Swede Is the Work : "Create Peace Not Fights" -Nielsen Family Mission Statement

August 17th, 2015

Kära Familjer,

What a GREAT week! I LOVE being a missionary! It's the best.

Yesterday we had an absolutely AWESOME experience. Over a week ago we meet these two Jehovah's Witnesses on the street and in the end we ended up exchanging numbers and agreeing to meet. Of course (as any good missionary would do!) we called them and set up an appointment. Yesterday morning we were studying during personal study for specific insight on what we could say to the Jehovah's Witnesses; basically how we could prove them wrong or "out Bible" them. We came together for companionship study and Syster Lund said something like: "I just was marking all these scriptures in the Bible that I could use against them and I thought to myself 'this is so wrong! This is sooo not what Christ would do-study to prove them wrong!'" We decided to take the approach of letting them teach us something that they believe in and then in return share a message with them. Basically a friendly swap of beliefs instead of an argument or Bible bashing session. It went SO well. We went in there and Robin and Angelika started teaching us about what they believe in. Robin specifically was showing us all these scriptures in the Bible, showing evidence for their beliefs. We listened very intently, asked questions, complimented them on the good people they are and the way they lived their lives and were super respectful. It was amazing to watch the change in Robin. I think as the lesson went on and we made no attempt to argue or put them down or Bible Bash, he became more and more surprised. At the very end, after over an hour of mostly them teaching us, we shared a message. We showed them the "Because of Him" video and testified of Jesus Christ, both of us. We didn't try and prove them wrong, we didn't try and say we are right, we listened and testified and found common ground. It was incredible. Seek first to understand, then be understood. Robin's whole countenance had changed- he seemed dumbfounded. I cannot believe the change I say come over him. The Spirit was almost tangible. It was an incredible experience. I am reminded of our Family Motto: "Create Peace, not Fights." It works so much better!

We had the COOLEST tender mercies the other day. Syster Lund and I had a couple of swing bys to do and it turns out both of the buildings were port coded and we couldn't get in without a code. Outside of one of the buildings we decided to say a prayer that Heavenly Father would help us get in. We had been punching random codes, but the amount of possibilities that the code could be was thousands. After we said the prayer, Syster Lund started punching random buttons on the code thing and all of the sudden it turned green and the door unlocked!! Literally, the door unlocked for us!! We couldn't believe it. Then we went to our other swing-by and the door was also port coded. Once again, we said a prayer outside of the door and just moments later a man walks up and says something like: "Do you need to get in?" He unlocked the door right then and there and we were able to walk right up to our referral's door! Coincedence? I think not! Wow, God is watching out for us, even in the little things we do every day! I am constantly reminded that God is leading this work, that God is at the helm.

I love you all so much! Create Peace not Fights this week.

Syster Nielsen