Week 61: I am on a bus!

Buenos Dias!!

This week was a week with lots of changes and lots and lots of bus rides and late nights! 

This week we had changes and my good friend Elder A got changed. He got sent to Quilpue (About 40 minutes from Viña). It was a sad change and I will miss him dearly but that is just part of the mission. But I have a new comp now named Elder S. He is from Portland Oregon and has a year and 8 months in the mission. He is pretty cool, really calm, passive, and pensive. It is an interesting companionship  because I am like a happy enthusiastic bomb, and he is excited and loves the mission, but outside sometimes it doesn't seem like it ha ha. We will definitely take some getting used to :) 

This week was really long because I spent 3 nights in a row on a bus without sleeping. Leaving at 2 in the morning to get to Vina just in time for an all day meeting and then getting back at 3 in the morning. Working a whole day and then leaving at 2 in the morning for another all day meeting, then getting back at 3 in the morning. It was very tiring, but with my máte I managed to make it through :) 

One of the meetings was a change meeting (When Elder A Went away and Elder S Came) and the next was a new zone leader meeting where I learned how to be a better leader and to help everyone. Basically it was be kind, loving, a hard worker, a good friend. There was a quote that I really liked. It said

"Be so good at what you do that everyone wants to be you, then be humble so that everyone wants to be with you." 

I am hoping I can continue becoming a better leader and helping my zone progress.

P is progressing really well and is most likely going to be baptised this weekend! She has come to church 4 times and really believes the stuff now. It has been an amazing change in her life, because she didn't receive a big answer that the Book of Mormon is true, but she has seen the changes in her life that have happened from reading and acting on the teachings of the Book of Mormon. 

Besides bus rides and meetings not much happened this week. But I did like church this week. I learned a ton and was very touched.

One of the members gave a talk about work, being self reliant, working hard to be the best we can be, and being grateful for the work that we have. He said

"Choose the work that you love, then love the decision to work." 

It made me think of the mission and that I chose this, and that I should love it. Then I thought that the work I do really is the people I meet. I asked myself if I really love the people I am teaching and contacting. I decided to make that my focus this week and to work on loving the people. Not gonna lie, it was really tough as we have contacted some of the meanest people this week, but it was a good test. Lets just say ill keep working on it this week too ha ha ;)

This member also said "Get along with everyone!"

Often times people don't get along with us, but we sure can make the decision to get along with them. There will be times when we will make someone mad or offend someone for doing the right thing but if we work hard the majority of the time we will get along with the majority of the people. It isn't a natural thing, it is something we work at. I am definitely going to work on it :)

The best part of Church was in Elders Quorum. The teacher had us close our eyes and imagine that we were in the Celestial Room in the Temple. Then he told us to imagine that we were talking to God while we were there. I immediately began to talk to him about the mission, the difficulties, what I could do better, what my zone needs. It was such a spiritual experience and such a wonderful moment. Something that I noticed was that while I was talking with God it wasn't like a slave to a king or anything like that. We were both just sitting on one of the couches talking like good friends having a heart to heart. That really made me realize that I have gotten a lot closer to my heavenly father and that by praying, talking, and having confidence in and with my heavenly father I have a friendly family relationship with him. Never have I felt more worthy, more friendly, or more close to my heavenly father and for that I am grateful. 

I would like to invite all of you to do the same. Take a moment, just a couple minutes of your day, and to close  your eyes and imagine yourselves talking to your heavenly father. What would you talk about? How would you feel? What kind of relationship would it be? Would it last hours, or just minutes? Would you look him in the eyes or turn away? Would you listen to an answer or just talk and let him listen. I know that by doing this and asking these questions that not only will you receive revelation, but also will take into account the kind of relationship you have with your heavenly father. Then I invite you all to take measures into your own hands, be it hard or easy, and improve that relationship with your father in heaven. Your life will change, not for minutes, but forever.

I love you all and want the best for all of you. I only share from experience that which I know to be true.

Keep strong and stay Golden!

Love you all!

Elder Nielson :)

 

 

 

Week 60: Firepits and Prank Calls

Buenos Dias!!

This week was a pretty standard week with spiritual lessons, and progressing investigators, but also with a lot of heart break and unique trials.

This week we had a very tough beginning. On Monday O invited us over with the bishop and told us he didn't want to get baptized and that he didn't want us to say anything. After listening to him and ending with a prayer (Pulling an other side of heaven teach in the prayer tactic) We left. Since then he still doesn't want anything, so he didn't get baptized. It was heartbreaking, but maybe it just isn't his time.

This week we had wacky Wednesday and it was raining  hard so we read part of the story of Noah and the Flood and told everyone that the flood was going to occur starting next month and that we had to invite everyone we could to get baptized this month. We had a decent amount  of success with that one. More to come in the future. 

This week we had great Interchanges and I was with Elder V (Elder Darth V). It was a great interchange because he is still in his first change in the mission. He is a great missionary and wants to be obedient and have lots of success. He speaks Spanish really well. The only problem is he is having trials with his trainer because they have different visions of the mission and the new missionary has higher vision of obedience and work. But we are helping them out with that. We had an insanely spiritual lesson with an inactive member and we were really guided in the lesson by the spirit. The Lesson was exactly what he needed and he even told us that. And that the lesson is what he had been worrying about for a couple days. He made the commitment to come to church, and on Sunday, he actually came. It was a great moment in the interchange.

This week we had miracles happen every day like it says in my  ponderize scripture (Alma 37:40) when we had all of our appointments fall we ended up running into some ex investigators and having a good lesson and inviting them to be baptized. I know that because we were diligent and didn't give up that we were blessed with this small tender mercy miracle.

It really was such a spiritually powerful week and I am so grateful for the blessings the lord gave us. But it was also one of the funniest weeks of my mission. I don't think I have laughed so hard in a long time. 

Fire pits:

One morning we were studying and I was sitting there reading the scriptures when my armpits started feeling really hot. As I kept studying and trying to ignore it they kept getting hotter and hotter. When they felt like there was a lit match in my armpits I ran to the bathroom and ripped off my shirt to see what was up. And as I was watching my armpits were turning red and burning like crazy! I had no idea why so I washed them off with water and walked out with my arms up to air them out. When my companion turned around and I was walking around shirtless with my hands in the air he was really confused. Then when he saw my pits he did what any good companion would do... he pulled out his camera, took some pictures, and then made a video. I looked so silly and just didn't know what to do. But eventually the pain went away. The nurse said it was probably a chemical reaction between my soap and deodorant... but I don't know.

Prank Call:

On the day that O told us he didn't want to be baptized some other things went wrong so we were kinda bummed. All of a sudden our district leader called us and asked us a normal question. Instead of answering his question I started a fake conversation and  started freaking out

"Your investigators isn't going to get baptized this week? Why Not? What happened? Oh No, I cant believe that that happened. ETC"

While I was saying that he was really confused but then they caught on. While I was talking my comp starting freaking out and started praying right away that the  lady would get baptized!

Afterwords I told him that it was a prank and he died! I started laughing so hard and he was kinda upset with me but it ended up being funny.

I am out of time :(  But I will relate the other stories next week!

I love you all so much!

Stay Golden,

Love,

Elder Nielson

Week 59: Its raining Miracles, hallelujah its raining miracles!

Hola Buenos Dias Todas!!!

This week was a great week! So great that I was thinking about writing my whole letter in Spanish and seeing how well google translate let you guys know what I was up to, but then I decided that wouldn't work so i will write it in English!

To start I will start with the funny moments :)

Lentes (Glasses):

I don't know if I have mentioned this before but awhile ago I bought some hipster glasses that have plastic lenses. Every once and awhile I wear them, especially if it is sunny  because the provide a little bit of protection so that my eyes don't get burned. Anyways I wore my Glasses to church and I was there standing waiting for someone. While I was waiting a girl came up to me, told me I look cute in glasses, hugged me, and then tried to hold my  hand. It probably would have been an awesome experience if I didn't have to break the heart of this little 5 year old girl. Yeah I somehow manage to win all the little girls here in Chile. "E" always runs up and hugs my leg and tells me I look cute ha ha. She is so precious :)

Punny Day:

This week I was on interchanges with an elder who is in his first change in the mission. He is from Spain and he is awesome because his name is elder Pan which  means (Elder Bread). Anyways we were working in his sector and I was just so punny all day! I could not stop saying them, they just naturally happened. Like we were talking to a guy who said he has some animals at his house. I asked him what kinds and  he told me tons, but one of them was ducks. I told him that I love holding ducks and would totally love to go to his house to hold a duck (And baptise him). But then he said that the ducks bite so it would be bad. I then asked if that meant it was a bad duck (Pato malo) Because a bad duck also means a dilinquent (a kid who behaves badly and robs and smokes weed). We all died laughing and we went on our way. Then in the night a lady was complaining about her dog that ate some tin and was having stomach problems. Lata means tin in Spanish but "Que lata" means what a nuisance. So she said "El está teniendo tantas problemas porque comió la lata" (He is having a ton of problems because he ate the tin) and my companion was about to start sympathizing with her when I just blurted out "Que lata" (How frustrating). I don't know if that made any sense. But in Spanish it was hilarious and we all died laughing again :)

This last month we have had tons of mini earthquakes that make the house shake or the ground shake. It is pretty trippy  but exciting at the same time. The worst one was when I was in the shower and one started and got pretty strong. By the time I resigned myself to run out into the street naked, it finally stopped and I was saved the embarrassment.

This week was really a week of miracles because of fasting, praying, and working! This week we had an investigator come to church, we had a baptism, and we had a guy who has refused to get baptised for 7 months decide to get baptised.

While on interchanges with Elder Pan we worked really hard an invited someone to be baptized and they accepted. When I called my companion to let him know he was freaking out and said that our investigator who has refused to get baptized forever (The bishops dad) accepted a baptismal date! We screamed together and celebrated over the phone :) Then on Sunday we  had our other investigator that has a baptismal date come to church and she participated a ton! She stayed and watched the baptism and she could possibly get baptised this next Sunday! The bishops dad is getting baptised this Saturday and the lady could get baptized this Sunday! 

I know that fasting is hard, but I know that God completes and will bless us. I know that he personally answer us and will always bless us with  what is best for us. 

That was our week and I am looking forward to the next one!

Love you all! Stay Golden!

Elder Nielson :)

 

 

Week 58: Not enough Time! Better letter next week!

Buenos Dias a todos! :)

This week was a really good week with a lot of things that happened, so it really just flew by!

This week we had a moment of reversed roles ha ha. Usually the investigators try to hide from us while we look for them. But while on the way home we were a little bit late and didn't have time to talk when all of a sudden we saw an investigator that always talks a ton. So we switched roles and this time the missionaries hid from the investigator. Running in "Stealth Mode" we skirted by hiding behind a truck and ducking and maneuvering in a way that would make the PDI Jealous (Chile's Version of the FBI). We had a good laugh thinking about the reversed roles.

This week we had something called Consejo (Council) which is where all the zone leaders have a meeting with president and learn and give advice and talk about how the zone is doing. It was super awesome and the spirit was so strong. Presidents wife gave a training on the fact that we are called of God to be in this zone and showed a video of President Eyring baring his testimony about that. The spirit was super strong and I know that I am in the place God wants me to be.

Thanks a ton for the card and the John Bytheway talk! I love it and am jamming out to it every morning :)

This week We had miracles during conference. We had 10 people who had promised to come to church to watch conference. In the afternoon of the Sunday session none of them had showed up yet. My companion and I were disappointed but we started praying a ton. After the session we went to see if anyone showed up and our two investigators with fechas (dates) came to church and our prayers were answered.

This week I don't have lots of time to write because I had to do alot of paper work, but next week I will write a lot more and let you know whats up. But make sure to ponderize every week! :)

I love you tons!

Elder Nielson :)