24 April 2017

So we had a multi zone conference here last Wednesday. It was good we talked about how we need to work as the forth missionary. This was a talk that our president uses a lot. He told us that being the 4th missionary would help us prepare for our future. The forth missionary is the best missionary in the eyes of the president. He’s not perfect. The forth missionary has his or her hard days. They don’t always have it easy. But they know how to learn from there hard times and have success. I don’t think of myself as the 4th missionary. Ill be honest, I know that I’m the 3rd missionary. I hope with what president has told us and me that I can apply that to my life and become the forth missionary. 

So we had to do a division the other day with the DL for the interview for our baptism. But that meant I had to go to the other area for the day. It’s pretty good though. The DL and his comp get along really well with us. So I was working with this one elder from Peru, Elder Cussi. I think there must be something in the water in Peru. Because all of them are crazy. Elder Cussi is awesome don’t get me wrong but really crazy haha so anyways we went with a member to go in lessons. This member has really really long hair we will just say that. So we went to visit another member that lived close to the other member. As we were about to end the lesson the member said, Hey we should cut Brandon’s hair because its really long. So we said why not. So he said cut it like the army. We thought hey this would be easy. So we started and then he tells us No no no I don’t want it like the army. The bad part was we all ready started it. So we tried to save it the best we could but we pretty much destroyed his hair. But after was all said and done we went home. And on the way home I told him. Hey elder I’m hungry. Lets call for a pizza. We were walking home at this time as well. So he called dominos but being the crazy kid he is, He acted like a guy who didn’t know Spanish. So the girl on the phone goes. No problem I speak English as well. But the funny thing is Elder Cussi doesn’t know English haha so he passed me the phone and I had to order the pizza. After a long process it turned out that they don’t come to the area after 8. Well this sucked I said. So we called Pizza hut because they had 2 for 1 on that day as well! So I called my comp after all of that and asked him how was the interview? He told me that he passed and that all was good for the 22nd. Lets pray all goes well for the baptism!

So we had the baptism on the 22nd. We baptized 2 kids. One only counted for the mission because he was 8 years old. But his brother was 12 so it was all good for the mission. So when they were asked who they wanted to baptism them they both said me. But then the 8 year old said. I think it would be fairer if Elder Mercado baptized me. So we both got to baptize the kids. The family was really happy because, the family is a part family. We reactivated the dad and his kids and the aunt and uncle. The family loves us as well. They always say hey come in and they always have food for us. That’s one thing that I have seen in the mission. Families will always be like hey elders here’s some food for you. Like the other day as well, we were walking to the church to get ready for the baptism. When a car pulled up right in front of us. Then this lady comes out of her car and says hey I have food for you guys. So we got more food. The thing is she is a member but I couldn’t remember her name. haha 

But all in all the baptism was really good. The ward came to support them. They are making friends with some of the kids. The only bad thing was the water was super super cold... I was shaking through my whole body when I was in the water. But all and all it was a good day.

So on Sunday there was a really big soccer game. It was Barcelona against real Madrid. And the thing about these two teams is they hate one another. It’s like the Bruins and the Habs. So anyways we were eating with the bishop and he got super excited when Messi got the third goal for Barcelona. They were tied through the whole game and Messi got the tiebreaker. The thing about this game is the whole town was shut down. The members were all talking about it during church. You don’t realize how big soccer is until you come to a country where everyone plays it and everyone talks about. They all pretty much eat, sleep and drink soccer here. I’ll be honest with you I’m happy I bought myself a Barcelona shirt to wear haha. 

So as well on Sunday we were in church and there is this one family that always comes to church. The thing is we don’t know if they are members or not. We ask them and they say yes. Then other members say no they aren’t members. So we didn’t know what to think. So finally we pulled him aside to ask him. He told us that he has always visited the church wit his grandma before when he was a kid. But was never baptized in the church. So we took his name and his birthday and sent it to the office to see if he has been baptized or not. 

This week has been good. It’s been slow but we are getting work done. We got a baptism and we are finding a lot of good people here. Thanks for all the love and support that you all have for me! Love you all!

Love Elder Nelson

Multi Zone Picture

Jordan's zone

Pizza AGAIN

Jordan's second baptism

Riding to zone conference...had to take a cab cause the busses were being shot at that day

17 April 2017

So let’s just start by saying that all the elders were pretty jealous that I got a package haha. So we had a very relaxed pday here last week. My comp was feeling pretty sick so we didn’t play sports. But we went looking around at the little stores around here in the area. They are pretty much just thrift shops haha. So anyways I was looking through some ties. Because I need to burn one for having 6 months in the mission. But I found another Tommy tie for 5 quetz. Well I found two to be honest haha. But I did some more searching and I found a Jagra shirt from when he played for the devils. I know I don’t like the devils but it’s the only thing of hockey that I’ve seen since I’ve left Canada. So I bought it for myself. 

So we went back to the lady that contacted us in the street. I went back thinking that she wouldn’t want be there or her kids would say that she{s not home. But she was there and she read some of the pamphlets we passed to her. She was upset that she never made the bus to go to the stake conference. But we told her not to worry because all the rest of the Sunday’s church will be here in the area. She really want to make a change. She asked if there were class for her kids in church as well. So that shows she wants her family there as well. So we went and talked with Anthony the kid we are going to baptize on the 22and. We went to talk with his dad because we wanted to make sure he could have permission to be baptized. He’s dad was really good about it. He is a less active that has a great testimony. But he has had a rough life and he hasn’t been able to come to church. But anyways he’s dad said it’s all good. Because he wants his kids to know about the church and maybe one day serve a mission just like us. This was really nice to hear that he has us to be examples to his kids.

 

So we had an activity in the church for the youth. We told them to bring all their friends and tell them there would be food. So we showed up to see 5 investigators were there playing football with all the members. My comp and I were very happy to see that. Not only because we had new people to teach but it shows that the members feel comfortable with us teaching their friends. So after the bishop cooked us some food. And guess what he cooked us some nice stakes! I was really happy to see that we had some nice meat that wasn’t chicken to eat haha. After we planned to go with one member who is preparing to go on a mission. He told us yeah elder’s I’m always in my house so if you ever need a hand with lessons just come to the house and I’ll go with you. We are getting a lot more help with the members. Brother Juarez has been helping us now as well. He is a member that we reactivated and he really wants to grow in the church more again and have that good feelings again. The members here are really awesome. As we work more with them in lessons the investigator will see someone from the church and the will have a friend there in the church as well. 

 

So we have been working a lot with the members this past week. We are really trying to hit our goal for our lessons with a member. The most that I have ever had here in this area is 10. But on Saturday night we had 14 in the week. So I’m really happy with everything that we have been doing here. The members are really awesome as well. They love to talk with us and help us out. It’s been a lot better with this comp. As well we are getting closer to a baptism on the 22nd of April here. We just have to do the interview and then he will be good to go. Let’s just hope he shows up to the baptism unlike our last one... 

 

I would like to share something that I read the other day. We have a thing our president gave us to read when we came into the mission. It’s about the 4 different kinds of missionaries are here in the mission. The first one doesn’t want to work and gets sent home. The second doesn’t want to work but finishes the mission. The third works because he knows he has too but he really doesn’t want to. And he is not changed from the mission. The fourth missionary works because he knows it’s what god has called him to do. He know it’s his job. But there is one part when they talk about Jeffery R Holland. He talked to a swimmer and he asked how you work so hard. The swimmer answered, I kick when I don’t want to kick and stroke when I don’t want to stroke. This is the same for missionaries. We have to kick when we don’t want to kick and work when we don’t want to work because it our job to do this work and we must always work if we want to have success here in the mission. 

 

We have hit our goal of 16 lessons with a member! Finally! So our whole week was really really good we are working harder and finding more and more people to come to church with us. On Sunday we had a family come to church and I think they really liked it. We put a date for the mom to get baptism and we are waiting to put a date with her husband. So the thing about her husband is that he lived in LA before so he speaks really good English. So I asked him in church, So how did you guys feel here in the church_ He right away said, There is a lot of peace here in this church and it’s a lot different than all the others. I was really happy to hear that he liked the church because his wife said that she didn’t know if he would like the church or not. but it seems like he does. 

 

So I’m starting to understand why president put me with Elder Mercado. When president told me that he put me with him to get him going and get a fire under his butt. President really meant it. Elder Mercado is a great guy don’t get me wrong but he doesn’t like to work. So just like President Caffaro said I need to take charge and be the Sr. comp to make him work. And let me tell you when your mission president tells you to do something and you do it you will see why he made you do it in the first place. 

 

Thanks for all the love and support that you all have for me here in the mission. Thank you for all your prayers that you say for me. Love you all.

 

Elder Nelson

His tie that he is going to burn

Burning his tie cause he has been out 6 months now

Spray painted the roof of Momma's house

10 April 2017

Hello Canada! 

So lets talk about P-day last week. So after we wrote we came back to our area and we had a lunch planned for our district and us. The family was the Flores family. But its really cool cause their son is in Costa Rica and he is teaching a family of one of the missionary’s in the district. So anyways we were there at the house and we all sat down to eat. And they said hey we’ll buy pizza for you guys to eat. So we were thinking like maybe having 2 or 3 pizzas. But they bought us 6 large pizzas from dominos!! Crazy right?  But we ate them all. After all was said and done they came out with root beer floats! I was sooooo happy when I seen that they had that for us. I was happy with just the pizza alone. haha 

So people here in this area are really weird. And I don’t mean they do weird things I just mean that they are weird with the church. For example we were teaching this one girl and her brother and she said, So I haven’t gotten an answer yet so I don’t know if its true. So I asked, well how do you think you will receive an answer?  She then goes on and says. Well I want to get an answer the same way Joseph smith got his. By seeing God and his Son... This was really hard for me not to be like that will never happen. But she wants an answer that will change her life for her. It’s like she doesn’t want to change first. But we will see what happens with her. You can only teach so much. It’s up to the other person to make that change.

So we had interviews with the President on Wednesday. And normally the sr. comp goes first. And I’ll be honest I was really surprised when I went in first. So I guess I’m a sr. comp now haha. So we talked and president said. Elder Nelson I have put you with this missionary to help get him be better. I know that you are a missionary that can get people excited and ready for work. He has been hinting a lot at me about becoming a trainer or a district leader soon. To be honest I don’t know how I feel about that. I don’t want to be like yeah I have six months and I’m a better missionary then most. I’ll be honest I still feel like I’m a new missionary that just came into the mission. But we will see what will happen here in a couple of week’s.

So our new Zone leader is really cool. He was with me here last week and we were able to work pretty hard. Here is a funny story, so we were out contacting and we were walking down one street when a lady yelled, Hey you guys! Come here! So we walked over wondering what we did wrong. She then asked us if we were out teaching people about God. We told her about the church and everything like that. She then told us how much she wants to change and be a better person. It’s crazy how things like this work. Things will be really slow and then all of a sudden we will get someone who really wants to change. This is another act of patience in the mission. Because it won’t all come at once. Sometimes you need to have a couple of slow days and one day were people come up to you because the spirit tells them that we are here to help them. Just like one member said to us the same day. You missionaries are not normal people to my family and me. Yes to others you are some young men, but to us you are some angels sent from our Heavenly Father to help all of us. When I heard this I was very surprised. Because I would have never thought a missionary to be an angel for the people in the world let alone would I believe myself to be one. This really opened my eyes to see what this work really does for people in this world. Its showed my why our call is so important to those in this part of the world. 

So we always have interesting days here in this area. We always find crazy people or the crazy people find us. For example we have this one guy in this area. His name is Chico. And he’s the town drunk. Every time we see him he has a things of alcohol in his hand. He’s really crazy but kind of funny. So anyways let me tell you about one kid we were teaching today. We passed him the first lesson to read and pray. When we came back to visit him he told us that he feels like he needs to change. That he need to search more. But he can’t come to church. It’s rough when you see that someone wants to make that change but cant commit to the whole idea of it. But we are going to work with him more and more to see if we can make things better. As well we went to contact one house and we found out a member was visiting a family member who isn’t a member. So we walked in and taught a short lesson and invited them to come to church. They said it would be nice to come to church but said that she feels nice to go to the church she goes to. I hate how people have freedom of choice in the world. It’s a great and wonderful thing don’t get me wrong. But you need to come to this great church that we have here.

So I got a very nice surprise the yesterday. I got another package from my friends and family! There was a lot of stuff that I got. I would like to thank everyone who sent hand written letters to me! It was a nice treat to see everything everyone wrote. As well I got some hockey cards! The little kid in me came out when I was opening them up haha. So I want to share something that a friend of mine wrote me. He was telling me about how floor hockey and watching hockey hasn’t been the same. But the way he wrote hockey night in Canada. He wrote, Cant wait to watch hockey in Canada night. He then wrote I definitely messed that up. It made me laugh haha but yes thanks to all who wrote something for me. It was pretty awesome when I got my package because it was during a conference with all the missionaries in the zone. They were all really jealous. As well my comp says thanks for the things he received too! But he was like, What the heck man your family wrote Spanish in the card but my name in English. He wasn’t mad he just thought it was funny haha. But I wont lie when I got a text from Sister Caffaro saying that she had a package for me I jumped with joy. Just like the elder in the best 2 years. When they get mail right at the start of the movie. Only difference is I didn’t need a tape player haha . But yes thanks for the shipment of goodness! Take care. Love you all!!

Elder Nelson

03 April 2017

Hello everyone in Canada!!

So life has been very interesting here in the mission. So we all know I had a bad comp last change and life was hard yes we worked hard and found people but we never got along. But this change is better. The members like this comp more, they are wanting to help us more. But there is one missionary that has it rough right now. He’s from my group from the mtc and he has received a comp where they don’t get along. I told them that they just need to find something to work with and things will be good. It’s kind of good that I can see other people go through some hard things as well. Everyone goes through are hard comp in the mission. So we got pizza from the Flores family again. They always said that if we ever need food just call us. We are pretty much there kids. So we were there and Sister Flores said, Yeah Elder Nelson I called your family the other day but I couldn’t understand them. I was like wow that’s cool! But then I was like what the fetch… what do you mean you called my mom.  I love this family, they always have food and root beer for us haha

I felt really old the other day. We were in a lesson and they asked how old we were and we always make them guess. So this guy goes, I think your 38... 38!!! I do not look like I’m 38. But then we went to see one member and they go Elder nelson, you look like you could be like 25, 26 or 27. But you have a baby face so it makes you look really young. I have learned here that people are very honest with everything they say. There is not a nice way to put anything. For example, we will be teaching one family that has an inactive member sitting right there and they would be like. Yeah he has been inactive for 1 year, He has a lot of problems. And the guy is sitting there like yup they are right. It’s really crazy.

Funny story so we went to visit a less active family and the mom answered the door. I thought she was washing dishes because I could hear it from outside. So I ask her if she would like us to help her. But the thing is, she was washing her kids... I asked if we could help wash her kids..... My comp looked at me and had to turn because he was laughing too hard... That’s the first time I have ever messed up bad in the mission with the language. To be honest I wasn’t going to write that but I thought it would make some of you laugh. But to be honest, work here has been really really really slow. We have had really really really low numbers and I don’t know if its because we are getting used to the new comp or what. But we are going to hit the rest button here in the area and acted as if we were both new here. Only difference is we know the area. Hollywood always hits the rest button when something doesn’t work, so why can’t we do that here. The members are a great help though because we are able to find new people with them. But the members are really blunt here. For example, I was telling a member that I played basketball back home. He says, that’s cool! But you only passed to the tall guys because you’re really short. You need to remember everyone here in Guatemala is 5 foot or less. So you can imagine what went through my mind at this time haha 

So I have a bad story to tell. So I wanted to go and visit a family that is less active. And I have been really good at being excited when I talk in Spanish. Just like how I was back home really excited and all that. So anyways we went to the house and the door was open so we walked up to the door and I asked Hey is Oscar here?  Then the wife walks over to the door and goes He passed away this last Monday... I felt so bad! I came in being all happy and ready to teach and everything to find out that he had passed away on Monday. I didn’t say anything after that. I just turned to my comp and hoped he could find words to say... But to be more on the bright side we have an investigator that has been coming to church but feels like she is missing something for baptism. We told her that she has everything and she just needs to show up for the baptism. Unlike some of our investigators. 

So we have one member here from El Salvador. He just got married in January to a girl here in Ecinmoica. He’s really cool really laid back. He served a mission in chili about a year ago. I don’t know if it was the mission that Dillon served. But we went to visit him today and he told us that it’s been hard because he can’t start working here until he gets his papers. But he has to wait a year until they even start on his papers. I felt bad for him he says that the process is super hard here in Guatemala. But we had a nice visit with him. He told us one time, Elders I know your pday doesn’t start on Monday. It starts on Sunday after church. Because missionaries just go and visit members and eat with members. And he says I know because I was a missionary hahaha 

So conference was really good this week. It seems a lot different when you are on a mission. Not only because it was in Spanish but it’s because we pay more attention. But I’ll be honest I only watched priesthood in Spanish haha. But on Saturday there was a lot of talks that were about the plan of salvation and the light of Christ. In my mission the plan of salvation has been a big part of mission. With my granny’s passing away. With this plan we have one promise with everything we go through. And that promise is that we will live with our loved ones again.. That’s another reason our church is different from very other one. We believe in eternal families. It’s something I have applied time and time again with people here in Guatemala because it has brought me peace in my hard times when I loss loved ones and are sadden. But we always need to remember that this is part of the plan. To feel sad before we can feel happy. Jesus had to suffer a lot before he was resurrected and had joy. And we as missionaries and members of the church must sometimes feel pain before we can feel joy.   

Love you all.

Elder Nelson

Traveling to conference in a rickshaw 

first coke while on his mission

Lunch with other elders in his zone before conference

at the Floras watching conference