Hello Everybody
I had another great week here in Queenstown, we also had a good exchange with the Elders in Mthatha. It was great to see some of the members there for the last time. We had a lot of fun with the Elders who were there as well, two of them are from commonwealth countries like Australia and England so we had some good banter going on hah. We helped them out in their area a little bit as well and got some things happening for them there. It was awesome to serve one last day in Mthatha, I love that place.
My throat still is a bit sore in the morning but during the day I don't have any problems, so my cold is going away just fine. It's probably a good thing that I am sick now, because I don't want to be sick while going home. I don't know how my body will adapt to real American food again but it wasn't too bad coming here so I am not too worried.
Elder Romney and I are getting along really well and are having a lot of fun together. Tomorrow he and I will be training the whole Zone on some of the specific things that the mission as a whole need to improve on. So this morning in our companionship study we went over all of the things that we need to discuss and re-address. Tomorrow and Wednesday will be the two busiest days of the week and I can imagine they will go by quickly. Wednesday we have a Zone Conference that I will be conducting, our special guest will be Elder Carl B Cook of the Seventy and of course his wife and President and Sister Wood. For those who remember General Conference addresses from the recent past Elder Carl B Cook related an experience with the Prophet and learned "it is better to look Up". We are excited for the training he will provide us with, it is not too often we are able to be trained by a General Authority. Along with those activities for the week, it will yet get busier with some Baptism interviews Elder Romney and I will be conducting in Sada, which is about a 45 minute drive from our area. So things are continuing to move along here and we are being kept busy, which is what we like. For the rest of the time we will try to fit in as many teaching appointments as we can in our area to keep things alive there. We are looking to have 2-3 baptism's on 16 Sept, so I will be leaving Elder Romney and his new companion a little present hah.
Interesting fact, I learned just this week that Mitt Romney's running mate is named Ryan, well my companions name is Ryan Romney. Found that out to be quite a coincidence.
I am glad that things are doing well for everybody, I wish you all luck this coming week.
Love you all,
Elder Nielsen
Showing posts with label Mthatha. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mthatha. Show all posts
Monday, August 27, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Week 97: July 17, 2012
Hello again FAMILY!
While you all are enjoying the summer heat, In South Africa I am getting snowed on! I never thought I would see snow here.
While you all are enjoying the summer heat, In South Africa I am getting snowed on! I never thought I would see snow here.
It was a fantastic week, but very busy. On Wednesday we had a really good training session with all of the Zone, we presented to two groups while our mission President was taking Elders out individually for interviews. Every three months Zone Leaders provide training on effective teaching and missionary skills, including fundamentals of Preach My Gospel, to all of their Zone. We also received a piece of training from President Wood in between our sessions. it was good for us to refocus and remind ourselves of important principles. The next day we drove to Mthatha to go on exchanges there. It was awesome to be back in the old area and have the opportunity to see some of the people I worked with before. Some of the brothers we took fellow shipping a lot have put in their mission papers and will get their calls very soon, that was really good news to hear. I think there are a total of three who either have their calls, or are waiting for their call to arrive, and another one is still working on his papers.
Since we were very busy this week with the training and exchanges we have to do a little catch up in the area, we are going to have to re-connect with our investigators and get back on schedule as soon as possible. We will also have to do a fair bit of finding in order to keep our schedule busy, since I have a soon to be home companion we have got to sprint him through the finish line and then the same for me in a couple of months. No slouching hah. We do have some pretty solid investigators right now who have great potential to progress but only time will tell. Hopefully Next month we can have some more baptism's.
Thank you all for the letters you all sent!
Hey could you please send me a picture of this large lawn? I have only seen glimpses of it through the pictures of Dad and Ava on the new mower (oh and by the way Dad good call on the John Deere from Lowes, I love that place!) Also If I may request photos of the basement? that would be interesting to see as well. Thank you!
Have a Great week!
Elder Nielsen
Monday, January 2, 2012
Week 69: January 2, 2012
Hello Family
Yes mom, we did bring in the new year asleep, but we were up on the roof watching fireworks until ten haha.
This week I received your Christmas package Ariel, and thank you so much for the calendar and shirt, as you can see in the picture I was wearing that shirt. Also I received the post you sent me Emily, thank you so much for that! and also for your e-mail this week. Also to the Lyman Family, thank you so much for your continued support, it is so much appreciated!
Everything is going super well here, this week is transfers so we will see what happens with all of that. I am not too nervous, I am o.k with whatever happens, either I will stay or go. We had some pretty good success teaching people throughout the last couple of days, and we are really building up our teaching pool quite well, soon though it will explode as university starts up again. I am really enjoying the work and everything that goes with it, especially in my studies as I have been memorizing scripture references for teaching principles found in PMG, and that has really helped out in teaching.
Today for P-day I think we are just going to relax, but it would be really cool if we went to the Nelson Mandela museum nearby. He was born not too far from Mthatha.
Have an awesome week!
Elder Chase Nielsen
Monday, December 26, 2011
Week 68: December 26, 2011
Quick note
Hey everyone,
It really was great to hear all of your voices this weekend, I really enjoyed the call home. I know that you all had a wonderful Christmas, and I sure did as well.
Ariel and Brian have safe travels home to Texas and Mom, Dad and Kirt you do the same back to Georgia and Wyoming.
Colin thank you for the letter, that sounds like a great Christmas tradition that you and Whitney will be able to carry on down the future Generations.
Love you all have a great Week and new year!
Write to you then,
Elder Nielsen
Monday, December 19, 2011
Week 67: December 19, 2011
Merry Christmas
I cannot wait to talk to you guys on either Christmas Eve or Christmas day, if I am correct it will be Dad, Mom, and Uncle Kirt. On Christmas Eve I will call from here maybe around 4 o'clock, which means it will be about 9 Ante-Meridian your time in Destin, Florida. I will call your cell phone Dad 425 358 1184, if you would like me to call your other phone we will sort that out then. Mother's day does seem a bit far away come to think of it, but at the same time Christmas has really come fast, faster than any other year.
Sounds like you are experiencing some warm weather there in Georgia, well it sure has been heating up here a bit as well, wow and we have some Gnarly thunderstorms our here, it's pretty cool. The humidity in the eastern cape is much much more than in Cape Town, which has it's up's and down's.
This week Elder Simpson and I were able to make some good progress in the area, we finally got a solid baptismal date with an investigator and have been working hard on finding good people to teach, each day it gets more enjoyable knocking on doors and proselyting in general. At times though it is hard because right now people are going to different places for the holiday's, only to come back sometime in January, some streets of our area is like a ghost town. The holiday season is a season of it's own for missionary work though, it's probably one of my favorite times of the year to do the work.
Ariel thank you for the information, I bet it is a wonder for you two to look at Ava and just imagine where her spirit was residing not too long ago. Knowing the doctrine behind the plan of salvation creates a lot of time to ponder and think about His plan for us. I too cannot wait to meet her. Continue to do well in all your efforts there, and Brian keep working hard, it really sounds like you are doing well.
I think I will leave you with that for now, until we get to talk on Saturday :)
Merry Christmas, Love you all
Elder Nielsen
I cannot wait to talk to you guys on either Christmas Eve or Christmas day, if I am correct it will be Dad, Mom, and Uncle Kirt. On Christmas Eve I will call from here maybe around 4 o'clock, which means it will be about 9 Ante-Meridian your time in Destin, Florida. I will call your cell phone Dad 425 358 1184, if you would like me to call your other phone we will sort that out then. Mother's day does seem a bit far away come to think of it, but at the same time Christmas has really come fast, faster than any other year.
Sounds like you are experiencing some warm weather there in Georgia, well it sure has been heating up here a bit as well, wow and we have some Gnarly thunderstorms our here, it's pretty cool. The humidity in the eastern cape is much much more than in Cape Town, which has it's up's and down's.
This week Elder Simpson and I were able to make some good progress in the area, we finally got a solid baptismal date with an investigator and have been working hard on finding good people to teach, each day it gets more enjoyable knocking on doors and proselyting in general. At times though it is hard because right now people are going to different places for the holiday's, only to come back sometime in January, some streets of our area is like a ghost town. The holiday season is a season of it's own for missionary work though, it's probably one of my favorite times of the year to do the work.
Ariel thank you for the information, I bet it is a wonder for you two to look at Ava and just imagine where her spirit was residing not too long ago. Knowing the doctrine behind the plan of salvation creates a lot of time to ponder and think about His plan for us. I too cannot wait to meet her. Continue to do well in all your efforts there, and Brian keep working hard, it really sounds like you are doing well.
I think I will leave you with that for now, until we get to talk on Saturday :)
Merry Christmas, Love you all
Elder Nielsen
Monday, December 12, 2011
Week 66: December 12, 2011
A White Christmas
No I am not talking about snow, talking about a harvest! because the field is white already to harvest :)
Yeah this week we found a golden investigator, and it was a really cool experience. We taught about the Restoration and it was very well understood, that makes a missionary smile. When all the principles of the Restoration are taught, and taught well, the spirit of the Lord is able to testify to the hearts and souls of our investigators that God lives, Jesus is the Christ, and that our unique message about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon is True. We were able to feel all of these things in our lesson with a woman named Nokwanda, who is a principle of the local school, and her son. After a short little while of finding, we finally found someone who really seems prepared and ready to receive our message, we were super excited.
I have gotten used to the idea that Christmas here is in the summer, and the only white I'll be seeing is the prepared investigators that we have to teach. I am totally fine with that, there is no other place that I would rather be than right here in this small town named Mthatha. It is totally an African place, so culturally strong and unique. I hope that I will be sticking around this place for a bit longer still.
Zone Conference this past week was fabulous, it was a Christmas themed message, and it was very inspiring to us all. We were fortunate enough to watch a movie called "17 Miracles" it's about the Willy Martin handcart company, and the story is told from the journal entries of Levi Savage, a returned missionary who traveled with that company. It was an awesome movie, and it taught me how much more I can sacrifice in my life and service as a missionary. If you haven't already seen it, it would be a good one to see.
Thank you all for your letters, they are much appreciated!
Dad, take luck with your presentations this week, I am praying for you!
Everyone have a lekker week, Love,
Elder Nielsen
No I am not talking about snow, talking about a harvest! because the field is white already to harvest :)
Yeah this week we found a golden investigator, and it was a really cool experience. We taught about the Restoration and it was very well understood, that makes a missionary smile. When all the principles of the Restoration are taught, and taught well, the spirit of the Lord is able to testify to the hearts and souls of our investigators that God lives, Jesus is the Christ, and that our unique message about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon is True. We were able to feel all of these things in our lesson with a woman named Nokwanda, who is a principle of the local school, and her son. After a short little while of finding, we finally found someone who really seems prepared and ready to receive our message, we were super excited.
I have gotten used to the idea that Christmas here is in the summer, and the only white I'll be seeing is the prepared investigators that we have to teach. I am totally fine with that, there is no other place that I would rather be than right here in this small town named Mthatha. It is totally an African place, so culturally strong and unique. I hope that I will be sticking around this place for a bit longer still.
Zone Conference this past week was fabulous, it was a Christmas themed message, and it was very inspiring to us all. We were fortunate enough to watch a movie called "17 Miracles" it's about the Willy Martin handcart company, and the story is told from the journal entries of Levi Savage, a returned missionary who traveled with that company. It was an awesome movie, and it taught me how much more I can sacrifice in my life and service as a missionary. If you haven't already seen it, it would be a good one to see.
Thank you all for your letters, they are much appreciated!
Dad, take luck with your presentations this week, I am praying for you!
Everyone have a lekker week, Love,
Elder Nielsen
Monday, December 5, 2011
Week 65: December 5, 2011
Molweni - Hello Everybody
Lots of good things happened this week, especially with finding new investigators and working with the members. I am really loving Mthatha a whole lot, and I am learning a bit of Xhosa, a language with three different types of clicks.
I have been eating baked potatoes and peanut butter jelly sandwiches a lot recently, those are my staples. Oh and in the mornings I have been eating oats, and I am feeling pretty healthy. Elder Simpson and I don't really cook as a companionship together as much as Elder Scicluna and I did but on occasion we will. I like to ask him about the marine corp and what kind of stuff he did there, and we also talk about guns a whole lot. The one South African in our district thinks we are both crazy and thinks it's insane that we both have guns. Apparently here it is almost impossible for someone to own a gun, which makes me feel safer. You can only have one if you have like 5 different types of licenses and have a reason such as hunting to own one.
We had quite a bit of success this week with our finding efforts, we met a lot of good potential investigators and even had some people invite us in immediately. So we were able to keep really busy and be successful with everything we did. We unfortunately had to extend some of our baptismal dates back, but they are still hanging in there. We will see what comes from them.
Tonight we are all driving down to East london to have Zone Conference, we all can't wait. There will be a couple of my past companions that I will be able to catch up with and see, and of course Zonce Conferences are always spiritually uplifting. We are also having a gift exchange, like a white elephant or something, so that will be fun.
Mom I think I will be able to get something like that for you, Mthatha might be a difficult place to find something like that but I will keep my eyes open. There are a lot of cool little South African trinkets, or curios as they are called here. That house really does have a southern look to it, I like it. Mthatha reminds me about Georgia a lot, because of the warm summers day and a heavy thunderstorm at night, I love that a lot, and sitting on those porches watching a thunderstorm would be flipping sweet. Could you send me Elder Hamilton's and Elder Tanner's mission addresses?
Looks like you all had a good Thanksgiving, and wow that aquarium looks really cool!
Love you all lots, have a great week
Elder Nielsen
Lots of good things happened this week, especially with finding new investigators and working with the members. I am really loving Mthatha a whole lot, and I am learning a bit of Xhosa, a language with three different types of clicks.
I have been eating baked potatoes and peanut butter jelly sandwiches a lot recently, those are my staples. Oh and in the mornings I have been eating oats, and I am feeling pretty healthy. Elder Simpson and I don't really cook as a companionship together as much as Elder Scicluna and I did but on occasion we will. I like to ask him about the marine corp and what kind of stuff he did there, and we also talk about guns a whole lot. The one South African in our district thinks we are both crazy and thinks it's insane that we both have guns. Apparently here it is almost impossible for someone to own a gun, which makes me feel safer. You can only have one if you have like 5 different types of licenses and have a reason such as hunting to own one.
We had quite a bit of success this week with our finding efforts, we met a lot of good potential investigators and even had some people invite us in immediately. So we were able to keep really busy and be successful with everything we did. We unfortunately had to extend some of our baptismal dates back, but they are still hanging in there. We will see what comes from them.
Tonight we are all driving down to East london to have Zone Conference, we all can't wait. There will be a couple of my past companions that I will be able to catch up with and see, and of course Zonce Conferences are always spiritually uplifting. We are also having a gift exchange, like a white elephant or something, so that will be fun.
Mom I think I will be able to get something like that for you, Mthatha might be a difficult place to find something like that but I will keep my eyes open. There are a lot of cool little South African trinkets, or curios as they are called here. That house really does have a southern look to it, I like it. Mthatha reminds me about Georgia a lot, because of the warm summers day and a heavy thunderstorm at night, I love that a lot, and sitting on those porches watching a thunderstorm would be flipping sweet. Could you send me Elder Hamilton's and Elder Tanner's mission addresses?
Looks like you all had a good Thanksgiving, and wow that aquarium looks really cool!
Love you all lots, have a great week
Elder Nielsen
Monday, November 28, 2011
Week 64: November 28, 2011
Hey Family
Mom I believe you forgot to attach those photos, have not yet received the Christmas package but it is still quite early, plenty of time until Christmas day.
Colin and Whitney congratulations! What are you going to do with all of them ducks?
Well I have a new companion, his name is Elder Simpson. He is a big guy from Arizona, and he happens to be a united states Marine, pretty cool guy. We are going to get along great, also Elder Naylor one of my old companions has come to Mthatha, and it has been really cool to catch up with him and share memories together. This will be a really sweet transfer for sure. Of course when changes happen on mission everything changes, mostly what you eat changes but that seems like everything.
Sounds like everyone had a great Thanksgiving, we were planning on having a big feast but we just never found the time. We were going to make mashed potatoes and have some grilled chicken but we settled for some PB & J. Nothing special but it was filling, for a while.
We found quite a few new investigators this week, and we are excited to find some more. There is not really a special story of the week, it was just a bit of an adjustment as transfers usually are. I really look forward to the next six weeks, they will be full of great stories and experiences.
Thank you all for your continuing support, have a great Week!
Love,
Elder Nielsen
Mom I believe you forgot to attach those photos, have not yet received the Christmas package but it is still quite early, plenty of time until Christmas day.
Colin and Whitney congratulations! What are you going to do with all of them ducks?
Well I have a new companion, his name is Elder Simpson. He is a big guy from Arizona, and he happens to be a united states Marine, pretty cool guy. We are going to get along great, also Elder Naylor one of my old companions has come to Mthatha, and it has been really cool to catch up with him and share memories together. This will be a really sweet transfer for sure. Of course when changes happen on mission everything changes, mostly what you eat changes but that seems like everything.
Sounds like everyone had a great Thanksgiving, we were planning on having a big feast but we just never found the time. We were going to make mashed potatoes and have some grilled chicken but we settled for some PB & J. Nothing special but it was filling, for a while.
We found quite a few new investigators this week, and we are excited to find some more. There is not really a special story of the week, it was just a bit of an adjustment as transfers usually are. I really look forward to the next six weeks, they will be full of great stories and experiences.
Thank you all for your continuing support, have a great Week!
Love,
Elder Nielsen
Monday, November 21, 2011
Week 63: November 21, 2011
Thanksgiving + Transfers
Thank you all for your letters, it's good to hear from everyone. I am jealous that you all are going to enjoy Thanksgiving and the feast that comes from it.
This week we worked a lot with the members in our area and found some pretty good success, the work always goes smoother when you use the members. We possibly have some baptism's coming up at the tail end of December, but that is a fair distance away in terms of the preparation of the investigators. It would be awesome however to have someone baptized on Christmas Eve and then confirmed on Christmas day! That would be a memory that nobody could forget. Around this time of year here people are out of school and on Christmas break, as of right now most of the schools have finished for the year and those schools who haven't finished yet are soon the close in the next week or so. The holiday season is basically the same here than there which is quite interesting.
Yeah last week was quite disappointing, basically all of my proselyting materials were stolen, which is quite humorous because there is no profit that a thief can have from scriptures, pamphlets and church produced DVD's unless of course He decides to read them and turn a new leaf. I have ordered a new pair of scriptures through the mission office but I will not be taking those out into the area at all, I now have an economical bible that I will use to proselyte with, and if somehow that one gets stolen it wont be too much of a loss. I will probably not be sending any more pictures until I can save up to get a cheapo camera again, because I definitely want pictures to remember my mission from.
We did some service out in the village this week where we built a wall out of homemade bricks and some makeshift mortar, it was a really cool experience. The Family we did it for was so incredibly grateful for our efforts and fed us a nice lunch. We always like to do service because it definitely helps out in the missionary efforts, directly after service you will see referrals coming out of the wood work and people to teach like crazy. Also it fills in the morning hours, which are usually awkward times to proselyte during.
Transfers are this week, nobody is leaving the mission this transfer and nobody is coming in. I personally hope that nothing is going to change, I would love to have Elder Scicluna as a companion for another transfer. We really work well together and have a lot of fun at the same time. Also the other guys in the district too, I hope nothing changes with them, we just have an awesome time together and we all work hard. Whatever happens is what happens though, I won't be sad if anything happens, change is good. Whoever you serve with and wherever you serve doesn't really matter, it's just a privilege to be able to do this king of work that really matters the most.
Brian, Ariel, and Ava I hope that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving in Georgia, I am sure it will be fun to visit all of those cool places around the Atlanta area again. And for you Brian and Ava for the first time it is going to be a blast. Hey Callaway gardens although we only went there once was Awesome! those Christmas decorations were incredible, that will be a really cool experience.
Mom and Dad, good luck with work and the house search! and also have a great Thanksgiving weekend, I know that you will all have an amazing time!
Colin, I will keep you in my prayers as you are seeking for a sweet job. Have a ginormous feast this week!
Love you all so much,
Elder Chase B Nielsen
Thank you all for your letters, it's good to hear from everyone. I am jealous that you all are going to enjoy Thanksgiving and the feast that comes from it.
This week we worked a lot with the members in our area and found some pretty good success, the work always goes smoother when you use the members. We possibly have some baptism's coming up at the tail end of December, but that is a fair distance away in terms of the preparation of the investigators. It would be awesome however to have someone baptized on Christmas Eve and then confirmed on Christmas day! That would be a memory that nobody could forget. Around this time of year here people are out of school and on Christmas break, as of right now most of the schools have finished for the year and those schools who haven't finished yet are soon the close in the next week or so. The holiday season is basically the same here than there which is quite interesting.
Yeah last week was quite disappointing, basically all of my proselyting materials were stolen, which is quite humorous because there is no profit that a thief can have from scriptures, pamphlets and church produced DVD's unless of course He decides to read them and turn a new leaf. I have ordered a new pair of scriptures through the mission office but I will not be taking those out into the area at all, I now have an economical bible that I will use to proselyte with, and if somehow that one gets stolen it wont be too much of a loss. I will probably not be sending any more pictures until I can save up to get a cheapo camera again, because I definitely want pictures to remember my mission from.
We did some service out in the village this week where we built a wall out of homemade bricks and some makeshift mortar, it was a really cool experience. The Family we did it for was so incredibly grateful for our efforts and fed us a nice lunch. We always like to do service because it definitely helps out in the missionary efforts, directly after service you will see referrals coming out of the wood work and people to teach like crazy. Also it fills in the morning hours, which are usually awkward times to proselyte during.
Transfers are this week, nobody is leaving the mission this transfer and nobody is coming in. I personally hope that nothing is going to change, I would love to have Elder Scicluna as a companion for another transfer. We really work well together and have a lot of fun at the same time. Also the other guys in the district too, I hope nothing changes with them, we just have an awesome time together and we all work hard. Whatever happens is what happens though, I won't be sad if anything happens, change is good. Whoever you serve with and wherever you serve doesn't really matter, it's just a privilege to be able to do this king of work that really matters the most.
Brian, Ariel, and Ava I hope that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving in Georgia, I am sure it will be fun to visit all of those cool places around the Atlanta area again. And for you Brian and Ava for the first time it is going to be a blast. Hey Callaway gardens although we only went there once was Awesome! those Christmas decorations were incredible, that will be a really cool experience.
Mom and Dad, good luck with work and the house search! and also have a great Thanksgiving weekend, I know that you will all have an amazing time!
Colin, I will keep you in my prayers as you are seeking for a sweet job. Have a ginormous feast this week!
Love you all so much,
Elder Chase B Nielsen
Monday, November 14, 2011
Week 62: November 14, 2011
Another Baptism
Hello family, all is well here in South Africa. As it is starting to cool down there, it's warming up a bit here. Actually the weather this past week was quite mild, but we are expecting a great surge of heat sometime soon.
Yes we had another baptism just this weekend, it was a great service and the Spirit was definitely felt. It really has been an amazing experience teaching sister Anathi, she was so prepared to receive the gospel and it was just in our Heavenly Fathers plan that we were to meet, teach, and baptize her.
The last picture is a bit of a sad story, that is evidence that our car was broken into this last week, and some of our belongings were stolen. We have reported it to the police, and done all we possibly can. It is too bad that there has to be opposition in all things, but that is just the way it is. Also last night someone tried to break into our house, but once they tripped the alarm they were booking it. Sounds like we have a lot of work to do as missionaries huh? We certainly are the warriors against wickedness, that's a cool way to look at it I've found. In 2 Timothy 3:7 I believe it says that those who are righteous are bound to be persecuted. We cannot let some thieves ruin our experience on mission, rather we will just press along.
That house you are describing mom sounds quite nice, again whatever you two decide I am completely happy with. Yes I did receive the Halloween package, thank you So Much. I loved the items you packed in there, and so did the members in the district. I bet that task you are undergoing right now is a bit tedious, good luck with it and all will be well. This week I have received news that in order to make it a possibility to serve in Namibia I will also need to complete new medical forms, they have sent me them and I will get them completed this week. Thank you for working so quickly in getting the police clearance to the office. Hopefully this will be the last of many steps that the Government of Namibia has made in order for missionaries to go there. I initially will have to pay for it, but however the mission will refund.
Dad, the service you went to is that the guy who sounds like coach Jackson? just curious. Sounds like this week might be a little tough for you, that can't be an easy task. I pray for you continually. Thanks for giving me the update on the Football scores, I can't believe it is already November, it goes by fast that's a fact.
Ariel, thank you Soo Much for doing all of those applications for me. You are the bestest sister Ever. Hope you, Brian, and Ava are doing well and enjoying life. I am glad you are enjoying the weather in Texas.
Hope you all have a great week! Love you
Elder Nielsen
Hello family, all is well here in South Africa. As it is starting to cool down there, it's warming up a bit here. Actually the weather this past week was quite mild, but we are expecting a great surge of heat sometime soon.
Yes we had another baptism just this weekend, it was a great service and the Spirit was definitely felt. It really has been an amazing experience teaching sister Anathi, she was so prepared to receive the gospel and it was just in our Heavenly Fathers plan that we were to meet, teach, and baptize her.
The last picture is a bit of a sad story, that is evidence that our car was broken into this last week, and some of our belongings were stolen. We have reported it to the police, and done all we possibly can. It is too bad that there has to be opposition in all things, but that is just the way it is. Also last night someone tried to break into our house, but once they tripped the alarm they were booking it. Sounds like we have a lot of work to do as missionaries huh? We certainly are the warriors against wickedness, that's a cool way to look at it I've found. In 2 Timothy 3:7 I believe it says that those who are righteous are bound to be persecuted. We cannot let some thieves ruin our experience on mission, rather we will just press along.
That house you are describing mom sounds quite nice, again whatever you two decide I am completely happy with. Yes I did receive the Halloween package, thank you So Much. I loved the items you packed in there, and so did the members in the district. I bet that task you are undergoing right now is a bit tedious, good luck with it and all will be well. This week I have received news that in order to make it a possibility to serve in Namibia I will also need to complete new medical forms, they have sent me them and I will get them completed this week. Thank you for working so quickly in getting the police clearance to the office. Hopefully this will be the last of many steps that the Government of Namibia has made in order for missionaries to go there. I initially will have to pay for it, but however the mission will refund.
Dad, the service you went to is that the guy who sounds like coach Jackson? just curious. Sounds like this week might be a little tough for you, that can't be an easy task. I pray for you continually. Thanks for giving me the update on the Football scores, I can't believe it is already November, it goes by fast that's a fact.
Ariel, thank you Soo Much for doing all of those applications for me. You are the bestest sister Ever. Hope you, Brian, and Ava are doing well and enjoying life. I am glad you are enjoying the weather in Texas.
Hope you all have a great week! Love you
Elder Nielsen
Monday, November 7, 2011
Week 61: November 7, 2011
Serving in South Africa
The first two pictures are jakaranda trees, purple in color that bloom in late spring here. Since it is the last time I will be seeing these trees i have decided that I needed to take some pictures of them. The last picture is quite typical to Africa, when you make a mistake, make the best of it. I can imagine what these guys thought when they ruptured this fire Hydrant by mistake "WOW, this thing is gushing large amounts of water at an incredible rate, good thing cuz my hands are really dirty".... and then later one asks the other how are we going to fix this? This is probably one of the reasons we mysteriously have no running water at our house for days on end. Gotta love it
This past week was great, every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday we have an opportunity to do service for Members and investigators. On Wednesday we did service at the Binta's, a part member family who we are sometimes fortunate enough to teach. We are basically clearing their Simba grass and weed infested backyard in preparation for a vegetable garden. It proved to be tough work, which is good because we are building up some nice hard hands. We know that it will be a blessing for them once we have completed the almost endless amount of work. On Saturday we went out to the villages and did service for the Mamoza family, there we are busy moving dirt into the foundation of the house that they are waiting to complete, that too hardens our hands a bit.
Yesterday we had 7 investigators come to church, and the other guys had 10 so there was a total of 17 investigators attending church yesterday, that's a pretty large amount of investigators to teach in the Gospel Principles class. It's a good thing that I taught the Sunday School class, and we also had our lesson on the spirit world, and funny enough tonight we are holding a Family Home Evening and we will be teaching about the spirit world.
On Friday we are holding a baptismal service, we are really excited for that! Hopefully more baptism's will follow this one, we have really put in a lot of work in this area. This week we plan on finding a whole slew of new investigators, we have struggled a bit in the past weeks finding new people, but we have been kept busy with all of the appointments we have set up.
I think the house you are thinking of making an offer on is a good house, it looks very nice. It's much like the house on Se 47th, as far as the rooms to bathroom ratio. However this home seems to have a bit more room inside. Whatever you feel is the best home for you two I am completely happy with.
Glad the Vandals finally won, for some reason they always, always have to make it hard for themselves to get a win.I guess that's why they are a fun team to watch, cuz if they win it comes down to the wire.
Love you all So MMUCH,
Elder Nielsen
The first two pictures are jakaranda trees, purple in color that bloom in late spring here. Since it is the last time I will be seeing these trees i have decided that I needed to take some pictures of them. The last picture is quite typical to Africa, when you make a mistake, make the best of it. I can imagine what these guys thought when they ruptured this fire Hydrant by mistake "WOW, this thing is gushing large amounts of water at an incredible rate, good thing cuz my hands are really dirty".... and then later one asks the other how are we going to fix this? This is probably one of the reasons we mysteriously have no running water at our house for days on end. Gotta love it
This past week was great, every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday we have an opportunity to do service for Members and investigators. On Wednesday we did service at the Binta's, a part member family who we are sometimes fortunate enough to teach. We are basically clearing their Simba grass and weed infested backyard in preparation for a vegetable garden. It proved to be tough work, which is good because we are building up some nice hard hands. We know that it will be a blessing for them once we have completed the almost endless amount of work. On Saturday we went out to the villages and did service for the Mamoza family, there we are busy moving dirt into the foundation of the house that they are waiting to complete, that too hardens our hands a bit.
Yesterday we had 7 investigators come to church, and the other guys had 10 so there was a total of 17 investigators attending church yesterday, that's a pretty large amount of investigators to teach in the Gospel Principles class. It's a good thing that I taught the Sunday School class, and we also had our lesson on the spirit world, and funny enough tonight we are holding a Family Home Evening and we will be teaching about the spirit world.
On Friday we are holding a baptismal service, we are really excited for that! Hopefully more baptism's will follow this one, we have really put in a lot of work in this area. This week we plan on finding a whole slew of new investigators, we have struggled a bit in the past weeks finding new people, but we have been kept busy with all of the appointments we have set up.
I think the house you are thinking of making an offer on is a good house, it looks very nice. It's much like the house on Se 47th, as far as the rooms to bathroom ratio. However this home seems to have a bit more room inside. Whatever you feel is the best home for you two I am completely happy with.
Glad the Vandals finally won, for some reason they always, always have to make it hard for themselves to get a win.I guess that's why they are a fun team to watch, cuz if they win it comes down to the wire.
Love you all So MMUCH,
Elder Nielsen
Monday, October 31, 2011
Week 60: October 31, 2011
Molweni
That means Hello (to more than one person) or something
That means Hello (to more than one person) or something
Well I am doing great, the week was pretty exciting although hectic in some ways. We all received some letters from the mission office informing us that we needed to get another police clearance from our home towns in order to one day serve in Namibia, not a certainty just a possibility. Since Elder Scicluna and I had the same situation being our residence has changed since being on mission we had no Idea how we were going to work it all out. the letter asked us to give ourpower of attorney to someone who could acquire the police clearance. I was under theimpression that it had to be from Issaquah, WA just because that is where I came from. So I put Bishop Tanner down as the one who would be able to do that, I felt kind of bad doing that but It seemed like there wasn't much option otherwise. I hope that is alright, and mom I think you mentioned that in another Email but I think I have forgotten.
One of the pictures is us cooking some food for the week, it works out pretty well. The other is the district going to Queenstown for interviews and training, which is quite a long drive (3 hours). Living with four Elders is never boring, there is always something happening and something to talk about. These two African's are just hilarious together, we have a lot of laughs and really enjoy each others company. Since all of us were born in different countries there are a bit of differences with each of us so it makes for a very interesting time.
We have a baptism coming up on the 12th of November, and she is just a golden investigator. Another cool thing is that we are getting a bunch of new investigators outside of University. We met a couple of them at one house, four actually and we have high hopes for them. They seem really interested and willing to learn. We will see how that goes, so far the transition out of the university is going really well.
Grandma and Grandpa thank you so much for your letter a couple of weeks ago, it put a smile on my face to hear from you two. Thank you for the update on how you are doing, I am glad to hear that you are well. Grandma you are truly amazing for continuing to work, that is a great quality. I pray that you two will continue to do well and have a great week!
Grandma and Grandpa thank you so much for your letter a couple of weeks ago, it put a smile on my face to hear from you two. Thank you for the update on how you are doing, I am glad to hear that you are well. Grandma you are truly amazing for continuing to work, that is a great quality. I pray that you two will continue to do well and have a great week!
Mom & Dad, sounds like you both were kept busy this week, I bet you are happy that you don't have to stress and worry about enrolling children into school mom. I wonder how it went getting the license plate for the new car HA. I know that you love the search for a new home and that will sure keep you busy for the next couple of months, I can't believe tomorrow is November 1st, Far out! (very Australian term now-a-days) Dad I wish I could teach 127 people at one time, what an experience that would be. Most of those golf courses you are talking about don't sound familiar, are they new or the same as before?
Have a great week.
Have a great week.
Love,
Elder Nielsen
Elder Nielsen
Monday, October 24, 2011
Week 59: October 24, 2011
Greetings
Hello everyone,
Hello everyone,
Everything is doing great and this past week was a good one. We had a bunch of investigators come to church on Sunday which always puts a smile on a missionaries face. We have had some pretty good success in getting new investigators as well. There are a lot of people who are willing to hear our message, so we are really busy with teaching people about the Restored Gospel.
We have this one investigator who is really sweet, she has an incredible sense of truth when it comes to the Gospel. She is our Golden investigator right now, we plan on having her baptized on the 12th of November. More updates on that and other possible baptisms.
Thank you all so much for your letters, I can't believe it's almost Halloween what day is that exactly October 31st? wow I am sure all the young ones will have fun trick or Treating. That is always fun, there is no holiday like that here is SA.
Colin, that would be awesome if you landed a job for Delta what a cool experience that would be. I bet hearing President Uchtdorf's talks inspire you in more than one way. Actually I think they might inspire all of us in more than one way but for you probably a bit more ha. Wish you luck with all of those ducks you are hunting and also with this pursuit towards a career, wherever you end up you will do great. I sent you a letter, let me know if you get it because I wan't to know if it actually gets to you. I have heard that it is risky putting letters into the post from the Eastern Cape so just keep me updated.
Sister, I can imagine you doing the mommy thing, and it's a good picture. I bet you are absolutely loving it, I can tell from your e-mail that you are. Love you. Also thank you for sending that document I am on top of it and trying to send it onwards. have a great week!
Dad, your office is pretty sweet looking! those machines are beastly and sophisticated at the same time, Impressive. I am sure you are enjoying your new work and love that you are back in business. Colin told me Idaho had a bye week, maybe they can use this week to figure it out and salvage a couple of wins. Don't they play BYU this year?
Momma, thank you for your update, I hope all goes well with you this week. The only thing I can think for Christmas Ideas are socks, maybe one short sleeve shirt and a long sleeve shirt as well, and a super small wallet. Preferably a small leather one that you can slide cards into and have it be very discreet, the one I am thinking about is only a little bit bigger than an actual credit card. I don't really feel comfortable with a big and bulky wallet with all of these totsies around. Thank you!
Love you all,
Elder Nielsen
We have this one investigator who is really sweet, she has an incredible sense of truth when it comes to the Gospel. She is our Golden investigator right now, we plan on having her baptized on the 12th of November. More updates on that and other possible baptisms.
Thank you all so much for your letters, I can't believe it's almost Halloween what day is that exactly October 31st? wow I am sure all the young ones will have fun trick or Treating. That is always fun, there is no holiday like that here is SA.
Colin, that would be awesome if you landed a job for Delta what a cool experience that would be. I bet hearing President Uchtdorf's talks inspire you in more than one way. Actually I think they might inspire all of us in more than one way but for you probably a bit more ha. Wish you luck with all of those ducks you are hunting and also with this pursuit towards a career, wherever you end up you will do great. I sent you a letter, let me know if you get it because I wan't to know if it actually gets to you. I have heard that it is risky putting letters into the post from the Eastern Cape so just keep me updated.
Sister, I can imagine you doing the mommy thing, and it's a good picture. I bet you are absolutely loving it, I can tell from your e-mail that you are. Love you. Also thank you for sending that document I am on top of it and trying to send it onwards. have a great week!
Dad, your office is pretty sweet looking! those machines are beastly and sophisticated at the same time, Impressive. I am sure you are enjoying your new work and love that you are back in business. Colin told me Idaho had a bye week, maybe they can use this week to figure it out and salvage a couple of wins. Don't they play BYU this year?
Momma, thank you for your update, I hope all goes well with you this week. The only thing I can think for Christmas Ideas are socks, maybe one short sleeve shirt and a long sleeve shirt as well, and a super small wallet. Preferably a small leather one that you can slide cards into and have it be very discreet, the one I am thinking about is only a little bit bigger than an actual credit card. I don't really feel comfortable with a big and bulky wallet with all of these totsies around. Thank you!
Love you all,
Elder Nielsen
Monday, October 17, 2011
Week 58: October 17, 2011
Hello Family
I am still in the same area with the same companion, so transfers didn't really affect us, but however Elder Itina left the district and Elder Lewatle replaced him to be companions with Elder Ruzai. We are pretty excited to be together for another transfer, we have a lot of good investigators who will really be progressing well throughout the next couple of weeks. However it is unfortunate that most of our investigators are from the university and soon all of those students will be going home for summer break, which means we have got to focus a lot on finding new ones. That will be fun to put a whole bunch of work into the area, especially finding Father-led families, that would really help out the branch and strengthen it for the years to come.
We watched General Conference this weekend and all I can really say is, WOW, That was awesome! That talk about the Book of Mormon was really helpful for missionaries. We frequently get asked this question when an investigator is a bit unsure about the additional book of Scripture, revealed by God through his prophet Joseph Smith, called The Book Of Mormon, they ask "Why do we need The Book of Mormon if we already have the Bible?". I think it was Elder Tad Callister? who gave the talk with the example of the Bible, posing a question as to how many straight lines we can draw through it, he answered saying that an infinite number of Straight lines could be drawn through it. Each line drawn through it representing all the different interpretations and therefore all the different churches, which however Straight they were there were still many different interpretations. Then he entered into the equation the Book Of Mormon, and asked a similar question," how many Straight lines can you draw through the Book of Mormon and the Bible", and again he answered saying "One", again the line means the interpretation of our Heavenly Fathers word. So basically the answer is that with The Book Of Mormon and the Bible together we have the correct interpretation of God's word. I found that talk very interesting and useful in missionary work.
Hey Ariel, Happy 23rd Birthday! Hope you have a wonderful day and have an extra piece of cake for me :)
Momma, thank you so much! I am happy for you and glad that you are able to feel some of that southern heat and humidity! One thing I like about being in Mthatha is that at the end of a hot day we usually get some thunderstorms which remind me of those thunderstorms in Georgia. Love them! As far as me going home, I think it would be best to go home where you two are staying, wherever you are is home. Seattle would be a bit challenging and uncomfortable living out of a suitcase for anytime longer than I have to.
Dad, I knew it wouldn't take you long to get those Golfing memberships ha, that is a pretty sweet deal there and I know it puts a huge smile on your face. One Upside I can see for you in this winter is that you will be a bit used to the more mild temperature of Seattle and will feel totally comfortable with playing a round of Golf in a Georgian winter. Let me know how that goes. Have you thought about getting a golf cart yet?
Good luck to all those who I was not able to give a shout out to, Love you
Elder Chase Nielsen
I am still in the same area with the same companion, so transfers didn't really affect us, but however Elder Itina left the district and Elder Lewatle replaced him to be companions with Elder Ruzai. We are pretty excited to be together for another transfer, we have a lot of good investigators who will really be progressing well throughout the next couple of weeks. However it is unfortunate that most of our investigators are from the university and soon all of those students will be going home for summer break, which means we have got to focus a lot on finding new ones. That will be fun to put a whole bunch of work into the area, especially finding Father-led families, that would really help out the branch and strengthen it for the years to come.
We watched General Conference this weekend and all I can really say is, WOW, That was awesome! That talk about the Book of Mormon was really helpful for missionaries. We frequently get asked this question when an investigator is a bit unsure about the additional book of Scripture, revealed by God through his prophet Joseph Smith, called The Book Of Mormon, they ask "Why do we need The Book of Mormon if we already have the Bible?". I think it was Elder Tad Callister? who gave the talk with the example of the Bible, posing a question as to how many straight lines we can draw through it, he answered saying that an infinite number of Straight lines could be drawn through it. Each line drawn through it representing all the different interpretations and therefore all the different churches, which however Straight they were there were still many different interpretations. Then he entered into the equation the Book Of Mormon, and asked a similar question," how many Straight lines can you draw through the Book of Mormon and the Bible", and again he answered saying "One", again the line means the interpretation of our Heavenly Fathers word. So basically the answer is that with The Book Of Mormon and the Bible together we have the correct interpretation of God's word. I found that talk very interesting and useful in missionary work.
Hey Ariel, Happy 23rd Birthday! Hope you have a wonderful day and have an extra piece of cake for me :)
Momma, thank you so much! I am happy for you and glad that you are able to feel some of that southern heat and humidity! One thing I like about being in Mthatha is that at the end of a hot day we usually get some thunderstorms which remind me of those thunderstorms in Georgia. Love them! As far as me going home, I think it would be best to go home where you two are staying, wherever you are is home. Seattle would be a bit challenging and uncomfortable living out of a suitcase for anytime longer than I have to.
Dad, I knew it wouldn't take you long to get those Golfing memberships ha, that is a pretty sweet deal there and I know it puts a huge smile on your face. One Upside I can see for you in this winter is that you will be a bit used to the more mild temperature of Seattle and will feel totally comfortable with playing a round of Golf in a Georgian winter. Let me know how that goes. Have you thought about getting a golf cart yet?
Good luck to all those who I was not able to give a shout out to, Love you
Elder Chase Nielsen
Monday, October 10, 2011
Week 57: October 10, 2011
Hello Family, Another Transfer
Thank you for the pictures those were fantastic! and that Jeep looks pretty sweet! looks like a sweet ride! I am glad you all had a good week, Dad likes his job and probably is already a member at all of those golf courses In PTC and is loving life. Momma's back in town with all of her old friends from Georgia, I am really glad you are enjoying it, you both deserve it.
My week was pretty enjoyable as well, the second picture of the ones I attached is from Thursday, basically we caught a mole that has been digging around in our yard after our weekly planning/ Lunch time. We were both in shock to actually have caught it because we were just playing around. All we had to do was pour large amounts of water into the whole and he came swimming up, it was really cool never actually seen one of those guys. A part of me wanted to have those smoke sticks that Dad and I used to get those moles from our yard in Serenity lane.
Other than that the missionary work is going really well here, It is amazing to me how Heavenly Father puts people in our path, this week I think we had a couple of people placed in our path who have been prepared by the Lord to hear our message. One in particular is a Lady named Nomveliso. I think the way we found her was totally inspired. On exchanges with Elder Ruzai on Tuesday one of our appointments fell through at university, so we decided to ask around where our investigator might be instead of giving them a call. As we were talking to a few people we ran into Nomveliso who inquired what we were doing wearing smart clothes, it was a perfect opportunity to tell her all about us and our message. She was so receptive and willing to learn I was amazed, we taught her all about the message of the Restoration and left her with a Book of Mormon to read. She was so excited to have additional scripture to read from our Heavenly Father, that day I really felt like I was truly an instrument in the Lord's hand reaching out to his beloved children. There is no better feeling than that.
Mom living with three other Elders is very entertaining, we all have pretty good personalities so it makes it interesting and fun. We have a whole lot of fun and enjoy each others company a whole lot, overall It is just a good experience,
I know that you will all enjoy your week! I pray that you all will and that you will be successful in everything that you do.
Love,
Elder Nielsen
Thank you for the pictures those were fantastic! and that Jeep looks pretty sweet! looks like a sweet ride! I am glad you all had a good week, Dad likes his job and probably is already a member at all of those golf courses In PTC and is loving life. Momma's back in town with all of her old friends from Georgia, I am really glad you are enjoying it, you both deserve it.
My week was pretty enjoyable as well, the second picture of the ones I attached is from Thursday, basically we caught a mole that has been digging around in our yard after our weekly planning/ Lunch time. We were both in shock to actually have caught it because we were just playing around. All we had to do was pour large amounts of water into the whole and he came swimming up, it was really cool never actually seen one of those guys. A part of me wanted to have those smoke sticks that Dad and I used to get those moles from our yard in Serenity lane.
Other than that the missionary work is going really well here, It is amazing to me how Heavenly Father puts people in our path, this week I think we had a couple of people placed in our path who have been prepared by the Lord to hear our message. One in particular is a Lady named Nomveliso. I think the way we found her was totally inspired. On exchanges with Elder Ruzai on Tuesday one of our appointments fell through at university, so we decided to ask around where our investigator might be instead of giving them a call. As we were talking to a few people we ran into Nomveliso who inquired what we were doing wearing smart clothes, it was a perfect opportunity to tell her all about us and our message. She was so receptive and willing to learn I was amazed, we taught her all about the message of the Restoration and left her with a Book of Mormon to read. She was so excited to have additional scripture to read from our Heavenly Father, that day I really felt like I was truly an instrument in the Lord's hand reaching out to his beloved children. There is no better feeling than that.
Mom living with three other Elders is very entertaining, we all have pretty good personalities so it makes it interesting and fun. We have a whole lot of fun and enjoy each others company a whole lot, overall It is just a good experience,
I know that you will all enjoy your week! I pray that you all will and that you will be successful in everything that you do.
Love,
Elder Nielsen
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Week 56: October 5, 2011
Sorry for the lack of letter this week
We have been having some internet difficulties this week so we haven't been able to get online and write our e-mails.I hope that everything is going well with the move and the new apartment you are staying at. Good luck looking for a house, I know you will find one that you absolutely love. Everything is going great, teaching a whole lot and preparing people for some baptisms coming up in about a month or so. Thank you so much for the pictures, It's nice to see everyone's face, like you say a picture is worth a thousand words.Sorry I was just able to read the e-mails and send this quick note, next week on on Monday hopefully the internet is still good and I will be able to write a bit longer of a letter.
Enjoy the picture, we took that in a place called Mandela Park.
Love you,
Elder Chase Nielsen
We have been having some internet difficulties this week so we haven't been able to get online and write our e-mails.I hope that everything is going well with the move and the new apartment you are staying at. Good luck looking for a house, I know you will find one that you absolutely love. Everything is going great, teaching a whole lot and preparing people for some baptisms coming up in about a month or so. Thank you so much for the pictures, It's nice to see everyone's face, like you say a picture is worth a thousand words.Sorry I was just able to read the e-mails and send this quick note, next week on on Monday hopefully the internet is still good and I will be able to write a bit longer of a letter.Enjoy the picture, we took that in a place called Mandela Park.
Love you,
Elder Chase Nielsen
Monday, September 26, 2011
Week 55: September 26, 2011
Hey Fam
That picture is the house that we are renting, its a pretty decent size for the four of us to stay in, although dishes pile up quick, not mine of course 1Nephi 3:7 I was born of goodly parents who taught me how to cook, eat, and then clean hah. Everything is just going super well, I feel like I am no longer going up a hill but down. Every day I feel more confident in doing missionary work, there is nothing better than to know you are good at something and continually strive to become better. I feel like I have a humble swagger towards missionary work, the only problem with humility is that you can never admit it :)
The past couple of weeks a good experience has evolved and we as a companionship have noticed some truly prophetic divine intervention. A couple of weeks ago as we were driving into the University, I saw this man walking by, and pointing at him said to Elder Scicluna "I want to teach that man". Little to our surprise about 6 hours later after having a fairly successful line of appointments we passed by him, on foot this time, and we jumped at the opportunity to get his contact details share our purpose with him and set up an appointment. We were feeling pretty good that the Lord had put him in our path just hours after saying aloud we wanted to teach him. This past week as we were teaching this man, named Leeds, he shared with us something very special. He said that he felt something tingling his spine when we first approached him and that he just knew he needed to listen to what we had to say, and he said that since then at every appointment he has also had that same feeling. We obviously then explained to him that he was feeling the Holy Ghost, and then seized upon the opportunity to invite him to be baptized, which he accepted almost before we asked the entire question. He had definitely already thought about that before we invited him. We are really excited to continue teaching this man and are grateful for the opportunity to fulfill our purpose as missionaries as fast as Heavenly Father can prepare the hearts and minds of the people in our area. Every day the Lord has a plan for us, the thing is we don't get to see it most of the time, I am glad that I have had this experience and been able to recognize it. The spirit testified to me that we needed to teach Leeds, and in like manner the spirit testified to Leeds that he needed to listen to us. Both of us were able to notice those spiritual promptings and act upon them, thus fulfilling Heavenly Fathers plan. You can't have a better feeling than knowing and doing God's will.
Mom and Dad good luck with the move this week, and do me one favor eat at that pizza parlor across from the Frisbee golf course, if i remember correctly there is a bridge for golf carts that goes over a large road taking you to the Pizza parlor. I think it is called PTC pizza, I don't remember I just know they have AWESOME pizza. Dad keep up the good work, and I am glad that you are enjoying the new job so far. Mom you can just send the package through the Mission office as usual, I can budget a hit here and there no problem.
Ariel and Brian, you have done well, Ava is so beautiful, I love her eyes and her happy temperament. Keep enjoying Texas and all the cool culture that must go along with living there.
look forward to hearing from you all next week!
Love you all so Much,
Elder Nielsen
Monday, September 19, 2011
Week 54: September 19, 2011
Hello Family
I love hearing about all of your weeks past and plans for the weeks ahead, cool to get a glimpse of what everyone is doing back home. Dad it sounds like you are really going to have a busy two weeks ahead of you, that will probably be a lot of fun and an enjoyable experience with Pitney Bowes. I am really happy that you have been hired on to work at a large corporation such as them, sorry what do they specialize in again?
This past week was awesome, on Saturday we had another baptism and yesterday there were two confirmations. I was lucky enough to confirm one of the sister, always a good spiritual experience to do that. I can't believe how hot it has been here the last couple of days, it's only September but it feels like the middle of summer. I can't imagine what December is going to be like here in Mthatha haha. But we managed to break some area records in our stats this week so we are feeling pretty good about that, we just need to have more people show up for sacrament and we will be baptizing like crazy. Lots of people around here want to hear our message and we are having a hard time finding time to teach all of them, most of it is separating out the Wheat from the Tares. I really love teaching people here at the university, I can't express how cool it is. For example we will go to a lesson, and when we arrive we will find a few of our investigators friends there in the room, we teach and they become interested. Boom new investigator just like that, hows that for finding?
This internet shop is having some difficulties so I don't know if my pictures will be able to attach, hopefully this email makes it to you. wow BYU and Idaho got smashed shame I hope Idaho can pull off a win against them that's be sweet, props to BSU and Wyoming that is pretty cool they are 3-0. Colin that is so cool you went to the Georgia BSU game I am sure that was an awesome experience for you, especially since the broncos won.
Mom I received the package you sent thank you so Much for all those sweets, Australians love skittles I have come to learn. I think the Jesus The Christ you sent me is bigger than the one I had before but it is nice to have a new one anyways. That book is Lekker for studying about the savior, basically that means it is Awesome. Lekker is an Afrikaans word for Good/awesome/spectacular. Although the area I am in only speaks Xhosa, I know Afrikaans better so I tend to stick to that. I love it here, although it's an English speaking mission, you could learn a variety of languages here. I am sure happy that you are happy about moving back to PTC, I can see you now rolling around in one of those Golf Carts going to Publix or Kroger hah.
Ariel, thank you so Much for being such a good sister and doing all of that dirty work for me how cool is that. What other sister in the world would write up applications for their brother while they are on Mission.
Ariel, thank you so Much for being such a good sister and doing all of that dirty work for me how cool is that. What other sister in the world would write up applications for their brother while they are on Mission.
I hope all of you have great weeks, and let me know about all of the cool experiences that you have!
until next week,
Elder Nielsen
Elder Nielsen
*Chase was able to send us the pictures he talked about in the letter. Here they are, along with some of the captions:
Monday, September 12, 2011
Week 53: September 12, 2011
Reaping and Sowing
Siyonela was a golden investigator found last transfer who fell in love with the message of the Restoration and has really found great happiness in the gospel thus far. She was so excited to be baptized and confirmed, which will happen this next Sunday. What is nice is that we have even more baptisms coming up, and we are setting up our investigators well into the future so it is very exciting
Yesterday we took a trip down to East London for Stake conference, usually it's about 2 1/2 to 3 hours drive so we spent a total or about six hours in the car, it's a pretty drive although not as green as Cape Town. Our car is a manual transmission so it's a lot of fun to drive, I kind of like having to shift gears and use more of my body to operate a vehicle I guess it makes me feel less lazy than an automatic. Around here there is a lot of Farming going on, so we got to see a whole lot of livestock on the way. As a district we are thinking of getting all of our fellow shippers together and buying a goat or sheep to have a big Brie (Bar B Q), we think it would be a great P-day activity to Fellow Ship our fellow Shippers hah.
This Wednesday we will be taking another Trip to East London for Zone Conference, there we will be able to meet president Renlund and his wife who are doing a mission tour. You might remember a talk he gave in October 2009 "preserving a hearts mighty change". I am really excited to meet him and to see President and sister Wood again.
I might have said before but most of the teaching we do in our area is done at the university here, there are plenty of people to teach and they are super smart. On friday we went to a follow up appointment and there were 5 people hanging out in the persons dorm room, so we taught them all and picked up a bunch of new investigators. So basically we just meet so many new people all the time and will have a never ending supply of smart people willing to learn more. I love it!
Dad wow lots of people from Issaquah are playing in colleges now, very cool. congrats on having a good background haha, I knew there wasn't going to be a problem with that. I am really happy for you and Mom to have another opportunity to be in Peachtree city.
Looks like you all had a good weekend with the family and with Baby Ava. Momma not going to lie I am kind of glad the lease on the bug is up, I know you loved it but I am glad the it's time ran up ha, Good luck on finding a perfect house!
For P-day we are going to play some basketball with some fellows hippers and people from the township , so it will be pretty fun.
Love you all So Much,
Elder Nielsen
Elder Nielsen
Monday, September 5, 2011
Week 52: September 5, 2011
Hey Family
Momma you guessed correctly, I have been transferred out of Fish Hoek to Mthatha. If you look on a map Mthatha is very very far away from Cape Town, the Mthatha branch is 3 hours away from the stake center and the airport that I flew into. So all in all it was a really long day of traveling for me on Wednesday. I woke up at 6 and drove to the mission home, from there took the mission bus to the airport and flew to East London, from there drove for about 3 1/2 hours to Mthatha. It is very rural out here, lots of cows and other livestock just roaming free.
The picture I attached depicts Elder Scicluna, my new companion, and I in front of the Mthatha meeting house. Elder Scicluna is from Australia and is a super great guy, he and I will get along very well and so far we have been working hard as well. There is a university in our area where we do most of our work, the people that go there are usually very smart and receptive to the gospel so it will be another pretty fruitful area I am hoping. As a companionship we are thinking of buying a couple piglets to feast on, yeah it's that remote our here. It's more common to butcher your own meat than to purchase from a grocer. The Boarding is very nice as well, it's actually our own house. There are four Elders in Mthatha and the only area in the mission with a four-man boarding, yes just like The Best Two Years, except we are in a house with a nice front and back lawn.
I was happy to hear from all of you and get a little sense of how you are doing and coping with all of the changes that are taking place in everyone's lives. It is so weird how college football has already started, what the heck one year ago Dad and I went to see the vandals play some Dakota team, geez that happened quick. No matter how the games go I still want an update of games that took place. Dad that is really cool that Nik Landdeck is a vandal, he was ferocious and in the near future could see some playing time.
Everyone I hope you all enjoy your upcoming week and thrive in all that you do, "Today is here and tomorrow will come. We will look back on today no matter what, might as well make the best of it" -Chase B Nielsen
Love,
Elder Nielsen
Momma you guessed correctly, I have been transferred out of Fish Hoek to Mthatha. If you look on a map Mthatha is very very far away from Cape Town, the Mthatha branch is 3 hours away from the stake center and the airport that I flew into. So all in all it was a really long day of traveling for me on Wednesday. I woke up at 6 and drove to the mission home, from there took the mission bus to the airport and flew to East London, from there drove for about 3 1/2 hours to Mthatha. It is very rural out here, lots of cows and other livestock just roaming free.
The picture I attached depicts Elder Scicluna, my new companion, and I in front of the Mthatha meeting house. Elder Scicluna is from Australia and is a super great guy, he and I will get along very well and so far we have been working hard as well. There is a university in our area where we do most of our work, the people that go there are usually very smart and receptive to the gospel so it will be another pretty fruitful area I am hoping. As a companionship we are thinking of buying a couple piglets to feast on, yeah it's that remote our here. It's more common to butcher your own meat than to purchase from a grocer. The Boarding is very nice as well, it's actually our own house. There are four Elders in Mthatha and the only area in the mission with a four-man boarding, yes just like The Best Two Years, except we are in a house with a nice front and back lawn.
I was happy to hear from all of you and get a little sense of how you are doing and coping with all of the changes that are taking place in everyone's lives. It is so weird how college football has already started, what the heck one year ago Dad and I went to see the vandals play some Dakota team, geez that happened quick. No matter how the games go I still want an update of games that took place. Dad that is really cool that Nik Landdeck is a vandal, he was ferocious and in the near future could see some playing time.
Everyone I hope you all enjoy your upcoming week and thrive in all that you do, "Today is here and tomorrow will come. We will look back on today no matter what, might as well make the best of it" -Chase B Nielsen
Love,
Elder Nielsen
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