Elder Thomas James Nielsen: The Lord will open the way

Hey all,

This past week has been a rough week to say the least. Monday was P-day so after emailing and shopping Elder Gardner and I both ended up chilling and studying the rest of the day. We where getting ready to teach a lesson that we had later that night with a family we found about a week ago. But as we where getting ready to head to the lesson, we got a text saying they didn't want us to come over. So we went to dinner at a member's house. The member needed to have a bon fire to burn some stuff, so Elder Gardner and I and the other set of Elders that were with us had a bon fire in our Missionary clothes. I am sure that our mothers would not have approved, but it was really fun.

Tuesday we had a Zone Meeting. We left pretty early to get to Gloucester. We normally have the Zone Meetings in Cheltnam but this week it was in Gloucester because of a Mission trip that the Mission President had planned later in the week. It had been a while since anyone had been to the Chapel in Gloucester so long story short, you guessed it, we got lost and were about an hour late to the Meeting. Later that evening as we planned our return trip back to Worcester, we discovered that the farther from Birmingham you get the trains don't come as often. We had about a two hour wait at the train station to get home. But this gave us time to visit with people while we wait.

Wednesday I woke up sick so we spent most of the day inside studying and watching the bits of General Conference that we missed. Later that evening, we went to our Sign Language lessons and we ended up taking turns signing Preach My Gospel! We did a whole chapter under the very watchful eye of the member that teaches us. It was fun and nerve racking at the same time. At 4:15 we left to catch the train back to Worcester so that we would have time to walk to a dinner appointment we had. Just our luck we missed the train so we where 30 minuets late to the dinner appointment which in turn made us about an hour late to our lesson after that. The good that came out of all the bad that happened this day is that we got a new investigator! The gal that we are now teaching, we teach her 19 year old son and she let us know that she wants to be taught as well! So blessing in disguise. Happy day.

Thursday we just hung around the flat trying to get some rest so I could get better.

Friday was a Mission trip. We went to Bembo Farms and Gadfield Elm. Bembo Farms is where one of the Apostles baptized the United Brethren. Historical information about Bembo Farms and Gadfield Elm . So we had fun looking around and looking at the pond that was dug to be a font. Gadfield Elm is the oldest Chapel the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints has. It was a really cool Chapel. It has been visited by three Prophets and countless members of the Quorum of the Twelve. It was really cool. Afterward we went to Gloucester to have lunch and play games. There where only 3 Zones out of the 7 Zones of Missionaries that were able to attend. It was nice to get with the other Zones and have this experience. So our luck ran out when we headed back to the train station to get on the train back to Worcester and we had an hour wait. No big deal until when the train came it was immediately canceled because of mechanical problems. So we waited for a little bit for another train. Long story short, we left from home at 3:30 am and got home at 8:30 pm. Long day.

Saturday we had a planning session and some service projects that we have been working on. We finished painting a member's family room. I don't mind painting, but not my favorite I will be a professional by the time this is finished. It has been a hard/discouraging week but we have received lots of blessings. The Lord will make a way out of no way I have found this week. We where running late the whole week but he blessed us because of our efforts.

Have a great week! Remember the Lord loves you!

Elder Nielsen