Who's Your Daddy? That's Right, Me!

Letter Received August 8, 2011:

Me and Maria

Hey:

So, I guess I will start off with the really big news! So, yes I have had a transfer but they threw something that I really didn't expect. Out of the 27 trainers in the mission, I am now going to have a son and train and I also am going to keep being Counselor. So, my last transfer in the mission I am going to be training but I don't know who yet. They are going to tell us tomorrow. Elder Haws also is going to be training and so is everyone else in my District. That is nuts! Not only that but all the missionaries in the world are going to be doing a new training program. It is weird but it is going to be cool.

I am kinda having some mixed feelings about training. I didn't really have the desires to train but I also am excited to teach someone all the things that I know and help someone start out. I am hoping that I get a gringo. We will have to see tomorrow.

Maria and Family and Friends

I am really focused and happy with how my mission is going. I just know that these last six weeks are going to go so fast. I just have always felt that the time goes so fast when you first get a comp and your first cambio always goes so fast. It is so nuts. I don't feel that I am dying off. That is so weird to me.

We had a baptism this week and a confirmation. It was really awesome! Not only that, but she also bore her testimony in church by herself, so that was really awesome! I have realized that all of my converts here are so solid and it makes me so happy to see that they are really converted to the gospel and that they aren't  just going to go inactive after I leave.

Maria Irene Ceballos Rossi

I was thinking about when you guys come that I would love to do some baptisms for the dead here with some of my converts and have them meet up with us in Santiago. I invited them. I hope that is okay. Nothing is for sure that my converts would be able to meet up with us but I would love to do that.

Also, I have confirmed we are all good for somewhere to stay in Santiago. I have talked to the member that was talking to her friends in Santiago, so its good. I was also thinking about General Conference. I would really like for you guys to get some tickets so that we could go to a session, especially the priesthood session. Just something to think about.

Me, Maris and Flores

This is going to be a good change for me because I know that being a trainer is going to be something that is going to make me stay focused. I am hoping that the package will be here tomorrow cause I don't know when I will get if I don't get it tomorrow. Well, I don't really have all that much more to tell. Glad to hear that everyone is doing well. Got to go. I love you all so much. Talk to you all later.

Elder Nelson

Less Than a Week Till I Go!

Letter Received November 11, 2009:

hey, how is everything going, family? i got your dear elders yesterday. first off i want to thank you lexie for you letter it helped me so much. thanks. but that's awesome that you got hired on at a company that is close and on top of that i just want to say that is the answer to our prayers. i told you that you would get one if you just hung in there and look what happened. sweet! so, any who, ya i will probably will  be sending a package home with stuff for you to send to me when i get there.

but any who, life at the mtc: you know how we taught the newbies last week? well, it went so good they asked us to do it again this week for our last p day. sweet huh! so still the only elders to do that, so that's cool. but i am definitely ready to leave the mtc but not ready, if you know what i mean. i am actually excited to pack, ha ha. who is ever excited to pack other than missionarys? ha ha. but i am glad that my zune is comin!

but any who, we had a good testimony [meeting] where i bore my testimony probably for the last time to this district and it took me about twenty five minutes which was probably too long but oh well. that is something else that i am going to miss is my district.  here most of them are a good guys, some of the other ones are kinda annoying but i still love them.

but any who, that's pretty much all the news here not much just finishing stuff up here. not anything new. what has been goin' on there? what have you all been doing? its good to hear that everyone is doin' well. but any who i have to go, i will leave enough  time so that i can check this tonight but ya so i got to go but will check at like five fiffteen. love all you guys cant wait to talk to you.

love,
elder austin nelson

Mi Testimonio/My Testimony

Letter Received 13 October 2009:

En Enspanol:

Yo se que Jesu Cristo vive.  Yo se que Jose Smith es una profeta verdad.  Yo se que dios amo mi.  Yo se que yo tiene la evangelio.  Yo se que Thomas S. Monson es una profeta de dios.  Yo se que arrepentirse es parte de plan de dios.  Yo se que la iglesia de Jesu Cristo es verdad.  En el nombre de Jesu Cristo.  Amen.

(Apenado es mui poquito)

In English:

I know that this church is true.  I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true man of God.  He leads and guides us today.  He received revelation for the Church.

I know that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins.  I know that Heavenly Father loves us, that he knows each of us personally.

I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and the Son, that Joseph Smith was a man of unquestionable faith and wisdom. That I am thankful for the trials he went through, for without Joseph Smith there would be no Church.

I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that if any book on earth is true, the Book of Mormon would be the one.

I have a testimony of prayer.  I know that if we ask in prayer to our Heavenly Father with a sincere heart and have faith that he will help and bless us.

I know that God has sent me on a mission for people that need the gospel in their life.  I know that the Lord will bless me with the gift of tongues and I will take the gospel to them.

I bear this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.