Personal Progress

July 20, 2015

This week is what I would call my week of personal progress. 

For starters my companion sprained her ankle on Monday and so we spent all day Monday in the house and I called about 40 people on the list of contacts trying to find. We didn't have much success with that, but I learned that really it takes work to find the chosen ones because they don´t just randomly come to you. 

My companion couldn't walk and wanted to stay in all day Tuesday and I probably should have let her, but we had 3 set appointments (which hasn't happened all cambio) so I made her work, but we didn't walk that much and we did all our daily contacts in the bus stop. We went to visit Constanza (18 years old). She is listening to her aunt who is evangelica and she really likes how the Evangélica Church works. We told her that she can´t judge us because she has never been to the LDS church. Sadly she went on vacation this weekend and couldn't come. Really I am praying that we can find her again tonight. We invited her to pray and she prayed with her brother who is 9 and sister who is 6. 

I fasted this week to be able to find. Hermana Evenson fasted the day after me and they found a family to teach. It is hard to be super excited for them when I am fasting and praying and working and not seeing the results. But really it is amazing and they have a baptism this Saturday!!! Pray for Jorge!!! 

My companion and I really did the best we could this week. I spent an hour each day calling people to visit. I called all the antiguos and the futuros and the miembros and practically everyone in the cell phone! and guess what!!! We have a couple citas fijas esta semana!!! WooHoo!! I am really amazed that I could do it! I have been doing all the contacts and the ones of my companion too because she has been having health problems. It is really exhausting. Every night I just want to come home, plan, and sleep hahaha. I really love working hard. I feel like if I am not giving it my all then I am losing the blessings that Heavenly Father could give me!

Really we have seen the blessings of the Lord this week. I know the potential that I have to do the work. I was able to teach in unity with my companion this week. I am not going to lie, this cambio has been really hard. I miss Bulnes, Hermana Gonzalez and having the confidence to teach. Here it has been an adjustment working with another companion and trying to learn a new sector and the members and the language. But really the hand of the Lord is in my life. I know the streets. I know the people. I know the language. I know how to feel the spirit. I have been praying to have the gift of discernment and It really does work. I can find the needs of the people!!! And we haven´t had tons of opportunites to teach new people, but I know that Heavenly Father has been teaching me and preparing me to do His work here. I know that there are people waiting. I know that if I pray for His Help and HUMBLE myself that I will find them.

That is why this is my week of progression. I know the person the Lord wants me to become. And as I give myself fully to Him, He will change me. 

I finished reading el Libro de Mormon en ESPANOL!!! Now I am starting to read D&C and the lessons in PMG again. Really PMG is inspired! I am part of the greatest force of missionaries in the world!!! I am part of the "great and marvelous work" .

Les Amo!!! Mas que puedan comprender!!!!

Hermana Poulson

Miracles of a Mission

July 13, 2015

There is an awesome talk by Elder Holland about the miracles of missions and missionaries. I have read this talk over and over this past week. I may not be seeing the success of my mission now. But I know that it is changing me for good. I have a stronger testimony and I know who I want to be.

 

Its hard not to think about success in the number of baptisms you have or the number of investigators you are teaching....It is hard to not focus on all the numbers of a mission. Each week when we rendir cuentas(account) I feel like I am doing nothing. But each night when I rendir cuentas al Senor Yo sé que estoy haciendo todo que puedo. Y esto es lo que Él quiere. No importa los numeros. But each night when I account to the Lord I know I'm doing everything I can. And this is what He wants. No matter the numbers. My prayers have become more meaningful and more powerful. I really know there is a power of prayers. And when you are praying to follow the will of our Heavenly Father and you are trying to align your will with His, that is when the miracles come.

 

Really this sector is hard. And not because the members aren't helping. I feel like I just haven´t found the people prepared to hear the message. We haven´t found anyone that could really progress. And in reality we haven´t had a first lesson in about 2 weeks. The other investigators that were here when I got here have all died as investigators. The menos activos that we have been working so hard to bring back have chosen not to follow the Lords counsel. 

This mission has changed me. I am a different person now. I am so much more than I was before. I am Hermana Poulson 2.0... I can´t think about the missionaries that go inactive after their mission. They have seen the hand of God in their lives. They have testified with every ounce of energy that this is the only true Church on the Earth. 

Here is the fun stuff that happened: RAIN. Like never before. I have learned nothing is waterproof. We had a fast for rain. All of South America. And it was the hardest thing to fast for, I like the dry climate...I am not a fan of the rain.

We had a zone activity with Talcahuano Sur. We played soccer and volleyball, all the elders were amazed that I played soccer. I hate the girly girl stereotypes;) That was pretty much the best. My comp sprained her ankle and so we will see if we can work this week. The zone leaders and I bbq´d a bunch of sausages! like 30 and we had a party with the 2 zones. I really love the bond we have as missionaries. 

I am loving the mission. Like I said, we haven´t been having "success" but we are doing all we can to be the servants the Lord needs us to be. 

Con MUCHO MUCHO MUCHO amor,

Hermana Poulson

Chi Chi Chi Le Le Le VIVA CHILE

July 6, 2015

Yeah so all that really happened this week was Copa America craziness. Chile beat Argentina for the Copa America final on PK's. Saturday we watched the game for like 3.5 hours...the most TV that I have ever watched in the mission. The members all laughed at me because I knew more about soccer and started telling the people what to do in English, so I repented and told them what to do in Spanish. haha

I miss you guys and all the fun stuff you are doing in summer. Please continue to have fun!! Really I am having fun here without you guys;) I am excited for Grandma!! (Todd's mom is going on a mission to the Orem, Utah mission and leaves next month.) That is so crazy! I love the mission and there are so many blessings from serving!

This week was seriously the greatest. We had Zone Conference on Tuesday, President and Hermana Arrington came. Hermana Arrington spoke to us about the power of Attitude in the mission and the importance to talk to everyone and really listen. We never know what someone is going through and what they need in that moment. Really I felt the spirit so strong. We don´t know the situations of the people. And for as many people as reject us on a daily basis we need to have the faith that there is at least one person who is waiting to receive this message.

President spoke to us about something VERY IMPORTANT. Really I feel like it was revelation specifically for me (haha I know I am selfish right?) I have been praying super super hard for the past week to be able to learn how to Trust in the Spirit and how to teach by the spirit. Really I don't know why I struggle so much. I don´t feel confident in my abilities which I have learned weakens my ability to teach by the spirit. He said so many profound words. I have no doubt that this is the True Church and that our leaders receive revelation specifically for us in our sectors. This is by far the greatest quote from him: "Are we willing to pay the price to have the spirit with us? If we really give everything we have and place everything on the altar there is nothing that can deny the Holy Ghost from being with us." BOOM that is power. 

We then broke out and did little practices. We worked in groups of 3. Guess who was in my group?! Elder Palacio who was in Bulnes with me when I was born. He said that my Spanish has GREATLY improved since my first day there. Haha it was fun. I still get scared to teach others cuz I feel like they will judge me and that I don´t know enough about the gospel or Spanish. Haha I think I worry too much. Anyways so after the practice President said that he would choose a pair of missionaries to come to the front and teach him. He called on....ME!!!!  I died in my seat. I could feel my face go bright red. I can´t teach!!!! But when we got up there and started talking I could teach.  A MIRACLE of the Mission. 

After the conference I had a mini cambio with the sisters in Hualpen. Hermana Velasquez and Hermana Kinkade. I went to Hualpen. IT IS HUGE. I died at the size of Indpendencia. But I died even more to see the size of their sector. I can´t believe all the work here in the mission. Really there are so many people that need the gospel. I am working hard to find. I know that Heavenly Father has prepared people to receive the gospel. I just need to do everything I can to find them. 

I will leave you with my testimony. Yo sè que este es la iglesia de Jesucristo de los santos de los Ultimos Dias. Estoy muy agradecida por la oportunidad que tengo a compartir el Evangelio con todos los personas. Quizàs no soy perfecta o la mejor misionera, pero por medio de Jesucristo yo tengo la oportunidad a mejorar cada dia. Yo he experimentado las bendiciones del evangelio en mi vida y quiero ayudar a todos a recibir las mismas. LES QUIERO MUCHISIMO!!! I know this is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to share the gospel with all people. Maybe I'm not perfect or the best missionary, but through Jesus Christ I have the opportunity to improve every day. I have experienced the blessings of the gospel in my life and I want to help everyone to receive the same. I LOVE THEM!!!

 tenga una buena semana con mucho animo, (Have a good week, with much encouragement)

Hermana Poulson

I have the BEST FAMILY in the WORLD! I hope you loved my package!!! it wasn't much but its the life of a poor missionary ;)