Ahoy
A common greeting in South Africa, at least in areas that are near to the sea.
Well I am super excited to hear about the family gathering that is going to happen this week, I am sure there will be loads of food and fun activities.
Last week our district went to a nearby driving range and had a good time, it was a pretty nice deal as well because they allow you to borrow clubs and the only thing you pay for are the balls. Elder Vernon and I were hitting the balls pretty well, but the other guys were a bit awkward haha, so we did some coaching and by the end of the day they were doink O.K.
For P-day today we will most likely go to the Walmer chapel and play some Volleyball, and then practise a hymn that we will be singing at Zone Conference this week. After Shopping for food of Course.
The past week was a bit interesting if I can say so, just because some of our investigators dumped us, but we took it well and have spent more time finding or fishing and hunting as Jer 16:16 says. It is pretty rewarding when you get a couple of people to teach, and that's what we are after. On the 18th of March we will have two or three baptisms, so we are excited about that and continue to make sure that it happens. For the most part though we will be trying to find our next batch of baptisms.
That golf cart looks like a whole lot of fun, so dad are you still planning on trading in the truck for one of those car-like golf carts? that would be a good idea.
Sorry for the short letter, but I hope it is sweet no sugar needed hah.
Love you all,
Elder Nielsen
Monday, February 27, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Week 76: February 20, 2012
Staying in PE
This past week was transfers, and Elder Vernon and I are staying together for another six weeks! I am excited about that because together we work hard and also have some fun together. On P-day last week we went to a lion park, where we got to see some full grown lions male and female and also we got to pet some baby lions. Pictures are attached.
This past week was transfers, and Elder Vernon and I are staying together for another six weeks! I am excited about that because together we work hard and also have some fun together. On P-day last week we went to a lion park, where we got to see some full grown lions male and female and also we got to pet some baby lions. Pictures are attached.
Besides transfers we kept really busy, our days were full of appointments and some good finding activities. On Friday we met a natural bodybuilder who was very interested in The Restoration, and especially in the Book of Mormon. It was nice to meet someone so humble, yet he was massive! an absolutely huge individual. This week we hope to have a good follow up lesson with him, and we will see if he enjoyed his reading, and also see if he prayed about it. We have another Investigator who is quite a character, and he is very intelligent, when we taught him the Restoration and about the Book of Mormon we invited him to be baptized something like this "Bro. E. After you know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and therefore Joseph Smith to be the Lords prophet called in these last days to restore the Church of Jesus Christ will you prepare yourself to be baptized?". His answer was one that I will never forget, he said in a voice similar to one that I know well "Yes, yes of course" I couldn't help but have the biggest smile on my face when he said that! He truly is a remarkable man and really interested in what we are teaching him.
Today for P-day I am thinking of going to hit some golf balls at a nearby driving range, it's quite a good deal because you can get a big ol bucket of balls, three clubs to use, for about 45 Rands. I don't know though it depends upon all the other guys who are in the district. P-day is fun and everything but honestly the best part of my weeks is the proselyting, I have really found to love it.
Oh how can I forget, there is a new missionary in the District, His name is Elder Martin and he is from Moscow, Idaho. Elder Bangerter who is 12 weeks from going home is his trainer. So the dynamics of the District have changed a bit but it's going to be a fun one I can tell. Having a greenie around is always good.
Colin and Whitney, I look forward to hearing if you are having a boy or girl!
Mom and Dad keep up the good work, love you so much, and thank you so much for all your support.
Have a great week everybody,
Elder Nielsen
Monday, February 13, 2012
Week 75: February 13, 2012
Goode Dag
Good day in Afrikaans
If any of you are wondering what is the general mode of transportation here in South Africa I would be tempted to tell you horse and buggy, and in some cases that is quite common, but not in this area and that is why I took a photo of it haha. The second photo is of Elder Vernon and I on top of on of the flat complexes that we have been tracting lately. The third photo is what happens when you have a Samoan Elder in your district, no we did not proselyte in those things, but they are actually quite comfy.
We had another successful week, we had a drop off from last week in our sacrament attendance of two. So we had four investigators come which is still quite good. Other than that we might be losing a few baptism dates of ours for a little while, but we picked two up which is filling our bucket again. Someone once said in the MTC that missionary work is like trying to carry a bucket full of water with holes at the bottom, I guess I have found that a bit true. I really am enjoying this time out here, it has been such a cool experience.
Most of the people we are teaching are younger, probably from 20-35 years of age, a couple people actually are a bit older than that, but we are willing to teach anyone. That's what a lot of the time goes towards is finding people to teach, and if we aren't finding then we are probably teaching. Keeping busy that way is the most rewarding, and it is really cool to see an area's teaching pool be built up to be HUGE.
Love you all and I hope you all have a fantastic week,
Elder Nielsen
Good day in Afrikaans
If any of you are wondering what is the general mode of transportation here in South Africa I would be tempted to tell you horse and buggy, and in some cases that is quite common, but not in this area and that is why I took a photo of it haha. The second photo is of Elder Vernon and I on top of on of the flat complexes that we have been tracting lately. The third photo is what happens when you have a Samoan Elder in your district, no we did not proselyte in those things, but they are actually quite comfy.
We had another successful week, we had a drop off from last week in our sacrament attendance of two. So we had four investigators come which is still quite good. Other than that we might be losing a few baptism dates of ours for a little while, but we picked two up which is filling our bucket again. Someone once said in the MTC that missionary work is like trying to carry a bucket full of water with holes at the bottom, I guess I have found that a bit true. I really am enjoying this time out here, it has been such a cool experience.
Most of the people we are teaching are younger, probably from 20-35 years of age, a couple people actually are a bit older than that, but we are willing to teach anyone. That's what a lot of the time goes towards is finding people to teach, and if we aren't finding then we are probably teaching. Keeping busy that way is the most rewarding, and it is really cool to see an area's teaching pool be built up to be HUGE.
Love you all and I hope you all have a fantastic week,
Elder Nielsen
Monday, February 6, 2012
Week 74: February 6, 2012
Had a marvelous week, or something
Happy Birthday Grandma!
Yes it was lekker week, although all of this missionary work is really exhausting me, 12 hours of proselyting a day is no joke, but sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven and we have really noticed that this week.
There were 6 of our investigators at church yesterday, and all of them will most likely get baptized in the coming months. One of them even bore thier testimony of the Book of Mormon at fast and testimony meeting yesterday! That was awesome. Another cool part about the week was on Friday. It was raining so we decided to go tracting in an indoor flat complex, where we found two people who listened to and understood the Restoration of the gospel and were interested enough to come to church. They accepted a baptism invitation and the next time we see them we are going to give them a date! Also on Saturday I went on an exchange with Elder Bangerter (pocatello, Idaho) from my District and we met with a man who we had previously street contacted a few weeks back, we had a sweet lesson and he seemed very interested as well. So it seems that all of the hard work has payed off and we are beginning to reap what we have sown, and the Lord is really blessing us with people to teach, they are coming our of nowhere.
This week we will probably be moving flats, because our lease on our current flat is up soon. We will probably do that all of tomorrow. I am not really looking forward to that but it's what we have to do I suppose.
Presently my diet consists of granny smith apples, peanut butter and jelly, what you got stew, brown rice and yoghurt. In this area it is hard to eat a very healthy diet because our area is so far away from the boarding but we are alive. I look forward to having a well balanced diet once back in the states. Also we do not have a washer in our boarding, So we take it to a laundromat each week and its not so bad, I love having a washing machine though. Each monday we go shopping at Pick 'n' Pay where we can get fresh fruit and veg and all of our other needs .
Last week for P-day we went to the walmer chapel with the rest of the Zone and played volley-ball and also American Football, it was a lot of fun. Wow I am out of shape though haha, getting a bit chubby too.
Mom and Dad good luck with your challenge of being diet pepsi and coffee free. YOU CAN DO IT! Also good luck with the house hunt! and Dad keep up the good work at Pitney Bowes.
Sorry for the short letter last week and the quasi short one this week.
Everybody have a good week!
Elder Nielsen
Happy Birthday Grandma!
Yes it was lekker week, although all of this missionary work is really exhausting me, 12 hours of proselyting a day is no joke, but sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven and we have really noticed that this week.
There were 6 of our investigators at church yesterday, and all of them will most likely get baptized in the coming months. One of them even bore thier testimony of the Book of Mormon at fast and testimony meeting yesterday! That was awesome. Another cool part about the week was on Friday. It was raining so we decided to go tracting in an indoor flat complex, where we found two people who listened to and understood the Restoration of the gospel and were interested enough to come to church. They accepted a baptism invitation and the next time we see them we are going to give them a date! Also on Saturday I went on an exchange with Elder Bangerter (pocatello, Idaho) from my District and we met with a man who we had previously street contacted a few weeks back, we had a sweet lesson and he seemed very interested as well. So it seems that all of the hard work has payed off and we are beginning to reap what we have sown, and the Lord is really blessing us with people to teach, they are coming our of nowhere.
This week we will probably be moving flats, because our lease on our current flat is up soon. We will probably do that all of tomorrow. I am not really looking forward to that but it's what we have to do I suppose.
Presently my diet consists of granny smith apples, peanut butter and jelly, what you got stew, brown rice and yoghurt. In this area it is hard to eat a very healthy diet because our area is so far away from the boarding but we are alive. I look forward to having a well balanced diet once back in the states. Also we do not have a washer in our boarding, So we take it to a laundromat each week and its not so bad, I love having a washing machine though. Each monday we go shopping at Pick 'n' Pay where we can get fresh fruit and veg and all of our other needs .
Last week for P-day we went to the walmer chapel with the rest of the Zone and played volley-ball and also American Football, it was a lot of fun. Wow I am out of shape though haha, getting a bit chubby too.
Mom and Dad good luck with your challenge of being diet pepsi and coffee free. YOU CAN DO IT! Also good luck with the house hunt! and Dad keep up the good work at Pitney Bowes.
Sorry for the short letter last week and the quasi short one this week.
Everybody have a good week!
Elder Nielsen
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