"Sister Brooks is AWESOME"

Today we got Jillian's first official email! We were so excited to hear from her! Here are some of the highlights:

*In only 4 days she has given a talk in sacrament meeting, conducted the music in sacrament meeting, said the prayer many times, born testimony at least 10 times in public, done a session at the Preston Temple, and done 3 role play investigator lessons and her first role play was with the MTC President and his wife who is President Hinckley's daughter!

*Jillian and her companion Sister Brooks are the only two sisters out of 38 missionaries in the whole MTC! Sister Brooks is from Manchester and has only been a member of the church for 18 months! Jillian has learned so much from her and said, "My companion Sister Brooks is AWESOME!" She was really impressed with Jillian's accent and Jillian is getting better and better at if from being around her.

*She said that she has lost a little weight because the food there is disgusting but it has forced her to eat her fruits and veggies.

The whole thing was music to our hears especially the line about her companion: "Sister Brooks is AWESOME!" As an RM, I know how much of a difference it makes to get along with your companion. I'm so amazed at how much she has done in the last 4 days. The Preston MTC definitely seems like a whole different world than the Provo MTC. The image of her and Sister Brooks smiling and talking with their English accents makes me so happy!

Arrival in England!

Saying Goodbye

Today we got Jillian's first email! I don't have very much experience blogging but I got the strongest feeling that I need to make a blog for her and that I need to start today with this first email. I'm so happy that Jillian has made the decision to serve the Lord for 18 months. She is going to be an outstanding missionary and bless so many lives in England as well as here.

On Thursday July 14, 2011 we woke we woke up early to do last minute details and drop her off at the airport. It was a very emotional but exciting time. Saying goodbye is not fun but we couldn't be happier or more proud of our missionary kitty. She is such a good example to us all, especially to her niece and nephew Kate and Bradley. It was really hard to see Kate crying so hard when she left. They will miss playing with their Auntie Jilli so much. Even though it's a huge sacrifice for all of us I know that we will be blessed and that Jillian is being watched over.

Setting Apart

Jillian was set apart as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on July 13, 2011 by President Miles. It was a very spiritual and emotional event in her life as her family gathered together and shared testimonies, advice, and love.

"I'm sure Jillian is ready for England but I don't think England is ready for her. "

-Grandpa Nilsson

Jillian's Mission Call

Jillian's mission call arrived on her 21st birthday--March 16, 2011. She was called to the England London Mission and could not have been more excited about it.

Harry Potter!!!

Jillian has been obsessed with Harry Potter from the beginning. One of the setbacks to going on a mission was that she might miss Harry Potter 7.2. She joked about it a lot and said that the only way she would be okay with missing it was if the Lord sent her to England. Well, she got her call on March 16 to the England London Mission! Can you believe that?! In her call letter it stated that she would report to the MTC in England on July 15--the very day Harry Potter came out. From that moment on she searched and searched to find some kind of early showing. After doing everything possible she finally came to the realization that she was not going to be able to see the movie before she left.

Then a miracle happened. One of her best friends Kelly Maddock, who is also obsessed with Harry Potter and who has been to all the midnight showings with her, gave her hope. She said that her dad had found an ad in City Weekly about a Harry Potter showing on Monday July 11. It was a contest and so Kelly entered it right away. A few days later she called Jillian up and asked if she wanted to go to see a movie with her on Monday... All of Jillian's dreams had come true! However, Kelly only received two vouchers for the movie, not the actual tickets. The tickets were given at Jordan Commons on a first come first serve basis. So, on the day of the movie Jillian arrived at Jordan Commons right when it opened at 10:00 am. She was the first in line and waited there until the movie started at 7:00. She was not going to take any chances. She and Kelly had fun hanging out at Jordan Commons all day together in their Harry Potter t-shirts. By the time the movie was over she had been at the movie theater for almost 12 hours! But it was definitely worth it!