Week 51: August 29, 2011

Transfer Week

Another six weeks has flown by and again it is time for transfers. I have no idea what is going to happen to me, it would be nice to see all of these great people get baptized but who knows what's going to happen. We will find out transfer news either tonight or tomorrow morning.

We had a pretty successful week, it was one of those weeks filled with teaching appointments all day every day. We were busy every day from 10 a.m to 9pm, talk about being exhausted at the end of the day. It has been cool to see all of our investigators who are planned for the 25th of September to keep commitments and progress towards their baptism date. Each new investigator we pick up we try and get them to understand our purpose and help them learn a little bit about our message, many times that can be tiring as well because you are exerting a different type of energy in missionary work. It's not necessarily physical labor as much as it is spiritual labor, you have to be in tune all the time with the spirit and that takes a completely different type of energy. That is one thing I am trying to master, and it takes a lot of practice. The better your spiritual work ethic is the more effective you will be as a missionary, some people can push their bodies to the limit with physical labor but it entirely different with more spiritual work. That is something I have been thinking and studying a little about this past week, I hope it makes some sense to you all.

Mom and Dad congratulations on the good news, I bet you are diligently looking at all the different houses in that area huh mom? Dad what does Pitney Bowes do again? I am glad that you are both happy with your soon to be move to Peachtree city, and anywhere you are is home so it doesn't really bother me at all. It's a good thing you have a relocation package as well, that will probably make things much easier for you. Keep me updated with all that is going on and with the house that you decide to buy.

Archibald's thank you for your letter this week! Addison sounds like you really enjoy the Violin, playing instruments and reading music will help you with your school work as well especially in math! Blake congrats on your tackle in your scrimmage, free safety was my favorite position to play in football because nobody can block you and you get lots of running room to make big hits :) And Brynli have a great time in pre-school and make lots of new friends!

Ariel thank you for those pictures, Ava really is a cute little girl and it seems like she has grown a bit as well. I really look forward to meeting her and letting her know who her favorite uncle is ha! I think those schools are all good, If any more come to mind I will let you know

Mom I have not yet received the package but I suspect that I will get it today, for P-day I think we are going to just hang around and probably eat lunch with the district.

Love you all,
Elder Nielsen

Week 50: August 22, 2011

HellO!

Once again it is P-day time for some rest and relaxation, actually for most missionaries it's quite the opposite HaH. The picture attached is from the All-Africa helping hands day, where members from Africa get together and do service in the community. The Cape Town stake decided to do the service this year at an old-age home, we were able to clear a lot of weeds and overgrowth in many of their courtyards where previously the elderly would stroll out and get some fresh air. It was quite a big project and after wards the facility looked much better. It was also a nice opportunity to meet up with past companions, I saw elder Naylor there and in the picture with some kids from Fish Hoek is Elder Senyange my most recent companion.

The week was actually quite hectic, the day before helping hands we had zone training in Somerset West so the we were all over the place this week. Although we had a lot of times where we were out of the area we still rocked it up in the area and made some really good progress with some investigators and we are continually finding new people to teach, mostly Father led Families too. The people we meet with usually have a really strong desire to learn more and have a good faith in Jesus Christ. I found a lot of Joy introducing the Book of Mormon with some investigators this week as well, usually people are really shocked to learn that there is an additional book of scripture from a different part of the world. The investigators that I have seen throughout my mission who actually read from it find out the truth of our message and then they have the opportunity to pray about it and ask God specifically, and through the holy ghost they receive the answer that it is true. As preach my gospel teaches "nobody can learn spiritual truths without prayer" and if I might add, before the prayer must be some action taken such as reading or a certain experience.

I have also loved cross studying the words of the savior to his followers in Jerusalem in the Bible and his words to the Nephites in the Book of Mormon after his resurrection and ascension. It is interesting how the two compound on one another and both testify of the things that he taught, I sometimes wish I had a split quad so that I don't have to flip back and forth. I guess that is the upside to having the stick of Judah In one hand and the stick of Ephraim in the other (Ezk 37). It's cool to fulfill some ancient prophesies haha

Well today we were planning on going up table mountain which would be my second time but I think the weather has changed our minds about the idea, maybe next week. It would be cool to go up again and have a camera to take some pictures of the view and preserve some memories. Because of the weather though we will probably just play soccer again, you all know how much I love soccer :) hah oh well it's a bit of needed exercise.

I continue to pray that all of you will have a good week and enjoy the rest of your summer. I look forward to hearing from you next week.

Love,
Elder Nielsen

Oh Ariel what schools do you plan on sending an application for?

Week 49: August 15, 2011

Still doing great

This picture is quite typical in the Township, these Momma's are about to cook up some pork! Mm Yum

Yesterday I finally baked that birthday cake you sent me Mother, today I will share it with the district and it looks Delicious! Today for P-day we plan on playing some soccer again so maybe I can get some good exercise.

It was a good week, we really made good progress with some key investigators. We have scheduled two males in their thirties, one of which will complete a family and the other will be baptized with his wife on the 25th of Sept. I think I mentioned that last week or something to that effect so I will just share the experience we had with both of them.

We have been teaching a man named Steven Jacobs for the past couple of months or so, he is a guy who really commits to something when he feels the reasons are correct and he won't back out of a decision once he has made it. That kind of commitment in an investigator is great and missionaries love it, the only challenge with that is we really have to be on top of our game to get him to commit and live the principles we are teaching him. Yesterday we taught him and his wife the Word of Wisdom, which is the Lord's law of health giving guidance for all members of his church and investigators to stay away from certain harmful substances. Brother Steven has never had a problem with cigarettes, Drug abuse, or Alcohol, but he does enjoy his coffee or tea in the mornings. We taught him the principles or the Word of Wisdom and especially how our bodies are temples of God and that we should not be Dependent upon substances and let them govern our lives. He understood the things we taught him but we could tell that he was going to have a hard time giving up his coffee in the morning, we then expressed how much love heavenly father has for him and how through his help he would be able to give up coffee and tea. With some tears forming in his eyes he accepted the commitment to follow the Word of Wisdom. With almost every principle that we teach brother Stephen there is some apprehension but we always know that when he commits, he commits for real. As a missionary there are countless experience when I have noticed the hand of the Lord helping investigators submit their will to his, It is great to see positive changes in peoples lives and seeing them progress towards their eternal potential. I love being an instrument of the Lord as a missionary, it's the best.
Mom I think you are a little bit excited about the possibility of moving to Georgia, I'm sure I will hear from you next week and get a full update of all the things you have been up to. I know you don't necessarily look forward to another move but I guess you have got to go where the green is. Were you able to find my ACT scores for applications?

Dad congratulations on being the final candidate for the Pitney Bowes job, sounds like there is quite a good chance of employment for you there and that is really exciting. I had a good laugh last week as you would love to hit golf balls on your Lunch Break Ha, didn't you even do that in Seattle anyways?

To everyone else good luck with all you do this week I always keep you in my prayers morning and night.

Love,
Elder Nielsen

Week 48: August 8, 2011

Hey family

The pictures I have attached are of an area located in the township named 'the wetlands'. basically it was a bunch of land that nobody was open so people just put up some shacks to live in. The first week I was here the wetlands were completely destroyed by fire, so all of these shacks have recently been built, that was a fun service opportunity.

The work here continues to go well, we unfortunately had to postpone a couple of our baptism dates from Aug 21 to sometime in September, probably around the 25th or so. If I am able to stay one more transfer here in Fish Hoek I will be able to see those people through, but who knows. The transfer ends on the 31st and with transfers you never know what is going to happen. Time will tell.

We continue to find Father led Families and progress them towards baptism, it's getting a bit difficult to remember all of the people we are teaching because there are just soo many! It has been amazing how we have been able to find so many people to teach. We had a cool experience with one of our investigators this week, we were inspired to teach her about Forgiveness of sin through repentance. She asked us a few questions about the actual process of repentance and when she understood a little bit more she burst into tears. It was a pretty spiritual and emotional lesson, we definitely felt the spirit and could tell that our message was going to help her in her life.

Today for P-day we don't have much planned, we are probably just going to hang out with the other members of our district and maybe play a little soccer. It will be fun and we will be able to relax a little bit today so that will be nice.

Good to hear about all of your weeks and I hope you all have good ones this upcoming week.

Love,
Elder Nielsen

Week 47: August 1, 2011

Great week

The first picture I have attached is at one of our members homes in Masiphumelele, they just live in a tiny tin shack, they are just really happy humble people. The second picture I took with a guy also in the township who had a Seattle T-shirt on, so I just had to take a picture with him.

I say it was a good week because we are continuing to fill up our teaching pool with Father-led families and people who are really seeking for the gospel. One of them is named Fazo, he also lives in a shack with his wife and young daughter, we met him street contacting and had a great first lesson with him and his wife. After teaching them a little bit about the Gospel of Jesus Christ we committed them to be baptized and they both said yes. Although they did not come to church this sunday we are optimistic with them and their potential, we shall see what comes of the appointment we have scheduled with them this week. With most people in the township most people will actually let us teach them in their homes, but they all don't necessarily have a very high commitment level. To make a longer story a little shorter, missionaries here really need the gift of discernment to decide who really will progress towards baptism and focus on them rather than spending time with someone who won't. You really get to learn how to prioritize every single little thing throughout your day, I think it is a really cool eternal principle.

Mom that house In Ga is pretty cool, and thank you so very much for sending out another package and mulah! :) I really don't miss any particular sweets or foods all that much, I am just enjoying the South African cuisine. Almost everyday this week I had rice with veggies and a boiled chicken Breast (boneless or course), it is kind of annoying how hard it is to find boneless meat here. The only store that I have found any at is called Pick 'n' Pay which is usually the store we shop at now. Colin congratulations on graduating from that course, you look really excited in that picture you posted, thank you for your continuing updates.

Adam and Emily thank you for the letter this week, Adam looks like you had a fun fishing trip! and Isaac is growing soo fast, wow. Addison what is the difference between playing the violin and fiddling? Hope you all have a wonderful week and enjoy the heat while it is still there

Love,
Elder Nielsen

Week 46: July 25, 2011

Staying another one

Yes I get to stay here in Fish Hoek for another six weeks, that is very exciting!

The picture is yesterday's baptism of Busisiwe, probably one of the smartest investigators I have been able to teach while on mission. We had a cool experience this week with a man named Davidson. So what we usually do for finding is talk to all the people we see walking in Masiphumelele (the township in Fish Hoek, where most of our proselyting is done) and there are always a Lot of people moving around that place so there is no shortage. We met this man named Davidson and set up an appointment with him. When the day came that we were supposed to meet with him we were actually surprised he held true with the appointment (usually between the time we met the person and the scheduled appointment the people will just forget about the appointment so it was surprising to us). We could tell right away that He was sincere, and also his friend named George who was also present, and at one point in the lesson he used these words to describe his feelings about Jesus Christ and his Gospel "I just want to know the Truth". I had a little water coming up to my eyes when he said this and was overwhelmed with the spirit of missionary work. He accepted a baptism commitment, we are super excited about the area and the potential for growth.

Yeah we had a great time this week, we picked up some new investigators to really keep us busy throughout the next couple of weeks. Missionary work can correlate to the old power washing business, you have to continue putting fliers out, because not every flier will bite. The Flier in this example is of course talking to people about the gospel and inviting them to learn more about the Restoration of all things. If you don't do so, well you won't have much work to do Ha. The days are going by faster and faster, we are just busy all the day long.

The district did have some changes with transfers, Elder Fozard from England is still here and his companion is a little new out on mission from Twilla?, Utah. They are actually in a threesome with Elder Houston also from Utah, He is with them because he still hasn't gotten his Visa to go up to Namibia. This Transfer will almost mark a year for me in Cape Town, which I think is pretty unheard of throughout the Mission. I really like it here and really wouldn't mind if the Lord found another area around here that I could serve in Ha.

It was great to hear from you Brian, don't think you are weird for liking school that just means you are successful because you love the thing you decide to do for a living. That's pretty cool.
Hey Mom and Dad cascade Lake looks great! and man it looks really hot there. The last couple of days here it has been really windy which is really the only thing that will make you cold. If there was no wind the temperature would actually be pretty warm. And Uncle Kirt, kayaking is always something I have always wanted to get into a little bit more, is it a long and slim kayak for super speed or is it like a River Rapid Rocker thick and shorter? I am sure you will have your fun with that thing this summer.

Oh and that picture that I sent last week was from the nice part of the township.

Anyways, until next week.

Love,

Elder Nielsen

Week 45: July 18, 2011

The picture attached is titled 'Marbles In The Street'. The rules to the game are pretty interesting, the picture was taken in the local township Masiphumelele.


Yes I received the birthday package you sent me, thank you so much. I really like the pillow case and I finally have some music, I am really happy about that! Also It's really great to have all of those encouraging messages on the pillow case from the Family.

This week was pretty good, yesterday we had a total of 10 investigators at sacrament meeting. The best part about it is that there are 2 father led families and 1 Part member family in the hopper for baptism. It will really be superb if there could be more families from the location in the branch, I have really been able to realize how important family's are. Without them there really is no personal progression for the eternities. Next Sunday we have a baptism set, I am just waiting for the phone call to see If I will still be here for it or not. This area has really been fruitful, so far it has been my most successful area that I have served in. I really love it here, most Elders actually say that Fish Hoek is and always will be their favorite area, if they had the pleasure to serve here.

I have a new favorite chapter in the Book of Mormon, Alma 26 love it, it directly applies to missionary work. I really love the two hours we have as missionaries to study each day.
Mom and Dad sounds like you are having to put your faith to the test, when do you have to be out of the rental? I am already confused enough when people ask me where I am from, I either say Idaho or Washington. You might as well move back to Peachtree city so I can have three options ha. That would be pretty interesting, I know you will make the best decision, just petition to the Lord and he will show you the way you must go. Golf carts anyone?

I love you all and enjoy getting updates of your lives, thank you so much.

Elder Nielsen

Week 44: July 11, 2011

The last few days here it has been pretty hot, I don't know what is happening because it is supposed to be the dead of winter. I guess it is just South Africa, even when people say it is really cold it is just Mild, at least around Cape Town. I have no complaints though it has been nice to feel the suns warmth, and it seems like all of you are enjoying summer because I can see your tans.

This area is just awesome, we continue to stay busy with all of the people we see on a regular basis. There are a couple more people we have lined up for baptism, one is a lady named Busisiwe and the other is a married couple Moregain and Tatenda. Busisiwe is really smart, and when we first met her she had a lot of smart doctrinal questions, she thinks on a much deeper level than most of the people we teach and it's nice to have an investigator who has an eternal perspective on things. Moregain and Tatenda are a couple from Zimbabwe who have been living here for a little while, they are very committed and have a deep desire to learn more they are scheduled for the 21st of August, and Busisiwe is coming up on the 24th of July. We do have a couple other Investigators with a baptismal date but they are a little bit less committed than the ones mentioned. All the people we meet with have a real great desire to learn and It is awesome to teach them the gospel and help them follow the savior Jesus Christ by having faith in him, repenting and being baptized.

Whenever we meet a new person and sit down with them and have our first lesson we are to Invite them to be baptized. With this approach it gives the Investigator a chance to bring to light his or her concerns about whether or not they want to be baptized. We get a lot of different answers some people say "Well I have already been baptized" and others say "yeah I would love to be Baptized". What I have learned is that when we get the first answer most missionaries will ask how people were baptized or maybe why they were baptized and a lot of the times talk about priesthood authority, and for most of my mission I have had a problem with that approach but I haven't found a solution until this week. What I have come to learn through much study of the scriptures and Preach My Gospel is that regardless of how or for what reason people were baptized elsewhere they still need to baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ, that is what it all boils down to. Surely if someone is Baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ their Baptism will not only last in the books recorded here on earth but also in the books of heaven, Paul talked a little about this subject. The only thing we can do to help investigators is to help them learn that the Church of Jesus Christ is here again upon the earth, and we are given as missionaries a very good Lesson specifically aimed at such people, it is The Message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As missionaries we don't need to mess around with little principles like the correct manner of baptism or priesthood authority, all of that is minutia and will be resolved if the investigator comes to know that the Message of the Restoration is true. For if this is the Church of Jesus Christ and we have a prophet on the earth than the Church itself is established in the manner it should be, and whoever reads and prays with real intent and with sincerity of heart will receive and answer from on high that it is true, and who would not want to enter in the gate by baptism, regardless of any previous baptism. That is what I have been able to learn on that subject, I hope it makes sense because it is definitely not Jane Shaffer material.

I am glad that you Mom and Dad were able to help Ariel and Brian move and returned home safely. Mom any updates on that Job that you were hoping to hear back from? Thank you for the pictures! I haven't received the package yet but I know it is in the Office so it's just a matter of the Zone Leaders distributing it to us, I'm pretty excited for it. I love our new Mission President and his wife, President and Sister Wood are just spectacular, it is sad that President and Sister Probst are no longer here but their time had to come to an end. Colin good luck with the Flight school, today I am sure you enjoyed the flying that is so cool man! Being a pilot would be so exhilarating.

The pictures that are attached are as follows, Me at Cape Point (really cool place, very windy), and baboons on a roof. Until next week.

Love,
Elder Nielsen

Week 43: July 4, 2011

It would be cool to light off some fireworks for P-day but instead we are going to Cape Point, supposedly where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet. I am not thoroughly convinced of that but maybe by the end of the day I will be.

Sister Smartt's Email was incredible thanks for allowing me to read it, what great experiences those are. And using 2 Nephi 29 on a stiff investigator that Awesome!

I have attached two pictures to this e-mail, the first is a road that runs along the Atlantic ocean in our area its called misty cliffs. The second picture is what I call 'camel', I thought I would have to at least send you guys a picture of some animals unique to Africa. Can you believe that I am in Africa?

It is really great to be out here serving the Lord, it truly is. There is probably no greater feeling a person can have when they know they are doing what they are supposed to, missionary work is satisfying in and indescribable way.

Sounds like everyone is going to have a hectic week, I wish you all good luck in all that you do and I will be keeping you in my prayers.

Love,

Elder Nielsen

Week 42: June 27, 2011

Hello Family and Friends,

I finally have attached some pictures for you all. The first is a picture of Fish Hoek from a hill top nearby, and the second is from yesterday's baptism. Sister Fridah was baptized by brother Dallyn Mclean a priest from the branch. We are having a whole bunch of success here in Fish Hoek. The missionary work is just booming, we are dead tired at the ending of each day.

This week President and Sister Probst leave for home and President and Sister Wood Arrive to replace them. On Friday we will have a Meet the President Zone meeting and will be able to have an interview with President and receive instruction from our Zone Leaders. Just this last week in our last meeting with President Probst, he told us of some of the changes that are happening in the missionary department. I won't go into all that great of detail but to keep it short missionary work is getting much more technologically advanced. It is a very exciting time to be out in the mission field, maybe not as comparable to the time PMG came out but still it is cool to see how much more effective we can be as missionaries doing the Lord's work.

Colin, it sounds like you have got a steep mountain to climb with doing what sounds like a crash course in aviation, I know you will do great because you love flying and when we do what we like we always succeed.

Ariel and Brian, I am sure you are loving waking up every couple of hours in the evenings, I continually pray that you will have a safe move and be able to adjust well into your new environment, take Luck!

To all my buds who are soon departing for their missions, especially Phil, good luck and cherish the time you have in the MTC.

Love you all,

Elder Nielsen

Chase with President and Sister Probst

Week 41: June 20, 2011

Wow How cool, just three days before my birthday. There is now a whole crew of family members with June Birthdays.

Congratulations Ariel and Brian how awesome, baby Ava looks super cute can't wait to meet her.
Not much new information from my side, this next week I will start sending attached to my E-mail the picture of the week, yes so you all will be able to get a glimpse into my week and really see some people that I see every day.

Sorry this E-mail is so short, once again Ariel and Brian congratulations that is so cool. And for mom and dad you are now Grand parents :) hah the day finally came!

Love you all,
Elder Nielsen

Week 40: June 13, 2011

Mom Happy Birthday and also Colin Happy Birthday, I'm sure you both had great days!

I think this was just one of those weeks that seem to drag on forever, Showing a new companion around the area makes for a one man show. Especially when you have confirmations the first Sunday of a transfer things just get complicated and it seems like a million people are asking you Questions either about the area or a Baptismal record. Whew but as always hard work pays off, the records are done and my companion is starting to learn the area.

To answer you Ariel, no I don't eat many things with ketchup but I have had a companion who liked to eat rice with ketchup, actually the companion I have now does the same. Needless to say we cook separately, Saturday I had some Mashed Taters with some curried vegetables underneath and some shredded chicken. I eat pretty well most of the time.

The Fish Hoek chapel yesterday had 103 people crammed into it, 10 of which were investigators. It's always nice to see people you teach come to church, it shows us that they are actually serious and throughout the coming week we enjoy following up on them. Apparently the Fish Hoek branch a couple of months ago would average about 60-70 people each Sunday. There have been a number of families that have moved in and increased the number drastically, it's really exciting to see such great attendance and to see a branch almost look like a ward, at least in the small chapel we have here.

For my B-day on Thursday our district is planning on going to a pizza joint called Panorotti's and on Thursdays they do all you can eat pizza, so I am pretty pumped for that. My last birthday doesn't really seem like a year ago, but as I think of all the things that have came to pass since that time it makes sense.

For Colin I really don't have anything specific, maybe some socks I think my socks have a per-ma-stench going on. Ha no matter what I do with em. thanks man, continue to work hard and make the big bucks. That's smart of you to get ahead of the game for your aviation course.

Thank you all so much for writing me an e-mail, it means so much to have some things to read! Have a super-fabulous week!

Love,
Elder Nielsen

Week 39: June 6, 2011

Transfer day this Wednesday, and I will be staying here in Fish Hoek and Elder Senyange is going to Mowbray. My new companion is Elder Mofammere from Lesotho, it's sad to see Senyange go out but he had been here for a long time so his time had run out. This place is just on fire with plenty of people to teach and prepare for Baptism so we have just been working super hard. I have come to find out that the words of Elder Holland are true, that the greatest secret of missionary work is 'work'.

I think it would be good to give you all my diet of current, usually in the morning I will have an apple covered in peanut butter and some oats with some Brown sugar. We have recently simplified things in the afternoon, we usually cook up a huge lunch probably consisting of Pap (maize meal) and some assorted veggies in a tomato like sauce. We eat as much as we can at lunch and have the leftovers for dinner. We really don't have much variety in our meals but we don't really care because we aren't here to eat.

Something interesting happened I think last week, as we were coming out of an appointment we saw an old bakkie (truck) back into our car and then drive off. My immediate reaction was unbelief and I just stood in shock until finally found my senses and jumped the fence of our investigators home and chased the Bakkie down a couple of stop streets later. As it turns out the driver was not insured which isn't illegal here. Anyways there is a little minutiae from my week.
Mom I am pretty sure I received my birthday package, was it the one with the sweaters, sweets and chow mein? and good luck with that job! I will for sure keep you in my prayers always. Thank you so much for your words of encouragement, continue to work hard and pray harder.
Ariel you are getting a pretty big bump there, sounds like everything is working out perfectly timing wise funny thing how in our lives events line up in an almost perfect sequence of events.

Love you all,

Elder Nielsen