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