14 August 17

Well it’s another week here in the mission done. We had kind of a rough week. So we work in this one area that has been closed since January. It’s been kind of dead and it’s been really hard to get things jumped started again in that area but I believe that we can help them little by little. I’m just not a big fan when I asked members to help us and they tell me if I bring this elder they will come and work with us. It really makes me mad when I see that and hear that. One kid told me that, and I said I wasn’t able to do that and he said yes you can your district leader and you can what ever you want. It kind of got to me but whatever. So the thing is the area kind of sucks. Reason why it was so hard this week is because we had a bunch of visits during the week in this area. For example we could have had an easy 25 lessons with a member this week but everything fell through. But when you have one area that falls down like that you just walk across the street to the other area and start working. We have a baptism this weekend on Saturday. The area Santa Marta has a lot of people ready to help the elders and work with them to. I’m really happy to see the people that we have that are getting ready to be baptized here. All the areas that I have had before had nothing when I went into them but now we have a lot to work with. Its really nice it keeps us busy. 

So we had interviews with the president this last week. And as always we have a meeting with his wife as well. So Sister Shumway doesn’t speak Spanish so when she had an interview with two Spanish speaking missionaries I was asked to translate for her. I never would have thought that my Spanish would be good enough to translate for someone. So in my interview with president we talked about how I do with the rules here in the mission. And as we all know that I follow the rules to the point after what happened with my first comp. I told him everything and he was very happy to see what I do to be obedient. He told me as well how he likes how honest I am. I think that all missionaries need to be honest to everyone. But the person you need to be most honest with is your president. All in all it was a good interview. Funny thing though, So my hair has gotten a bit to long on top. And as I was walking out of the interview president said, Elder Nelson one more thing. Your hair... I think it’s getting a little bit too long. The thing about President Shumway is he is kind of easy going. Very spiritual and a great guy but he is able to joke around with us as well. 

So everyone has probably been wondering if I have been robbed in the mission. Well it almost happened the other day. Before I go on I just want you all to know that this is a funny story. So we were in divisions and I was with a new missionary in his area. As we were walking down the road a drunk guy came up to us and said hey give me your watch. We both turned and said NO. Well this drunk said, well then give me your pen. Once again we said no. So the drunk then said, Okay I’m sorry I bugged you two please don’t get mad at me. It was one of the weirdest things that happened to me here in the mission but one of the funniest as well haha

So president and Sister Shumway changed the hours for our studies. We now have to plan for the investigator, what will we teach them, what is the invitation we will give them and what are the blessings you can receive. Now let me tell you this is one awesome way to plan. It works so much better when you teach as well it really helps you be prepared for the lesson. I have noticed that we can now teach with a lot more power and a lot more mean behind it for that person. 

So the week was up and down. It always happens here in the mission. When I seen my dates Sunday night I seen that we had some really good numbers with pretty much everything. But sometimes you feel like you could have done more. But that’s the thing now we know what we can do. And what we need to do. We are always learning how we can be better and how we can help more people. That’s the life of a missionary here in Guatemala

Thanks for everything you all do for me it really means a lot to know that I have so many people back home supporting me. You are all the best. Thanks for all the love and support!

Elder Nelson