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.
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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.
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