#75

Hey family! Good to hear from everyone once again! 

Well, this week has been a super fun one! It has gone by super fast, and we are happy! 

To start things off, in a few hours we are headed off to quito for the leader´s conference once again...It is a bittersweet feeling, becuase I get to see all of my friends and eat good food, but at the same time I use up a whole day in Quito! But, I won´t complain. It should be great! I am excited to see what the topics will be this week. So, I will be in the bus today for five hours...just like going to grandpa´s house!

This week the mission had a sister´s conference, where all the sisters went to quito, and also a district leader meeting, so we were in a trio with the companion of our district leader, elder hunt. His name is elder lopez and he is from colorado, and he reminds exactly of spencer boster! Needless to say, we had a blast! The first night we were together we bought pizza, and the second night ice cream. We didnt get much sleep in those two nights, and we were super tired for some of the lessons. We watched a video with a family, and I ended up sleeping through most of the lesson! Luckily today we are going to be in the bus for so long so I can catch up on the sleep I missed out on! The week went by fast, and the work went really well. 

Our zone has really picked things up these last two weeks. We are looking really good now! I am super happy, because I finally think that we have fixed things up. The missionaries are happy, working hard, and getting ready to break the recod and be the best baptizing zone of the mission. We had 100 people attending church this week, which is excellent. The members are great, they are helping us with the work, and are starting to look more like a ward. Really, I am super happy with the mission work here in Riobamba. I have seen a huge turnaround in the zone and in the branches as well. I actually wouldnt be too sad to end the mission here! All of the elders call me crazy for saying that, but, I really enjoy it here. We have quite a few people that are attending church, and so we hope to see a few baptisms in the near future. Sunday was really stressfull because my comp and i spent the whole time helping out all of the investigators we had in church. Luckily the members are good and helped us out! 

The time is flying by so fast! We are already starting week four of the transfer. I am getting along well with my companion. He is a cool guy. I would be fine staying with him for a few more months. It is scary to think that I have only six months left here in the mission....the time is just flying by...Elder Cook sent me a photo and told me that he is engaged! Good for him! 

I am glad everything is going well back home! Keep working hard, be safe, and know that I am always praying for you all! 

Have an excellent week! 

Love,

Elder Nielson 

#74

Hey family! Great to hear from you all again! 

Well, this week has been so much better then last week! We have been finally able to work! It really drives me crazy when we cant work! So this week has been a great relief for me. We spent quite a bit of time in our sector this week, so we are really happy with that! The zone is having success, and so are we, so i am defintely pleased! 

the family tagua, the family of four that we have as investiagtors, are still going through a lot of problems with money. They had a lot of success in the week of carnaval selling foam spray, but, the husband saturday night went and lost 150$ betting in volleyball games. When sunday morning rolled around, only the wife and kids attended church because he went to work to make up for the money that he lost. That night, my companion and i talked to him privatley, and we gave it to him pretty hard for being so inprudent with the money that they need so bad. The wife and children have accepted the gospel and want to be baptized, but we want to wait for the husband so they can all be baptized together..we will see how things go with them! We also had a few baptisms this saturday! It was a great experiance because we have reactivated a family of four, the family palacios. He was able to baptize his son, and i also baptized another kid who´s family we reactivated. The work of salvation is great! We are going to continue looking for more people for the future.

On tuesday carnaval officially come to an end, so my comp and i took advantage and filled up about 30 water balloons and at lunch time we went up to the roof of our apartment and soaked the people that passed in the streets! Revenge!!! Haha it was so fun! We need to implement that holiday in the states! 

This week President and the Assistents came down to Riobamba to talk to us about the sectors and a little more about forming the stake in riobamba. My companion and I talked to them for an hour, and it was a great experiance to make plans for the future. We are seeing a huge change in Riobamba, in the missionaries and in the members, and I personally am really pleased for the difference here! it turns out that my sector is so big, that is goes to the border of Peru!! But, President told us taht we couldnt go clear over there, although it is part of our sector haha! 

We had a great P-day today! We have been playing basketball every p-day for the last 2 months, and it is great! It is me and my comp and elder lopez and elder hunt. They are two great missionaries and buddies of mine. We played for three hours today! It sure is fun to have fun! Afterwards, we played uno in the chapel with the whole district. The losers had to buy Bon-ice, an ice cream down here, for everyone. The sisters lost, but, they were smart and took off running before they had to pay. It was definitelly a great day!

The zone is doing much better now! We are starting to pick things up and get them running again! Almost everyone in the zone has someone that has goals to be baptized, which is very great here in riobamba! 

My comp is a good guy, we work hard, and he is humble, so we get along well! Sometimes he asks me silly stuff and says awkward things to the people, but, I sure get a laugh out of him! I am happy with him! I am helping him to be a leader here in the mission, because soon he and other missionaries with lesser time will be the leaders of the mission. 

I am happy, all is well with the zone and my sector, we are working hard, I am focused in the work, and not as tired as i was before! The time is flying bye, but, I am enjoying every day! I love you all so much! I always pray for you and wish the best!

I hope you all have a great week!

Love,

Elder Nielson 

#73

Hey family! It is good to be able to read your email once again!

Wow! It sure has been one interesting week! I dont even know where to start! The time, like i always say, is just flying by! The holidays here were crazy! I will make sure to tell you how everything went. 

Well, to start things out this week, I am getting to know my companion better. I am still a little upset that elder loza got sent out, but my comp is a really good guy too. He is from bolivia, and he is a bit of a nerd, but in a good way! In his scriptures he has stickers of digimon and dragonball Z, but i get along with him really well. He is a humble guy, and he is still really surprised that he is now a zone leader. He keeps telling me that "I feel like I am just doing splits with the zone leaders"...he reminds me a little of elder calhoun from the best two years...."should i write that down?" haha! I am going to enjoy the change with him, he is a cool guy and we are working hard. 

This week latin and central america have celebrated something scalled "carnaval". In this time period, it is completely aceptable to soak people with water, throws eggs, foam from a can, and flour at them, and basically act like crazy people! We spent the whole week running, and getting wet. you will see from the pictures how bad it was! Becuase everybody was on the street celebrating and getting drunk so much, there wasnt much time to work. We are a little anxious to finally be able to work this week! We didnt have anyone at church this week. Only 50 people assisted. The rest went out to sell things for the carnaval weekend. But, next week will be better! 

We had a fun service project as a district this week. We were able to help an old lady change houses. We loaded all of her stuff in the back of a shipping truck, and we all loaded up in the back and headed out to help her move in to her new house. The only problem was when we were in the back of the truck going to the new house. Some how, the sisters found a can of foam, and as you can see from the pictures, sprayed me and the district leader, elder hunt. We had no place to hide, so we just had to take it. It was great to serve! 

We had an activity of the branch today, it was great! We played carnaval, and i got completely deystroyed!! Everyone had flour, eggs, and water. We spent the whole time getting soaked. I had a bucket, so i made sure to soak the whole branch. Afterwards, they all gained up on me, and so i ran from them for a while, but afterwards they caught me and gave it to me hard! It was a fun activity, and it was great to reunite us as a family branch. About 40 people attended, so we were happy. 

Then after the branch party, one of the district leaders called us, asking us to come to their chapel fast so they could give us a few papers that we needed to send in to the offices. When we got to the chapel, we opened the outside door and walked around to the soccor court, where the other missionaries were waiting us. Then, we were ambushed by the whole zone! They all got out of their hiding spots and atacked me and my companion. They had us all surrounded, so we just had to take it. I took two eggs to the head, lots of tint, foam, water, and i dont know what else! You can see what happened in the pictures. needless to say, I spent a long time in the shower! 

So that has been my week, a lot of celebrating, and not too much working! I am a little anxious to get back to work. We are needing to spend more time there. We are hoping that we can do just that this week! I am happy, I am healthy, and I am working hard! Time is moving bye so fast! It is great to be a part of the work of the lord! I really enjoy it. I am learning so much, and I hope to learn even more. I love you all so much and pray for you often! Have an excellent week!
Love,
Elder Nielson 

#72

Hey family! Great from hearing from you this week! I am sorry I didnt get a chance to write last week! We were super busy! The time is flying bye! I can´t believe that we are in the second month of february! That is great to hear that all is starting to green up back home! It rains every day here in Riobamba, but after the clouds go away it is super hot! It is a pretty bi-polar climate. But, I am really enjoying my time here in the mission. I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else. I have reflected a lot today about who I am now. I have gone through such a change in my life. I couldn't be more blessed for being where I am. 

Well, I will try to explain what has happened the last two weeks! It feels like it has only been one week since the last time I wrote. The time has gone by so fast and so many things has happened I tend to forget! And it is really hard to find time to write in my journal.....really really hard....

Ok, to start off, last week we had the zone leader's council, and it was my favorite that I have been to now! It was counsel #9 for me, so that means that is has been 9 months being a ZL. We talked a lot about not fearing man. How we should fear God more. It was a great energizer for us as zone leaders. It helped us keep focused in the mission and what we need to accomplish as zone leaders. At times I feel myself slacking from my duties, wanting to rest a little. But, I feel rededicated and willing to finish the last seven months of the mission strong. I can't help but imagine how I will get home...super tired! I suppose like one of those work-horses that work all of their life and die right afterwards? haha. 

Elder Loza and I were able to have a zone conference and we capacitated about the things we learned in the leader's council. The zone really took the things to heart, and we were really happy for the spirit that we felt teaching that if we fear God more, we will be more obediente and more diligent. Really it all has to deal with how converted the missionary is. If the missionary is converted and has a strong testimony, he or she will work hard, be obediente, and have success. You can still enjoy the mission and have lots of laughs and fun, but you just have to put the Lord in first place for this time period. It really is simple! I feel that I am a converted missionary=) 

Last week was a tough week, we found a few missionaries doing things that they shouldn't. President was called, and the four missionaries were all sent home. I won't write any more details. Sad day. This sunday, my companion and I were the only two missionaries that were at church in our branch! There were six before. 

Well, we had transfers this week. My companion elder loza headed out to open a new zone in guaranda, which was part of our zone the last transfer. We were super sad, and he didn't end up leaving the house until about 3:30. He has been my favorite companion so far, and we were only together for six weeks. I am sad about that, but the Lord works in mystierous ways i suppose. He is training elder Russon, my old comp from idaho falls, as a zone leader, and I am training a new zone leader once again. His name is elder bustillos, and he is from la paz, bolivia. He seems like a super humble and quiet guy. Usually they are all like that from bolivia. I believe that we are going to have a few great changes together. It will be great to train a new zone leader. He will have a year in the mission this transfer. He and other elders that recently are becoming zone leaders are the future of the mission, and so it is our duty to train them to be good leaders.  I am kind of thinking that I will be with him for three more months in riobamba, and then I will go and train a new missionary to end the mission. I think we are going to have a great time together! 

We have a baptism that is scheduled for this saturday. It is a 9 year old who lives with a less-active family that we are going to reactivate. It should be a lot of fun! The family tagua are also progressing! They couldn't attend church this week because their clothes they were going to wear to church got soaking wet from a freak rain storm that came through....I am so blessed to have more then three pairs of clothes. It really opened up my eyes when they told us that they didnt have any more clothes to wear. We live in a very blessed country. Please, always remember that! 

Well, I suppose this super long letter makes up for not sending one last week...=) I still don't have any pictures...it is too dangerous to carry around the camera. But I will see what I can do! 

This next week we are going to be super busy dividing sectors in my branch, and getting all the missionaries settled in, but all is well! I am ready for the challenge. Super tired, but ready! Thanks for the letter family! I love you all so much and hope you have an excellent week! I am always praying for you all. 

Hasta la próxima,

Élder Nielsón  

  

Letter to Dad:

hey dad sounds good about the cows. Glad they are looking so good. How are the prices doing? I bet stake conference was great! It will be cool to go with you to stake conference next year. I am healthy, but super tired. What did you do when you got tired in the mission dad? I feel that I have worked so hard that I am almost spent. Did you ever feel like that in the mission? What did you do to get over it? Thanks for writing me dad! I love you and miss you too. 

Love Kurt

#71

Hey, my comp and i are leaving right now to go to the zone conference....i hope i can find time to write once we are there...if not, know that i am healthy, and all is well. I will try and find time to write everyone....

Bye! 

Well, we got here safe to quito! All is well, it was a good trip and now we are going to the hospital because my companion is going to have an exam. I wont be able to write any more, but all is well! We found an awesome family this week that attended church, and they are progressing really really well! We are super happy! I love my comp, my sector, and everything. We have plans to beg President that we can stay together for a few changes tomorrow in the leaders conference. It will be a good conference! We are excited. We will get home tomorrow night at about 9 or ten. I will let you know more on friday once we get more time to write. Please tell everyone that i couldnt reply to their emails becuase i only have 15 minutes to write today! 

I love you all! 

Elder Nielson

Hey Mom! I was going to send you something on monday about your birthday, but I didnt have any time! So sorry for that! 

I just want to wish you a late happy birthday! I promise you I realy did remember it was your birthday! I was in bed at 10:30 at night, and i remembered and told my comp, so he is a witness!

It sounds like you had an excellent day! I am so glad all is well back home. You always seem busy, and do so much for the family! You defenitely are the best mom ever!=)

I love you!

Elder Nielson 

#70

Hello family! Great to hear from you all again! It honestly seems like I was doing this same thing a day ago! But, really it was a week ago! Where does the time go? I seriously cannot believe how fast it goes!

Well, this week has been another normal week! Or, in other words, a busy one! It seems like we always have work to do, and it reminds me of how the lord is hastening his work.

The mission work in our sector is going great! It is hard because the sector is a little dangerous and we have to avoid a lot of parts, but the people are great! We are teaching a few families now, and they are on the verge of progressing. The people here take a little more time to accept the gospel then what I am used to, but I am really excited for what is to come. My companion and I have been talking, and we know in about a month we are going to have a lot of success, and we are both ready for our hard work to pay off! It always takes about a month or two or three to fix up sectors that were beaten up by other missionaries. but, we know the time will come when we got the sector up and running again! I absolutely love my companion! He is such a cool guy! We get along really well, and we hope we can stick together for a few changes! 

Well, something interesting that happened this week was that I broke a bus door...The buses here in riobamba go from one side of the city to the other, and so they are always jammed packed. We were going to visit a companionship of elders one day, and so I was using my hand to stabalize myself in the bus (we were standing up) When the bus stopped to drop a few people off, my thumb got caught in the part of the door that opens, and so it started to pinch my thumb. It hurt, and so with my other hand i punched the door hard to get it to stop opening, and it broke the hydralic part that opens the door. I suppose it was a little weak to begin with, and when i punched it, it gave up the ghost! I felt kind of bad for breaking it, but, I still have my thumb intact! It was numb for a few days, but all was well! It was funny watching people having to squeeze through the one half of the door that wasnt broken to get in and out, and we headed off the bus before I had to pay for the door.

We had a way fun pday today! We went as a zone to visit Chimborazo! That mountain I told you about last week? We rented a bus and a tour guide and made our way up to the halfway point of the mountain. When we got out of the bus, we could sure feel the cold! I bet it was about 20 degrees. Colder then I have felt in a really long time! There was snow on the ground, and we had some pretty fun snowfights! But, we were so high up in the air, that we could run for about 30 seconds and then we would be dead tired! It was crazy to feel the altitude! It was also great to feel some snow once again! We climbed a ways up the mountain for thirty minutes with the guide, and we were all super tired! About every five minutes we had to take breaks because there was just no air! It is funny to feel the difference of being home, and being here! We are definitely pretty high up! We saw quite a few llamas, and also a fox! It was a great P-day and a great way to relax for the day. It was also great because I contracted the guide and bus, which costed about $110. Ït was a great experiance being able to make plans and work with the bus business and the tour guide to get everything set up. I learned a lot! I would send pictures of the activity, but the internet cyber we are in now is really trashy, and so I am sure there are tons of viruses, and I dont want to ruin my memory card, so I will send them this Friday! 

Well family, that has been my week! All is well, I am super happy, working hard, and trying not to count down the time. I hit the seven-months-left mark soon. Wow. Time is flying, and I am loving every minute of it! I am growing and learning so much. The Lord is shaping me into what I need to be. It is such a blessing to place my life in his hands for two years. I love the Lord, and I love his work! 

I am always praying for you all, and hope you have an excellent week! Be safe! 

Love,

Elder Nielson  

#69

Hola familia! 

Wow, it has been another week! The time just goes by so quickly! I can hardly believe it! We are almost through with January! I am starting to get a little worried....In seven months...I will be home....Scary. 

Well, this week has been a super busy one! We spent about two days working in our sector, and the rest of the time we were balancing other missionaries, having interviews with President, and doing divisiones with guarnanda, a part of the zone two hours away from the city of riobamba. I am sure i will forget to write some stuff, but i am gonna try to remember it all! 

Well, to start the week off, President and his wife made a trip down to riobamba to have interviews with the zone. It was a great day, and we learned a lot from what President told us. Because there are so many companionships in the zone, he told me and my comp that we didnt need personal interviews, and that he would just talk with us as a companionship. We were in the interview for about 5 minutes, in comparison to the 20 minute interviews he did with all the other missionaries, but it was great to hear what he told us. As of this point in time, the district Riobamba, consisting of 5 branches, has the numbers to become a stake. But, the members lack understanding, and dont support the local priesthood leaders that well. So President gave me and my companion the special assignment to go around to every branch capacitating about the importance of supporting the church leaders and being true members. He told us that if we can get the district energized, we can make a stake. President just has to say the word, and the stake will start to be organized. but, we are wanting the members to act more like members first. So President told us that he had called us to be here together in this time to complete with this goal. To make a stake! Wow! Talk about a lot of pressure! But, we are starting off well. We had a meeting with the District President, who had also talked to President about his plans, and we set some goals for the zone and also the branches. I also gave a talk this sunday about the importance of love within our branch, and how we are a family and how we should treat each other like family, and it seems to be helping more the branch. We are super excited!! 

This thursday we also went out to Guaranda to do splits. There is a district out there with two branches, so we stayed for 24 hours with the missionaries. I worked in the north branch with two sets of elders, and my comp worked in the south branch with the other two. It was a great day! I really enjoyed being out there, and we got a lot of work done, and the elders now trust in us and are working hard! The trip over there is two hours in bus, and we go through some beautiful scenery! It looked about like we were going through burns, desert-like. But, the only difference was that we saw tons of wild llamas! Seriously!! It was SO cool! We probably saw about 300 of them. We also passed by the mountain chimborazo. It is HUGE! You will have to look it up on the internet, because, once again, i didnt take pictures...i just dont like to look like a tourist. And i dont want my camera stolen...

I stayed the night in the house of a companionship of elders, and we had to get back to our sector early, so I gt up at 5 to get showered and ready to go. I looked around for the shower for a bit, and i couldnt find it, so i finally asked the elders where it was, and they pointed outside! The shower was in a little outhouse right beside the house...talk about freezing cold at 5 in the morning!!! But, it was a great split, and we had a great time. 

After that, we got to our sector and got to work the whole day friday and saturday. We are working hard in our sector, and we are having tons of fun! I love it here in riobamba! The people are great! Every saturday they do huge parades where traditional dance groups dance. I got a few pictures, and it was way cool to see the costumes and the way they dance! I loved it! 

The zone this week got a ton better! My companion and I gave a great "energizer talk", and everyone had a great week! Everyone is starting to finally work! We are happt to finally see some life out of the missionaries. They had been so tired for so long, but, now we are starting to warm back up. The month of february should be an excellent month! We are hoping for a complete turn-around here!=) 

Well family, I am happy, I am working hard, and I am loving the mission! My comp is great, the work is great, and i love the lord! At times I think I should be tired...and at times I am super tired. But, the Lord really is giving me so much strength. It is such a miracle to see his hand in my life. He has changed me. And I am proud to be one of his servents. 

Have an excellent week!=) I love you all so much! 

Elder Nielson