July 28, 2014

with Juan, Hno Soto, Kevin, and Kevin´s mom

Juan and Kevin are the ones in the middle - with the hermanos that baptized them :)

​With Kevin and his family!

¡Hola familia!

Well the biggest news is that saturday we had a baptism! Actually, two baptisms. :) K and J were baptized and it was awesome! A ton of members came out and it was a beautiful service. But my favorite part was when on sunday they were confirmed members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The blessings they were given were full of promises and blessings that the Lord has prepared for them. One of my favorite things that as mentioned in J´s blessing was: "God loves you very much, and for that reason sent His messengers to bring you the fulness of His gospel". It never stops being amazing to me how the Lord uses us to find His children who are seeking the truth. There really is nothing like it. 

Speaking of which, we had a neat experience this week that was a testimony to me that the Lord is aware of each and every one of us. It was towards the end of the day and we didnt have any appointments and so decided to knock doors. The first one we come to, the lady asked a few questions about where we were from and then said that she had been baptized in the church. She invited us in, and began to open up about all the trials she had been enduring - she has lost children and recently her mother as well. She began to cry, asking us why God was punishing her so much. We cried with her, and in those moments its hard to know what to say. But we bore our testimonies to her that God indeed does love her, and that trials are necessary in this world, but will not last forever. We read in Alma 7 where it talks about what Jesus Christ suffered for us. At the end of our visit with her we hadnt taken all her sorrows away, but she smiled and hugged us tight, saying thank you. We said a kneeling prayer together and she seemed to have a lightness about her that wasnt there in the beginning. It was really beautiful, and wonderful to know that the Lord guided us to her because He knew His daughter was suffering. We were instruments in His hands.

It has been a great week, with the ups and downs as usual but I love every day. We meet a cute old lady who´s children are members and she wants to be baptized! She is 82 years old and hs the coolest life stories. Its been a little hard to find her though - for an old lady she sure has lots to do

! 

The kids are still doing well, K and N couldnt make it to church sunday but Agustina did. Also, K went to one day of the youth conference they had here and loved it. :)

The work is great! This week my comp and I are memorizing this scripture and it is true to me every day:

 12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

The gospel is true!

love,

Hermana Nelson

Become as a Little Child

¡Hola Familia!

Well it has been a most wonderful week, and as the title suggests we´ve made lots of little friends. I´ve been reminded more than ever of where it talks in the scriptures about the commandment to become as a little child - humble, meek, easily persuaded. I´ve decided that kids are the best investigators because they have those attributes! If you remember in the email from last week, we met a lady and began teaching the family. The mom, K, has been really hard to find and we havent had much contact with her. But her two kids, K and N (13 and 11 years) plus their cousins A and J (10 and 6 years) have become our buddies. Tuesday Hermana Belogini, the most awesome hermana ever in our ward had us all over for a family home evening and we watched Finding Faith in Christ. Wednesday we had our first english class, and had an awesome turnout! A ton of kids between 9 and 14 years old, plus Juan and a few hermanos. It was  alot of fun if a bit unorganized. I taught with Elder Bench while my comp was one of the students. :) 

After the english class we had a great noche de hoger, with lots of investigators and the ward missionaries. It was pretty low key compared to what I´ve done in the past - just a movie haha. But I love it! 

So this week we´ll be preparing J and K for their upcoming baptisms this saturday! We are praying all will go well and they will make it there. J went to an activity the other day with a group of single adults from the ward and loved it. He already has lots of friends. :) 

Sunday we were able to bring a ton of investigators to church and it was so awesome! The kids made lots of friends and loved it. The Lord sure is blessing us a whole lot! 

This is the Lord´s work. He is guiding us to those who are prepared. I love bearing testimony of the truth, and I have discovered a passion for teaching! There is nothing like it.

love you all,

Hermana Nelson

1st the worst, 2nd the best

¡Hola Familia!

Well, you win some and you lose some. I´ve gotta say though, as fun as it was during the Copa Mundial, I am happy its over so we can get back to work. :) Wednesday evening and sunday we pretty much just went home because EVERYONE dissapeared into their houses to watch the games. It was fun to see the celebration after we won the semifinal (even though I was a little sad for Holland) with all the honking, yelling, and fireworks. Vamos Argentina!!

Besides that it has been a great week! J still is the most golden of golden investigators, Sunday the member who normally brings him to church got sick but J paid for a taxi to get there. He is excited for his baptism and is learning everything so fast! So you know he is 74 years old... but is still goin strong!

We had a really neat miracle this week. So we were out knocking doors looking for people to teach. We decided to go down this one street that we had never been down before, in a more humble part of the area. We walked by this one lady who was in her doorway and began to talk. She responded with the usual - I dont live here, I´m working right now, not interested. But even that didnt deter us. :) We shared a little of our message and asked her questions about her life. Her son of 13 years came out to listen. She began to open up, sharing about how at one point she had totally turned from God, blaming Him for her problems. But something changed one day and she realized He was always there and the problems came from the decisions she had made. We talked about Jesus Christ, about his life and example and the path He set for us. Something changed in her. It was amazing. We talked about baptism, invited them to prepare for a date, and they accepted! During the closing prayer she began to cry. She said "I didnt want to listen to you and look at me now!". The next day we met her 11 year old daughter and are now teaching them all. They are amazing!!

I have a testimony that the Spirit changes hearts. We testify of truth and those who have been prepared will recognize it. This work is true, and the Lord is guiding us every day to find wonderful people! 

I love you all,

Hermana Nelson

Bendiciones

¡Hola Familia!

Another week has come and gone, and the blessings have just poured. The best thing that happened this week is J!!! I believe I mentioned him in my last email, the man we found last sunday. Anyways we weren´t able to meet with him once this week. One day we went and found a note waiting for us - he had a change in schedule and couldn´t be there and so left a note! Nobody does that. Seriously. And then the next day HE called US! That also never happens. Sunday he kept his word and came to church! The members here are super awesome - a couple that lives close to him went and picked him up and then the brother showed him around the chapel and sat with him. 

It was a wonderful sunday. Hna Belogini, who is awesome and also the yw president, has been talking with a 13 year old girl named B and her grandma isnt a huge fan of the mormons but she was able to come to church on sunday! Also M, who hasn´t been to church for a long time came with her non member boyfriend. She is a super cool girl and has become our friend. So for the first time in a while we had a young womans class and we were invited. :) I totally feel like young womens is my place. 

The area is great. We are teaching a lot and I LOVE it. The other day it was raining pretty good and the streets were super muddy. We were out knocking doors and everyone was so surprised to see us still out working! It was the strangest thing - I was cold, wet and tired but SO happy at the same time! I was just so full of the light and happiness of the gospel that we were sharing. These days are the best. I just love getting to know people and then just teaching them by the spirit. 

I love the Book of Mormon. Every day I learn something amazing from the book.The other day I was reading in Alma chapter 36, which is such a beautiful chapter that talks about what it truly means to experience the saving power of the atonement. I love these verses:

17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy untothe people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world. 18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by theeverlasting chains of death.
 19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
 20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!
 21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothingso exquisite and sweet as was my joy.

The atonement is real. Repentance is the greatest gift. God loves you and me so much!!!

love,

Hermana Nelson