Week 63 & 64: Shance Got Baptized | I talked at his baptism twice?

 

Aloha everybody!

Great news: Shance Duarte is now baptized and confirmed a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! It was so amazing! 

But first, I have to explain that Gilbert was not able to be baptized on the day we planned. Actually, Shances  baptism was pushed back as well. But everything turned out ok in the end.

At Shances baptism, we got him suited up and then the ward pianist Brother Aipolena came up to me and said he couldn't play the songs we had scheduled. So the ward mission leader said that we had to change the opening song so Bro Aipolena could play it. Then it went pretty awesome from there! He was baptized but complained about the water feeling cold. It was so awesome setting up for the baptism earlier and watching the water fill up the font. It made me realize just how amazing Shances decision to be baptized really was. He was going to feel closer to God than he ever was before. Elder Jones baptized him. 

Then while they were getting dressed, I gave a missionary moment sharing the message of the Restoration to the audience. They were mostly members, but I tried to make it as profound to them as I could. Then when Elder Jones and Shance got back, I got right back up and gave a 5 minute impromptu talk on the Holy Ghost. I described a story about how the Holy Ghost protects people with a story about about when my grandpa was in the police. He was riding a bike and the spirit saved him from getting hit by a semi on the highway (rough summation). 

Then after the talks were finished I played the closing song! I wasn't very confident in my piano skills, but I somehow managed to play "When I am Baptized" from the Children's Songbook. It sounded good. Then I gave the closing prayer. Haha.

The following day, Shance Duarte was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and given the gift of the Holy Ghost. I was the one who did it and it was such a remarkable experience. I assured him that God loved him and was going to aid him through the rough but amazing life he has ahead.

Everything else has been great too. We got to wish Gwen a happy birthday by bringing guitars and Ukuleles and laughing and joking. She just turned 16.

Marsha is also doing good! We got to help her cut some leaves off her bushes and talk about the commandments we teach people to follow. She definitely seemed curious? Either way, she'll always be a great friend to the missionaries.

Me and Elder Jones frequently commented this week about how fast time goes by. I realize that as fast as time goes by for Elder Jones (a new missionary) it definitely goes by faster for me. Am I using my time to the absolute max? I hope Shances baptism is a good indicator of how badly I just wanna stay for longer. But anyway... I'll just keep walking on.

Thank you all for your support and prayers! 

Aloha!

Love, Elder Nielsen

Week 62: Preparing for Baptism and A Secret Garden?

 Aloha!

This week was awesome! We are just getting ready for the two baptisms for Chance and Gilbert this next week! We are super stoked and so proud of these two. Gilbert has been the friends of missionaries for sooo long and me and it's crazy to think that he's finally ready! While working with Chance, we've seen that he's a pretty normal kid but it's inspiring to us that he's getting baptized for himself and his family and showing a righteous example for his friends and family.

Gilbert will be baptized Monday October 17th at 12 pm. Not sure why in the middle of the work day but whatever works for him . Chance will be baptized Saturday the 15th at 6pm. We are getting everything organized for food, the programs, etc. and I just get more and more excited! Baptisms have been such a joy for me to witness my whole life. And it's an absolute treat to see people in different lands get baptized as an Elder.

 

In our finding efforts this week, we met a really awesome guy named Wyatt! We knocked on his door and saw this guy weed whacking just outside the small stone wall and he said he lived there. So we went over to talk to him and became friends! After a bit of getting to know him and introducing ourselves, we offered to share with him a message and he agreed. We taught him the restoration of the Gospel and he liked it! He has a general knowledge of God and Jesus Christ and even accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon!

We ran into some people this week who had a past with the church and left for diverse reasons and didn't want much to do with us. But the only thing we can do from then is just be their friend. Show them that the church and the gospel inspires people to be their best self and not to be strictly preachy. It's all about love (:

The other day, we met up at Marsha's apartment because she wanted to show us something up the canyon. So she jumps on her bike and says "See ya there!" So we drove up the Waimea canyon to this place she was talking about and stopped midway on this one-lane road to check out some scenery and this really cool swinging bridge that hangs over a river! Indiana Jonesy stuff. Then she catches up to us, we follow behind her to the end of the road...and it's a beautiful grove of trees with flowers and beautiful smelling plants everywhere! And she has a tent that she hangs out in for days on end just to take in scenery. I've never seen a more beautiful place in all of Hawaii! It was a sight to behold.

The week went really well with a lot of fun adventures like this. And it's a good reminder that while we do our daily work for Jesus Christ; we have fun doing it! We were actually given some counsel from our mission leaders that we should try to focus on having more faith and joy in the work. And I agree. It can seem overwhelming at times, but the work is meant to be joyous! And whenever I am working back-to-back, I find myself trying new things and having a great time!

So if you love the thing you're doing, then have fun with it! "Men are that they might have joy." - 2 Nephi 2:25

Can't wait to tell you how the baptisms go so stay tuned! I love you all and have a great week.

- Love, Elder Nielsen

P.s. I got in a small car wreck. Just a fender bender. I'm ok BYE!!!

Week 60 & 61: Spooky season in Kekaha

 Aloha everyone!

We got transfer news that I will stay in Kekaha with Elder Jones for another 6 weeks! I'm excited for it! It's great working with him and teaching him. I will say, training is definitely one of the hardest things I've ever done. It's been a test of patience many times during the weeks. But I've been told, and I believe, it's the most rewarding and fun calling you could receive as a missionary and I'm lovin' it!

Gilbert Castro and Chance Duarte are our friends that are still on date for baptism. They are still scheduled for this month and neither of us are leaving! I'm a bit overwhelmed at the thought of my first baptism, but I'm stoked! We're meeting with them every week to help them feel ready. Please pray for them that they will feel that it's something God wants them to do.

General Conference was amazing! I particularly loved the talk by Elder Dale G Renlund about receiving revelation. As a missionary, I'm promised to have inspiration as I serve in my area and with my companion. But my problem is that sometimes I think too hard into things or that I feel like I interpreted something wrong. Ask anyone who knows me well; I think into things too much . But Elder Renlund made a point about if we're given inspiration or revelation on something, that's how it ought to be and probably won't change. A good example would be when someone receives and answer to a prayer, but they don't like the answer so they keep asking. That way of thinking helps me to keep inspiration simple. God gives us commandments, and gives us inspiration and help through the Holy Ghost to help us on our way.

We got to do some service for Marsha this week and she was glad to hear we would both be staying! We're trying to set up a time to meet and you know how that is.

Other than that, the areas been pretty normal. We're still trying to get some more activities going for the youth and that's had some good success. We're constantly trying to meet with everyone at once but everyone's time is different so we just everywhere all the time. We've been doing a lot more walking around areas instead of just driving. It's lead to great miracles! We've also gotten to pet some cute dogs .

The work continues here in Kekaha and won't stop soon. If you haven't watched General Conference yet, watch some when it gets out. Remember, it's not meant for members of the church. It's for the world . 

Have a great week and I love you all!

Love, Elder Nielsen

Week 59: The Kekaha Love Language is Basketball?🏀

 Aloha!

Me and Elder Jones had organized a community event where a bunch of people showed up to play in a basketball tournament! There's just so many kids everywhere in the areas we serve in and one of the best ways to bring everyone in the area together is through sports. 

On Wednesday we spent a lot of time going around and inviting people to the event. We went to the farthest corner of our area where we could put fliers. While we were doing that, we got to talk to some people actually so it actually turned into a pretty great finding activity as well! The turnout for the tournament was insane! SO many kids were there and we all played some basketball games while a bunch of ward members were there to cheer and serve food. It was a huge success! I think one of the best successes was that I got major blisters that I don't want to attach a picture to show you.

Gilbert was there too! And we had our next lesson with him just the day before when we taught him the Plan of Salvation. In the middle of the lesson he told us he was just "Absorbing it in." Which makes sense why. It's sometimes hard to understand every point of the lessons we teach. And we invited him to pray for guidance on trying to get a feel for each thing we teach him. But it went really great and he came to church on Sunday! So did Chance!

Our next lesson with Chance also went great. He still has a lot of questions but he gets them answered. His main obstacle was that he hasn't really prayed on his own yet. We made that his goal for the week. I'm glad that we have made a pretty cool relationship with the current people we're teaching.

We got to see Marsha this week! She said that she's been out of town. She asked us what it feels like to have your question answered when you pray and ask if the church is the true church. We told her that her answer will come to her in a way that she will understand because God knows her for who she is. And she wants to meet up again sometime to talk more! We're stoked that we're talking to Marsha again. I have no idea what happened last time.

Remember our friend Russel? He is doing a project on his house and we got to go help him and the construction crew dig some trenches and get dirty. It was pretty fun not gonna lie. It felt like I was at work with my dad. But the fun part was that we had to rush over to Kalaheo afterwards for the car wash. So we had a lot of service that day and were pretty tired.

We got to FINALLY catch up with Gwen! She has been super swamped with school work and tests (which I totally understand coming from BYU) and she said that she wanted her dad to meet a friend in the ward so that she could go to activities.

So that's how my awesome week has been! I think the main message I've learned this week was that God will always speak to us and teach us in ways that we would understand. It doesn't even matter when or how He tells us, it's always for our better understanding. So always be patient and pray that you will understand when the Lord will finally speak to you.

Hope you all had a great week! Aloha!

- Love, Elder Nielsen