Navidad!

Hi family!! 

It was so great to talk to you all yesterday!!  This was the best Christmas ever!!!!  We did a service project at a school and we sang carols, gave out presents and gave them cake and soda!  It was so fun to see their faces and how excited they were.  It was so gratifying being able to make those kids' Christmas special.  They probably won't remember our faces but some day in the future they will see missionaries with nametags and remember that day! 

Christmas Eve a family in the stake invited the zone over for breakfast and it was fun just being together, listening to  Christmas music, playing UNO and eating!  I love our zone!  Afterwards we went with the other Elders who are in our ward to visit the bishop and we went with him to sing carols to his neighbors!  We would decide what song we were going to sing before knocking on the door and one time we chose to sing Away In a Manger.  So we knocked on the door the husband let us in and we walked inside singing and we saw the mom with a newborn baby in her arms!  She was crying and so happy!  It was so cool!!  The next door we sang at was a recently widowed lady and her family and her and her daughter were crying as they thanked us!  Then later that night we went with the stake president and his family to sing carols to the someone who was sick in bed and to a few other families with a child in the mission!  It was fun to let them see that their missionaries were happy like us sharing the gospel with others.  It has been so fun going caroling these past two weeks!  And even though we all have sore throats from singing so much everyone was so grateful and multiple people said that it was the best Christmas present ever!  But really it was a gift to us being able to bring the Christmas spirit to others and to remember the true meaning of Christmas!  It was the best Christmas ever!!! 

I am so grateful for the Savior and His life and I am going to always remember this special Christmas He has given me.  Thank you family for making it possible for me to be here!  I love you all!! xoxoxXo

Love forever and always,

Hermana Nelson

 

Jacque, Hna. Umana and Hna. Butterfield

                                                  

Zone Calderon in our caroling outfits

                                                     

The Zone at the Christmas dinner with the President

The Zone giving service at the School

Feliz Navidad!

MI querida familia!! 
Hi! Are you all so excited for Christmas??  I am!  I can't believe it is less than a week!  Time has flown by!  This week we have been going caroling as zone!  It's been fun!  Even though the Elders love to sing The First Noel and I am sick of that song because we have sang it over a hundred times!  haha But we have been finding a lot of new people!  They are more receptive after hearing a Christmas Carol! 

Last week we recieved a reference of a 15 year old girl, Genesis, and we went to visit her and we met her mom and step dad!  It was an interesting experience. We knocked on the door and the dad told us that Genesis was at the neighbors house in front.  So we crossed the street and she came out with an older lady and the lady started yelling at us telling us that we have a different Gospel and we aren't welcome in her house because we don't believe in Jesus Christ etc.  It was fun!  haha  So we finally got Genesis in her house and we met her mom and dad and aunt.  We invited them all to church and so Sunday came around and church started and they weren't there but during the Sacrament the dad, Abdel,  came!  Afterwards we talked to him and he said he was supposed to go to Guayaquil but that he felt like he should stay and go to church!  And he said he felt the Spirit there like he has never felt in another church!  It was awesome! Oh yeah and he is from Italy and speaks Italian!  He understands a little Spanish and speaks even less.  He is awesome though!  It was our early Christmas present! 

The zone also had an early white Christmas this weekend!  9 people were baptized and confirmed!  Yay!!  We probably won't have any baptisms this month because opening a sector is a slow process but next year is going to be awesome!! I love Christmas time! And I love being in the mission at Christmas time!  We get to focus everything on the true meaning on Christmas!!  Thank you for the best Christmas present ever for letting me be on the mission and for all that you do to help and support me!  I love you all!!  I hope you all have the best Christmas ever!  I'll talk to you on Sunday!!!! AHHHHH!!! 

p.s. Sorry this is a little shorter.. We have a Christmas dinner with President today and we have to leave early! 

Love you!!! xoxoxoxoxxXo

Love forever and always,

Hermana Nelson

Regocijad!!‏

Hi familia!!  How is everyone doing?  haha it sounds like Maddie's birthday party was awesome!  Of course you went overboard Mami!!  I can't wait to see the pictures!  Well this week has been... interesting!  Something crazy happened every day!  First, Monday in the offices we went up stairs to bring down my suitcases and Hna. Umaña got stuck in the elevator!  haha  That night we had two other Hnas with us because the Hna who lived in the house before us came to get her stuff.  And a member was coming to get them to take them and their stuff to their house.  So we helped them out and said goodbye and when we came back the keys wouldn't work!  I had grabbed the wrong set of keys!  This was about 9:45.  We called our district leader to come over and help us break in so we waited for about 10 minutes and decided to ask some people who were outside having a little party in our apartment complex to help us.  So they tried the card thing and that wasn't working.  So they went and got a ladder and climbed through the window and opened the door for us!  At 10:30 we finally got inside and our District Leader never got there so we called and told him never mind.  We found out later that he was walking down the wrong street!  Then Tuesday, Hna. Umaña was showering and Hna. Butterfield was drying her hair and the lights went out!  And we flipped the breakers but it wouldn't come back on!  And then we were waiting for the bus and Hna. Umaña and I got on and then everyone was like wait! Wait! And we turned around and saw Hna. Butterfield running after the bus! hahahahahaha She didn't see us get on!  It was hilarious!  Then that night we got home and we had lights!  But then Wednsday morning the same thing happened... So we found the city electric people and they came and looked at our breakers and said that it was burned so we had to go buy a new one and the guard at the house put it in for us!  Thursday we were supposed to go with our zone leaders to find a family and we told them to meet us at the 4 esquinas!  Well, apparently there are two 4 esquinas because after an hour of waiting we called to see where they were and they were like where are you??  They were waiting for us at one 4 esquinas and we were at the other!  haha  Friday we found out that a lady we set a date with who is basically a member but hasn't been baptized, was ex-communicated!  So she isn't our baptism.  We have a family and another lady with a date in January but they didn't come to church so we will see how that works out.. Other than that we are still getting to know our sector and trying to find new people.  But I have had more success in this week that I had in my 4 months in Vargas!  haha  It has been fun being in a trio!  It's more exciting!  haha  Well family I love you all! Thank you for all that you do so that I can be here on the mission!  Yesterday we shared 1 Nephi 11 the verses when Nephi sees the birth of Christ and she has a son on the mission so we were talking about the love that God has for us to send his Son to earth and the love she is showing to send her son on the mission and I thought of you Mami!  Thank you for the love you have for the people here to send me on the mission!  I know it isn't easy.  I love you!!! Have a great week!! 

xoxoxxXo

Love forever and always,

Hermana Nelson

P.S. I think we are going to be calling, or you are calling me, on Sunday but I'm still not sure what time.  I will let you know next week!! 

December

Hi family!! 

Wow this day has been crazy!!  But first, Happy Birthday Maddie!!!!! I  love you!!!! 

Okay so last night we got our changes and I was going to Chillogallo and Hna. Allen was staying in our sector.  So we packed all my things but I had let Hna. Hernandez use one of my suitcases when she left because everything didn't fit in hers.  So Hna. Allen let me use one of her suitcases!  So we got everything packed and down the flight of stairs to get to the troley station and when we got there the elders told us that the changes got changed. Hna. Allen is going to Chillogallo and I am going to Calderón and they are closing Vargas!  So the elders took all my luggage to the offices, we had to go back home and pack all of her stuff and since I had her suitcase she had to pack in a box and a garbage bag!  haha I felt bad.  So pretty much is has been a crazy day but changes are always like that!  So now I am in Calderón in a trio with Hna. Butterfield from Wyoming and Hna. Umaña from Costa Rica!  Hna. Umaña was here for about a month and then her companion hurt her foot and couldn't work so they took them out.  So there is no program!  Yay!!  But I guess I didn't have one in Vargas either so it's nothing new.  I'm sad to leave though because Edison Cajas has a baptism date for the 27th!  I hope the Elders take care of him. 

I hope you all had fun in Utah!!  Willie and Connie's twins look adorable!!!  Grandma sent me a picture!  What did they name them?  Maddie has two birthday buddies!!! haha 

Well I'm sorry I don't have a lot of time to write but I will talk to you all next week!!!  I love you all! 

xoxoxXo

Love forever and always,

Hermana Nelson

P.S. 

This is the zig zag and the flight of stairs that we had to go up and down everyday in Vargas!! 

The zig zag stairs in Vargas that we climbed every day!

Stairs, stairs and more stairs!!

Goodbye November

Hi family!!  How was your Thanksgiving?  I haven't had time to read the email yet so I don't know!  haha They don't celebrate Thanksgiving here so we didn't do anything special!  But that's okay!  I can't believe November is almost over! T hat means Christmas is almost here and even worse that means that the year is almost over!!  Crazy how fast time flys!  3 Elders are going home next week; both of the district leaders and a zone leader.  I'm sad!  They become like brothers and it's sad to see someone go!  And that means there are going to be a ton of changes in the zone!  Elder Rodriguez, an elder in the zone hurt his knee a couple weeks ago and got sent home to have a surgery but they said he can come back next change.  That was sad too! 

Guadalupe is doing so well!!  She seems so happy I love it!  And I love her mom!!  She makes me laugh!  We went to visit Guadalupe this week and her mom was awake so she was in the lesson with us and she can't hear anything so she was just sitting there.  Well about every 3 minutes she would say ¨It's cold!¨ Or ¨I've lived in this house for 20 years.  My son lives downstairs.¨  Or ¨My husband drank a lot and one day drank too much and was gone.¨  And again ¨It´s cold!¨  haha it was funny.  And in Relief Society there weren't enough chairs left for us all to sit together so I sat in front with her mom and she would ask over and over again Where's Guadalupe?  And I would tell her she's behind us don't worry!  And then she would say oh I thought she abandoned me!  haha The same thing every 5 minutes it was fun!  haha  

We still don't have any progressing investigators right now..  A couple weeks ago and Elder taught in district meeting about antiguo investigators- I don't know what they are called in english... Old?  anyway we decided to call all of the antiguos and futures and we made an appointment with the Cajas family!  The mom Silvia and 2 kids Edison and Irene!  They hadn't been visited for about a year so we went to see them and when we got there they were so nice and friendly!  They told us that that week they had been thinking about the missionaries and everything they had learned and they pulled out the Book of Mormon again and then we showed up!!  They had a baptism date but the day the kids were going to get baptized the dad said no.  Siliva told her mom that she wanted to get baptized and her mom got mad and stopped talking to her for a few weeks so she feels like she can't get baptized because of her mom.  Anyway I think that they might be ready this time!  I am praying for that!  Edison said he was thinking if he would have gotten baptized he would be on a mission right now!  He really wants to serve a mission!  They didn't come to church though.  He feels like everyone is going to say something to them because they haven't been in so long.  But hopefully they will be able to make the change!  They really want to and know they need to they just need a little more faith to do it!  So keep them in your prayers please!! 

Well that's about all that's going on right now.. Things are kinda slow.  Hopefully we can pick it up!  It is always darkest right before dawn!!  I love you all and am so grateful for all that you are doing for me!!  Keep on keepin´ on!!!  Love you!  Have a good week and have fun in Utah!!!  Tell Porter I am praying for him and know he will make it through!  Stay strong!!  xoxoxXo

Love forever and always,

Hermana Nelson

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi family!! Can you believe Thanksgiving is this week? I can´t! While you are all eating turkey, mashed potatoes, rolls, pie and all the other yummy goodness I will be eating................. Can you guess??......................RICE!!!! YAY!!! haha But our Thursday mamita is a really good cook so I will be happy! I´ve gotten used to eating rice now. If I don´t eat it I don´t get full. But I guess it´s a good thing eating the same everyday cause I don´t have cravings anymore!
Well one of the things on my list of things I am grateful for is that Guadalupe was baptized and confirmed this weekend!! Yay!! It was a great baptism! ( And my brownies turned out this time!) Earlier in the week she wasn´t too sure about it. She wanted more time- story of everyone- but she passed her interview! And then we went back a couple days later and she was stressed about everything with money and then everything about baptism. I guess she didn´t like that we visited so much and she felt overwhelmed and pressured. So we are cutting back on the visits! haha We went to pick her and her mom up for the baptism and I was in a short sleeve shirt and didn´t have my jacket with me cause the sun was still out but her mom ( did I tell you she has Alzheimers?) anyway she asked me why don´t you have a jacket in this cold? And then 5 minutes later she asked me again. And then again. I think she asked me about 10 times! hahaha it was funny! She is so cute I love old ladies!! 
But that was the highlight of this week. We had a cool experience on Tuesday! So we went to an appointment and no one was home so we decided to say a prayer and ask who we needed to find. So after the prayer I walked to a door and started ringing all the intercom buttons but no one was answering. And I started thinking why did I need to come to this door if no one is home? Bu then my companion said ´´well either no one is home or this is to draw away your attention from the door bells up there.´´ So I looked up and saw the door bells and rang the top one and a girl came out so we asked for her mom and she came out and we started talking to her and asked if we could come in and she said no. Then my companion asked her what she wanted most for her family and she gave us the contactee answer peace, unity, love etc. So I asked if she had that in her family and she started crying and said come in! So we went in and started teaching her and gave her a Book of Mormon! We only had a bout 15 minutes cause we were going to go do an activity with the seminary kids. But we made an appointment to go back the next day but when we went she wasn´t home. And we have seen her a couple times and we always ask if or when we can visit but she says she is busy maybe another day. So I´m not really sure what happened but I hope we can find her and teach her again because I know we were supposed to knock on her door. 
That is actually happening a lot here and I don´t understand why. We have people let us in, we teach them and then they don´t want to listen anymore. It´s kind of frustrating me. My faith is definately being tried here in this sector. It has been for the past 3 months! But I am learning a lot from it! And I know there is a reason I am here and that we are going through this low time. The Lord will bless us though he always does! 
Well family I love you all and am so grateful for everything you do for me!!! I hope you have a great Thanksgiving!!! Have fun at the dunes boys!!! Don´t do anything dumb! Love  you!! xoxoxXo
Love forever and always,
Hermana Nelson

Jacque and Hermana Allen at Guadalupe's Baptism

November to Remember!

Hi family!!  How are you all doing?  I hope all is well!  So last Saturday the 5th was Kyle's birthday and he turned 21 (if you didn´t remember) and Hermana Allen's sister turned 21 on the 7th so we decided we wanted to celebrate their birthdays!  So Monday night we had a Family Home Evening at the Bishop's house and we bought a cake and we had balloons and candles and we made a birthday video for them!  (see attachment).  Just kidding it won't let me send the video but I sent some pictures..  I guess you will have to wait to see them until I get home. Sorry! 

Well this week has been a lot of contacting, a lot of rejection and not a whole lot of new investigators.  But that's okay it's all for our good!  Guadalupe is progressing really well!  Wednesday we went with the bishop to visit her and he was awesome!  I think she was worrying that she couldn't go to church or we couldn't visit her if she wasn't paying tithing..  But he told her she is always welcome at church and she relaxed a lot.  Then Thursday night we went with one of the Relief Society counselors and she was awesome too!  She shared her testimony and helped Guadalupe a lot!  Then Sunday we went to visit her as a zone.  When we go on visits as a zone two missionaries share their testimonies and then we sing a hymn!  So it went really well!  I always love hearing the missionaries experiences!  We had stake conference this weekend so she came to the adult session and the Sunday session!  She loved it!  Tuesday she is going to have her baptism interview and we are still working towards her getting baptized the 19th!  Keep her in your prayers please! 

Elder Uceda came to visit the mission this week and we had a zone conference with him this Saturday!!  It was AWESOME!!!  He is so powerful I loved it!!  He taught us about the importance of staying together with your companion because 95 percent of the missionaries who have gone home enhanceable is because they weren't with their companion.  And he talked about English being the language of the Restoration and the importance of the Latinos learning English.  He mentioned that a lot actually.  So when I have another Latina companion I am going to be better at teaching her English!  But after the conference some of the Latino elders in my zone just busted out in English and it shocked me cause I had no idea!  haha it was funny! 

We made a huge Book of Mormon as a zone for the stake conference and my companion made some gold plates.  I helped wrap the loose pages! haha It was fun! It turned out a little fatter at the bottom but oh well!  Everyone loved taking pictures by it though! 

Birthday cake to Celebrate Kyle's 21st Birthday!

Jacque and Herman Allen.  Celebrating their brother and sisters 21st Birthday!

Well family I love you all!  Thank you for all that you do for me!  You are the best family ever!!  Have a great week!! 

xoxoxoxXo

Love forever and always,

Hermana Nelson

Jacque with her Zone at Stake Conference

Happy November!

Hi family!!!  How are you all doing??  I hope you are doing well!  I am so tired and worn out cause today we went with our zone to hike to a volcano!  Well we didn't quite make it because it was freezing cold and raining!  Well not normal rain it was like a heavy constant mist.  We were all soaking wet and cold and we met some hikers up there and they told us we couldn't keep going because it was too dangerous and we were all wet and could get hypothermia.  So we turned around a came back down.  But it was so foggy you couldn't see anything anyway.  But coming down was the funnest because it was muddy and slippery and everyone was falling!  Except Hermana Allen and I.  The Elders were helping me though so I had an advantage!  haha

 

Well this week was a holiday, well the 2nd was the Day of the Dead but everyone had the whole week off and so no one was here.  The streets were all dead and so it was kinda a slow week work wise.  We didn't have too much going on.  We couldn't get a hold of Guadalupe all week but we called her Sunday morning and she was all ready for church and just about to leave!!!  OMG!!!  haha We are so blessed with her!  Thank you for praying for her!  She loves church!  We taught her last night about the Atonement because she needs to give up smoking.  It went fairly well but I think we have a lot to help her with to be able to give it up.  I know she can do it though!!  She is definitely prepared for the Gospel!

 

Saturday night we went to visit the Ases family after about two weeks and we invited her to church but she wasn't sure about it so we started talking to her and as it turns out she thought that we couldn't dance and she didn't want to sin if she went to church and then to a party or something! haha So we explained that we can dance and she understood and agreed to come to church!  And she did!  Her and Jairo and their little girl.  She sent her husband to the market for her so that she could come.  They sell fritado- a typical meal you can buy on the street here and so every morning she goes to the market to buy everything and she doesn't have a schedule and they are so worried about money that she works all day and it's hard to find them at home. Her husband doesn't want to listen to us at all anymore so I don't know really if they can progress. They need more faith but we can hardly ever find them at home to give them more faith!

 

There is a lady in the ward who is going through a lot of problems with her daughter and husband and she has been for a few months now so we would go about once a week to visit her and at first she had no hope at all that things would get better. She would just say but imagine all that I am going through and how I feel.  But this week we went again and I printed the talk from Elder Holland in the April 2008 Conference "None Were With Him".  So we shared a scripture, my companion gave her the idea to start a blessings journal and I gave her the talk.  We went back that night to bring her the notebook to start her journal and she looked so much happier!  And she told us that she read the talk about 5 times and knew she isn't alone and that she can get through this and be happy!  I was blown away by her change of attitude and was so grateful for conference!!  When I heard that talk for the first time I immediately loved it!  I don't know why because it's not like I was feeling alone at the time or going through a major trial or anything but I have always remembered that talk.  And so I thought about her and decided to print it off and it's exactly what she needed!  The Lord was preparing me over 3 years ago to be able to share that talk with her!  It was the highlight of my week to be able to see her with hope in her eyes!!

 

I love missionary work!  Thank you family for everything you do for me!  For all of your thoughts, prayers and love!! I hope you all have the best week ever! I love you!!

xoxoxXo

Love forever and always,

Hermana Nelson

 

Jacque Hiking Volcano

Jacque and her companion Hermana Allen

Jacque with her Zone

Pan de guagua and Colada Morada
Food they eat on Day of the Dead
YUMMY!

Camp Rock in Ecuador!

Hola mi familia!!! 
Happy Halloween!!!  What is everyone dressing up as this year?  I dressed up as a missionary!!  haha How is everyone doing?  It sounds like Porter is doing good!  I always have him in my prayers.  How was the Jason Aldean concert Bubs and Kyle?  I'm sure it was a blast!  Well this week has been so great!!  Last week we had changes and I am still here in Vargas with Hermana Allen from South Jordan Utah!  She was in this sector about 6 months ago for 3 weeks!  haha Her and her other companion opened this sector and then she left.  But now she is back and she is so excited to be here!  She is an awesome missionary and I am learning a TON from her! I love learning!! 

** Side note** Friday there was a ¨temblor¨ in Ecuador.  I don't really know what that word is in English.  Anyway I guess there was an earthquake in Peru and I don't know if it was a little one here or just the side effects from Peru.  It was stronger in other parts but we were standing in the street waiting for the bus and it just felt like a semi crossing a bridge while you were standing on it.  But i guess in houses you could feel it more.  But it was pretty cool and everyone is talking about it!  haha Just thought you might like to know!  Ecuador is rockin´ these days! 

Anyway back to the good stuff!  So we found a lady this week named Guadalupe and she is awesome!!  We taught her the Restoration and she love love loved it!!  She could feel the Spirit so strong especially while we were teaching her about Joseph Smith and the church being restored!  And the best part was she recognized that she was feeling the Spirit!!  It was my second favorite lesson ever!  The first is with the Barrera family when the Spirit was almost touchable.  Remember?  Anyway she accepted a baptism date!  Woo hoo!!!!  And we asked her to give the closing prayer and she started crying because she was so happy!  Loved it!  And........She came to church!!!  In a dress!  haha She brought her mom who is 80 something years old and has alzheimer- however you spell it.  They live alone.  Guadalupe is 60 and she has never been married, has no kids and has lived with her mom all her life. She said she always prayed to die at 30 cause she thought that was plenty of time to live but God has let her live twice as long and she doesn´t know why.  That was kinda interesting to hear but Heavenly Father has a better plan in mind of course, He always does!  So please keep Guadalupe in your prayers!  We can´t let Satan win with her!

Yesterday in Sacrament Meeting Bishop gave an amazing talk on Elder Oaks talk ¨Desire¨ and I loved it!  My companion and I had just studied that talk this week to share it with people and it was perfect to hear what he had to say!  He opened by asking two questions- What is your biggest desire in life and what is your biggest fear in life? And he just made us think a lot about what we want and what we are doing to get what we want.  So family think about those questions!  What is your biggest desire?  Is it the biggest desire the Lord has for you?  What is your biggest fear?  What are you doing to make sure it doesn´t happen?  If our desires aren´t in line with the Lord´s desires what do we need to change?  Set high goals and work together to achieve them!  Remember what Elder Oaks said something like desires dictate our priorities, priorities dictate our choices, choices dictate our actions.

I love you all! Thank you for being my family and for always loving and supporting me!!  I couldn´t be here without you all!  I love being a missionary!!!  Have a great week!!!! xoxoxXo

Love forever and always,

Hermana Nelson

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KYLE!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!

I Love You!

Hi family!!! It sounds like everyone is doing well and enjoying the cool weather!!  Winter time is here and is raining everyday!! And if it doesn't fall it is cold and cloudy!  I am soaking it all up though because I know when I get home I will be dying of heat!  Yay!! hahaha Maddie is hilarious!  I hope you are taking videos of everything she does! 

This week has been good!  Last Monday we found a family!!  The Aces family!  They are so humble and so willing! They are going through a hard time right now because their 16 year old daughter ran away with her boyfriend and they are going to get married. So they are concerned about her but they are trying to be strong and happy. They work late during the week so we went to visit them on Saturday. Their family came from Ibarra so they couldn't come to church and they don't have a date yet but they will soon! 

We went back to visit Judith.  We made a deal with her that we would read with her a chapter in the Bible and a chapter in the Book of Mormon.  She has never read the Bible and doesn't have one so we made a plan for her to earn the Bible.  But the last appointment we had she wasn't there.  So I'm not sure.  I don't feel like she is ready right now and my companion is starting to see that so we will see what happens. But if it´s not us it´s someone soon. 

Our  mission goal for October is 554 baptisms, in the zone 33 and as a companionship 6.  So please pray for us!!! We fasted as a mission this weekend to find new families and baptize them!  We got a reference of a family so we are going to visit them this week!  Hopefully it goes well! 

Sunday was so great!!  The week before Conference we missed the Sacrament because we were waiting for Stephane to come to be confirmed and then last week was Conference so two weeks without taking the Sacrament was horrible!  I felt kind of down and sad and I didn't really know why but Saturday night I was sitting on my bed thinking and I remembered I hadn't taken the Sacrament for two weeks!  So I was super excited for Sunday!  It was so relieving!  It was a great experience! 

Well family I know this is even more short than usual sorry!  But I love you all!  Thank you for everything you do for me!!  Have a great week!! 

xoxoxXo

Love forever and always,

Hermana Nelson

Conference!

Hi family!!  Wasn't conference AMAZING???  I loved every single talk!!  Once in a while there are talks that are good but this conference every single one was a 15 on a scale of 1 to 10!!  They just kept coming!!  I love President Monson!!  I loved his Hello!!  He is always so happy!!  Love it!!  Elder Packer's talk to the youth about the Spirit was awesome!  Presdient Uchtdorf's talk how God knows us personally!  Ian S. Ardern's talk about using our time wisely!  And I loved his accent!!  haha  Sis. Dalton's talk: How do you raise a daughter?  Love her mother! Good job Dad!!  Since I´m pretty sure I will be having boys I changed it to - How do you raise a son?  Love his father!  And I loved Randall Bennett's talk about making choices!  So great!!  All the talks about missionary work, repentance, prayer, recieveing revelation, the Book of Mormon... So awesome!! I can't wait for the Conference Issue to come!  And I am buying it on CD when I get home!  WOO!!  If you can't tell, I loved Conference! 

To answer your question Dad, the language is going well! I can understand pretty much everything.  Except when people from the coast get talking... They tend to talk super fast and have a different accent that I´m not really used to.  It's actually just one family in our ward haha they are loud too so that doesn't help.  But other than that I understand everything!  And I can say what I want to say.  It's not perfect but its not a hinderance anymore.

Well there isn't much going on with investigators right now.  We kinda barely have anything right now.  It is very humbling!  I just keep telling myself to keep working my hardest, keep praying and keep trusting in the Lord! Obviously there is something I need to learn from this and I am trying to learn all that I can!  We did find a family this week, the Ordoñes family but I don't know how interested they are.  We also invited another little boy- Franklin- to prepare to be baptized but we need to talk to his parents.  We are going tonight to visit with them.  So keep him in your prayers!  And we taught an 18 year old boy-Christian.  His mom is a member and is going to be getting married and sealed soon but he says he doesn't have the desire to be baptized.  So we are going to try and help him develop the desire.  So keep him in your prayers too!  We haven't been back to see Judith.  We just haven't felt like we should.  I don't know if anything will happen with her.  And the Rosero family I don´t know either. Her husband is working later now and she doesn't seem very committed.  The last time we went to see them she was washing the laundry and didn't have time for us.  So we will see!  We have a few ideas that we want to impliment in the ward so hopefully things will start to pick up! 

Well family I love you all!!  I love this gospel!  I love the Book of Mormon!  I love our prophet!  I love the Spirit!!     I love my Heavenly Father and my brother Jesus Christ!  I love learning!!  I love life!!  Thank you for everything!! 

Have a great week!!!!! xoxoxXo

Love forever and always,

Hermana Nelson

Mmmmm I'm Lovin' It!!!!

Hi family!!! I hope you are all doing well!  This week has been crazy as usual!! We had a Specialized Training on Wednesday and it was awesome of course!  President taught us from Ether about the Brother of Jared and how Christ let him solve the problem by himself of how to get light in the barges and how we need to let our investigators find the solutions on their own.  Sometimes we just tell them what to do to solve the problem but they don't learn or progress that way.  I learned a lot from that!  And we got our DVD players!  We haven't had time to use it yet but I think it will make our companion study more effective!  The latino trainers love it with their Nothamerican newbies because they can actually understand! haha

 

Well Estefan - I found out it's spelled Stephane - and Nathalia were baptized and confirmed this weekend!!  It was kind of a surpise for us..  We didn`t think we would get permission from their moms this week but we did!  Thursday we did splits and went with our district leader and zone leaders to talk with the moms and they signed the fichas!!  WOO HOO!!  It was stressful trying to get everything pulled together but it turned out really well! Almost none of the members were able to come because of the General Relief Society Broadcast but the bishop was there and the Primary President gave the talk and there was one other member there.  The rest was family of mostly Stephane but there were alot of people there!  I tried to make brownies.. it turned out more like chocolate cake but it was yummy!  I tried to make brownies for Elder Hirschi's going away party and they didn't turn out at all but I made a few adjustments this time and it turned out better! Today I made Lazagna and it didn't turn out the same either because we didn't have any of the cheeses it calls for and it was still good!

 

Soledad can't get permission to leave work to go to church so we are going to have to wait until this job ends for her to be baptized.  She is really interested but she needs the job so we are going to wait and see!  We are praying that the Rosero family - Soledad's brother-in-law and family will progress.  We haven't been able to visit them conisitently because they live so far away but we are going to be focusing on them more!  So keep them in your prayers!  We haven't been back to see Judith yet but I think tomorrow night we will go visit her and see how things are.  So keep her in your prayers also!  Please and thank you!!  We have another investigator who comes to church a lot- Carlos- but we haven't been able to teach him yet because he lives alone and we haven't really had time but we are going to focus on him too. There is so much to do in one day and so little time. I think the time goes by faster here in Ecuador. It slips right through my fingers!

 

Needless to say, we didn't get to watch the Relief Society Broadcast because of the baptisms but I can't wait to read the talks!!  And I am so excited for General Conference!!  I feel like we just had it!  I can't believe 6 months have already gone by!  Well family I love you all and am so grateful for all that you do!  I hope all is well!!  Have a great week!!!

 

xoxoxXo

Love forever and always,

Hermana Nelson

Estefan

Nathalia

Changes!!!

9/12/2011

Well, changes came and I am staying here with Hermana Hernandez!! Everyone else got changes but us! Our zone leader Elder Arias is the new secretary! I was betting on assistant but secretary is just as good! He was an awesome leader! Elder Hirschi is going home. He was training and he and his companion were so awesome together! Yesterday their ward threw a going away party and we were all invited. Everyone went around and said what they wanted to him. They were all crying! Then it was his companions turn and he just broke down. They both were crying it was so cute! Elder Hirschi always said his pride never lets him cry but I think he finally got rid of that! haha It was so sweet to hear how much the members and converts love him and how much he loves them and it just made me think of when I will be going home what am I going to leave behind in the hearts of the people here. It´s hard to think about that day. It feels like it will never come and I know when it does come I won´t want to leave. But that is why we have to make every day count because it goes by way too fast!

Our P-days aren´t going to be that fun for a while because the whole mission is grounded! All of the zones in Quito, minus ours, decided to get together and play futbol/soccer without asking permission. President found out and was super upset and now we aren´t allowed to leave our areas on p-day or have zone activities. We are on probation for a month and then he will see how well we are behaving! haha I feel like a 5 year old! But oh well! Live and learn Elders!

Last week we went with the Bishop to visit Estefan and his mom and he commited her to come to church and see what her son was doing and she came! We are going to visit them tonight to set another date! And hopefully start teaching her too!! He is the only one we have with a date right now but we are going to find more!! Well family I love you all! Thank you so much for all of the love, prayers and support. I couldn´t be her without all of you!! Keep on keepin on!!

xoxoxxoXo

Love forever and always,

Hermana Nelson

One Year Older and Wiser Too!

Hi family!!! How are you?? Sorry Mami my emails have been short lately. I will try to make this one longer! Thanks for the pictures! It looks like the boys are having fun on the elk hunt! I hope they get somthing this week! I´m glad we have more work going!! Aww how sweet of the boys to go visit Grandma and Grandpa! What did they do for their service project?  How did Chaylee answer her date to Homecoming? I hope she has fun! Make sure to send me pictures! Of course Kellen was nominated for Homecoming King! haha Congrats Kellen! What in the world was Josh thinking??? A 19ft. jump? Who was with him? It sounds like he is the same ol´ Josh! I will keep him in my prayers! Take him some cookies and balloons for me! I was just wondering if Jed was still taking violin and how it was going? haha He was air bowing for half of the year? hahaha oh Jed. Guitar lessons?? Lucky! You will have to teach me when I get home man!! How is the temple coming along? I haven´t heard anything about it since the groundbreaking. How was Dad´s birthday? What did you guys do? I´m sure he was up hunting for his actual birthday.. What did you buy yourself Papi?? haha You got my email right? I hope you had a great day!!

Well Estefan is doing well.. We are waiting to get permission from his mom.. We want to teach him the lessons with her there but it´s hard to find time cause she works. And she wants his dad to be there and give his input on the baptism. The problem is he is married to someone else and travels for work so he is never around. The other day we went to talk with Estefan and  his mom and when we got there neither one were there. ( We teach him at his grandma´s house who is a member because she takes care of him while his mom is at work). Anyway we waited and his mom showed up frantic because she couldn´t find him. She called her daughter who said she was at home and he wasn´t there. So everyone was freaking out trying to find him and we felt helpless cause we couldn´t so anything. Well finally a neighbor of theirs drove by and said Estefan was outside waiting for someone to come home. As it turned out the daughter wasn´t actually at home, she was outside with friends and didn´t know Estefan was there. So needless to say we didn´t get a chance to talk. They said they were going to come to church but didn´t show up. So we are still praying an hoping things will work out. 
We set a date with Soledad for the 1st of October! She is so sweet and so prepared but there are a few complications. She is taking care of an older couple who can´t be alone because of health issues and she is only there on Sundays. It is only for 3 months but she said she was going to try to get someone to take over while she is at church but she didn´t come so we will have to push back her date. But they read everyday and pray and they are so excited about it all. We taught them the Plan of Salvation and about Adam and Eve and how is was necessary for them to eat of the fruit and she was blown away that we aren´t children of sin, that we are children of God and he loves us. I never realized how many people have that idea and it´s sad! 
We haven´t been by to see Judith this week. We went last Saturday and it was the most frustrating lesson. We were trying to get her to come to church and she kept coming up with all these excuses that she can´t because she has to be there for her daughters to make sure hey do their homework and clean the house... they are 16 and 14. But she kept saying how we all need to be like little kids and when someone says let´s go they don´t ask questions they just go! So we asked if she would come to church with us and she straight up said NO! So we decided not to visit her for a week, go back one more time and if she doesn´t want to read, pray or go to church we are going to drop her. 
We are also teaching a 10 year old girl Natalia. She has been coming to church on her own ever since I´ve been here but her mom doesn´t want to give her permission. But we went this week with our district leader and talked with her and she said she would come to church and see what her daughter is doing every Sunday and she said we could teach Natalia the lessons with her. So we taught them about the Restoration and she said she would come to church. We went by to pick them up and she said she still had to shower and she would meet us there. We all know that wouldn´t happen and it didn´t. I think her and her boyfriend were fighting. So we still have a lot of work to do with the mom. She has had a rough life. She has been on her own since she was 7 and she has a lot of resentment( is that a word?) in her heart. So keep her is your prayers! 
So this week I am going to complete a year in the mission! Is that how it´s phrased in English? haha Anyway I can´t believe how fast time goes by! I still feel like I am new and have no idea what I am doing but that´s okay! I was thinking about what I have learned this past year and I came up with a top 10 list of things I have learned/gained so far! They aren´t in any certain order.
1. A greater appreciation for my parents and family. I love you!!! 
2. A greater understanding of the Atonement.
3. A greater love for the scriptures.
4. A love for the people in Ecuador.
5. A greater ability to recognize the Spirit.
6. More sincere prayers.
7. A blind trust in the Lord.
8. The ability to pick my self up when I fall and to keep going even when it´s hard.
9. A knowledge that we progress more in times of trials.
10. The ablilty to recognize a need to change. 

Of course there are more things I have learned and I will continue to learn but thank you to everyone for encouraging me to serve a mission. It was the hardest and best decision I have ever made and I will be eternally grateful. But it´s not over!! I still have 6 months and I am going to enjoy every second!! Thank you for everything! I couldn´t be here without you all! I love you!!! Have a great week!! 

xoxoxXo
Love forever and always,
Hermana Nelson

Yo Siento Su Amor!!‏

Hi family!! How are you all doing? Things are going well here! This week has gone by so fast, it all seems like one day so I will try to remember everything that has happened and I hope it makes sense! haha I don`t know who I have told you about and who I haven`t so sorry if I repeat myself! So Monday a member came with us to visit Judith. She is a single mom of 3 girls and her girls don`t like us to come over and Judith just lets them walk all over her but she is really sweet! She`s kinda interesting, sometimes it seems like her mind is somewhere else and not paying attention, and when we ask her questions she goes off on so random answer but she is really humble. It`s going to be a slow process with her but she loves when we bring people with us so it`s good. And one night we went over and one of her daughters stayed and listened! So we are going to try and become friends with her daughters first and then slowly start getting them interested! 

We went to visit a lady named Soledad who my companion and her companion before contacted and as it turns out she is the Rosero family-Luis- she is his sister in law! They live right next to eachother so we visit them both because his wife was out of town. She is really cute! Her brother is a member in Chile or something so she knew a little about the curch and she says she wants to be ¨one of us¨ haha we invited her to be baptized but she said she wanted to wait and come to church and see. Her husband doesn`t like religion at all so I think she is a little scared but they are seperated right now so we will see how it goes! We went to pick her up for church but she wasn`t there so I don`t know what happened. Hopefully she comes next week!

Estefan came to church and is all ready to be baptized this weekend!! He is really excited! His grandma is a member and she has a restaurant so we were there teaching him and one of his grandma`s friends came in and we started talking to him and invited him to church and he came!! And stayed all 3 hours! WOO HOO!! He was asking questions and everything! So we are going to start teaching him! 

We did an invasion in our sector this week and the Elders found a family! We were so excited so we went to visit them with the Elders on Friday and they were confused about why there were so many churches so we taught them the Restoration and they said the were going to come to church! They are so nice and so great! Anyway they didn`t come to church so we went to visit them as a zone Sunday afternoon and when we got there they said they didn`t want to change religions and they didn`t want us to visit them. It was so disappointing. We were so excited for them. But there are other families out there waiting! 

We are in Otavalo with all of the hermanas right now and I had a lot of fun shopping!! haha I don`t think I could serve here because I would go broke! There is so much I would love to buy... Someday!  But I would love it here! It seems awesome! 

Well family I love you all! Thank you for everything! I love being a missionary and I am so grateful to be here. Have a great week!! 

-- 

xoxoxxoXo

Love forever and always,

Hermana Nelson

Misson Life

Hi family!! How is everyone doing?? Things are good here! Madeleine was baptized Sunday morning!! We couldn`t have it Saturday because there was a stake primary activity so we had it early Sunday morning! The Elders were so nice and got up at the crack of dawn to fill the font! And the water was freezing of course! I don`t think hot water exists here! haha It went really well though! She just started hyperventelating after he dunked her! haha The poor thing was freezing! Her sister who is 9 gave the talk and she did so well! And after Madeleine bore her testimony and said ¨After I was baptized I felt like an angel came and told me that Jesus Christ lives.¨ It was so sweet! She is the cutest little thing!

Alejandro´s name is actually Alexandro but it is really Estefan Alexandro so I will be calling him Estefan! Sorry for the confusion. We were confused too! haha But he didn`t come to church so he won`t be getting baptized this weekend. We haven`t set a new date with him yet but hopefully te next weekend! We have been going to do visits as a zone all week so we haven`t had much time in our sector and we haven`t seen our other investigators but hopefully by the end of this week they will all have accpeted dates.

We went to visit an investigator of the Elders, her name is Rosa and I love her! She is the cutest lady but it`s so sad because her husband doesn`t love her, he hits her and the kids take his side and he is living with another woman. And she doesn`t want to divorce him because she has no where else to go. But she has so much faith and she is amazing. She was supposed to be baptized this Saturday but she has to talk with President so we aren`t sure when her baptism is. Hopefully soon!

I am so so grateful for this gospel and for the protection and blessings we have. It is so sad to see people`s lives that don`t have the gospel. We are really so blessed. And it is so amazing to see people`s lives change when they accept the gospel. Thank you for all that you do! I love you all! Have a great week!! 

-- 

xoxoxxoXo

Love forever and always,

Madeline's Baptism

Hermana Nelson

Yo Trato de Ser Como Cristo!‏

Hi family!!  I'm so happy the internet is working again!!!  I l love getting your emails!!  It sounds like you had a great time at the beach!!  I'm glad no one got bitten by a shark.  Are you all pro surfers now?  I can`t believe school already started!  Summer went by fast!!  Not gonna lie I do not miss the heat of summer!  I think I am going to die when I get home!  Send me pictures of your vacation!

Well this week flew by.. as usual!  It's still crazy to me how fast the time is going by.  The work here is a lot slower and it's a lot harder to teach and find people.  I'm not sure why - maybe because it takes forever to get from one place to another - so I am still trying to get used to not being able to do as much.  I have been feeling like a terrible missionary because I felt like I wasn't fulfilling my purpose.  But the Lord knows why I am here and what is going to happen.  I am just going to try even harder to do all I can.  Right now we only have two kids with dates. Madelene is going to be baptized this weekend!  She is so excited!  Sunday was her birthday so we had pizza and cake!  Our zone is really united so we always go as a zone to visit people with dates or people that need support. So we went to visit Madelene as a zone!  It's fun!  We also have a 10 year old boy - Alejandro - with a date for August 27th, he didn`t come to church but some of his family are members so he has a lot of support!

 

We have zone conference this Friday and we are going to do a special musical number - I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus - so we have been practicing all week.  It still needs a lot of work..... Hopefully it sounds okay.  We are going to be with 4 other zones so everyone is nervous that it won't sound good!  haha

 

We found a family on Tuesday!!  Leila and Luis.  She is Caholic and He is Christian.  She said she never lets anyone in but she let us in!!  WOO HOO!!  They haven't accepted a date yet but they will soon!  We watched The Testaments with them and he was crying!  I love that movie!  So keep them in your prayers please!

 

I love this gospel!  Every day I think how grateful I am to have the gospel to give my life meaning.  I can't describe it but it just is a feeling of fullness and amazement.  I really don't know how people can live life without it.  But that is what missionary work is for!!  I love it!!  There is really no other way to be truly happy without living the gospel. Thank you for everything you have taught me and for all of your love and support!!

Happy Birthday Ellie!!!!! I love you!! I hope you have a great day!!! xoxoxXo

 

xoxoxxoXo

Love forever and always,

Hermana Nelson

I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus

Hi family!! How are you all doing. Sorry this keyboard is wierd and not letting me put in punctation. Anyway... This week has been good! Not too much going on. I have just been trying to adjust to being in the city and trying to find my way around. It is a lot different here! We are in the heart of Quito so there is a lot of traffic and people and it is loud and crazy!! 
Saturday one of their investigators got baptized- Elena. She is really cute! She is in her 50s and has a really strong testimony! I really like her! Hermana Fogg and Hermana Dakay came to the baptism and Hermana Fogg said the Yepes are doing a lot better and they want me to go see them! I don't know if I told you what happened with them... Last Sunday we went by to see them because they didn't come to church and they were at her parents house but they said they didn't want to come anymore because they didn't like church and they are working late and on Sunday's so we would be mad if they could come to church once in a while. Anyway we talked with them and tried to help a little bit but she couldnt even look at us. So I knew something was wrong. Anyway we left cause it was late and jose came running after us and told us they wanted us to come by on Tuesday with the bishop. So they went and I guess everything was fine! After they talked to us they felt better! So I don't really know what happened but I hope everything stays good! 
Right now we have 3 little kids with baptism dates- Madelene, Joe, and Estefani. They are all really cute! And we are just working trying to find new investigators and to set dates with them! Well sorry this is even shorter than last week I will try to have more to say next week! I love you all and I love being a missionary! It feels like normal life now! haha Have a great week!! 

-- 

xoxoxxoXo

Love forever and always,

Hermana Nelson

Mi Familia!!

Hi family!! I hope you are all having fun! You are probably on your way to the beach right now... A whole week of soaking up the sun, what you couldnt get of it in Arizona! haha Well we got changes! I am now in the Santa Ana zone with Hermana Hernandez! She is from Honduras and the smallest thing I have ever seen! She is really cute though! So I am back in Quito, not that I was that far away from Quito before but I am back to the pouring rain! WOO!!

Well Saturday we had a baptism! Carolina got baptized and it went really well! She is so cute I love her! We had two investigators come who are my favorite ever! Their names are Graciela and Piedad. Graciela is the old lady we found walking in the street and we helped her buy her things and took her home.. Anyway they came and loved it! And they came to church on Sunday so that was good! They don´t have a date yet but soon they should! I´m sad I didn´t get a picture with Graciela because I love her! I love old ladies! I am going to miss her! I can´t believe how fast that change went by! I thought for sure we would be together one more change but nope! I was shocked! And Hermana Fogg was crying and it was just so sad! But we aren´t that far away from eachother so that´s good!´Well I´m sorry this is way short today, I don´t have a lot of time but I love you all! Thank you so much for everything!! You are the best! Have a good week!! Don´t forget to wear sunscreen!! 

-- 

xoxoxxoXo

Love forever and always,

Hermana Nelson

Miracle on 34th Street

Hi family!!! I hope you are all doing well! This week was so crazy!! I know I say that a lot but this one wins!! So we started out the week thinking only David was going to be getting baptized, right? Well then the girl we were teaching who lives with a family in the ward told us she was going to be leaving to the coast until September and wanted to be baptized before then. So we talked to her parents and they gave her permission and then we called our district leader and told him the situation and he talked to the zone leader and they said yes!! Then we went to visit the Yépes family with the district leader because the President told him to verify a few things and they could get baptized! And we were also going to do the interview with his mom who said she also wanted to be baptized with them! So we got there and she said that a lady called her to work and that she wouldn´t be gone too long so the district leader talked with Jose and then we waited for Maria, his mom, to get back. Well 2 hours later she finally showed up! (They live in the middle of nowhere so we couldn´t leave and come back) And she said that she didn´t want to be baptized nor have the interview so we waited for nothing, but oh well! Anyway everything was good with Jose, so they also got permission to be baptized this weekend!! Well as we were trying to start the baptism, a boy named Jonathan, he is the Barrera family´s son - He started coming to church a few weeks ago, but he lives in another area with his mom now so we couldn´t go visit him and we could never get together in a members house.  Anyway he was there practicing soccer with the Young Men´s and he came up to me and was so upset and asked why he couldn´t get baptized too!  Well it just so happened, that the zone leaders and district leaders were at the church too - I´m not really sure why - so I told him to go talk to the zone leaders because I can´t do anything about it! Well they talked to him, had him call his mom and ask permission, and then he had an interview with the district leader!  So we had him change and ran back into the service just in time for the baptisms to be performed!  It was insane!!  One baptism turned into two, two into four and four into five!  I was in shock! They all just fell out of the sky!  As always, I feel like I had nothing to do with any of the baptisms we had, I was just there to watch!  This really is the Lord´s work and it will go forward with no help at all! I have seen so many miracles here and I love every single minute of the mission! I hope you all have a great week!! 

xoxoxoxXo
Love forever and always,

Hermana Nelson

Genesis Paraga

Jonathan Barrera

Jose & Elizabeth Yepes

David Guanga

These Are The Days!!!!

Hi family! 

I hope everyone is doing well!! So two fun stories of the week! The first- We went by our mamitas house for lunch on Saturday and she wasn´t there so we were walking down the street to go get lunch and we saw this old lady who was seriously walking .0005 miles an hour! So slow! So we went to talk to her to see where she was going and if she needed help and she said she was going to buy bags at the bakery so she could sell chips and stuff. And then she started crying and telling us that she lives with her daughter but she hates it here and she wants to get some money so she can go back home so that is why she wants to sell the chips. She said her daughter never lets her leave the house and she feels like a prisoner and it was the saddest thing ever! So we knew she would never make it to the bakery before dark so we went to buy the bags for her and we came back with them and then she said she wanted to buy stuff to put in the bags to sell! So we got a car because she was determined to walk there and we knew she couldn´t and it was a site trying to get her in the car! haha so we finally got her in, went to the bakery, bought the cookies and took her home. Another site getting her out of the car and down the steps to her house. As we were leaving she was crying and had a look on he face like please don´t leave me!! We told her we would come by and visit her another day. It was the saddest thing ever but kinda funny at the same time. She was so old and probably took her 4 hours to walk halfway down the street- no joke! Anyway that was Saturday. 

Sunday we went by a contacts house to see if she was home- of course she wasn´t because no one is ever home on Sundays- contrary to what the Missonary Handbook says- anyway we were standing in front of her gate and she has stairs that go down to where she lives and this chunky guy comes walking up the stairs with a Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus in a glass box! We asked him why he had it with him and he said he takes it everywhere with him! haha My eyes have definately been opened to other churches beliefs and practices here.. anyway we started talking to him and of course he had been drinking so it was a fun conversation talking with a half drunk man! Then his brother came over who also had been drinking and they were just funny! So we gave them a Word of Wisdom and Law of Chasity pamphlet because we didn´t have anymore! And they wanted the missionaries to visit them so hopefully they can get some help! Anyway it was a funny experience and I´m sure more funny in the moment because the story doesn´t sound that funny! Sorry!

Anyway we found two new families this week! The Caiza family and the Diaz family! None of our families came to church though.. But i really think the Diaz family will progress! So keep them in your prayers please! Things are going well! If all goes well with interviews, the Yépes family and his mom will be baptized this weekend and David- the son of a recent convert- I don´t know if I told you last week about him or not. We were teaching him a few months ago and he never wanted to get baptized but now he does! We have a few others who are on the list for baptisms! The hard thig is getting everyone to church. But they will be baptized eventually! Thank you for all of your love and support! I am so so grateful everyday for the blessing I have to be a missionary! It is so great and time is going by so fast! I love you all! have a great week!! 

-- 

xoxoxxoXo

Love forever and always,

Hermana Nelson