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I loved my mission, and I will never forget it. These last few days at home have been difficult\different, but great. We celebrated Thanksgiving today with Mom and Darin. We are now catching up a little bit with Matthew Nelson.

Yesterday I was picked up by my Dad, JoAnn, my little brothers, Levi, and Skyler. Although I was only at home for a little while and I was so overwhelmed by the things that I needed to do, we managed to enjoy it.

It's really late. I just got done talking to a Sister from Renaca Alto via Windows Live Messenger. Yesterday I took a few minutes to call others from Chile. It was great. I plan on continuing with such activities; I don't want to lose the Spanish.

We still have tomorrow and then Saturday we are back off to Vegas so that I can attend church at Mission Hills. I'm looking forward to the struggles, the changes, and the adventures that will come these next few months and years that are ahead of me. As always...I will be keeping you posted.

0: We Did It

Dear All,

Yesterday was an adventure. I said farewell to Quillota and Achupallas. It was great to reunite with the people there; I love them all so much, and they will be missed.

My final interview went well. Really powerful. I'm not so worried anymore; the advice from President Gillespie helped me out a lot. I'll never forget the things that my mission president has taught me. He truly is a special witness of Christ. At the end of the interview, he gave me a blessing, and it was amazing how in tune he is with the Spirit! Everything he said was for me!

Just here with Elder Hawkes in Viña waiting for the "Last Supper" at 6 PM. We're off to the Temple tomorrow at 3 AM. And then I'll be there all day until they pick me up at 9 PM to head to the airport.

I love you all. These truly have been unforgettable days.

Con Amor,
Elder Nelson IV

1: I Have No Regrets; I Did My Best.

Dear All,

I believe this'll be my last e-mail as a full-time missionary. I may or may
not write next Monday. I don't think I will because I'm going to be with
Elder Hunsaker (the Elder that lived with me in Quillota), and we are going
to be visiting converts and what not. But if I do write my chance, don't be
too surprised.

Wow. Two years has come and gone. I've thought a lot about my days as a
missionary. I'll never forget all of these people that have made such a
huge impact on my life. I have no regrets. I can't say that I was the
greatest missionary at all times; I made a lot of mistakes. But I have no
regrets, because I did my best.

We had a great mission conference last week. We heard from Elder Cook,
Bishop McMullin, AND Elder Zaballos. It was great to be in Viña again, and
it was great to hear from these special witnesses of Jesus Christ. During
the conference I was reminded again by the Spirit that these men truly are
the Lord's servants in these latter days. I got a good laugh because we
also attended a fireside the night before, and Elder Cook and Elder
Zaballos spoke there, too. So I heard them both speak twice!

And the fireside was interesting because they talked a lot to the young
single adults about how they shouldn't hold off being married. They talked
about how we need to be more faithful, and how we need to put our trust in
the Lord--despite not having a ton of money or a lot of Education. And then
in the conference the next day, they talked a little more about marriage.
(And when they did, my zone--knowing that I am going home next week--all
looked at me and smiled/laughed. It's a missionary thing, I guess.) And
then yesterday at church we were visited by a Brother Goodman and his wife
Jodi. They are from Arizona. Brother Goodman served here about five years
ago. We ate lunch with them and a family in the ward, and he was telling us
his whole story and how he got married about a year after getting home,
etc. So what I'm trying to say is: I heard a lot about marriage this week.
Haha.

Well...I'm going to try especially hard this week to stay focused and to
end strong. On Sunday morning at about 6 AM, I'm getting on a bus to
Quillota. I'm planning on attending church there, and then I'm planning on
eating lunch at Valeska's (my convert) house. From there, Elder Hunsaker
and I will make our way to the mission home for our final interviews. I
have mine at 6:30 PM.

* 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at
hand.

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the
faith:* (2 Timothy 4:6-7)

This is it. I loved my mission. I love all of you, and I am grateful for
everything you've done for me--especially these last two years. See you
next week.

Con Mucho Amor,
Elder Nelson IV

2: Twenty-Four Months--No More, No Less

Dear All,

I got my travel plans and other information about my farewell last week. Wowzers. It looks like I will be flying home with an Elder named Elder Filoteo. I never knew he was from Las Vegas. But that'll be fun to have someone to talk to on the plane and what not. I also had interviews with President Gillespie. He gave me a small bell, and he explained to me that in track meets they ring the bell on the final lap to let the runners know that they are near the end, and they need to end strong to win the race. And so when the distractions come, I have to ring the small bell (see picture) to remind myself that I am expected to run my best. I am on the final lap.

The Temple was amazing. I had a powerful experience with Elder MacIver and with the second counselor of the Branch. We were doing confirmations in the Temple, and as I confirmed the Youth in behalf of the deceased people, I was overwhelmed by the Spirit. For the first time in my life, I truly felt the Spirit of Elijah. I felt it again when we took part in an Endowment session. I was overwhelmed by the Spirit that I felt. It felt SO good to be within the walls of the Temple. I felt so much more powerful and strengthened by being there. I look forward to going back in two weeks before getting on the plane. :)

We were looking forward to a Zone Conference this week in La Sarena. I had it all arranged to meet up with the Famila Araya (my first baptism) and everything! But...It was cancelled. :( And postponed to Friday; but it'll be a mission conference, and it'll take place in Viña del Mar. We'll be visited by a General Authority. We aren't sure yet, but it'll either be Elder Cook from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, one of the members of the Presiding Bishopric, or another Seventy. And whoever comes will be accompanied by either Elder Corbrige, Elder Zaballos, or Elder Richards. So I am excited about that! And it'll also be good to see all my companions and friends before leaving. It'll be my best mission conference that I've had; we've never met up as a mission before. I'm a little sad about not being about to see the Familia Araya, but...Maybe we can talk via Skype when I get home or something. :)

We had a powerful experience yesterday in our Gospel Principles class. It was my turn to teach the class, and I knew Cristian (Investigator) and his wife Andrea (less-active that is getting reactivated) would be there. It was perfect because the topic was Eternal Marriage. As I prepared for the class, I thought to myself, "How in the world am I going to be able to teach this class in a way that they feel the Spirit? I don't know what it's like to be married yet." After much pondering, the Spirit guided me, and I felt strongly that we had to listen to Elder Scott's talk from April earlier this year. We did so, and it was an experience that I'll never forget. They felt the Spirit SO strong, and Andrea shared with us her thoughts and feelings about the talk and about how her only desire was to be sealed to her husband and her kids. I was so touched by her words that I could barely even speak up and talk to finish the class.

I was thinking about that experience this morning, and I scripture from D&C came to mind. It teaches us about how a teacher who teaches by the Spirit can help not only the students, but also themselves. In is found in D&C 50:21-22:

21 Therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know, that he that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth?
22 Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together.

I have felt that a lot here in the mission. I've been so touched by the many people that I've taught, and I can honestly feel that the majority of the time I feel like I am learning more from the people than they are from me. But I have come to learn now that we are both learning from the Spirit Himself. We are both being edified, and we both have a reason to rejoice together. I know that each and everyone of us can experience this. As we fulfill our sacred callings as parents, as children, as brothers, as sisters, as teachers, as leaders, etc. If we truly teach by the Spirit, EVERYONE--including ourselves--will be benefited and powered by It.

I love you all. One more e-mail next week. Yikes.

Con Amor,
Elder Nelson IV

3: Halloween And November

Dear All,

I'm writing these last few e-mails with a lot of mixed emotions. I have a
lot of life's dreams, and my full-time missionary service is one of them.
And now here it is drawing to a close. But I am grateful for everything
that I have experienced these two years, and I will never forget them. I
love my mission. But I am also excited to begin my new life and progress
even more.

It was a tough week, but we're confident that this week will be better. We
received permission to go to the Temple with the District this Saturday. I
am excited for that. :) It'll be my first Temple trip here in Chilé. I am
REALLY excited. I haven't been to the Temple since the MTC. That seems like
an eternity ago. It'll be great to go there and feel that special Spirit
again. We're looking forward to it.

Yesterday in Gospel Principles, Elder MacIver taught a lesson on Eternal
Families. As he taught and as the members and investigators participated, I
felt extremely happy to know that we will have the opportunity to live with
our families forever as long as if we do our part and follow the Savior's
example. I know that's true. The Spirit has born testimony of it to me, and
it brings a lot of peace and hope to my heart when I am reminded of this
great knowledge that I have.

But I also know that it's certain that Satan is out to destroy the family.
Every day he is doing everything he can do get to us and to destroy us.
Like Elder Holland said in this last General Conference: Satan knows that
he will lose in the end, but he will not go down without a fight. This
week, I found a great example of a Prophet who fought Satan and came out
victorious. Moses teaches us what we must do to come out victorious in
Moses 1:17-22

*17 And he also gave me commandments when he called unto me out of the
burning bush, saying: Call upon God in the name of mine Only Begotten, and
worship me.*
*
*
*18 And again Moses said: I will not cease to call upon God, I have other
things to inquire of him: for his glory has been upon me, wherefore I can
judge between him and thee. Depart hence, Satan.*
*
*
*19 And now, when Moses had said these words, Satan cried with a loud
voice, and ranted upon the earth, and commanded, saying: I am the Only
Begotten, worship me.*
*
*
*20 And it came to pass that Moses began to fear exceedingly; and as he
began to fear, he saw the bitterness of hell. Nevertheless, calling upon
God, he received strength, and he commanded, saying: Depart from me, Satan,
for this one God only will I worship, which is the God of glory.*
*
*
*21 And now Satan began to tremble, and the earth shook; and Moses received
strength, and called upon God, saying: In the name of the Only Begotten,
depart hence, Satan.*
*
*
*22 And it came to pass that Satan cried with a loud voice, with weeping,
and wailing, and gnashing of teeth; and he departed hence, even from the
presence of Moses, that he beheld him not.*

Let us call upon the Lord unceasingly! I know that if we do so--like
Moses---we will come out of the battle victorious. As we rely upon the Lord
unceasingly as families, he WILL NOT defeat us, and we will come out
victorious. I know these things are true, and I am grateful for examples
like Moses who teach us that it's not an impossible battle. We can come out
victorious.

I love you all. Until next week!

Con Amor,
Elder Nelson IV