25th Week

Hello dearest family and friends,


It spites me that I was unable to write a family email to ya'll last week, but I was so busy and caught up on other required things, reports to President and such, that I was unable to find a time to write this letter. I'm sorry. Either way, I've dedicated a full 30 minutes to this letter so hopefully it turns out to be something you will all be proud of.

First off, it has been an interesting week to say the least. A week that was rougher then I expected and taught me quite a bit. I guess that is good. If everyone was great you wouldn't know the bad right? Either way, we strive to do better and to be better every day. Truly it seems that missionary work is not about changing your investigators but rather changing yourself and helping them want to make the change. The spirit changes people, we don't. I don't know if I've seen any major miracles yet, but I feel like I see the foundation of miracles every day. When you talk with someone and you see the spark in their eye that says, "This might be true." or "I want to learn more." It really is indescribable but it is a marvelous experience and one that I'm sure everyone missionary has on a daily basis. One you strive more, One you hope for, One you yearn for.

On that note let us talk about last week and what has occurred
As you can see by picture number one. I took a spill onto the pavement earlier this week. It was an interesting experience I'd rather not soon repeat. I was riding along the side of the road when my tires slipped off the road. Not a big deal happens all the time. I hurried to recorrect and did not anticipate the change of direction with my speed. Next thing I know, I'm rolling on the asphalt, my helmet is flying away, and my companion is starting to laugh. As I was sitting there to be honest, in a bit of pain, I hear my companion say, "Hold on! Don't get up! I need to get a picture!" Thus we have now digital evidence of my pain and anguish. Luckily no permanent damage just an inside-the-pants skinned knee. Maybe also a bruised ego, but probably not. We've had a good time joking about it to say the least.

The only other things that I think is of note is something I ate this last week. That would of course be a fresh watermelon. I appreciate that most of you are in places that is not very warm right now! The benefit of eternal summer is you get to eat eternal summer fruits such as watermelons! I love it!

The other photos I attached are one of an investigator and myself, Weasly. He was the investigator under house arrest. Also a picture of a sunset captured while riding my bike, probably not safe in retrospect, and also a picture of my every cluttered desk. They say a cluttered desk is evidence of a cluttered mind. I say a cluttered desk is evidence of a missionary you doesn't have time to clean off his desk.

Probably the biggest lesson I learned this last week was one of perspective. My old basketball coach, who didn't win a whole lot, used to have a saying on the wall of his classroom. Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you are correct! The key to missionary work, and it is work, is believing that it is possible. The minute you walk out the door saying, "Well today is ruined, we aren't going to have any success." You don't have success. You have to always have the perspective that everyone you meet will be baptized, confirmed, endowed, and sealed. If you don't have that, you might as well not even begin.

I love you all, and although I haven't received any letters in a while I know it is because they are on the way, right? I wish you the best this Christmas season and with the First Presidency join in saying that we must have a good perspective for Christmas. I just got to hear the Christmas Devotional a few days ago and I love it by the way. What inspired leaders we have. They surely are the best leaders in the world. I love them so very much.

Once again, I love you all. I wish you the best. I pray for you all when I can remember too!

Elder Nathan John Nielson
PO Box 2932
Paramaribo Suriname
South America