:P (jan. 27th)

Okay, well hello everybody, lets see if I can remember everything that's happened.

Well, we had a baptism yesterday! Wohoo! it was great. Aviana, I'm not sure if I even mentioned much about her before, sorry. But she is a super sweet girl! she's twelve but she doesn't seem like it. She's a lot more mature. She was actually originally supposed to be baptised in December, way back before I even got here, but things didn't quite work out and we were actually glad because we didn't really feel like she was ready. She is just twelve and there's only her and her mom and her mom isn't interested right now. They had a super hard experience and her mom turned away from God, while Aviana started looking for Him. So she was super prepared, and needed this, but the worry was that we needed her to be ready and strong enough so that she doesn't just go inactive. And while I've been here I've seen her open up and grow so much! And she was baptised yesterday, she was soo happy! She's so cute, she was scared and nervous and so we said a prayer with her just before her baptism, but she was super excited. it was wonderful to see. The baptism itself was really kind of stressfull, because it was stake conference yesterday, and so we had the baptism between the english and spanish sessions, and since President Maulenda was there for stake conference, he went and watched all of the baptisms inbetween. That was great, but it was that there were seven baptisms that happened, two zones in the stake doing baptisms between the conference sessions, so the brownsville zone was second, and started a while after it was supposed to. And we forgot about telling Aviana to bring a towel, etc. Which she was alright with and just went with the flow. But after she got dressed and went back in to where everyone was waiting, we ran to get her jacket cause she was cold, and then when we came back the elders asked us to check on the sister that had just been baptised because she'd been taking a while, but we got in there and asked if there was anything we could do and she said no, she was fine. So we went back and someone mentioned getting a bag for the baptismal clothes, we found a bag but couldn't get the baptismal clothes because the sister was still changing, and another sister came in and was sorta chewing us out for the wet floor in the bathroom, la dada da da. Yup, but our recent convert was changed and basically dry before she got that far, so we were sorta in trouble for the last zone's mess, and we'd felt bad about walking in and out of the room where everyone was waiting, and there wasn't anyone there from the Young Womens to welcome Aviana. So it was a bit stressful, but sweet Aviana was still happy to be there. Woo hoo!

 

Okay, and stake conference was super awesome! there were a bunch of missionary talks which of course I'm all for. Especially for members to hear. Yeah, I realize now that there is a lot that missionaries can't do, where they need help from the members, I wish I knew all this before, although it would have made it hard since I never saw the missionaries. But now that Manti is it's own area . . .

One of the scripture stories was Alma and Amulek, Alma went and did all he could, and he wasn't a bad missionary. But the people wouldn't accept him. It wasn't until he found a member, less active and that less active invited everyone to come and learn untill they were converted and then by then Amulek and member missionary fire! and then they went out to work, but the people still didn't really accept Alma, but it was Amulek who astonished them.

I think it was Elder Martino, (General Authority not a little 18 yr missionary) that was saying that they discovered a statistic. That every one out of 70 people that we talk to will be baptised, so we just need to go talking to a bagillion people, no problem. :D Yeah, but there's a better one, cause I'm actually kinda getting tired of just talking to people. two of every three are baptised when every lesson is taught in the home of a member! The biggest thing we struggle with in this area is getting people to church (as far as rides, for the english ward, the church is 20 miles away!) and friendships, fellowshipping.

If we could go to member's houses every day all day and just teach the people that are already gonna be there, then I'd be the happiest missionary on earth! We talked about how we really don't want "referals" from members. Elder Martino said "don't ask for the addresses of their friends, you don't want them!" Which is super true. We want the members to say "hey, I'm having these friends coming over for dinner and we want you to come eat with us and teach them a lesson!" That's golden, perfect, I'd be happy if there wasn't food too, but it just makes it better. But then having the lessons consistently. I know it's hard. I look back at life at home and I know that there were very rarely nights when everyone was home at the same time consistently. But I also know that the way I've felt with Humberto and Aviana, is completely indescribable and makes up for every heartache, trial, or down moment that I've experienced out here. Yes there are stilll other things that need to be done, but it doesn't take all the time. And you gain a friend!

 

 

Well, that's my admonition. Love you all!

 

Con Amor,

Hermana NJ Nielson

Pos, Hola (Jan.20th)

Well, it doesn't feel like I talked to you very long ago, this week was super fast! we're already half way through the transfer, which means one of us is likely getting transferred particularly because we're in a trio, and apparently trio's hardly ever stay in a trio for more than a transfer (says my district leader last transfer who is in the same trio this transfer :D). But it's super fast.

Well I don't know if I told you about Jerry, but he dropped us this week, which is super hard because it was his mom who encouraged him to make a decision and not investigate anything else, and it's his mom who we found out is a member. She's a recent convert and went LA but nobody ever went to visit her for a super long time, so we didn't even know who she was for a while and so we think she isn't too happy about it. So hopefully we'll be able to slowly soften her heart so that both her and her son can come. Because Jerry honestly knows that the Restoration is true, he's told us that. But he likes his church because of the activities they do. pero si.

Oh, and guess what? There's a less active member, named George. You look at him and you think he's kinda scary looking because he looks like a big tattooed Mexican. Which he is, but he's actually only part Mexican, he's also African American, and Native, and probably a bunch of other stuff too. But everytime we go over there I find out a bunch of different things that I did not expect to learn. He's been all kinds of places. Oh, just this last time he sent home some Jumbalia for us. Yeah, he's from Luisiana! that one city, that's momma's mission which name I cannot remember at this moment. That's where he's from. New Orleans! that's it, and he doesn't like the Princess and the Frog. But He could tell you what the fines are for all kinds of things. It's quite funny how many lessons he learns by paying fines. Like dropping a penny of a bridge or dam, I don't remember the name of that one either, but he told us about how the sign that told you not to drop anything off was huge and he didn't see it and he did it cause no one told him he couldn't and then he found out how big the fine was. So yep it's kinda funny. And then guess what his favorite kind of music is! Country! and he likes operas! He's pretty awesome! The problem is that he just got a job where his boss likes him a whole bunch, (his coworkers don't like him so much for this) so much that he let him set his own schedule, and he asked for Mondays and Tuesdays off, yup he's a stink head.

 

Okay, crazy adventure, mi companeras decided to dye their hair like Amy did with cool aid. I could not, however even if I really wanted to because then I would look like wendy or pippi, or ariel, or any other extrememly red headed character. But it would look a bit more unnatural on me. And I think I like the red that's already in my hair. I think it might actually be getting more red slightly, I don't know. Maybe this summer will turn it blond again. Qien sabe?

 

But we also made a goal to take one picture a day, so that not only do we have more fun, but we also have record of our wonderful missions, and I can actually send you pictures rather than realize I only have pictures you've already seen. So yes.

 

I think there might be something else, but I don't know.

Oh yes, it got messy dying hair.

And we found a goat. 

 

 

The island, and that's the laguna, not the ocean, I still haven't seen it, but I have heard it.

We have matching hair! One of the cutest members ever, Abi, decided to braid mine and sister Bettinson's hair to match Sister Hunt.

And then this is our sunday picnic, after we got dropped by what we thought was a golden investigator, but we're still good, cause we found two super awesome potentials soon after,

There, now you have all my pictures again.

Love You!

Hermana NJ Nielson

 

 

"Bueno, Hola!" (Jan. 13, 2014)

Mire! Mire a nuestro nuevo caro!  Se llama Jeep Jianie. Yup, all the elders are jealous of us. We actually found out that we were gonna get it the night before and so we called our district leader to tell him that we were going to McAllen (we're supposed to ask for permission technically, but mostly just tell them that you need to go) But he asked why were going and Hermana Hunt said " to get our jeep, we're gonna get a jeep" but then he said, "why are you really going to McAllen?" He ligitlly didn't and wouldn't believe us so we told him that we were going to get Hermana Hunt's medical card (for the missionary medical insurance). He accepted that answer and we later found out that he was talking to the zone leaders and said "the sisters told me they were gonna get a jeep, as if I'd believe them" then the zone leader said. "they are getting a jeep." It was pretty legit. Super funny. We honestly did try telling him multiple times, but he didn't want to believe us. But yup, it's a jeep compass 2014. Enserio, a bran new car! with 101 miles on it when we got it! So we were having lots of fun in it. And having fun teasing our district leader with it as well. Oh yes, and I actually drove our old car before we retired it, we did exchanges and Hermana Bettinson went to the STLs area, so I was the senior companion in the area, so I drove, yup and it was super scary and weird, especially cause any time it's been a while since I've driven I start again in Manti, small town that I know super well, but this time it was in a big city (the first time I'd been there in my life), going on the freeway back to our area where I still didn't know where anything was. And on top of that it was dark. (luckily the Port Isabel is the STLs old area).

Oh yes, and those are my companeras in the picture. pos si.

 

I guess I'm done talking about cars now. maybe.

As far as the area, it takes a while for me to know people, I'm still trying to reconect with the area, I feel like I'm doing pretty good since I've only been here for two weeks, but that's a third of the transfer. I don't think I can ever be in an area for only one transfer. I need more time to feel comfortable at all. especially knowing the area. Hermana Bettinson thinks that she's gonna leave and the two of us are gonna stay, pero qien sabe.

 

There's a young man named Jerry (and he has a cat named thomas (tom), ha ha) but we set a BD with him, but then when we were texting him to set up a time we can have another lesson, he told us that he wanted to stick with his church. Well, we had a super boss restoration lesson with him in which he had said that he felt like it was all true, so we are not done with him yet, especially since his mom, we found out, is a member. She's less active, I guess she was offended and I think hurt that no one has come to visit her, and I don't blame her. I feel bad that we didn't know she was a member, we found out when Hermana Young (the STL) pointed at the house and said there was a Less active that lived there, and so we went to visit, but she didn't seem very happy. The second visit was better, we got her to talk about her baptism and she even went and got her pictures to show us.

So we are definately working with this family. I feel like it'll be a one at a time thing, but it's happenin. One problem though, which is very specific to this mission, is that the mom only speaks spanish. So easy peasy we just teach them in spanish right? well kids here grow up speaking spanish, but then when they go to school they learn english (which I think is super awesome and my kids will be bilingual!), but the problem is: some kids prefer one language over the other. There was one family in Edinburg where the kids prefered english and so the parents learned ingles tambien, there's a family here where the kids are good with either, they are teaching their parents english and so their parents understand ingles but can't speak it, but the kids speak both inglish and spanish. Well with Jerry the situation is that he prefers english but will talk to his mom in spanish because she doesn't understand english, but he only wants to talk to us in english. So it's super hard to have a bilingual lesson. Cause he thinks we're only talking to his mom when we talk in spanish, so we have to address him in english, but then his mom is left out of the loop. So, yup. But it'll get there.

 

Anyway, I'm doing great! Hope you all are as well!

Con amor

Hermana NJ Nielson

Two more pitures, this is of the Edinburg Dirty Dozen zone, in seniority order. and The Liga's from Edinburg, can you see the personality of the little boy, Santiago? 

"Guess what?" (Jan. 6, 2014)

I forgot to tell you about New Year's Eve! We got a super awesome special treat! And no, we were not breaking rules, we had permission, the whole mission was doing it, and apparently the APs said it was mandatory.

But we got together as a zone at 6:00 and watched Mulan!! It was great!

Yes, I admit I wish I was with the smaller and more familiar Edinburg Zone, but it was still great. We actually had the options of Mulan, Finding Nemo, and Lion King. I think Edinburg watched Lion King, and since I was getting transferred I didn't get to vote either place, but I was good with anything.

I actually went from the smallest zone to the biggest, so that is one thing I'm struggling with, I don't like big groups very much. But at the same time we don't see them much cause they're far away so it's all good.

Love you!

"Feliz Año!" (Jan. 6, 2014)

Bueno, estoy en Port Isabel. And I don't remember what all I told you about transfers.

I'm in Port Isabel, which is like it sounds, next to the ocean. Our area includes Laguna Heights, Laguna Vista, Port Isabel and the island. There's a great big long bridge about a mile long that goes to the island, and so I've been on an island for the first time in my life, and I've also seen a lagoon for the first time in my life. But when we were on the island it was dark so the opportunity I had to see the ocean for the first time didn't quite work out. So I have yet to see the ocean and the beach for the first time. One problem, is that we aren't allowed on the island without special permission and they're kinda strict about it. So we can only go if we have set appointments. And only to the appointment and back, no finding while we're there.

Oh, and mi companeras son, si. Hermana Bettinson y Hermana Hunt. I don't know if you remember Hermana Bettinson, she was Hermana Petramalo's trainer, first companion, and we lived in the same house for the first transfer so I already knew her, which is super good for me. I am very grateful, its making it a lot easier for me. And Hermana Hunt is a greenie, kinda. She actually left for her mission before me, but she went home when I entered the field. She went to the Peru MTC and then spent one transfer in Ecuador, but she got super sick and had to go home, so she was reassigned to here. So Hna Bettinson is both training and breaking this transfer, lucky her. But it's fun.

Hmm, other than that, I'm just trying to adjust, getting to know all of the people. The investigators already here, I haven't seen a whole ton other than Freddy and Avianna, and with them we're struggling a bit and might be doing drop lessons with them this week. :(

But the people we meet are great. I'm having lots of fun.

The negatives is that I'm super tired, to the point where I don't ever want to stay up late, I want to go to bed asap. . . . Yup that's when you are all shocked, I know. But at the same time there's not enough time to do everything I want to do. Or need to do. Like write letters, especially the hand written ones I'm supposed to send home each month. But one thing I learned is that I need to be much better organized and that will save a lot of time.

Pero si,

Con Amor,

"hello! Merry Christmas and a happy new year!" (Dec. 30,2013)

Bueno, so Christmas was super great! Everything was awesome! And I was super glad to be able to talk to you all. Of course there was the option of doing skype or facetime or whatever, but I didn't realize you could use any of them and didn't want to bother trying to learn how to use skype. So I didn't even mention it. And mom talked about how she felt it would be too hard. But Elder Basset was saying that it was easier, so who knows. But then the thing is, is that I don't know how to use face time either. But maybe next time you can set up an account for me and dad can give me a step by step directions e-mail and I can do it easy peasy with the ipads we might have by then.

I'll admit that it was hard to hang up, cause I felt like I had just talked the whole time, just going off on whatever popped into my head as if I were nervous or something. So sorry about that. And the time went super fast, but it was still good. After a little bit that icky feeling went away. So it's all good.

But I am going to repent, cause I'm actually supposed to be sending a hand written e-mail home with pictures once a month. So I'm working on that, I likely won't get it this week so don't expect anything to soon because we're having fun with celebrating this New Year thing with transfers!!!

Yup, I'm getting transfered, and I'm super heart broken, but at the same time I can't help but be grateful that I was able to spend this much time here and for everything that I did learn and experience.

I am going to Port Isabel, which is the Brownsville sister area, just above Brownsville. So I'm closer to the border which means that the language ratio is a lot more spanish. So of course I'm excited that I'll learn but I dread it cause I don't like not understanding what people are saying and I don't want to leave Edinburg. But I guess it's time for me to really actually learn spanish now.

Other than that I'm not sure what else to tell you.

Oh, Humberto is getting the priesthood next week and his family came to church yesterday, so the plan is to go set BDs with them today and Humberto will be able to baptise them this month!!!!! I'm super excited! I won't be here for it, but I guess that's okay.

I love you all so much!

Hermana NJ Nielson

"hmmm" (Dec. 23, 2013)

Oh! Mom you got released from YW? That really truly took me by suprise and honestly I didn't find out until this week because I usually spend most of the hour typing and then just print out the e-mails I get, but then I sometimes don't have time to read them during the week. So while we were waiting for our oil to be changed, I finished reading all the e-mails I received the last few week and found out my momma isn't in Young Womens any more. What are you gonna do?!! :D No I know you find ways to keep yourself busy. Did you receive another calling and that's why you were released? or did you just finish your time?

 

Oh, I got a few more random questions, what's this Frozen movie?

Oh, and who lives in 515 s and 500 e? From what I remember there isn't even a 500 east that exists. So I'm confused. But I will talk to you all Wednesday. Love You!