Prayers ARE Answered, and Miracles DO Happen!
Note written to Aunt Davilyn on Sunday, March 11, 2012. Aunt Davilyn scanned & sent it to Mom’s email
On Friday [March 9], my companion and I were allowed to schedule our day because the rest of our English district had in-field orientation, and the two of us did not. We got up early, had breakfast, got a haircut (thinning & layering; nothing drastic), had personal study with our teacher, Brother Crandall, and then got to go to the TEMPLE with two other teachers (Brother Sikahema & Sister Shumway). It was probably the BEST session I’ve EVER been to. While my comp and I were waiting in the chapel for our teachers, I prayed for a miracle: I prayed I’d run into someone I knew whom I could hug. In other words, I NEEDED A HUG. As we were heading upstairs, who do I see but my cousin Kira Dalton Bingham! Oooh, please tell her she was my miracle! Tell her sorry I didn’t ask her about her life; I was just so shocked my answer was given and ordered even BEFORE I uttered the prayer. Tell Kira thank you and I love her. I LOVE going to the temple!
[Later that same day, March 9, Sister Nelson’s BRAND NEW camera broke; and she experienced several other frustrating misfortunes. Thankfully, Sister Nelson’s teacher knew her brother Cody; and word of the broken camera reached Mom and Dad. After Mom made MANY phone calls to the MTC front desk, the Best Buy store in Orem, and numerous family members, Aunt Davilyn was the superhero! She picked up the broken camera at the MTC, exchanged it at Best Buy, and returned the new camera to the MTC front desk.] Aunt Davi, THANK YOU SO MUCH for exchanging my camera for me! That was the miracle I was praying for. The new camera works fine, though I’m a bit skeptical about a touch screen. Regardless, I REALLY appreciate having a working camera for the last day my district will be here. Sometimes, I feel like my life can be summed up by the book, Fortunately, Unfortunately; but I keep my head held high and a smile on my face nonetheless because PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED and miracles DO happen. |
MOM! You rock so much. THANK YOU SO MUCH for taking care of my camera. It was such a miracle and blessing. AND THANK YOU for the box. It was such a tender mercy and godsend. I’m so lucky to have a support system. Jessi N., YOU are the CUTEST! Thanks for the “hug” you made! I showed it to my district, and everyone was jealous.
Thanks for ALL the love and support!
~Sister Nelson
Thanks for ALL the love and support!
~Sister Nelson
Letter written home dated Tuesday, March 13, 2012
It sure was a blessing to discover that Cody knew Brother Sikahema, who then alerted Cody regarding the broken camera. I’ve learned that Brother Sikahema is one of the most spiritually in-tune people I know. He told us he quit the rugby team for this year because, while in the temple, he got the thought, “Have you asked if that’s what you’re SUPPOSED to do?” (He had been praying for strength to carry on with his numerous obligations like a chicken with its head cut off.) If he hadn’t had the time to teach in the MTC, we wouldn’t have had our most productive and spiritual lesson this past Saturday with him.
Last Saturday [March 10], Sister Sessions and I had a moderate breakdown; and Brother Sikahema’s spiritual guidance was what we needed. That morning was one of our worst role plays, and we both had been experiencing several misfortunes and frustrations—thankfully, not with each other. Looking back, it was probably because we essentially had a 2nd p-day the day before because everyone else was attending in-field orientation. I now feel the inspiration of only having one day a week be centered on “me” chores. Even reading letters or walking through the bookstore on NON prep days can be draining in a way that allows your mind to wander and get off-track with the promptings of the Spirit. |
That evening, right after class started, I realized I had lost my camera’s memory card; and THAT was the last straw. I was already sick with worry about my broken camera, and Sister Sessions and I felt we had lost our momentum and were becoming cynical. It wasn’t helping that we knew our English district was leaving for the “big leagues” soon, and we would start learning our language here instead of Sao Paulo because our visas hadn’t arrived yet. After realizing my memory card was gone, I was fighting back the tears. Brother Sikahema took my comp and me to a different room and just listened. He just sat there, deep in thought, while we sat there and expressed all our concerns. Looking back on it, that was probably his way of spiritually hugging us. All he could do was invite the Spirit to comfort us because, sometimes, words just don’t cut it.
He read us excerpts from a talk about the Atonement and then shared with us a text he had previously sent to Cody. [Cody emailed it to Mom. It said, “Your sister and her companion are the stars of the district and even the zone, as the other teachers would agree. Since day 1, my companion teacher and I foretold of their growth and it has been so fun watching it happen.”] Then he told us that he and Brother Crandall KNEW we would be the superstars of the district. I know Satan has been working VERY hard on Sister Sessions and me because we’re being effective. We’re strong. We KNOW why we’re here. We have built our foundation on Christ, our Savior, and His atoning sacrifice. |
Brother Sikahema was silent again; and I turned to my comp and choked out, “Sister Sessions? After the mission, you said you wanted to run a marathon with me, right? Well, right now, will you take one more step with me? Let’s take one more step, go one more day. Let’s run until our limbs fall off because there ain’t no mountain high enough…” or something to that extent. I think I also mentioned how Satan has been working hard on us, so let’s work even harder. That’s right! Wow, I think I would have gone bonkers by now if I hadn’t had Sister Sessions as my companion.
We got our schedule for the Portuguese program, which Sister Sessions and I will start tomorrow [March 14]. We will now have p-days on MONDAY and our new mailbox is #312. Crazy to think that by the time we’re done with the MTC experience, we will have been in 3 districts. Our new classroom is now 18M-463. I have a feeling like Troy was in this building for learning Mandarin. Sister Sessions and I ALSO get to stay in the same bedroom, and we’re still each other’s companion! TENDER MERCIES! She’s the BEST companion in the district! We still freak out when we think we’ll have to get different companions down in the Sao Paulo MTC. However, Sister Sessions and I promised that no matter who gets the visa first, we’re sticking together. That is such a relief because I think SHE will get hers first, and she has flown internationally before. Visas are SO random! Some people got their electronic visas a week ago and leave tomorrow. It seems like sisters are having a tougher time getting visas.
Recently, another role play lesson taught me how you can have a good lesson, you can teach doctrine well, and you can feel the Spirit; but it’s all just words and feelings until you ask them to commit to do something based on what they’ve learned and what they’ve done. Blessings are predicated upon obedience; obedience is the act of faith. If you want to grow spiritually or receive more light or get an answer, you MUST work. You MUST put in an effort to change. You must submit to God’s will. GO and DO, don’t SIT and STEW.
Faithfully Yours,
Sister Nelson
Recently, another role play lesson taught me how you can have a good lesson, you can teach doctrine well, and you can feel the Spirit; but it’s all just words and feelings until you ask them to commit to do something based on what they’ve learned and what they’ve done. Blessings are predicated upon obedience; obedience is the act of faith. If you want to grow spiritually or receive more light or get an answer, you MUST work. You MUST put in an effort to change. You must submit to God’s will. GO and DO, don’t SIT and STEW.
Faithfully Yours,
Sister Nelson