Week 2 in Texas

Hello everyone, well I'm really not sure what to tell you. Oh, I got two flat tires this week, both times in the back. Did Rollin order me the thorn resistant tubes? Cause I've mostly been on the pavement and I got a flat. The first was an actual hole, and the second time it was in the seam.

Well, my companion actually only got here about a week and a half before I did, so we are whitewashing here, and we actually don't have any investigators.

We are working with a recent convert, Lisa, who has special needs. She's about 27 but she has the mentality of about an 8-12 yr old. We decided to try and help her by having her do personal progress because she is to the point where she needs to understand modesty and her value, and we're also trying to help her read. She's at a kindergarten level I think, she knows her letters and can sometimes get the right sounds and she can read basic words, I think she just didn't get enough practice when she was learning to retain it all.

We did find some investigators the first week, but they didn't go to church and we had a really hard time ever getting a hold of them ever again. Althoug with one, I think I told you about her, Evette, her family just wouldn't let her go.

We are teaching an 8 yr old, Karen. Her family was less active and she needs the missionary lessons before she can be baptised.

We're also teaching the lessons to a 9 yr old girl named Kaylee, her grandma is a member, but Kaylee's parents are catholic and though they allow her to take the lessons and go to church, they haven't let her be baptised because they want her to make a decission later in life I guess.

Speaking of Kaylee! Where's your call? How are things going? I haven't gotten an e-mail from you. You should have your call by now shouldn't you? I guess General Conference might've backed it up a lot but you should have it now no?

Okay, I 'm not sure what else to say. I love you all!

--Hermana Nielson

"I'm in Texas!"

Hey everyone! well I'm in Texas! the Edinburg Central area. It is amazing! Yes it is very hot, but it's great when we walk in the house and realize how cool it is. We just kind of get used to the heat and humidity and don't realize how bad it really is until we have the cool house to contrast.

Well, mi companera is Hermana Stevenson, she is samoan though she gets a lot of people thinking she's mexican cause she's short for a samoan.

Okay. I'm not sure what all to say other than I'm here. I had a whole list of things but I forgot. Oh yeah! I'm not on a spanish speaking mission. . . yup nope. I have actually been called to a bilingual mission. I speak english and . . . ha no not spanish, it's tex-mex. where you parkar su trucko. Ask Aldo if he's ever heard of it before. Here everybody knows a bit of both languages and there's actually a bunch that use both mingled in so much that you have no idea which language they're speaking when.

Okay, and if you look up Edinburg, its not a small town. But there are two wards here, Edinburg 1 and 2. And we have an entire zone in Edinburg. My area, central is the center part of Edinburg and we figure it's about 30 square miles. about the size of Manti isn't it? Well, as far as navigation, I can't do it so I'm very grateful that my companion gets to drive. Although we have decided that we are going to be on bikes more than using the car, cause we bought bikes, and because our area is relatively small and dense because it is the central part.

Oh, but yes, on sunday we kind of go to three wards, sorta. We have the english ward, the spanish ward and the ysa branch. It's kinda fun that we have three wards that all cover the same area. But we actually don't have a hard time finding people. The hard part is finding people who actually come to church.

We did find a young mother who really does want to come, but her family won't let her. Evette is super tiny, shaking her hand it feels like there's only bone and skin. But we've only met her twice and feel like she is very sincere and ready, but we think she's in a super bad and abusive situation where her family doesn't want her to join another religion. Her family is christian, we guess she lives with her siblings, and we actually saw two of her sisters who were kinda chunky. And Hermana Stevenson said she could smell marijuana. She is also very timid and quiet, but she especially wants to take her three kids to church and have them grow up with God in their lives. I wish I could give her a place to stay and completely shelter her from her family, but there's only so much we can do. I'm hoping we'll be able to find a member family like how Aldo was able to rent a room from them, and she can clean and work to earn her keep. But I'm not sure how that's gonna work out. There was also another guy we were working with that actually quit drinking, but he had a trial and we're not sure when he gets back. We've been hoping that he doesn't end up in jail when his baptismal date comes around.

Okay, I have a little bit of a story. We contacted a woman named Estel and her two daughters on the street and they were spanish speaking so Hermana Stevenson was taking the lead, and I heard her mention baptism and then she stopped and looked at me, apparently it was my que to invite them to be baptised, and its what I thought it was but I wasn't sure so it ended up that the lady was laughing when I said I was lost and we got three baptism comittments while I hardly knew what was going on. we invited them to church that sunday, but they didn't show up and they didn't answer the door when we went to check up on them and find out why.

Thank you for the package! I got it, it was great! But mom, I'd like to make a request, I need more slips. The black one likes to hike up and the white one, since it is hot and we ride bikes quite a bit, it needs to be washed more often because I sweat just as bad if not worse than a guy.

And if there is anyway that you could send me a copy of the november ensign when it comes out, it'd be great. Thank you!

Something I've started to learn is that there are so many things that help in different ways. The gospel helps everyone regardless of their situation, it only depends on how you apply it. Different experiences and viewpoints bring about a whole new variety of understanding and insight.

(Hermana Nielson with her Mission President, his wife and the new missionaries)

Update

Natalie didn't send an email this past week but called after arriving in Texas saying she had arrived!

Last week in the MTC

Well this is the picture with our whole district at last, and of course the elders aren´t standing in any kind of order or next to their companions, but they´re all there in this one.

Well, I really don´t know what to tell you. This is my last week here, I leave monday, and its gone way too fast. All I know to say is that this week has been absolutely wonderful like the rest of the weeks have been.

I do have a dumb story that actually happened today, this morning. We were on the bus on the way to the temple and guess what . . .

Well Hermana Pratt says she loves driving in Mexico City cause it gives you an adrenaline rush, and Salt lake is just boring in comparison.

Yup, we got e-mails printed off this morning so I was trying to read them on the way over, and I got motion sickness. :P yup it was dumb, luckily I was in the isle and didn´t get it on anyone but myself and it was minimal. And my poor district was very understanding and considerate somewhat. But they didn´t get symathetically sick like what would have happened at home. At first mi compañera didn´t even notice, the only one who did notice at first was my district leader, Elder Fondren who was sitting across the isle. He watched to make sure it didn´t get on him and then decided he couldn´t do anything to help so didn´t. So I was there for a minute before anyone found and started handing me tissues. But it was alright.

What next to type? I really truly don´t know so I love you!

--Hermana Nielson

Week 3

Okay, sorry i have a hard time remembering what I have wanted to tell you about but ill try. and I actually have issues with the spanish keyboard, but then i decided to just type normal and let you take the time to discern what it says so i don{t have to spend extra time to stretch my fingers out and make it right. I get to go to the temple every other week and my spanish is getting better becuase today i actually understood quite a bit of it, and i wasn{t making up any words like i feel like i did last time. so yup spanish is slowly but surely improving. I do get to see mexico city as we´re driving through it on the way to the temple, but i have a hard time getting pictures when were moving and the windows are tinted, cause we got a fancy tour bus, its actually kinda a bummer, i never thought i{d prefer a school bus.  The hermana teachers can go out and go sight seeing but they have to take an hermano with them.

I am actually doing really good, my companion is very positive, diligent, responsible, she likes soccer so who can complain? and she puts up with my energetic and competitive craziness. (the craziness i have when i am energetic and competitve) particularly during gym time.

Um. . . mary kay? i havent recently cause i got lazy, but i do have plenty for a while from what aunt Jane stocked me up with. although i´m not sure how much more maskara i have. I use waterproof avon mascara, and yes it NEEDS to be waterproof, cause it rains every day, and its been raining in mcallen just as much.

I´m supprised dad is taking three days off for hunting, is he spending the nights at the cabin? that would be really fun! I think it would have been nice to take a few days off to go hunting, maybe then I would have actually been able to get myself to do it when i had tags.

That´s a bummer about Rachel not being able to run, but for me, soccer in highschool was fun, but i´ve realized that i enjoy it a lot more playing here or with our ward. I prefer it when it isn{t competitive. I love being competitive but i like it when the game isn{t a competitive one. . . does that make sense? maybe Rachel will enjoy her own thing better, or something completely different. I think soccer or horse riding would be an excellent substitiution for running.

This last sunday was mexican independence day! that saturday night we got to watch the benemito alumni dance group perform, it was great! and then sunday night we watched the grito, we had permission to stay up late and watch tv. we also learned the Mexican national anthem, well kinda, sorta. We somewhat know the tune when all the mexicans are belting it out.  and we followed along reading the lyrics.

Well i´m not sure what to tell now.

But I love you all so very much!

--Hermana Nielson

Week 2

Sorry, the more information is a letter on it´s way. mi compañera is Hermana Campbell, although i did tell you that with the pictures. She is from Logan area, and she´s the youngest in her family so she has a bunch of nieces and nephews.

Yes the temple is all spanish, I picked up on a few words but I still understood what was going on because its the same. Its the old video because they haven´t finished translating yet. We only get to leave the MTC grounds when we go to the tepmle every other week and when we fly out. I´m still tired and still struggle falling asleep, but i´ll get used to it. I am improving in the language. Yoga. . . that would be interesting. But it´s not my body that needs to relax, it´s my brain, I start thinking spanish all over the place. But thanks :D

Yeah, I guess Kariann can can go ahead and take the other insanity, as long as I´ve got one when I get back, and if I get a copy of her english to español hymnos pagina list. Bummer about the jeep, i thought the brakes was the first thing they fixed.

I{m glad Elder Palmer enjoyed his package. There is no easy way of learning spanish, unless you{re two--then its easy. :P The only benefit I have is the mateials and teachers. But I{ll bet he can learn just as fast and efficiantly. Ive started writing him a letter and giving him all the tips i can think of.

Johanna is entering the MTC today isn{t she? I wouldn{t mind her address if you have it.

I am so excited about Kaylee! That´s awesome! :D Yes I am jealous about her wisdom teeth, I´m glad you knew her and that she didn´t picked up by someone else.

Wohoo for Rollin being an awesome worker!

Typical day? wake up, get ready, eat breakfast, personal study time in the classroom with the district, have our teacher, Hermano Villanueva (not sure if that´s spelled right) come and teach us all kinds of awesome things, lunch, language study, jugamos fútbol, TALL (computer language program), study time, dinner, Hermana Bear comes and teaches us awesome things, clean up, go home and go to bed. We also practice teaching our teachers, and we{ve improved immensly. Sundays and Tuesdays we have devotionals, Tuesday we have a service project in stead of TALL, wednesday is p-day until 5/6ish, and we have a movie night on sunday. This last sunday we watched Legacy, which is a very scanalous movie for missionarys, particularly a whole bunch of 18 yr old elders that had all kinds of ohs and other noises to make. They made a big deal over it and we might not ever watch a movie with any kind of love story in it ever again.

Oh the México CCM is the second largest MTC, with aroung 900ish missionaries, but the largest as far as acreage. Lots of different fútbol campos, so we can choose whichever one is the right size and the least muddy or swampish. But every field has a mud bog, but it makes it more fun.

Oh, the sunday devotional was a recorded one from the Provo MTC, sometime in January, It was Amazing! Elder Holland spoke, and if you can look it up I would highly recomend it. But there are a few names I´d like you to look up if you could--send me stories or attributes of them if you can. Addison Pratt, Dan Jones, and Matthew Calley. Whatever you can find would be great.

 

Okay I would like to make a request, I have no pictures at all, whatsoever. except for the ones on my camera, which is two from home, which i took Christmas morning when I got the camera, it´s of Kariann with a grumpy face. So if you could send me pictures of family, friends, anything you can find or think of, I would be very appreciative. I want to have faces from home to look at when I miss talking to them, and to show my companion and the Hermanas and Elders in my district so they can understand who I´m talking about. It doesn´t really work to print in out, so I would appreciate them physically sent. I understand it might be kinda expensive, but I would greatly appreciate it. It also takes a long time to get here, so the sooner the better. Thank you so very much!

Oh and the address I sent last week, I guess it would be good to add my mission and the MTC above it.

 

Hermana Nielson

Texas McAllen Mission

Mexico City MTC

Carr. Tenayuca-Chalmita No. 828,

Col. Zona Escolar, Deleg. G.A. Madero,

C.P. 07230, México, D.F.; México.

 

Okay, and the pictures, there is the hermanas of the district, we were having fun, and the other is of the district, and I know it´s kinda awkward, but it was supposed to be of us walking down the road. It was interesting. Oh, actually i don´t remember what picture i attatched. but there was another one with our laundry hung out to dry because our dryer was currently not working and we wanted the experience and to not have sour clothes. But yup, we are getting some interesting experiences with things like no agua, or only frio. But life is still wonderful.

 

I´m not sure what else to write, but I love you all so very much!

And I hope to hear from you again soon!

 

Con Amor

--Hermana Nielson

Week 1

I will write and explain more. but everything is great, i love it! I love my companion, she is absolutely perfect! Oh and we just got back from the temple it was amazing, hopefully Ill get back on to send some pictures. sorry it wont be very long but sometimes i forget im in mexico cause it doesnt feel any different there are some reminders though.

i can hear lots of sirens and  booms which are apparently mexican fireworks made with gunpowder so its all boom and no colorful explosions. but i also hear lots of squaking which im told are parrots but i havent seen any yet. there are colorful houses half way up the mountains on either side, and then theres the rain! I love it! its almost daily and for about an hour and it just comes down, leaving rivers through the uneven walkways and you have to leap over some of the gutters. its great. oh and theres awesome trees and i found a giant pinapple for Rachel, and a baby one. Well im gonna go to hopefully have time to send pictures!

--Hermana Nielson

 Hermana Nielson and Hermana Campbell

 MTC District

 Las Hermanas (the sisters)

 A baby pineapple for Rachie

 Look at all those colorful houses!

 Big pineapple :)

"I made it!!!!"

I made it to MEXICO

(she was able to send this when she arrived to Mexico)

Well I´m in the Mexico MTC, I made it here safely. The flights were good though I did feel a little motion sick.  I´m having issues with this spanish keyboard so hopefully I´ll be able to get this sent to you, because I currently cant figure out how to type the at symbol. So typing in addresses is a little difficult. If Dad and Rollin could order my bike as soon as possible, that would be great. Oh and we never told the bank that I was leaving so I´ll avoid using my card, but if someone could let them know and make sure there is money in my account, it´d be great.

I love you all and hope you´re having all kinds of fun. I already miss being able to talk to all of you.

Okay, I figured out the @ so we´re good, you can now receive my e-mail. But this keyboard is very difficult.

Sorry I don´t have much to say. I just got to the MTC and Mexico looks very busy and colorful.

Well I better go. Love you!

-Hermana Nielson

Introduction to this Blog

My little sister is currently serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I wanted to start this blog to compile all the emails she sends as well as share her stories. I hope you enjoy!