Baptism!!!!

Hi everyone, this week was great.

It started out super rough with being sick and all that, but the work goes on. So even though I was dying of a headache and couldn't move my head because my neck was so stiff, we went out and contacted in Manati and really just found the crazies. We ended up teaching 2 crazy ladies who didn't want anything but then we applied something that the sister missionaries do to get references. They ask super specific questions about the neighbors of the people they're teaching and can pull references out like that. So we asked these crazy old ladies and they referred us to some guy at the end of the street, like they knew we were gonna ask. So we went and talked to him, and turns out the guy had talked with elder in the past and wants us to come back! It was an inspired reference that I never expected!

Also Tuesday Edwin was super depressed so we pulled him out of the house like usual and it was interesting because one of the bishopric members was apparently touched by my strong words in Ward Council the other Sunday,  and was out working with the other elders. So he went with us and Edwin and helped us a ton to have a really spiritual lesson with him. He seriously helped us, and in this lesson definitely built some confidence between us and Edwin and the bishopric and stuff. Tuesday played out really well for us.

Wednesday we went and contacted Manati again and found a really cool lady who seems to have interest. She really liked what we shared and even referred us to her mom, who we'll try and talk to this coming week. Not much else happened Wednesday, but it was super weird when we found a couple that we had contacted MONTHS ago, in Manati. But they're from Vega Baja. We always run into them like every 3 weeks in random places. They don't know it right now, but that happens for a reason and they will be baptized some day. Hahahaha

Thursday was really only exciting because we were contacting close to the center of town and found some old nutty lady who did a prayer but midway through she stood up and put her hands on our heads and started to move our heads around while giving this super intense prayer and we were dying laughing inside while she did this. I almost peed from holding in the laughter. She was like yelling the prayer while moving our heads around hahaha. Thursday night I started an exchange with Elder Boggess again so that Friday they could interview Edwin for his baptism.

Friday Boggess put me to work and we contacted the WHOLE DAY literally 8 hours contacting. It was so rough. But we found some really cool people for them to teach. The best/worst part of the day was at 7pm when Suero sent us a text that said 'we have to postpone the baptism' but he didn't tell us anything else! So me and Boggess got all worried and stuff about what could've gone wrong in the interview. And that made me really worried because like it's my first baptism. So then we get back to Vega Baja and Suero and Moran (Boggess' comp) were all sad and told me that we have to change it because Edwin didn't pass and President has to call and interview him. But wouldn't tell me why!! So I was like freaking out and then Moran pulls out the baptismal record all filled out. They pulled some big joke on me for my first baptism. I was so happy hahahaha but the best part is that I was kinda sad on the drive home so Boggess bought me Wendy's with his own money, and it was all a joke! Sorry Boggess.

Saturday was Edwin's baptism so we went to the church at 10am to clean it and make it all pretty. Then at 2 we went back to finish prepping, and at 4 everyone showed up and we took pictures and all that. And then President Boucher and the Porters from the mission office showed up! The baptism was actually pretty full. Edwin was really nervous but after the baptism was performed he was super happy and calm. It's amazing what baptism can really do for somebody. Everyone was crying, his parents and friends and it was a super spiritual event. Afterwards, President told us we did a good job, we cleaned up, and then Devon (who's a greengo here studying and working in a hospital) took us out to Church's chicken to celebrate.

Sorry this is so long but it was a good week. Sunday came around and Edwin showed up to church happy in a white shirt without us even having to remind him. He was so happy! He was talking with everyone and conversing with people he had never talked to before. You could just see the change in him. So I gave him one of my ties and he looked just like a missionary in the photo with us! Then during church he was given the gift of the Holy Ghost and he was crying and smiling the whole time. The change is so drastic in Edwin. After church there was a ward activity and we sang a hymn and one of the sister missionaries told me that Edwin was crying his eyes out during the song, so full of happiness and the spirit that he didn't know what to do with himself! The Gospel of Jesus Christ is real and changes lives. I'm a witness to that change in the life of Edwin.

Okay that's it. It was a great week and we're looking forward to more weeks like this. A baptism definitely helps us have more energy to work! Love you all!

Zack

Edwin Gonzalez Colon se bautizo!  (me, Edwin and Elder Suero)

 us and Edwin and Hermano Torres, who performed the baptism of Edwin

Elder Suero and me with Edwin yesterday at church before he was confirmed and given the gift of the Holy Ghost

Edwin and his parents before the baptism (the bishop and his wife). They're super happy!

Seeing the Purpose (and I'm sick!)

Hi everyone, this week was a mess. We contacted like 4 days of the week and ended up not finding anybody who really has potential or wants us to come back. It was hard.

Tuesday we had a Zone Meeting and it was really good, then we went out and contacted.

Contacted Wednesday, Thursday and Friday- and we didn't really find anybody! It was rough because Ada and Isabel, the sisters that we've been teaching, have kinda turned off on us. They haven't really completed with reading the Book of Mormon and praying. They do it, but not with a sincere heart. So that's really what we focused on with them this week, praying and reading with real intent so that they can find their answer to know if this church is true. It was a really cool lesson though, because we really broke down the things that are holding them back. We felt the spirit with them for the first time in a while and committed them to try harder.

One of our investigators named Reny is progressing really well. He has problems with a few of the commandments but he's super willing to change.

The best part of the week was after church yesterday. Edwin came to church and he has a baptismal date for the 26th of March, this coming Saturday. So we taught him a short lesson and we felt the spirit so strong. We went over the baptismal interview questions and the guy is super ready! It was a powerful lesson. Afterwards Suero and I were talking and we realized that the reason we've been together for 6 months is so that we could baptize Edwin. He's been taught by so many missionaries, and we're the only ones that have gotten through to him in a way that he has a desire to be baptized. It was super cool to realize that. I can honestly say that there is a purpose in the revelation that President Boucher gets about transfers.

Today I'm really sick with the flu or something and I don't have the mentality to write a whole lot, just know that Edwin is going to be baptized and that was the best part of the week!

This is the church that Christ founded. It has been restored through a prophet and we all have the opportunity to take part in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love the gospel. I love being a missionary even though it's frustrating at times. It's the best thing ever.

Love you all!

Elder Nelson

PS Suero and I are pro picture takers/ models

This is Edwin who's gonna be baptized on Saturday. The picture didn't come out too good but ya get the picture ;)

Follow promptings

Buen dia mi familia y amigos!

This week was actually really good. Despite all the different events that happened this week, we've found our motivation and know exactly what we should be doing because we followed the promptings of the spirit to get ourselves out of Vega Baja!

This week we had transfers and so that meant that I had to drive all over the island. All day long like 9am to 8pm all over the island. First we drove down to Cayey where we met up with like 30 other missionaries and it was super loco pero bien chevere. Then we drove up to Bayamon to drop off some other elders. Then finally we drove over to Guayanabo to pick up the new companion of Elder Ferreira. Ironically, this new greenie is also from Guatemala, so for the past like 9 months there have been greenies in Vega Baja from Guatemala. Interesting. He's pretty cool but is different from Morales because he thinks a lot about how different Puerto Rico is from Guatemala. But sometime he'll get used to it. He didn't like Suero's cooking the first night either hahaha

So Wednesday we worked out close to the beach a little, talked with Antonio (the guy who's 95) and we really don't know what to do with him. And then we finished contacting the beach area so that concluded Vega Baja. Like we've contacted every part. When we came back into the city part of Vega Baja, like every police officer in the area was racing through town super fast. And we were super close to where they were all going. So we continued walking and then a bunch of police literally ran right by us with their guns out and stuff like real guns (although one big guy just had a whimpy tazer). Apparently they were chasing some guy really close to where we were. Like the whole town shut down.

Friday we had to go into Bayamon again for another doctor's appointment at 9 in the morning and so I just hung out with President Boucher in the waiting room. We're pretty tight. Then when we came back we went and worked in Manati. And wow what a difference there is between the two cities. Manati doesn't see the missionaries as much so they're way more humble and receptive to us. We found like 3 new investigators or something I really don't remember. Then we came home and taught a few lessons and set a baptismal date with a guy named Reny that we've been talking to for like 2 weeks now. He's interesting but has a huge desire to change his life and get out of the circle that isn't really good for him. So hopefully April 9th he'll be in the waters of baptism. Then we went to the Portuguese class that Elder Ferreira is doing now. It was crazy hahaha because really it was the missionaries and bunch of members and investigators that are somewhat nuts in some way or another. But we learned Portuguese and I'm already a pro hahahaha.

Saturday we went out to Manati again but it was so stressful because we didn't have a ride to get out there and then our ride home fell through. But nonetheless we found the people that are ready to receive the gospel! We had a weird lesson with Edwin Saturday, weird because we taught in his house with his dad, the bishop. We had never done that before because the bishop puts a lot of pressure on him. It was short but we committed him to come to church. And me being a smarty pants told him that we would pick him up at 8:30, but then Sunday came and we showed up at 8:10 to make sure that he didn't go to the other church! I was pretty proud of that idea.

Sunday Reny and Edwin both came to church and had a good time there. So things are progressing and getting better for us. BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE: Sunday night we passed by Marcelino's house (he got baptized in January and is kinda nuts) because he didn't come to church. And he came out and told us, yelling, that he's gonna start his own church. That we're thieves taking the tithing and that he knows the gospel better than us. It was RIDICULOUS. And Hermano Laureano just stood there stunned while I was trying to figure out what in the world happened and why Marcelino went all crazy. And Suero was in the street calling him to repentance and telling him he doesn't have the authority to make his own church. It was super loco. Super.

But although there are crazy people, the church is still true and I know that the missionary work really is important. Puerto Rico needs the gospel and although it's hard, bringing the gospel to our brothers and sisters is what is really needed. I know that Christ suffered for us. Lately I've thought a lot more during sacrament meeting about Christ and his Atonement for us. He really did suffer for each and every one of the pains and worries I have, for each person who doesn't want to accept the gospel, and for each and every one of my sins. I'm so thankful for him and the opportunity I have to preach of him each day. He is our Savior.

Love you all!

Elder Nelson

Me and Elder Morales on Tuesday, day of transfers.  (March 8, 2016)

Still in Vega Baja

This transfer literally went by like 4 days and maybe a couple hours thrown in there. It was so so sooooo fast. I don't understand how it went by so fast but that doesn't really matter.

This week was rough. We had a really fun district meeting on Tuesday and took tons of pictures and stuff. This district is really cool, compared to the other ones I've been in. We're all just kinda super close and talk about everything and can rely on one another. So it was fun to take pictures and goof off with everyone for the last district meeting of the transfer. Honestly I can't remember what we did after the meeting. I think we went out and worked close to the beach in the neighborhoods over there. But honestly I can't remember for some reason. It probably wasn't a really successful day since I can't remember.

Wednesday we went back to the doctor for Elder Suero. We got up at 5 in the morning and left the house at 6 and got to the doctor's office at 8, and then sat in the waiting room with a bunch of kids until like 10:30 when they finally called him in. It's funny going to the doctor with Suero because for some reason he's still a minor here in Puerto Rico so he has to go to a pediatric doctor and the waiting room is always just full of kids and babies screaming and crying and then there's me and Suero and sometimes even President Boucher there with us. So we spent like the whole day there and then came back and worked a little before the correlation meeting with Hermano Laureano. It was such a long day holy cow.

Saturday I did an exchange with Elder Morales and it was super fun. We were walking through the area of government apartments and some guy stopped us as we were walking and started to talk to us. And so we started teaching him and I was talking and he goes "hey can I smoke" and I was like well it's your agency but I would prefer if you didn't. So he went to his car and pulled out a bunch of marijuana and rolled it and smoked it in front of us (or whatever you do to prepare it) and then he was telling us to pray but us both at the same time and in silence and that he would feel our prayers if they were sincere. The dude was nuts. Super high while we were talking to him. That was the highlight of the day.

Oh also this week we had 2 ward activities and one of them was to watch Meet the Mormons and the ward kinda flaked out because nobody knew who was in charge of the activity so the missionaries ended up having to set up and take down and there were like 4 members there, and 5 investigators. There were more investigators than members in the activity hahaha. The other activity was good too, they did Family History and most of these people have never done it before. So it was cool because some people sent in records for like 50 family members. Super cool stuff. It's kinda sad though because some people just have them and their parents in their family tree and don't know anything else about their families.

And then Sunday we found out transfers. I was super positive that I was going to get pulled out of Vega Baja because I have 3 transfers here already and Suero and Morales also have the same amount of time. But we got the call and I'm staying here with Elder Suero for our 4th transfer together (which is a TON of time together). Elder Ferreira is going to train and Elder Morales is going to Ponce and will be companion to Elder Borries who trained me in Arroyo way back like 6 months ago.

Ummm, but I believe that is it. The work here continues to progress and we have a couple baptismal dates that we're working on. We hit a road block the other day but it was really weird. This lady has a date for the 26th of March but then was telling us that she has to take her time to pray and read and find out that the church is true. It was weird because she was like telling us all the stuff that we always tell her. Like we tell her that everytime we go over, idk if now she's just finally understanding what she has to do or... idk. But we continue to work!

Love you all, this is the true church that Christ founded when he was on the earth. I know it and I believe it with all my heart, there's no doubt about it.

Love you!

Elder Nelson

Ay papa!

District photos!

 La familia

 Las hermanas

 Elder Ferreira, me, and Elder Morales

 Elder Suero holding me

Pushing through!

Hey everybody!

This week was super cool and flew by. We are still having trouble getting member present lessons, and the mission is hard, but there are lots of really amazing aspects of the mission.

This week, again we spent a lot of time contacting. We contacted a ton and I got super red for like 3 days straight from being out in the sun. But it all pays off when you find the people who are ready to hear about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It's all worth it.

I think there were 2 highlights to my week, the first being Ada and her sister Isabel. We started by teaching Ada and her husband, but then on Monday we went by and Ada had told her sister about us and the message that we share, and invited her to sit in on the lesson with us. Ada is a really timid lady, and for her to invite her sister like this really surprised me and shows us how ready and prepared she really is to make this covenant with our Heavenly Father. So we taught them and extended a baptismal date to all 3, Ada, her husband Ricardo, and Isabel. And they all accepted to be baptized on March 12th. It was a super cool lesson because the sisters understand how important baptism is and are super excited to be baptized.  Together, they ask questions that are actually super cool to hear from an investigator. Things that not a lot of investigators think about. Like Isabel asked, "if I can't come to church every Sunday, does that make my baptism invalid?  Because sometimes I get sick". They asked things like that because they truly understand the importance of baptism and living the gospel as they make this covenant. They're amazing. And they came to church, the very first time we invited them! Ada even took the initiative to ask her daughter to drive them to church so that members wouldn't have to worry about them. And they loved church. These 2 ladies are truly a miracle, and have strengthened my testimony a ton!

Also, I had an exchange with the zone leaders and I got to work in Levittown with Elder Boggess. We had worked together before in an exchange and we're really good friends. This guy teaches me a ton. Every time I get to work with him I learn something new and I always enjoy working with him. He's a real example to me of what a dedicated missionary is and gives me motivation to be better. Although he says I know a lot, I always learn from him and we have a great time together.

But, there's always struggles in the mission because like always, people have agency. So we've been teaching the bishop's son who's been avoiding the church for like 20 years, always been going to some Protestant church. Now he's meeting with us and he had a date for baptism for the 5th, but didn't come to church yesterday. We talked to him so much this last week and he understands that he has to come to church, he knows the church is true, but won't come! Apparently he's in charge of recording the services on Sundays and because of that, won't give up on the other church. I mean, we talked pretty hard with him about what he really needs to do, and we even went to his house to pick him up. We made arrangements and everything and then he stood us up and left early to go to the other church. I just don't know what more we can do with him, because he knows it's true, just has to make a decision. That was the hard part of my week.

But, we push through. The transfer is almost over and it's guaranteed that either Suero or I will be transferred since we have 3 transfers together. So we'll see what happens!

Oh and today I get to give one of the investigators of the sister missionaries a haircut, because his hair is super long and can't afford a barber, so we'll see if I truly have the skill. Maybe if it goes well I'll look into it as a career ;)

This is the true church, the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was restored through a prophet and is led by a living prophet today. I love it and nothing will ever change that.

Love you all!

Elder Nelson

Nosotros comiendo con los chinos en nuestra segunda casa

me and Elder Boggess after our exchange this week 

Toa Baja Zone Conference

Toa Baja Zone Conference, February 2016

What a week...

First of all this week was really hard. Satan tries to stop the work right when we get close to doing good things here. And he went to work hard this week because as we have the goal to teach 14 lessons with members present, we only got 1 this week. The members were sick or busy or the appointments fell through or something but it was hard. Really hard.

Monday for Pday we wrote home and then went and hung out with the Torres family and ate lunch with them and all that good stuff. It's always good to be with them because they understand our struggles and we can vent about the work.

Tuesday we had a Zone Conference with President Boucher and it was really good. We learned a lot about how to manage our time wisely as missionaries, and that we are here to serve the Lord, not the wards. Lots of missionaries end up doing more for the ward than for the missionary work. So that was cool and definitely applies to us in Vega Baja.

Then the rest of the week turned to contacting. We began to work more in the area that's close to the beach. We had never contacted out there since we need someone to drive us out there, but we did, and we're beginning to find people to teach out by the playa. Like Antonio who's 95. And some other people, but generally contacting this week didn't bear many fruits. We contacted a ton and I mean a ton, but we didn't seem to find the people that are ready to hear about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

And I mean that sums up the week. It was really the most mentally hard week of my mission. We lined up with the bishop's son Edwin to come to church on Sunday, then he ended up going to his old other church because apparently he's in charge of recording some activity or something. It just kinda messed with us when we thought that he would come to church and stuff but then ended up changing his mind on us. But things will work out I'm sure because Hermano Torres talked with him about taking his baptismal date seriously, hopefully that'll help him and us achieve the goal for his baptism. He's super ready and I would hate to have to postpone his baptism.

Ada has a baptismal date for the 19th if I remember right, and she's progressing pretty well. She has a hard time understanding things and remembering what we talk about, but she has a desire to come to church and now knows really well how to search for scriptures in her cell phone so that she can read them. She's super humble and is the first person I've met that really understands the importance of coming to church to receive an answer to her prayers.

Although things were really hard this week and seem to have been hard for the last few weeks, I'm still happy with what we're doing and the progress we're making in the work. The past few weeks have shown me how much I've grown in the mission, as well as Spanish, and it's motivated me to be better and work harder to reach the potential that we can see here in Vega Baja. Always moving forward and never looking back.

Love you all!

Elder Nelson

Floating car hahaha