Dear Family and Friends,
Sorry but this is my belated Christmas letter. I will put it
on my blog also. Hopefully all that want will be able to read it.
Truly this year has
been an adventure and busy year full of changes and joy. In Feb. Jessie and
Ashlee got two boys one year apart Dean and Levi from social service. By
July they where theirs and sealed to them for time and all eternity in the
temple. Also Chris and Jill had Tate a week before I went into the MTC for my
mission to Burlington Kansas.
Burlington is a wonderful little town with very service orientated
people. Even though we serve in the Elementary School, Hospital, Mops, etc. for
free so does many people from the community. It’s not just one time thing
either for them, it is weekly.
I have enjoyed my mission so far very much. There is no two
days the same and it is always fun to see what the next hour will bring. Below
is one example:
We had went around our neighborhood about a month after
being on our mission and took a plate of cookies and introduced our self’s.
Then at Christmas time I went by myself with a gift because my companion went
home for a wedding. Any way my neighbor Jeanette came over a couple of days
later with a Christmas card with their phone # written on it so we could call. I
had a lovely visit when she stopped by with the card. She told me about her son
that had taken his life. She was the one that found him dead the next day. She
said she cannot get that picture of finding him out of her mind. She said she has
night nights and after all this time it is not any easier. Then she looked at
me and asked if it was any easier for me, she knew I had lost my son. I told
her that I was fine and said in our church we believe that we will be together as families
after we die, so we know we will be with our loved ones again. She said she
wanted use to visit whenever we could and I said for her to also visit us.
Monday we had our neighbors Jeanette and Bernie over for
dinner she said on the phone she would like to learn a little about our church.
I felt Heavenly Father had hand delivered this couple to us. It was a
delightful time during dinner getting to know about their lives. Then we sat in
the living room and Jeanette asked me to tell her about out church I cover just
about everything from the pre existence to Joseph Smith. I had said our church was the Church of Jesus
Christ of latter day Saint. About the time I talked about Joseph Smith she lost
interest. She said she knew about the Mormons and even though I kept share I
could tell she was not interested. But I feel her husband was. Then she told me
she was saved and in the Pen costal church. Her husband proudly shared she had
even talked in tongues. She said she
love the music in her church and enjoy the excitement (I am not sure if revival
is the word I should use) but she could stay for hour and hours. It wasn’t long
after that, that they left, but we said we would have them over again. I was
discouraged for a minute but then I realized this is in Gods hand and things
that are imposable with man are possible with God. It truly is in his hand so
we will see what the future holds.
Anyway we have met many people that have children or
husbands that have died and are having a difficult time dealing with it. I am
so grateful that I know we can have our families forever what a wonderful
blessing this is. I am so grateful for all our church blesses use to know and
understand. How I love my Father in Heaven and his son and my Savior Jesus
Christ.
I wish all of you the very Happiest of New years. May the
Lord be with you.
With
all my love,
Mom, Paula, and Sister Nielsen
