Week 35: Happiness Bomb and The Mission Heist

Hola Buenos Dias!!! :)

This week was a good one personally, and a pretty good one for the work :) This week I learned how to be happy and how to be myself. It really is a decision, sometimes a hard decision, but a decision nonetheless, And I choose to be happy :)

This week I learned to be Happy and it all started with an interchange with the Zone Leaders :) I was with Elder G who is from Mexico. He is super animated and happy all the time which was a real example to me. He works hard and if he is rejected doesn't even care and continues the conversation we were having before the contact. In the contacts (Talking with people in the street) he is overly happy. Not too overly happy but very happy, and that makes other people happy and makes them more willing to talk. I like to be happy and talk with people but Sometimes people in the street scare me, but I learned that if you are overly happy no one is going to be too mean (Just kinda mean). After that I decided to be happy in the street and in contacts. Every since I started doing that I have encountered more people who are willing to talk and the rejection doesn't phase me as much :) I have finally found a way to be happy and to work hard :)

In the interchange I also learned that it is hard to speak English. We ran into 3 people who could speak English and we talked with them. Every time I caught Myself speaking in Spanish, and when I tried to say things in English they didn't come out right ha ha. Speaking in Spanish 24/7 really affects your mind ha ha :) Well thinking and speaking and dreaming in Spanish :)

This week The investigators are doing pretty well! :)

M got confirmed on Sunday and is now a member of the church :)

P came to church by himself and the went to watch a baptism with us :) If everything works out he will be baptized this Sunday :)

V.... Yeah V is no longer an Investigator. We went to teach her with the Zone Leader (Elder G) and she told us she didn't have time for a lesson but wanted to talk really quick. She then told us that she wouldn't be baptized and didn't want to share with us anymore because she was offended that we didn't know Padre Nuestro (The lords prayer from the bible). We had a lesson about Prayer and about revelation, but she still said no. It was kind of sad because she was so desirous to learn but something like not knowing padre nuestro is going to stop her from achieving salvation. 

We are on the search, passing for every contact that we can. Hopefully we find some more soon! :)

This week I felt like I was in a heist movie :) After going to watch the baptism with P we returned to the apartment and realized I HAD LEFT THE KEYS IN THE APARTMENT! Normally that would be bad but each companion has a copy of the keys so I asked my companion for his keys. "Elder, I lost my keys a couple weeks ago, I don't have them." After that I didn't know what to do. It was already night time and we didn't have any keys. To get into our apartment we had to break in :) We used a plastic bottle and scissors and managed to open the locked door and get inside :) So now I am pretty much a pro at breaking into apartments ;)

Stay Golden, I love you all!

Love,

Elder Nielson :)

 

Week 34: Decision to be Happy

Buenos Dias!

This week was a rough week. After setting lots of appointments we didn't have any of them show up. It was frustrating and we walked a lot. But I decided that I have to stop being so stressed and have to start being happy. So all of my goals this week are about happiness and smiling :) The mission is hard, so many demands and so much stress, but it is my goal and destiny to find more happiness and to take more pictures :) 

This week nothing special really happened :) We worked hard, had some lessons, taught some people, and did our missionary thing. The best success of the week was on Sunday. None of our investigators came to church but we managed to help a less active woman come to church and that was a great success! It was a success because the bishop in my first week here said that she was never going to come to church and that if she came to church he would personally pay to build a statue on the church grounds of the missionaries. Well she came to church!!! :) So we will see if we get our statue :)

Our investigators right now:

P- baptismal for the 3rd of May

V- Baptismal date for the 26th of April, but they need alot of work

Hopefully this next week is more exciting!!

I love you all,

Elder Nielson :)

 

 

 

Week 33: Short and Sweet because had a Zone Activity

Bueno Dias!!!

This week was a great one!! We had a baptism which was wonderful!! I have been working and praying so hard to achieve this baptism! :)

This week we baptized M the 9 (now 10) year old. He is super happy and the baptism went super smoothly :) I am so glad to have had the opportunity to share with him :)

I don't have tons of time so some highlights of the week :)

The bad contact:

Ne were doing contacts and started a contact with an old man. He started with "I hate you guys" and after listening to him scream at us about North America and them using missionaries to destroy Chile and the economy I didn't want to fight with him so I offered my hand and said see you later. He slapped my hand and screamed that he couldn't talk with people like us.

Elder V is doing well. He only has 3 weeks of training left but everything is going well with our work.

This week we had interviews with president and I was super nervous ('cuz last time I ended up crying) but this time interviews were awesome. President said he was surprised and proud of the work that I had accomplished. That made me feel super good. Then I asked him for a blessing to help me with the language. Part of the blessing said "And in the end of your mission you will speak perfectly" I am now waiting patiently with faith and working hard to achieve it.

The baptism Sunday went super smoothly and was super awesome!! :) M is awesome and is happy with the decision he made :)

I love you all! Stay golden! And next week my letter will be a lot better :)

Love,

Elder Nielson :)

 

 

Week 32: General Conference, Ice Cream, and Apples Light

Buenos Dias!!

This week was a good week and a frustrating week all at the same time ha ha :) We worked hard Tuesday and Wednesday and had some good success. But after that basically every one of our investigators went out of town for the week. Wednesday and Thursday I think we had 1 or 2 lessons in total and we were in the street a lot. 

But it was a great week because of General Conference (The semi annual opportunity to listen to a Prophet of God and the 12 Apostles speak to us to give us the guide and answers we need). It was great for 2 reasons: 

1. We got to receive revelation and answers from the Servant of God

2. We got to sit down for 10 hours :)

I really did love conference. I wrote 4 questions and killed a spider crawling on my notes before conference started. In the sessions of conference all 4 of my questions were answered thoroughly. It was a great testimony builder that God is listening to my prayers and doing everything to answer my questions. 

Some of my Highlights from Conference:

1 Kevin W. Pearson

"To hang in there isn't a gospel principle." 

This life is to be enjoyed, not endured. We must persevere to the end, we must enjoy the journey, we must change where we are and follow the path to the end. If we "Hang in there" We aren't going to move, our situation isn't going to change, and we aren't going to become happier 

"#Greatandspaciousbuilding4knowledge isn't the correct source of information"

If we really want to learn gods will, and how to be happy the pride of the world is not the place to look. The humility in the lord will truly lead us and our families to true everlasting Joy.

2 Pale G Renlund

"Twas I, Tis not I"

It doesn't matter who we were, It matters who we are and who we are becoming. Every person in the world will make a mistake, but if you have the true desire to change and act on that desire God will forget, and it doesn't matter, who you were before.

"A saint is a sinner who keeps on trying."

No matter how many times we fall, if we keep pushing forward and keep giving our best effort to improve we are just as much as a saint as anyone else.

3. Wilford W. Anderson

"I can teach you to dance, but you have to hear the music"

In our lives we can follow the routine and do what is required of us, but if we don't hear the music or recognize the blessings or benefit of what we are doing we will not enjoy the actions and will feel silly.

4. Boyd K. Packer

"A cookie and a kiss is the key to a happy marriage"

The small and simple things in life to show love will help a marriage and any other relationship grow. The small daily services will make stronger bonds than large infrequent demonstrations of love or service.

I learned so much from conference and it made a big impact on me. I testify that the prophet is called of God to guide us in these difficult times. I know that he will never lead us stray and that if we follow his council the difficulties will never get the best of us.

This week I ate alot of Cake to celebrate my birthday so I gained a little bit... okay a lot a bit of stomach line. So this week we had lunch that a member gave us and in the lunch it had light yogurt. I made the Joke that they were trying to say something... but all the other missionaries in my district agreed that they were saying something. So we decided that I am only allowed to eat things that say "Light" on the container in order to lose weight. So after that I ate my Apple (Light) Pear (Light) and then received a small candy. I wanted to eat it so I used my pen to write "Light" On the wrapper. Maybe I should start following the advice ha ha :) 

Status of Investigators:

1. M- Baptismal Interview today, If he passes he will be baptized this Sunday

2. P- Baptismal date: 19th of April if he attends church

3. J. Baptismal date 26th of April

4. V: No baptismal date but has attended church 1 or 2 times and has received lessons 1 and 2. We are going to try and place a baptismal date this Tuesday.

That is how the sector is doing.

I love you all and invite you to watch conference if you didn't have the opportunity to do so.

Stay Golden!!

Love you all,

Elder Nielson :)

Week 31: I got changed to.... Wait.... Villa Dulce?

Buenos Dias!!

Thank you everyone for all the birthday wishes and birthday songs :)

This week was a good one!! We had changes, worked hard, and had some success :)

This Wednesday we had changes. On Transfer days we get called in the morning, then pack our bags, then go to the meeting to find out where we are going. In the morning I had already packed my bags because I had been in Villa Dulce for 4 changes (almost 6 months) so it was guaranteed that I would leave. After getting the call I learned that... I wasn't leaving Villa Dulce, I am staying here another month and a half. I had to unpack my bags while my companion packed his bags. I was a little bit frustrated until I received a call from the Assistants.

Assistant: Elder Nielson?

Me:Yes?

A: We have and assignment for you

Me: Yeah, Okay?

A: You are going to train so you have to be in the training meeting at 3.

M: Alright Thank you elder.

A: Chao Chao.

After the call I got super excited. Yes I am still in Villa Dulce which is a little bit frustrating but I am training! 

So I am training a new elder named Elder V. He is a Chilean who is 19 years old. He is the only member in his family which means he is super courageous. He is a hard worker and we are going to have a lot of success together. He is ready to learn and to work hard. He has a thick Chilean accent and sometimes struggles to understand my accent, but I am sure that being with him is going to help me a lot with my accent :) 

This week we also got our water heater fixed!!! No more cold showers!! Woohoo! After 3 months of Ice cold showers we finally have hot water and can shower in peace :)

This week I decided that eating Oatmeal every morning for breakfast is dumb and that I have to enjoy myself :) So this week I have made eggs, toast, granola with apples and yogurt, pancakes, and more. It is crazy how much better my day is and how much happier I am after eating a delicious breakfast. Sometimes when I am having a bad day the only thing that keeps me going is the thought of my delicious breakfast the next day ha ha :) But I feel like quite the chef now ;)

This week something crazy happened. We had a forest fire in our sector... well 2 forest fires. One burned a whole hill and the other burned a large sector of land. Luckily no houses or building were burned. There were 3 helicopters, 2 airplanes, and 6 firetrucks dropping water on the fires to put them out. 

This Sunday I had to give a talk in church and was super excited. I wrote my talk and prepared scriptures, examples, and the doctrine to help the ward participate the the missionary work. I was the last one to give my talk and the first speaker spoke for a long time so I only had 6 minutes to give a talk. I decided to trash my talk because I didn't have the time to give the talk. I talked about the commandments and the blessings that we will receive by living the commandments. There are so many blessings to be gained by living the commandments and I hope that I helped the members realize that a life of living the commandments will be so much happier than living without them.

In April we are going to have 2 baptisms. P and M are going to be baptized the 12th and I am super excited. We have worked so much to help them come to this point so I am excited to see them progress :)

This weekend is conference and I am super excited to see it. I know that the Prophet is called of God to guide us in our lives and journeys. I know that he will answer our questions and help us know what to do. I invite you all, member of the church or not to watch conference, to listen to the prophet and apostles of Christ, and to follow there advice. 

I love you all! Stay golden! :)

Love,

Elder Nielson

Week 30: I'm Late I'm Late for a very important ..... Zone Conference!!

Buenas Dias!!

This week was also a good one! I decided to stop being sad and to be awesome instead, True Story :) 

It started with Tuesday. On Tuesday we had a zone conference (A big meeting with lots of missionaries and... PRESIDENT and HIS WIFE). We have to be there at 8 in the morning to be ready for everything. The night before I set the alarm clock for 6 o'clock so that we could do everything we needed to and arrive on time. All night I was having nightmares that we were late to the conference and kept checking my alarm clock. 2:30... 3:30...4:30. After checking the clock for the 3rd or 4th time i decided to relax because the alarm was set. Then I woke up, the alarm still hadn't sounded so I figured it must have been about 5:55. I checked the clock and had a heart attack 7:52!! I couldn't believe my eyes! I checked the phone and my watch and they all said 7:52! I started yelling and running like crazy! We had 8 minutes to get ready and to get to the conference (It takes at least a half hour to get to the conference). I was brushing my teeth while eating breakfast while putting my pants on while tying my shoes all at the same time. I don't know how I did it, but honestly somehow I did. We didn't have time to shower (Gross I know) but we made it out of the apartment by 8 o'clock. We took the bus and made it there by 8:30 which was good because president hadn't arrived and the meeting hadn't started yet. I forgot to shave so I had a little shadow but President didn't notice which was good :) After the conference I checked my alarm clock and somehow the alarm had been changed to 10:34, So I think I might have changed it in my sleep.

But anyways the conference went super well! We learned a lot, spent time with other missionaries, received lessons, advice and help, and did practices. Normally practices aren't too bad, you just get together with another companionship and practice teaching and learn what you do well and what you can improve. But with our luck we ended up doing practices with PRESIDENTS WIFE. I was beyond nervous!! We taught and did pretty well. She told us what she liked and what to improve and then we practiced again and had a good lesson! It was awesome and she said she loved it. So that was definitely a good part. Later in the hallway president commented to me that he heard that we did a good job teaching, which was great to hear :)

To end the conference that was so awesome was we got to watch MEET THE MORMONS in Spanish! It was awesome to watch a movie and the fact that I understood it in Spanish made me feel even better :) I loved it and the stories really inspired me to continue teaching and helping families encounter the gospel :)

I am still teaching English classes and doing everything that I can to make them interesting. This last week we took a tour of the church and they learned words of things in the church (Knife, fork, spoon, picture, oven, stove, plate, bowl, bathroom, toilet, sink, faucet, mirror, broom, and things like that) Then we learned some verbs and played charades. The best part was a younger boy (10 years old) was trying to say fork. But in the process he started saying it wrong and started dropping the F-Bomb! Knowing him he wasn't trying to do that and didn't know what he was doing. But I died laughing, it was super funny :) 

This week Sunday was wonderful and really strengthened my testimony about fasting. I fasted this Sunday and the blessings came. P an 11 year old investigator came to church for the first time and loved it. He has said he would come for many weeks but this week he finally came :) 

M couldn't come because he is in Santiago with his dad for the weekend but he is still going to be baptized on April 12th :)

A miracle happened!! On Saturday we were passing by future investigators and doing contacts and we went to a house and encountered a lady who the missionaries before us contacted. She told us that she didn't want anything, and didn't believe in Joseph Smith, that she believed in God and Jesus. My younger missionary self would have said "Okay thank you, have a good day" but the spirit told me to try to help her feel that the gospel is true. I started talking and sharing part of a lesson and then bore my testimony. After that she said that she really couldn't talk to us because her husband needed help with stuff but that she wanted to go to church to see what it was like. We told her where it was but I didn't expect anything out of it. Then on Sunday right after the sacrament the door opened and in she came! And not only did she come to church, but she brought her 2 sons and her husband! All four of them came to church! We have an appointment with them on Tuesday because right after church she turned to me and said "I loved it :)". I really believe that they are chosen by god and are going to accept baptism. Another reason to Fast! :)

All in all we have 2 investigators with baptismal dates, P and M, and we have the opportunity to talk to 4 more people (the people who came to church).

We have changes this Wednesday and I am pretty sure I am leaving Villa Dulce, but we will see :)

I love you all! Stay Golden!

Love,

Elder Nielson :)

Week 29: Saving Souls .... and cats!

Buenas Dias!

This week was a great week. It was a week of miracles, success, craziness, and happiness. There must be many people praying for us, because this week was a complete opposite of the last week. I went from being inanimate and upset, to happy and encouraged. I thank everyone for their prayers and fasts because the prayers were answered. 

This week we encountered two new investigators, M, and P. They both have baptismal dates and both attended church this last Sunday!

M is the grandson of the lady that we talked to in the street. His family is inactive but wants him to get baptized. After talking with him and becoming his friend he wants to be baptized as well. He is awesome! He is 9 years old and likes to talk about God and Jesus. He attended Church this Sunday and is going to be baptized the 12 of April (I am probably not going to be here  because it is after changes but Oh well, I am happy for him). His family came to church as well so they are reactivating into the ward which is super awesome!

P is a 52 year old man who is married to an inactive woman. They were a reference from a member. She told us that we were going to eat lunch with them instead of with her. We ate lunch in their house (with the member) and then gave him a blessing of health. Then they asked us to share a scripture, so I decided to have a full blown lesson and he accepted the invitation to listen to the lessons. After a lesson with him he accepted the baptismal date of the 29th of march (I'm most likely not going to be here for his baptism either, but I helped him get started which makes me feel good). He came to church this Sunday as well with his wife which is awesome.

This week we finally saw results from all of our work! We had 108 people attend church which is 20 more than last week! It is the highest attendance we have ever had!

This week we also had some crazy events happen.

1. Saving cats...

This week we were walking by the church and heard meowing. Normally that would be pretty normal but it came from a water drain in the church that is blocked off by a huge grate. We decided to investigate to see what was up. We entered the premises and moved the grate, and as we suspected, somehow a cat had gotten stuck in the water drain hole (about 8 feet deep). Being the lover of cats that I am (NOT) i had the desire to leave it there, but I decided it needed help. So I climbed down into the whole, spent 5 minutes gaining the trust of the cat (Lots of experience with investigators ;) ) and then carried the cat out of the hole. So now I can add saving cats from water drains to my list of things I never thought I would do in my mission. 

2. Dancing to help a sister with depression

This week while visiting a member she said that her sister (A less active) Needed help because she was suffering from a depression attack (Feeling super sad) so we decided to pass by to share a motivational scripture. When we got there her husband wasn't home so we couldn't go inside, so we started talking in the door. I was doing everything I could to make her laugh and was having great success, but I decided that she needed to die laughing, so I started to talk about dancing and how I cant dance. She didn't believe that i was bad at dancing because of my personality, so I decided to show her. I dropped every single cheesy dance move that I have (The Lawn mower, The shopping cart, The shopping cart with mom, The sprinkler, The credit Cards, The shower) and every goofy move that you can do. After dancing in her doorway (and getting lots of crazy looks from people walking by) We left her smiling and crying from laughing so hard. I felt so good knowing that we had helped her feel happy. Don't worry, the next day we shared scriptures and had a lesson with her so we helped her spiritually as well ;)

3. La Verguenza! (The shame/Embarrassment!)

This week while doing contacts in the street I decided to contact two ladies walking together. The sun was really bright so I couldn't see well and I asked them if they were sisters or friends. After an awkward silence one of the ladies said... She is my mother in law... After another couple awkward seconds my compañion said "ooooohhhh" and I was so embarrassed! I turned around, walked away 3 steps and said loudly "UHHH LA VERGUENZA!" Then walked back. They thought that was funny so we talked some more. In the end they didn't want to share with us, But I learned not to use that question any more ha ha :)

Also this week was interesting because WE FOUND THE CATHOLIC FAMILY! One day we passed by their house again and there weren't any dogs and the apartment seemed a little different. She answered the door and said she couldn't share in that moment but could share on the weekends like she had told us in the contact. And that she had been waiting for our visit 2 months ago. Apparently we had been going to the wrong apartment for 2 months!! Both are labeled as apartment 40 and we were going to the wrong one. It gave me hope that they want to share with us. We will see this week! :)

This week I finished reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish and had the opportunity to pray to receive and answer if the Book of Mormon is true or not. I prayed multiple days and didn't receive a strong burning feeling like I did the first time I asked, but when I was reading the Book of Mormon I received my answer. I had a thought and a feeling, "You know this book is true, you have read it and tested its teachings, right now you are happy and successful because you have followed its teachings, it is true." It may not have been the big spiritual answer that most people wait for, but it was an answer for me. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know it is inspired of God and that it will guide us in his path and never lead us astray. I know this church is truly the Church of Jesus Christ and that through his grace and our obedience we can live forever with our families in His presence.

That was my week! Thank you all for your prayers and support. I love you all!

Stay Golden!

Elder Nielson