Happy Pioneer Day Yall!!!
Willie got baptized!!! It was so awesome. All day on Saturday I was worried about the baptism, and then about 2 hours before, he text and asked what he needed to wear.. it was awesome. The service was the best I have been apart of on my mission. It was so awesome. He has built some friendships with some of the guys in the ward from playing soccer, so there was quite a good turnout, and his parents came as well. Brother Pierce, the guy that came to Salt Lake, gave a talk and then Brother Watt, one of the members here, baptized Willie...after the baptism, Bishop Westenskow spoke, welcoming Willie to the ward and he gave an amazing talk. He is a really cool guy and is jumping into being Bishop. He has helped us out a ton and is really taking an interest in the work. I got to get up and bear my testimony during the baptism as well, which was cool. I just told Willie's parents how awesome he was and how fun it had been to see him prepare to get baptized...I think his parents liked the whole night a lot.
Yesterday he was confirmed during sacrament meeting and he was like "yall need to teach me how to do the offering stuff", so we showed him the slips and he paid his tithing right then and there. sooo cool. I don't think I have had anyone jump into the gospel like he has. He has embraced everything...He is an awesome dude.
So I have to tell you about the Gossett family. We had dinner at their house about 2 weeks ago and Brother Gossett told us if we ever don't have a dinner apt. to just call them and they would make it happen. So we have been over there 4 times now, and they are so cool. Brother Gossett owns a body shop and he just talks to me about all his cars that he has owned and the cars he is fixing up right now. Some of his old stories are hilarious. I just kept thinking what a funny night it would be if we could get him, dad, Gary Reynolds and Jeff Penrose together...he had us laughing all night long. They are so awesome. For the next High Priest activity Brother Gossett is having the High Priests over and they are going to blow up a beaver dam with dynamite...haha
We have been getting out and tracting quite a bit. We are still hoping to find some more baptisms. I found a scripture the other day that I liked. It is Jeremiah 16:16, it just says that in this dispensation that fishers would be sent and then hunters...at the beginning of the restoration, missionary work was like fishing. They could cast their nets out and pull in a bunch of fish at once. But now missionary work is more like hunting. You have to go out and search high and low for the elect. So that is what we are going to do!!! haha
I love you guys. Thank you for everything you do for me!
Love Elder Nelson
ps...Tell everyone hellllooo for me! and the church is true!!! Here is a great quote:
"I would rather be a Mormon, and know I am going to hell, than be anyone else, and not be sure."
haha and thus it is, amen... love you guys!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
July 18, 2011
Hola Mi Familia!
So this week was pretty amazing. We had the zone leaders come work with us, and I got paired up with Elder Hyer. He is from North Ogden. We had an awesome day and worked our tails off. I made a decision though, we waste so much time trying to figure out what to do next when appointments fall through, because we always try to figure out what we can do besides tract, but this week we tracked for about 5 hours a day, and I feel great. I'm completely worn out, but I feel so much better inside knowing that we didn't waste time. We were able to meet some awesome people. It was really good...anyways, we are going to be working our tails off. haha
So Willie is getting baptized on Saturday, and we are stoked. We had a lesson on Wednesday, and we were talking and he said "those things that don't kill you make you stronger", and I made a Kanye West comment, we laughed for a few minutes and before we left he just said "Hey guys, thanks for brightening my day, I needed it... It is amazing seeing the changes in peoples lives when we meet them. Once they start feeling the spirit and striving to make changes in their lives they just look better and you can tell they feel better too. I wish I could take some credit for it, haha but it is all on the Lord...
Alright, the answers to your questions:
l. The sisters names are sister Rich and Sister Tunetti
2. Our district consists of Me, Elder Z, the Sisters and Elder Lisch and Elder Allen
3. The bunny in the picture was given to us by a member in the Memphis 1st ward around Easter.
there was a joke to go along with it, but I won't share that now.
4. Transfers are in 3 weeks, and I have no idea what is going to happen...
So tell everybody hello for me. I've got to run. I love yall.
Love, Elder Nelson
Monday, July 11, 2011
July 11, 2011
Hey Family!
So first off, yall have got to check out this video. fox 13 news in Memphis followed Elder Badger around in my old area:( and did a special on us haha pretty funny...
anyways, things have been awesome. We set a date with Willie!!! it was so cool. We also met President Petersen Saturday morning, and he was a stud. He was a lot like Pres. Drewes, but President Drewes was all about getting the job done, even if it meant skipping out on a few rules. President Petersen is all about being exactly obedient and miracles will follow...we bought in!!! and then went out to the car and snapped all of our cd's that weren't basically motab.. but then we went by Willie's and we were talking to him and he was giving us the same stuff as always...he wants to get baptized but isn't ready, and I was just praying for some inspiration to know what to say, and then it hit me, so I started to talk and the next thing I knew I asked him if he will get baptized on the 23rd, and he said yes..it was so cool. We are planning on seeing all kinds of miracles.
Willie has been welcomed by the ward so much. He plays soccer every Saturday with all the guys, and is going disk golfing with us and a member today. He has had dinner at members homes, and people talk about him in lessons and how much he has helped them, and he has been opening up about how much we and the ward have helped him. It has been really cool. Every time we go over he talks about how much his life has improved since he started meeting with us. I am pumped. We have got to find some more people though. We will.
So we started this new thing here in Southaven. I sent it to you and it will explain it hopefully a little more. Basically we are giving members of the ward rubber bands and the rubber bands allow us to eliminate all unhappiness from our lives. It sounds really cheesy, but it really works.
Hopefully Elder Z won't be mad for me saying this, but he has been in the dumps for a few weeks now. We started this thing and we have been doing so much better. I am turning into such a goober... I promised myself I wouldn't, but whatever. It's inevitable.
It was pretty fun going to church yesterday and all the members we had done it with had their rubber bands on and were snapping each other. It was way cool. It has now spread through the mission to I think 4 or 5 areas. They are all doing it now.
Not much else going on. Just been having some fun and workin hard.
I love you guys!
love Elder Nelson
Saturday, July 9, 2011
July 6, 2011
Hey everybody,
Sorry I wasn't able to e-mail on Monday or yesterday, the library was closed for the 4th of July and then yesterday we had some people we needed to see, so I told Elder Z that we would have to put it off. Anyways, things are actually picking up quite a bit. Willie came to church again, this time he stayed for all 3 hours. It was really a cool meeting. We also had a less active we working with bring his cousin. We are sitting in Sacrament and this 8 year old girl bears her testimony about getting baptized and the spirit was incredible. This guy Jason, just looked over and asked "what do I have to do to get baptized". It was really cool. The sisters in the ward had a similar experience with a guy they have been teaching who is going to get baptized now. It was a really good experience.
We also had a lesson in Priesthood on Charity. Brother Peirce (the guy that you helped with the apartments) , (I can't remember exactly what he said), but it was about the judgment and my thoughts on it were that so many churches/religions worry about the punishment we will receive from our mistakes, when we really should be judged on our righteous actions. I think that hit Willie when he said it, and it was really cool. We are going by to see him tonight and are planning on setting a date. I'm excited!
Another cool story, yesterday, we were blitzing our area. Basically I went with Elder Allen and Elder Z. went with Elder Lisch. We went and worked for awhile. But Elder Allen and I contacted this guy named Johnnie. When we walked up he was pretty hostile to us, and Elder Allen was about to go back at him, but for some reason I felt like we shouldn't, so I just read a scripture from the BOM to him. He ended up opening up to us a little and told us how he had lost his kids about a year ago. I asked him what it would mean to him if he could be his children's father forever, and he got a little teary eyed and said it would mean the world to him. He invited us back to teach him, so I am really excited for that.
So on the 4th, we played disk golf with Willie in the morning again. (by the way, right after you sent me those disks, he gave me like five of his. haha I think that makes me a legit golfer... Anyway, it was pretty fun, and I almost beat him, which is amazing, because he is unreal. I think I will beat him before this transfer is over though. After that we went over to the Drake's home and had a BBQ with them and the former Bishop's family, the Taylor's. We spent a few hours there and then went and played some more disk golf. We then picked up the Senatobia Elders because they were spending the night at our apt. and they totalled their car on a raccoon a couple of days ago.
Things have been really good though. I told myself that this area was going to get turned around and it is. I was told no one has really worked hard here in awhile, so it is prime!!
I haven't been able to meet Pres. Petersen yet. We are having interviews with him down in Senatobia on Saturday. I am excited for that. I have been told that he is much like Pres. Drewes. The biggest difference is that Pres. Drewes was all about doing whatever it takes to get it done and Pres. Peterson is about getting the Lords help in everything and that miracles will begin to happen. It's pretty cool though because Pres. Drewes has been taking about that kind of stuff for a couple of transfers now, and it has led perfectly into Pres. Peterson. haha It is what we refer to as one of those "church coincidences"...
That's so cool to hear a out everybody in the ward heading out on their missions. Who all is out and when do the rest of them head out? You will have to let me know...
I love you guys, thank you for everything...
Love Elder Nelson
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