Dear Familia, September
23, 2013
The rivalry will never
die, I just have to thank President Erickson for putting me in this zone,
because there was a U student in the other zone and he would have rubbed it in
;) Also, who’s that girl in the picture
you sent me...surely not Melissa? She looks taller...and older....nope not my
little sis.
*Do the wards there
have any activities like this? Things they can invite their friends to to
socialize, etc?
Yes we have ward
activities. Usually it’s some crafty thing or food for the sisters, like how to
prepare a whole dish, or there’s a weekly soccer game for the men, and this
past week they all watched remember the titans. The elders’ quorum presidency
is trying to put together a weekly mutual that makes them more of a cohesive
group and that’s really good to have something every week to invite
investigators to. Just this last week a youth brought a friend to church, and
she will be receiving the lessons soon. The only problem is that 90 percent of
the members live in the other area, so when people bring their friends they
rarely are from our area.
*Is it a wealthier
area?
Definitely a wealthier
area, more educated with bigger houses and little lawns a lot of the time in
front. The people have more money in this part
of the ward and so they are less, but we are currently working on trying to
locate all the less actives on this side to make that a big focus,
reactivation.
*Are there store
nearby (I was considering putting additional money in your account for
Bday/Christmas) If so what kind? Are the fast food like Subway or
just taco truck like places?
The only type of store
nearby is like an Albertsons type store, not much there but electronics and
groceries. As for fast food, the nearest is KFC close to the stake building,
which is out of my area, but there’s little stores gas station convenience type
stores on every corner and pollerias every few blocks. Really though for
birthday or Christmas I’d like it better if you could send a package, I don’t
know with what, but something small. I really haven’t used my personal money
becasue there’s not much to use it on, we have almost everything we could want
from the mission.
*At one time you said
the only thing that will change on your mission is the horizon...is that still
true?
Change is an interest
subject. Honestly I know I have changed. I know that I’m becoming more patient,
I am learning to love people on first sight and to really open my heart even if
I‘ve only known them for a few days. I don’t know how much more I’ve learned, but
I know it’s a ton, and I know that I will keep learning for a long time. The
horizon on my mission is basically the same here in comas too, but the hills
are on the other side now,
What is your
district/Zone like? I know you said there are many more, do you know why?
My district is 6
elders now, and my zone is 19, 5 sisters and 14 elders. We have a weekly
meeting and it’s a lot of fun to see how the others are all doing. My whole
district is training. 3 trainers and 3 trainees. I think it’s just a bigger
stake and for that there are more missionaries-
*Are you closer to the
mission offices? I googled the area of Comos...it seems like a large area.
Yes I’m closer to the
offices, but not by much. The whole mission is within about an hour of the
offices, so now instead of within 40 minutes I’m at about 20 or 25. Comas is
like a county, it’s called a municipality, not sure exactly if that translates
right.
*Did you get to bring
your kettle with you? What kind of cooking set up do you have?
I didn’t bring my
kettle because elder De Leon would have been high and dry without breakfast for
a few days, so it was a gift, but now we have pension in the morning and in the
evening, we run there about 1 kilometer for exercise in the morning, and then
come back and get ready to study.
*You said the
apartment was nicer...how? Are there 4 elders in the apartment or just
you and your comp.?
Its bigger, on the 3rd
story and newer. Just me and Elder Mariscal are here and the only problem is
that we still don’t have a hot water doohickey for the shower. ooooh frio!
*You mentioned that
you had to let your companion know the sad truth that some missionaries are not
very obedient. Reality is hard. Will he join you in being obedient.and
immediately so?
Yes, he’s super
obedient and it’s great, When you are obedient, you just feel good, every day
and all day. Look for the experience from my letter to President to see a
description of how he is.
*Have you gotten used
to all the walking...or do you get to take public transportation in this area?
We take public
transportation more in this area, and its a little strange to be using so much
more of the transportation fund that we get, but its definitely okay, because I’d
rather not walk more than the estimated average we do of between 8 and 10
kilometros every day.
*I noticed that you
were the only one is short sleeves in one of your recent pictures. Is
your wardrobe sufficient? Is it beginning to be short-sleeve weather
there?
Its starting to warm
up here already, but I will need a new sweater for next winter, sweaters every
single day for the past 4 or 5 months definitely was a little much with just
two sweaters. If you do send a package, some more ankle socks now that we run for
exercise would be great, the ones from my room should be fine.
Experience from my
letter to president.
This
week was really hard. It felt like we were doing everything right, working
hard, contacting looking for members and less actives, following the schedule
to a T and generally just being really obedient faithful missionaries. The
problem was that those we planned to visit weren’t home, and those that were
home refused more than once to let us share a short lesson. We had one day this
week when we literally walked all day long from one appointment to the next,
plan A plan B and then plan C fell through, and I couldn’t figure out why it
was so hard to get anything accomplished. We have been working with a less
active family trying to help them decide to come back to church after 10 years,
and we found out that she didn´t come back because she had a bad experience
with a priesthood leader telling her she couldn´t take the sacrament just yet.
She also has fibro myalgia, so coming will be a physical challenge as well.
Last night we had a lesson with her family where her 24 year old daughter
expressed more or less the first part of this letter. She was a good member,
even preparing for a mission and then her mom got sick and there were a bunch
of other family problems, and she didn´t understand how God could let that
happen. We shared a scripture about Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail that now I can
apply to our situation as well. We´ve done all we can and now we have to
entregar our area into His hands and learn from the experience.
Other than everything here I’m fine,
this week wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle and don’t worry. I do have a
question. What is the name of that foto of the stripling warrior and his
mom?
I love you all and hope you are all
doing your best with the missionary work there!
Love,
Elder Nelson