25 September 2017

Hey there everyone!

So this week was pretty good. We got to work with the zls, which was really good. I was able to work with one zone leader who I haven’t been able to work with before. Its not because we don’t get along haha it’s because we just never decided to do divisions together. But it was really cool because we had a bunch of kids that helped us that day. We had 4 kids working with us finding people. These kids are crazy though. They are really good during lessons and all that but when we are walking in the street they are always joking around. But it’s all good. So during these divisions we got a call from my area. And the one zone leader told me that he was drinking a root beer that a member gave him. And he was bugging me and everything else so I was like okay I’m going to get him back. So the next day when we woke up we played a prank on him. So I stood his bed up and put his closet behind his bed. Then I took his bags and put them all over everything. Then I went and put his desk in front of his bed. And then I put a rope around it all. I would like to thank Elder Stephan for doing this prank to our zone leader back when we were comps haha But anyways I told the zl to call me when he seen it. So he called and he said I only have 3 words to say to you. I Hate You. I laughed so hard as well his comp was laughing really hard as well. I’ll send a photo if he sends me the photo. 

Speaking about root beer. A member gave us some the other day. He told us on Sunday that he would go out and buy some for us. And let me tell you it was soooo good to tasted root beer again. We took a video and ill try and send it out to you guys if it works.

So we are working with this one kid who has been listening to the elders for a long time. His mom has been a member for about 2 years now. So she wants us to teach him and help him. But here’s the thing. We aren’t aloud to put a date for a baptism with him. She doesn’t want us to pressure him and all that. But it was really weird because she said that the elders before really pressured her to be baptized and she said that she doesn’t regret it. So I was really confused. Why couldn’t we do the same with her so.   If she needed to get pressured a little bit wouldn’t her son as well?   I don’t know. But anyways we had a lesson with them yesterday and it was about the family. We are really focusing on temples and families to help them get that goal of being with your family forever. We talked about how moms are here to help us with a lot of things. It was really good to talk with them about that because he can see the things that his mom does for him. We then shared a story about the 2000 stripling warriors and how the listen to the things that there moms had taught them. And none of them died. I think that was a good one to share with him. Hopefully he can understand the importance of being in a family forever. Simon would have a great story to be honest. He could get baptized, then he could get the priesthood, then he could go to the temple for his dad, and then they could get sealed as a family. We really hope he could be baptized soon. 

So a really weird thing happened here the other day. So they had parade with this one church. And it was really really weird because they carried this big thing and had a band behind them playing music. I asked my comp if it would be wrong to take a photo and he told me yes it would be. So I wish I had a photo to send to you guys but we didn’t take any haha.

So this week I think is going to be super crazy. I we have interviews and divisions so it should be interesting. But I’ll do the best I can to write you all something fun. Hope you all have a good week and that things go great! Love you all.

Elder Nelson 

18 September 2017

Hey there everyone!

So this week was really weird to be honest. We had some really slow days here but then we had some really crazy days as well. So Ill start with the day I worked with the new elder from my district. So the kid is kind of shy when we started but knowing me and how I talk a lot I can find away to get people to talk. The best way I have found that works is the to find something that they like or stuff about them. So we started talking and I found out that the kid loves basketball. He talked the whole day about all the trades that happened. It was good that we were able to talk a bunch and he started to open up and not be a shy anymore. Which was really good. The kid is really good though. Nice kid from Utah. 

So we had the Guatemala day here last weekend and man it was crazy haha I’m not going to tell you all what happened but it was a pretty crazy weekend I’d say. But we had a pretty good day. We were able to find a lot of new people. We found this one guy named Carlos. He is 87 years old and wants to change his life and be a example for his kids and grandkids. So we went by yesterday to get him to come to church and he felt really good but the funny part now. He said he didn’t want to go to church because he didn’t have a shirt or tie so my comp gave him one. When we went to get him on Sunday we gave him the shirt and tie and he was really excited but then he goes in to get changed and comes out with the same cloths on. And we were like what gives man.   He told us that he wants to wait for next week to wear it. Well we can’t get mad at him because he did go to church. 

So I want to share a story with you all really fast. If you don’t want to be scared please stop reading... Well anyways one night we were walking to go visit a member and we had two ways to go down a really dark path or take the long way around. And knowing us elders we wanted to get there as fast as we could so went down the path. But as soon as we stepped foot down that path I had a feeling that we should turn around and go the long way. Why did I get the feeling who knows. So long story short we found out someone was shot four times that night. We were both very surprised and grateful that we got the feeling to go the other way. 

So we went to a place that was really cool. We went to this place in called old Mexico in English and man was it cool hahaha it was really neat I’ll be sure to send some photos and show you all. But we planned everything out so well to get there but coming home was a little bit harder haha we waited probably 30 for a bus and it never showed up. So we all got down and prayed and about 10 minutes after a member drove passed so we hoped into his car and got a ride home 

That is pretty much our week ill write more this coming week and hopefully all goes well for you all back home!!

Love ya,

Elder Nelson

11 September 2017

So as we all know I did have changes here in the area. I have received my second comp from Idaho. He is a pretty good guy we get along really good. He is pretty funny as well. Something about him is he is very gullible. So he will believe anything. But as well he listens really well hahaha. But he is a good guy.

So this week we had goal with as a zone. We had to win the day everyday. And it’s not to bad for a goal to be honest. We won it a lot as well haha we worked really hard here in Santa Marta. Our last week wasn’t very good to be honest but it has gotten way better. We have been getting a lot more help from members as well. We got some new people to teach as well. We were able to get some new people who we could really help and we could get a lot of baptisms this coming change. We found this one mom and her son who could be really good. We talked about the best things that her and her kids need. We Told her that the church could help her and her kids receive blessings. Hopefully we can help them become happier then they already are.

So we have another new missionary here in our district. He is from Utah and is super new. I remember when I started and I knew nothing that was going on. And to be honest I can see this a lot with this kid haha So I’m going to take him in divisions here and see if I can help him grow and understand a little more here in the mission. This is the thing about being a leader here in the mission. People always think that they are going to get mad, or get upset, or something like that. But really a leader doesn’t have to get mad at all. You don’t need to get mad. You need to always help them. No matter what.   All the things that I have done here in the mission will help me teach others. That’s something I love about the being a leader. I’m able to help not only my investigators but I can help other elders and there investigators as well!

So as you all know yes there was an earthquake here last week but don’t worry all it good. It’s kind of funny because we were sitting at our desks when it started and I was thinking like it will pass no biggie. But then it kept going and kept going. So I was like oh boy this might not end. So it lasted for about 5 minutes. It was pretty crazy because the earthquake was in Mexico. And we felt it here in Guatemala. But don’t worry life is all good.

So we had stake conference here this weekend and we had a member from the 70 speak to us. As well his wife. And I really liked the talk his wife gave. She said remember who you are no matter were you are. No matter what happens. And always remember who you are because everyone is always watching. They are always watching to see what the Mormons are doing. And this was kind of good for me because as a missionary you need to remember who you are. Because you need to always remember who you really are. You cant be someone else out here. You are who you are supposed to be and who god wants you to be. So if we know what he wants us be and who he wants us to be we will be able to do what ever he needs us to do.

So that was pretty much the highlight of the week here for us! Life is really good here in the mission but always crazy as a DL haha but I don’t think that will ever change. Ahah but hope you all have a good week and that everything goes well for you all!

Love ya,

Elder nelson

 here is us playing last p-day hahah 

04 Sept 2017

Hello Everyone

So we had a really rough week to be 100% honest. We didn’t have very good days but we had a baptism here, which is really good for us now. We baptized this one guy who is 61 years old and he cant walk very well. He doesn’t have any family here because they all live in the USA. He doesn’t have money, he lives under a table. And sleeps on the floor. So I just want everyone to think that yeah times might be hard but nothing like this guy. He doesn’t eat somedays. We have now gotten the ward to help him out with food. We are hoping that we can do more for him soon! This guy though is really awesome. On Saturday we went to go and see him and get him ready for the baptism. When we went to talk to him and ask if he was all ready he turned and looked and said, oh yeah its Saturday today. So we had a good laugh but then we got everything ready to help him. It was a good baptism we had a good number of people there as well.

So this week our district we were going to have 5 baptisms. We had one, the other elders were going to have 2, and the sisters as well were going to have 2. But the sisters fell super fast. I went to do an interview for one and when she showed up she didn’t want to get baptized. So I was able to sit down with here and talk to see what happened. And to be honest it was a really good little lesson that we had. I then did the interview and she said she wanted to get baptized. So everything got better. Then I called the sisters on Saturday and she said she didn’t want to get baptized... This really sucked to be honest because I did the interview, she passed, and she picked me to baptize her. Everything was great. But then she called the sisters and told them that she didn’t want to get baptized anymore. This really kind of sucked for me because I had a really good lesson with her and she said she wanted to get baptized. I felt sad I wouldn’t lie but remember people have the right to make up there own mind. Hopefully the new missionary’s will be able to help her and her family.

So we had a multi zone conference this week with a member of the 70. He is from chili and he would use some words from chili. My comp really enjoyed the conference because it made him feel at home for a bit hahah so during this conference President Shumway told us he sent 5 missionary’s home. This was pretty big for all of us. He told us that he would always love us and all that but if we are disobedient he would send us home without a question asked. We it was a pretty big thing that cut all of our heads off. The funny thing about President Shumway is he always wants this to be good. For example he cut all of our heads off and then he said I don’t want to end on a note like that. So lets watch this video to lighten the mood haha. It’s really good to see that he has rules and he wants us to be obedient. And he can cut our heads off. But he still wants us to feel his love. Another thing about this conference. I told our district to wear suits. I wanted us to look more good well look better then we already do haha.  But anyways I talked to the ZLs and they said no we aren’t going to wear them its going to be to hot. At first I was like we are going to be inside all day. And they thought no one else would wear a suit. But guess what, everyone had a suit on. Every zone with elders. So I walked over to the Zls. and said, I told you so. What did I say_ hahah its good because the one zone leader is a good friend of mine. And he was like I know i know I messed up haha. 

So we had a services project here this last week. We helped the bishop move giant bags of metal down a bunch of stairs to his house. And these bags were fechen heavy. We moved like 40 of these bags. We carried them on our backs as well and man does my body-hurt hahah I was walking the other day and my mind was like hey lets get going. And my body was like hold on a second we need to rest. I have 11 months here in the mission and my body is already falling apart hahaha 

So we have changes here in the zone. And another buddy of mine is coming to be a zone leader. The whole zone had changes. The only people that didn’t was the elder who is training right now. My comp is leaving and I am going to be getting a missionary that is from Idaho. I get comps from Idaho or South America always. It should be fun though because we have a lot of people that speak English here in our district. 

Well that’s all for this week! Thanks for all you guys do for me. As well all the love and support!

Elder Nelson 

Jordan's old sole from his shoes compared to his new ones.....wow