Dear Family and Friends!
This week and I am most grateful for the peace that I've received, peace, word of the week, you'll prob see me use it like 10 times in this letter. It's the best, I am so grateful for it.
So for fun, just thought I'd mention, I gotta see Sestra Trumbo, friend from high school, ps she's going to Croatia, i got chills when she told me! i was telling her about jasna and lidija and president Rowe and i'm so excited for her, Cammie, she'll make you proud, I know she'll take care of your favorite people in the world, love those Croats! I also ran into Elder Zach maples, k, he totally has to learn French AND Tahitian, and i'm freaking out over Spanish! it's crazy!! And i ran into Bro Tyler a couple times, he just has a way of lifting my spirits.
Um, just two dork moments of the week for Hermana Nelson, we were sitting in class and i was trying to scoot back on the wheels of my chair across the room to throw away a piece of paper and my dress coat got caught under the wheels so i scooted like a foot from my desk, swiveled in midair for like half a second, 'oh no!" and then i fell backwards, lucky part was i had an extra long skirt on, so i stayed modest. Thankfully only 2 elders were in there at the time but of course my comps who never cease to remind me of my grace. That's why the call me Klutzky back home right? And then of course, I rolled my ankle on the court with a turn around jumper... At least I made the shot? But my ankle still aches unfortunately. Also, on the housekeeping topic, looks like our Visas are gonna be super delayed, surprise surprise!! Ha, all the more time to enjoy the Provo MTC and our amazing Elders in our District, they're super happy we're staying only because they're jealous of us leaving for the Spain mTC, but I don't doubt the lord will put me where i need to be, i just got work hard, no matter where I am!
Okay, so super tough week for me, Sunday/Monday, I just felt so super discouraged and down on myself, I get to serve as Coordinating Sister and so I got to go to a bunch of training meetings on Sunday and of course, Branch Council with all of the district leaders and Branch president, that was pretty eye opening and fun to see the organization of the priesthood. So far, I haven't had any new sisters to welcome in but I can't wait to help the newbies out and make them feel welcom in the Provo MTC.
So we got to teach Manuel a couple more times this last week, and seriously, we improved SO much. We put more faith in the Spirit and decided not to script everything out so intensely and work on communicating with him off the cuff, this is super hard! Like our second lesson we really felt an opportunity to invite him to commit to baptism but we couldn't figure out how to let each other know and we didn't know what to say but our last lesson we just went for it. "Manuel, will you follow the example of Christ and be baptized?" And we were totally feeling it, my heart skipped a couple of beats and he's just like, 'Well, ya know I can see myself getting baptized some day, but I don't know when? What am I promising? " I guess he had a few more doubts and by this point, we ran out of lesson plans and so we went on for another 20 minutes trying to satisfy his concerns and let him know that we can help him learn and keep the commandments he's covenanting with God to keep, we just wanted to help him see his goal. Finally hermana Maxwell turns to me, "Why don't we find him another scripture, since we just couldn't think of the right words,' so I pull up Mosiah 18, the baptismal promise, duh why didn't I think of that 20 minutes earlier? ha, he reads it and he's all, okay, i get it. I can do it. Ha, I'm thinking what? So we set a date, Feb 15. Stay tuned for details... ha, we actually learned that manuel is a teacher here in the MTC, and rumor has it he's going to be our teacher next week.. But as far as we're concerned, he's a non-member working towards baptism.
Another highlight of this week was a fun visit from Elder Nelson. Ha, everybody keeps asking me if I'm related to him.. Ha, but anyhow, we got excellent floor seats gracias a Elders who saved us a spot.. As we waited fro Elder Nelson to arrive, we sang a few hymns ALL together and I could just feel the power and strength of each missionary. Immediately after Elder Nelson entered the room, mid song, we stood and sang our hearts out to him, bearing testimony in song! i remember the exact words we sang when he entered of Press Forward Saints, 'With love of all mankind" and I just knew right then, of God's love for me and I just felt so privileged to be a part of this. Elder Nelson said that we bring hope to people who know nothing of god's plan. He talked a lot about the Gathering of israel, and our role as missionaries the "swift messengers of the Lord' that are fulfilling the Abrahamic Covenant made over 4000 years ago. he also mentioned how several countries have been dedicated in the last year, I thought of when Elder nelson dedicated Croatia and Elder Holland came to Lebanon! Another thing I like that he said is that "We are all one in Christ" Galatians 3:26-29, this gave me esperar (hope) with mis companeras.. Because, it's been a hard week ha and I just thought well we don't have to like each other but we do need to love each other as we serve in the same cause.
So the day I found out about Grandpa.. Woh, shock! Nora told me at lunchtime, and it just kind of knocked my socks off! And I just kind of cried for a minute, socially withdrew at lunchtime but I was blessed to be able to focus for the rest of the day on my missionary work.. Until bedtime, when I finally got the chance to sort of take things in, I guess it finally hit me. I was just overwhelmed with all of these memories from Gpa Nelson from childhood until this last Christmas ha. And you know as i of course, sort of cried to myself in my bed while reminiscing, i once again felt so much peace, in knowing that I can be with my family forever. As much as I wish that I could be at his funeral tomorrow, I have peace in knowing that I am now preparing to share this love and knowledge of God's Plan. i love this Gospel, it is my life, all I have ever known and long for!
I just want you all to know, I am normal, and I do miss you guys, but I'm doing so good. I want you to know how amazing it feels to hear from you and to know that you are well. Thank you,
Hasta Luego,
Hermana Nelson
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