31 July 2017

So this district leader thing really sucks. I have to call a bunch of people I have to see how they are doing and all that. And if you have sisters in your district you cant get mad at them if they don’t work. Well I mean you can but if you do then they don’t want to work. So its really hard but it needs to get done.

So I’m new to this leader thing right…so the other day we had a meeting with just the new district leaders. And they taught us how to do a baptism interview, why we need to call everyone at night and all that. It was really good to be honest. Just a funny story, the second day that I became a district leader I had to give a baptism interview. Yeah 2 days and I had to interview someone. I was really happy that another missionary was there to help me before haha it was really cool though to do an interview. You can really see how well prepared the investigator is. 

So, about the area. We work in area that is kind of small. But we don’t just have our area. Remember how there aren’t a lot of people coming into the mission.  Well a lot of missionaries are now working in two areas. And guess what, we work in two areas... I be honest I kind of like it. It gives us two wards and two ward mission leaders. Two of everything. But I feel like it will be hard to work. 

So lets see what’s happening, Two area, in the city, and I’m a district leader. So there’s a lot to look at right now haha 

I have a new missionary here in my district and he is a really cool guy. He told me the other night that he is always happy to talk to me because I help them and always have something good to tell them. It really helped me know that I’m helping not just my investigators but as well members of my district. I was really scared to be a leader but I think I’m doing okay haha 

I know I didn’t write a lot this week. Pretty much nothing… But this coming week I think I’ll be able to write some more for you all. Just know that this district leader thing means I stay up and call everyone. Its not, OH how cool you are a leader in the mission. In reality its, Hey tell me about your day. The only thing is you have to keep motivating your district so they will work. That’s where the leader part comes in to it.

I want to read a part of a talk from 1980 where they talk about leaders in the mission. It reads, the leader himself, when directing, does not have to be bombastic and loud. Those who are called to lead in the ministry of the master are not called to be chiefs or dictators. They are called to be good shepherds. They are to be constantly training others to take their place and become great leaders than their teachers. A good leader expects much, inspires great, and sets on fire those he is called to lead. A leader must be a good listener. He must be willing to take counsel. He must show a genuine concern and love for those under his stewardship.

The leader has a lot to do to help everyone he knows. In the mission you worry about helping your investigators and help them progress. Now I need to help not only my investigators but as well my district and their investigators. We as leaders have to show love always and always help everyone when they need it. I never thought in my mission I would be a district leader. I never thought my Spanish would be good enough to speak to someone about there day and if they need help. But I guess  the time is now to see how well I know Spanish ahah

I promise I’ll write some more next week. Tell you all some stories and tell you all about what I have been up. But as always thanks for the love and support and all the prayers!

Talk to you all next week! 

Love ya!

Elder Nelson

Jordan with Elder Bair

24 July 2017

Hello Canada!!

So we had a really awesome day on Wednesday, We were able to do splits with some members and we met a lot of new people as well we got more confidence in the members. So this time that we had splits, it was my turn to go with this one member that’s kind of crazy. To give you an idea about this man he tells us that one day he seen god but God couldn’t see him. Because God had his back to him..... Yeah, he’s really crazy. So anyways we went to this one friend of his and I started with How to begin teaching. And that usually takes 20 mins. When I finished this member wanted to cut my head off. He said, Elder why didn’t you teach him anything about the priesthood or anything. He was really mad with me. So I told him, hey man right now we are giving them milk. And then after we will give them meat. He didn’t understand how to take it step by step.

So we had that really good day where we had a bunch of lessons with the members on Wednesday. But now everything has been falling through left right and center. We had plans with a member to teach in his house on Thursday. We went to see if he was there but he left to go the city! I wasn’t to happy with the member... But we were able to get some more help from some other members which wasn’t the best but it’s still something. 

So we changed houses here in our area. And I’ll tell you why. We had the world’s smallest house in the mission. It was super-hot and sometimes the water wouldn’t work for like three days. So we found a new house that’s nice and big and it’s not super super hot. We got help from the branch president and some other members as well. When we were getting everything ready I was looking and thinking, This will be easy, we don’t have that much stuff. But then I remembered that everything is really big, and heavy, and takes up a lot of room. But it went really well it only took an hour and a half. After we went and visited this family that went to church like 100 years ago but they didn’t get baptized or anything like that. But they love the missionary’s. They always want to talk to us and always want to see how we are doing. We gave a lesson about always having God in their lives. I played a game with them about prayer. The game is played with a tie. It’s really cool. I won’t tell you how to play it right now because I want to see if you all can figure it out when I come home. But anyways the mom liked this lesson a lot. She said that it is nice that we were able to teach with a game and not just with reading and talking.

So Sunday was a normal day for us. We went to church and we see the same people. But we see someone different, We seen the first counselor of the mission. The reason why he was there is because we called President Shumway and told him about what has been happening here in the branch. So he sent one of his counselor’s to see what was going on. The only ones who knew about him coming was us and our ward mission leader. So when the branch president seen that there was someone from the mission he was very nervous. A lot of members aren’t to happy with the president here. The thing that I don’t get is that the members think the missionary’s are here to clean everything up. But my call didn’t say that haha, So we did what we need to do. To put it in the hand of the stake and the mission. But other than that we had a really good Sunday. There are always more and more people always showing up which is really nice.

As well I got my package finally! I want to thank my family for always sending me great things. I love the letters that everyone has sent. The Salmons as well for the spinner! It’s funny the spinners are really big right now here in Guatemala so it’s good that I got one hahah But as always we need to remember the best thing..... Peanut Butter!!!! Finally got myself peanut butter ahah the one thing everyone waits for in a package. So thanks to everyone that sent something in package means A lot!

So that was really our week. I’m sorry I didn’t write to much but to be honest I was so tired this past week. I fell into my bed one night after I finished calling the district leader and boom! I was out cold. My comp told me the next day that he tried to wake me up but it was like I died. It was a good week of working hard I guess haha.

Thanks for all the love support and prayers you send me! I hope you all have a great week and that you all are enjoying the heat while it lasts haha because it 2 months it will be cold again ahaha 

Love you all!!

PS I am now a new district leader. 

17 July 2017

So, we had our first interviews with President Shumway on Tuesday. And it was a little different. I don’t know how to say it but it was different. We started talking and he asked me how my area was and he told me that he was very happy with how I told him, our area is getting better little by little. He told me that he was happy that I was able to see the changes in our area. We talked a little more about that and then he says, well Elder Nelson I think I might have you end your mission in Pueblo Nuevo Vinas. But I’ll see what the Lord says. I then told him, President I only have 9 months here in the mission... He thought I only had 2 months left in the mission. It was pretty funny. But he told me that he would like to keep me here for maybe one more change. But we will see what will happen. 

So in the interview as well President Shumway said that we will soon see changes in the area. And when we came back to work we were with a member that brought his friend to church. So we asked if his friend had time to listen to a lesson. When his friend showed up, I knew who he was. I contacted his house and he said he didn’t want anything. So I was very curious to see how the lesson would go. When we started, it started as every other lesson with a member. Why don’t the Mormons drink coffee_ Everyone always asks these questions. But then we started talking and we had a really good lesson about the church. Maybe he will be a slow investigator, but the way he asked questions was awesome. One of his questions was how is it that we are always happy when sometimes is rains cats and dogs or that it will be super-hot and we always have a smile. The reason he asked the questions is because he wanted that as well. He wanted to always be a light. So we had my comp, a member and I testify about the work as a missionary as well as being a member and how this church helps us receive that happiness. He then said, I would like to meet with you again next week. After I read, and  because you are two cool guys. So hopefully he will want to learn more!!

So our investigators passed there interviews and they are really excited for their Baptism. I’m really happy as well. After we had that interview we went to a member’s house. The members are not too happy with Elder Cruz here in the area. And to be honest its true. I asked them why they felt bad or didn’t feel good with Cruz. And it was because he was more prideful, the members didn’t like how he wanted to change the lives of the members. So I sat down with him and said, Look there are a lot of members and investigators that aren’t to happy with how you are as a missionary. I know you want to work with members and have everyone love you but you need to change your attitude about everything. He would say, oh everyone here in Guatemala is bad at soccer. He thinks he’s the best. As well he thinks Honduras is the best. So, we talked about that and I hope he can change. 

So we had our two Baptisms!!!! We had a great Sunday. We had the opportunity to have a baptism with our zone leader. We didn’t just have one person get baptized, or two, or three, or 4, But 5 people were baptized. Our two and three from the zone leaders. We had a great afternoon full of people and full of people dressed in white! So usually when we have a baptism everything takes place we the baptismal fount is. We had everything set up but there were way too many people. So, we had to change it for the chapel. I was really happy to see the turn out. So, everything went good with the baptism and we were able to confirm all of them on Sunday as well. Elder Harris asked if we should go up and confirm Oscar and Aura. I told him only if they ask us. And just as I said that Aura asked if I could confirm her as a member. I didn’t know what to say. never have I done that in my mission or before in my life. So, you can say I was kind of nervous haha. But I believe that it went good. I was so happy to see all those people get baptized. All those people be washed cleaned. All those family’s getting ready to become an eternal family. 

That was our week. I love you all. Thank you for everything that you all do for me. I am very grateful for all the prayers and support you send my way!! Love you guys!!

10 July 2017

Hey there everyone!

So we had divisions here in Pueblo last Tuesday. And I was here with a new missionary from the states. He has 4 weeks here in the mission. To be honest it was really fun. It reminded of me when I came into the mission and I didn´t know any Spanish haha. But as well I remembered that the way the other missionary´s helped me. I remember Elder Hunter and Elder Stephan would always help me back in Catocha. So I did the best I could to help him. We had a good day with him to be honest, I felt bad for him though. He got super sick in the night. I told him hey don´t worry about it, it gets better haha I felt so bad for this kid. 

So we have been working with a family that has been listening to the elders for 6 months. But they aren´t baptized yet. The wife wants to be baptized like really wants to get baptized. And the husband is so, so. But the other day we were there in the house and the wife said, Elders I’m gonna be honest with you. I really want to get baptized because I know it’s the right thing. She went on saying all that and then turned to her husband and said I want to wait to get baptized with you, And she said, I’m asking you right now if you want to get baptized. I didn´t know what to think but then he said okay. So now we have an interview planned for 11 of July. I’m really happy to know that they are gonna get baptized.

So I love our ward mission leader. He’s kind of a nerdy guy but really chill. He was inactive when I came to this area. He didn´t like his calling, he didn´t want to go to church, a bunch of stuff like that. But now he’s more active now. So the other day we planed with him to visit people close to his house. We told him we would meet him at the gas station at 10:30. Once we got there it was 11:10... He said, Elders!! What happened?  You said 10:30, Now its 11:10!! Just because I like you guys I didn´t leave. We told him we had a lesson with a person that could get baptized. We had a good laugh about it though haha. 

So we had an activity in the church that was pretty good to be honest. We had 12 investigators that came to the activity. We told the members to invite one friend who does not know anything about the church. When we showed up we saw that no one invited a friend. All the investigators that went were people that we talked to, and invited them. It made me kind of upset to see that but what can you do right. We still had 12 investigators in the activity. To be 100% it went pretty good. I didn´t have much faith but nothing bad happened. 

So we have the Sr. Missionary´s here in our branch and they are really awesome people. Back when Elder Stephan was here, Elder Harris the Sr. missionary said, Elders I feel bad, my name tag says elder, my call said I’m an elder, I’m set apart as an elder. But I’m a dentist. It was kind of funny when he said that. But remember the family that is going to get baptized_ The dad asked Elder Harris if he could baptize him!! The man was so happy. This is really good with them getting ready to be baptized and now them asking people to be baptized is one great thing I believe because it shows us and the branch that they are feel confortable and trust the people here. Funny story with the Elder Harris today, as well. We were teaching a class about the priesthood. And we were talking about teachers’ deacons and priests. And Elder Harris said a word in Spanish but that they used in the Catholic Church. I stopped and looked at him and said Elder that’s not the right word... We had a good laugh. 

So life is good here in Pueblo. We finally get to baptize the family Rosito and we have a great ward mission leader. I’m really happy with the changes that are happening here. As always thanks for all the help that you all send me thanks for all the love and prayers you all give!! Love you all! 

Elder Nelson

Trying to get some shade today from the sun

03 July 17

So I’ll be honest I didn´t write much at all this week. I’m writing this Sunday night before I go to bed so I’m sorry I didn´t write much...we were really busy.

So our area is starting to look up. We are starting to get a lot more help from members and we are able to teach a lot more. We have a ward mission leader that helped us almost everyday this last week. Before he was a little bit less active but now he comes every week to church. He is a pretty good friend of ours now haha. 

We keep finding people to teach which is really good. The only thing is people are really scared of committing to things. We have these three investigators that love to talk to us they always have great questions for us. And love talking. But they have a hard time coming to church. We can only hope that they will come. We pass by for them, we have members call and pass by as well but nothing happens. I’m not saying that they never come I’m just saying its weird to see them show up sometimes. 

So our week wasn’t very good for our stats but we did a lot of service to help some members. For example we had divisions with the ZLs and when we ended them we came back to Pueblo to help a family move. And moving in the heat sucks. So after we did that for 2 hours we went to the area of the ZLs and helped another family move. After was all said and done we got back to our area to work in Pueblo at 7:00. It was pretty much another pday hahah we were so tired when we ended the day. 

So I love every missionary and every person here but what I cant stand is missionaries that are prideful. We have zone leaders and both are from Mexico but they are pretty much two different people. One is super awesome and super funny. And the other is really prideful. I’ve seen that a lot in the mission, Missionaries just want a title and then they can boss people around.

So anyways this zone leader called us the other day when we went to meet the new mission president. And when he called us we were in a restaurant eating breakfast. Well he lost it on us. He said you guys cant eat you don’t have time and its not p-day so finish really fast and come and to our house. So let me tell you something we had to be in the church to meet the new president at 9:30 we sat down to eat at 7. And the church is 10 minutes away on the bus. So I didn’t think it would have been a problem to eat. So we finished and went to the house and they weren’t there. I was ticked. So we met up with other missionaries and went to the church. When the zls showed up the cool and funny zl said hey did you go for breakfast_ and I said yeah, He answered back, What the heck man you didn’t invite me_ So the cool zone leader was down to eat and the other zone leader wasn’t haha

So yes we have a new president for our mission. President Shumway. He is a pretty nice guy. Not going to lie I’m really tired of Canadian jokes here in the mission. First thing he said was a joke about Canada. I’m not saying I hate those that make jokes I’m just saying that it gets to me sometimes. But he is a really nice guy. He seems like he is ready to work with us and help us with what ever we need. When he was talking he said I don’t want to receive and call from anyone asking a questions. If its not something Christ would do why would we do it. You only call about a question about baptisms. I was like okay that fine. Then he really cut our heads off. He said, I have no room for dis obedience. If you don’t want to follow the rules or be obedient ill send you home right away! I was like wow this meeting went from loving us to cutting all of our heads off in about 3 seconds. But he is a really nice guy and he is really happy to be here with us.

So just like another branch or ward in the world they have a ward council. And I may or may not have called the branch president out. We were talking about a temple trip for the new members. And he said oh well not too many people have recommends to enter. And he said the point for a temple trip is for the youth and recent converts to go and do baptisms for the dead. Then I said how many converts have recommend to go and he told me non. So I responded and said if you want your recent converts to got to the temple you need to do some work and have interviews with them. I didn’t mean to go across mean but it came out like that. 

The week has been up down left right and center. A lot of stress with the members, but what can you do right. We can only hope for the best and then see what will happen. We got told the other day that President Caffaro had a list of areas that he was going to close and our area is on that list. We will see what happens here with President Shumway in the coming weeks! Thanks for all the love and support this week like always! Talk to you all next week!!

Love you all!

Elder Nelson

Dinner with members and the cool zone leader...

Visit with the new mission president and his wife.  President and Sister Shumway

A family that they are teaching....the boy right behind him calls him Curry