Los Cambios De Las Misiones Del Mundo

Dear All,

I wanted to say thank you to all of you who wrote me e-mails, letters, and packages. :) I got letters/e-mails from good friends and family, and as always, it´s good to hear from home. :) I received a package from Shayla, and it was the greatest!! Muchas gracias a todos.

Well, just a few little updates before moving on to the good stuff: A few days ago, I got sick, and I had to stay out for a day. It was the same kind of cold/flu that I got while I was in the MTC. :/ It wasn't fun at all! I´m getting much better now, though, so no worries! I have a runny nose, but that's about it. I lost my voice, too, but I am starting to get it back, which is great.

I also wanted to apologize if I worried any of you when I sent news of my fall. Haha. My trainer "cut" me the other day during our zone conference. He said, "Elder Nelson! You don´t send videos like that to your family. They are going to worry about you." Haha. I told him I would send an apology to any of those who were worried, so for that reason, I am apologizing. Although, I am sure none of you were THAT worried. :)

Well, our good friend Robert (the exchange student from Utah who was studying here) is leaving this week, and he will be missed! He has been a great help in the missionary work, and he´s been a great example to us as well. He´s a really cool and funny guy; and I´m going to miss having him here in Cerro Alegre.

Just an update: Manuela still has doubts, and she hasn´t attended church in quite a while, and we haven´t been able to teach her in a while. It´s sad to me, but I know that we have done all that we can as missionaries for now. They know what they need to do to resolve their doubts, and now it´s their job to DO what we´ve invited them to do. That´s the cool thing about missionary work. We don´t FORCE or obligate anyone to do anything--that would be taking away their angency, of course. We simply invite people to DO things that will draw them closer to Christ. We will continue working with them and praying for them, too.

As humans, change is something dificult for us. But when our inspired leaders make changes, we have two choices: to obey/do or to disobey/complain/etc. Well, we had a zone conference last Friday that consisted of a few changes--not only in our mission, but in THE mission--including every mission in the world. But first, I want to share the changes that happened only in our mission:

-Every companionship now has a cell phone. Neat, eh? It is something that is really going to help us out. Instead of rushing to a pay phone to call our investigators before church or before an appointment, we can now call them from our very own pension. It´s going to help us out a whole lot! (This change...I don´t think too many missionaries complained about it. Haha.)

-We are had 23 missionaries share their "dying testimony" during the conference. Yes, a good 23! And that was not including the other 7-10 going home, either. There are a TON of great elders going home next month (one including my good friend Elder Wallentine), and it´s going to be different once they are gone. They will be missed.

Now, I want to share the changes that are happening in THE mission. First of all, the first presidency has changed the interviews and zone conferences. Instead of having zone conferences once a month, we will now only have them every three months. Instead of having interviews with the mission president once a tranfer, we will now only have them every three months. Interesting, eh? It´s weird, because before that change, I had 16 conferences and 11 interviews with president left in the mission. Now, with that change, I have five more left. Yikes. It´s going to be a weird change, but...President Gillespie said it best when he reminded us that it is our job to be obedient, especially if we are receiving the changes from the First Presidency themselves! :)

Also, they are changing the MTC curriculum! The MTC missionaries will no longer use Preach My Gospel in the MTC--instead, they will learn a few other news things, and then they will start using Preach My Gospel once they get to the mission field. What does that mean? Well, it means that we, too, have to learn these new things (I am saying "things" because I don´t know what else to call them; haha) so that when the new missionaries arrive, we will be on the same page as them. Something like that. I can´t explain is quite as well as I thought I was going to be able to. Haha. But basically...it´s a new method that is going to help us focus more on following the Spirit and teaching people according to THEIR needs, opposed to teaching just LESSONS from Preach My Gospel. We are going to start learning it all right away, but the MTC will not start until May of next year. Interesting stuff, really. I will keep everyone posted as I learn a little bit more! :)

The mission is an exciting thing--especially with changes like these. I am learning a lot, and I am loving it! :) I love you all, and I am grateful for your examples. I know that this Gospel is true and that we have the FULLNESS of the Gospel today. We have a prophet who leads and guides us today. We will always have this guidance, this direction, and this authority to perform sacred ordinances because of one simple fact: God loves us, we are His children, and He WANTS us to return to Him after this life. Without the Priesthood, that wouldn´t be possible. I have gained a powerful testimony of the priesthood since beginning my mission those many months ago.

Hasta la proxima semana, entonces.

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Nelson IV

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D&C 122:7

Eight Months and Comfortable

Dear All,

After getting my call a year ago, I started taking my temple prep class immediately in the house of President Walker and his wife. During the classes, we talked a lot about Chile and what I was to expect. One thing President Walker told me was, "Once you´ve been in Chile for 6-7 months, you are going to feel REALLY good." Well, it´s funny because that really has been true for me. I am just now feeling comfortable and confident with the work. It´s funny how it works. When I got to the MTC, I really missed my house. When I got to Chile, I really missed the MTC. When I got here to Valpo, I really missed La Sarena. But I am so confident and comfortable right now in the mission that that I don´t even think about that stuff as much anymore. It feels good.

There are pros and cons to having a Latin companion. They teach really well, and the people will actually listened to them and understand them completely. However, sometimes it´s hard because they are so much different than us! Haha. Elder Lopez comes from a different culture than me, and so I´ve seen and heard him say a bunch of stuff where I just kind of scratch my head and say to myself, "What the!?" Haha. And the last few days, we´ve kind of argued about a few things and what not--but at the same time we´ve had a lot of laughs. Haha. It really is a different kind of relationship. It´s hard to explain! But we DO have something identically in common: We both have strong testimonies of the Gospel, and we are both here to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We found a lady a few days ago, and she didn´t have time to listen to us. We set up an appointment, and we showed up a few days later. She wasn´t there. But then we decided to pass by a few days ago, and we were actually able to teach her and her family. It was a good lesson, and we figured out that she has 11 grandkids! And none of them (her, her grandkids, her husband, etc.) are baptized, and they all enjoyed talking to us and learning more about the Gospel. (Although, it was a little frustrating for me because a bunch of her grandkids were making fun of my accent; haha.) It´s too early to say anything now, because we´ve only taught them once, but I really hope we can get some great investigators and some baptisms from that family. They are great people.

We´ve been working with this 9-year-old named Camila and her two older sisters. Their Mom is an inactive member of the church, but they have never been baptized. They have problems with the law of chasity, but they all have desires to follow Christ and His Gospel. But the greatest thing is watching these three girls change their lives. I remember when Elder Mann and I first found them. The oldest sister (Stephanie) refused to listen to us, and Camila and Michelle didn´t really have much interest. All three of them also REFUSED to pray! Haha. But wow! The last few weeks, I´ve seen a change in them, and they are actually progressing. They all now have a habit of praying, and they are reading in the Book of Mormon. They´ve even attended church a few times! :) They´ve stopped drinking tea, and now they are working on getting married so that they can be baptized. :) It is the greatest thing ever--seeing them change, and seeing them actually WANTING to do these things so that they CAN be baptized in Christ´s church. :) Nothing makes me happier than seeing the Gospel change lives. It´s the greatest!

My testimony of prayer grew a little bit more on Thursday. :) I was really down on myself because my companion and I weren´t having the greatest sucess, and I felt like it was my fault, because I have more time here in this area. During lunch, it got to the point where I just told myself, "Hey, get on your knees and talk to Heavenly Father about it!" I did so, and it was a sweet experience. Almost immediately, my sadness and frustration was replaced with joy, happiness, and a desire to just go to work!

I remembered something President Gillespie also told me in my interview with him last week. He said, "Elder Nelson, your companion is in his first assignment as senior companion. Just remember: When things seem like they aren´t going right, just be obedient!" It really is that simple, isn´t it? When things aren´t going the way we want them to go, all we have to do is be obedient and patient. And with time, we will eventually receive the blessings. Obedience really is the most important commandment. Because when we are obedient, we are showing the Lord that we truly DO want to follow Him; and when we are obedient and do what He says, He is bound to bless us. (See D&C 82:10, I believe it is.)

I love you all, and I am grateful for this opportunity to be lost in the Lord´s work. It truly has been the greatest experience of my life--leaving the world behind and giving EVERYTHING I´ve got to the Lord. There is nothing greater. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest, and I challenge you all to always be obedient and do your best! The blessings will come!

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Nelson IV

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D&C 122:7

Mi Primer Latino :)

Dear All,

Greetings from Valparaiso Oeste! I am still here in Cerro Alegre. :) I was happy and sad to stay. Haha. Happy because staying in your ward is always great--we don´t have to pack or move! Sad because Elder Mann and Elder Yost both left! But Elder McManamom stayed with me, and our new companions are sweet! On Tuesday, we dropped our companions off at the Zone Leader´s pension. We had an hour or two until our new companions arrived, and so Elder McManamom and I looked around Valpo for a while. That was fun until it started pouring outside. And--you know--pouring rain is facinating, but wow! It was also VERY windy. This last week, I´ve felt some of the strongest winds that I´ve ever felt before. I almost literally got blown off my feet! The best part was: Elder McManamom and I were WAY close to the ocean, and we saw some killer waves, and we got super wet! (Haha. Imagine two missionaries just getting destroyed by waves WHILE it´s pouring rain. It was something like that.)

Well, we eventually got our companions, and it was a sweet week. :) But before I go off and tell you EVERYTHING about our companions, I want to talk a little bit about the interview that I had with President Gillespie last Thursday. Haha. It was funny. He always ends the interviews off with, "Do you have any questions for me?" Haha. And so it was my turn, and he called me in. His first question was, "How is your family?" I told him that my family is great, that my brothers enjoyed the Back East Trip, and how I´ve really seen how the Gospel has blessed my family since starting my mission. He was happy to hear that! But what really surprised me was when he said, "Elder, do you have any questions for me?" Haha. I thought for sure that the interview was already over! I told him I didn´t, and so I thought we were going to end with a prayer.

But I was really surprised when he said, "One more thing, Elder. How is the language coming?" I told him that the language is great and that I am getting a little better every day. The next part surprised me anymore! He said, "The mission is going to be changing quite a bit. In the next few months, we will have sixty missionaries going home, and they will be replaced by new elders. We may need you to help us out and train one of them. Do you think you´d be able to do that--train a new Elder to be a good missionary?" Haha. I, of course, was surprised and told him that I would do it if he needed me to. :) Haha. And it was pretty cool! Anything could happen, really, but wow! Sixty missionaries coming and going the next two tranfers. I am really excited to see what happens. :)

But the thing is: This change just started, and I need to stay focused on NOW. Haha. And with that, I am going to tell you a little bit about my new companion Elder Lopez. He is great! He is my first Latin companion, and so you can only imagine how much Spanish I am going to learn this tranfer/change. Haha. I´ve already learned a ton! Obviously because I am now speaking Spanish ALL day, opposed to only during the lessons like it was with my first three companions. :) And it´s funny because things are already starting to come out in Spanish instead of English (when I want to say something to Elder McManamom, for example. Haha.)

Elder Lopez is great. He is from Ecuador and France. He grew up in France because that is where his Mom lives. It´s way sweet. He is a convert of four years, and his conversion story is facinating. When he teaches and shares his conversion story with others, the Spirit is always really strong. It´s awesome. :) He´s a great missionary! The coolest part, though, is that he received his call the END of September and left two weeks later in October. Wow! I can´t imagine! Haha. I received mine a year ago in July and left in November. When he told me that, it really surprised me. Haha. But he´s the greatest! We basically have the same amount of time in the field, and it´s his first time as a senior companion. We´ve had a lot of fun together so far. :)

Elder Sylvanstoke (Elder McManamom´s) companion is way sweet, too! He´s from Orem, and he´s a big BYU fan. He and I have gotten along great so far. ;) It´s cool because both his parents are actually from Brazil, but they moved to Utah about 25 years ago. He´s a great Elder! He and Elder McManamom had a baptism on Saturday, and it was the greatest! Their investigator is a little slow mentally, because he was abused when he was younger. After his baptism, I asked him, "Abel, how do you feel?" And he said, "Mejor....Algo Espiritual...." (Better...Something Spiritual....) It was a special moment to me. He was so happy to be baptized, and to hear him say that...wow. The Spirit was really strong!

We played soccer a few days ago with the young men, and it was awesome. We played king of the field (I guess that´s what you´d call it), and our team was the worst! In order to win, you had to score two goals. Our team could never win and become the king of the field. Haha! But then I finally told Elder Sylvanstoke, "This is it. We are going to win this time." To make a long story short, I (the worst soccer player there) had two goals and won it for our team. HAHA. The young men LOVED it. It was really funny. :) But it felt good to actually score for once. It was just really funny to think that I scored both goals. Haha.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. We are loving the warm winter here. Although, when it DOES get cold, I get really confused and think we are in the middle of the Christmas holidays. ;) Haha.

I love you all! As always, I want to bear my testimony of the mission of our Savior. None of this would be possible without our Savior and Redeemer. We are blessed to have the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation--The plan of HAPPINESS-- in our lives. NEVER take this knowledge for granted! I testify that if we hold to the rod and endure to the end, we will live eternally with Him who gave us life and with our families. I am a witness that the Savior loves us and protects us. I am forever grateful for His love and His Gospel.

Have a great week!

Yours Truly,

Elder Nelson IV

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D&C 122:7

Story of My Life: The Worst Injury Yet

Dear All,

When all is said and done here in Cerro Alegre, I am always going to remember the powerful experiences that I´ve had here. We have cambios today, and I am excited for the next challenge. The Lord makes the choice; and I obey. :)

The Happy Hill will always be remembered from the injuries that I´ve had here, too. The dog bite in my behind and the nail in the foot--yeah, those were bad! But my worst injury came a few days ago. You see, Elder Mann and I just finished a lesson, and we were rushing to our next destination. It was really dark outside, and we couldn´t see much. As always, I was just following Elder Mann! We eventually reached this point, though, where it got a little tricky. It consisted of a very steep hill and swinging around someone´s gate to reach the other side. (It´s really hard to explain. See video/pictures.) Elder Mann made it look easy, and my first thought was, "Yeah, I can do that!!" But right before I attempted this little task, I felt the STRONGEST impression that I should not do it! Haha. I told Elder Mann that I didn´t feel good about it, and he said, "Well, I don´t know what else we can do!" I looked for other ways to get around this gate, but I found no other way. So--with time--I eventually decided to give it a try. With my water bottle and a Book of Mormon in my hand, I attempted to swing around this gate. And as you´ve probably already guessed, I slipped and fell down this hill. It really hurt! I came out with a few cuts and scrapes. And--as you can probably guess, too--my companion felt absolutely TERRIBLE.

The whole situation is hard to explain, really. But I will tell you this much: I´ve learned my lesson from that experience. When we have promptings and impressions from the Spirit, we NEED to follow those promptings and impressions. Even though I DID fall down that steep hill, my first thought was, "Wow. The Spirit told me NOT to do that." Haha. And then I made a promise to myself later that night. That I would NEVER go against the Spirit´s promptings again. I am a witness that the Lord DOES love us and because He loves us, we can have the guidance of the Spirit in our every day lives! I am a witness that we CAN receive direction from the Spirit. We CANNOT afford to take this wonderful gift for granted!

I learned more from my fall, too. I learned that the Lord really is watching me, and I am being protected. After the fall, I stood up and saw that I was pretty dirty and pretty cut up. Elder Mann apologized to me, and I told him it was okay. He then said, "Wow. How did you stop so suddenly? Did you do that?" Haha. The truth was, I was scared to death and I didn´t try to do anything! Days later, Elder Yost and I went back to where I fell (see pictures and video), and this time I saw where I fell in the day-time opposed to when I actually fell and couldn´t see a thing. I can´t explain it, but...physics tells me that I should have kept falling/rolling! We calculated that I fell anywhere from 23-30 feet. And not only that, but there were a TON of rocks where I fell. And yet--I only came out with a few scrapes and cuts. As Elder Yost and I observed where I fell, my heart was full because it was a proof to me that the Lord truly is watching me! That fall should have been a WHOLE lot worse. I learned a lot from that experience. :)

I hope everyone had a good 4th of July! We had a good one. We sang the National Anthem last night before going to bed. It was great. We also drew the flag in our planners (see picture), and it gave the members and investigators a good laugh. I love being here in Chile, but being here has really humbled me and has helped me truly appreciate the country we have. I love my country, and we truly are blessed to live in a country of rights and freedom!

I had a good laugh on Saturday night when I talked to this RM while Elder Mann was doing an interview. This RM (Andres Chacon; he´s in one of the wards here) served in Concepcion South, and he has been home for a month or so. He asked me if I knew anyone from Vegas that served there. I said, "Yeah, Elder Morgan." Haha. Turns out that he knew Landan Morgan, and that was pretty cool. It was funny, though, because he said, "Elder Morgan? He went home a long time ago!" Haha. And I just said, "Well, not really. Didn´t he go home around January or so?" And he said, "Yeah! That was a long time ago!" I, of course, then realized that January was a good six months ago, and that I´ve almost been here in Chile for six months, too. Weird! It was really funny. January seems just like yesterday!

I read something very powerful from the First Presidency Message of Preach My Gospel. It says, "The Lord will reward and richly bless you as you humbly and prayerfully serve Him. More happiness awaits you than you have ever expierenced as you labor among His children." Wow. I read that, and it hit me pretty hard! It says the same thing (or something similiar) in our call letters. But when I read that promise and thought about it, my heart was just filled. I know that promise is true. I´ve been so blessed to be here serving the Lord full-time. And I´ve had some of the happiest moments here as I´ve labored amongst the people of Chile. I love them, and I am grateful for this calling the Lord has entrusted me with.

Our Savior lives, and His Gospel is the ONLY way to obtain eternal life. I testify that the Spirit can guide us and direct us in all things. I am grateful for this gift that we all have! I challenge you all to live your life in a way that the Spirit can be with you at all times, in all things, and in all places. If we do all we can to maintain the Spirit, we will see blessings come from the Spirit and His guidance. I am grateful for the challenges and the struggles we go through in this life and for the growth we are able to go through! I am grateful for little experiences that we have that help us learn Gospel lessons, such as me falling from a cliff. :) I will forever be grateful for that fall.

I love you all.

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Nelson IV

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D&C 122:7