8/14/17 - Incredible

This week was sooo good!!! We had the privilege of baptizing two more souls this week and it was really really special. One of them was Samir. We had his uncle, who is one of our really good friends, baptize him and it was sooo incredible. He messed up a few times because it was his first baptism ever but every single time he did it I felt the spirit testify to me that it was true. I've been thinking about that lot. It's the same with the sacrament. It doesn't matter how many times we mess up it has to be perfect but because of the grace of Christ we can become perfect. Please listen to "His Grace is Sufficient" by Brad Wilcox - it's a BYU devotional speech and it's INCREDIBLE. I testify that the atonement of Jesus is REAL. It can change you into the person that God wants you to be. I love my Savior with all my heart and I'm so grateful for Him.

The second baptism we had was Fabricio. He is a 10 year old boy and he is soo funny. He kept hiding because there was a ton of people and he was self conscious. He was soooo worried about his testimony (after your baptism you give a testimony) and he did just dandy. He talked about how the commandments are very important, like don't kill and steal and lie and how baptism is a commandment and how he wants to live with God one day. I love this work with all my heart. It is just so great. 

We had a conference with Elder Corbrige, Elder Godoy, Elder Juan Uceda (he's from Lima btw), and Elder Cook!!! It was for all of Peru and Bolivia and we watched it on tv's in our stake center. It was incredible.  I was honestly sad when it ended. I know they are men called of God. They are His witnesses and they are soo wonderful. Elder Uceda talked about how it took him 21 days to get to the temple in San Paolo Brazil to be sealed from Lima. That is faith. They did it because they knew it was the right thing no matter the sacrifice. He talked about traditions of families and he said if we aren't reading and praying as a family we are teaching our family that it's okay not to do those things. Wow. I could have listened to them all day long. They are just such fantastic examples to me. 

I have included pics of where I live in Lima and the little kid with the giant bunny is Julio - he's the funnest little kid I've ever met. I want him to come to Utah so you can all meet him. His family is family Loyaza and they have plans to get married the 22nd of September. PLEASE PRAY FOR THEM!!!!!!!!!!! Also Guillmina and Evangelia and Ana Maria and Leonardo. Thanks for everything!!!!

Love,

Elder Nielsen