Week 3

Monday, November 14, 2016


Hey Mom,

This week has been the best week I've had. I hate the down weeks but they help us learn and grow. I am doing well with the Portuguese. My companion, who is really good at Spanish so he pretty much understands it, told me that it's really good. So it's a process, but one that I'm happy to go through. My district is really well. My branch president, President Dansie, told me in Branch Council that my district is doing a really good job. When I emailed him just barely, I told him that it's the wonderful missionaries who take charge, not me. They make it easy to lead so I'm grateful for them. For devotionals, we had somebody from the MTC something department, and then the primary general president and her husband. I haven't received any new missionaries in my district, but 2 weeks ago, our branch got like 17 Brazilian missionaries, all visa waiters. And this week, we will receive 20 new missionaries as well. But last week because of the 17 missionaries, we had to create another zone. So now it's the Africa and Portugal zone and then the Brazilian zone. We have over like 75 missionaries in our branch, about half of which are Brazilian missionaries. And I actually have. I've seen other kids from school, and then I talked to Naomi and she seems really excited to be leaving on her mission. We have about 9 missionaries I think that are going to Cape Verde so it's pretty cool. They are good actually. We taught without the spirit this week for Cristine, and it was hard. But we can't look at one bad lesson. We got to keep going forward. 

I'm glad Andrew is happy and I miss him as well. I never realized how lucky I was to only have one brother, and I'm even more lucky that's it's him. Emma is just a player, not really but you get what I mean. Another guys phone number? She's got game haha. I'm glad Esther is doing well. I put you guys on the prayer roll last week or something and I pray for each of you every day. The package was awesome, but I keep forgetting some stuff. So hopefully this week I can get all I need.

 

Love, Elder Nelson









 

 

Week 2

Monday, November 7, 2016

Hey Mom,

I'm doing better this week. The first 2 days of this last week were the most inspired of all. I really felt the spirit and know that everything will be okay with the language, investigators and my companions. My package did come, but I thought of some more stuff I need. I'll get to that later. I go to the temple after breakfast. My days are pretty much non-changing. I wake up, eat, study, eat, study, exercise, eat, study and teach, then go back to bed. It's the same everyday. Ask Emma. I bet she could still tell you. But sometimes we have exercise after dinner, which sucks. And we have service every Friday in the morning. This week is also kinda sad. I don't have a picture, but an elder in my district is a solo missionary, cause he needed surgery to remove lymph nodes. He's leaving this week. It's kinda sad. He is an awesome missionary. He's from Canada and his brother just got back from the Philippines. Ask Emma if she knew an Elder Martel. I'll get pictures to you next week. I have actually taken more pictures than I thought I would have. 

 

I'm glad that Dad has gotten stuff done, that Andrew and Emma are happy and doing well, and Esther is still being her bossy self haha. I love and miss you all. This email; won't be very long cause idk what else to say. But President Nelson came and so did Jenny Oaks Baker for devotionals. They were awesome. Jenny Oaks Baker is Elder Oaks daughter. She is like one of the top in the world at the violin.

 

I love you so much. One thing that really taught me this week was that it's better to be trusted than to be loved. Heavenly Father loves us, but can he trust us. Cause if he trusts you , then there is never any doubt that he loves us. I kinda feel that way with my whole district. Like I'm not the most talked to person. Not like I ever was to begin with. But it's ok because I would rather be trusted than loved. Another thing that just helped me out so much was that Brother Machado, the "investigator" I taught who is now my teacher, told me that I'm teachable. It was kinda weird cause I'm stubborn a lot of the times haha. But that was just a really cool compliment. I hope that that was a long enough email for you. Sorry if it wasn't. I've never been really good at talking so yup. I would also like the package by Wednesday this time, but Thursday is good too. Tell everybody that I love them and am happy that I can talk to you all every week. Also tell Brother Gurr thanks for the letter he gave me. Say hello to the ward for me. That is a good ward, We've all been blessed to live in it. Tell the basketball group that I miss those fun Tuesday nights. I also miss our family game nights, dinners and everything else we did as a family. I also may have forgotten to take my fast Sunday pin with me. Oops. I still thought of you. I am really sorry I forgot it. I think it's in that tie tac thing I asked for. Anyways, Love you mom.

Love Elder Nelson

Week 1

Monday, October 31, 2016

Might have been important to mention that I'm district leader. Forgot about that little detail haha

Hey Mom,

I am doing great and am loving the MTC. It's been a struggle learning the language, and I haven't really showed faith in me and in Christ. But it's getting better. I'm picking it up faster than I thought, so I guess that's a good thing. My companion is Elder Smith, and he is going to Cape Verde as well! He is the one on my right in one of the pictures.

My plans for today is relaxing and doing laundry and emailing you guys at home. The food is really good. Idk what Emma was saying when she said the food wasn't good. Maybe I'll feel that way in about 3 weeks haha. And I have seen Elder Weenig, Elder Barlow, Sister Anderson, Sister Reese, another few Elders from school but haven't talked to them.

Thank you for your prayers. Last night I watched the Character of Christ by Elder Bednar, and it was really good. I know what I need to work on and am really grateful for all the opportunity to be with the spirit constantly. 

It's awesome that everybody is doing well at home. I only got emails from you and Dad so, tell them to email me at sjnelson@myldsmail.net. I would love to hear from them. It's cool you're getting the basement done, now that I'm gone. I think that was your plan all along haha. 

Love, Elder Nelson

First Day

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Hey Mom,

This is really weird to email you and not talk to you face to face. I was only given a few minutes to email you and I just want to say thank you for raising me in the gospel. I am with an awesome companion and am happy to be here. Say hi to everybody else and I think my P day is Monday so I will email you then.

 

Love, Spencer