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

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!

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!