Well it seems I have been neglecting some birthdays, so to Cooper and Brian Happy Birthday!
Yes so this long seven week transfer is nearly over just one more day and maybe we will have some changes in Belleville, I don't think I am going anywhere but everyone has a hunch that my companion is moving. Also this transfer Elder Carver goes home which is exciting but at the same time sad because we have become pretty good friends the past transfer. Mom I don't know why you are sending me those rainbow point emails sometimes I wonder if you are trying to make me homesick, but to tell you the truth I do enjoy reading those correspondences and it gets me excited about the fun that you guys would have there without me ha weird uh?
Wow gospel doctrine teacher mom that's awesome I bet they give you a sweet teachers manual for that class, and remember that we will never be tried or challenged any more than we can endure. Im not saying you will have to endure this calling of yours because there are some awesome times ahead of you. I have really enjoyed teaching the gospel principles class to recent converts and investigators every other sunday it's a whole lot of fun! You get a lot of joy out of teaching people and having good classroom discussions especially when someone learns something new, and that's what's great about the gospel there is always something new to learn always. I hope you get that job!
As far as missionary work it has been pretty slow and the baptism has been moved back a week and possibly will be moved to the end of the month. Other than transfers this week and the baptism moving back there really is no special news to report, we just continue to see less actives recent converts and the few investigators that we have.
And wow Ariel you are getting a little belly there, when's the baby due?
Colin that is some awesome news about school and Ohio that will be an incredible experience I would bet, hope everything continues to go well for you and whitney.
I pray that everyone has a spectacular week!
Elder Nielsen
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Week 20: January 24, 2011
It seems like just yesterday I sat down to write my weekly letter home, but here it is again another week gone. The week really did go by fast with all the appointments we had and the busy schedules we are trying to control. We have some really exciting news, it seems that we will be baptising two people either on feb 6 or feb 13 depending on what the Bishop decides. Actually we as missionaries are only baptising one person and the ward the other because one is a child of record. Its kind of a long story but in short there is a single mother in our ward who is a recent convert, we are baptising both of her children, the one is ten years old and the other is turning eight on feb 5. I'm excited for that and I think it will really make us missionaries work with a lot more confidence and diligence, sometimes you have to accomplish what you are trying to do every once in a while.
Today I want to list out what I will usually eat in a single day starting from Breakfast down to my evening snacks.
Breakfast:
2 eggs (the way mom used to make em for me) R 20 (18 pack)
bowl of strawberry flavoured porrage (just add water and stir) R15 ( 1 packet about 10-12 bowls)
2 or 3 plums R12 (carton of 50)
Lunch:
PB&J ( 2 triple stacker's)
plums optional
Dinner:
for dinner what I will usually do is boil up some pasta noodles, brown some mince and also steam up some veggies put it all together and throw some spaghetti sauce on top to put a finishing touch on the recipe. this is kind of a missionary special nothing a chef would make but its cheap and can fill you up which is all a missionary really cares about anyways.
Something that I have come to learn about South Africa is that food and clothing is dirt cheap here but electronics and other appliances are about the same price as back home. I was really shocked this last week I went out shopping at a grocery store here (pick'NPay) and I came away with all my weekly essentials and it only rang up to $15 (US Dollars) which is about R105 (SA Rands).
I hope every one has a spectacular week!
Chase
Today I want to list out what I will usually eat in a single day starting from Breakfast down to my evening snacks.
Breakfast:
2 eggs (the way mom used to make em for me) R 20 (18 pack)
bowl of strawberry flavoured porrage (just add water and stir) R15 ( 1 packet about 10-12 bowls)
2 or 3 plums R12 (carton of 50)
Lunch:
PB&J ( 2 triple stacker's)
plums optional
Dinner:
for dinner what I will usually do is boil up some pasta noodles, brown some mince and also steam up some veggies put it all together and throw some spaghetti sauce on top to put a finishing touch on the recipe. this is kind of a missionary special nothing a chef would make but its cheap and can fill you up which is all a missionary really cares about anyways.
Something that I have come to learn about South Africa is that food and clothing is dirt cheap here but electronics and other appliances are about the same price as back home. I was really shocked this last week I went out shopping at a grocery store here (pick'NPay) and I came away with all my weekly essentials and it only rang up to $15 (US Dollars) which is about R105 (SA Rands).
I hope every one has a spectacular week!
Chase
Monday, January 17, 2011
Week 19: January 17, 2010
Hello!
Wow it seems that everybody had a wonderful week, that's always good news to hear. Mom I sure hope you are able to get that career back with Time Warner last time you worked there you had short hair if I remember correctly.You wouldreally enjoy it would keep you busy throughout the days, I dont thk you like being a stay at home mom with no children to care for. Oh and last Monday after e-mails we met with the Zl's and they gave me the package!Yes it was probably the best package I think I will ever receive, there were so many good things in there to mention like all the sweets, the photo album (I have already added some photos of Paarl and Cape town to it) and also the memory stick! thank you so much for the package it was awesome. Ariel I really like your weekly update thing that you are doing and I would love to read them each week please, when did you get so tech savvy? And for Colin it sounds like you are really enjoying marketing that is pretty cool and as long as you enjoy it that's really all that matters.
So for me this past week was pretty frustrating, I was able to get to most of our investigators and recent converts without any trouble but there were a couple people that I had to look on the map to find. My new companion Elder Ochanda is pretty cool, but at times it is frustrating because his map skills are quite minimal so going to a new place can be quite stressful for me but its just good patience practise. Other than that everything is going very well and we are having fun doing missionary work. I hope everything goes well for everyone this week and that you will find great success in all that you do.
Elder Nielsen
Wow it seems that everybody had a wonderful week, that's always good news to hear. Mom I sure hope you are able to get that career back with Time Warner last time you worked there you had short hair if I remember correctly.You wouldreally enjoy it would keep you busy throughout the days, I dont thk you like being a stay at home mom with no children to care for. Oh and last Monday after e-mails we met with the Zl's and they gave me the package!Yes it was probably the best package I think I will ever receive, there were so many good things in there to mention like all the sweets, the photo album (I have already added some photos of Paarl and Cape town to it) and also the memory stick! thank you so much for the package it was awesome. Ariel I really like your weekly update thing that you are doing and I would love to read them each week please, when did you get so tech savvy? And for Colin it sounds like you are really enjoying marketing that is pretty cool and as long as you enjoy it that's really all that matters.
So for me this past week was pretty frustrating, I was able to get to most of our investigators and recent converts without any trouble but there were a couple people that I had to look on the map to find. My new companion Elder Ochanda is pretty cool, but at times it is frustrating because his map skills are quite minimal so going to a new place can be quite stressful for me but its just good patience practise. Other than that everything is going very well and we are having fun doing missionary work. I hope everything goes well for everyone this week and that you will find great success in all that you do.
Elder Nielsen
Monday, January 10, 2011
Week 18: January 10, 2011
Hello family,
Whew just like the subject states this week was very interesting, first last Monday Night we get a call from President Probst and he tells Elder Kogo that he is going to be a Zone Leader. This usually does not happen in the middle of a transfer so we were really surprised at the sudden move. Returned missionaries know that this was a E.T. As a result of this move I got a new companion named Elder Ochanda who used to be the zone leader in the Cape South zone which is now where Elder Kogo is serving. Elder Ochanda is from Kenya just like Elder Kogo and he seems pretty cool. We have only been together for about a week so we are still getting to know each other.
Other than the sudden companion rearrangement things are starting to pick up in Belleville again, we received some referrals from members this week, one of them is a father led family of six which is encouraging. We have a really cool recent convert named Dimitri (23) who we see once or twice a week and it's awesome to see how the gospel has changed his life and his father has noticed the change in him so we are starting to teach him as well. In my personal studies I am still reading through the Old Testament and I have a study journal that where I write down all my insights down so In that way I have a daily journal.
Mom, I have received the calendar you sent me and I love it! The calendar can also be used as a type of daily journal and I'll try and do that. Still have not received the package but maybe the Zone Leaders will swing by the office and pick up this weeks post and it could be there, or not ha. I know that you will find that job you are looking for and if it doesn't come as soon as you hope, know that you can start your own business with your own time clock, all you need is a good idea and the confidence that it will be successful. Love you mom.
Dad, Elder Carver just told me that the Seahawks upset the Saints, what is this madness? what was their record anyways? Continue to work hard with reliantz and hopefully you will have some spectacular job opportunities with Sid.
Thank you to the rest of the family who have sent Christmas Cards, it was wonderful to recieve them and always good to have pictures of the families.
Love you all,
Elder Nielsen
Whew just like the subject states this week was very interesting, first last Monday Night we get a call from President Probst and he tells Elder Kogo that he is going to be a Zone Leader. This usually does not happen in the middle of a transfer so we were really surprised at the sudden move. Returned missionaries know that this was a E.T. As a result of this move I got a new companion named Elder Ochanda who used to be the zone leader in the Cape South zone which is now where Elder Kogo is serving. Elder Ochanda is from Kenya just like Elder Kogo and he seems pretty cool. We have only been together for about a week so we are still getting to know each other.
Other than the sudden companion rearrangement things are starting to pick up in Belleville again, we received some referrals from members this week, one of them is a father led family of six which is encouraging. We have a really cool recent convert named Dimitri (23) who we see once or twice a week and it's awesome to see how the gospel has changed his life and his father has noticed the change in him so we are starting to teach him as well. In my personal studies I am still reading through the Old Testament and I have a study journal that where I write down all my insights down so In that way I have a daily journal.
Mom, I have received the calendar you sent me and I love it! The calendar can also be used as a type of daily journal and I'll try and do that. Still have not received the package but maybe the Zone Leaders will swing by the office and pick up this weeks post and it could be there, or not ha. I know that you will find that job you are looking for and if it doesn't come as soon as you hope, know that you can start your own business with your own time clock, all you need is a good idea and the confidence that it will be successful. Love you mom.
Dad, Elder Carver just told me that the Seahawks upset the Saints, what is this madness? what was their record anyways? Continue to work hard with reliantz and hopefully you will have some spectacular job opportunities with Sid.
Thank you to the rest of the family who have sent Christmas Cards, it was wonderful to recieve them and always good to have pictures of the families.
Love you all,
Elder Nielsen
Monday, January 3, 2011
Week 17: January 3, 2011
Hello again family,
This week was very interesting with all the holidays going on and new years. New years is the only day in the year that we are told not to go out into our areaso it was a little different. Elder Kogo and I wore our P days around the flat for a little bit then got bored so we went and hung out with the Milnerton Elders. It was fun Cape Town every year has a fireworks show but to be honest it was nothing compared to little Peachtree City.
Nonetheless it was fun to see people celebrate for a new year. Since all of the holidays were happening and kids here are basically on their summer break nobody was home investigators, members, fellowshippers so work wise this week was very slow but thats alright we just pushed through it and were able to get through it just fine. Seems like everyone back home had a wonderful holiday season thats good to hear and now I guess its back to school this week. Man am I glad I don't have to go to school right now I'll take mission life any day.
Hopefully this next week will be a good one as far as missionary work goes, and of course I hope all of you will find success as well.
Love,
Elder Nielsen
This week was very interesting with all the holidays going on and new years. New years is the only day in the year that we are told not to go out into our areaso it was a little different. Elder Kogo and I wore our P days around the flat for a little bit then got bored so we went and hung out with the Milnerton Elders. It was fun Cape Town every year has a fireworks show but to be honest it was nothing compared to little Peachtree City.
Nonetheless it was fun to see people celebrate for a new year. Since all of the holidays were happening and kids here are basically on their summer break nobody was home investigators, members, fellowshippers so work wise this week was very slow but thats alright we just pushed through it and were able to get through it just fine. Seems like everyone back home had a wonderful holiday season thats good to hear and now I guess its back to school this week. Man am I glad I don't have to go to school right now I'll take mission life any day.
Hopefully this next week will be a good one as far as missionary work goes, and of course I hope all of you will find success as well.
Love,
Elder Nielsen
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