January 12, 2015

HEY! Yeah!!! We were able to got to Alan's baptism this week, and it was AMAZING! Oh man I can't even explain how happy I was! And his wife and her family! Aw it was so great :) I can't wait til they get to go to the temple to be sealed with their baby :) One year! And it was really fun being in Corona again and seeing a lot of the ward members there. Love them! 

This week was pretty good! Jorge is doing sooo great! I'm so excited for him! We were so nervous for our lesson on this past Saturday because we weren't sure if he and his wife were actually married, and we were going to teach Word of Wisdom, and we knew that he drank and stuff. So we were praying reallllllly hard for that lesson and it was AMAZING! They are married! Which was a huge relief, and he totally accepted W.O.W.! We talked about how are bodies are temples and he loved that! (He reminded us yesterday at church that he is a temple haha.) He accepted it, and said that he was completely done with it all and it was in his past. We were so excited! He's so great! Then yesterday at church a member asked him when he's getting baptized and he said January 25th :) YAY! AND! He told us that it's his birthday! So he thought it was cool that he was literally born on that day, and will be born again on that day too :) We're so pumped :) keep praying for him! We were also able to teach one of his son's and he accepted baptism in February, but he's not as solid right now, so we'll see :) Jorge really wants his whole family to follow his example, so that's the plan! Oh and one more thing about him :) He told us that he has really seen the difference since we've been coming over and he's been coming to church. That he feels so much peace and happiness, that he knows this is right :) So precious :)

The Sixto family was planning on coming, but then when we went by their house Sunday morning, they said they were going to leave and visit one of their family members :( so we were really sad! They were only able to stay for sacrament last week, and it was kind of a weird meeting, so I'm not sure how they liked it... they said it was different.. we were able to teach them the Restoration this week, and they have a lot of doubts about it, so will work with that. We'll see! We have a family home evening with them tonight, so hopefully that's good! 

We were able to have a lesson with Ezekiel FINALLY, and it was really good, and we for sure thought he was going to come to church, and didn't :( we don't know what to do with him. We don't know if he's just lying to us or what. Cause he seems really cool, but ends up not doing anything! And apparently he still goes to his church every saturday and sunday. So we'll see :( 

We were also able to go to the temple this week! Yay! But! Unfortunately, we got there right when the session closed, so we couldn't go in :( But we were able to do initiatories for a lot of people so that was really cool! I haven't done that for over a year now, so it was really good :)

Well I hope all is going well! Happy 25th anniversary next week! (just in case I forget to say it next week!) WOO WOO! 

Oh also, I ate a cricket last week that a member gave us. hahah so that's officially the weirdest thing I've eaten so far! It took me like 10 mins to actually do it and we have it video tapped haha, very crunchy and salty. Oh how I'm grateful I serve in the States! Have a good one! Looove you! 

Hermana Nelson :) 

Temple Trip

Alan's Baptism!

Kylee Ate Some Crickets!!

January 5, 2015

Feliz ano nuevo!!! 

Warning: long email, but lots of good stuff in here, so read it :) 

Right?? I can't believe it's 2015! But here it is! Sounds like you all had some good holidays! For New Years Eve we just went to the stake center again and actually played monopoly with the elders haha it was actually really fun. The most intense game of monopoly I have ever played! Then we did deep cleaning the next morning... which was fun... :) You got more snow? Guess what! Different parts in our mission got snow too! Crazy right?? But unfortunately not here. But we can see it on the mountains! 

Alright, where to even begin! So much happened this week! It was a roller coaster! We felt like every emotion this week! First of all, for the BEST news ever! Guess who's getting baptized! ALAN!!! In Corona! Hna. Dulong and I taught him! I don't know if you remember him? But he's married to a member and they're like my favorite! We had to drop him, cause he just didn't want to get baptized, but he was basically a member! He went to church and had a calling in boy scouts! His wife got pregnant like.. 2 months ago? Once that happened I knew that he'd be getting baptized soon, and wanting to get sealed in the temple with his new little family. I told him when I left Corona that I would come back for his baptism and when they go through the temple, and the day is here! So we get to go back to Corona Saturday for his baptism!!! I'm SOO pumped! So that was the really good news we got this week!

We had a one day this week that was just ROUGH. Everyone cancelled on us, multiple people dropped, and no one would let us in! We seriously had one appointment all day! And Jorge called us saying he wasn't coming to church Sunday cause he was in LA. So it was one of those days that you just want the day to be over, but hey, you gotta have the bad ones to recognize the good ones! 

We had MLC with all the zone leaders, sister training leaders, assistants to the President and President Mullen, this week and it was SO good! It seriously got me so motivated to just get out and work and baptize! They talked about repentance and making sure we're using it every day, and I had a really cool experience with it that night. I can't even explain it, but I felt like I was Alma the Younger as he just felt the joy of repentance. I seriously have never felt that strong of a feeling before, that I can't even describe it! It was something soo much bigger then me, within me trying to explode out of joy! And I mean I've repented many times before and felt the comfort, forgiveness, and relief of the atonement, but never anything like this. I think it was coupled with the strongest desire that I've ever had to share the gospel and to be the best missionary that I can be. I only have 5 months left and I SOOO badly want to help this area! So I challenge you as well to make repentance more in your life. Make it daily. Make it specific. Make it more not for yourself, but to change yourself so that you can help other people. I think that's what was different for me this time. It wasn't about what I was going to gain from the process of repentance, but what others would gain as I would try to become a better person to help them. That's the difference. 

Gabriela (Jorge's, son's girlfriend) is doing pretty good! We had a few really great lessons with her this week, she's been reading and said that she can't even explain what she feels, but keeps reading so she has it. THE SPIRIT! She's preparing for baptism, but obviously they're not married, so we have to get them married first. But it will happen! Saturday night we had an awesome lesson with her and she told us how excited she was to come to church, that she bought a new outfit and everything. We got her a ride and were so excited, then she called us sunday morning and said she couldn't go cause she was busy. BUSY?? Really? Ay. So that was a HUGE bummer. We were kind of depressed Sunday morning just thinking, "well great, no one is coming to church." BUT. We received an AMAZING miracle! The Sixtos family that we've taught twice said this week that they'd try to come but weren't sure. So we thought they probably weren't, and we went by Sunday morning and they were all ready! And they came! 5 of them!!!! WOO. We were so happy! Like I said earlier, it's been a roller coaster of a week! Also! Last thing :) Sorry this is really long. So we ended up dropping Eziquiel because he never came to church and would never keep appointments with us, but last night we saw him on the street, and talked to him for a bit. He said his wife left him and it's been really hard, but he really wants to learn about our message and I quote, "This time I'm inviting you over" So we're excited to be teaching him again cause I really feel like he has a lot of potential if he would just come! 

Well that's the end of this book :) Just please keep our investigators and area in your prayers that we can better help these people so we have PROGRESSING investigators. Hope you have a great week! Thanks for everything :) loooove you! 

Hermana Nelson :) 

p.s. I cut off 5 inches of my hair haha 2015! woo woo! 

December 29, 2014

Hola hooooola :) It was super fun talking to you guys on Christmas! I'm glad you had a fun day and finally got some snow! We're definitely wishing that we could go sledding! But we have the sun instead ;) I'm glad you liked my cat story too hahhaha I really liked your story too! That's hilarious! Dulong and I were reading it here in the library and just cracking up! You need to tell me more of your mission stories! 

Our Christmas here was really good! Christmas Eve we spent with a couple of families, had a devotional with a few different zones, and then played sports at the church with elders. It was really weird basically having two days in a row off! But it was nice and relaxing! It was a really special Christmas to really focus on the Savior as we were just there in our little apartment and as we were sharing it with other families. It's the best when we can brighten people's days and bring the spirit into their homes.

This was a pretty good week! It was kind of hard to meet with people because of Christmas and all, but we were able to find some new people! We also dropped some people too though. Finding the elect! We found the Flores family this week, Grandpa Jorge, Gustavo, Gabriela and their 3 kids ages 1, 2, and 3. As you can imagine, our lessons with them are a little crazy at times, but really good. We were able to have a really powerful lesson with Jorge about the atonement and coming to church. They're all been looking for a church and really wanted to come. We actually had a lot of people this week telling us that they were going to come, so we were super pumped then the day came, and nothing :( so all of sacrament meeting we were pretty bummed. Then we taught primary, and as we were putting the chalk back afterwards, we turn around and see Jorge!!!! We were SHOCKED! He said he was a little late but that he sat in the back and just got finished with the 1st class! I have no idea how we missed him coming in! But he loved it! Oh man I can't even explain how excited we were! After church he said he really liked it and is planning on coming next week and bringing the whole family! WOO! I'm really excited about him! 

Alexandra (the Torres's daughter) is actually getting baptized this week! Yay! She's super cute! Yesterday at church she pulled out her Book of Mormon and said that she had been reading it. So awesome :) We also found Esmerelda who is a young mom that is moving here this week and said she's looking for a church and wants her kids to know God. uhh... PERFECT! So we're going to help her move in this week and they'll come to church Sunday! The area is still a little slow, but I think it's starting to pick up a little! Blessings from on high! :) Well hope you have a great week! Love you! 

Hermana Nelson :) 

Oh and I have a lot of pics today!  

Christmas Eve Devotional Dinner

PJs From Hermana Barraza

Kylee's Stocking

Christmas Morning!

Shirts From Luna

Christmas Lunch

December 22, 2014

FELIZ NAVIDAD! Woo woo! haha I'm glad you liked the Christmas card! We had a pretty fun time with it ;) Right?? Dulong and I still have moments when we're like, "wait, we're together again??" It's been really good though! This area doesn't have a whole lot going on right now, but we're going to work really hard and get things going again! Yeah I know the Elders will take care of them! I talked to the elders last night and they said they're doing well and is on date for baptism in January! So excited for them :) So we'll be skyping at 3pm your time on Christmas! YAY! I'm so excited :) 

So we have a couple of people here that we're working with. First Veronica, she was on date for the end of the month, but told us that she's not ready and isn't sure about things anymore. She also might be going to Mexico soon... so we're not really sure what's going to happen there! 

Eziquiel is pretty new, we haven't really taught him anything yet cause he keeps cancelling our appointments, but he came to the Christmas party on Friday and loved it! (yes I got to go to another Christmas party!) All the members were great with him, we had a church tour with him and you could just tell he loved every bit of it! He told us he just really wanted to come to the services on Sunday to see what it was all about! We thought for sure he was coming, but he didn't :( and we have no idea why! So hopefully things will pick up with him this week! 

One of the members brought a friend with them to the Christmas party, and so we're starting to teach him! His name is Jesus and he's really cool! He was taught by missionaries before, but has a bad drinking problem, so hopefully we can have a miracle with that! And he came to church Sunday! yay! But unfortunately he's out of town all week for Christmas so we can't see him :( but he said he'll be coming to church again!

We also had a cool little miracle yesterday! The Elders in the ward had a baptism yesterday, so after when we left, we got a call from Bishop asking us where we were and to come back because the daughter in Torres family wants to get baptized next week! So of course we rushed over and talked to them about it! The Torres family has been less-active for a while and has just started coming back the last couple of months, then they came to the baptism and the daughter decided she wants to be baptized too! But she's 8 1/2 so it's still a stake baptism, but we're still going to teach her since she doesn't really know much since they've been less active. So we're teaching her everything this week and she's getting baptized this Sunday! So that was super cool! We're really excited to be apart of this little miracle :) 

Also, funny little story for the week: we were at a potential investigators house, we knocked on the door and they didn't answer, but everyone here has like storm doors that are really hard to see through, but they are hard to knock on, so usually you try and open it and then knock on the real door. So anyway, Sis. Dulong goes to open the storm door, and turns out the real door was open too, so she just opens the door and right then out of no where a cat runs in their house!!! HAHAHA I was DYING! So just hurries and closes the door! Not kidding it happened all in like 3 seconds! So then they came and answered the door cause a cat was just chillin in their house! hahah it was hilarious! Well hope you have a great Christmas! Excited to talk to you this week! Love you :) 

Hermana Nelson

Saying Goodbye to Hermana Graham!

Kylee's Little Tree

December 15, 2014

Happy transfer weekend! Oh goodness it's been so crazy lately! We were effected big time. I got a call from President Mullen Saturday morning. I'm going to be a sister training leader in Riverside! So that's crazy! I'm really nervous! And if you think that's crazy enough, guess who my comp is? Hermana Dulong! We're so pumped! That takes a HUGE stress off! I'm really excited to be with her again and serving in Riverside! But, I'm soo sad to be leaving Corona! I love it here! AND! Our area is closing :( Hna. Glenn is going to Hemet and Elders are taking over our area. Well actually we split our area in half with the elders. 

It was really hard saying goodbye to everyone yesterday! So bittersweet! Our area is finally doing better, and now both of us are leaving :( we did not expect that! And! Oh man the worst part was saying goodbye to the Silvestre family last night! We were all crying, and they're just confused! They came to church again and are really progressing! This family seriously has my heart! It was the worst last night! But I told them that I'm going to come back from their baptism and when they go through the temple and they said, "well of course!" The Elders taking over will be really good, but it's still scary! On the way home, Raul (the dad) called us and said that Omar (the 8 year old) was crying, and if we could talk to him on the phone for a second. Holy cow! He was bawling and saying how much he is going to miss us and how much he loves us. :'( Sooo sad. But we told him we're going to write letters back and forth and he has to beat the Elders in basketball, so he liked those ideas. 

This week I've really been trying to be led by the spirit, and teach with power& authority. I had a cool experience where I was led to this guy, we started talking, and he said he could just see and feel the difference of something and he didn't know what it was. He said that he has had the worst day and he was praying asking where God was, then we walked up. He said he just felt calm and better when we were there and wants to know what it is and how he can get it. He's really cool! He's coming to church, and unfortunately didn't end up being in our area, but the Elders are teaching him! It still blows my mind all the time on how the spirit works. I love it! We also did a service project this week where we did tours and sold ornaments at basically a "Festival of Trees" type thing. It was really fun! And it was such the opposite of what I've been in lately! We were in this huge mansion, all these fancy trees everyone, and everyone there is just so rich! I just started thinking about all my cute little spanish friends that don't even have a Christmas tree and it just made me so sad! I've had a couple of little kids tell me that they think they're just not celebrating Christmas this year, but it's okay, cause sometimes that happens. SO SAD! We are all so fortunate in all we have! I think all of us can do a little more, give a little more, and be a little bit better. So that's my challenge this week! Help someone out :)  Well have a great week! Love you :) 

Hermana Nelson :) 

December 8, 2014

Heey! :) I'm glad you guys liked the pictures, I have a bunch more to send out today too! Haha no worries we haven't had transfers yet! This week! So we will see! I'm guessing I'm leaving, but that's what I thought last time, so who knows! Anything could happen! Yes I did get the package, thanks so much! We're excited to start opening everything! 

I know! We really built that relationship with Monica, and we had another really good lesson with her this week, but she didn't come to church again! When she said that she was! So we don't know... we think we might be dropping her, cause she hasn't really been reading either :( but this week was actually the best week of the transfer! We finally have a teaching pool, even though we're not sure how solid everyone is yet! We picked up a lot of new people, and had a lot of great lessons! AND! Guess what! It rained for pretty much 2 days straight! It was crazy! At first we were thinking it was going to be awful, but it was actually so great! We just had our little boots and jacket on with our umbrellas :) And since everyone here in California considers this basically a blizzard, everyone stays home, so everyone was home and let us in! It was awesome! I loved it! 

Time for the miracle: THE SILVESTRE FAMILY CAME TO CHURCH!!!!! Ah it was the best thing ever! All 5 of them! It went so great! The ward did awesome! Everyone was coming up, talking to them, and inviting them to all this stuff. AND! They already knew like 4 different members there! So that was awesome! The kids really liked primary and young womens, and the parents liked it as well! I'm really excited for them! They're still very fragile, cause they're SO catholic, but they came, and they liked it, so hopefully they'll just keep coming, praying and reading! For sure keep them in your prayers! They're such a cute family and totally act like they're already members. 

Another cool thing that happened this week: we were trying to see a former, and they didn't live there, but we felt like we still needed to be on that street for some reason, so we were looking around and decided to try this orange house (yes i know, orange haha) and the lady there let us come back, we had a really good lesson with her, and we put her on date! Super cool! Her name is Adriana, and unfortunately she couldn't come to church this week, but she should be coming this week! 

Hope everything is going well at home :) Love you mucho! 

Hermana Nelson 

ps what in the world I've been out a whole year! Where does the time go??

Decorating For Christmas!

Rainy Day!

Rainy Day!

December 1, 2014

Heyyyy! Sounds like you guys had a great Thanksgiving! We did as well, but you're right, I did miss my banana cream pie ;) Gloria invited us over for lunch, but when we got there was not done! So basically we cooked it because she still had to shower and get ready haha Hna. Glenn and I realized we know more about cooking then we thought we did! So we ended up being there for like 3 hours... and then it ended up being more like dinner. But it was really good. It made Gloria's day! Her family is a little crazy, so it was basically just us! However, right after that we had dinner with the Ortiz family. Oh my goodness. I thought I was going to die. I was already full, and I had to do it again! There were moments when I was like, "oh man, I'm not going to make it" haha but luckily I kept it all down! Hna. Glenn and I got in the car after and just wanted to die haha SO MUCH FOOD! But it was all really good! Then all the missionaries in Corona went to the Stake center for the night and we played soccer! I had to sit out the first game til my stomach settled though haha but it was a really good day!

Thanks for the Thanksgiving package! We ended up making the cookies with Monica and her kids and they loved it! I'll send a picture! They're so cute! It was fun, and then we were able to teach their whole family. But they didn't come to church again :( We were super sad! If they don't start really progressing soon, then we might have to drop them. Same with Gloria. She is the hardest person to teach! I love her to death, but she just gets so distracted and doesn't understand anything. She did come to church though! This transfer has just been so hard investigator wise. We are trying sooo hard and nothing is really coming from it. I know there are people ready here, it's just a matter of finding them! So we're just going to keep trying our best!

I am really excited about the new little video the church came out with for Christmas! If you haven't seen it yet, go see it! "He is the Gift"christmas.mormon.org and share it all over sociall media and with everyone! It's super good! I love it! We had a training on it with President Mullen this week on using it with everyone, so I think it will help us find some good people! The church is putting a lot into it! It's going to be on Time Square, it's going to be on the youtube home page, it's going everywhere! In the Ensigns it has 9 cards with the website on it, so make sure you pass them out to people :) It's a great way to feel the true meaning of Christmas. This is the special time of year that we can really focus on the Savior and give and serve to others as he would do. That's so awesome that you are studying the Gospels! Right? It's crazy how much more we can learn from it! You'll have to share with me some of your insights :) Well hope you have a great week! Love you: )

Hermana Nelson

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

Making the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Mom Sent!