Dec. 12, 2011

First off before I forget. I need to know both Pres. Lyman's ( I don't remember his first name) and Bishop Ott's address. But this week has been way good. And hopefully at the end of this week, June, Mandy, and Lydia will be baptized! All of them have had there crazy moments this week. June, who has been so golden, was hit really hard when her boyfriend Bro. Barnes, broke up with her. He was the somewhat less-active that was bringing her to church and everything. But that night she was considering just going back to everything she used to do, in order to forget everything that happend when she was dating him. But the second she had that thought, she said that God rebuked her, by saying that we (the church) were her family, it was there she had found comfort, and that it was now part of her. And then she pointed to the book of Mormon, and said, that now she knew that was true, that it wasn't even an option to leave it behind. So that was super cool, and she is doin so awesome. With Mandy, who's been doing awesome with drugs and everything, but she did something equally as stupid last week that could have landed her a spot in jail. Not to mention that her main-fellowshipper, and really good friend in the ward was indirectly affected by it. And then when we rebuked her and said that it doesn't matter what the circumstances may be, and how bad your "friends" may need you; that you cannot break the law. And she was pretty irate, and got really down on herself to the point where she didn't feel like she could go to church or be baptized anymore. It was kinda pathetic actually; it reminded me of a tantrum that a kid might throw with his parents; but I know I've complained, and justified, and have done all that stuff as well, so I won't critizise. But either way she came to realize that the consequences will come from all angles, when we choose to make wrong decisions. But she says that she is ready to make that commitment and covenant with God; and so she should be getting baptized as well. Then Lydia... well we haven't seen Lydia, for nearly 2 weeks, although she has been coming to church the past couple weeks; and at sacrament meeting they announced that Mandy and June were going to be baptized, and she was kind of mad that they did not announce her name as well. So we were like, well we have to actually teach you to be baptized. So we will be teaching her alot this week, and then having a baptismal interview with her on thursday. But man she really does have a desire to be baptized; it's just that she lives with... well her jusband is an extremely less-active tatoo artist, her son lives with his girlfriend, and all of them smoke marijuana, with the exception of her. But I guess just because someone lives with people like that, doesn't mean that they can't choose righteousness. So we will see if she is ready to be baptized this week, and if she is, then awesome, and if she needs more time, then she needs more time. But we have taught so many awesome people this transfer, and we are fixing to be in the stage of needing to find some more strong people, and so I am excited for that. But ya I got my trunky papers last week, and I am going to put st. george airport on there, but if you want me to change it to Salt lake o algo, let me now, with Bishop's and President's address. I love yall so much, and have an awesome week.

Dec. 5, 2011

Thanks a ton for the package! Hey can yall pray for my companion's mom. (Elder Lubina) She's not very supprotive of him, and he received a really hard letter from her today. But as for the week; it was so awesome. All three of our investigators with baptismal dates came this Sunday to church and it was sweet. Sis. Robbins bore her testimony and told everyone how she knew the chuch was true and shared a missionary experience that she had with her granddaughter that happened while we were teaching her. I think her grand daughter is 16 and is dating a mormon young man. Well she called sis robbins in the middle of our lesson, and Sis Robbins told her how she was having a study with the mormon missionaries, and then told her how she was being baptized on the 17th of Dec. And she just began to tear up as she invited her to come and see it. And her grand daughter said that she definately would and said how she sees herself taking that same step in the near future. And she has just been telling everyone about her baptism and it has been amazing to see. It's just so cool to teach someone that has received a true witness that Joseph Smith is a prophet and then connect all the dots that follow; the word of wisdom, the true church, the priesthood and the ordinances that must be performed. We had showed her a picture in the church of John the Baptist baptizing Christ and, explained that Jesus went to him becasue he knew that he had been called of God and had been given the authority to baptize. To which she responded..."And that's why I need to be baptized again; because my other baptisms were done by false churches withouth the correct authority."  She is so awesome and just is doing so well. Mandy is also doing really well. She has realy been putting baptism as her priority. She called all her friends and told them that she was quitting the pills. And she finally came to all three hours of church for the very first time. She's come to church I think 4 times now, but only the first two hours. We watched the movie the church made about "The touch of the master's hand" and it was so awesome and I think it helped her understand how much she was worth to God, compared to her friends. I liked the video because it was interesting to note that the person who owned the violin, in the beggining cherished it but with time neglected it. It became more battered and scarred with every person that owned it. The people that bought it would try to fix it up, but with no avail..it eventually was neglected once again. In the end it was priced to the world at three dollars. Then from the room far back, a gray haired man, came forward and picked up the bow. As the master came, fixed the violin and showed the foolish crowd the people began to see the worth of the violin not in the eyes of the world, but in the eyes of its creator...ifinite. Many people go to the world to fix the problems; it seems to solve the problem...but with time they too are forgotten and set aside as naught. It doesn't matter how many times we go to the world with our problems, they will never be fixed, and our worth is dimished. But if we go to the master, and partake of his atoning sacrifice, his touch will heal our many wounds, and we see our infinite worth as well as the worth of others. So she is doing well, and should be having her interview this week for baptism. We also took a drunk guy on a church tour, which was kind of frustrating seeing how we told him to not drink befroe he came, and he did anyways. I guess I should have tried to see his infinite worth a little bit more. But sometimes people that aren't in the right mind set are a little harder to reach. Needless to say it wasn't the best church tour. But hey he loved the picture of John baptizing Jesus as well; and just kept on talking about how beautiful it was for a good 20 min. Hopefully if he ever is sober he will remember that and will come back to it. But I love yall so much and thank you for everything yall do for me. Congratulations on getting everything moved Grandma and Grandpa! have an awesome week

Nov. 28, 2011

Thanks for all the emails. Alena you are about 0 for two in the last two weeks. But I heard that you got called to be laurel's president. Which is crazy, because I was thinking this morning, about being the president of the different quoroms that I've been in and how I didn't ever really understand the position and the responsibility that I had. I could've easily helped Jake Huston and Steve Ott and all the others; but I didn't understand why that was important. But sis I know you can reach people in that group of laurels that noone else can reach. You've been called by revelation, and like dad always says; even if you're on the right track you will get ran over if you just sit there. Don't just "sit there" and let it be a title; rather let it be a chance to see your potential, to serve and to be an example in both words and deeds. I love you sis and do work in your calling. Alisa and Angela I would love an email from yall as well. But I was thinking, and hopefully this wasn't a trunky thought, but I do really want to hit the ground running when I get back. I don't know if there is any way that I could fill out an application for UVU o algo? But man what a week! so many miracles and I still am just being humbled and amazed by the hand of God and the blessings he has been pouring out on us. I don't even know why. But I am beyond grateful for them and to be a part of it. So last Sunday, I think I may have told you about Sis. Robbins a Non-mem. who came to church w/ her Boyfriend ( My main black-man Bro. Barnes). Well at the end of church she said she would like to meet with us. We had an awesome first lesson with her in which she had asked Bro. Barnes not to come becasue she wanted to do this for herself. Well the lesson was awesome, and she agreed to read and pray. The next lesson, we finished the restoration with her and invited to her to be baptized in three weeks on the 17th of Dec. She said it was way too soon and she needed more time. We asked her what she needed to know in order to be baptized; that it is true and that this is where God needs me. Will you pray tonighight to knoww if you should be baptized on the 17th? I will. We will call you at 11:00 tomorrow to see how your prayer went. We called her. She told us that she had recieved an answer and that she was going to be baptized on the 17th! At 8:00 that night we got another call from her and she had told us how she was reading the BOM and came to a picture of Joseph Smith. She stared at it for a couple seconds, and the spirit overwhelmed her, she then noted, " I know he is a prophet of God" She came to church and apparently told the sisters in the relief society she was going to be baptized. So ya definite miracle. And then also last night we got a call from Bro. Barnes. He and Sis. Robbins had been talking to a guy, who lives in the same complex, about why bad things happen to good people, They bore there testimonies to him and then called us on the phone put it on speaker and had us explain the importance of agency. We have a lesson with that guy tonight! so I love it. And there's just so many more things that are happening that are just miracles, and now I just got to write them all down in my journal so that I can remember them forever. I love yall and thank yall for the e-mails and everything yall do for me. Have a good week

Nov. 26, 2011

We just got a hand written letter in the mail from Ty today.  Here is what he has to say:

So my new companions are Elder Lubina and Elder Simon.  I am the only white guy in the threesome.  Elder Lubina is half Filipino and Elder Simon is from Kiribati near the Fiji islands and doesn't speak any English.  I've learned a lot from them.  I've gained a testimony of how God knows not only where you need to go, but also who you need to be with.  From Elder Jacobsen I really learned that it's not about us, it's about God and if we're having trials and being obedient then that means that God is preparing miracles for us.  From Elder Acosta I learned that tracting 5 hours a day might not be the most effective thing.  haha.  But in all seriousness, that was in the summer and he was a big guy and so I learned that by sacrifice comes blessings.  From Elder Oliver I learned that making an impression and looking your part are actually really important.  From Elder Pound I learned tha being an example is good; being an example with words is better, but being an example, speaking up and showing love is the best.  From Elder Gillespie I learned that a companionship doesn't work when you think you own 50% of the responsibility...you must own a 100% or you both fail.  From Elder Schitties I learned to really love my investigators.  From Elder Jorgensen I learned how to be diligent and the importance of setting goals and then working as hard as you can to accomplish them, then sitting back and seeing the hand of God do the rest.  From Elder Crandall I learned that testimony is important, but testimony combined with scriptures is powerful.  From Elder Saloman I learned the importance of stepping into ones shoes and there is never a reason to be angry.  From Elder Kurtz I learned how to have a greater desire to answer ones concerns and how to discern a concern from an argument.  From Elder Jones I learned that first impressions are crucial, that being organized is Godliness, and the importance of expressing gratitude.  From Elder Lubina I've learned that teaching an investigator is a lot more effective when you know an investigator.  From Elder Simon I've learned that God blesses those that are humble and have a grand desire.  I am so grateful for all the comps that I've had and the things they've taught me.  There is no other place that I could have learned these lessons than in the mission field.  But, Mom, I am so immensely grateful for you.  From pictures, to cards, to counsel, you've changed my mission.  You helped me understand that it wasn't my companions I had problems with; it was me.  You helped me realize that obedience to the gospel is not what brings happiness, but that through becoming like Christ though his gospel is truly what brings joy.  For without Christ the gospel is a set of rules, but with Him it's a manner of life that prepares us for the life which is Eternal.  You taught me that being grateful without expressing gratitude is in vain; for much like a testimony; without action it cannot grow.  Like Dad says... if you're not progressing than you digressing.  I love you so much Mom and thank you for everything you do!  Have a Happy Thanksgiving! 
Love,
Elder Ty Nelson

Nov. 14, 2011

Thanks for all ths scriptures mom. And that is way too crazy that the grandparents are changing houses and everything! But ya this was transfer week and I am moving. Kind of a sad thought seeing how we have just seen too many miracles to count these past couple weeks, but I'll just have to go and see miracles in Spokane. I am actually going english ZL and trainer so it will be a threesome which is super legit. My companion zone leader is Eler Lubina and we will pick up the new missionary tomorrow. But I really hope I don't lose my spanish, because with the new missionary program they have I won't even be able to have a language study. But I will just read all in spanish during my personal so it will be good. But holy miracles this week. There is nothing like teaching families and having them come to church. The Barrera family all came to church which was so awesome, because she just has so much potential (she's the one we helped pray for the first time out loud); the husband is a LA that still has a way strong testimony that this is the true church; but went inactive because of a couple reasons. And also this week; I don't know if I ever mentioned the family that we found right on the border of our mission; the Lopez's. But we were teaching them last thursday, and we had a really good lesson with them and then we invited them to be baptized and the husband just said flat out No. But they're an awesome family and accepted a church tour with us on Saturday. So they drive over 14 miles to get to our church and then we take them through and explain our beliefs and a typical sunday and at the end we taught them the lesson of the restoration. It was super sweet, and the whole time I know we need to invite them to be baptized again, and I felt pretty nervous cause we had invited them 2 nights before and they said no. But we come to the end of the lesson, and I bore my testimony on the fruits of the spirit, and invite him to pray right then and there and ask God if him and his family should be baptized on the 17th of December. He said he didn't know how, so I gave him an example and prayed that they would receive an answer from the holy ghost. He said ok, I'll do it. His family knelt down, and he began to pray for him and his family to know the will of God. The spirit of God filled the room. I said hermano Lopez, "como se siente?" y el me dijo," me siento bien, y estoy lleno de paz" and then he looked at his wife who was just smiling. Then I asked Hna Lopez, "how do you feel?" She said "I feel good too." I replied that I did as well, and invited them to be baptized. He said that is what they would work and pray for. !Que tan chido es la obra misional! The spirit was so strong. They will be coming to church this next Sunday as well as the familia Barrera again, and also another family that we are working with, who got invited to come by our bishop, who just thanked us today for paving the way. I guess the person that works his front desk, Lily told him that we are teaching them. So there was just so many miracles, and I guess that God wanted me to see those here and go start some more on the english side. Also a cool thought... I have a son in Mexico, a son on the spanish side of the mission, and now on the english side. I thought that was pretty cool. But I love yall so much and thank yall for everything; I know these miracles would have never happened w/o your prayers. have a good week

Nov. 7, 2011

Man I love missionary work. Things are going so good and God continues blessing us so much. We had another family come to church this week; different family from last week, but bothe families are so awesome. But ya I have never taught this many complete families in all my mission and it is just such a blessing. It's somewhat difficult to help them accept a baptismal date, but the support is already there, and there is nothing like having a whole family come to church. We also just cast out some ghosts/spirits from a lady's house and she was pretty thankful for that and we are foing to start teaching her and so that was kinda cool. And then we were definitely guided to a family that lives on the border of our mission and the Kennewick mission. Like the other side of the street is the Kennewick mission, its the closest I have gotten to leaving the mission. But it was awesome. It was like 830 at night and here that means is is pitch black, but I ain't scared of knocking till 859; cause the elect will here our voice. And they heard it. We saw el Hermano Lopez afuera and so we contacted him and he invited us in; and gathered his whole family together even though they were going to bed and they all listened to us. And then we had an awesome lesson with them again a couple days later, about the restoration, and it was just so powerful and they are going to be baptized and it is going to be awesome. We should be having a church tour with them here this week and it will be awesome. And then the familia barrera, holy cow it was so awesome. There are very few experiences that are cooler, than being in a room to hear someone pray for the first time. She started praying, and there was a pretty long pause and you could just tell that she was feeling the spirit so strong. And when she got done, she was smiling from ear to ear. Oh i am so thankful for the ability the opportunity i have to be a part of this. I love yall so much and am so thankful for everything yall do. Have a good week

Oct. 31, 2011

Happy Halloween!!! I am thinking that I might dress up as Elder Jones today for my costume, but that might just be too scary. But this week was pretty fun. I got your awesome package mama! Thank you so much for that. And So I got all those awesome blank halloween cards and my companion and I were just like well what are we going to do with these. And so we decided to make a bunch of cookies and write thank you notes to all those members that have really helped us this transfer. And it was really cool. And this week was also good because we had a family come to church, that were former investigators that have not come in over a year. But they left somewhat early because I think they were a little embarrassed of their kids acting up. And so that wasn't too cool, but what can you do? But God has been blessing us so much, through the members our ward. they have been so fired up about giving us referrals, and it is just so awesome hopefully they will turn into new investigators here shortly. But you know I am really thinking that I should be more thankful and just really have a more deep sense of gratitude. I have tried to make it a goal recently to just be one of those joyful missionaries that are always smiling and just always having a good attitude about everything. And it really does make a huge difference; and I think that really just being grateful will help me that much more. So thank you soo much family for the e mails every week, amd mom for the longer emails every week, and all the packages that really make my day, and grandma and grandpa for always writing me every week, and for the bachelor family who are always kind enough to send me letters in the mail, as well as the Tennys. And just everybody else! I love yall so much and thank yall for everything.