Miami Lakes South Area 6-30-14

FAMILIA!
Sounds like you guys had a fun week car shopping and prepping for girls camp! Dad, I can't believe you did the Ragnar again, you're an animal! I don't even want to think about how slow I would be if I tried to go running. I can bike for days, no doubt, but running, no way, I'm so out of shape! I'm sure things will be interesting as well this week as it will just be Dad, and kenzo chilling at home. But Mom, Kylie, and maddie I hope you guys have a great week up at girls camp! This week is 4th of July as well! I have no idea what we're going to do here on friday night when everybody will just be out partying, but we will still somehow find a way to do missionary work!

We had another great week here in Miami Lakes south. So, yes Dad to answer your questions it has been quite a bit harder to find people here. In fountainebleau there was huge apartments for days, that we could go knock and talk to a lot of people in short amounts of time, but here it's a little different. Basically every apartment complex is gated. So we have tried to break into places before, and that never goes well. There are a couple of places that let us in though, and the problem is like every missionary before us has knocked the crap out of them so not many people answer. But like I said before when our boundaries got changed we got a lot of new area, which included a trailer park, which is where we have been at basically everyday.

Nothing to crazy happened this week. We've been working really hard, and just talking to every single person we bike by. A lot of people try to ignore us and just keep walking. So what I have learned to do is pull by bike sideways, and basically just block the whole sidewalk with my bike. haha so that way if people want to get by us they have to walk into the street. So far nobody has plowed me over so it's going good! :)

I wish I had some super cool story to tell this week, but there was just nothing super spectacular. So this week were praying for a miracle that we will be able to find a bunch of people and bring them all to church! If I could ask one favor though, please pray for our investigator Julio. He is so cool! He reads the book of mormon every night and he says he know's joseph smith was a prophet and that the church is true, but he just says he's allergic to going to church! He's so solid but he just refuses to come to church, so there's not much we can do until he comes!

I hope you all have an incredible 4th of july! I love you all and miss you all! Keep staying on the straight and narrow!
Elder Nielsen

I don't know if you can tell but I am covered in gnats!

Miami Lakes South Area 6-23-14

FAMILIA!
Sounds like you guys had a super fun vacation week! haha the poor van is no mas, Stupid transmission. I was glad to hear that you guys made it home safely though! It was super good to hear about all of your vacation adventures with the family out in California! Sorry little sissies I was running super short on time today so I'm not going to be able to write you all, but next week I will all write you some super stellar stories! Kenzo of course were still homies!

You know how last week I said it rained a lot?? Yeah nothing compared to this week! Luckily I was in a car for 2 days this week! haha I did double exchanges again this week. On Tuesday I was in Miami Gardens, and then on Wednesday I was in Opa Locka again with the zone leaders. They were super good exchanges and I learned a lot, but I'm not gonna lie it was tough coming back into my area on Thursday feeling like I haven't done any work in my area. Then on Friday as well we got to go to the temple! Oh my goodness it was incredible! It felt like I hadn't been to the temple in so long, and it was definitely a revelatory experience. Our mission president leaves next week. So weird, I'm gonna miss President Anderson that guy is incredible, but I'm excited to meet President Richardson. President Anderson keeps talking all about following the keys, so I assume there are going to be some changes that happen when he comes in. I'm excited to see what he brings to the mission though.

Sadly, this week our dominican family was not baptized. They just weren't progressing at all anymore and started to avoid us. so that was super lame but life goes on. We're just going to go out and find some new people this week that are going to get baptized! On Saturday night we saw a super cool miracle though. We were out with a member and every single one of our appointments fell through. We definitely felt frustrated but decided we just go and stop by a potential we had met a few days back. Of course, not home as well. But as we were leaving we felt inspired to talk to a young couple who was getting out of their car. We introduce ourselves and get to know them, and then out of the blue he jumps in and asks us, "Do you believe that God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are separate beings?" We explain to him about how they are one in purpose but three separate beings. He kind of nods his head then goes on a rampage of questions about the plan of salvation about adam and eve, and where we were before this life. We were able to answer all of his questions, and he told us of how he has studied 50 different religions, but never with us. We gave him a plan of salvation pamphlet and he said he would study it. Sadly he wouldn't commit to anything until he read it, and prayed about it. But we called him last night, and he told us he had read it and has several questions, but he said he REALLY wants to learn more and told us to come by on Wednesday at 7. I know that's not as big of a miracle as somebody committing to be baptized right then and there or anything like that, but I know that he is someone searching for the truth, and that he is going to find it!

I have learned a lot in this area here in my Miami Lakes. It hasn't been easy that's for sure, but I feel like I have grown a lot in these past few weeks. Mainly, I've just learned more to trust and rely more on the Lord. This week I was thinking a lot about it, and when I first got in the mission I just had the mindset of I'm gonna go out and work hard and baptize nations. Because that's how it had been for all of my life. Like in baseball, I knew that if I went out and worked as hard as I could and I got as good as I could I could do whatever.  haha not exactly the same in missionary work. Yes, I can go and knock doors all day, and talk to everyone I see but if I'm not where the Lord wants me to be nothing is going to happen. Yes, I still have to work as hard as I can, but lately I've just realized how much I have to depend on the Lord for everything. I know that God lives, and knows each and every one of us. We truly are his children. I'm so grateful to be here in the mission serving the Lord. Thank you so much for all the emails every week. It seriously is the best hearing about all the stuff that's going on back home. I love you all and have a great week!
Elder Nielsen

Miami Lakes South Area 6-16-14

FAMILIA!

As usual sounds like you guys had an incredible week! I was glad to hear as well that you guys were able to spend father's day all together just chowing down on some ribs! Those are the best times just chilling as a family! Dad, happy father's day! Thank you again for all that you have done for me! You guys sound like you have a super fun trip planned for this week as well! You definitely have to say hi to everybody for me!

I feel like we had a very successful week this week. As always it wasn't easy but we made it work and had some fun in the process. I'll start off though by saying that sadly, our dominican family was not baptized this sunday. No worries though, this upcoming week we have a solid plan to help them feel prepared for this upcoming sunday. I learned a lot this week about being bold, but not overbearing. haha sometimes I just get to excited and kinda push people, but I'm gonna change! I want to share a quick miracle that we saw this week. We had been harvesting for a while and it came to the point where we had an appointment to go to and we could either leave now or try and knock one more door. We knocked one more door and of course it was somebody elect! At first he tried to give a lame excuse about how he was busy but we put our faith in action and took a step forward and pointed inside his door that we could just kneel down right there. He let us in and we got to know him more. It turns out he actually lived in Utah for almost a year, and dated a girl who was LDS. After the prayer the first thing he tells us was, "Guys I'm sorry I tried to deny you at first, but I just felt like I would be touching Jesus with dirty hands if I let you in." We quickly explained about the Atonement and Baptism and of course he said yes! His name is Ever, I'm pretty sure it's short for something, but he's like a 40 year old guy from Nicaragua. It gets even better though, so the night of our return appointment with him it was just pouring rain. It rained so much this week. Anyway it's dumping rain, and we had planned to go out with an 18 year old from our ward, and he was going to bike with us. We didn't think he would be down to still go but he was! So we bike through what felt like a mini hurricane to his house. We get there and he was just pumped to see us.Then he told us about how he hadn't smoked a cigarette at all since we had prayed with him. He said for some reason ever since we stopped he had no desire to smoke anymore! Sadly, because of Father's day plans with family he was unable to come to church, but he is super excited to come this next week, and be baptized on the 29th! So legit!

So yes, like I said, this week it rained a lot. And let me tell you Florida rain storms, are nothing like Utah. When it rains here, it rains. HARD! haha so being on bike, we were wet basically all week. It was fun though. I specifically remember on Thursday we knew it was going to rain sometime in the afternoon around 3, and we still needed to bike to some trailers. We start biking and then, just downpour! We were just chilling at this stoplight literally laughing our heads because it was raining so hard. It was as if we had just gotten out of a pool. But it was a real fun experience!

I hope you all have a great week, and that you stay safe on vacation! You guys are the best and I love you all! Thank you for all that you have done for me, and I'm sorry Mom, but I will try and send pics next week. The church is true and have a great week!

Elder Nielsen

Miami Lakes South Area 6-9-14

Sounds like you guys had a typical first week of summer! You're right though Mom, june is always a great month in Utah. But it's also a great month here in Florida! I'm glad to hear that the missionaries spoke in the ward last week! I'm sure they encouraged you guys to keep doing missionary work in any way you can, and I want to reiterate that as well! Sounded like you guys spent some quality time with the cousins as well which is always a blast! Dad, I wanted to thank you for the encouraging words! You got me pumped to go out and do some serious work! I want to hear some more stories about your mission though! Yesterday we went to a baptism at our chapel and this guy told a story about his mission in the DR and it made me want to hear more! As well another reason is because we keep finding dominicans here! And we we're able to bring a family of 5, 3 baptismal age to church this sunday! 

It was crazy trying to get them to church on sunday morning!  First off they needed a ride. So we had planned to go with a member who normally drives a suburban but for some reason when we met him sunday morning he was driving a small lexus! So we get there around 830 and none of them are ready yet! So it was a mad dash for them to get out of the door, but we made it! Then the other thing we had to deal with was now us trying to get a ride back to the church because there wasn't enough room for all of us! Luckily elders from the other ward in our building were on their way to round up some people and we were able to snag a ride from them. They loved church so much, and latins are so good at fellowshipping. Haha I don't know what it is but you get 2 latin ladies around the same age regardless of where they are from, and instantly they are best friends! Haha it was incredible, the 17 year old daughter is actually trying to go to Girls Camp this week now with the young women, after coming to church for the first time yesterday! So I'm sure if she's able to go she's gonna get baptized next sunday fo sure! We just found out yesterday though, that her grandparents that she lives with aren't married so for them to be baptized this Sunday we would have to get them married this week. So please pray that we will be able to get Elisa and Alejandro married!

Familia, I love you all so much, and want to thank you for all of your prayers and support! The mission is incredible and everyday my testimony is strengthened! I know that Jesus Christ is our savior, and that he suffered for everything that we have gone through and everything that we will go through. I have felt his redeeming love so much in my mission and I know that He lives! This is His Church, and He is leading and directing His work! Keep up the good work back home!

Elder Nielsen

Miami Lakes South Area 6-2-14- New Companion, Elder White

FAMILIA!
Man you guys are so awesome! For real I love you all so much! Every week getting to hear from you guys is a real treat! First off I just wanted to say great job momma! You survived it as PTA president which definitely is something to be proud of! And maddie, I'm gonna be honest, I have no idea what that award is that you won, but it sounds legit so great job! Good job as well everybody for finishing the 5K! It sounds like you guys had a fun time at that! Alright yes Mom, I did get the package. Thank you so much for that! But for real, you did not need to send all the extra grub! I was expecting just like a little package with the pants in it, but nope just this huge lunker box comes in! Mom, for real I'm already getting chubby as is, do you not want me to be able to fit in the new pants you bought me!?? haha just kidding but really thank you those pants are perfect! I will try and send back the ripped ones today. There's a post office in our area, so if we have some extra time today I'll ship those back.

So like I said last week were transfers so I got a new companion named Elder White. Such a stud! He's from Lone Peak, and I can already tell that we're gonna get along great! He's definitely willing to work hard, because this week we went so hard! Every night we got home just dead tired! Somebody actually called me out on it right at the end of the night as we were knocking doors. haha he said I looked like a raccoon cause of the bags under my eyes! No worries though it's all worth it. haha basically I'm just sick of not having any people to teach, so we just went out and found! We went on exchanges with one of the AP's this week, so we were in a trio for a day. It was a way good experience. I learned a ton this week. But yeah real quick I'll share about one of the miracles we saw this week!  this week on Saturday, we were harvesting in the trailer park that is now in our area, and we knocked into a family of 6 from Argentina. At first the mother tried to give us a lame excuse but we still managed to get into the house. After we gathered everyone together and knelt down and said the prayer the mother had tears in her eyes! The spirit was definitely there in that home. After we invited them to be baptized the father said, "I was baptized catholic, christian, so all that's left is mormon. So why not!?" It was unreal, they had lots of questions about church the next day so we taught them right there all about the sacrament. They were super pumped to come to church and were still unsure what happened cause they were a no show. But we are going to see them again tonight so were excited about that!

For real though you guys are the best! I just want you to know that I know this is God's work. The mission is the most amazing experience of my life. It's certainly been challenging but all the things that I've already learned have been priceless! I hope you all have an incredible week of summer and I look forward to hearing about all of your sweet stories! Keep doing work! Love ya!
Elder Nielsen