Flat Tires, Opposition and Faith

Hey there!

I changed a flat tire!!! So we had exchanges on Wednesday. I was with Sister Hansen for the day. We had appointments scheduled... and then our tire went flat. turned out there was a screw in it. Both of our appointments fell through and we were able to get it fixed. Sister Hansen taught me how to change it for the spare. I had never had the opportunity to change a flat, so it was exciting for me ;)

I'm staying here in the meadows 5th ward with Sister Christensen for at least one more transfer. And I'm glad about it. The work here is just starting to pick up and I want to see it grow some more. 

I'm pumped about the vancouver washington mission!!!! If you ever get a sense for what it covers, send them to me! i'm curious :)

We just found our that our new mission president we're getting in July is Michael and Rebecca Ahlander. I'm excited to see how the mission changes

So wwe had a super cool lesson with an investigator this week. Danielle... I dont' know if i've told you about her yet. she's in her 30's. one son and a husband. She's been investigating the church for 2 years but she's worried joining the church will put extra stress on her marriage. This last lesson, the spirit was sooooo strong. we were about to challenge her to be baptized but the doorbell rang and her dad came in. The funny thing about all of this is that my companion had a hard day the day before. But we pushed through and had a wonderful experience. Opposition precedes success. Whenever there is opposition, it's an opportunity to show your faith. As you show your faith through your actions, the Lord will bless you. Because He loves you.

I love you all. The Spirit is amazing. Keep on pressing on. It's worth it. 

Sister Cornelsen

Ward Council and Missionary Spirit

Hello Dear Family and Friends;

We've been doing sooo much with Less-Active church members that our teaching pool is very small. I'm pretty sure I've told you about everyone we're working with... although it may have been in different letters and not just emails. haha. 

Thanks, Dad, for the ideas on how to inspire missionary spirit in the Ward here.

We went to Ward Council for the first time in the ward and gave them several ideas of how to get more referals. Then during church, I felt a shift. More people were talking about missionary work... and Christ was a bigger focus in all of the meetings. It was great to feel the Spirit so strongly.

When we have asked members for referals, they usually say no. Actually we haven't gotten any referals from members. Stacey said in a letter how with so many missionaries coming out, members are going to have to step up in welcoming and fellowshipping. She is so right! I am adding that they need to step up in doing missionary work themselves. 

A full-time missionary is happiest when they are teaching. Our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ. but we can't do that if no one is listening. Members are a LOT better at finding people to teach than the missionaries are. Talk with your friends and acquaintances about what you believe. Invite them to dinner... where the missionaries will be there. 

People are much more receptive when the gospel invitation is coming from someone they already trust. This is what I want to have happen in my area. I'm telling all of you so you can make it happen for other missionaries... So their families can be excited when their missionary can teach someone the gospel and baptize someone. It's God's work! He wants His children to come home. I can see how this ward can grow to 3 times it's size. I'm just praying that I'll know what to do to help that happen.

 So for Valentine's Day... it was a typical day. We were planning to go to Sweet Tomatoes restaurant but then the ward mission leader invited us over - so nice! 

We then visited 2 other less active members.  

I know that Jesus is the Christ. I am so grateful for the peace and hope that I feel because of Him. I know that this is His church. It truly is lead by Him. Thomas Monson is the current prophet of God. And it's all a witness that God loves us. He knows us personally.

I love you all. I hope you have a great week. ;)

Sister Cornelsen

Confused, Double Dinner, Healing the Heavy Laden, and IronMan

Hello Lovelies,

I think of things throughout the week that I want to share, I sit down at the computer, and I can't remember any of them. I guess it doesn't help that I just barely wrote to you on Wednesday.

So here's a story. Mario is 18 years old. He wants to go to college and double major in Psychology and Theology. He read the Book of Mormon in middle school. and believed it to be true. He's been going to a Christian church that his mom goes to. She's against the church. He talked with his pastor over the summer about the church and he was shown some anti material. So  now he's confused. He still feels like it's true... but it doesn't make sense to him anymore. He's a bright kid. He has lots of questions. We talked a lot about how God can answer his prayers and how he can know from God what is truth. We'll be teaching him again on Saturday.

Yesterday was a weird Sunday. We had made an appointment a couple weeks ago to meet with the Haun family, a former investigator. We didn't realize they were planning on feeding us. So it was awkward, not because of the food, but because the teaching record on them was not very informative. They are very set on Catholicism. We know now why the missionaries stopped teaching them. Right after that, we went to our  actual dinner appointment. I've never seen such a big pork chops in my life. It was delicious, but we had already eaten one dinner. We had two meals, back to back, and they were very large. I've never been so full in my life. If having a food baby is anything like having a real baby, I may adopt. cause that was super painful. I didn't throw up... but Sister Christensen did.

So I read a talk from Dallin H. Oaks the other day that I thought was fantastic. It's called "He Heals the Heavy Laden" from October 2006. I knew the atonement could lift burdens off. but i never thought of it actually strengthening us to bear the burden. For so long I prayed that i wouldn't have food allergies... but he's strengthened me to deal with it. and he'll use it in his own way to become a strength. I was also reminded of how the simple things we learn at church is what allows the Atonement to work in our lives. As we diligently do things to build our faith, every day, there will come a time when it just clicks. We feel the burden lifted. We know we're forgiven. We know he's with us to strengthen us. He's just there. And we know it. We feel it.

I'm so grateful for Christ. He's the one that makes it possible for me to be strong.

pictures: the temple, we went to dinner with some members to Chili's. There was a guy making balloons. I got Iron Man. :) And... i may have a gun on my hip...

Slinging...

Las Vegas LDS Temple

IronMan Balloon

Temple, Cats, Emotions and More

Well we went to the temple this morning. It's the same layout as the Portland temple but i has some design things that are different. It's interesting how it fits with the feel of Las Vegas and Portland temple is perfect for portland.

 

So we live in a members home. she has 3 cats. and I love the member... but I hate cats. I left my food on the counter and the cat had gotten up and was eating right off my plate! I had to throw away the whole thing and get a new plate of food. if i had any good sentiments towards cats, they are all gone. luckily, i haven't been feeling any effects of being allergic to cats.

 

My skin is starting to clear up. When I was working with Diane, she said that it would clear up 3 weeks into my mission because something about how I process emotions would change. The theory is that because i wasn't processing emotions and letting them go, they were holding themselves in my skin. Stacey asked what I've been doing to process emotions and it's actually a combination of things. In the Fall, Will suggested I write things down on a little notebook. So i started doing it. It's my private place. I am extremely honest with myself because i know no one is going to read it. I write about what I'm feeling... and when I don't know why i'm feeling that way, i write until i do... and then i say a prayer and keep writing so i can let it go. I'm trying to get in the habit of doing that at least once a day. I guess if I'm more aware of what I'm feeling.... and invite God in, it allows me to process it.

 

We're doing a lot of work with less active members in the ward. I'm already attached to them. I see where they can be and they want it too. It's just a matter of doing it.

 

we have a few investigators. but none of them have a baptismal date yet. they all have some sort of opposition to them getting baptized... and all of it comes from family members.

 

I am so so so grateful for supportive family and friends. you all mean the world to me.

 

Thank you for your ideas and suggestions. I'm just not sure what I can put in the car that won't go bad.

 

Stacey, Mom, and Dad, I got your letters and I'll write back today.

 

I can hardly believe that I've already been a missionary for more than a month! Time does a funny thing on a mission. The days seem to be long... but a whole week goes by really quickly... let alone a month! I thought 18 months seemed like a long time... but i'm starting to think that it'll go by quickly.

 

I forgot my camera cord, so no pictures this week. I'm looking forward to hearing how you're all doing on Monday!