To Dad in Germany

Haha! Looks like fun! How does it feel to be in a country where the people don't speak your language? Last week while we were shopping, we ran into a few people from Canada. The guy who worked there at the store explained to me, "Hey, these people are from Canada, and they need help finding pancake mix." I talked to them in English and then I asked some Latin Elders (in Spanish, obviously) where the pancake mix was at. And the man from Canada told me later on, "Wow! You speak really good English!" 

It was funny because after I talked to the Latins, he thought I was from Chile and that Spanish was my first language. HAHA.

Una Obra Maravillosa

Dear All,

Another week has flown by. Someone mentioned to us a few days ago that time goes by faster here Viña del Mar. I'm not sure what they meant or what that exactly means, but I'm beginning to wonder if it's true? Haha. :)

Well, we were going to have a baptism this next Saturday, but Susana didn't pass her interveiw. :( But we're going to keep working with her to see what we can do to help her. Olfa, on the other hand, is going to have her interview this next Saturday, and she'll pass and be baptized on March 5. She's awesome! Last night we taught her "Permanaced." Permanaced is a document written the Chile area presidency especially for the Chilean saints. I have a copy in English, so you all can read it for yourself one day. But...to sum it up: It talks about the Spirit and how everything good in this life depends on us receiving the Holy Ghost and maintaining it in our lives. But alas! We shared the document with her last night, and she understood really well. She's actually accepted everything very well. :) It's great having investigators like that! Haha. What was even greater was when she gave us empanadas right before we left. Delicious! ;)

Other than those two investigators, we're just working hard on finding new people to teach, and we're trying to get the ward here pumped to do missionary work--as I mentioned last week. We visited a lot of members last week, and we invited a ton of them to go out with us this week, and it's been a success so far! It seems like the members are already a whole lot more excited to work with us. So hopefully we can keep that up! :)

We had our zone conference this last week. That was the greatest! As always, I learned a ton from President Gillespie and the zone leaders. We had a prepare a talk for the conference, and we did a little "workshop" on how to give a good talk. I kind of rushed my talk, and it wasn't the greatest! It was actually pretty boring. I'm just glad I had to give it in front of four missionaries, rather than in front of ALL the missionaries. Phew!

The conference was also really awesome because it was the first time that Elder Boyd, Elder Hawkes, and I were all together since January of last year. It was awesome to be reunited! As always, we talked of old MTC memories, and we shared new mission stories with each other. And then there are the stories from BEFORE the mission that we liked to share with each other. Haha. Elder Hawkes had me tell the story of how they accidently put me in special ed. my sixth grade year (again). That story never gets old for them it seems. Haha.

I am running out of interesting things to say these days. :/ But as always I just want to let you all know that I have a testimony of the Gospel. And I know that Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I know that if we rely on Him and keep His commandments, we will be protected, and we will receive Eternal Life. All is takes is an attitude of faith and a strong desire. :) I am thankful for each and every one of you and your examples.

I love you all! Until next week! Cuidense mucho. :)

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Nelson IV

"Come What May And Love It"

Dear All,

Last night, my companion Elder Judd said, "You should really clean off the jam on this thing" referring to the mess I made in our sandwhich griller. The thing was burning hot, and I'm not sure what I was thinking, but I decided it would be cool to try and clean off the jam while the thing was still burning hot. To make a short story short...It hurts a little bit to type with my left hand because it got burnt pretty good. :)

Which brings me to another subject: We all have trials and problems in this life. We're not perfect, and we'll never be able to avoid that. This last week I was thinking a little bit about that as I listened to Joseph B. Wirthlin's talk from 2008 entitled "Come What May And Love It." I've decided that this phrase has basically been the moto of my life, and it will continue to be my moto for the rest of my life. I would try and explain it all in my own words, but Joseph B. Wirthlin explained it much better. So I suggest you find that talk and listen to it. And then do something to apply it to your life.

Haha. Something always comes to mind when I listen to it: The dumpster in front of our house there in Henderson. Dad and JoAnn used to have us fill it up twice every week! :) And at first, I just thought, "Why us? Why do we have to do this now? It's so hot outside!" Well, one day I told myself, "Why am I complaining? Let's just turn it into something fun and just do it." And so every Tuesday or Wednesday (can't remember which) for about a month or so, Logan and I would go outside around noon, fill up the dumpster, SWEAT UP A STORM, and then afterwards....Jump into the pool and go for a swim! :) And it was a BLAST! I loved it after doing it a few times. (Ask Logan about it; he had a blast, too. Haha.)

Anyways! I am sorry. I like to go off on random things sometimes. All is well here. It was a good week. We had a lot of success, and we were really happy about that. We completed with almost all of our metas. In fact...As far as completing with metas goes, I am pretty sure it was the best week of my mission. :) And we should have two baptisms before this transfer ends. One on February 26 and the other on March 5. :) Their names are Susana and Olfa. Olfa is awesome! She was at church yesterday, and we taught her last night about tithing. She accepted everything without any problems, and she's really excited to be baptized on March 5. She's a really positive lady. Despite having cancer and not having any hair, she is SO positive and it really made me happy yesterday as we taught her--knowing that there are such people in the world today. She's a great example to me. She's one of those people that I think I'll never forget.

The ward is awesome, although the zone leaders were telling us last night that a lot of the members have lost trust in the missionaries here. And they were suggesting that we work really hard and show the members that we are excited to be here. It was something I didn't realize under last night--the members here are great but something just seemed...different. So this week we're really going to work hard with the members and show them that we love the mission and that we're excited to be here. :)

I don't know what else to say. I hope everyone enjoys the pictures. A lot of them are just from my area so you have a good idea of where I am at now. I also included another picture of me and Elder Hawkes, and the package I received from my convert's (Valeska) family from Quillota. I also included a picture of me eating my empanada and my melon. The zone leaders, my companion, and I had a little feast a few nights ago. I supplied the empanadas and Olfa (our investigator) provided the melon. It was awesome. Haha. (And I think that's it for the pictures.)

I love you all. I love the mission! It's the best. I'm still here working hard because I have a testimony of these things! I know the Book of Mormon is true. And because of this testimony, I know that Christ is our Savior, that Joseph Smith was a prophet and we have a prophet to lead us and guide us today, and I KNOW the church is the only true church of Christ. The Book of Mormon really is the keystone to our religion. I challenge each of you to make a special effort to read it personally or as a family this year. By doing so, we will all be blessed. I promise you all that.

Until next week!

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Nelson IV

Reñaca Alto: Estoy Perdido

Dear All,

Well, I was just on the mission website, and I finally made it to the "OUT ON THE STREETS" section. I've been waiting for this moment for a long time now! Haha. HERE is the link to the picture. This picture was taken by Sister Gillespie as she and President Gillespie were leaving from the interviews that we had last week. That's the reason I am carrying our area book. It's also the reason we're wearing suits when it was SUPER hot outside. Enjoy! :)

So last Tuesday I made my way to the mission office with a few other Elders. From there, I was supposed to meet up with more Elders so that we could all go to Achupallas (my new zone) together. Well, I was surprised when I arrived to the office, and Elder Birchall was there! We greeted each other and the first thing he asked me was, "So we're you surprised that you were transfered?" I told him that I was, and he told me, "Well, you want to know the truth? The truth is Achupallas is really struggling right now, and so we decided we needed to put a few powerful missionaries over there. And that's why we transfered you over there, as well as Elder Briones!" It was at this moment that I just couldn't believe it! For those of you who don't remember: Elder Briones is my good friend that was with me in my first ward my first two transfers. He's from Santiago, and he has family here in Viña. And for that reason, he was told that he would be up north for his WHOLE mission. Well...There are always exceptions. :) And yes! Elder Briones and I were able to reunite this last week after not seeing each other for almost a whole year! It was awesome. It was a great moment for the two of us. The cool part was that I could understand EVERY word he said to me! Haha. I remember my time up North with him...I couldn't understand all that much of what he told me. But yeah...It was great being able to talk to him about old times, and we're SO pumped to be here in Achupallas together. :)

So all is well here in my new ward Reñaca Alto. It's a lot smaller than Olmue and Quillota. But wow! It's SO much more confusing and easier to get lost. There are a lot of hills here, too, bringing back memories of good old Cerro Alegre. As far as the ward goes...It's a good ward. I'll just say this: We have a lot of work to do! :) We have an investigator named Susanna. She's a really nice lady! She can't read or write, but she has desires to learn more about the Gospel, and she just wants to follow the example of Christ. She has a baptismal date for February 26, and we're excited for her. She came to church yesterday, and that was a great acomplishment because my companion was telling me that she always said that she would be there but she was never able to make it. :)

Speaking of my companion...As I mentioned last week: His name is Elder Judd, and he is from Payson, UT! Excellent! My first companion from Utah. Wow. Haha. Also, he DOES play the bag pipes, and he has about five months in the mission. He actually speaks and understands the language pretty well already. He's a good missionary, and he saved us this week because he knows the area REALLY well. :) He's a nice guy. I don't know if I ever said this about Elder Richardsen (my companion in Olmue), but...Elder Richardsen really reminded me of Scott Oehler at times. And, well, Elder Judd makes me laugh every time because he says, does, and thinks almost exactly like Walter Coe. It's great finding attributes of your best friends from home in your mission companions.

I was reading 2 Nephi 9 during sacrament meeting yesterday. I've read such chapters of the Book of Mormon many times before. But every time I read it again, I always learn something new--something that I personally need in my life during that time. It's amazing how it works. I love the scriptures, and my testimony of them grows each and every day. I know that as we study the scriptures daily, we will find answers to our questions, we will find counsel and comfort, and--most important of all--we will draw closer to our Heavenly Father.

I testify that the Book of Mormon is true! I was saddened a few days ago as we talked to a lady who wanted to contend with us about The Book of Mormon. We bore our testimony about how we have personally received an answer from God that it's true. She didn't accept one word that we said, but it was another one of those moments where we just walked away and I felt good to know that I have the truth in my life--that we truly can receive answers from God by praying and reading the scriptures. :) We are rejected every day. But every time we're rejected, I feel my testimony getting stronger. It's the greatest!

I love you all. :) Until next week!