Elder Vaivela from Ha'apai Tonga!

G'day Folks

How is everyone? I'm doing pretty good. I'm not gonna lie being a

trainer is hard. Sister Simmons said "Welcome to parenthood." haha.

Yeah....NOT looking forward to it. haha just kidding. But seriously I

think Training is the hardest thing I've had to do since I've been

out. The first week is always the hardest though. So I've been told.

My companion is Elder Vaivela from Tonga! He's from the small Island

of Ha'apai. 2000 people live on his island. I told him "elder....3000

people went to my high school." He says our area is bigger than his

whole island. Woah.

The main lesson I learned this past week was Humility. Big time. Elder

Vaivela is probably the most humble person I've ever met. I feel like

I've taken my whole life for granted! He came out with nothing. Tonga

isnt the most wealthy country. I have great respect for the

missionaries who come out from the islands. They take the counsel from

the Lord about leaving everything behind very literally. Even right

now Elder Vaivela is emailing another Tongan missionary he met in the

MTC because his family doesnt have any access to a computer back home.

He'll just write them letters for the rest of his mission. On top of

that! Only him and his little brother are members! His parents and his

other 4 siblings are members of the Wessleyn Church. He joined the

church in 2008. He'll be a member of the church for 3 years next

month! Man! I'm just in awe of this man. Such great faith! So on top

of training him in missionary work I'm also teaching him the gospel!

He understands most things but there are a lot of things that he

doesnt understand as well. But another thing is he doesnt speak any

english! He's learning pretty quickly though so we can carry on a

conversation now (slowly). He got his first suit when he came into the

mission. His first camera which he still doesnt know how to use. He

used a fork and knife for the first time in the MTC. Seriously! He saw

his first helicopter. He went on an escalator for the first time in

the MTC. He got his first watch. He had cereal for the first time.

Mexican food :). When we went to Mall he was completely shocked about

how big it was. He said their biggest shop on his island is as big as

our living room. Small as. The list goes on and on! He made sure that

I always ate before he did and I'm like MAN YOUR LIKE STARVING

COMPARED TO ME! Oh yeah he had McDonalds for the first time. So I'm

trying my best to serve him in any way I can because I feel like a

spoiled brat. By the way you should send a package to him. Just fill

it with anything. Two lines of two great hymns come to mind. " Count

your many blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings

see what God has done" & "Because I have been given much I too must

give." We've been given so much! Its almost embarrassing. And its even

more humbling when I think about it in terms of gospel knowledge. I'm

so blessed to have been born in this church! I hope Stephen and Bryce

are reading this because they are the ones that I've been really

thinking about in this past week. We dont really have a teaching pool

right now which is hard because we "shot guned" the area so I'm more

tired than I've ever been in my life but thinking about the blessings

I've recieved and my humble companion are two great motivations. I

hope I really take full advantage of this opprotunity because I know

the Lord is really trying to teach me some things. I'm So grateful to

be a missionary and to have had the upbringing that I've had.

The Harbord Ward was pretty excited to have me back in the ward. I was

excited to see all of them too. It feel kinda weird to be back here

though since I spent so much time here before. Sister Simmons said

that I'm more in this area for Elder Vaivela though. Which is sweet

as. I just REALLY hope we can find some people to teach quickly and

hopefully get some people in the waters of baptism. My companion needs

to see some miracles! But I know they'll happen. Thank you for your

support and prayers! They are a BIG help! Love you all heaps.

Ofa atu Doksio

Elder Nelson

Freshwater and a Greenie

G'day,


Sweet Moses! Transfers are here! The beginning of the end is nigh! I'm

in Woy Woy right now with Elder Ulmer from California(Who is a STUD

missionary and he's only been out for 5 weeks. The bar truly has been

raised. I cant wait to see Stephen and Bryce when they serve their own

missions) and Elder Kerr from N. Carolina(different Elder Kerr than my

previous companion). We're working in Elder Kerr's area until tomorrow

because tomorrow we'll all be heading down to the mission office to

meet our new companions. I'm training! I'm so excited. But whats even

CRAZIER....guess where I'm going.....?...can ya guess?....DEE WHY!!!

CHYAH! haha well its actually called Freshwater but its the same ward

and pretty much the same area. I'm stoked out of my mind! I'm so close

to everyone there! My new trainee is going to be so spoiled! We're

going to have to start from scratch though with investigators and

such. How crazy is that? I'm also about 99 % sure that this will be my

last area too. My trainee will probably kill me off. Its too weird to

think about though. I've only got 3 transfers left. I cant imagine

what Adam is thinking about right now. Also I'm not Zone Leader

anymore. I served as Zone leader since last February. It was a lot of

fun and I learned a whole heck of a lot. About the work, myself and my

Savior. I'm going to miss Zone Council and other Zone Leader perks but

I'm not gonna lie its going to be nice to not have any leadership

responsibility. All I have to really focus on is my area and my

trainee. I dont know who I'm training yet. I find out tomorrow. I'll

let you know next week. I heard there are quite a few Islander Elders

coming in though. I've never had an Islander companion. Exciting

stuff! I'm going to really miss Elder Christiansen. He was definitely

one of my all time favorite companions. He's a legend and we got a

long really well. I'm going to miss Parramatta Ward too. Besides

Harbord ward, Parramatta ward has been the most missionary minded. And

go figure those two wards have been the strongest too! A few of the

families I got close to gave me a nice little farewell. I'll miss them

heaps. O well, Back to the beach! Churr. Haha just kidding.


Monika Tahim and John Munday are both still solid to get baptized this

month though. Elder Christiansen and I are really excited for both of

their baptisms. Oh also last week we set a date with that girl Theresa

King. She's so golden. Hopefully her and Monika will both be baptized

on the 26th of this month. OH man! Thats the day Adam goes home. AH!

John's baptism is this weekend. Me and my trainee will be taking a

little trip back to Parramatta to see that.


We are all Enlisted till the Conflict is o'er! Is the conflict o'er? I

say unto you nay! Happy are we Happy are we!


The Lord is really blessing all of us missionaries in the Australia

Sydney Mission. There's never been a more exciting time in the

mission! I'm so excited to train. Miracles are happening everywhere.


I know that God lives. Jesus Christ is our Savior. We can all be

cleansed from sin if we have Faith in HIM. Repent and are Baptized by

someone having authority. For those of us that have been baptized. We

have to keep our covenants and Endure to the end. I hope that we can

be like the Anti Nephi Lehites and shake and tremble at the idea of

breaking our covenants we've made with our God. I'm thankful for the

knowledge of the gospel and the joy that it brings to my life and to

my family. Now I have the opprotunity to spread that joy. I know that

This church IS Jesus Christ's One true church. We have the FULNESS of

the everlasting gospel. We have the keys to exaltation. I love you

all! Catch ya lata!

Elder Nelson


Mum,

Sounds like you and Dad had a great anniversary! Happy Anniversary! I

love Dad's cookbook. Thats an awesome idea. I'm so glad I have parents

that love each other! haha I know that sounds weird to say but I'm

just really happy about that. But! Dont send me embarrassing pictures

mum! jeez! I'm sitting in a public internet cafe! haha whatevs. Bryce!

Happy Birthday! Holy crap your old as! Almost as old as DAd! O wait

sorry he's ancient! hahahaha! Sounds like you got some awesome

presents. And Aweseome parents! What are you gonna do now that your

are 13?


Dad! I'm excited for your new calling! How awesome is that? You'll be

serving with an ex stake president! You'll learn heaps as! Fill me in

on the great doctrine you learn. Fill me in or else. :). Stephen.

Whatcha doing going around being a stud for? You got asked to a dance

by a senoir? Holy COW! Dodgey as. How is she only 1 year older? Is

stephen just old for his year and she's younger or something? Take it

easy mate! I'm excited that my family will be "hanging out" with such

spiritual giants. If you want to be a spiritual giant. Hang out with

Spiritual Giants! Its that easy! Thats Elder Nelson doctrine. Write it

down. Quote it. It'll be in President Monson's talk next General

Conference. IT will. You'll have to send me a picture of this girl

stephen. We'll see if she's up to par alright mate? I'm gonna have to

do some interviews with this fan club of yours when I get home. Can I

spend 20 bucks on new walking shoes tomorrow? Also I'll probably buy

souveys in May unless you want me to buy them sooner. I have plenty of

time before July. ALright Latas.

Elder Nelson