Another week has flown by, and here I am again writing an e-mail home. I'll be honest...It's been a tough three weeks. I might even go as far as to say that these last three weeks have been the hardest times of my mission by far. I'll save all the details for a future date; perhaps when we can talk to each other face to face, and I can explain it all more thoroughly. However, I will say this: the Lord has me here in Los Vilos for a reason. I felt that very strongly this week. And so tough times or not...I'm here to do the Lord's will, and I must obey. I won't accept any other choice.
With that said...I was talking to my companion Elder Monzón a few days ago, and he told me something interesting. He said he heard a few rumors that the zone leaders might be moving to Los Vilos soon. If that's the case...Maybe I WON'T end my mission here like I thought. But I guess the only choice is to wait and see what happens, right? :) But it's interesting. I remember opening my call in July of 2009, and thinking, "WHY do I have to wait until November to leave? I want to go NOW." I remember my Dad explained to me that it was that way because that's the way the Lord needed it to be. And so it's interesting because I'll learn in the next few months WHY the Lord called me in November instead of September or October.
I am excited for the next few weeks. We have an investigator named Fernanda that will be baptized on August 20. It's super weird because a few days ago, I figured out that she's younger than me; she's 19. But she is awesome! She's like a mix between KT and Cynthia. Haha. It makes me laugh every time that we teach her because she's really smart (she basically has the pamphlet's memorized), and she has the same kind of personality that KT and Cynthia have. She has such a powerful testimony, and every time I hear it mine grows, too. She's getting married to a man named Eric (a less active that is reactivating) on August 19, and then he's going to baptize her the next day. :)
And then there's Cristofer and Francisco. Cristofer is 14 and Francisco is 12. They'll be baptized on August 27. I love being around them because they REALLY remind me of my little brothers. They are so funny. They both want to be baptized NOW. Their desires to follow Christ's example is amazing. I mean...They showed up to church yesterday before us! Without their parents! They'lll be a great addition to the branch because we don't have any youth. The branch is SUPER excited to have two youth to pass the sacrament. I'm really looking forward to their baptisms.
A few days ago, we had a branch activity and we watched a seminary video clip from the Doctrine and Covenants called "The Man Without Eloquence." It was about a man who didn't have public speaking skills nor could he speak with powerful words. He was humble, and he bore his testimony sincerely. And thanks to this man (I can't remember his name), Brigham Young felt the Spirit SO strong and was eventually baptized by this man. As we watched this short video clip, I felt the Spirit really strong because I have been in that man's shoes before, and I've seen miracles come out of what I thought were weak, unconvincing words.
I have pondered and studied much this past week. I was pondering on how evil and corrupt the world in today; and it worried me! But as I was studying my scriptures during my personal study, I felt God's love sweep those worries away. And then I received personal revelation from the Spirit; I was taught that "we live in a world today where we cannot afford to not read the scriptures and pray daily." I felt that prompting strongly, and I know it's true. Because if we aren't reading and praying daily, the Holy Ghost cannot and will not be with us. And the companionship of the Holy Ghost is an absolute must in today's world filled with so much immoral decay and temptations. I promise each and every one of you that we are filled with peace and comfort as we study our scriptures daily, as we pray daily, and as we attend church weekly. If you're going through a hard time in your life right now...I know that if you do these things, the Lord will save you. I know these things are true because He saved me. The words of Alma The Younger to his son Helaman will be my second witness of this promise:
16And now, for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the apains of a damned soul.
17And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.
18Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.
19And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
20And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!
21Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.
22Yea, methought I saw, even as our father Lehi saw, God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels, in the attitude of singing and bpraising their God; yea, and my soul did long to be there.
23But behold, my limbs did receive their strength again, and I stood upon my feet, and did manifest unto the people that I had been born of God.
24Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
25Yea, and now behold, O my son, the Lord doth give me exceedingly great joy in the fruit of my labors;
I love you all. Until next week!
Con Mucho Amor,
Elder Nelson IV
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