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 :)

Week 57: Imaginary Friend Probs #They wont answer me!

Buenos Dias!

This week was an interesting week! After a few more mini earthquakes we are now roofless, but I am happy :) Son bromas, son bromas. Just kidding our apartment is fine, but I really am happy :)

This week we have been experiencing what are called replicas or mini earthquakes that come after a big earthquake that range from so small that you wouldn't know if you weren't paying attention, to so big that the house is shaking and we have doubts if we are going to experience another earthquake or not. But I know we are protected by the lord so we are safe :)

Last Monday we went to a thing called the Pampilla, which is like a fair where people sell things. But we went to Remate which is the last day so everything is cheaper :) I bought myself a soccer jersey, some fliete pants, and some sweet RayBan's and Oakley sunglasses :) It was fun, and now with my soccer jersey and fleite pants I look like a typical Chilean fleite or choro. 

This week Wacky Wednesday and Funday Sunday were huge successes!!! Probably the best success I have seen in a zone :) On wacky Wednesday we called the elders and asked them how many girls they have kissed. If it was a high number, they had to do that many contacts, if it was a low number they had to give out that many Books of Mormon. Lets just Say I thought I was going to be one of the highest after having kissed 6 girls, but boy was I wrong. I think I had the seconds lowest, after many people having a list of more than 30 and some elders having kissed multiple girls at the same time. But it was hilarious and everyone was excited to participate and to not kiss as many girls when they get home ;) And to the sisters we asked them how many drunks had tried to kiss them in the mission and they had to give out that many books. Some sisters had to give out 15 books ha ha :) And then on funday Sunday we challenged everyone to do 20 contacts but to make every single one laugh before the contact ended. Only 2 companionship's had 100 percent laugh rate (We were one ;)) but everyone had a lot of success in that. On those days we have found more investigators, invited more people to be baptized, and more people to progress than in any other day :) I really believe these days were revelation :)

This week we had interviews with President Diaz in our apartment. After many hours of cleaning and quick clean up (Imagine the best 2 years when they have to clean up quickly, that was us ha ha). The interviews were quick but good. President Diaz wants us to teach in every opportunity that we can, and to be happy while doing it (I think funday Sunday and wacky Wednesday will help :)). I asked for permission to start doing The workout video "insanity" and I got permission :) 

This week we started doing Insanity to get our "BEACH BODY" (Its a rule that you have to yell it like a man) and it is so hard! We are so out of shape that the first time we did it we only made it through the warm ups before calling it quits. Then the second day we made it through 10 minutes (of the 22). In like a month we are going to be skinny, buff, and have our "BEACH BODY."

While we were talking about how to improve our relationship in the companionship (Something we do every week even though we are total bros) we didn't know what to do to make it better, so we decided to do "Friday night pizza night!" So starting now every Friday we are going to order pizza for the apartment :) It should be pretty awesome :)

This week we had probably one of the funniest things ever happen to us. We went to a less active members house and her mom answered the door. Her mom is pretty old and we asked her if her daughter was home. She told us to wait a second and she would ask. She went inside for a couple seconds and said. "I don't know if she is here, they didn't answer me. There are only a few people here, but you can ask them if they know where she is." So we walked to the door and looked inside and the house was completely empty. The old lady walked towards the table (Where no one was) and said "Is L here?" Me and my companion looked at each other slightly confused, and slightly trying not to laugh. Then she turned to us and kinda frustrated said "See! They aren't answering me! Maybe you can get the answer out of them." Ha ha we decided that talking to an empty table wasn't for us so we decided to pass by another day. It was so hilarious to see how sincere the lady was and frustrated that the people wouldn't answer us, even though there wasn't anyone and that she was crazy ha ha :) I guess sometimes we even have problems with our imaginary friends ;)

This week we had an investigator named C come to church. It is his second time and his mom is a less active. Church was the best thing for him. He met some friends, felt comfortable, felt the spirit, and felt the importance of going. It was the best thing to help him progress. He is going to get baptized on the 10th of October :) We have some other investigators but none of them fulfilled the promise of going to church.

The kid named K who was going to get baptized in my last sector got baptized!! It is good to know that I helped him take that step in his life :)

This week I was on Interchanges with a district leader who was kind of discouraged in his sector and said that the people were hard and not loving. We did some great contacts and met some really receptive families! We did a contact and a lady gave me a statue of the final supper, and we ran into some people from the south who after seeing us climb a hill bought us some soda and some treats and then took a picture with us. After the interchange he was encouraged again and realised that blessings come with hard work :) I learned the importance of being humble, but at the same time having some confidence in yourself to be able to do what God wants us to do :) 

I really am so happy :) I have never been more happy in the mission. My comp is awesome, my ward is awesome, My mission president is awesome, I am working and am confident in my work, I feel the spirit guiding, and I feel like I am helping the mission progress. After talking to my comp and my other leaders I haven't met anyone who had a year as difficult as my first year, but I know that it was for my good and so that I could help elders going through the same situation. But this next year is going to be the bomb :)

I love you all! Stay golden!

Love,

Elder Nielson :)

 

 

Week 56: I WILL SURVIVE!!! Earthquakes and Tsunamis Aint got notin on us!

Hola Buenos Dias!! :)

This week was a crazy intense week! For those of you who watch the news should already know most of my week. For those of you who don't, the title should explain and give a few hints ;)

But to start at the beginning of the week...

We were out working really far away from the apartment and my companion had to go to the bathroom really really bad. So we passed by all the members, investigators, or anyone we could think of to use the bathroom but no one was home. My comp said, lets just go to the apartment, I don't think Ill make it, but it is worth a shot. I just told him that we would keep asking people if they had a bathroom. We talked to a guy on the corner who looked like the owner of a little cafe and asked him if there was a bathroom there. He said yes and that we could use it. He took us to the cafe and told us to use the bathroom but the lady inside said no. We found out that it wasn't his cafe and that people from outside weren't allowed to use the bathroom. The lady kept saying no but the guy kept telling her that we needed to use it and that he was willing to pay her to let us use it. Then another lady showed up and started arguing for us as well. She told the lady who wasn't letting us use the bathroom that she was a horrible person for making missionaries who walk in the street all day hold it when they had to go really bad. It was kinda nice to actually have people arguing for us and not against us, I'm thinking it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. None the less the guy paid the lady 4 dollars so that we could go to the bathroom ha ha :) After using the bathroom we contacted him and he wanted us to pass by and teach him. We will see how it goes.

Quote of the week from some little kids... "Elder, You look like toasted bread!"

This week the big thing that happened. Lets just say I survived an earthquake and a tsunami! 

This week we were teaching a newer investigator and we were just about to teach about Joseph Smith when I felt a little bit of shaking. For Chile little "Temblores" or mini weak earthquakes are common and I have felt them before. But it started getting stronger and stronger so I looked at the investigator. He told us to be calm and that it was nothing. But then it got stronger and stronger and it felt like the whole world was shaking! He stood up and we all went to the door frame (Apparently the safe place to be in an earthquake). We watched his truck shake and look like it was about to flip over as the world was spazzing out! After 3 minutes of shaking everything stopped. We started listening to the radio when the tsunami sirens started going off. We found out that our apartment was in the tsunami zone and that we had to evacuate and get to the safety zone. We went to the apartment quickly to look for some basic things and went to a members house. While there we tried to get in contact with our zone to see how they were. The phone lines were crazy busy because everyone was calling. By 1 in the morning we had managed to contact about half of them. We ended up staying the night at the members house and the next day we went to the apartment. It was fine and the tsunami didn't make it up that high. But we learned that the center of Coquimbo was destroyed by the tsunami. We spent the next 3 days doing service in the center. Ill send picture because they can explain it a lot better than I can. But all in all Coquimbo was the second most affected place in Chile, after the city that was the epicenter of the earthquake. We are going to keep doing service, but there isn't too much that we can do. 

This week was also the 18th of September which is Chile's independence day celebrations. And President Diaz is awesome and gave us the whole day to celebrate and have fun. So we ate barbecue, played soccer, talked with members, and enjoyed the day. It was pretty awesome :) We also spent the morning doing service for the people whose houses were destroyed and who didn't have anything to celebrate. 

As a zone leader one of the things we have to do is make sure everyone is working hard but is happy at the same time. It is definitely a challenge. I came up with the idea of doing "Funday Sunday" "Wacky Wednesday" And "Fetchin Friday." On each of those days my companion and I make a recording of us explaining the challenge of the day in a fun way. We say it the same way every time so that it will catch on. We do it with background music and everything. Then we send the recording to the district leaders to send to their districts. This last Funday Sunday was to contact everyone that was wearing a soccer jersey and to invite the to be baptised. Most people enjoyed it, we for the first time in my mission, didn't find anyone with a soccer jersey, and some were lame and didn't do it. But we are going to keep going with them because I am pretty sure they will work, and then Coquimbo will become famous for Funday Sunday, Wacky Wednesday, and Fetchin Friday. :)

That is basically my week as much as I can describe with words. Ill send the pictures to explain it a little better :)

I love you all, Stay Golden! :)

Love,

Elder Nielson :)

 

 

Week 55: Big Changes!

Hola Buenos Dias!!

This week was a week of some pretty big changes! 

This week as we know I had changes, I didnt expect to be changed but in the morning when our zone leaders called us I got the news that I was leaving. I was kind of in shock and kinda sad because I loved the ward and had many good friends there. But it is part of the mission so I packed up my bags (it was more like a wrestling tournament with my clothes) and went to say goodbye to people. Right after lunch we were about to head to changes when I got a call from Presidente Diaz! He called me to inform me that I was called to be a zone leader and asked me if I accepted. Of course I accepted and we went to changes. So after changes I am now a zone leader in a place called Coquimbo, that is in the north (a 7 hour bus ride from Viña). We left the change meeting at 7 at night and got to our appartment at 4 in the morning and slept 3 hours and had to wake up at 7.

Coquimbo, at least my sector, is richer than any other sector I have been in. Some of the houses even look like American houses and they actually have yards with GRASS! It is a cool area. As a zone leader we are in charge of 16 missionaries and 2 district leaders. I am still learning alot but I am getting the hang of it and it is pretty fun :) I am here with Elder Allred. We were together in the MTC and have the same amount of time in the mission. He is cool and from an island called Utah ;) He likes basketball and is a good missionary. It will be great working with him :) I still dont really know the investigators or the ward but I will keep you guys updated with that in the future :)

This week I got to do interchanges with an elder named Elder McMurtrey who is incredible. He has been on the mission for 4 and a half months but already talks well, teaches well, and loves everyone. He really taught me alot about loving everyone. We had an amazing interchange with a couple highlights.

Karma is a Jerk:

In the interchange he didnt have lots of appointments so we did lots and lots of contacts wich actually ended up being really good. We walked by a house where a dad was outside talking to his younger boys and elder McMurtrey said we should go back and contact them, so we did. The man was very rude and told us to go away in a mean way. As we were walking away one of his younger sons walked up to him and hit him... well where it really hurts for the men.. and the dad fell down in pain. It was so hilarious! I almost started laughing out loud. But It was a testimony that "Karma is a jerk"

It was also a great interchange because the spirit was so strong. It was guiding us all over the place, who to contact, what to say, and where to go. I could literally feel guiding thoughts or feelings that werent my own. One of these promptings guided us to contact a man vacuuming out his car (like I said, rich sector) We did probably the best contact that I have done in my life. We gave him a book and found out that he is evangelico (people who are really against mormons) but he was interested. When we gave him the book we asked him what he would ask to Jesus if he was right there and he asked a question that I never thought would come. "What do I need to do to achieve eternal life?" I know that this man was ready to hear the gospel. But it also taught me how wonderful it is to have the gospel in our lives, that as a 19 boy I could honestly tell him that I knew what I needed to do to live with God again, and that he a man, didnt have that knowledge. This gospel is true, whether you like it or not, doesnt change that it is true :)

This Sunday I showed up to church and the bishop came to greet me with a "Hello Elder, nice to meet you. A brother isnt going to show up today. Could you give a 15 minute talk on the scriptures?" All I could think was "Welcome to the ward elder nielson!!":) But I accepted and gave a talk. I thought it was pretty good and some people told me they were going to start applying some things that I had said. But it went well and I loved church. The ward is very friendly with the missionaries so I am sure I will get to know them well :) 

I am safe and happy and well :) I love you all and hope that you are even better than I am :)

stay golden!

Love,

Elder Nielson :)