el cambio en el cambio (the change in the transfers)

August 3, 2015

I did not want this cambio to start. I was so stressed and I didn't want to work with my companion. We had a couple investigators but they all were dying...and things honestly looked bad. I have a saying here on the mission when things go wrong and don´t go as planned: "Dios es Jefe" or in other words God is Boss. He really is in charge of HIS work here. He has a plan for me and my companion. And really we need to be together in this plan. I had my plan of what I wanted to do and who I wanted to be. I wanted to leave and have a fresh start. I wanted a new companion because its easier to start fresh with this. I learned that we have a chance to start fresh with the same companion. That is the first thing that changed with the mission. She told me this week that I was an example to her of a dedicated missionary. She admitted that she has a tendency to be lazy and do the bare minimum. She said that my energy and my desire to give my all everyday has helped her to change. She has like 3 months left. And she wants to give her all.

That is not the only thing that has changed this cambio. I changed. I have a better attitude and I am practicing CHARITY. There are all those miracle stories in the Liahona about missionaries who changed their perspective and everything in the companionship by doing little acts of service? I decided to give it a try and love my companion more and serve her. And guess what?!?!?! IT worked! We have more love, more unity and can teach by the spirit! It is freaking amazing how much can change when you change your perspective and really try to be like Jesus.

I have 7 months in the mission and it has not been easy. I have had days where I am dead tired and all I want to do is sleep (which is not my personality). I have had days where we have spent all day contacting, knocking doors, and haven´t gotten into a single house. I have days where people spit at us and tell us we are crazy! BUT wait there is more!

I have never seen so many blessings and miracles and happiness and love and support and I have never felt so much power in my life! I am so grateful for the time here on the mission. I am grateful for the miracles that I witness on a daily basis! I am grateful that I have this opportunity to give of myself 100% of the day. I have seen people change and accept Christ. I am teaching someone right now that lives alone and thinks that God has forgotten him. I get to testify that God lives. That He loves us and that above all we are Never Alone. Never have been, and never will be. And the best part is that its not just lip service. I, like Alma, Know these things for myself. Because I have had them witnessed by the Spirit.

That is my cambio within this cambio. I love you so much and I am so grateful for your prayers and fasting. Mi corazon esta llena de gozo y amor para ustedes y siempre estan en mis oraciones. Recureden siempre para buscar por la mano del Senor en su vida. Puedo Prometer como misionera que los bendiciones esta y puedan ver la mano del senor y realizar que Èl siempre esta AQUI! My heart is full of joy and love for you and you are always in my prayers. Always look for the hand of the Lord in your life. As a missionary I can promise the blessings of this and can see the hand of the Lord and realize that He is always HERE!

Hermana Poulson

This is a little bit from a hand written letter we got this week also.

As missionaries we aren't here to convince people of the truth - that's the Spirits job. There are people who invite us into their homes so we can "convince" them and use all the scriptures and knowledge to prove to them that this gospel is true. Conviction comes from reading the Book of Mormon and praying. If you want answers to spiritual questions you need to go to spiritual sources.

Spiritual experiences: Really everyday is a spiritual experience. But one of the best was with a family who is less active. Familia U. I promised them that if they go to church every week, if they pray and read the Book of Mormon daily that they will have the money to go to the temple. They are planning on going to the temple in December. They are really poor! THE SPIRIT WAS SO STRONG AND I KNOW THAT PROMISE IS FROM THE LORD!

Familia B: Eli y Stef & L (3). They are super awesome. He is a convert - they met in a comic shop and she invited him to institute. They both work a TON so it's hard to get them to come to church and have visits with them. But when we go they always say they miss the spirit we bring.

Familia SE: The cutest family ever! Cat and A have 3 kids B(6),  V(3) and M (4mos). V loves me because we teach the gospel with Polly Pockets and Littlest Pet Shops! They were sealed. He is the only member in his family. Her parents live with them. Bro & Sis E are HILARIOUS!

I love the gospel. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I love the opportunity to testify of him on a daily basis. I love the plan of salvation - that we can be together forever. I am so grateful that we have that plan - the purpose of our lives. We can be redeemed but only if we do our part can we receive Exaltation. Really we can do anything in our lives with FAITH. Faith is more powerful than fears and really everyday we should live the faith.

Hermana Poulson

#cambios

July 27, 2015

so transfers...

well first off this was by far the hardest cambio...and guess what!?!?! ONE MORE!!!! woohoo!!! Hermana B and I will be companions for at least 6 more weeks....I am not sure how I feel about this...but I will try to keep smiling and working harder than ever before.

This week was a week of miracles! We had a couple citas fijas and we worked with the members. Everyone started canceling on us. All our citas fell through...and we didn't know what to do! We started knocking doors and calling futures and antiguos. And guess what happened!!!! This week we have found about 5 people!!!!! For the past 6 weeks we have found literally NO ONE!

R and C are a reference from a less active who served a mission in this ward. R is one of the 33 miners that was trapped in the Chilean mine! He is fabulously wealthy and has so much faith. If you haven´t read the story of the 33 miners I want you to do so! really God worked a miracle in the lives of the miners and their family!

Another is Nat, she isn't in our sector but she is a friend of a less active family. We had this lesson with her and we started talking about what we want most in our lives. They all said that their family could be happy and more unified! Boom! we started talking about how the gospel brings the happiness in our lives and really unites our family. Nat started crying and left the room. I was left speechless. She came back in the room and we closed with a prayer and gave her a Book of Mormon and our number and we wrote down her information to give to the missionaries in her sector. She will be the next baptism of Chiyuante!!!

The others were antiguos and we are working to put a baptism date. Ale didn't come to church because she went to her grandmas....we are praying and fasting for these people and I know that we will find the people God has prepared to hear the gospel!

That is really all I can think of to write this week. I just always look for the miracles and I know that if i do all i can that I will find the people who need this message!!!

Love you all,

Hermana Poulson

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 ;)

6 month mark...

June 29, 2015

Oh my, I hate writing that! I don´t even want to think about how short time is here. There is so much work to do and I feel like I have been waiting forever for this opportunity to serve and it's going by WAY TOO FAST!!!

6 months...

Well I guess time really flies in the mission. I feel like yesterday I was in the CCM studying Spanish and trying to be spiritual and enjoy the spiritual high that you feel in the CCM. Now that I have been out 6 months I really feel like the mission is a short time. I can´t believe how short it is! 18 months to give everything I have to the Lord. Really it shouldn't be that hard. 

This week was a hard one. My last transfer I was companions with my Latin twin. I felt like I knew the sector and the people and I was so comfortable and confident with myself. And then transfers came and I ended up in the city with a Chilean and learned that I once again don´t know Spanish and that Heavenly Father doesn't want you to be comfortable: He wants you to learn and grow.

So that is what I am doing now. And yeah it isn't easy, but it isn't hard either. I have witnessed many miracles here in the mission. We call them our daily tender mercies. They aren't really big things like baptism and investigators. They are the little things and the smiles that you see on faces when you teach them about the power of God in their lives and how much more they can do and who they can become with His help.

I am so grateful that I have the support of so many family members and friends. There are a few missionaries that don´t get anything from their families. If you get the chance I want you to send a letter to every missionary that you know. I know it may not be that important and they may not write back, but they will feel of your love and support and that they have someone who cares. 

Yeah so that was my soapbox speech. On to greater things. 

It has been fun to get to know some of the members and talk with them. I am jealous of all the people that are converts to the church! They have such cool stories and experiences with the missionaries. They always make fun of me because I am from the "fabrica" (factory) and that I am a manufactured missionary. Well that is when I try to tell them that I too had to pray to know this church was true.

 

We work a lot with less actives. There are about 400 members in the list of el rescate. But guess how many on average are coming to church...only 100 and that is on good days. We work a lot with the families and we are trying to find incomplete families to teach. I feel like that is how we will find. It is difficult to knock doors because everyone thinks we are Jehovah Witnesses. And the members aren't really giving us references...so its really up to us in our contacts (20 or more each day) and using the list of futures that we have. THERE IS SO MUCH WORK!!! I love it!!! My companion not so much, but we are going to work extra extra hard to find the Chosen Ones!!!

Once again I am so grateful for the best family in the world. I am so jealous that you guys got to do Trek!!! You will have to write down all your memories so I can read them when I come home. I remember trek and how much that helped build my testimony of this gospel and the sacrifices we make as members. Maybe we don´t walk 1,300 miles, but we do have to make meaningful sacrifices. I was reading about sacrifices (see blue below) en la guía de las escrituras y encontré este cita: "José Smith enseñó que “una religión que no requiere el sacrificio de todas las cosas, nunca tiene el poder suficiente con el cual producir la fe necesaria para llevarnos a vida y salvación”. Viéndolo desde una perspectiva eterna, las bendiciones que se obtienen por medio del sacrificio son mucho más grandes que cualquier cosa a la que se renuncie." Haha use google translate!! (in the guidance of the scriptures and I found this quote: " Joseph Smith taught that" a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation " In the eternal perspective, the blessings obtained by sacrifice are greater than anything that is given up." (I used google and LDS.org)

I love you guys so much!!!

Peace out from Talcahuano!

Hermana Poulson

Independencia

June 22, 2015

DAD!! HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY!!!! And Happy Fathers Day!!! I am sorry it just totally slipped my mind last week. Just know I love you and I thought about you a lot! I wish they let us call on Dia de mi Papì...pero bueno. Sabemos que las mamas son mas importante;)

Okay so the name of my sector is Independencia. Yeah that's pretty much the coolest! I am here in Talcahuano and Yes I did feel that earthquake right as I went to sleep on Thursday. I said to my companion (because we have a bunk bed) "Hermana Bucarei why are you moving the bed". "that´s not me that's an earthquake!" Yeah so finally I have a cool experience with an earthquake!!!! The weeks in the mission are flying bye faster than I ever imagined....I can´t believe that at the end of this month I will complete 6 months in the mission...crazy how fast time flies.

Oh and so here is a little about my sector....

I am in a barrio...it is HUGE and there are tons of members that care a lot about us. One day we went without lunch (we made it in the casa) and half the ward freaked out and offered to make us lunch. The members here really really love the missionaries so you have nothing to worry about.

It's always hard to make changes and move on. I got really homesick this week, but not for Layton...for Bulnes. I hope I have the same love for the people here, it will just take some time. I love the area and my companion. Its just really different and I am learning that you have every companion for a reason. 

Wanna hear the good news of the week!?!?! POR FIN they are starting the temple in Concepcion!!!! October 17th President Uchtdorf will come and do the groundbreaking! Then within 3 or 4 years they will have a temple and I have all the intentions of coming to the open house! I am so so so so so so so so so excited!!! These people here have been praying for their temple and POR FIN VA A LLEGAR!!!!

Hermana Bucarei and her old comp had like 3 people ready for baptism...and all of them are like dying. Franco is 14 (he comes from a familia menos activo, but he has the desires still, just that church is boring...). Coni is 14 (her mom is a member but wont let her be baptized). and Fabiola is a single mom with 2 kids. She is awesome it is just hard to get her to come to church because her baby is like 2 months old...Honestly I am praying like crazy. For some reason it is really really hard to find people. We work a lot with less actives and part member families. I think that is where there is the most hope here. There are tons of less actives...like the ward list is 400 people and the attendance is about 110....

Here is something I learned this week. I don´t know if you remember my first girls camp. Mom and Dad gave a FHE about Temporary Happiness and Eternal Joy. I really honestly have always remembered that. I don´t know what exactly happened, but I just remember that we talked about eternal happiness. I have thought about that a lot. Yeah sometimes the church stuff is boring. yeah there are so many "rules". But just think about the eternal joy that comes from living the commandments.

One member gave me a huge lecture on why she wasn't living the law of chastity. She said that she was happier living how she is and that I was bad for telling her to repent and get married. All I asked was if she really loved her partner and if she only wanted to live with him here on the earth. She said that I was calling her to repentance. That I was judging her. I wanted to cry. Not because she hurt my feelings...but because she is so content with living with her sin. Satan has great hold of her heart. I was reading in the book of Helaman. This is like right before Christ. No matter how hard they tried to preach the gospel Satan always had hold of their hearts. They were content with their sins.

MY challenge to you is to not be content with your sins. Repentance is not a punishment. It is a gateway to Eternal Joy! Sorry for getting preachy hahaha.

Love you lots!!

Hermana Poulson