My Lovely Leipzig

Well Hello my sweet sweet family. How in the world are you! 

I just love you all so much and hope you have a marvelous week.

This week was just fabulsou for my sweet sister brown and I. We did a lot of finding this week and member work. Let me just tell you, the memebers here in Leipzig are so wonderful. They are such strong members of the church!! 

I cant remember if I told you all about our little Frau Hoffman. She is this little old lady that the elders met while doing doors. They talked to her about geneology and then gave her address to us. Last week we went by and she was trilled to see us. We told her about what we are doing here and said she wanted the Book of MORMON! We were thrilled. Well this week, we went by our little one legged friend, and gave her the Book of Mormon. I can not tell you how HAPPY she was. I tell you. I have never seen anyone happier to get a book. She was asking us how much she owed us, and that she would give it back she jsut really wanted to read it. We told her no, it is a gift for you. She was just so happy. She is the cutest little lady on the planet! She has 2 cats used to have 3 dogs and WOW her house has a smell I have never smelled before, but boy is she wonderful. We love our little Frau Hoffman. 

This week the Elders in the other Ward had a baptism for there investigator Silvia. They asked us "sisters" if we would do a musical number for the taufe. We told them, yes of course!!!! MY favorite. Well last week on Monday, I thought that I would take some time and warm up my voice and sing ACTUAL music (other than hymns) for the first time in a year... well to my surprise my voice was actually not dead like I thought... haha! The wonders of being a missionary... The lord helps us in EVERY aspect of our lives. Even though I could barley talk the next day because my voice was so sore, it was okay :) SO I sang Savior Redeemer of my soul and sister Brown played the violin and it was just beautiful :) So that was just fun!!

Well family, the moment you have all been waiting for... 

I AM GETTING TRANSFERED. Yep yep yep... I am leaving my precious Leipzig and heading out to Cottbus! My new comps name is Sister Knoll. She is from Austria so that is WOnderful!!!!! I am super excited. I have gone on splits with her and LOVE her to death! She is quite "german" and I am just thrilled for the oppertunity to work with her!!!! Plus I am going to Cottbus. I havbe heard it si pretty great there. Sister Kosak is from there- that is where Sister Kosak grew up and where they lived before President Kosak was called as the mission president! So that is fun. I am excited to be going on another adventure! 

Saying goodbye to the Ward yesterday was just heart WRENCHING! Let me tell you. It always seems to amaze me how much love I have for the people here. Some of them still dont even know my name (The lord was thinking when he gave us name badges) but I still love them with every ounce of my whole heart and soul. I love the people that I have been able to work with and I am so thankful for everything they have taught me. Last night I went to say goodbye to our Ward mission leader and his family. We have become very close. They still keep in contact with Gustave and we got to skype him yesterday and I said goodbye to him. It was so wonderful. The missionaries are meeting with his whole family now in Rwanda! He is so happy!! He told me lst night, "thank you nilson for following god and for finding me." I basically died and went to heaven. THAT IS WHAT MISSIONS ARE ALL ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Coming closer to god, and bring others closer to god. This is Gods work and as we listen to him, he will tell us where to go, which doors to knock on and who to talk to. We said our goodbyes and I was almost in tears. They are planning a trip with Gustave to come see us next march! Mom, get the guest rooms ready! We are going to be hosting african, germans, and whoever else want to hop on the band wagon!!!! Well we said goodbye and as I was leaving I hugged Schwester weber and then bruder weber said, ah sister nilson come here... and gave me a hug! it was cute! haha. 

I do love these members so much. they are such good people. That is another plus about a mission, you get to meet some of the most amazing people around!! 

Well... next week i will let you know how cottbus is... untill then,

Love you all

Sister nilson 

Our little week of Miracles :)

Hello FAMILY!! I love you all so so much!!!

Sister Brown and I are doing well as always. We are loving being here in Leipzig together. 

This week we had so many little success stories...

First, we have this Wonderful friend who we have helped for the last two weeks clean her apartment. SHE IS CRAZY- I attached a photo of her apartment... it is NASTY! Mom, if you ever ythink your house is dirty think again! We meet with her once a week for about an hour and a half and help her clean her apartment. She said she was in the middle of a move... but we found out that it is really just a move of stuff from on bedroom to another room. We love being with her. She is very sweet loving grandma! The other day when we went over Sister Brown and I had decieded that we were going to ask her if she would like to meet with us for actual missionary lessons. We were not sure if she knew our purpose as missionaries and thought we would tell her. We prayed that the time would present itself when we could sit down with her and talk about it, and IT DID! When we were helping her we started talking more about the chruch. We finally just asked her if everytime we came over if we could do a lesson and then clean, or clean and then a lesson and she said, "yes, I really think I would like that. You just have to make sure that you tell me to sit down and LISTEN!" She told us that she met missionaries about 3 years ago but did not let them in. Since then she has been thinking about the church. She said that she has been going back adn forth-should I find them... or not... and then BOOM! We came back. As missionaries maybe we dont always see the fruits of our labors, but as we plant the seeds then they will gorw and eventually be reaped. It is so wonderful!

The next little success we had was with our english class this week. We had prepared a spiritual thought from the book of mormon and as we opened to the page number, one of our students (who was a previous investigator) said wait! she then pulled out her Book of Mormon and turned to the page with us! It was so fun to see that she had brought her Book of Mormon. We then had a great class full of laughter and FUN!

We did the funnest activity at english class. I brought my ukelele with me and then while we were there (we were talking about rhyming words) we asked them for lines and then made up songs. Then I would play a tune and we would sing it! It was so fun! Well, we had started writing a song that went a little something like this...

I really really like food.

It puts me in a good mood

Then we asked the next girl her name is Mai Hai, she is about 25 and is from Vietnam, to give us another sentance...

Well she said.... "I like cooking in the Nude..." Sister Brown and i just LOST IT! Sister brown was writing everything up on the board and said, "okay, well Mai hai that is nice..." BAHAHAHHA! We were dying. But once it was written up on the Board Mai Hia started laughing so hard!!!!! and said no sister i mean this word, She wrote the word NOODLES up on the board to replace it. He accent is so strong that when she said noodles it DID NOT SOUND like that!!!!! we had a good laugh about it. We literally were laughing for the rest of the night. 

The next little miracle was with a Lady names Frau Hoffman. The elders found her and told ehr a little bit about Genelology. She was interested and told them to come back. Well they gave her to us since they have to have another male to go into her apartment, so Sister Brown and I went and talked to her this week. The cool thing was when we started talking to her-she really was not too interested in Geneology- but when we mentioned the Book of Mormon she flipped! She was like- I HAVE TO HAVE THIS BOOK!!! She was so excited and is so ready for the gospel! She only has one leg and was telling us that she had to go get the other one checked by the doctor and they might have to cut it off too... she was like if that happens I am just going to leave this world... then she looked at us adn said, but first I need to learn more about this book!! haha. 

She is the cutest little old cat lady. Germans and their animals. 

I know that heavenly father is really here with us missionaries. He helps us everyday. This is his work and I am so gratful for that. I have been thinking a lot about the language lately and wondering why it has been so hard for me. I have been thinking that God has needed me to learn to trust in him and his timing. To learn patience-with myself, others, and most of all God and him timing. It is not our timing that matters, it is his. 

Thank you president for everything! 

Sister NIlson 

The Pictures are of the house... and then the other day we walked into our apartment for lunch adn sister borwn and I jumped as we walked into my room because we toally thought someone was in my bed! haha So i had to take a picture :)

Make sure you put NOT NATIVE SPEAKER on your resume!

Hello Family!

This week was really grand. I dont really have a lot of time and really not a whole lot to tell. We did a lot of finding this week... Still looking for those prepared people. Dont worry we will find them real soon... Man, germans they are good at hide and seek. Seriously. 

Next To make a long story short sister brown and I spent all week delivering invatations to a baptism on saturday. WE invited about 50 people... well on Friday night we found out it was not going to happen anymore. The girl had to be rushed to the hospital for something. So it got postponed... So sister Brown and I are just sitting there like.. oh man... what do we do now. We called as many people as we had numbers for and then just ended up going to the church anyways to see if anyone would some. No one came. alles klar. 

We had interviews with president kosak this week. That is always wonderful. He is such a great mission president. He is very inspired. 

A member in our ward did a career workshop on SAturday and asked sister brown and I to come so we did. We were there and you have to do these roll plays where you get up an introduce yourself like you are in an interview... Well my german is not very good as it is... but I got up and just kinda said some things... haha in terrible german, and then sat down. Then they evaluated me. The one man from our ward was like, well you should tell people before you start speaking that german is not your native language... BAHAHA! yep family. The german is still a BEAST!!! Who knew that evern after a year i would still be speaking like a little 2 year old... actually i Still think they have better german than me... 

He also told sister brown that her voice was too Mousie... he was like Sister nilson sings. She can teach you how to have a more stable voice. bahaha. We had a good laugh about our time at our little german career workshop. 

Well, Fam. I just want to let you know that all is well. I am still loving it here. Transfer calls are in two weeks and sister brown and I are both PRAYING that we stay here together for one more. Feel free to hop on the band wagon and pray for us too... 

I love you all and hope that everything is going well!

LOVE YOU 

Sister Nilson 

Hello Family- 10 March 2014

We had a week of wunders!! On Thursday we were able to make contact with a lot of people that we lost contact with!!! 

A couple weeks ago we met this man on the Bahn. His name was Kevin. He was big and African. He said that he would like to meet with us. We exchanged numbers and set up an appointment. Well he ended up not coming and we lost contact. Well this week HE CALLED US! So we made out another appointment and he actually came!! On saturday, we had our lesson and he asked us what makes our church different. We were able to talk about the restoration and tell him that we know that this gospel can change his life. It was really a great lesson. We are going to continue to meet with him.

This week we had a tragedy in our gemiende, Bruder Olaf Bauerfeind died.OUr ward here in Leipzig is basically ALL bauerfeinds. They are all related to one another so it really took a toll on the ward. At church on Sunday, many were in tears. I found myself crying right along with them as the sacrament was being passed. I thought to myself, "Sister Nilson, what is the matter with you! You did not even really know this man. I said hello to him every week at church and had one appointment with him." But really I did not know him too well. As i was thinking about why it had hurt me so much, and then I realized it was because of the LOVE that I had for this gemeinde. I LOVE THE LEIPZIG 2 gemeinde. They are incredible people and I have been able to build such an incredible relationship with many of them.Missions are so incredible. You meet the most wonderful people. I am telling you. The members in Germany are so strong. They have to be. This world is just crazy and the members here are a light in a dark tunnel.

Because he was a Bauerfeind it really effected our whole ward. It was amazing to see that as church went on and people talked about how this is not the end, and that there is life after this-the sadness's turned into hope and happiness. This gospel is so wonderful. It really is the perfect plan made for us by our father in heaven.

This life is not the end. God has a perfect plan for us and that as we live righteously on the earth then we can be with all the people we love after this. 

I love being a missionary and thank the lord everyday for this opportunity!!! 

Love you all!

Sister Nilson 

We are here to have JOY!

WHY hello my SWWWWEEEEETTTTT family! Here is Sister Nilson! I just called to say I love you! I just called so say how much i care.... 

Okay. Now that I have my little song out of my heart I can continue on with the AMAZING WEEK Sister Brown and I had. 

First I must once again say that Sister Brown and I are LOVING BEING TOGETHER! She is the star on top of my christmas tree. Literally. So wonderful. This week we had the FUNNIEST moments together. Here is a quick little story:

The other night the Elders came to get the 2 extra mattresses that we have in our apartment. They were having some other Elders come and stay with them and they needed somewhere to sleep. After agreeing to meet them with the Mattresses Sister Brown turns to me and says Sister Nilson... what is your opinion of sliding down stairs on Mattresses? Natürlich it is a MUST!  So what did we proceed to do... Slide down 6 flights of stairs on our mattresses.It was hilarious!!! AS we got to the end the Elders were all outside Banging on the door. They had thought that we were just "too weak" to carry them down ourselves. They were like sisters we could have helped you... OH PLEASE!!! First we are strong Sisters and second, WHAT FUN IS THAT! WE didi not share with them what actually occurred. We did not think it appropriate... haha. 

If there is anything I MUST SAY it is that we are here on this earth TO HAVE JOY people! JOY! Each and everyday should be filled with something that makes us happy. That was gods intention. 

On Wednesday Sister Brown and I taught our English class. Our cute little Investigator-Lobsang- came and LOVED it!!! We had so much fun! We were talking about Food and gave them there vocab sheet of terms. THEN (because we are the coolest teachers ever!) we had SNACK TIME! Sister Brown has spent a lot of time p-day running all around to try and find marshmallow and we did! So WE MADE SMORES in English class. We told them it was a typical american dessert! I felt like I was on Sand Lot as I explained how to make it... "you take the mallow and put it on the gram"

It was lovely. 

We got to skype with Gustave again this week through the members. He says that he is doing so good and meets with the missionaries there multiple times a week. WANT TO KNOW WHAT ELSE!!! He told us that his cousin who has been coming to church with him every week is going to be getting Baptised!!!! She started meeting with the missionaries and is going to be baptized! WOw. Gustave already has a baptism and he has been a member for like a MONTH!!!! He ROCKS! 

Yes, So this email was not tooo high on the spiritual side of things so I will share really quick something that I learned this week. We are reading Preach my Gospel as a mission right now and I am reading in Chapter 6 about Christ like Characteristics. As I sat down to begin my personal study I was reflecting over the week or the past couple days. I was thinking about how we had put in SO MUCH FINDING TIME this week and have found no new investigators. I was kinda bothered by it. I was thinking we are being soooooo OBEDIENT (the whole mattress thing was total okay :) pretty sure it says nothing about that in the white handbuch!) and trying our best. Talking with seriously EVERYONE- why and we not seeing any success. I then prayed and asked god to help me understand why we had not gotten any new investigators. I then started reading and I read about being Patient... haha. The Lord knew exactly what I needed. It said, Know that the Lord is preparing people for you to teach but you must BE PATIENT- everything happens in the LORDS TIMING!!! God knows who is ready. He knows who needs another week, month, maybe year... but he is preparing the hearts of the people. And us as missionaries just have to work everyday and do our best so that on the day they are prepared the Lord can send them to us and KNOW that without a doubt we will find them!!! 

I love being a missionary. I am so thankful for this oppertunity that I have to be here in Germany and be with the members and people here. Even though I STILL can not speak german... haha I know that God has put me here for a reason and that the people here will teach me so much!  I love love love love love love love x10000000000 these GERMAN people. My sweet city of Leipzig. It is the best ever!! 

Much love!!! Happy Birthday to Vicki and Emma! MAYA TOO!!!!! Man. This is crazy!!! WEll i love you all!!!  Have a great week! 

LOVE YOU!

Sister Nilson 

Hello family! 24 Feb, 2014

Hello family!

OKAY WHAT THE WHAT. Dad. Are you a secret prophesier or something crazy!!! I cannot believe that Jacob is being trained by Nick Emery. Isn’t God so great? I tell you guys. God just wants us to be happy here and so what does he do... He makes all our wildest DREAMS come TRUE!!!!!!! AH! That is just too great!!! I am still freaking out.

Okay a little spotlight time: SISTER BROWN. My sweet companion. First off she is from Lehi, Utah. She did track and cross-country in high school and is going to SUU when she gets home. She is literally the BEST PERSON IN THE WHOLE WORLD. I love here more than anything. WE basically die of laughter EVERY SINGLE DAY and WORK HARD! It is the perfect balance. Really. It has been incredible. And we are staying together for another Transfer!!! I think I could stay here in Leipzig with Sister Brown for the rest of my mission...(haha. She is probably like GET ME OUT OF HERE!!) I am pretty crazy... but you all already know that :) 

Okay. It is just Birthday Topia at the Nilson home. Dad. I hope you had a good one. James. Before that... How is that crazy kid doing. He should write me. Sabrina. Sweet 16!! Go girl. Drivin and datin! All the dreams beginning! haha And EMI!!! My sweet baby sister who is not even a baby anymore. I told someone here you were 8 the other day... WOW I am looooooooosen it! haha the big 13! That is incredible. 

Kates. You are just Golden. I cannot believe that Jacob and I are here in Germany-4 hours away from one another- and you are all back home. 

Dad, got released. Wow. That is crazy. But I know that President Taylor, Davis, and Bentley are going to be just amazing. That is incredible. What inspired leaders we have in the church.

This week WAS wonderful! We had a lesson with our investigators Lobsang-he is from India and has NO religious background- He has no idea about God or Jesus Christ. It is all very basic with him.  We talked about Jesus Christ this week and who he is. We went through his life with the picture book and told about all the stories and miracles Jesus Christ did. It was so powerful going through the life of Jesus Christ. I love what Lobsang said, he said, He was such an incredible example on a historical level as well as a religious level. And it is so true. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to the earth and helped people. He did everything out of love. He loved us so he came and served others and then in the end died for us.  At the end of the lesson we asked him what he thought about Jesus Christ and he said, "Wow, Jesus Christ has such a big heart." It was so pure and childlike. It was incredible to see how humble and submissive Lobsang was. He just soaked everything in and was so willing and open to what we were saying. It was incredible. He then said the closing prayer!! It was so cute. He was like, "dear loving father Jesus lord..." he said every name possible in the beginning. AH! It was so precious. He said the most sincere prayer and then closed it in the name of Jesus Christ Amen. It was such a wonderful example to me of just being completely humble and willingness to see if God really was there. 

I know that God is there. He really does love each and every single person in this world. I love being here. I am so happy. The happiest little person here in Germany. I love being here. I love being a missionary. 

I hope you all have a great week! Always remember how much God truly knows and cares about each of us! Love you all!!

Josie

A Referral...

Hello Family!!!!!!!!!!! How are you all doing this week. I hope you had a wonderful Valentines DAY! This week has been great for Sister Brown and I!

A little while ago the Elders gave Sister Brown and I a referral for a family. We went by again and again, but were never able to get a hold of them. We kept trying and then last week on Sunday we finally were able to make contact and set up an appointment for Monday. When we went on Monday for our first meeting we walked into a Whole FAMILY sitting, waiting for us to teach them about the gospel of Jesus Christ. They were so incredible! This family is from India and they are excited to learn more. We set up another appointment on Wednesday and after spending an Hour looking for the Church, they finally found it. When we met out to meet them the WHOLE FAMILY was again there. They had all come to see the church. We were able to give them a church tour and make another appointment. They do not know much about Jesus Christ so that is what we will be focusing on this week. They are so nice and are ready to hear about the gospel. It is wonderful how the lord sends us to prepared people. 

The crazy thing about this story is that the family from the referral moved away and this family bought there apartment!!! The lord works my friends. I love you all

Sorry it was so short this week... more next week. 

Happy Valentines DAY- 2/10/14

Hello Family! 

Happy Valentines DAY!!!! I hope you all have a wonderful day of LOVE and LAUGHTER!!

Shout out to the birthday people this week!! Happy Birthday to Todd and DAD!!! 

This week has been wonderful for Sister Brown and I!! After Gustave Left on Sunday many of the ward members were able to keep in Contact with him all week. They would call us up and bring us pictures of him at the Church. He went to the church the day he go home. He found it online and went with his family there!!! We also go to skype with him with a family in our ward. It was so good to see him. He says that he is soooo happy. It was so wonderful to hear that he had already made contact with the church. THEN yesterday during church members came up to us and showed us the pictures he sent them. HE WENT TO CHURCH!!He was there yesterday. He took pictures of all the members and told us that he has an appointment to meet with the missionaries there! He is the best.When we skyped him he was telling us all about church and how nice the people were and how is he is going to make sure that everyone knows about the church-all his friends and family! He is going to do great things down in Rwanda!!! I know it! 

We continued to work hard this week, working with inactive members, members, and finding new people. Yesterday we were going by on two referrals that we received  We had gone by on both of them abou t5 times each and were not able to make contact with them. We were about to call it quits... and then we thought... okay one more time. As we went to the door of the first Kontact, I stopped and said we NEED TO PRAY! So we stopped and said a prayer that we would be successful and be able to make contact with these people. As we said amen we rang the doorbell and immediately were let in! Sister Brown and I were so surprised!! Then as we headed to the next house we knocked and the other family was home as well. We made an appointment our for this week and are going back tonight to have a lesson with this family! 

Family, GOD WORKS. I dont know how many times I can say that , but I KNOW KNOW KNOW he does. He is there. He is waiting for us to call on him. To start a relationship with him. He is our father and Loves us sooo much. He is always there and is willing to help us whenever we need him. 

I am so happy right now. I love being a missionary and I thank the lord again and again that he has given me this opportunity!! I love you all! have a wonderful valentines day!!!! Have fun decorating grandmas cookies!!!!! 

Love you all,

Sister Nilson 

Pure JOY

Oh my sweet family,

I dont even know where to begin. I truly don't know if I should be crying or laughing right now. All i know is that I have never been happier in my whole entire LIFE!!! You really dont even know the Joy of a mission until you are here. Until you get to experience someone coming closer to christ. It is the most amazing thing and I got to experience it this week with my sweet Gustave. 

This week we spent a  lot of time planning for Gustaves baptism. Our WONDERFUL ward mission leader did so much in helping us with the program and getting talks and everything. It was wonderful. On Wednesday we went up to Berlin for a mission conference. It was wonderful. They always are. President Kosak is just incredible and is so inspiring. He always says exactly what I need to hear. On Friday Gustave got back from his trip and we were able to meet with him. It was pure Bliss. I wish you guys could have been there and heard him talk about Joseph Smith and how much he loved him, how thankful he was for him and for everything that he did. How much he loved the Book of Mormon and loved this church. He then proceeded to tell us that his Mom, aunt, and cousins send there love to us and told us thank you for bring the truth to Gustave and that they loved us!!! (answer to prayer 456-have an African family! CHECK!) He said, Dont worry my sisters I will take it to them. I will be doing a lot of missionary work when i get home :) I will be just like you!!

OKAY WHAT!!! I have never before been hit with a BIGGER TON OF BRICKS!!!!!!! Every missionary in the world has such a HUGE affect on the world. EVERY SOUL IS GREAT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, and as we are diligent and serve our heavenly father and find those select souls-then in turn they will tell others about the gospel, bring their families into the gospel, and so on and so forth. This is exactly how god intended it to happen. The church in Rwanda has only been opened for one year. They need Gustave down there, bringing his family and friends so that the church can grow! AH!!! God works my friends. God works. And he know just what he needs to do in order to make sure his work is brought to past. 

Then on Saturday. WOW. Lets just say I have never ever ever in my whole life felt MORE happiness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You don´t even understand!!! man. Okay but lets start with saturday morning. Sister Brown and I planned to make cookies for after the baptism so we ran to the store to get a few things. We just bought flour, sugar, eggs, butter, and some chocolate bars. It ended up being 35 euro!!! Both Sister Brown and I were like WHAT! But we just paid and walked away. As we were walking home I kept trying to do the math in my head and finally stopped sister brown and asked her if I could see the receipt. We looked and the Lady had charged us for 63 Chocolate bars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA! Although that would have been nice, we certainly did not buy 63 chocolate bars. We headed back to the store and the lady just started laughing when we showed her the mistake. She apologized and we got our money back. ADVENTURES on a mission. I love them all. 

Then we headed to the Church to meet with Gustave right before everything started. We were there 2 hours early filling the font, and practising for the musical number. GUess what we sang... BE STILL MY SOUL- SHOUT OUT TO ELDER NILSON aka BECA!!!! haha. I was excited when they told me that was the song because I felt some weird connection to Jake. I love you brother!!!

As we were getting everything ready our ward mission leader Bruder Weber was there literally grinning from Ear to EAR! he was so happy. He could not stop smiling. It was magical. 

Well, my dear family, then we had our last meeting with Gustave. We bore our testimonies to him and he just smiled and said Thank you. "Thank you Nilson, thank you my NIlson" ah. I wish someone would have recorded that moment. It was beautiful.

Then the baptism started. I was already on cloud 999 and wow. I can not even describe the spirit that was there. I can not. It started and people were crying from the firsrt second. Everything was translated for gustave into French. We had a member that went to France on his mission do everything. He and GUstave have become wonderful friends. Gustave has touched so many people here in Germany. He seriously has changed the lives of so many. The baptism was just incredible. After Gustave was baptised and confirmed he got up and bore his testimony. He talked about his conversation story and about how he came to know that this was the true gospel. He started to cry and could not even speak. I con not tell you how strong the spirit was. I have NEVER in all my life felt anything like it. He knows this church is true and said he feels so blessed that he has found it. AS he sat down after his testimony he looked at Sister Brown and I and mouthed the words THANK YOU. I lost it. The tears were flowin, and then I had to go sing... lets just say it was not one of my best performances seeing as I could not GET A GRIP ON MY EMOTIONS!!! But I did not care. EVERYONE there was crying. THE GERMANS!!!! They were all crying. 

Gustave was such an answer to so many prayers. Not only did he help us become better missionaries but he helped the people in our ward have a mission experience. They were just as much a part of his conversion as we were. And that is why it was so successful. Because everyone there at his baptism had a relationship with him, they all loved Gustave. Every single person there came up to Sister Brown and I and told us that they have NEVER experienced a baptism like that. It was the best one they had ever been to. Sister Brown and I take ABSOLUTELY NO CREDIT. It was God, working through us missionaries, the members, and our sweet GUstave. It was simply God moving his work forward. 

I cant even put into words the feelings that were felt and it is making me a little frustrated... haha. BUT Alles Gute. All i can say is that Gustave was the Most prepared person in the world and I am so thankful to my heavenly Father that he allowed me to be a part of his conversion. I am so thnkful that I was here. On my mission, in Leipzig. I love it here. I love being a missionary and I love this gospel. I love love love love love being here. I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have had coming here and being a missionary. I have changed so much and I thank the Lord for being patient with me through it all. 

I know this Church is TRUE. I know it changes people. It changes lives and it can continue to change our lives if we let it. 

My sweet Gustave left Sunday morning to go back to Rwanda. We are going to be able to still have contact with him, which is such a miracle. But all through fasting testimony meeting all the members that were at the Baptism stood up and talked about the baptism. They all said, that they have never felt teh spirit so strong in their lives and were so thankful for Gustave and for al he did. For giving them hope again, and for helping them remember. 

That is what we as member need to do. WE always have to remember. We already have this knowledge. So let it work within us and make up happy. THat is what god intends for us. He was us to feel this amount of Joy always. Yes, we all have challenges... let me tell you, this mission has been anything but easy, but I would relive it ALL again just to feel the Joy I feel right now!! I am on a missionary HIGH!! 

Now this week we got to go and find some more investigators :) Glad I am so happy right now!!! haha. 

I love this Gospel and am so so so thankful for this opportunity. Nothing is better than this. 

Gustave loved Learning German but one of the only words he knew how to say was GENAU!!! Which means exactly or you´re right- so we always did it. You can see it in the pictures... haha. 

WEll. Love you all. Hope you have a good week. Smile always and realized how blessed we truly are!!!

This email was a big explosion of my brain and i am pretty sure it makes no sense. Oh well. If anything just know that I am happy! :) love you! 

Love you

Sister Josie Nilson

You have never felt such Joy!!!‏‎

Hello my sweet family!!! WOW! Can I just say that I am on a missionary HIGH right now!!! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! I remember reading Katie's emails that said that and I was always like, yea yea yea... okay Katie calm DOWN! BUT NO!!!! WE CAN’T!!!!! THIS IS THE BEST CALLING IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Okay. Whoa!... just had to get that out of my system. So Sister Brown and I changed our p-day last week so that we could go to the temple with a member on Friday. WOW. Family. Can I just tell you how marvelous it was? IT WAS MARVELOUS!!!! WOW… But such a story. Buckle up... okay! So Sister Brown and I still had a lot of stuff to do so we had to get up 30 minutes early to get everything done. We were running all around doing study, grocery shopping at a market, sending packages, buying Sister brown new boots, you know the works... and still made it to the members house by 2:10. 10 minutes early... thank you very much. We were just sitting and talking waiting for her husband to get home from work so we could go. Well he ended up getting home late and so we got a really late start. We were all super nervous and they kept saying... well I hope we can make it... I was thinking to myself... HOPE???? HOPE???? NO WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS!!! This is our one chance. This was the four-o’clock session and the next one started at 7. So this was our only chance. I was praying so hard we would make it and after getting stuck behind 2 huge slow trucks, red lights, and other snowy obstacles we pulled into the Temple parking lot at 3:58pm. We sprinted into the temple and low and BEHOLD our dear sweet Couple missionaries that we were meeting there had STOPPED the session and told the temple people that we were coming and they HAD to wait for us!!! They are the BEST! So guess what! We got to do the 4:00 session. I have never changed so fast in my LIFE!! It was so beautiful. I could have stayed there for the rest of my days. AH. The temple has a special peace about it that I don’t think you can find anywhere else. I feel so blessed that I was able to go to the temple. 

WAIT DON’T STOP READING BECAUSE THIS EMAIL IS ABOUT TO GET SOOOOO GOOD!!! 

So... you all know my sweet little African brothers Gustave and Roger. Gustave sent us a text on Saturday cancelling our appointment and said, "Sisters I have something to tell you." Well we were excited maybe he wanted to be baptized or something and then told us, something happened on Saturday with Rogers family and he had to go to Belgium and then is heading down to Rwanda from there and we did not even get to say goodbye. My heart broke into about 5000000000000000 pieces. But I understood because family always comes first. But we still have Gustave till February 17th right?? WRONG!!!! As I was sitting by him at the end of church yesterday he said, "Nilson, I am leaving on Sunday." (Meaning next Sunday.) I was like WHAT!?!?!??!?!?! And then the next words... and I got my answer... I want to be baptized before I go. 

Now I know you are all thinking, WHAT!!! How can that be bad?? That is wonderful!! BUT! We still had lessons that we needed to teach him, our Ward mission leader does not like doing fast things, and our bishop had gotten mad at the last missionaries here for doing a quick baptism. As i was trying to work everything out in my head I was thinking while listening to the talks... well the whole sacrament has been on Tithing and Fast offerings... check that off the list of to do's, we had brought up the law of chastity once or twice in lessons...hmmm that will do... He knows where the church stands...We had never talked about the Word of Wisdom, so that still needed to be done... then to add onto it he leans over again and says oh yea, Nilson, I am leaving tomorrow and wont be back till Friday. Then I leave back to Rwanda on Sunday. BOOOOOMMMMM!! My brain shattered. I was thinking about all the logistics about what the ward members would say!! AHH!

AS sacrament meeting finished I was talking to him about it and he said Nilson. Please I need to get baptized. (Then there is that thought in the back of your mind that says well is he just wanting to get baptized now because he is leaving)... Lets just say I was a little overwhelmed. I looked at him and said, Gustave, I don’t know. Then someone pulled him away to talk to him and I was left standing alone. (Don’t worry, Sister Brown was still in sight and sound she was just talking to a LESS Active that HAS BEEN COMING BACK TO CHURCH!!! BOOYAHHHHH!!). Then all the sudden someone YANKS me around and it is our Ward mission Leader. He says Sister NIlson, Gustave told my wife he wants to be baptized. How many more lessons does he need? I just looked at him and said, the word of wisdom. He said okay. You take Gustave down to the classroom and teach him the Word of Wisdom, I will go find your district leader and we will do the baptismal interview in the Third hour. I WAS IN SHOCK! Was this really A GERMAN pushing a BAPTISM!!!! He just looked at me and said GO!!! NOW!!! haha. So I grabbed Gustave grabbed Sister Brown and tried to explain what was going on. She was a little confused but by the time we were down stairs she understood what was going on. THE LORD WORKS LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, just wait it gets better....

When we got into the classroom the sweet teacher who has a really great relationship with Gustave said, okay are you ready for the lesson. I tried to explain to her what we were doing and she said, well what lesson do you need because today I felt prompted to prepare a lesson on the Word of WISDOM!!!! WE WERE LIKE WHAT!!!! We all just sat there for a minute in Silence knowing the Lord was behind this all!!! I felt so humbled sitting there. The Lord just softly spoke to me, my sweet Sister Nilson, this is my work and I will do thing in my timing. Thanks for your concern, but please... I just felt God hand moving this forward. We then proceed to teach Gustave about the Word of Wisdom. There were four members in the room, Sister Brown and I, and Gustave. We all took turns baring our testimonies on the importance of the Word of Wisdom. He had a few questions about coffee and tea, but we cleared them up and he said he had no problem with it. Then the most incredible thing happened. I asked Gustave, Why did you all the sudden change your mind and want to be baptized? And he looked at me and said because, Nilson, I got my answer. He then told us that for months he had been praying to see if the church was true. I remember telling you in past emails that he KNEW it was true but needed a "sign" or needed  "something more than a feeling"-As we tried and tried to tell him he had already gotten his answer, he just kept saying, no, no, no. I need time. Just give me time. So we did. (Okay back to his side) He told us that he had been praying and praying. Then as he was getting ready to do this tests he said, Lord if I get higher than a 90% on my tests then I will know that this is your church and that I need to be baptized. Well on Saturday night he got a call from the professor and he told him that he had gotten a 95!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He said, in that moment I have never felt the Lord so strong in my life. He reminded me of the promise I had made to him-I know that this church is true. I feel like I have a family when I am here. I have never felt a spirit like this before. 

By this time the 4 Germans (2 of them spoke English and the other 2 cant really speak at all) were BAWLING!!!!! I was about to loose it and he just said Thank you. Thank you so much for finding me and for helping me find this true path to God. It was the best moment of my whole life. Family I cannot even explain it to you. You have never felt something so special. After that meeting he had his baptismal interview and I was talking to the Ward mission leader who was there but could not understand English (but who had also been crying) and he said, Sister Nilson, would you explain to me what just happened!! haha. I then go to relive the whole thing again. Translated what happened and then he had to excuse himself to get his composure back. THEN!!! The Bishop came out and was so happy!!!!!!!!! He told us congratulations and talked to Gustave for a while. That was the biggest miracle of it all. That our church leaders were all on board and pushing to make it happen:) 

FAMILY! This church is the true church! I have no doubt about that. This is GODS WORK and he will move things along in HIS timing. I know that the church in Rwanda is going to be thrilled to have an incredible member to add to there little branch. He is amazing. I have learned more from him. Gustave has brought us Joy when we had some pretty sad days. He is so wonderful and I feel so grateful that I was able to be apart of it all. Finding Gustave Started with a prayer... and it has progressed through prayer.... and now the next phase into his new life is baptism and receiving of the Holy Ghost.

I know that prayer works and that the Lord knows how to work with his children. He knows how they receive their answers and what their needs are. He knows us personally and if we will look to him and follow him than we need not fear. He is there. He is watching over us and is always there guiding us to where we need to be... We just need to take his hand and follow. 

I am so grateful for the experience of a mission. I never ever ever thought it would be so hard and rewarding all at the same time. I am so thankful for this opportunity!! Let’s thank the Lord one more time.... I love being here. I love being a missionary. The Lord is with us.

I love you family. Sorry this was SUUPPER long. Hope you all read till the end and that it made a little bit of sense... I have never typed so fast in all my DAYS! SUCCESS!!! 

Love you

God Works :)

Sister Josie Nilson 

Happy New YEAR!

Hello Family!!

HAPPY 2014!!!! Man, Can I just tell you that Germans know how to celebrate New Years. They have huge fireworks, music, parties, BOMBs, and THE WORKS. The only problem is... I AM A MISSIONARY. Therefore I have to go to bed at 10:30, however when there is a party right above you and bombs going off outside you window it is a little hard to do that... REALLY THOUGH!! It was CRAZY! People went NUTS. As i was nestled up in my bed all the sudden I jumped out of bed thinking something was happening when I realized it was simply just germans celebrating the new year! WOW! It was great.

My brother Gustave is comtinuing to progress in the Gospel. We had a New Years eve get together and watched Thomas S Monsons Biography and Gustave loved it. He said that he loved how there was something different about the members of the church. He then told us that he was continuing to work with his sister, who is still in Rwanda, on finding he Mormon church and meeting with the missionaries there! He is so amazing. Already doing missionary work!

We had two more lessons this week trying to prepare him for baptism, but everytime we ask him to be baptized he is very unsure. He knows that our church is true and loves the Book of Mormon, but he has been baptized before and is nervous to do it again. He said, Sisters I met with missionaries just like you before and I got baptized. Now I have learned more and know that I need the proper authority to get baptized but I just dont know who has it. We were able to bear powerful testimonies about the priesthood and the authority from god. He know that it is true but is says he still is "waiting for his answer." 

We jsut love him and are patient with him. I know that he will get baptized and be like the Branch President in Rwanda one of these days. haha. He is inceredible and has SUCH strong faith and a pure love of god. He teaching me something everytime we meet with him. Just remember him in your prayers that he will be able to recognize his answer from the lord. 

I love LOVE LOVE being a missionary family. I am so thankful for everyone who has made it possible for me to be here serving the lord. I am forever indebted to you. Really this is the best experience i have ever had in my whole life. I have learned so much, grown so much, seen so much. I hope that through this experience the Lord can change me into the person that he needs me to be. We always want the Lord to know that he can count on us. So always be doing the things that we know we should be doing, so that when the Lord needs an errand run he can call you up and know it will happen! 

I love you all. Thanks for all your support.

Special shout out to jacob!!! I love you jake!!! Enjoy the MTC and have fun learning GERMAN!!! It is the Language of Heaven so be glad you are learning it now and not later... haha!! LOVE YOU!!!! 

Sister NIlson 

This ones for you!! 12/30/13

Jake!! Oh meine GUTE!! You go into the MTC  sooo soon!!! I heard that your farewell talk was amazing. MAN! I am so proud of you. Not going to lie I wish I was there and had the opportunity to hear it but mom said she will send it too me... so Alles Gute.

How is everything going with the family. How is grandma doing! Grandma Harley you cant scare me like that. I am so gratful that you saw the signs and got to the hopsital as soon as possible. I am praying for you everynight. ANd all of you everynight BY NAME! Yes my prayers get a little long sometimes... Know that I am thinking about you always and pray for your success. I love you all so much. 

Talking to you was the best thing in the whole world!!! Man that goodbye was rough. I cried and cried... But dont worry i got myself together and finished out the day strong. We had a marvelous christmas holiday. I am so thankful for the memebers here and for all that they did for us. They made christmas wonderful!!! Man I sure do miss you though.

I just want to let you guys know though, I LOVE being here. I love being a missionary and I love sharing the gospel with people. After talking to you I was feeling a little homesick, okay lets be honest here, I was feeling a lot homesick... but the next day we had an appointment with our investigator Gustave. Roger left for the Holidays but Gustave was still here and he said he could meet with us. When we asked him how he was doing he said he was great because he had God in his life. He began talking about time and how short life is. He said that we need to make sure that we are living everyday in accordance with what the lord wants because we never know what is going to happen. He says "We eat today and leave the tomorrow up to the Lord." Meaning that everyday is special to god and as we follow him then we need not worry about what will come tomorrow, because if we are living the gospel of jesus christ we know that whatever god has planned for us will be for our good. Come what may and love it. It was the perfect introduction for our lesson we had planned, the plan of salvation. We talked about how much good comes from this gospel and that through this gospel can we find TRUE and EVERLASTING joy and happiness. We talked about the family and of course I got a little emotional... I am so thankful for this gospel. And for this wonderful plan that Heavenly Father has prepared for us!!!! We have the perfect plan made for us and as long as we are trying our best, we can know that everything is going to be okay. Everything will be great. 

Random Story!

We went to a members house yesterday for dinner. They are friends with President Kosak. Remember how I told you all about the Rap that I made up for my spiritual thought in District meeting... well... somehow president got a hold of it and then sent it to this member. So after dinner i had to stand up and do my rap... it was hilarious... Man I am a weirdy... Oh well. There is nothing we can do about it. 

Well my wonderful family. I love you all so much and am sooo thankful for you!! Have a wonderful new years. We are having a party here with all our investigators. We will be watching the Biography of President Monson and talking about new year resolutions. It starts at 3 in the afternoon and ends at 5! MAN! That is the way to ring in the new year!!! haha. 

Love you!!!

Happy Christmas Harry...Happy Christmas Ron...

Hello FAMILY!!!!!!!

How are you all doing this fine fine day!! Can you believe that I get to talk to you in 2 days!! I am dying!! SOOOOOOO happy!!!! Get ready to chat fast because we only have an hour! haha. 

So This week was very lovely. All of our investigators well friends have left for the Holiday season-well except Gustave our African Friend (We will be meeting with him everyday this week... haha)- so it has been a bit slow. People here are hustling and bustling trying to get everything ready for christmas! But ever so often we do stop someone who has a spare moment and will talk to us for a minute! We have had some great conversations this week about jesus christ and the true meaning of christmas.It has been great!!! 

Family. Christmas in Germany is so special and I am so thankful for this time that I have been given to reflect on Jesus Christ. Our Lord, Savior, and Best friend. We were talking to a old investigator the other night and she was telling us how bad her life was. We talked to her for a little while and gave powerful testimonies that it is though Christ alone that we recieve real joy in this world!! She was still a little bit mopey and finlly sister Knecht and I just got bold and said, What do you need to change in your life to have this happiness, because you say you dont have it... and really it is your fault... It was kinda harsh but this lady has been investigating the church for years and she is always compalining... BUT WE LOVE HER MORE THAN ANYTHING! and that is why we want her to be happy. She said well maybe I need to start keeping the commandments again. We told her yes, that would be a great place to start. She then went into her kitchen and brough us out her coffee and said here take it. So we did. And we dumped it out and threw it away!! bahahahA! Just kidding, but really. It was a great experience and a good learnign experience. That even when life is hard and we dont know which way to go we can STILL rely on teh savior Jesus Christ. We can still have joy and happiness when you are near to him,. When we are following the commandments and living our lives in harmony with his teachings. 

Oh my sweet family. How blessed I am to be here. To be a missionary and to be able to tell people about this good and great work we have. We have everything. We are sooo blessed. I look at some peoples lives and see how they are struggling and think to myself, HOW HOW  did I get so lucky. To be who I am today and to have the family and firends that I have. I dont know. I really dont have an answer, but I do know how thankful I am for you all. For all your love and support! I love this gospel and I LOVE my savior adn redeemer jesus christ. Always remember the true meaning-why we have the oppertunity to come together as a family-because of Jesus Christ! 

Oh family! I love you soooo much. Have a wonderful christmas eve! Sing really loud when you do the 12 dayws of chistmas together!!! and C H R I S T M A S! And I call being Mary next year in the nativity!! haha. I love you all so much!

Love you!

Gib niemals auf!! - 12/16/13

Hello my swweeeeeeeet family!! 

How are you this week?? I hope all is going well. It seems that you are very busy with christmas and travels. Wish Mac luck at his tornement!! Man you guys are going to have so much fun this CHRISTMAS!!! AH! 

WELL as for me....

I am doing good. Still just plutting along enjoying each and everyday. 

I dont think I ever told you about my one investigator Linda Braun. She is about 65 years old and is crazy wonderful!! When we first met linda we were street contacting. I stopped her and we started talking about god. SHE FREAKED OUT! She was so happy that we believed in God. She proceeded to talk to us for 35 minutes (it was FREEZING COLD AND WET...no big deal) and when I asked her at the beginning if we could come by and talk to her she said no. But after a llooooonnngggg disscussion I basically begged her for her number and address! After that she turned gave a hug to Sister Knecht thanked her for the pamphlet she had given her then with the pamphlet turned to me and started wacking me with it!-oh i think i did tell you this story...

Well, yep. THat is Linda. Since then we have met with her every week and whenever we go over there she always prepares a meal for us. I have eaten Chicken FAT pie (previously known as Chicken pot pie...but instead of actual chicken she just put in the fat from the left over pork she had...) plum wine cake (okay we had NO idea it had wine in it... then we went into her kitchen and saw that she makes her own wine), Russian soup, Bread,BREAD AND MORE BREAD. Some NASTY PUUUURE garlic salad... talk about going through a whole thing of breath mints… 

Not only does she perpare meals for us but she always does weird stuff... Like biteing my ear... sister knechts finger... telling us earings and make up are from the devil...she spanked me... lets not talk about it.She always tends to do wierd stuff to me but always just gives Sister knecht a hug.. I can not tell if that is because she just does not like me or if it is because that is how she shows her affection... BAHAHAHA! I think it is the later. 

So yep she is quite WONDERFUL! When we first started teaching her she would not even let us read from the Book of Mormon. She would not let us even talk really. WELL i am here to tell you that this week we went in and she had read from the book of mormon (marked it and all!) she watched the restoration DVD,allowed us to talk about joseph smith, and Came to church and LOVED IT!!! Yes, she is our little miracle for the week! Never give up on anything or anyone. Remember that god is always there. He knows everything and knows who is ready and who he can help get ready. It has taken Linda a good 5 weeks, however the progress she has made has changed the way she lives her life. No, she has not been baptized yet-and she may never be-but she has felt the Love of Jesus Christ in her life and has noticed a change. ThaT is what this gospel does for people. It shows them that they are not alone. It proves to them that they have a father in heaven and that he loves them more than they could ever imagine. This church, this knowlege, WHAT WE KNOW, iss LIFECHANGING!!! And I think a lot of times we as members of the church forget that. We forget and we sometimes take for gratid this marvelous gospel. DONT DO IT! Cherish it. and LOVE LVOE LOVE it!!! 

Elder Ballard gave a talk that said if you will invite someone to a church funcation, share you testimony with someone- JUST ONE PERSON- than thousands of people will be able to feel the Love of jesus Christ before the end of teh year. I encourage you all to do this. Find someone that you can invite over, share your testimony with... anything... because then in turn the Lord promises to not only bless that one person... BUT THOUSANDS of people. Do you know how much that will help us missionaries out here? A LOT!!! 

Another Fun miracle this week came from a little prayer that I have been saying for a couple of weeks... I have been praying for the oppertunity to "use my talents" a little bit more... well on Monsday night I got a call from one of teh Elders in the Offic and he said, President Kosak wants to surprise Sister Kosak with a song and you are going to Sing it for Zone Conference on Thursday. I sent you everything. See you thursday. I was like WHAT in the WORLD!!! Really. I then heard a little voice come to my head saying, Your the one who prayed for it... haha. I laughed obviously because the Lord has the WOLRDS BEST sense of Humor and then I went and started to prepare. I was able to sing on Thursday and Sister  Kosak had a tear in her eye when I was finished... (pretty sure only one tear though...) But It was a great oppertunitty for me and it felt sooo goood to SING! AHHHH! I miss it. I miss performing sooooooo much!!! Get me on a STAGE PLEASE! haha. Just kidding I guess I can wait, but.... really though. I miss it so much. 

Last and Certainly not least. My little African friends. Gustave and Roger. Well first and foremost FAmily we are going to rwanda... haha. They want to meet you all. I told them we would come a visit them. Dont worry, it is actually one of the safest nations in Africa now. They were able to get everything worked out with the governement and now it is a wonderful place. Well my Brothers are doing well. Continueing to press forward in the gospel. They came to a baptism yesterday and said they felt something different. We expalined to them that it was the spirit and that we have the proper authority to baptize. They are finally starting to realyl get that our church really is different and that we have something that the other churches do not. Gustave called us the other day and said THEY HAVE A CHURCH IN RWANDA!! we were so surpirsed and asked him WHAT?! he said, My sisters your church is in Rwanda that means that we can have it there when we leave germany! haha. It was sooo cute!! They are doign wonderfully. 

Well. Thats all folks. I dont have much else. HoHO ZoCo this week was quite lovely. I enjoyed myself... President Kosak got a video of me doing a rap that I made up and showed it to the half of the mission... that was embarrassing... but OH well. Life goes on right. haha. 

I love being here! Christmas in Germany is somthin else. It is so magical and special. What a wonderful time to love... ah... I love you family. Have the bestest week ever and I will talk to you all next week!! I love YOU!!!! 

Love,

Me