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
Monday, January 30, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
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
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
Sunday, January 22, 2012
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
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
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,
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
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!
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
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
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)