Mayaguez Zone doing good!

This week went by really fast and it probably felt that way because I wasn't even present in my own area for like 3 days this week!

On Tuesday we had our first Zone Meeting and I was kinda nervous to teach in it but all together I think it went super well. We're seeing some super cool results from the zone lately and it's just awesome to see how the missionaries respond to things that the Lord wants them to do in His work! For 2 straight weeks, the Mayaguez Zone has had the most lessons with members present which is super cool. And this last week we found 94 new investigators, which seems like it never really happened before in this zone!

Wednesday I was on an exchange in Cabo Rojo with Elder Herrera and it was kinda rough because we left the house and immediately we got poured on. But we ended up having a good day and I think we both learned some really cool concepts. Thursday I was here in San German and it was cool, we had a good day but honestly I have no idea what happened that day.

We've found a lot of really cool families lately and it's been super cool but really weird. Every time we find a family they're really awesome and seem to be interested but then when we go back they're not there or they're ignoring us or something! It's weird. But we'll see. Somebody's gotta get baptized here soon!

Saturday I was on an exchange in Guaynabo with Elder Wayman. So we had to drive the 2 hours up there Friday night and got there at like 11:30 and then went out and had a really cool day on Saturday. Like it felt really short but we had some really solid lessons and I learned a lot from Elder Wayman. (oh yeah, he's an assistant to the President, so as I'm a new ZL they have to do an exchange with me). But it was really cool! Then we drove the 2 hours home Saturday night.

Sunday we had a cool Stake Conference. It was actually just a satellite conference with some of the 12 Apostles, specifically for the Caribbean members. This March, Elder Andersen will be coming to Puerto Rico and will be staying a week. So maybe I'll get to meet him!!

That was really the week. It wasn't like super great but we're learning and soon we should hopefully have someone (or a family) to baptize. Just working out the quirks right now.

This is His work and His church and I know it with all my heart. If anyone lacks this testimony, all you have to do is read and pray. He will answer!!

Love you all!

Zack

 after the exchange with Elder Wayman

little bit of San German!

MAN THIS WEEK WAS SWEET!

Ok, so here goes...

Really there wasn't a whole ton of stuff that happened, we just worked like crazy and found 20 new investigators this week! We found some solid families and had some solid lessons and it was just a really fun week for working.

I don't even remember half of the things that happened this week. We went out with a member on Tuesday to go to a lesson but all of our plans fell through. So we ended up contacting with him and we got 2 lessons and 3 new investigators with him. The people just seemed to receive us like crazy this week, and I think a lot of it comes from us being willing to talk with everyone. We literally try to contact everyone that we see. Especially families and that has been super successful for us.

On Wednesday we had to get up early at like 5:45 to be able to leave early and drive from San German to Guayanabo for MLC (Missionary Leadership Council). So we were pooped and had to drive like 2 hours to get there. But we got there and President was all pumped about some activity they wanted to do. So we all got in the big white mission van (there's 20 of us, Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders) and we went out to Old San Juan where they had us run around and do a scavenger hunt. We were in teams of ZL and STL from our respective zones and had an hour to run around Old San Juan and find random stuff. We had tons of fun and we were sure that we were going to win but then... we lost, hahahahaha, but it was really fun! Then we ate and a bird pooped on me and stained my tie. Then we went to President's house and we had the real meeting and it was super cool. It's interesting to hear him teach in English, he's even more powerful! It's just a spiritual feast coming out of President's house!

On Thursday we had a super cool lesson with the cousins of a recent convert family that Elder Corales baptized a month ago. Super cool, but the sisters are going to have to teach them because there's only women in the house and ya know. But anyways, they'll get baptized either way!

On Friday a crazy lady took us all over town. She was pushing her 17 year old son around in a stroller because he can't walk... we started helping her with the stroller to get them home because she was pushing up a giant hill. But then she took us all over town because she had no idea where she lived!!! We literally pushed her stroller for like an hour and a half!! It was nuts...

On Sunday we were able to bring 9 people to church!! We found a family of 7 on Friday and they committed to come to church and to a baptismal date for the 28th! AND THEY ALL CAME TO CHURCH. Plus 2 other investigators we found. So it was awesome.

And we found out today that Mayaguez, the smallest zone, had the most lessons with member present this last week. So that's super cool to hear!! Things are super good!

I don't even have time nor do I remember everything that happened this week. It was just super cool.

Love you all!

Zack

MLC scavenger hunt

 Elder Corales found a Coqui

Mission Leadership Council in Old San Juan

San German

So this week was interesting! San German is a really cool area, but man it's super different from San Juan!! It's all rural... just a lot of trees and farms and stuff! But it's really cool and the ward here is awesome. The bishop really knows what he's doing and is super involved in the missionary work. So that part is really good!

This week before I left San Juan, Penelope and her family took us out to ice cream and it was super fun just hanging out with them. We were all sitting there around a fountain in the plaza eating our ice cream and all of a sudden Penelope dropped her ice cream and it landed like so stereotypically perfect on the ground like it happened in a movie or something. And Penelope was just super funny. She just sat there and said "Welp. It wasn't worth eating anyway!" She makes me laugh so much, hahahaha. After going out with them, we went and said goodbye to Maria and her family.

Tuesday was transfers... And that was a long day. Like not really, but we just kinda hung around all day, then at 5 we went to Guayanabo to the trainers meeting where all the greenies and their trainers meet for the first time. I got to meet my grandson! I don't remember his name... but he's from Colorado. So that was cool. And then we left from Guayanabo at 6. The thing is, San German is 2.5 hours away from Guayanabo... So we had to drive and drive and drive to San German. Then we had to go even further to take other missionaries to home in Cabo Rojo. So we got home at about 9pm and I was pooped. So that was transfers. But Elder Corales is super cool. He's from Panama and is in my group. Amazing missionary and I'm pumped to work with him.

Most of the week was spent contacting, but we did find some cool people and set 2 new baptismal dates. One of them is Santos Silva, who was an old investigator that Corales had but they dropped him and so we went back and he's been reading the Book of Mormon for a while and is on like page 237 or something cool like that. So he's got a date now. And the daughter of a family that Corales baptized last transfer now has a date too, she didn't get baptized with the fam because she had to stop drinking coffee. But now she's ready!

I went on an exchange with Elder Russell on Saturday in Aguadilla. It was really cool. He's full Native American, and he doesn't have very good Spanish yet but the guy just goes out there and talks!! It was really cool to see.

The zone is good, we're just focusing a lot this coming week on setting new baptismal dates and getting people to church with the help of the members. Hopefully we can see some progress here in the Mayaguez zone!

Love you all, hope you had a good Christmas! This is His church and wants us all to have the truth!!

Love,

Zack

Saying goodbye to Penelope!

Christmas 2016 - Baptized Penelope!

Sooo this week was a little rough. We worked really hard to try and reach our goal of two baptisms, but in the end the second baptism ended up falling through and we only achieved one. But one is one!!

Penelope's baptism was super cool. It was really funny because we went with the ZLs to do the interview Saturday morning at Penelope's house and she was just super prepared. Like one of the smartest little girls I know. She went into the interview with Elder Ourth and he came out afterwards just smiling and was like blown away by Penelope and how much she knows about the gospel. Elder Ourth asked her why she wanted to be baptized and she said, "so that I can have the Holy Ghost", and then Ourth asked, "why do you want the Holy Ghost?" and she responded "so it's with me forever!" She's just such a cute and smart little girl!!!

Christmas in the mission just isn't the same... it's cool and all but it's just not the same at all. Especially when it doesn't get cold and there's no snow or even cold rain hahahaha. But I guess it was cool this year, we got to skype the fam and that was sweet! It's kinda awkward sometimes because it's like... what do I say hahaha. But I got to see some cousins and parts of the Nelson side of the family. All the cousins look like they're like 2x the size that they were when I left! We ate a lot of rice with these things that idk what they're called in English- arroz con gandules. Y nos dieron pernil (idk how to say that in English either) But whatever I just know that it was a lot of food so that was tight. We hung out with the neighbors quite a bit and played a lot of pool. I always ended up losing because I could never get the 8 ball in. I'm good up until the end hahahaha

Oh and transfers! I'm getting moved to San German, which is on the west side of the island. I'll be a Zone Leader and my comp will be Elder Corales (I think that's how you spell his name). Elder Colon is going to stay here in San Juan as District Leader and he'll be training a greenie! I'm gonna be a grandpa! So that's cool. It's sad to leave San Juan but I'm excited to have something new, and it'll probably be my last area before going home!

Hope everyone had a rad Christmas and was able to spend it with the family. I'm so glad to be a part of this gospel and His work. This is His church. He lives. He died for us and was resurrected so that we too can have the chance to live again. Thanks to Him, the promised blessings can be ours. 

Love you all!

Elder Nelson

Baptism pics with Penelope!  I baptized Penelope (age 9) on Christmas day!

 Elder Nelson and Penelope

Elder Colon, Penelope and me

opening presents on Christmas morning!

 me and Rafael Cuevas

 with Zadkiel (super cool 10 year old)

Elder Nelson and Elder Colon with President and Sister Boucher (23 Dec, Zone Christmas party)

More pictures from the San Juan Zone Christmas Party (Dec. 23, 2016)

 MTC group back together in the San Juan zone!

 w/ Elder Colon

 w/ Elder Gil

 w/ Elder Hanna

 w/ Elder Ourth

Cool Week!

Things have been crazy good here. Yesterday we were able to get 5 investigators to church and we have some super cool people that are progressing towards baptism. The sad part is that I'm probably going to get pulled out of the area this coming week. I haven't been this sad for transfers to come before in my mission. I've just grown to love some of these people over the last few weeks and it's been ridiculously cool to see them progress and learn about the gospel.

Coraimy is family of a member. We're teaching her and her ex-husband (they separated recently but he comes by to hang with the kids). Coraimy is SOOOOO prepared! She wants to change her life and be better and get closer to her Heavenly Father, so it's been really cool to work with her. We saw her desire the first time we met with her and so this week we set a baptismal date with her for the 25th. It's super close but it's possible! Or it was possible... She has a super strong desire to change and be better but this Sunday kinda messed up our plans. We had told her everything that she needed to do to be baptized, and she was all for it. But we forgot to tell her that she has to come to church a minimum of 2 times to be baptized. So we went to her house on Sunday morning to get her to come because her phone doesn't work. And we get there and told her that she had to come in order to reach her goal of the 25th. And she started to change her plans and try and get a ride but then her aunt went off saying that she's not ready to be baptized and stuff and never came and got her! We got her to want to come but then her aunt starts blowing up on us and it was a mess. But Coraimy is soooo ready. You'd never think that a member would get in the way of our miracle!! But oh well, she'll get baptized soon.

Gabby and Leti are a young family that are progressing a ton! They're super cool and want to find direction in their lives. They're accepting everything that we teach and Gabby came to church yesterday! They have a date for the 8th of January. Pretty sure they'll be baptized that day.

Ana Gomez and her family are progressing really well also. Ana and her daughter Nicole came to church again yesterday and love it. So it's been really cool to see, especially because at the beginning, we didn't see a ton of potential in them. But now they're really progressing! The dad hasn't been super interactive with us. He works a lot. They have a date for the 15th because we're pretty sure they're not married.

Penelope will be baptized on the 25th! She's doing well and just finished her 3rd grade finals this week, hahaha.

But yeah, working has been really fun lately. And we're working really hard to try and achieve what's called the "Standards of Excellence" which is basically like the goal for all of us to achieve. But we're having some problems because we probably won't have the 2 baptisms that you need to reach the goals. But we're really close and it's been super cool to try and reach the goals because they're quite a bit higher than what we normally achieve as missionaries.

Merry Christmas!

Elder Nelson

Only pic from this week was taken on P-day last week. We got serious playing chess on the floor. That's how the big dawgs role in this mission hahaahha

Things turn around! Christmas baptism scheduled!

The first part of the week was pretty rough. We've gone a few weeks without finding any really solid investigators and I was starting to get really stressed out about it. Like I was really stressed because we've just been teaching the same people for like a month without finding other people to bring to church! But things got turned around.

Like it's just my luck to go to a new area to contact and the few 5 houses we contacted say "You guys need to leave, they just shot a guy on this street last night." It was super annoying like everyone was super scared and told us to leave "for our protection" but they wouldn't let us in to share a message about Jesus Christ. So that didn't make a lot of sense to me. Dumb people. But it was cool because we found a few cool potentials, and contacted into an older couple that we had no idea was there, that go to a different ward on assignment from the stake. They gave us food and a ride home. Super cool people.

But yeah so the start of the week was rough. I was discouraged because Penelope (who's the 9 year old daughter of the less active family we visit) was like, "no, I want to be baptized on January 8th." And we were like WHYYYYYY but she was stuck on being baptized on the 8th! Even though it's like a month away so we just told her to talk with her parents and pray about being baptized on the 25th. Because like the girl is ready, she says better prayers than lots of adults I've met, hahaha. So we left her like that. It was funny because the girl is so cute but she was just firm on the 8th of January!

That was Thursday. At that point we still hadn't found new investigators. And I was stressed. But then Friday came around and we had a solid day. Although it started off really rough. We went to contact a giant apartment complex and it was hard to start out. Nobody even answered the door at first. We even thought about leaving but then we made a contact between buildings and it was super cool and I think that was the key. We just had to listen to the spirit and contact whoever we felt would accept us. So we just went off talking and we found some really cool people. One really cool family too.

Then Friday night we had a ward Christmas activity and Penelope tells me "Hey Nelson. I wanna be baptized on Christmas" and I was pumped. So that was a little miracle. And her dad was just reactivated and he's going to baptize her!

Saturday we had exchanges with the Zone Leaders and it was really cool because Elder Colon worked in our area with Elder Ourth and they came home that night with 6 new investigators and some really cool experiences. So all our contacts were really cool!

Elder Colon was really funny when they came home because he said that they taught a family that we contacted in the apartments, but it was a really weird lesson. But then on Sunday, they all showed up at church! We weren't expecting at all to see them in church. So that was tight.

Sunday was super cool too because the Primary did their annual program and it was super cool! There's a gringo family and the little kids were so cute speaking their Spanish hahaha and Penelope did great on her part in the program! So it turned out being a really really cool week! And we expect to have a lot of success this week.

And if everything goes well, we could be baptizing a girl named Diandra on the 18th. She's been like flying under the radar but she's progressing pretty well so we'll see if we can get her prepared in time.

Love you all, have a great week and remember the reason for the season!

Elder Nelson

Exchange with Elder Gil

It's all good

Hey everybody!

This week wasn't anything really special, we had a ton of appointments to go to but a lot of them ended up falling through even though we had confirmed that same day! So that was a little disappointing... but it's all good because we have some cool people that are progressing. So we're happy for that.

We're working with a less active family that is coming back to church slowly. We went and visited them on Tuesday and it turns out that while they were less active for 3 years, the daughter wasn't able to get baptized! So we're jumping on that and hopefully we can get her baptized on the 18th. Her name is Penelope and she's 9 years old. Super super cool girl. She talks a ton and is really, really funny! Super cute. And they're a really cool family so hopefully soon they can get to the temple and stuff. That'd be sweet!

We're working with a few families also, the hard part is just getting in with them to visit! Everyone has really weird schedules and they have babies and it's just not the best for meeting with the missionaries. But we'll see if they can progress because they have a ton of potential, it's just hard with their schedules and stuff.

There really wasn't anything special or funny that happened this week, we just worked a ton and walked a ton and it was really tiring and stuff. Really nothing special. Maria did get called as the 2nd counselor in the Young Women's presidency though! So that's awesome! They've already got her working and planning activities for the young women.

I think this week I've really realized how unique the Church of Jesus Christ is. Like we're really like no other church. It's completely unique and really is a church to help all get back to His presence. Everyone is there with one goal and that one goal is clearly shown by the services that are done in the church, the way the members are and the involvement we all have in the church. It was interesting this week to really understand that.

Love you all and hope you have a semana que sea super chevere!

 Elder Nelson

Carmen Ivette Ortiz came up from Caguas to visit Colon and I and took us out to eat in Plaza Las Americas on Tuesday! 

Elder Colon