Lets talk miracles

Oh my goodness I loved all the pictures and the email was wonderful. Thank you somuch. I am so thankful for you for sharing your missionary experiences. Mom I wish everyone had the faith that you do !!!!!! I am so thankful to have you as my mother. Actually my work sounds A LOT like yours and dads work. We spend a lot of time with less actives because more than half of the Korean members are less active. I hear ALL the time from members exactly what you heard. that the non members just want a friend they are sick of people pushing them to come to church. As a missionary it's hard not to push because you literally just want to kick people when they just dont get it but,  the savior showed us the greatest example.  He didn't kick people into the gospel, he showed them his example, taught his gospel, and LOVED them!!!!!!!! I am reading the bible during meal times right now and I am so astonished at the patience Christ had with the pharacies and preists.... agh.... I want to punch them, really!!!!!!  In a loving, sister missionary kid of a way. Agh.... they just frustrate me. Christ had SO much patience. I am jealious because when I encounter people like that all I want to do is ignore them and walk away, but christ took the time to continue to teach. He was constantly teaching.

 

 

So if last week was miracle week, I'm already in heaven this week. Lets talk MIRACLES!!!!!!!! We found andmet and have fallen in loev with 4 new investigators. Which is a record \!!!!!! 4 new investigators in a week! This is truly Gods work!!!!!!!! And the greatest miracle is taht my companion is making progress. She is still so tired, but she has decieded to get out and work!!!!!!!! Miracles happen!!!!!!! One of our new investigators is a police officer and she is AMAZING!!!!!!! She reminds me so so so so so so so much of Aunt Karin. She is a tough cookie with a HUGE heart. Agh I'm crying thinking about her. When we met her she took us out to eat and on the car ride she expressed her desires to learn of God and to find out her purpose... umm okay Plan of Salvation!!!!! Seriously INSANE!!!!!! I love her!!!! Her name is Jun Sae He!!!!!!. She has a little boy who came to the police station to say hi and he brought their dalmation puppy... ya I was in pure heaven! Ha ha. New investigator and a puppy.... counldnt be happier. So amazing. WE will meet her again either next week or sunday. she has to check her schedule.

 

 

Then the other new investigator is a Grandma who LOVES to talk!!!!!!!!!!! I think we got the words "Heavenly father loves you" in and that was it.  She is not really religious but is willing to listen. Wel will spark something in her I know it. She is very humble and lives int eh country area... funny story..... So me and my companion don't like bugs. But my sweek companion cried the other day when she saw a rollie pollie..... ya.... well here we are walking in the country area with our new investigator and we see this HUGE beatle!!!!!! Even I was shocked. Well as my companion is about to throw up she is so scared, our investigator leans down (she is a grandma) and picks up the beatle with her bare hands. The beatle even had pinchers... pretty sure it's related to the scorpean family...... and she picks it up and calls it her pet... aparentally she loves those beatles and makes them her pets... she feeds them strawberry jelly..... I don't think my companion will want to meet her again.  My poor companion. ha ha. I sure hope she has a cage for the beatle and it just doesnt just roam around the house.  We will see.... .

 

 

Then the last two investigators were a mom and son.... no gospel intrest but they have met the missionaries before and like us.....WE will try to spark some interest!!!!!! I'm just excited to finally have more people to teach. I was happy teaching and meeting with memebers but now I'm ready to baptize! ha ha.

Speaking of baptism.... amazing experience!!!!!!!! So yesterday some elders in our zone had a baptism. 2 weeks ago they baptized 2 sisters (actual sisters). and this week their older sister was baptized.... umm amazing. They were glowing and like, hello spirit!!!!!!!! Wow. I was brought to tears as these young sisters met in the batheroom after the baptism adn the younger sister asks her older sister "do youfeel that"..."doesnt taht feel amazing"....etc. The spirt is real!!!! It really is.

 

 

This brings me to the las thing I want to talk about. I had a touching experience that I will remember forever. So this las thursday we met our investigator Sister Kwon, from China.....We have been meeting FOREVER!!!!! But she is slowly making TRUE progression. She is reading the book of mormon and feels liek it is the same sprit as the bible. Well right before the lesson I prayed SO hard to have the spirit with me as I taught. Well during the lesson our lesson plan changed.... and we talked about the Book of Mormonadn the spirit. She attends her different church and loves it.l We asked if she has felt the spirit before. She said she feels the spirit when she goes to chruch but she cant feel it when she comes home...... hello, gift of the holy ghost!!!!!!!! Then I followed the spirit and slowly and with a lot of silent pauses, bore my testimony that the church of jesus christ of latter day saints is Christs church and it is true. The spirit BURNED in me. Like FIRE. It was the strongest one single moment I have ever felt the spirit. I then asked her ifshe will pray about our church if it is ture and she said with a sincere desire, "YES".

 

 

The chruch is true. PLain and simple, this is Christs Church and I know it it true. And everything we learn and teach is also true. It's ALL true. Every bit of it. I know it. I love you so much. Thank you for all your love and support. Thanks for helping me along the path to know that this church is true. Love you to the moon and back.

 

 

Sister Cole Ensign

I have no idea what Gods plans are for me or for any of us, but they are perfect....

Mom I loved your email. Thank you so much. And all the pictures were perfect and I just loved it!!!!!!!!!!. Dad, happy fathers day. I sent you your book thing like mom in the mail last week, sorry it will be late.... But happy fathers day. I want you to remember that you are the best dad in the world and I am not just saying that.

Dedicated to dad

 

'I'm so glad when daddy comes home, glad as I can be. I put my arms around his neck and hug him tight like this . I pat his cheeks and give him WHAT..... A GREAT BIG KISS.... MUAH". ha ha. Love you dad. Sorry I couldn't remember the words exactly. But I love you to the moon and back. Thanks for always being someone I am glad who comes home and someone I am glad to come home to:)

 

Umm okay bubba... since when do you look like a man? You actually look like cute and stuff... like datable.... weird..... haha. And Samantha reading your scriptures:) AGH I just have the greatest family!!!!!!! I am glad to see Grandma is still sticken to Grandpa and I can just imagine her saying "Oh Richard....". ha ha.  Love you grandma. I love you and Grandpa. Happy fathers day Grandpa:)

 

The boat looks like a blast!!!!!!!!!!! AGH we will sleep every night for 3 months on the boat when I get home. ha ha. No work, just play. ha ha. oh dreams... 

 

So two quick questions. Are you still going to buy the house in Idaho and the other question; Sister Gelder said that on my Blog there was something about us moving? I don't think that is right but please let me know. ha ha.

 

Well today we got transfer calls and I am staying in Jeounju and I am still training. Thank the heavens because I couldn't be happier. ahha.

 

Quickly I want to bear my testimony about the Book of Mormon. OH MY GOODNESS I love this Book. It is true. Plain and simple. It is true and there is no false hope about it. It is true and I trust it. I trust it's promise in Moroni 10 and I trust the words written by the prophets contained in the book. I know its true. This week I have tried to use the crap out of the book of Mormon while I have been teaching and finding. If only people would read the book and pray about it, they would be members. We visited a convert and she said she does not have a testimony about the book. She later said she doesn't feel like she has a testimony of the gospel. Her problem is the book of Mormon. If we get a testimony of the Book of Mormon, we will know the church is true. And it is.

 

 

So lets talk miracles for a second..... umm like God is WAY to merciful!!!!!!!!!! My companion is still sick.... we are going to a special dr. on Tuesday..... But even with her sick we have found 2 now investigators and one of them is GOLDEN. Like I know I sometimes throw that word out too much. But she is amazing. She met the missionaries almost 15 years ago and saw them off and on, but now is finally wanting to meet again. We met her and she wouldn't let us leave. She kept us past an hour and just kept asking questions. Her questions showed us that God has truly prepared her. For example she asked "if god talked through prophets back then, why does he still not talk to us through prophets? Another; is it normal that I feel the same spirit when I read the bible as when I read the book of Mormon? I shared my testimony of the book of Mormon and said "Sister, your soul is hungry and the book of Mormon is your food". She then said "When I read the book of Mormon, my souls questions were answered....."..... umm okay right out of PMG.... aha ha. She is amazing. I am so blessed to be able to teach her. We are asking her to be baptized next week because we didn't have time last week. literally no time. ha ha. So I will keep you updated on her progress. Her name is Sister Song.

 

 

The other miracle was the recent convert, sister Kim me Ja. She was baptized last October and has not been able to come to church because right after she was baptized her husband had a brain hemorrhage and was in the hospital. He is still in  the hospital and we visit almost every other week. she has the faith of a giant. Well when I first came to this area we visited and from looking at her husband I thought for sure he would die.... Lack of faith. But we have been praying and visiting and praying. The elders gave him a priesthood blessing. I personally loved visiting because when I visited with Sister Kim I thought of Aunt Wendy taking care of Chelsea. Two amazing, selfless women that I love. Well I love to visit. and Sister Kim LOVES me because I worked at a hospital so she feels comfort when I come. (I don't think she feels comfort because of my previous working experience.... maybe because.... I....am.....a.... missionary....... :). Well this week we visited..... MIRACLE!!!!!!!!!!!! So every time we visit he is not really awake. His body was going through what Chels went through. Well when we visited, he was trying to walk and talk. He would look at us, understand us and it was just amazing. At first when I saw him I was in utter shock and Sister Kim was smiling from ear to ear. And then the next thing I felt was utter jealousy.... Why couldn't Chels turn out like him. Why was it opposite. I was SO jealous. Like beyond jealous. But then seeing the hope in Sister Kims eyes made me re-direct my thoughts. I am just so happy for her. Especially happy that she will never have to experience what Aunt Wendy and Uncle Rich have had to experience. That is a blessing. That is a miracle that she doesn't have to go through the pain that Aunt Wendy and Uncle Rich went through. Now after I prayed about my jealousy I was sweetly reminded of Gods plan. I have no idea what his plans are for me or for any of us. But they are perfect. Yes I am sad aunt Wendy and Uncle Rich had to go through what they did, but because of her example in how she "turned out", I will be eternally grateful . Yes I love blessings. But the examples of others leave more of a lasting impression. Yes Jesus Christ was the greatest blessing, but I am eternally grateful for the pain he went through and the EXAMPLE he was through the pain. PERFECT example. Yes a lot of times I just want blessings. But to be an example to someone is even more special. I'm not asking for a reason to be an example, but I have learned a valuable lesson.

 

 

This week was amazing. So many miracles and happiness to be felt. I love this work. A few weeks ago was tough but I have seen the hand of God on my right side and on my left and I have been lifted by his angels. I love this work. Thank you for everything.

 

I love you to the moon and back...

 

Sister Cole Ensign

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But that's not how I gained my testimony

Seriously I cant tell how needed your e-mails were!!!!!!!! Mom Your amazing. I also got an e-mail from Samantha and Grandpa Franklin that just really helped me. Well if last week was hard this week was a disaster. ha ha. Lets just say things aren't going my way. But they sure are going Satan's way. I hate it when he wins the hearts of my investigators. So I'll start with the hard.... Not to be negative. Sorry. But wow. I had to drop 3 of my 4 investigators. 2 of them had English interest and said plainly that they hated missionaries. Then then laughed after they said it like it was funny. Me and my companion sat there broken hearted. We had to drop them because we asked if they could come to church and they laughed like it was a joke. They said no. Then I said "will you ever come to church". They laughed and said no. I never knew women in their 50's could be so disrespectful. But the hard part is that I love them to death. AGH. So we had to drop them. That hurt a little because they were so close to the truth.

 

Then!!!!!!! WE met GOLDEN. I call her that because she is a golden investigator But her name is Sister Yune. Right as she gets in the lesson she tells us that she HATES the bible and book of mormon but she is interested in our message. ha ha. UMM OKAY, you kinda have to read the book if you want to understand our message.  But she said, one day I will read that but not right now. Well we met her twice and it was AMAZING. Like the two best lessons of my life. the spirit was there and we could feel it and she could feel it. So she's golden right, well shes golden because she was asking all the right questions. Her husband died 5 years ago, so hello plan of Salvation. Yes we taught that and she ATE IT UP!!!!!!! Like I have never heard so many inspired questions before.  I couldn't believe it. So that was amazing. Well yesterday my companion was sicker than a dog. Poor thing had a fever of 102 and had the chills and couldn't even stand. So sad. Well while she was sick we got a text from Sister Yune saying she couldn't meet because she was feeling like our purpose was to teach her the gospel but her purpose was to learn English. She said she liked our message and will meet later but not right now........ I was broken hearted. I had a good cry. Like a GOOD CRY!!!!!! . But seriously. I was just so frustrated that one of our 2 investigators, who are AMAZING , and wanted to be baptized,  said she couldn't meet. I was devastated. I have been working my butt off and here someone I love just dropped us. Satan won. I was so upset. But then the sweet spirit slapped me into gear and I could feel the gentle voice of the Lord saying "She's someone I love too. I'm sad too." It was a great moment between me and my heavenly father. Sometimes I forget that God loves these people more than I do. ha ha. Sometimes I want my investigators to see an angel or to have a HUGE miraculous experience. But that's not how I gained my testimony. I need to remember that these are Gods Children and he is TRYING EVERYTHING!!!! More than I think he is, to help his children come unto him. It was a humbling experience. Then after the good cry I whipped back into shape and called over 150 people in our area book. Now we have 2 appointments with people who want to meet us!!!!!!! Miracles happen when you become humble and you do the will of the Father. Yes I am so sad about our investigators but I also realize that they are dropped because they know our purpose. I am not a missionary who beats around the bush about my purpose. I tell people exactly why I am here and what I am here to do and who sent me and if people don't want to meet me  because of it at least in the next life they will come to me and say "thanks for trying your best to give me the truth".

 

Then the week ended great with a call to my Recent convert Sister Lee. I feel like I am dating her. I'm practically in love with her. I call her every night. sometimes we  meet on Thursdays and watch spiritual DVD's.  I just love her so much. AGH. Love her. When I think about her, I know I can do it. The other miracle of the week was we had interviews with president:) He is amazing. I will miss him so much. He is always a great light at the end of the dark hall. I Love him. The other miracle was your e-mail mom. Wow. I just love you. Thank you for your care, your warm love and your ever lasting support. Your e-mails were just what I needed to hear. Yes I only have one investigator but I have 6 potential investigators who want to meet and I will  share this gospel and hopefully baptize them and their friends and their families. And if not then I will keep my head up and work even harder. I love this work. Free agency frustrates me but I love this work. I love it. Thank you for the love and prayers and most of all for your amazing example. I love you to the moon and back.

 

Sister Nicolle Ensign

 

p.s. Last week I needed more faith and this week I got it. Surprisingly because this week was harder than last. I think it's through the storms that we get the courage. I think I will need to remember that one. :) Love you mom!!!!! Tell the family I love them too:)

 

 

 

 

 

A Forever Disciple of Jesus Christ

I am glad Samantha's surgery went well. She's so strong. Love her. Looks like you and dad had fun at the waterfalls. So beautiful. Isn't it amazing how creative and beautiful Christ's creations are!!!!! I love nature!!!!! But the reason I want you to buy the house in Idaho so bad is because after my mission I am going to want to be as far away from any type of CITY that I can.  All of Korea is a city. I never see anything but big buildings....... so nature would be nice. I am really sorry about Uncle Robs mom. I will pray for the family! But Isn't amazing to know that this is not the end!!!!!!!!!!   Maybe I could send them a letter. I will do that today:)

 

 Thank you so much to everyone for the letters!!!!! It is always so nice and everyone is so supportive!

 

 

So this week was the greatest week because my investigator Sister Lee received baptism and the gift of the holy ghost. I honestly can tell you I didn't think I would ever see a baptism on my mission. I don't know why, lack of faith maybe. But now I know they happen and I am thirsty for more. But seriously Sister Lee is the most humble, sweet, patient, loving investigator and now my Recent Convert. I remember when she finally said she would be baptized I was excited but still nervous because I was afraid that because of all of her questions she would drop out. Yes my lack of faith is something I am working on. But I can say my faith is strengthened especially as I bore my testimony to her at her baptism and I saw her eyes of love and faith. I will never forget that moment. I don't know if you remember when I first got to this area I talked bout how my faith was tried when my investigator started talking about polygamy and I didn't know all the answers. Well that investigator is sister lee. I wish I could express the progress she has made. She went from doubt to the faith of a giant and it was the greatest miracle to see. I love her. I feel like I have just had a baby and all I want to do is love on her, hold her, and not let anything happen to her. I am trying to baby her by calling her every night, which she says she loves, and I will continue to meet her on Thursdays and we will discuss all the lessons again and watch the Restoration Dvd, etc. Because she was married a week ago, at her baptism we were talking about how in one year we can all go to the temple together. So I might be flying back to Korea in a year:) I will live for that moment. I love sister Lee and there will never go a day where I wont think about her.

 

 

 

Right after the baptism we met my investigator sister Kim a rahn.....  who told me while we were meeting that 1: she actually hates missionaries and only likes me because I am American and teach free English and 2: she then asked me why I looked so sad..... Ya that lesson was fun.... ha. But it was really a shocking moment for Sister Kim when she asked me "What do you want to do while you are in Korea?" She was expecting me to name some historical sites, or places I want to go or things I want to eat. But as I thought about it. I laughed, looked at my companion and said , "Actually sister Kim, all I want to do is to tell every Korean about Jesus Christ. This message is important and everyone needs to hear it."    But I hope it opened her eyes that I'm not here to tour, I'm not here to teach English, I'm not here to be the cool girl from America who speaks funny Korean, I am here to teach people about Jesus Christ and about his restored Gospel. I hope she one day understands.

 

 

So to give a little background on my missionary life. Now that sister Lee is baptized I have 3 investigators. And all of them have English interest.........It's a little rough. But wow, I wouldn't change it for something easy because there is nothing greater than working hard and going to the Lord and telling him I tried my best.  Yes it is sometimes heart breaking. I'm working my butt off and so at the end of the day I am both sad and feel some peace that I am trying. I really have been working on my faith.  But this week I really prayed for the faith that God has prepared children out here for me to teach. They really are out there. I believe this week we will see some miracles! I know my next Sister Lee is out there and she is dying to meet me. I love this work. Wow, do I love it. Yes Its hard work, but I plan on doing hard work for the rest of my life. I'm going to work hard because something I am learning and becoming on my mission is a FOREVER disciple of Jesus Christ. Elder Holland's talk last gen con he was speaking from Christ's point of view to Peter. "Peter do you love me? Then why are we here? Why are we back on this same shore having this same conversation. Isn't it obvious that if I want fish I can get fish? What I need peter are disciples. And I need them forever." Also from that talk are the words "Our message is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless it is not hopeless. It is not  to be consigned to the ask heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God and it is to change the world". I say that every time I contact on the streets. This week no one has wanted to talk to us. There are SO many missionaries in Korea and the Koreans are so sick of missionaries.  So to put it simply, sometimes when I try to talk to people, I feel like they would rather eat dog poop than talk to me. Its a "great" feeling. ha ha. But I think of that talk by Elder Holland. I think of this message. I think of all the people who will meet me in heaven and say "thanks for trying to share the message with me!!!" It's hard and I love it. If it was easy I wouldn't be able to feel my saviors love as much. This week was both a miracle with sister lee,  and a trying one for me and my companion. We love our message, but it's hard finding people who want to listen and feel. But I have the faith my Sister Lee is out there. I know they are:) I love this mission. Thank you for all the prayers, love and support. They are real and I feel them so thank you!!!!!! I love you to the moon and back!!!!!!

 

 

Love Sister Nicolle Ensign

 

 

 

p.s. Yes this week was hard but I am still happy. Still so happy because I am the one with the truth, the one with the book that has the truth, and the one who feels the constant love of her Savior and Heavenly Father.

 

 

 

I have joy!

So this week was just the greatest!!!!!! Like oh my goodness, I might want to extend my mission for eternity... like I just want to become the next Alma and serve for 14 years. ha ha. Even though I say this I was thinking yesterday how great it would be to go to Costco with you and dad and eat some chocolate covered ice cream. ha ha. Anyways, so great!!!!!!! Love being a missionary.

 

So this week we met a few more new investigators!!!!!!! we have been praying for 2 things - be friends with members and find new investigators and this week we saw miracles. Tonight we meet a new investigator and then on wed we will meet another new investigator! Right now we have 6 investigators and for just splitting a ward and only been working for about 2 weeks that is a miracle!!!!!! Not to mention the WARD LOVES US!!!!!!! Man I love it. Anyways. Last night we met our Chinese investigator,  Sister Kwan. She has met missionaries for 8months and for the first time yesterday she said she read the book of Mormon!!!!!!!!! Let just say I was BURSTING WITH JOY!!!!!!!! She is forced to attend this other church because they are paying for her and her family to live. She is EXTREMELY poor  and so her church is helping her. But she says she likes meeting with us:) So little by little she is coming unto Christ!!!!!! THEN!!!!!!!! On Friday we had our investigator, Sister Lee's wedding!!!!!! Beautiful and so fun!!!!!!! They asked us sisters to be the photographers and it was a dream come true. Everyone kept asking why there were so many Americans, ha ha, we proudly said we were missionaries. so we were able to introduce our selves to a lot of people. Sister Lee was so beautiful and it was fun trying to translate for her husbands mom,  who is American,  at the wedding. That was an interesting experience. ha ha. But fun. It is a good reminder to me of how much Korean the Lord has helped me learn. Amazing. And so this Saturday Sister Lee will get baptized!!!!!! Lets just say this week will be AMAZING. It is amazing to see the faith she has!!!!! She has so many questions about the church but she is relying on the faith that she does have to be baptized and come to Christ. Last week when we met we talked about prayer and WOW!!!!! She has amazing faith. I love her so much!!!! I cant believe how much God has blessed me to be able to be the spokes person for the spirit in teaching her how to come unto Christ! Please pray for her this week!!!!Thank you!!!!!!!!

 

Training is going well. I am of course soaked up to my neck in stress but its the good stress. It's the stress that makes me not want to quit and not to give in to Satan's doubt filling thoughts. The lord has helped me have confidence. This week when we had comp inventory,  my comp complimented me on our obedience. I truly believe that when we are exactly obedient then the lord will do the rest. That is something I have tried to do is just to be SO obedient. I have seen SO many blessings come from it!!!!!!!! But yes, my companion is amazing. She has thyroid problems and so she gets tired easily and on top of missionary work, she is exhausted. But she loves it. One day she said to me "this is no longer my body, I gave it to the Lord for a year and a half". Umm... okay talk about the greatest quote!!!! She is amazing. I am blessed to be her companion. And no,  I am not really training her. We are just learning together. I love her.

 

Well,  I love you. Thanks, like always for the prayers and love and everything!!!!!! I pray for you every day!!!!!! I read this scripture this morning for personal study and loved it. Alma 27:27 - And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great readon of sorrow, and also of rejoicing. Sorrow because of death and destruction among men and joy because of the light of Christ unto life."  This verse is the story of my life,  ha ha. Even though much diligence as a laborer I still see \sorrow because of Satan and the agency of man adhering to the natural man.  But,  I also see much Joy. I see people exercising their agency for good. Putting off the natural man and trying to become like Jesus Christ. That joy replaces the sorrow. I have much reason to be happy!!!! I especially have hope and joy because I know who I have trusted! I know I belong to Christ's church. I know what I know is true. It is true. And for that reason I have much joy!!!!!! I love you mom. Thank you for everything. Yes there is sorrow all around us but there is also good. A lot of good! God is with us and he will not leave us. And for that we can have peace and joy. I love you to the moon and back!!!!!

 

Sister Collie Ensign