Hello fam!

Well glad to hear that you all had a good trip and the fun stuff going on. Also glad that you had a chance to enjoy the letters from last week, it has been such a blessing the last few weeks of my mission to be serving. Things keep going good and we had another great week.

We had a good couple of first days and then split up for some big exchanges on Wednesday and Thursday of this week...we have really found that the best way to help missionaries out is just to get on exchanges with them as much as possible and just be as pumped as possible and trust that Heavenly Father will make good things happen. So, I actually stayed here in Samara with Elder Boyer (a Mesa dweller, former Toro) and Elder Taylor took off to Orenburg with his companion.

So- the big story of the week was with Elder Boyer. We honestly spent about five hours in the afternoon just pounding the streets- we didn’t have much success to be honest. We met a cool lady and also dropped by the former Natasha and Masha to say hi- they caught wind that we were back in the area. Anyways, they have slowed down meeting with missionaries, but they were pumped to see each other again and Masha made me a cute little book. Just a fun blast from the past. Anyways, it was pretty hot- not going to lie. We had a meeting in the evening at the branch and then had planned to end the night over at another set of elders for exchanges with them the following day- unfortunately we rode all the way out to the branch to have this guy fall through on us...so we dropped our bags off at the branch and then just busted out for our 57th hour of contacting on the day. Within about three minutes, we stopped this husband wife and their little daughter walking around. They actually stopped and talked to us- they are definitely the type that I usually have low hope for because they just have things going good for them and don't need the gospel for the time being. But they stopped- long story short they talked with us and we even got them to come with us to the branch and showed them around- they just drank that place up. It's a pretty shabby building, but it was a nice little tour. However, we took them upstairs and showed them the nursery and primary room which was fun for their little daughter. Anyways- we were pretty pumped. But the biggest thing was that when we came out of the room, I kinda had a feeling to stop them- there was a good sized painting of the First Vision on the wall there. I don't know if you've really seen a good painting of that- but that thing just seems to glow. Anyways, we just stopped them and said, "you remember how we said that our church is different from others, this is why." We continued to just testify of the First Vision and pointing at the Father and Son appearing to Joseph Smith- there was definitely quite the tender spirit that was there as we were able to stand in a rather holy feeling place and have a family feel that together. Long story short, we got their number and gave them a Book of Mormon and they are pretty awesome.

I definitely have thought a little bit about what the difference has been with some of these cool events happening over the last little bit- definitely it has been the simple fact that the spirit has touched peoples' hearts and that is what causes people to change and moves this work forward. I had always heard that but never really knew what it meant. I will be forever grateful for my mission and what it has taught me because I will want to have the spirit in my life not only to help an investigator, but for the rest of my life. There is a "quickening" power that the Holy Ghost has that as we daily repent and do all we can, we are strengthened and obtain the happiness and peace that is written about in the scriptures. I think I tasted this a little before my mission and throughout my mission, but wasn't doing really what it took. Don’t take me wrong- I've worked hard and everything, but this hard work was done with the expectation that Heavenly Father would make something happen for me. However, I have seen that we are placed in the same circumstances, but have the ability to call upon heaven for help and our loving Heavenly Father can quicken us or touch the lives of others as we sincerely repent and have that change of perspective.

Anyways- just a couple of thoughts that I have had and I am grateful for the experiences that my mission has brought me, but even more grateful for the lessons learned and the spirit which is felt.

You are probably wondering about Svyeta and Danil- they are both doing great. We taught Svyeta tithing and are just getting her to the finish line. Danil came to church, unfortunately was too busy to meet but came to church and that is what is important. He most likely won't work out for the 29th due to that, but it's ok, he'll get baptized and will be able to be more ready.

Sure love you all, hope you have a good week.

Love

Elder Nielson

P.S. here's a pic at "revolution square" on our way down to the office every day. good ol' lenin

Hello everybody-

Hope your having a good ride down to big Sedona, be sure to say hi to Chief Yellowhorse for me.  Have a good trip and some good times down there for me will ya?!  Anyways, glad to hear things are good, things are going great out here, it's been a good good week. I'll tell...

We actually had quite a bit of time to do some normal missionary work this week which was pretty awesome, but for some reason the fish just weren't bitin’ on setting up meetings.  Got to spend a lot of time doing some finding on the streets, but that never hurt anybody.  At long last, we had our long awaited meeting with our investigator on Friday night!  She called us and just like usual wanted to meet at the usual place on the usual bench and everything!  She made it back from Germany earlier in the week and she was doing well and had a good time in Europe.  Anyways, she was happy to see us and we sat down and started just making small talk about her trip and things.  Finally, Elder Taylor just said, "we have a lesson like normal"  she kinda got all funny and was like "no, no, I don't really have time, but I did want to talk to you about something..."  Honestly, my blood ran a little bit cold, I've seen that situation a few too many times.  Maybe I just need more faith.  Anyways, she just looked back at us and said, "does the 29th of June work FOR ME TO BE BAPTIZED! Can you get me ready for that?"  We assured her that we could, and we were so pumped!  That was such a good thing to hear.  Her daughter was fine with it and even said that she will probably get to that point in about 20 years herself.  phew!  So we talked a little bit and turns out she had drank a little coffee and wine on her trip which was a bummer, but it gave us a great chance to teach her a little bit about repentance and for her to have an opportunity to feel what the Atonement really feels like before baptism.  We were actually kind of happy to hear that to be honest.  Anyways, we had a good lesson even though she didn't have time we snuck it in and gave her Alma 36 to read, so we are super happy for her.  She is just a good lady.  And she understands that she needs baptism.  Pretty cool.

The next thing is what I gotta get written down because we had probably the best experience of my mission yesterday...unfortunately we didn't have Svetlana make it to church, her daughter was still in town with her but Elder Taylor had gotten a hold of this Danil guy to come to church.  He had found this guy about a year ago when he was serving in Tolyatti and the missionaries there called him and turns out that he had moved to Samara...that make sense?  So those missionaries sent us his number and things and he wanted to come to church when Elder Taylor called him earlier in the week.  Turns out about 4 years ago he had also met missionaries as well.  So, we get off the bus on our way to church and there is just this absolutely norm 25 year old bro standing on the bus stop waiting for us...pretty cool.  Anyways, we went to church and he just loved it.  We had a great Sacrament meeting with great talks simply focused on Jesus Christ (those are sometimes a little tough to come across).  He loved the hymns and the words and so we took him in a class room afterwards and taught him the Restoration.  When we asked him if he understood the difference between our church and others he said, "here there is just a great feeling and things that you don't find in other churches...I have never seen a group of people that are unified and just good like this.  I have been looking for something like this for a long time"  ya- we were pretty pumped.  So we taught the Restoration and had one of our best lessons together and read Moroni 10 with him.  We actually understood it and we said that he needs to get an answer about the truthfulness of the Book.  He cut us off and said "I already got an answer in there."  Ok...so Elder Taylor just said, "we are supposed to get baptized then, will you get baptised?"  He straight up said, "I will..."  We paused for a second and he just said "look at me"  and pointed at his eyes and he had tears in his eyes.  Holy cow- I can't really explain to you the sweet spirit that was with us there.  I don't think- in fact I'm sure- that I've had really anything like that yet on my mission.  It makes the rest of the year and a half 100% worth it.  Heavenly Father blessed us yesterday, it is interesting what happens when a person allows the spirit to touch their heart.  Anyways, he is our bro and we will keep workin’ with Danny boy to get baptized on the 29th of June as well.  That will be a good day. 

This is getting long, but I have to tell you something else- we had a girl named Elya with us on the lesson who was baptized about a year ago.  She has kinda been in and out of being active and is just a funny, 20 year old diva type normal girl for lack of a better term, she is a good buddy of ours.  Anyways, she really was able to feel the spirit on that lesson, it is evident that Satan definitely has been pushing her as well-it's way too easy for people to not stay active here.  She rode home with us and while we were walking she said to us, "when I was walking to church today I was thinking to myself that this was going to be my last Sunday."  It was a super big blessing to have seen that the spirit was also able to touch her and hopefully that very well could have saved her as well from a lot of heart ache.  Pretty cool that Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives in that way.  Big blessings these past few days. Anyways, as you can tell things are going awesome.  This is one of those times that you don't really have a desire to come off your mission.  It's been a blessing and we will pray for these people so that the Lord can continue to touch their lives.  Sure love you all and hope you have a good trip.

Love,
Elder Nielson

Hey there everybody!

Glad to hear things are going good, things are just going awesome around these parts as well. It has been one of my more favorite weeks on my mission and there are just good things.

We had a sweet week kicking off with a couple of good lessons at the beginning of the week, especially one good one with good ol' Svyetlana. She is doing super well and is ready to get baptized. She leaves today to Germany to meet her daughter coming out from America and will be there until the 1st of June. She will talk to her about being baptized, but she will not really be stopped. She seems to just have a little more of a light in her eyes- I'm going to be honest I think this is the first time that I have experienced that on my mission. It was a blessing to sit next to her yesterday and just talk to her after church- she is happy with the gospel. It's a pretty cool thing to see and feel. She has a strong testimony, so we will wait and pray for her till she gets back.

Anyways, we took off on Wednesday morning with our driver, Roman, and headed up to Tol'yatti and picked up the zone leaders there. Elder Glavatski and I got dropped off in the city Ul'yanovsk and Elders Taylor and Whittemore continued up to Kazan. So, we spent a few days there in Ul'yanovsk and probably had a few of the best days of my mission. There are two companionships there in the city, both with a senior companion and a trainee- that was so fun to work with a "newbie" and just be pumped up with them. Anyways, Wednesday was spent working with Elder Tippets, one of the newbies. From the get go, we just had people stop and talk to us and just listen. It was so awesome, there must have been something in the air. After about 20 minutes, we stopped a kid named Dimitri and talked a little about the Book of Mormon. It was so funny, I would kind of explain something, then turn to Elder Tippets and give him the nod. It's like I would hit the play button on a cassette tape and a little tid bit of testimony would just explode out of him, then hit pause and explain a little more, explain what I said to him, then push play again and he would just testify. It was such a funny picture. Anyways, this Dimitri kid was just a cool guy and had about an hour so we went and sat down on a bench, prayed, taught the whole restoration and invited to be baptized, and prayed and got on our way. It was probably the coolest thing that I have had on my mission, Heavenly Father was definitely looking out for us.

We had the same thing at night when we were on our way home and had a kid stop us at about 8:30 and say that he wanted to know what we do because he felt like he couldn't get away from bad influences and he just wanted to get free of it...that tickled our fancies. We asked if he had time, so we plopped down on another bench and had a repeat from earlier, we taught him about the Atonement and Book of Mormon and gave it to him. Pretty cool. We ran home to make it home after that- anyways we just had things like that for three days out there in Ul'yanovsk. It was so darn fun…and fun to just get them pumped. That is probably my favorite thing to do. Anyways, we had a good time, and it was fun to be with Elder Glavatski, you will have to meet him some day. Me and him go home on the same day, he is the most humble just cool guy in the world.

Anyways, things are going super good around here. We are happy to be working with Svyetlana and others and just making a lot of good things happen. Good times. Hope you all have a good week, love you all!

Love

Elder Nielson

Hey family!

We're right back at ya this morning, Elder Taylor came down and called home early this morning from the office, so we just stayed here to get the emails done as well. Man that was such a treat to have a little bit of time to chat with all of you yesterday. Can't believe that we're already back to that, and that it was the last time! Yikes! Time seems to just be slipping through my fingers...

But I guess I'll write a little bit of what went on this past week, we had a good one and it was capped off well of course by calling home. We had a pretty open week and good opportunities to get a lot of stuff done...we kicked off stuff on Monday night with some cool contacting, I forgot to tell you about this last night. On Thursday (May 9th) is their big "victory day" that is the day that they won world war II, it is basically their fourth of July. So, on Monday they had a practice for the big parade/presentation thing that they do here. I explained a little bit about the big square here in our area that is just this huge asphalt square with a big theatre, it's actually really cool. And people rollerblade really good there, it's cool to watch as we're passing by. Anyways, they had these stands all set up on the asphalt and we came around the corner and saw the streets just lined with cops. They all came out of their holes, I have no idea where they came from. Anyways, so we kinda just froze, and see over on the square just masses of soldiers for their parade thing. They were all in their big trenchcoats and helmets and things- we both kind of just stopped there on the corner. I'm not gonna lie, to see that sight our stomachs kind of dropped, it felt like I was sitting up in Anne Franks closet and we were gonna have to start sprinting down the street. We kept walking a little bit and came to the road that leads up to the square that had tanks and trucks and all those kind of vehicles and things- it was pretty crazy looking, pretty submersed in Russia that's for sure.

Tuesday was a good day, we met with president and had a good meeting to do the transfer and things, we do those about 2-3 weeks early every transfer so that we can get people registered in their cities and things, so we did that this week. It's a cool process, it's fun to see how inspired president really is with the things he does. It's taught me a lot.

As far as investigators go though, Svyetlana is just chuggin’ right along and doing well. She loves church and loves just learning which is cool. Our other investigators are also doing well, but because of the big holidays and things, we didn't have a chance to meet with any of our other "big hitters" this past week, but we'll definitely have some good meetings squared away for this coming week. We did have a cool experience though on Tuesday, we met with a guy named Reshat who is a total Muslim guy. We had met him a week ago on the street and gave him a Book of Mormon, usually Muslims are so ridiculously against hearing anything from us, but he was super open and took the book. Anyways, we got a meeting with him and he came and has already read 1 Nephi and was wondering about baptism and things! We were so excited, it's quite the miracle to have somebody like that because most of the Muslims are just taught that they are Muslim and that's just the way it is. He even has a wife that is Russian and is an Athiest, but also started reading the Book and is interested! Woo! Anyways, we are excited to continue to work with them and help them learn more about Christ. That is what's sad, all the Muslims are such good and nice people, they live their religion and everything- but they don't know about the Atonement in their lives and Jesus Christ.  I want to share my testimony of the Savior in our lives.  We cannot become clean or do anything without Christ. I am grateful that we have that kind of knowledge.

Anyways, those are just some highlights of the week, things are just good. We are excited for a good upcoming week and some good exchange action coming up. Sure love you all and hope you have a good week.

Love

Elder Nielson

Where did April go?

Hey there everybody!

Sorry I'm running low on time, but just thought I'd give you a little update and hopefully get some pictures attached. I hope you all are doin’ good and things are going super well here.

We had a cool week going down to Saratov and Tolyatti for zone conferences. While in Saratov, I was able to be back in my dojo in Zavodskoy and even got to call Sergei (the old bro investigator) and talk to him for a little bit. He has moved away from the members, but I also called his "mom" (Galina) and was able to talk to her for a little bit while I was down there. Just a trip down memory lane from last summer. I love those people so much, I sure miss them. Anyways, Sergei is just kinda chillin’ but doing well. He still remembers me at least. Anyways, the zone conferences went really good and it was really enjoyable to listen to President Sartori. He talked a lot about the Book of Mormon and things and we were able to learn a lot from that.

As far as our area goes, Svyetlana took off to Moscow for the week, so we didn't have a chance to meet with her. We have some new people that we are working with and just need to get some good meetings going with people and get them moving to baptism. I love the people that we have, we just need to teach people how to plan so that we can get meetings with them because that is the only way that they can learn about the gospel. But, there have been a lot of good times doing some contacting and finding new people, many which are searching for truth which is the first time on my mission it seems like that I have actually heard that from people. Anyways, things are going very well.

Here are a couple pictures, I will attach them and hope that you enjoy. (He only sent one!)

 Just our first day in short sleeves! I'll look forward to next week and hope that you all have a good week. Love you all!

Love

Elder Nielson

[little extra note from Elder Nielson]

First things first- business. I think we will probably actually shoot for skyping on Saturday night (before Mother’s Day)...dont' know if that would work for you all but we were just thinking with church schedules and things that would be easier. Anyways, let me know what you think...we will shoot for the usual time at about 7:00 in the night here, I think you are 10 hours behind us, but we can use next week to make plans final. Just an idea, if that's a problem let me know. That is fun to hear about talking with Sister Sartori, I love those people. They take good care of us. Ok, I fully endorse you to be my agent in schools, I think that I will shoot for BYU, I haven't really thought about going anywhere else, so I guess I can decide later if I don't like it.

Hey there everybody!

Well, things just keep on a rollin’ here and goin’ good. I'll keep doing the big email then, it's kinda fun like I said to think about some things that went on during the week. It has probably been hands down the craziest week of my life, I am pretty out of control tired. I guess that's a good way to be. I'll try to give a little shot of how things went this week.

We actually had a pretty chill p day and finished up most things with the transfer and things. We actually had a way cool experience on Monday night when we went to meet with grandma sher- Svyetlana. She came up and said hi to us and we were just walking around a park. First thing, she just says that she got an answer that the Book of Mormon is true! Elder Taylor and I just kinda looked across at each other and were like, "do tell...” Anyways, she told us how she was just thinking about it and walking around the park and kinda praying in her heart and felt the spirit confirm to her that the Book is true. Woo!! That is the first time that I have had somebody give us the storybook conversion like that. It was way cool, definitely the highlight of the week. I am very grateful for the Book of Mormon and the power that it has.

Anyways, so we got people off on trains and things seemed pretty calm. Tuesday, we got up and got down to the office for our office meeting and things and that went good, we met with president and just had a ton of things to do to get ready for the incoming group that was coming at about 5:00 that day. We just ran around the office like a couple chickens with our heads cut off and got done what needed to get done, and got out to the van to ride out to the airport. We got out there and picked up our train of news- all 14 of them! Holy cow! It was so fun to be around them, and they are all big boys- they must be growing them bigger back there in America or something. Even the sister was taller than me. Anyways we came back and ate dinner with them and while they were interviewing we took a couple groups out and got some contacting in for about 45 minutes. It was pretty crazy, both of us with our flocklings got a couple phone numbers each in about 45 minutes. A lot of missionaries could go all day and only get a couple numbers. Pretty cool, faith really works. Anyways, we had the whole craziness of getting them and trainers out and then getting things set up for zone conference on Friday and took the missionaries out to the airport. Long story short, it's been pretty outta control.

 

 

I like your questions about the Book of Mormon, we have actually been really making a focus to use the Book of Mormon more in our mission. It is incredible all the prophecies and things connected with the coming forth of the Book of Mormon- not only the message it contains converts people, but the Lord touches hearts through the book because it is His tool for the gathering of His children which is what the entire bible prophecies about. It is so exciting to be involved in that. I have realized since i have been on a mission that everything I have in a spiritual sense is because of the Book of Mormon. My testimony started when I was 13, 14 years old and I read the book for the first time when President Hinckley asked us to by the end of the year. I read it like a novel. I have ever since actually. There are good things to studying it and going deeper, but even on a mission I continue reading it just like a novel. I have actually done that my entire mission- of course we have lessons that is study for during the last part of personal study, but all I do is just read the Book of Mormon. I am currently in Helaman reading it through in Russian. I don't know that there is any better way for any person to come to know the Savior and to know what to do in life. There have been few, and although i haven't baptized them, but any investigator that will read the Book of Mormon with any real intent becomes converted and will be baptized at some point. It's pretty cool. Probably the most important thing about the Book of Mormon is the fact that Heavenly Father can touch anybody's heart through that book by the Holy Ghost. Everybody has their own concerns and things and the Book of Mormon serves many important functions in proving the restoration, giving us a witness of the Savior, etc. but Heavenly Father speaks to people through the Book of Mormon and that is what solves concerns. I love the Book of Mormon.

 

Love,

Elder Nielson

Good Monday to you all!

We had a good week this week and it just continues to all roll on pretty well around here. It sounds like you all had a sweet trip down to California and things and sounds like you’re right back in the swing of things.

I wanted to first answer a couple questions from momma, just a few things about it out here. First, as far as Easter goes, we actually still haven't had it yet. I can't remember if I said that, but the Russian orthodox Easter is going to be on May 5. Kinda funny, they do the same with Christmas, I don't really get it. But, they love carrying their eggs around and give out their boiled eggs. The main thing would be that everyone you see on Easter says, "Christ is resurrected." They don't even say hi or anything and you could probably walk past the same person about 20 times, and they would say "Christ is resurrected" each time.  

I would say one thing that Russians love is to be dressed up and feel fancy. Walking around here, you would think that everyone was very well off by the way they dress, and nobody just walks around in sweats. Women are always in high heels- always. Anyways, they love to go to their little plays or operas or different shows and they just get decked out for that. There is definitely a difference. Then, when you are at the plays or the shows, they just love getting into it and things. And then when they really like something, they all clap so loud and then start clapping in unison. It's kinda strange but it cracks me up. They love that whole fancy arts feeling and getting dressed up for it- however there is not really programs to teach people music and things so either people are playing the piano on the big stage or singing, or they can't sing at all. But they love to sing, we sing at the beginning of Sunday School and at the end and always have some kind of hymn for everything, but they kinda struggle a lot to keep a tune. I don't know that was a bunch of random things.

One other funny thing is that they close everything with "in the name of Jesus Christ, amen." For example, if somebody makes an announcement or at the end of the branch business or anything, it is always closed that way even if there is nothing spiritual whatsoever said. It's pretty funny. It seems like I say that about 50 times at church every week. I can’t really pick out my favorite thing, I just love those little quirks that are different from things we do, there are a lot of them.

One hard thing here is just that religion is pictured as nothing but a patriotic symbol and a superstition. The Russian orthodox church has just become the "Russian church" and anything else is just a "sect" or it's the "American church". Everybody thinks that we are Catholics because they think that we are from America so we are Catholic. And then for any Middle Easterns here, they say "I am not Russian" when we ask if they have faith because that is their way of saying that they are Muslim.    There are about four common statements that you hear in every conversation with somebody: "God is one, faith is different" "Most important is that faith was in the soul" "Don't need it" and "I am Muslim, that is a sin to hear about Christ". I don't really know how to translate them, but they are the most broad statements that they make towards the fact that faith is something real and not just a claim to belong to a nationality or just some superstition that when things go bad I pray and it gets better. 

As for my companion, he's so great. Me and him are pretty much the same person, like identical. We both move at the same pace and have the same views on things and so it makes it super fun. He's kinda a Tanner Jensen. Of course, because we both work at the same speed and take control of everything that is our only down fall, but we get along super good and it's been super good to work with him. We'll be friends for the rest of my life.

Anyways, I'm running short on time, we have to do our office meetings today. But things are going good. We have the same investigators and Grandma Sher (Svetlana) is doing well and came to church yesterday. We will have a good week and I'll talk to you next week!

Love

Elder Nielson