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

26 June 2017

Hey there everyone. So I want to start this email off about what happened last pday. We decided to play soccer with some members and investigators. We played for a good time then they said next goal wins. And guys who got the game winner? That’s right the white kid that can’t play soccer hahah. It was a good pday to be honest but I’m really getting tired of playing soccer every week. What can you do though when this is the main sport here in Guatemala haha. So after our pday was over we went to see some recent converts. Once we got to their house we found them painting a room. We asked them if they wanted help so we did some service for them. But let me tell you I could hear Grandpa Jim in the back of my head as I seen this member paint this room. I could only imagen Jim down here seeing all the crazy things people do for work. 

 

So we have this one investigator that is really good he wants to learn and understand but has really weird questions. Like really weird. He asked us the other day about the Mormon party. The reason why is because he has a friend that is a member and he showed a video of him at an YSA dance I believe. So he asked what do we do, what do we drink like is it alcohol or something else. So we talked about the word of wisdom and the law of Chasity. But let me tell you this guy doesn’t care what he says haha he just says anything he wants and it’s very blunt... to be 100% honest I don’t know if it was a good lesson or a bad lesson. He is a good guy but man is he crazy haha.

 

So we had a lesson with someone who we contacted. We started to talk about how the church blesses families through their hard times. And it was the first time that I had a person cry when I was teaching. It was really good to see because I think she was feeling the spirit and that she was really understanding it. She then asked a bunch of questions about the church and how she could understand the message and know that it’s true. It was really good to see that see wanted to know more. 

 

So we had the last multi zone conference this week with President Caffaro. And with just 5 mins in we were all crying. We gave president a football that was all signed by all of the missionaries. He was a couch for BYU American football. And when we passed the ball to him, He started to cry. It was a good moment for us all because he said out of all the teams he coached. This team was the best. Then we sang the hymn the army of Helamen. It was a very emotional conference. After it was all said and done they gave us a like gift with a photo of the whole mission as well as a book mark that had all the teachings on it for us. And let me tell you I was doing well without crying until we got to say bye to them. I thanked them both for everything that they did for us. Then Sister Caffaro talked to me and then she made me cry. She said how happy she was to see that I have been here in the mission sticking out in the hard times. She told me this and it made me cry to be honest hahaha I know Elder Nelson does have feelings just sometimes he doesn’t like to show them haha or talk about them haha 

 

So things are start to get slow again. The area seems to be going up then down really fast. I don’t know what we are doing wrong, we are working and doing the right things I think. But I don’t know what is happening with this area. I love the people here that is one thing. But fech is it hard every now and then. It has to be the time I guess. 

 

So I keep it pretty cool here in the mission. I don’t get to frustrated but I did the other day. We have this investigator that started to get mad at a member who didn’t say hi to her. And she started going off about this at that. So finally I said, hey there is something that Christ taught us, and that was to love more and judge less. And the teachings of Christ is to make our lives better. Then I ended the lesson and we left. This area is probably one of the hardest areas in the mission. To be honest the area is kind of nice but no one wants anything haha. They tell you that straight to your face. We changed our contacting to tell people that we are here to help people. And they still don’t want anything. 

 

To be 100% honest I think they will close this area in the next change. We have 6 areas right now in the mission that don’t have missionaries. And president told us that this next change there will be 5 more areas without missionaries. It’s really sad to see that there aren’t many people coming to the mission. We can only hope that things get better for us here.

 

 

Well another week done here in the mission. The area is picking up little by little it’s not going to change night to day but little by little. I’m really happy with what we are doing here now. The members are now working with us. Our ward mission leader finally wants to work with us. He’s a pretty cool guy actually. We have investigator that is super awesome. The mom has been through a lot of rough things. She had two kids that were born early. One was born 6 months early. It’s a miracle that she is alive. The mom said that god must have something more planned for them if he kept them around. I’m really hoping that we can help them and we can make things good for them. 

 

The mission is always up, down, side to side and sometimes it stands still. But there are sometimes where it moves really really fast. The best way to make it move fast but not too fast is to work and keep finding ideas for everything. I want to thank everyone who has sent me things of motivation to press on and ideas that would give me the boost! Thanks for all you all have done for me here in the mission! Thank you for all your prayers and love you send my way!! Talk to you all next week! Love you all!

19 June 2017

So we had changes. It was really sad to see my friend leave for home. He was a really good comp. Yes there was times where we didn’t get along but I think that’s normal. After all he was a really good and funny guy. Something funny about the mission, when you come into the mission you are born to an area and your first comp is your dad. And once you receive a missionary that’s new fresh off the boat he is your kid. Kind of funny like that. But when you are ending they call it that you are dying. And the comp that you are with when you end the mission is your killer. So guess you could say that I killed a guy. 

My new comp is really cool though. This is his second area and I’m his third companion. I feel kinda bad for him because he didn’t even leave the zone. He just came over to the district here. The changes went really fast for us haha. 

So we decided to work with more members this change. We have started to visit more and more all the time to see what’s going on and how they are doing. Not gonna lie this is gonna be a hard second change without the help of the members. We are gonna be very patient with them all but we will hope for the best. 

So like I said last change it was really hard to get contacts. But let me tell you this new comp is really good at talking. He talks a lot, which is a good thing. So we have a recent convert that doesn’t have a really good husband. He doesn’t like the church but talks to the elders all the time. So we went to visit them the other day and her mom got mad at us. Because the elders are here to help people but she was mad that we weren’t helping the members husband. To be 100% honest I wanted to go nuts on the girl. I told her straight up, that people can choose if they want to accept us or not. We always offer and invite but if you don’t accept that’s okay. As a missionary you have to show love to everyone. That’s the hardest part. When you really want to tell someone how it is, but you remember that you are an elder and you have to show love. You can correct people but in the correct way and a nice way hahah.

So we finally have people to work with us. We have a ward mission leader that is kind of less active but we got him to come to church the past weeks.  He said that he would like to come work with us. We went to this one family that we always visit. They always are sitting in front of there house with a friend. So today we turned the lesson more towards her and made it more to help her. I feel like it went well. She wants to understand more and she always liked to talk to us in the past.  We found this one guy the other day as well. He is super awesome and he really likes what we teach. The one thing is when he reads, he reads really, really loud, But only some words. For example, if the word God came across the line he would say it really loud then go really quiet again. It was interesting to hear haha

So things are starting to look better in the area here in Publo with the members. They are finally working with us. We went with the family that washes our cloths. They gave us a call because their friend needed a blessing. It’s really weird down here because they always want the elders to bless the people when they have the same priesthood and are worthy. So anyways we went out to give this guy a blessing and he was in some rough shape. His whole leg was all stitched up and man did it look rough. He told us that he went to other church’s and they wouldn’t give him a blessing. They said they didn’t have time. So we had a great way to teach about the church a little bit. We have one recent convert who is the only one of her family. So we decided that we should teach them. The other night they had this chili on the table. So I asked if I could try it. They all said, Elder Nelson this is really hot are you sure?  I was like Heck yeah! But man I almost died!! It was sooo hot! They all got a good laugh out of it though hahah.

So our week wasn’t 100% better, but we have improved a lot. We are now finding new people and working more with members. This should be a good change with Elder Cruz.

Well as always thanks for all the love and support that you all have for me! Thanks for all the prayers as well. Talk to you all next week!

Elder Nelson

Dinner after getting firewood

The ants he ate the other day....gross.  However he said they were good.  Just need to put lime on them.

Out getting firewood for cooking tortillas