July 14, 2009
Well the good news is I get to keep Sister Haycock for a transfer! I am so excited! I don't think I could have switched up again. We are staying here in Fountain Valley but we are no longer serving in the Second Ward. However we are living in the second ward. I was so sad to say goodbye on Sunday. We went to our meetings there and Bishop was praising us and telling us how great we were. It killed me. I gave our report and then said that we were leaving. He said that he didn't get a vote and I said neither did we. There were people in every ward that I didn't want to leave. I am grateful that we have 2 wards and that I only had to leave one. We are working hard here. We taught 31 lessons last week! It keeps getting higher every week. I love it. I come home exhausted. We have had a great week teaching Angela. She is a great lady. This is the first week that we have truly been able to teach her a full lesson. She is progressing and I hope that the elders will take good care of her. I pleaded with the 2nd ward to keep on working with her. We taught her in Spanish. We had planned to teach her a first lesson but ended up teaching a second because she had questions about it. Sister Haycock hadn't prepared for it so I taught the whole lesson and then she testified every once and awhile. It was great. The next time we went over Sister Haycock taught more. She did so good! It reminded me of my first lesson in spanish. It is a scary thing. The gift of tongues is amazing. I would be so lost without the spirit. There is no way that I could do any of this without the spirit. We were walking the other day around the park and we met a lady named Amanda. We got her address and set up an appointment to teach her a lesson. We gave her our number but she didn't have a number. As we left and continued on I realized that she lived in apartments and we didn't have an apartment number. The only number she gave us was 102. Well the day of the appointment came and I didn't know what to do. I just prayed all day that we would be able to find her. We went to the street and there was a building numbered 10200. I said we will just knock this apartment until we find her. We knocked every door. We found maybe 3 people at home. On the last door I pleaded that we would find her. Someone answered the door but it wasn't her. I told the lady who we were and that we were looking for a lady named Amanda. She said she lived downstairs and gave us the apartment. I was completely in awe. We went down and left her a note. We didn't have time to meet up with her again before we got transferred but I know that the Lord guided us to find her. All I had was a good guess, logic to lead me. The spirit is the one that truly guided us to her door. It was definitely an answer to fervent prayer and a strength to my testimony. I haven't ever really felt guided in knocking. Now I know for certain and not just from stories that God does lead us to those who need us. Sunday was a teary day for me. I realized that it was one year ago that I had my farewell. There just happened to be a farewell in the first ward. As they were speaking and talking about the different feelings they had experienced and experiencing it brought to the surface all that I felt in that moment. They sang Called to Serve and I just cried. Luckily it wasn't too obvious. I felt it more than anything. I can't believe how far I have come in this short year. It was humbling to recognize that it is closing quickly. If I had planned my own way I would have missed out on this remarkable experience. Well we had another surprise in transfers. We thought that Sister Choi and Sister Hart would be training. Sister Choi is but her greenie Sister Riches is the other trainer. Sister Choi is going to Whittier and Sister Riches is staying but picking up another ward as well. I am sad I won't see Sister Choi all of the time. I have really enjoyed being around her. Now we will just have to write. Maybe one day we will get to be companions. So I was talking to Elder Murphy and getting some last minute transfer questions answered. He is no longer our district leader which I am super sad about. I commented that I have had a lot district leaders and he said" You have had a lot of everything". I said ya I guess that is true. Someone has to do it. It was pretty funny. I wouldn't have it any other way. Every change that has happened has had purpose and I have learned every time. I am grateful that God is in charge. He knows how to make my mission the best mission. I hope you all have a wonderful week! I love you all so much! Thanks for all that you do! Love you!Love Hermana Mickelsen
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Week 48
July 7, 2009
Well it has been another week! I got my new companion on Wednesday afternoon. I was very sad to say goodbye to my dear sister Gallik but my new companion is great! Her name is Sister Haycock. She is from Colorado. She lives in a little town south of Denver near Castlerock. She is so great! California is very different from her 70 acre land in Colorado. She is the oldest of 6 kids and is such a fireball. I love her! We have had a great week and it can only get better! She has a great testimony and I feel like she is training me. She is a great example to me. We have been working hard this week. We had a great lesson with Astrid and Rodrigo. I think that we are making progress. They opened up a lot and we had a good discussion. Brother Muelleck usually comes with us but this time he couldn't so Brother Kennedy came. It was a tender mercy because Brother Kennedy is a convert and was able to relate in a different way than Brother Muelleck could have. We will see what happens. We kneeled down in prayer after the lesson. It was the first time that I have felt like doing that. It was a sweet spirit. I hope that they recognized it and have a desire to continue to seek.We had a lesson with a lady named Ava. She is a great lady. She is having some terrible health problems. We are trying our best to bring her happiness. We had a difficult time helping her to understand that God has a body. I am hoping that the lesson this week with the Restoration will help her. We had a little surprise visit on Sunday. Sister Haycock and I were talking to some members and President walked in. It was a shock to me. It was funny because the Bishop wanted to talk to him and tell him that he wanted the sisters to stay in his ward. He didn't have to call him because he was right there in Sacrament meeting. It was great to see him. I always love being in his presence. I know that I was sent to this mission to serve with him. He has been such a blessing in my life and has helped me grow so much. I know he is inspired and leads this work by the spirit. I have become more aware of that this last transfer. I have needed each of my companions and he promised me that the work would continue no matter what. It has and I am grateful for his great love and counsel. Sister Haycock and I bore our testimonies in both the wards we attended. She is the one that turned to me and said let's go. I was a little nervous with President there but the spirit confirmed the truths of my testimony. I love this gospel and know that it is true with all my heart. The only way to know that anything is true is to test it out and pray about it. It is amazing how quickly your life can change as you live the gospel more fully. Thanks for all of your love and support! I have the best family in the world! I hope you all have a wonderful week! Love Hermana Mickelsen
Well it has been another week! I got my new companion on Wednesday afternoon. I was very sad to say goodbye to my dear sister Gallik but my new companion is great! Her name is Sister Haycock. She is from Colorado. She lives in a little town south of Denver near Castlerock. She is so great! California is very different from her 70 acre land in Colorado. She is the oldest of 6 kids and is such a fireball. I love her! We have had a great week and it can only get better! She has a great testimony and I feel like she is training me. She is a great example to me. We have been working hard this week. We had a great lesson with Astrid and Rodrigo. I think that we are making progress. They opened up a lot and we had a good discussion. Brother Muelleck usually comes with us but this time he couldn't so Brother Kennedy came. It was a tender mercy because Brother Kennedy is a convert and was able to relate in a different way than Brother Muelleck could have. We will see what happens. We kneeled down in prayer after the lesson. It was the first time that I have felt like doing that. It was a sweet spirit. I hope that they recognized it and have a desire to continue to seek.We had a lesson with a lady named Ava. She is a great lady. She is having some terrible health problems. We are trying our best to bring her happiness. We had a difficult time helping her to understand that God has a body. I am hoping that the lesson this week with the Restoration will help her. We had a little surprise visit on Sunday. Sister Haycock and I were talking to some members and President walked in. It was a shock to me. It was funny because the Bishop wanted to talk to him and tell him that he wanted the sisters to stay in his ward. He didn't have to call him because he was right there in Sacrament meeting. It was great to see him. I always love being in his presence. I know that I was sent to this mission to serve with him. He has been such a blessing in my life and has helped me grow so much. I know he is inspired and leads this work by the spirit. I have become more aware of that this last transfer. I have needed each of my companions and he promised me that the work would continue no matter what. It has and I am grateful for his great love and counsel. Sister Haycock and I bore our testimonies in both the wards we attended. She is the one that turned to me and said let's go. I was a little nervous with President there but the spirit confirmed the truths of my testimony. I love this gospel and know that it is true with all my heart. The only way to know that anything is true is to test it out and pray about it. It is amazing how quickly your life can change as you live the gospel more fully. Thanks for all of your love and support! I have the best family in the world! I hope you all have a wonderful week! Love Hermana Mickelsen
Week 47
June 30, 2009
This week has been such a great week! We had 2 baptisms this week! It was a beautiful experience! Edgardo and Jorge were baptized Tuesday night. We had the baptism for Young Men’s. Two of the Priests baptized and the other young men did the prayers and the talks. It was so great! It was a great bonding experience for the boys. Their mom was there and she also came to church for their confirmation. She is acting more interested. In one of the blessings they were told that they would be a tool in bringing more of their family to the gospel. The change in these boys is amazing! I just love seeing the progression. Each week they have more light in their eyes and you can just see their testimony grow. The gospel is amazing. We challenged the boys to read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover. We are doing it with them. Jorge commented about how he had never read a 500 page book. We agreed on a chapter a day. I am so excited for them! I know that this is only the beginning for the rest of their lives. One of them commented that it was a fresh start. It really is. Here is an update on the constant change for me. My companion Sister Gallik is leaving me tomorrow. I am so sad. She is so great! She has truly prepared me and helped me change my attitude about my mission. I love it more now. The assistants called me Sunday morning to tell me who my new companion would be. They are sending one of the sisters scheduled to come on the 14th of July tomorrow. In other words I will be an official trainer tomorrow! I can hardly believe it! It makes me a little nervous but I am sure that she is more nervous than me! I needed these last few weeks to help me see that no matter what happens the work continues. A couple transfers ago I asked President for a blessing. He told me in my blessing that nothing would stop the work that God has for me here, not my foot or my companions. When he gave it to me I thought that I wasn't going to get along with someone but now I can see that my Heavenly Father was preparing me for some crazy weeks. I know this is the work of God! I love all of His children. I love being a missionary and know that I can do whatever is asked of me! Have a great week! Love you! Love Hermana Mickelsen
This week has been such a great week! We had 2 baptisms this week! It was a beautiful experience! Edgardo and Jorge were baptized Tuesday night. We had the baptism for Young Men’s. Two of the Priests baptized and the other young men did the prayers and the talks. It was so great! It was a great bonding experience for the boys. Their mom was there and she also came to church for their confirmation. She is acting more interested. In one of the blessings they were told that they would be a tool in bringing more of their family to the gospel. The change in these boys is amazing! I just love seeing the progression. Each week they have more light in their eyes and you can just see their testimony grow. The gospel is amazing. We challenged the boys to read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover. We are doing it with them. Jorge commented about how he had never read a 500 page book. We agreed on a chapter a day. I am so excited for them! I know that this is only the beginning for the rest of their lives. One of them commented that it was a fresh start. It really is. Here is an update on the constant change for me. My companion Sister Gallik is leaving me tomorrow. I am so sad. She is so great! She has truly prepared me and helped me change my attitude about my mission. I love it more now. The assistants called me Sunday morning to tell me who my new companion would be. They are sending one of the sisters scheduled to come on the 14th of July tomorrow. In other words I will be an official trainer tomorrow! I can hardly believe it! It makes me a little nervous but I am sure that she is more nervous than me! I needed these last few weeks to help me see that no matter what happens the work continues. A couple transfers ago I asked President for a blessing. He told me in my blessing that nothing would stop the work that God has for me here, not my foot or my companions. When he gave it to me I thought that I wasn't going to get along with someone but now I can see that my Heavenly Father was preparing me for some crazy weeks. I know this is the work of God! I love all of His children. I love being a missionary and know that I can do whatever is asked of me! Have a great week! Love you! Love Hermana Mickelsen
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