Week 23

Monday, July 27, 2015

Hi Mom!!!!!!

I love you tons and tons!!!! I am amazing this beautiful day in the Philippines! It was a beautiful day in the Philippines yesterday too as I had my first baptism! I sent you some pictures of yesterday! It was so amazing to witness everything that tried to get the baptism to not happen. On Saturday, our water here in Goa was turned off, so we couldn't fill the font. But we didn't know this until an hour before the baptism. We were sooooo stressed! We were going to go get Tatay and Julie Ann, but that didn't happen because we got distracted talking to bishop about the problem and other options we had. Well Tatay comes and everything just kinda fell apart, because everyone on the program didn't come, and it was just really stressful. We both ate a couple bowls of cereal for the stress.... ;) So Tatay was understanding and he agreed to be baptized Sunday morning, at about 7:30! It was so beautiful! And Bishop was the one to baptize them! Then they were confirmed in Sacrament meeting! Another miracle was that at the baptism, we had our investigator that will be baptized in August, Garry, he is 10 years old! And so freaking smart! He came! I am so excited for this kid to be baptized too!

We have an amazing beautiful area! We found a new part, and we have some stunning pictures there! And some awesome potential investigators! We can't wait to go back to visit them and to talk with them! We were able to set up a time to help an investigator do her laundry! I am excited for the opportunity to help her! It will hopefully help her have a stronger desire to come to church. That is the hardest part of investigators turning into baptized members.... church and commitments..... it is a struggle, but as we testify,and share personal experiences of keeping the commitments ourselves, it helps them want to try it for themselves.  That is why we need to do the simple primary things, because those simple things that we have learned from the time we were little, are the things that allow for mighty miracles to happen! Simple things exercise faith, and while we exercise faith, we allow for miracles to come into our lives! It is so true! I love this church and this gospel! I love this opportunity to serve the one who loves us most! He loves each of us. I know this to be true!

Thank you for the pictures! I have missed my mountains. Like really though.... I am missing my favorite seasons! I miss Utah! I miss the little things like the dragonfly hitting Andrews nose :) HAHAHA

How was Spencer's birthday? The cake looks delicious! I am glad that he got my card!

When did Spencer's accident happen? I am going to email him later! He will never hear the end of it!!!!! I am happy that I can be a little bit annoying even if I am about 6,000 miles away!

I love you guys so much! You make me happy! Thank you for your prayers and for your love!

Love Sister Emma Nelson

 My new look!

Week 22

Monday, July 20, 2015

Hi mom!!!!

This has been a pretty good week! It has had its ups and downs as does every week., but it has been good! I am good this beautiful day. It is hot, and I am tired, but that is a normal part of life here in the Philippines, being hot! Ayos lang!

We had an ok week. On tuesday we went to Naga. And while in Naga, we went to SM. To be honest that stressed me out. I have become very used to the small town life of Goa, and SM/ the mall was huge! Like I loved it, and I was stressed because of it too. We are so blessed to live where we live with all of the many blessings that we have in America, and for all that we have because of the Gospel! So after our trip to Naga, we rested for about an hour, then we went to our farthest area, and taught Tatay Lorenzo, and Julie Ann.

Tatay and Julie Ann are amazing, golden investigators! They understand, and have strong testimonies. It took tatay a while to remember Thomas S. Monson's name. But he got it! Then we got him a cookie because he remembered! We visited them a lot this week getting them ready for their baptismal interview! Which we had on Saturday! And they Passed!!!!!!! I was soooooooooooooooooooooooooo worried that they wouldn't pass, even though I knew that they knew and had pretty solid testimonies of these things. So this Saturday, they will be baptized! I will have more pictures too! I am so excited to see them make covenants with our Father in Heaven!

We also have another baptism scheduled for August 8. This will be sister Saua's last baptism, and my third! His name is Garry, and he is so cute! He is from a part member family, but no one is active. He comes to church all by himself! He is a smart kid! We are both excited for him! I am so happy that he is making the choice to come to church every Sunday! Though I am worried that he will go less active after his baptism like his family... Less actives are hard to get them to come to church! But as we continue to read and share with them the Book of Mormon, they slowly but surely come back. The Book Of Mormon is the best book in the world. I know that it is so true! I know that it testifies of Jesus Christ, and that it is written for our day, because we have a loving Heavenly Father that wants us to return to him. So he gave us the book of Mormon!

Then we visited a less active that isn't really less active, but we visit her anyway because in October, they are going to the temple to be sealed for Time and all Eternity! It is amazing to watch the gospel change lives! I love it! So on Friday we shared with them Mosiah 2:5-6. About the temples and how that is our end goal and how as a family, we should always have our homes turned to the temple! It was so cool, because, I didn't really know what we should share with them, because they are pretty good at attending Church, and no really big problem with anything, and then that scripture came to mind and It made me happy!

We have an awesome member who is working on her mission papers, and works with us when ever she can, and she invites her none member friend to work with us too!! He is a very prepared young man, and listens intently to each lesson. We have only taught him once, but he comes to church every week, and it so amazing!

Also! Sister Gigie, continues to come to church! I am amazed that some times the only thing that holds us back is ourselves. I am sooo happy that she continues to come!

The time is flying by! I can't believe that Sister Saua and I have been companions for three weeks, it feels like we have been companions forever, but also that we have only been companions for a week. I cannot believe that I have hit 5 months too! It has gone by way to fast!

Exchanges were ok! Nothing really too exciting! I Survived, we all survived and now we (Sister Saua and I) can breath a sigh of relief because that is over! I still need to continue to improve my teaching abilities... and lahat. But that is slowly coming. I have delt a little bit with depression since then, thinking that I can't do it, that I can never truly comunicate how I want to, this is how I think sometimes.... "Hindi ko kaya, hindi ko kaya," Then the other part of my brain goes "kaya ko iyan, kaya ko iyan" And that is how I think! It works for the moths part! I continue to progress no matter how hard it may be sometimes!

Wow! Everyone is coming home! That is so exciting for Kristi and her sisters! Andrew is done with is Eagle! YAAYAYYAYAAYAYAY!!!!!! Life sounds busy! For every one! The temple sounds beautiful too! I cannot wait to go back to the temple! I have sent Spencer a Card in the mail, you should get it on Wednesday! I also sent one to the house in Orem, there is a letter for all three of them... I don't know when you will get that one... But yeah! The house looks stunning! Next week I will send you my thoughts of Grandma and Grandpa. I am almost out of time...... sad day!

I love you tons and tons! Have an amazing day, and week! Thank you for all that you do for me! Oh! If you haven't sent the package yet, can you add colorful pens, like all different colors, and 2 white camis down east or seagull book please!

I love you all tons and tons!!!!

Love Sister Emma Nelson

Oh! I forgot! I had an amazing experience while fasting this week! We just missed the first Sunday, and haven't fasted since... anyways, beside the point. So, because of my struggle this week of I can't do it, and I can do it and of course the language, so I fasted for help, help with the language, and also for Sister Saua who has been really sick. So yesterday as I had language study, I was reading the conference Ensign in Tagalog. And as I read, when I didn't know a word, I would be able to figure it out with out having to ask or look at the English one! It made me really happy, and strengthend my testimony of fasting!

Pictures

Emily, Ako, Luma, Sister Cabs

 This is what happens when there is no water to the house.... and we didnt do dishes... we get to eat off of pan lids!

Ako, an RM member friend from Naga of Sister Saua, and Sister Saua!

Pictures

Dont judge, but I found the perfect pineapple and then the lady took the top off! I describe how I felt...I felt like Linus in A Charlie Brown Halloween when Lucy cuts open the pumpkin...

It's so pretty!!

I love sunsets!

This on our way to and form Bahay, our far area. We have a lot of less actives there! It takes about and hour to get there walking....

Sister Cabs.  I love this sister!  You can see the ocean in the background.

Julie Ann, Ako, Nicole

          Renalyn

Pictures...

 Talk about if I had a gun I would shoot it!

 It is so huge!

She is a very brave sister! She walked around with it for about 10 minutes...

Week 21

Monday, July13, 2015

 Hi Mom!!!!!

I am so good today! I am sooo happy! Everything is really good here in the Philippines! No Typhoons.... yet!!!! We had an ok week this week. We got punted a lot and about 4 lessons everyday. It is ok, but not the best. We are working on building a good relationship with the ward and with our investigators! It is amazing at how fast my Tagalog is coming now... I don't know why it didn't in training, but it is now!

The Philippines is just as beautiful in the rain as it is when it hasn't rained and most of the time, much cooler! I love being able to use my blanket at night! And I am soooo grateful for crocks. They make missionary life in the Philippines so much nicer... now... to clean all of the dirt out of my shoes.... :)

I have some amazing Kabahys! Sister Araja is training and is an STL, so she has a really hard job. But her trainee is amazing! She is so cute and funny! I love them both tons! We have a really happy house! We all get along, and talk and laugh. It is so amazing. I am worried for next transfer though... I am worried that the prompting that I am training, will happen, and that I won't be ready.... But! I can do all things through the Lord who strengthens me.  Yup!

This week we have exchanges! I get to work with both sister Araja and Sister Balasta! I as a junior and then a trainer... work together in my area... just in preparation for next transfer! This happens on Wednesday... Pray for me....

Everything with our investigators are good! Tatay Lorenzo and Sister Julianne still qualify for baptism and they have some amazing testimonies! Their baptism is on July 25. I am sooo excited for them! Then the rest of them are good too! We are teaching a little 10 year-old kid. He is soo adorable! and he has come to church these last two weeks. His family is all members, but less actives. I am hoping and praying that by his example, the rest of his family will return to church! His name is Garry, and he will hopefully be baptized on August 8.

We had ward FHE last night! It was soooooooo amazing! They had it in a really far area at a less actives house I think.... like it would be about an hour and a half walk there... about 10 of us rode on a tricee... it was a beautiful sight to see! then! Our inactive member that hasn't been to church in months and months, came too! Last week she wouldnt even smile at us, but this week she did! I am sooo happy! GHA! Just happy! They held ward family home evening to help members see how easy it is to have family home evening, and how they can model the ward one in their own homes! It was truly amazing! I loved it.

I would love more pictures of the house.... From what I have seen of it, it is really pretty! I am excited to see more! I am excited to be home.... I forget all that I have at home, like a washing machine and a dryer, and a dishwasher. Like those simple little things that I take for granted. I am so grateful for all that I have! The Philippines has really opened my eyes to what I have.

I am excited to see pictures of the party! I cannot believe that it is so close! I can't believe that I am almost 5 months here and that we are almost half way through this transfer! It is going sooo fast! I will be home sooner than all of us know!

Everyone is so busy! I am glad to know that they are all happy :) I miss you all tons! I forget how much is going on in the world and how out of it I am.... I like it, but then I don't at the same time... I like just having one focus, but I also worry that when I go home, it will be like some type of apocalypse after my mission, especially in America. Like not that it will have changed, but that I just won't be used to it.... Yup!

I don't really NEED anything from home.. I have been able to manage thus far... of all the countries I could have gone to, this is the best one! I have found almost everything I really really need! Like I have even found peanut butter here! I felt like it was crazy expensive for here at least, so that is a special treat... But I found it none the less!

It will be strange to go home and not have farmers markets and like a meat shop. We went shopping today for house food, and we were buying fish, and there was, I think it was tuna, like fresh tuna fish, whole. Like there are pigs heads too and insides. The smell is horrible for the first two minutes there. Sister Araja laughed at me when she caught me smelling sister Saua's hair. I then told them that we didn't have anything like this in America, and that it was like really big malls that we bought our food and other groceries at. It was strange...

So what ever you want to send! Surprise me! I wouldn't mind more peanut butter M&Ms... Or the reeses stuff...beyond that... or the Rimmiel London lash blast... I think. It is a pink bottle and the brush is long and has a round end hopefully you can find it. I would like it in black please and thank you!

I love you all tons and tons!!!!!

Love Sister Emma Nelson

Week 20

Monday, July 6, 2015

Hi mom!!!!!

My heart is very full today from all of the blessings from our Father in Heaven who I know with out a doubt that He loves each and everyone of His children more than I am able to comprehend. He has shown me that so much this week.

So about 6 weeks ago I prayed to Father for a not trunky, Polynesian sister, that wasn't fresh out of the MTC, and that is what he gave me, even though I do kill her off, she isn't trunky, and this has been the best week for work ever! Sister Saua is my follow up, and she is from Samoa. She is amazing!!!! I love this sister so much! Forever friends talaga! We have only been companions for a week, but it feels like we have known each other for forever. Like already, my Tagalog has improved and it continues to get better every single day, with sister Gregorio, it was stuck and it was hard, my Tagalog, it still is, but it is getting easier! Sister Saua goes home on August 13. That will be a sad day....

So last week I told you I didnt know how I felt knowing that I was here in Goa until at least September.... for many reasons. I was ready to leave Goa. It was a hard area with Sister Gregorio, and it was difficult for me to OYM, and building trust with the ward, they were very attached to Sister Gregorio, and not very interested in getting to know me.... so it is a super hard hard ward. So I was done. But, after emailing last week, I was thinking about it, there is something that Father needs me to learn here. I also got the prompting that I am going to train next transfer, because almost all of the sisters these last two transfers, are done, so the seniors/trainer get transferred/become STLs. or they are half way through training, and won't be transferred, or get a new sister. So I am one of the only ones, that is available to train. Sister Baird is training this transfer!!!!! So I know that because of how hard my first companion was, and how difficult everything was, that is why I got a follow up trainer!


SO!!!!!!!!!!! Now, after a week, Our area is absolutely amazing!!!! The amount of miracles are innumerable! Father answered my prayer of giving me a foriegen companion. Then He has let us find so many new amazing investigators! and right now they all have baptismal dates! A couple weeks ago, Sister Gregorio and I found a sister and we taught lesson 1 Principle 1-2. She was interested and invited us to her home, but we hadn't been able to get back there when she was home. So this week, we got there and her whole family was there! So we invited them all to listen. As we were building trust, we found out that they know a lot of members in our area! I was so happy! Then we invited them to follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized by one who holds the proper authority of God! And they agreed to be baptized on September 19! Holy cows I was so happy! So then yesterday, we were a little late for church, and my amazing companion recognized brother! And the whole family came to church!!!! I was really worried though, because it was fast and testimony meeting and you know how some of those can be, and for investigators and that is their first Sunday, I was really worried.... so like the whole time I prayed that it would be a good meeting and that they would feel the spirit and not be werieded out by what was going on... anyways! Father Answered that prayer too!!!! Almost all of the Testimonies yesterday were about I know that this is the only true church and things like that! And sister Mayeth and her daughter Bianca cried a little bit during sacrament meeting! OH MY GOSH! I was sooooo darn happy!

Then, we finished with our studies, and all throughout my study, I kept thinking about how we can increase our priesthood and less actives, so we were walking, we were going to go visit sister Vicky, who still has yet to get married and has no plans to get married.... anyways! So there are two ways to get there, and I fro some reason went the long way, and I was like, "Why did I come this way....?" So we walked past a less actives house, and they saw us and were like sisters! Come here! We have a referral for you! Anyways so we visited them, and she told us the most amazing story. This sister stayed at home from church today to take care of her mom, anyways her nephew (I think) was there with her, and as he was cleaning the bookshelf, he found a couple Books of Mormon, and He was like what is this! And his aunt, the member told him what it was and told him to read it. So he read it, and then they were going to text us to come and teach him, and then we walked past! He is a very ready investigator and I hope that he continues and becomes a priesthood holder!! And then we were talking to a less active brother, we felt that he still had a testimony, and that he was really close to returning to church!

Then at church yesterday, we had a sister that hasn't come to church in over 8 months (Sister Gigi)!!!!!! I was so happy! And then as we were at the less actives house she told us that she talked with sister Gigi, and invited Gigi to church and Sister Gigi, was like, yeah I need to come back to church.... Oh my gosh! And she came! And this less active sister that told us this was so happy about the family that came to church too! Oh my gosh! Father loves all of his children!

So not only do I have a new companion, I also have a new kabahay! She is a new missionary, and is so cute and funny! She is from the same mission that Sister Justine Wild is serving in, and so I asked her if she knew a Sister Wild, and she said yes!!! While this sister was a short term missionary, they were kabahays! It wasreally cool! The world is already really small, but the church makes it even smaller.

Father really really loves all of us. He answers those prayers that we really really want, and helps us be successful as we are faithful!

That is sad about Andrew! will it be ok? Have him play on Spencer's Xbox! AHAHAHAHHA! Speaking of him, that makes me happy that he is talking to you more! I love you and miss you! Hey! 13 more Fast Sundays? I don'treally remember any more.... give me until my last transfer, I will remember... maybe....

Still kinda sad I wont be there for the party... When is it? Do you want them now, or later? What do you want my thoughts on..... I have been so blessed in my life! I have amazing friends and amazing family! I love yall tons!!!!


Love Sister Emma Nelson

Oh! I forgot to tell you! So yesterday morning! I went down stairs to go to the bathroom, anyways, I close the door, and all of the sudden I hear like a squeaking breathing noise coming from where we have the water for flushing the toilet and the shower water.... So I look in the bucket of water, and there is a RAT!!!!!!! swimming around trying not to drown.... Well, I run out of the bathroom, and Sister Saua is like what? I am like, there is a Rat in the bathroom! Well, that was an interesting way to start the day! Especially Sunday! And then we killed it! We took the bucket out side, and poured bleach and lundery detergent in it... and then poured bleach on it.... Sister Araja was like open your mouth!!!!!!! It was sooo funny!

I  made no bake cookies successfully for once!!!!!! It made me really happy! yup!