I love this work and it just can't end......

So like... so many miracles this week I will have to do a bullet point.

* So we meet every Wednesday with this little young woman, Sorl Jee min. I will call her Min. Well she is the one whose dad abuses her and she wanted to end her life. Well we have been meeting her every week and been going on dates and just trying to share the "good word". AND I CANT EVEN BEGIN TO  TELL YOU THE CHANGE IN HER!!!!!!!! I have a testimony that the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Christ's Atonement works. And as missionaries it is a HUGE blessing to be a part of the amazing experience of being the hands that help change people through Christ's Atonement. Truly amazing. I love being a missionary. Yesterday Min had a talk and shared her testimony of the restoration and Joseph Smith. It was amazing. She told everyone that she wanted to later be a missionary who could share this message with others. :) She use to be this really shy, no smile girl but when she stood up on that stage she had a smile that filled the room and confidence of a daughter of God. Because that is who she is.

 

* Our investigator, Sister Go-san-oak!!!! We had our lesson with her and we felt impressed to sing my favorite song "abide with me tis even tide". And we end and she was quiet and said "I feel something. When you sing or with I hear your message I feel something". We explained to her that it was the spirit telling her heart Gods message. She smiled. She also confessed to us that she has NOT EVER PRAYED ON HER OWN AT HOME!!!!! And what was our lesson on that day.. PRAYER. God told us exactly what she needed and then she did. ha ha ha ha. Truly amazing. We committed her to be baptized and she didn't answer. She said she would pray about it. WE are really trying to work with her because she is just so so so so close.

* I HAVE A TESTIMONY OF ENGLISH CLASS!!!!! This weeks English class was HEAVEN ON EARTH. It changed my life. We started using our English class as more of teaching opportunity instead of a service thing. so we  teach an hour of English and then tell everyone, hey if you want to hear a good message about god, just stay:) and then we teach about 30-40 minutes of a gospel message. THIS WEEK WAS AMAZING. we taught about the Book of Mormon and LIVES WERE CHANGED. we had 8 non members there asking SO MANY QUESTIONS!!!! It was truly a bit of heaven as we answered their questions. they all asked if they could meet with us to learn a bit more about our message. So amazing. I am so excited to be a missionary. Our investigator, Brother Kim Jing Hoon was asking so many questions. we are asking him to be  baptized this week so please pray for us. He is a famous volley ball ref who travels the world and he is so so interested!!!!! But I just want to bear my testimony that it is through small simple ways that gods greatest work is brought to pass. just read the bible and you can see how Christ did it through those small and simple ways:) Look at me. I am very small and simple:)

* The things I learned through Sister Najuttes Dad,  aka a stake president: Love makes us vulnerable to heart break, but invulnerable to temptation, filled with good works, unburdened by selfishness, pure in heart, fearless (perfect love casts out fear), and ultimately like God... True Joy is the loss of self". Though I still do struggle to completely give my self, when I do, THERE IS THE JOY. !!!!! TRUE JOY!!!!! Also I loved the quote he shared by Thomas Pyane. And coming from someone who LOVES AMERICA I wanted to share this quote:) "These are the times that try men's souls. the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink form the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of men and women. Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheep, we esteem to lightly. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated". Now please look at the word freedom and remember that true freedom is eternal life with God and Jesus Christ. And it is not easily won. 

  

* From the talk by Sherie Dew- "Choose carefully who you listen to, and then listen. Choose carefully who you will follow, AND THEN FOLLOW." 

I love being a missionary. I am crying.. again. I do that a lot these days. I love this work. I love it and it just cant end. It wont. ha h ha. Reality check will come,  but I'm avoiding it as long as I can. This work is Gods work. I know it. 

I love you mom. Thank you for... everything. School, e-mails, keeping me updated, and raising me to know what I now know. Because of what you taught me as a girl, I know now as a woman. As girls we need our moms. And as women, we need our God. ... and our moms.  But I want you to know that I know. Thanks for the help. I cant wait to be a mom:) We were on a hike with our investigator this week with the ward and he asked me what my dream was. I thought of you Mom. Being a mom and changing the world through that amazing calling. Mom, Korea, Australia, and soon Ireland and Scotland have to thank you. And so do I. Oh ya, hey dad, I have not forgotten you:) You are to thank too:) I love you both so much. Thanks to my sent from heaven Parents:) I love you to the moon and back:)

Sister Nicolle Ensign

"All we do in the church- our meetings and activities, our missionary efforts, the lessons we teach and the hymns we sing- should point us to the Savior and the work we do in the Holy Temples."

So this week was really great:) A lot of great lessons learned!!!!

Lets start:)

I want to start off with this quote that helped me remember my purpose and actually what I love doing as a member and as a missionary.

 

       "All we do in the church- our meetings and activities, our missionary efforts, the lessons we teach and the hymns we sing- should point us to the savior and the work we do in the HOLY TEMPLES".

 

I was sweetly reminded by the spirit how much I LOVE temples and how it is all about getting to the temple. I have loved that. I was able to testify of temples this week to our recent converts and also to investigators. I was able to help less actives prepare / take steps that will get them to the temple. I was able to tell them just how much I missed the temple. I was also reading in Revelations this week and John had a vision of what the celestial kingdom will be like and he tells us that he saw no temple because THE CELESTIAL KINGDOM IS A TEMPLE. holy cow!!!!! like I'm doing whatever it takes to get to the celestial kingdom because I want that feeling. I want that love. I want to be in the temple forever. I want to live there. and we have that opportunity. Also my sweet companion bore her testimony to our investigators that one day when we do go to heaven that we will want to find each other. That we will want to see how each other is and to love each other in the presence of God. The greatest desire of any missionary. 

We were able to meet a new investigator who referred us his 2 children who are now our new investigators and we will be meeting them for lunch today. And so great because THEY LOVE OUR MESSAGE. we will be asking them to get baptized and to come to church this coming week:) He is a really amazing man. He is an artist and actually a famous one here in Korea. This week when we met he took us with his daughter (who is now our BFF) to his studios and IT WAS AMAZING. I was amazed. I cant wait for him to create something that represents his testimony and how he feels about Jesus Christ. It will be beautiful:)  Our area is really exploding. We were able to receive 5 referrals and we were able to teach a LOT of people the gospel. I have really tried working on being peoples friends THROUGH THE GOSPEL. When we meet someone and have a relationship with them, THEN WE TEACH THEM THE GOSPEL. If you love them you will give them what they need most, which is the gospel. That is love. That is the greatest love you can give an investigator, or anyone. Is by giving them the source of joy, love and happiness. Which is Christ. And you come to Christ thorough our message:)

So we have 4 sisters living in our apt and one of the sisters, Sister Naatjes wrote her a letter that she shared with me and I want to share it with you. Its about missionary work: You are on the lords errand. you are doing a great and important work. Never doubt the power of your simple efforts. Wearily, all of the saviors greatest moments and teachings were reported as one-on-one or small group conversations. Have patience with the pace of it. Love the small moments. Love each person and focus on them, as though they matter more than many of the choicest of God's creations, because they do. The lord has always blessed the world though small and simple things and people. happily and cheerfully be one of them. The poor and the meek will have the gospel  declared to them by the weak and the simple. This is the Lords way." Thank you President Naatjes. 

I am simple and I am weak but my message is not. My message is perfect. I was able to bear testimony of that yesterday as we met our investigators who are trying to start a new church because they "cant find the truth". HELLO. agh. anyways. They asked us and the elders to share our testimonies. The spirit was strong and I felt so inadequate but I trusted that in my weakness God would testify to them through me. IT was an experience I will never forget. we finished our testimonies and they did their "worship dance"........... But I was just sitting there and asked God in my heart for direction.  And I could see heaven for a minute and God was just hanging his head. They are so close, yet still so far.   I told God that I know the truth and that I will try to help them. The hard thing about them is that they don't have any evil intentions they just believe differently, they worship different and God bless them for the faith that they do have. But I was again reminded of the temple and the "BIGGER PICTURE". Which was a tender mercy. How thankful I am that I know the bigger picture and that I can try in my weakness, to share that with everyone. We are working so hard to get our investigators baptized. I have spent my mission focusing on members and RC and LA and investigators, but me and my companion got revelation to focus on our investigators. WE see them every day. we call them every day. We pray for them every day and our investigators really are trusting us. We have made it a goal to ask them all to be baptized with dates this week. Please pray for our efforts. WE want to harvest. WE have planted with the help of the lord and now we are to harvest. Sweet Sister Goo San oak will be baptized if she can believe in God. WE are working so hard to help her have that. WE are working hard with a handful of members who will give their friends to us to teach. WE are working hard with 2 teenagers to come to church BECAUSE THEY WANT OT BE BAPTIZED. But they go to Seoul every weekend with their mom. WE have made it our business to become friends with the mom so that she will trust us with her girls during the weekend. So many miracles. This week we were able to make appointments with 4 people on the street to meet and come listen to our message. This is all so true. These people are searching for truth and we can give it to them. I have come to learn this week that I am also seeking for truth. I have been so fortunate to know where, how, who , when and what way to seek for that truth. I know I have found it. I know it. And I'm here to share it with everyone that I can:) 

I love you all so much. Thank you for all of your love and support. Please pray that our week will be filled with the spirit to lead and guide us as to how to do this work. I love you. Thank you for the prayers and I am so excited to see that you are still all my "brothers (and sisters) in the gospel". I love you to the moon and back.

Sister Nicolle Ensign

p.s. This is a shout out to Sister Drusteller. Your son is in my district and he is like my baby brother. He is an amazing example to all who meet him. He is working so hard and is just filled with the spirit. He's got a good attitude and he is changing this mission through his testimony and love for the Lord. He told me you read my blog and I just felt like reminding you how amazing your son is. He reminds me of my amazing brother, Hunter,  who just got his mission call to Scotland/Ireland. And I wanted to tell you because I hope one day when my boys serve missions, I would love to have someone remind me that my boys are doing a good job. You are one amazing mother. You and my mom would be friends. Amazing moms are friends.  Thank you for your sacrifices. I know you miss your son. He misses you too but he sure loves this work and he is working so hard because he loves the Lord. Such a good missionary. I pray one day I can have a son just like him. God job:)

I'm crying my eyes out...............

 

Bubba!!!! YOU WILL LOVE LOVE IT!!!!! I am so excited for you and Scotland/Ireland better look out because Elder Ensign is well  on his way to change you forever. I love you Bubba. You make me so HAPPY AND I' M SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!! Like I'm crying my eyes out. Like a baby!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would have failed to learn that the opportunity to serve is a gift !

Just given a little shout out to bubba!!!!!!!! Holy cow Bubba!!!!! Scotland/Ireland!!!!!! GUESS WHAT!!!!!!! I just made a new investigator who is part scottish part Irish, living in England and spending 10 months in Korea to look at car products. Like. Holy cow. I should have seen it coming. Bubba!!!! YOU WILL LOVE LOVE IT!!!!! I am so excited for you and Scotland/Ireland better look out because Elder Ensign is well on his way to change you forever. I love you Bubba. You make me so HAPPY AND I' M SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!! Like I'm crying my eyes out. Like a baby!!!!!!!!!!!

I also want to tell Diondra to give her companion a big hug for me. Me and my companion just cried hearing about her Dad passing away. God be with her.  There is no other person better for her during this time than you Shmee. God has a great purpose and sometimes it does not make sense, but in the end it will. Tell her we love her and that she has MANY prayers going out there for her!!!!

So this week was really good. Sadly I was really sick for 2 days.  But I was actually really worried that I was not getting enough fluids because I would but water next to my mouth and throw up. So I was worried for those two days BUT I prayed, and others prayed for me and I'm better. Still only eating bread and 10 pounds lighter, ah ha but I'm feeling better. BUT it was still a miracle week.  We met 3 new investigators and one of them is the one from England who is a Scot/ Irish. ha ha ha. His name is Neal. I'll ask him where his family is so that maybe I can get you a referral Bubba.  But he is amazing. I found him on the street. He was trying to find a Bar with his  friend, Collin. And they couldn't find it. So we helped them find a bar. ha ha ha. But they asked if we were English teachers, I proudly said "No we are missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints". :) He laughed and said in his SWEET accent "well, I'm a Roman catholic myself but I'd love to have a pretty girl like yourself try to convince me other wise". ha ha ha. Don't worry he's in his late 50's ha ha ha. But we also told him that we could teach him Korean for free and he was really interested and so we made an appointment for this week to meet:) AND we also made 2 other families our investigators. They are English interest but we are so excited. Right before we came here, Brother Kim, the dad, called and said "I'm in the hospital for a few days and would love to read more of your church material. Could you send me some books". ha ha ha. YES SIR!!!! We are sending him our materials right after this. He also met the missionaries to play ping pong 25 years ago when he was a kid:) 

Then at church yesterday our 2 investigators who are friends brought their other church members to our sacrament meeting. Their church "royal priesthood" members filled up an entire bench. It was amazing. This church is really great. They focus on the first commandment; to love God. But they think there is no method or way to worship. So their entire church has 8 members and they are all in their mid thirties and just great. And they are all "looking for the truth". They think that all churches are good and carry truth but they speak more with their actions than their heart. So this "Royal Priesthood" believes that faith is more important that action/ works. We are meeting and love them and our ward is really excited to convert this "Royal Priesthood" to our religion. ha ha ha ha. But when I asked them how church was they said it was "interesting". They think we have to many rules and "methods". They just want to be free. They believe that we don't need a schedule or a day to worship, just follow the spirit. If you want to sing a song during a talk of your church family members, then sing. If you want to pray anytime, pray, etc. We understand their thinking but there needs to be order in all things and a body of UNITY. So we are trying to teach that. They also think that you can choose which commandments to follow but we are all to follow the first commandment. Yes they are fun:) and sometimes difficult but we love them.

Also we met with our investigator, Sister Goe. She is amazing. She has been meeting missionaries for about 6 months and everyone wants to drop her but she makes such good progression. It is slow but so good. Yesterday I asked her simply "what will it take for you to be baptized?". She said "if I can come to know that God lives, I will get baptized." She already loves our church and teachings and she will be baptized if he knows God lives. She just is unsure. WE talked about doubt and faith and how we choose to focus on one or the other but if you have doubt you can not have faith. and if you have faith, doubt is gone. I bore my testimony of how I KNOW GOD LIVES. I told her how I see him everywhere. I told her how when I was in collage and was studying the muscles in the body, how I had the spirit confirm to me that this was all WAY too perfect and that it couldn't just happen. Someone had to be a creator. And that was God. And how time after time I have received spiritual answers to prayers. We committed her to pray with her heart and with faith to know if God was there and to LOOK for the answers, because they will come. Please pray for her.

Yesterday was a tender mercy when we were at the church for a lesson and all of the sudden we heard a lot of noise and look out the door and its the entire stake including MOKPO members greeting an elder from the church head quarters. It was so nice to see my Mokpo members and they were so excited to see me and agh, I am just so excited for you to meet my Mokpo members:)

So this week was just a good one. I know I was sick, but it was still really good. I am so thankful to be able to have this last transfer be this GOOD!!!! Like God is WAY too nice!!!!! I am just able to go out and work hard and serve his children with no distractions. Also with you and dad coming to Korea I don't have to worry about saying goodbye and doing those distracting things, I can just focus on missionary work:) It is so great:)n I love this work!!!!

So I read this amazing article in the Liahona of a woman who was given a calling as young women's President. And she shared her thoughts after she was released and it really portrays how I feel and I wanted to share a bit of the article. It reads "I thought back on that day when I could have turned down the calling because of all my other responsibilities. But I am the one who would have lost most by not accepting the calling. I would have lost the opportunity to learn humility, gain understanding, develop patience, and become an instrument in the Lord's hands. But mostly I would have failed the Lord in the confidence He placed in me, and I would have failed to learn that THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IS A GIFT". And it is. I love this amazing gift to serve for 19 months as a missionary in Korea. And Diondras Gift is Australia and Bubbas Gift is Scotland/ Ireland. What amazing gifts. Like Elder Holland says "in this family we serve missions". Well here in the Ensign Family, WE SERVE MISSIONS. Because we have been called and we will serve our Lord. Because we love him. 

I love you all to the moon and back.

Sister Nicolle Ann Ensign

Nicolles New York Times Interview

Nicolle's interview with the New York Times.  Click on the link below to see the article and videos.  Nicolle's interview is about half way down under "Strangers and closed doors".

Missions Signal a Growing Role for Mormon Women By JODI KANTOR and LAURIE GOODSTEIN After the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lowered its age requirement for female missionaries in October 2012 to 19 from 21, the thousands of women who have signed up are expected to fundamentally alter this most American of churches. Or, copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://nyti.ms/1pLJSPt