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

Short Note

Letter Received June 28, 2011:

Hey, just a quick note because here it is a holiday and there aren't any places open to do Internet. I am doing good. We did some good work with the Branch and me and my companion are going to be together for another transfer. I am happy with that, we get along really well.

I love you all. I am doing well. Sorry that this is so short and that I have no time to write. Glad to hear that everything is going well. Also, glad to hear that Mom for sure has got the time off to come to Chile. I love you all, keep up the good works.

Elder Nelson

Love you all. Talk to you next week!

More on the Move to Bulnes ... A Great New Challenge

Letter Received April 11, 2011:

Sorry that I wasn't able to talk a ton last week. I was saying goodbye to people and we were running really late, so I wasn't able to tell you all about what is going on. I really liked Conference. It seemed that I felt like a lot of things were aimed towards me. I really liked Priesthood. The First Presidency was like just laying it down. It was awesome! Conference is like the vacation for missionaries here because you really can't work all that much. You can invite people to come to Conference and it is really easy to invite people because there are four different sessions that you can invite people to. Not only that but we baptized that day so it made it even better. 

I was really sad to come to find that it was my turn to leave Parral, but I was kinda expecting it. What can you do? The thing is that President invited me to the Zone Leader Conference because he had decided that he was going to make me the Second Counslor of the branch here in Bulnes. Bulnes is known in the mission for being a hard sector and not functioning very well. It is about forty minutes away from everything. I am excited but nervous all at the same time because there is a lot of work to do and not only that but I also have the Zone Leaders breathing down my neck. 

Me, Elder Wilhelm, Franchesca, and Pati

There is a lot of work to do. I am going to be here till the end of my mission because I have 4 transfers left including the one that I am in right now. and he said being a counslor makes sure that I am going to be here for at least three and he isn't going to send me somewhere for one cambio especially because afterward I would be leaving and that wouldn't let me get used to the sector and what not. So yeah, I am going to die in Bulnes. 

Once again I am finishing training, but this time I don't have to teach Spanish but English to my companion and he is teaching me Spanish. Ha, ha, ha, win-win situation. We get along really well. I'm not going to lie, I don't really get along with my Zone Leaders all that much because they are 100% focused on numbers and not the people. That isn't the way that it should be. 

I am going to do my best and my goal is to baptize ten people here in my new sector. I already have baptized two and I know that this sector has some potential. It just needs a lot of work and that I know I can do. Me and Elder Flores get along really well. He is from Santiago. I am the counslor of the branch and I have a lot of things to teach him so that this branch can progress. It is weird because we had forty-seven people in church and that is really high for this ward. My goal coming into the branch was to have more than fifty so that means that we are close to getting that. The baptism goal for the branch for the year is to baptize six and now the branch has baptized five, so we're going really really good there. I really think that if you took the missionaries out of the branch that they would have to close it. So, there is Bulnes. I am excited. It means that we are going to be very busy and that I like. 

Me, Elder Flores, Digna, Barbara at the Baptism

I do know that my package is here and I am going to be getting it on Wednesday, so yeah. Did you end up sending one box or two? Well, I guess I will kinda find out on Wednesday, huh? Oh well, ha, ha. Glad to hear that everything is good at home. Kinda sad that it is still snowing at all. It is still really nice here. Some days are warmer than others but it is starting to get cold. 

Well, I love you all. I especially wanted to wish Dad a very Happy Birthday! I love you so much Dad! I pray and think about you everyday. Now you're over the hill but still young at heart and that is what's important! I love you so much Papi. Hope that you have a very good b-day. I am doing good. I miss you all a lot. 

Elder Nelson

Transferred, New Calling

Letter Received on April 4, 2011:

Bulnes (Map by Google)

I thank all of you guys for writing this week. I have some big news! I am being changed to a little country sector. It is even more country than the one that I am in right now. I am going to be with an elder named Elder Flores. He is Chileno again! Ha, ha, another one, can you believe it. Not only that, but I am going to be a 2nd Counselor in the branch. I have a lot to tell you guys but I am going to have to do it next week because I have to go and say goodbye to people. Thank you for everything and I am sorry that I am making you wait to hear all that has happened but I don't have any time. I love you all and will talk next week. My next sector is called Bulnes. I will be finishing my mission there because I only have five months left. I am going to be the shadow leader of the ward by being a counselor. I will tell you all a whole lot more next week. I love you. Sorry.

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

Things are Picking Up

Letter Received February 8, 2010:

Hey everyone:

It sounds like this week everyone has been really good and busy but yeah, this week has been really good but also just like the typical mission work, knocking doors and teaching lessons.  But it has been really good this week because we have some really good people that are progressing well and have been being prepared for us. You can tell the difference. Because I feel that we have been having some help from the Lord on where we should go more because we have been finding a lot more people.

I and my comp found an entire family that we have been teaching and they came to church this week and we only found them this week and they are really excited about the gospel.   They had so many questions that we were at their house for 4 hours teaching them just asking questions which was really awesome!  Because then you get to know their doubts and what you need to teach them. They where like, "We feel that this is what we need in our life.  We need a change."  And they want to know about where we are going in the after life because their Grandpa just died and they needed to hear from us. And we found them just at the right time and we taught them the First Vision this week also and I love teaching them because the Spirit is so strong and I feel real sincere love after we leave their house. But that is about it for that family but they are a family of four. But the youngest kid is five and she is so cute but is really shy.  They are awesome! 

I have other investigators that I want to tell you about but don’t have enough time to tell you about all of them. But it has been really hot here but that is nothing new ha ha but that is just the way that it is here. Today was combios and I and my comp are staying for at least one more change so at least together for at least another six weeks. We are getting along pretty well right now I and have been doing a lot better and working hard but also been a little discouraged with some of our investigators.  They will come around, they just need time so I am staying optimistic. We are really starting to get everything moving from starting from scratch so finally we are getting more help from our ward at being good friends for our investigators.

That is pretty much all that is new for me here but it sounds like everyone is doing well and staying busy. Sounds like you guys had a pretty good trip to the temple and Salt Lake. It’s weird to me to think that you guys have snow. Because it is so different here but yeah. Oh yeah, guess what!  The cold showers continue and now our sink is broken so now every time we turn the water on to our house there is a lake in our bathroom so we are going to try and some how get that fixed and the gate to our house is broken so we are in the one house in the area that is crumbling down ha ha but that is the mission for you.

I don’t think that I am going to recognize the house when I come home because little changes to you guys is like a big change to me because I am not there. But that’s cool.  Change is a good thing.  Sounds like the Super Bowl party was really good.  Sounds like Britt is ready to go. He is going to work miracles in the field.  I just know it. He is going to have a ton of success. But sounds like everything is good there.  It was awesome to hear about everything this week kind of felt like a long one and I am missing you guys. Love you all a lot and miss you tons thanks for everything.

Love, your favorite missionary,

Elder Nelson

We asked Elder Nelson for some ideas for a package to send and he came up with the following:
A big jump drive
Sour patch anything sour patch
Not much chocolate because it melts
Guitar picks and a kapo ask dad or Jace they will know what I mean
Lots of socks
Some good scripture markers they are called hi gliders they are really good
Swedish fish
Starburst stuff like that junk food wise
Skittles
Work gloves for service
Rice krispies
Cowtales
More cds like josh groban
Cds are always good I would like
And any church dvds are good too.
Some guitar tabs any because I am sick of playing all the same ones ask Jace.

But that’s what I have written down.  Thank you so much! 
Love,

Elder Nelson