Zone Leader

Dear Brother and Sister Nielsen,

                                            

I am so happy to let you know that Elder Cody Scott Nielsen has been called to serve as a Zone Leader in the Philippines Quezon City North Mission. 

As a Zone Leader, Elder Nielsen will be responsible for the teaching and training of many missionaries.  His example and motivation will become their model to follow. 

He is learning to be a Preach My Gospel missionary and as he develops the Christ-like attributes he is learning, he will build a firm, spiritual foundation for the rest of his life. 

We are grateful for the opportunity to know and serve with this fine young man and appreciate the love and encouragement you’ve given him.

Sincerely yours,

Kim C. Bertin

Mission President

More pictures

Heart-Felt Hellos and Heart-Wrenching Goodbyes

Well, well well. This week will be a week for the journal. So many great things have happened this week.,

First off, we went to the temple on Thursday to attend the Endowment sessions of Sister Lourdes Faustina and Sister Paraiso. It was wonderful! We met the whole Malolos ward at the temple. They all surprisingly remembered me! We all exchanged hellos and stories for a while outside the temple. It was great to see some of my recent converts and less actives that are now completely active and temple worthy. Then we went inside and waited for our session. It was a wonderful and exciting time! It was a sweet day that I remember for the rest of my life. 

Yesterday, was transfer announcements and I was informed that Elder Peterson and I were both transferring..( pull out/ open area)  I was so shocked! I did not want to transfer and I was not supposed to transfer. ( President told me in my interview a week earlier that I would stay in this area. ) Ahhhh I was so sad! I did not want leave our investigators that just started progressing! Our ward and area has finally turned around and is progressing and now we have to leave it behind. It is so sad. So last night we went around and informed all of our investigators and members that we were both transferring. It was rough, I loved this ward and area so much! 

My new area will be in Minuyan. One of the prettiest and farthest areas in our mission. I will be companions with Elder Richard ( a very talented and young missionary) and we will be the zone leaders in that area. 

President called me this morning and talked to me about why I was getting transferred. He said that he sent me to Montalban to be with Elder Peterson and help the ward and zone progress. He said that I fulfilled and completed that assignment and he felt that I needed to complete one more assignment before I go home. He said the Minuyan ward and Elder Richard needs a good "mentor" and I could help. The APs told me that it was a very last minute decision. ( which means it was definitely revelation, all of President's last minute decisions are always based on revelation ) So I am excited to help. I am willing to go wherever the Lord wants to send me. 

I will definitely miss all of our wonderful progressing investigators, Kristine, Chat, Richard, Jess, Veronica, Vermila, Juvie Ann, and Rhea, Rujello Jaber, Marifosa and all the others. 

It has been a wonderful opportunity to serve in the San Rafael Ward. I have learned many valuable lessons from my short time here in this area. I have truly learned what converted investigators look, act and sound like. Elder Peterson and I were blessed to have been able to witness and observe the conversion process occur in some of our progressing investigators. We have seen them experience a mighty change of heart and completely change their attitudes, habits, and beliefs because of the impart the Restored Gospel had upon their lives. It is heart wrenching to leave right before their baptisms and the their family member's future baptisms, but I know Heavenly Father has a plan for us and them and that they will continue to progress with the new elders in this ward. 

Elder Weeks and Elder Frias (the incoming elders)  will have a great experience here in San Rafael. The ward is starting to feel the missionary spirit  and is beginning to give referrals to the missionaries. We have recorded all the names, addresses, and numbers of the ward members, newly found less actives, and new and progressing investigators for them. I am very confident that they will be able to finish the work that Elder Peterson and I started. 

I am also very thankful for the opportunity that I had to serve with Elder Peterson. He is a great missionary and has a very bright future. I admire his burning desire to share and preach the gospel with all those that he comes in contact with. He loves to learn and study the gospel and is always striving to improve in every aspect of missionary work. I have truly enjoyed and cherished our time together her in San Rafael. I have learned many valuable lessons from Elder Peterson and I am thankful I was able to serve along side him these last two transfers.  

Tomorrow I head out for new territory and adventures in Minuyan. The work goes on!

I love you all! I hope you have an amazing week! Love you all!

Sumasainyo,

Elder Nielsen 

Teachin' Teachers

We had another great week last week. The number of investigators attending church is increasing weekly. On Sunday, we had five investigators attend church for their first time. Sister Veronica and Sister Vermila are twenty-seven year old identical twin teachers ( they look like the same person, it is so funny ), that we found through OYMing about a month ago, and on Sunday they were able to attend for the first time. We visited them last night, and they said, that they really enjoyed Sacrament meeting and the other classes they attended on Sunday. They will be out of town this weekend, but they said that, they will go to church again next weekend. 

Sister Reya and Sister Jovie Anne are also newly found investigators that we are teaching. Sister Jovie Anne was a referral from an active member. They are also teachers, and they coincidentally are co-teachers and good friends with Vermila and Veronica. On Sunday, they all attended church for all three hours. They are very outgoing and intelligent, and they participated a lot in the classes. They all enjoyed their time at church and want to go to church again. 

Brother Richard and Sister Jess attended church for their third consecutive time on Sunday. Their testimonies, especially Richard's, have grown dramatically in the last week. Brother Richard received a Gospel Doctrine manual last week on Sunday, and by Thursday, the same week, he had already finished reading the entire manual. In the past, Brother Richard normally drank about ten cups of coffee everyday, however, last week we taught him the Word of Wisdom, and he has not drunk a single cup of coffee since. 

The Lehi district is also doing well. Elder Estoque and Elder Price are still struggling trying get investigators to go to church. However, they have had companionship studies and discussions about what they need to change or do in order to help their investigators attend church. Sister Aldemita and Sister Sheets are getting a lot of ward support and referrals, and are working hard. Sister Freeze and Sister Seuifalmeua are doing okay. As a companionship, I do not feel they are the most unified, but every time I ask their Kabahays about them, they say they are doing okay together. 

Overall, everything is going great! The area is starting to progress and flourish. Except, there is one problem... transfers are next week and Elder Peterson is most likely going to be transferred.. NOO! The reason why I am emailing today is because we have temple P-day this week and zone interviews, and in my interview with President he practically told me that Elder Peterson is going to be transferred. He thanked me for all my help, and said that Elder Peterson has really grown and is doing a lot better, however, he said it is time for Elder Peterson to move on and progress in his mission. We were having so much fun together! It will be sad to see him leave next week!

Also, I have very excited news. Elder Peterson and I are going to the temple tomorrow to attend the endowment of Sister Lourdes Parisyo.Lourdes is the person that I OYMed back in October 2015. She got baptized, the week I got transferred. Now, she is teaching the doctrinal principles class in her ward and tomorrow she is going to the temple to be endowed and we get to attend. Practically her whole family is baptized now! What a blessing!

Have a wonderful week! Love you all!

Nagmamahal,

Elder Nielsen 

This is our posterity picture. Elder Godinez, Me, Elder Gurtiza. Elder Mariano and Elder Slade ( Elder Gurtiza's two sons), Elder Bastilong (son of Elder Mariano). And the other American in front, he is Elder Godinez brother, Elder Egbert's second son!

#Progression

We had another great week last week. Yesterday, we had a decent amount of progressing investigators and less actives attend the Sunday services. Kristine, Marifosa, Jesse, and Richard were the progressing investigators that were able to attend. 

Kristine has attended church five times and is preparing for her baptism on the 1st of April. Last week, we had to move her baptismal date after teaching her the Word of Wisdom because up until that point in time she had been drinking coffee everyday. However, after our lesson she committed personally and to us that she would no longer drink coffee. Also, last week we were able to meet and teach Kristine's husband, who has recently returned from a business contract in Qatar. Nelson, her husband,  was very open and wiling to listen to our message. After our discussion, he agreed to read and pray about the Book of Mormon and to attend church in the upcoming weeks.

Marifosa attend church yesterday for her fourth time. Last week, Marifosa finally received her answer from our Heavenly Father that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith is and was a prophet of God. Unfortunately, despite the witness that she received, she most likely will not be baptized at this point time because she will leave for Lebanon within the next two weeks on a business contract. She promised that she would bring her Book of Mormon to Lebanon and continue to read from it, as long as her boss will permit her to do so. We know that God works in mysterious ways, and that He has a special plan for Marifosa. Though she may not be baptized at this time, we know that she will eventually become a member of this Restored Church and enter into the waters of baptism. 

Richard and Jesse attended church for their second time on Sunday. They are steadily progressing and preparing for their baptism. Richard and Jesse also are starting to build relationships and friendships with the members at church. We are excited to continue to guide and direct them as they continue their preparations for baptism. 

Also, we found 2 more less active families last week. "They are popping out of the snow.. Like daisies!" One of them has a lot of potential. They said that they were ready to return to church and become active again. A funny story, their little 7 year old girl came up and gave me a big bear hug when we entered into their house. (I think she must have missed the missionary's visits ) 

Overall, our are is really starting to progress. 

This morning we went to Wawa Dam for a zone activity. I think this is the place where Mom went when she visited the Philippines. It is super pretty up there and is practically in our area. The Japenese hid out in Wawa during WWII. They had a great big battle in Wawa. It is a pretty interesting place. 

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful week! Choose the right! I love being a missionary and studying the Gospel. Love you all!

Mahal ko po kayong lahat,

Elder Nielsen

Elder David A. Bednar

We had another great week last week. Our week was full of highlights and spiritual experiences. 

Sister Kristine and Sister Chat attended church again on Sunday. They are still keeping our commitments and progressing, and do not have any concerns or problems. They have many fellowshipping friends at church and near their homes. Brother Richard and his wife Sister Jess attended church for the first time yesterday. Brother Richard is a house contractor, and is sometimes required to work on Sunday. However, yesterday he had a day off and was able to come to church. Richard has been reading the Book of Mormon and is currently in 1 Nephi 14. He has accepted a baptismal date and he really wants to start attending church weekly in order to prepare for his baptism. 

We have many new investigators that are right on the verge of progressing. They are reading the Book of Mormon and praying to know if it is true. They have not attended church yet, however, many of them committed to come to church this upcoming Sunday. We are continually finding and teaching new investigators, as well as dropping the investigators that do not show signs of progression.

Throughout the past three weeks, in preparation for our mission conference, I have study a lot about faith. Normally, I would define faith as a belief or hope in things that are not seen, which are true. However, I learned that faith is a broader and deeper subject than I originally thought. Faith is the first principle in revealed religion and is the foundation of all righteousness. Faith is also a principle of action in all intelligent beings (Faith without works is dead) . Faith is a form of power that we can use in our daily lives. The opposite of faith is fear and doubt, when we stop or no longer act we no longer show our faith. Our faith causes us to act and perform righteous deeds, when we do good and perform righteous deeds God blesses us, when we recognize that God is blessing us for our righteous deeds our is faith strengthened and we have a stronger desire to be obedient. Miracles are wrought by faith. Thus, if we strengthen our faith the number of miracles we perform will also increase in number. In order to have success and witness and perform many miracles in this area, I must strengthen my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

On Thursday, we had our Mission Conference! ( we sat in the very front row, thanks Elder Peterson!) It was a wonderful and life changing experience. It was honestly not what I was expecting, Elder Bednar did give talk, instead, he just a large group discussion/question&answer for 3 hours. It is hard explain everything he taught in our discussion, but I will give you a little summary.

1. We are agents not objects. We need to act for ourselves(2 Nephi 2:26 D&C 29)

2. Our church has some bad traditions. Ex. playing "guess what is in my head" while teaching lessons at church. Instead of asking thought provoking questions to the listeners we tend to ask questions with one specific answer that we are looking for. Ex. Why should we go to church? (the answer you want to hear: Sacrament), We need to ask questions with no definite right or wrong answer. 

3. We should never say "Please bless those that were not here this week that they will be able to come next week." BAD! Faith without works. That shows no faith. We should go out and find them and bring them to church. 

4. Our church talks too much. We need to be doers and need to act. Talking does not show faith, acting does. 

5. I learned soooo much! It was great!

He is so intelligent. His answers to all the questions were so simple, but were still right on the money. He truly is a representative of Jesus Christ. 

I wish I had more time to write what I learned..,

Overall, it has been another successful week!

take care! Have a wonderful week!

Nagmamal,

Elder Nielsen 

Lost Sheep

We had another great week last week. Our greatest success this week occurred while teaching Christine. Christine has attended church three consecutive times and is reading the Book of Mormon daily. Her only concern was that she had not yet received her answer from God, thus, she did not quite know if Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. She had constantly prayed and asked for three weeks, but still no answer had come. She said, that she was starting to believe our message was true because she frequently felt an indescribable urge or "push" to keep reading the Book of Mormon and attend church. However, last week she finally received her witness that Joseph Smith is a true prophet. While reading the revelations of Isaiah in 2 Nephi, she came upon the verses which prophesied about Joseph Smith as latter-day prophet, and how he would be named after his father. After reading that passage of scripture, Sister Christine said, that she finally felt that Jospeh was a true prophet of God. Last night, she officially accepted a baptismal date on March 25. Her husband, who will be returning from Qatar this next week, also agreed to listen to the missionaries and attend church with Christine. 

Last week will trakting, Elder Peterson and I found another seven less-active families. Remarkably, the Lord keeps placing lost sheep that have wandered from the His fold into our paths. Yesterday, we made plans and coordinated with the relief society president and other auxiliary leaders to visit and home teach the newly found less actives that we found over the last month. 

The Lehi district is doing well. Three out of the four companionships in the district had over 20 new investigators last week. The only companionship that is struggling with finding is the Montanna sisters. As a district, we discussed a few ideas that they could try in order to have more new investigators, but the ideas did not apparently help. But, as a district and as a zone we have a new finding activity that well begin tonight. Hopefully, the finding activity will inspire the Sisters to continue to find new investigators. 

Overall, it was another successful week. Elder Peterson and I are focusing on having strong enough faith in order to see miracles and baptisms in our area. 

I am very excited for Thursday. Elder Bednar will be speaking to only mission. Annnd Elder Peterson was asked to be the pianist for the mission conference. SO what that reeeeally means is front row seats ;) Maybe I will turn pages for him..

We also bought a new basketball today, so that means we will be playing basketball every morning again. Our old ball got a whole in it  two weeks ago.. I really need to stop dunking it so hard.. I keep popping all of our balls! ;) 

Have a great week! Welcome Little Emma Jean to the family! It is good to see that she got her cute facial features from her old Uncle Elder Nielsen! ;)  

gihigugma tika,

Elder Nielsen