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
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