Elder Jordan Troy 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