Hato Rey week one

Well, Hato Rey is the city of the city here in Puerto Rico. It's literally the heart of San Juan. Everything cool about San Juan is in our area. So that's pretty cool. We have Plaza Las Americas which is the biggest mall in Puerto Rico, and it's ridiculously big. And the Old San Juan with the castle thing and all that is in our area. So that's cool. But it's a SUPER fast life here. People will very rarely stop to really talk with you on the street. And I got here and there was like no investigators. So we're contacting a TON.

One of the coolest experiences form this week was probably a lesson we taught on Sunday, to a guy who's like 48 and is totally accepting our message. His name is Juan and he's Dominican and lives in what is really known as the Dominican area of San Juan. He's super cool and really excited to learn more about the gospel. He even like invited himself to church on Sunday! So we'll see what happens, if he's really going to want to progress, but for him we're praying a ton!

We also set a baptismal date with a contact in the first visit. She's a really cool lady named Johanna and she wants to go back to a church and have the blessing of a true baptism in her life. It was a really cool lesson with her and I think it was completely guided by the spirit. But we'll see, if her husband keeps not showing a lot of interest in the gospel then we'll have to pass her off to the sisters here in Hato Rey.

Really that's what happened this week, not much to talk about because it was just a ton of contacting. My comp is Elder Munoz. He's from Mexico and has only 6 weeks here in Puerto Rico, so his Spanish is still really Mexican-ish if that makes sense. He served 7 months in Mexico while waiting for his Visa so he's not a greenie but he is newer here in Puerto Rico. But he's cool, the house is just a party with him and Suero and Elder Orr. Of course we get stuff done and we work like crazy but it's fun to be with them.

Worst part of the week was getting to the Hato Rey house and there was no food for a whole week. Hopefully today we can solve that hahahaha

I think that's about it. My life now has just turned into trying to learn the area, get a hang on the city and stuff and contact my butt off!

But the work is good and I love it still, no matter what the circumstances are. Because the work is needed everywhere!!

Love you all!

Zack

Transfer to Hato Rey tomorrow!

Well not a lot of time today, but update!

I'm being sent tomorrow to Hato Rey, which is a part of San Juan. I'll continue as District Leader and my companion is... well I forgot his name so obviously I don't know him. He's new in the mission and came from Mexico. So we'll see how it goes! And the Suero/Nelson legacy continues: I'll be living in the same house as Elder Suero!

This week was good, we were able as a companionship to hit all the standards of excellence (minus baptismal dates). Which is cool because I think the hardest part is member present lessons and investigators in church. And we had 4 investigators in church!! It was a really cool time in the church on Sunday.

Love, 

Elder Nelson

Justo is a crazy old man but came to church!

Caguas District

food with Willie Berrios today!

the view from Willie's house

Our buddy Tony bought us pizza on Friday

Obispo Arias!

 Hno Jose Santos

Santos family

Cute daughter of one of the members

 La 'Abuela' Aida Ortiz

so we found a mansion with a sweet pool

 La Hermana Maria Pineda who makes some bomb Mangu

Diantre Loco (today and last week's letter)

DIANTRE LOCO

What a wild week. It was soooo good but kinda disappointing at the same time. We had some really cool experiences but all together the sad part is that the people that we had planned to be baptizing on the 20th have all fallen through. Here's a list:

Facundo: talked with his pastor and he said that he can't be talking with other churches.

Jorge: cool story I'll share here shortly but he didn't come to church so he can't be baptized

Robert: I told that story last week but he's kinda crazy and we had to drop him

But the week was cool. We had a really awesome Zone Conference on Tuesday and heard some awesome talks. Sister Boucher knocked it out of the park with a talk about the Restoration. She just explained it so well. The APs gave some really cool talks and advice to the missionaries, and then President came in and just laid it out and man I always leave those meetings feeling so pumped to do the work! It was especially cool because after the meeting we had to go work and we didn't have any appointments. So we put into practice what they taught and we went out to contact and ended up finding 2 families and a really cool 19 year old guy! And then we went back and we were able to share that experience with President and the other leaders in the church that night. It's just amazing the revelation that we can receive for His work.

Another cool experience was when we went out and found a cool 24 year old guy, he's Jorge that I mentioned above. We found him and he invited us back on Friday. So we went and we had a really cool lesson. We extended the baptismal date to him for the 3rd of September, but then I just felt that he was ready. So we set it for the 20th. That's like 9 days of preparation to be baptized. He was all for it. But, you have to come to church before you can be baptized. And he didn't come yesterday because he had to deal with a little emergency that his girlfriend had. So he can't be baptized on the 20th either. Bummer. But, we'll see, he'll get baptized soon.

Other experience: we had been teaching a couple that're like 50 or so but then we dropped them because they didn't progress. But then Saturday we felt that we had to call them. So we did and we went to see them and we had a really cool lesson with a member and they committed to come to church next week. That's a miracle too. 

Just lots of cool small things that stick out and make you realize that this is His work and He's helping us in every bit of it. 

I can't really remember what else happened. I think that's about it. 

Next week we'll know the changes, probably I'll be leaving Caguas!

Love you all!

Zack

Zone Conference fun with Elder McClure

more Zone Conference fun with Elder Henriod

Artsy pic of mi hijo

LAST WEEK'S LETTER --

August 8, 2016

WELL what a week it was...

This week was full of ups and downs literally and figuratively. It was fun and I learned a lot but it was mentally stressful!

So we had a guy named Robert who had a baptismal date for the 6th, but then we found out that he's kinda crazy and really wasn't ever interested in the gospel. His loss. He never really wanted to commit to anything, just kinda went along with it. So, we dropped him. Bummer but there's more fish in the sea. Can't get too beat up over somebody that didn't want what we had to offer. Hopefully someday he comes around!

Friday, we had a really cool meeting for the District Leaders where President literally spoke to my needs like WOW he hit it right on the head. Gave me the info that I need! It was super spiritual and I learned a ton about how to really work and find and stuff, all through Faith. If we really understand that we are here on the Lord's errand and that we are entitled to His help, we will be able to achieve what He knows we can. The hard part is just putting it into practice. Because as a missionary everyone basically understands that we're here on the Lord's errand and that we can have His help but when we really get around to REALLY understanding it and putting it into our lives, we can achieve so much more than we get right now. It's just a matter of finding the way to change and be better and put that knowledge into our lives. And it goes for us as regular members too, or even normal people outside the church. We're here on earth to return back to Him and if we truly understand the divinity of who we are, and the help we're ENTITLED to, we can do so much more in our lives. We just need to understand where we truly come from and who we really are and then we can see the power that He can give to us in our lives. Then it becomes a matter of working on it.

President along with that, assigned a few scriptures, Moroni 7: 27-30, and 33. These verses talk about miracles and how even though Christ is not on the earth right now, the miracles continue to come to pass. But, they only come to pass according to our FAITH. Faith leads to action and then to the miracles. Idk, just some thoughts that I've had, lots of time spent thinking about these things and how to apply them to myself!

The week for us was cool but rough, we went up some unnecessary hills and then ended up not seeing the success that we wanted but now we have a basically clean slate and we're going to work hard to be able to see the results that the Lord has prepared for us to achieve in the next few weeks. Just comes down to dedication and desire I think. It's hard but worth it, and we're entitled to His help!

Anyways, Elder Colon and I get along super well, we're always laughing and having fun and enjoying the work. He definitely helps me to keep my attitude up!

Just think about the things that President Boucher talked about. As His children, in His plan, we are entitled to His help. If we feel lost or abandoned or anything like that, we have that promise. We are entitled to His divine help. That promise will always be present in our lives and I know that is true. Miracles have not ceased and I know that the chapter 7 of Moroni is true. Miracles have not ceased, but if we have ceased to see them in our lives, it is because we lack something. What more can we do? What do I lack? He will help us. This is His true church, the only one. He leads it and wants the best for us, as does His father. Do we have the faith?

Love you all!

Elder Nelson

 Me and Elder Ourth after the District Leader meeting

Loving the work!

So this week was cool! It didn't seem to be the most astounding week or anything but we did put into practice a lot of the things we have been studying for and talking about doing.

We're working with a man named Robert to get baptized this Saturday, and his story is pretty cool. We found him one night in the plaza contacting and then we passed by his house the other day and he received the message really well. So we set a date right there for the 6th, which has made things a little stressful because it's only like 2 weeks of preparation. But he's totally in on it! He loves coming to church and came to a baptismal service on Saturday and loved it too. So he's progressing really well, we'll see if he'll be ready for the 6th!

Also our convert Hector from like a month ago is doing super well. We're teaching his neighbor/friend and he helps us out in the lessons. It was really cool because in the lesson Hector said "if you like the church and learn a lot, you can get baptized too, just like me!" Obviously it didn't sound so little kiddish but that was the essence of what he said. Already a great missionary!! And he comes to church and loves it, reads and participates in the lessons and stuff. It's just really cool to see his progression!

This week I had the really awesome experience of interviewing a man named Marcos to be baptized. I got to teach him one day in an exchange with Elder Fox. He's such a cool guy, probably about 70 years old. He has embraced the gospel. His interview was one of the most spiritual experiences I've been able to have in a while. At first like 3 weeks ago he didn't want to get baptized, but now he loves the church and he and his wife Elba have really just loved the gospel and it has changed their lives. He just kept telling me that he needed to be baptized. Needed to do it. He really felt the answer to his prayer.

Also I got to see Elder Suero this week! He came down to Caguas with President Boucher to go to the doctor (again). And they came and saw us and President bought us ice cream. President and I just love making jokes about Suero's constant need to be in the doctor's office, hahahahaaha!

It's been super hot here and apparently there's supposed to be a tropical storm here but it just kinda rained hard for like 2 hours and now it's hot and sunny.

Anyway, I love this work. I love this gospel. I know it's true. If it wasn't, I would not be here. It is inspired and guided by His hand. I can see it every day.

Love you all!

Zack

This is Elba and Marcos. They're recent converts of the other elders but they're just so cool and you just have a special connection with them right when you meet them. They just love the gospel!

My shoes