Gracias a la Vida

¡Hola familia!

Guess what!!! I am staying another transfer in Carmen de Patagones with hermana Tovar!!!! I cannot tell you how happy I am to continue working here in this wonderful area with my wonderful companion. We were seriously so surprised, this whole last week we thought it was our last together. But no! I am so grateful that the Lord is allowing us to continue here - we are really getting the hang of things and I know it is going to be an amazing next transfer.

We had a great week. In one day we found 4 new investigators! One of them is named P. She is a really sweet mother of two kids, a 15 year old girl who joined us for the lesson too and a 9 year old boy. She has such a pure intent to learn - she said she just wants to change her life, to have a more unified family and happier home. That is exactly what the gospel offers!! We are very excited to continue teaching her.

Hermana Gira, the wife of our branch president, has been really sick. It´s been a rough week for them, so saturday morning hermana Guenafil, our lovely less active (but not for long!) friend brought us and the elders to go visit them. The elders went outside with presidente to do yardwork, and the hermanas inside to clean the home and kitchen. It was so much fun, and there is nothing like the joy that comes from serving, especially to someone who has given you so much. Later we helped her make lunch (I officially know how to make milanesa!) and had a feast all together. 

We had an experience this week that was really powerful. So there´s this family who are recent converts, but the mom has pretty much taken a downturn and the children have been struggling a lot. The kids are alone most all the time and are so lost. So friday we went by, and sat down to talk with M (12 years old) M (8) and T (10, he's the one that we have been teaching to be baptized). We could see so clearly that it had been a rough day at home. While we were sitting outside sharing a scripture, the mom came out and started yelling at one of the other boys. It was awful. In that moment I just felt so helpless - what could we do to help these children? The only thing we could do, and what they needed so desperately, was to feel the love of their Heavenly Father. We shared a scripture about what Heaven is like, sang a hymn, and then told them we loved them. Little M who was sitting next to me, has suffered so much for her short life. But in that moment she just opened up and their was a different light in her face. 

Later, those three came to the Noche de Hogar. The elders gave a lesson, and then at the end we had to pick a name of someone there and write a short note to them. I got a note from A, the recent convert. But later M came up to me and gave me a little note. It was the sweetest thing, something that I will never forget. In it she said that when she sits by my side, she feels the happiest she´s ever been. That she can feel my love, and she loves me too. I just gave her a big hug and told her I love her. Everyone deserves to feel loved and noticed. I that moment I understood so clearly what it means to be a minister of Christ - to love as He does. 

Anyways, I continue to learn and to love, and am so excited for what the future holds. The Lord is so good! This gospel is true!!!

Love you all,

Hermana Nelson

PERSONAL NOTES:

Dad - what amazing pictures! I love those! Sounds like a great week. I love hearing about your adventures. also no worries, there are lots of rules about the kind of heaters we use. thanks for taking care of me. :)

mom - It is so funny to me what you said about not being a good teacher. Because in my opinion you have always been an amazing teacher! The other day I was remembering how lucky I was to have had you with me in yw most all growing up. It was awesome! I{m sure you are still blessing so many lives. Love you mom! I sure do feel the strength and love of your prayers, every day.

Matt&Angelica - Skye has such a pretty face, she should be on a christmas card! Oh man. Also way to go, going to the temple! I miss the temple so much. I´m excited to go again in 9 months. :) Love you guys!

Paige & Jared - you were right about that picture making me trunky! I literally stared at it for like 5 minutes. At first I thought that was paige in the picture though! haha. I miss that little boy so much. We had so much fun last year. Love you guys!!! 

Jacob- how are ya my brother?? Still reading lots? hope so. When will you give your talk?

Joy in the Journey

¡Hola Familia!

It has been a great week. Maybe not super successful numbers-wise, but we had some great experiences and laughed a lot. I love my companion. We are just living it up because transfers are next week and we figure we can´t be lucky enough to have another transfer together. I guess we´ll see!

B made it to her confirmation! She is a great little girl. The best part is how her formerly inactive grandma (who she lives with) is coming back and is really finding the happiness and peace she has been seeking in the church. We have still been teaching & visiting a lot of less active members, and are seeing a few coming back and the rest are moving in the right direction. They are all wonderful. 

We´ve had some really fun lessons with S (11 year old girl) and A (her 8 year old neighbor boy). They are the cutest kids ever. They came to Noche de Hogar on friday. Yesterday we were teaching them the 10 commandments and somehow we came up with a song and dance to go along with them to memorize and we were all just laughing hysterically. A thought it was especially funny when I couldn´t say the words right when we sang them fast. Good thing I got over being sensitive about my spanish a long time ago. :)

E, our cute little grandma recent convert, paid tithing for the first time yesterday. She is amazing. We´ll be visiting with her and she´ll say things like, "you need to teach me the hymns!" and "I need to pay tithing! How do I do it?" She is so faithful. The other day when we were with her, her granddaughter came over and we began to talk with her. She showed a lot of interest, and we are going to visit and teach her with E this next week!

A cute 16 year old girl named A, investigator of the elders, was baptized this week and hna Tovar and I were asked to give the talks on baptism and the Holy Ghost. She is a really great girl, and it was a lovely baptismal service. I shared one of my most favorite scriptures with her:

 2 And now, my son, I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your ^asteadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that ^bendureth to the end.

The Lord finds great joy in us when we endure and continue looking to Him!

We had an awesome lesson with D this week. She is a young mom, really smart and curious about things. When we talk with her she pays such close attention, and the biggest thing is that unlike a lot of people we´ve taught she actually reads and prays! The only hard part is that she works like crazy. All the time. But we had a really powerful lesson with her. At one point we were testifying about the truthfulness of this church, as the true church of Jesus Christ. My companion turned to me after saying something, and D too. At that moment I had no idea what to say - I had just been listening closely. But I opened my mouth and the words began to come. I really felt like it wasn´t from me - her Father in heaven was speaking directly to her. I honestly can´t even remember what I said, but my companion said later that she felt it was perfect for her. The Lord really does help us in our weaknesses, He makes up for our inadequacies to bless His children. 

This is HIS work! There are so many more miracles and tender mercies that we see every day. The Lord is mindful of each one of His children, and is inviting us to come unto Him. It is the only way to find peace and happiness in this crazy world. 

I love you all!

Hermana Nelson

PERSONAL NOTES

Dad - Ahh I am so jealous of that snow! That looks amazing. I bet you wish for a little of my heat. :) I love that you and jake study PMG. You know what is my favorite part about the story of Enoch though? Before it all, before he becomes powerful and mighty in word, he too struggled with feelings of inadequacy - he didn´t feel like he could speak well enough. 

31 And when Enoch had heard these words, he ^abowed himself to the earth, before the Lord, and spake before the Lord, saying:^bWhy is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people ^chate me; for I am ^dslow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?

 32 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy ^amouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good.

I feel the same way sometimes. But the Lord calls on the weak and simple, and He makes us strong! So awesome. Have fun on your trip this week! I haven´t gotten the package yet, hopefully soon.

Mom - You had weather similar to mine this weekend. :) sounds like fun! I´m trying not to think to much about the move though. But I´m glad you had a good weekend. And a happy birthday! I hope you know I thought of you all day and hoped you were being pampered. Love you tons!

Matt - Ahh, lovely San Fran. A few weeks ago I was talking with an elder who served as a visa waiter in san fran and it brought back all those fond memories of that awesome place. You are lucky to live there! love you! hope you have a great week too!

Angelica - I really love your insights. It´s so true what you´ve said about happiness - we are meant to be finding it along the way. And so true that good friends make all the difference! I feel that way about my companionships. It makes such a huge difference when you love each other and enjoy each oither´s company. I have been lucky to have awesome comps. 

Paige & Jared - Those boys! They are just too much! I can´t believe Brenner is so big already. I can´t wait to meet him. 

Jacob - lucky you to play in the snow! Sounds like fun. Are you still finding time to read in the midst of all those computer games? Hope so. REading is the best. Especially the scriptures. :) love ya!

Me with Brisa at her baptism!

Lovely Carmen de Patagones from the other side of the river

Meet Me Halfway

¡Hola Familia!

That´s right, this week I passed my halfway mark! I seriously can´t believe how fast the time is flying. It´s a little scary to think how fast the next 9 months will go. But there´s still so much to come and lots to learn! 

In honor of my halfway mark, we had lots of half - themed things this week. I´ll explain.

This weekend we had half a baptism! B, our cute little 8 year old was baptized. But due to unfortunate circumstances she couldn´t make it to church on sunday and so missed the second and equally important part - confirmation. My companion and I felt awful... it only added to the disappointment of seeing how few people came to church in general on sunday. It just makes me so sad when people choose to reject the things that are of most value and importance - the things of God. There will ALWAYS be obstacles, reasons not to obey, but when it all comes down to it if we have faith that the commandments are from a loving Heavenly Father we will make the small sacrifices to follow Him. Not all was lost though, because we went to visit B and her grandma later that day and she really is changing and turning her life around to come to church every sunday (the grandma that is).

We got halfway through our musical number with the elders at the baptism before laughing. They just could not keep the key and it sounded awful! Also... I may be a little to blame too because I accidentally said llorar (to cry) instead of orar (to pray) and that just killed my companion. Needless to say it was a great disaster, but so funny.

Anyways, it´s been an interesting week, and at times a little hard but the Lord always sends tender mercies to keep us going! We had a great english class this last friday, a ton of people came and we had a quiz and everything. We have more and more lunches with members every week which is awesome money-wise but not so much gaining weight-wise. Oh well. 

There is not a doubt in my mind that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. He is still guiding us, speaking with us to day. I feel so lucky to go out each day and share this good news! 

con amor,

Hermana Nelson

PERSONAL NOTES

dad- those jokes are killer! love it. I´m glad you guys remembered my halfway day. :) I am so jealous of all your snow! The heat just doesn´t stop here. The good part is that I´m more tan than I´ve ever been. But still whiter than everyone else! Hey guess what - Romans 8 is one of my favorites too and I read it just the other day. So good! 

mom - I can totally relate with the being humbled all the time thing. Thats me every day! Fortunately though humility is exactly what the Lord expects us to have, and allows us to become more dependant on him. Hey! HAPPY BIRTHDAY this week!!! I sent you a card a couple weeks ago and hopefully it will arrive soon. I love you and hope you have a great day! And have so much fun in phoenix!

Matt&Angelica - that girl of yours is just too cute. Way to make me trunky! I love it though. Thank you both for the awesome emails. I seriously love them. love you guys!

Paige & Jared - I can´t believe little Brenner is getting so old!!! ahh those boys. Tell Ryker I am looking forward to the pie he is sending. :) Tell them I love them! 

Jacob - How are you my brotha?? Whats the latest in your life? Love you!

¡Tengo Gozo en Mi Alma Hoy!

¡Hola Familia!

Okay, this has been my favorite week in Argentina so far! It has been such a wonderful week. First off, I am a little late emailing today because we went on an adventure this morning, a cute sister from our branch drove us down to the  riverside, we took tons of pictures (I´ll send em) and enjoyed the tranquility of the giant trees and the slow-moving river. It was so beautiful. 

Yesterday was the best sunday ever, because we had a record number of people in the church! (40) This week we really focused on reactivating our less active members and there were many who came this sunday. There was just a different spirit there, a spirit of excitement and activity. And so many more priesthood holders! It was so wonderful. And then our cute little investigator B (who´s going to get baptized this weekend!) went up and bore her testimony. It was the best thing - she talked about how God can´t be here with us but when we pray to him we are able to see Him. And then everyone started getting up after here and talked about how touched they were by the words of a child. It was awesome. 

Alright, here´s the best part. So there´s this family we´d been trying to start teaching, we´d met the kids (they have like 8 under the age of 13) but not the parents yet. Wednesday we finally sat down with the mom, G- she is only 27 years old, has all these little kids, but is actually married to her husband! That is no small thing. Anyways, we began to teach her the Restoration. Right as I was in the middle of Joseph Smith´s account of the first vision, she interrupts and goes, "I had an experience just like that once - when I was 11 years old one day I saw a man dressed in brilliant white, more white than anything I had ever seen, in the air, and he held a golden trumpet." She said this same man, an angel, had appeared to her a few times when she was having really hard times and he never said anything, but when he was there she felt overwhelmed with great peace and joy. My companion and I just looked at each other. Hna. Tovar pulled out her agenda, on which she has a picture of the Nauvoo temple, and said that the man she saw was the angel Moroni, who stands atop our temples. We read to her the account of Joseph Smith when Moroni appeared to him and his words matched her description exactly. Wow! She never thought that those experiences had had much meaning beyond bringing her peace when she needed it. But we testified to her that she had been prepared by God to recognize the truth when it came to her. Griselda is amazing and we are so excited to teach this family! She couldn´t make it to church this sunday, but sent her two oldest daughters to go with us and Brisa and they loved it.

Miracles are happening here in Carmen de Patagones! My companion and I were talking about when things really started turning around for us - and it was exactly when we made a commitment to consecrate ourselves more fully to the work and be more exactly obedient to the small things. It is so true that obedience brings blessings, and exact obedience brings miracles! 

We are continuing to form great relationships with the members here. I have really loved visiting with the less active members - hna Tovar and I have found the middle ground of giving them love and understanding, but also testifying with boldness of how things are and should be. It has led to some really great lessons and we feel like a great wave of reactivation is coming up. Hooray!!

This is truly the Lord´s work. I have no doubt of it. I am so grateful that I get to spend each day immersed in the gospel of Jesus Christ - because it is the only way to find peace and joy in this crazy world. 

Love you all!

Hermana Nelson

p.s. Today marks 2 months in Argentina :)

PERSONAL NOTES

dad- what a wonderful email! I´m gonna print it and study it more later. So I just finished reading Jesus the Christ (best book ever - so sad to finish it) and now decided to read the New Testament starting with Acts. I´ll have you know that I am so grateful for the love you´ve always shown for the NT! Also it makes me think of all the places we visited.

mom- what a crazy mailing situation! Hopefully i´ll get the package soon. I sure do miss some american foods! How is your new work going? Thank you mom as always for your love and prayers, I really do feel them and they are such a wonderful support!

Matt- That´s awesome your first baptism was also a little old lady! They are the best, truly. And I love that story about the rain miracle. There really is great power in fasting and prayer! Enjoy going to the temple as much as you can - I sure miss it here. 

Angelica - those videos you sent are killer! She is just too much. And no, I haven´t gotten the package yet, hopefully nothing happened to it and I get it soon! I hear the mailing to here is crazy. 

Paige - I just love how scholarly Keke is already - what a smart little boy. And rascally Rykie. I´ve told my companion all about my nephews. So true what you said about companions - and I feel so lucky to have had really great ones. It makes such a huge difference. Even when you get along though sometimes 24/7 is a lot of time together!! 

Jake- Lucky! I want a snow day. And lots more time to prepare your talk! That´s nice. I have just been working as usual, preachin the gospel and stuff. I have to talk to strangers all the time and that can be a little scary but the Lord gives me courage. I´m so glad you like Once Upon a Time! What a great show. I´ll watch it with you when I get home.



For our Noche de Hogar (FHE) activity we set up Lehi´s dream in the cultural hall and dressed up like angels to direct the people through it. The elders complained that we are just trying to top their activities (its true)

From our adventure this morning - we walked over the Rio Negro and took a bajillion pictures on the bridge. It was a beautiful morning!

with the awesome Hermana Tovar! I love her!!



Just some delicious desserts after Noche de Hogar - with Elders Arnes y Merenluoto, who we share the area with



...our silly dog, who really wants to live inside the house.