About this Blog

This blog is made by Sis. Fjeldsted's family to keep you updated with all her experiences! She reported March 20th and we will see her again a year and a half later. We are so excited she can serve the people of Arcadia and we hope you find enjoyment and upliftment in her letters.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Pictures!












7/30/13

Dear Family and Friends,
Sorry not to write an email last week to everyone. Email time was cut short because we went to China town and played volley ball with our zone.
I've really learned and grown a lot this past week. I'm becoming more converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ than ever before. I really feel like I've been stripped of my pride and broken down to nothing and it's a painful process but I love it and I can see that I'm being refined. I can say that I am not the same person I was before my mission. I understand things more deeply now in my heart that I will never deviate from and I am closer to my Savior and my Father in Heaven than I have ever been in my life. I feel like these first few months I've been trying to go at everything 100% with effort and will power but my heart wasn't quite at 100%. I had some experiences this week where I'm at least trying now to put my heart and head into it 100%. I have seen that the only way for this to work is to give my will over to the Lord 100% and I knew that but I was at times at like 99% almost almost there. Now, I'm not trying to say it do it 100% of the time but I am willing and trying and striving and repenting. I have given up every last bit of what I am, what I want and everything so he can make of me what He sees in me not just what I want or who I want to be. He knows better. (The scripture 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 has really come to life for me). The mission is the hardest thing and the easiest thing and I can't even explain it. I think part of it is that we are sons and daughters of Heavenly Father with a divine sense to us so when we understand and see this it's easy. But we still live in a fallen world and when we forget it is hard to fight off the natural man and use our agency to completely follow Jesus Christ. I know I have many weakness but this week I found the source of my greatest weakness and my biggest stumbling block and I am so grateful. I haven't had pure charity all the time. I lack charity. That is where all my weakness and faults come from. I finally figured it out. I know that I'm not always a great listener and I am not always humble and that comes from not having more charity. I will strive harder than ever before to be the Savior's eyes, and hands, and say the things He would say. That is charity. It is loving everyone more than you can imagine, it is caring more about them than yourself, wanting their success and happiness. As soon as we forget this we do something dumb and it makes us unhappy because sin cannot bring happiness. I'm grateful that I've been able to go through difficult things to break me down to nothing so Heavenly Father can build me up the way He sees me. It's not easy but I wouldn't have it any other way. I know this is how to be truly happy.
We saw about a million miracles in the past couple weeks I haven't had time to write about that I'd say are like Ensign worthy (haha) things that you just wouldn't believe but I don't have time to write them all today. Just know that God will always bless the righteous and the way to miracles is to ask in faith and act upon it believing and knowing He will provide a way and then just like that it happens every time.
Sister Lallis and I are working as hard as we can and I think she'll be training in no time. We should have two baptisms in the month of August and I couldn't be more happy for them. I love the people here and the ward. Two girls gave their farewells this week in church and it's crazy that was me not too long ago. They'll be fantastic. One is going to Russia and the other to Chile. Watch out world here comes the Sister missionaries! Transfers are next week but I think I'll be here still. I think I've got something else I need to do (and I'm supposed to speak in church in a few weeks so they can't get rid of me yet haha) and I think that I'll probably finish Sister Lallis' training (which would be this next transfer) then they'll yank me out and have her start training. These are all just assumptions and I could be completely wrong but so far I've been right every transfer.
I feel like there's something else important I needed to write about but I can't remember any more so I guess it can't be too important.
One more thing, dad, Brother Mackay is in the bishopric in my ward and he says hi. He's awesome and he said he went to high school with you and he was the grade below you. He said you were goofy and great growing up. I think his wife may also know you from growing up in CA. Another thing for you dad- there's a fantastic talk called "The Fourth Missionary" by Coorbridge that I highly recommend. It's great for anyone not just missionaries.
I'm grateful for the mercy the Lord has on me and each of us. Never forget he's there and loves you. Remember that when you do what you want you and the Lord both loose. The only way is to win is to loose your will and take His and then you both win. He knows you and loves you better than you can immagine. Trust Him. Trust in him that knows all things. I love you all, have a fantastic week!
Love, Sister Fjeldsted

7/15/13

It's been another good week. I've really been tried and tested this week. I've had some difficult things happen but I know that in the end that the message we carry is true and no matter what happens or if things fall through or if it seems like no one here is supporting us and everyone is against us that everything will be for our good. We finally have a progressing investigator and she should have a baptismal date this week! I am so happy! I think that while on my mission here I may not have many baptisms but I think I'm supposed to be here to be an example- to other missionaries, the ward, and the people we teach. That my example will effect others and they may remember my actions, and words, and deeds, that I did what Christ would have me do even if no one else around me was. Personal worthiness, desire, and testimony aren't always correlated with number of baptisms. It can be easy to get down when it seems like you haven't done anything or had any baptisms but some of the best missionaries don't even have any or just a few. I think I'm here to be an example and to be a leader and there may only be a few along the way that will accept this message, but that doesn't mean I'm not doing the right thing. It has really taught me complete trust in the Lord and His timing and that we are to never ever feel entitled to anything. Sometimes in life we work our heads off and nothing happens but we learned a lot along the way and others learned from us and all we can do is repent and move forward. I have also been learning some about Godly sorrow. Every night I pray for my investigators and every morning I study for them hoping and praying that their faith will grow and that I will be a better tool in helping them come unto Christ but sometimes it just doesn't happen. Or at least not right away. This is probably just a tiny bit of what Heavenly Father feels. Sometimes we stray and don't repent and He just aches for us and it was nothing He did wrong. We must always trust Him and trust that even when we're doing all we can and it seems like nothing is working out that He knows us and He is still there and still cares. I have a feeling I'll be in La Canada for quite a while. There's something I need to do, some kind of impact I need to make here and I'm not sure I'll ever know what it is but Heavenly Father does and I trust in Him. Thanks for all of your love, support, and letters. Have a fun week!
Love, Sister Chelsey Fjeldsted

7/08/13

It has been an interesting week. Last week ended on such a great note but this week things kind of took a turn in the other direction. None of our investigators are progressing anymore. No one has been keeping commitments and no one has come to church. It can be kind of sad, and difficult, and frustrating because here you have the greatest thing in the entire world, something that will help them in every way and they aren't progressing. I think that's how Heavenly Father often feels with us. He wants to bless us but when we forget to say our prayers and forget to read our scriptures we don't qualify for those blessings. He is waiting to bless us but he will never force us just like I can't force other people to do anything. When their faith increases then they will have that desire and want to and do it on their own. Until then all we can do is help them and invite them but it will always be their choice. In our mission we are shooting for a goal of one baptism a month. I've been out almost 4 months and haven't had any. I often wonder what I'm doing wrong and in my prayers I feel so bad saying each night I haven't done it yet but I promise I'm trying so what am I doing wrong what can I change. I know though that people do have their agency and I can always repent for not doing more. I'm actually grateful I started my mission off in this affluent area because later on in my mission I will be able to find more humble people that are willing to repent and seek God in their life and I'll know just what to do! It seems like there's been a bit of a missionary success drought here. There's been one convert baptism in this month for the whole year. That's not good at all. I need to step it up and do something about it. For anyone reading this if it's on my blog, it isn't just about converting people and baptizing people or anything like that. It's about inviting people to come unto Christ by making covenants with God to change their lives and grow closer to Him and this happens through the gates of baptism. If we are serious about following him we will follow His example and be baptized just as he was by proper authority by immersion the exact same way. There are so many blessings we receive when we are baptized and we have the influence of the Holy Ghost/ Holy Spirit so much stronger in our life. And THAT'S why it's so important. (3 Nephi 11 and 2 Nephi 31). It is part of Christ's doctrine: faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, enduring to the end. I've been thinking about my purpose here and as a missionary and I haven't been doing such a great job at finding people who are willing to be baptized but I know I have made a good influence in the live's of others through the gifts Heavenly Father has blessed me with to bless His other children through me. (sorry, the syntax on that sentence was awful, but you get the point). I think something I may need to do while I'm here is help the leadership of the wards, help other missionaries, help the mission president, help my investigators and prepare these investigators for some future missionary. And I'm willing to take that sacrifice. If I go my whole mission without a baptism I will feel bad for not bringing others into God's fold but I won't have a thing to regret because I've done all I can do and I always tried to live my purpose at all times by always inviting others to come unto Christ. I'm grateful that I've been compelled to be humble. I get frustrated sometimes that other's aren't humble and won't listen to the message and then I remember that I am guilty of pride and all sorts of other things. I am far from perfect. On my mission I've also been compelled to have charity. And I'm grateful for that as well. I'm not really sure what happens next in the work. We need to find new investigators and help the ward see that they need to get involved in the work and I know that's what I need to do right now. I'm grateful for the Lord answering prayers and for the power of the Holy Ghost in my life. I should be discouraged and disappointed but I'm not. I know that Heavenly Father is always there and that we should always rejoice, through thick and thin we have every reason to be happy because Christ lives and loves us.
I love you all and I'm so grateful for all of your love and support and emails. Thanks for all of your prayers and for thinking about me. Give Christian a hug for me when you get home.
I haven't heard from you yet Christian but there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about you. I love you and look up to you so much. Let me know if there's ever anything I can do for you.
When you get home would you send me a ward program so I can get the addresses of other missionaries from our ward serving? Thank you.
Also, I met Brett Mackay this week. He's in my ward and he's a year younger than dad and went to highschool with him. He says to tell you hi dad. I think that's it for connections this week. Oh, and his wife grew up here and knew you too. And a lady named Clo Ross or something knows Paul and Courtney.
I love you all, have a wonderful week and a great summer.
Love, Sister Chelsey

7/01/13

This week has been another wonderful week. I've really had my faith tested, tried, and seen it grown. It was weird having sister Fleming leave because she is one of my very best friends and I look up to her so much. We had some amazing times together on the mission. It was so weird that she went home because all of a sudden it seemed like half of me was gone. I really missed her for the first couple days but I knew that I couldn't do that because the work is about others not our best friend companions and if I missed her than that meant I was getting distracted. So I made my self get over as fast a I could. I got my new companion Tuesday night and it was the strangest thing in the whole entire world because one minute I'm being trained by a sister trainer (like a zone leader for the sisters) and she's in the last transfer of her mission and then the next minute it's all been handed over to me. I'm in charge of the area. I know where it is and what's going on and I have to lead the way. I hardly even felt like I knew the area since I'd only been there one transfer (6 weeks) at that point so I was just like, well this is going to be interesting. I have been blessed with such a sweet and patient companion though. Her name is Sister Lallis (like Dallas) and she is from West Jordan, UT. There are 6 kids in her family and she's the youngest. All her older siblings are married and she has like 17 nieces and nephews! All of those things make her really sweet and kind and innocent so it's good for me to learn to be more kind and gentle. In some ways though I feel like there isn't much we have in common so sometimes we're pretty quiet. She's born and raised in UT, the youngest, has tons of family that lives within an hour driving of her, she's never been to college (she graduated in 2010 then worked at deseret book for three years) and I just don't really know how to connect with her sometimes. I'm so glad she chose to serve a mission though. That's a brave thing to do if you've been born and raised in UT your whole life and you don't know anything else. She hasn't really seen anything out of UT before (she went to Nauvoo like once when she was 12) so it's a totally different world to her. It's weird for her to think that people here aren't Mormon and that people can be mean to us. I think it would be really hard to be thrown into California like that especially if you've never been here before. I think rejection is a little hard on her when we tract and other things but I can see that she will grow into a great leader when she gets past the culture shock. She is very gentle and kind and helpful which I know I need to work on. I sometimes pride myself a bit in being thick skinned, go get 'em, let's do this, very resilient when people reject us but I see know that I could also be a little more sensitive at times and understanding and loving. This is something I need to learn. Since I've had to lead the area and train I have been very assertive, and a strong leader but almost too much sometimes. I know I need to repent and back off a little bit and try not to come on so strong.
Anyways, this week was great. I have really come to love the people and work this week more than I ever have in the past, ever. I love love love the people I teach and the members of the ward and I don't want to go home. I want to stay here and teach people and help them learn about Christ and feel the spirit. I honestly have the greatest job in the world. The beginning of this week was actually a little rough and quite slow. I felt bad bringing a new sister into an area that didn't have a whole lot going on the first few days. We taught hardly any lessons, got doors slammed in our faces, had a huge heat wave here without AC and to be honest I actually was doing great! But I could see that my new companion was struggling a little bit. That would be kind of hard to be thrown into. She would say things like, I just don't get it, why don't they want to listen to us or how come no one cares. I need to learn to not just be like whatever they'll get a second chance, God is merciful so other missionaries will find them. Eventually that's what I need to get to but I realize it's okay to feel that Godly sorrow initially that they turned down this great thing and do all that I can to invite them to partake of this gospel. The last couple days here though things turned around completely. I've been reading in Jacob 5 out of the Book of Mormon- the allegory of the Olive Tree- and I can really relate to it in a lot of ways in the area I serve. "And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: How comest thou hither to plant this tree, or this branch of the tree? For behold, it was the poorest spot in all the land of thy vineyard. And the Lord of the vineyard said unto him: Counsel me not; I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, I said unto thee, I have nourished it this long time, and thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit." I felt that same way all of last transfer. Why am I in La Canada? What am I supposed to do here if no one will listen to me? What in the world am I doing wrong. Why am I in what seems "the poorest spot in all the land (mission) of thy vineyard"? Sister Fleming and I never once found anyone new to teach the 1st 2nd or 3rd discussion. We met some nice people, taught other lessons, but never any of the discussions. And at times it did get discouraging not to see real growth in our area. But this last Saturday and Sunday we've taught both the Restoration and the Plan of Salvation to 3 different people and 3 new investigators. This was the Lord saying "Counsel me not; I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, I said unto thee, I have nourished it this long time, and thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit." We now have 9 investigators. And 4 potential/ almost investigators. Sister Fleming and I had almost none last transfer and we're only at the end of the first week of this transfer. The work really is hastening and miracles happen each day.
The people that we teach are miracles in my life and inspire me. They are truly why I'm here. I pray for them all the time, I love them, I love teaching them and being with them. This week we taught Idita and Livija the restoration. They are from Lithuania and some of my favorite people in the entire world. They're sisters and they are about in their 60s and they are a hoot! If they had their own show I'd watch it every day they are so funny. When we met Idita for the first time she was like well I have my own church no thanks I'm not interested but we invited them to do family history work at the church and they came! Then Sister Fleming and I made a few visits to them and got to know them better. Then when Sister Lallis came I said it's time to teach them. It's now or never. So we did and taught the restoration to them. It went from not wanting anything to do with our faith to them saying they would read and pray about The Book of Mormon. Miracles happen everyday if we ask for them, earnestly pray for them and desire them, and then work so hard that they will come to pass. They're a blessing and miracle in my life. I love them so much.
Then there's Patty Anderson. She is a miracle in my life. She is such a tender woman. The Minnesota lady I've written about. She also was very much, I'm into my own church but I love the Bible and to pray and I'll talk about God with you. So Sister Fleming and I did. But then when Sister Lallis came it was go time. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and the spirit was so strong. It was one of the best lessons I've ever been in. We brought a member of the ward, Sister Frandsen who is just wonderful and amazing and lo and behold, they knew each other and she didn't even realize it before! The spirit was there and she really opened up to us about her concerns, her relationship with Christ, her hopes her fears, her struggles, where she wants to be and everything. Sister Frandsen was wonderful to have with us she shared many great scriptures and things from her heart that helped her. She also agreed to read over what we taught and pray about it. This is the same woman who a couple weeks ago made us take back The Book of Mormon we "forgot" at her house and didn't really want anything to do with our doctrine. It was an incredible lesson.
Christ is very merciful to put us in leadership positions when we are not qualified. I'm so not qualified to be a trainer. I've been out 12 weeks, am a year younger than the minimum age used to be, younger than my new companion and only in the area for 6 weeks. I don't know anything. Haha! But I had felt since the first week I was with Sister Fleming that I would be training since she would be going home and I got to be trained by a sister that was leaving at the end of the transfer. So I took it seriously at least. The first day though it scared me to death to think that I would lead the area and be the one who has to take charge and start lessons, and tell people they need to repent, and teach them doctrine when they said they didn't want to hear it, and figure out what we should do each day, until the new sister got the hang of things. And now none of that scares me. I know that I'm still not qualified and I have much to learn and many weakness and things I need to repent of from last week that I could have done much better but I KNOW that I'm not alone and that the Lord is leading the work. I just need to listen better, act more, and do what I came here to do.
I'm so grateful for Sister Fleming and the example she set to me of humility and kindness and patience. Everything we went through last transfer set the stage for this one and she was so selfless to put in all her heart when she wouldn't even get to see the results or the people grow. She did a lot more than she'll know or see.
I'm grateful for my new companion and she has taught me so much about kindness and gentleness. I have much to learn from her. She is also very pure and sweet which I could also work on.
I love the people here and I love my job. I have the best job in the whole world and I don't want to leave this area or the people. I don't want to go home. The Lord is so merciful to allow me all these experiences and to have blessed me with miracles each day. I know I need to do so much better and step it up.
I love you all and I'm so grateful for all your examples.
Remember that it may seem that God asks hard things of you. But if you're thinking that then maybe it's because you're trying to do it on your own and taking it all upon yourself. Because in that sense, you can't do it, not alone. But when you come to Christ and do what He has asked because He love you and work with Him in His name it doesn't seem so hard anymore. He'll help you, but you have to humble yourself and ask and repent and accept His love in your life. Don't try to got at life alone. You won't get anywhere. "When I am weak then I am strong."
Have a great week, I love you all.
Alma 5:50
Love, Sister Fjeldsted

Monday, June 24, 2013

6/24/13



Dear Friends and Family,
Well it's been a crazy, busy, great week. I just dropped off my companion at the mission office this morning :( sister Fleming is all done with her mission. I can't believe it. What else is funny is that until I get my new companion I will be with Sister Baum until she gets her new companion as well. So I'm with my last companion today in the last area I served in, in the same library I used to write from and we were both trained by Sister Fleming.
So as far as news goes. The reason I don't have a companion is because I'm training.... Yep. The Lord is very patient to make me a trainer. I just finished my own training and now here I go. I've only been in the area for one transfer and I don't know the area as well as I should and I know I have many inadequacies so this will definitely be a time of patience, and learning, and growing. I had a feeling from day one that I was with Sister Fleming that I would be training so I've been paying close attention to all she does and tried to learn and remember all I could. so far I'm two for two with predicting transfers, we'll see if I get the next one right! haha. I'm grateful for this opportunity I will have to train. It's sad when you see other missionaries that are disobedient or gossipy or don't seem to care much or other things like that and I'm grateful to be with a new companion so we can work together to not be any of those things and not bring any disobedience into the mission. I've been noticing my weaknesses a lot lately which isn't always fun but it's good for us all to strive to do better and be more repentant. The gospel of Jesus Christ (faith, repentance, baptism/ sacrament, endure to the end) is the key to life but we have to actually DO it which means continually repenting and looking to the ward for strength.
No baptisms or investigators with baptismal dates to report. At times I get frustrated with myself that I haven't had any yet but I have to remember that I can always do better and that everyone still has their agency and that I can always repent and move forward/ do better. There has been a bit of a drought lately it seems as far as teaching and baptizing go in this area but I have great hope, faith, and renewed determination and drive to get working harder and live and teach my purpose better (the gospel of Jesus Christ). The work will move forward here and we will baptize. It will be wonderful. It's happening I just need to get my act together better and live and breathe and teach and love the gospel of Jesus Christ at all times.
If you didn't watch the general Leadership Broadcast this past Sunday do it. Watch it by yourself, with your families, whatever you can do. Every member of the church should watch it and pay attention to the promptings they get and then get up and do them right away without delay. We need your help! I love you all. Have a wonderful week.
Love, Sister Chelsey Fjeldsted

6/17/13

Dear Family and Friends,
This week was great. I had some pretty low points where I was very very discouraged at the begining of the week but my attitude has turned around completely. We had two exchanges this week (Sister Fleming is a sister trainer- which is like a sister zone leader) so she has to go on exchanges with all the sisters in the zone and help them. The fist was in our area and I was with sister Fogavai. She is from American Samoa and she is absolutely wonderful. She told me about her and her family's conversion to the church. I learned a lot from her and really enjoyed serving with her. She's been out for about a year so she had lots of great advice for me. The second was awesome as well. I was with sister Harker. Her and sister Fleming and a few other are like the legand sisters in the area. I think it's silly that people in the mission put some missionaries above others in the way they talk but i'm just saying it how it is. Either way, she really is amazing. She reminds me of what I'll probaly be like by the end of my mission: assertive, loving, bold, kind. Kind of like Grandma Ann. Most of the time I don't feel very confident since I've just been out 12 weeks and haven't even finished my training yet so I'm not quite assertive or bold yet much of the time but there are circumstances where I am. It's amazing to be someone who's confident not because of who they are in a cocky sense but because they know who they are- diciples of Christ, children of God- and He will not let us be confounded before men so we have no reason to fear. She's still humble though which is amazing and something I need to work on. I figured out one huge thing I need to learn at this part of my mission: patience. There's in overriding theme that comes up in everything I do. Everything is taking FOREVER and I get really frustrated really easily. The work is moving slowly, our investigators are moving slowly, everything seems to be slow and I'm trying so hard to do EVERYTHING I can and asking for the Lord's help. I need to learn to be patient with members, investigators, everyone and remember that people have their agency. Heavenly Father is so patient with me each day and always so it isn't fair for me to be impatient with others. I also need to learn to be more patient with myself. Patience defined in Christ like attributes in Preach My Gospel (chaper 6) is described so well. Patience means waiting without getting frustrated or discouraged because we love them. It's not supposed to be endure to the end and grin and bear it the whole way but rather endure to the end and love every part of this human exsistance both the good times and the difficult times.
I saw lots of miracles this week. There were probably more miracles at the begining of my mission but my eyes weren't open to it as much. On Saturday when I was with sister Harker we taught a lesson to an investigator in their area whom I've never met in my life and our fellowship was a couple that was previously mission presidents. No pressure. And I've only been out for 12 weeks. And the sister I'm teaching with (sister harker) is on the last week of her mission. Awesome. I actually wasn't too nervous but I was just kind of thinking, well I sure hope I don't mess this one up. We tried to teach him the plan of salvation starting with the pre-exsistance and it was a bit of a struggle because he was Cathloic and doesn't believe in that. We talked a lot about the Holy Ghost and Gift of the Holy Ghost and how it testifies of truth and how he needs to read and pray about the Book of Mormon to receive a witness from the Holy Ghost before he will know. Then talked about the plan of salvation. It went okay but not fantastic. Sister Harker made a coment about something that rememinded of something I should tell him but then sister Collins spoke so I didn't then what she said made me think of something else. Then before I know it her husband cuts in and says I know these things are true and basically closed the discussion. But I still had so much left to say! Then the investigator said thanks to each of us and when he got to me he said thanks for being here even though it wasn't my area and I was just here for the day and thanks for my testimony and I basically said you're welcome it was great to be here but I have one more thing to say. I shared my personal testimony of the atonement and different points of it that came clear to me at different times in my life and was able to explain how it helped me better understand the plan of salvation, how it all fit together, and how I have been able to understand over time greater through the power of the Holy Ghost and that he can too. He just looked straight at me and I couldn't tell what he was thinking, if he was like what she's crazy or wow that's awesome and when I was done he was just like stunned and said plainly, How did you know? How did you know that was exactly everything I needed to hear and what I was wondering about and that what you said put everything together for me? It was an amazing experience. Sometimes it takes the weak things of this world to just be the ones that are like I have no idea what I'm doing and I'm unexperienced so please help me to know what to say Heavenly Father. Another blessing of being new is that I'm not stuck in usual teaching patterens or ways of teaching the same all the time so I can let the spirit work more fully and to be able to talk with people not to people and teach people not lessons which is something I always need to work on. Anther cool thing that happened that day was that Sister Harker and I contacted some former and potential investigators who were in her area I was in for the day (Temple City). It was a Hispanic family and they were so nice. She and I were able to use our Spanish again which was a blessing that I could remember it. They were so nice and when we left we asked if we could say a prayer. We asked the 20 year old son if he would but he said he'd never prayed before so we taught him how and he did! He prayed for the first time with us. It was wonderful. Another cool miracle- we've been meeting with a lady name Patty and she's from MN! We had a great visit with her last night. She's not exactly interested in the church yet but we talked about families and how we can be with our families forever. We then realized that she's from a broken family so sister Fleming was promted to say that Heavenly Father will also take care of those with broken families and everything will work out. She began to cry and out of the kindness of her heart said that I hope you two young ladies find wonderful young men someday to marry. It was very sweet. She has a grown daughter probably in her 30s and mentioned that she's not married and wants to be with someone but is having a hard time with dating and such so she asked us to pray for her- that was last week- and so we did in our closing prayer before we left. She told us yesterday- a week later- that her daughter later called her and said that last Sunday at like 8:30pm (the exact time we met with her and prayed for her) she found a guy! Nothing serious yet but he is interested in her and they've been talking and went on a date or something. We also found out that she knows a memeber in our ward. So we're going to bring her next week as fellowship and teach her the plan of salvation. I'm really excited. It's funny because numbers (key indicators- like lessons taught, etc.) don't mean anything if there isn't real growth taking place. We've seen so many miracles lately and have many great things ahead that can't be put into those key indicators. This transfer has been a bit rough as far as finding and teaching. We haven't taught a single first discussion to a new investigator once this transfer if that paints a picture for you and the very few investigators we do have are slowly progressing but we've been making greater efforts to work harder and ask for the Lord's help. I have great hope and I think there are great things instore these next few months. I also have a feeling I'll be here for a long long time. I think there's something I need to do here and much to learn and people to find. There's great work to be done. I love the Lord and I am so grateful to be serving him. I have finally come to the point that I don't want to be home I really really don't. I want to be here. Not that I haven't always but I just really don't want to come home. It's a blessing how our attitude changes when we better internalize our purpose and are here for the people and to do the Lord's work. I am so blessed.
One last awesome thing to share for dad. There's an awesome Korean family in the ward and they had us over and fed us tonkatsu and korean beef! My favorite foods! I hope someday to serve in a Korean branch here. That would be my dream come true. I love Koreans.
Have a great week everyone and I wonderful vacation. I love you all. You're in my prayers. Let me know what I can do for all of you.

6/10/13

Dear Friends and Family,
Greetings from La Canada. I hope everyone is doing well! Maddy and Jakob are almost done with school! What are the vacation plans (besides Jakob traveling the world)? If you go to Utah or wherever be sure to tell everyone hello for me.
Something funny happened this week. Sister Fleming told me there was a Fjeldsted contact in our mission phone and I thought she was crazy but sure enough there was. Then a few days later I ran into someone at church that told me she knows Paul and Courtney (I can't remember her name....) and then she said that they used to be in La Cresenta (as far as I know she's right) and our phone used to be in that area. We are also in the La Cresenta stake so I'm right where they used to live, if that source is accurate. But I thought that was pretty funny I'm right where they used to be. I also met a lady in this ward who served in Minnesota! She actually served in Anoka which is funny because that's now our stake back home. Her name is Sister Milum (I'm not sure how it's really spelled). She told us some crazy stories of serving there about crazy Minnesotans on their farms and it made me laugh because I knew what she was talking about.
The work here has been going to say the least. I have a hope and faith that things can and will turn around but as of late we've had a bit of a dry spell. We're only teaching a couple people and they haven't been coming to church so technically they aren't progressing. I love them all so much though but there will always be that element of agency and they will on their own have to have that desire increase in themselves to lead them to action. So planning is hard because when there's no one to teach what do you do? Find efforts on our own haven't been much of a success either. It's the same thing every time. We knock on someone's door and tell them who we are and that we have a message about Christ for them and then they just kind of look at us like we're crazy  and then proceed to tell us thanks for all we do for spreading the word of God but we have a church we go to and we're happy there. It's like they have a script or something it's the same every time. We know there is a much better way to find that is more effective and productive and that's through the members. The Sunday before last we had stake conference and they made a big push for missionary work. The Stake President did a great job and President Becerra and his wife (our mission president) spoke which was also great. But now it's a matter of them taking it into their hearts and applying it. It's great to talk about but until we actually do something- invite our friends to church, invite friends over while the missionaries are over, talk to people about the church- then nothing can happen. Sister Fleming and I have continued to fast and pray about ways to get the work going and to get the members excited and actively involved in missionary work and I have great faith that something good can come from this.
I had a few really neat experiences this week. The first was when I went on exchanges with a sister in our district. She came to my area so my companion (who's a sister trainer) could be with her companion (who's training) to help give guidance and direction and help her in any way. So I was holding down the fort in our area with a brand new missionary and we saw some great miracles that day. I find that God is so merciful to each and everyone of us. The experiences that sister and I had that day probably gave her greater hope and enthusiasm for the work and the Lord provided a path for that. That sister and I were able to have several lessons in one day which is more we sometimes get in several days. A really cool experience I had was right before an appointment we had a bit of extra time so I figured we'd just go through the ward list and visit either a less active member, part member family or something would be a good use of our time. I went through and found one that looked good to me and asked my companion for the day what she thought and pretty much said yeah sure since she was kind of just along for the ride that day. When we got there I realized that sister Fleming and I had actually tried this home before but no one answered so I figured we'd just try it again. At first no one answered but then a maid came to the door and answered (pretty much everyone in La Canada has gardeners and maids). She answered the door and said sorry I don't speak much English and somehow I just naturally responded in Spanish "It's okay. Do you work here?" She was a little surprised I spoke a little Spanish then respond that she did. We had a great conversation in Spanish about the church and I told her that we were missionaries. She told us about all her extended family how most of them were members of the church and how she has a nephew that is about ready to leave on a mission. My Spanish has been very rusty this past year from not using it much and at that moment that I needed to use it, it wasn't so difficult anymore. It was pretty funny because she offered us water since it was hot that day and I said sure we'd love that and as she walked away sister Denny just looked at me like what just happened who are you and how do you know Spanish like that. I kind of laughed and told her honestly my Spanish is really rusty and I'm not that great at Spanish. The Lord has a way of blessing us in times of need to recall things we need to know that will help us to bless the lives of others. It's not like I just started speaking in tongues and I didn't all of a sudden know any new big words or anything but what I did already know was brought to my remembrance. It's almost hard to explain. The maid (Victoria) would say something and it wasn't like I just all of a sudden knew everything but as soon as she finished each sentence everything fit together in my mind of what she was saying and I remembered things. Honestly, if I just tried to have a conversation with anyone out of the blue in Spanish it wouldn't have been half as decent as my Spanish was then. It was a great blessing. We saw some other miracles along the way this week but I don't have too much more time. I'll have to write more next week! Oh one last thing I can't remember if I mentioned this but sister Fleming and I had the opportunity of teaching Young Woman's combined and it was so funny thinking I'm only like a year and a half older than some of these girls. It's humbling experiences like that where you know you're not adequate or completely qualified on your own but with your call there is great power and authority you can't deny. We taught on personal revelation (through prayer and scripture study). Teaching doesn't seem so hard anymore once you're on a mission because you just teach who you are and what you know through the power of the testimony you've gained and through the power of the scriptures and ask inspired questions and there you go, you've got a lesson. We're also teaching gospel principles this Sunday which will be a great opportunity. I've grateful for the experiences I've had so far to learn and grow and stretch me. God is very merciful to help me grow and learn while I am on my mission when I haven't found anyone yet to be baptized. I am doing everything I can though and I know he knows that and when we are obedient he will bless us (D&C 82:10). My assignment for you this week is to find someone to serve or someone's spirit you can lift but- you have to go out of your way to do it. It has to be sincere and require a little sacrifice on your part. They will be grateful to you. The greatest law is to love the Lord and the second is like unto it, to love your neighbor as yourself (or something close to that, I think I worded it a little off) and by doing so you'll do both. I love you all. Have a great week and a fabulous summer! (:
D&C 88:118

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

6/3/13



Dear Family and Friends,
Thanks for all of your love and support. I'm so blessed to have a family that loves and supports me as well as a great ward back at home.
First off I'd like to say- anyone who is a member of the church is a missionary. If you didn't know that- suprise! Missionaries that serve are just full time missionaries. We are sent around the world to help the ward do missionary work where people live already. We're there to assist them and to have them help us find people to teach and who are ready to receive the gospel. We need your help more than ever! Missionary work doesn't have to be scary. Have you prayed or fasted to have missionary experiences? If not, then start! It will be much easier to have those experiences and be open to them if you desire them. Next, because you are a missionary read preach my gospel! Preach my gospel is for everyone! On your own or as a family read out of it regularly. A page a day, once a week on Sunday or for family home evening, whatever you can do is great! It is inspired and is such a great tool. It will help you learn more about sharing the gospel, why it's important and will get you excited to be a missionary. Spencer W. Kimball said that our purpose as saints is: "To proclaim the gospel, to perfect the Saints, and to redeem the dead." The very first thing listed is to proclam the gospel aka be a missionary. It's that important! Do we put it that high on our list. If not we need to change and start doing so. I never understood how important that was before my mission but I'm starting to understand more and more each day.
This week was much better than last. We still haven't found many new people to teach but we're changing our attitudes and outlook on the work and things seem to be going much better even if they are about the same. We have greater faith and desire to share the gospel. We started out with a fast towards the begining of the week and it was actually a pretty rough day that day but we saw some miracles the next day. We fasted to purify our hearts and to rededicate ourselves to the work. We've changed the way we plan and work to be more effective and efficient and we started memorizing scriptures and the articles of faith together and started The Book of Mormon from the begining together. Life goes much better when you focus on what's most important and what the Lord would have you do. Change is hard and it takes a lot of effort but the effects are wonderful.
I had dinner this week with a family- the Owen's- and they lived in Korea the same time as the Smith family in the Plymouth ward. I also went on exchanges with a brand new sister from Utah- Sister Parker- and she has cousins in minnesota, the Crocket family. I think they're in our stake and Jakob might know some of their kids. I know they have a son my age on a mission in Mexico right now. I think that's it this week for connections. It's a small world in the Mormon world I often know someone that other people know.
I had a great expericence this week having a lesson with a recient convert. He's 19 years old and just joined the church in December and he inspires me. He has a rough family life and they pretty much disowned him for joining the church. He is planing on serving a mission as soon as he can when his year mark comes up and he will have zero support from home (well he already has zero support from home). He's incredible though and has a very powerful testimony with such great desire to do what is right. Sister Fleming and I had a wonderful lesson with him at a members home and they were a great support to him as well. We also had a great expericence with an investigator reading the Psalm of Nephi with her (2 Nephi 4). There is a great power and spirit felt by reading The Book of Mormon with real intent. It touched her very strongly and was a great strength to see that a prophet had felt the way she does through all her trials and challenges.
Alma 37:36-37
Thank you so much to Sister Miller and Sister Gardner for the package. I loved it and love you both so much. Thanks so much!
Thank you family for all the letters you send. Sorry I don't have time to write back but I love you all!
Love, Sister Chelsey Fjeldsted

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

5/28/13

Dear Family and friends,
First of all family sorry I didn't write yesterday. We had a zone conference with two zones that President Becerra led which was like all day so our p-day got moved to today. I found some connections with people here too which is funny. There's sweet old couple in our ward, the Garrett's and he knows our cousin Paul Fjeldsted from dental school. Also, that nice returned missionary Uncle Neal had me talk to on the phone, sister Davidson, well I'm serving in an area she served in for like 6 months I think right before she left and I live in the same member home she did and am in the same ward and everything so that's pretty funny I'm just picking up where she left off here. She was companions with a sister that Sister Flemming trained so we are only like a couple generations apart. There's also an elder that just left the mission. His name is Elder Cotts. He's Caucasian but his family has lived in japan. I wonder if dad know's his family. There's also a family here moving to Apline, UT, the Blake's so I bet they could run into Paul and Rose's family. They're a nice family we've had dinner with and one of their kids just got home from a mission and their daughter is about to leave on a mission this summer. Then, there's lot's of famous people around here. Kip from napolian dinomite used to live in Pasadena, my last area. Paul Walker's sister lives in our city too, La Crecenta and the other sister's in our district met her, she's LDS. Mitt Romney's son Tag used to live in this ward and he's friends with people here still. Also something cool- go to mormon.org and look up Tom Ngo's video/ profile. He was in my ward in Pasadena and I know his family and they are wonderful and know them quite well and he has a mormon.org video- how cool is that! Lastly, in the conference Ensign on page like 64 or there abouts or maybe I'm totally off but somewhere in the Ensign there's a picture of people outside a church building and under it it says L.A. California. That's actually the Arcadia mission (but I guess it could technically be L.A. because we have a little within our mission). Anyway, I know all of those Elders they used to be in my zone and I had them all sign my Ensign because I'm a goof. Oh, and there's apparently famous people that have lived in La Canada which I totally believe- it is super ritzy. It's been said that Miley Cyrus used to live here. But that's not what's important, here's what's important- THE GOSPEL!
I have been so incredibly blessed to have sister Fleming as my companion. She is very wise and very humble. We have very similar personalities and a lot of the same strengths so it's great working together. We both want to work as hard as we can which is something I really look up to her for. Lots of people get to their last transfer and quit caring but we're going all out until her last day. And I am so excited for our last four weeks together.
People often talk about missionary work being "hard" in Europe and other areas because they all have their basic needs met and are happy with where they are and don't want anything more. Technically speaking, La Canada is a "hard" area. We taught like a total of 3 lessons all of last week, no investigators at church, no new investigators, and it was just rough, but we worked has hard as we could. We prayed harder than ever, we worked harder than ever, and nothing yet. But I don't like this attitude of an area being "hard". It's a trap I want to be careful of not falling into. If I go in thinking that this area is hard then I won't try to work as hard and think that there's no point. The other ward in this city the other sister's are in haven't had a baptism in 2 years. But that doesn't mean anything. There are people who are prepared to receive the gospel so we need to change the way we do missionary work. Sister Fleming and I are going to get our ward going on a 30 day fast. We will have families in the ward sign up to fast one day during the month so there will always be a family in the ward fasting and praying for missionary work. We can't get to people by tracting anymore. We've tried. They don't care, they're happy with where they are and what they do now, or they go on and tell us how weird we are, or they don't open the door, or they slam it in our face. There's got to be a better way- and that's through the members. There are SO many LDS people in this area. It's like a mini utah. Everyone knows the mormons here and all the people in the city that are LDS are all related. So everyone has mormon friends and neighbors and loves them so we need to work with the members of the ward to find people that are ready to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. We aren't out here to simple convert as people see it, and that's why they get scared off. We are here to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. That is our goal. To bring people to Christ. This fast should help us become unified as a ward to have that vision and goal of bringing our friends with us to the gospel of Christ and becoming part of our ward family. We are also using this to ask them to fast and pray about specific people and families so we can receive referrals. Without referrals here we have no one to teach and no direction. I know that the work is hastening. It is prophecy that has been fulfilled in the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C 88:73 "Behold, I will hasten my work in its time." I like just looking at the last two words of that and reading- it's time! Now's the time! There wouldn't be a call for all these extra missionaries now if there wasn't work to do or more people that were prepared to accept the gospel. I'm excited for the work to move forward and to find people to teach.
Remember that true happiness comes from obeying the commandments and repentance. Repentance brings joy and aligns our will with our Father in Heaven's will. The gospel of Jesus Christ is really so much more simple than we make it out to be. I hope you all have a great week I love you all!
Love, Sister Chelsey Fjeldsted
D&C 23-24

Monday, May 20, 2013

5/20/13

Dear Family and Friends,
This was my first week in my new area with my new companion. It's beautiful here and I love it. I LOVE my companion. We get along so well and she is amazing! I can't believe she is leaving at the end of this transfer. It seems like so far away until that's me. I've learned a lot from her. She's very wise and always has great insight. I've got to learn the area and the ward quickly because once she's gone it's up to me to hold down the fort as far as missionary work goes in this area unless they whitewash (bring brand new missionaries in the area) which I doubt they will do. We live with a member a single widow so only sister's can live here for now so I don't see that they would bring two new sisters in the area when I'm already here. Not that I know everything but that's as far as I've gathered. Anyways, I love it here. There are SO many members here I cannot believe it. It's like a mini Utah or something, it's crazy! The members have been helpful and involved in the missionary work here which has been such a blessing. It is a very very affluent area. We're talking upscale from Beverly Hills. It's been a struggle to find people to teach but I have great faith that we will.
We have been teaching a hand full of people (about 7 investigators which for around here is a lot) but they're kind of up and down. We invited 6 of them last week to be baptized but they said they want to but aren't ready. So there is still work to do. I've been blessed to be here teaching these people with Sister Fleming. 
This week I've learned a lot- about life and about myself. I don't think I was a bad person before or very immature or anything like that but after what I have learned even so far I wouldn't want to go on with my life with only what I knew before. ( sorry the syntax of that message was terrible). It's been such a blessing to be here. I've learned so much and have gained greater knowledge and have a change of heart. Being here for 18 months is hardly even a sacrifice. I've been out 2 months today so I guess just 16 to go! When things do get hard though I remember that it's all worth it and this is the best way I could be using my time- helping people, serving people, loving people, and teaching them about Christ. I've really learned how to grow and improve through the atonement. We cannot become greater on our own without the help of a greater divine being. We need Heavenly Father's help and guidance and the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ to get anywhere.
A funny thing happened this week. Sister Fleming and I had dinner with a family (the Palmer's) and the mom asked what my dad's name is and she says she knows you dad! How funny! I don't have with me where I wrote it down but I asked her her first name and maiden name. She sad she went to BYU with you. I keep running into people that know people in our family it's pretty funny.
Also thank you for everyone who has been writing me letters. Thank you Abby Booth and family. Sorry I haven't had time to write home at all lately, it's just been so busy being in a new area. I love you all.
Lastly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! I LOVE YOU! How was  your birthday? What did you do? I hope you saved me some cake! I love you all. Have a great week!
Love,
Sister Chelsey Fjeldsted
p.s. I had dinner with another family and they went to that random petting zoo in utah next to the gas station and gift shop in the middle of no where we passed by on a road trip where the goat bit my finger.

I(Maddy) think it was a donkey. Oh and the last letter was wrong. It is Sister Fleming with one m not two. I fixed it though. Just thought I would let you know. 

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

5/13/13


Dear Family and friends,
This last Friday was transfer calls and I knew for the past week that I was getting transferred even before I got the call. My first companion was only out on the mission for six weeks so I was like there's no way they could send me out to train yet or anything with such a new trainer even though Sister Baum was awesome and we were great and worked hard together. But I just didn't know enough yet about being on a mission or anything. So when we got the call I totally knew I was going already. Sister Baum also felt that one of us was getting transferred. So my new companion is.... (drumroll please). Sister Fleming! Sister Fleming and I are the only Sister missionaries in the whole mission from Minnesota. How funny is that! And we both went to BYU-I and we both have the same middle name and have all these random things in common. It's her very last transfer and then she will go home. She will finish my training  She's also a sister trainer for the first time which is like a zone leader for the sisters. I'm really excited to be with her her last transfer to work hard with her and learn a lot from her. I really want to work hard and do all that I can. If it isn't a sacrifice and it isn't hard I won't grow and other's won't benefit from me either. I'm sure between us both having gone to BYU-I and both being from MN we probably know a lot of the same people. Our family probably even knows families they do. Her family is from Rochester and her dad is the bishop.
This week, the last week I was in Pasadena we didn't have too much success. We had to get treated again for bed bugs which is a like 5 hour prep process and really takes a hit on our missionary work for that entire day. I'm sad to be leaving Alexandria but she should be baptized here in this next transfer and sister Flemming had also taught her so she and I can hopefully come to her baptism. I am so excited for her. It will help her for the rest of her life, this is exactly what she needs. There's also a lot of potential where we left off together so I'm excited to hear about what happens with sister Baum and Sister Ward (the one who is now in my spot).
The area I'm in now is called La Canada (not like the country Canada but rather a Mexican word that rhymes with pinada). It's a very nice and extremely affluent area (we're talking like upscale from Beverly Hills and such) that's beautiful and kind of up in the mountains. Sister Flemming told me that there's potential right now with some investigators so I'm really excited. Unfortunately most every person I taught in my last area either dropped us or we had to drop them due to mental instability which has been really too bad. I'm not discouraged though because even if they can't now or didn't choose to accept our message at this time they will be all the more prepared later on.
I've been trying very hard lately to really get into the work. To have my whole heart in it. If you go on the mission for the culture, the good times, having fun new companions, learning a new language, or any of that stuff you will fail. That sounds harsh, but it just won't work out. I think that's one reason I got sent to the U.S. English speaking is because of pride. I didn't realize it until I got here but I have a problem with that. Not that I think I'm better than everyone else or anything like that but pride in a sense that I want to get things out of what I do and I want to pick my way in life. Humility is the opposite and saying I will go wherever you need me Heavenly Father and build up the kingdom wherever I am and if that means not having this great adventure I was hoping for or getting to learn a new language than that's the way it must be. I know I have a long ways to go and I hate to think that I am not humble but at least I know where to start and what I need to work on. It has been a blessing though to know some Spanish. It has helped me on several occasions.
Well family, it was so fun skyping on mother's day and I love you all so much. I hope you have a great birthday mom. I love you and I hope your day is wonderful! Work hard and stay true. Pray always. Heavenly Father listens and answers prayers when we listen and have the faith and trust to pray to him often with the sincerity of our hearts.
Love, Sister Chelsey Fjeldsted

Monday, May 6, 2013

5/6/13


Dear family and friends,
First off, I'm sorry I don't have much time to write today. We came by the library earlier and they are filming a movie around here so we couldn't go in and had to come back later. Apparently they shoot lots of movies around here. It's not the first time I've seen camera crews around here. Word has it that cheaper by the dozen was filmed in my area. I also found out that Beverly Hills annual income is only $5,000 greater per household than the city of Pasadena where I serve. I didn't realize this area was so incredibly affluent. This is probably because the people that we've been teaching that receive our message are not wealthy. In fact the only investigator we have with a baptismal date is currently homeless. We eat in members homes who are very wealthy but I still don't always realize the wealth of the area because we spend most of our days with the more humble less wealthy side of Pasadena/ Altadina.
Not much has happened since I last wrote on Wednesday. Transfers are coming up this week so we'll see what happens. Our district will at least be different though. One Elder went home during this transfer so we only had a trio of three Elders then Sister Baum and I which is quite small for a district. Also, our district leader, Elder Cooper, will be going home this transfer. I'll miss our district a lot but I'm here for the people I serve rather than I serve with and it has just been a wonderful extra blessing to have had such an amazing district. And who knows, I may see them again after my mission. I really hope Sister Baum and I are still together. I'll miss her a lot if not but the Lord is in charge so what ever happens is for the best and I know without a doubt President Becerra (our mission President) is inspired of the Lord.
This week I had dinner with a family, the Demmings. Both the mother and father served in Tokyo on their missions! The dad was actually there in 1996 when we were. Funny huh? There was also a couple in my ward that knew Paul and Courtney Fjeldsted but I can't recall their names anymore...
On a sad note. Alexzandria is without a home still. She sleeps in the park bless her heart. We have done everything to find her a home but we don't really have the time to devote all to her nor the resources seeing as we can't even access the internet besides email. We have been praying and fasting though and I know something will work out in due time. The Lord often steps in after we think we can't take another step and we see what we're really made of and learn important things we couldn't any other way. Alexzandria is truly amazing and I have learned so much from her great faith and amazing attitude. I loved her the day I met her and have continued to love her more and more all the time.
I've also learned and seen applied in my life more the keys to happiness. There are many but here are two big ones: service/ thinking of others before yourself and hard work. Think about it. That's what missionaries do all the time. All day everyday they work hard at serving others and are the happiest people you've ever met. That's what Christ did His whole life. He turned outward to others rather than turning in. He served and loved everyone. We should follow his example and when things get hard for us we need to turn outward in acts of love and quite service rather than turning inward in frustration, self-pity, etc. If you truly love others and give to them your attention, time, love, help, everything, than you have no time to be sad or upset. Hard work also brings joy. We get up every day at 6:30 to exercise and from that moment on we are working all day. We don't sleep in on the weekends or take vacations or even get holidays off. We don't go to movies or surf the internet or take work breaks. We don't quit. Ever. And it's not always easy. Hard work will still be hard work, but it's rewarding. How can people hear about Christ and His church restored to the earth today if we aren't out serving them and finding them? It just won't work!
Oh, here's my crazy story for the week. We actually have lots but I can't exactly tell them all until I come back. Don't worry though, I'm not in danger, I just encounter many strange people. This week we went to visit a family from the ward but we had the wrong address. We ended up in a sober living center... We knock on this woman's door and she's a recovering addict from crack cocaine. She was nice and loved God and made that known. She was still a little off her kilter though. As we were talking to her she began to "speak in tongues". My first thought as she is doing this is- what if she doesn't stop?! Haha. I'm not quite sure what we would have done. It was interesting to say the least. Bless her heart. I don't think she was completely all there yet. I hope not to offend anyone reading this that believes in speaking of tongues or is recovering from any kind of drug. I am not trying to bash. It was just a specific experience I had this week that was a little out of the ordinary.
Also this week Sister Baum got a tick and freaked out and thought she was going to die in the night. I told her not to worry that only like 1% of people actually get Lyme's disease and that's she's on a mission so she's fine. Well, her last companion's dad got it and almost died from it so my argument didn't stand very well against her. We called a nurse for the mission, said some prayers, went to a member's home to do some research, said some more prayers and as I thought she is just fine. No Lyme disease. Also the bed bugs came back, or rather won't die off so it looks like we'll be fumigating again. It's a little frustrating because the preparation it requires takes away from missionary work but in all things there are lessons to be learned and in the end I'm grateful to have a bed to have bed bugs!
I love you all and hope you all have a wonderful week. The Lord lives and loves us all. Work hard, pray hard, play hard.
Love Sister Fjeldsted

Thursday, May 2, 2013

5/1/13


Dear Family, Friends and whoever reads this,
First of all family, sorry you didn't hear from me on Monday, my usual P-day. We went to the temple this week, today actually and so our P-day became today but I'm very much well and alive. Mother's day is coming up which means I get to skype home! I'll skype at 1pm my time if that works but maybe it won't... Let me know by next Monday what time church is there and what time here I should skype. I get one hour by the way.
This week was interesting. It went by really fast I don't even remember everything that we did. It was actually a bit of a bummer but all is well.
We dropped Swaggs Bangbang :( He didn't come to church so we stopped by his home that night and his dad said sorry we're just going to focus on our own religion for now. It was pretty sad though because I know that the gospel would bless his life so much as well as his family but we said okay here's our number let us know if you change your mind and ever are interested. We also had a few appointments that people didn't show up and someone for a church tour that didn't show. We also got a new investigator this week, but that didn't work out... His name is Steve. And we lost him at church. Oops. He came to church on Sunday and stayed all three hours but then when it was time for him to go home with the ride we got him, we couldn't find him! We looked and looked and finally told his ride to just go home and if we found him we'd find someone else to take him home. So Sister Baum are looking all over the church, outside in the bushes, looked in every room and no Steve. We stayed until the hour after church got out then finally gave up and went home. We felt like the worst missionaries in the world. I mean, who looses their investigators! We felt a little bit better when we mentioned this at correlation meeting and our ward mission leader brought up the fact that he's an adult and responsible for himself. Well, as it turns out he's in a mental home of sorts so maybe some what responsible..? Oops. We stopped by his place to see what happen and he didn't even tell us but just that he wasn't interested anymore. I guess we'll never know what happened to good old Steve. Oh well. Then we had to also drop Steve.
In other bad news our investigator that was going to be baptized a few weeks ago has officially ran out of money to stay at the motel she'd been at so she's officially homeless. As of last night she will be sleeping in the park. It just breaks my heart. I want so much to fix everything but as missionaries we just can't. We've spent hours though looking in penny savers, making calls, looking at departments (when really as missionaries we should be spending our time elsewhere but we just don't want her to have to live on the streets and she has no car or means to do much of that kind of thing on her own). And what's worse is that she hasn't been progressing too much. She hasn't been reading the scriptures and doesn't really seem to care. Life is so hard. I wish so badly she had a family and a home. And she's young too! She's only 22. I am so blessed. Actually compared to her I'm a spoiled brat. The Lord has blessed me so richly in my life. Missions are hard but worth every minute. We'll find someone. I have faith.
This morning was wonderful. We got the opportunity to go to the L.A. temple. Apparently it's one of the biggest in the world. If you've never heard of it google L.A. LDS or Mormon temple. It's so pretty! It was a wonderful experience and I'm so excited to get back to missionary work with a fresh view and perspective and rededicate my self to the work. I love the Lord and his children and I'm so blessed to be here. Never forget that even if you have a rough day you will always have countless blessings. The Lord will never forget you.
Work hard. Serve others. Love much. Have a great week and I'll write again soon!
Love,
sister Fjeldsted
Pictures:
the flowers were from an older couple in the ward. they cut roses from their garden and gave them to us. The Jugants. They have lived in Korea and Hong Kong and know Eliene Bradford's family!
On the way back from the temple (which is in L.A.) we drove through Hollywood. We drove on Sunset Blvd and Hollywood Blvd


Monday, April 22, 2013

Swaggs Bangbang


It has been an interesting week to say the least. It's been really up and down with our investigators and everything. And the bed bugs have returned with vengeance and we still can't find a place to live within our mission and we had investigators fall through and people that were planning on coming to church didn't show up. But this is truly the Lord's work and all is well. Just as mom says when I used to clean my room- it's got to get worse before it gets better. Alexzandria's baptism date was last Saturday but some things didn't go as planned and so it looks like she will be baptized this coming Saturday. The work was really slow this week but that's how it goes sometimes. We met lots of new people the week prior to teach last week and we were really excited but those fell through as well. I went on exchanges on Saturday with a sister that was in the MTC with me so her trainer companion could be with mine to train mine because she is a new trainer. So Sister Chambers and I were companions for the day- two brand new sisters that have only been out for about two weeks. I went to her area, Roland Heights. I really enjoyed it. I learned that you can have all the experience in the world and do just about as much good if you're brand new. Being a missionary is about helping others feel Christ's love and learn of and want to live the atonement. It's about inviting the spirit and loving them. You can do that if you've been out two weeks or a year. We did a church tour that morning which neither her nor I had done before but it went really well. It was for one of their investigators a Chinese man named Walther (that's his American name) and his wife and daughter were there too but don't speak English. We had a Chinese sister in the ward, Sister Grant come too to help translate. They speak both Cantonese and Mandarin but it sounded like it was more mandarin for the both of them. It was a great experience. We show them things like the chapel and sacrament table, the baptismal font, pictures of Christ and explain their significance in our church and in our lives. My new life goal is to learn Chinese. Seriously, it's the coolest sounding language in the world. I wish I could be speaking Chinese here. The sisters that teach them are English sisters but they said that they would rather go to the English ward here. They just moved here a couple weeks ago. They probably want to be immersed in English. We have given them resources in both English and Chinese. One of my favorite parts was at the end we watched the restoration- in Chinese! That way the wife could understand and it's not for us as missionaries it's for them. It was so cool to watch the movie in Chinese. I've never heard Joseph Smith speak Chinese before! It was really cool. And the little girl was really into it. You can't not feel the spirit when talking about Christ and the restoration. It was wonderful.
Another cool thing that happened this week is probably one of my favorite stories so far from the mission. We get referrals from church headquarters sent to our cell phones but sometimes we don't get the whole message and it doesn't work the best. These are people that go on mormon.org and ask for a visit/ a Book of Mormon or people that are referred by others. But we don't always get all the details. So this week we were driving and I get a text message that's a referral for Swags Bangbang. Yes, you heard that right. I started reading it to sister Baum as she was driving but I couldn't get the whole name out because I was laughing too hard. We figured it was a joke or a gang- a really lame gang to be honest. Then we weren't sure what to do about it. How do we call this number without laughing if Swaggs Bangbang is there? And what about if we visit. Which sounds better- excuse me is Swaggs here? or Is Mr. Bangbang home? Neither sound like good options to me. We tried calling the number but it was fake. Then we decided to just go over and see if anyone was even home and just say that we had a referral. We knocked and told the woman who answered the door just that. She said well it's not for me, I'm a devout Catholic. Then she said, wait, I think I know. She got her son and we found out that he requested a Book of Mormon on mormon.org but we didn't get any of those details from the text referral we received. So at this point we know he just put in that name and that he's the real "Swags Bangbang" and he must know that we know but his mom has no clue. How funny is that. The son's real name is Donavon. He is looking into different religions and his mom was actually really supportive of it even though she's very much catholic and sends all her boys to catholic schools. She really liked us though and asked us lots of questions. We were able to share with them part of the first discussion and the spirit was there. We are going back to teach them tonight. It was so cool to talk to him because this boy is 14 the same age as Joseph Smith and he and Joseph Smith at that age were both trying to figure out what church to join. I'm excited to continue teaching him.
The Lord works miracles in our lives every single day. Swaggs Bangbang is just one example. We cannot have these miracles so much though if we are not obedient and walking in the ways of the Lord. The Lord loves and knows each of us. I am so grateful to be a part of His work and telling others about His gospel that is restored on the earth again today and that we all have a loving Heavenly Father that loves us.
Thanks to everyone who has been a support to me. I'm grateful for all the prayers and letters sent my way. Love you all.
Love,
Sister Fjeldsted