11/27/17 - Pics of the Week

Cuy, Guinea Pig - "our dinner - it's pretty tasty"

Playing with a baby cuy right before an investigator fed them cuy for dinner

"This little kid is one of the funniest kids I've met - I love him!"

"There is spray paint everywhere, but lots of times it's really cool - like this yoda."

"The Boys"

"I bought this sweater - it's alpacha. It's so warm and nice."

11/27/17 - Great Great Investigators

This week was great! We went to Churin, a little town about 2 hours into the mountains. It was incredible to see mountains, like real mountains, again. We went on a hunt for a birth certificate for the investigator of Elder Stodtmeister so they can get married but we came up empty handed. But fear not, all is well. We think it's been years and years and years since there were missionaries there so it was fun watching people stare at us, but it's all good. 

We had multi zona and it was great. I learned so much. I love President Stauffer. We learned a lot about miracles and how important they are. Miracles are real and I know if we work hard and be obedient that miracles will come. 

Thanksgiving we had chaufa, ham fried rice but better, and it was really great. Honestly, it doesn't feel at all like December. It's starting to get hot but the great part about being out of Lima is there are blue skies here. The sun beats down but I can't complain. 

We are working hard and finding a lot of great great investigators. This month of December is going to be great - I can just feel it! Please pray for f. Mendoza and f. Vargas. 

This is the slowest internet I've had on my mission.  I'm pretty sure my microwave is faster than it but it's all good. I'll send more pics next week, I promise. 

We went and helped a member work in his field and he gave us the best strawberries ever. I ate like 20 without thinking about it and everyone told me I was going to die because of the insectacide. The only thing that happened to me is I want more strawberries.

Love,

Elder Nielsen

11/20/17 - Pics of the Week

"This is the granddaughter of Hernana Marina - the little blind lady! I taught them but was transferred - how great!!"

"Our zone of Huacho"

"This is an alfafore, it's a cookie that's really good but huge. I had to sit down because I got dizzy it had so much sugar. No wonder why I'm gaining weight here hahaha!"

11/20/17 - All in All Good Week

This week was really good. Peru is going to the World Cup!!!!!!!!! First time in 36 years!! Let's wind the clocks back about a year - the Chicago Cubs won the World Series for the first time in 107 years. I lived in Chicago most of my life and as soon and in the early months of my mission they won. Now, I'm not taking the credit but the prophets have always said that missions will bring blessings for your family and friends. Now look,  Peru hasn't been to the World Cup in almost 40 years. I get here and BAM. I'm starting to scare myself......

But in all seriousness, this week was good. We are working hard and seeing a lot of the fruits. We are having a ward temple trip the 8th of December. No, my companion and I aren't going, but we are working hard to get as many people as we can to go. We are working hard on bringing back a few less actives families and Juan de Dios and his parents are gonna go!! We are really excited- they are great. They showed us their little back room that has over 50 cuy!! That's guinea pigs but they eat them here so it's ok - it's pretty good, tastes a lot like rabbit. All in all good week. 

Love,

Elder Nielsen

11/13/17 - Pics of the Week

"This is what Peruvian dogs look like"

"We went to a little pond in the middle of the dessert"

Baptism!

11/13/17 - I Love My Little Ward

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FATHER AND SISTER MARSHALL!!!!!!!!!!!! Two of my favorite people in the whole wide world!!! If you know them tell them happy birthday and if you don't you're missing out!!

We baptized Juan de Dios and it was so great!! We had his grandpa do it and it was such a great experience. They just love us and we are making plans for them to be sealed in the temple!! I'm so excited for everything that's going on here. I love my little ward and we are trying so hard to strengthen the members. Our Bishop is so funny. He's the best!

I love you all!!

Love,

Elder Nielsen

11/7/17 - 8 Lunches and 4 Dinners

This week was great. It was also funny for a lot of reasons. We had the President of the stake come and he just went in on the leaders of the ward. He threatened that if they don't help the missionaries more he's going to recommend to President Stauffer to take us out of the ward and put us in another. So just on Friday, Saturday and Sunday alone we had 8 lunches and 4 dinners from members hahahaha I think I gained 4 pounds in a week but it's all good. 

Juan de Dios is getting ready for his baptism this Saturday!! Yeah his name is John from God crazy no?? We are excited - we are teaching good people and we are working hard. We taught a man and the next day came back to teach his wife. When she came out from around the back of the house she was full of fire!!! "I'm Catholic I read the Bible and pray and I'm never changing!" She had her back to us and was really rude. Instead of fightng with her we just tried to testify and the Spirit softened her heart. In the closing prayer she cried and thanked God for sending us. The mission is lo maximo. 

My camera got wiped again. so I'm sorry if I don't have any pics but don't worry - we are still out here fighten'.  I love you all! Keep it up!! 

We went to a weird lake in the middle of the desert. It was fun, really odd to be surrounded by water and green grass but it was sick.

--

Matthew 19:26

Luke 9:62

Elder Nielsen