Ola todo!

First I would like to talk a little about Elder Bednar!

He is a little shorter than he appears in General Conference.  When he walked in, we all stood up, and he was hard to see. He is pretty short.  But he was awesome.  First thing he said, " You are not going to write everything I say."  We all had started writing what he was saying, and looked up really confused.  He wanted us to write what the Spirit was saying to us, and not what he was saying.  I entered the meeting fasting, and it made it all the better!  The Spirit was so strong.  He just had a question and answer session going. We studied four talks prior to the meeting, and he asked what we learned, and everyone was answering, and he would ask one follow up question.  It was really cool!

He taught us in a very straight forward relaxed way.  He didn't give a talk, but rather asked us questions and testified and taught as we answered.  It was such a good experience.  He was so calm and every word made you think.  It was really a cool experience.

One comment that stuck out to me was this: "Our prayers start when we say Amen."  Meaning that we need to pray with faith, but faith is a principle of action, so we need to get up and work to make these things happen.  If we pray for the people that weren't at church this week, we have to go out and bring them to church.  It was a cool thought.

Last week at the lan house Elder F----- was watching YouTube. When I saw I told him to leave it, and he was a little angry.  During Companionship inventory, I was praying to talk about this without having any contention.  And that's just what happened. I asked what I can do better, and he opened up and started saying he needed to be better. We left there with a determination to be better. But nothing has changed. So I'm a little frustrated. On top of that, an elder asked me this week "Has he told you he has permission to use Facebook?"  I said, "Yes. President authorized it because his family can't talk any other way."  He said, "No. He says that to all his comps, but it's not true."  

So I asked President Houseman in my email, and we will see what the truth of the matter is. He started talking about going home one transfer early because he is dying.  But then he talks about everything that he is going to watch and buy when he gets home.  So I'm a little worried about him.

We spent the last two P-days at home with our district playing cards and eating food.  I put a picture of the couscous that we ate today for you, Dad.  Also put a picture of a worn out Elder F----- sleeping.  

We did however manage to find some great investigators this week.  We should have one or 2 baptisms coming up here in a little bit.  We have some great investigators.  Rafael, Dora, Anderson, Elba, Marilha, Edimilson, Maira, Felipe, Alice, Lucas. If you could keep them in your prayers, that would be great.  

The first 4 are progressing, and Rafael will be baptized this Saturday, or next Saturday. We have to see when we talk to him tomorrow.

One thing that I am learning to do a lot better is to just talk to people and share the gospel.  I'm trying to meet my goals: I am doing a minimum of 5 contacts between lessons, and I can really see it helping me improve as a missionary.  So I am doing great. Don't worry about me, I am fine! 

I hope all is well at home!

Love

Elder Nielson