Dear Family,
Not much really happened this week. We did our usually things. Teach a lesson or two and look for people to teach. We also did a lot of service.
On Sunday it was Remembrance Sunday, this is a day that here in England those that served in the Armed Forces are remembered, so we sold Poppies for that. It was pretty fun and it got us out in the community doing something that everyone pulls together for and since we had our name tags on we also got some good questions and discussion. We also had a bon fire night. We went to the Chapel and the Ward had fireworks and food. Now these fireworks were good but not as good as the fireworks that I have done in the past as a young teenage boy, but they where alright.
So the highlights were that we have missed trains, sold Poppies, and became professional painters. We are pretty much painting a members whole house for her. She doesn't know that we know that we are, but we do. One cool thing that happened this week is a family from Kidderminster that I got really close with while I was serving there is moving to Worcester. It's the same family I helped move a few times while I was in Kiddy. They are in need of help cleaning up their new yard. So I will put on my lumberjack hat and professional landscaping shoes and go to work.
One thing that has been good is we had the chance to listen to President Uchtdorf's talk from this last General Conference. Come Join with Us I really like how he outlines what each person commits to do when they are baptized. It is good to see that he just laid everything on the table and said here you go are you ready? I loved it!
We have the opportunity to have Elder Dyke's of the Area Seventy coming to talk to us this week it should be fun. He was also here a while ago for our Stake Conference. We have been talking about hastening the work and I have been studying this topic from Jacob 5 and the parable of the vineyard. Jacob 5 I studied the vision of the tree of life and Nephi's interpretation of it along with Jacob 5. A lot of interesting stuff.
Hope all is going well! Love you all and the support that you give me.
Love Elder Nielsen
Showing posts with label Kidderminster. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kidderminster. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Transfer Day heading to Worcester, England
Hi everyone.
I guess the big news is that I am getting transferred. I am going to Worcester (Wusta) which is twenty miles to the south so not to far. I will be heading out Wednesday, September 18, 2013. I'm not sure how I feel about being transferred. I have been in Kidderminster since I came to England and I really like my companion and we get along great, but I'm also getting sick of the area a little bit and feel like I need to move on. So on to a new adventure with a new companion.
This week has been a fun one! I'm not sure if I spent more than 24 hours in my own area of Kidderminster. So Monday we had a Zone P day with everyone in Harborn. It had its moments of fun. We played Human Foosball here is a link of what it looks like human foosball. It was pretty fun but as Missionaries/young men it turned very competitive. Then after that we headed back to our area. We have been having Family Home Evening (FHE) with the single sisters in our Branch at the chapel on Mondays. As luck would have it, our trains where running late and we missed a connection, so we where just about an hour late for FHE but even though we were late we had fun though.
Tuesday we finished the things that we didn't get to do on Monday due to travel. We got to teach our progressing investigator. He just got married to a member in our Branch and with our busy schedules, we have not been able to see him for about a month. I guess the good thing is that during that month he still was reading the Book of Mormon and praying. So hopefully he can get an answer to his prayers. It is pretty common here in England for people to investigate 6 months to a year before taking the big step of baptism. He always tells us that he really likes us coming over to visit and teach.
Wednesday was back to Harborn for a Zone Meeting. We had a very good Zone Meeting about how we can improve our teaching skills. After that I went on exchanges with one of the Elders from Redditch. It was a pretty miserable exchange because of the weather. It rained and rained and I did not pack an extra pair of trousers so I was soaked to the bone.
Thursday we just switched back from exchange and then visited less active members with the Senior Missionary couple. We also had Branch Council. It was a good meeting were we started to finalize plans for the Kidderminster Branch's big Missionary event in November. Hopefully it all goes well. They need the event to go off really well and have people there to teach and ask questions.
Friday was just a normal Friday. It rained all day, not a heavy rain but the annoying England rain. Saturday we traveled again. We went and did work over in Redditch. So a two hour train there and back and a couple of hours working took up most of the day. During this time, we all switched companions and tried to find people to jump start the area or to get it back going and then had some more training in Driotwhich Spa and visited members there.
I think my favorite day was Sunday. We had Stake Conference. So we traveled back to Harborn for the third time this week. One of the speakers talked about how the Gospel is like rock climbing. You have the person belaying the rope and the rope. He talked about how the Atonement is the rope and the person belaying you is Christ. No matter how many times you fall the Atonement can and will catch you. It was really good lesson. After Stake Conference, one of the Missionary teams in Harborn were having a Baptism. So we stayed for that and good thing we did. The tap for the font was broken! We ended up filling the font with buckets, trash cans, pots and whatever we could get to hold water! We filled the font with cold water because the hot water heater ran out of water. We put about 18 inches of water in it. The funny part is that the man being baptized was a massive man, about 6'3" and easily over 200 pounds. Built like a wall! The Elder who was baptizing him was skinny as a rail and about the same height as me which is 5'10". The man had to sit in the font and the Elder kneeled. Luckily they got the baptizing done on the first try.
That was about the fun for the week. My testimony has grown this week with all the little things that went wrong. I find it interesting that just as soon as things start to work out and go smooth and I feel comfortable, the poop hits the fan (lack of a better phrase) or transfers come along. But among the things I have learned is that when it gets the hardest is when you just put your faith and trust in the Lord. I have had many great and spiritual experiences this week. I hope that you have all too.
Love, Elder Nielsen
I guess the big news is that I am getting transferred. I am going to Worcester (Wusta) which is twenty miles to the south so not to far. I will be heading out Wednesday, September 18, 2013. I'm not sure how I feel about being transferred. I have been in Kidderminster since I came to England and I really like my companion and we get along great, but I'm also getting sick of the area a little bit and feel like I need to move on. So on to a new adventure with a new companion.
This week has been a fun one! I'm not sure if I spent more than 24 hours in my own area of Kidderminster. So Monday we had a Zone P day with everyone in Harborn. It had its moments of fun. We played Human Foosball here is a link of what it looks like human foosball. It was pretty fun but as Missionaries/young men it turned very competitive. Then after that we headed back to our area. We have been having Family Home Evening (FHE) with the single sisters in our Branch at the chapel on Mondays. As luck would have it, our trains where running late and we missed a connection, so we where just about an hour late for FHE but even though we were late we had fun though.
Tuesday we finished the things that we didn't get to do on Monday due to travel. We got to teach our progressing investigator. He just got married to a member in our Branch and with our busy schedules, we have not been able to see him for about a month. I guess the good thing is that during that month he still was reading the Book of Mormon and praying. So hopefully he can get an answer to his prayers. It is pretty common here in England for people to investigate 6 months to a year before taking the big step of baptism. He always tells us that he really likes us coming over to visit and teach.
Wednesday was back to Harborn for a Zone Meeting. We had a very good Zone Meeting about how we can improve our teaching skills. After that I went on exchanges with one of the Elders from Redditch. It was a pretty miserable exchange because of the weather. It rained and rained and I did not pack an extra pair of trousers so I was soaked to the bone.
Thursday we just switched back from exchange and then visited less active members with the Senior Missionary couple. We also had Branch Council. It was a good meeting were we started to finalize plans for the Kidderminster Branch's big Missionary event in November. Hopefully it all goes well. They need the event to go off really well and have people there to teach and ask questions.
Friday was just a normal Friday. It rained all day, not a heavy rain but the annoying England rain. Saturday we traveled again. We went and did work over in Redditch. So a two hour train there and back and a couple of hours working took up most of the day. During this time, we all switched companions and tried to find people to jump start the area or to get it back going and then had some more training in Driotwhich Spa and visited members there.
I think my favorite day was Sunday. We had Stake Conference. So we traveled back to Harborn for the third time this week. One of the speakers talked about how the Gospel is like rock climbing. You have the person belaying the rope and the rope. He talked about how the Atonement is the rope and the person belaying you is Christ. No matter how many times you fall the Atonement can and will catch you. It was really good lesson. After Stake Conference, one of the Missionary teams in Harborn were having a Baptism. So we stayed for that and good thing we did. The tap for the font was broken! We ended up filling the font with buckets, trash cans, pots and whatever we could get to hold water! We filled the font with cold water because the hot water heater ran out of water. We put about 18 inches of water in it. The funny part is that the man being baptized was a massive man, about 6'3" and easily over 200 pounds. Built like a wall! The Elder who was baptizing him was skinny as a rail and about the same height as me which is 5'10". The man had to sit in the font and the Elder kneeled. Luckily they got the baptizing done on the first try.
That was about the fun for the week. My testimony has grown this week with all the little things that went wrong. I find it interesting that just as soon as things start to work out and go smooth and I feel comfortable, the poop hits the fan (lack of a better phrase) or transfers come along. But among the things I have learned is that when it gets the hardest is when you just put your faith and trust in the Lord. I have had many great and spiritual experiences this week. I hope that you have all too.
Love, Elder Nielsen
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| Elder Nielsen in his new suit. A few weeks ago, a member told me, Elder Nielsen, that I looked like I was wearing my dad's suit. I have lost a few pounds since being in England, so it was new suit time. |
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Missionaries and the Pizza Hut Buffet
Hello everyone!
Hope everyone is doing good. This week has been a fun one and a busy one. Not much really happened tell Wednesday when we had our weekly meeting with the rest of the District. So we have our meeting then we decided to go to lunch together and then travel back to our Areas. Since the Chapel in Kidderminster is close to the rail station we have the District meetings here. But anyway, this week everyone was really hungry so we went to lunch before our meetings. We went to Pizza Hut and had the all you can eat lunch buffet. Use you imagination, six Missionaries going into an all you can eat! Great for us Missionaries, but not for Pizza Hut. We walked out about an hour and a half later haven eaten 102 pieces of pizza or 12.75 pizzas. The bill came to £41 ($64) and we ate £90 ($141) worth of pizza. There are places here in Kidderminster that the Missionaries are banded from going to the lunch buffet. But not here at Pizza Hut........Yet.
The other thing that happened is we had a miracle tracking. We found a less active member who had just had a baby and just moved into our Area. How cool is that. Out of the hundreds of streets we could pick we picked that one. It shows that the Spirit can led us even when we don't recognize it. We also tried something new this week trying to find people. We did some street preaching! We made a poster and went into the Town Center of Kidderminster to talk to people. I held the poster while Elder Watt (I was on exchanges) went around with a white board with a question on it asking people "Have you ever wondered?" It was kind of fun.
Sunday I found out that the Kidderminster Relief Society is in the Daughters in my Kingdom book. They are right in the middle of the book. It is a picture from the early 1900s but still there. It was really cool to have the sisters in the Relief Society point that out to me. I remember really not paying attention to the pictures or much of the stories for that matter when my mom made us read it as a family. But I have looked at it since then and am learning from it about the history of Relief Society in the Church and how important it is.
I have found that the Lord will bring miracles when you least expect it. Just when you are about to break the Lord comes through. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and he will provide.
Elder Nielsen
Hope everyone is doing good. This week has been a fun one and a busy one. Not much really happened tell Wednesday when we had our weekly meeting with the rest of the District. So we have our meeting then we decided to go to lunch together and then travel back to our Areas. Since the Chapel in Kidderminster is close to the rail station we have the District meetings here. But anyway, this week everyone was really hungry so we went to lunch before our meetings. We went to Pizza Hut and had the all you can eat lunch buffet. Use you imagination, six Missionaries going into an all you can eat! Great for us Missionaries, but not for Pizza Hut. We walked out about an hour and a half later haven eaten 102 pieces of pizza or 12.75 pizzas. The bill came to £41 ($64) and we ate £90 ($141) worth of pizza. There are places here in Kidderminster that the Missionaries are banded from going to the lunch buffet. But not here at Pizza Hut........Yet.
The other thing that happened is we had a miracle tracking. We found a less active member who had just had a baby and just moved into our Area. How cool is that. Out of the hundreds of streets we could pick we picked that one. It shows that the Spirit can led us even when we don't recognize it. We also tried something new this week trying to find people. We did some street preaching! We made a poster and went into the Town Center of Kidderminster to talk to people. I held the poster while Elder Watt (I was on exchanges) went around with a white board with a question on it asking people "Have you ever wondered?" It was kind of fun.
Sunday I found out that the Kidderminster Relief Society is in the Daughters in my Kingdom book. They are right in the middle of the book. It is a picture from the early 1900s but still there. It was really cool to have the sisters in the Relief Society point that out to me. I remember really not paying attention to the pictures or much of the stories for that matter when my mom made us read it as a family. But I have looked at it since then and am learning from it about the history of Relief Society in the Church and how important it is.
I have found that the Lord will bring miracles when you least expect it. Just when you are about to break the Lord comes through. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and he will provide.
Elder Nielsen
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| View from our Flat in Kidderminster |
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| The sign that we held as we street preached |
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Look to Christ and Live
Hello,
Missionary life is a hard life I have come to find out. We started this week off pretty strong and then all the sudden it was back to square one again. I find it really humbling to have so many people investigating and then in two to three days you loose them all. But that is life.
Monday was just a normal pday. Tuesday we had appointments all over town and had a very good lesson with a less active man. We visit him once a week just to talk and teach. He is less active because of health not by choice. We had a very spiritual lesson with him. We asked him what was his favorite part of the Gospel. Most of the people we ask that to say the plan of salvation, morals, family history work, temples, or humanitarian aid. But his answer was so simple and beautiful. He said that the best part of the Gospel for him is knowing God. He said we know what he looks like and acts like. We have so much more information about him than any other religion. It made me realize that I take that for granted most of the time. I thought that most people had the same information as Latter Day Saints, but I was wrong.
So why did that response impact me so much? It was because of a few things. I can remember singing in primary "I Am a Child of God". When you look at the Eternal side of that statement it just brings tears to my eyes. No matter what I do I will always be a Child of God. The second thing is how much he cares about us individually. I have been reading the Old Testament and Pearl of Great Price. In Moses 7 it explains it the best. Enoch is commanded to preach to the people. He does and they establish Zion and the Lord takes Zion up to him. But these verses show how much God cares about us.
28 And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept; and Enoch bore record of it, saying: How is it that the heavens weep, and shed forth their tears as the rain upon the mountains?
29 And Enoch said unto the Lord: How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?
30 And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom is there; and also thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever;
31 And thou hast taken Zion to thine own bosom, from all thy creations, from all eternity to all eternity; and naught but peace, justice, and truth is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face and have no end; how is it thou canst weep?
32 The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency;
33 And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should Love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood;
34 And the afire of mine indignation is kindled against them; and in my hot displeasure will I send in the floods upon them, for my fierce anger is kindled against them.
35 Behold, I am God; Man of Holiness is my name; Man of Counsel is my name; and Endless and Eternal is my name, also.
36 Wherefore, I can stretch forth mine hands and hold all the creations which I have made; and mine eye can pierce them also, and among all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren.
37 But behold, their sins shall be upon the heads of their fathers; Satan shall be their father, and misery shall be their doom; and the whole heavens shall weep over them, even all the workmanship of mine hands; wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer?
38 But behold, these which thine eyes are upon shall perish in the floods; and behold, I will shut them up; a prison have I prepared for them.
39 And that which I have chosen hath plead before my face. Wherefore, he suffereth for their sins; inasmuch as they will repent in the day that my chosen shall return unto me, and until that day they shall be in torment;
40 Wherefore, for this shall the heavens weep, yea, and all the workmanship of mine hands.
41 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Enoch, and told Enoch all the doings of the children of men; wherefore Enoch knew, and looked upon their wickedness, and their misery, and wept and stretched forth his arms, and his heart swelled wide as eternity; and his bowels yearned; and all eternity shook.
This week has been one full of spiritual things and lots of hardship. But one thing that I fall back on when I am having a hard time is the fact that God loves me. He knows my strengths and weaknesses and how to help me. I am given trails not to discourage me but to help me learn and find out my earthly and eternal potential. To quote John Lennon," When I find myself in time of trouble" look to Christ and live.
Love, Elder Nielsen
Missionary life is a hard life I have come to find out. We started this week off pretty strong and then all the sudden it was back to square one again. I find it really humbling to have so many people investigating and then in two to three days you loose them all. But that is life.
Monday was just a normal pday. Tuesday we had appointments all over town and had a very good lesson with a less active man. We visit him once a week just to talk and teach. He is less active because of health not by choice. We had a very spiritual lesson with him. We asked him what was his favorite part of the Gospel. Most of the people we ask that to say the plan of salvation, morals, family history work, temples, or humanitarian aid. But his answer was so simple and beautiful. He said that the best part of the Gospel for him is knowing God. He said we know what he looks like and acts like. We have so much more information about him than any other religion. It made me realize that I take that for granted most of the time. I thought that most people had the same information as Latter Day Saints, but I was wrong.
So why did that response impact me so much? It was because of a few things. I can remember singing in primary "I Am a Child of God". When you look at the Eternal side of that statement it just brings tears to my eyes. No matter what I do I will always be a Child of God. The second thing is how much he cares about us individually. I have been reading the Old Testament and Pearl of Great Price. In Moses 7 it explains it the best. Enoch is commanded to preach to the people. He does and they establish Zion and the Lord takes Zion up to him. But these verses show how much God cares about us.
28 And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept; and Enoch bore record of it, saying: How is it that the heavens weep, and shed forth their tears as the rain upon the mountains?
29 And Enoch said unto the Lord: How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?
30 And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom is there; and also thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever;
31 And thou hast taken Zion to thine own bosom, from all thy creations, from all eternity to all eternity; and naught but peace, justice, and truth is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face and have no end; how is it thou canst weep?
32 The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency;
33 And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should Love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood;
34 And the afire of mine indignation is kindled against them; and in my hot displeasure will I send in the floods upon them, for my fierce anger is kindled against them.
35 Behold, I am God; Man of Holiness is my name; Man of Counsel is my name; and Endless and Eternal is my name, also.
36 Wherefore, I can stretch forth mine hands and hold all the creations which I have made; and mine eye can pierce them also, and among all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren.
37 But behold, their sins shall be upon the heads of their fathers; Satan shall be their father, and misery shall be their doom; and the whole heavens shall weep over them, even all the workmanship of mine hands; wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer?
38 But behold, these which thine eyes are upon shall perish in the floods; and behold, I will shut them up; a prison have I prepared for them.
39 And that which I have chosen hath plead before my face. Wherefore, he suffereth for their sins; inasmuch as they will repent in the day that my chosen shall return unto me, and until that day they shall be in torment;
40 Wherefore, for this shall the heavens weep, yea, and all the workmanship of mine hands.
41 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Enoch, and told Enoch all the doings of the children of men; wherefore Enoch knew, and looked upon their wickedness, and their misery, and wept and stretched forth his arms, and his heart swelled wide as eternity; and his bowels yearned; and all eternity shook.
This week has been one full of spiritual things and lots of hardship. But one thing that I fall back on when I am having a hard time is the fact that God loves me. He knows my strengths and weaknesses and how to help me. I am given trails not to discourage me but to help me learn and find out my earthly and eternal potential. To quote John Lennon," When I find myself in time of trouble" look to Christ and live.
Love, Elder Nielsen
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Week of suprises and the unexpected
Hello,
I am writing this a little late because it was bank holiday on Monday and almost everything that the Missionaries use on Monday (computers and internet) were closed. But this week has been a good week. Full of surprises and the unexpected.
Monday after we sent word home that we would not be emailing due to the bank holiday, we went on an adventure. We found a ten pin bowling lane in our area. So we took a member to go bowling with us. It turns out that the place we where going was completely out of our Zone, so we had to jump through all the hoops to get permission to leave the Zone. It was worth it though and we had a great time. One thing I think that is different between bowling in the States versus here in England is that here it seems to be easier. In the States I am terrible at bowling but here I was on fire.
Tuesday we had a busy day running around in our area of Kidderminster. We had a couple of appointments that were spread throughout the day the problem was filling the time in between these appointments. We had one in the morning, afternoon, and evening. And to make matters worse I realized that they all where across town from each other. So Elder Larson and I did a lot of walking and running to be where we needed to be on time. But we had lots of fun running to and fro.
Wednesday we had meetings in Harborn at the Stake Center and then I went on exchange with one of the Elders from Redditch. When we go to the meetings in Harborn we have to pack a lunch or get one. And silly Elder Nielsen thought that we could get off the bus one stop later and we would be close to a Subway. But to my surprise the bus turned and went the opposite direction than I thought it would go. We had quite a hike from the bus stop to Subway and then to the Chapel. But it was all worth it.
Thursday was mostly just a travel day for more meetings. We went to Redditch and to get to Redditch we take a train up to Birmingham and then down to Redditch which takes about two hours. If we had a car, we could be in Redditch in about twenty minutes because it is just the next town over. So travel for us took five hours by the time we got back to the flat. After that a member invited us over for some Curry. My dad served his Mission in Singapore so he makes curry for us a lot. So the members asked which curry we wanted and Elder Larson and I both wanted the hottest curry they could get. The member got a curry called Vindaloo. It was not very hot to me but to the members, they couldn't stand it at all it was way too hot. They where very disappointed by our reaction to the curry. They where thinking that we wouldn't finish it because it was too spicy but it was a very nice curry. It wasn't so nice the next morning though. Ha Ha
Friday was just a normal Friday. We had our big planning session for the next week and then visited two people and that was about it. Saturday was about the same.
But the surprise came on Sunday. We went the Chapel at 9:30 to greet people and to our amazement someone was having a family gathering that week. By the end of Church we had 60 people there and forty of them where visitors! It was so nice to have all the chairs full and the Chapel full of faithful saints. After our meetings, we had dinner with an inactive member who is trying to get back into Church. I have never laughed so hard in my life. He is such a funny guy and was telling jokes all night.
On Monday which was bank holiday and P-Day we went out with some members on a walk through the woods. When we got out of the woods there was a car show and car boot event going on. For those who know me, Elder Nielsen, know that I am really into older, unique, expensive cars. So I was in heaven looking at all the cars. So we went to the car show for a couple of hours and then had a nice walk along the River Severn. The one thing that I kept thinking during the walk was how lucky I am to be in England. Some days it's not so fun but it's the fun times that I will remember the best. I kept thinking as we walked how beautiful God's creations are. It was nice to have the time to reflect in a place where the usual noises where not there. I have come to love the Gospel and the message that it teaches. It is an easy one to understand and blesses me so much.
Until next week!
Elder Nielsen
I am writing this a little late because it was bank holiday on Monday and almost everything that the Missionaries use on Monday (computers and internet) were closed. But this week has been a good week. Full of surprises and the unexpected.
Monday after we sent word home that we would not be emailing due to the bank holiday, we went on an adventure. We found a ten pin bowling lane in our area. So we took a member to go bowling with us. It turns out that the place we where going was completely out of our Zone, so we had to jump through all the hoops to get permission to leave the Zone. It was worth it though and we had a great time. One thing I think that is different between bowling in the States versus here in England is that here it seems to be easier. In the States I am terrible at bowling but here I was on fire.
Tuesday we had a busy day running around in our area of Kidderminster. We had a couple of appointments that were spread throughout the day the problem was filling the time in between these appointments. We had one in the morning, afternoon, and evening. And to make matters worse I realized that they all where across town from each other. So Elder Larson and I did a lot of walking and running to be where we needed to be on time. But we had lots of fun running to and fro.
Wednesday we had meetings in Harborn at the Stake Center and then I went on exchange with one of the Elders from Redditch. When we go to the meetings in Harborn we have to pack a lunch or get one. And silly Elder Nielsen thought that we could get off the bus one stop later and we would be close to a Subway. But to my surprise the bus turned and went the opposite direction than I thought it would go. We had quite a hike from the bus stop to Subway and then to the Chapel. But it was all worth it.
Thursday was mostly just a travel day for more meetings. We went to Redditch and to get to Redditch we take a train up to Birmingham and then down to Redditch which takes about two hours. If we had a car, we could be in Redditch in about twenty minutes because it is just the next town over. So travel for us took five hours by the time we got back to the flat. After that a member invited us over for some Curry. My dad served his Mission in Singapore so he makes curry for us a lot. So the members asked which curry we wanted and Elder Larson and I both wanted the hottest curry they could get. The member got a curry called Vindaloo. It was not very hot to me but to the members, they couldn't stand it at all it was way too hot. They where very disappointed by our reaction to the curry. They where thinking that we wouldn't finish it because it was too spicy but it was a very nice curry. It wasn't so nice the next morning though. Ha Ha
Friday was just a normal Friday. We had our big planning session for the next week and then visited two people and that was about it. Saturday was about the same.
But the surprise came on Sunday. We went the Chapel at 9:30 to greet people and to our amazement someone was having a family gathering that week. By the end of Church we had 60 people there and forty of them where visitors! It was so nice to have all the chairs full and the Chapel full of faithful saints. After our meetings, we had dinner with an inactive member who is trying to get back into Church. I have never laughed so hard in my life. He is such a funny guy and was telling jokes all night.
On Monday which was bank holiday and P-Day we went out with some members on a walk through the woods. When we got out of the woods there was a car show and car boot event going on. For those who know me, Elder Nielsen, know that I am really into older, unique, expensive cars. So I was in heaven looking at all the cars. So we went to the car show for a couple of hours and then had a nice walk along the River Severn. The one thing that I kept thinking during the walk was how lucky I am to be in England. Some days it's not so fun but it's the fun times that I will remember the best. I kept thinking as we walked how beautiful God's creations are. It was nice to have the time to reflect in a place where the usual noises where not there. I have come to love the Gospel and the message that it teaches. It is an easy one to understand and blesses me so much.
Until next week!
Elder Nielsen
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| Elder Larson, Elder Nielsen hiking Severn River, England doing what former scouts do climbing on log piles. |
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| Elder Nielsen, Elder Larson skipping rocks Severn river in England |
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| Elder Larson, Elder Nielsen looking regal into the sky |
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| One of the many cars at the car show in England |
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Lord, I Believe
Dear Friends and Family,
This week has been a very fun week, full of lots of service and that's about it. We have been helping a member move across town for the last week and a half so that has pretty much filled our week. But that is good since we get to meet many people while serving.
Monday we took some time out in the morning to help the member move. The one thing that is hard about moving people in England is that if they have a second story flat or home, you have to take most of the big items out the window. That was a very fun experience to say the least. It reminds me of the commercial back in the States with the moving guys trying to move a grand piano out of the window. You probably can guess what the outcome is. But no worries, we did not move a piano out of the window but a few other heavy things.
Tuesday we taught a lesson in the morning to an investigator and then back to help the members move the rest of the day. The family that we have been helping, the father is into rebuilding old cars. So needless to say, we have moved lots of car parts and I am amazed at the value of some of these parts.
Wednesday we helped them all day, again. In the morning we helped take down the Snooker table. It is like a pool table except the padded rails are a different shape. So I thought our pool table back home was heavy, but I was just fooling myself. So the family hired a company to take down the Snooker table but they needed extra bodies on the slate to get it down the stairs. So guess who came to the rescue, the Missionaries became the extra bodies. Man oh man was it heavy. We had five pieces of slate to take down a flight of stairs. They had to weigh above three hundred pounds each! It was an exciting adventure. After we finished up with the Snooker table later that night my companion and I got to go fishing. I think that I had mentioned the fish pond in my last letter where Elder Larsen and I dared each other to touch the electric fence around the pond, well yea those are the fish the Elders and the families son were catching by hand except the trying thing was that it was dark. We had a great time.
Thursday we went on exchange. I stayed in Kidderminster and Elder Larsen went to Redditch. It is about a two hour train ride each direction. So not much got done on Thursday.
Then Friday was District meeting and interviews. Elder Larsen and I traveled into Harborn. Harborn is a town similar to Draper, Utah and Birmingham is like Salt lake City, Utah. So Harborn is on the outskirts of Birmingham. We took two trains and two buses to get to Harborn. The first train ride was great but when we got onto the second train and it was pretty much a wild mouse ride. And you guessed it, I started to get motion sick. To make matters worse we then had to run and catch our first bus. So that just added to the feeling of queasiness. By the time we got to the Chapel in Harborn I was car sick and motion sick, not a good combination and I was not a happy camper. So after spending the day in Harborn, my stomach calmed down and I was not looking forward to the travel back to Kidderminster. Thank goodness, I was lucky enough to sleep on the way back home.
Saturday was kind of a catch up day for the things we needed to get done for the week. Sunday was Church and going by less active members who usually make it to Sacrament Meeting who didn't make it this week. The work is progressing slowly in Kidderminster but it has given me time to study the scriptures and serve others and I have noticed that the more I study and learn the stronger my testimony of the Gospel gets. I have always wondered how return Missionaries get to know the scriptures so well, I have found that out! When you have an hour devoted to scripture study alone every day you come to know them very well. I know this Church is true. I know that a Mission is hard work but is all worth it in the end. I have learned that when you struggle and you feel like you have lost your testimony, return to the basics of studying and praying. I have had to do this a couple of times so far and I know that many more times will come. I read a talk called "Lord I believe" by Elder Holland this week you can read it here lds.org Lord, I Believe I now understand what it means to have faith in Christ and his Gospel.
Thanks for your support,
Elder Nielsen
This week has been a very fun week, full of lots of service and that's about it. We have been helping a member move across town for the last week and a half so that has pretty much filled our week. But that is good since we get to meet many people while serving.
Monday we took some time out in the morning to help the member move. The one thing that is hard about moving people in England is that if they have a second story flat or home, you have to take most of the big items out the window. That was a very fun experience to say the least. It reminds me of the commercial back in the States with the moving guys trying to move a grand piano out of the window. You probably can guess what the outcome is. But no worries, we did not move a piano out of the window but a few other heavy things.
Tuesday we taught a lesson in the morning to an investigator and then back to help the members move the rest of the day. The family that we have been helping, the father is into rebuilding old cars. So needless to say, we have moved lots of car parts and I am amazed at the value of some of these parts.
Wednesday we helped them all day, again. In the morning we helped take down the Snooker table. It is like a pool table except the padded rails are a different shape. So I thought our pool table back home was heavy, but I was just fooling myself. So the family hired a company to take down the Snooker table but they needed extra bodies on the slate to get it down the stairs. So guess who came to the rescue, the Missionaries became the extra bodies. Man oh man was it heavy. We had five pieces of slate to take down a flight of stairs. They had to weigh above three hundred pounds each! It was an exciting adventure. After we finished up with the Snooker table later that night my companion and I got to go fishing. I think that I had mentioned the fish pond in my last letter where Elder Larsen and I dared each other to touch the electric fence around the pond, well yea those are the fish the Elders and the families son were catching by hand except the trying thing was that it was dark. We had a great time.
Thursday we went on exchange. I stayed in Kidderminster and Elder Larsen went to Redditch. It is about a two hour train ride each direction. So not much got done on Thursday.
Then Friday was District meeting and interviews. Elder Larsen and I traveled into Harborn. Harborn is a town similar to Draper, Utah and Birmingham is like Salt lake City, Utah. So Harborn is on the outskirts of Birmingham. We took two trains and two buses to get to Harborn. The first train ride was great but when we got onto the second train and it was pretty much a wild mouse ride. And you guessed it, I started to get motion sick. To make matters worse we then had to run and catch our first bus. So that just added to the feeling of queasiness. By the time we got to the Chapel in Harborn I was car sick and motion sick, not a good combination and I was not a happy camper. So after spending the day in Harborn, my stomach calmed down and I was not looking forward to the travel back to Kidderminster. Thank goodness, I was lucky enough to sleep on the way back home.
Saturday was kind of a catch up day for the things we needed to get done for the week. Sunday was Church and going by less active members who usually make it to Sacrament Meeting who didn't make it this week. The work is progressing slowly in Kidderminster but it has given me time to study the scriptures and serve others and I have noticed that the more I study and learn the stronger my testimony of the Gospel gets. I have always wondered how return Missionaries get to know the scriptures so well, I have found that out! When you have an hour devoted to scripture study alone every day you come to know them very well. I know this Church is true. I know that a Mission is hard work but is all worth it in the end. I have learned that when you struggle and you feel like you have lost your testimony, return to the basics of studying and praying. I have had to do this a couple of times so far and I know that many more times will come. I read a talk called "Lord I believe" by Elder Holland this week you can read it here lds.org Lord, I Believe I now understand what it means to have faith in Christ and his Gospel.
Thanks for your support,
Elder Nielsen
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| Too bad it is not a video! Did it get smashed all over! | Elder Nielsen and Elder Larsen. |
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Dodged the Transfer
Hello Everyone,
This week has been a crazy week. But first things first, I didn't get transferred but my companion Elder Davis, did. My new companion is Elder Larsen and we are getting along great.
We had dodge Monday this week. That is when the call for transfers comes in. I have no idea why it's called dodge Monday but it is. It is one of the longest days of the transfer. Everyone is looking forward to the call from the President and it seems like it takes forever. But for now, I don't have to deal with that for another six weeks.
Tuesday, Elder Davis and I had a couple of lessons then the rest of the night we spent visiting members and friends so Elder Davis could say goodbye and packing.
Wednesday was a long day. Elder Davis and I had to travel into the Mission Office and spent most of the day there trying to get everything sorted with my new companion, Elder Larsen, and then getting back to Kidderminster. So the Branch Mission Leader took us to breakfast in the morning before we traveled to the Mission Office. We went to this pub in the middle of no where and had an all you can eat breakfast buffet. I had black pudding, which is the name for blood sausage here in England, for the first time. It was funny because I think Elder Davis was expecting a bigger reaction from me after tasting black pudding but didn't get one. The black pudding was alright but nothing I would ever order again.
I don't really remember Thursday or Friday since I was busy with Elder Larsen showing him around town. But I bet they where good. HA HA.
Saturday was more travel for meetings because Elder Larsen is the District Leader for our area now. So lots of travel and trying to salvage what was left of the day.
Sunday was really fun. We where in Sacrament Meeting and the Branch President had forgotten the bread for the sacrament. So we went on with our meeting as outline and then partook of the sacrament last. Never had that happen before but a really cool experience. After Church we went to the members house who we are helping move to have dinner. They made a really nice dinner then afterwards we sat and talked for a while. They have a big fish pond with an electric fence around it, and one thing led to another and both Elder Larsen and I ended up touching the electric fence. It was set up specifically so sheep and cows did not eat the fish or something like that. I am sure that the members never thought that two young missionaries would be the ones that touched the electric fence. But it was a really funny experience to watch the reactions of the members we were visiting.
The longer I am out on my mission, the more my testimony is strengthened in the Gospel. The Gospel answers all the questions that people ask us and makes us happy.
Have a great week.
Love Elder Nielsen
This week has been a crazy week. But first things first, I didn't get transferred but my companion Elder Davis, did. My new companion is Elder Larsen and we are getting along great.
We had dodge Monday this week. That is when the call for transfers comes in. I have no idea why it's called dodge Monday but it is. It is one of the longest days of the transfer. Everyone is looking forward to the call from the President and it seems like it takes forever. But for now, I don't have to deal with that for another six weeks.
Tuesday, Elder Davis and I had a couple of lessons then the rest of the night we spent visiting members and friends so Elder Davis could say goodbye and packing.
Wednesday was a long day. Elder Davis and I had to travel into the Mission Office and spent most of the day there trying to get everything sorted with my new companion, Elder Larsen, and then getting back to Kidderminster. So the Branch Mission Leader took us to breakfast in the morning before we traveled to the Mission Office. We went to this pub in the middle of no where and had an all you can eat breakfast buffet. I had black pudding, which is the name for blood sausage here in England, for the first time. It was funny because I think Elder Davis was expecting a bigger reaction from me after tasting black pudding but didn't get one. The black pudding was alright but nothing I would ever order again.
I don't really remember Thursday or Friday since I was busy with Elder Larsen showing him around town. But I bet they where good. HA HA.
Saturday was more travel for meetings because Elder Larsen is the District Leader for our area now. So lots of travel and trying to salvage what was left of the day.
Sunday was really fun. We where in Sacrament Meeting and the Branch President had forgotten the bread for the sacrament. So we went on with our meeting as outline and then partook of the sacrament last. Never had that happen before but a really cool experience. After Church we went to the members house who we are helping move to have dinner. They made a really nice dinner then afterwards we sat and talked for a while. They have a big fish pond with an electric fence around it, and one thing led to another and both Elder Larsen and I ended up touching the electric fence. It was set up specifically so sheep and cows did not eat the fish or something like that. I am sure that the members never thought that two young missionaries would be the ones that touched the electric fence. But it was a really funny experience to watch the reactions of the members we were visiting.
The longer I am out on my mission, the more my testimony is strengthened in the Gospel. The Gospel answers all the questions that people ask us and makes us happy.
Have a great week.
Love Elder Nielsen
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Faith in Christ
Hello Family & Friends,
Transfers are Wednesday of this week, I should now sometime in the next day if I stay in Kidderminster or move on to a new exciting place in Birmingham, England. I kind of do hope I do get transferred, but I really only have been here in Kidderminster for two transfers. So I have no idea, the Lord knows where I am needed so I will go where he directs President to send me.
This week has been a killer week. First things first. Elder Davis and I had a couple people that we where teaching, and the very last guy of the night was a very hard lesson. He started by saying that he would like to discuss some points of the Gospel with us. That is when the red flags started to go up in my mind, but you know me, I didn't listen to them. So for the next hour and a half we sat and he talked at us. He was using all the anti-Mormon stuff he could. There were many times that Elder Davis and I could have defended the Church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ but this guy would shut us down and then go back into his rantings and ravings. One of the Elders in the District calls those encounters Testimony builders. I don't think that I could of agreed with him at that particular time, but the day after and I had time to think about the situation it was a testimony builder. To me the anti-Mormon stuff just proves how true the Church is by how many people attack it and so on.
The day after that we had Zone Conference. We traveled for a couple of hours in to the Mission Home and had a wonderful conference. The theme was Faith in Christ. President talked about the five doors and the five keys that we need to pass through to get to Christ. The keys are: 1. pray, 2. learning from the scriptures (President called it the Celestial IV), 3. Charity, 4. Humility, repentance, and renewal, and 5. Holiness to the Lord. The fourth key is not really a key, it is a door that we have to break down. We need to fight the natural man to get through this door, and the reward is you get through door five at the same time as four. Holiness to the Lord is keeping the covenants that we have made through baptism and temple ordinances.
The whole Conference we where taught that if we are struggling we need to put our trust and faith more fully in Christ. This week has been a week of ups and downs. But worth it all. I know that this Church is true. And after the events of this past week, I can say it with more conviction than I think I ever have been able to. This work is the Lords work and can not be done without Him.
Love Elder Nielsen
Transfers are Wednesday of this week, I should now sometime in the next day if I stay in Kidderminster or move on to a new exciting place in Birmingham, England. I kind of do hope I do get transferred, but I really only have been here in Kidderminster for two transfers. So I have no idea, the Lord knows where I am needed so I will go where he directs President to send me.
This week has been a killer week. First things first. Elder Davis and I had a couple people that we where teaching, and the very last guy of the night was a very hard lesson. He started by saying that he would like to discuss some points of the Gospel with us. That is when the red flags started to go up in my mind, but you know me, I didn't listen to them. So for the next hour and a half we sat and he talked at us. He was using all the anti-Mormon stuff he could. There were many times that Elder Davis and I could have defended the Church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ but this guy would shut us down and then go back into his rantings and ravings. One of the Elders in the District calls those encounters Testimony builders. I don't think that I could of agreed with him at that particular time, but the day after and I had time to think about the situation it was a testimony builder. To me the anti-Mormon stuff just proves how true the Church is by how many people attack it and so on.
The day after that we had Zone Conference. We traveled for a couple of hours in to the Mission Home and had a wonderful conference. The theme was Faith in Christ. President talked about the five doors and the five keys that we need to pass through to get to Christ. The keys are: 1. pray, 2. learning from the scriptures (President called it the Celestial IV), 3. Charity, 4. Humility, repentance, and renewal, and 5. Holiness to the Lord. The fourth key is not really a key, it is a door that we have to break down. We need to fight the natural man to get through this door, and the reward is you get through door five at the same time as four. Holiness to the Lord is keeping the covenants that we have made through baptism and temple ordinances.
The whole Conference we where taught that if we are struggling we need to put our trust and faith more fully in Christ. This week has been a week of ups and downs. But worth it all. I know that this Church is true. And after the events of this past week, I can say it with more conviction than I think I ever have been able to. This work is the Lords work and can not be done without Him.
Love Elder Nielsen
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Working with the less active
Greetings Family and Friends,
Once again the weather over here has been unpredictable for the last week. It has started of really nice and sunny and then about 7 at night it just rains all night. I guess that's England for you though. This week has been a kind off long week. We had lots of appointments but most of them fell through so we had to come up with other plans. The one thing we are really struggling with is finding new people to teach. We have been working with the less actives and have gotten two back to Church so that's always good. We have been working with an investigator named Graham. He is marrying a member from our Ward and wants to know what the LDS faith believe. As we started to teach him we asked him to do everything that we would ask anyone else interested in the Church. To read and pray about the Book of Mormon. The first couple of lessons went pretty good then this past week we had a miracle. As we finished the lesson we ask him to pray. He said he would, which was the first sign of a miracle was about to take place. As he prayed, he asked Father in Heaven in the most sincere way to let him know if this is the true Church. And that if the Book of Mormon is the Word of God. It took both Elder Davis and I by surprise. We had not really asked him to pray about those things, but he did. After the prayer the Spirit was really strong and we hope he felt it. We both have a good feeling that in a couple of weeks we might have a Baptism here!
The other good thing that happened this week is that the Starbridge Ward, which is the District right above Kidderminster, had a BBQ that was really will attended. They invited our Branch to come and so we went around Kidderminster inviting all the people we are working with. There ended up being about 200 people at the BBQ and about 80 of them where less active families or investigators, and maybe 20 of them where less actives, members or investigators from Kidderminster. Woot, woot! It was so cool to have that many people together. It felt like a proper Ward activity that would happen in the States. There was a bouncy castle to which was a massive hit with the kids, teenagers, and the Missionaries. I must say, that I did not jump for fear of splitting my pants, so I just sat back and watched and laughed while the other Missionaries split their pants.
Sunday was a great day. We had a couple of the less active members show up to Church. Some we have been working with but others just came. It was so cool to be sitting in Priesthood and have a man that we have visited once a week since I have been here in England finally show up to Church and stay for a good portion of the meetings. Sunday a Sister in the Branched talked about why we have certain Hymns in the Latter-Day Saint versus on Hymns. As she was speaking, it made me think that these hymns are for worshiping and singing praises and should be doctrinally correct. It was a really good talk.
A funny thing happened to me this week that also happened to me before my Mission while on the campus of BYU-I. We where walking into town and we passed a group of girls. They where kind of attractive but we walked past them and one of them gave me a look that I hate. The look is the I fill sorry for you but I'm trying not to laugh. Since I have gotten that look before I knew exactly what to do. As soon as the group passed I zipped up my zipper that was wide open. I thought after the time at college I would never have it happen again, but it did. I guess that I need a sign on the bathroom mirror that says "check you zipper". HA it is all good.
That is some of the stuff that has happened this week. I know that the Lord blesses his Missionaries. I know that the Lord has prepared people for us to teach we just need to find them. And that the Gospel is the only way for true happiness in this life to come. I love this Gospel and the chance I have to be a Missionary for the Lord to help build and strengthen His kingdom.
Love Elder Nielsen
Once again the weather over here has been unpredictable for the last week. It has started of really nice and sunny and then about 7 at night it just rains all night. I guess that's England for you though. This week has been a kind off long week. We had lots of appointments but most of them fell through so we had to come up with other plans. The one thing we are really struggling with is finding new people to teach. We have been working with the less actives and have gotten two back to Church so that's always good. We have been working with an investigator named Graham. He is marrying a member from our Ward and wants to know what the LDS faith believe. As we started to teach him we asked him to do everything that we would ask anyone else interested in the Church. To read and pray about the Book of Mormon. The first couple of lessons went pretty good then this past week we had a miracle. As we finished the lesson we ask him to pray. He said he would, which was the first sign of a miracle was about to take place. As he prayed, he asked Father in Heaven in the most sincere way to let him know if this is the true Church. And that if the Book of Mormon is the Word of God. It took both Elder Davis and I by surprise. We had not really asked him to pray about those things, but he did. After the prayer the Spirit was really strong and we hope he felt it. We both have a good feeling that in a couple of weeks we might have a Baptism here!
The other good thing that happened this week is that the Starbridge Ward, which is the District right above Kidderminster, had a BBQ that was really will attended. They invited our Branch to come and so we went around Kidderminster inviting all the people we are working with. There ended up being about 200 people at the BBQ and about 80 of them where less active families or investigators, and maybe 20 of them where less actives, members or investigators from Kidderminster. Woot, woot! It was so cool to have that many people together. It felt like a proper Ward activity that would happen in the States. There was a bouncy castle to which was a massive hit with the kids, teenagers, and the Missionaries. I must say, that I did not jump for fear of splitting my pants, so I just sat back and watched and laughed while the other Missionaries split their pants.
Sunday was a great day. We had a couple of the less active members show up to Church. Some we have been working with but others just came. It was so cool to be sitting in Priesthood and have a man that we have visited once a week since I have been here in England finally show up to Church and stay for a good portion of the meetings. Sunday a Sister in the Branched talked about why we have certain Hymns in the Latter-Day Saint versus on Hymns. As she was speaking, it made me think that these hymns are for worshiping and singing praises and should be doctrinally correct. It was a really good talk.
A funny thing happened to me this week that also happened to me before my Mission while on the campus of BYU-I. We where walking into town and we passed a group of girls. They where kind of attractive but we walked past them and one of them gave me a look that I hate. The look is the I fill sorry for you but I'm trying not to laugh. Since I have gotten that look before I knew exactly what to do. As soon as the group passed I zipped up my zipper that was wide open. I thought after the time at college I would never have it happen again, but it did. I guess that I need a sign on the bathroom mirror that says "check you zipper". HA it is all good.
That is some of the stuff that has happened this week. I know that the Lord blesses his Missionaries. I know that the Lord has prepared people for us to teach we just need to find them. And that the Gospel is the only way for true happiness in this life to come. I love this Gospel and the chance I have to be a Missionary for the Lord to help build and strengthen His kingdom.
Love Elder Nielsen
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| Elder Nielsen and Elder Kulow |
Monday, July 22, 2013
Keeping Busy
Hello Friends,
This week has been a good week. It started off pretty normal with all the craziness of trying to get everything sorted on Monday so that we could work the rest of the week. Nothing too exciting really happens on Mondays but that's pretty normal.
Tuesday was a lesson on obedience. We had a really full day on Tuesday with many plans on what we could do and who to see. But as it happens so very often out here in the mission field, all the plans fall through. We had from about 2 pm to 6 pm that had completely fallen through. Nothing to do so we did what we do best which is to improvise. At the end of the day we didn't really get to talk to really anyone in particular other than a less active that we talked to on her door step. What I have learned from this day is that the Lord is the only one who can help this work progress. He decided to teach us that lesson on Tuesday by seeing what we would do with our spare time. The only thing we could do was to try our best. Sometimes it feels like we waste a day doing all that walking but we are still trying to do the Lords work.
Wednesday we had a really good District Meeting. The meeting focused on how to overcome apathy and discouragement and to focus more on the work at hand. I really did learn a lot. I have had my struggles with discouragement and also with disillusionment also. But I have put all my trust in the Lord and worked through the worst of the problems. After the meeting, we had a dinner appointment with a member. Her name is Ann and she is a single lady. Her sister, who is not a member, was also there. We had a really nice dinner out in her garden and talked to Ann and her sister whom we have been working with. Those two gals are really funny because they both seem to have to much time on their hands and love the to feed the Missionaries. Now that I think about it we have been over to their home three times this week for a meal.
Thursday we had another lesson with Ann's sister and then with one of the part member families we have been working with. The lesson with the part member family went great. We challenged the husband to just read and pray, but to ask if he should be baptized. So we will find out on Thursday of this week how everything has gone. We then headed off to an Branch council. It was an okay Branch Council meeting. It just turned into a debate and nothing really got accomplished but it helped us realize what we can best do to help the leadership in the Branch.
Friday was a pretty short day with traveling to do exchanges so we didn't really have much time to work.
Saturday Elder Robertsen and I had a lesson with a potential investigator. It went pretty well. She has talked to the Missionaries before and really likes our dedication to the work. One thing that she asked us was "did we have our word" on us". I was confused thinking what in the world is "the word". So we asked her what she meant by the "word" and she said our bibles and I thought of course we do, we always have our bible and book of Mormon with us. But we will see her this week and hopefully she will want to be retaught.
Sunday we went to Church and I felt a little overused. I played the piano in priesthood and in sacrament meeting. Said almost every closing prayer and felt just a little picked on. But I have been enjoying the blessings that have come from all that stuff. After Church we went to a members house for dinner. They had a BBQ and had lots of food. There where only four of us Missionaries but the members cooked for ten. I have not eaten that much food in a long time. But it was really good food. Hopefully they will not cook like that too often for the Missionaries.
I am so grateful to be serving a mission and for the amount I have grown during this time. I can't believe that a couple of months ago where I was and where I am now. I have been so blessed by the Lord. My testimony of the Gospel keeps growing every day.
Have a great week!
Love, Elder Nielsen
This week has been a good week. It started off pretty normal with all the craziness of trying to get everything sorted on Monday so that we could work the rest of the week. Nothing too exciting really happens on Mondays but that's pretty normal.
Tuesday was a lesson on obedience. We had a really full day on Tuesday with many plans on what we could do and who to see. But as it happens so very often out here in the mission field, all the plans fall through. We had from about 2 pm to 6 pm that had completely fallen through. Nothing to do so we did what we do best which is to improvise. At the end of the day we didn't really get to talk to really anyone in particular other than a less active that we talked to on her door step. What I have learned from this day is that the Lord is the only one who can help this work progress. He decided to teach us that lesson on Tuesday by seeing what we would do with our spare time. The only thing we could do was to try our best. Sometimes it feels like we waste a day doing all that walking but we are still trying to do the Lords work.
Wednesday we had a really good District Meeting. The meeting focused on how to overcome apathy and discouragement and to focus more on the work at hand. I really did learn a lot. I have had my struggles with discouragement and also with disillusionment also. But I have put all my trust in the Lord and worked through the worst of the problems. After the meeting, we had a dinner appointment with a member. Her name is Ann and she is a single lady. Her sister, who is not a member, was also there. We had a really nice dinner out in her garden and talked to Ann and her sister whom we have been working with. Those two gals are really funny because they both seem to have to much time on their hands and love the to feed the Missionaries. Now that I think about it we have been over to their home three times this week for a meal.
Thursday we had another lesson with Ann's sister and then with one of the part member families we have been working with. The lesson with the part member family went great. We challenged the husband to just read and pray, but to ask if he should be baptized. So we will find out on Thursday of this week how everything has gone. We then headed off to an Branch council. It was an okay Branch Council meeting. It just turned into a debate and nothing really got accomplished but it helped us realize what we can best do to help the leadership in the Branch.
Friday was a pretty short day with traveling to do exchanges so we didn't really have much time to work.
Saturday Elder Robertsen and I had a lesson with a potential investigator. It went pretty well. She has talked to the Missionaries before and really likes our dedication to the work. One thing that she asked us was "did we have our word" on us". I was confused thinking what in the world is "the word". So we asked her what she meant by the "word" and she said our bibles and I thought of course we do, we always have our bible and book of Mormon with us. But we will see her this week and hopefully she will want to be retaught.
Sunday we went to Church and I felt a little overused. I played the piano in priesthood and in sacrament meeting. Said almost every closing prayer and felt just a little picked on. But I have been enjoying the blessings that have come from all that stuff. After Church we went to a members house for dinner. They had a BBQ and had lots of food. There where only four of us Missionaries but the members cooked for ten. I have not eaten that much food in a long time. But it was really good food. Hopefully they will not cook like that too often for the Missionaries.
I am so grateful to be serving a mission and for the amount I have grown during this time. I can't believe that a couple of months ago where I was and where I am now. I have been so blessed by the Lord. My testimony of the Gospel keeps growing every day.
Have a great week!
Love, Elder Nielsen
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Hard work and Dedication
Hello everyone!
Once again, I hear that it has been hot in the States. But don't worry! It has been really hot here in Kidderminster, England as well. We have been having heat waves that are just terrible. It has been getting into the 90's. I like the heat when I don't have to be out in it. But being out in it sometimes gets challenging. I wouldn't mind it if I could wear shorts and a t-shirt but being in the service or my Savior, the shorts and T-shirt are out for a while. I know that the Lord blesses us more when the times get hard and it is hard to walk and teach in this heat and humidity for more than and hour. But that's that.
This week has been a good week. We watched the Missionary broadcast for a Zone Conference. What inspired messages we heard. It has given the Missionaries new dedication and a new hope to press forward with the work. Elder Davis and I are trying to set up a time that we can show the broadcast to the whole Branch to get them inspired to do more to spread the good news of the Gospel. So far that meeting has been one of the best meetings I have been to so far. I really liked how they outlined what the members should be doing and what the missionaries should be doing. I know that it will take a long time to get the areas to the "perfect" situation. But it gave us hope to try and get Kidderminster there eventually.
Also this week we have been working with some less active members and helping the Branch out as best as we can. The Branch has planned an open house to celebrate 170 years of the Church in Kidderminster and 25 years in their new building. This is going to be a great Missionary opportunity for the Branch and we have been trying to light the fire of excitement under the Branch. They are starting to get really excited about this and hopefully all will go well with it. The celebration isn't until the 28 of September but I know that if it isn't planned soon and advertised it might be a flop. But I have faith in the Branch that it will work out for the best.
I think that is about the only thing that has changed over the week. We worked hard to try and further the Gospel in this part of the Lord's vineyard. I have been reading in the Book of Mosiah recently and I read something that has really stuck out to me. It was that the Lord will not give us a trial that he knows that we can not over come. I have felt at times that I am in trials that I can't overcome but with faith in the Lord anything is possible. I have learned to trust in the Lord more because I see a line in my patriarchal blessing coming true about discouragement. It says that discouragement will be one of the things that Satan throws at me. I have seen it but I have also seen that it has been through a negative attitude, also. I have been working on overcoming both of those. So I started to hum hymns or to sing them to keep me going. Elder Davis keeps wondering how I can remember so many of them. I guess that is what playing the piano has done for me. I love this Gospel and the message that it is. I can't wait to see what will happen this week with hard work and dedication.
Love, Elder Nielsen
Once again, I hear that it has been hot in the States. But don't worry! It has been really hot here in Kidderminster, England as well. We have been having heat waves that are just terrible. It has been getting into the 90's. I like the heat when I don't have to be out in it. But being out in it sometimes gets challenging. I wouldn't mind it if I could wear shorts and a t-shirt but being in the service or my Savior, the shorts and T-shirt are out for a while. I know that the Lord blesses us more when the times get hard and it is hard to walk and teach in this heat and humidity for more than and hour. But that's that.
This week has been a good week. We watched the Missionary broadcast for a Zone Conference. What inspired messages we heard. It has given the Missionaries new dedication and a new hope to press forward with the work. Elder Davis and I are trying to set up a time that we can show the broadcast to the whole Branch to get them inspired to do more to spread the good news of the Gospel. So far that meeting has been one of the best meetings I have been to so far. I really liked how they outlined what the members should be doing and what the missionaries should be doing. I know that it will take a long time to get the areas to the "perfect" situation. But it gave us hope to try and get Kidderminster there eventually.
Also this week we have been working with some less active members and helping the Branch out as best as we can. The Branch has planned an open house to celebrate 170 years of the Church in Kidderminster and 25 years in their new building. This is going to be a great Missionary opportunity for the Branch and we have been trying to light the fire of excitement under the Branch. They are starting to get really excited about this and hopefully all will go well with it. The celebration isn't until the 28 of September but I know that if it isn't planned soon and advertised it might be a flop. But I have faith in the Branch that it will work out for the best.
I think that is about the only thing that has changed over the week. We worked hard to try and further the Gospel in this part of the Lord's vineyard. I have been reading in the Book of Mosiah recently and I read something that has really stuck out to me. It was that the Lord will not give us a trial that he knows that we can not over come. I have felt at times that I am in trials that I can't overcome but with faith in the Lord anything is possible. I have learned to trust in the Lord more because I see a line in my patriarchal blessing coming true about discouragement. It says that discouragement will be one of the things that Satan throws at me. I have seen it but I have also seen that it has been through a negative attitude, also. I have been working on overcoming both of those. So I started to hum hymns or to sing them to keep me going. Elder Davis keeps wondering how I can remember so many of them. I guess that is what playing the piano has done for me. I love this Gospel and the message that it is. I can't wait to see what will happen this week with hard work and dedication.
Love, Elder Nielsen
Monday, July 8, 2013
Week of Miracles
Hello everyone,
This week has been a good week full of miracles. I think that the biggest couple of things that happened this week was we got in with an old investigator and started teaching a new one. We also visited some less active families. But to receive these miracles, we did lots of walking, praying, and discussing as to how we could help this area grow and how we could help the work to start to pick up.
The biggest thing I think that happened this week is we went to visit some less actives. The first one we went to is a part member family where the wife is the only member. She has the biggest desire to go to the Temple and to be sealed to her parents. So we are working with her to return to full activity and to work towards going to the Temple. After we visited with her we then went and visited her married daughter who also is not very active along with her husband. They have three little girls. So when we started to talk to them they also expressed the desire to go the Temple and to be sealed to one another. What a great goal! Neither the mother or daughter know the others goal but it is so cool to see the Lord work with them in the same way. Elder Davis and I were talking about it and it is just amazing.
We have been working really hard to find some new people to teach and it was suggested that we start with the part member families. And the cool thing is that we are now teaching them the Gospel. The Lord has seen our hard work over the past couple of weeks and He is starting to bless us for it. England is a really interesting country though. In the States, everyone is friendly and open. Here in England people are more closed and reserved until you get to know them. Except for the members that are active are really strong in the Gospel just because there are so few of them. But I like it here, I just need to get use to the culture. The members in this part of the world are so nice and have such a strong desire to live the Gospel to the best of there abilities. The thing about people in England though is that they take a long time to make a choice as to join or not to join the Church. Most of them investigate for six months to a year. Once they have made that commitment though they are stuck for life.
I have a funny story. So as I have mentioned before, we go on companion exchanges once a week because Elder Davis, my companion, is the District Leader for our Area. So we went on one last week and I have been out for about a month so I was the more senior companion and the Elder that I was on exchanges with which has only been out for almost a week. So we went around trying our best to find investigators but it felt like the blind was leading the blind. Ha Ha. In the end everything worked out and we had a pretty good day. The members we visited that night were a little concerned to say the least. But we worked hard and to the best that we knew how.
We had a Missionary meeting on the fourth of July. The Senior Couple in this area is from Florida. So we arranged to have a little fourth of July party after the meeting. It was so much fun! We also have a couple who are not from the States so they where a little confused about our celebration. We had hot dogs, potato salad, cookies, fruit, chips, and apple pie! The Senior couple found an apple pie at Costco and brought it so we could have a good old 4th celebration. Even though the food here in England is pretty bland, it still tasted good to have some old favorites.
The Mission Home is about a forty minute car ride or about two hours by public transport from our flat. I have included some pictures of our flat and the view from our flat window. We catch a train from Kidderminster to Birmingham New Street Station, then get on a tram and that puts us about a mile to mile and a half from the home. Then we walk the rest. Our weather has been abnormally hot. Or so I'm told. It has been in the eighties to nineties this week and isn't supposed to cool down until Wednesday. We started our Fast Saturday after lunch this past week then we worked the rest of the night. I had to break my fast early and drink some water because I had sweated the rest of the day and was feeling a little light headed. But Elder Davis made it and drank pretty much a gallon on water. But in the end we had a good fast Sunday.
I am excited to be here in Kidderminster, England. It is the hardest thing that I have done in my life as well as a big shock and change. The hardest part is that we get some really nasty things yelled at us. So we try to overcome these comments and just try to focus on the Work and not what's being said or done. It has taken me a while to have a little more thick skin to being rejected and stuff like that. I don't think a Missionary ever really comes to terms with it. But it doesn't affect you as much in the end as time goes by.
But hope all is well. I love this Gospel and the message that I get to share. I have come to love it with each and every passing day. The Book of Mormon has a special place in my heart with all the things I learn and read. It is true and I love it.
Elder Nielsen
This week has been a good week full of miracles. I think that the biggest couple of things that happened this week was we got in with an old investigator and started teaching a new one. We also visited some less active families. But to receive these miracles, we did lots of walking, praying, and discussing as to how we could help this area grow and how we could help the work to start to pick up.
The biggest thing I think that happened this week is we went to visit some less actives. The first one we went to is a part member family where the wife is the only member. She has the biggest desire to go to the Temple and to be sealed to her parents. So we are working with her to return to full activity and to work towards going to the Temple. After we visited with her we then went and visited her married daughter who also is not very active along with her husband. They have three little girls. So when we started to talk to them they also expressed the desire to go the Temple and to be sealed to one another. What a great goal! Neither the mother or daughter know the others goal but it is so cool to see the Lord work with them in the same way. Elder Davis and I were talking about it and it is just amazing.
We have been working really hard to find some new people to teach and it was suggested that we start with the part member families. And the cool thing is that we are now teaching them the Gospel. The Lord has seen our hard work over the past couple of weeks and He is starting to bless us for it. England is a really interesting country though. In the States, everyone is friendly and open. Here in England people are more closed and reserved until you get to know them. Except for the members that are active are really strong in the Gospel just because there are so few of them. But I like it here, I just need to get use to the culture. The members in this part of the world are so nice and have such a strong desire to live the Gospel to the best of there abilities. The thing about people in England though is that they take a long time to make a choice as to join or not to join the Church. Most of them investigate for six months to a year. Once they have made that commitment though they are stuck for life.
I have a funny story. So as I have mentioned before, we go on companion exchanges once a week because Elder Davis, my companion, is the District Leader for our Area. So we went on one last week and I have been out for about a month so I was the more senior companion and the Elder that I was on exchanges with which has only been out for almost a week. So we went around trying our best to find investigators but it felt like the blind was leading the blind. Ha Ha. In the end everything worked out and we had a pretty good day. The members we visited that night were a little concerned to say the least. But we worked hard and to the best that we knew how.
We had a Missionary meeting on the fourth of July. The Senior Couple in this area is from Florida. So we arranged to have a little fourth of July party after the meeting. It was so much fun! We also have a couple who are not from the States so they where a little confused about our celebration. We had hot dogs, potato salad, cookies, fruit, chips, and apple pie! The Senior couple found an apple pie at Costco and brought it so we could have a good old 4th celebration. Even though the food here in England is pretty bland, it still tasted good to have some old favorites.
The Mission Home is about a forty minute car ride or about two hours by public transport from our flat. I have included some pictures of our flat and the view from our flat window. We catch a train from Kidderminster to Birmingham New Street Station, then get on a tram and that puts us about a mile to mile and a half from the home. Then we walk the rest. Our weather has been abnormally hot. Or so I'm told. It has been in the eighties to nineties this week and isn't supposed to cool down until Wednesday. We started our Fast Saturday after lunch this past week then we worked the rest of the night. I had to break my fast early and drink some water because I had sweated the rest of the day and was feeling a little light headed. But Elder Davis made it and drank pretty much a gallon on water. But in the end we had a good fast Sunday.
I am excited to be here in Kidderminster, England. It is the hardest thing that I have done in my life as well as a big shock and change. The hardest part is that we get some really nasty things yelled at us. So we try to overcome these comments and just try to focus on the Work and not what's being said or done. It has taken me a while to have a little more thick skin to being rejected and stuff like that. I don't think a Missionary ever really comes to terms with it. But it doesn't affect you as much in the end as time goes by.
But hope all is well. I love this Gospel and the message that I get to share. I have come to love it with each and every passing day. The Book of Mormon has a special place in my heart with all the things I learn and read. It is true and I love it.
Elder Nielsen
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| Our Flat in Kidderminster, England |
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| View outside our Flat, Kidderminster, England |
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| Kitchen in Flat, Kidderminster, England |
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| A bridge in Bewdly, England |
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Progressing In the Lord's Work
Hello Friends and Family,
Well everyone I decided to type my blog entry first just so that I can try and make it more readable and not so rushed, I guess. This week was transfers and I'm staying in Kidderminster for maybe one or two more transfers. Because I came in late to Birmingham due to Visa problems, I'm not sure if I will stay with the group that came in at the same time I did or not. I'm not sure anything really out of the ordinary happened this week but we will see.
To tell you a little more about the encounter with the English girl that I had last week. My mom asked if she was cute or not. The answer is yes, mom, the girl was pretty cute and she started to talk about marriage with me as soon as I sat down. She asked if the Mormons get to choose their mate or they are chosen for them like an arranged marriage. But then her follow up question was would you marry me! I was not sure if she was messing with me or not, so that's when I started to wrap up real quick and get out. If anything happens with the Mormon.org card I left with her it'll be a miracle. But anything can happen and I have learned that over my short two months out as a Missionary, anything can and will happen.
To tell you more about the apartment/flat that we live in. The apartment is pretty small I'll try to send pictures next week but I left my camera cord at the Mission Training Center. So I'm trying to find a card reader. The food here isn't anything to interesting. It is mostly really bland and the food that we typically would eat in America just tastes off now. The UK has very strict food laws and don't use a lot of artificial flavors. So like the Pepsi and Coke just taste off but there not too bad. I don't have an accent that I am aware of. The sad thing is that most Missionaries come home with a neutral accent. Birmingham doesn't have an accent like a typical London person. So for example, Elder Davis speaks normal English and sounds normal and he has been out for 15 months. So ya no accent.
Elder Kulow from Price, Utah is my Zone Leader. It is really cool since Elder Davis my companion is the District Leader I get to go on exchanges with the Zone Leaders. So Elder Kulow and I went on exchanges for a day and got to catch up.
In the UK it is pretty much unheard of to have a three week baptism or anything like that. The Sister that recently got baptized that I played the piano for a couple of weeks ago had been investigating the Church for over a year. So it's pretty common over here to have someone investigate for at least six months and longer before making that step.
I have heard that the weather in the States has been horrible. The hottest its gotten here in Kidderminster has been maybe 80 but with the humidity it is just muggy the whole time. One of the days this week it was really bad, and I made a joke to Elder Davis after we had lunch about how my back still wasn't dry from all the walking around with my backpack. I thought it was pretty funny but I'm not sure about him. Maybe it was too much information. HA
Monday was just a normal preparation day with shopping and emailing and tracking.
Tuesday was a busy day with trying to make plans for the rest of the day and to try and rebuild this Area. There have not been a set of Missionaries in this area for about three weeks because of the delay of Visas for Missionaries to the UK. So a lot of the people that were beening taught dropped us or are not interested. But that's life and we are trying hard to get the work moving in this area.
Wednesday was transfer day but since we were not transferred it was a pretty normal day for us because we both stayed in the area.
I had an interesting experience though. Last Sunday, I was asked to give a talk in Church about my favorite parable. I had been trying to think of which one I should talk on. So I took that matter to the Lord and asked him. I started to run through the list of the parables that I was thinking about and then the Holy Ghost said to do the parable of the seeds and sower. It is the one where seeds fall on stony ground good ground and so on. It was just a really cool experience to have that thought come so clearly when I least expected it. This week has been a busy one and full of little miracles.
Saturday we traveled to the different small towns in our Area. In the morning we went to Droitwitch Spa to visit some less actives and a member. It's about a fifteen minute train ride there. Then when we got back we walked to Bewdly. Which is a little old town that seems more like a tourist attraction. But a very picturesque town. It is about a four mile walk from our flat to the edge of the town. And then about another two mile walk to the other edge of the town. So all together we walked about ten miles just to have no one home. It was a good walk though and it gave Elder Davis and I time to talk with those whose paths we crossed and to visit and reflect on the Lord's blessings. I find that my testimony is strengthened every day as I devote myself to the work of the Lord in progressing his Kingdom.
Cheers,
Elder Nielsen
Well everyone I decided to type my blog entry first just so that I can try and make it more readable and not so rushed, I guess. This week was transfers and I'm staying in Kidderminster for maybe one or two more transfers. Because I came in late to Birmingham due to Visa problems, I'm not sure if I will stay with the group that came in at the same time I did or not. I'm not sure anything really out of the ordinary happened this week but we will see.
To tell you a little more about the encounter with the English girl that I had last week. My mom asked if she was cute or not. The answer is yes, mom, the girl was pretty cute and she started to talk about marriage with me as soon as I sat down. She asked if the Mormons get to choose their mate or they are chosen for them like an arranged marriage. But then her follow up question was would you marry me! I was not sure if she was messing with me or not, so that's when I started to wrap up real quick and get out. If anything happens with the Mormon.org card I left with her it'll be a miracle. But anything can happen and I have learned that over my short two months out as a Missionary, anything can and will happen.
To tell you more about the apartment/flat that we live in. The apartment is pretty small I'll try to send pictures next week but I left my camera cord at the Mission Training Center. So I'm trying to find a card reader. The food here isn't anything to interesting. It is mostly really bland and the food that we typically would eat in America just tastes off now. The UK has very strict food laws and don't use a lot of artificial flavors. So like the Pepsi and Coke just taste off but there not too bad. I don't have an accent that I am aware of. The sad thing is that most Missionaries come home with a neutral accent. Birmingham doesn't have an accent like a typical London person. So for example, Elder Davis speaks normal English and sounds normal and he has been out for 15 months. So ya no accent.
Elder Kulow from Price, Utah is my Zone Leader. It is really cool since Elder Davis my companion is the District Leader I get to go on exchanges with the Zone Leaders. So Elder Kulow and I went on exchanges for a day and got to catch up.
In the UK it is pretty much unheard of to have a three week baptism or anything like that. The Sister that recently got baptized that I played the piano for a couple of weeks ago had been investigating the Church for over a year. So it's pretty common over here to have someone investigate for at least six months and longer before making that step.
I have heard that the weather in the States has been horrible. The hottest its gotten here in Kidderminster has been maybe 80 but with the humidity it is just muggy the whole time. One of the days this week it was really bad, and I made a joke to Elder Davis after we had lunch about how my back still wasn't dry from all the walking around with my backpack. I thought it was pretty funny but I'm not sure about him. Maybe it was too much information. HA
Monday was just a normal preparation day with shopping and emailing and tracking.
Tuesday was a busy day with trying to make plans for the rest of the day and to try and rebuild this Area. There have not been a set of Missionaries in this area for about three weeks because of the delay of Visas for Missionaries to the UK. So a lot of the people that were beening taught dropped us or are not interested. But that's life and we are trying hard to get the work moving in this area.
Wednesday was transfer day but since we were not transferred it was a pretty normal day for us because we both stayed in the area.
I had an interesting experience though. Last Sunday, I was asked to give a talk in Church about my favorite parable. I had been trying to think of which one I should talk on. So I took that matter to the Lord and asked him. I started to run through the list of the parables that I was thinking about and then the Holy Ghost said to do the parable of the seeds and sower. It is the one where seeds fall on stony ground good ground and so on. It was just a really cool experience to have that thought come so clearly when I least expected it. This week has been a busy one and full of little miracles.
Saturday we traveled to the different small towns in our Area. In the morning we went to Droitwitch Spa to visit some less actives and a member. It's about a fifteen minute train ride there. Then when we got back we walked to Bewdly. Which is a little old town that seems more like a tourist attraction. But a very picturesque town. It is about a four mile walk from our flat to the edge of the town. And then about another two mile walk to the other edge of the town. So all together we walked about ten miles just to have no one home. It was a good walk though and it gave Elder Davis and I time to talk with those whose paths we crossed and to visit and reflect on the Lord's blessings. I find that my testimony is strengthened every day as I devote myself to the work of the Lord in progressing his Kingdom.
Cheers,
Elder Nielsen
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Long Story of the Short Blog Entry
Greetings,
This week has been a crazy week. Tuesday was a busy day, I went with another Elder on exchanges because my companion, Elder Davis, is the District Leader so I have the opportunity to get to know a lot of the other Elders in my District. It is fun getting to know other Elders and help them in the Areas they are in and how they work. It was a really cool day.
Wednesday was District Meeting as well as some appointments. We had a really good lesson about how the commandments are best for us even when it doesn't seem right.
Thursday was an interesting day. I was on exchange again and this was the first time that I had been tracking in my own Area by myself. An Elder who had not been in Kidderminster before was my companion for the day and we got along very well. I sort of know my way around the Area but we still got lost once or twice. It was all fun though because we got to talk to a lot of people. Friday and Saturday where pretty normal days.
I guess the one thing that really stuck out to me this week is how much trust the Lord has in us Missionaries. He puts people in our path and it's our choice to talk to them or to just let them pass by.
Some things that my Mission has taught me already is that the Lord has a plan for us. We cannot mess up that plan no matter how hard we try. But when we are faithful and listen and try to talk to everyone success might not come at first but it will come. The other is that I have found on my Mission is that the Holy Ghost brings stuff to my remembrance whether it be good or bad. But I thought I would tell you of an experience that was brought up recently. When I was in High School I played golf it was a very challenging year for me. I remember playing at the Sun Valley course in Idaho and everything was going well. Then I let my anger and frustration get the best of me. I was playing a hole I don't remember which one it was when I hit my ball and couldn't find it. I was so frustrated that I decided against my better judgment to cheat and just drop a ball. I remember at the time I felt like that was okay and then I justified it the rest of the day. Soon after I completely forgot about it and then this week the Spirit brought that experience up. I guess the whole point of this is that if you don't repent the way we are asked to it's hard to be forgiven. But the interesting thing is just how the Spirit brings things to your remembrance. We shouldn't be disappointed in our mistakes, that is why we are here on earth to learn from our mistakes as we try and make them right.
So the long story about the short entry was that a girl in her 20's started to flirt with me and all that kind of stuff. Feeling a little uncomfortable I made like Joseph and got out of the Internet Cafe. But before I left, I did leave her a Mormon.org card though! But I'm running out of time, the Gospel is true and I believe it with all my heart.
Cheers,
Elder Nielsen
This week has been a crazy week. Tuesday was a busy day, I went with another Elder on exchanges because my companion, Elder Davis, is the District Leader so I have the opportunity to get to know a lot of the other Elders in my District. It is fun getting to know other Elders and help them in the Areas they are in and how they work. It was a really cool day.
Wednesday was District Meeting as well as some appointments. We had a really good lesson about how the commandments are best for us even when it doesn't seem right.
Thursday was an interesting day. I was on exchange again and this was the first time that I had been tracking in my own Area by myself. An Elder who had not been in Kidderminster before was my companion for the day and we got along very well. I sort of know my way around the Area but we still got lost once or twice. It was all fun though because we got to talk to a lot of people. Friday and Saturday where pretty normal days.
I guess the one thing that really stuck out to me this week is how much trust the Lord has in us Missionaries. He puts people in our path and it's our choice to talk to them or to just let them pass by.
Some things that my Mission has taught me already is that the Lord has a plan for us. We cannot mess up that plan no matter how hard we try. But when we are faithful and listen and try to talk to everyone success might not come at first but it will come. The other is that I have found on my Mission is that the Holy Ghost brings stuff to my remembrance whether it be good or bad. But I thought I would tell you of an experience that was brought up recently. When I was in High School I played golf it was a very challenging year for me. I remember playing at the Sun Valley course in Idaho and everything was going well. Then I let my anger and frustration get the best of me. I was playing a hole I don't remember which one it was when I hit my ball and couldn't find it. I was so frustrated that I decided against my better judgment to cheat and just drop a ball. I remember at the time I felt like that was okay and then I justified it the rest of the day. Soon after I completely forgot about it and then this week the Spirit brought that experience up. I guess the whole point of this is that if you don't repent the way we are asked to it's hard to be forgiven. But the interesting thing is just how the Spirit brings things to your remembrance. We shouldn't be disappointed in our mistakes, that is why we are here on earth to learn from our mistakes as we try and make them right.
So the long story about the short entry was that a girl in her 20's started to flirt with me and all that kind of stuff. Feeling a little uncomfortable I made like Joseph and got out of the Internet Cafe. But before I left, I did leave her a Mormon.org card though! But I'm running out of time, the Gospel is true and I believe it with all my heart.
Cheers,
Elder Nielsen
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Cheers from Jolly Old England
Hey everyone!
I'm slowly adjusting to missionary life out in the field and to the time change. The area I am in is a good area and the Branch here is really nice. The area is Kidderminster, but the locals say Kiddminstr or Kiddy. It is a mixed feel of old England and a mix of new modern England. There are some very Gothic Churches. The Catholic Church is your typical looking building but the Church of England the architecture is very castle like. The Branch I am in is really very nice. There are about 30 active members and I think that if Elder Davis and I can get half of the less actives back in the fold they might become a Ward. We have Family Home Evening (FHE) with all the older single members and widows. The Missionaries are the presiding authority during FHE which is pretty humbling. FHE consists of dinner and then a spiritual thought. It is pretty funny because all the widows act like Mary, Maria and Pat friends of my Grandpa Florin. They all have a funny sense of humor and are hilarious when you get them together.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013, was a busy day. We went to another area to check out a baptism record and from there to try to get back in touch with the recent less actives from these baptism records that we found in that area that we have lost contact with.
Wednesday we left to go to Zone Meeting and had to leave pretty early to get there. Zone Meeting was great and after that I went on exchange with one of the Zone Leaders. His area is in Harborn which is one of the biggest Wards in the area. So I was with him for the rest of the day and for part of the day on Thursday. Even tough it was a busy day, I learned a lot from him. Thursday afternoon I met up with Elder Davis and we went back to our own area to finish off the day.
Friday was a fun day. We have weekly planning on Friday that takes up a lot of the day. But Elder Davis was sick most of the day so I had time to read and to study. But later that night he was feeling better and we went to a baptism in Stourbridge. It was a really cool experience and the Sister who got baptized is going to be a strong member. But when we got to the Church, the Elders who where over the baptism asked if I could play the piano for the service. So I started to practice and just my luck the hymns that had been chosen were some of the hardest to play out of the hymn book. But the Spirit prevailed and I played well. During the baptism, the Spirit was really strong and it was a great testament to me that people here in England are looking for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I just have to find them.
Saturday was filled with a lot of service. In the morning we helped a less active family move and then in the afternoon we helped a member clean up their yard of a house that they had just bought.
Sunday was Church and then back to the flat (our apartment) to eat then out visiting the less actives and talking to people on the street. Hopefully things will pick up a little bit in this area and the ball gets rolling.
I know that the Lord has elect people here that are ready to hear the message of the Gospel. I just need to have enough faith to continue to look for them and to not get discouraged because of all the people that don't want to hear our message of the Gospel. I have learned that they are not rejecting me as a person, they are just rejecting what I stand for and am trying to preach.
I hope all is well!
Cheers,
Elder Nielsen
I'm slowly adjusting to missionary life out in the field and to the time change. The area I am in is a good area and the Branch here is really nice. The area is Kidderminster, but the locals say Kiddminstr or Kiddy. It is a mixed feel of old England and a mix of new modern England. There are some very Gothic Churches. The Catholic Church is your typical looking building but the Church of England the architecture is very castle like. The Branch I am in is really very nice. There are about 30 active members and I think that if Elder Davis and I can get half of the less actives back in the fold they might become a Ward. We have Family Home Evening (FHE) with all the older single members and widows. The Missionaries are the presiding authority during FHE which is pretty humbling. FHE consists of dinner and then a spiritual thought. It is pretty funny because all the widows act like Mary, Maria and Pat friends of my Grandpa Florin. They all have a funny sense of humor and are hilarious when you get them together.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013, was a busy day. We went to another area to check out a baptism record and from there to try to get back in touch with the recent less actives from these baptism records that we found in that area that we have lost contact with.
Wednesday we left to go to Zone Meeting and had to leave pretty early to get there. Zone Meeting was great and after that I went on exchange with one of the Zone Leaders. His area is in Harborn which is one of the biggest Wards in the area. So I was with him for the rest of the day and for part of the day on Thursday. Even tough it was a busy day, I learned a lot from him. Thursday afternoon I met up with Elder Davis and we went back to our own area to finish off the day.
Friday was a fun day. We have weekly planning on Friday that takes up a lot of the day. But Elder Davis was sick most of the day so I had time to read and to study. But later that night he was feeling better and we went to a baptism in Stourbridge. It was a really cool experience and the Sister who got baptized is going to be a strong member. But when we got to the Church, the Elders who where over the baptism asked if I could play the piano for the service. So I started to practice and just my luck the hymns that had been chosen were some of the hardest to play out of the hymn book. But the Spirit prevailed and I played well. During the baptism, the Spirit was really strong and it was a great testament to me that people here in England are looking for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I just have to find them.
Saturday was filled with a lot of service. In the morning we helped a less active family move and then in the afternoon we helped a member clean up their yard of a house that they had just bought.
Sunday was Church and then back to the flat (our apartment) to eat then out visiting the less actives and talking to people on the street. Hopefully things will pick up a little bit in this area and the ball gets rolling.
I know that the Lord has elect people here that are ready to hear the message of the Gospel. I just need to have enough faith to continue to look for them and to not get discouraged because of all the people that don't want to hear our message of the Gospel. I have learned that they are not rejecting me as a person, they are just rejecting what I stand for and am trying to preach.
I hope all is well!
Cheers,
Elder Nielsen
Monday, June 10, 2013
Greetings from England
Hello,
As I'm sure many of you have heard, I got my Visa and made it to England! I flew out Thursday (June 6, 2013) morning at 11:20 am to Detroit, MI and then had to run what felt like a mile to get to my international flight. Then I flew to Amsterdam and that was a very long flight. Then I had to run another mile and go through security again to get to my last flight which dropped me off in Birmingham, England. My flight was interesting to say the least. When President Rasmussen took the picture that was posted last, I had been up for a little over 24 hours without sleep. On the plane to Amsterdam I didn't sleep because it was very uncomfortable. The plane was a 2-4-2 seating arrangement so I was in the middle of the section of four seats. The guy next to me was watching a movie and the other one was drunk most of the flight. So after that picture I slept in the car ha ha to my area.
I am in Kidderminster, England. It is very green and has an old English feel where we live. My companion is really cool we are getting along great. But the time change is killing me. I forced myself to stay up the rest of the day which was Saturday and work. But I turned in at nine p.m. local time and then did the same Sunday night. I'm slowly adjusting to the time change but it's hard.
I was met by the office Elders at the airport and then we drove to the Mission Home where I met with President and Sister Rasmussen. Much of what has happened is a blur and I'm not sure what went on Friday and Saturday morning. But after I met everyone they took me to my Area. The Area I'm in is called Kidderminster, England and it is a really nice town. The Area is huge but not very populated. But after I made it to the area I went straight to work to keep me awake. My companion Elder Davis took me to some of the members houses and to the Branch President. The Branch has about thirty members that come on a weekly basis. But they have lots of less active members. So the main goal here is to reactivate as much as we can and hopefully find an investigator in the meantime. But the Branch loves the Missionaries but not enough to get referrals. We are trying to gain their trust so that we can start to get referrals. But the Branch is very nice and they love to feed the Missionaries. I think once I get fully adjusted to the time change it will be a fun time here.
Until next week. Keep on striving to be and do your best in the Lord's work.
Love,
Elder Nielsen
As I'm sure many of you have heard, I got my Visa and made it to England! I flew out Thursday (June 6, 2013) morning at 11:20 am to Detroit, MI and then had to run what felt like a mile to get to my international flight. Then I flew to Amsterdam and that was a very long flight. Then I had to run another mile and go through security again to get to my last flight which dropped me off in Birmingham, England. My flight was interesting to say the least. When President Rasmussen took the picture that was posted last, I had been up for a little over 24 hours without sleep. On the plane to Amsterdam I didn't sleep because it was very uncomfortable. The plane was a 2-4-2 seating arrangement so I was in the middle of the section of four seats. The guy next to me was watching a movie and the other one was drunk most of the flight. So after that picture I slept in the car ha ha to my area.
I am in Kidderminster, England. It is very green and has an old English feel where we live. My companion is really cool we are getting along great. But the time change is killing me. I forced myself to stay up the rest of the day which was Saturday and work. But I turned in at nine p.m. local time and then did the same Sunday night. I'm slowly adjusting to the time change but it's hard.
I was met by the office Elders at the airport and then we drove to the Mission Home where I met with President and Sister Rasmussen. Much of what has happened is a blur and I'm not sure what went on Friday and Saturday morning. But after I met everyone they took me to my Area. The Area I'm in is called Kidderminster, England and it is a really nice town. The Area is huge but not very populated. But after I made it to the area I went straight to work to keep me awake. My companion Elder Davis took me to some of the members houses and to the Branch President. The Branch has about thirty members that come on a weekly basis. But they have lots of less active members. So the main goal here is to reactivate as much as we can and hopefully find an investigator in the meantime. But the Branch loves the Missionaries but not enough to get referrals. We are trying to gain their trust so that we can start to get referrals. But the Branch is very nice and they love to feed the Missionaries. I think once I get fully adjusted to the time change it will be a fun time here.
Until next week. Keep on striving to be and do your best in the Lord's work.
Love,
Elder Nielsen
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