Week 49

Monday, October 2, 2017

Hey guys,  

This past week was INSPIRED. AM I right? I think I am, I am a missionary haha. Jk, but it was really inspired.

So, first off, conference was a blast. I watched it in English too so I understood most of it too. Except for the priesthood and the last session, it was in Portuguese. But still very good. We also have had fun opening up a new area in Mindelo. I actually call this whitewash round 3. Its kinda funny actually. Anyways, the poeple we met are pretty cool actually. Some have even accepcted some dates for baptism as well. Its soo cool to see the hand of the Lord in all things. I especially testify that He is especially in your life. 

There is not really anything else to talk about. But now for the thing that really matters. Elder Oaks and Sister Oscarsons talk. If you dont understand  those talks, read them, and understand them. How much more clearer can you get in the world where clear things are non existant. I know that my letters are short, but when you only work and work and walk and walk and more working and walking, there is not much to write about, other than the amount of sweat I feel dripping on my body 24 hours of the day. Know you all wanted to hear that haha. Love you all. Ignore the typing errors. I am really lazy and not wanting to correct anything. Keep being all in, for the work of the Lord is dependent on it: The Lord is dependent on YOU. 

Love Elder Nelson

PS....thanks to mom for fixing most of my spelling and grammar errors :)

Week 48

Monday, September 25, 2017

I am tired of beginnings, so here it is haha

This past week was awesome. We worked hard and we had great time with members leaving with us. We also had a great week with food. Idk if I am a good cook or that we are just loathing for American food that what we ate was good or like not. Anyways, there is not really anything else that I can think of other than transfers were yesterday, and man, my mission just got a whole lot more stressful and idk, more full of food!!!

So, this past transfer I whitewashed, trained and was a District leader all at once. Now, I am whitewashing yet again but this time as a Zone leader for the zone of Mindelo east in Sao Vicente. Man, I cant believe the grace and mercy in Christ our Lord. He gives to everybody what they need so that they can grow the most. I love the Lord and His Gospel. 

I was reading Elder Uchtdorfs talk from the preiesthood session last conference and it was awesome to see that the greatest among you shall be the servant. Thats what I hope. I hope that I am just a servant to people who are in need. Not important to me about callings or leadership but as long as I can serve I am happy. I love you all and am grateful to be apart of your family. And at times it may be hard to be all in, but find ways to be all in and give all you can to the Lord.

Love, Elder Nelson

Week 47

Monday, September 18, 2017

This past week was really cool. 

We had a baptism, a division, and a really really cool time in church. 

The baptism was awesome. First one here in Mindelo. Our bishop was kinda freaking out though cause we didn't start right on time. I would have been like that too, but when you are in Cape Verde for almost a year, you change your view of starting on time from a necessity to more of a whatever goes kinda of thought. Its sooooo bad, I know, but I still have more than a year to fix that. I mean, nobody's counting are they?

We also had a cool division with the zls. The buddy I went with was somebody I've known since my first transfer in Praia. Man, he's super cool. We had a good division that was filled with some like almost American tasting food. I was like in heaven when I ate that. Sooo good. 

And then in church we had some cool investigators. Just 2, but we found those 2 this past week and in that first week they both came to church. Super cool to see their faith grow already. As far as other people we are teaching, we have 3 families that need to get married, and need to come to church . They are super cool. This next week there should be loads of pictutres cause now I finally have a camera that can take pictures. therefore, be ready for this next week. 

The cool thing that I saw this week si that the Lord is preparing even the smallest of areas in the world. It is super cool to see His guiding hand in our lives. I am so gratefulto represent Him and His Holy ways. You all have an awesome week. Love you all. Keep being all in on the inside and outside

Love your Capeverdean elder, Elder Nelson 

Week 46

Monday, September 11, 2017

Sup peeps, 

This past week was a good week. We actually had a challenge this past week to find 168 new investigators. Man, it was down to the wire. We barely made our goal and because of it, we were able to have lunch as a zone and watch the other side of heaven. It was awesome.

This past week me and my comp had made a goal to find and mark 8 new dates. We had found the people, actually like 3 families, but had failed to make the dates for 2 of them and came short of our goal by 5. I was so sad, and the investigators in church was sad also, with only one. Last night I was just so sad about what had not happened that I forgot to look at the good that did. We found 3 families, will have a baptism this week, found some more people that we taught with a powerful spirit, and many more miracles. So, as I was talking to my kid about what I was feeling, he said to look at the good and to be grateful for the good. I was like man, this kid is a greenie and he already has the most important aspect of missionary work down. Gratitude. 

If we have gratitude, we wont just stop working or do less productive work, but we will lean  how to work harder to be even more grateful the next week. Christ has said that is we don't have gratitude, then something bad happens haha, cant remember exactly what He said, but since He said it, we better listen. 

I love this mission. I love my Savior. Even though BYU lost 2 days ago, we should still be grateful that at least it wasn't a blow out. Next year we will get them. It's a missionary promise haha. Love you all. Have a good week and be all in for the love of the Lord, and BYU haha

Love Elder Nelson

Week 45

Monday, September 4, 2017

Hey guys!

So, nothing really happened this past week special. Just another week of work. But the one thing that was by far the highlight was zone conference and the interview with president. 

Zone conference was legit. I loved every minute of it and the food. Especially the food. But the trainings were good too. We talked about being a second mile mission. Which means to be consecrated, purified and sanctified. Man, it was awesome. And when you had questions that received answers during the zone conference, it makes it even better. So, that was the to good part. Now for the awesome part. 

Over the past 4 months, I have been thinking about a question that  only the mission president could answer. I prayed and asked and always felt good about it. Then I finally asked him, after talking to my parents before of course, and he said yes. Instead of coming home in the beginning of October now of 2018, I will now be coming home one transfer later, in the end of November, right before the fattening holiday, Thanksgiving haha. I know that I have more than a year before I go home, but something my parents have always taught me was to decide now who you want to be and what  you want to do. So I did. 

At times it takes faith to make those kind of decisions, but when we make decisions that stretch our faith, we are then blessed with a bigger perspective of who we can really become. The veil opens a bit and we receive heavens power into our lives to then overcome the obstacles that come from doing a little more. So, invite cause you know I am a missionary, is for everybody to ask God how they can do a little more and then act upon that prompting. Pray for people to be put in your life so that you can not only help them with their faith, but you with yours. Man, I love being a missionary. Anyways, you all have a good week and remember to be in all the way!

Love Elder Nelson

Week 44

Monday, August 28, 2017

Hey guys, 

Man, I am just happy. I hope you guys know that. Its all good. 

This past week was pretty good. We found some good guys to teach and I am loving this whitewash round 2. Idk why, but I am. The members are awesome and the ward is absolutely great. Man, I love Mindelo. Tomorrow we will have zone conference as well and I am pumped for that. I love learning and being able to feel the spirit in abundance. Not really anything much to say other than nha fidju (kriolo haha) is doing great. He is loving it and the better I get to know him the cooler he is so that's good. 

Nothing really sticks out to me this past week other than the fact that my Savior lives, How cool is that? We have the knowledge of Him and what He did for us and Why He did it. I love Representing Him and His Charity. There was a thing in Fogo, my last zone, that my zls said alot. Scuba dive the scriptures. Man, it was funny but its so true. I testify that as we read and scubadive the scriptures everyday we will be endowed with the power of heaven. Just Pres. Monson's talk last conference and replace study with scubadive haha. Love you all. Have a good week. Beeeeee Allllll Innnnnnn!

Love Elder Spencer John Nelson

Week 43

Monday, August 21, 2017

WOW. The only word that fits for what happened this past week. It's been crazy

First, I got my kid. He is legit. His name is Elder Kaivelata. He is from Utah, but his parents are from Tonga. So he is a big Tongan. ;Man, the first time I saw him he gave me a hug and like about crushed my neck. Hahaha it was funny. Next was lunch and trainings about how to be a trainer. Then, we got on a flight and went to Mindelo, and then our area Fernando Po. Let me tell ya, it is hot!!! I am used to Fogo and it being cool all the time. Now it's hot and I can't stand it. But, that's the mission life and I love it.

So, in a whitewash, you don't know anybody. You just have to go and do contacts and work with members like for 3 weeks unti  you get to know the area. Then you work even more with members and get references from them. Man, it has been stressful these past few days. Contacting, training, leading, everything is just like overwhelming. But, Sunday came and it was awesome. We had members come up to us and ask to leave with us during the week to teach. That's is the first times that members have sought us out and asked to leave with us. It was awesome. We also had a frequency of like 90 people, which is like rare in this country. I was so surprised. But the good part is that the sacrament was there. I love the sacrament. I felt like all the burdens and problems left. And as I am writing this now a scripture came to my mind in Mathew 11:30 I think. <it says "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" 

That is Christ talking and He is so right. His burden is easy and light. Man its so cool to know that we have a savior whom we can trust. Well, thats my week in a nut shell. 

Love, Elder Nelson

Hey Mom, 

I am stressed. Being dl you have to do calls and give trainings pretty much. Not bad. But the fact that I am whitewash training. It's hard. We have had alot of people already say no to us from contacts so like it's kinda hard to find those people that are ready to accept the gospel. 

Week 42 Transfers

Monday, August 14, 2017

Hey Guys!

So life just got a whole lot more...everything. Yea, everything. Good, good and more good. As well as a lot more stress.

1. We finished off the week and transfer with 2 baptisms(twins). Man, it was super cool to see those guys baptized. We found them in July and they were brothers of a part member family and I was like, are you guys baptized and they said no and I was like, ok, well lets talk. So, we did and a month later, they are now members of the church and will be passing the sacrament in a few weeks! Man, so fun to teach those kids. 

2. Interviews happened with President. Man, so fun!!! He walked in, and talked to me and my comp first together. It was powerful. He was talking a lot about going the second mile as a mission and as a missionary and what we need to do to go the second mile. So cool. I learned a lot. Then, I went to talk to Sis Amo while my comp talked to President. She talked about health. And anybody who knows me knows I like to eat ice cream and pizza so that was really good for me. Then, the part that is legit. I went in to talk to Pres. and it was less than a minute. No Joke. But the spirit was so strong. I felt as though he was staring into my should and seeing who I was on the inside. Man, so awesome. I love my mission president and my mission. 

3. Now for the part that blows your mind, or it did mine haha. I am now on my 7 transfer. SO, backtrack to when I started my 4. On my 4 transfer, I whitewashed on area in Fogo called Cova Figueira. Fogo is the on e with the active volcano and one of the southern Islands of the nation. I stayed there for 3 transfers and had 3 comps. So, now to my 6 transfer. The mission had to shut down areas due to shortage of missionaries in the mission. So, they shut down some areas in the northern islands and in Praia, the capital. And that's when I got Elder Bowman. So, end of my 6 transfer (yesterday) came with transfer calls right? Well, get this. I will be going to a northern Island, Sao Vicente, opening up an area( basically whitewashing again), Fernando Pó, being district leader, And(there is an and) I will be having a kid(training a new missionary, who is from Tonga). SO how does that go as a transfer call? I am stressed, overwhelmed and kinda like dying cause this requires skills and talents that I don't think I have. But, if there is anything I have learned form the mission is that the Lord provides a way. 

This last transfer I didn't think it would be easy, and it wasn't. But I trusted in the Lord and He made this last transfer even more possible than I thought possible. It is all because of Him that we succeed. He is the one who made this plan. He is the one who Gave His Only Son, Jesus Christ to Suffer Bleed and Die for Us. Then to be resurrected so that one day we can be resurrected as well (Man, I love not conjugating verbs haha) This plan is perfect. I love this gospel. I love my Savior. I know that through Him We will be saved and made into people that we never thought possible or could become through any efforts of our own. He is my Savior as well as yours. And all He asks is to Follow Him with ALL of our heart and give Him EVERYTHING. Desire, wishes, wants, etc. And fi we do, we will be filled with the Light and Christ and become those eternal beings that we were made to become. Love you all, sorry for the Long email but a lot of info. And as far as pictures go, we shall see if they all get uploaded today, if not, maybe next week is when y'all get them. Have a great week!!! 

Love, Elder Spencer Nelson

Week 41

Monday, August 7, 2017

Man, what a fun week. Mission life just gets better and better

This past week, President Amo made a goal to have 90 new investigators for the whole zone in order for us to go to the volcano. SO, guess what we did? We reached our goal, got 104 new I and we went to the volcano. Pictures will have to be next week, but just know it was legit. I saw a good friend from high school, Elder Evelyn. WE ran track together and man, it was soo cool to see him on the mission. 

Today I don't have a lot of time. But, just know that I love you all. Just know that God lives and that because of Him everything is Possible. I love this plan and I love my God. He is my Savior and Redeemer and is yours as well. Have a good week y'all and remember to be all In!!!

Love Elder Nelson

Week 40

Monday, July 31, 2017

This week was just another week in the service of the Lord. Loved it. Of course weeks have their difficulties and they're supposed to. But, as you will read later, we can have joy regardless of what is happening -or not happening-in our lives. 

We had a division with the ZLs. It was fun. I went to São Filipe, the main city here on Fogo. Man, it was hot!!!! Here in my area is nice and cool and sometimes has rain, but this past week, and the week before, we haven't really had rain. But, here is still way better than in SF. The people are good. We have these twins preparing for baptism on the 12 and it is fun but also sometimes annoying to teach them, cause they don't really listen a lot. Reminds me of when I was 12-18 years old haha. But its fun. I wouldn't trade this work for anything in the world.

Now to the though t(Dun Dun dunnnnn! haha) I read the conference talks by President Nelson in October of 2016 and Elder Cooks in April of 2017. Man it was super good. With Pres. Nelsons, like I relearned that we can have joy regardless of the circumstances of our lives. And I have found that so true. The mission is supposed to be hard, even life as well. But, we can choose whether to be happy or not. Then, for Elder Cooks, I was reading it and it was really cool to see the connection that is needed to be faithful and be humble. If we are faithful, we are strong in the testimony of Christ that is required for salvation. And if we are humble according to our faith and testimony, we will be exalted on high. Man, it was super cool. Now a question, that can be found in Elder Palmers talk of this past conference. 

Whenever we are faced to do something difficult or challenging in life, remember to think of the Savior beholding you and loving you, then inviting you to do more. Will you all do this? I know if you will, you will be blessed to feel of the Love that the Savior of Your soul has for you. Man, what a cool Feeling. Love you all. Have a good week. And remember to be all in for the cause of righteousness!

Love, Elder Nelson

Week 39

Monday, July 24, 2017

Hello Family and friends,

This past week was a fun week. Like, really fun. We did some fun activities and had a baptism. It was cool. 

First, I went back to Praia to pick up my passport and visa. So now I am finally legal again in the country haha. Then, I spent the rest of Wednesday with my mission dad, Elder Robertson. Man, it was awesome to be back serving with him, even if it was just a few hours. Then, we got back to my area, and literally 2 days later, we went with the stake president to go and plant like 4 types of bean plants and some corn. Man, oh man, it took from 7 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon, with an hour break to eat. Man, it was exhausting. We planted so many seeds and had such a good time. It was raining like halfway through it as well, so we were soaked, happy, and tired by 3 o'clock. But it was a good activity. Then on Saturday, we had another baptism. His name is Denis. Cool kid. Excited than most to pass the sacrament. Which leads me to the next part. 

Because of everything that happened this past week, we didn't really have the success that I was hoping for, and I was just feeling really down on everything that was happening. But, this past Sunday, I had the opportunity to bless the sacrament. What an incredible feeling. I was able to feel the spirit so strong when the bread and water was being passed around. I know God lives and that Jesus is the Living Christ. Without Him, there is no missionary work, salvation, and no creation. He is everything to us and gave us everything we have in our lives. I was reading a talk in April of 2017 conference issue, and it said something really interesting. Can't remember who it is by, but it said something about knowing who our savior really is. For that is essential to gain exaltation. So, my challenge is that you all come and know who the Savior Really is to you. Take the time. Study Him out. Look for Him, and you will find Him. 

Love you all! Love Elder Nelson