Sounds like a crazy weekend to say the least. I kind of feel the same about my weekend. To make a long story short, after 48 Straight hours of no sleep, two flights, and 2 1/2 hours being in the airport alone, I finally arrived in Granada on a twin prop plane. The airport in Granada sits on a little isthmus on the end of the island and for a second I thought they were going to land on the water. Luckily, I survived. I am District Leader but I'm the DL in isolation. Our area is an hour away from everyone else which isn't a big deal but it makes it hard to communicate especially when everyone else lives close to each other. We are in Group actually and we are the group leaders with the church meeting in our apartment. I guess my branch president experience will pay off on this one.
My companion has been out for four transfers so far and seems to be a good guy. We've got some stuff to work on but I think it'll be pretty smooth going and interesting to say the least. Biggest challenge is understanding what these people are saying and also not using Dutch when I talk to people but we'll work on that and see how it goes.
All in all it is pretty good and I'm glad to be hear.
I love you,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
71 st Week
Wow, it has been another week.
It blows my mind sometimes how that works. The times just flies and flies and sometimes even faster when you are just doing what you can do to survive. I wish again that I had something to report but it was a pretty normal to say the least. I guess the highlight was when I was on exchanges and we went to Pizza Hut. We bought pizza and that was fantastic but it ripped me up. It was too delicious and too greasy. Nothing like what I've eaten for a long time. We are doing it again for District Meeting so don't be surprised if you hear that the North District of the Suriname Zone was sick after their district meeting.
I've been thinking a lot about the reasons for trials in our lives this last little bit. I guess I've come to the decision that we have them to strengthen us and to humble us. I was thinking about this in relation to the OSU football team that just lost to Iowa State over the weekend. They thought of themselves as perfect and perhaps unbeatable. With this loss though they hopefully will accept the reality of their mortality and their utter reliance upon circumstances sometimes outside their control. So it is with our lives. We must rely upon God and his glory. It is pretty humbling.
Out of time but I love you all!
Elder Nathan John Nielson
It blows my mind sometimes how that works. The times just flies and flies and sometimes even faster when you are just doing what you can do to survive. I wish again that I had something to report but it was a pretty normal to say the least. I guess the highlight was when I was on exchanges and we went to Pizza Hut. We bought pizza and that was fantastic but it ripped me up. It was too delicious and too greasy. Nothing like what I've eaten for a long time. We are doing it again for District Meeting so don't be surprised if you hear that the North District of the Suriname Zone was sick after their district meeting.
I've been thinking a lot about the reasons for trials in our lives this last little bit. I guess I've come to the decision that we have them to strengthen us and to humble us. I was thinking about this in relation to the OSU football team that just lost to Iowa State over the weekend. They thought of themselves as perfect and perhaps unbeatable. With this loss though they hopefully will accept the reality of their mortality and their utter reliance upon circumstances sometimes outside their control. So it is with our lives. We must rely upon God and his glory. It is pretty humbling.
Out of time but I love you all!
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Monday, November 7, 2011
69th Week
Well Family and Friends,
It was a difficult week to be honest. Not a whole lot to say it was a rough week of things overall. Luckily, I made it through and life is still going on.
Story of the week:
My bike got stolen at the church in the city. It is a weird story to be honest and I feel a bit gulible but oh well. What happened is that Elder Sadler needed to use the bathroom and we were close to the church. As we pulled into the church's parking lot there was a man taking apart tables and taking them. I thought, "Why is he stealing our tables?" So I confronted him and he said they were his. So I called the wife of the branch president to verify his story and it mostly checked out. So I thought okay must be telling the truth. So I thought we'd be in the church for at the most 5 minutes and that turned into 15. When we got back out Elder Sadler goes around the corner first and says, "Your bike is missing!" I say whatever biggest joke in the world but lo a behold. It was gone. We walked to McDonald's got icecream and then waited for the Zone Leaders to come pick us up. Luckily they could and I'm using a loaner bike right now. Gotta get a new one but that'll happen.
To be honest, I'm glad this week is over and now we get to go on to the next.
I love you all and appreciate your prayers.
Love you,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
68 th Week
Well Hello My Family and Friends!
It has been another week and this one was painfully short. Take that as you will!
I hope you are all doing well as I'm certainly doing my best and that is all I can do right? We are currently working in the city of Paramaribo in the city center. Yes that is right, I get to work in the downtown. I've decided to work downtown Paramaribo you have to be slightly suicidal with the bike riding. One because your are weaving in and out of traffic onto the sidewalks and such, Two because you are doing this at slight high speeds (for a bike), and three because Surinamers don't seem to recognize street laws anyways. So you just never know what is going to happen. Saying that though, I haven't had a single close call yet so everything is going pretty well. I guess that is due to all of your prayers for me. I appreciate them greatly and I'm very thankful for them as well.
We are still trying to learn the area and that is quite the adventure. We are frequently lost then found but really just more lost then we realize. I guess the problem is that I'm directing this freight train and I've got no idea what I'm doing. So I just ride my bicycle with love and a smile and I wave to every that I see. It is a lot of fun.
This week we visited our Branch Mission Leader. It was pretty interesting and he happened to have a scale so I did the normal thing and I jumped on it. I official 240 lbs. That is 60 lbs or just under 30 KG. I'm not going to lie I really like that but it makes from some interesting situations. For example, when we flew to Trinidad last week the guard at the gate looked at my passport and then at me and then at my passport and had this look on his face like, I don't believe this is you. Luckily, he let me go through but it made me laugh for sure.
I've been thinking a lot about personal conversion for the last week or so. We say that we are converted to the church and what does that really mean? Are we converted to the church, as in the organization, or are we converted to the gospel? When I was in Nickerie we had a lot of members who were converted to the church. To weekly sacrament meetings and to activities every so often. We lacked people that were truly converted to the gospel and thus when trials came they were unable to handle them. President Gamiette really wants to see real growth here in the mission. By real growth, he implies permanent growth to the area that will lead members to the Temple and to eternal salvation. He has said that this will only occur, on the mission side, when the missionaries are converted to it and the members do the work. So we've been working a lot on converting ourselves to the work and to the mission. I noticed a changed last week when we couldn't email do to the internet being down and my thought was, "Oh well, I'll email next week then." It was burden to email on Tuesday. I didn't want to do it. I wanted to tract another street and teach another lesson. I've been really impressed by my own conversion and now I want to effect the same change into others. I think that comes through prayer, fasting, reading the standard works, but ultimately just developing that desire to want it so badly you'll cry for it. I promise though that it can come.
I've gotta go but I love you all.
Love,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
It has been another week and this one was painfully short. Take that as you will!
I hope you are all doing well as I'm certainly doing my best and that is all I can do right? We are currently working in the city of Paramaribo in the city center. Yes that is right, I get to work in the downtown. I've decided to work downtown Paramaribo you have to be slightly suicidal with the bike riding. One because your are weaving in and out of traffic onto the sidewalks and such, Two because you are doing this at slight high speeds (for a bike), and three because Surinamers don't seem to recognize street laws anyways. So you just never know what is going to happen. Saying that though, I haven't had a single close call yet so everything is going pretty well. I guess that is due to all of your prayers for me. I appreciate them greatly and I'm very thankful for them as well.
We are still trying to learn the area and that is quite the adventure. We are frequently lost then found but really just more lost then we realize. I guess the problem is that I'm directing this freight train and I've got no idea what I'm doing. So I just ride my bicycle with love and a smile and I wave to every that I see. It is a lot of fun.
This week we visited our Branch Mission Leader. It was pretty interesting and he happened to have a scale so I did the normal thing and I jumped on it. I official 240 lbs. That is 60 lbs or just under 30 KG. I'm not going to lie I really like that but it makes from some interesting situations. For example, when we flew to Trinidad last week the guard at the gate looked at my passport and then at me and then at my passport and had this look on his face like, I don't believe this is you. Luckily, he let me go through but it made me laugh for sure.
I've been thinking a lot about personal conversion for the last week or so. We say that we are converted to the church and what does that really mean? Are we converted to the church, as in the organization, or are we converted to the gospel? When I was in Nickerie we had a lot of members who were converted to the church. To weekly sacrament meetings and to activities every so often. We lacked people that were truly converted to the gospel and thus when trials came they were unable to handle them. President Gamiette really wants to see real growth here in the mission. By real growth, he implies permanent growth to the area that will lead members to the Temple and to eternal salvation. He has said that this will only occur, on the mission side, when the missionaries are converted to it and the members do the work. So we've been working a lot on converting ourselves to the work and to the mission. I noticed a changed last week when we couldn't email do to the internet being down and my thought was, "Oh well, I'll email next week then." It was burden to email on Tuesday. I didn't want to do it. I wanted to tract another street and teach another lesson. I've been really impressed by my own conversion and now I want to effect the same change into others. I think that comes through prayer, fasting, reading the standard works, but ultimately just developing that desire to want it so badly you'll cry for it. I promise though that it can come.
I've gotta go but I love you all.
Love,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
67th Week
Hello Fellow Travelers!
The best part of being in this mission I think, or at least one of the perks, is training in Trinidad. It was the most incredible experience I ever had and I can't possibly take you all through it. I have pictures but that'll have to wait til next week as email today was not the most easy thing to arrange. Either way, we left Suriname at 6:15 am and arrived in Trinidad at 6:45 am. Due to a short distance but really a time change it was "only" a 30 minute flight. On the way home though it took 2:30 minutes though. We arrived and the Ap's picked us up and took us to the mission office of which I have photos next week. Then it was to President's Home where we were from 10am to 8pm that night. We took 3 breaks to snack and to walk about but other then that it was straight training. One of the coolest things was Elder Martinez from the Fourth Quorum of the Seventy who explained to us the law of justice and mercy. President spent most of the day talking to us about repenting and receive a remission of our sins also but becoming truly converted missionaries. It was so powerful and I left thinking of just how much better I need to do and to become to be worthy of the blessings of God. So much work. Day two was much the same training from 9am - 6pm. We really only stopped because we had to catch our flight and they were worried we'd miss them. If it wasn't for us I think we would have kept on going and been there all night. It is amazing the inspiration that comes when you are all dedicated to a goal of making yourself and others better. On the way home, Elder Job, the other District Leader, and myself talked the entire time about things we wanted to do with our districts. A lot of ideas and now we just need the strength of character and will to make them happen.
The new area is good. I'm so super lost. After having served in the two smallest areas of Suriname, I'm in probably the biggest of the entire country. There is so many people and so much ground to cover. It'll truly take a inspired performance to do it. I'm hopeful and I'll have to take everything I've learned about relying on the Lord and put it into use. Just a few days ago, we were on the street and we needed to contact on more person so I looked at my comp and said lets pray about it. WE prayed and the next thing I knew there was a man. We contacted him and nothing has come of it yet but I'm pretty excited about it. We found another man who was actually looking for us and he's now commited to baptism. I'm really excited about the promises of the Lord. I just have to do my best.
Just want to tell you all that I love you. I haven't been so great with Letters but I haven't gotten anything in about six weeks so sorry! I'll do better if you do better and then we'll all be happy! Really, I'll just do better and I just expect your prayers.
By the way, I wanted you all to know that I've come to peace with what happened in Nickerie. I've come to realize that the Lord needed me somewhere else and I'm pretty excited about. I wish you the best.
I love you all,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
ps. To those who are RA's at OU, I've sent a letter or two a little while ago and another is coming shortly. I hope all is well. Miss ya'll
66th Week
Hello Family!
This week is a bit different so I thought I'd send the family email first. Well I have big news. Transfers were on Saturday and unexpectedly the Mission Presidency has decided to close the branch on me. So I've been transferred back to the City to Munder which is downtown Paramaribo. Funny enough, my brother emailed me (Go Chris!) not too long ago and had the impression to give me some advice about being a trainer because he felt it might happen. At the time, I thought he was silly it couldn't happen. But lo and behold, Elder Saddler from Illinois has been assigned as my companion and he just got in Suriname 3 weeks ago! I will also be the District Leader with a district of six elders including myself and Elder Lundgren who will be in the next area over from mine. To say I'm surprised, would be an understatement that would be almost a lie. I truly felt like I would be here for six months so it is a bit unsettling to have the rug pulled out from beneath me. Especially when I had to stand in from of the 21 people who were present for church and announced that we were leaving and the branch would be closed.
I've really seen this as my Zion Camp. Yes I didn't have to march a thousand miles or whatever but I certainly did feel like a complete failure for a bit. I was given the task to stabilize this branch to help them succeed. Ultimately to baptize and to bring the Gospel to the people of Nickerie. In the end, I've killed the branch! I know there is much to learn from this experience though and there is an important principle we talk about in missionary work: No effort is wasted. I truly believe that.
The idea is that quite simply the Lord blesses us for our efforts and much like Elder Waddell said in the afgelopen algemene conferentie (Last General Conference) a lot of the effect of what we have done, or who we have touched, we will never see. I hope that I had a good effect on the members who whom I was able to work with, cry with, and to love with. I know without a doubt that I've changed their lives, I just hope it is for good right or even for awesome. The simple truth is that I have to believe as a missionary, a person, and as Elder Nielson that God has a plan for everything. That things do not happen to do evil unto us. Thus if we look for what the Lord wants us to learn then truly no effort is wasted when the answer is different then we expect.
I sent my Dad some pictures of the branch at their family home evening and also of my new helmet it is Orange and Black as you can see for the Cowboys! Go State! Next helmet is probably Red and White but only if we lose in the beginning of December :P
I love you all and I'm really excited to get moving to Munder. Should be interesting as that is where I started here in Suriname and I had a truly miserable time. I hated it to be quite honest and I'm going to have to exercise some demons when I get there but I know it is for a reason and I'm exited nonetheless.
Love you all,
Yours in the Service and God, and such
Elder Nathan John Nielson
This week is a bit different so I thought I'd send the family email first. Well I have big news. Transfers were on Saturday and unexpectedly the Mission Presidency has decided to close the branch on me. So I've been transferred back to the City to Munder which is downtown Paramaribo. Funny enough, my brother emailed me (Go Chris!) not too long ago and had the impression to give me some advice about being a trainer because he felt it might happen. At the time, I thought he was silly it couldn't happen. But lo and behold, Elder Saddler from Illinois has been assigned as my companion and he just got in Suriname 3 weeks ago! I will also be the District Leader with a district of six elders including myself and Elder Lundgren who will be in the next area over from mine. To say I'm surprised, would be an understatement that would be almost a lie. I truly felt like I would be here for six months so it is a bit unsettling to have the rug pulled out from beneath me. Especially when I had to stand in from of the 21 people who were present for church and announced that we were leaving and the branch would be closed.
I've really seen this as my Zion Camp. Yes I didn't have to march a thousand miles or whatever but I certainly did feel like a complete failure for a bit. I was given the task to stabilize this branch to help them succeed. Ultimately to baptize and to bring the Gospel to the people of Nickerie. In the end, I've killed the branch! I know there is much to learn from this experience though and there is an important principle we talk about in missionary work: No effort is wasted. I truly believe that.
The idea is that quite simply the Lord blesses us for our efforts and much like Elder Waddell said in the afgelopen algemene conferentie (Last General Conference) a lot of the effect of what we have done, or who we have touched, we will never see. I hope that I had a good effect on the members who whom I was able to work with, cry with, and to love with. I know without a doubt that I've changed their lives, I just hope it is for good right or even for awesome. The simple truth is that I have to believe as a missionary, a person, and as Elder Nielson that God has a plan for everything. That things do not happen to do evil unto us. Thus if we look for what the Lord wants us to learn then truly no effort is wasted when the answer is different then we expect.
I sent my Dad some pictures of the branch at their family home evening and also of my new helmet it is Orange and Black as you can see for the Cowboys! Go State! Next helmet is probably Red and White but only if we lose in the beginning of December :P
I love you all and I'm really excited to get moving to Munder. Should be interesting as that is where I started here in Suriname and I had a truly miserable time. I hated it to be quite honest and I'm going to have to exercise some demons when I get there but I know it is for a reason and I'm exited nonetheless.
Love you all,
Yours in the Service and God, and such
Elder Nathan John Nielson
65 th Week
Hello Friends, Family, and BYU Fans,
I'm doing great. I thought about leaving it off there but here we go. I hope you are excited for a(n) (un)interesting email.
This week has been a super quick one and it was like trying to hold onto lighting. It was impossible. With a weird Sunday schedule, I hate to say it but I don't think we ever really got a hold of it and we just had to run with what we had. That worked out great in terms of the branch family home evening but not so great in terms of planning for member lessons and such.
Big news of the week was this branch activity. We held it at a member's house and the member were just so excited to do it. We had a good turn out of 10 people and everyone seemed ready to participate. The member taught us about time and then we had a cake tasting contest. To be honest, I expected to lose as our cake was only a box cake with pineapple inside of it. The problem was though the member diluted her cake with flour so it wasn't so surgery. Foolish decision in my opinion as we decimated her I felt bad though. Mainly, because it doesn't matter to my pride if we lost but she might have been down about it. She held her head up high though and we only bragged in broken dutch for a few minutes.
We also found an old investigator that is really excited about the gospel. She investigated nearly a year ago when Elder Lundgren and I were still in the MTC. Was not baptized though because she left to Guyana and never came back. We had an appointment fall and we decided to check on someone else. When we got there we discovered her and were super excited and so is she. Should be great and I'm happy to keep going.
Overall the mood is excited and I'm so very grateful to be here. I love you all. Even the BYU fans.
Love
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Go Cowboys and those dirty Sooners!
I'm doing great. I thought about leaving it off there but here we go. I hope you are excited for a(n) (un)interesting email.
This week has been a super quick one and it was like trying to hold onto lighting. It was impossible. With a weird Sunday schedule, I hate to say it but I don't think we ever really got a hold of it and we just had to run with what we had. That worked out great in terms of the branch family home evening but not so great in terms of planning for member lessons and such.
Big news of the week was this branch activity. We held it at a member's house and the member were just so excited to do it. We had a good turn out of 10 people and everyone seemed ready to participate. The member taught us about time and then we had a cake tasting contest. To be honest, I expected to lose as our cake was only a box cake with pineapple inside of it. The problem was though the member diluted her cake with flour so it wasn't so surgery. Foolish decision in my opinion as we decimated her I felt bad though. Mainly, because it doesn't matter to my pride if we lost but she might have been down about it. She held her head up high though and we only bragged in broken dutch for a few minutes.
We also found an old investigator that is really excited about the gospel. She investigated nearly a year ago when Elder Lundgren and I were still in the MTC. Was not baptized though because she left to Guyana and never came back. We had an appointment fall and we decided to check on someone else. When we got there we discovered her and were super excited and so is she. Should be great and I'm happy to keep going.
Overall the mood is excited and I'm so very grateful to be here. I love you all. Even the BYU fans.
Love
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Go Cowboys and those dirty Sooners!
Monday, October 3, 2011
64th Week
Hello Family!
I hope you all enjoyed conference this last weekend. I loved it and that is for sure. It was the highlight of a more difficult week but those things happen and we just have to bounce back and be better. I'm learning that failure or difficulties are opportunities to grow and to be better if we allow them, or they become stumbling blocks that allow us to wallow in despair. I choose faith.
Choosing faith has been the theme for my time in Nickerie. Before I got here, I allowed myself too often to allow fears, doubts, or pain to dictate my attitude, work, or emotions. So when I came here with Elder Bell (former companion) we made it a go to choose faith in everything that we did. Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner. If we could do it there we certainly could do it tracting, teaching, and baptising. In doing so I've seen so many miracles and wonderful events that have made me truly appreciate the Lord's hand in my life. I was actually reflecting on a scriptures not too long along and wanted to share some inspiration that I had.
In Alma 32:27 Alma tells us: Maar zi, indien gij uw vermoges wil opwekken en wakker schudden, ja, om mijn woorden te beproeven, en een sprankje geloof wilt oefenen -- ja, al kunt gij niet meer doen dan verlangen te geloven -- laat dat verlangen dan in u werken todat gij zo gelooft dat gij plaats kunt inruimen voor een deel van mijn woorden. (Only have my dutch with me)
He tells us that if we can't believe that we just have to desire and to let that desire work within us. I thought that meant that we just had to have a desire within us for a long time. I'm started to believe that this scripture relates to 3 Nephi 24:10 when Christ repeats the words of Malachi over tithing. The important part being that we need to test the Lord. Thus to have that desire we have to do not just think or wish but act. If we want to believe that the word of wisdom is true we must try it. If we want to believe the words of the prophets we must try them. That is the desire of which he speaks. At least that is what I think.
I was thinking about that with the conference. Oh how I wish my faith was stronger then it truly is some days. I've learned though in moments of crisis or panic, that choosing to act as if I had enough faith brings the faith that is required to do what needs to be done. So often on my mission, I don't know what to do, to say, or to be. I just act and pray for the best. I'm happy to say that is has brought the best most of the time. I hope this is a principle I can continue to use and to apply. You can as well. If you are doubting just act in faith. I implore you to do so!
I hope that made some sense.
In case I didn't say, we did have conference here in Nickerie which was a great blessing for the members because they didn't have to travel 3 1/2 hours to see it. We had a great attendence and besides the bit of stress I got as Branch President for getting it set up it was a great time.
I loved all the talks but a few stuck out to me. Elder Scott's on the scriptures, Elder Anderson's on Children (Have children ya'll), and I loved Elder Cornish's talk on prayer. All were good and I can't wait to re- and reread them in the future.
I love you all and I continue to pray for you! I hope you will choose faith in everything you do!
Love
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Sunday, October 2, 2011
63rd Week
Hello Family!
How are you all doing? It is still a sweltering hot here in Nickerie and we are working working and working. I feel like I tell you that all every week but I guess that is how it works right? This last week was a busy one and it was gone before we knew it. It is funny how fast time flies when you are out here. I wonder if it is going by so quickly for you but that really is just a passing thought I have from time to time!
Either way, cool story of the week. Elder Lundgren and I rode our bikes from New Nickerie to the river that borders Suriname and Guyana. They have a place they call the backtrack where people cross illegally using speedboats. In some of the photos I sent you'll notice a little dock like place. That is the backtrack. It is very sketchy to say the least but a lot of people use it all the time. I've come to the opinion that Suriname really doesn't care (As it is mainly Guyana citizens that come in illegally) so long as those people work in the rice fields in Nickerie and don't come to the city as inbetween the two is where the passports are checked. Eitherway, I hope you liked the photos.
Nickerie also hosted Parbo night. Parbo is the name of the national neer. Parbo Beer. They have a big festival here and wow there were a lot of people and the day after a lot of trash. That was saturday and I guess maybe that is why attendence was low on sunday. :) Either way, it was a good time trying to navigate the streets.
I'm out of time again and I'm sorry either way though I love you and I hope you are all doing great. Our best investigator just asked us for money and dropped himself so we are back to the drawing board but so it is! I love you all and I think about you all a lot. Some more then other but still a lot okay?
I love you,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
62nd Week
Hello Family!
We just received the computer for the branch and the District told us to use it for email during the week. So this really is coming from the branch president's desk. I'm not that prideful, kind of. It has been another great week here in Gemente Nickerie and we had another great sunday. The district, like I said, was in town to deliever the computer but they also spoke in the avondmaal dienst. It was great they had great uplifting toespraaks. I love it a lot. It was mainly focused on the atonement of Christ and I hope the members can really start applying it in their life. For Sunday School, Elder Lundgren was a last moment replacement for a sister that went out of town and we talked about tithing. We've decided to use an approach to teach the members the basics of the gospel and let the spirit help them change. So we are not using the curriculum for this per se, but I got approval so it is okay!
Other then that our investigators are getting a bit flunky on us and we only had one come to church this last week. We'll need to do better there but I'm pretty happy about how things are going overall. I sent my Dad some photos so hopefully he'll send them to you. There is one of me in my office, another of me de-icing the fridge with a hammer, me doing the robot before a store, the Jansens, Elder Lundgren and a crazy guy (Supposibly he is Taliban, that is what he said), and a store named Lina (In dutch pronounced Lee-nah)[Made me smile].
I'm so in love with the work right now that I don't want to be any where else to be honest. It is going great. I'm slimming up and Elder Lundgren is fatting up. Had kind of a rougher week as I caught the flu or something but I'm just about over it.
Favorite story of the week had to be our improtu trip to Paramaribo on Thursday. On Tuesday, I flipped through E Lundgren's passport to discover that he lacks the official stamps to stay in the country so away we went to the city. When we got to the passport checkpoint at 5:30 in the morning. The guards were asleep on the table. They were so emberressed they didn't check anyone at all. I guess the city isn't too much safer then in Nickerie. Made me laugh a bunch.
I love you all, some more and some less but nevertheless it is love!
Love,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
ps. Just in case I forget Go Utah 54-10! Sorry Aunt Barbara and Family
61 st week
Hey everyone!
I don't have a lot of time so I'm sorry but we'll keep it going!
So this last week was great it was super busy but it is what it is. As I talked about in my last email I received a new companion. Stephen Kurt Lundgren from Sandy Utah and we are doing really well actually. We had a strong finish to last week and we've had a pretty good start too. We are looking forward to a lot of success and a lot of fun. Should be a good time. For the record, he'll also be the branch clerk.
Church was great this last week. We had five speakers. Our two young men, Elder Lundgren, and the senior missionary couple. It just went really well and I loved Sunday School, not to brag, as I thought I taught a really good and simple lesson about the temple and they all seemed really excited and like they wanted to start working towards that. We had 23 people in attendence and our new goal is to average 30 people and then shoot for 40 should be interesting to say the least.
With my branch president duties, the young men and the elders made fishing poles earlier this morning to go fishing! Then this afternoon we are going to the canals and are going to go get us some fish. It should be pretty interesting and most of you wouldn't dare eat these fish after you saw the water they come from but so it is!
I'm out of time but photos next time!
I love you all but more some then others.. just kididng (kind of )
Love
Elder Nielson
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
60th week
To whomever it may concern,
Hello!
What a week what a week. I was warned that if I wasn't careful this calling to take over the work and I'm starting to see that. There are so many things to do and not enough time to say the least. I can happily report though that the branch had the first ever branch presidency meeting before church this last week. I got them together and we discussed business. Overall it went well and I'm pretty excited about our potential to do things here.
Overall, I don't have too much to report this week as it was pretty normal. I'm receiving a new companion though and that is pretty exciting. It'll be Elder Lundgren from Sandy Utah. We served together in the MTC and our first week in Tennessee. I'm pretty excited about working with him.
I had an investigator also text message me asking if she could love me. I told her no. I hope she didn't take it too had but the rules and all that forbid such relationships. I'm also not interested as well but I made sure not to tell her that I don't want to break her heart. I won't lie I think it was the new pants I just got from the tailor. They are pretty fly,
We also had Zone Conference with President Vinas from the Area Presidency. That was pretty cool and he had some great advice about applying the atonement in our lifes every day. It was really good and I really enjoyed it. He said that everything we do in the church from the geography chapters in het Boek van Mormon to the deacon qurom meeting is all related to the atonement. We just have to find the application. I'm still pondering the geography chapters now. What am I missing?
Out of time but I love you all.
Love,
President Elder Nathan John Nielson or Elder President Nathan John Nielson (not sure which I like best)
njn
Hello!
What a week what a week. I was warned that if I wasn't careful this calling to take over the work and I'm starting to see that. There are so many things to do and not enough time to say the least. I can happily report though that the branch had the first ever branch presidency meeting before church this last week. I got them together and we discussed business. Overall it went well and I'm pretty excited about our potential to do things here.
Overall, I don't have too much to report this week as it was pretty normal. I'm receiving a new companion though and that is pretty exciting. It'll be Elder Lundgren from Sandy Utah. We served together in the MTC and our first week in Tennessee. I'm pretty excited about working with him.
I had an investigator also text message me asking if she could love me. I told her no. I hope she didn't take it too had but the rules and all that forbid such relationships. I'm also not interested as well but I made sure not to tell her that I don't want to break her heart. I won't lie I think it was the new pants I just got from the tailor. They are pretty fly,
We also had Zone Conference with President Vinas from the Area Presidency. That was pretty cool and he had some great advice about applying the atonement in our lifes every day. It was really good and I really enjoyed it. He said that everything we do in the church from the geography chapters in het Boek van Mormon to the deacon qurom meeting is all related to the atonement. We just have to find the application. I'm still pondering the geography chapters now. What am I missing?
Out of time but I love you all.
Love,
President Elder Nathan John Nielson or Elder President Nathan John Nielson (not sure which I like best)
njn
Monday, August 29, 2011
59th Week
Hello Family, Friends and Vremdeling,
You would not believe what happened this last week... It was quite the week. This letter will be a bit longer and will cover a bit so I apprecite your attention and interest. Hopefully, it makes sense.
So the Nickerie Branch has not always been the most stable branch in the Zone. Since its inception we've had two different branch presidents be released and take a good majority of the branch with them. To illistrate this point, we have 70 bapized members but only 7 active members. This is a great example of where the branch is. When Elder Bell and I got to Nickerie the branch was small but excited and they were ready for us. We started immediately and were met with mixed results: Some good and some bad. Saying this though a few weeks ago we discovered that our branch president was going to need to be released. Elder Bell and I were not sure what would occur but a few possibilties stuck out to us. There was Brother Emanuelson who had been the branch president at one point. There was Brother Veira that was just ordained to the higher priesthood. There were the Elders.
Well, Brother Veira has been having a hard time getting over his drinking problem and so we knew that would work and there were questions about Brother Emanuelson and his ability to serve. That left the Elders. So the District Presidency announced that they were coming to Nickerie this last week on Saturday and Sunday and that they were going to meet with us. In our meeting they then announced that the branch was going to be dissolved and the Elders moved back to Paramaribo with the remaining members becoming a group. In my defense of the Branch I suggested that it was too earlier to give up on the branch and that there were other possibilites still. We talked about that a bit and then President Nazir asked me that all to importent question: Elder Nielson if you were chosen to be Branch President are the willing to be here and work here? I replied, "I'm prepared to die here." (In my mind, I'm thinking in terms of dying as like finishing my mission).
Well things were left unresolved until that night when President Nazir came to our Apartment and extended the invitation to be appointed to be Branch President (When an Elder is set-apart as an Elder we automatically receiving the authority to do everything necessary in the mission field so Elders are never sustained, ordained, or re-set apart). I accepted and on Sunday was appointed to be the newest Branch President of the Nickerie Gemeente. That will mean that I will probably be here for at least six more month if not longer. I'm been informed that if I fail Gemeente Nickerie will be shut-down and if I don't succeed in the time-line given, Gemeente Nickerie will be shut down. So essential, I have six-months at the least/most, with the help of the Lord, to turn this branch around, train the leaders, and prepare one of them to take my place, or the Branch gets shut down.
So that is where I am now busy. Being Branch President and a missionary here in Nickerie. It is going to be a good time. One nice thing is the barriers that used to exist are removed. Unity between missionaries and the branch president is now 100% and the Branch President has already read most of the handbook. I just gotta not form a complex. There is a bit of confusion amongst the members as to whether it is President Nielson now or Elder Nielson but I really don't care. They did all seem really excited about me taking over the leader ship but we'll have to just see what exactly happens.
I guess you could say, I'll need your prayers!
I think I'll leave it there,
I love you all!
Love,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
You would not believe what happened this last week... It was quite the week. This letter will be a bit longer and will cover a bit so I apprecite your attention and interest. Hopefully, it makes sense.
So the Nickerie Branch has not always been the most stable branch in the Zone. Since its inception we've had two different branch presidents be released and take a good majority of the branch with them. To illistrate this point, we have 70 bapized members but only 7 active members. This is a great example of where the branch is. When Elder Bell and I got to Nickerie the branch was small but excited and they were ready for us. We started immediately and were met with mixed results: Some good and some bad. Saying this though a few weeks ago we discovered that our branch president was going to need to be released. Elder Bell and I were not sure what would occur but a few possibilties stuck out to us. There was Brother Emanuelson who had been the branch president at one point. There was Brother Veira that was just ordained to the higher priesthood. There were the Elders.
Well, Brother Veira has been having a hard time getting over his drinking problem and so we knew that would work and there were questions about Brother Emanuelson and his ability to serve. That left the Elders. So the District Presidency announced that they were coming to Nickerie this last week on Saturday and Sunday and that they were going to meet with us. In our meeting they then announced that the branch was going to be dissolved and the Elders moved back to Paramaribo with the remaining members becoming a group. In my defense of the Branch I suggested that it was too earlier to give up on the branch and that there were other possibilites still. We talked about that a bit and then President Nazir asked me that all to importent question: Elder Nielson if you were chosen to be Branch President are the willing to be here and work here? I replied, "I'm prepared to die here." (In my mind, I'm thinking in terms of dying as like finishing my mission).
Well things were left unresolved until that night when President Nazir came to our Apartment and extended the invitation to be appointed to be Branch President (When an Elder is set-apart as an Elder we automatically receiving the authority to do everything necessary in the mission field so Elders are never sustained, ordained, or re-set apart). I accepted and on Sunday was appointed to be the newest Branch President of the Nickerie Gemeente. That will mean that I will probably be here for at least six more month if not longer. I'm been informed that if I fail Gemeente Nickerie will be shut-down and if I don't succeed in the time-line given, Gemeente Nickerie will be shut down. So essential, I have six-months at the least/most, with the help of the Lord, to turn this branch around, train the leaders, and prepare one of them to take my place, or the Branch gets shut down.
So that is where I am now busy. Being Branch President and a missionary here in Nickerie. It is going to be a good time. One nice thing is the barriers that used to exist are removed. Unity between missionaries and the branch president is now 100% and the Branch President has already read most of the handbook. I just gotta not form a complex. There is a bit of confusion amongst the members as to whether it is President Nielson now or Elder Nielson but I really don't care. They did all seem really excited about me taking over the leader ship but we'll have to just see what exactly happens.
I guess you could say, I'll need your prayers!
I think I'll leave it there,
I love you all!
Love,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Monday, August 22, 2011
58th week
Well Hello Everyone!
What a good week it has been. We had a baptism and we feel great! Vejai Purai was baptized this last Saturday and I attached photos to another email that Dad will be sending out. With that is a photo of the Branch. As you can see we are small in numbers but great in spirit. We had all of our active members there but two which was fantastic. Vejai was a great investigator and should be a great addition to the branch here. He loves the gospel and was so excited about it every step of the way. He is one where when he saw the gospel light he just went towards it and nothing could stop him. Nothing at all! He is getting the Aaronic Priesthood this next week and that will give us a Diaken(Deacon) and a Leerar(Teacher). We are pretty excited about it.
Also on Saturday was Zuster Seeta's 58 birthday! She is the only member in her family so we decided to go there and make her a treat to eat with her. We made a Jello No Bake (The oreo one) that we were able to buy at the local American Importer. I won't lie it was pretty good and I think Elder Bell and I ate the majority of it. Of course it didn't help that she ate a bit and then said it was too sweet for her to eat too much, I think a suger sickness or something. We saved some for her though and it was great.
A request for you all. Recently, we've been teaching and I've noticed that my own personal experiences are abit limited in nature and definitly not that very broad in some aspects of the gospel. (ZHV[Relief Society], Tiende[Tithing], or even the Word van Wijsheid [Word of Wisdom]) So I was hoping that if you wouldn't mind sharing if you would send me as many as possible spiritual experiences that you've had with different aspects of the gospel. A story about praying and receiving your answer would be great. Or about an experience with a priesthood blessing. Maybe, how you were able to serve someone else in the church. Anything and everything would be appreciated. For my own building upness or also to share. I'd espcially like stories of conversions that would be great. I'm roping my Dad into this without his knowldge so you can send them to me or to him and he'll compile them for me.
I send a few photos. The baptisms ones are pretty self explanatory and then there is one with two black children. The smallest is named Joel and the older one is Steven. Joel is just under two years and is amazing. He can't say full sentences yet but he loves to shoot the Elders and watch us play dead among many other things. I'm really glad I got that photo! Another one is of me and Elder Bell after we finished service by raking up that dead grass (I did most of the work for the record). The last of me just raking it up. We've had a good week.
Well I better end it here. I love you all and I wish you the best!
Love,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
What a good week it has been. We had a baptism and we feel great! Vejai Purai was baptized this last Saturday and I attached photos to another email that Dad will be sending out. With that is a photo of the Branch. As you can see we are small in numbers but great in spirit. We had all of our active members there but two which was fantastic. Vejai was a great investigator and should be a great addition to the branch here. He loves the gospel and was so excited about it every step of the way. He is one where when he saw the gospel light he just went towards it and nothing could stop him. Nothing at all! He is getting the Aaronic Priesthood this next week and that will give us a Diaken(Deacon) and a Leerar(Teacher). We are pretty excited about it.
Also on Saturday was Zuster Seeta's 58 birthday! She is the only member in her family so we decided to go there and make her a treat to eat with her. We made a Jello No Bake (The oreo one) that we were able to buy at the local American Importer. I won't lie it was pretty good and I think Elder Bell and I ate the majority of it. Of course it didn't help that she ate a bit and then said it was too sweet for her to eat too much, I think a suger sickness or something. We saved some for her though and it was great.
A request for you all. Recently, we've been teaching and I've noticed that my own personal experiences are abit limited in nature and definitly not that very broad in some aspects of the gospel. (ZHV[Relief Society], Tiende[Tithing], or even the Word van Wijsheid [Word of Wisdom]) So I was hoping that if you wouldn't mind sharing if you would send me as many as possible spiritual experiences that you've had with different aspects of the gospel. A story about praying and receiving your answer would be great. Or about an experience with a priesthood blessing. Maybe, how you were able to serve someone else in the church. Anything and everything would be appreciated. For my own building upness or also to share. I'd espcially like stories of conversions that would be great. I'm roping my Dad into this without his knowldge so you can send them to me or to him and he'll compile them for me.
I send a few photos. The baptisms ones are pretty self explanatory and then there is one with two black children. The smallest is named Joel and the older one is Steven. Joel is just under two years and is amazing. He can't say full sentences yet but he loves to shoot the Elders and watch us play dead among many other things. I'm really glad I got that photo! Another one is of me and Elder Bell after we finished service by raking up that dead grass (I did most of the work for the record). The last of me just raking it up. We've had a good week.
Well I better end it here. I love you all and I wish you the best!
Love,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
57th Week
Things were okay. Like I've said, Elder Bell was sick and so it was a no go for a good portion of the week. There really is nothing to do in a missionary apartment so I got pretty bored pretty quickly. I played the piano, sang, read, slept, ate, and just starred blankly at the wall. I'm so glad that is overwith and hopefully from now until whenever we'll just keep going going and going.
One cool thing that did happen. One Wednesday we had a leadership training over the computer take place. We all used this program called GoToMeeting. So we were all connected with eachother and could talk about certain things for the mission. We talked alot about House Meetings and studying. President Gamiette is putting a big focus on us having good spiritual studies every single day in order to have the power of God unto the convincing of men. It should be interesting how this is applied and works. Luckily for me it was pretty easier to distribute all the information to my district as my companion is the distict.
We've got a baptism this weekend that we are pretty excited about. It should go off without a hitch, knock on wood, he is just super solid and prepared it'll be great. Nickerie has no baptismal fonts so it'll be at the swimming pool which'll be intersting and if that doesn't work then we'll be at the Ocean or River. Pray for that. That would be cooler. The ward is the ward. Dysfunctional but what ward isn't? District presidency was supposed to come out this weekend to solve the problems but I guess they are now coming out in two weeks. Oh well I guess that just places the burden on Elder Bell and I. It is how it works sometimes.
You said I still needed to take care of my shoes? Is there still a good reason too? (*wink wink*) Either way the shoes are going well and my feet are staying together. Sounds like everyone is busy and I'm glad to hear that. Better busy then bored is what I say! Not a whole lot to say this week as well we didn't have a chance to do a whole lot :P
I love you all!
Elder Nathan John Nielson
ps That can be my family email I guess :P
Monday, August 8, 2011
56 th Week
Hello Family, Friends, and Strangers that also seem to receive this email,
What a week, what a week...
It started off pretty slow to be honest, about Wednesday or so there was a fear that the weekly goals were unattainable and we were shooting at a target we weren't supposed to hit. Then it all turned around and we were blessed. I loved it! I'm trying to think of some good stories to tell you all but really it was a week of hard work and praying. Ever since I've gotten to Nickerie the importance of prayer has been reinforced, reinforced, and then reinforced another time. Just a few days ago, we were talking about what lesson we needed to share with an inactive member of the branch. We prayed about it and the inspiration came to talk about Paul and his conversion and about how we all have certain "pricks" in our life that we need to stop kicking against. It worked wonderfully as we completely opened up to us and then committed to coming to church. Although he did then disappoint us by not showing up, we did our job and so it is his problem and not ours.
That is an important lesson to learn on your mission. Free agency. I started to hate free agency after my first little while in Suriname because it allows people to disappoint you. You commit them to coming to church, you pray for them, you fast for them, and then you sit there and they don't come. You cry, you get a little depressed, but ultimately you have to come to conclusion that you did your job and you couldn't have done anything more. When you reach that point you can receive a reassurance from Heavenly Father that you did indeed do it all. If you receive that then your burden is taken away in Christ.
We have one baptism coming up here in Nickerie on the 20th of August. The kid's name in Vejai (fa-jie). He is 14 years old but super prepared. The date was an inspired accident because I meant to say the 13th but I said the 20th. Why it was inspired is because we've had so much time to work with him, he will be the best prepared baptism I've had up to this point on my mission. We only have a few more things to teach that are required but now we'll have the time to go through lesson five (Priesthood, Temples, and the such) and a few other personal lessons to help him. He almost missed church on Sunday which would have rescheduled his baptism but we explained everything to him and he said, "I'm going to be in church then." Great faith on this one.
Overall I'm doing pretty well. We just keep going and keep trying to stay positive. Sometimes, sadly, it is a bit easy to get negative and depressed about the situation. I guess that is something where Elder Bell is important. He is super positive and keeps me going.
I love the mission and it is going great. I love you all and don't forget to write/email me! In case you are not aware anyone can email me that is allowed I just have to write you back. So email me or write me!
I love you all,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
What a week, what a week...
It started off pretty slow to be honest, about Wednesday or so there was a fear that the weekly goals were unattainable and we were shooting at a target we weren't supposed to hit. Then it all turned around and we were blessed. I loved it! I'm trying to think of some good stories to tell you all but really it was a week of hard work and praying. Ever since I've gotten to Nickerie the importance of prayer has been reinforced, reinforced, and then reinforced another time. Just a few days ago, we were talking about what lesson we needed to share with an inactive member of the branch. We prayed about it and the inspiration came to talk about Paul and his conversion and about how we all have certain "pricks" in our life that we need to stop kicking against. It worked wonderfully as we completely opened up to us and then committed to coming to church. Although he did then disappoint us by not showing up, we did our job and so it is his problem and not ours.
That is an important lesson to learn on your mission. Free agency. I started to hate free agency after my first little while in Suriname because it allows people to disappoint you. You commit them to coming to church, you pray for them, you fast for them, and then you sit there and they don't come. You cry, you get a little depressed, but ultimately you have to come to conclusion that you did your job and you couldn't have done anything more. When you reach that point you can receive a reassurance from Heavenly Father that you did indeed do it all. If you receive that then your burden is taken away in Christ.
We have one baptism coming up here in Nickerie on the 20th of August. The kid's name in Vejai (fa-jie). He is 14 years old but super prepared. The date was an inspired accident because I meant to say the 13th but I said the 20th. Why it was inspired is because we've had so much time to work with him, he will be the best prepared baptism I've had up to this point on my mission. We only have a few more things to teach that are required but now we'll have the time to go through lesson five (Priesthood, Temples, and the such) and a few other personal lessons to help him. He almost missed church on Sunday which would have rescheduled his baptism but we explained everything to him and he said, "I'm going to be in church then." Great faith on this one.
Overall I'm doing pretty well. We just keep going and keep trying to stay positive. Sometimes, sadly, it is a bit easy to get negative and depressed about the situation. I guess that is something where Elder Bell is important. He is super positive and keeps me going.
I love the mission and it is going great. I love you all and don't forget to write/email me! In case you are not aware anyone can email me that is allowed I just have to write you back. So email me or write me!
I love you all,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
55th week
Hello Family and Friends[(Some of which are more then just friends ;-)]
So big story of the week and the reason for the title:
About a month of ago, I got a package from my father with new shoes, a calendar, and maple syrup extract. I was in an area were I could not buy it and thus had needs of it from the States. Well, Í had used it the entire last transfer and made some more this last week on Tuesday. (Still have half a bottle). Randomly I look at the ingredients on the package and discover that it has 7% Alcohol in it. That is more then is legal in a bear in Utah (I think at the most it can only be 2%). I panicked a little to be honest and then set it aside. I've been breaking the word of wisdom for the last 7 weeks! Luckily, it was an honest mistake and Sister Jansen did tell me there is a good chance that all the Alcohol just cooked out. Either way though, any other missionaries out there or just anyone. Check your packages from my dad. He may be trying to get you to commit sin.
Other then that things are going, going, and not quiet gone! We had an intersting week. One investigator by the name of Veijai has now come to church twice and has prayed about the book of mormon. He says he feels like he's gotten an answer and he knows it is true. We are soo excited about him and I think he'll be baptized on the 20th of August. He is 14, but we are hoping to tag his family as well.
With that we also found another lost sheep of Nickerie. Í don't remember saying but we keep seeing the Lord's hand in our work. Everyone week we've found a random Less-active or past investigator through a wonderous way. This last week a lady was walking past the church after I had made a little bit of noise (long story don't ask) so I in an emberessed way so Hello you have a pretty dog to which she replied that is what Brother Roepers said too. Brother Roepers was a former missionary so we went and got her information. She is a lost sheep of the branch. Cool things happen to us sometimes.
Out of time.
I Love you all
Love
Elder Nathan John Nielson
So big story of the week and the reason for the title:
About a month of ago, I got a package from my father with new shoes, a calendar, and maple syrup extract. I was in an area were I could not buy it and thus had needs of it from the States. Well, Í had used it the entire last transfer and made some more this last week on Tuesday. (Still have half a bottle). Randomly I look at the ingredients on the package and discover that it has 7% Alcohol in it. That is more then is legal in a bear in Utah (I think at the most it can only be 2%). I panicked a little to be honest and then set it aside. I've been breaking the word of wisdom for the last 7 weeks! Luckily, it was an honest mistake and Sister Jansen did tell me there is a good chance that all the Alcohol just cooked out. Either way though, any other missionaries out there or just anyone. Check your packages from my dad. He may be trying to get you to commit sin.
Other then that things are going, going, and not quiet gone! We had an intersting week. One investigator by the name of Veijai has now come to church twice and has prayed about the book of mormon. He says he feels like he's gotten an answer and he knows it is true. We are soo excited about him and I think he'll be baptized on the 20th of August. He is 14, but we are hoping to tag his family as well.
With that we also found another lost sheep of Nickerie. Í don't remember saying but we keep seeing the Lord's hand in our work. Everyone week we've found a random Less-active or past investigator through a wonderous way. This last week a lady was walking past the church after I had made a little bit of noise (long story don't ask) so I in an emberessed way so Hello you have a pretty dog to which she replied that is what Brother Roepers said too. Brother Roepers was a former missionary so we went and got her information. She is a lost sheep of the branch. Cool things happen to us sometimes.
Out of time.
I Love you all
Love
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Monday, July 25, 2011
54th week
Hey Family!
Well well well its been another week. I don't have forever but I thought I'd share a few quick stories.
First - We saved a man's life...Maybe our own.. We pulled up to a stop-light at about 8pm and we still needed one more contact for the night. Well just happened, that there was another man there so I started to contact him. It wasn't successful in terms of numbers but we ended it with pleasantries just after the light turned green. Well just before we started to go again a man on a bromfiets (somewhere between a scooter and a motorcycle) sped through his red light. I didn't think about it but Elder Bell pointed it out that if we hadn't stopped and talked to the man and had left just as the light turned green one of the three of us probably would have gotten t-boned or that bromfietser would have crashed trying to avoid us. Funny thing there too is that we shouldn't have been on that street but a mistake lead us there. We both felt like the Lord was providing for us and keeping us safe.
Second - We had a great branch activity this last week. Elder Bell and I mostly organized it but we were just super stoked it went through. We had some fears about branch unity so we thought lets just have a good time together. So we all met up at the Sports Hall. Basically an indoor basketball arena and we played games (Basketball, Rugby) and had a lot of good food. It was a success as we had 38 people at the activity and we usually average only 10-15 people in church! I was pretty excited about it. Only bummer was when we were on the way we crossed through a field and somehow my bike locked up. So I went to the ground. As I was falling though my leg hit on my brand-new-sharp metal pedals and I got kind of cut. What a bummer! Oh well though, being the strong person I am, even with a bum leg I dominated Rugby (I'm bigger then everyone else besides Elder Bell by about 2x and faster too oddly enough) and scored all the points in our teams dominating defeat of Elder Bell's by 3.
Third - We celebrated Pioneers Day this last week by eating pizza. Recognizing that neither of us have Italian blood we though we would celebrate that too often forgotten people. So we bought frozen pizza and cooked them and "celebrated." Sadly, the "American" style pizza we bought was more like a cracker with cheese on it, but it was a change of pace none the less
As you can see things are going okay here. We lost all of our baptismal dates on Sunday because no one came to church but that's okay. We are working forward with faith. Sometimes we find ourselves in the midst of the mist of darkness in Lehi's Vision. We have but two choices. Turn around and be lost or hold fast to the iron rod(Word of God) and keep going. I've been trying really hard to when in doubt choose faith. It has been going great and I exhort you to do the same.!
Oh and we got our transfer calls. They officially kept us where we were Elder Bell and I so also made us a district. A district of two! Funny enough if you have a district then it has to be in a zone otherwise you could call yourself Zone Leaders... Either way you also have to have District Leader! You can guess where this is going. I think President just did this so I can't call myself a zone leader but it is what is is. We will petition for Zone Leaders next transfer if we are both still in Nickerie. (Just kidding about that kind of). This might mean I get to go to trainings in Trinidad this transfer and that would really cool.
Either way,
I love you all!
Love,
Elder Nathan John
Sunday, July 17, 2011
53rd week
Hello ya'll!
I've gotten really bad at time management again! My bad! Either way quick family email.
1st: We had Zone Conference in the city with President Gamiette. It was amazing. We talked a lot about faith and becoming better missionaries. I think everyone learned a lot and it was just absolutely fantastic.
2nd: On Saturday when we got back we taught a lesson to a man named Fraiser. We invited him to church he accepted, we invited him to be baptized and after thinking about it for a second he said, "Yes, what do I have to do?" Greatest response ever. We are super excited about him especially because he was in church yesterday.
3rd: We followed that up yesterday with another great lesson and baptismal commitment. President really wants us to challenge people to baptism on the first lesson. It is difficult and can be slightly scary, but I choose faith over fear. It has been great challenging people. If they don't accept it then it is, "Fine thank you! Have a great day." We don't lose time with them but instead move onto those people that are prepared and willing. We are on fire.
Things are going great. I love it here and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else besides a room with an air-conditioner(we are literally on fire).
Love you all!
Elder Nathan John Nielson
I've gotten really bad at time management again! My bad! Either way quick family email.
1st: We had Zone Conference in the city with President Gamiette. It was amazing. We talked a lot about faith and becoming better missionaries. I think everyone learned a lot and it was just absolutely fantastic.
2nd: On Saturday when we got back we taught a lesson to a man named Fraiser. We invited him to church he accepted, we invited him to be baptized and after thinking about it for a second he said, "Yes, what do I have to do?" Greatest response ever. We are super excited about him especially because he was in church yesterday.
3rd: We followed that up yesterday with another great lesson and baptismal commitment. President really wants us to challenge people to baptism on the first lesson. It is difficult and can be slightly scary, but I choose faith over fear. It has been great challenging people. If they don't accept it then it is, "Fine thank you! Have a great day." We don't lose time with them but instead move onto those people that are prepared and willing. We are on fire.
Things are going great. I love it here and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else besides a room with an air-conditioner(we are literally on fire).
Love you all!
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Monday, July 4, 2011
52nd Week
Happy Birthday America!
Hello to the rest of you too!
So imagine this, you are sitting in a tropical country on the fourth of July and no one else seems to care that is around you besides the only other white person you've seen today, your companion. Bummer right? Well either way, because America is so awesome, Elder Bell and I sang all the patriotic hymns in the English Hymn Book this morning and we are planning on buying hamburgers and cooking them at home. Not sure what else to do because we are not allowed to handle fireworks.... Oh well it'll be fun! I need a good America tie by the way to anyone that is sending me a random package. Or just more ties. If you send one though you should write your name(s) on the back and then I can show people who sent it to me!
We are doing really great right now. The Lord has been directing the work and it has been awesome. Never before have I seen so many people stop the Elders randomly to ask us when we are coming. A less-active that had moved so we thought we couldn't find him, another Less-active that had lost contact with the branch, two past investigators that seem eager to be baptized. The Lord truely knows who he wants in the Church and it is our job not to screw it up! Luckily we are promised in the Leer and Verbonden (Doctrine and Convenants) that we can't mess it up. Makes you eager to keep working knowing you can't make too much of a messs. My favoriate example of this is Fraiser. Fraiser was a random referral from someone who just said, "Try that house but they aren't home yet." We came back to discover a man that would have been baptized but needed to get married and then got married but the Elders had already been withdrawn from the area. Hopefully we can help him progress and be baptized. I'm looking forward to it for sure.
Zone Conference is this Thrusday. That means that Elder Bell and I have to take the Taxi for three hours Wednesday night to make it to such an event. We kind of live far from everyone else. Either way though... Théy've asked us to present and I'm pretty excited about it. We are talking about extending baptismal inventations on the first contact. Should be great.
Well I better leave it there. I love you all!
Elder Nathan John Nielson
PO BOX 2932
Paramaribo Suriname
South American
ps. Just in case ya'll forgot.
Hello to the rest of you too!
So imagine this, you are sitting in a tropical country on the fourth of July and no one else seems to care that is around you besides the only other white person you've seen today, your companion. Bummer right? Well either way, because America is so awesome, Elder Bell and I sang all the patriotic hymns in the English Hymn Book this morning and we are planning on buying hamburgers and cooking them at home. Not sure what else to do because we are not allowed to handle fireworks.... Oh well it'll be fun! I need a good America tie by the way to anyone that is sending me a random package. Or just more ties. If you send one though you should write your name(s) on the back and then I can show people who sent it to me!
We are doing really great right now. The Lord has been directing the work and it has been awesome. Never before have I seen so many people stop the Elders randomly to ask us when we are coming. A less-active that had moved so we thought we couldn't find him, another Less-active that had lost contact with the branch, two past investigators that seem eager to be baptized. The Lord truely knows who he wants in the Church and it is our job not to screw it up! Luckily we are promised in the Leer and Verbonden (Doctrine and Convenants) that we can't mess it up. Makes you eager to keep working knowing you can't make too much of a messs. My favoriate example of this is Fraiser. Fraiser was a random referral from someone who just said, "Try that house but they aren't home yet." We came back to discover a man that would have been baptized but needed to get married and then got married but the Elders had already been withdrawn from the area. Hopefully we can help him progress and be baptized. I'm looking forward to it for sure.
Zone Conference is this Thrusday. That means that Elder Bell and I have to take the Taxi for three hours Wednesday night to make it to such an event. We kind of live far from everyone else. Either way though... Théy've asked us to present and I'm pretty excited about it. We are talking about extending baptismal inventations on the first contact. Should be great.
Well I better leave it there. I love you all!
Elder Nathan John Nielson
PO BOX 2932
Paramaribo Suriname
South American
ps. Just in case ya'll forgot.
Monday, June 27, 2011
51 st Week
Hello Sir or Lady,
The past week was actually just a lot of work and not a whole lot to tell about. The Elder Nathan John Nielson is doing well. He is exercise daily by running at 5:30 in the morning and doing pushups throughout the day. He has been really busy and we've found some pretty decent investigators but still have a lot of work to do.
He loves you all,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Monday, June 20, 2011
50th week
Hello Family!
How are you all doing? I hope well. I won't get any mail til the Zone Leaders come from Paramaribo later this week but I'm expecting a lot so it should be a good time right? Either way, I love you no matter what happens!
Nickerie (Nick-ear-ree) has been a lot of fun. It has been great seeing all new people everywhere you go. Sometimes I get lost in the awesomeness of it all and it has been a good time. The members of the branch have missed the elders though as the area has been closed for about 10 months. There are currently 7 active members out of a possible 70 or so. They've been so excited to see us that they've taken good care of us. In fact when we got here we had four investigators that the branch had already found for us. Can't hate that. My favorite member of the Branch is President Fisher, branch president. He is bold. We were at a less active's house who has moved in with his girlfriend and now the girlfriend wants to get baptized. So while we are siting there President Fisher says, "This is Bryan Patterson and his concubine." Yes, he called her a concubine to her face and then did it again and again at another appointment. Man is bold! He is also busy organize a Men's Choir and has decide I will play the piano in it. Yes I'm going to be playing the piano next sacrement meeting. It works out though as we have a keyboard in our apartment so I practice 30 minutes before we study everyday and 30 minutes before bed.
On that note we've been exercising as well. We do what is called prayer pushups. So before and after each prayer for example I do 10 pushups. Multiply that by 7-8 times and that is some 140-160 pushups a day. We are also going to start running this next week which should be a good time. Hopefully when I go back to Paramaribo from Nickerie I'll only be more attractive then I am now. Don't worry I'm still humble as well.
Other then that we've been working hard and trying to be efficient. Things have been great and I'm doing great as well!
I love you all,
Love
Elder Nathan
How are you all doing? I hope well. I won't get any mail til the Zone Leaders come from Paramaribo later this week but I'm expecting a lot so it should be a good time right? Either way, I love you no matter what happens!
Nickerie (Nick-ear-ree) has been a lot of fun. It has been great seeing all new people everywhere you go. Sometimes I get lost in the awesomeness of it all and it has been a good time. The members of the branch have missed the elders though as the area has been closed for about 10 months. There are currently 7 active members out of a possible 70 or so. They've been so excited to see us that they've taken good care of us. In fact when we got here we had four investigators that the branch had already found for us. Can't hate that. My favorite member of the Branch is President Fisher, branch president. He is bold. We were at a less active's house who has moved in with his girlfriend and now the girlfriend wants to get baptized. So while we are siting there President Fisher says, "This is Bryan Patterson and his concubine." Yes, he called her a concubine to her face and then did it again and again at another appointment. Man is bold! He is also busy organize a Men's Choir and has decide I will play the piano in it. Yes I'm going to be playing the piano next sacrement meeting. It works out though as we have a keyboard in our apartment so I practice 30 minutes before we study everyday and 30 minutes before bed.
On that note we've been exercising as well. We do what is called prayer pushups. So before and after each prayer for example I do 10 pushups. Multiply that by 7-8 times and that is some 140-160 pushups a day. We are also going to start running this next week which should be a good time. Hopefully when I go back to Paramaribo from Nickerie I'll only be more attractive then I am now. Don't worry I'm still humble as well.
Other then that we've been working hard and trying to be efficient. Things have been great and I'm doing great as well!
I love you all,
Love
Elder Nathan
Monday, June 13, 2011
49th Week
Hello Everyone!
You wouldn't believe it but I'm leaving Koewarasan! I've been there for five transfers or 7 1/2 Months but now I'm leaving! I'm now sitting in Nickrie Suriname! It is the same post address so don't worry about that but it is a pretty exciting change. Nickrie has a very small branch, two priesthood holders, and had missionaries here but not since about this time last year. So Elder Bell, the second largest elder in the zone, and I, the largest elder in the zone, will be reopening this area with a lot of work ahead of us!
We have a few investigators because of the branch president and one other strong member family but I'm super excited about how this is going to work out! Apparently with my limited piano skills, I started to relearn how to play this last transfer, I'll be the branch piano player so if anyone has any learn the piano super fast books feel free to send them my way. We drove out this morning with no apartment set up, no appointments set up, and really no idea what we are going to do besides just working as hard as we possibly can. We now have an apartment but still nothing in terms of the other things. Like I said, we are super excited with a lot of faith, dedication, and eagerness so it can only work out for the good.
Other news my companion got bit by a dog this last week! On Wednesday we were just finished talking to a young boy when I turned around and then heard a growling sound. When I looked back there was a dog attached to my companion's foot and he was trying to kick the beast. Well as soon as we got away from it we checked out the wound to see that the dog had bit him the toe and more specifically on the toenail. Not a major wound but we went to the doctor anyways. Well guess what! The toenail had to be cut off and removed! I felt so bad for him but I guess that is how it works out sometimes right? Don't worry though I took care of him and he is ready to go. He is staying in the area I was in and Elder Lundgren will be working with him my old MTC companion. Should be good for the area. I'll miss it but I'm really excited.
Things are going really well for me. No dog bites or anything else and I'm just working working working! I love you all and I wish you the best!
Love,
Elder
You wouldn't believe it but I'm leaving Koewarasan! I've been there for five transfers or 7 1/2 Months but now I'm leaving! I'm now sitting in Nickrie Suriname! It is the same post address so don't worry about that but it is a pretty exciting change. Nickrie has a very small branch, two priesthood holders, and had missionaries here but not since about this time last year. So Elder Bell, the second largest elder in the zone, and I, the largest elder in the zone, will be reopening this area with a lot of work ahead of us!
We have a few investigators because of the branch president and one other strong member family but I'm super excited about how this is going to work out! Apparently with my limited piano skills, I started to relearn how to play this last transfer, I'll be the branch piano player so if anyone has any learn the piano super fast books feel free to send them my way. We drove out this morning with no apartment set up, no appointments set up, and really no idea what we are going to do besides just working as hard as we possibly can. We now have an apartment but still nothing in terms of the other things. Like I said, we are super excited with a lot of faith, dedication, and eagerness so it can only work out for the good.
Other news my companion got bit by a dog this last week! On Wednesday we were just finished talking to a young boy when I turned around and then heard a growling sound. When I looked back there was a dog attached to my companion's foot and he was trying to kick the beast. Well as soon as we got away from it we checked out the wound to see that the dog had bit him the toe and more specifically on the toenail. Not a major wound but we went to the doctor anyways. Well guess what! The toenail had to be cut off and removed! I felt so bad for him but I guess that is how it works out sometimes right? Don't worry though I took care of him and he is ready to go. He is staying in the area I was in and Elder Lundgren will be working with him my old MTC companion. Should be good for the area. I'll miss it but I'm really excited.
Things are going really well for me. No dog bites or anything else and I'm just working working working! I love you all and I wish you the best!
Love,
Elder
48th Week
don't have a lot of time but I'm going to make due!
I just sent a bunch of pictures (five) to Dad and I'm sure he'll forward those that. They are of the rain outside our apartment and then two pieces of zwerver (homeless) art that I've been collecting. I don't want people to think I'm trunkie so I don't buy souvenirs from stores just art from homeless people. The first is the shield looking thing which I'm not sure what it is supposed to be but it made my day to buy it. The second is a piece of artwork that a man made for me on the street. He took a piece of siding cleaned it off and then with his fingers painted that. It took about five minutes to make it. I really like it a lot and it only cost me 10 SRD (3 USD). It was well worth it.
Other than that things are going pretty well. We've been super wet and I love you all.
Love you,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
I just sent a bunch of pictures (five) to Dad and I'm sure he'll forward those that. They are of the rain outside our apartment and then two pieces of zwerver (homeless) art that I've been collecting. I don't want people to think I'm trunkie so I don't buy souvenirs from stores just art from homeless people. The first is the shield looking thing which I'm not sure what it is supposed to be but it made my day to buy it. The second is a piece of artwork that a man made for me on the street. He took a piece of siding cleaned it off and then with his fingers painted that. It took about five minutes to make it. I really like it a lot and it only cost me 10 SRD (3 USD). It was well worth it.
Other than that things are going pretty well. We've been super wet and I love you all.
Love you,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
47th Week
Nielson, John to jnielsonfamily
show details May 30
We just had the baptism and it went pretty well. The investigator kind of spazzed out just before he was baptized in the water. So the baptizer kind of had to throw him into the water to get him wet but it works right? We gave an awesome testimony in Srnantongo so I didn't completely understand it but the spirit was strong and you could feel the sincerity it was awesome. He was confirmed on Sunday with no problems so everything was good to go.
I had a member give me a cookbook for Suriname food. I'm pretty excited to start trying it. I guess it'll help me eat a bit healthier. It is difficult to eat like a healthy American so I guess I better just eat like a healthy Surinamer. At least then I can get everything right? Can't beat em? Join em.
I do really love Suriname. I've been in the same area for a while but it has been great. I know it really well but it makes the member relationships awesome and I don't know I feel like one of them which is kind of cool. They all come to me when they need help or clarification so I'm kind of the Assistant to the Branch President. I just make sure I'm not usurping his power and I think it is okay.
Love,
Elder Nathan
46th Week
Hey Family and Friends!
Like the rest of you, I received and email from my father last week
saying that I was poor at managing my time and I thought that bum! So
I thought I'd set the record straight and make sure I emailed you this
time.
We have been super busy and super wet this last week. I think it
rained just about every single day and it waited everyday until we
were outside and far away from shelter. I guess that isn't a problem
as I keep getting reminded that my future wife will become beutiful
because of this. Hopefully that is true because you have no idea how
wet we get sometimes... No idea at all. The best is when you go out in
the morning and the humidity is so sufficating that you just want to
die. Then you ride anyways and you look to the North East (Where the
rain comes in this area) and there are the dark-scary storm clouds.
Then you know it is over and you might as well give up. Either way, I
always seem to enjoy it nonetheless and usually we are not cold just
wet so I guess that is a plus right? I'd rather be wet then cold.
We have a baptism coming up with next week and we are pretty excited
about it. It'll be on the 28th of May if everything goes through and
we just have a bit more to teach and then the interview on
Thursday/Friday. If that all goes as planned then you'l have photos
next week of our success! By our, I, of course, mean the Lord's
success. We just come along for the ride.
Other then that there is a big push to find new investigators because
when you baptism someone you can't count them as an investigator
anymore they become a member. Hopefully we'll have some success there
as we really only have one person, Aaron, in our teaching pool and we
baptism him this Saturday.
I'm glad to hear that you all surived May 21st. I don't know if that
was a big deal in America but it was huge in Suriname. Just about
everyone we spoke to asked us what was going to happen and what they
had to do to prepare themselves for the end of the world. Of course,
we said baptism and then they told us they didn't think the world
would end. It was good because people would listen to us but bad
because people took it a bit far. We even had one member want to open
the church on the 20th of May to have a prayer group to prepare. We
put the kabash on that.
Things are going pretty well and I love being here. Suriname is fun
and the people are fantastic. Nederlands gaat goed. Ik ben niet de
best, maar ik mijn best doet. Ik houd van jullie en elke avond ik voor
jullie bid. Ik hoop alles goes is en dat God jullie zullen helpen.
Love you all!
Elder Nathan John Nielson
De Kerk van Jezus Christus van de Heiligen der Laaste Dagen.
Like the rest of you, I received and email from my father last week
saying that I was poor at managing my time and I thought that bum! So
I thought I'd set the record straight and make sure I emailed you this
time.
We have been super busy and super wet this last week. I think it
rained just about every single day and it waited everyday until we
were outside and far away from shelter. I guess that isn't a problem
as I keep getting reminded that my future wife will become beutiful
because of this. Hopefully that is true because you have no idea how
wet we get sometimes... No idea at all. The best is when you go out in
the morning and the humidity is so sufficating that you just want to
die. Then you ride anyways and you look to the North East (Where the
rain comes in this area) and there are the dark-scary storm clouds.
Then you know it is over and you might as well give up. Either way, I
always seem to enjoy it nonetheless and usually we are not cold just
wet so I guess that is a plus right? I'd rather be wet then cold.
We have a baptism coming up with next week and we are pretty excited
about it. It'll be on the 28th of May if everything goes through and
we just have a bit more to teach and then the interview on
Thursday/Friday. If that all goes as planned then you'l have photos
next week of our success! By our, I, of course, mean the Lord's
success. We just come along for the ride.
Other then that there is a big push to find new investigators because
when you baptism someone you can't count them as an investigator
anymore they become a member. Hopefully we'll have some success there
as we really only have one person, Aaron, in our teaching pool and we
baptism him this Saturday.
I'm glad to hear that you all surived May 21st. I don't know if that
was a big deal in America but it was huge in Suriname. Just about
everyone we spoke to asked us what was going to happen and what they
had to do to prepare themselves for the end of the world. Of course,
we said baptism and then they told us they didn't think the world
would end. It was good because people would listen to us but bad
because people took it a bit far. We even had one member want to open
the church on the 20th of May to have a prayer group to prepare. We
put the kabash on that.
Things are going pretty well and I love being here. Suriname is fun
and the people are fantastic. Nederlands gaat goed. Ik ben niet de
best, maar ik mijn best doet. Ik houd van jullie en elke avond ik voor
jullie bid. Ik hoop alles goes is en dat God jullie zullen helpen.
Love you all!
Elder Nathan John Nielson
De Kerk van Jezus Christus van de Heiligen der Laaste Dagen.
44th Week
I don't know what to say, we had just another busy work week. We worked hard the entire week and still haven't been to successful in converting anyone from the New Investigators to the Progressing Investigators section of our key indicators. I think a big deal there is we need to improve our skills. We are working hard, efficiently, and well but a lack of success in my mind means we need to improve our abilities and continue to rely on the Lord.
I don't know what else to say. I do love this work. It is an amazing experience that I'm glad I didn't lose or give up. I do agree with you though about what you said last night. Elder Roepers told me one night, we were on exchanges, that he is so glad for his mission because he's learned so much about living with someone and working with someone in a relationship similar to marriage that if he had to learn this in marriage who knows what would have happened. Although I don't know for sure yet, I'd have to agree with that assessment. A mission I'm starting to learn is 100% for the Lord,100% For you, and 100% for the people that will have to interact with you in the future. It just helps everyone.
--
I don't know what else to say. I do love this work. It is an amazing experience that I'm glad I didn't lose or give up. I do agree with you though about what you said last night. Elder Roepers told me one night, we were on exchanges, that he is so glad for his mission because he's learned so much about living with someone and working with someone in a relationship similar to marriage that if he had to learn this in marriage who knows what would have happened. Although I don't know for sure yet, I'd have to agree with that assessment. A mission I'm starting to learn is 100% for the Lord,100% For you, and 100% for the people that will have to interact with you in the future. It just helps everyone.
--
Monday, May 2, 2011
43rd Week
Hey Dad and Family!
Suriname is doing great. We are just chugging along like a chu-chu train! That is what I told my President this last Saturday and then felt a bit silly as I also did the hand motions that go along with a chu-chu train. We are basically holding the same temperature like we always do but we actually just got rain yesterday and today. Of course though it didn't start to rain until we were out in it. Oh well! Such is life in the West Indies.
We currently have no investigators as we've baptized them all now. This last saturday, see photos sent in another email, we had the chance to have two investigators, a nine-year old child of record and a 14 year old, be baptized. It was fantastic. That makes three investgators this transfer and that is really good for an area that doesn't baptize a ton. We've just gotta find some more investigators and then we'll be good to go. I will be staying in Koewarasan for another transfer which will make it my fifth in a row or 7 1/2 months. That is okay as I really love the area and the branch but it is a long time without a steady streat of spagetti sauce. I do my best though by convincing other Elders to bring it too me.
Other then that all is pretty well. Sorry for the short email.
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Suriname is doing great. We are just chugging along like a chu-chu train! That is what I told my President this last Saturday and then felt a bit silly as I also did the hand motions that go along with a chu-chu train. We are basically holding the same temperature like we always do but we actually just got rain yesterday and today. Of course though it didn't start to rain until we were out in it. Oh well! Such is life in the West Indies.
We currently have no investigators as we've baptized them all now. This last saturday, see photos sent in another email, we had the chance to have two investigators, a nine-year old child of record and a 14 year old, be baptized. It was fantastic. That makes three investgators this transfer and that is really good for an area that doesn't baptize a ton. We've just gotta find some more investigators and then we'll be good to go. I will be staying in Koewarasan for another transfer which will make it my fifth in a row or 7 1/2 months. That is okay as I really love the area and the branch but it is a long time without a steady streat of spagetti sauce. I do my best though by convincing other Elders to bring it too me.
Other then that all is pretty well. Sorry for the short email.
Elder Nathan John Nielson
42nd Week
Once again, Nathan ran out of computer time prior to getting a message to the family. He is doing well. Transfers are this Friday/Sat so we will know next week if he is staying or going but he will not be going far as there are only 18 Dutch missionaries in the mission and they are all in Suriname.
John
John
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
41st Week
What a wild week to say the least. In the West Indies Mission, President Gameitte has established a few standards that we wants us to achieve this standards include things such as 10 member lessons per week, 7 referrals received and contacted, 10 new investigators, and 10 lessons with less active or recent converts. Most times we are unable to reach the standard in all of these categories because of time constraints or an inability to find member lessons or whatever. This past week Elder Freeman and I were able to reach and surpass the standard in just about ever category. This means we worked hard I think then we have in a long time. It was awesome on Sunday to get together and do planning and notice that we met them all. We were the only companionship in the Zone to do it this week. Cool huh? When I saw the Zone numbers it was cool to say hey, we got a fifth of all the member lessons for the zone and such.
Other then that it was a pretty good week. Nothing to exciting happened. No one in the Zone has received mail in three weeks. Saying this we just found out the Zone leaders haven't checked the mailbox in a while and the Jansens weren't able to do it either. Which probably means everyone has mail sitting for us in the city. Oh well! We have a zone meeting tomorrow morning in the City so hopefully we'll be able to get our mail. I'm hoping I have something. So I guess I'm assuming you all still love me, right? I know you do! The Jansens are actually no long in Suriname as Elder Jansen need to get his gallbladder removed. They didn't want the surgery done here in Suriname when they could fly back to Nederland. That really builds confidence in the Suriname Medical System right? From what I've heard they have two different hospitals a public one and the private one. Supposibly from what I understand we usually go to the private one. It is suppose to have better care and they like white people better there?
I don't have too much say today actually so I guess I'll just leave it there. Don't have my camera with me or I'd send pictures home. I love you all and I pray for you nightly. I hope you are doing the same for me!
Love
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Other then that it was a pretty good week. Nothing to exciting happened. No one in the Zone has received mail in three weeks. Saying this we just found out the Zone leaders haven't checked the mailbox in a while and the Jansens weren't able to do it either. Which probably means everyone has mail sitting for us in the city. Oh well! We have a zone meeting tomorrow morning in the City so hopefully we'll be able to get our mail. I'm hoping I have something. So I guess I'm assuming you all still love me, right? I know you do! The Jansens are actually no long in Suriname as Elder Jansen need to get his gallbladder removed. They didn't want the surgery done here in Suriname when they could fly back to Nederland. That really builds confidence in the Suriname Medical System right? From what I've heard they have two different hospitals a public one and the private one. Supposibly from what I understand we usually go to the private one. It is suppose to have better care and they like white people better there?
I don't have too much say today actually so I guess I'll just leave it there. Don't have my camera with me or I'd send pictures home. I love you all and I pray for you nightly. I hope you are doing the same for me!
Love
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Monday, April 4, 2011
40th Week
The highlights of this week include:
Getting the opportunity to slaughter a Duck as service for a family. This family has a town of animals but they refuse to eat things they kill. I guess they can't handle it? So they called Elder Freeman and I and ask if we'd come to serve them. We said sure. Then we found out what we had to do. I'm proud to say I was able to do it. I'll said pictures next week because I forget to bring my camera this week. We killed it and cleaned it. Unfortunately, we were not able to eat it but maybe next time? They want us to slaughter the pigs next. I guess with pigs you hit them in the head with a hammer first and then cut their throats. Not sure how I feel about that one.
We got to eat Boomkip! Boomkip for those who are not aware is literally translated as Tree Chicken or iguana. It actually was quite good. They only problem is the family used way too much pepper so I was crying and couldn't really taste it. Hopefully, I'll get another chance as I really really want to be able to like this. Because if I like it and can cook it, then I can always get it through the local Pets Smart! Just kidding, maybe.
Third highlight is not about animals but rather about conference. I can safely say that I absolutely loved conference. I felt all five sessions were wonderfully woven together and were inspired of God. I can name a favorite toesprak or session but I love them all. A few that stuck out to me: Elder Cook's talk about womanhood, powerful and needed here in Suriname a lot. There are a lot of old traditions about the place of woman here that need to be correct even amongst our leadership in the district. Elder Scott's talk about love between Husbands and Wives. Every single elder I think got a bit trunky from this talk. I know on they way back quite a few said, "Well my plans are changed, I want to be married soon after my mission." It was interesting to reflect on what he said and what I've seen here in Suriname and at home amongst couples. President Uchtdorf's talk about sharing the gospel. I guess a missionary standard reposes his required here. Just do it. President Monson's talk on the Temple. Fantastic! Our membership here needs a greater desire to attend the temple. In my branch we have only two familys that are endowed and in all of Suriname we have only 4 children have been born in the convenat. All coming from two families. Suriname can do better there. I also just loved conference over all I can't wait to get the conference additions and reread the talks.
Fourth highlight, I was in the shoe store today and asked if they had shoes in my size. They just laughed at me.
Our investigators are about the same we need to drop quite a few and do better but I guess that is how it works. Overall I'm doing good but out of time. I love you all.
Love,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Getting the opportunity to slaughter a Duck as service for a family. This family has a town of animals but they refuse to eat things they kill. I guess they can't handle it? So they called Elder Freeman and I and ask if we'd come to serve them. We said sure. Then we found out what we had to do. I'm proud to say I was able to do it. I'll said pictures next week because I forget to bring my camera this week. We killed it and cleaned it. Unfortunately, we were not able to eat it but maybe next time? They want us to slaughter the pigs next. I guess with pigs you hit them in the head with a hammer first and then cut their throats. Not sure how I feel about that one.
We got to eat Boomkip! Boomkip for those who are not aware is literally translated as Tree Chicken or iguana. It actually was quite good. They only problem is the family used way too much pepper so I was crying and couldn't really taste it. Hopefully, I'll get another chance as I really really want to be able to like this. Because if I like it and can cook it, then I can always get it through the local Pets Smart! Just kidding, maybe.
Third highlight is not about animals but rather about conference. I can safely say that I absolutely loved conference. I felt all five sessions were wonderfully woven together and were inspired of God. I can name a favorite toesprak or session but I love them all. A few that stuck out to me: Elder Cook's talk about womanhood, powerful and needed here in Suriname a lot. There are a lot of old traditions about the place of woman here that need to be correct even amongst our leadership in the district. Elder Scott's talk about love between Husbands and Wives. Every single elder I think got a bit trunky from this talk. I know on they way back quite a few said, "Well my plans are changed, I want to be married soon after my mission." It was interesting to reflect on what he said and what I've seen here in Suriname and at home amongst couples. President Uchtdorf's talk about sharing the gospel. I guess a missionary standard reposes his required here. Just do it. President Monson's talk on the Temple. Fantastic! Our membership here needs a greater desire to attend the temple. In my branch we have only two familys that are endowed and in all of Suriname we have only 4 children have been born in the convenat. All coming from two families. Suriname can do better there. I also just loved conference over all I can't wait to get the conference additions and reread the talks.
Fourth highlight, I was in the shoe store today and asked if they had shoes in my size. They just laughed at me.
Our investigators are about the same we need to drop quite a few and do better but I guess that is how it works. Overall I'm doing good but out of time. I love you all.
Love,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Monday, March 28, 2011
39th Week
It has been quite the week to say the least. We started at a high, hit a low and I think we mostly ended on a medium. What to say what to say....
Well to start off with lets go through the investigators...
Sandy - Baptized! It all work out in the end and we were able to baptism Sandy this weekend on Saturday at 8am in the morning. As you can see from the attached photo (Number 1). I actually got to baptize her in the end. It was a great experience and although I would have preferred a member did it, I won't lie I did enjoy it. She was then in Church on Sunday as well and she is the newest member of the Koewarasan Branch of the Paramaribo District of the West Indies Mission. It was a great service and although it was at 8am in the morning it was well worth it to say the least.
Jalisa - Is the daughter of our branch president, who is not married. Apperently this is what happens when you live in the frontier of the church and your branch president has only been a member of the church for two years. Oh well! She is making progress and read for the last week straight. We were going to baptism her between sessions but felt that it would be too soon so we've pushed it back a week to the 9th of April. I think it'll go through though so we are pretty excited about that.
Yolanda - Yoland is a 60 year older black lady who is super sweet. When we told her we couldn't come in because there wasn't a third man she just laughed and kept saying, "but I could be your mother!" She still doesn't get the rule but I'm okay with that to a degree. We just do our best. She has been in French Guiana for the last three weeks so hopefully she'll be back this week and we can pick up with here where we left off. I think she'll be baptized.
Garciana - Is probably around 43 and is also black. She is a lot of fun as she is really smart and that makes teaching a 100% easier! Gotta love that right? Problem is she was offended in church because she is a teacher and apperently uses a lot of sick days to do personal things. Just like our branch president used to do but then lectured the entire sacrement meeting people and said you are not supposed to do that. The wicked take the things of rightousness hard right? She's also been sick but I'm starting to think she is just brushing us off. We'll check up with her soon. No one gets away from Elder Nielson that easy!
Curtis - We are planning on teaching a drop lesson with him. He's been super busy and hasn't been able to meet with us. I'm hoping that if we are straight up with him he'll decide to do the right think... Baptism.
Camaron - Drop lesson here as well kind of the same story.
Rakish - Drop lesson here as well kind of the same story.
Mohinder Santokei - Drop lesson here as well kind of the same story.
As you can probably see we need some new investigators right?
Other then that I'm doing pretty well. We were at the senior couples house today for lunch and I got to weigh myself again. I have official joined the 50lbs lost club as I am now weighing in at 249.5. I think you'll be able to notice that in the pictures as well. Other then that I don't need anything but prayers and support. I'm pretty happy and things are just going peachy.
Love
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Well to start off with lets go through the investigators...
Sandy - Baptized! It all work out in the end and we were able to baptism Sandy this weekend on Saturday at 8am in the morning. As you can see from the attached photo (Number 1). I actually got to baptize her in the end. It was a great experience and although I would have preferred a member did it, I won't lie I did enjoy it. She was then in Church on Sunday as well and she is the newest member of the Koewarasan Branch of the Paramaribo District of the West Indies Mission. It was a great service and although it was at 8am in the morning it was well worth it to say the least.
Jalisa - Is the daughter of our branch president, who is not married. Apperently this is what happens when you live in the frontier of the church and your branch president has only been a member of the church for two years. Oh well! She is making progress and read for the last week straight. We were going to baptism her between sessions but felt that it would be too soon so we've pushed it back a week to the 9th of April. I think it'll go through though so we are pretty excited about that.
Yolanda - Yoland is a 60 year older black lady who is super sweet. When we told her we couldn't come in because there wasn't a third man she just laughed and kept saying, "but I could be your mother!" She still doesn't get the rule but I'm okay with that to a degree. We just do our best. She has been in French Guiana for the last three weeks so hopefully she'll be back this week and we can pick up with here where we left off. I think she'll be baptized.
Garciana - Is probably around 43 and is also black. She is a lot of fun as she is really smart and that makes teaching a 100% easier! Gotta love that right? Problem is she was offended in church because she is a teacher and apperently uses a lot of sick days to do personal things. Just like our branch president used to do but then lectured the entire sacrement meeting people and said you are not supposed to do that. The wicked take the things of rightousness hard right? She's also been sick but I'm starting to think she is just brushing us off. We'll check up with her soon. No one gets away from Elder Nielson that easy!
Curtis - We are planning on teaching a drop lesson with him. He's been super busy and hasn't been able to meet with us. I'm hoping that if we are straight up with him he'll decide to do the right think... Baptism.
Camaron - Drop lesson here as well kind of the same story.
Rakish - Drop lesson here as well kind of the same story.
Mohinder Santokei - Drop lesson here as well kind of the same story.
As you can probably see we need some new investigators right?
Other then that I'm doing pretty well. We were at the senior couples house today for lunch and I got to weigh myself again. I have official joined the 50lbs lost club as I am now weighing in at 249.5. I think you'll be able to notice that in the pictures as well. Other then that I don't need anything but prayers and support. I'm pretty happy and things are just going peachy.
Love
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Monday, March 21, 2011
38th Week
It is going pretty well. We are now sitting on the Elder side of Transfers. Woo! Won't lie I'm not really going to miss Elder Wehl too much but he'll only really be gone for three months. Then he'll be released and we'll see him around the town. He is a good Elder but I got him when he was too trucky and unfocused. Kind of started to see the light and the end of the tunnel and stopped caring about the next step he had to take. I think the transfer to St. Lucia will be good for him. I guess I didn't tell you, I'm in the same area again. This will be my fourth transfer and at the end of it I'll have been here for six months. I'm good with that but it does get a little stale if you know what I'm saying. My new companion is Elder Freemen who is two transfers ahead of me, full of excite, and is from Idaho. A bit quirky but I think we'll have a good time together.
Sandy, the one who wasn't baptized because of a lack of water, is now rescheduled for baptism for this weekend. It is a pretty sure thing. Of course you know what they say about that.... We then have two baptism scheduled for inbetween conference sessions on the 2nd and then another on the 9th. All goes through we'll have baptized 4 people in 3 weeks. No bad right? We just do our best and if the Lord wills it he'll let it happen.
I think that was an interesting scripture for you to send to me. I read it and also the companion story found in Mark 10:35-45. I tried to apply it to myself and I learned quite a bit. It was nice again to see the scriptures applied to yourself and to learn alot. I think that is one of our greatest downfalls as human beings. We all want to be the greatest, fastest, and the best. As Christ himself said, If you want to be the leader, you must be the servent. I need to do a better job there. When I started to really serve my companion things really got a long better then when I tried to lead him. I reflected on this as we were riding our bikes home. He was so far away from me, forward, that I just gave up trying to catch him and just rode along. It was funny to me though because no matter how fast he went he still had to wait for me. If he had chosen to ride along side me though, maybe even just a bit faster, then it would have pushed me to be faster to be better. By workign so far ahead it just made we want to quit, or at least take it at a different pace. The same is true for us. Some we try to pull people when really we need to help. We push instead of walking along side. Like I said I think there is a lot I need to apply there.
Other then that all is going pretty well. We are working with a lot of people and we really need to do better at finding. Always gotta find new people to teach as you lose people everyday. I'm looking forward to another transfer and, at the end of this transfer is Mothers Day! Not too long at all. I can't believe time is going so fast. I was just barely in Tennessee it feels like....
Oh well!
I love you all,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
ps.. I picked Richmond to win their first two games!
Sandy, the one who wasn't baptized because of a lack of water, is now rescheduled for baptism for this weekend. It is a pretty sure thing. Of course you know what they say about that.... We then have two baptism scheduled for inbetween conference sessions on the 2nd and then another on the 9th. All goes through we'll have baptized 4 people in 3 weeks. No bad right? We just do our best and if the Lord wills it he'll let it happen.
I think that was an interesting scripture for you to send to me. I read it and also the companion story found in Mark 10:35-45. I tried to apply it to myself and I learned quite a bit. It was nice again to see the scriptures applied to yourself and to learn alot. I think that is one of our greatest downfalls as human beings. We all want to be the greatest, fastest, and the best. As Christ himself said, If you want to be the leader, you must be the servent. I need to do a better job there. When I started to really serve my companion things really got a long better then when I tried to lead him. I reflected on this as we were riding our bikes home. He was so far away from me, forward, that I just gave up trying to catch him and just rode along. It was funny to me though because no matter how fast he went he still had to wait for me. If he had chosen to ride along side me though, maybe even just a bit faster, then it would have pushed me to be faster to be better. By workign so far ahead it just made we want to quit, or at least take it at a different pace. The same is true for us. Some we try to pull people when really we need to help. We push instead of walking along side. Like I said I think there is a lot I need to apply there.
Other then that all is going pretty well. We are working with a lot of people and we really need to do better at finding. Always gotta find new people to teach as you lose people everyday. I'm looking forward to another transfer and, at the end of this transfer is Mothers Day! Not too long at all. I can't believe time is going so fast. I was just barely in Tennessee it feels like....
Oh well!
I love you all,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
ps.. I picked Richmond to win their first two games!
37th Week
Looks like this is all we get this week.
Funny story of the day. I found out it was Day-light savings time on Sunday by my Alarm Clock. You know that my alarm clock works off the Satellites so it automatically adjusts for one of the four time zone in the US. So normally before daylight savings I would be waking up at 2:30am according to my clock which was on MST. Well because MST switch to MDT during the middle of the night I got up at 2:30am on my clock only to discover it was really 5:30 local time. Whoops! I got it all sorted out now though and there is no problems I think. I guess I should have asked when that was going to happen so I could be prepared. For some reason though I did feel prompted to ask about that last week. I guess that is my bad.
Nathan
--
Funny story of the day. I found out it was Day-light savings time on Sunday by my Alarm Clock. You know that my alarm clock works off the Satellites so it automatically adjusts for one of the four time zone in the US. So normally before daylight savings I would be waking up at 2:30am according to my clock which was on MST. Well because MST switch to MDT during the middle of the night I got up at 2:30am on my clock only to discover it was really 5:30 local time. Whoops! I got it all sorted out now though and there is no problems I think. I guess I should have asked when that was going to happen so I could be prepared. For some reason though I did feel prompted to ask about that last week. I guess that is my bad.
Nathan
--
36th Week
Well the baptism is an interesting story. To start it all out, someone didn't pay the water bill in the church awhile ago. So our building has not had water for three weeks. Well, it normally isn't a big deal because you are only in the building for three hours a week and such. Problem though is you can't baptize someone without water can you? I didn't think so and I appears you can't. So we worked the entire week trying to get them to turn on the water for us to pay the bill and such and each time we talked to someone they promised us it would be done on time and with no problems. So Friday night we realize, "WE STILL DON'T HAVE WATER!" So we start scrambling trying to find a new solution that would work. Sadly it was a no go and we had to cancel the baptism. I was really kind of frustrating with it at first but then when I calmed down I started to think and to ponder and to pray and then to read the scriptures looking for comfort. I mean you spend so much time working with someone you'd just want to see them be baptized. Well I started thinking about the Prophet Joesph Smith and his suffering in Liberty Jail and I realized that the same principle there applies here. Elder Nielson and Elder Wehl were not being punished but rather being taught. We were being prepared to better prepare for the next time to be ready for anything. Plus I think there was a lesson or two for the investigator. Sadly, she didn't come to church yesterday and we've not been able to contact her since Sunday, we were able to sit with her on Saturday after the the service was canceled, hopefully we can sit with here again soon. She still wants to be baptized though so we'll see what happens. Prayers appreciated.
The bike situation is about the same expect Brown Bear finally died on me again. I still haven't been able to find a new bike so I'm riding the Zone Leaders which is good but I know it is annoying for them because they have to drive everywhere now. I used to think driving was the best thing in the world, see Tennessee, but really I like being on bike a lot more now. It is easier to talk to people, a lot cheaper, and a better work out.
The food is what the food is! Today though I was able to find Hunt's BBQ sauce in a winkel (grocery store about the size of a 7-11). You don't find a lot of American food products here in Koewarasan so it was pretty excited. In the city it is no big deal but here it was like finding gold in the winkel shelves. I haven't been able to find anything that keeps me super excited but that is okay it is what it is. Maybe Elder Wehl can teach me to cook like a Surinamer?
Elder Wehl and I are doing good. I think it just takes time sometimes and a lot of patience. I think he's been the more patient of the two of us but so it is so it is. We keep working and I try to keep him focused. He only has three more transfers after this one ends (March 20th). So he's getting a bit trunkie on me but I'm working on him. Hopefully, we'll pull it together.
I'd write more but I'm out of time again. I hope all is well! Overall the work goes forth and I try not to destroy it. President said I can't so I take hope and faith in that.
Love
Elder Nathan John Nielson
The bike situation is about the same expect Brown Bear finally died on me again. I still haven't been able to find a new bike so I'm riding the Zone Leaders which is good but I know it is annoying for them because they have to drive everywhere now. I used to think driving was the best thing in the world, see Tennessee, but really I like being on bike a lot more now. It is easier to talk to people, a lot cheaper, and a better work out.
The food is what the food is! Today though I was able to find Hunt's BBQ sauce in a winkel (grocery store about the size of a 7-11). You don't find a lot of American food products here in Koewarasan so it was pretty excited. In the city it is no big deal but here it was like finding gold in the winkel shelves. I haven't been able to find anything that keeps me super excited but that is okay it is what it is. Maybe Elder Wehl can teach me to cook like a Surinamer?
Elder Wehl and I are doing good. I think it just takes time sometimes and a lot of patience. I think he's been the more patient of the two of us but so it is so it is. We keep working and I try to keep him focused. He only has three more transfers after this one ends (March 20th). So he's getting a bit trunkie on me but I'm working on him. Hopefully, we'll pull it together.
I'd write more but I'm out of time again. I hope all is well! Overall the work goes forth and I try not to destroy it. President said I can't so I take hope and faith in that.
Love
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Thursday, March 3, 2011
35th Week
Actually there is no problem with the Ensign. We receive the Liahona from the mission every month or so, for the apartment. but it'll be nice to have my own copy that I can write on and do other things. Elder Wehl and I have done good. He has taught me a lot though and I have a lot more to learn from him. He is a good Elder with a good heart I think. Dutch is coming along a lot better because of him though. All we speak is Dutch. I'm not joking only Dutch. Sometimes, we can go the whole day just speaking Dutch. It is nice but frustrating some too.
I wish I had more time but I haven't done a really good job on budgeting my email time recently. The food is good and the work is good too.
One quick cool experience, we gave our investigator a date on Thursday and then talked about fasting. She wanted to fast with us and get a confirmation of the date. So we went ahead and did that. She said after the fast that she feels the date is good and it will go through! I was sooo super excited. Baptism is this Saturday and we'll do our best to have a member from the ward do it... But I won't lie I wouldn't mind having the oppertunity too..
Gotta go
I love you,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
I wish I had more time but I haven't done a really good job on budgeting my email time recently. The food is good and the work is good too.
One quick cool experience, we gave our investigator a date on Thursday and then talked about fasting. She wanted to fast with us and get a confirmation of the date. So we went ahead and did that. She said after the fast that she feels the date is good and it will go through! I was sooo super excited. Baptism is this Saturday and we'll do our best to have a member from the ward do it... But I won't lie I wouldn't mind having the oppertunity too..
Gotta go
I love you,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
34 week
Wilt u weet wat Ik weet? (Want to know what I know?)
Hello Family and Friends
The above is the question that my companion asked me not too long ago. The thing was though he wasn't my companion at the time. On Monday I was temporarily with Elder Wehl as our two companions had to go the city to take care of passport things. So we were together for a bit of time. Then the call came about 4pm informing us that President Gamiette felt inspired to switch companionship's up in our District and to make Elder Wehl and myself companions and Elder Van Meeteren companions with Elder Bell. Now, instead of being with a white elder from Utah. I'm with a creole elder from Suriname. We speak a lot of Dutch together as that is his first and preferred language.
In other news we had a really good work week. We were super busy and actually had more lessons this week then we've had for awhile. That is good right? Sadly we only had one investigator in church as all of the others had other places to be. Hopefully, we'll be able to get them all in church this next week and we'll be okay. No baptisms this week either but we have one schedule for March 5th. I'm hopeful it will go through but I guess we won't know till then.
So a short story. So I was at the house of a less active member who mainly just speaks English. That is important for the story because then you know I didn't misunderstand. Well she starts to tells us that she is a bad person and I ask why is that. Well then she tells us it is because she has poisoned the next-door neighbor's cat. Instead of her dogs/geese which have been causing her problems. To complicate matters further the next-door neighbor, is a member. Well as we are talking about it she informs us that she isn't sorry about killing the dogs but the cat she feels guilty over. You can imagine my utter shock by this. Because then she next informs us that she got rid of the poison by throwing it into the other neighbors yard. I think we'll need to talk to her eh?
I'm out of time so I've gotta go.
I love you all!
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Hello Family and Friends
The above is the question that my companion asked me not too long ago. The thing was though he wasn't my companion at the time. On Monday I was temporarily with Elder Wehl as our two companions had to go the city to take care of passport things. So we were together for a bit of time. Then the call came about 4pm informing us that President Gamiette felt inspired to switch companionship's up in our District and to make Elder Wehl and myself companions and Elder Van Meeteren companions with Elder Bell. Now, instead of being with a white elder from Utah. I'm with a creole elder from Suriname. We speak a lot of Dutch together as that is his first and preferred language.
In other news we had a really good work week. We were super busy and actually had more lessons this week then we've had for awhile. That is good right? Sadly we only had one investigator in church as all of the others had other places to be. Hopefully, we'll be able to get them all in church this next week and we'll be okay. No baptisms this week either but we have one schedule for March 5th. I'm hopeful it will go through but I guess we won't know till then.
So a short story. So I was at the house of a less active member who mainly just speaks English. That is important for the story because then you know I didn't misunderstand. Well she starts to tells us that she is a bad person and I ask why is that. Well then she tells us it is because she has poisoned the next-door neighbor's cat. Instead of her dogs/geese which have been causing her problems. To complicate matters further the next-door neighbor, is a member. Well as we are talking about it she informs us that she isn't sorry about killing the dogs but the cat she feels guilty over. You can imagine my utter shock by this. Because then she next informs us that she got rid of the poison by throwing it into the other neighbors yard. I think we'll need to talk to her eh?
I'm out of time so I've gotta go.
I love you all!
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Thursday, February 17, 2011
33 rd Week
I think that has been the kernel behind my weight loss. I'm not eating as much because I don't have time to eat and because we don't have anything particularly tasty but also the amount of exercise increased 20x, or more. It is funny isn't it? Doctors say the healthiest way to lose weight is exercise and diet, I guess they know what they are talking about huh?
Funny enough, we've been sick this last week as well. We suspect food poisoning but we are not positive. Elder Van Meeteren bought canned Chinese duck last week and we both tried it. He had a portion on Monday and myself on Tuesday. The day after we tried it we both were sick and we've both been struggling with it since. Nothing too bad but a lot of diarrhea and such. Valuable lesson there. Don't eat canned Chinese duck in a third world country. It isn't safe.
The area is doing pretty well. We currently have four people that we are serious with and then a few other danglers. I'm sure you know how that is. I think we could have four baptisms by the end of March to be honest if we do our job correctly and help them progress. I really feel like I'm getting into a pretty good grove now where it is maybe not easy, but not difficult either to teach just about anything. Elder Van Meeteren laughs at me because I always seem to have an example. Tons of examples, but they help me and they seems to help the people so I'm good with it. I like being in this area again but I kind of would have liked a companion exchange.
Our four really solid investigators are: Sandy, Yolanda, Curtis, and Camaron.
Sandy is a christian convert who actually does not yet have a church. She is really open and love our church but she just can't seem to recongize her answer yet. I think she has one and she knows it is true but she just can't seem to see that. Any ideas? I really like her and would be totally bummed if she wasn't baptized. She is just really solid and really opened. She works at an outdoor adventur store in the City and is the person who kills and cleans the animals at home. Not married but is in her early 30's and wishes that she was. We are thinking about setting her up with a member.
Yolanda is an older black woman who really only speaks Srnantongo. She is funny and love to talk with her, "young boys." When we told her we couldn't teach her inside when it was just the three of us, gotta have another man rule, she laughed at it and said, "I'm as old as your parents I'm not going to do anything." She still doesn't get the rule but she helps us out by talking to us outside. She came to church for the first time this last week and seemed to really enjoy it.
Curtis is a younger black man about 23. He is really smart and runs his own charchoal business and was studying Chemistry at the University here in Suriname. Being smart it is a lot easier to teach him as he understands things. He also likes basketball and said he'd get just hooked up with the local man who actually has a basketball court. That would be cool. Biggest problem here is his girlfriend and maybe the Sabbath but we aren't sure on that one yet. I'm hoping he'll make progress and he seems to be doing so. He actually read through all the testimonies, three eight and Joesph Smith's, without being asked to do it. Always keeps his appointments which we absolutely love.
Camaron is an older black woman. She is kind of angry and I'm not sure exactly while she keeps talking to us. She likes the message though and she told us after our first appointment, "You have a good message come back." So we did. She came to church this last week and had a good time I think but we'll have to check up with her again on Tuesday when our next appointment it. She is unmarried and living with her "man." Chasity will thus be a big problem but we'll work it out and with the Lord everything will be good I know it.
As you know I'm in Koewarasan for the third transfer in a row and Elder Van Meeteren is now here for the fifth transfer in a row. We are still doing pretty well. He's kind of an off guy. Not crazy but not normal either just a little off in a goofy sense. I can't think of a good example but he is always just saying really random things. Good guy though I really like him. He is only seven months ahead of me and goes home in November just before thanksgiving.
Food is food. I eat to survive. I used to survive to eat. I'm in a rut right now just eating the same pattern of food. Biggest problem there is that we are in an area without a lot of diversity so there is only so much you can do. I need to find a local that will teach us to cook that would be nice. I'll have to see what I can do about that. Overall it is okay, just don't eat the canned Duck.
By the way, I really do believe there is a difference between the Chinese for America and the Chinese for Suriname. The biggest problem here seems to be a quality control issue. For example, I've now been riding on the same back innertube for 2 weeks! Just before I put this one in though I popped like four within two days. Doesn't make a lot of sense and definitly wouldn't be tolerated in America. Oh well!
Funny enough, we've been sick this last week as well. We suspect food poisoning but we are not positive. Elder Van Meeteren bought canned Chinese duck last week and we both tried it. He had a portion on Monday and myself on Tuesday. The day after we tried it we both were sick and we've both been struggling with it since. Nothing too bad but a lot of diarrhea and such. Valuable lesson there. Don't eat canned Chinese duck in a third world country. It isn't safe.
The area is doing pretty well. We currently have four people that we are serious with and then a few other danglers. I'm sure you know how that is. I think we could have four baptisms by the end of March to be honest if we do our job correctly and help them progress. I really feel like I'm getting into a pretty good grove now where it is maybe not easy, but not difficult either to teach just about anything. Elder Van Meeteren laughs at me because I always seem to have an example. Tons of examples, but they help me and they seems to help the people so I'm good with it. I like being in this area again but I kind of would have liked a companion exchange.
Our four really solid investigators are: Sandy, Yolanda, Curtis, and Camaron.
Sandy is a christian convert who actually does not yet have a church. She is really open and love our church but she just can't seem to recongize her answer yet. I think she has one and she knows it is true but she just can't seem to see that. Any ideas? I really like her and would be totally bummed if she wasn't baptized. She is just really solid and really opened. She works at an outdoor adventur store in the City and is the person who kills and cleans the animals at home. Not married but is in her early 30's and wishes that she was. We are thinking about setting her up with a member.
Yolanda is an older black woman who really only speaks Srnantongo. She is funny and love to talk with her, "young boys." When we told her we couldn't teach her inside when it was just the three of us, gotta have another man rule, she laughed at it and said, "I'm as old as your parents I'm not going to do anything." She still doesn't get the rule but she helps us out by talking to us outside. She came to church for the first time this last week and seemed to really enjoy it.
Curtis is a younger black man about 23. He is really smart and runs his own charchoal business and was studying Chemistry at the University here in Suriname. Being smart it is a lot easier to teach him as he understands things. He also likes basketball and said he'd get just hooked up with the local man who actually has a basketball court. That would be cool. Biggest problem here is his girlfriend and maybe the Sabbath but we aren't sure on that one yet. I'm hoping he'll make progress and he seems to be doing so. He actually read through all the testimonies, three eight and Joesph Smith's, without being asked to do it. Always keeps his appointments which we absolutely love.
Camaron is an older black woman. She is kind of angry and I'm not sure exactly while she keeps talking to us. She likes the message though and she told us after our first appointment, "You have a good message come back." So we did. She came to church this last week and had a good time I think but we'll have to check up with her again on Tuesday when our next appointment it. She is unmarried and living with her "man." Chasity will thus be a big problem but we'll work it out and with the Lord everything will be good I know it.
As you know I'm in Koewarasan for the third transfer in a row and Elder Van Meeteren is now here for the fifth transfer in a row. We are still doing pretty well. He's kind of an off guy. Not crazy but not normal either just a little off in a goofy sense. I can't think of a good example but he is always just saying really random things. Good guy though I really like him. He is only seven months ahead of me and goes home in November just before thanksgiving.
Food is food. I eat to survive. I used to survive to eat. I'm in a rut right now just eating the same pattern of food. Biggest problem there is that we are in an area without a lot of diversity so there is only so much you can do. I need to find a local that will teach us to cook that would be nice. I'll have to see what I can do about that. Overall it is okay, just don't eat the canned Duck.
By the way, I really do believe there is a difference between the Chinese for America and the Chinese for Suriname. The biggest problem here seems to be a quality control issue. For example, I've now been riding on the same back innertube for 2 weeks! Just before I put this one in though I popped like four within two days. Doesn't make a lot of sense and definitly wouldn't be tolerated in America. Oh well!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
32nd Week
Hello Dear Family and Friends!
I love you all in differing amounts but nonetheless it is love so it is good right? I don't know I think it is good. It has been a pretty good week, but once again I've left not enough time to write a really long email to you all so you'll have to forgive me. Oh well!
Biggest story of the week, SNAKE!
We were returning home this last week at 9pm and as we crossed the little bridge over the canal in front of our house we noticed we past right by a decent sized snake. I don't know which breed it was but we assumed poisonous. So we did the manliest thing we knew how to do. We called over to the older neighbor lady and asked her to kill it. She promptly beat it with a shovel a few times and it was dead. It was quite scary for a bit but it all turned out okay in the end. For everyone but the snake.
Other then that we also had transfer calls come through last Thursady and Elder Van Meeteren and myself will be staying in Koewarasan for our third transfer together, my third in the area and his fifth. I'm okay with that as I really like this area a lot.
I wish I had some good spiritual stores but I can't think of any for the week. Overall it was a good week of pretty much heat and rain and bicycling. I hopefully found a new bike but more on that another time. I also sent some pictures to my dad but I'm sure he'll forward those through. Really all is well.
I love you all
Elder Nathan John Nielson
PO BOX 2932
Paramaribo Suriname
South America (<- Actually really important or letters will end up in South Asia or even South Africa... No one knows where we are.)
I love you all in differing amounts but nonetheless it is love so it is good right? I don't know I think it is good. It has been a pretty good week, but once again I've left not enough time to write a really long email to you all so you'll have to forgive me. Oh well!
Biggest story of the week, SNAKE!
We were returning home this last week at 9pm and as we crossed the little bridge over the canal in front of our house we noticed we past right by a decent sized snake. I don't know which breed it was but we assumed poisonous. So we did the manliest thing we knew how to do. We called over to the older neighbor lady and asked her to kill it. She promptly beat it with a shovel a few times and it was dead. It was quite scary for a bit but it all turned out okay in the end. For everyone but the snake.
Other then that we also had transfer calls come through last Thursady and Elder Van Meeteren and myself will be staying in Koewarasan for our third transfer together, my third in the area and his fifth. I'm okay with that as I really like this area a lot.
I wish I had some good spiritual stores but I can't think of any for the week. Overall it was a good week of pretty much heat and rain and bicycling. I hopefully found a new bike but more on that another time. I also sent some pictures to my dad but I'm sure he'll forward those through. Really all is well.
I love you all
Elder Nathan John Nielson
PO BOX 2932
Paramaribo Suriname
South America (<- Actually really important or letters will end up in South Asia or even South Africa... No one knows where we are.)
31st Week
Hello Family and Friends,
Well can you believe it! I'm not in Prison. It was close but it only cost me a package of ciggies. Just kidding. But it does seem like it was kind of close. I'm really glad we had Elder Jansen with us. I think the people here still believe that the Netherlands owns them because they respect us white dutch speaking people a lot. That or they just can't understand him like the rest of us because he speaks old Dutch instead of new age Dutch so they give him what he wants. We really aren't sure. Either way, my papers are now being processed by the government and they are considering whether to allow me to stay longer or not. This is the normal process for the paper work so there is nothing to be concerned about and I think I'll be able to stay for a little while longer. Hopefully for at least 16 1/2 months. I really am glad to have to over. I won't lie.
Other then that it has been busy as usually. We were blessed to have an investigator in church this week. Sandy came to church and is still on pace to be baptized on the 12th of February. Seems crazy to be planning for February especially because it seems just like it was yesterday that I was at the Stake Valentines Dance seeing my Stake President submitting my papers to Salt Lake City on his iPhone. Either way, She is fantastic and I'm incredible hopefully that she'll baptized soon.
I'm doing pretty well. I had the opportunity to weigh myself last week and I am down to 254. That is a total loss of 46lbs and I'm still going I think. I guess we'll see how it ends up!
Love you all
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Well can you believe it! I'm not in Prison. It was close but it only cost me a package of ciggies. Just kidding. But it does seem like it was kind of close. I'm really glad we had Elder Jansen with us. I think the people here still believe that the Netherlands owns them because they respect us white dutch speaking people a lot. That or they just can't understand him like the rest of us because he speaks old Dutch instead of new age Dutch so they give him what he wants. We really aren't sure. Either way, my papers are now being processed by the government and they are considering whether to allow me to stay longer or not. This is the normal process for the paper work so there is nothing to be concerned about and I think I'll be able to stay for a little while longer. Hopefully for at least 16 1/2 months. I really am glad to have to over. I won't lie.
Other then that it has been busy as usually. We were blessed to have an investigator in church this week. Sandy came to church and is still on pace to be baptized on the 12th of February. Seems crazy to be planning for February especially because it seems just like it was yesterday that I was at the Stake Valentines Dance seeing my Stake President submitting my papers to Salt Lake City on his iPhone. Either way, She is fantastic and I'm incredible hopefully that she'll baptized soon.
I'm doing pretty well. I had the opportunity to weigh myself last week and I am down to 254. That is a total loss of 46lbs and I'm still going I think. I guess we'll see how it ends up!
Love you all
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Monday, January 24, 2011
30th Week
Well,
I'm still on the run. I've been official illegal in Suriname for a full week now. According to the Zone Leaders though the papers are on the way right now. So hopefully this week we'll get this all straightened out. I did have a member tell me though that they won't deport me because they'd have to buy a plane ticket home for me and they are too cheap to do that. I hope that is true. If I have to go to the prison though, another member told me that it is so corrupt that I can buy my way to the top of the food chain. I guess they will assume that I'm white and American and because of that I have a lot of money. I don't think it is likely or really possible but if it happens be prepared to donate to my cigarette smuggling company okay? I think we will hollow out Books of Mormon and place the cigarettes in there.. I think it is a good idea.
Other then that it has been a pretty good week. I got the opportunity to speak in church again. I love doing that. I spoke on a scripture from Alma 5 38-39 I think where Alma talks about the sheep of the lords fold hear his voice and respond. I likened this unto the branch and how we can help our brothers and sisters respond to the call of the Shepard. Everyone really seemed to like it.
Sorry this is short it will be longer next week I promise. I promise.
Met Liefde,
I'm still on the run. I've been official illegal in Suriname for a full week now. According to the Zone Leaders though the papers are on the way right now. So hopefully this week we'll get this all straightened out. I did have a member tell me though that they won't deport me because they'd have to buy a plane ticket home for me and they are too cheap to do that. I hope that is true. If I have to go to the prison though, another member told me that it is so corrupt that I can buy my way to the top of the food chain. I guess they will assume that I'm white and American and because of that I have a lot of money. I don't think it is likely or really possible but if it happens be prepared to donate to my cigarette smuggling company okay? I think we will hollow out Books of Mormon and place the cigarettes in there.. I think it is a good idea.
Other then that it has been a pretty good week. I got the opportunity to speak in church again. I love doing that. I spoke on a scripture from Alma 5 38-39 I think where Alma talks about the sheep of the lords fold hear his voice and respond. I likened this unto the branch and how we can help our brothers and sisters respond to the call of the Shepard. Everyone really seemed to like it.
Sorry this is short it will be longer next week I promise. I promise.
Met Liefde,
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
29th week
Well,
I guess its another week. So I better write another letter...
I'm currently on the run as an illegal alien in a third world dutch
speaking country. By on the run, I mean that I'm wearing a white shirt
and tie, on a bike, talking to people with a horrible American accent,
and I'm white in a predominantly non-white country. So not really
running per se but more of sticking out. Luckily for me, the computer
has not been around in Suriname for a long time so they don't know I'm
illegal most likely. Oh well. I guess the paperwork got to SLC on
Thursday and they would have got it all set for me, but someone here
took a paper out of the package at the last second. Which means an
incomplete paperwork set got sent. So we sent the new paper on Friday.
Should be in America on Tuesday, not sure if that means Utah or Miami.
Other then that, I just wait and do legal things so I don't get picked
up.
I've received a few question about food so I thought I'd mention a few
people. Currently we have only one member that will feed us with any
sort of regularity, by that I mean every time we come over. His name
is Benjamin and he is a big hunter. By big I mean he goes out every
night if he can. The funny thing here is that he won't eat his own
kill. If he kills it and cleans it he won't eat it. Instead he saves
it for the Elders and gives it to us. Does that make sense? No, but do
we like it? Yes. So far at his house we've had pig, chicken, fish,
alligator, and haas. I don't know how haas translates but it is like a
giant rabbit. I mean really big. He is currently looking for a boomkip
for me (Iguana) and he says if he finds one he'll shoot it and then
cook it for me. I'm pretty excited about that. Hopefully soon..
Hopefully soon...
Other then that we are currently working with a few different
investigators. David, a brother of a member who has fried himself on
drugs. Progressing the most problem is he only speaks Sranantongo. I
don't speak that yet so I just do a lot of listening. Sharon and
Sandy, both are kind of plateauing. We need to do a better job of
keeping them progressing but that means they need to come to church,
the eternal problem. Yolanda, a 65 year old creole woman who again
really only speaks Sranantongo. She is fun because even Elder Van
Meeteren can't understand her most of the time. Those are our main
investigators.
Everything is going mainly well. I'm on the search for a new bigger
bike so hopefully that will come to fruition but other then that all
is well. I love you all and I can't wait to hear from you!
Elder Nathan John Nielson
I guess its another week. So I better write another letter...
I'm currently on the run as an illegal alien in a third world dutch
speaking country. By on the run, I mean that I'm wearing a white shirt
and tie, on a bike, talking to people with a horrible American accent,
and I'm white in a predominantly non-white country. So not really
running per se but more of sticking out. Luckily for me, the computer
has not been around in Suriname for a long time so they don't know I'm
illegal most likely. Oh well. I guess the paperwork got to SLC on
Thursday and they would have got it all set for me, but someone here
took a paper out of the package at the last second. Which means an
incomplete paperwork set got sent. So we sent the new paper on Friday.
Should be in America on Tuesday, not sure if that means Utah or Miami.
Other then that, I just wait and do legal things so I don't get picked
up.
I've received a few question about food so I thought I'd mention a few
people. Currently we have only one member that will feed us with any
sort of regularity, by that I mean every time we come over. His name
is Benjamin and he is a big hunter. By big I mean he goes out every
night if he can. The funny thing here is that he won't eat his own
kill. If he kills it and cleans it he won't eat it. Instead he saves
it for the Elders and gives it to us. Does that make sense? No, but do
we like it? Yes. So far at his house we've had pig, chicken, fish,
alligator, and haas. I don't know how haas translates but it is like a
giant rabbit. I mean really big. He is currently looking for a boomkip
for me (Iguana) and he says if he finds one he'll shoot it and then
cook it for me. I'm pretty excited about that. Hopefully soon..
Hopefully soon...
Other then that we are currently working with a few different
investigators. David, a brother of a member who has fried himself on
drugs. Progressing the most problem is he only speaks Sranantongo. I
don't speak that yet so I just do a lot of listening. Sharon and
Sandy, both are kind of plateauing. We need to do a better job of
keeping them progressing but that means they need to come to church,
the eternal problem. Yolanda, a 65 year old creole woman who again
really only speaks Sranantongo. She is fun because even Elder Van
Meeteren can't understand her most of the time. Those are our main
investigators.
Everything is going mainly well. I'm on the search for a new bigger
bike so hopefully that will come to fruition but other then that all
is well. I love you all and I can't wait to hear from you!
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
28 th Week
It has been a crazy and hectic week to be sure. We've been super busy rushing to appointment to appointment. Great example is that we had to rush about 5 kilometers to get to impromptu appointment. We did it in 20 minutes. I was pretty pleased about that especially because it seemed not matter which way we turned the wind was in our face. The stupid wind always seems to be in our face but maybe thats because we go so fast?
Here is your visa update. We apparently needed one more paper, that we didn't know about, and so I completed that last Wednesday for the most part. Only problem is that I needed to do finger printing on the form. Normally wouldn't be a problem but the question is will they accept Suriname finger printing? We shall see. The greatest difficulty with the finger printing is that Suriname's police don't do it unless you've been arrested. So we had to have a member who is on the police force arrange it for us. That wasn't completed until Friday. They then decided to give the paper work to the President of the mission to take him to Trinidad and fedex it from there. So he got the paperwork and took it with him to Trinidad today. Hopefully it'll get sent in the mail today but I've got a feeling it won't be out in the mail til tomorrow. So the paperwork has to get to Church Headquarters in Salt Lake City. Get walked/mailed to the police there and then returned by walking/mailing and then the form can be faxed to us. My visa expires on the 16th but the visa offices are closed on the 15th and 16th because it is the weekend. So it really has to be back before the 14th at about 3pm. My gut tells me it won't be. In that case I think they'll be bringing me to Trinidad to wait out my papers arriving and then send me back to get a new visa. I honestly have no idea though. So I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
This last Saturday we had a Zone Conference with President and the Assistants and also the Elders from French Guiana. It was really good very spiritual and uplifting and really encouraged me to do a better job to be a better missionary. We talked a lot about finding which seems to be a weak point for me so hopefully I can no apply what I learned and do better. I guess that is always the test in the end. I'm really loving the work and I don't want to be anywhere else right now, but I would prefer it a bit colder.
Here is your visa update. We apparently needed one more paper, that we didn't know about, and so I completed that last Wednesday for the most part. Only problem is that I needed to do finger printing on the form. Normally wouldn't be a problem but the question is will they accept Suriname finger printing? We shall see. The greatest difficulty with the finger printing is that Suriname's police don't do it unless you've been arrested. So we had to have a member who is on the police force arrange it for us. That wasn't completed until Friday. They then decided to give the paper work to the President of the mission to take him to Trinidad and fedex it from there. So he got the paperwork and took it with him to Trinidad today. Hopefully it'll get sent in the mail today but I've got a feeling it won't be out in the mail til tomorrow. So the paperwork has to get to Church Headquarters in Salt Lake City. Get walked/mailed to the police there and then returned by walking/mailing and then the form can be faxed to us. My visa expires on the 16th but the visa offices are closed on the 15th and 16th because it is the weekend. So it really has to be back before the 14th at about 3pm. My gut tells me it won't be. In that case I think they'll be bringing me to Trinidad to wait out my papers arriving and then send me back to get a new visa. I honestly have no idea though. So I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
This last Saturday we had a Zone Conference with President and the Assistants and also the Elders from French Guiana. It was really good very spiritual and uplifting and really encouraged me to do a better job to be a better missionary. We talked a lot about finding which seems to be a weak point for me so hopefully I can no apply what I learned and do better. I guess that is always the test in the end. I'm really loving the work and I don't want to be anywhere else right now, but I would prefer it a bit colder.
Monday, January 3, 2011
27th Week
Hello Family,
Once again I neglected this email to the last and so I don't know if I have room for everything but I'll try my best.
First on Wednesday, we got to play the "black" market as Elder Jansen calls it. For money here in Suriname the church gives us 315 USD. When we pull it out of the bank ATMS though generally we get a conversion rate at 2.7 or so. That isn't too bad but our senior couple the Jansens discovered that the Cambio's(Free Market money exchangers) will actually give an exchange rate anywhere between 3 to 3.5. So they decided that they'd get us all together, we'd all withdraw our money is USD and then take it to the cambios to see how much we could get from it. It was a wild success and while we normally get 840 SRD this time we got 1057 SRD. Not too bad. The only problem with it is that it took four hours to finally get it all done! That's a lot of time for just 200 more SRD. I don't know if it was worth it but I won't lie I like the extra money.
New Years
So Surinamers take New Years to be pretty serious.. I should have realized that when all the fireworks stores were still open after Christmas. By the way when I say fireworks I don't mean like sparklers I mean the stuff that only firemen/professionals are allowed to have and operate. So what happened is that as missionaries we were required to all be in at 6pm that night in order to protect ourselves. Then the leaders pick us up and when went to the Jansens for dinner and a bit of entertainment before going to the Zone Leaders and watching "Despicable Me" (I really like that one by the way and it is worth a watch if you have time). After that we played games until midnight when we went out to watch the fireworks. Saying this though the rolling thunder that was the fireworks continued to build and build till midnight. At 10pm it was just a constant blur of sound outsides. At midnight the skies were alight with fireworks. There was soo much smoke that you couldn't see down the street. You could only see the brightest points of fireworks in the sky. It was incredible. It literally felt like we were in the middle of a war zone with the sounds and the lights. It was like the USA was practicing on invading Suriname. After the fireworks we played a few more games and finally got asleep at 3am. Only to have to get back up at 6:30am. Might not have been our smartest idea to stay up so late. Oh well what can you do right? :P After that it was a normal work day and away we went. Hopefully that makes a bit of sense I'm not sure if it did. In short, Fireworks crazy, movie good, time with other Elders good too.
Really quick because I'm out of time, can I have you all pray for my paper work to go through this week? My visa expires on the 16th of January and this a bit of paper work problems. I'd rather not be illegal in Suriname if you know what I mean. Prayers would be great.
Gotta Go,
Love you all
Elder Nathan John Nielson
Once again I neglected this email to the last and so I don't know if I have room for everything but I'll try my best.
First on Wednesday, we got to play the "black" market as Elder Jansen calls it. For money here in Suriname the church gives us 315 USD. When we pull it out of the bank ATMS though generally we get a conversion rate at 2.7 or so. That isn't too bad but our senior couple the Jansens discovered that the Cambio's(Free Market money exchangers) will actually give an exchange rate anywhere between 3 to 3.5. So they decided that they'd get us all together, we'd all withdraw our money is USD and then take it to the cambios to see how much we could get from it. It was a wild success and while we normally get 840 SRD this time we got 1057 SRD. Not too bad. The only problem with it is that it took four hours to finally get it all done! That's a lot of time for just 200 more SRD. I don't know if it was worth it but I won't lie I like the extra money.
New Years
So Surinamers take New Years to be pretty serious.. I should have realized that when all the fireworks stores were still open after Christmas. By the way when I say fireworks I don't mean like sparklers I mean the stuff that only firemen/professionals are allowed to have and operate. So what happened is that as missionaries we were required to all be in at 6pm that night in order to protect ourselves. Then the leaders pick us up and when went to the Jansens for dinner and a bit of entertainment before going to the Zone Leaders and watching "Despicable Me" (I really like that one by the way and it is worth a watch if you have time). After that we played games until midnight when we went out to watch the fireworks. Saying this though the rolling thunder that was the fireworks continued to build and build till midnight. At 10pm it was just a constant blur of sound outsides. At midnight the skies were alight with fireworks. There was soo much smoke that you couldn't see down the street. You could only see the brightest points of fireworks in the sky. It was incredible. It literally felt like we were in the middle of a war zone with the sounds and the lights. It was like the USA was practicing on invading Suriname. After the fireworks we played a few more games and finally got asleep at 3am. Only to have to get back up at 6:30am. Might not have been our smartest idea to stay up so late. Oh well what can you do right? :P After that it was a normal work day and away we went. Hopefully that makes a bit of sense I'm not sure if it did. In short, Fireworks crazy, movie good, time with other Elders good too.
Really quick because I'm out of time, can I have you all pray for my paper work to go through this week? My visa expires on the 16th of January and this a bit of paper work problems. I'd rather not be illegal in Suriname if you know what I mean. Prayers would be great.
Gotta Go,
Love you all
Elder Nathan John Nielson
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