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 :)