6 Month Realizations

I have offically  been out for 6 months! It is crazy to think I have ONLY a year left to do this marvelous work!

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about improvement and have thought of some ways I can improve myself. I am pretty excited! Growing and learning are wonderful things!

The other day, we were visiting a less active lady and we were talking about forgiveness. I realized as I was sitting there listening: I am a missionary. I am thousands of miles away from home, meeting and loving strangers I wouldn't otherwise know. Now, I am one of the people I used to look up to when I was little. And I am so grateful for that. It was kind of a surreal moment when everything stopped. I am so grateful to be a missionary! I LOVE these wonderful people I get to know and love and serve!!! This is where I want to be, and this is where I will stay. "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare HIS WORD among HIS PEOPLE, that they might have everlasting life." (3 Nephi 5:13)

Keep your chins up!

this one was for my mom.
I love the south :)

love,
sister nelson

PS When I get knocked down, I get up again, you ain't ever gonna keep me down! 10 points if you know that song!
PPS I'm not very good at leading into things ;)

Happy New Year!

I am so excited for this new year!
1. Because it is a whole new year: a fresh start!
2. I will spend ALL of 2014 in Alabama serving such wonderful people!

There is a family we have been teaching, (the husband is a member) and we had such a wonderful lesson with them on Saturday! Before, we had invited her to pray before and after she reads the Book of Mormon and last week she told us that as she's been doing it she has realized that it all feels familiar- like she already knew it! I know how important the Book of Mormon is in coming closer to our Saviour Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. I know that as we read it with real intent, the questions we have that we haven't found an answer to will be answered- maybe not through the words, but because of what the spirit will testify to you as you read. If you haven't read the Book of Mormon, you should read it! If you have read it, you should read it again!

Everyone, life is wonderful. And as we continue to get closer to our Father in Heaven who loves us SO INCREDIBLY MUCH, life becomes even more beautiful than it ever has been before.

I love y'all!
sister nelson

Brave

In the words of the wise pop singer Sara Barellis
"Say what you want to say
and let the words fall out
honestly
I want to see you be brave!"

That is what this week has been about! Bravery to knock on doors, bravery to put myself aside, bravery to listen to the spirit.

I loved Christmas and getting to talk to my family! Being out here away from them helps me appreciate them more than I had, so talking to them was the best!

Sometimes we are asked to do hard things. Most of the time, we don't think we can do it when in reality ALL of the time we can! The Lord doesn't ask anything of us that we are not able to do.

So this week, remember to be brave and remember that through the strength of the Lord we can all do hard things!

much love,
sister nelson

merry christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!
I hope yours is going to be as wonderful as mine!
I get to skype my family!
As missionaries, we only email/write letters to people from home to stay focused on the mission, but on Christmas and Mothers day we get to skype home! I am excited to see them :)

One thing I've been thinking a lot about this Christmas is the Atonement.
That is what we are really celebrating! The birth of our Savior who died for us.
There are some really wonderful verses about it in the Book of Mormon!
My favorite is Alma 7:10-13. I love how it talks about how Jesus Christ is to be born, and then it talks about his purpose in coming.

I love Christmas! I hope y'all take some  time to think about Christ and try to have the spirit of Christ (the spirit of Christmas) in your heart all year round.

Love y'all!!

Sister Nelson

Christmas is Coming!

I love the Christmas season! Especially the Spirit that comes with it!
A spanish sister pointed out to us that Mas in spanish means more, therfore spanglish Christmas is
MORE CHRIST!
I hope y'all take that to heart this year and really try and make the focus on Christ. Yes the holidays are fun but the real point to all of it is that our Savior was born.

This week has been wonderful and we've been doing lots of service! We've really been enjoying washing peoples dishes and helping them move into houses! Really anything we can do to help.

Lots and lots has been going on and we've been working really hard! I love it. Blessings come to those who are obedient, and we have definitely seen that!

Can't think of anything else at the moment, but the work continues to move forward!

Keep your Chin's up!

Love,
Sister Nelson

Transfers

And here we go again!

I spent my first 4 months in Huntsville, AL! I LOVED it and I love the people there.

Now I am further south and I LOVE it. My new companion is wonderful and we are doing a lot of hard work!

This week we helped a wonderful lady begin to use the atonement in her life. It was such a sweet experience being able to help her see how much Heavenly Father loves her.

I LOVE THE GOSPEL.

Some wonderful thing I am grateful for:
Our soap. It smells like Fruit Loops
Our ward
Letters
Warm clothes
Cars
Music

Don't have much time to update today so we'll leave it at that!

Love y'all! Have a blessed day!

Love,
Sister Nelson








(note: I will not say my area until I leave it)

Missionary Work

We come out on missions and work hard- so hard it hurts. We put our hearts on the line and give all of our love to these people we are serving to help them see the truth. Too many times our hearts get broken. People we care about go back to bad habits and throw the bond we have made with them aside. Yet, we keep doing it. We keep getting our hearts broken, not because we are lifeless robots, but because we know that one day one of these people will accept the truth of the gospel and of Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ. In that day our joy is full and all of the heartbreak and sorrow and days that seem endless are all worth it. For "we have been made instruments in the hands of God to... be the means of saving some soul"(Alma 26:3,30). This is why we do missionary work. Because we have the key to eternal happiness and joy and we want to see the children of God- our brothers and sisters in the Kingdom of our God.