Miami Lakes South Area 7-28-14

FAMILIA!
Wow you guys had a lot going on this week!! I was happy as always to hear about all your super fun experiences, and as well that you finally got a car!! I don't know if I like glamorous gaby or Classy Clariss more but they are both super clever names! Sorry little sistahs that I didn't have time today to reply individually but I'll write a little something real quick to each of you! Kenzo! Happy birthday last week little girl! Did you get my letter?? I mailed a birthday letter to you so hopefully it got there! Did you get scared at all as you walked through the shark tunnel at the aquarium?? Maddie! It sounded like you loved the family reunion! ;) keep learning how to talk to new people! I get to do it everyday and it's the best! I love it! You still have 3 weeks of summer before you start Jr. High so live it up!! Because soon your life is just going to be pure homework!;) haha just kidding Jr. High is awesome! Kyle! I loved hearing your gnarly experience of the natural waterslide! That place is da best! Keep going hard in the paint in tennis I can't wait to hear about when you win state in a couple months! whoop whoop! Don't get cocky though cause I will still kick your trash when I get home! Alright I think that's about it but I love you sistahs!

This week was an interesting week! First off dad I'll answer your question and say I didn't write about that Cuban couple because they were on a cruise all last week. Then they are moving to Miami beach tomorrow so we have all their info and the missionaries over there will have to help them get married. This week we didn't teach a whole lot of lessons, but the lessons that we did teach were super awesome! We're really trying to focus on the elect people  in our area and we definitely found some this week! It was blazing hot this week. Good night! But luckily for us we had a car for most of the week!! Yeah, it was crazy nice. One of the elders in district had knee surgery this week, and so they couldn't work at all so we had their car! A/C is da best! As always I'll share a quick miracle from this week.

On Tuesday, we had planned to harvest in a gated community. We have been looking for new places to knock and felt like we should just try and walk into this gated complex. So we did, and we started knocking. We knocked a whole building and found no one, so we went to the next one. Then the first door we knock on this man from Honduras opens up. We introduce ourselves and right away he lets us in. We start talking to him, and he tells us how he has a daughter in Honduras who is "Mormon", and that he had met with missionaries before in Honduras. He then tells us that he wanted to get baptized but he had to move a week before his baptism! As you can imagine my companion and I were both just grinning from ear to ear as he was telling us that! :)  Anyway long story short, we taught him this week and he came to church on sunday as well! Right before he left church, we showed him the baptismal font, and invited him for next weekend. He accepted! Now we will be working with him all this week to give up smoking and drinking so that he can be baptized! And I forgot to mention as well that literally not more than 5 minutes after we had finished teaching him, we got kicked out of that complex. So truly the Lord did guide us to him.

This week went by very quickly but it was a great week to be a missionary! We had interviews with President Richardson this week and he is a lot different than President Anderson but he is still so awesome! He is a super cool guy and it was great talking with him. I love missionary work, and I know that I was called here to serve in South Florida by God! I love this Church and I know that it is true! Keep up the good work back home, and everybody learn something new this week from the scriptures! Les quiero muchisimo!
Elder Nielsen

Miami Lakes South Area 7-21-14

With one our favorite Cuban members

FAMILIA!
Whoop whoop! Thank you all as always for your super awesome emails! I sounded like you survived your first week as young womens president mom! I liked what you said about just taking it one step at a time cause that's what I've had to do on the mission for sure! Thank you so much as well for looking for a new bag for me! I'm excited to get the new one in the mail so I will let you when I get it. I was glad to hear you guys finally found a car! I definitely want to see some pics next week por favor. Oh and another random thing, yes our mission will be getting ipads. Our president said we will have them before the end of the year. So weird but I'm super pumped!

Our week here in Miami Lakes South was super fun as well! Like I said last week we were able to set some super cool people with dates last week, but then this week they all literally just dropped off the face of the earth. We tried calling them, going by at different times, leaving notes on their doors, and nada. Oh well no worries we just went out and found some other super sweet people this week! We had this super cool lady named Marta come to church yesterday. She had met with missionaries before, and she was super excited when we just randomly came and knocked on her door. Sadly, she did not have a great experience at church. Latin people sometimes can be a little bit irreverent, and for some reason this week it was super bad. She straight up told us after that she was really frustrated because people kept talking and stuff, so hopefully we can help her still strengthen her testimony of the Restoration and help her see that this still is the Church of Jesus Christ even though the people may not be perfect. We also have plans with our ward mission leader about how we're going to help teach the ward about reverence, and get things better here!

I want to share a cool miracle that we saw this week as usual. It happened last night. We were a little frustrated from all of the day's events, and we were not able to set as many dates as we would have liked, so right at the end of the night we decided to go harvest the last 4 doors of this huge apartment complex that we have been working for the past 2 weeks. So we go knock the doors, nobody opens up. We look at our watches realize it's time to go, and we start heading back to our bikes. Then as were unlocking them we see a lady carrying some groceries, so we go and ask her if we can help and she gladly accepts. Long story short we start talking to her, and right away we could tell she was elect. She had been going through so much lately, and she has been looking for help from anywhere. After the prayer she accepted everything and said she would like to baptized with her 8 year old son as well! We are going to see her again tonight, and were super pumped cause she was way cool. It was just crazy to see as well, how after we had put in all this effort of knocking so many doors in this complex right before we were about to leave, and probably never come back, boom, the Lord puts somebody prepared in our path!

I know this is the Church of Jesus of Christ! I love the mission! It certainly hasn't been easy, but salvation has never been a cheap experience so it will never be easy! I love you all so much and I hope you have a great week! Thank you so much for all your prayers! Les quiero mucho!
Elder Nielsen

Miami Lakes South Area 7-14-14

FAMILIA!

Holy cow it sounds like you guys had the greatest week ever! I can just imagine just so many little cousins and kids just running around everywhere just having the greatest time! You're emails definitely brought a smile to my face! I was super glad to hear that Tate and Dylan had their farewells as well. Such studs they're going to love the mission. To answer your question, no Dad, luckily we don't have to get our sheets wet to sleep at night. Remember there may not be any americans here in Miami, but it's still the U.S. we got A/C! Momma! I'm so pumped for you! That seriously is amazing that you're gonna be young women's pres! That will be a real fun time! haha no crying! You're such a boss mom, there seriously is no reason to stress about anything. All the girls will love you and you're just gonna have a great time! I will be praying for you for sure. Don't ever doubt your calling though, because I know Bishop is an inspired man!

We had a super fun week here in Miami lakes. I seriously don't even know where to start. Like I said transfers came and we stayed, but this week I still had a new companion. So what happened is there are 2 elders who are companions in our district, but neither of them has a license, and one of them can't bike because he has knee problems. So we have been on exchanges basically everyday this week. It was fun though because I got to stay here and work with an elder from mexico. So we just talked spanish to each other all day which was the best!

So this week we were working a lot with that Cuban couple I told you about, Marcos and Magaly. So legit. When we taught them the word of wisdom, Magaly was smoking 12 cigarettes a day. She had been smoking since she was 14 years old in Cuba. The next day she smoked 1. Incredible! I've never met people who wanted it, and needed it as bad as they do right now. Sadly, they are not married. I'm sure you know but in Cuba people are literally doing anything they can to leave. So for Magaly to leave she had to get married to some random guy in Costa Rica who she had never met, and then move there, and then go up from Costa Rica through Mexico to come to here. Crazy situation, but because of that she hasn't been able to get a legal divorce, so now her and her "husband" are just living together, and there was no where for them to move too. I'm not going to lie it was definitely one of the saddest moments of my mission. After we taught them the law of chastity they understood it and everything but they were just sad because they wanted to be baptized so bad this sunday! In the closing prayer of the lesson Magaly was seriously bawling. She's seriously the sweetest lady I've ever met. It's definitely a tough situation, but they still have the desire! So this week were going to try and find some way for her to get divorced or one of them to move out. Please pray for them, and for us to know what to do! The other problem is their moving in like a week so it's just hectic! They want to be baptized, and they know they need to do it, so I believe that the Lord will provide a way for them to do it!

This week we were able to find a lot of other super cool potentials as well. We have several baptismal dates, so now we just need to help these people progress and get baptized! I love you all so much and I know this church is true! One more thing real quick. Yesterday we got to baptize a lady in a wheelchair. It was so intense. She was pretty heavy, and me and my companion had to pick her up in a chair, and carry her into the water, and then tip her back. She's awesome though and we didn't drop her! This week I read an article in the Ensign called becoming perfected in Christ, or something like that. But you should all go and read it because it will definitely strengthen your testimonies of the atonement. I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!

Elder Nielsen

Miami Lakes South Area 7-8-14

This is a nice park we found in our area.

FAMILIA!
First off I want to say Kyle I'm sorry for not writing you but I don't have a whole lot of time, but just know I love you! :) Alright real quick with the business. No Mom, you don't need to send me anything! I'm doing really good!:) I still have not found the other memory card for my camera, but I will keep looking. The one I have still has a ton memory left though so I think I will hold off on sending it for a little bit. Good news I sent the pants home today! I also sent home the brown ones because our president told us we still can't wear them so I guess I'll just save them for after. I didn't even hear that there was a hurricane on the east coast! But yeah it's been about the same just rains everyday really hard for a little bit.

I want to thank you all so much for your prayers this week. I truly felt uplifted during times of trial this week, and we truly were blessed with so many miracles! Yes Mom, you were right. In my last letter I was a little bit frustrated but things are definitely looking up here in Miami Lakes. Oh, and in other news transfer were this week, but me and Elder White are both staying here in Miami Lakes so no changes. But like I said we were super blessed this week in finding this week! One of the huge miracles we saw this week came on Saturday.  We were out with a member who's a recently returned missionary and all our appointments fell through. So we went and knocked a door, and the first door we knocked a Cuban couple opened up. We prayed with them and talked to them, and they accepted everything. They came to church the very next day, and the Dad named Marcos tapped my leg during the sacrament then pointed to his eyes, and he was crying! It was the greatest thing ever! They're super receptive to the spirit and hopefully if we are able to teach them everything they will be baptized this sunday! so legit!

This week was super awesome because we were able to improve in every key indicator category. So basically we worked our tails off, but we were also able to have a super fun time! On of the crazy things that happened this week was on 4th of July. We had to be in our homes at 7:30! So early! So we got permission from President to sleep over at the Zone leaders house in Miami Gardens. Let me tell you something. The people in Miami Gardens are poor, cause they basically live in shacks, but man they buy some good fireworks! I don't know if they just saved all their food stamps from the year or what but there were literally stadium of fire status fireworks getting launched off at the neighbors house! It was insane! We went out on the roof and watched fireworks going off from all directions until it was time to go to bed. It was a real fun time!

I love it here and Florida and specifically here in Miami! There are so many amazing people here. I am learning to love the latin culture. I just love speaking Spanish! It seriously is the best, I feel like if I were to try and teach someone the gospel in English I would be completely lost because all I know is Spanish! Anyway sorry this was a super long email but my fingers have been flying today! I hope you all have a great week and just keep studying and strengthening your testimonies! I love this church and I love this gospel, and know it changes lives because it has changed mine forever!
Elder Nielsen

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