Worried About Transfers



Letter Received January 3, 2011:

Hey Everyone:



Elders with Fernanda

Fernanda with Everyone



Todos

 

Fernanda with Family Extended

So this one is going to be really short because I still only have a little time and not only that but we pretty much talked about everything on Christmas so I really don't have much to tell you. But anywho, I have been busy this week but I can honestly say that it didn't go quite as planned but it was okay because we did get a baptism. I do think that I could have done better this week and I feel that this week is going to be better. I am kinda worried that the President is goin to change my companion again because you never know and not only that but he is going to be looking at my numbers from this week when he does transfers. I hope that he doesn't change my companion because we are getting better as a companionship and I know that we can do better but we will have to see. But, I did express my concern to the Zone Leaders and told them to tell this to the President today because they have their leadership meeting today with the President. So, we will have to see what happens this next week.  

Legit Bike Photo




Parral Bike Photo



Both Bikes



My New Bike in Front

We did okay this week. Our people that are good this week for baptism should be good for Sunday but I need to talk to them because they went out of town this last weekend and they weren't able to go church so that is a bummer and now the mom can't get baptised together with her daughter because she lacks attendance at church. But, we are going to get them dunked, don't worry about that.



Me and Elder Haws with Darlin

Yeah, I got the bike and it is legit, I love it! It is so comfy and we get everywhere so much faster and with a lot less effort. I bought a lock and everything is well taken care of so you don't need to worry about that.  

Us and Her Family




Todos



Her Family with Uribe



Pila Photo Darlin



Me and my comp cut our hair by ourselves and we didn't really realize how short that we cut it so now we are both bald, ha, ha, ha. But oh well, it should grow back. But yeah, it kinda sucks about the packages because they are just sitting there in the office and they told us that we probably aren't going to get them for probably another two weeks. So, that sucks, but oh well, what can you do? That is about it for this week it was really good to talk to you all and I'm glad to hear that everyone is doing good. I love you all and miss you tons.

Love,  

Elder Nelson 

My New Bike in Back

A Few Pictures and Phone Call Prep

Letter Received December 20, 2010:

Ray Bans

I just got news that we can Skype and now we can use the camera! So now we can chat for free so that kinda sucks for the Magic Jack. I am out of time. I love you and hope that everything works on Saturday. If not, I will have to call and at the minimum you can call me through the Magic Jack if we have problems, but it should work. I love you.


Elder Nelson

Me and Palta Haws

Big Goals for the Coming Week

Letter Received December 28, 2009:

Hello Everyone:

I have been busy after Christmas trying to help a lot of people, but everyone here is starting to become very hard. It seems like this week everyone just decided that they didn’t want to share with us anymore and so we lost a bunch of people. But we are trying hard to find more people, and we have been working hard and it seems like I am needing to work harder because I have expected more success than this but didn’t receive it yet. So, it is time to step it up because the people don’t want to hear us, but they need to hear us so we will do what it takes and we are going to go on a finding streak this week. I want to find at least fifteen new people to teach by the end of this week because I am already here for six weeks and we don’t have anyone ready for baptism yet and so it is time to bump up the progress.

But this week was good because of Christmas and I got my package which was bomb! Thank you so much everyone. That watch is bomb! Thank you mom and dad. I have already had someone offer me 100 dollars for it and he was serious, ha ha ha. But yeah, I got to talk to you guys and that was awesome. I hope that I answered some questions for you guys and told you a little about what you wanted to know. Today I went into centro and bought me some shoes that I needed so that was nice. Elder Craig Merril is leaving to go with his family here for a week and then coming home in January so I gave him a memory card that has all my pictures on it and I am going to give him dad's phone number so that he can call you. I gave him our address so he will be dropping by. He will be able to answer any questions that you have so feel free to ask him. But anywho I talked to you guys on Friday and told you everything for this week. So yeah, I love you guys. It sounds like you all had a really good Christmas and I am glad to hear that. I love you all and will talk to you next week.

Love,
Elder Austin Nelson

Miss you all and love you tons.

Christmas 2009

We talked to Elder Nelson on Christmas day and he is doing great.  It seems he has a good and obedient Trainer who is teaching him to be a great missionary.  Elder Nelson explained that they are opening up a new area and therefore have started from scratch on finding people to teach about the gospel.  They have been teaching a few families and have begun to love them very much but it appears that many are not ready to change their lives and be baptized.

Elder Nelson is serving in what he describes as a small ward.  The members there take good care of the missionaries and feed them more than they can swallow.  We found out why he doesn't like the food:  tomatoes.  Elder Nelson does not like tomatoes and they are served to him very frequently.  Apparently, people in Jardin de Valle rely on tomatoes as a mainstay in their diet.

We are so proud of Elder Nelson and the tremendous growth we can see taking place in his life.  We are very pleased to see other's lives being blessed by his service.

Christmas Eve at a member's home.  Here we see Elder Nelson, his companion Elder Murillo, Elder Merrill, Elder Mayberry, and the nice host of the house.  In Chile, the big celebrations take place all day on Christmas Eve with a big dinner and presents opened at midnight.

Christmas Eve dinner at the home of a member.  Big crowd!

The Elders received special pillows with Christian sayings on them from their friendly host.

Christmas Day at Elder Nelson's apartment.

 

 

Opening presents from home.  We are surprised they waited to open them.  Check out the Christmas Tree!

First Christmas Away From Home

Letter Received December 21, 2009:

Hey family:

So i will start off with all the phone stuff ... But anywho the rest of everything else:

This week has not been such a great week.  Most of our investigators fell and we haven't had a whole lot of luck finding people because everyone is hard right now but we have been working hard and have been praying a lot for our investigators. And some stuff has been happening, nothing major, I will explain more on Friday when I talk to you guys and stuff cause I can explain better when I talk then I can when I type. But yeah, we have been working really hard and hoping for some help.

It definitely doesn't feel like christmas here becaue it is like100 degrees outside and there are like no decorations. Of the houses I have seen, there are like 10 houses with decorations on them, that is it. So, yeah, no snow, ha ha, but also like no one here talks about Christmas at all. It is weird! Me and my comp should be getting our packages tomorrow. I am hoping at district meeting, but we will see. We have been cleaning our apartment all day because it was a mess. I forgot my cables to my camera today so yeah no pictures again, sorry. But thanks for all the stuff for Christmas and I am excited to talk to you all. I don't have much time. I will talk to you all on Friday, much love but make sure that you call today or tomorrow and see if it works. I've got to go. I will let you know if I get the package tomorrow and I took out one twenty so I can get something for my comp and thank Grandpa for the gift. Love you all. Can't wait to talk to you.

Love Elder Nelson

P.S. - Happy Birthday Karstin and Merry Christmas!