Sudden Transfer to New Area - Chillan Nuble

Letter Received August 16, 2010:

Hey:

Momita and Our House in Collao

Well, I guess I will talk about some of the stuff that has happened this week that is kinda sad that I kinda have mixed feelings about. Well, they did an emergency transfer because a missionary in Chillan, which is my new sector, was having some problems ùp here and the President called me after I got of a mini change with one of my Zone Leaders.

 One of the Few Hugs I Gave On My Mission

It is weird because the President doesn't call unless he is going to be making a change in leadership or if you did something really bad because he usually just tells the leaders to talk to you if there really is a problem that is not so big.  Since he was calling, I thought that we did something wrong on the mini change that we did, but the President started talking to my companion, Elder Clark, and I was like, what is going on?  Then the President asked to talk to me. So, I was thinking to myself, what did I do!?  I answered the phone and the President was asking me how am I doing and I was like, I am good just really enjoying the sector and working hard.  He asked me about the change that we did and I was like, it went really well because it really did and I knew that I wasn't doing anything wrong and he was like that is good. He said to me, "Well, Elder Nelson, we have a new assignment for you.  I need you to go to Chillan and change places with an Elder there. You will be in Chillan Nuble and  the missionary there is going to go to your sector."

 Me and My Comp Elder Findlay

 Me and Fins

He said that when I finish with my new comp, Elder Findlay, who is going home in October, that I am going to be Senior Companion.  The thing is, once again I am comp with a District Leader.  Every comp that I have had in Chile has been District Leader.  The President told me that I need to prepare myself to become Senior Companion.  He keeps dropping little hints that I might be getting a leadership position and that my companion right now is going to help me become more ready for more responsibility.

 Me and Moss, We Lived Together in My First Sector

I talked to my Zone Leaders and they said that the President told them that I am preparing for a leadership position, so, we are going to see in October what happens.  The President has definitely been hinting to me about it.  It is weird that out of 156 missionaries that he could have picked, that he could have done this emergency change, he picked me.  I think that it is because we had a Zone Conference with him and it was just our Zone that was in training and I made a good amount of comments and what not and it really seems that the Mission President is happy with the way that things have been going  for us.

  

 We All Came to Chile On the Same Flight

What makes it even more crappy is when he told me that I was leaving the sector it was noon and he said that you leave at four o'clock. So, that means that I had three hours to eat lunch, pack, and say goodbye to people.  It was really sad because I really didn't want to leave my sector and not only that but I didn't get to say goodbye to like anyone and so I really miss my old sector.  But it will be good.  We for sure have one baptism this week and we could have two more.

 On the Edge

 So Much Water in My Face

Me and my comp are getting along well.  He is from South Jordan and he has 22 months in the mission.  He is really smart and cool.  We get along great.  Now something that is really cool is that I live with four missionaries.  But, I really didn't want to leave the sister that lives behind us because she was so awesome.  I am going to try really hard to stay in touch with her.

Me and Harmer Waterfall

My new sector is like really ganster now and there are a lot of snakes.  (In other words, girls that want missionaries to kiss them and what not.)   It should be good but I just have to get used to it.  I need to buy some supplies, I used my card for lunch but I also need to pick up some things.  I still have some mission money, but sorry, I have been using a lot of money on my card lately.  I have been having a lot of random stuff happen, so I will need to pick up some stuff at the store with my card and I shouldn't have to use more for a while, I hope. I am kinda bummed that I had to leave some of my investigators and that I won't be able to see them baptized.  We will see what happens in this new sector.

 Me and the Whole Falls

 Waterfall Long Shot

Everyone is bummed that the other elder that was here left and so I haven't had all that awesome of a welcome but it should be good. Well, I will get those package ideas to you, but I don't really have very much more news other than that of the changes.  I need to send you some pictures of my other shoes so you can get the slip-on ones, too, because now they have a hole in them.  It seems that everything is going good for you all.  I love you and hope that everything goes good for you this week.  I will try and get you some news next week.  Love you all and I will talk to you all later.

Elder Nelson

Learning New Mission Techniques

Letter Received August 9, 2010:

Hey, Hey:

Well, I am not going to lie, I have been thinking a lot about Jace this week, with the wedding and all that.  I've been thinkin about how crazy it is that I am now the only single one in our family and that I am going to be the only one living at home when I get there.  That is going to be weird!  I think that the house for me is going to feel very weird now that Jace is out of the house.  I am super happy for him, though.  I do wish that I could have been there for it but now I guess I know how Lexie felt when Lyndsay got married when she was on her mission.

Lexie, I have a question:  what was your Chilena comps name and where does she live?  I might have a Hermana in my zone that may know her.  If I could, I would really like to meet her and I might be able to.

As for me, family, I am doing a lot better.  I have found out that I don't have a parasite.  I just have had a colon infection and I am getting better.  I feel a lot better, though not quite a hundred percent.  But, I am definitely getting there.  I am taking a pill for the next thirty days but I should be fine.

I need to send you some more pictures of my other shoes.  Now my slip-on ones are worn out, so I will send some pictures of those next week.  I think that I would like to still have a pair of slip-ons and a pair of lace ups, so yeah, I will send that next week. 

We had a crazy week because we spent two days doing training with the President and it was awesome!   We really didn't get to spend all that much time in our sector to work like normal.   We have been working with some key people and they really seem to be progressing and I'm super excited to try and do this new stuff that our President has seemed to be wanting us to work with.  We are one of the 114 missions that gets to preview this new plan for working that comes from the Apostles.  It should be super awesome!  My comp and I are getting along really well. 

I have been really good and been thinking how crazy it is that everyone is looking so diffferent especially in the pictures.  Mom you have changed your hair and the kids look so much bigger.  It is going to be crazy to come home because I think that everything is going to be so different when I get home.  Well, I don't really have that much to say, its all about the same.  I do have package ideas if you have to send the shoes yourselves but if the Missionary Mall will do it you don't have to worry about it because I just got a package not that long ago.  I am glad to hear everything went good at the wedding but I will talk to everyone later.  Love and miss you all.

Love,
Elder Nelson
Your son and brother on the mission!

Second Life Saved and Not Feeling Well

 Chilean Cowboys

Letter Received August 2, 2010:

Hey Fam:

Well I have told Dad already but I will tell everyone, I have been sick in my stomach for about three weeks now.  It has been worse within the last week and I have been having like stomach pains and they have told me that I have a colon infection and that I might have a parasite.  Yum, huh?  I will get better but I have to go to the doctor next week, too.  It should be all good.  I am losing weight now, ha,ha.  Well, kinda scary, I have lost about 18 pounds since Thursday, so yeah.

 So Fun

As for the week, other than being sick, I have been having a good week.  We had five people in church this week and we found some really good people that are really excited about the church and I think that they're going to get baptized in like three weeks.  They are solid.  They are really awesome!  Some people just showed up to church, so that was such a blessing for us that is for sure.  We have really been praying hard and working to find people and we have been receiving a lot of help.  We are getting better and now have a little bit to work with.

Everyone Wanted to Take Pictures with Me

Something really interesting, I was on a minitransfer with a Priest in our ward and we were knocking doors and found this guy that is less active.  We shared with him and we have reactivated him.  He, like, had nothing and now he has found work and his girlfriend and his little girl are going to come back and we're working on getting them married so that we can try and baptize his girlfriend.  Later, in another lesson, he told me that if we wouldn't have knocked his door that day that he probably was going to killl himself!  There is one life saved! Crazy, huh?

 Me and Freddy, the Inactive Member I Told You About

I will have to send you guys some pictures this week of an activity that we had the other week.  Also, we have been working super hard and we have been having luck with finding some people.  Me and Elder Clark are getting along great. He is from Mesa, Arizona.  We had changes and we stayed, so we are for sure together for another six weeks.  We are going to be trying some new stuff and it should work out really well.  We quote So I Married an Axe Murderer on a daily basis! Ha, ha, I love it.

Not Looking - Activity

I did get those pictures that you sent, they look awesome.  Those are some bomb Converse!  They are perfect for the colors for the wedding.  Sounds like everyone is really busy with the wedding.  Here it is really cold or pouríng rain or both. The rain gear is awesome!  I love it and it fits perfect. Thank you so much for that. I really love it.  As for this week, that is about it.  For Jace, tell him congrats for me and a big huge hug and that I love him and I would give anything to be there for his wedding.  I love and miss you all so much!

Elder Nelson

A Much Better Week!

Letter Received July 26, 2010:

Hey Family:


Well, first off, I wanted to thank everyone for the letters.  It is really awesome to hear from everyone.  I really needed that.  It sounds like everyone is doing so awesome and sounds like family parties are starting to quite down a little bit, ha, ha.  It seems like everyone is in different places and not in Utah in anymore. (I know for sure that I am not in Utah, ha, ha, ha!)

I have had a better week this week, but it did seem a little long, though.  It seems that this week we have made some progress in finding some people and that we have bettered our teaching a little bit.  Especially me personally, because I really tried to focus on using my scriptures a lot more and it really seems that I have been able to connect a lot better with our investigators.  I have felt better about the work that me and my comp have been doing and he has been awesome and never gets disanimated and he has really put everything into perspective for me. He has been awesome to teach with and he has so much Spirit with him and he is so fun to be around because we are so much alike.

For this week it really seemed a lot better because we did an activity for our ward and it was awesome!  I am going to try and send some pics a little bit later.  It went really well and we had awesome numbers for attendance for the activity and it was cool because we were inviting everyone and it worked out really well.  Not only that, but we got some references, so that's cool, too. 

It was awesome to hear how everyone has been doing and that this week was so good for you guys.  I miss July time off year in Utah, that is for sure. But it is all good.  I think that I would like the lace-up Hush Puppies, but I am not hurting too bad for shoes.  I would love to get some more socks, because all of the ones that I had before you sent me more have holes in them now.  I don't really have much to say, but I love you all.  I would like to tell Jace how proud I of him and that I hope that he has a good time through the temple.  Love and miss you all!

Love,
Elder Nelson

A Discouraging Week

Letter Received July 19, 2010:

Hey:


Well, this week was okay.  It didn't really go all that hot for us.  Don't worry, I am fine.  I am just a little disanimated.  Everyone has fallen this week and I haven't been able to find one person this week and this sector is super hard for contacts because everyone here is pretty well off and very prideful.  They don't want to listen to what we have to say to them because they feel like they are doing just fine on their own.  We tell them that they can be more happy, but they look at me like how can you possibly give me more than I already have?  You are just this 20 year old kid that is from a different country that doesn't know anything.  It gets kinda frustrating and I am just ready to start this new week because I am hoping that it is going to go a lot better this week than last.

I am just kinda tired so after internet I am going to take a nap because I feel like I need to rejuvenate my batteries.  One thing that I do know is that the mission is a lot of ups and downs and all I know is that my time is going to come back up when I am going to have success and I have to do all I can and the Lord will bless me with what I need.  This week it just seemed that everything has been falling, because our investigators haven't been keeping their commitments and we can't find anyone and I feel like I am wasting my time knocking doors.  I am hoping that we can kinda change the way that we are working a little bit, but we'll see.

It sounds like everyone is doing well.  I do have something that Dad can help me with and that is I would like to have my line of authority.  That would help me a ton!  So, if you could send me that through email that would be great.  I got my package last week.  Its awesome!  Thank you so much for that!  Iis that tie from Jace's wedding?  I really like that tie! 

I miss you all a ton! How is Kyle doing?  Well, I am pretty much done and I've got to go.  I love you all and miss you a ton

Love,
Elder Nelson

Lois' Baptism and More to Come

 Elder Clark, Lois, and Me

Received July 12, 2010:

Hey My Family:

 Elder Clark, _________, Lois, Renne and Me!

Tthis letter is going to be kinda short but I think that should be okay because you are all on vacation, ha, ha.  This week went really well.  My comp and I had our first baptism together, so it was all good.  We are so happy that he got baptized because he was ready to get baptized from the day that we met him.  He was something that you would call a golden investigator.  We are really getting on a roll here, hopefully we should have another one that should be getting baptized this week.  His name is Matias, but he is thirteen so he has to get permission and his mom is not all quick to let him get baptized.  We are going to work with him this week and we will see.

Lois and Renne

The kid that got baptized this week is named Lois and he is awesome!  We also helped teach this kid for a ward baptism so we technically should have two baptisms this week but he is only 8, so he is a ward baptism. Oh well, it is all good!  Mom the shoes that I need are the lace up ones.  I am going to go to the office right now to see if they will have my package so we will see.

 Elder Clark, Lois, Renne, and Me!

The kid that you are asking about, Lexie, I think, is named Gonzalo and he hasn't been baptised yet.  We had kind of a do or die lesson with him and I told him that I can't come back unless I see him making some proggress and it was really spiritual!  He is really animated and he came to church this week and so we are going to see if he can get baptized on the 25th.  He is awesome but we'll have to see.

Huge Completo that I Ate Today!

You all sound like you are having fun in Lava, I wish I was in Lava, ha, ha.  It's cold here! But, it's all good, that is the mission!  I am doing super good and I miss you all a ton and I will talk to you all next week.  Hope all is well. Love you all!

 First Conference with President Humphrey

Love,
Austin

Happy Fourth of July!

Go America!

Letter Received July 5, 2010:

Feliz Dia de Indepèndencia o 4th of July!


Hey:

Well first off, I would like to tell you all a Happy 4th of July.  It was not really a deal here, like nothing, ha ha.  But Oh well, the things of a mission right!

Last Photo with Old Mission President Chavez

And I want to wish Craig a happy late Birthday.  I was looking at my calendar and saw that.  So yeah, happy birthday Craig!  Remember holale from Gabriel Iglesias!  Ha, ha!  But, as for me, I am getting along really well and working super hard now that me and my comp have come together.  We have been just contacting machines.  This week we found nine new investigators and it has been awesome!  We were really needing to find people, so that is exactly what we have been doing.  It has been awesome to start out fresh here, and the members are all telling me that they have seen a change in me in the last few weeks, that I seem a lot more happy and animated and seem to be more myself.  I wouldn't disagree with them because I really do feel a lot more animated and feel a lot more like myself and I feel happier.  Me and Elder Clark are getting along so well and working hard and I really think that this trasfer is going really fast because we have been super busy and just loving the mission life and finding out what mission life is all about.  I have been really been feeling like I have the Spirit with me a lot more.  Clark and I are finding all the people that God has put in our way and it really seems like something that I was lacking we my other comp in this sector because we didn't do a whole lot of contacts.  It seems like we were really lazy but I have really gotten out of that faze and am super happy! 

New Compy Playing in the Woods 

I am really focusing on my Spanish and I really want to speak better because my comp has recognized some of the errors that I do often in my Spanish and so I am going to really try and focus in my Spanish study.  This week not a whole lot has happened, kinda boring but i have just been up to the normal missionary work.  I am really excited to get my package and I miss you all a ton!  Poor Hailey, she is always having accidents, but I am glad that she is okay.  What are they doing having chairs with wheels?  That is a horrible idea!

Elder Clark, "Freeze, Sucka!"

That is about it for this week but sorry this letter isn't too informative but yeah that's pretty much it for this week.  It sounds like you all have been really busy enjoying summer.  It is pouring rain here, the streets are like rivers and it is so nuts.  I have never seen anything like it.  That is about it, I miss you all a ton and love you and think about you everyday.

Elder Nelson

Really, Really, Really Great Week!

Letter Received June 28, 2010:

Hey My Family:

Well I have been super busy this week really trying to focus on finding new people with my new companion and it has seemed to be workin' out really well.  We have found about six new people that should be good, but we will see.  This week seemed to go by really quickly and we have had a good week because we have been preparing some people to get baptized in a couple of weeks and it seems to all be going really well for me and my companion.  I am very happy with this companion because it really seems that we are getting a lot done and make steps forward and it is really nice to work with someone that really has the same vision as you do and really just wants to find people and teach the word.  That is the whole reason why we are here, right?

Today, I got to play soccer for about three hours this week and it was awesome!  It was so fun!  It felt good to do something physical. But, I have been really a lot more focused this week and it seems that everything is going a lot better with our investigators. 

This week we had our last conference with President Chavez it was a really aweseome conference and I really got a lot out of it.  It also was really sad because President is leaving, but I am excited for the new president to come.  We will see the changes that he has for us, hopefully, for the better.

It is good to  hear that everyone is doing really well and that everything is moving forward and that you are all doing well I love you all and this letter is kinda short but that is really what has been going on.  Before my time is up, I will try and send some pictures.  So yeah, that is why its kinda short.

I forgot to tell you, but my new comp loves movies and we quote movies all day long.  I love it, ha, ha.  Jace you know when you say, "oi" that is actually a word in Spanish but it is spelled h-o-y, ha, ha.  It means today, ha, ha.  I just thought that I would tell you and that you would get a kick out of that ha, ha.  Well, I am going to get some pictures off, okay?  I miss you all and love you tons.

Love,
Elder Nelson

Hey, I am going to have to send the pictures next week because I had other things I had to take care of with the changing of the president. I will send them off to you next week.

I love you all!
Elder Nelson 

Tearing It Up with My New Comp!

Letter Received June 21, 2010:

Hey:

First off, I would really like to wish Dad a really Happy Father's Day and that I love you very much and I couldn't ask for a better dad because one doesnt exist! Dad, I hope that your Father's Day was really special and I love and miss you a lot and I wish you a very Happy Father's Day.

This week was a little interesting for me because I said last week that we had transfers and I got a new companion, his name is Elder Clark and he is really cool.  I really like him. It is really good and we already found more people in this one week than me and Rubilar did in a whole cambio. This week has been nuts with Chile playing in the World Cup and all, actually really nuts! But should be having a good solid two or three baptisms within the next three weeks.  I am really excited to really work hard and teach the crap out of this Sector. 

This week it has been raining so much! It just hasn't stopped, so I am going to be really excited to receive those rain pants.  I had to go to the doctor and I had to use my card so it was really expensive, like forty bucks or more, so sorry about that.  I had a problem with my feet because I had some sort of fungus type deal on my feet so I got that taken care of.  Other than that, it was a really good week and we have been teaching some really good people that really seem to be progressing. 

I am not senior comp but I am really feeling like I am showing my comp everthing and taking charge on all our lessons and what not. But its all good, because I don't really care if I am senor comp or district leader or any of that.  That is so cool that Brach is getting going this week, I am so excited for him. I wish him the best of luck and I hope that he works hard because I know that he will.  That sucks for Jace, how did he wreck?

For the package, if you could find something that I could put on the outside of my bag to keep the water from coming through, that would be awesome! So yeah, there is one idea but I can't really think of anything else. But I am glad to hear that everyone is doing well.  I am really worried for Kyle, give him a really big hug for me and tell him that I love him and the Lord does everything for a purpose, also the same with Chandler, please please do this for me.  But that is really all that I cant think of for now.  I love and miss you all and hope all is well with you all.

Love,
Your Elder

New Companion Coming and A Happy Birthday

Letter Received June 14, 2010:

Yo tengo algo cosas loco para decir a ustedes! (That means:  I have some crazy things or suff to tell you guys.)  I am sure that dad is understanding that because he has beeen studying his Spanish, ha, ha.  This week went okay but it could have gone better because we need to find some new people.  But, we also did some stuff that we have needed to do for a while. 

I also have some crazy news!  Well, tomorrow is changes again and I am going to be getting a new companion.  My companion is going to be Zone Leader in another sector and that will be where he will finish his mission.  I have kinda been praying for a change because I have learned a lot from him but I feel that we didn't really teach all that well together.  I do love him, I just needed to learn to have more patience.  But, everything is all good with me and my companion.  I am sad that he is leaving but I am also excited for the change.

This week went okay.  I am going to try to find a ton of people this week with my new companion.  As for my birthday, I haven't really found a ton of stuff that I would like to buy with the money for my birthday, but I have some ideas and I think that I am going to pick up a couple things this week.  I am really happy, my birthday was awesome!  This week I had 4 cakes just for me and 2 bbqs just for me.  Each one had 5 diffferent kinds of meat! 

This week, Diego got confirmed and it was awesome, he is so happy! It is so awesome to see the change in him.  I have really found that I am becoming a lot more in tune with the Spirit and that the Lord is really putting the people in my way.  I just need to do my part.

It has been raining a ton and hasn't really stopped.  It is so crazy!  I have never seen so much rain in my life! It is so nuts! But it's cool because the lady that lives behind us has a wood burning stove to heat her house and I just put all my stuff next to that to dry out and it works miracles, ha, ha, ha.

That is so good that you all are doing so well. I have really been trying to find more people, I just need to be patient.  Thank you all for the birthday wishes and the updates.  Sounds like everyone is staying really really busy.  That is good, I guess.  I want to wish Grandpa a happy late birthday and Mom and Dad a happy anniversary (no broken backs this year, ha, ha. Yeah, sorry about that). I've got to go.  I love and miss you all.  I will talk to you all next week.

Elder Nelson

P.S. - Those shoes were from the Missionary Mall so they should be warrantied.

Love the Mission and Diego's Baptism

Letter Received June 7, 2010:

Me with Elder Rubilar and Diego

Thanks a lot for all the birthday wishes! I really only remember my birthday on P-days, ha, ha. I forget it somehow. I think that it is just because I have been so busy. Thanks for the money and the package.  This week has been really busy, and yes, I do have good news about the baptism. It happened finally, after forever! He is really happy. All the family are members now except his dad, so we are going to start to work on him. It was really good to see how happy he is now.

Diego with his family

This week we have been really focusing on finding people and we haven’t had much luck. We just need to be patient and the Lord will put the people in our path. As for this week we are going to play soccer again today, so I am excited about that again. Everything is crazy here because all the people are talking about the South Africa tournament. 

Me and Elder Rubilar with Diego and his family

Everything has been good here. The weather hasn’t really changed much, but one day this week it poured rain and it was so cold! But it was all good. Other than that one day, not much changed as in weather. We have been working with the same people that we have been. We have had to drop some people because they just weren't progressing at all. We love them but we can’t use our time with them if they won’t do anything. We can only do so much,but ultimately they have to make the choice to change for themselves. That is life!Hopefully, they will accept the gospel later.

This week I really want to focus on doing contacts and being bold. So, I am really going to focus on talking to all the people that I can. I have really realized how much I really do love the mission and I have a testimony of serving a mission and I can’t believe that I even was thinking at any point that I wasn’t going to be here. I will be forever grateful that I served a mission because this is the best thing that I have done in my life.

Shoes Worn Out in the Service of the Lord

Well, this week other than the baptism this week it was pretty much just basic work. Savin' souls, you know that is how I do! Ha! Ha! That is tight that Corbit is almost done with his papers. Tell him hi for me and that I am so proud of him for serving because it will be the best two years of his life. Terica is going to be getting a little girl! I bet she is really excited. I am really excited for Brach to get going. I wish him the best and I want you all to tell him that I love him and to work hard because the time is short. I am glad that it is warming up there. I really miss you all and thank you for everything. I got to go, but I am going to send some pics in another email. I am also going to send some pictures of my shoes so that you guys can get them warranted at the Missionary Mall. So yeah, I love you all! That is so good that mom you got everything all worked out with your sisters with Grandpa’s stuff. What’s going to happen with his house? Well, got to go but talk to you next week.

Love,

Your Elder

Soccer!

Letter Received May 31, 2010:

Hey, Hey My Family:

This week we got some really awesome news! We can now play soccer! And almost all the sports, so what is the first thing that we did today?... Played soccer, ha, ha!  It was awesome!  It was so fun; it felt so good to finally start doing something physical again and to actually do something that I enjoyed on a P-day.  I am actually better than I was when I left, I don’t know why.  I scored 4 goals and it was so awesome!

For this week we are planning on having a baptism on Saturday and I really feel that the Lord is guiding us more and that we are really starting to find those choice people for us. We are going to baptize this kid on Saturday.  We have been working with him forever and he just wouldn’t do what we told him.  He finally decided to do it and we were like, “When do you want to be baptized?”  When we put the date it didn’t work, so we asked him when he wanted to be baptized.  He said, “Tomorrow.”  That was yesterday, but he needs time for us to talk to his dad.  It should be good for Saturday. 

We should have four baptisms this month so it should be really good.  As for this last week, we really tried to focus on three key people and it is really working out well so we are going to do the same this week. 

It was crazy here this week because everyone is getting all excited about the World Soccer Tournament in South Africa and Chile is going and they are playing to prepare for that.  The main team for the World Tournament came to play Israel and the stadium where they played is in my sector. You could hear the cheers from miles away.  It was crazy and the people here are going crazy for the tournament to start.  

Everything is going good and I really like this ward. They really seem to love the missionaries and I don’t know why, but me in particular.  Time is going by so fast!  My comp and I will have a full change together on the fourteenth and it has gone by so fast and time is going crazy because it seems that I could do so much more than I have.  I am going to try and step it up a notch.

That is a bummer about the weather; I hope that it gets better.  It sounds like everyone is staying busy and that is good.  I’ve g2g but I love and miss you all.

Love,

Elder Nelson

Working Hard and Another Baptism Scheduled

Letter Received May 24, 2010:

Well, this week I have been busy and we had the confirmation of Carmen to receive the Holy Ghost and all. The pictures are of me and my comp and the family, well, the sister of Carmen. It was really awesome. This week we put another date with one of our investigators. This is the guy that we had the lesson with that I wrote about last week. His name is Gonzalo and his date is for the 13th of June. He is really awesome and I think that he just needs a little time but he will get baptized. He just needs a little push.
 This week we had Ward Conference and it sucked! I am not going to lie, it did not go well. For one, our Bishop wasn’t there, and just as bad, the Stake President wasn’t there because they are both in the military and had to leave on Saturday. I am really getting to know the families here and I am really liking this ward, they all seem like they want to help us a lot.

This week was a basic week of lessons and not really anything super special but everything is going good here. This week we got some references and met some new people. It seems that we need to drop some people because they just really aren’t progressing and haven’t been for a while but my comp doesn’t want to drop them. I think that he just wants to use the time to tell you the truth. I hope that they will progress, but the thing is that we can’t use our time with someone that isn’t going to progress at all because there are people out there waiting for us. If we are using our time with people that aren’t going anywhere it isn’t doing us any good. My companion has become a little lazy and it’s because he is trunky. He goes home in September and he is thinking a lot about home. I tell him that he is trunky, but he is like, “I am not.” He doesn’t like to hear it, but he is. It is kind of frustrating, but it is all good, I can deal. But yeah, that is about the news for the week. I am doing well and I have been really praying hard for the people that I have to progress and I know that it is going to work.

Sounds like you are all doing really good. That is awesome Lex, that you guys think that it’s a boy! I would be happy either way, but that is awesome. I hope that everything really goes well with you guys and that Craig finds something that he really enjoys. What has he been up too? I haven’t heard from him in a bit but I imagine that he has been busy and doing well. That is kind of a bummer that Dad has been out of town so much. Dad what do you mean KTM 350 do you mean KTM 250? Jace sounds really busy with wedding stuff but sounds like it is going well with all planning and what not. Mom you sound good and seem to be staying really busy. Lyns and Just, I hope that all is going well with you guys. I have been thinking about you all a lot and hope that all is going well you. I have been especially been thinking about Justin a lot. How has he been doing? I miss you all a ton and think about you all the time.

As for my birthday, I think that I would like you guys to send my jacket and some long sleeve shirts because I think that is the thing that I need to the most, new white long sleeve shirts. The jacket that I would like is my brown liquid jacket it’s not really hefty but water resistant and perfect for what I want I would really like that. Also, some rain pants. You can get those at like golf stores I have heard. I think that it is an awesome idea a smaller package and some money because I think that I could find some stuff here that I would like. I can’t think of much in the moment, but that is my ideas.

Everyone here is seeing my EFX bracelet and wants some so if you could tell me how much they are and send me some of those I could sell about 8 of them right off the bat so I don’t know if that is feasible but let me know. Also one of my investigators has been asking me if I could get another watch like mine and he would pay for it and he just wanted me to ask and see but if not about the bracelets or watch its ok but let me know. But yeah, the things for the package my jacket, rain pants, shirts and money would be awesome but that is about it for now I love and miss you all a ton.

Love,
Elder Nelson

P.S. - Well I tried to send pictures but yeah, it doesn’t look like it is going to work, sorry.

Spirit Whispers Needed Words

Letter Received May 18, 2010:

Well hey,

How’s it going family? It is awesome to hear from you guys!  I have a surprise for you guys so you need to look at the photos, so I won’t tell you what the pictures are, so that you can find out when you look at them.  Let’s just say that it was awesome!

Yes I did get my package and it was awesome and my shoes fit well.  Did you guys put my hat in there? Because it wasn’t there, if you did put it in there.  As for boots, I don’t think that I need to buy boots because I am going to try those new shoes first, because they look like they should do the job, so we will see.   I do think that I need to get a jacket that is not quite so hefty, something that is not so long but is warm, something smaller and cheaper so I am going to look around and see but I think that if I find one, it will only be around thirty dollars because they aren’t really that expensive here.  I should be able to find one at like their WalMart here.  But, as for my birthday I don’t really know, I think that I will need to think of something I really need but as for the moment I need to think about it.  I am not worried about getting it before my birthday. That sounds good a small package and some money.  I think that would be best, I will let you know next week of some stuff that I can think of for a package.

 This week went really well, I really like this sector so much better.  This week we received some really good references and our ward has asked me to sing for them in conference so we'll see ha, ha.  This week we were teaching one of our investigators and his name is Gonzalo and he is 26 and he really accepts everything that we teach. He really loves soccer and he likes to party so he needs to stop drinking with his buddies and he only smokes like three cigarettes a day so he is quitting.  We were teaching him and he had a lot of questions and I was teaching and underneath my shirt I was just shaking, like shivering, because I was feeling the Spirit so strong, and it was so crazy because the Spirit filled my mouth with the words because I had the answers to all his questions.  I never thought that I would have all the answers, but I did because I was blessed.  It was like a duck on the pond, on the surface I was calm as a summer’s day but underneath I was going a million miles an hour.  It was awesome! He came to church this week.  Something told me while we were in the lesson, something said, I am going to baptize you.  So, I know that he is going to get baptized.

We had some awesome lessons this week and some other stuff happen. You will have to look at the pictures.  It sounds like you all are doing really well and are all having good times and staying busy.  Dad
that is crazy that Casey asked you if I was still riding ha ha, it is weird to think that some people don’t know about the fact that I’m here.  He probably recognized the fact that their number one customer for parts isn’t there anymore, because I break everything ha ha.  But, glad to hear that it is getting really warm there and I wish that it was warm like that here.  Good to hear that everything is going good there.  It sounds like everyone is staying busy.  What is a Rosetta Stone?  That is cool that Dad is learning Spanish, so I will have
someone to talk with when I get back ha ha.  I will let you know about the birthday stuff next week.  I love and miss you all a ton, it was so good to talk to all of  you  last week.

Elder Nelson

Mother's Day Chat

Conversation on May 9, 2010:

New Area

Cool Colo Grafitti

We talked to Elder Nelson on Mother's Day and had a wonderful chat with him about his work in his new area.  He is very excited to be closer to Concepcion.  He indicated that this area is much larger than his last area.  The people are a little richer than in Talca but seem more humble somehow.  He is having a lot of fun visiting with the people and finds that they are much more open to the message of the restored gospel.  He is also having a lot of fun with his new companion and thinks he will really enjoy their time together.  Elder Nelson also talked about how they have a lot more support from members of the ward he is now serving in.

My New Area

Sweet Chilean Sunset

The family is all impressed with how happy he sounds and how immersed he is in the work of sharing the gospel.  He said that even though he loves home, he has no desire to anywhere but out in the mission field and loves the work he is doing.

 Just Proselyting

His Spanish coming along even better.  He has started to think in Spanish instead of translating everything he says in his head from English to Spanish before he says it.  Communication with the people goes pretty well because between the English they know and the Spanish he knows they can share thoughts fairly easily.

Me and Snoopy

We are excited for the work that Austin is doing and can't wait to see what serving in this new area brings.  Elder Nelson sent a few photos the next day instead of a letter and these have been included in this post.

Looking for Food in the Back of a Meat Van After the Earthquake

Me and Emanuel My Sweet Convert

My New Best Friend

Another Sweet Chilean Sunset

Bien!

Transferred, Leaving Jardin del Valle

Letter Received May 3, 2010:

Hey, Hey My Family:

Well, I guess I will first start off with the fact that yes, I am going to change companions and sectors, which was weird!  I was sure that my companion was going to leave, but I guess that I was wrong.  It is kinda bitter sweet because I don't want to leave my investigators and also we have some people that are some for sure soon to be baptisms.  Finally, we are going to have some success here and I am leaving and another Elder that I came with that was in my District in the MTC is going to come and be the companion of Elder Murillo here. At least I know the Elder that is going to come here and baptize the people that we have.  I am also kinda sad that I am not going to be with my comp Elder Murillo for more time because we are getting along so well and teaching really well with each other. But, oh well, that is the mission!

My comp didn't want to stay in this sector, he wanted to leave so bad and he was so mad that he was staying when he found out. It was rather funny. but he is all good because we have some really good people but it just seems that he has been here so long and we have not had a whole lot of baptisms and he says that the people here are harder than his other Sectors. But it is all good.

I am going to be going to the other side of the mission.  I am going to a place called Collao, which is in the city of Concepcion itself so I am going to be right by the office and I can get my packages in like a week or two weeks! Sweet, huh? But I am glad for a change as well.  I kinda feel that it is time for me to go somewhere else. This is going to shock you, but let's just say that I am going to have no choice but to learn Spanish now because I am going to have a straight up Chileano! His name is Elder Rubilar.  I heard that he is really into music and likes English music so I will have something to talk about with him. My comp, Elder Murrillo, has lived with him before and said that he is a really cool, hard working, chill kid. So, that should be good.

I don't have much time today to write because I have to say goodbye to everyone so this letter is going to be kinda short but it is okay because I will be talking to you guys on Sunday. I am excited about the change and it should be really good.  I am kinda excited and really happy for a change.  I am going to run with the change and going to hit the ground running when I get there and try and learn all that I can from my new comp, especially my Spanish.  I don't know what to tell you about you guys calling on Sunday, because I will have to figure that out when I get there and I am sure that I will email you guys on like Wednesday or Thursday about it and you guys can call the person and I will give you more details about it.

This week was a really good one for us.  We really had some success because we had 10 people in church!  So, that was really good.  I don't have time to write but I will write you guys this week about Sunday and we will talk about everything.  Sounds like everyone seems to be doing well and loving life except Lexie with her tooth.  Sounds like everyone is doing well, kinda sucks that dad has had to go out of town so much I hope that he is going to be home to make sure that you guys can call but we will work that out.  I took some money out of the account to buy some memory stuff of Talca.

I am glad to hear that everyone is doing good.  Sorry this letter is short and not real informative, but i love you guys and will let you guys know about Sunday. That is crazy about Jace proposing to Kat!  I am glad that he has finally found that someone. I also want to wish Jace a Happy Birthday and I love him.  Got to go, love and miss you all.  I will let you know about Mother's Day.

Love,
Elder Austin Nelson