Merry Christmas from the Philippines

We only have a two hour p-day today so I don't have a lot of time. But I will talk to you in a few days anyway. But I have some good news. Sister Chimene Cinco passed her baptismal Interview and will be baptized this Saturday. She was smiling from ear to ear, it was precious. She is very excited to bear her testimony at her baptism. And we also moved Jem's baptism up to January 9th, so these next few weeks should be good ones. His plan is to serve a mission after one year, which we absolutely great. We have the ward Christmas party tomorrow and the mission Christmas party on Thursday. My first Christmas should be an exciting one. We are having a gift exchange, and I bought a half Thai half spanish Hannah Montana "monopolio" ( Monopoly ) game and a little bow and arrow thing with the sticky suction cups on the end. I'll send a picture next time. I thought it was quite the gift! hahaha. It is crazy to think I am already having my first call home. The time really does fly. I love this gospel so much. I love all of you and will talk to you on Christmas, (your time) 

Mahal ko lahat kayo

Elder Nielsen

BUSY BUSY WEEK

It was a good week last week. We were very busy with Zone Interviews, 5 week training, Christmas Devotional and exchanges, so we did not have a whole lot of time to work in our area. But overall, it was still a very beneficial week, we were able to complete  lesson 4 with Sister Cinco, and schedule her baptismal interview on this coming Saturday. She is doing very well, and is looking forward to her baptism in the next few weeks. Brother Jem is continuing to do well, he has attended church four consecutive Sundays. He attends institute every week and he also attended the Christmas Devotional on Sunday. We hit another small block last week with Brother Denilo. After we taught him about the Word of Wisdom, he told us he drinks coffee two or three times a day. He tried to give it up last week, but said it was very hard and he needed to drink it. We will continue to work and pray with him to overcome his addiction to coffee. Sister Queenie our other investigator, made a lot of progress last week. She is the only one in her family that has not been baptized. Her parents are recent converts of little over a year and her sisters were baptized in October. She is 19 years old and is pretty shy. She was a little reluctant when we extended a baptism date to her the first time. She seemed unsure or nervous, and we weren't quite sure why, but we have continued to teach her and she has really progressed. She has came to church three times since we have been in the area, and a few more times in the past. Our last lesson we taught about the Holy Ghost and we gave each person in the family the assignment to find a verse about the Holy Ghost and share it with us the next lesson. Sister Queenie studied and watched videos all about the spirit and she shared practically a small talk with us about the spirit. You could see her knowledge and testimony had grown from all the studying she had done. We are excited to continue to work with her, and extend her another baptismal invitation. 

Exchanges went really well last week. I was companions with Elder Foster. He is truly a great missionary, he taught me a lot in that little time we spent together. He is just a wonderful example for me about how to be humble and Christlike. 

Oh I forgot to mention but I'm sure you figured, we had transfers again. But just like a figured, Elder Gurtiza and I are still together. 

Elder Gurtiza is continuing to  help me everyday in every aspect of the work. We get along and work really well together and are excited to be together for another transfer. 

Mahal 

Elder Nielsen

Faith of a Mustard Seed‏

We had another good week this week. This was probably my fastest week in the mission.We really focused on our progressing and recently found investigators. Our main progressing investigators are doing really well. One of our investigators left and went to the provinces to spend time with her family for the holidays. Unfortunately, she will not return until the first of the year. But she promised us she would continue to read and go to church with her active family out there. We are trying are best to stay in content with her and remind her to read and go to church. Sister Cinco, our other progressing investigator, moved her baptism back to the 26 of December, in order for both of her parents and family to be able to attend. Brother Gem, attended church again this Sunday for the third time. We just finished lesson 3 with him last week. We have no problems or concerns with Gem, he is very solid and has a very strong testimony and reads all our assignments. His baptism will be held on January 16th. With Brother Denilo, we still haven't really been able to figure out his concerns yet. He attended church again for third time, but he still seems unsure about working towards his baptism in January. We want to really focus on him this week, and figure out what exactly is holding him back. 

Our recently found investigators seem to be interested in our message, but did not attend church for whatever reasons. We want to focus on them making that next step and commitment, and go to church.

Elder Gurtiza is doing great. He said this last week was the fastest week in his mission. He really like when the day is busy and we have a lot of appointments to go to. I told him the advice grandpa, " The harder you work, the faster it goes." The key is just to work hard and lose yourself and then the days just fly by. I really think I'm starting to really focus on the work because the days are just flying by. Last week I really focused on my attitude, having a really positive attitude with the heat, when we get punted, and how there is no rain. I think it really helped. 

We had a spiritual experience last Monday, we had a FHE planned with an active member, then at literally the last second they canceled it. So we had no idea who we were going to go to next. We started walking and then we thought we should visit a recently returned less active. So we visited him and he let us in, he told us he had stayed home from work because he head really hurt because of his tooth ache. So we taught him a lesson and at the end, he asked us if we could give him a blessing.So we gave him a blessing and at the end of the blessing he said the pain was completely gone. He said he felt peaceful, and he could probably actually fall asleep now ( he couldn't earlier because of the pain). He said he took pain pills earlier but nothing worked. He said the power of the Priesthood is so powerful and he asked us to give him a copier of the priesthood prayers in case his kids were ever sick. We thought this experienced really strengthened his testimony about the Priesthood and also our testimonies.That was my first miracle I have seen through my priesthood blessings. It was simple but powerful, it really changed my perspective on things as I pondered the experience. I decided I need to have a lot more faith when I give blessings, I need to have the faith giving the blessing that the person will be healed, as long as it is God's will. If we had the faith of a mustard seed, we could move mountains. And if we have the faith, Heavenly Father can perform any miracle through us. 

And last night we had a fun experience. We were invited to the Mission Presidents Home for dinner to break our fast. There were 3 other sets of missionaries with us. And it was a really good time, it was the first time I had American food in a long time, we had Mexican lasagna, it was wonderful. And after the dinner President picks on a set of missionaries to give a short active member lesson. And sure enough, he called on us. We both just felt like he would. So we taught about the Savior and Christmas and watched the short Christmas Clip for this year. It was such a relief being able to say what my thoughts and feelings were since the lessons was in English. I thought the lesson went really well, I felt the spirit really powerfully and so did everyone else as they shared their feelings on the Savior.

Next week is going to be a hectic week. Lots of meetings and activities going on. I was asked to give a talk on being exactly obedient at the 5 week training for all the trainer and trainees, so I still need to prepare for that. This church is true and Christmas season is a great opportunity to share the Gospel. Don't hold anything back, invited everyone to learn more about the Savior. 

Mahal na Mahal kayo

Elder Nielsen

ps. It's too bad you couldn't get a bull elk, mom. But the hunt and the memories are just as fun. That makes two of us with elk tag soup. But don't worry, in 5 years we can start putting you in for the draw again ;) 

No Thanksgiving in the Philippians..‏

Hello my wonderful family. We had another good week this week. Our progressing investigators are doing really well. First, Sister Cinco, we are just finishing up lesson 4 to her, and she has continued to go to church and keep our assignments. We are really confident in her because she already has many friends in church and she also has the support of her very active grandmother. Next is Brother Gem, he is doing really well. He has been taught by the missionaries before, but before he could be baptized he left to go live in a province for a few months and lost contact with the missionaries. He already has a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and has many fellow shippers in the ward. ( He's actually came out and worked with us, and has born testimony to our other investigators, and he's not even baptized yet.. whoops ) His baptism will be on January 16th, along with Sister Grace. We have been teaching Gem, Grace, and Sister Abrasado all together. Unfortunately Sister Abrasado was able to be at our last discussion, so we have not extended a baptismal date to her yet. Last week, we tried to extend a baptismal date to Brother Denilo, but he told us he was already a member in the Catholic church. But he said, if he prays and knows that this church is the true church, he will be baptized. With him, we are continuing to teach him and help him receive that witness and testimony for himself. He also attended church again this Sunday. We were also able to find many new investigators this week that we think have a lot of potential. We are excited to return to them and continue teaching them. 

Elder Gurtiza is doing great. He had a little cold this week, but he wanted to continue to work, even though his nose was stuffed, he had a headache, and didn't quite have his full energy. I really admire that about him, he always wants to work hard and do his best. He is becoming a better missionary and a better example for me each week. 

Besides that it has been a pretty normal week. We were going to do something for Thanksgiving and go by a chicken and stuff, but it was ill planned and never happened. But we have decided we will do something big for Christmas to make up for it. Stay tuned. 

Next week I am starting my 40 day fast. No it's not like a sugar fast like Erin, something a little more spiritual ;) it's coming from the talk " The forty-day fast" if you want to do it too, but in summary this elder was doing his very best but still was missing something, so a church leader told him to this fast. You start with a fast and then go and pray and then write every down that you feel is distracting you from the work and having the spirit, ( 40 things) like hunting, sarcasm ect. Then you give those things up for 40 days. It was a really powerful talk. So I will start my fast next week. 

6 Minutes Pop! Waiting on that email. 

Mahal 

Elder Nielsen

The Best Kind of Birthday Gift‏

Hello Family! It was another good week. We were able to find and teach a lot of new investigators. We actually found 11 new investigators, so that will help strengthen and expand our teaching pool. We already have a lot of good signs of progression from them too. We were able to start teaching and extend a baptism date to one of our new progressing investigators. Her name is Sister  Chimene Cinco, she is 9 years old. She reminds me so much of Carly. She looks like a Filipino Carly, she's kinda tall and skinny, kinda shy, but just the sweetest thing. Her dad is a long long time less active and her mom isn't a member, but her grandma is an active member and was the one who gave us the referral.  Sister Cinco has been to church before and is really active in and enjoys primary. She is very knowledgeable about the gospel for a nine year old. She was very shy to us in our first lessons, but we think we have  gained her trust, as she has opened up to us a lot more. We planned we were going to extend her a baptismal date, we were a little nervous and didn't know how she would respond. At the end of the lesson we extended a date to her.. And she just started smiling and had the biggest grin on her face and said YES. This was probably one of the best moments of my mission, who know that a little 9 year old just saying yes could make you so happy? It's because I know how important this step is for her. She is completely the first out of three essential ordinances to enter into the Clelestial Kingdom. This was by far the best birthday gift.  She is planned to be baptized December 19th. Her parents are very accepting to us teaching her, in fact, her dad has already planned to get work off so he can attend her baptism. Hopefully her baptism will be able to create a teaching opportunity for her parents. Sister Abrasado and her daughter Grace have really been progressing, each lesson with them  seems to be getting better and better. Unfortunately Sister Abrasado was unable to attend church, but her daughter Grace did. Our other two investigators texted us  early Sunday morning informing us they would not be able to attend church, due to having to babysit and a migraine headache. But they have both promised us they will attend next week. 

We have been visiting a young less active who hasn't been going to church because he has to work grave yard shifts every night. But last week we had a really strong and spiritual lesson with him, and we could see him feeling the spirit. Then on Sunday, he got up early and attended church. We really hope this is his start, back to being an active member again. 

Elder Gurtiza is doing great. He is becoming more and more confident in his teaching. We are now able to do effective transitions in our teaching, and teach the lessons more unified. He has even been leading some of the lessons. I know that with each passing week, we will become more and more unified. 

It was a nice peaceful birthday. Some people at church knew and wished me a happy birthday, President and Sister Bertin texted me wishing me a happy birthday, then we had a little jelly pie cake thing that night at a members house for my birthday. It was quite delicious. Overall a wonderful birthday while serving the Lord, what more could you want? ...Well tell Grandma Croft to save the "Disc Shooter" for when I get home ;) hahaha

Overall it has been a really good week. The area is really starting to open up and we see a lot of work that needs to be done. We pray that we will be the proper instruments in the hand of the Lord. The whitewashing effects are over, we are now just getting to work. There is so much work to be done her in the Camarin 1st ward. 

I hope all of you have a wonderful week! Thanks for all the birthday wishes.  Mother, hopefully you can get that Elk! Erin and Landon, the pictures look wonderful. Have a great Thanksgiving, Eat Lots! 

Love, Love Love, 

Elder Nielsen

The Work is Starting Again‏

We had a lot better week this week. We are really starting to familiarize ourselves with our area, making it a lot easier to find and teach. We have two current progressing investigators, but a lot of potential investigators that will hopefully soon start progressing. The first one is Brother Danilo. We found Brother Danilo sitting on his porch one night and we stopped and started talking to him. He agreed to listen to our message, so we taught him the Restoration and he really enjoyed our message. By our next lesson he had read the whole Restoration pamphlet. Our next lesson was on the Book of Mormon, he agreed to read the introduction. By our next lesson, he had read the whole introduction, testimonies of all the witnesses and was now reading Joseph Smith's testimony. We were very thrilled when he told us. We invited him to come to church last Sunday and he came. We have very high hopes for this brother. Our next progressing investigator is Sister Abrasado, she's been taught by the missionaries a while back but never really progressed or accepted their message. Her daughter is an active member, but she has still been a little reluctant to join the church. But she has been keeping our reading assignments and attended church last Sunday with her other nonmember daughter. We pray for her and are hoping she will continue to go to church and eventually follow her daughter's example and be baptized. Another family that we have really been focusing on is the Akala family. They have been taught by the missionaries for about 5 months now. They read the Book of Mormon, pray, and know our message is true. But their only problem is attending church, this is why they have not been baptized yet. Brother Akala is a manger at a local grocery market and he has work every Sunday. Sister Akala has to take care of their two young children and says she can't control and watch them both at church alone. Elder Gurtiza and I decided we wanted to be a little bold with them, we taught them about baptism and the purpose of baptism. We extended a baptism invitation for January 2nd, and to our relief they accepted. They said they really wanted to start going to church and are going to try to figure out a way with Brother's job. We have high hopes and goals for this family. 

Elder Gurtiza is doing great. He was a little stressed the first week, as are all new missionaries, but he has adjusted very well to missionary life. Each day he is coming more and more out of shell, with teaching and with me. He is really start to open up with me and is talking a lot more. I know that each passing week our relationship will become stronger and stronger, which will make our teaching capabilities better and better too. 

Overall this was a very good week. Each day seems to be getting easier and easier in this new area. If we continue to put our trust in the Lord he will guide us everyday. I am starting to see more and more miracles in His work. This is His work and it  will never stop, regardless of the lack of talent and experience of the missionaries is that area. 

A fun story. So this week we had the First Annual Power Scrub. It going to start happening twice a year around General Conference. But its a special day where we just clean our house from 7 to 11. I'll tell you what', we really needed it in this new house. So we turned on some music and we got to work. It was actually a lot of fun, and the house looks so much better. Elder Gurtiza and I feel a lot more at home now because everything is organized and clean. 

Besides that it has been a pretty good week. Last week we bought a basketball so every morning we have been playing basketball at the court right next to our house. We have been getting a few good pick-up games, so that has been a lot of fun. And I'm really excited to hear about mom's elk hunt. I've been praying that you'll get a "big one", I figured it worked with Dad's bull elk hunt when I was 5, so I'm trying it again ;) You guys are all great. I've been blessed with such a great family. Unfortunately, it took me traveling across the world to realize how great all of you all are, but know I pray about each of you daily. Thanks for all the love and support! :) 

Mahal ko kayo 

Elder Nielsen 

1. Last day in Malolos 

2. I forgot to send this, but my Batch after the first 4 week

Fwd: Elder Nielsen‏

Dear Brother and Sister Nielsen,

My husband and I, Elder and Sister Brady, have served with Elder Nielsen the past few weeks.  We have missed him since he has been transferred.

We just wanted to let you know what a fine young Elder he is.  He is very dedicated to the missionary work, and has a warm personality.  We enjoy working him in Malolos.  He told me that you live in Elko, Nevada.  I grew up in Twin Falls, Idaho not too far away. 

With a great like Elder Nielsen, the work is moving forward in the Quezon City North Mission!  

Elder and Sister Brady

 

Quezon City North Mission

Sister Mary R Brady

435-313-8450

marybrady1504@gmail.com

"Chosen by God to serve him below,
To ev'ry land and people we'll go,
Standing for truth with fervent accord,
Teaching his holy word."