Week 94: June 25, 2012

Hello Family

Ahoy!

I have been transferred to a place called Queenstown, and it is awesome! It is very cold here in the winter, last year July they had a bunch of snow. I am not sure what the elevation is here but it must be pretty high for how cold it is. In this area I will be working with the Xhosa people. I am really excited to be here! Also my companion is awesome, He is in his last transfer and after that he will go back home to The DRC. It is going to be an awesome six weeks.

I have just been trying to figure out this area the last couple of days, I have been lost and it's a good thing E. Musangu served here last transfer so he knows the area fairly well. We work in a place called Ezibelene which is a little township located right in between large hill-like landscapes that people here call mountains hah. That is where we work all day and we actually stay in the actual town of Queenstown.

Some of the investigators that we have are doing very well and it appears as if they are progressing very well, so there could be some baptism's coming up very soon. There are many recent converts in this area so we are kept pretty busy with them. I am glad that this area is well set up and is doing very well, I know it will keep me busy and focused.

Mom I like the look of those new leather couches! very nice. Sounds like you two have been keeping yourselves very busy with this move! good luck with the rest of it! I look forward to seeing the finished product.

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Elder Nielsen

Week 93: June 18, 2012

Transfer to Queenstown

Yes this week I am being transferred to Queenstown, it is a little town far out in the eastern cape. I have been there once already, and I am excited to finish my mission there. I was told that this would be my last assignment and area for my mission. I am determined to finish out strong and do all I can to bless the people of Queenstown with the gospel. What is cool is that Mthatha is part of that Zone so I will be able to go on exchanges there which will be great. My new companion will be Elder Musangu from the Democratic Republic of Congo, I have heard that he is a super nice guy and is great to be around, this will be his last transfer so in another six weeks I will get another companion.

I am glad that you were able to close on the house and that you have been able to move some things in, good luck with the rest of the move!

So far I have been able to baptize in each of my area's so hopefully that will continue. I am really trying hard not to think too much about home, I just try and concentrate all my energy into missionary work. I feel a whole lot of urgency to get as much work done as I possibly can in these next two transfers, it's crazy how fast mission fly's by. 

Some members had us over saturday night to celebrate my 21st birthday, they fed us super well and had an awesome cake! They also gave me a key on a plaque which is symbolic of unlocking the future, that is tradition around these parts. I thought that was really cool, I Love this area and I am going to miss it badly. 

To all you young'uns have a great summer break!

Love you all,

Elder Nielsen 

Week 92: June 12, 2012

Happy birthday to all in June

Colin and Mom Happy Birthday, AVA Happy Birthday. Isn't june an awesome month? Oh yeah Happy Birthday to me too. Thank you all for your wishes. And momma thank you for the package it was sweet. Some members are going to have us over for dinner Saturday night so that will be a little birthday treat for me, and that will be the first night in the new house, awesome. Ariel you did an awesome job with that birthday party! You know what those pictures remind me of? a home video. and to answer your question, yes. and for the diamonds maybe, I still haven't looked into it that much.

Well I had an outstanding week, a lot of work was done and we were able to teach a bunch of new people and get many new investigators. We also saw many other investigators who have been taking little baby steps toward baptism, sometimes it's back ward though. In most cases, it's two steps forward and one step back. Progress is progress and No effort is wasted!

This could be my last full week here in Cleary Estate if so that would mean I was here for six months, if I stay another I could be here for 7 & 1/2 months. This is the longest area I have ever served in, and I have loved it! The next one I go to will be my last, probably.

for p-day we are going to have a braii and play some sport. Yeah! we will probably play american football and touch rugby.

Enjoy the week, next time I will send some pictures!

Love you all!

Elder Nielsen

Week 91: June 4, 2012

Hello's

Thank you all for writing letters this week, always great to hear from you!

We had another successful week, we have been planting a lot of seeds everywhere. Most of our work is sowing right now rather than reaping, missionary work is a whole lot of fun. It is really cool when you create a relationship with someone and they end up being an investigator, we had a couple of those recently. We taught our first lesson to an individual whom we met about 10 weeks ago and it went really well. I thought that was pretty cool. Right now we are keeping ourselves busy finding and teaching people hoping to find the areas next baptism. Planting seeds as we go, that is the best way. 

Recently in my studies I have been studying by topics found in the topical guide and I have found that to be very useful. It has been such a blessing to have an hour every day to study the gospel, I have found that there is no end to gospel learning here on this earth, there is just so much to learn. I have made a stack of notecards of scriptures that are useful in teaching situations that I study almost everyday. I haven't memorized them but I can remember key words and phrases and attach them to scripture references so that comes in handy while teaching investigators. I hope that after mission I will be able to have the same uplifting and inspiring personal studies as I have now. 

Mom and Dad I can't believe you are moving so soon, I thought it was going to be in July? wow that's quick! I am really excited for you and I look forward to the pictures you will send. Finally you gypsies can settle down for a little while haha! :) I know you will also enjoy being at Ava's first birthday party this weekend, that should be fun! What a cute little girl.

Mom I honestly don't remember how my NT seminary teacher taught the four gospels. Harmoniously sounds more interesting. I look forward to seeing those DVD's if the church ever releases them. Thank you for all your prayers!

For P-day we are playing sport with another zone so I have to keep this one short . Love you all so much and have a super week!

Oh and dad could you send me Idaho's 2012 schedule, maybe they will play a game against someone in the ACC or SEC that we could go and watch.

Elder Nielsen