Fountainebleau area 12-30-13

Missionary Christmas!

Just wanted to say what up from the hoods of Miami! haha whoop whoop! It was awesome to hear from all of you on Christmas, but sorry momma let me just say that it was easily the worst day in my mish so far! It was the only time ive been sad cause i just missed you guys a ton! But yeah that night when we went out and harvested we literally found no one! So greasy we knocked doors for 3 and half hours and nobody would listen or they just werent home. Usually we can get 3 blessings in an hour easy, but during those 3 and half hours we only got 4. Its all good though because we got another baptism coming tonight!

His name is Osmar and he has literally been taught by 8 sets of missionaries! Yeah crazy, but weve visited him a couple times but when we went and visited him on saturday night you could tell something had changed in him. He truly had been humbled. Him and his wife were telling us how they were in tough times right now and that they believe its because they're not being obedient to God and His Commandments. His wife is less active. But anyways we asked Osmar what he felt he needed to do to fix this and he knew and he said he needs to be baptized! So awesome so we set a time for tonight at 630 because he couldnt do it yesterday. But it was just so awesome to see how he was really just like the people in Alma 32 that he was humbled in his afflictions and finally prepared to be baptized! But so yeah hes getting baptized tonight by the bishop.

Last night was also really cool too, because we went and did some harvesting in some apartments we had just found and holy cow everyone there is just prepared to receive the gospel. 3 doors in a row there was 3 families that all welcomed us in and let us bless their home and all accepted baptism! So crazy! I wanted to just weep tears of joy! But yeah now we need to do good follow up with them, and teach them so they can get into the waters. sorry I dont have enough time to go into details about them but Ill let you know more if theyre gonna get baptized soon.

Its great to hear that you guys are all doing well in O-town and enjoying the mountains. Man I miss those but they are so many beautiful things here in florida. haha its just really hot! But Kyle I didn't receive a letter from you this week so I expect a good one next week! Familia, this gospel is true. It just does bring so much happiness to everyone who lives it! I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to help people come to this joy! Im so grateful for our savior Jesus Christ. I know that he truly took upon him all of the sins of the world, and that the only way we can be cleansed from sin is through Him. I know that He knows us perfectly so we just have to learn how to trust in him. I love you all so much and would just like to invite you to try and find ways to serve others. I truly have learned that we are the happiest when were not thinking about ourselves. In the mish I honestly dont care that I sweat buckets all day or that some people like to yell f words at us on the roads, when we find just one person who lets us pray with them or when we teach someone a powerful lesson it truly makes it all worth it! I have already learned to find joy in the things that I do have, because there are a lot of people in this world who have basically nothing. I love and miss you all so much, just keep living right and helping others!
Elder Nielsen

Florida!!

Familia!
Alright here it goes, I don't have much time so hopefully I can say some stuff. Anyways I mailed you a letter with a lot of info about my area so hopefully you get that because I dont want to say everything thats in that again.

But my area is called Fountainebleau North, and its in the Hialeah zone. My trainer is Elder Ward. We white washed the area which means were both brand new to the area. Normally they keep one elder who already knows the area here, but for some reason it didnt happen. Such a good area though! Im already loving the people here.

President Anderson is so amazing. Holy cow hes got a high standard for us here in the mission! Haha really strict but I know that exact obedience brings miracles and I want miracles! So yeah that means I wont be wearing any brown pants. . . Sorry mom, but dont worry about sending me any more pants ill be fine.

These first few days have been crazy, like unreal. I havent had anytime to think about anything other than missionary work cause its just go go go go all the time because we have a lot of work to do since were white washing. But one thing thats different here is that instead of just knocking peoples doors and asking to leave a message with them, we ask if we can just pray with them, and then if they let us we ask if we can kneel down and bless their home. Its so awesome! We get to use our priesthood multiple times every day, and it really gets people feeling the spirit! We already have 3 new investigators from just that!

Weve been knocking a lot of door these past few days because we dont really know any of the investigators that the past missionaries were teaching so were just trying to find people.

Also our ward here is awesome. Holy cow, our bishop and his counselors are amazing men! It was so good to get to meet them yesterday and all the other members. But yeah sacrament was super amazing, and then after sacrament these 2 sisters introduced us to a friend that this was the 3rd time they had brought him to church, and that the other missionaries had taught a few times as well. His name is Israel, and he is amazing. He has a speech disability and the only thing he can say is Palo-palo. haha so random I know, but you ask him anything and his response is Palo-palo-palo-palo. Yeah so he was kind of tough to teach but the two sisters who brought us to him wanted us to try and teach him everything and get him baptized that day! So during the last 2 hours of church we sat down with him, tried to get to know him, and just started teaching. We just tried to teach straight by the spirit, and have the gift of discernment so we could understand what he was saying. Oh and he can understand everything perfectly and he has some other disability with his right arm that it doesnt work right. Not really sure what it is though.

Anyways needless to say we taught him a ton, basically everything the other elders hadnt taught him, and then invited him to be baptized that day right after church. he smiled huge and just nodded his head and said palo-palo in like a really excited tone! We both felt the spirit and knew he should be baptized! So boom just like that we got him an interview told members about it filled the font got him in a baptismal suit and then baptized and confirmed him! So awesome! I got to baptize him! First baptism in only 5 days here, and we met him and baptized him the same day! So nutty! Straight up miracle! Haha the baptismal ordinance was a little weird because of his disability with his right arm so we didnt really know how to work around it, but so I just held his left hand put my arm to the square and said it all in spanish, and then he was like just so excited to go down, so he just bent like forward instead of back, and then I just kind of helped him go all the way under and then pulled him out. Haha kind of awkward if you can imagine it, but nonetheless he still went all the way under and then I helped him back up and man he was just smiling so big! Haha you could tell he was feeling the spirit hardcore and I was too. After that the bishop shared some thoughts and confirmed him and everything right there. The blessing he gave was INCREDIBLE! He straight up told him that according to his faithfulness and prayers and progression in the gospel he would be healed from his disabilities! Man the spirit was so strong and you could tell Israel when the bishop was talking to him afterword understood everything. K well thats all I got but I love you guys and miss you and cant wait to get to talk to you on Navidad!
Elder Nielsen

Elder Nielsen, Israel, and Elder Ward

First baptism

Mexico MTC pictures

With his companion Elder Beus and their teacher Hermano Enciso

CCM District

With their Branch President Torres

Last week in the Mexico MTC

Yes! Less than one week left here in the CCM! So pumped to get to florida. Im pumped to get there and actually get a package from you guys, because the one never showed up here. Haha must of got lossed in crazy mexican shipping or something. Its all good though! Thank you for getting Jos. A. Bank to send me pants! That will be wonderful! Im hoping that I should be able to call from the airport. I think Ill just try and call from Dallas like you said cause that should be the easiest. If we could skype on christmas that would be unreal!

I loved what you said about agency though, because that really is one of the most important gifts that God has given us. Its important for me to understand too because as you know sometimes I dont like to take no for an answer. But Im learning that there are going to be people that regardless of what I say or what they feel they still wont accept it! Ive already learned that here in the CCM because this week weve been teaching all the people in our district a lot. They pretend to be people they know well that arent LDS and then we have to teach them like theyre real investigators. I was teaching one of the Elders in our district and his investigator just like refuses to accept anything and I was getting so frustrated! But I just need to chill cause its gonna be like that in Florida.

I dont even know what to write about this week because honestly not a whole lot of new stuff has happened. I guess you could say that Me and Elder Beus were kind of on injured reserve, because he rolled his ankle playing basketball and I hurt my back a little bit benching. It was unreal though because I got 195 3 times, then I wanted to get one more, but I my way i just tweaked my back a little. haha yeah I know not the brightest! But im all good now, so no worries. Weve also been waking up every morning at 545 and lifting. I love it! haha its so fun, and it helps me out a ton, because if I dont wake up and work out then I can never fall asleep write at 1030 cause Im not even tired, cause all we do is sit on our butts all day! We go lifting with Elder Acosta and Elder jensen. such homies. Im gonna miss those guys so much. Elder Acostas companion Elder Jensen is so skinny. Like ridiculous. haha he only weighs like 105. he loves lifting with us though, and then whenever its meal times, we always make him eat like 4 plates so that he can BULK UP! so funny then were always making jokes about being Swoll and stuff. haha yeah I know we sound like the typical teenagers but were just finding ways to make the CCM more enjoyable because if we dont then we would be like the hermanas in our district that look like they want to die half the time. haha k that was kinda rude but its true.

We also had some rad spiritual experiences this week. On tuesday night we taught our night teacher Hermano Enciso, but he was an Investigator weve taught a few times named Tito. We were praying so hard before hand for the spirit because the lesson before that one was straight garbage so we recommitted ourselves to really focus on the spirit, and let me tell ya it worked! Holy cow, afterwards we were talking and I mean even though he wasnt an actual investigator and it was just our teacher, the spirit was real, and it was really there! We didnt teach one thing that we planned on teaching that lesson, and it was easily the best lesson we had ever had. He had a lot of questions about faith, so we just turned straight to the scriptures in Alma 32. That night when I was writing about it I honestly couldnt even remember half the things that we taught or said because it wasnt us it was just straight spirit talking.

After that I seriously wanted just every lesson to feel and be exactly the same, and the only way I can do that is if I completely rely upon the Lord and His Spirit. Because if I want a lesson to be powerful for an investigator I have to teach according to their needs, and most of the time I never even know what half of their problems or needs are. But God does, and thats whats amazing about this gospel! I want Him to be able to work through me, so that I can teach every time exactly what the investigator needs to hear. I know this church is true. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I really love the Book of Mormon because all a person has to do to know that this church is true, is read and pray about the Book of Mormon. they dont even have to read the whole thing before they pray, to know that its true. How awesome is that! Familia I love you so much, and I already love my mission so much! Keep growing and nourishing your faith!

Elder Nielsen

Oh and by the way I just wanted you to know that Me and Elder Beus caused new rules here in the CCM. Haha we got told we werent allowed to dunk one day, and then the next day all over the CCM theres this  paper up called the 10 commandments of gym, and one of them is no dunking. So yeah, I guess were pretty cool ;). haha just thought I would let you know. 

Week 4 in the Mexico MTC

Familia!

Thank you for all of the sweet emails! I totally forgot that Trey is supposed to be coming down here soon! I will keep an eye out for him! Thanks for the Byu basketball updates! Ok christmas stuff. haha yes! I definetly need you to send me some stuff. Haha first off you know those pants that we got from Joseph A Bank that said dry clean, but they were like the same material as my other ones so you said to just wash them. Haha yeah ruined. So If you could send me some brown pants that would be great! Haha also I have no idea why im such an idiot and didnt pack a sweatshirt or anything but if you want to send me one of those or I could just buy one there. Also like a sweater that I could wear with just a white shirt would be nice too sometimes it gets fairly cold here. But make sure its long sleeved! And ties! Oh I love ties and wish I would have brought more! I think thats about it. Then if you just want to throw whatever else you think would be helpful in there that would be sweet!

Anyways this week has been way good! haha its hard to remember all of the great experiences Ive had and type them all in one! But its been a great week because Ive studying exactly what you just said Momma! In moroni when hes talking about charity! Everyday Ive been picking one of the attributes it lists, and working on it throughout the day. It has helped me so much!

Probably the biggest thing that me and Elder Beus have accomplished this week is that weve really been trying to learn how to teach by the spirit and teach people not lessons. Weve been praying so hard for the spirit, and weve studying a lot the chapter in preach my gospel that talks all about understanding the spirit. And its paying off! Woohoo! Haha yesterday it was awesome we were teaching our morning investigator her name is Betty, but shes actually our teacher just pretending, and shes 50 years old and has cancer. Anyways we were praying really hard to be able to understand better her needs, because she hasnt really told us much other than she has cancer and its hard for her. So our lesson plan was to just go in and talk to her about the plan of salvation. So we start talking to her and really trying to ask inspired questions, and we both knew right away that we shouldnt teach  about the plan of salvation but that we needed to help strengthen her testimony of the book of mormon to help her receive personal revelation that its true. So awesome! We shared a bunch of scriptures and it was easily the best lesson weve ever had, and we were both were just dominating the spanish! haha we were so pumped because we got her to commit to baptism at the end, as well as read a specific chapter from the Book of Mormon and commited her to come to church with us on sunday. It felt so real even though it was just our teacher pretending to be a real investigator she had in her misssion! I cant wait to actually get to the field and start teaching real people and trying to help them receive this gospel!

This week weve also had some responsibilities as zone leaders. A lot of people in our zone, specifically in our district though, are not using their time wisely. And thats really frustrating for me and Elder Beus because they dont seem to understand that its not our time, but the Lords time. Even our teachers have noticed and they both came up to us and said their doing all they can to get people motivated to study and work harder, but they said its our turn to do something. haha so we decided to sit everyone down and just yell at them and tell them to be better. Haha just kidding not at all what we did! Even though we may have thought about it. ;) but so what we decided to do is we came up with a bunch of goals to help improve our time management with everyone in the zone, and we got all the district leaders together and told them what they need to tell their districts about the goals, and that they really need to get people to implement them! Weve butted heads a little bit with some people but I think weve got our point across that were not perfect examples but that we just want them and us as well to work harder because God is always happy, but never satisfied!

Dont worry momma my shirts are still white and I know how to do my laundry! Me and Elder beus both leave the same day. Im ticked though cause that package hasnt come yet! Haha im getting so impatient! Anyways I just want to say that I know that this gospel is true and that it changes lives! Its changed mine and now all I want is to help at least one person feel of the joy that I have felt! Ive been studying a lot of the Atonement this week as well and my testimony has really grown. One of my favorites scriptures about the atonement is in Alma 7, im pretty sure verses 11 and 12. Anyways read that and then understand what it means to "succor". I know Christ suffered for all of us, and that the only way we can be clean and free of guilt is through him. I love all you guys so much, and hope your enjoying the freezing cold and snow because its sunny and 75 here!  love you guys.

Elder Nielsen

Week 3 in the MTC

Familia!

Happy Thanksgiving!! Whoop whooop! I read all your emails and it sounds pretty chill! Dad thanks for the updates on Ziggy I loved that! Im pumped that your training for Boston and working so hard. Youre gonna make it for sure. Hope your thanksgiving is as good as mine has been cause its been a legendary day, and its only 4 baby! We went to the temple again this morning and I did the whole thing in spanish! There were only a few parts I had a hard time understanding so I was pumped about that. We got back, and we had Turkey dinner! For lunch! Haha easily best meal weve here in the ccm and I ate like 4 slices of pumpkin pie and ice cream! Then after lunch we went and changed, then we went and played some turkey bowl football! It was so flippin fun! we had like 15 guys on each team. We played for like a solid 45 mins before a teacher came and told us we couldnt play anymore because were actually not allowed to play football here. I guess thats why they dont have any footballs lying around. But Elder Lloyd brought one so thats what we used. haha I got like a 50 yard TD catch from him so that was sweet. Anyways then right after that we went and played some basketball and I made a video of me dunking so I can prove it too you pops! Haha ill try and upload it.

Anyways I dont even know where to start for this week a lot has happened. I guess first off I can talk a little bit some of our responsibilities weve had this week as zone leaders. So on thursday night we had to welcome a new district and that wasnt hard at all, all we had to do was give them the low down of life here in the CCM. Then on Saturday this Hermana in our zone hurt her knee playing soccer so we had to help her out with that a little bit, but mainly her district did all the heavy lifting. So then on sunday we had a zone fast for her which was rough! haha never been so hungry in my life, but we made it all the way to dinner and I know well receive blessings for being diligent. On Sunday we also had to teach the knew district about worthiness right before they went in for interviews with the branch presidency. So that was interesting. . . Haha I branch president pretty much told us to just be as blunt as possible so we pretty much talked about everything. Yeah everything if you catch my drift. But luckily none of them went home after their interviews so they all must be doing good! Haha.

Thank you so much for the donuts! I was so pumped when they said I got a package! Thank you so much for sending the letter and package to Elder Acosta as well. It got here today, and so when we got back from the temple I went into our room, and sitting on our district leaders bed was the letter opened to Elder Acosta. On the envelope it just says to Elder Acosta or Elder Nielsen and he opened it! I seriously raged. I pretty much told him that if he ever opens a letter that says my name on it again im gonna fight him. Haha yeah I need to repent, seriously. But I dont know why it seriously just made me so mad. Hes the one who I have patience issues with. . . Me and beus both. But anyways I gave the letter to Acosta and he said hes going to pick it up in a little bit after he finishes emailing. I love you guys so much, that seriously meant the world to me and Acosta already told me that it means a lot to him too.

I feel like me and Beus are learning how to work a lot better together, and are become a lot better teachers. Last night we had TRC which is just real volunteer members come in and we talk to them and teach them just something about the gospel. The hard thing is just understanding them. They talk so fast! But I understood basically everything, and Beus was actually able to understand them, and teach well in spanish too! We were both pumped afterwards. Im so grateful to be zone leaders I love it! We get to meet a lot more people, and its good because it motivates us to be better examples and work harder.

Haha the ccm is hard but fun at the same time. Usually the afternoons are sometimes the worse but then every night our night teacher just motivates us hard core, and then every night in our casa is hilarious. Me and this other Elder Nielsen who lives in our casa play ping pong every night. Our table is just like a basic dinner table with pillows in the middle as our net. Haha so funny! I pretty much smoke him everytime with my left hand so its getting old.

I love you guys so much, and miss you a ton! But I just really try to focus on the work because this really is the most important work there is on the planet!  I love learning about the gospel and learning more how to listen and teach by the spirit. Its tough work to teach people not lessons, but Me and Beus have made it a goal to never leave a lesson feeling like all we taught was the lesson and that they didnt get anything out of it. Love you guys and thanks so much for the packages and emails!

Elder Nielsen

Week 2 in the MTC

Familia,

Wow I honestly dont even know where to start, so much happens everyday, so its hard to summarize a whole week! Well probably the first thing that happened since I last wrote, was that we got called as zone leaders last thursday night!! Crazy, so that means were in charge of making sure all the Elders and Hermanas in our zone are doing alright, and aren´t breaking any serious rules. So right now theres 2 districts in our zone, and another comes in tonight. We have to help the new district get settled in, and introduce them to our branch presidency. Our branch presidency is awesome and im so excited to work with them on a regular basis now, because basically were the ones who let them know whats going on in our zone\branch. Our branch president is awesome hes this little mexican guy who is so short, named pres. Torres but is a spiritual powerhouse, and he loves baseball!! the night we were called as zone leaders me and Beus literally talked to him for an hour about baseball, and he told us how growing up him and his brothers wanted to play, but the only league they could afford to play in played on sundays, and so his dad said that they werent gonna play because they needed to keep the sabbath day holy! So righteous! So know his sons are in kind of the same predicament, but he went to the head of the baseball league by where they live, and asked if his sons could get special permission to not have to play on sundays and they did! So know his oldest son has committed to play at some really good college here when he graduates and his other 2 sons are in the league now, and he says their doing really good. That was a testimony strengthener for me that the Lord rewards us when we keep his commandments, and are willing to give up things of the world.

Anyways as zone leaders me and Beus didnt really have to do much until yesterday. We went to one of the districts to meet with their district leader because were supposed to do that once a week, and he wasnt there! He had to go home because of personal problems the night before. So sad their district was distraught so we talked to them for a little bit about it, and then made sure his companion got put in a trio with other elders in their district so we got that worked out. The only thing know is we have to talk to Pres. Torres to have him call a new district leader for their district.

I´m not gonna lie there have been a lot of fun good spiritual experiences this week, and there have also been a lot of tough times. The days seem to go so slow at some points, and then at other times it seems like before you know it the day is gone. me and Beus came up with a specific language plan that has daily and weekly goals that were trying to accomplish, and theyre difficult goals so theyre putting us out of comfort zone. Some of our daily goals are to learn at least 10 new words, and memorize 3 gospel phrases speak only spanish for at least 2 hours, and then complete 2 and half activities on tall (average is 1 and a half). So were working hard in that regard, but what has been frustrating for me this week has been getting along with other Elders in our district, and teaching Investigators. Just like you predicted Mom, yes I am struggling getting along and being patient with others! haha what else is new! I just get frustrated when people waste their study time, but then brag about how good they are at teaching, or at spanish, or being obedient, and sometimes I just want to yell and tell them to flipping humble themselves!! I know I cant though, and I just try and sing Hymns to calm down, and focus on the work. My biggest struggle with teaching is being able to understand the needs of the investigator. Because we had 2 lessons this week where they were the first lessons we had with them, and we only had 15 minutes to teach. so usually it takes like 5 to 10 minutes just to get to know them personally and their beliefs, then once we get a feel for what they need we can give them a short message, usually about just 1 or 2 topics from the restoration, and then teach them how to pray, and invite them to pray or read the book of mormon. But where it gets difficult is the language. Because I can be talking with an investigator and understand exactly what theyre saying, and then understand Ok they need to know that God is our Loving Heavenly Father, and that The Gospel Blesses Families. But Elder Beus wont understand what the Investigator is saying, so he doesn´t really know what they need. So then Im the only one who ends up talking, and the lesson doesnt go as well as it could have, and we leave feeling like we didnt work together, and we didnt teach well enough by the spirit. Its really easy to get discouraged, but were doing our best to just rely on the Lord, because this isnt our work its His, and we just want to do all we can to be instruments in His hands to bring others to Christ.

The other thing that made this week more difficult was that I got flippin sick!! I was on the toilet for at least 3 hours out of the day on Tuesday and Wednesday! Haha but I feel better know. K enough of the complaining because I really do have so much to celebrate and be grateful for!! One of the biggest things Ive been grateful for this week are my teachers! Hermana Murillo and Elder Enciso. They are amazing, and I have learned so much about teaching, following the spirit, and just doctrine in general from them. They help us feel encouraged, and motivated as missionaries. Were seriously like best friends with them. The other thing I have to be so grateful for is my spanish! I love speaking spanish so much, and I feel like I have improved exponentially already! One of the coolest experiences for me was on Sunday we were in Priesthood meeting, and pres. Torres was talking about the Jacob 5, and he was speaking in spanglish, like going back and forth between in English and spanish because his english isnt very good, so whenever he cant explain something in English he explains it in spanish. But I didn´t realize til the lesson was almost over that he was doing that! I was just focusing so hard to listen that my mind was able to switch from spanish to english without even recognizing!! I was so pumped, gift of tongues is real!!!

Well I love each and every one of you so much. Tell Kenzo and Maddie to send me an email if they can again because I want to hear from those knuckleheads! I miss you, but I know that this is where im supposed to be, and that im participating in the Lords work. This gospel is true, and I feel the spirit testifying the truthfulness of it too me everyday as I study, ponder, pray and teach. Im so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ, and that I have the opportunity to teach others of the joy that they can receive as they use His  Atonement. We were trying to find a chapter that we could Invite one of our investigators to read from the Book of Mormon to help her understand the happiness the Atonement can bring us, and immediately my mind went to Alma 36. I love that chapter so much, and would invite you guys to read it, because it talks about how everyone can feel if they repent. I have felt the joy that Alma talks about in that chapter, and that is why I am here, to help others find it as well. Love you all!!

Elder Nielsen

Week 1 in the Mexico City MTC (or CCM)

With his first companion Elder Beus

Hola Familia!! K right off I have to say sorry that this all just
going to be in one huge bunch because I somehow picked an computer
with a broken return key!! Anyways thank you all so much for the
amazing emials!! I got your Dear Elder email mom, but I never got an
actual letter so if you want to tell people they can just email me
than that would be fine. We get an hour to send emails so it should be
plenty of time since I can type fairly fast. Wow I don´t even know
where to start so much has happened since that first night that we got
here and the first thing they told us to do was send an email. But
yeah the first person I saw was Hermana Jones. So good to see her!
When we first got here they gave us a huge packet with all our info
about everything in it. So I just went with some of the other Elders
who were on my same bus here to dinner, and then we went and tried to
find our companions because a bunch of people got here at different
times during the day. Anyways I found him, and his name is Elder Beus.
He lived in Highland, UT and went to Lone Peak, and played football.
We ate dinner together that night, and just talking to him I knew we
were going to work well together. I got all my stuff unpacked, and yes
Mom I remembered where everything was. While unpacking though I
realized I only forgot one thing. . . My toothbrush charger!! I was so
ticked, but if you try and send that to me that would be great because
thats one thing I can´t buy here. First night I layed in bed for like
an hour kind of in shock. Haha I wasn´t really sad or anything I was
just kind of in shock. So our first day of class was good. Our teacher
is named Hermana Dominguez, and she barely speaks any english. So we
walk in to class and she starts speaking in straight spanish and I
understood most of it, but then I look at Elder Beus and his eyes look
huge, and he was in straight shock. haha he literally knows no
spanish!! Our class is everyone in our district which is 6 elders and
3 hermanas, and we all know spanish pretty well except for Elder Beus!
So I´ve been helping him out a ton. We also live in the same room in
our casa with 2 other elders that are in our district, and they´re
both literally fluent, so they´ve been helping us both out. I´m so
grateful that I´m speaking spanish because I already love studying it
and speaking it and am learning really quickly. Anyways I´ll tell you
what our typical day is. We wake up at 630 get ready, then go get
breakfast. usually the only thing they serve here thats good for
breakfast is just scrambled eggs. And to make them actually taste good
you have to dump this sauce called Valentino on them. They also have
cereal, but they only have 3 kinds and its always fruit loops frosted
flakes and corn puffs. After breakfast we go to personal study in
classroom for an hour. That sometimes can be rough because it´s hard
to stay focused for an hour or sometimes were just really tired. Next
we have morning classes. our morning classes which basically last til
lunch. They vary from day to day but Hermana Dominguez always teaches
us during the morning. Then lunch is always the biggest meal of the
day. Most of the time its just meats that use to make tacos with, and
then they have rice and beans and sauces that you use to make tacos.
The rice and beans here are always good, but sometimes the meats can
be a little sketchy. After lunch we have Language study on the
computers, then after that we have additional study time which is you
just study whatever you want, or whatever you feel you need to. after
that we have more language study time but this time its out of the red
language books they gave us. Me and Elder Beus always study so hard
during language time because he seriously knew nothing about spanish.
But we´ve both already learned so much already! next is gym time which
is always sick. We only have an hour, but you can play basketball
lift, play football, ping pong. Pretty much everything. Me and Beus
like to lift though. Haha were literally like exactly the same! I
seriously can´t say how grateful I am to have such a great companion!
We´ve also played some basketball during gym time, and I dunked for my
first time on a 10 ft hoop 2 days ago. Haha it was so sick! Yesterday
during gym time me and Beus had a dunk contest on this basketball hoop
behing our casa thats around 9 feet tall and it was rad. Anyways after
gym they give you awhile to shower and get ready, and also plan out
your next day. Then dinner. Im not gonna lie weve had some pretty
awful dinners. haha one night we had hot dogs and I literally took one
bite of it, and then felt like I was going to vomit it was so nasty.
So pretty much we usually just try and feast on tacos during lunch so
if its nasty dinner we can just eat a nutella sandwich and be chill.
Then after dinner it´s my favorite part of the day, we teach our
"investigator", and have companionship study til 930. I put
investigator in quotes because hes not actually an investigator, hes a
member who pretends to be. But I love it because everytime we teach I
feel the spirit so strong. We literally taught him for our first time
our second day here. haha beus still didnt know how to say my name is
Elder Beus in spanish!! So our first lesson I did most of the talking
but since then its only gone up! our last lesson was amazing because
we got him to commit to baptism, because the lesson before we invited
him to pray to know that the book of mormon was true. Beus taught the
whole first vision to him in spanish. That shows how rapidly hes
learning because it had only been a week. Im already so excited to go
out into the field and teach real investigators about the gospel in
espanol! then we go home at 930, usually try and trade ties with some
of the other elders in our casa then go to bed at 1030. Today has been
really good because its been our first P day, and we got to go the
temple this morning. The session was in all spanish, so they gave us
headphones so we could listen in English, but I took mine off, and
could actually understand most of it. So im excited for next time we
get to go, and ill do it in all spanish! The drive to and from the
temple were awesome because it was a 45 min drive to get there so we
got to see a lot of Mexico City, and let me tell you it looks about
the same everywhere. Everything is concrete and dirty, and has
graffiti on it. I seriously couldnt imagine having to live there
because its so loud, so crowded and so dirty. then you get to the CCM
and we just have this huge perfectly maintained campus and its all
fenced off with barbwire at the top and everything. Anyways im gonna
try and send some pictures now in a seperate email, but I hope this
email was good enough, and send me some feedback on what I can do so
the next one is better!! Let me know how everyone is doing because I
really want to know! I love you guys so much, and think about you
every night when I flip through my book of photos! The church is true,
and I know that with all my heart, and I know that God answers our
prayers. All we have to do is ask with real faith, and a sincere
heart!! Love, Elder Nielsen

Mexico City Missionary Training Center (CCM)

Mexico City Temple

Arrived at the Mexico MTC for 6 week training

I am here at the Mexico MTC. It already feels amazing to be here! I just finished watching a little intro video about whats going on, and they told us to write an email letting you guys know that were alive. The flight here was great. Haha as soon as we left Utah I fell asleep for the majority of the flight. Guess I was just tired from all the goodbyes! The only part that was a little stressful was the drive here from the airport. Mexico streets are nutty! No lane markings anywhere, people changing lanes at random times, people walking through the roads selling random crap. Haha one guys was selling toilet paper so that was neat. The best part about my flights was that I was with 2 other elders going to my same mission! Elder Stewart and Elder Corey. Great guys. Well anyways hope your surviving without me, and te amo!!

Elder Nielsen