Report for the week
Well we had 5 investigators at church yesterday that was awesome. We continue to help people towards their baptismal dates and things are going well with that. We did a whole lot of tracting this past week with some success but very little compared to weeks past. I have just been super tired all the time, day after day, but keeping up with the pace of the hectic schedule. That is the most rewarding, especially studies in the morning, that's my favorite.
Congrats on the move Mom and Dad, hopefully you don't need to stay there long.
Colin, good luck with that new opportunity, I'll keep you in my prayers, may the lord bless you in all that you do.
Sorry for the really short letter, we have got some sweet plans for p-day
Love you all,
Elder Nielsen
Monday, January 30, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Week 72: January 23, 2012
Another good week
Hello everybody, this was a pretty fantastic week. We have really been doing well lately, with some baptismal dates coming up in February, and some great progressing investigators. Really excited about that and loving every minute of being out here.
Some of the best parts of the week was really finding new people to teach, on saturday night we were on a role. It seemed like everyone we spoke to was interesting in what we were saying and willing to let us share with them and come back another day. It was probably one of the best days I have ever had on mission, afterwards it felt great to be able to share with so many people in a pretty decent area.
Overall we have been keeping very busy and pushing the work along, each week we are making goals that will really stretch our abilities, hopefully as we continue to do so we will be able to reach new heights. Elder Vernon and I have been getting along really well, so far he has been one of my most favorite companions, we would be good friends back home as well.
We had Zone Training and interviews this past week, and we were fortunate enough to hear a presentation from Elder Hartman (Dr. Taylor Hartman) who wrote the book "The Color Code" which is now known as "The People Code". Dad you may have heard about it before, but what it is all about is that all human beings have different personalities but each of us are motivated by different things which determines our color. Me for example, I am motivated by power so my color is red, my secondary is yellow which means I am also motivated by fun. In total there are 4 colors any human being can be classified under. It was probably one of the coolest presentations I had ever seen, overall I think it helped all of us understand that everyone is the same and we all have our strengths and weeknessed that we need to overcome, and knowing peoples strengths and weeknesses helps us get along with each other better. I was able to get a photo with Elder Hartman which is attached.
Colin that dutch over lid lifted looks pretty ingenious, nicely done! Also Whitney way to hold down the plasma business, that is pretty cool they sent you down to clean up some problems.
Addison thank you for your e-mail, keep up the good work with school and practising your talent with music!
Grandma and Grandpa thank you so much for the christmas card! hope all is well with you two!
Mom and Dad, love you so much, good luck with the house hunt and work! oh and also figuring out which golf cart you would like haha! About a vehicle, I honestly haven't thought too much about it. It is going to be a surprise enough to come home to a new house and all.
I hope everyone has a wonderful week! love you,
Elder Nielsen
Hello everybody, this was a pretty fantastic week. We have really been doing well lately, with some baptismal dates coming up in February, and some great progressing investigators. Really excited about that and loving every minute of being out here.
Some of the best parts of the week was really finding new people to teach, on saturday night we were on a role. It seemed like everyone we spoke to was interesting in what we were saying and willing to let us share with them and come back another day. It was probably one of the best days I have ever had on mission, afterwards it felt great to be able to share with so many people in a pretty decent area.
Overall we have been keeping very busy and pushing the work along, each week we are making goals that will really stretch our abilities, hopefully as we continue to do so we will be able to reach new heights. Elder Vernon and I have been getting along really well, so far he has been one of my most favorite companions, we would be good friends back home as well.
We had Zone Training and interviews this past week, and we were fortunate enough to hear a presentation from Elder Hartman (Dr. Taylor Hartman) who wrote the book "The Color Code" which is now known as "The People Code". Dad you may have heard about it before, but what it is all about is that all human beings have different personalities but each of us are motivated by different things which determines our color. Me for example, I am motivated by power so my color is red, my secondary is yellow which means I am also motivated by fun. In total there are 4 colors any human being can be classified under. It was probably one of the coolest presentations I had ever seen, overall I think it helped all of us understand that everyone is the same and we all have our strengths and weeknessed that we need to overcome, and knowing peoples strengths and weeknesses helps us get along with each other better. I was able to get a photo with Elder Hartman which is attached.
Colin that dutch over lid lifted looks pretty ingenious, nicely done! Also Whitney way to hold down the plasma business, that is pretty cool they sent you down to clean up some problems.
Addison thank you for your e-mail, keep up the good work with school and practising your talent with music!
Grandma and Grandpa thank you so much for the christmas card! hope all is well with you two!
Mom and Dad, love you so much, good luck with the house hunt and work! oh and also figuring out which golf cart you would like haha! About a vehicle, I honestly haven't thought too much about it. It is going to be a surprise enough to come home to a new house and all.
I hope everyone has a wonderful week! love you,
Elder Nielsen
Monday, January 16, 2012
Week 71: January 16, 2012
Hey Everybody!
Well this week was incredible, we are just booming with success. My companion and I are over what's called the honeymoon stage with each other, which is basically the time when you figure each other out. Elder Vernon is a really sweet guy, a wee bit new on mission but really wants to get out there and work hard and wont complain about it which I love about him. This week we just started working each other really hard and we are thrilled with the success that we had, together we are really going to do some miraculous things. We would get along really well with each other back home and be pretty good buds, so not only are we going to work super hard but we are going to have a sweet time doing it. We are really really gonna get serious about working out in the mornings, like running, push-ups, sit-ups, everything. I have noticed that if you do some physical exercise in the morning you are more awake and focused throughout the day.
There are a couple families that we are teaching that have been taught for a while now and have a testimony of the Book of Mormon and want to be baptized, but with each of them we have some challenges with some of the commandments, hopefully with time we will be able to see them get Baptized. We also have some other new investigators that we have found that really want to change their lives for the better, and they recognized after our first lesson with them that the lord could help them through our message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is really cool when you have an investigator who really wants you to be there because they know it will help them become a better person. There are also a couple other families that we have contacted and even taught, but we will see if we can make any progress with them throughout this next week. I have really been enjoying myself in this new area, it is awesome! I am going to make this area one of the most memorable areas ever for me. The last 16 months of my mission have really built me up to being the missionary I am today, the best that I have ever been, and the last third of my mission will be that much more incredible! I look forward to it all.
Addison, your mom has been telling me so much about your talent in music, that is awesome! Thank you for your letter, it really sounds like you have grown up to be an incredible young lady : ) keep it up!
Mom and Dad, I like how you decided not to go with a rental house, that could have made things a bit more complicated. You chose the right path by finding a month to month apartment to temporarily reside in as you look for a home. I will continue to pray for you that you will be able to find the right home at the right price, in the right place. Dad I can tell through your letter that this new job really makes you happy, and that makes me happy. You two keep busy now ya hear ha!
My whole universe is just shattered! I can't believe it is playoffs, playoffs? you are talking about playoffs. Wow time has really flown by, I must still think we are in October still. Seriously this is unreal
Next week I will be able to attach some photos, so sorry to not be able to do it this week.
Have a good one love you all,
Elder Nielsen
Well this week was incredible, we are just booming with success. My companion and I are over what's called the honeymoon stage with each other, which is basically the time when you figure each other out. Elder Vernon is a really sweet guy, a wee bit new on mission but really wants to get out there and work hard and wont complain about it which I love about him. This week we just started working each other really hard and we are thrilled with the success that we had, together we are really going to do some miraculous things. We would get along really well with each other back home and be pretty good buds, so not only are we going to work super hard but we are going to have a sweet time doing it. We are really really gonna get serious about working out in the mornings, like running, push-ups, sit-ups, everything. I have noticed that if you do some physical exercise in the morning you are more awake and focused throughout the day.
There are a couple families that we are teaching that have been taught for a while now and have a testimony of the Book of Mormon and want to be baptized, but with each of them we have some challenges with some of the commandments, hopefully with time we will be able to see them get Baptized. We also have some other new investigators that we have found that really want to change their lives for the better, and they recognized after our first lesson with them that the lord could help them through our message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is really cool when you have an investigator who really wants you to be there because they know it will help them become a better person. There are also a couple other families that we have contacted and even taught, but we will see if we can make any progress with them throughout this next week. I have really been enjoying myself in this new area, it is awesome! I am going to make this area one of the most memorable areas ever for me. The last 16 months of my mission have really built me up to being the missionary I am today, the best that I have ever been, and the last third of my mission will be that much more incredible! I look forward to it all.
Addison, your mom has been telling me so much about your talent in music, that is awesome! Thank you for your letter, it really sounds like you have grown up to be an incredible young lady : ) keep it up!
Mom and Dad, I like how you decided not to go with a rental house, that could have made things a bit more complicated. You chose the right path by finding a month to month apartment to temporarily reside in as you look for a home. I will continue to pray for you that you will be able to find the right home at the right price, in the right place. Dad I can tell through your letter that this new job really makes you happy, and that makes me happy. You two keep busy now ya hear ha!
My whole universe is just shattered! I can't believe it is playoffs, playoffs? you are talking about playoffs. Wow time has really flown by, I must still think we are in October still. Seriously this is unreal
Next week I will be able to attach some photos, so sorry to not be able to do it this week.
Have a good one love you all,
Elder Nielsen
Monday, January 9, 2012
Week 70: January 9, 2012
Transferred
Hey Family!
Sorry this letter will have to be a short one..
I am no longer in Mthatha, I have been transferred to serve in a branch called Cleary Estate, which is in Port Elizabeth. It is a sweet area, and Port Elizabeth really reminds me of Seattle, just warmer weather constantly. My new companion is Elder Vernon from Utah, he is a really sweet guy and so far we have been getting along fantastically, so it will be a really great transfer and I am looking forward to it.
Mom and Dad I wish you luck with everything that has to do with getting into a house, I will keep you in my prayers. I am sure everything will work out just fine, some things just take time is all.
Colin and Whitney I look forward to the big news next week, thats exciting! and Colin good luck with your trip to ATL!
To everyone else thank you so much for your letters,
Elder Nielsen
Hey Family!
Sorry this letter will have to be a short one..
I am no longer in Mthatha, I have been transferred to serve in a branch called Cleary Estate, which is in Port Elizabeth. It is a sweet area, and Port Elizabeth really reminds me of Seattle, just warmer weather constantly. My new companion is Elder Vernon from Utah, he is a really sweet guy and so far we have been getting along fantastically, so it will be a really great transfer and I am looking forward to it.
Mom and Dad I wish you luck with everything that has to do with getting into a house, I will keep you in my prayers. I am sure everything will work out just fine, some things just take time is all.
Colin and Whitney I look forward to the big news next week, thats exciting! and Colin good luck with your trip to ATL!
To everyone else thank you so much for your letters,
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
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