TRASLADOS....

June 15, 2015

I am going to a new sector!!! Chao to my little home of Bulnes....You all know me and you know that I have been crying literally all morning since 7:30 when we received the news of cambios. I have been calling the members that I want to visit and it has been so stinking hard...I will miss my family here. I called Manuel and I just started bawling!!!! I know he couldn't understand a word I said but I hope he knows how blessed I am to know him. We made him a photo (which cost 2 dollars to print) and made a cute thing so he could remember us! Oh how hard it is to say goodbye. 

Seriuosly Hermana Gonzalez and I have had the GREATEST time of our lives here this cambio! I have found a sister in zion! She is my latin twin! and although we haven´t had the success we think both wanted, we have both learned so much! I have never laughed or smiled as much as I have this past cambio! We gained the confidence.... of the President, of the President of Elders Quorum and also of many of the members! Presidente Baeza said this to the other hermanas: "Yeah I will try to do visits with you guys but if Hermana Poulson and Gonzalez need me I am going with them!" Seriously, I HAVE THE CONFIDENCE OF SOMEONE!!!! He started crying today when i called them and said I was leaving....oh how i will miss my family here in bulnes....

Here is the story of my week! after freezing in the bus for 4 hours (we got stuck in the mountains) I think I had hypothermia for the next couple days! But a miracle of the mission is that I didn't get sick! YAY!!!

 

There are stories in the mission that change you. And this is one of my stories. So we found an investigator last Friday and we taught her the Plan of Salvation. She had so many questions and really had a desire to learn. This past week we had Lesson 1 with her (the restoration) and we even brought the chosen member!! She was committed to coming to church. The next day we talked about the Book of Mormon and how it answers our questions. She has SO MANY questions!!! And then came Saturday...we were having a Noche de Hogar for Hermana Lino. and we got a text...."hola niñas! i tried calling you but your phone was off" (that's a lie) "I want to tell you that I found my faith this week. And it isn´t with you guys...I am sorry but I think its better if you don´t come visit me anymore...chao.." Yeah that is pretty much a break up text. 

We think she was reading a lot online about Mormons...which is sad because that isn't how this works. How can you pray about something and not get an answer that its true?! Maybe I am not the missionary that will baptize her...but I know that there is someone waiting for me! I will bring the World HIS TRUTH!!

That is all....I love you guys so much and I can´t wait to read your emails next week!! Chao!!

Oh P.S. I will be in Talcahuano Norte.

Chao!!!

Moroni 8:3!!!

Hermana Poulson

Welcome to the Winter Wonderland!!

June 8, 2015

Well now I can say bienvenidos a invierno...its super freezing here and I am wet! haha but i love it!

We had a couple days of rain which is really good! Chile is kinda in a drought...but not like Utah! I like the rain because it isn't as freezing. We wake up to fog everyday. It super gorgeous and the sunsets at night are unbelievable! Chile is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! 

Today for p day we went to the mountains again! I have like 100 more fotos! and this time with snow!!!! I don´t wanna sound trunky (like homesick) but it reminded me sooo much of my home! We had a snowball fight with 3 zones of Chillan. (like 40 missionaries). I was soaked past understanding, but I had so much fun! all my Latinas have never seen snow so it was a wonderful experience! I LOVE WINTER!!! but now I think I need a hot chocolate or something;)

This week I had a mini cambio with Hna Lorea. She is my hna lider from Argentina and I realized that I know way more Spanish than i thought! I am actually learning something here!!! YAY!!!! In all the zones of Chillan (Viejo, Chillan and Ñuble) there are only 3 gringas....I am learning so much Spanish! But it's hard because every Latina is from a different country and they all have their own accents! Hermana Lino is dying this week. And cambios are next week so I will probably have more to say then...just know that I am doing well here, even if I don´t have investigators or baptims!

Here is a summary of my week! We knocked doors everyday and had Noches de Hogares con los miembros aqui! Nothing too exciting, but guess what, we had a miracle AGAIN!!!! We were knocking doors like normal...all the people here have fences and you don´t really knock doors, instead you shout "Hola" or "halo" and if the people are nice they let you in, if not they politely (or not so politely) tell you that they have their religion and they don´t need another. But here is the miracle: we said "okay lets knock this door!" and we did and someone answered and invited us in! We taught her about the plan of salvation, which is my favorite thing besides the atonement, baptism and the Book of Mormon;) She had sooo many questions and we are visiting with her again today! I love it!!!

Oh and I can´t forget this: one of our investigators houses is haunted! and I am not joking...It is really haunted! the 12 year old girl had nightmares and something ripped out her hair in the night and it wasn't her...so yeah we aren't visiting them because I don´t wanna be haunted for the rest of my mission!

I am in love with my mission! I can´t even explain how much I love it! The time goes by sooo fast and I feel like before I know it I will be 6 months...a year...and home!! Freak I don´t want that to happen!

I love you guys and all, but here I only have 18 months to preach the gospel and get to know the people here (and if I am lucky, I will be friends with them in the future) but with you I got all ETERNITY!!! I love you so so so so so so much! stay warm for me okay!??

Love, 

la Hermana Poulson 

Moroni 8:3 Recuerden siempre!!!

Oh and Copa America starts next week...and I can´t watch futbol..I'm gonna die!!!

Correction! I get to watch Futbol!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!!

Knock Knock, Whose There?

June 1, 2015

Tracting....

Oh my so the title of my email pretty much describes my week! Literally we spent about 3 hours every day knocking doors! There isn't much to say about that other that I have the sound of "Tengo mi religion..." "No" and "Pasan en una otra vuelta..." 

Haha I have heard some pretty crazy things this week though. One of the people wanted me to visit so he could look at my eyes (we call these people snakes) and another told me that I had perfect white skin....and It was a woman... One of the houses had this crazy guy that told us "I don´t have a name...." when we asked if we could pass by another day when he remembered his name he told us "Yeah come back in the year 2018. I will be ready then" 

There are really funny people that we have been contacting...I feel like all the crazies come to me! We found someone that wants to learn more about the church but she believes HEAVILY in reincarnation....and can´t understand the Plan of Salvation. We found someone that is a real witch and makes potions out of herbs and dirt and natural things. She said she could give us a juice that would make us better teachers...

My companion and I are trying to look for the ways to smile and laugh. Its hard to always be happy when you are trying so hard and no one listens. But honestly the more you try to be happy the easier it is to be happy. 

Okay that is enough about tracting...now to my life lessons of the mission:

FOLLOW THE SPIRIT!!!! I hate to admit it but this week I didn't listen to the spirit. It is so sad. This week in our plans we supposed to visit Pueblo Seco (that little town that I take a bus to travel to every week) and I didn´t have enough plata to make the trip and I just really didn't have the desire to spend 2 hours in a little town and with Hermano J. Ed.... So when the bus came for PS I told my comp that we could do more work here and visit some menos activos instead...and something deep inside me told me that was wrong. But I let the Natural Man win and man it was the worst decision ever. As soon as the bus was too far to run our phone rang. It was Hermano J. Ed "Hermanitas don´t come. My friend (who was going to be his Fiance) died. I can´t do this" and hung up. We ran but couldn't catch the bus. We called Presidente Baeza. He drove us to PS and we taught J. Ed about the plan of salvation and about temple work. (She was taking missionary discussions but got sick with cancer of the pancreas)

Moral of the story: FOLLOW THE SPIRIT!!!!

Other story is the power of TESTIMONIES. In my contacts and knocking doors we only have about 2 minutes, if that, to share the gospel with them. We started bearing our testimonies more and I really think that helped. The people really don´t want to listen and i think sometimes they want to kill me;) But If I can give them the chance to listen to my message and feel the spirit, who knows, it may change their life. I only have about 2 minutes to talk to these people and the most important thing I can do is share my testimony. I can invite the spirit into their lives and touch their hearts. We have tried to talk about their lives and how Jesus Christ is a part of their lives. There really is a power to a testimony. I think of the story of Ammon and how he shared his beliefs with the Father of King Lamoni. He didn't teach the lessons or invite him to be baptized. But his testimony wrought a change in his heart and when Aaron went to teach the king, he was able to teach because the king was more receptive. 

I feel like that is how I am as a missionary. I may not be the best missionary and baptize the world, but I am planting the seeds and maybe in the future some missionary can teach the people that we have contacted. 

I won´t lie, the mission isn't easy, but I can say that this is the best thing I have ever done with my life. I am so focused on everyone else and I have learned so much more about the gospel. Really this is the only time of my life that I have to give 100% to the Lord. And I am not going to give that up for anything! I love my Savior and this is how I can demonstrate my appreciation and love for him. I know it isn't much, but I don´t want  a day to go by that I don´t give my all to Him. 

I love you so much and I am so grateful that I have family and Friends strong in the gospel. You guys are the greatest blessing of my life! 

Chao!!!!!

Hermana Poulson

POR FIN!!!!!

May 25, 2015

I had the best week of my life! I say that every week but I really mean it. This week was so good!!! I am loving my companion, Hermana Gonzalez, we are the same person only I am white and she is Colombian! We are killing it here in Bulnes. We were struggling this week to find new people. (J) our investigator had surgery so we couldn't visit him and his son says we shouldn't be changing peoples religions...so we are going to give it one last shot this week and have a lesson with him.

It was a good week because guess who finally got a hug from her mom?!?! ME!!! Hermana Arrington gave me a hug and I started crying in front of the Assistants and the Elders of my zone and my companion. But clearly they didn't understand how much I needed my mommy!! Hermana Arrington will never replace my mom, but I think a hug from her is exactly what I needed! (Hermana Arrington happened to be in Utah a few weeks ago and met my mom and my mom gave her a hug to give to me)

So this week we had entrevistas con Presidente Arrington. It was so good to talk to him. He asked me how I was doing and I just couldn´t stop smiling! I am so blessed to have this opportunity to serve a mission. I have so many questions about como yo puedo mejorar...there are so many things I could be doing better...My companion and I both feel a little inexperienced, we have the same time here in the mission ...but I can testify that Heavenly Father put us together for a reason. She has helped me grow so much and I am so grateful for her! I have so much more confidence ahora and I can talk to people without freaking out and without worrying about the language. 

President Arrington said something very profound and it really helped me to have the animo and happiness that I should have as a missionary: "ENJOY THE MISSION. You can be the missionary that has fun and the missionary that has the spirit at the same time. 

I told President that its kinda hard for me to relate to the people. My companions and the other hermanas can say "I know how you feel, I was Catolica before the missionaries came in my life...." He told me that I have been preparing for my mission for my entire life. My purpose isn't to relate to them, it is to bring them to repentance and to Jesus Christ. I don´t need to relate to them exactly, I just need to testify and the Holy Ghost will touch their hearts (corazones) and bring them to Christ.

Okay this is the part of my letter that I am most excited about!!!! Remember (M)?!?!?!  HE GOT BAPTIZED!!! His baptism was Saturday and I felt the spirit so strong! You know that scripture in D&C 18:10, 15-16! Yeah that is all I could think about! I can´t imagine the joy of my Heavenly Father right now! Another one of his sheep has finally come back to the fold of God.

I am short on time, but its because I sent fotos and chatted it up(via email) with you guys! 

LOVE YOU LOTS,

Hermana Poulson

 

12 Milagros (not to be confused with 17 milagros)

May 18, 2015

Week of Miracles!! I am loving the mission. Especially this cambio with Hermana Gonzalez! We are killing it here in Bulnes!

Milagro 1: I broke my toe Monday playing soccer with my zone. It really wasn't broken, it just hurt so bad to walk on and my toe changed colors. I prayed it would be ok so that I can do the work here.It looks pretty sic now and I can still play futbol so that's all that matters right?;)

Milagro 2: somehow we were able to do all our contacts Monday, and walk around all of Bulnes to meet our daily goals. 

Milagro 3: (M) ANSWERED HIS PHONE!!!! I guess he had an accident the Sunday before and that is why he did not come to church or answer our 50 bajillon calls. 

Milagro 4: (M) is alive and well and living La Palabra de Sabiduría! I seriously went into a minor depression when he wasn't baptized and when he disappeared off the face of the earth. But we had 2 lecciones con el esta semana entonces ¡Oh Esta, Todo Bien! I realized I wrote that in Spanish...haha that is why you guys have google translate! 

Milagro 5: I guess you could say my Spanish is a miracle. Haha I am learning tons with 3 Latinas. and I am teaching them English!!! Haha the only problem is, I really can´t remember words in English or how to form sentences. 

Milagro 6: this story of the week is really dumb...but also hilarious if you can imagine how I felt in that moment....

So we were on the bus to Santa Clara and we needed to get off in Pueblo Seco. But someone (cough cough...Hermana Poulson...cough cough) couldn't remember the stop. So we ended up on a little dirt road to Santa Clara and we got off and walked a mile or so back to Pueblo Seco. The miracle was it only took us like 10 minutes to walk all the way and we didn't get hit by any camiones. 

Milagro 7. This one goes along with the previous milagro...So I lost the keys to our house, the church, and the fence surrounding our house. We went out to Pueblo Seco (super campo) to visit a convert. And I guess my keys fell out in his house. The problem was that I did not realize that I didn't have the keys until that night after Noche de Hogar. Entonces I didn't have the keys....and we couldn't call Jose that late at night...so I prayed ALL THE NIGHT and we called him in the morning! He was at work so he didn't answer. He found the keys under his couch next to the wall...How they got there I have no idea! But Hey! Pray works:)

Milagro 8: We have 4 investigators right now. Its kinda hard to balance and visit them all. But Woohoo!!! We are finding people!!!

Milagro 9: This was the hardest lesson ever. The son of one of our investigators was in the house and he is DEVOUT CATHOLIC....and he said that we shouldn't be inviting others to baptism when they already have a religion. I just started talking and all this Spanish came flooding out of my mouth. I have no idea what I said or anything. I started to testify of this church that I KNOW it is true. And I started getting really emotional and said "I would not be here half way across the world, in a country where I don´t speak the language and where people reject me everyday if I didn't know that this was true. I wouldn't be here testifying of the truth and of the blessings of this gospel if I didn't want the same blessings for you and your family." ( I don´t know if that sentence makes sense in English. I am trying to translate...hahah) WooHoo... I have never felt the spirit so strong. I hope I wasn't too contentious, I just needed to say something and that is what came out.

Milagro 10: I played futbol again with converts-angel and jenny, less actives- ronald and roberto. I love futbol and I love sharing the gospel through futbol.

Milagro 11: I conquered my fear of heights and dogs!!! The ball went over the fence of the capilla and I needed to scale it in order to get the ball. They squeezed me through a passage and I climbed a wall in order to rescue my beloved soccer ball. Angel tried to get it but there were 2 big dogs. we found a pan and fed the dogs while I jumped off the wall and saved the soccer ball. I then scaled the wall again and squeezed through the hole. Angel and the rest of the missionaries just laughed. I have so many pictures of my adventures and no usb port to share them....:/

Milagro 12: I get to talk to my family every Monday! You guys are the best and quizás the greatest miracle of all! Thank you for your love and support and your prayers! I love love love love love you guys!!! I wish I could show you how much I love you!....I guess you´ll just have to read this and imagine me giving you the biggest hug you have ever had!!! LOVE YOU!!!

Until next week...

Hermana Poulson

Bonus Milagro: We have a Savior who loves us and know exactly what we are going through. He will never leave us comfortless. He is always here. BUSCALO!!! I just wanna remind you of this. DON´T FORGET all he has done for you and all he is still doing for you. I don´t know how people can make it through this life without the esperanza y paz that Christ brings in our lives on a daily basis. I would not be who I am without Him.

I LOVE MY FAMILY

May 11, 2015

Just saying you guys are the best in the world! I was sooo sooo excited to see you yesterday. I started crying so hard. 

Haha did you love my Spanglish??? I literally am thinking in two separate languages and my prayers are in two languages. Its easier to bear my testimony in Spanish...that is what I do everyday. Haha my goal by the end of this cambio is to forget English! I am teaching the English Class, and the 3 Latinas how to speak English. Woohoo!! And I am learning Spanish!!!!

My friend Angel says Hi.  Angel is preparing for a mission and right now we are working with him and doing practices in PMG. I love being a missionary and doing missionary work. I love this little rama and I have 3 Chilean moms right now to take care of me while I am here. (hna  batarce, hna bobadilla, and hna teresa)

I am a little sad because Manuel did not get baptized this week. And I was really looking forward to that. I worked with him all the past cambio, but I KNOW that he will be baptized. I just think about the Celestial Kingdom and how great it will be to see it filled with Chileans. I want so badly to help everyone see how the gospel can bless their lives. I know that baptisms aren't everything, but here in the mission I feel like that is really how you see your efforts paying off. I know that is not how I am supposed to think, but yeah. Every person I get to know down here in Chile and those that I help come to the Fold will be with us in the Celestial kingdom!

Once again, I am soooooo happy to be a missionary! And with this cambio I have the chance to start over again! We both have tons of faith and energy to work hard! And even though times are hard, we look for miracles everyday. Hermana Gonzalez is AMAZING and I am so excited to see how this cambio goes. She came to Chile the same day as me. We both have 2 cambios in the mission and we are literally filled with faith!

We have seen miracles. I can testify of that! The spirit speaks through me! I can hardly speak Spanish, but there are so many times in contacts and in lessons that I have no idea what I am saying, but it makes perfect sense to the people. There are still times when I can´t understand, and people can´t understand me, but I don´t let that influence my attitude. I am so happy. I have so much faith and love for the people here. I am learning to trust in the Lord more that my own self. And for some reason that is really hard to do. I am being truly humbled here in the mission. I know I don´t know everything, but I am called to represent the One who does. And He will never leave me comfortless. He will never leave me in a situation where I don´t know what to say. If I am prepared spiritually and do everything I can, I know He will put in my mouth what to say and what to do in every situation. 

I can´t think of what else I wanted to say to you... I hope you know I love you and I can feel the support from you guys! 

Love, 

Herman Poulson

La vida de la mision...

May 4, 2015

¡Choi no mas! So it was a sad day yesterday as I said goodbye to my companion, Hna Canchan. We took her to the terminal and just kinda said bye as she ran to catch her bus. This is why this email is entitled la vida de la mision...You spend 24 hours with a person for like 3 months then BOOM she is gone and in my case I will probs never see Hna Canchan because she is from Guatemala. Haha the Gringas I can see again. But my Latinas...O esta todo bien...

Anyways here is my results of cambios...dun dun dun....I am staying here in Bulnes (at least for 1 more cambio) and My compañera will be Hermana Gonsalez (she will finish her mission the same day as me!!! Wooohooo another Latina!!!!) But really I am so excited to have a Latina. Wanna hear how dumb my prayers sounded this past week....I was praying that I would receive a Latina companion. And I think Heavenly Father likes to have a sense of Humor with me because He gave me 3 Latinas!!! I am the ONLY GRINGA IN THE CASA!!! Hna Godown is going to a different sector in inner Concepcion. And Hermana Lino is receiving another comp who is Latina. I am soooooo excited!

Another reason why this is the life of the mission is because Saturday morning I received a call from none other than my favorite Hermana Arrington! And guess what she said!! She called and told me she had a hug and a package from the states! and I started bawling! She started crying too! She said I have a very amazing mom and I am making her proud here in the mission. She told me that you guys love me. (good thing I already know that)=) I literally can't wait until Sunday! It is going to be so much fun!

And I will wait until then to tell you all the good stuff, Just know I love you and I hope I am making you proud. I know Heavenly Father has tons in store for me and I am serving this mission for HIM. My purpose is to be the missionary HE needs me to Be. Pray for Man (my investigator) he gets baptized Saturday!

LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE!!!
Hermana Poulson

la unica gringa en bulnes