Stake report from Elder Nelson

Where do I start with the blessings of serving!

1. I have had the oppurtunity to serve others and build relationship that will last a life time.

2. I have the most joy when I see people make changes in their lives, it truly is a first hand experience with the atonement in the lives of
those around me. Not only do I see the atonement in full effect upon those around me but I also get to see the changes that I have made
with the help of God.

3. I have learned how to manage my life by planning out each day of my mission. I have set goals and have been able to effectivley learn how to
achieve those goals.

Elder Samuel G. Nelson
Assistant to President
Boise, Idaho Mission
05/23/12 - 05/23/14

November 25, 2013

I hope the sealing goes good! I am so excited and proud of Isaac and
Hannah. Are they having a boy or a girl?

We had leadership exchanges this last week, so I went on 3 exchanges
this last week! It was exciting to be out working with some of the
Elders!

I got to teach an awesome couple who are decendents of John Tanner.  We
set a date with Mike Deck and his wife Delane,  we made some ground
with them. I taught with a Stake President who later called me and thanked
me for coming and teaching and said that I did an excellent job of teaching.

We have transfers this next week, which means that 32 new missionaries are coming out into the field! So we are going to have a busy week
getting everything arranged for them. Elder Nicholls goes home this weekend so I will know who my new companion is tomorrow! I am pretty excited about that.

I will keep the Browns in my prayers, I hope everything works out for them.

That is sad to here about the blazer! I hope everything is working out for them, that is hard to lose a car. 

Love you all!

Elder Nelson

November 18, 2013

Isaac and Hannah are getting sealed, that is so exciting! I hope everyone is able to make it out to Snowflake.

 

So during the Boise Temple open house; I got to see Elder Nattress several times while I was serving next to the temple, He actually gave me a hug but I doubt he would ever remember me haha. That is so awesome that you are going around to all the neighbors to invite them out to the open house! I got to take lots of people through the temple for the opening of it!

  

How was the Zone Conference? I got to be at 3 of them this last week so I was a little worn out at the end of all 3 of them. We have 3 leadership exchanges this week: I will attempt to explain that to you, we have all the leaders in the mission come together to go out with other leaders in the mission, and implement the training that we have received from our president.

 

So funny story, I was talking to a guy in our ward his name is Tyler Bates. He was talking about his mission in the Philippines, so I had mentioned that I had a friend serve there.... (Bill Katoa). Come to find out they served as companions, and are still in touch. I haven't heard from Bill since my farewell talk, so just this week he got my e-mail and wrote me and gave me a quick update on how things are going. It is such a small world!

 

So we had the opportunity to teach a guy who was raised Christian but found himself with more questions than answers, so he fell away from any belief in God. But he got invited by a member to learn about the LDS faith! So we got to teach him yesterday and it was so awesome because we were able to answer most of his questions with scriptures from the Book of Mormon. Afterward he expressed his thanks and was excited to meet again next week. I was amazed to see the change that came upon him as we opened the scriptures.

 

So this week we are going to try and work with Boise State University to set up like a Mormon 101 Class... We will see how that goes this week.

 

Anyway I love you and am so thankful for all that you do. Love Elder Nelson!

November 11, 2013

Hey Mom,

Thanks again for the pictures!

Elder Nicholls was born and raised in Zimbabwe and came over to do school at BYU, he plays for the rugby team there. He has two brothers that are really good at rugby, his oldest brother is working with the U.S. sevens team and is planning on playing for them. 

E-Nicholls has been out for just about 23 months so he will leave in 3 weeks, he is a good guy and one that I would like to keep in touch with after my mission. 

This week we have 3 Zone Conferences and a bunch of set lessons, We will be doing 2 companion exchanges with zone leaders and then we have stake conference in our ward this Sunday. 

Dinner: You know I couldn't say that I have a favorite dinner meal, I just eat what is placed before me. I have have come to really enjoy fish! In one of the wards that I worked in we had a family that was from Alaska, every summer the father would travel back to Alaska and bring a lot of fish home. After we had met with the family he gave us salmon to go cook! It turned out really good and since I have had a lot of salmon from different places, I would say that my favorite meal is salmon cook right with a good side. 

So we have had just miracles happen for us, we have found 4 new people to teach this week. Our teaching has been garbage but we are working through that! We have set some goals and plans to improve. 

So just 3 days ago we were teaching 3 girls in our ward, we got started and then all of a sudden there was a knock at the door... It was a guy named Jacque: Jacque came in and we could just tell the point of him coming in was to try and contend with us... We continued teaching the girls, and out of no where Jacque asked a questions "Can someone be spiritual without religion?" in a condescending way... Elder Nicholls answered him, but their where holes in the in answers from Elder Nicholls, so before Jacque could respond I quickly explained what Paul said in a slight varation of my own. 1 COR 12: 14-23. Using this I explained that one could be spiritual but would wither away being by itself just as a arm without the body would wither away. He was silenced and did not try to contend anymore.

I was wondering if I could could get some daily vitamin and whatever else you think would be good...? If that is possible. I will try and send some pictures in a little. Love Elder Nelson!

Elder Nelson called to serve as Assistant to the President

November 5, 2013

Hey I love the pictures and thanks so much for keeping me updated on everything. I am so greatful for you taking your time to do that.

 

I will fast for Lana this week as well. I hope she is doing good.

 

I love seeing the pictures that you send, they are always fun to see.

 

We have been teaching a guy from Columbia his name is Alejandro Hortet; he got introduced to the church through a member on a plane flight from Arizona, she got his information and sent that to us. We have been teaching him for the past two weeks, he came into our next lesson all dressed up like us, in a suit and tie! It was cool to see that our example was being followed by our investigator.

 

I hope everything is going good. I love you and all you do! Thanks so much for all you do.

 

I am a little worn this week so my letter is going to be short.

 

I love you have a wonderful week! Love Elder Samuel Nelson!