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

Happy spring break, st. patricks day, Rollin's birthday and Kaylee to the MTC (March 17th)

Well, this was an interesting week. There was a lot of traffic because for spring break in Texas everyone decides to go to the island and party like they shouldn't, but they do anyway. So traffic has been super crazy. Mostly on Saturday. Although on Monday night there was music playing on the island and we could hear it plain and clear all the way across the 1-2 mile wide lagoon. Then on Saturday night it actually kept us from sleeping well even though we couldn't actually hear the music but our brains could feel the vibrations or something. And it took an hour to ride the bus from Laguna Heights to Port Isabel on Saturday, which usually only takes 15-20 minutes. We really could walk and get around faster than any cars.

Oh and there were all kind of famous people on the island. Selina Gomez, Neo, Justin Beiber, and a whole bunch more. Who I don't know. And some of them had concerts while others just went to party. But it was interesting. The island was like the strip in Vegas. (that's what Sister Bettinson said, I wouldn't know cause I haven't been there).

But yup, that was the exciting crazy week.

So, did you already have your spring break? How was it? what did you do? Or is it the same week as Easter? What are the plans?

 

Okay, well transfers are next week. And I don't feel like I've spent the same amount of time here as I spent in Edinburg. The theory is that Sister Bettinson is gonna leave and I'm gonna stay this transfer, but then the theory two transfers ago was that Sister Stevenson was gonna go and I was gonna stay, so we see how that worked out. But I really feel like Sister Bettinson and I should both stay, even more strongly than I felt there shouldn't be a change two transfers ago. I'm actually really stressed about this. Last transfer we knew we wouldn't change because we had just had Sister Hunt ET'd away. So we felt that assurance that we weren't gonna get changed. But now there's the worry. A lot of it for me. I think I have a lot more to learn from Sister Bettinson.

 

Well as far as people, Christina and George are getting married the 28th. . . . after transfers. : / And she'll be baptized two days later on the 30th.

The Lopez Family, the dad went back up to Houston for work and we don't feel like they're gonna progress a lot without their dad.

They all did come to church, with Christina I feel like it went well. But with the Lopez Family. . . well the two year old boy, Randy, is a bit of a stink head. Actually a lot of one. He hasn't ever been away from his mom. So he won't go to nursery and he is a spoiled little stink head! We brought a lot of things to entertain him, crayons, paper, stuffed animal, car from the nursery, and cereal. And I was able to get him to play with me some what consistently during sunday school, but he was a real stink head during Relief Society, he made his mom go out with him in the hall, and he didn't want anything, he just wanted to be out there.

He is cute, but I wish I could put him in a straight jacket with duct tape over his mouth. Just so he'll sit still and quiet.

 

We have a new investigator named Shell. Can you imagine what she's like? She has braids, you know a cute young girl, very sweet. Hmm, yup actually no. She does have braids, but she's a bit rougher around the edges. She has no filter. Everything she thinks comes right out of her mouth. She is also kinda racist, and she lives in Laguna Heights, which is where it's really weird to see anyone white. Actually she's not necessarily racist but just bitter against anyone who isn't legal because she has a hard time getting help paying for her medical things, etc. But in reality she just doesn't understand their situation. She's really interesting. I like her, the only thing that bugs me is her attitude against people. I'll tell you more next week.

I love you all!

Hermana NJ Nielson

(March 10th)

Okay, well hello everyone. I don't know what to tell you. I don't remember what's happened this week. Mostly just practicing. Do you remember me talking about the new method of teaching that they taught us? Well we're still trying to figure it out. they said it would take 20 hrs to be competent in it. So I know we got at least 5 hrs of practicing it outside of comp study with other missionaries (that was a commitment from our district leader) but we got more practice with people on the street. But I'm gonna need a lot more than 20 hrs to figure it out, cause I'm all switched around. But what would actually really help is if I had everything that I remember getting from Brother Bingham in how to teach people to teach themselves, mostly the inspired questions. So if Rachel has any that she can share. . . or Rollin. . .  or if you can find my things of m soul from seminary, it would be awesome. If it's in that box where you found my books that I asked for you to send, it would be great if I could get them. Something. There is a specific hand out with a bunch of different question beginings that Bro. Bingham actually handed out at mission prep, so if Rachel has that, I'd really like to have a copy.

While I'm requesting things, mom, my white undershirts are wearing out. they're getting threadbare and some of them stained, just at the top of course, where I actually need it. And I have been craving jerky, and not store bought kind, cause that's weird to me. Thanks :D

Okay, so with this change in the way we're teaching, I don't know if it's a world wide change in missions, or if it's only here. It could be a test it out thing or could be like the ipads and just starting it out slowly. But either way, I'm pretty sure it'll get to be a world wide thing. So Rachel, now that you're getting all pumped to go on a mission and you've got all kinds of advice to gather a bunch of ideas. Simplify. Cause now it's teaching the lesson in 7 min. so there's not room for stories, analogies and object lessons, and they're not allowed anymore anyway. And now we teach with the pamphlets. So if you have access to them, start reading them. Maybe when I get around to sending the package I'm gonna send home I can send you some. We still use Preach My Gospel, we are actually following what it says more, just ignore some things like the 45 min lesson plan, yeah, that's not supposed to happen. (we struggle keeping lessons short, but they should be no more than 20 min including the "hey how ya doin?"

Hmm, This keyboard reminds me of a laptop so I'm kinda liking it, but at the same time I'm having issues with it, or maybe I just forgo how to spell. Don't know.

Okay I'll try not to do any venting or whatnot. I have a hard time when it comes time to e-mail. Sorry.

Oh yeah, here we go, guess what? I have now for the first time eaten shrimp . . .  ha ha yup we even had shrimp in our house but I was too chicken to eat it then even though dad was trying to get me to. But I also had crab legs! woo hoo! that was fun. And guess what? I like it. it's just a lot of work to get the meat out, and it's like fish so it shreds up really easily. So just imagine trying to pull cooked fish out of a long narrow shell. It just falls apart, but if you get good at it you can kinds suck it out. but I'm not good at it so it was difficult. But yup I've now had shrimp, crab legs, caviar, mussels, and the little squids. The one I like the least is the shrimp actually, although that might be partly because of the sauce it was in.

I remember I started updating you on the people we are teaching. Well it's kinda fallen down to only Christina, (George's fiance) and the Lopez family. But we actually haven't seen either for a while. This week has been crazy weird and slightly frustrating. Cause it was hard to catch people, and we got lots of practicing the new teaching method with people on the street, but most of them didn't really go anywhere at all.

But life is great, I love being a missionary!!

Con Amor, Hermana NJ Nielson