening the Rama. How it isn't the responsibility of the missionaries to grow the Rama and make it a Barrio. I wholeheartedly agree. We need members to catch the vision of the mission too!! I hope this hits them and they actually do something!:) Oh and side note, the music leader said that I drive the spirit away and she won´t lead the music or come to Church if I play the piano....so I guess my career and Branch Organist is now terminated.

If you guys wanna see what my mission is really like I think there is a church video called like 5000 days Project. There is a story about 2 brothers: The Nelsons. One of them got called to my mission. Watch the video and know that is EXACTLY HOW I FEEL!!!!!

Anyways sorry for my scattered thoughts this week....I promise I will be better next week.

My advice to you is to read the conference talks again. I love conference so much and we are truly blessed to have living prophets in the latter days. This Church is TRUE

Mucho Amor, 

Hermana Poulson

New Roommates

March 16, 2015

This has been one week to remember! It was simply amazing to have the newbie conference and be there with President & Sister Arrington! I have so much love and respect for them and their calling. I was told once that you are called to the mission where you can help the people and where the Mission President can help you the most. I truly believe that. They have given me hope and a love for the mission and who Heavenly Father needs me to be. 

I struggle sometimes because I am a perfectionist. It is really hard and I am being humbled everyday. I still get discouraged when the members tell me I should know Spanish by now. I still get discouraged when everyone says they can´t understand me. I don´t know what else to do but pray and study the language more. I wish they all knew how hard it was to learn a new language!!! I love my area though, I had a cool experience this week where I really felt guided by the Holy Ghost. I was teaching a member who had TONS of doubts about the church and how to know what was from God and what was from Satan.I knew this scripture in English and I was trying to think of what to say. Then I had this thought: " You don´t need to think about what to say. I will say it for you." I just started speaking and sharing this scripture. She started getting emotional and I did too because I had only a little tiny idea of what I was saying. It really wasn't me speaking. The spirit was speaking through me. She told me personally at the end of the lesson that she really needed to hear what I said. She loves me now!! I have a member who actually likes me, even though I don´t know her language or anything perfectly!!!

Sad news, Eric died this week.....(dying is when they aren't investigating anymore!) Funny story when we called to tell the DL what happened he was like " Oh no!!! Did he get hit by a car?! When did this happen?! Are you with his family now?!" And we were like "no Elder!!! He died in investigating!" It made the whole experience a little less depressing:)

This has been the best week ever!! I went to Concepcion for the Conference for the New Missionaries. I saw Elders Evelo, Kingsford, & Holt and Hermana Burnham, and Long!!!! I seriously miss them soooooo much!!! They became my family in the CCM and it was so hard to say goodbye. But so good. I am jealous, some of them get to see each other and other missionaries like everyday! And I am seriously out in the boonies living in a house with 10 bats and a thousand and a half stray dogs! 

The conference was so good! Like I said I loved being with President and Sister Arrington. I just love them soooo much! I had an interview with them and they gave us tons of advice on how to be a better missionary. I can´t tell you everything they said but I can tell you that OBEDIENCE is the Key to Everything!!!!! Think about the story of Nephi and Laman. They had the same experiences and saw the same Angel! But why do we remember Nephi? Because he was obedient. He did what the Lord commanded. Sidenote: when he followed the spirit he has able to complete the Lords errand. His ideas were good, but we really need to do things the Lords way with HIS spirit!!!

This was my week! It has been super Becan and I can´t wait to have another week here in BULNES!!!! 

Love you all,

Hermana Poulson

Faithing Your Fears

This week has been a week of fears!! We came up with the phrase "faithing your fears!!!" I thought it was pretty clever! This week has been a week to remember. So you know my piano story...well it happened again so now I am terrified of playing piano ever again in this rama...But I faithed my fear and played yesterday and I did awesome sightreading! I am truly blessed everyday.

Second: I HATE grasshoppers!!! And we literally got attacked by them! I convinced my companion to go running for our exercise time. We go in this empty field and since it is fall down here guess what lives in the dying grass?!?!? GRASSHOPPERS!! I was literally almost crying! I hate this stupid creature of the devil!!!

Third: So before I got here our house had an incident with mice poop falling in the beds of the other hermanas. So they evacuated the room and are now relocated in the main floor. Hna Canchan and I live in the room upstairs. I have been smelling this NASTY smell every time we walk in the house. We called the senior couple in charge of housing and they came to visit us. They inspected the room and it is actually BATS and MICE and RATS!!! Ewwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!

Fourth: along with the bats, the gas that we use to heat the water doesn't have an escape route...!

Fifth: I am terrified of heights! That is why I decided that Heavenly Father made me short;) For p day today we went to the waterfall in Yungay!!!! IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!!! I sat on the edge and seriously almost died from terrifiedness, But I loved it!! There wasn´t much water as it is the end of summer here...but Still Breathtakingly Beautiful!!!

This is why we must Faith our Fears! Miracles happen and Faith ALWAYS trumps fears:)

This week really went by fast! We haven´t had much success in Bulnes yet, but I have faith that we can find people! We found a family, but they have tons of problems. I know the gospel can help them so much! And they already see a change in their life! I am seriously praying harder than ever that they will be strong in the gospel!

Sorry My time is cut short this week. Just know I love my mission and I love BULNES!!! VIVE CHILE!!!!!!

Love,

Hermana Poulson

Domingo Rapido

March 2

NO in reality it was really slow. I am used to not eating dinner or a big breakfast so fast Sundays really aren't that bad. This week was better than last week. There is hope for me!

Tuesday we went to Chillàn for interviews with the President. It was so cool! He is one of the most amazing people I have met. I can´t wait to get tot know him and Hermana Arrington these next couple months. They are so cute and I had a great talk with Hermana Arrington. She has been here 18 months and still doesn't speak Spanish. She is really quiet and sweet. President told me not to worry about my Spanish and that I was really good. He said if I was exactly obedient in my studies that I would learn fast and by the end of this cambio I could speak and teach lessons. So that was pretty cool. He reminded us that obedience brings blessings but EXACT OBEDIENCE brings miracles.

Wednesday and Thursday were normal days of service. We talk and walk all day. We had lessons with E this week. He is not smoking as much so that is a good sign. We found a less active lady and Saturday we are painting her house. I love service!!! Oh the cool thing this week is that I was able to play soccer. It is against mission rules to play sports with members so we called the DL and ZL and got permission to play with some investigators. There were like 15 investigators there!!!!!! and they are like "Gringas don´t know how to play soccer. This is easy." But man did I show them!! I scored goals and it was so funny! I absolutely LOVE playing soccer. They were great and we are playing and teaching a message again Friday! Who knew that soccer would be my way of teaching and getting others to listen.

Friday we have classes de ingles. Elder Allen and I taught English to the other missionaries and it was super Becán!! (BECAN is a Chilean word meaning super awesome!!!!) Hermana Godown was on a mini cambio with the sister training leaders. So I was the only gringa in the casa with 3 latinas. they talk really fast....but I can understand a little so i didn't feel totally left out:)

Saturday we did service from 10-2. Best part of my week! We helped clear land to lay cement for her house and then we painted the outside of her house. We wore these crazy white and orange jumpsuits...the looked like prison getup. Hahaha I will have to send the pictures!!! 

Miracle of the week!!! We found a family last Sunday and they didn't have much of a belief in God. They aren't married but are living together and have like 6 kids. She has a previous marriage i think. Haha I still struggle understanding the situation. But we met with them twice this week and they came to church! and it was fast Sunday! and they felt the spirit and have a baptismal date!!!!! I know baptisms aren't important, but usually people don´t listen or don´t want us to come back so this is SUPER BECAN!!!!

Sunday I had to play the piano again. I am eternally grateful that you guys made me take piano lessons. I had to play a song that I have never played before and it is really frustrating when you play for the first time, especially on a dinky little keyboard. I kinda got depressed because the music leader came up to me in the middle of sacrament meeting and said that it would be better if I didn't play the piano.....I didn't cry, but I sure did feel like it!!! I bore my testimony. I don´t think they understood me but I did it anyway!

Anyways that is my week! I love you guys so much!

Chile week 2

Feb 23

This week has been hard....I am not going to lie and say it was easy...I am learning so much everyday and I am loving this opportunity. Spanish is HARD. But guess what! I can understand what people are saying...like 20% of the time! Which is way more than last week!

This week we weren't able to get many appointments and those that we did have fell through. But even though it was hard it was still a good week. I think Heavenly Father is still preparing people! We found a cute little family but the couple isn't married. THE GOSPEL IS FOR THEM THOUGH! I can't wait until Saturday when we can teach them again. Oh and our investigator E, the guy that smokes, came to church! We recommitted him to Baptism and hopefully this month it will happen. He didn't smoke last week- Which is an incredible blessing because he goes through a pack a day. He really is progressing!!! This is my favorite part of my mission: seeing the changes in people. I know Heavenly Father loves them and will help them. 

So far that is about all I know how to say in Spanish, that I know Heavenly Father lives and loves them and Has a plan for them. 

We had a special conference withe members of the seventy! It was so incredible. Of course it was all in Spanish but i understood the general idea. It was about being a PMG missionary and increasing our faith. Read Elder Bednar's talk in the Oct 2013 Ensign. It changed my life and my perspective on missionary work and my purpose.

Sister Arrington shared a story with us about her friend that was called to speak German. He got the lowest score of anyone to take the language test. The MTC President told him that he could chose any English speaking mission and they would send him there. He went and prayed. He went to the MTC President the next day and told him that he would be going to his mission, speaking German. He told the President that "Whom the Lord calls the Lord qualifies. I know I don´t speak German, but Heavenly Father wouldn't call me here if he didn't trust in me." The Lord believes in our abilities and talents. He knows where we need to be and why. He knows us better than we know ourselves and He will do His part to help us succeed if we do our part. 

Sister Arrington said this " Sometimes we think we should be perfect missionaries because we are doing the work of the Lord and because we have his power with us. This is true, but also think of his purpose. He helps us become perfect, but we can´t become perfect if we don´t try and experience trials that help us grow."

This has been and will continue to be my motto. ¨The times that are the hardest are the times we grow the most. And those are the times we are going to look back on and remember how blessed we are and how strong we can be." 

Even if the food makes me sick and I can't speak the language, and there are more dogs than people ( I made a count and Wednesday alone I saw 73 dogs!!!) I know I can do this with Heavenly Fathers help! I love you! I miss you like crazy!

Love,

Hermana Poulson

Bienvenidos Chile!

Feb 16th

Alright I will keep it short!

This week has been a week of mixed emotions. I said goodbye to all my friends in the CCM and I was on a plane for 13 plus hours....and I got 0 hours of sleep...Monday and Tuesday were kind of a blur, but it was so good! I landed in Chile and we met our mission President and his wife! They are seriously the BEST!! I can´t wait to get to know them more these next couple months.

My companion´s name is Hermana Canchán. She is from Guatemala and she is finishing up her mission with ME! She is super nice and very patient with me and my Spanish. I had a rude awaking this week when I realized I don't speak the language. You know that moment in the Best two years when Elder Calhoun hears Dutch for the first time and says "this is not the language they taught me in the MTC" yeah that pretty much describes my thoughts exactly. It has been crazy. They speak so fast. And then there is the drunks...they speak slower but it is so blurred that I can´t understand it either...Jajajaja there is no hope for me:) 

I am serving in BULNES!!! It is a campo, not in Concepcion. It was exactly what i wanted: I wanted to go outside the city and teach humble people. And that´s exactly where Heavenly Father called me. I love it here. Its tiny and poor but so great. The members are so nice. I am in a tiny branch (80 people but only 50 come) I get to play the piano which is really a dinky little keyboard. It is so cute. We had a couple investigators this week named E and S. Also we met this really cool lady named Izabel and we had two amazing lessons with her. She believed every word we said but she didn't want to agree to be baptized! I was so frustrated!!!! I seriously wanted to take away her agency for a minute and make her join the church because I know it will help her so much! 

Just kidding we need agency. I am so glad we didn't follow Satan's plan. Speaking of Satan, I really don´t like him. He knows how to get me. It has been so hard and I am so frustrated because I don´t know what people are saying. If I do understand I have no idea how to respond. It drives me crazy. Sometimes I just want to cry and give up. Like seriously it would be so easy to just go home and stuff. But then I read the letter my President put in our white packet. I wish I had it here so I could show you. It just gave me so much comfort. He said it takes every missionary about 3 months to get the reality stage of their mission. and that it is a challenge for every missionary who has to learn another language. He said to keep praying and know you are never alone. Yeah I really needed that. One day I will be able to speak Spanish and be able to talk to people.

The food is exactly how they described it...oily to the max! I have seriously, not even joking, gained 6 lbs this week...  They cook everything with oil and my stomach is having a hard time adjusting to this food... 

And the dogs! If I counted all the stray dogs I saw you would probably die! Just on the walk to church I saw 17...and our walk is only like 20 minutes. haha so we walk so much. I have to tell you a funny story. So my feet have like 3 blisters and I lost my duct tape so I had nothing to protect them. I said a pray and Then I remembered that we had pass along cards. I folded up the one with Jesus knocking on the door. And guess what! My feet were saved! Jesus LITERALLY saved me! I hope that isn´t sac-religious or anything!;)

FAMILY: I loved hearing your voice. I am surprised you could understand me through all the tears. I wish I could see you all so much! I am not super homesick because I am too worried to be homesick but just know that I love you and think about you all the time. Thank you for the cute valentines pictures. You are adorable and I miss you so much! I hate asking you to pray for me, but this is really hard here in Chile...I know the power of prayers! I pray for you all the time:)

jajaja that is my week. Sorry I am running out of time. They only give us and hour instead of an hour an a half....But just know I love you guys and I feel the power of your prayers.