Week 3: September 25, 2010

SO I am almost done with my stay here in the MTC, on Wednesday all of the Cape Town Missionaries are going flying in and are going to be in their new areas. So I will be somewhere in the actual mission field by next Thursday. I am really excited and I'm having a lot of fun here with all of the great guys. We have been learning a whole lot these last few weeks about all of the lessons and scriptural things. I guess I'm also quite nervous about going out into the field, mostly because I don't know what my first companion will be like. Hopefully I will have a good Elder to train me and not someone who is lazy and has no work ethic. I know that this MTC experience has really helped me learn and most importantly taught me how to study effectively. These last two weeks have been so jam packed with imformation that it was kind of like drinking out of a firehose but I have been able to retain a whole lot of information. All Elder Brady needed to say is that when Jesus was on the earth he established his church and after his death the great apostacy happend. Today we have that church on the earth again eph 4:5 one lord, one faith, one baptism. amos 3:7

This next week I will be able to e-mail you much longer but I'm not sure on what day I will have the opportunity to. Sorry these emails have been so short.

Love Elder Nielsen

Week 2: September 17, 2010

Hey so it looks like every thing is going well as far as future employment, that's good although I must say I haven't really been worrying too much about that. I know you guys will be fine. My daily life here in the MTC consists of breakfast at 7 personal study 7:30 to 8:30 and companion study until 9. At 9 we usually go into a LGM (large group meeting) until 11 then we will go to our district classrooms. My district has about 12 elders in it 6 from Africa and the others from the states. 12:30 lunch at 1:30 missionary directed time. 3:30 physical activity. 5 dinner. 6 back to district classes and at 9 we have daily planning with our companions. My companions name is Elder Barlow and he is from the motor city. He and I get along great we have done pretty well as far as teaching lessons and socializing with people. The thing I like about this MTC is that we can talk to real people here in SA, like today we got back from the mall and we were talking to a whole bunch of people it was pretty cool. I like it here and I look forward to acutally getting out into the field where hopefully I can be able to spend more time on emails but there is only a certain amount of time we have to do so and a lot of elders that need to write home. I have heard that packages take forever to get here so who knows when I will get it. Love you all so much.

Love,
Elder Nielsen

Cousins

Here is a short email Elder Nielsen sent to his cousin, Colin

Hey cousin im doing good and its a whole lot of work and fun here in the Joberg SA MTC. The food is also really good and im enjoying spending time with all the other cool elders here. There are about 35 of us about 20 from the states and 15 from here in Africa. There is this one Elder who speaks zulu and that language is awesome! Anyways today is Saturday which is our Pday so we are going to an African market. Sorry this is going to be a short email I dont have much time since there are a bunch of elders that want to email home. Next saturday I'll be able to email you again.

Elder Nielsen

Week 1: September 11, 2010

The first couple of days in the MTC have been great, we have been learning alot and are all having fun at the same time. On the plane very few elders were able to get a good amount of sleep so when we arrived in SA we weren't able to sleep at night. So the first night here all of us Americans stayed up and played ping pong all night. The next night we were able to sleep and get rid of our jet lag. The days here in the MTC are packed full of learning so at the end of the day we are all so mentally tired, the food is also really good, there is no mayonnaise or whatever crap there is in America, I love it here and I'm having a whole lot of fun.

Love, Elder Nielsen

Arriving at MTC

We got an email from Chase around 2:30 pm today letting us know that he made it to the Johannesburg MTC safely. He seems to be adjusting well and is already getting spoiled by his momma.

Here is his short email:

Hey mom, myself and 17 other Elders made it to the MTC here in Joberg and we are just getting settled into the dorms. Hey I wanted to ask you where you put my other name tag or if it is still at home. I'm pretty sure it is probably still at home and I just forgot it, but its no big deal I'll just have to wear the name tag I have. I will be allowed to e-mail you on saturday I guess that is pday but I love you and thanks so much for all those gifts you hid in my luggage.

Love Elder Nielsen

Leaving The States

Chase flew out of the Seattle-Tacoma Airport this morning at 7:05 am. Chase and his companion will arrive in Atlanta at approximately 2:59pm EST, where they will meet four other missionaries who are also on their way to South Africa. They will be leaving Atlanta at 7:10pm.

Email sent from Chase's Mom:
"He [Chase] received a beautiful blessing from President Sanelli last night. Chase and President Sanelli have been home teaching companions for 6 years so it was very fitting to have him set him apart. He blessed Chase with safety and told him that he will learn much in the next two years. There is a specific work for him to do on his mission. I was able to pin his tag on him and what a experience that was!

While we were at the airport this morning waiting for Chase to get his bag checked, a man came up and introduced himself as Bishop Anderson and asked "Where is your son going on his mission?" I told him, and he asked if it would be okay with me and Elder Nielsen if he escorted him to his gate. He is the Bishop in the Port Angeles area and flies every week to MN for work. Whenever he sees missionaries leaving he likes to help them along so he walked with Elder Nielsen to his gate. Tender Mercies!!"

Here are some pictures of the airport goodbyes:

Chase should be arriving in South Africa at 4:45 pm on September 8th. He reports to the MTC on September 9th down in Johannesburg. South Africa is 8 hours ahead of MST.

We can't wait for our first letter!