The Everlasting Sun

Hej Family!

June 15th, 2015

 

This week is Midsummer and it will be light all day and all night here in Luleå. It's like when Jesus was born and the people in America had light all day and night. :) Woohoo for everlasting sun!

I don't have much time, but I do want to emphasize a couple of things this week.

One, it is so important to focus on the basics of the Gospel. We have one investigator who we have been just pounding in the importance of reading the Book of Mormon with. It's so important to focus on the basics- prayer, scripture study, church. That is what keeps us grounded.

Second, let things go! I have found myself getting annoyed with little things my companion does, but that is stupid. We are different and I just waste energy being annoyed. And plus, she isn't annoying, I am just making a bigger deal out of things then they need to be.

I love you all!!

Sister Nielsen

 

I just love this picture...For some reason...

A cute old Swedish member we visit. :)

Writing a letter to... Sister Helmick!!

Sometimes It's Just Hard.

June 8th, 2015

Hej Familj och Vänner,

Sometimes it's just hard. It's just a fact of missionary life. Missionaries aren't perfect people- they have good days and bad days. This week was one of those weeks for me.  One thing that has helped me is to think "What would Christ do in this situation?" I promise that the Holy Ghost will have an answer for that question if you can be honest enough to ask it.

I have come face to face with the fact that I think I am almost always right and I think my way is usually the high way. One lesson I am learning really well is the need to listen and be humble. Sometimes Sister Savage and I disagree (like most normal people) and I struggle to be humble! I struggle to not think my way is better. It's a super hard habit to break- to open yourself up to other opinions and not think you know better. I think a mission is the best marriage prep I could have asked for. 

This week we had a Stake Conference thing that was broadcasted from Scotland. Elder Holland spoke at it and it was translated to Swedish and broadcasted to us. He talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon. It is interesting to me how much they emphasize missionary work here in Europe. I feel like we talk about it way more here than we do in the states. Sister Savage and I have been going around and inviting members in Luleå to give the Book of Mormon to their friends. Think if every member of the Church gave one Book of Mormon away. 15 million more people would have a Book of Mormon!

I love you so much!

Sister Nielsen

Lulea!

And here is my cute trainer. :) we only have about 2 more weeks together likely!

Zone Conference in Stockholm! Luleå Sisters and Boden Elders... The fearless four in the North...

It's been raining a lot here! I heard from our Branch President that it was the rainiest May in 40 years...

This is the name of one of our zone leaders!

 

It/s a Small World After All

June 1st, 2015

Kära Familjer,

This week was crazy... A mission throws a lot of twists at you sometimes!

This week I sat on a bus next to a man from Iraq. We had a good conversation, and he talked about what Muslims believe. I had the impression to ask him if he would like a Book of Mormon in Arabic. Sadly, he rejected the offer, but it was still a great conversation. :) He spoke English, not Swedish. I told him he had great English and he just lit up! He loved that! He was like "Really? You think it is good?" Compliments go a long way! In Sweden, it really is a small world. I seriously have been exposed to so many diverse cultures and people here. Sister Savage and I actually got to speak on a Persian Radio Program this week! We got to talk about the Gospel to the Persian Community. One of our investigators runs the Radio Program and asked us to come be on it.

One thing that is different about Swedes is they are more open about how life is really going for them. In America if you ask someone "How are you?" they will respond almost always with "good" no matter if they feel good or not. If you ask a Swede how they are doing, a lot of them will tell you how they are actually doing! I like that about them. They will say something like "I have actually been really sick this week and I haven't been so great" or something like that. I really like their honesty. It's refreshing!

I am learning that we are never done doing good. In Mosiah 5:15 it says "I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works..." Sometimes I think I get a misconception that if I do a certain amount of good things for someone, I will be "done." I have to always abound in good works, all day every day. It's a continual thing- we are never done doing good for others, even if we think we have done enough.

I love you all so much!

Sister Nielsen

This picture is funny to me because you can see my side of the table (the clean side´) and then Sister Savage's. We are a bit different in cleaning styles sometimes.. ;) but she is always good to help me clean on Mondays!

Waiting for a bus!

Our new chapel in Luleå! We are so happy to have it!

It is FINALLY green out now! Spring is here!

My Mission call changed to China! Just kidding...