Week 34

Dear family friends, and everything else,

This week was amazing! We got three new investigators...YES THREE and three have a date (in total we have four!) and one potential investigator that comes to church with their mom. It's so cool how much the Lord and the members have shown their trust in us by giving us work. Because as you know...more investigators means less tracting. We still do it about once a week for a few hours just to be productive. I can testify that while I haven't gotten any investigators from it...I have improved in my speech by a lot. I can see my skills improving! SO while it isn't really #1 finding tool...it's still a top five improving tool. 

Now...onto the main subject. One of our bishops (Since we cover two wards still) Asked us if we could participate in a MAN CAMP. Basically it used to be a father & sons camp but then they realized how cool it would be to invite nonmembers and sisters if they wanted to come. So it turned into this event where we invite nonmembers to go. he wants us to go. Now normally...Missionaries are very strictly prohibitive from camping. Naturally we said he would have to ask president. So he did. About 7:10 this morning President Rehm texts us and says we can go! In fact he encouraged it if we can find new people to talk to. So on the 4th of next month we are going on a nightlong campout in Colorado to hopefully get new investigators....HOW COOL IS THAT??? I'll have more details for what's gonna happen for that next Tuesday. Next week is memorial day on Monday...every holiday is on Monday so We will most likely email on Tuesday after the storehouse. Tomorrow is Zone Conference for us. Should be fun lol...I'll be reading more of the OT since I finished Revelations on Saturday. Here's something interesting I read that I felt like sharing. 

First off...I've heard lots of comments from people that we are super secretive on the things we do in the temple. That we have "Magical Underwear"

lol...Well I don't think my Garments have a +1 +1 magic property of protection (DND reference there) but they do have a form of spiritual protection...Anyway...I was reading in Exodus yesterday and today. Around 32 right now...and everything that they talk about between like 24-the end is pretty much a lot of the same stuff we do. I mean the specific wording of things we keep sacred and that's for a reason but like...the clothing and stuff that's no secret. Its ALL inside the old testaments...ALL OF IT. So like next time someone talks about magical anything that's where I'm gonna point them. But yes it was a good week. I miss you guys. I hope you are having a good week. I am having a good one starting off now and with the Camp coming up...It's gonna be amazing. Until next week!

Peace and Love

Elder James Harrison Nielsen

Week 33

So mothers day rocked! I was super thrilled and happy to talk to most of yall. Mom brought up a good point. I only get to do that two more times....I'm basically half way! lol not really. Today is my 8 month mark. I've survived for eight months...now according to me...thats a feat worth bragging about. I've survived longer than any job I've held!...well we can dispute why later but I think its cool to still be kicking it hard. My comp elder baker his his year mark last Thursday which was super cool. He came out a few transfers before me so I still feel that even though he's got more time on me...he still knows kinda fresh how its like to be in my place. 

Last week was kinda rough since he was sick. We had to stay inside a little more than we would have liked but thats okay...this week we plan to redouble our efforts and talk to a ton of people! Try not to tract but mostly stop byes...We still have a half dozen people we've been trying to contact with no success...THIS WEEK SHALL BE DIFFERENT! 

Here is my weekly scripture. I read it a few days ago when I was in romans and it serves as a good reminder to my feelings of the Gospel 

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

I hope all of us are having a good week and will have an amazing one next week also! I love you all and will be back on Monday! Peace

Elder James Harrison Nielsen

Week 32

This week is going to be super exciting for me. Why? Mothers day!!!!! I'm super excited to get the chance and call home and sing for you guys. Just ask Elder Baker my comp. I've been practicing and will redouble my efforts till Sunday. And just as a special hype for all of you who will be there...here is the songs I'll be singing.

1. Nearer my God to thee

2 Hallelujah by Cloverton

3 Drummer boy

4 I see fire by Ed Sherran 

5 Happy Birthday for Sariah

6 The CCSM Anthem

It'll be super exciting and I hope you all and excited too!

This week in the terms of work we've been working with Less Actives and getting them back to church. It's really cool to see how they make little changes when we as missionaries 

1. Commit them to change

2. Promise them blessings 

3. Give a testimony of how those blessings will come true. 

4. Always give them encouragement that they can do it!

As a missionary who himself has made strides and changes ever since he got here, I can with an honest testimony tell people of any age that I meet that repentance works. Change works. 

Yesterday at one of our wards (Yes I still cover two wards...I'm super busy) I gave my testimony of being humble and remembering how we compare to Christ. I read to myself Doctrine and Covenants 122 and it really humbled me...I try to read it everytime I'm struggling because it does help. This is what it says and I rephrase some of it to apply to myself 

 1 The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, and fools shall have thee in derision, and hell shall rage against thee;

 2 While the pure in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous, shall seek counsel, and authority, and blessings constantly from under thy hand.

 3 And thy people shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of traitors.

 4 And although their influence shall cast thee into trouble, and into bars and walls, thou shalt be had in honor; and but for a small moment and thy voice shall be more terrible in the midst of thine enemies than the fierce lion, because of thy righteousness; and thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever.

 5 If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;

 6 If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb;

 7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

 8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

 9 Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.

Obviously I don't have any children or a wife and I doubt that I'll die on my mission but it still conveys the same message...Am I with my struggles greater than Jesus? no of course not...So thats why I try to remain humble enough to go through my problems. They aren't few and some show up everyday. I'm learning and trying to solve them. I'm sure by the end of my mission I still won't be perfect, but I'll be on my way to being a better James Harrison Nielsen than i was before I came out. With that in mind...I hope you guys have a good week and I'll see you on Sunday!

(PS I'll keep you updated on when calling can take place!)

Peace and Love~

Elder James Harrison Nielsen

Week 31

So this email is late. I apologize to everyone who was waiting for it patiently for my email...the libraries reservation system for their computers failed and everyone who was working on one got kicked out...Its sad...

I don't have much to say this week. It was a good one. I'm not getting transferred so thats good!

We found out an investigator we met with this week is actually a less active! whaaaat! super cool. They expressed wanting to come back to church and it was super cool and the daughter who's 8 asked "When can I get baptized?"

It made me cry.

I love you all. Its a short email I know...but I don't have too much time to write a super long one...Hope your all doing well!

Peace and Love

Elder Nielsen

Week 30

I had a sort of nervous breakdown a few days ago. You see...perfection isn't something we achieve now...and its surely not something we get on the mission. I have to stop worrying about the little things. I worry about my little imperfections that really don't matter. I get worked up and think I'll get sent home if I sleep in or something dumb like that. Thank the sweet lord for Elder Baker. He has like kept me above water and told me that its like okay...SO I'm after a long day amazing! See everyone has issues...But at least I am getting past them! Yay! 

This week and the next week following I've been asking members at dinner appointments to focus on missionary work. At Specialized training we focused on the work of salvation and how important it is to get people to God. We went into detail (Its a little deep) about the kingdoms of glory. We talked about a certain level of damnation that one inherits even if they get to the Celestial Kingdom without going right to the top...See only at the top can we become like God...anything lower and your stuck as an angel looking up at those who attained that Exaltation...You'd feel like you could have done better right? That's why I've been redoubling my efforts to find people to teach as well as teaching members. Mosiah 28:3 reflects both my feelings and the sons of king Mosiah.

"Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble."

That's my feeling. I don't want anyone to endure that torment of "I could have done better" or "I could have been That..."

Nobody deserves that. Everybody deserves the Eternal Life that God wants to give us. It takes work but it is worth it. 

Oh also we had a huge snow storm on Saturday. Its almost gone though lol. It melted during church...so um...Yeah Co weather is so odd. 

Hope you guys all are rocking. I am having a pretty dang good day myself! 

Peace and Love~

Elder James H. Nielsen

Week 28

This week has been quite the week for the CCSM. I guess I'll be kind of soft in the details. Some missionaries went home in the last month due to multiple things. It saddens me to see others who have to go home early for any reason. It also saddens me when areas have to close. The work slows down and some people don't get the chance to see the blessings of the Gospel. Despite this I have through conference received a witness that our mission will be just fine. I will hold my head up faithful that we can be the very best we can be and do only the best work. Conference has helped to renew my sense of service and has made me want to do better in all that I do. I'm always improving and hoping things get easier.

That's really all I have. Thank you to everyone who has emailed me. I love you all and you are amazing

Peace and Love~

Elder James Nielsen

Week 27

Dear family.

We got some snow this week and it was amazing. Having a few cold days is actually good to leveling out the hot days we've been getting. So how's everyone doing? With Easter coming up we've been having lots of chances to meet new people. Its been amazing to see how some events like this can change people's hearts. Yay :D

Week 25

So this last week we went tracting around one of our wards. People say that it sucks and are so hesitant to do it that they either don't see the underlying blessings that come from it, or they don't get anything. For me I feel like despite it being the worst way to find people...you learn other things that are for your benefit too. It makes me less scared to approach someone and say hi. It also allows us to learn our area and find out where members live. We found out a member lived on a street we were tracting. We shared with her a short Easter message and asked who around her would like to hear it. She then gave us like four people to see...FOUR MEMBER REFERALS. Cool huh? We also handed out a book of mormon to some smokers who said they would read it. I'm hoping that goes well ^^ 

This week we have a media referal also who wants to meet us. They did ask us to be baptized over the phone so we are excited to meet with him. I'm excited!

Well that's all I got for this week. I love you all. Its been six months and five days since I left. Still going strong! Still loving every moment of it! You guys rock!

Peace and Love~

Elder Nielsen