WHAT A WEEK + PICTURES!

Wow i feel like this week flew by, but it was packed with so much awesome stuff. First off it sounds like you had a good time at Lake Powell! Lots of fishing and boarding and no worries. Sounds like the life. I'm glad you guys are home safe and life moves on as normal. And Mom I'm excited to hear about your Christmas activity! I'm sure it will all work out great and I wish I could be there to enjoy it. Just have to start the traditions so I can enjoy it when I get back! I cant believe we are already going into October... Christmas will be here before we know it. Also.. I heard about Elder  Richard G Scott! They announced it and I was so shocked! That's now three that have gone on my mission, all my childhood apostles as I like to call them. It will be very interesting to see what happens this General Conference.

Anyways..... word on the street.... I have Changes!! I got the call last night that I have to pack my bags. Wednesday i will go to San Salvador and there they will tell me where i am going and my companion and all that fun stuff. I am kind of sad to be leaving my investigadores and the ward in this area and tomorrow I will go to say goodbye to all them. As is part of the mission, I look forward to the next area I will be called to serve. So, this next time you hear from me I will no longer be here in Oriental 2. Also this week we went to the temple! This past Thursday and it was probably one of the most spiritual trips i have had at the temple yet. When I entered, i felt such a peace that can be only felt in such a place. I remember i sat down in the temple, prayed as I waited for the session. I felt Gods presence and love in such abundance that I couldn't help but lean to my comp and whisper, Hey man, I hope you know how much I know that this church is true. (but in spanish of course). I testify that the temple is the greatest place on Earth and if you looking for an answer or just want to feel the Love of Christ, go there. 

Anyways I had a really hard but awesome experience last night that i wanted to share. Before my mission, I thought that being a missionary it would be easy to keep all the commandments and be good because you are serving on such a spiritual high. I learned quickly that if anything, there are more temptaacions as you go out to do this sacred work. On Sunday, usually a member of the obispado feeds us dinner. Last night we got a call, and he wanted us to meet him at a nearby restaurant where he would buy us food. Immediately a bunch of bells went of as I knew this would break the Sabbath Day, but the bishopric was inviting us! The other missionaries that would be fed too all started to say how we didn't really have a choice and we weren't the ones buying it so it was okay, but i knew it was wrong. As we started walking I prayed with all my heart for the courage and guidance to do something. I stopped the group and said I couldn't go. I called the member and thanked him for everything he does for us, but told him we couldn't go there because we would be breaking the commandments. He was obviously really bothered and begged us to come. It got to the point where he was mad because he had reservations already. I did my best to excuse myself and told him we just couldn't. It was really hard to make this decision, but it is better to keep the commandments, even if it means offending or hurting someones feelings. I'll never regret my decision, and I am thankful God gave me the courage to stand strong. I know if we are willing to serve the Lord, like Nefi he will always give us a way.

Thank you for everything you guys do for me! I miss you guys a ton but love the work.Thank you to all the family, I received a bunch of letter from you guys in the Canada trip and it was awesome to hear from you guys and know I have your support. Best of luck this week!

Elder Nelson

Helloo Everyone!

Hey guys! How is Lake Powell going?! I am so jealous you guys are there. I hope that you guys have such a great time. Make sure you let me know how much fun you guys have but dont let me know too much. SO this week was a pretty good one. Honeslty I have had trouble finding new people to teach in the area. My area isnt very big but I am coming up on 6 months here, so I feel like I have talked to everyone. I swear every drunk person in the street is almost my best friend and they always want to talk to me. I am so popular. Anyways we have had to use different ways to find people and its been pretty fun. When you do almost the same thing everyday you have to find creative ways to change things up. 

This week I have also learned a lot of things on the doctrine. I absolutely love learning and finding new things to study, and I have learned so much. Just when I think I have gotten the hang of things doctrine wise I think of something in a new way or learn something new that blows my mind. My testimony has really been strengthened by the chance we have to constantly study. SO this week we had a day that was actually pretty terrible. We walked and talked with so many people but nobody wanted to let us in and share. It was rainy and I was tired of walking in the rain and getting rejected all the time. At the end of the day we didnt have good numbers, and I felt like I should read of the pioneers before I went to bed. I almost couldnt put it down as I read about trial after trial that people went through and persevered through it. I was so humbled and quickly repented because I had been complaining about walking in a little rain and talking to people when they were walking and dying but many never wavered their faith and hope. I am so happy for what my ancestors did.

Anyways thats what i got for this week. Mom, i havent gotten your package yet but it is probably here and Ill recieve it at changes. If you are looking for things to send me... you can never have too many cool ties. I am so happy to be serving a mission and we have many days that are so awesome. We have families that are progressing a lot and i really love teaching them. I know this Church is true. Love you all!

Elder Nelson

American Food Table and Choose to Be Happy

Hello everyone! I am very happy to be writing to you guys this morning. Its so awesome that you guys got to all go to San Diego! Congrats Nick on the wedding! That temple there is so pretty, Ill go inside some day. AND you guys get to go to the most magical place on Earth (apart from the temple)..... Lake Powell. I am so jealous, somebody better make that flip on the wakeboard finally. Anyways I am writing a little later today but its because we just had a big pot luck thing with the food from your country. I am actually stuffed and the American table came in strong with the PB&J, hot dogs, mashed potatoes, and grilled cheese, and a selfie stick all on an american flag. ´Merica. Anyways I am doing really great here and love and miss you all very much. I wish I could be there with you guys in all these cool things that are happening but every day this week I had the opportunity to run home in the pouring rain and thunder so I'm pretty sure my experiences are better. 

Anyways this week was actually really good. We have a family that is progressing very well and we hope that the dad will get baptized this week because the family said they will follow his example after he does it. He has already dropped drinking cafe and is a super humble dude. This family is probably some of my favorite investigadores I have had so far. I am not going to lie at the beginning of this week I was pretty homesick. This has been a struggle through my mission because I am really attached to my family and some times I have to just let myself miss them. But once we start working in the day all that gets pushed away and I am perfectly fine. Me and Elder Burgos get along really well, and he is actually basically the same person as me, we have a lot of fun.

One of the biggest things that I have learned is that no matter what you just have to smile and have a good time. It is really easy to get down on yourself in the mission, but all that is just a choice. Choose to be happy, and other people will see that light in you and want a little part of it. I have found at times people will come up to us and ask to be taught or just want to know why we do what we do, everyday, all day. At times i am truly sad when I think of all the people that just don't have the Gospel, don't have in their lives the one thing that can bring more joy and happiness that anything else. When we get a door slammed in our face or obscene words getting thrown at us in the street, I really truly couldn't care less what they think of me, but am genuinely sad that they just haven't had the opportunity to fill the Gospel work in their lives like I have had. I know without a doubt that this Gospel is true, and without fail my true and only goal in this life is to be worthy to have Eternal Life and live with my family and my Father in Heaven again. I thank you all for everything you have done for me. Hope this week is a good one!

6 months??!

Hello everyone! 

Happy Birthday mom! i love you so much! I am so thankful for everything you do for me, i hope you understand that. Really you are the best in the world, and i miss you more than anyone else on the planet. Hope you have a good 30th birthday!

So I officially passed my six months mark, but who is counting. Really though its crazy how fast time flies. SO HOW IS EVERYONE?! This week went by really fast, i feel like i was just writing home, i almost don't know what there is to say. Congrats to Chandler for your Mission call! You are going to be such a great missionary and have unbelievable experiences. Also sounds like everyone is starting to get back into the normal swing of things. 

So anyways ill move on to the what happened this week in El Salvador segment because I cant really think of anything right now. I made pupusas this week! That was actually really fun, and I have always wanted to try. I actually did a decent job and all the women in the ward were telling me to open a pupusa place in Arizona.... future career? I also went on divisions with a new Elder from Guatamala. He has such a crazy awesome story. Basically he was a drug addict, and dressed like a hippie, but when the missionaries came to his door within a month he had dropped it all. He also dropped his job and career as a bartender and left on a mission a year after his bautismal. It amazing to see the power of conversion in the lives of different people. The Church is so true. 

We also had another bautismal this week. It was a really cool experience. We baptized a girl from a less active family, and the whole family came. We are praying the one of our investagodoras makes the decision to be baptized this upcoming week also. she has been praying for a while but doesn't feel like she has gotten an answer. We are going to come by today. 

Well, Thats all i got for this week. I apologize for the shortness of the email, but I really cant think of anything else to say. SORRY MOM. Ill send a few pictures to make up for it. Love You all very much!

Elder Nelson

Here is part of my zone doing weird things and when I made Pupusas with Elder Schula.

blessing from Elder Nelson, baptisms, volcanos and more + picture!

Hey everyone! Great to hear from you guys like always on Monday. I am so thankful for my family and the chance to talk with you guys once every week. Sometimes it is what gets me going into the new week. Mom, I loved your story about the Wifi in Canada! Such a cool story and I know Heavenly Father always looks out and cares for us. Something like recieving an email isnt a life or death situación but it just goes to show that Heavenly Father cares about us and wants us to be happy and have joy in this life. I'm very grateful for you Mommy and love you very much! And Jessie and Kevin your kids are getting so big! I may have shed a tear or two when I saw the picture of your kids. I miss them so much and love hearing about the stroies when they pray for me. I think those are the most powerful prayers going my way. Thank you very much. And I'm glad they enjoy the picture of my wrestle and victory with the giant lizards. And Tyler and Anneke I'm jealous you guys get to spend so much time in Yellowstone, Its on my bucketlist. Take Pictures!

Anyways, this week was quite a busy one! I have gotten the hang a little bit of training but there is still a lot i need to learn. This week we spent a lot of time in San Salvador, we had to go thursday to immigration for my companion and Friday we went for the Multi Mission. It was such an awesome experience! Elder Nelson was here and it was such a powerful experience. It was something i will never forget. He talked a lot about the importance of missionaries woking together with the Bishops. Its the key to missionary work in the ward. As missionaries we are here basically as assistants to the bishop, and we need to be willing and eager to help him with anything he needs. Also, the most powerful of all was at the end. Elder Nelson can be a funny guy, but at the end he got very very serious. He felt impressed to leave an apostolic blessing with us. He said he felt there were many of us in the room worried about sickness and the danger of El Salvador, and felt impressed to leave a blessing. He blessed us with many beautiful things, and said more or less, "With the Holy Priesthood of God that I hold, I leave with you an Apostolic blessing from God himself here with you as missionaries in El Salvador"... and he blessed us with health, saftey, Success with the people of El Salvador, and, my favorite, "The Blessing to return home in safety with your loved ones back home". The spirit was so strong. it was a physical presence in the room, and I know Heavenly Father is here with us in El Salvador watching out for us.

Also this week we had a Stake Conference in San Miguel! They divided the stake into two! That means the missionary work is going forward here in El Salvador! I am so very grateful to witness such a blessing for the people here in El Salvador and a huge step forward for the work here in this area. This means they will probably change up all the zones in the mission and most likely more missionaries will come to this mission! Very excited, there are big things ahead.

This week we have a lot of work to do, We have a couple families that are really positive. One is Miguel and his family. This man told us that he had never gone to any church or listened to any teachings from any church, but when we came to his door his heart was touched and said it was his time to change. Little by little he is making big steps in the Gospel and has come to church two weeks in a row. He has a baptismal date for later this month. We have many investigadores and are very excited for what lies ahead. We are hoping for two more bautismales this week.

I also want to say how much I am thankful for this Gospel and the Knowledge of Eternal Families. It is by far the most important thing in this world for me. I said it before and will say it again. Mom, Dad, I love you so Much and am so grateful for everything you have sacrificed and taught me to get me where I am today. It hasnt gone unnoticed and i hope to one day be the kind of parent that you guys were to me, there would be no greater honor. I am very grateful also for every one one of my brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends and everyone in my life that has guided me to this point. Love you all! Till next week!

Elder Nelson

Ps here is a picture with me and some CCM friends I saw at the Multi Mission!

PPS The volcano is still smoking everyday and there are a lot of rumors that it will erupt soon. Its changing the weather patterns! People are saying its eating up all the rain because it rains everywhere except for here is San Miguel!

Another busy week

Hey everyone! Great to hear from you all! I cant believe you guys are in Canada already. that's so crazy. I always wanted to go there. Sounds like a lot of fun. make sure you take pictures and save some stories for me. It must be nice to be with the whole family. And coming up with another Lake Powell trip! ive been itching lately to go snowboarding and wakeboarding again so its awesome that you guys get to go. I hope Tyler finally lands that backflip.

SO this week has been a very busy one! For starters, this upcoming friday Elder Nelson (the much more important one from the quorum of the twelve) is coming to El Salvador! Right now he is in Honduras i believe, but we will have a giant meeting with him and all three missions here in El Salvador. Also there is a rumor he will be here here for the Stake conference we have here in San Miguel! It will be really cool and  great experience to bring invistagadores to. I am looking forward to it a lot. So Like i said last week I am now training Elder Burgos. It is a great experience. I had little mental breakdown this Thursday. I woke up and realized that not only was I training someone, I now have the most time in the ward I am in out of all the four missionaries, and the most time in the mission out of us four. I was super stressed and thing after thing was being put on my back on top of all the work we already had to do in the area. I remember just having to stop, went into the room, knelt down and prayed my heart out. i poured out all my feelings and troubles and doubts that were overwhelming me to the Lord. After doing this I got up, and had the unmistakable feeling that My heavenly Father was listening to me. He heard me and was telling me he would be right there with me every step of the way. it was what I needed, and we went to work. My companion is kind of shy to talk to people in the street, so i have found that my spanish skills have been pushed to the limit as I have gotten in the habit of just sharing the gospel with everyone and trusting the Lord will put the words i need in my mouth. Man, he has fulfilled that promise. I know that God hears and answers our prayers. Although at times its hard, he will always be with us in our trials, and he helped me every step of the way. Despite all this, we were about to bring nearly 11 investigators to church Sunday and about 4 new really positive baptismal dates. I am so grateful for these blessings.

Other than that, these days are pretty normal! I am getting used to the responsibilities of being comp. mayor and have learned to trust in the Lord more than anything. Thank you everyone for the love and prayers!

Elder Nelson

Cambios, Giant Lizards, Volcanos, and Bautismales

Hello Everyone! Its always such a blessing to hear from everyone on Mondays and I am glad everyone is doing so awesome. Loved hearing about Grandmas Surprise part. sounds like everything went great and the book was a big hit! Wish I could have been there to enjoy it with you guys. But just as it goes down here it was a pretty eventful week.

TO start the volcano was was going off! Its an active volcano that i live at the base of down here and a lot of days it is smoking pretty visible which is cool. But on Friday we were walking to lunch and my companion pointed out that the smoke seemed to have a red tint to it... Hmmm.. thats odd. Later we received  a call from the Zls and they told us to confine ourselves in the house, because apparently lava was spilling out of one of the sides and they were worried of an eruption. After about 4 hours we were cleared to leave but we had to carry 72 hour prepped bags and had to buy masks in case of an eruption. later it settled down the next day.. But how cool is that. Also last week we went with some crazy farmer type people that may be the coolest people i have ever met. They took us to this river and they were hunting these giant lizards and iguanas. THey would shoot them out of trees like 50 feet away with a sling shot and rocks! They let us try and it was very hard but a lot of fun... And i have a picture of my attempting to eat one. Fun times. 

Anyways  this week we had two of our bautismales. one of them Jose has such a strong testimony and has a desire to serve a mission. He also wants to baptize his whole family and got all 5 of them to come to church this weekend! it was very cool to see them all there and we feel like they have a very good chance of progressing. The other bautismal, Flor, went through and we were very excited that she finally made the step. The Other two baptisms we hope to have the first week in September. 

Also today is the first day of the new changes! Annndddddd...... I am staying here in the same area. Yay! I am actually happy to be working here we have a lot of good things going here and after this change i will have almost 6 months in the area. I will be here with Elder Burgos! I will continue as his trainer, which i love to do and am honored to do it, and Elder Perdomo will leave to a different area. Looking forward a lot to these Next couple weeks. I have been so blessed to see the impact this Gospel can have on the lives of people. This includes the investigadores, other missionaries, and my own. One of the missionaries I have been with my whole mission, Elder Coc leaves tomorrow to go home. Its sad to see him go, he has taught me so much. I have also looked at how much I have grown, and i cant even comprehend it. I am so grateful for this Gospel. I invite everyone everywhere to find that happiness that can only be found in the Gospel. It is literally life changing once you become truly converted to the teachings of this gospel. I love you all thanks for everything!

Ps. We have set rat traps around the house, but unfortunately Mr rat took the cheese but didnt spring trap. Stay tuned...

Elder Nelson