Hello everyone! I hope all is well!!
This week has been crazy - time is
really starting to pick up. We are half way here at the MTC and I’m both happy
and sad about it. The MTC is such an amazing place but I’m ready to go out and
teach the people of Peru. However, my Spanish isn’t anywhere near where it
needs to be and it’s kind of frustrating. The gift of tongues is real
though. I gave a 20 minute lesson all by myself yesterday in only Spanish and I
only spaced a few words. It’s amazing how much we are learning.
In the last 7 days we had 2 Apostles
come and speak to us!!! Elder D. Todd Christopherson and Elder M. Russell
Ballard!!!!! 2 of the 15 people in the entire world that are closest to God
came to speak to us and their talks and testimonies where sooo powerful. They
both talked a lot about missionary work and how much it means to the church and
to them. Elder Christopherson also spoke about repentance and about the
atonement. It was really great and we are so lucky to hear from them. When Elder
Ballard talked about the importance of missionary work, he said he wishes he
could go again knowing what he knows now. "I’d be dynamite!” he said. “I would give out referrals everywhere I
went.” He’s such an amazing person. He talked about how we are helping build the
kingdom of God and how we are the greatest generation of missionaries in the
history of the world. Sorry dad but if an Apostle says it, well then, it must be
true.
I invite you all to watch the video “Praise
to the Man” on YouTube. It uses clips of the Joseph Smith video in the
background and it is incredible. It’s
only about 6 or so minutes long and I promise it's well worth your time. The spirit
was so strong when we watched it. Joseph
Smith really is the tool the Lord used to usher in this dispensation and bring
us the Book of Mormon. Speaking of the Book of Mormon, I’m already almost half
way through Alma. I love reading it- I’ve learned sooo much.
It turns out our Branch President is Paul
Nolan Hyde. He is one of the most knowledgeable people in the entire would
about JR Tolkien - think “Lord of the Rings.” He has written over 30 books and
when he was still working he could speak over 30 kinds of elf-ish languages fluently.
He is such an awesome guy. It took us a while to get his background out of him
because he says we shouldn’t talk about that stuff here but once he was going
he was on!
We got new zone leaders and they are
totally awesome. Elder Morgan is from Montana and he played football. He’s a
really spiritual guy and is just all around really fun to be around. Unfortunately
he leaves in a week to go to Texas but he is ready and is going to be so great.
His comp is one of the funniest guys I’ve ever met. He sings "It’s beginning
to look a lot like P-day" to the tune of “It’s beginning to look a lot
like Christmas” on Monday night and does this little dance and heel click. It’s getting
pretty famous here at the MTC and it always makes me laugh.
I love and miss you all! Thank you
for all your letters and well wishes. I’m so excited to serve! Until next week…
Love,
Elder Nielsen
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