It was great to hear every ones voice over the phone and also for the pictures mom sent its always good to get a visual of what i missed out on this year. The Christmas for me was very humble and I really enjoyed noticing the hustle and bustle of Christmas from a distance and really focusing on the true meaning of the holiday. Yes we now know that Christs birth actually was in early April although the holiday is still celebrated on the 25th of December. But it was just nice to really think about the significance of the day and not having to worry about the worldly things
Anyways I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend spending it with the family as it always is a blast and I sure enjoyed talking to everyone.
Love,
E. Nielsen
Friday, December 31, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Week 15: December 20, 2010
Yes so this week was pretty interesting for me, I was transferred to Bellville and Bellville is to Cape Town as Bellevue is to Seattle. So I am really in the thick of things which is awesome. My new companion is Elder Kogo from Kenya and he is a super cool guy I am really going to enjoy serving with him. Bellville is probably the biggest areas in the mission so its a little bit of a change from the smallest area in the mission. I wasnt too sad to leave Paarl but i was kinda sad to leave a couple missionaries that are still serving there. I however love being in the car and I am the designated driver since E.Kogo doesn't have a license which most Africans don't. It is a little interesting to drive on the left hand side of the road but i have gotten used to it. Every day I get a great view of Table mountain and it's just breathtaking, one of these Pdays we are going to hike it as a district. Pdays here are going to be much more exciting than in Paarl, im so excited to be serving around Cape Town and for the chance to get to know the area.
Although the work here in Bellville is said to be very challenging because it is a white area and not many people are receptive to our message. I do look forward to knocking doors at Bellville Hill which is where all the rich people live and man they have HUGE homes, i'm just interested in finding out what those people do for a living and maybe making friends with them and maybe teaching them a little about the truth haha. But yeah i guess im bound to be a white area missionary which is fine with me because I can deal with being rejected and I think president knows that. Ahh this is going to be a transfer that I dont want to end because E Kogo is just too cool, I really took for granted my first companion so im really going to cherish this one. Also the district here is a six man with Milnerton ( 2 month Elder Zimunhu, Zimbabwe, 22 month Elder Carver, UTah) and Panorama ZL's (Elder Anderson Utah, and Elder McChargue Rocklin Idaho haha) yes but everyone in the district is nice which is a really good thing.
But yes i can tell you all about whatever you want to know on the phone saturday I will most likely call collect from a members home.
Mom I havent yet recieved my package but the Zl's have some post that they want to give to us later on in the day so maybe its in there. Oh and dont send any M&M's last time they melted and spilled on the bottom of the package but no big deal nohing was hurt.
Dad wow Walgreens is up 10 bucks from where i bought it! I dont know what that trend looks like but i am up on it a little. whatever you feel is best on that one maybe a target mark of.
I look forward to talking to all of you on the phone saturday and have a Merry Christmas!
Although the work here in Bellville is said to be very challenging because it is a white area and not many people are receptive to our message. I do look forward to knocking doors at Bellville Hill which is where all the rich people live and man they have HUGE homes, i'm just interested in finding out what those people do for a living and maybe making friends with them and maybe teaching them a little about the truth haha. But yeah i guess im bound to be a white area missionary which is fine with me because I can deal with being rejected and I think president knows that. Ahh this is going to be a transfer that I dont want to end because E Kogo is just too cool, I really took for granted my first companion so im really going to cherish this one. Also the district here is a six man with Milnerton ( 2 month Elder Zimunhu, Zimbabwe, 22 month Elder Carver, UTah) and Panorama ZL's (Elder Anderson Utah, and Elder McChargue Rocklin Idaho haha) yes but everyone in the district is nice which is a really good thing.
But yes i can tell you all about whatever you want to know on the phone saturday I will most likely call collect from a members home.
Mom I havent yet recieved my package but the Zl's have some post that they want to give to us later on in the day so maybe its in there. Oh and dont send any M&M's last time they melted and spilled on the bottom of the package but no big deal nohing was hurt.
Dad wow Walgreens is up 10 bucks from where i bought it! I dont know what that trend looks like but i am up on it a little. whatever you feel is best on that one maybe a target mark of.
I look forward to talking to all of you on the phone saturday and have a Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Week 14: December 14, 2010
Yesterday we had a zone P-day which means that we had to drive to Cape Town to attend and since we are the "banished" Elders in Paarl it takes up time with travel. So that is the reason i wasn't able to send out an email yesterday but luckily today we are able to do so. Everything is going well here and it is transfers week so its kind of exciting and yes mom i did get the thanksgiving package and I LOVE that blanket, although now its summer time so ill just have to wait to actually use it.
The zone Pday was nice and it kind of had a Christmas feel which was cool and also its sweet to see Elders in my Transfer. Congrats Ariel that is awesome thanks for sending me that ultrasound and wow close to dad's Bday thats great! wow ill be 10 months on mission when the baby is born. I am excited for both of you and Brian!
yes so this past week I printed off some of the pictures I had compiled onto my SD card and sent some photos out to you Mom and Dad, this time of year in Paarl is very beautiful and also very hot. But yes i just wanted to give you two a visual of what South Africa looks like.
The missionary work here is going well we have found some good quality people to teach who seem genuinely interested in the gospel, although they have their own church they are willing to learn more and accept our commitments that we leave them (such as reading the book of Mormon, Praying to recieve a witness of truth through the holy ghost and coming to church). But yes most of the people here are stubborn and tell us "no I already have Jesus in my life and I dont have time for you" but thats O.K. we just go on to the next door. Its hard sometimes to see such people drowning in their pride and its impossible no matter how hard you try to break down their walls and defences they built without ever knowing it. We as missionaries just want to help people find the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ that we ourselves have already found for ourselves. I must say it is an awesome experience to finally have that opportunity to sit down with people who are willing to listen and to learn, it gives me at least loads of joy. After this thursday I will no longer be a trainee and will become a Junior companion yippie!
On Christmas day I will probably call aunt Sondra's home around 11 am or 12 noon which will be about 7 or 8 pm my time. I will be able to talk for 40 minutes (which is according to the White Handbook) and yeah im excited for it, it will be nice to hear everyones voice again. Hope all of you have a wonderful time leading up to Christmas!
Love,
Elder Nielsen
The zone Pday was nice and it kind of had a Christmas feel which was cool and also its sweet to see Elders in my Transfer. Congrats Ariel that is awesome thanks for sending me that ultrasound and wow close to dad's Bday thats great! wow ill be 10 months on mission when the baby is born. I am excited for both of you and Brian!
yes so this past week I printed off some of the pictures I had compiled onto my SD card and sent some photos out to you Mom and Dad, this time of year in Paarl is very beautiful and also very hot. But yes i just wanted to give you two a visual of what South Africa looks like.
The missionary work here is going well we have found some good quality people to teach who seem genuinely interested in the gospel, although they have their own church they are willing to learn more and accept our commitments that we leave them (such as reading the book of Mormon, Praying to recieve a witness of truth through the holy ghost and coming to church). But yes most of the people here are stubborn and tell us "no I already have Jesus in my life and I dont have time for you" but thats O.K. we just go on to the next door. Its hard sometimes to see such people drowning in their pride and its impossible no matter how hard you try to break down their walls and defences they built without ever knowing it. We as missionaries just want to help people find the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ that we ourselves have already found for ourselves. I must say it is an awesome experience to finally have that opportunity to sit down with people who are willing to listen and to learn, it gives me at least loads of joy. After this thursday I will no longer be a trainee and will become a Junior companion yippie!
On Christmas day I will probably call aunt Sondra's home around 11 am or 12 noon which will be about 7 or 8 pm my time. I will be able to talk for 40 minutes (which is according to the White Handbook) and yeah im excited for it, it will be nice to hear everyones voice again. Hope all of you have a wonderful time leading up to Christmas!
Love,
Elder Nielsen
Monday, December 6, 2010
Week 13: December 6, 2010
Wow thats cool! haha my companion has never seen snow so i showed him the pictures you sent me mom, thank you so much. The new house looks really nice, man i wish i could have shoveled that drive twould have been fun. I can tell that i have really put on some weight here in Paarl, but whats cool is that its not fat but rather muscle. My butt is getting bigger cuz its filling out my pants. I actually enjoy this new found weight ive been looking for it a long time.
Uncle Kirk I am praying for you and I hope you are doing well at this time.
Anyways this week was nice we had district exchanges and zone leader exchanges aswell. At our zone conference on wednesday we learned that transfers are going to be one week early because of Christmas (if transfers were a week later it would be on the 23rd) so that is exciting. Im not sure if i will be moved or not im just going to wait and see what happens come what may i suppose. We have found some potential investigators this week so it will be interesting to follow up with them. Instead of riding bikes this transfer we have decided to walk which is good because walking is a much more effective way of doing missionary work as far as i am concerned. Everything is going well with Elder Maja we get along alright.
Mom I have not yet recieved the package you sent me but im expecting it this week or the next. It sounds like you are really looking to find something to do haha hopefully you find a career that you will enjoy ill keep that in mind as i pray this week. I like that new ornament yes finally done with high school! All those ornaments are packed full of wonderful memories.
Dad, that vandal game would have been awesome to be at! Im sure that dome was booming haha, oh man i can recall all those close games we attended in that place what fun those are! It sounds like you are well on your way to getting some good clients, that is so cool.
Ariel and Brian wow how awesome that is you are gonna be parents! Im excited for you. When is that baby due?
Colin and Whitney yo that is sweet that snowmobile day that would have been awesome! Whitney are you going to be like a student teacher for a certain period of time or is it a full time gig in Idaho falls?
It sounds like everyone is doing well and i hope everyone has a wonderful week leading up to Christmas.
Elder Chase Nielsen
Uncle Kirk I am praying for you and I hope you are doing well at this time.
Anyways this week was nice we had district exchanges and zone leader exchanges aswell. At our zone conference on wednesday we learned that transfers are going to be one week early because of Christmas (if transfers were a week later it would be on the 23rd) so that is exciting. Im not sure if i will be moved or not im just going to wait and see what happens come what may i suppose. We have found some potential investigators this week so it will be interesting to follow up with them. Instead of riding bikes this transfer we have decided to walk which is good because walking is a much more effective way of doing missionary work as far as i am concerned. Everything is going well with Elder Maja we get along alright.
Mom I have not yet recieved the package you sent me but im expecting it this week or the next. It sounds like you are really looking to find something to do haha hopefully you find a career that you will enjoy ill keep that in mind as i pray this week. I like that new ornament yes finally done with high school! All those ornaments are packed full of wonderful memories.
Dad, that vandal game would have been awesome to be at! Im sure that dome was booming haha, oh man i can recall all those close games we attended in that place what fun those are! It sounds like you are well on your way to getting some good clients, that is so cool.
Ariel and Brian wow how awesome that is you are gonna be parents! Im excited for you. When is that baby due?
Colin and Whitney yo that is sweet that snowmobile day that would have been awesome! Whitney are you going to be like a student teacher for a certain period of time or is it a full time gig in Idaho falls?
It sounds like everyone is doing well and i hope everyone has a wonderful week leading up to Christmas.
Elder Chase Nielsen
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