Rustig aan jongens(en dames)!

Do you recognize these buildings?
If not, the one of the left is a Muslim Mosque and the
one on the right is a Jewish Synagogue. Yes, it is possible!

Today as I was mowing the lawn, I was considering life in the United States of America. As all of you are aware, I just recently returned from a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in the West Indies Mission. I spent my time in two small little countries: Grenada and Suriname. These two little countries were pretty different then the big United States. Both are still developing and lack the sophistication of the western world. For example, I only saw one iPad in all of mission experience, but I noticed 35 iPad/iPhones on the plane ride from Miami to Dallas. For everything they lack though, they got a long with each other quite well. Something that the populace of the United States of America is still working on.

Sounds foreign right? People actually getting along with each other. It's crazy! I set the picture above to highlight something. In my time in Suriname, I came across six major races(Creoles, Javanese, Hindus, Chinese, Brazilians, and Europeans[mainly dutch people]) and three major religions(Christian, Muslim, and Hindu) incredibly there was very little strife between people. Was it perfect? Definitely not! There were definitely some problems in the system. (They always seemed to like to honk their horns at my companions and I.) What was encouraging though, as a people, they rather choose to be united by their similarities then divided by their differences. In all my time, I never heard a disparaging comment that suggested a situation was the result of racism, sexism, or any other sort of -ism. The people of Suriname, in general, did their best to work together and appreciate each other.

Quite sadly though, it didn't take long for me to see hate and distrust in America. In fact, my first flight in America is where it became apparent. I was sitting in the back of an American Airlines flight from Miami to Dallas when a steward came to the back to talk with a passenger. The passenger was a larger black Women who was accompanying a younger black Man to another location. The Man was apparently a convict.(learned by overhearing the discussion not an opinion) The steward was informing the Women that the Man would need to disembark the plane. Apparently, when the flight manifest was submitted to the FBI, the FBI decided the man shouldn't be flying. An argument broke out as the Women refused to leave and to listen to those in charge of the flight, including the captain, citing that she had a right to fly and that all of this was a mistake by American Airlines. Eventually the airline was required to bring Miami Police and Airport Security onto the flight to take the Women and Man off. It was definitely a disappointing situation for everyone involved but what made it worse is when the Man, as he is being escorted off the plane, shouts, "Your only doing this because I'm black." As an eyewitness to the event, I can testify that the only mention of race in the entire situation was by the Man as he was being taken off. From my understanding of the event, it was not the man's race that created the situation but rather the Women's non-compliance with the flight crew and previous bad decision by the Man.

This was an interesting introduction to the politics of America today. Although we can set aside our petty differences for the most unimportant things, ie sporting events, America just can't seem to get along with each other. It is amazing to watch civil debates on Facebook explode into disrespectful comments that accuse others of bigotry and hate. I've also been surprised by the amount of negativity in the current political campaign. What ever happened to telling me how good you are instead of telling me how bad someone else has done. Heck! I remember looking at cars to purchase. The Chevrolet salesman we spoke to took more time telling me how bad a Honda Civic was instead of telling me how great the Chevrolet Cruise. What a turn off! I don't even read message boards on newspapers anymore because they don't espouse ideas rather they espouse hate. Is it not possible to discuss ideas in today public sphere without animosity?

I'm not suggesting that we conform with dissidents, or with those whom we disagree. If I did, I'm sure someone would quote Edmund Burke who quoted as saying, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." I'm simply suggesting that it is possible to express ourselves without having to tear someone else down. I'll even go further and suggest that it is possible for reasonable people to disagree without having to be bigots or ignorant. Nothing turns me off from someone's else opinion to hear that everyone who disagrees with the opinion is a bigot.

I'm calling a time-out to the hate. I'm calling respectability and love out and telling everyone to start using it! How can we expect to fix a country when we have to tear it apart every four years to elect a new leader? How can we expect violence to decrease when people are trying to teach everyone to hate someone else?How can you espouse and claim freedom of expression and then hate someone else's opinion?

Disagree or Agree, that is okay with me, lets just get along people!

I guess I'm just trying to use a dutch expression I grew to love so much:

Rusting aan jongens(en dames)!


As Always

Nathan John Nielson

The days of endless summer just roll on!

Well hello again!

It's been quite the last few days! Well a quick update on life. On the 13th, I did end up meeting with TJ and Tate. We played ultimate and independence park with my sister and a few of her friends before we hit up city creek and ate. After that, the next biggest thing that happened was getting my new car!

Although the name hasn't yet been decided upon yet, the front runner is James. Such as the butler, ie "take me home James!" any ideas would be appreciated. That happened on Tuesday and I also got the chance to go hiking with a good friend, Sarah England. It wasn't a long hike but it was a lot of fun.

Wednesday and Friday were pretty vanilla but Thursday was something different. Ken Melrose and Nick Philips worked with me as RA's at the University of Utah and I haven't seen them since, well I don't know. It's definitely been a while. So we met up at the Pie and had pizza and caught up for awhile. It was great to see them. Ken is heading up to University of Idaho for law school and Nick is heading up to Boise to work and might be working for the air force here soon. After we ate, I headed to the college of nursing and said hello to my former bosses Dori Fortune and Janice Morse. They are doing great. I loved working them.

Saturday was a pretty full day at the Nielson house. We started first having to go up by the Bountiful Temple to help setup for a wedding before we picked up my brother and went to the newest Batman movie. I loved it. Maybe because it was my first movie in theatre since I was home, but I was absolutely enthralled by the movie. There definitely some flaws in it but it was a great and enjoyable ride that I would recommend to anyone. It also left me with a lot to think about. Overall I went to be entertained and I was. After the movie we went to the Pioneer Day Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert at the conference center. I've always wanted to go to one of their concerts and it was fantastic! Always a recommended event if you ever get the chance to see the choir in action. There is a reason why they are as good as most people think.

The next day was Sunday and the biggest thing that happened on Sunday was that I taught the priesthood lesson in church. The assigned topic was Elder Haleck talk in April of 2012 titled, 'Having the vision to do.' I really enjoyed teaching the class and it reinforced the importance of having vision in our lives. Without, we don't achieve everything that is possible for us to achieve I wonder how much talent is wasted every year because someone lacks the vision to achieve. I know there are many different things that could of happened in my life if I would of had the vision to do. I always thought that I could have been a lot better at football if I would of had the vision. Rather I was caught up in other things. I hope that in my life I'll be able to keep the vision of eternal salvation. That will definitely require sacrifice and dedication but it is all possible! I truly believe it is. Saying all this I must admit that I have been very blessed in my life. I've never grown up with an obscured vision due to pain, suffering, or disappointment. I grew up fortunate or even blessed knowing that everything was possible for me: Happiness, success, even love. Now, it requires a lot of hard work.

Well another week has begun and it is shaping up to be a good one. I can't wait to see what will happen and I'll let you know on the other side of it!

As Always

Nathan John Nielson

It's been a long week

There is nothing else to do.... Really, I've done it all...

I finished my last mission assignment on Sunday when I talked in church. I was asked to speak using Elder Paul Koelliker's April 2012 General Conference talk, He Truly Loves Us. My talked was mainly about the patterns our Heavenly Father uses to instruct us. Such as the patterns of revelation, comfort, and chastisement. I feel like it went pretty good and when it was in combo with Elder May's talk on sacrifices I feel like it was a really good meeting. After church was over, we had a small, or something like that, lunch at my parents house. It was really cool especially with everyone that came. Shout outs go to TJ Guinn and Will Adams who came all the way to Stansbury Park. 

Since then though it has been pretty slow. I'm been doing my best to just try and stay occupied. I haven't had too much going on. I did have institute on Tuesday and I went to the church history museum on Wednesday. That is a pretty cool museum by the way, there were a lot of things that I had never seen before. They had a really cool scale model of the Salt Lake City valley in 1870 or so. Pretty cool!

Tonight we are playing ultimate or football tonight at the Liberty Park with a few of the returned missionaries. Should be a lot of fun. School starts on the 20th of August and my schedule is set.

Family Law MT 10:00-11:15
Criminal Procedure WRF 10:00-10:50
Wills and Trusts MTWR 1:00-1:50
Evidence WRF  2:00-2:50

I'm pretty exciting and I just keep floating on!

As Always

Nathan John Nielson

It is over!

My father once told me that the purpose of life was to start new projects, finish them, and then begin all over again! Well I've done it. I have completed the greatest journey of my not so long life. My journey began in the spring of 2010, when I received a call to serve in the West Indies Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It took me from Provo, Utah to Knoxville, Tennessee then to Trinidad, Suriname, and Grenada respectfully. I learned two new languages and had the opportunity to associate with thousands of wonderful people who have touched my life in unforgettable ways.

It is truly impossible to describe my mission in a simple post, so I'll just say that it was amazing. I hope that as I continue to catch up with everyone that I'll have the opportunity to share more of it with you. I returned home on Thursday the 28th of June. We flew from Trinidad to Miami then Miami to Dallas and finally Dallas to Salt Lake City. We got in around 8:45pm and our parents were there and also some of the other elders from Suriname.

Since then I've been drying to catch up with everyone and everything that has changed in the last two years which means a last of work. I still have a lot to do as well! I speak tomorrow in scarement meeting and then it'll just be a waiting game until school starts in August. Other then that, I don't have too much going on. Just trying to keep doing the good and it the bad. It will be interesting trying to get ready for school again.

Saying all of this I want to thank you all for your support and encouragement, your love and your care, and your faith and prayers. Certainly my mission would have been a success had y'all not been a part of it. I appreciate you and have much love as well. Thank you for everything and I can't wait to be with you again!

With much love,

  Nathan John Nielson

101 Week

Dear Family, 3 John 1 : 13 - 14 Love you much, Elder Nathan John Nielson

100th Week

Just wanted to really simply say that I love you all! Elder Nathan John Nielson Goede dag! Hier zijn een paar fotos voor jullie, Lobi, Elder Nielson

99th Week

Hello One and All, I hope you are all doing great. I get tidbits of information here and there and it sounds like overall life is grand. Isn't it though? Life is a great thing and it definitely isn't something anyone wants to give up. I finished the Book of Mormon today actually, probably the last time I'll do that on my mission, I was pretty touched by a specific scripture from Moroni 7. 41 And what is it that ye shall ahope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have bhope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life ceternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise. I think many time we hope for the wrong things, ie we just hope for our problems to end and such, I've really learned that in life the only thing we can hope for is Christ. Christ must be the center of everything our hopes, our faith, and even our dreams. Doing such gives us strength to go on, doing so gives us an anchor in our lives amidst the stormy sea of trials, pain, and loss. The greatest thing I've learned on my mission is to trust the lord and to follow the spirit. In doing so we'll never be wrong and we'll always do that which is right. I know that to be true and I say this in the name Jesus Christ, Amen. Love you, Elder Nathan John Nielson

98th Week

97th Week

Well Hello! The month of Juni is quickly approaching and we'll be there this weekend which is crazy to believe. The passing of time in the field is an interesting occurence that really isn't describeable to those who haven't done it. It just is something different. This week though there really isn't anything to report so I just wanted to knock out my two cents on the unsung heros that exist in our lives. These are the people that do so much but are thanked so little. I realized that yesterday when the Branch President caught me playing prelude music on the piano before the sacrement service. As you may remember, I don't really know how to play the piano but I taught myself enough to punch out the melody of most hymns so I could play in Nickerie. Unfortunately, after all that hard work, I was never asked to play in Nickerie so I never got the chance to do it. Well, yesterday for the first time, and hopefully the last time, I had the oppertunity to play in the Sacrement Service for the Paramaribo Branch of the Suriname District. I was so scared and nervous at the same time, my hands were literally shaking while I was trying to play. I defintely have nothing to brag about but this experience taught me a valuable lesson. At the end of the service, no one thanked me or offered support or anything else for what I had tried to do. I didn't need it per se, but had someone had done it, instead of feeling like a fool for messing up a few hymns I may have thought, "hey I didn't do too badly after all!" I thus realized how important it is to thank those people who try, and sometimes succeed, in helping us, with anything. We should be actively thankful to everyone that plays a role in our lives from the Ward Pianist to our Cub Scout Leaders to the random fellow that opened the door for us! We should be a thankful people. I really hope I apply this in my life and I would to encourge you all to thank those that help you on a daily basis. It will bless your life and their life too! I love you all very much and I'm very thankful for everything that you do for me, big or small! Love you, Elder Nathan John Nielson

96th Week

I'm doing pretty well. It has a hard transition like I said. Always unpleasant to see that they didn't miss you as much as you hoped. My Dutch accent has been driving me crazy too. It's gotten kind of bad recently and people are having a hard time understanding me. I guess I'll just work on it and pray for hope.. That is all I know how to do. Elder Warner is doing great. He is really bouncing back from the funk that his last companion put him into and I think it'll be a good transfer. Other then that, because this last companion wouldn't do much this area has basically nothing going on. We've just been working pretty hard and it just keeps going and going. I'm trying to keep focused but that has been an interesting adventure to say the least. I just want to finish well and if I do that I'll be happy with how everything played out. I had an interesting moment in a district meeting, where I received this though of, "You know how to do this, you just need to do what you know." I thought that was an interesting lesson. That seems to be a big lesson I really need to apply for this last little bit and then for my entire life. I know what to do, I just need to do it. Well Bud, I can't wait, I don't think I'll be writing a family email so you can forward this on if you want or just the pictures your call. I got my suit material last week and I'm taking to the tailor today, it is a really nice dark gray, I think you'll like it. I'm also getting two tailored long-sleeve shirts made which will be nice. Can't wait! Love you, Elder Nathan John Nielson

95th Week

Hello Family! Love you all! Just in case you only read so far I want you to know that I love you! When I was serving in Nickerie last year, Elder Bell, my companion, taught me how he always picks a transfer scripture. A scripture that represents what the transfer would be for him. In picking my scripture for this next transfer, I had to choose this one! Well to be honest, there really hasn't be alot to talk about for the week. Another week of vanilla, but it was good nonetheless. What I am really excited about it this next transfer. I've been transferred again and I'll be going back to Paramaribo North, or as we call it, the land of milk and honey. I'll be working with Elder Warner from Arizona and I'll actually be the District Leader as well. I was hoping to work with Elder Warner so I was pretty excited to see that on the transfer call. He is a good Elder and it should be a lot of fun. I've really been reading the Book of Mormon again and I'm on course to finish it off for the 8th time of my mission right before I come home in June. I recently was in Mosiah and I was reading in chapter 7, one of my favorite chapters, about the people of Limhi. One of my favorite scriptures is verse 18 when Limhi is speaking to the people and he informs them that not withstanding all of their trials there is still yet more to come. So it with our lives there is always another trial to come another difficulty to be overcome, but I love the council he gives in verse 33. Here he gives us the secret for overcoming these trials. Putting our faith in the Lord. In doing so, he will relieve us of our bondage, but their is an important rule there. It will only happen according to his will and pleasure. I always seem to forget that part... Sometimes we are destined to suffer no matter who we are or what we are doing. It will only be when the Lord wants that this will be taken away from us. Thus, we are required to serve without complaint. So works it. As I prepare for this my last transfer I am really excited to do it. It will be great and I'm going to do my best to make it the best transfer I can. I hope you'll pray for me to succeed! Love you all, Elder Nathan John NIelson

94th Week

Hello Family! The eternal summer rolls on! I don't believe I've ever had a summer that has lasted so long. I won't lie, I'm looking for to the fall it'll be great! Either way, it was a pretty vanilla week this last week. Not a whole lot happened but there is one thing of importance. My companion and I have been struggling recently in using the Book of Mormon when teaching lessons. That changed though on Thursday when I decided that every lesson needed at least one scripture from the Book of Mormon. I think the biggest change was the spirit. Every lesson we taught had the spirit. It was great, I loved it, it was the best day I've had this transfer. I wish that I had decided to do that all the way back in the beginning it would have changed lives and I know that for sure! The Book of Mormon, in my mind and from a quote from a prophet somewhere, is the fastest and most powerful way to bring the spirit. It is undeniable to me. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and I know that it can and does change lives. I love you all a lot and Mothers Day is on Sunday so my Dad will have to let you know how things are going! Transfer call come this Saturday for the last transfer should be pretty interesting! Love you all, Elder Nathan John NIelson

93rd Week

Hey Family! I just want to begin with some simple works: I love you much! I really don't have anything to report to be honest. The work has been hard, long, but good. We've been doing a lot of finding and just haven't found those investigators yet that we are seeking but I know that if we keep looking we'll be able to find them soon enough! You wouldn't believe how wet it has been these last few days. It has been so bad that one pair of shoes dries out just on time for another to get soaked, if your lucky! I've really been enjoying Wanica though and it has been an interesting lesson on adapting my style to fit the area and not trying to adapt the area to my style. Wanica is a beast that I've never quite seen before. It is on really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really long street (get my point?) with many side streets that you are constantly ducking into and out of. If you don't plan well you've got 30 minute bike rides from appointment to appointment. It is crazy! It is what it is though and we just keep working with it I guess. I'm hoping we'll have a little bit more success because the end of the transfer is coming up. Transfer ends on the 16th of Mei, so we have two full weeks and then a half week. Probably won't be baptizing anyone else this transfer but we've got to get the seeds going for next transfer. A great Elder once told me that if your not planting while your harvesting then eventually there is nothing more to harvest. It is true, we have to always be planting the seeds of the Gospel while looking forward to harvesting those that are prepared. I'm not sure if that made any sense at all but I love you much! Till next week, As Always, Elder Nathan John Nielson

92nd Week

91 st Week

Hello Family,





How are you all doing? I hope pretty well as I am doing pretty well, I won't lie. It has been another week here in the Sunny Suriname and let me tell you it was a hot week. This week I actually had the first sun-burn of my entire mission and I'm looking kind of ugly right now. Hopefully it'll sort itself out pretty quick because a member of the branch asked me on Sunday, "Wat is verkeerd met u gezicht?" or What is wrong with your face? I wasn't too pleased.





In other news, we did have a baptism on Saturday which was great it was Jolange Pansa. She is a 17 year old girl that Elder Grange and Freeman found and Elder Fuenzalida and I finished off. The baptismal service was small as almost no one came. We had 9 people in total in Attendence. Four elders, Jolange, her borther, the branch president, and two members of the branch. I was kind of disappointed in them. Baptismal services are important, we've got to support our new memebrs.



Actually one thing I'm really excited about doing when I get home is member missionary work. I've really learned how important it is and that truly is how missionary work needs to be done. I was looking at the people I've baptized and only one of them were found by me. Everyone else came through the members it is so very important that we do our part. President Hinkley himself said the best way for missionary work to go forth is Members being supported by Missionaries not Missionaries being supported by Members. Hopefully, I can keep that up and I'll do my best to go with the missionaries as much as possible when I get home! I encourage you all to do the same as well.





Well we have Zone Conference this weekend which will be my last and President is bringing his entire family. That should be pretty interesting and I can't wait to see how it plays out. I'll have a full report for you next week. Other then that we are doing our best to keep our heads above water and to do the work of the Lord. We've got a lot of finding time this week because we only have one investigator we are working with. Hopefully, the members will find some for us too!





I love you much,





Love your favorite missionary,





Elder Nathan John Nielson

90 th Week

Hello Ya'll,





Can you believe that yet another week has come and gone? So happens it I guess. It has been an interesting week and it is now officially over and I'm okay with that to be quite honest.





On Wednesday night/Thrusday morning we arrived in the new area. The apartment was a bit dirty and the space unorganized but so that is usually when one of the missionaries goes home and the other moves somewhere else. We went to bed late and got up on time and started the day and away we went. The area is geographically huge but we'll probably just focus on the area by the church. Anything else would just be too much. There are a lot of members and we are pretty excited about it to say the least. We are looking forward to a baptism this weekend and another in the next few weeks. So we'll see what happens and I'll let you know.

On that note, because of how much time I do have left here and the post system, it would probably be questionable where or not any letters or packages sent to me now would arrive on time, more so with letters then packages. So if you'd like to write me, I'd highly suggest an email or something along those lines or it'll have to get forwarded to me later.





I was supposed to have more time but I guess things have change so we'll talk to you later and I love you all much.





Love





Elder Nathan John Nielson

89th Week

I can't believe conference is over again. I've really grown to love it so much out here on my mission. It was another really good one though and I could probably spend my entire time rehashing conference weekend but I only have five minutes.





Really the best thing that happened this last week was the baptism of the Babel family. They were a family that had been investigating since the companionship before myself and Elder Guinn. We have spent all transfer working with them, being frustrated, and praying for them. I was just soo happy to see them get baptized. Especially as that capped our transfer and now I'm being transferred from the area. Elder Guinn and I were actually the first elders to baptize in the area since October of 2010 so that is a great blessing as well.





Really everything is going pretty well. We keep working and praying and keeping things going and we are pretty happy.





Love you all and I can't wait for your letter to finaly get here!





Love



Elder Nielson

88th Week

Well hello there and welcome to the Elder Nielson lounge. Please, take a seat and enjoy your stay.





It has been another hectic week here in the Paramaribo North Area of the Suriname Zone! There have been a lot of exciting things that have happened! For example, due to a unfortunate scissor accident, I'm no longer allowed to use scissors! Don't worry about it though, I have most of my fingers still! Also, I'm no longer allowed to get around Geese either as one bit me and it started a fight. All in all though, we just keep working!





We are pretty excited though as we had three of our investigators in church this weekend and that should me a triple baptism this Saturday. It will be the Babel Family and we are pretty excited about them. They actually got married in the branch down here so they could be baptism and would have been so earlier but we've been trying to help them kick the smoking/drinking/word of wisdom habit. This will actually be my first family baptism so I'm pretty excited about it to say the least: Mom, Dad and Ching (Srnantongo word for child). Other then that we have Brother Zeggen who is still progressing and will probably be baptized within the first few weeks of April. We also have Lena Gordon who will hopefully be baptized in the end of April. That has been pretty cool as we took a member of the ZHV (RS) with us to teach her and she did the best thing you could do! She invited her to church and offered to give her a ride. It didn't work out in the end but it is progress! Other then that we just keep trying to find more and more people which is also the daily the task.








I'm doing pretty well. It has been interesting watch Elder Guinn die (The term we use for missionaries going home). He has done a remarkable job so far in staying focused and doing his best to just work as much as he can. He is kind of crashing a bit right now but I think he'll pull it together and go home with honor. He is definitely setting a good example for myself who'll have to go through the progress in just under three months. I've been studying a lot in Doctrine and Covenants 121 35-44 or so and I've really really enjoyed it. I've learned so much about leadership in God's church and the way it is supposed to be done. I have the feeling that my opportunity to be a leader in this mission will be keep to just my companionship but it still will be very useful. I would suggest such a study to anyone that has to be a leader.





Well, I love you much and I've sent some more pictures. I think I've gained some weight which makes me a bit sad :P but that is okay. We've been running three times a week and I'm doing push-ups every night so hopefully I can combat that a bit. Transfer come at the end of this week. Probably on Friday because of conference and then we'll move next Wednesday. I'm assuming with us losing four dutch elders and not getting any new ones that I'll be staying so don't worry about sending me letters or anything! I hope all is well and I love you much!








Love,





Elder Nathan John Nielson

87th Week

Well we had a pretty good week to say the least. We worked really hard and we tried to do your best and I think so things really played out. We are still planning for four baptisms but they will all be on the 31st of March. We had to bump one back because the guy's wife comes home on the 24th and he wants to talk to her about it first. Good idea though as you need spousal permission to baptism someone who is married!




For my birthday, I guess you saw the photos! The Jansen's came over and brought me a cookie/cake thing which was great and then they started singing me birthday songs in Dutch when we got a phone call. It was Elder Tullis and Lundgren from Koewarasan wishing me a happy birthday. An impromptu birthday song battle began as both groups tried to prove that they knew more birthday songs then the other. I think Elder Tullis/Lundgren were about to win, when the Jansen's called it off and declared themselves the winners. They then promptly left before they could be challenged again. It was hilarious. The letter they gave me was actually from them and it contained a birthday wish and told me how glad they were that I came back to Suriname. Very nice of them. After that we went out for a bit before we ended up at Pizza Hut for lunch which was fantastic also! Overall, it was a pretty cool birthday.

Coolest thing that happened though this last week was District Conference. For district conference, Elder Anderson of the second quorum of the seventy and also a member of the Caribbean area presidency came and spoke four times or so. It was fantastic and I'd include more but I'm almost out of time. To say the least, he really helped me figure some stuff out and I really enjoyed it.




Well we keep on rolling here in Suriname. I miss you all much and I love you all, although some more then others!




Still looking for those Mike-and-ikes!




Love you,



Elder Nathan John Nielson

86th Week

Hallo mijn familie!
Hoe gaat het met jullie? Alles prima? Ik maak het heel goed. Kunt u het geloven? Ik ben 23 deze week geworden. Ik ben zo oud! Bijna dood!

I'll stop the dutch there. Serious though, how are you all doing? I hope you are doing well. I've been doing really well this last week which was a great blessing. We worked really hard and we did our best to follow the spirit and we saw, once again, the blessing of God. Saying that though, I can't believe it is my birthday again on Thursday and I'll be 23. I'm so old! In Suriname right now, I am the oldest Elder in terms of life and almost in terms of on the mission time. What a crazy experience it has been.
Say that though, the biggest blessing we saw this week had to be the amount of member work we were able to have. Member work has always been a struggle with me as I just haven't been able to get members to come out and work with us. Since we've got to this new area though, we've been averaging just about 9 member lessons a week which for Suriname is a lot. I haven't really compared us to anyone else but I'd think it safe to say that we are on the high end of the spectrum right now. A long with that though, we've had multiple instances of being led by the spirit to say exactly the right things at the right time which is a huge blessing because sometimes you are just left thinking, "now what?" It really has been a good week to say the least.
As I told my Dad last week, and he sent it out to you, I've been keeping my thankfulness journal this entire week and it has been a cool experience. Sometimes, it is really hard to think of things you are thankful for but nonetheless it is still possible. Always possible. I find when I struggle to find something to be thankful for all it takes is a bit of time and a little pondering and then I can always think of one.
I also had a cool experience studying the scriptures this week. I've really tried to incorporate pondering into my studying and so I've been working with Enos 1:3-4 trying to figure our how I could work such a desire into my life. Knowing, of course, that a powerful desire can and normally does lead to a great success. As I was pondering it this morning I was prompted to follow the footnotes and I discovered what I think is a spiritual truth. You see, we all try to satisfy our hungers. Whether that be a spiritual or a physical hunger. It is such a powerful influence that in the times of old, women in Jerusalem actually killed their babies and then ate them to satisfy their hunger. Sometimes though, we satisfy our hunger with bad or temporary things. For example, a child will eat candy or ice cream to satisfy the hunger instead of cooking something to eat. What this leads to though, is a temporary fullness or you could say an empty fullness. So it is with us spiritually, if we are so busy trying to satisfy our spiritual hunger with sleepy scripture study or impersonal prayers then we will eventually lose that desire to achieve more, to be better. Instead we just satisfy our spiritual hunger with candy. Rather, we need feast upon the scriptures and wrestle with God in mighty pray in order to satisfy our spiritual hunger. Doing so can lead us to develop an desire to achieve Celestial Glory and become everything that we can become. I hope that makes some sense as it really hit me powerfully and I just wanted to share it with you.
All in all though, I'm doing great and I love you all very much! I'll talk with you next week!

Love you,
Elder Nathan John Nielson


--

85th Week

Cools bits for the week. I started a thankfulness journal. I remembered a talk given by President Eyring where he talks about writing down the things every night that he is thankful for. So I've been doing that. It has been pretty cool as I reflect upon the daily things that I am thankful for. I've been doing it for a bit and I've really enjoyed it. It'll be nice to come home with a whole book of things that I'm thankful for.



We also found a new investigator this week that we have great hope for. Her name is Lena! She says that the day before we showed up her boyfriend of two years left her and she was praying to God to show her the way and we appeared! Pretty cool. We are hoping she'll be baptized on the 31st of March.



Well things are going pretty well and I'm ecited to be an uncle so things are great.



I love you much!



Love,



Elder Nathan John Nielson

84th week

About the area, it is a pretty good area and I like it so far. It is a big one which has always been difficult for me as I've always been in smaller areas besides one other transfer. I'm pretty excited about it though because on Thursday it was Elder Guinn's birthday, my companion, and so we went to Pizza Hut to celebrate. It was the best pizza I've had in almost two years. :) Funny story about his birthday, it was our first morning in the apartment and the elders before us had left some pancake stuff. So I thought, I'm making pancakes and I'll make Elder Guinn some. It just so lucked out that it was his brithday! How fortuante I just didn't eat them all!



We current have four investigators that are planning on being baptized here soon. We have:



Family Babel which contains Dad, Mom and Child. We are pretty excited about them and they are getting married on Saturday and then baptized the next saturday. They are doing really well and were actually at the church 30 minutes early which means they beat all the members. Should be a great baptism on the 10th



Alisha Schipper is the 13 year old granddaughter of a member who now lives with her Grandmother. We are pretty excited about her too and she is looking forwards to baptism on the 17th of March.



My companion is Thomas Jordan Guinn from Brigham City Utah. He actually goes home in April and he is a great elder. He has been in the area before and so he gets to show me around. I'm expecting good things from this companionship so we are happy about what is going on.



Well, I love you much and miss you too!



Love,



Elder Nathan John Nielson
Well for a short short story hear it is.



Short story of stories, in the area doing pretty well. We've got four people that are pretty in-line for baptism for the 10 and the 17.



Got to his new area…. Yeah on thursday night. Pretty nice, I like it so far. Companion is good too. He is from Brigham City Utah but has also lived in Texas and Nevada. It is Elder Guinn.



It was really hard this last few days with the Dutch. It isn't coming back as fast as I hoped but I'm working on it.

83rd Week

Well Hello Everyone!





I'm glad to be writing you today as I've missed you all so very much! Kind of... Either way, the wheels of time continue to spin and once again I'm brought to the point of time that I get to write you all and say how much I love you! I love you I do! I hope you all love me too!





We've had a pretty interesting week to say the least. I'm glad to have it over and we'll start another! For your information, I will be transferred out of Grenada and heading back to the lovely place we call Suriname. I'll be serving in the Paramaribo North area or as we call is Blauwgrond. I'm pretty excited as we call it the land of milk and honey. All the best America importers are in this area and that'll be nice. Especially the pizza hut and such. We also have some great Brazilian resteraunts in the area. So I might be getting fat pretty quick. Sorry ya'll. I'll just have to convince my companion to go jogging and everything will be okay.





My address will be the same as it was:





Elder Nathan John Nielson


PO Box 2932


Paramaribo Suriname


South America





I don't have much to say but I love you much all of you!








Love you,





Elder Nathan John Nielson

82nd Week

Hello Family and Friends!

It feels like forever since I last communicated with you and it probably has been! We've been supper swamped recently and that has actually passed over into my email time as my companion allows me to fill out the reports ever week! OH well though, I mean you probably don't want to hear my boring stories anyways!

Well the last week has been a really interesting one to say the least. It was a long week of work work and work with not a whole lot of success to be quite honest. That is okay though as we've been able to find what success through out the week to keep morale and spirits high! Probably, the biggest event of the week was the Independence Celebration group activity. We hung up my Grenada flag and ate roti and curry. It was pretty good and although independence in Grenada is tomorrow it was still a good time. People here are pretty excited about their independence. Everyone wears the national colors, red yellow and green, and quite a few people have said things to us implying that we need to join in. I've got the green pants and the red tie, I just need the yellow shirt. Although, I'm pretty sure that is not allowed so it won't be happening.

I'm sorry I'm so boring but really there is nothing to report. We just keep going and doing like the Lord has commanded us and he'll certainly see the fruits of our labors eventually of that I'm sure. Biggest events that are coming up are really limited to one and that is the impending transfer calls of this next Saturday. Early speculation has me returning back to Suriname which would be good enough for me but we'll see what happens. You never really know with President Gamiette. So it should be pretty interesting.

I hope all of you are well and I'll write you again soon!

Love your Elder,

Elder Nathan John Nielson

81st Week

It has been a better week to say the least. We went out and did. Although the numbers weren't the best, we had three none members in church on Sunday and I got to teach the Sunday School Lesson and Speak. It actually went really really well. I taught the lesson on President Uchtdorf's talk from October of 2010 about slowing down in times of trials. Then I spoke about how we can only be destroyed through our own transgressions. It went so well in fact that one of the none members there was crying when he left. We've got to follow up with him and see if there is some potential there. Who knows!

Other than that, like I said in the other email, your package arrived Saturday or Friday of last week and I'll pick it up today. We live too far for the senior couple, the Gibson's, to bring us mail so we get it when we go down for District Meeting and such. I've been the computer wiz for the Gibson's so they are holding my package ransom until I install their new hard-drive into their laptop. If I don't do it Elder Gibson threatened to eat all the candy.

The area is much the same. It was really difficult to find investigators this week and other lessons so we focused a lot of our times on strengthening the branch like President Gamiette said. In fact, actually, we had to drop someone because it wasn't going to Strengthen the branch, I'll leave it at that. Elder Hartshorn is doing well also, we is working on getting more involved in lessons and is doing a pretty good job in working with me to get our daily contacts.

Really everything is going a lot better this week. I'm pretty excited to see where things go and we might just have a baptism before we leave this place at the end of the transfer. We'll see what happens. Wayne, who was are only actual investigator in church, seems pretty interesting. He told us last night that he thought his church was false because of all the contention between the different branches in Grenada. We just had to teach him that Matt 7:26(or close by) said, You cannot serve God and Mammon and not God and Mormon. Once we got that cleared up, I was pretty sure he'll progress.

Things are good.

Love you,

Elder Nathan John Nielson

80th Week

Sorry for being so lame this week but I can't think of a good subject so I hope that works! Either way!





Hello Family and Friends!





I've heard that most of you are doing quite well and I'm happy to hear about that. It's been yet another week in the mission field and that is always a blessing. To receive another day to serve our Heavenly Father. I don't have too much to say though as a lot of people have been dropping us this last week. Actually to be honest, people keep harassing us. I don't know how I feel about that but I guess we just work with it and see where it goes. In fact, a girl a few nights ago grab Elder Hartshorn behind. It has been interesting, very interesting. One lady was calling me Sweet Eyes. We won't be going back to that area anytime soon I think.





Other then that last pday, we were lucky enough to enjoy a trip to some waterfalls which was really cool. I'm out of time and out of ideas as to what to write. It has been that kind of a week. I'm trying to send some pictures should be interesting. I love you all and I wish you well!





Love,





Elder Nathan John Nielson

78th Week

Sorry for being so lame this week but I can't think of a good subject so I hope that works! Either way!





Hello Family and Friends!





I've heard that most of you are doing quite well and I'm happy to hear about that. It's been yet another week in the mission field and that is always a blessing. To receive another day to serve our Heavenly Father. I don't have too much to say though as a lot of people have been dropping us this last week. Actually to be honest, people keep harassing us. I don't know how I feel about that but I guess we just work with it and see where it goes. In fact, a girl a few nights ago grab Elder Hartshorn behind. It has been interesting, very interesting. One lady was calling me Sweet Eyes. We won't be going back to that area anytime soon I think.





Other then that last pday, we were lucky enough to enjoy a trip to some waterfalls which was really cool. I'm out of time and out of ideas as to what to write. It has been that kind of a week. I'm trying to send some pictures should be interesting. I love you all and I wish you well!





Love,





Elder Nathan John Nielson

77th Week

Well Hello Family!
I hope you are all doing well because I am too

As you saw yesterday, I will be staying in Grenada in Gouyave as the district leader. It was a surprising call as I was expecting to leave and as of the second to last version of the transfer sheet I was going to leave. Then I guess, right at the end, I got the opportunity to stay. It'll be an interesting transfer one filled with adventurer, secrets, and teaching of the doctrine. We've got a lot of work to do before Gouyave is a sustainable member of the church but so it is. We just keep working and doing our best right!

Biggest story of the week was getting rob this last Thursday. Elder Hartshorn puts his small carry-on bag next to the window and I guess a vagrant (homeless person) came by and pulled the bag through the window while we slept. He got $300-500 EC which is approximately $120-225 US. Not a big deal as it was his MSF from last transfer and he had enough to get through til the next transfer but it was quite the event nonetheless. Oddly enough, he put his bag right back in the same place. I don't really understand that to be honest but I guess so it is.
I'm doing really well. I got my New Year's Resolutions together and I'm hoping for some really good things to happen this year. I hope you are all hoping for good things as well. I will be staying in Grenada so that means my address will be staying the same. Incase you all forgot it, the address is:
Elder Nathan John Nielson
PO Box 3804
Lagoon Road
St. George's
Grenada, West Indies

I think I'll have to end this here but I love you all and I hope you all keep up the good work. I'm also exciting to hear about OSU, OU, Utah and other assortments of victories across the college football world.

Love you all,
Love,
Elder Nathan John Nielson
ps - I hope you enjoy the Mike & Ikes

76th Week

Merry Christmas Family!

Whoops! I fear that might be a bit late. I guess that is how it is...


Either way, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! It certainly was an interesting one for myself. Most interesting is when we I hung up with my father and said, "Talk to you in five, see you in six." What an interesting experience it is to have a last of something. A last phone call, a last Christmas, or even a last day. It makes you think and ponder such things as, "Why did I say that," or even, "What did they mean by that?" We come and go into other people's lives so quickly that it is amazing the impact we can have on one another. I was thinking about my experience at the University of Oklahoma before my mission a bit ago and realized that by the time I returned many of those people would be gone. Perhaps moved somewhere else, or at least changed in a way that made them different then how I left them. I guess that means we have to seize the day, Carpe Diem, and never live with regrets as to what could or should have been. This has become particularly meaningful to me these last few days.

On the 19th, we were in St. George's for p-day when we went and looked at a store that sales all sorts of Grenada things, flags and such. The owners also happen to be the landlords to the Elders that live in St. George's. They gave myself and the Elder I was with, Elder Hunt, a free calendar. Which is pretty cool to be honest, I like it a lot. The calendar is for the year 2012. The rest of the day, Elder Hunt was staring at the calendar it seemed. I asked him why but he just mumbled some reply when I realized he was staring at a date in August. He realized his own demise you could say. He realized that it had to end. He realized that the end was soon.

So it is with us all I guess you could say. We were born with expiration dates. Some of them longer then others. Some would allow us to fly, swim, dive, and explore. Some would barely give us enough time to come to earth to receive a body. The same is true with our experiences. Everyone has a working expiration date, a school expiration date, and even a sports expiration date. We do our best to hang on and to play on but in the end it has to end. Thus we go on, some too cautious to accomplish anything, some too reckless and thus they lose everything. I like to think that I've been doing my best in terms of my mission to have fun within the boundaries set by the Lord. Thus, I feel like I've been able to accomplish everything that is requested on me, to this point.

As I look forward to the New Year that begins Sunday Morning/Saturday Night. I look forward to new opportunities to play, to love, and to cry. I look forward to the end of things and the beginning of others. I look forward with as much faith as I possibly can have. I know the year will be a great one and one which we should treasure and love. It will bring happiness, sadness, losses, and gains. Loved ones will leave us and loved ones will come. I hope and pray for you all that you'll look forward to this year with faith and not fear. There is great things to happen. I guess ultimately, when you believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ there is no true end, there is only a continuation for eternity.

My love for you all has grown immensely since our separation on that fateful day in June 2010. It will continue to grow and I cannot wait to see you again. Whether it be in Heaven or here. Heavenly Father loves you and me. I know that my family, that means you and I, can and will be together forever. Through our Heavenly Fathers beautiful plan.

I love you all,

Love your Elder,

75th Week

Well Family and Friends! That is mostly true unless it is included in the family email!





It has been another week of turmoil and strife that is to say, walking and talking. I've really enjoyed working in English this last few days because I've said some pretty outrageous things that I couldn't say in Dutch... For example, asking someone if their bowl was microwave friendly, I wouldn't know how to say that in het Engels. More importantly though, we worked really hard this week and were able to teach a total of 20 other lessons which is nice. That doesn't even include our member or recent convert/less active lessons. We were busy.





We are currently working with three investigators as Brother O'clara was dropped this last week.





We have:



Sabrine, a 19 year old young women. She likes playing net-ball(basketball) and goes to school. She has actually showed the most amount of promise as she is keeping her commitments. We are a bit scared though that she might be a bit more into Elder Hartshorn/Nielson then the gospel but we'll keep trying unto we have reason to quit.





Michael, a 27 year old man. Works at the local grocery store weighing bags of sugar, salt, and other things to ensure proper weight. Pretty interested and read through the pamphlet we gave him on the street. Cool story about him is that I contacted him on the street. Then we prayed with him on the street and taught him. He is a pretty good prospect.





Last but not least is Lee, a 26 year old man. He is actually from Victoria which is a 10-15 minute bus ride to the north of Gouyave. Pretty solid guy but doesn't seem to have transportation which is always a problem it seems. We'll see how it goes.





Other then that I've been doing really well and I can't believe that the Christmas season is upon us soo quickly. My parents are ready and excited about the phone call and I'm sure they will pass on any needed information. This week I was impressed to study faith and as such I spent all week during my personal study (1 hour a day) studying faith. It was a delightful experience and I really enjoyed it. I hope that I can use it to increase my faith and also the faith of those around me.





This Christmas I hope that we will all take the time to love those people around us and help those that are less-fortunate. More then that though, I hope you all do your best to increase your faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Some people here in Grenada do not like or do not celebrate Christmas because Jesus was not actually born in December. I feel bad for them as they are missing the point. Yes, we are to love and remember Christ all-year-round. But Christmas is a special time. I hope you are take advantage of this time. I love you all. Even You! More importantly, remember that Christ loves you too!





With that I wish you all well and and a Merry Christmas! I hope you include me in your prayers and also in your Christmas Card Lists!





With Much Love from me to you!





Love your Elder,





Elder Nathan John Nielson

74th Week

Hey Family,

I'm sorry to report that I have sinned against you all recently with my poor efforts in writing a family email. I hope you'll all forgive me but sometimes it happens to even the greatest. Certainly not being the greatest it happens to me a ton! Either way though, I love you all?

The week has been pretty vanilla for Grenada that is to say it hasn't made a lot of sense to me. I'm still not sure what language they are speaking here. I'm thinking it is a cross between French and German but I'm not a 100% sure. Hopefully, I can figure it out soon as it has hampered the work. On a serious note, I can understood most people but man there are some. It reminds me a lot of when I was first in Tennessee and man some of those people are not understandable. I loved them though and I miss it nonetheless.

Currently, we have one progressing investigator. His name is O'Clara Francis. He has a problem with the word of wisdom and is otherwise quite weird. His family used to own the only shoe store here in Gouyave but it burned down and his family all passed away and now he's become a bit weird... We are working with him and he comes to church so I guess that is good. He are shooting for a baptism on the 24th of December but to be honest with the smoking how it is now that might be pushed back. We have faith though.

Christmas is coming as you all know but it has been funny watching them prepare for it here. It certainly does not feel like Christmas. That is okay though. Everyone does it differently. Here they like to drink Sorrel and Ginger Beer for Christmas and eat a lot of Ham. I guess that isn't too different but I don't know.

Funny thing about being here is we see the Cruise ships passing every few nights. They are giant boats and they currently are my escape plan in case things hit the fan.The other funny thing is that the branch in St. George's is made up of mostly Medical Students from America. So are attendance just took a hit of 24 or so when they all went home and it'll take another hit this next week. It was weird though as there were a lot of white people for the first time in my mission in church. Very strange....

Either way,

I love you all

Love,

Elder Nathan John Nielson

ps Go State! Fiesta Bowl!

73rd week

Things are going generally well. Grenada is a lot different then Suriname in a lot of ways so I'm just trying not to compare the two. Elders and Sisters here. Don't know how to handle sisters. I of course mean spiritually and not physically. I don't physically handle the sisters that is against the rules. Weird mission culture here. They believe in being slightly disobedient which is a lot different then the righteous and probably Jewish zeal of the Suriname elders in regards to obedience. I love it though and safely can say I work harder then most if not all of them here. What I'm starting to realize is that each area/zone of the mission has its own culture and own practices. I would say the Suriname elders lacked the skill and really struggled there but we were extremely obedient where here obedience seems to be lacking.



For Christmas if it isn't too late I'd love another Calendar for this next year but instead of buying one/a generic one you should go down to Costco and make one using family photos and the such it would be really cool. A few Elders have them and I'd love one as well. (Everyone should send him a family Calendar!!!! John)



My address is

Elder Nathan John Nielson
PO Box 3804
Lagoon Road
St. George's
Gernada, West Indies