hmmm (April 14th)

Well, we didn't get hit again this week, although we could've. So remember when I said that we felt kinda demoted when we got a retired car? Well the next day the zone leaders called us and said that our carola, which was pretty nice for being old, was going to be sold. so they took it, and drove it back to McAllen, and they were gonna bring back another car for us. . . .  and they brought back a malibu. The ULTIMATE demotion. I will never voluntarily drive a malibu. They can don't turn very well and there are all kinds of blind spots. The back window, my companion can see me backing her up (with the mirrors), but not any cars that may be coming. So because of this, we named the car Mushu from Mulan. ("what say ye oh demoted one?" the head ancestor talking to the lizard.)

And, well, I got sunburned. Nope I didn't put on sunscreen because I didn't think about it. But I did remember when my face and arms started to itch and feel a little sensitive.

Well, the other day we got a text from Juan. He said goodnight. Kinda funny cause he said it at about 8:00. And he'd actually sent similar texts a couple of times, just to remind us that he still exists. We met him a while ago, and he was interested in listening and had lots of questions, but he wasn't always there for the appointments etc. he was just super busy and he wouldn't commit to be baptised so we just kinda dropped him. so in response to his text I reminded him to pray and read the Book of Mormon. he said okay and then a little later he sent another text asking when we could come see him. So we went to see him the next day, saturday. He hadn't been reading, cause he had just had a big test that he'd been studying for etc. But now he was done so he could have more time to read. we invited him to church but he ended up sleeping in.

Then there's another guy that knows he can find us every thursday at the methodist church helping with the food bank and he asks why we haven't come to see him. The honest reason is because he's always drunk and really only wants to talk to us cause it makes him feel good. But we agreed to stop by and see him an hopefully set firm expectation that we couldn't visit him unless he was willing to change, and well it didn't go like we'd planned it. He said he wanted to go to church but he was not willing to stop drinking or smoking. He says Jesus drank wine, and he didn't smoke cause they didn't make cigarettes back then. He didn't end up going to church either, because he couldn't hardly move and couldn't walk sunday morning so we canceled his ride.

And Christina was suposed to get confirmed yesterday, but George had to work, pulling a double shift and they weren't able to come to church. But Hector got confirmed!

And with George and Christina, they had to move, haven't found a place yet, but likely won't be in our area anymore, still in the ward, but not in our area. Right now they're staying with family.

And. . . .  well everything is great! toda via. Regardless of everything. I feel like the people who want to talk to us don't want to do anything but the people I think would act don't want to talk to us. :P

But anyway. We're still trying to find solid people. Not sure where to go, but we're working on it.

and we're still trying to get a branch here. I'm really not sure how to go about it. We got a list of people who would be likely to go and sent it to President Maluenda so he can take it to the stake president. But I'm not sure what else to do. There's about 30+ people on that list, and of course there's more less actives that we haven't really met yet, and people who would be more likely to go if there was a church near by. But there should be a solid 30. Is that enough for a branch do you think? I know we're lacking on priesthood holders, but I feel like if we get a branch started here then there will be growth in the strength of the members and the strength of numbers. It's great to hear from you. please don't cut back on how much you talk to me. The last two weeks we had less time because of issues with the car.

I love you all!

Hermana NJ Nielson

Poor Jianie (April 7th)

The weekend (April 7th)

Well, to be honest, not much happened this week. We worked, but if you look at our numbers it doesn't look like we did much unfortunatly, we did try, but not much happened. But then we got to go to General Conference!!!!! Woooo Hooooo!! I love General Conference! So we were thinking that we weren't gonna have anything to write home to our families other than general conference, which they all saw too, so there wasn't anything new, but then Saturday night happened.

Oh, by the way. You should look up and see if there's a cici's pizza anywhere in Utah/Idaho/Wyoming, cause it is pretty awesome. That's where our zone went for lunch between the saturday sessions. And also we went an hour early, before the first session to go to the family history center and learn about the new family search. because sadly the other one is no longer available. (I'm bummed cause I think quite a bit of information/conections on the tree is gone.) I don't know, I'm still confused and don't have the time to really figure it out, so I'm jest letting you know so you can work on it. :D and I still have some names reserved to go to the temple. . . . so who wants to go to the temple? I really do, but sadly they did not announce a new temple in Port Isabel Texas, or Brownsville, or McAllen, or anywhere else in my mission. So Kariann and Aldo, I got a great date night for you! You can make all the rounds in the temple! And mom and dad can to if you want.

 

But anyway, saturday night event, well first we are okay, a little sore but we're fine.

So do you remember our pretty little jeep Jianie? yup, the brand new one, made less than five months ago? Well it was stopped at a stop light with us inside of course. and then a big truck with a big boat behind it couldn't stop in time at the light. So we got hit. and Jianie is in the car hospital for a while and we got demoted to a retired car. but the good thing is that it's not a malibu.

 

And I think that's about it as far as what I can remember that happened.

 

For General Conference my favorite talk was Elder Bednar's, maybe partly cause I understood the analogy, but I liked it. And I also liked the talk about the importance of persistence and follow up. And with that, How is my family doing on missionary work? Please be the members that the missionaries recognize as helping the work. Maybe for family night, if you don't already have something planned, watch videos on the hastening the work website. and maybe review the conference talk about what is important--the priorities. I think it was Elder Bednar's actually.

 

Well I love you all!!!

Con Amor

La Hermana NJ Nielson

Sorry (march 31st)

I don't have a lot of time, this library only allows half an hour.

So yes, we had a wedding and two baptisms, and it was super great!

Kaylee you're going to Georgia today!!! Wow, you didn't spend very long in the MTC at all!

Well we are still working on getting a branch in Port Isabel.

The mission is great! I love it! and i'm doing good.

And I love you ALL!!!!!

Hermana NJ Nielson

Lots of fun! (March 31st)

Yup, we had a wedding, and two baptisms! It was lots of fun, super great. now we just are super worn out, we had everything planned out well enough that everything went smoothly, but it still makes you stress and worry.

Pictures of animals I ate or avoided (March 24th)

So, there's a crab in a bowl, it was quite hard to eat. and did you know it was blue before it was cooked?

then there's a trantualla. and we got pretty jumpy. It doesn't help that we've been told stories about great big huge spiders that climb out of the ditch and chase you and they'll bite!

And then there's the oyster/clam whatever. I like cooked mussels, but not that, there's actually another picture of me not enjoying it so much.

Lum de dum dum (March 24th)

I never know what to put in the title thing,and it's kinda bugging me that I always put hey or a smiley face. So there we go. 

Well, momma, how is your back doing? Doing well enough to spend three days sitting in the car? you're all in Washington, that sounds super fun. I kinda think I'd like to go sometime. 

Well transfers is here again, and guess what?! both me and my companion are both staying here, and we are super glad, it was kinda scary and nerve wracking. Especially because the transfer call was suposed to come sunday morning and we didn't get it. And then everyone in the mission got it except for our zone. So there were some of the members who knew that it was coming up and they'd ask if we were leaving but we didn't know. Didn't find out until 10 last night. So by then the anxiety was up and I was almost to the point that I didn't want to know. But luckily my companion had the phone so she played the voice mail and I only had to listen. 

But yup, we're happy, because George and Christina are getting married this friday and then Christina is getting baptised next sunday. then Hector, a nine year old who couldn't get baptised before because his non-member dad wouldn't give permission, finally got his dad's signature yesterday and his interview while we were there at church, so he'll be baptised next week too. 

So everything is super great!

Oh, and I ate a whole crab yesterday by the way. Elvira, the member who fed us was laughing at me because I was having a hard time figuring out how to eat it. It's a lot of work for just a little meat. but it is good and kinda fun. Especially fun to play with all the joints and things. :D

And saturday we started talking to a guy that we've taught a little bit and talk to him every once in a while, and he showed us how to open an oyster, and then gave them to us to eat. They were fresh, still living actually. So I ate a live animal. quite honestly I didn't like it a whole lot. Sister Bettinson's description of  "it tastes like the ocean, like you swalloed some ocean water" hits it right on, but she had a different opinon on whether or not it was good. I think I might like them better cooked, but I'm not eating another one like that. Hmm, what else? I don't know. Rollin's birthday party was last sunday, did he do anything else for it? go on a  chauffer date with Peter and his fiance? he he. Just kidding. Okay, I cant' think of anything right now, but I got pictures.

I love you all so much!

La Hermana NJ Nielson