Bonus Weeks! Los Catalas are amazing!

July 4, 2016

well i don´t have time today I have lots of stuff to do. here is a summary of my week.

monday - PDAY we went shopping and went to hang out with the hermanas of our house. it was relaxing. 

tuesday - we had minimcambio. i went to BULNES it was a blast. wow....17 months ago that was my first home....now I am freaking old....

wednesday - we just worked real hard. We have knocked over 100 doors this week. we knock at least 25 every day. It's been a rough week to work with members or to find people. 

thursday - we went to CONCEPCION to get to know Presidente Catala. Ellos son INCREDIBLE!!! I am bummed that I´ll only know them for a week or so. 

Friday - we had tons of citas and worked really hard again. We have been finding lots of people just they need to progress. We had a mexican night as our ward party and ate tacos. 

Saturday - Conference of the Catalas. We met up, all the zones that aren´t close to conce to get to know Presidente. It was a blast. They are so amazing. I got to see many of my friends for the last time. We also saw so many miracles today. Even the contacts were unusually nice. We found JOSE my favorite old man in the world. He accpeted fecha and came to church! He shared with missionaries in santiago about 50 years ago when the first missionaries came to chile and he liked the church until they told him he couldn´t take the sacrament. But it's okay we helped him. 

Sunday - well it was the sabbath so of course it was nice. we were able to bring Jose and he had a really spiritual experience. He wants the priesthood and wants to go to church every sunday. See miracles do happen your last weeks in the mission. 

Well I will have more next week, as it will be my last email as a missionary . wow that was pretty depressing.

Somos Campeones y Misioneros, Chao Arringtons

June 27, 2016

Well it's been a crazy, spiritually uplifting week. I have been so blessed. I had my last interview with Presidente Arrington...let me just say it was a sad, but good experience at the same time. He is so amazing and so simple. It has been such a blessing to work with him. He helped me to realize all that I have done and all that I can continue to do here in the mission and despues. (after).  Wow I just can´t believe time flies so fast. I feel like just yesterday I got here and now president will be leaving.

This week we also had the Good Bye conference for them. It was crazy! The night before we had 14 Hermanas sleeping in our house! 14!!!!!! And if only you could see our house. It is TINY but cold. And it's winter and we had no blankets. It's okay we only all have frost bite now ;) But it was fun. We seriously had a slumber party in which no one really could sleep. I got to spend time with my companion from the CCM, Hermana Long, which was a much needed blessing. Also I saw my sweet little Herrara. Aww I miss them so much. 

In the Conference we listened to Presidente and Hermana Arrington, we watched two awesome videos. One that Hermana Arrington made, the other one that we made for the Arringtons. I pretty much killed it! It was so awesome and fun. I will miss them dearly, but at least I'm from Utah too, so I will be able to see them again. Presidente gave us final words of advise. He shared with us the scriptures que se encuenra en (that is located in) Alma 38, one of my FAVORITE Chapters in the Book of Mormon.

"2 And now, my son, I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end. 
3 I say unto you, my son, that I have had great joy in thee already, because of thy faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering among the (CHILEANS)
4 For I know that thou wast in bonds; yea, and I also know that thou wast stoned for the word’s sake; (OR THAT PEOPLE SLAMMED THE DOOR IN YOUR FACE OR REJECTED THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST)  and thou didst bear all these things with patience because the Lord was with thee; and now thou knowest that the Lord did deliver thee.5 And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day. 
6 Now, my son, I would not that ye should think that I know these things of myself, but it is the Spirit of God which is in me which maketh these things known unto me; for if I had not been born of God I should not have known these things."And what more of a testimony could anyone ask for. I am so blessed to have gotten to know los ARRINGTONS. And as much as I will miss them I am excited to meet los CATALA and learn from them.

Trunkiness has not overtaken me. Actually I still don't have anything ready to leave. And also I may have not gotten my visa done (hope you won't be mad if they make me stay in Chile ... BROMA) (JOKE)
I also want to end with a spirit insight I had. My companion and I were talking about what it means to be a leader. I honestly don´t feel like I am a great leader or that people should look to me as an example. And that's when we found the talk that Presidente had us read: The Greatest Leaders Are the Greatest Followers. Here is my FAVORITE part of the talk:

"If I were to ask you, “Who is the greatest leader who ever lived?”—what would you say? The answer, of course, is Jesus Christ. He sets the perfect example of every imaginable leadership quality.But what if I were to ask you, “Who is the greatest follower who ever lived?”—wouldn’t the answer again be Jesus Christ? He is the greatest leader because He is the greatest follower—He follows His Father perfectly, in all things.The world teaches that leaders must be mighty; the Lord teaches that they must be meek. Worldly leaders gain power and influence through their talent, skill, and wealth. Christlike leaders gain power and influence “by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned.”....There will be times when the path ahead seems dark, but keep following the Savior. He knows the way; in fact, He is the way. The more earnestly you come unto Christ, the more deeply you will desire to help others experience what you have experienced. Another word for this feeling is charity, “which [the Father] hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ.” Then you will find that in the very act of following Christ, you are also leading others to Him, for in the words of President Thomas S. Monson, “As we follow that Man of Galilee—even the Lord Jesus Christ—our personal influence will be felt for good wherever we are, whatever our callings.”

That is what I want to share with you today. I will keep working hard. I just can't believe its almost come! I will have a more significant letter next week. LOVE YOU FAM!!!........con amor del país de los Campeones, (With love of the country of the Champions) (CHILE WON THE COPA AMERICA AGAIN THIS YEAR, SHE SAID THEY DIDN'T GET ANY SLEEP LAST NIGHT BECAUSE OF ALL THE CELEBRATING!!)Hermanita Poulson

Conversion and Change in Chillan

June 20, 2016

I have spent way too long trying to think of a clever way to start an email...but guess what? I guess there is never a way to start it....So this week was full of blessings. I don´t want to not be a missionary because I feel like my life is full of blessings. This week we worked really hard. We have been searching trying to find new people that progress. We have TONS of first lessons and then they all disappear. We are pretty much farmers because we are planting cualquier semilla! 

We saw lots of miracles with our converts. Like half of them have disappeared, they went on vacations or we tried calling them and they quite answering. But after a STRONG impression of the spirit we were able to find BRENDA!!!!! I was so happy. I have been so worried about her. She is so amazing and has the strongest testimony, but passed through a month of Trials and quit doing the church basics. We prayed and even fasted that we would be able to help our Converts and Heavenly Father answered our prayers. I think that is one of my favorite things about the mission, is that I can see how Heavenly Father answers us more. And the thing is that we don´t pray for us, we pray for them. Its been such a blessing to see the work progress here is Chillán. 

I had a minicambio with Hermana do Espíritu Santo. How sick is her name?!?!?! It was pretty good. The night before in planning we had the crazy idea (possibly the spirit??) that we should go to Crisol and work. el Crisol is like a creepy abandoned city. It looks like it belongs in a scary movie. I was always too scared to enter. But we did it. I got lost but we asked directions and found a way to enter houses. WE found a couple people. They were interesting. One old man had like 88 years. We tried teaching about the need to come unto Christ, even if you are old and about to die, but he was weird and started saying all the stuff that the Jehovah Witnesses say about us. And then he started singing an evangelica song. Then when we said the closing prayer he wanted to say it, but he said it in his head, so like 3 minutes later I just said AMEN and we left. Afterwords we died laughing.

 

We worked a lot with Jessenia. She got baptized yesterday. She is 10 and has lots of desires to do good. She is helping her mom to stop smoking and drinking tea. She also is just a really good example. Her mom is less active but still tries to do what is right. Before we started teaching them I went once with Hermana Romero. And after that I never wanted to go back. They always complained about the church and the things they couldn´t do because they were members. But then God really humbled them. And Jessenia was able to get baptized. She won't get confirmed for two weeks because I forgot that the next Sunday is stake conference...WOOPS;)

My life has been pretty crazy. There is so much I want to do. I just want to work as hard as I can for as long as I can. I know the only thing I can do is testify of the work. I was able to get a blessing on Tuesday morning to help me have more peace after the news that Ali passed away, and it was the best thing ever. I am so grateful for the Priesthood in my life. I have seen so many blessings this week. I am grateful for the chance to be here in the mission serving with all my HEART, MIGHT, MIND, and STRENGTH. 

I'm gonna keep working hard until the last minute. LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!!

Hermana Poulson

A week to remember

June 13, 2016

Wow. I don´t know what to say. I think that is why I am lost. So this week has been insanely fun! We have continued to teach REPENTANCE!!!!! And I love it! I have no idea how strong the spirit can be when you teach someone the process they need to do to get baptized or just change their life in general. It's amazing. 

This week was a little different. We had District class and I learned a lot about how to become a better missionary, I always learn something new. Elder Parker is a great DL. Then after I went on a mini cambio to Quillon. It's so pretty!! It reminds me a lot of Bulnes just a lot bigger. I got to work with Hermana Guymon, She is amazing. I tried not to stress her out too much ;) Just whenever we have mini cambios everything ends up falling through. It's a great learning experience and we all develop more patience. 

I made a trip down to Conce this week to have my FINISH STRONG training. LOVED it!!! I got to see Hermana Burnham and Hermana Long. It was great to see them and to hear how they are doing. I love them. It was weird not to see our elders....Ademas aprendí caleta acerca de las metas y lo que puedo hacer para terminar fuerte! (I learned about the goals and what I can do to finish strong) haha take that trunkiness!!!!

I have so many goals to help me become a better missionary. Hermana Veron and I made goals to improve and work harder. I just want to have one great month and help more and more people feel the Savior's love. 

After all the craziness that has happened it was great to have Zone class. I stressed a lot about what we would teach and how. We had to teach the other missionaries about repentance. I will attach the image we found. I just love Christs face! He has a perfect love! 

Also this week we had una clase de Hermanas. We prayed and thought about each Hermana and what they needed. We prayed some more and thought about the talk by Presidente Uchtdorf about Forget Me Nots. We found the talk and printed it our for the Hermanas Today we had our class and we felt the spirit so strong. I could feel the Love that Heavenly Father has for each of them. I can see the potential they have as missionaries and future leaders, and as moms and as faithful church members. The spirit helped us to realize that we are loved and that we are never forgotten. I received so much personal revelation. I love the spirit.

I just wanna end with my testimony. I know the gospel is true. I know that there is a plan of salvation. I know that as we pray to receive this knowledge we will feel the Holy Ghost. I know that the Atonement of Christ can lift every burden we have. I know that as we repent and live the gospel daily we will be blessed.

I am praying for the McCashlands. I have been crying for the past hour because I love Ali. It was so sad to hear that she died and it still isn´t real to me. She was my best friend for almost all my childhood. I know that I will be able to see her again and that death is NOT THE END. Please send my love to her family. 

con mucho amor, (with much love)

Hermana Poulson

p.s. I have learned that I have an addiction to Sushi...how weird is that? I have had sushi cravings all week so Saturday we bought some sushi. YUM!!!!!!(The first time she tried it, it made her sick for days)

Arrepentios Arrepentios

June 6, 2016

I just have no idea why time flies so fast! We have been working like crazy. I don´t know where the strength comes from. My companion is just killing it! I love working here with her. i am constantly humbled by her. She is such a Christ like example. We have grown a lot spiritually. Honestly it was hard when Hermana Romero left. I felt like I was doing it alone and that I had to step it up a lot to fill her shoes. But really we are teaching in unity and we are working hard, which is really the only thing I want to do right now.

I am constantly humbled by the circumstances of the members here. Recently we went to visit some members and share more with them. We applied the good old Como Comenzar a Enseñar. (how to begin to teach) And wow.....they all have struggles too. Heavenly Father trusts the missionaries so much. The members are passing through really difficult times. I feel bad that sometimes I got angry because they always canceled on us or didn´t want to go do visitas con nosotras. But I repented. 

Speaking of Repentance, I have been doing my personal studies about repentance and teaching boldly to prepare for Consejo con Presidente. (Council with President) I was reading examples about repentance. In almost every chapter of the Book of Mormon it talks about repentance or Christ. And that got me thinking about the importance of repentance. It isn´t just important for the people to prepare for baptism. It isn´t just important for the people who have committed serious crimes/sins. It's for all of us. I realized that I need to repent. Haha but really repentance is sooo crucial for our salvacion. 

En consejo hablamos de esto. Hablamos de la importancia de enseñar el principio de Arrepentimiento a los investigadores y prepararles para el bautismo y para hacer cambios en su vida. (In Council we talk about this. We talk about the importance of teaching the principle of repentance to investigators and to prepare them for baptism and to make changes in their life.) Wow I honestly felt the spirit so strong. It was awesome to listen to the Assistants teach and just feel all this spirituality. We did practices. I practiced with my Zone Leaders and wow...They teach really well together. We were able to see how calling people to repentance can really be a blessing. We talked about being BOLD. If you know me, I am timid...and shy. Sometimes I still freak out when we are in lessons for the first time. But don´t worry I have progressed a lot. We talked a lot about focusing on the commitments. That's the focus. We want them to progress we want them to have this repentance. 

And so here is the best part. This week we put in practice all we learned!!! Guess what!!! We had so much success!!! And we felt the spirit sooooo soooo sooo strong in the lessons. We taught a couple families and we found people that really needed to hear this message of repentance. We started teaching one investigator about the restoration and when we got to the compromisos he asked us when he could be baptized and how. WOW that was exactly what Presidente had promised us. I felt the spirit so strong. My companion felt the spirit so strong. la Hermana Fabiola, our member, felt the spirit sooooo strong. She told us afterwards that she loved going with us. 

Well i am out of time...sorry for the short kinda weird message of the week. I hope you learn something from what I have written. 

I love you sooooo much! Please don't be trunky! (She's calling me to repentance) Please Pray that I can PERSEVERAR HASTA EL FIN!!!!!

Love,

Hermana Poulson

After 17 months I have no idea of a creative title...

May 30, 2016

Well it seems like Cambios have come upon us. I am kinda glad this will be the last sleepless night, wondering if I would leave my sector. Thank heavens I am staying here with Hermana Veron. Last night we had one of the Hermanas that was going home stay with us, and Hermana Dominguez was called to be an Hermana Leader. And so the three of us couldn't sleep. We didn't know that we were all awake at 4 in the morning until one of the other Hermanas started talking in her sleep and we all started laughing. Oh I just love the little funny experiences of being a missionary. I always cry at cambios. I have made so many good friends here in the mission. And all the people I love start leaving....boooo. But it's okay. I know that one day I will see them all again. I feel like this cambio passed by really really really fast, maybe because Hermana Romero left me midcambio...but really I have no idea why time has to pass so fast.

 

This week was a wet one. We enjoyed our time in the rain. I am grateful that I have rain boots! And rain skirts! and an umbrella that doesn't open all the way;) Haha there's a funny story about that...I will tell you later;) But we have seen lots of miracles because of the rain. Sometimes people are nicer and they let you in because they see that you are freezing and wet. Other times they send you away because they see that you are freezing and wet and don´t want that in their house;) But it's okay. I have learned to LOVE the rain. 

So we are in the continual search for new souls to save. We have been able to find at least 10 new people every week, but when we try to find them again they never seem to be there...but it's okay we just are planting some seeds. We are working with a 9 year old and her mom to help reactivate her and baptize her daughter. They are sweet. I love teaching children, I feel like they can understand me more. Also we have been teaching a couple other people. Really we are just searching and praying everyday that we can find who God has prepared. Sorry it doesn't sound that interesting to you. 

This week we also had a couple ward activities. We had a HUGE Book of Mormon adventure. MY MIND WAS BLOWN!!!!! A guy from barrio Libertador came and explained how the Book of Mormon is true from a archaeological perspective. We visited (via google earth) and really all that Nephi says is true. There really was a place called Bountiful!!! Seriously it is BAKAN!!!!!(Awesome)

 

Then we had an activity of New Converts. It was crazy. We made like 100 sopapillas and pebre. I was in heaven!!!! And then NO ONE CAME! Only the Obispo (Bishop) and his counselors and their families and our Lider Misional and his wife, who is a CR. Que FOME!!!! Pero bueno. Disfrutè muchas sopapillas y aprendí como se siente ser converso de la iglesia. (But good. Enjoyed many sopapillas and learned how it feels to be a convert to the church.)

Sunday came around and I was asked to play the sacrament hymn. I hope this doesn't offend anyone...but Chileans cannot sing well. I was playing I Stand All Amazed. And they started singing the same song but with another melody. And so I tried to play louder, but it's a sacrament hymn. #chileanprobs #neveragain And then to make it all better I was asked to give a 15 minute talk about whatever topic I felt the ward needed. I feel like no one listens to me anyways so I started talking about how we need to be more like Christ and how he is our example. other funny story. I messed up words so I made one of those weird sounds to try to cover up my mistake. Afterwards Diego (the joven (youth) that reminds me SO MUCH of Derek) came up and said that I was the first missionary that has spoken in tongues in the sacrament meeting. Oh my. I cried laughing. At least I can learn to laugh at all the dumb things that happen to me;)

Well I don´t know what else to say other than that I love you and I am so grateful that I have the oportunidad de estar aquí en la misión y representar mi Salvador. Estoy tan agradecida por cada día en la misión. Sé porque estoy aquí. Aprendí que significa ser miembro de la iglesia de Jesucristo. Nunca saldré de ella. Sé lo que el Señor me ha mandado y en esto glorio.

Bueno voy a ayudarles a aprender español. Chao! Mando mucho amor y cariño de la tierra prometida de CHILLÁN!(opportunity to be here in the mission and represent my Savior. I am so thankful for each day in the mission. I know why I'm here. I have learned what it means to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. I will never leave it. I know that the Lord has sent me this glory/blessings. Well gonna help them learn Spanish. Chao! I send much love and affection from the promised land of CHILLAN!

Hermanita Poulson (la unica gringa de nuevo en la casa...voy a aprender español antes de terminar) (the only gringa back in the house... I'll learn Spanish before finishing)

Waiting on a Miracle

May 23, 2016

Like you all probably know by know I love miracles!!!! And this week we have seen so many that I have no idea what to do!!! Lets start with Monday! We slept!! That was a first because I feel like we are literally running all over the place stressing about so many things. But it was good to just relax. 

Tuesday we had a really great District class and learned about How to Begin teaching and how we can improve. The first lessons are SOOOOO vital to the life of an investigator. And we have seen an improvement this week. I love how God works. I then had a mini cambio with Hermana Diaz (brought back the Arise memories....oh no) She lived with me last cambio. I have stayed in my zone for all the mini cambios. But that's okay because I love my sector and all the members here...even when they bail on us last minute. 

Wednesday we just worked hard and found some new people. We are always finding. And that's a good thing.

 

Thursday we had a really great day with tons of citas fijas (fixed appointments) and tons of stuff to do. We were in a Trio with Hermana Dominguez because Hermana Cortèz went to Conce for the newbie conference. We had members to do divisions (splits)...and then (like always) the members cancelled. So we literally had 8 different citas fijas (fixed appointments) and there was no way to lograr todas estas citas.(to be able to achieve/reach all the appointments) Oh believe me I was stressed and I called every member in our phone. NO ONE ANSWERED ME!!! But it's okay because somehow we had really really short lessons and were able to lorgrar (reach/achieve) lots of our metas.(goals) But also by this time we had only 1 lesson with a member. And our goal for the week was 7. I was sooo upset. We were being so obediente and so diligente and we just weren´t seeing any results. That's when we prayed super super hard and it was probably the most faith filled prayer of my mission. We prayed for God´s help to reach our goals. We put goals with faith, hoping that we would lograr them. Oh just wait to see how many miracles happened.

Friday, we did divisions (miraculously) with a mom and her daughter. And we completed practically half our goals. Then Chemy left with us to visit a family. They are soooo good but are just too lazy to change. (crazy lazy Chileans) haha But with faith they will one day have the desire to change. That's about it for Friday.

Saturday we went to make food with a less active mother, her daughters are Literally insane. I am so grateful my mom loves me and has never beaten me up or yelled at me. Thanks mom for Loving me soooo much!!! You are the best!!!!!! Afterwords we went and ate a weird dish called boudin de lentejas (boudin of lentils)....I don´t recommend it to anyone. She explained that it was like lasaña...Jamas(Never)!!! NO me gustó..... but we also completed with all our goals!!!! And MORE!!! It was seriously sooo rewarding. 

Sunday. Our investigators came to church!!! I love that feeling. Also we went to teach primary. It was pretty sick. Until they all started whining...

Monday again!!! We celebrated Thanksgiving. We had an asado (roast) and each companionship brought food. It was pretty dope. I invented my own brand of stuffing. It's called Hecho Por Hermanas (Made by Sisters) it will be making its way to the states shortly. ;) I found out that my friend Elder Rojas is going to be the next assistant. I can´t wait. 

I really have nothing else to say about this week. Other than something cool that we learned in our studies. I will share with you our revelation:

This is from Elder Renlunds talk.
“Tienes que saber que el Señor no te ha llamado por lo que hayas hecho. En el caso tuyo, probablemente sea a pesar de lo que hayas hecho. El Señor te ha llamado por lo que Él necesita hacer a través de ti; y eso solo sucederá si tú lo haces a Su manera”. "You have to know that the Lord does not call you by what you have done. In your case probably despite what you've done. The Lord has called you by what he needs to do through you; and that will only happen if you do it your way."

Algo maravilloso ocurre en el servicio de un misionero o misionera cuando se da cuenta de que el llamamiento no tiene que ver con él o ella, sino que tiene que ver con el Señor, con Su obra y con los hijos de nuestro Padre Celestial.  "Something wonderful happens in a missionary's service when he or she realizes that the calling is not about him or her; rather it is about the Lord, His work and Heavenly Father's children."

This week we have focused on not making this about us. Yeah my email probably sounds a lot like how I just wanted to meet my goals. But I promise it isn't like that. We have been working so hard to find good people to teach and not because we want more numbers or to look like we are having success, but really to find the people God has prepared. We know that we are imperfect people trying to do a perfect work. And we are helped and guided by the Perfect Person. We just need to be humble and be willing to do all he asks of us. That has been the greatest thing I have learned this week. I know that I am imperfect. I am trying my hardest everyday to give Him my all. I don´t want to have any regrets at the end of my mission! I am so grateful that I have a great companion that knows how to listen and teach by the spirit. I am so blessed to have seen so many miracles this week. And not just miracles in the work,but in many different aspects of my life! 

Well I think my letter is really disorganized. Better luck next week;)

Con MUCHO amor y besitos, (With LOTS of love and kisses)
Hermana Poulson