Living the Dream

Yellow, 

So i am going to not think too much that i have been out a year haha. it is too crazy. This week has been pretty good, we went to an awesome baptism of a girl that i found and then she moved to a different area. Her Less active husband baptized her, lets just say he was really less active because nobody told him how to baptize haha! He dunked her with one hand and then held her under the water for 8 seconds and brought her back up to do it over again! it was funny. Then while we were waiting for them to change you hear him swimming in the font or something, turns out he couldn't get the plug out to drain the water... it was just a funny baptism. 

We found a giant bean bag this week and we took it to our apartment on top of our van and washed it. It is sweet! 

So lately i have been telling everyone that i am Persian because they always ask why i am so dark... my companion is half black and i am half persian.. good companionship here haha. People believe me which is pretty funny. We are having some good times. President Wakoulo is here, haven't met him yet but i am sure i will. 

Not too exciting of a week, but i am good and living the dream. Thanks for all the support from everybody, love yall. 

Elder Nielson

Javin's baptism... Finally

Dear Mom, 

Transfers were this week. I got a sweet new companion! His name is Elder Johnston! We get along great! He is like a pro Skier so we definitely have good conversations! I am excited, we are getting stuff rolling down here. He has been out for about 5 months, he is from Salt Lake City. And the best part is that he is Black! yes! He is actually half Jamaican but it is close enough haha. We decided that i am half Persian and that he is half black so together we make a great team! 

We had a good week this week, we had a Baptism! Javan was finally baptized, we worked so hard for that one and we finally got him! My Whole District baptized this weekend! which is soo legit! we reached both goals of retention as well as baptisms! 

Other than that this has been a normal week, we were able to go to 3 baptisms this weekend which was great! President and Sister Petersen leave this week we believe, it is sad they are leaving because they are so awesome! But we are also looking forward to work with the new President! and they are in our ward, which is sweet! 

It is SOOOO hot... we had to ride our bikes this week, we rode a couple miles to our apointment and we were just sweating so much, then we taught the girl on the front doorstep with the sun blaring on us for like 30 minutes. Elder Johnston had sweat run on to his lip and then he talked and spit it on the girl! hahaha i almost couldn't hold in the laugh haha. But the great part is that it didn't even phase her! It was impressive, i wasn't even mad, i was impressed. 

But all was well this week! Thanks though! Love yall and thanks for all of the support!

                           Elder Nielson, Javen and Elder Johnston

                                          Elder Nielson and new companion Elder Johnston    

                                                                   Tri-companionship
                                              Elder Clason, Elder Nielson and Elder Rushton                                           

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger

Hey Mom, 

Sounds like yall had a good week! Camden and Brynlee are getting so big and growing up way to fast! And i am missing it. Tell them i said to stop growing and go back to being 3. So this week has been crazy, just going between Benton and Little Rock. We just got out of the Trio and got word this morning that Elder Rushton is gettting Transferred out! I think i have a curse of staying in areas for a long time, it has been a year and ive had only 2 areas. 

So i have been out of my area so i did not have time to send my testimony so i guess can do it now. 

+ Well what can i say... i could go with the mission has been the best year of my life so far, or that i never wanna leave but, it think i will put it this way. In the words of Kelly Clarkson "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." That is how i would describe it. The mission is a roller coaster of emotions. I love my mission so far. There are always tough times that make you grow stronger than ever. I have learned so much, i have learned that the Book of Mormon is awesome! I love to read it. It is great to be able to pump out scrptures when people have problems. My mission has changed me for the better. I know what the most important things are, and i strive to be better each day. I love the people of the South, they are so hard to get them to change their Baptist Beliefs but it is worth every minute. I know that this church is true, i love the Book of Mormon, and i am a Mormon:) Love yall. Elder Clason is the man. 

There you go! I am so excited for transfers. Things are going well, i am being pushed off the computer by the dang sisters so i have to go. But things are going well. LOve yall. Thanks for everything. 

Elder Nielson 

Tri-companionship

Hey Mom, 

This week has been very interesting. Javen's Baptism had to be postponed because his mom wasn't able to come. He is 15 and really wants to be baptized it is just that he has all of this opposition from his Grandma that is not letting him make this covenant. It stinks. 

 

But then on Thursday i get a call from President... which is always a little scary haha. But he told me that we were getting another companion, that Elder Rushton and i were going to be put in a trio... great...then President told me who it was gonna be. It is Elder Clason! my trainer, my father haha. So Elder Clason and i are back serving together again!  So yeah, it has been a straight up party here which is fun. We have lots of fun. So he is staying here until transfers next week. We also have to go to his area which is Benton Arkansas. They live in a house down there, it is sweet! 

 

Anyway it has been a good and crazy week, i am looking forward to Transfers and to see what happens. Good to get the updates on the family, i sure hope that yall are doing well. Love you mom, love all of yall! Elder Nielson

What a wreck ...

Hey Mom, 

This week has been a really good week. We did lots of finding and talked to a lot of people. We found 13 new investigators which is awesome for this mission. We met this cool 17 year old kid named Jeramiah. He is legit, we had a date with him but he told us yesterday that he is going to Texas for the summer to work, but we will get him when he gets back. Javen Clark is another one of our investigators that has been working with missionaries for about a year. We have a date for this Friday for him to be baptized! We are excited, he felt the Spirit at church for sure he said. He is excited, but we are just praying that his Grandma will sign the baptismal sheet. She is a little anti. It has been a busy week. Paul has gone a little crazy, he texts us these random phrases with swear words in there. We are sure that he is drunk or high. Investigators can turn to crazy with a blink of an eye. We are sad cause he was super solid. 

Driving around with the Hymas family sounds like a good time! dang that is making me so jealous. I am like worried that they will be gone before i am home, i sure hope not. 

So it rained a lot this week, everyday we had to change clothes in the middle of the day. So we were running low on miles so we were riding our bikes to save them. And while it was raining on us i made a turn to ride through the Mcdonalds parking lot. My back tire slipped and i started sliding... then my front tire caught a piece of concrete that they had out doing construction. I flew over the handle bars and caught my self with my hands but my knee slammed the ground and ripped my pants and then my elbows got cut as well. The best part was that i was on one of the main roads that is called University ave. So everybody saw it happen i am sure. So i got back up and just started riding, i am pretty used to crashing bikes so it wasn't a huge deal, it was just super funny. I wreck in the rain, not doing tricks haha. 

Not much else has been going on. Transfer Rumors are already starting. I have no idea what is going to happen with me. I am pretty sure that i am doomed to stay in areas for a long time. I should except it haha. It is crazy that In a month i have been out a year.. it has gone by fast. You just start getting lost in the work and before you realize it, it is Saturday and the week is almost over. Crazy Stuff. But it is so cool to be able to study for 2 hours every morning, i have learned so much and it is cool to be able to listen to people and scriptures start popping into your head that you can share. The Book of Mormon is sweet!

I think my favorite thing about the South is Black People. They are the best! They do whatever they want, they could care less. Constantly you will see guys just walking down the street dancing and singing. It is so cool. Their names are even cooler! Most of them you cannot pronounce. We have taught with members before teaching Black People and after the lesson they say, "Did you understand what they said that whole time?" hahahah we get so used to it and you are able to understand it like nothing. Probably cause they will tell you their whole life story to you and you just gotta listen haha. WE now have a new investigator named Bathsheeba... like from the Bible. We were really hoping that her husbands name was David... but it isnt:( haha. Man i love them, so much fun. I am scared of white people. They are scary and dont want to talk to us. So im gonna stick with my homies. 

Anyways it was a good week and we are super excited for this one!  I hope that yours is good! Love Jesus. Elder Nielson 

P.s.... i forgot my cord to send pictures sorry 

 I received pictures from Elder Rushton's mom