Merry Christmas!

December 23,2013

Hey family and friends!!

Thank you for you packages and presents!  Christmas/thank you cards are coming your way!:)   I got transferred to Kennewick, I'm serving in the Kennewick Park Ward.  

The Sisters got doubled out and me and my new companion, Elder Chadwick, got doubled in.  So we have no idea what's going on in this area, really we are just winging it and saying a lot of prayers!  We have been trying to contact all the investigators.  We had our first meeting with our Ward Mission Leader.  He was impressed with all that we have done, especially since we are on foot.  This area use to have a car but it left with the sisters, of course!   It's ok, I like walking, keeps me in shape! 

 Sounds like everyone has been pretty busy and having fun right before Christmas, but none of it sounds as fun as when I get to Skype, haha.

  Christmas season is pretty awesome on the Mission!  I get to focus on the true meaning of Christmas alot more! 

  We had to teach the Relief Society yesterday (freakin weirdest thing ive ever done!)  But it was pretty cool.  Our lesson we were assigned was Elder Packard's, talk The Atonement, from last years General Conference.  It was an awesome talk, I suggest reading or listening to it!  I started reading the book Believing Christ, on Thursday as well and that tied in with the lesson perfectly!  I learned alot from that lesson. Like that Christ's infinite perfection cancels out out finite imperfection, as long as we accept him and believe him, not just believe in him!

     Did you guys get my package?  Did you like my magnet that was in there? :)  haha

 Well thanks for all you guys do and the love and support you give me!  Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!:)  Love you all!

Love,

Elder BUBBA Nelson

Coulee Dam

Dam Elders

DiamondBacks

Last P-Day in Coulee Dam

Only One Way

The Brown's

The Cobbs'

December 16

WEEKLY LETTER!!:)

  

 Well I'm getting transferred!  I'm going to Kennewick!  I thought I was ready to leave this one horse town, but I didn't realize how much I made it my home away from home!  It's like leaving home all over again! I hear your first area is the hardest to leave I sure hope so, because I can't do this every 5 months!  That's good you sent Elder Pesnell's package separately because I haven't gotten my package yet.  They start holding everything the weekend before transfers, if they know you are getting transfered.

  Did you get those videos from Brother Cobb.  I don't know what they were about but he wanted to send them.  He is the funniest old man ever.  He loves Duck Dynasty!  He turned it on for like 5 minutes for us haha.  He is the 2nd counselor in the Bishopric so it's all ok, ha.  He said no one can go 2 years with out watching it!

  I'm gonna beat Jed up I still haven't gotten a letter back from him!

Sounds like everyone is doing good at home. Thats good that dad is staying busy!

 Christmas season is different out here I don't feel like it is next week.  But I have gotten 3 presents from members.  All the hymns at church have been Christmas songs so that has brought the Christmas spirit a little.  We went to the Bishops house for a Bishops Youth Discussion, it was on the 2nd coming.   I learned a lot of new stuff!  That actually brought the Christmas spirit too. 

 I hope I don't have a biking area, haha.  I would love to ride a bike but I don't want to in the winter and I don't want to have to buy one!

 Oh yeah, we get to call for like 10 minutes Christmas Eve to make sure everything is good for Christmas.  So have someone set up a Skype account so I can get it from you guys Christmas Eve.

Hope all is well!   Love you all!

Love,

Elder Bubba Nelson

P.S.  My Mission President calls me Elder "Bubba" - told you I'd get to keep my name!!!

Figuring something to do.

Elder "Bubba" & Elder Pesnell

P-day Baller.

Going to chop wood.

December 9

Yeah I got your package thank you!   I don't know if ill be here for Christmas so you might just wanna send it through the Mission Office.  We get Transfer Calls this saturday. I wanna leave but i also wanna stay. There are some members here that I don't wanna leave but I also kinda want a different area.  Haha no offense to this one horse town! 

 Lucky you got to hear Alanah's sister sing!  I hear she is pretty good and she is singing for the Gilbert temple thing.

  

  How is Jed doing in Wrestling this year?  Yes, please send me his matches!

 You didn't take pictures at the Christmas party of Maddie?  I wanna see how big she is.  That's funny that she boss's the kids in her class around haha.   So her and JJ get along pretty well then?

 Yeah we were supposed to be able to watch the Christmas Devotional, but they didn't set it up in the church because only 1 family was gonna watch it there.  Only 70 people come to church averagely and there is only 21% activity in this ward, haha its nuts!

 This week was pretty good.  I went on exchanges Tuesday.  My comp and the other Elder that came here went and taught one of our new investigators Cathene. They taught her the plan of Salvation and at the end she said it just makes since so they invited her to be baptized and she said she was already baptized in her church so why does she need to be again.  And they answered her question and she understood. When they were about to reinvite her to be baptized her son, that is like 45 that lives with them, walked in and the whole atmosphere changed so they decided to hold  off.  I guess her son thinks he has been saved after a fall he had in the bathroom and he told his mom she was going to hell because she is a woman, hahaha.  So I think that's why she liked the plan of salvation.  I never met her son but my comp did and says he's kind of off a bit and has no job and doing nothing with his life.

 Well I hope all is going well at home.  Love you all!

Love,

Elder Bubba Nelson

Elder Nelson-December 2

Dear Family/Friends!!

  My week was pretty good!  It was weird being away from home for Thanksgiving though!  Those two families that did that dinner, like 30 people came.  That was the least I have ever eaten on Thanksgiving, haha.  Just had like a regular dinner serving.  It wasn't like ma's and pa's cooking!  I don't remember the last time I had a traditional turkey Dad always smokes one and its way better!  But it was pretty good!  This old farmer brought a goose that he killed and cooked!  I didn't try it.  My companion did and it made him sick, haha!  No one had a pecan pie, so me and my companion went and bought a Maries Calendar Pecan pie and it wasn't as good as homeade but thats missionary life ha.  I had Mrs. Kay's (T's Mom) Pecan Pie at the dunes one Thanksgiving and it was BOMB!!

  Teaching has been going pretty good!  We have found like 5 new investgators in the past couple weeks!  This week was a little slow and because of Thanksgiving and I've been getting my winter allergies or whatever I get every winter.

  Sounds like November was pretty rough for you guys there.  

  This week was rough I didn't get any mail until Saturday, then Bro. Cauthen saved me and I got his on Saturday.  He's a true Bro haha.

   Holiday season is gonna be weird out here!  But it's going pretty good!  It's a lot better than I thought it would be.  All the members here make you feel at home. 

  Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and got fat!  Thanks for all the love and support!

Love,

Elder Bubba Nelson

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Whats going on with the internet? (Our internet has been down all month.  After 3 visits from Cox and me replacing every modem, router and wire it's finally working!)  Why is life so hectic right now?  (Oh, my!) How are things going with J.J.?   Are you guys still planning on going to the Ranch for Thanksgiving?  Yeah I'm glad we have a place to go for Thanksgiving too! 

  Well my week was pretty good.  We had that meeting with elder Richards last monday and since then we found 4 new investigators.   Our zone set a goal to get 2,000 oyms (open your mouths) before Christmas. As our gift to the Savior.  One night we were tracting for an hour and only had 2 people answer their door.  I was a little mad about that.  But when 8:30 rolled around, when there is nothing to do, we decided to go get hot chocolate at the gas station.  After we checked out and about to walk out, the cashier asked us if we had a pamphlet with us.  So we went out to our car and got a pamphlet and taught her the restoration right there in the gas station.  It went pretty well.  We finished and were just talking with her, then a cop walked in and she had to get back to work.  Cops ruin everything!  But we gave her our number, well so i thought, I got my cell number and my Missionary cell number mixed up, so we gotta go back and give her the right one.  The work is going pretty good here.  It's weird being away from home for the Holidays, but that's alright, it's not as hard as I thought it would be. 
Jed and Ellie, I wrote you letter so I will be expecting some back.  Hand written letters -  is like Christmas every time I get them - haha.

I just sent you guys alot of pictures!  Did my package get stolen or have you  not sent it yet?  (Nope - I'm a slacker and haven't sent it yet!)

 Elder Pesnell says Hi

  Well I hope everything is going well for all of you!  Thanks for all the love and support! Love you all!

Love,
Elder Nelson

"Bubba" 

November 19

Good to hear that Grandpas funeral went well and that he had a good last couple of days.  Sounds like everybody pitched in to help and are still helping.   Have you guys started building the cabin yet?  (haha - in our dreams!) Tell Dad to put a wood stove in there I love chopping wood I did it for a couple hours the other day everyone burns wood in the winter up here.  How is everyone doing?  You guys still have work going on?   Sister Brown said that you messaged her about Grandpa and she gave her condolences to me on Sunday.  I cried for the first time on my mission 2 Saturdays ago, haha.  I was praying to have a confirmation about the Book of Mormon. I always knew it was true just from reading it but I never prayed about it and our Mission President invited us to do so, so I did. And we were at a members home and she played her accordion for us and she played Praise to the Man.  When she was playing that, the spirit was so strong. I knew it was true!   Then we bore are testimonies at the end and I started crying.  That was embarassing - ha.  I didnt write yesterday because we had a meeting in Wenatchee with Elder Richards a member of the 2nd Quorum of the Seventy. He talked about having faith in what we are doing.  And not to just teach the same lesson the same way to every investigator.  He said that's why President Hinkley got rid of the memorized discussions and also to teach very simply.  He basically rebuked us.  He built us up for 2 hours then rebuked us for 2 hours - ha.  The average for baptisms in the Northwest is 1 out of 17 baptized, but in our mission it's 1 out of 41 that are baptized.  So he told us we need to teach more simply and to help them understand better.  Told us to stop using analagies because the remember the story not the principle we teach.  So it was a good meeting.  2 sundays ago Karina came to church I was surprised but we haven't been able to catch her since.  This week Analisa came, so that was big for her.  She does the nursery at the Nazerene church so she had to schedule it 2 weeks in advance she seemed to enoy it.     Well I hope I didn't make Sister Karst cry to much. Is Dad and Jed still there home teachers?  How is everything else going at home?      If you haven't sent me a package yet, will you put a copy of the picture that I have in my room of Kyle, Jed and I on the fence?    Try the strawberry airborne.  It's way better than the Lemon-Lime.  I was drinking it, but it's too expensive!  Tell Chaylee to write me.  I havent' heard from her once!  Did Jed write me a letter?  He said he would!Thanks for all the love and support!     Love, Elder Nelson"BUBBA" P.S.  Umm...there are some members that do a Thanksgiving dinner at the church.  Some members invited us to there home and Tristans parents told us we could go to their house too.  So we'll have Thanksgiving at one of those 3 - ha.

November 12

How did you know to email me today and not yesterday?  Yeah I heard about Grandpas passing.  My mission President called Saturday night.  He started talking about people inviting me to go hunting and how it was hard to turn down.  And I thought, he thought I went, so I was thinking I was in trouble.  But then he said he had some unfortunate news so then I knew what it was about.  That's good that he went in peace though in a comfortable clean house.  When is his funeral?  How are you dealing with it?  And how is Grandma doing with it?  I have to say this week at church I probably got the most out of it ever since I was thinking about Grandpa the whole time. I'm gonna miss him.
 

Yeah you told me about JJ.  So he is officially my brother or just hypothetically right now? 

Transfers were Wednesday I got a new companion.  His name is Elder Pesnell, way better than my other companion.  Its interesting though we both been out the same time so we just try to act like we know what we are doing!  I never realized how hard this area is till I actually had to do the planning and think of things to do through out the day.  So being the Senior Companion sucks, I have never liked having to be in charge, but I guess I better learn.  He has a jacket like the one I ordered but its a Mr. Mac and its way better and it was cheaper, I'm mad I bought mine. 

Things went pretty well this week.  Considering we only had 4 days to reallly work.  Karina came to church this week I was surprised and excited.  The work seems to be slowing down but our numbers aren't showing it.  But I feel like there is alot more times where we are trying to find stuff to do; those times go so slow.  It's alot better when you have to try to make time to do stuff.

The longer I'm out it feels like I forget the lessons more.  So I've been focusing on studying Preach My Gospel more instead of just reading the scriptures.  And I still don't know my scriptures that well.  I can't just flip them open and find a scripture that applies. 

But all is going well.  Our time is getting cut short today so I'll probably be on for a little bit tomorrow too.  So email back if you can.  Thanks for the love and support. Hope everything is going well for you guys.

Love, 

Elder Nelson

November 13th:

Their P-day was messed up this week so they had 2 short days to do emails.

Is Chaylee thinking about going on a mission?  Haha, so dad has made him his own boy now? (Dan calls JJ, the little boy we are kinship fostering, "Boy". :-))  I forgot to tell you my new comp has an 8 year old down syndrome sister. It sounds like she does alot of the same things Maddie does!  It's pretty fun just swoppin' stories about them.  So who's helping dad with work now?  I had to buy some thermals last pday on my card they only had 2 tops though they didn't have any bottoms my size.  Sorry I'm spending so much money I should of bought winter stuff before I left.  We chopped wood for this native guy and he gave us some elk jerky sticks that are pretty good.  And he's gonna make me and my comp each a drum outta moose hide and gonna paint an eagle on mine and a wolf on my comps.  I'm excited for it!  Hope I'm still here when he finishes it, otherwise he said he would mail it to me. The mission office told me that Christmas packages should be sent early like the week after Thanksgiving or so.  I don't wanna ask for too much.  I just want some ties and either my snowboarding jacket shipped up or a Mr. MAC jacket in a Large tall.  But I'd be fine with just my snowboarding jacket. Well thanks for your emails.  I'll be on for like 30 more minutes or so if you wanna email back.

Elder "BUBBA" Nelson

I just need the back pack and some of those thin warm socks its supposed to snow this week.  Also some Airborne.  I bought some today but they only have the small ones at Walmart. Those first toothbrush heads you bought were expensive!  I think thats all I need though.  Well I want a picture of Maddie for halloween like a real picture, not an emailed one.   Yeah my mug to please.

HA thats kinda funny about the lady passing out in the temple and crazy.  (It wasn't funny - sad)   We got transfer calls on Saturday.  My companion is leaving and I'm staying in Coulee Dam.  I'm gonna be the Head Guy In Charge for Coulee Dam, its pretty scary im stressed out haha.   So hopefully I catch on quickly!  We started day light savings Sunday so we are an hour behind you guys now!  Daylight savings is the stupidest thing in the world, I don't like it haha.

So Grandma and Grandpa moved in huh?  How is that going?  Thats good that everyone is pitching in to help though.  

Well I hit my 3 month mark on Halloween.  We didn't get to do anything on Halloween, we just got to go in early at 6 and we did our weekly planning and watched the Testaments.

We had a pretty alright week of work, our most busy day I went on exchanges to Oriville so I didn't get to experience that.  But it was a good day in Orivilee.  Orivile is basically the border of Canada.  We were tracting and this guy said he wasn't interested so we started walking away and we heard a lady yelling and we turned around and the guys neighbor was calling us over to her.  I was thinking this lady is gonna get baptized!  But nope turned out to be the most weirdest freaky experience of my Mission so far.  We were talking with her and explaining who God is and stuff and how he created all things and she picked up a stick and broke it and said, "He didn't create this, I did."  I'm like, "Uh, no you just broke a stick."  And we were talking about the Priesthood and Prophet and Apostles and stuff and how its given by the laying on of hands.  And she put her hands on her head and said, "Can I be a prophet."  I tried so hard not to laugh. I thought I smelled weed on her but I wasn't sure then she took out her pill bottle but it had her weed all pre rolled up in her little blunts and started smoking it.  I'm pretty sure she was drunk too, so we just tried wrapping it up. We went to shake her hand and she tried hugging us and we said we couldn't hug, so she flipped us off haha.  It was an interesting hour and a half.  

That's good that Maddie is the highest functioning in her class.  Tell her to start talking though.  Can you send an updated picture of her and the family before kyle leaves?

You guys have a Boxer now?

Will you send a picture of Alice (Bubba's Horse)  and next time Dad has the Team hooked up to the wagon, a picture of that?   And tell them I want pictures of their hunting adventure please!

Well I've got to go love you.  If dad has time to write next week, I'd like to hear from him.  Tell him he has to write once a month ha. I wrote 7 letters this week, it wore me out ha. I wrote the Karst's, Cauthen, Woolsey, You, G&G Nelson and Kelsee and Kenna.  Will you tell Brother Dickerson and Bishop Dixon that I would love to hear from them and Brother Aubrey?

Well thanks for all you guys do for me.  And yeah I got my debit card all ok.  Thanks for the packages i used all that candy for the Wards Trunk or Treat, and Halloween Trick or Treaters.  Things are going good for me.  Christmas is almost here then I get to call home!  Thanks again for the love and support. I will be on for another hour if you guys can reply back.  Love you all!

Love,

Elder Nelson

BUBBA

Elder M. Russell Ballard

HOLY SHEEEEEEP! You guys sent enough stuff for my whole district! That's what is happening I'm sharing it with my district tomorrow at district meeting so they get fat and not me, haha.  I'm weird, I was most excited for the ties and hygiene stuff, because that's the most expensive!  Tell Kirk if I come home with cavities, its not my fault!  I floss and brush 3 times a day and listerine total care, that tastes like pooop! 

   Our meeting with M.Russell Ballard was basically the same as your guys's Stake Conference.  But it was better than General Conference because he was there in person, in a church building speaking directly towards us!  And we got to shake his hand it was awesome.  There personalities really come out when they're not in such a formal setting.  Elder Maynes was awesome too.  We took a picture with our whole mission plus Elder Ballard, Elder Maynes and Elder Resimay.  I got to stand right behind Elder Ballard in it, I felt special haha.  After the meeting i was truly excited about my mission.  I mean, I know i came for my self and my heart was in it but I don't think my mind fully was till after the meeting.  He is my Favorite Apostle.

   Thats good that Dad and Kyle are staying busy with work and making money! 

The Temple Trip was good I got a lot more out of it this time since I wasn't as nervous.  The temple trip and Mission Conference were like a vacation, because it's a 3 hour drive and it was a mini road trip.  For the Mission Conference we went down Friday night and stayed at a members house.  She made this breakfast I've never seen before.  They are called baked eggs.  You crack an egg into a cupcake pan, don't break the yoke, and put cream, half and half, I think and some cheese and sausage.  Don't stir any of it and just put it in the oven at 350 for 15 minutes, it was pretty good.  You should try it and perfect it for me when I get home.  :) Also look up how to make Macklebee Syrup it's bomb!  From some resaraunt in Utah, a member made it for us and French Toast.

   Well not much to say about this weeek we were just busy with meetings, didn't get to much work done but it was still a good week! Yesterday in Ward Council (its weird being in Ward Council hearing the needs of and all the problems going on) the Bishop talked about what they learned in their training from M. Russell Ballard and he stressed to them about families doing prayer, scriptures and FHE. Also couples prayers because that's what Satan starts to attack and that's what starts to lead us away.  But not my family, cause we are Ballers!  hahaha

Well love you guys have a good week.  If you are sending another package,  I dont need a package, but if you do can you send me one of my backpacks?  Thanks love you guys.

Love,

Elder Daniel Nelson

Bubba

Sister McClendon, Am I as good as you yet?  :-)

Elder Nelson

MIss me?  haha sorry this week we had p-day Tuesday for Temple p-day. and it takes 3.5 hours to get there so we didn't get back till 6:30 and library closes at 7 so that's why i'm writing today. ''Well yeah I'm good about communicating, I only get to do it once a week and get to read letters throughout the week when they come so I try to write as much as I can. Yeah, I finally got Grandmas letter last week, and I wrote her back last night and sent it off this morning.  Yeah if you can put money in my account that would be awesome. Does it go to my mission card or my other card, because my other card doesn't work, they are supposed to be sending one to the house.

   That's so for away, March 4th. So that's what your gonna ask Dad for, for your birthday present, to take you?

  1, apostle is coming M. Russell Ballard, 1, 70 is coming Elder Maynes, and our area 70 is coming whoever that is.

  Lucky kyle!  Getting out in a month gonna be a Heli pilot!
 

Yeah Chase said he was gonna be back this month.  He's already on the hunt for girls?  haha

 Well its true about hunting season!  Everyone here makes it hard not to think about.  Always inviting me and keep asking me to go and I can't.  I got offered to do the chains and a football game to and couldn't do that.  I get offered all these cool things and I can't do them haha.

   Tell Jed Dad doesn't mess around either.   He grounded me for 3 months and forgot that he grounded me for grades!  Yeah he is smarter than he puts off, boys think chicks dig that in junior high, Chase did the same thing haha.

  Well nothing to exciting has been happening, except the 7 hours of tracting we did last week.  And only had one guy willing to meet with us.  He invited us right in.  He moved here like 2 months ago from Texas and met with the missionaries a couple times down there. He said he agreed with everything we said that day.  So hopefully it goes well.  We are supposed to go back Thursday.  So hopefully this week is more eventful.  We have some appointments scheduled this week, so hopefully they go through so we don't have to tract as much.

Well thanks for all you guys do for me and the love and support.  I thought my package got stolen I was mad, because we live on the Reservation, so it was a high possibility that it got stolen ha.  Well love you all.

Love elder Nelson!

"Bubba"

P.s. Can you send me The Karst, Woolsey's, Cauthen, and Jacobs addresses please?  Oh and sister Mcclendon asked if you would add her to the list for my emails

Week 9

October 15, 2013

Sorry its gonna be short.

But the library was closed yesterday for Columbus Day so we couldn't email.

Last week we saw a bear in our neighborhood a little brown bear.  I swear they sent me here to see if i would follow all of the mission rules!  I've had 3 people invite me to go hunting with them and I have to say no each time!  We went to a less actives house last night and he was skinning a dear he just killed and he wouldn't let me help because he wouldn't here the end of it from the Mormon women when I had blood on my white shirt.
   

  Sounds like you had guys had a good time in Utah and in Powers.  Why haven't I got a letter back from the Grandparents?   Everything is going well still.  Just have an anti mormon going to Karinas telling her kids that he has concerns about her joining the church, so that's makin' me mad haha.  But every on else is doing good.  We put this girl Julia on date for November 1st.  She is the daughter of a less active who joined the church a few years back and stopped coming when her and her husband got a divorce.
   

   But yeah all the things for the package you got right, but you already sent exercise bands. 

I think I have some thin snowboarding socks in my sock drawer can you send those its starting to get cold.

I think thats all I need right now.  Oh, and the bank shut off my debit card cause someone got my info somehow, but they said they were sending me a new one.   So can you send that when it comes.   I'm running low on money this month idk why. 

    I cant return that coat I had to where it the day i got it becauise it was pouring so i'll just have to deal with it, it's not a big deal.

   We found out that it's M. Russel Nelson that is coming to our mission.

Tell Brother Cauthen i found my favorite scripture its Psalms 144:1  "Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight."  (Oh, Bubba!)

And about pictures I couldn't go to Omak or Ephrata this week to go to Walmart.   So,  probabyly next week I can go to Walmart and print some and send them to you guys.

Thanks for all you guys do and the love and support!

Love,

Elder Nelson

"Bubba"

Week 8

October 7, 2013

Oh I dont know what happened then. Thanks for sending a letter though.

Yeah General conference was pretty good.  Elder Uchtdorf and Elder Dube were my favorite ones.  The first session was the best then they got less interesting to me as they went.  I dont know why, but last month it hit me that we actually get to hear from the Prophet of God and his Apostles.  I never really realized it before, of course I knew they were, but it never realized it.  Idk how to explain it haha.  But I only fell asleep for a couple minutes in the last session.  So thats a first.  I like going to Priesthood session with my brothers and Dad better though than out here. 

Luckies!   You getta go to Utah.  Yeah it's getting cold up here too.  "Barely escapes desert climate" HAHA.   My foot, it dropped from the 90's straight to the 40's and 50's and the other night it was 31 in Wilbur, a little town 20 minutes from Coulee Dam we have like 5 towns in my area.   When you send the package with my backpack, hat and Garmin, can you throw in a beanie and some light gloves?   Thanks:)  I like the 50-60 degree weather but the 40's is when I have to start wearing a sweater.  I guess we should have boughten a church sweater like you wanted to, because everyone has them here and we "have to match".  So I had to go buy 2 today so sorry:/, but i got 2 for $44 instead of one sikk one for $50,  haha I clearnced shopped for you. 

Tell Kyle to come up here, instead of there.   haha, just kidding.   Can I come work on it to and get some extra monies?:)  Oh by the way, dont worry about putting money in my account for a bike.   Who knows if i'll be in a biking area and if I have to buy one I'll put it on my credit card, then you can put money in then.   Good news, I haven't gained weight yet.  I actually have lost.  I weigh the same with all my clothes and stuff that a carry in my pockets as I did in gym shorts at home, so I've lost a few pounds, hopefully its just not muscle loss!

Well ofcourse Maddie is stuborn she's a Nelson!   Which one of us liked school and actually put effort in at school besides Jacque?  And we still got A's and B's, so tell her teachers to leave her alone she will still get good grades.  Has Maddie started saying any new words yet?

Well this week was pretty good for me.   Started getting along with my companion better.   Ricky broke me in.   I've been able to keep my temper in check since I worked with him before I came out here.   We had some of our investigators come out to conference and they all loved it.   Karina couldn't though, she had to drive her daughter to Idaho.  We went over last night though.  She said she was starting to get scared because she is afraid what her husband is gonna say to her when he finds out she has been meeting with us and is thinking about getting baptized.  She recently moved back here from North Dakota.   They moved there for the oil boom and her husband is still there trying to keep his trucking business going so he doesnt know yet.  So pray that he will be accepting to it.

Also we were at a less actives house last night to set up an appointment.  They are on the ward councils focus 5, so we have been trying to get in with them. They finally let us in last week and we had a good visit with them.  They want us focusing on this 15 year old girl that is baptised and getting her back out to church. she accpeted to take the lessons again and to start coming and her mom thats a convert and has been married in the temple but got divorced and went unactive said she would like to sit in on the lessons too.  And there 10 year old daughter came up to us and asked if we could be baptized haha.  So alot of miracles have been happening this week!

Oh yeah im going down to Kennewick twice this month the 22nd for the Temple trip and the 26th for the Apostle thats coming.  I'm thinking its Elder Holland but we dont know who.  I hope it's him so he can yell at us.  I miss being yelled at, I haven't been yelled at for 2 months,  and laugh when someone yells at me.

Thanks for all your prayers and support! Ill try to work my hardest out here!

Love you all!

Love,

Elder Nelson

"Bubba"

P.S. can you send that bass pro coffee mug outta my truck to for the apple cider im about to buy?

P.S. that oatmeal saved my life i was sick of eggs haha

"Letters From Home"

October 4, 2013

So, as if I was feeling bad enough that Bubba didn't get my email last week.  I sent one, I really did.  The week after he told me he was having homesickness, I know he needed it.  Anyway......Today I got a hand written letter from him in the mail.  Since I'm not so good at technical stuff I'll just going to type his letter to pass it along.  He says in his letter he expects letters from everyone - not just me!!!  Here we go:

"Letters From Home: Montgomery Gentry - I sing it all the time, you should send the lyrics with your letter back.  It's becoming foggy to me.  :-)  Thanks Love you.

    (This was on the top of his letter and then he begins)

9-30-2013

Hey Family!!!

The family that didn't email me or write me this week.  HaHa.

Well this week was a pretty good week.  Had some good lessons with our investigators.  We met with this lady named Karina twice this week.  The second time we committed her to baptism and she accepted.  Haven't set  a date yet, hopefully gonna do that tomorrow.  But we had her say the prayer after our lesson last night and she started crying during it.  It was pretty awesome.  The spirit is always strong there.  I always look forward to going over there.  She is my favorite investigator so far.

This letter is probably gonna repeat a lot of my email, but that's what you guys get for not emailing me.  Plus this cures my home sickness.  So I expect a letter back from all of you.  PLEASE!  :-)  Yes, including DAD, KYLE, JACQUE CHAYLEE, T, JED AND ELLIE - NOT JUST MOM YOU GUYS!!!

I ordered my jacket, I ordered an X-large like I always do, but it's a 3 in 1, so you can take the outer shell off to just have a rain jacket.  But that part goes down to my knees and makes me look like I weigh 300 lbs instead ob 200 lbs.  Oh well, I only have to wear it for 2 years.  The under part of the coat fits alright though.

Like I said in my email, one of the Twelve Apostles is coming October 26th!  The whole Mission is meeting in Kennewick at the Stake Center and he is gonna speak to us.  We don't know which one yet unfortunately.  But I'm excited about it.  Like my Patriarchal Blessing says in the paragraph about my mission that, "I'll be taught b y many of the prominent leaders of the church." Well here is gonna be one of the many.

FYI, Thanks for that Sleep spray, it works!!  I was waking up like 4 times a night, now usually only one!  

I'm sorry I didn't save money to pay for my Mission.  I  know it's expensive, so I'm gonna try to live off my $135.00 a month so you guys don't have to  send packages and money, cause the mission is expensive as it is!

Well thanks for all the thoughts and prayers.  Also, the love and support.  Thanks Mom and Dad for helping me stay out here.  Love you all!

Love,

Elder Daniel Nelson

"Bubba"

Week 7

September 30, 2013

Whats up with this no email this week? 

( I FEEL SO BAD!!! I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED! OF COURSE I WROTE HIM! MAKES ME SAD, HE SAID LAST WEEK HE WAS DEALING WITH HOMESICKNESS AND NOW HE DIDN'T GET MY EMAIL. I AM GOING TO BE ANXIOUS ALL WEEK NOW!)

Well my week was pretty good.   We started teaching a former investigator, and went over last night and taught her again and invited her to be baptized and she accepted.   I can tell she is really interested probably the most interested investigator we have.  We are going over tomorrow and gonna teach her and hopefully set a Baptism date.  She is my favorite investigator so far.  Her name is Karina and probably in her 50's. 

We got a voicemail from our Mission President Saturday morning.... On Oct. 26th the whole mission is meeting in Kennewick, its like three hours away from Coulee Dam.   But One of the Twelve Apostles is coming to speak to us!  I'm pretty excited for that -  being able to meet an Apostle.

We had a pretty good week this week.  We had 16 lessons, 4 short of the standard of excellence, so hopefully we can get that this week.  That lady, Shari, has been outta town, but is back now, so hopefully we can meet with her soon.

One of the less-active families we were meeting with, the husband got laid off, so they packed up and moved to Rexburg Idaho so he could go back to BYU.  It was sad to see them go, but that will probably be good for them.

Also, I get to go buck some hay Wednesday!!  I cant wait for that -  haha, I miss it, and it will be a good work out. 

   

Thanks for that jacket it is really comfortable.   Well how is everyone doing?  What have you guys been up to?

Tell Jed to write me a letter back please.

Well I'll be on for like 50 more minutes, so get back to me if you can, if not ill talk to you guys next week.  (So sad!  I didn't get back with him in time and have no idea what happened!)

Love and miss you all.  Hope all is well.

Love, 

Elder Nelson

"Bubba"

Week 6

September 23, 2013

Yeah my week was alright.  Mission work is like a roller coaster, always going up and down.  So we have been tracting quite a bit to try to find new people.  Not my favorite thing but its, whatever, I know I need to do it.  Thanks for the package and the jacket I like it.  I didn't by us lunch with that money, cause I needed more quarters for laundry.   Some weeks it's 6 bucks and some it's 3.   It pisses me off when they jack the prices.  But those laundry pods will help once I run outta my laundry soap I bought.  But I did by my companion a Dr. Pepper with that money and paid fast offerings and tithing so at least I used it for that, ha.  I have enough food, I didn't have to go shopping today.  I ordered this 3in1 jacket from missionary mall, it's kinda big but it'll work. 

Hahaha, thats funny Maddie got stuck in the fence! They should of got a picture of her! I wish i could see that!  (I got a phone call from Maddie's teacher and the nurse explaining why Maddie had some red marks on her back.  Maddie's teacher told me that Maddie tried to escape under the school fence, about scared her to death and she was afraid they were going to have to call the Fire Department to get her out!  She's an escape artist - that one!!)

Jeds in choir?  Since when?   I actually sang this  Sunday.  It was the Primary Program this sunday.   After seeing 2 of the kids go up there, let me tell you, your kids are normal!!! I decided this is the Ward we are going to,  when we come back to visit when I get back so you guys can go through it too.  Theres a lot of good people in the ward and I love the ward.   But there are some weirdies!! 

Why is everyone getting sick?  I was sick for the last week in the MTC and the 1st week out here.   (I sent him with Airborne but he wouldn't take it cuz it gross! He started taking it after the fact!)  

Is dad still working up north or for Dan Garret?  The Brown's called me by my first name "Bubba" this Sunday, I loved it!!  I haven't heard it in forever!!!

The mission is going good,  I started getting a little home sick after 2 months, so I'm working through that, ha.   Transfers are Wednesday, we got the calls Saturday.  I'm staying in Coulee Dam with my same companion.  So nothing is changing for me.  But they made a new zone and 28 new missionaries coming Wednesday.  They still aren't on my level, like 35 came out when I came.

Yeah, if you can send my hat and a backpack and Dads Garmin if no one uses it.  Theres a good chance I'll be training during my third transfer, so in 6 weeks.   So I'll need a GPS.  You don't need to send another package for a month and it'll get here in time.

Thanks for all you guys do.  And the prayers and support.  And for yours and dads hard work in keeping me out her financially.  Love you all.

Love,

Elder Daniel Nelson

Bubba

Week 5

September 16, 2013

My week was pretty good!  We had our interviews Tuesday.  Those went pretty well.  I love my Mission President.  We also had a special training with the interviews so that was good.  After the interviews we went back to Coulee Dam had 2 good lessons.  I wrote you guys a letter that goes more in depth so I won't write a bunch about it.  We had a lesson with a lady named Shari, we tracked her out a couple weeks ago.  Turns out her daughter is a member has been since she was 18 and still is an active member married with kids in like highschool.  Shari has seen the power of the Priesthood work in her life.  She had lung cancer and had surgery.  It wasn't healing from the surgery so her son in law came and gave her a blessing and she started to heal after that.   idk how long ago that was though.   She has met with missionaries in the past, idk why she hasn't accepted to be baptized yet.  Hopefully we can help her know that she wants the gospel in her life.

Our other lesson was with Martin, he's 21 and married to a 17 year old with a 2 year old daughter we've only met with Martin.  He liked what we shared with him, so we put him on date for Oct. 2!  So we will see if that goes through, we tracted Martin out as well.  We are going back tonight because him and his wife should be there. 

Sounds like everyone is doing good.  I have a talk for you guys listen to,  "Life is a Football Game, by Troy Dunn."  You can't read it, you have to listen to it.  Has dad listened to Glenn Becks conversion story yet?

Well I wrote you guys a letter so I don't wanna write the same stuff twice haha.  So you guys will have to wait for that.

Thanks for all the support and the package, much appreciated!  I have like a whole pantry now.  Since theres gonna be 5 shopping days this month it will be helpful. I need to stop eating out every P-day, I'm running low on cash this month.  But at least I'm not out like my companion, haha, he ran out last week.  I have $30 after shopping today. 

Love you all!

Love,

Elder Daniel Nelson

"BUBBA"

Week 4

September 9, 2013

If some things don't make sense, I'm sorry.  I pass along his letters that are in response to mine.  So sometimes he's answering my questions.  :-)

      Alright thank you.  I still havent bought a jacket yet.  Maybe I should though because it's getting into the 50's at night now.  Sorry this is already your 4th package.   I'll try to hold off for a while.  I'm learning how to make my money go farther now.  We just don't shop in Coulee Dam, cause everything is so expensive!  I'm a clean freak now.  Dishes in the sink bug me and unmade bed bugs me haha.  My singing, I think I'm sounding worse.  I sing the songs just not loud.  

      So how much did Dad make on Chris's Bunker?  

     It was Stake Conference this week.  It was a broadcast from Salt Lake,  Elder Nash and L. Tom Perry spoke also a Relief Society President.  I know another apostle spoke I forgot who it was.  I only remember them talking about the priesthood, and how are families need to be self reliant.  So we need a garden at the ranch and at home.  Everyone has a garden here and apple and peach trees.  Tell Dad if he wants to be a farmer this is where to be.  Theres miles and miles of wheat farms surrounding me.  That counsler in my ward, that I said that looks like the old man from Secondhand Lions, we went to his farm.   His house is made from an old grain house like the wooden ones before they had silos. 

   Tell Jed he needs to find 2 good guy friends before he hangs out with girls so he can have some wingmen.  So Ellie's liking school?  And has Maddie started talking yet?  That stupid device better get her talking before I call for Christmas.   Now they are going to Bisbee after I leave!!  I even asked to go!  haha!  Tell Dad to listen to Glenn Becks conversion story, it hilarious!

    The bishop and his wife has been feeding us quite a bit I was craving steak and we went over and thats what they were having.  It was different but good.  His wife cooked it she grilled it but sauteed it in this rasberry stuff it was actually good.   She sad she wasn't sure about it when some one cooked it for her, but she really liked it.  The bishop said if I need a break from Missionary life I can come over and play video games for a little bit haha.   Joking of course, so don't freak out.

   This week has been good.  But it was slower cause we have had a few meetings that have taken up our days.  And cancled appointments because of school starting and stuff.  Yeah, I read my Patriarchal Blessing every week ,if not more.  Thanks for all the support and prayers you guys do.  And I need to approve those parenting books before you start practicing them haha. jk. love you all.

Love, 

Elder Nelson

P.S. I didn't get Jed's letter.

When people write letter have them address it 

Elder Daniel Nelson

Because theres 2 Elder Nelson's 

Thank you:)

Week 3

September 2, 2013
I heard my companion talking to someone and they were asking for me and he kept saying that im right here but he never gave me the phone idk why. (a couple from our ward was over there and their Nephew is in charge of Missionary Housing, so he called and tried to get Bubs for them)  Probably because he's senior companion and reminds me of Ricky, (an employee at work that is kind of High and Mighty) so I hope I'm only with him for 6 weeks.  We get along but he gets on my nerves, I'm about to go insane.  Im in an apartment with just me and him.  And alll out district is an hour or more away.  We came down to Omak today to hang out with another companionship so thats gonna be nice.  The thing that keeps me sane is going on exchanges once a week with other missionaries its good having a change once a week haha.  Um Tristans parents are still getting settled into there house so we havent taught them yet.  But hopefully this week we will be able to get into there house this week.  But Tristan is doing good.  He got up and bore his testimony this sunday so that was pretty cool.  I've been a member all my life and I hardly bore it till my mission ha.  We started teaching this tongan man thats married to a member.  His english isn't to good so it's hard to help him understand.  He keeps requesting a tongan missionary but the closest one is an hour and a half away so we are gonna see what we can do about that.  They are my favorite people cause they remind me of the tongans from Mesa High.  They are gonna make me Otai a Tongan fruit drink and it sounds like the gumbo of fruit drinks.  But everything else is going good.  I like my district and zone.  Tell Letta she can keep threatining me, but she dont scare me after tracting on the Indian Reservation in Coulee Dam.  They have real Indians there, not the fat Navajos that drink beer all day.  They live off deer meat, they have like 7 tags a year for the Indians.  I remembered what I was gonna tell you. You can cancel my phone so you dont have to pay it and youll probably want me off your plan any ways and I will be able to get a new phone for sure when I get home haha.  And can you give me both Grandparents adresses and Jacob Hancocks?  The next package you send if no one is using those work out bands and dads garmin that he doesn't use anymore send those?  My companion won't run so I'm stuck doing sit ups push ups and lunges and its getting old.  Why did Chaylee wanna move out so bad?  ANd me and Jed both have the talent of faking sick:) Well thanks for all you guys do and the support of keeping me out here, love you all.

Love,

Elder Bubba Nelson 

Week 2

August 28, 2013

Yeah I didn't email Monday cause of this big thunder/wind/ rain storm came in Sunday night.  It took out the power and internet and uprooted a bunch of huge pine trees, one took out a quarter of a house.   And A power pole broke in half from the wind hah it was pretty sikk.  I wrote you guys a letter about the baptism you should be getting it soon so you'll probably here the same stuff twice.  You can forward this one out if you want.   The baptism went really well.   It was cool being a witness at the baptism.  I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost.  The talk went alright, but it was better when i just moved to my testimony at the end.  The lady that we had dinner with earlier that night, they were giving me a hard time about being a man of few words.  But after my testimony she came up to me and said she just watched me grow up there.  It meant alot to me because I have alot of respect for that family.   I feel my testimony grow every time I share it but I'm still nervous every time, idk why.   But the work is going good.   We are gonna start teaching Tristan's parents in a couple weeks, we took them on a church tour after the baptism they were pretty interested.   They really liked how we have no paid ministry.   And besides that,  just trying to find people.  We are teaching this other lady that wants to get baptized but is having a hard time with smoking.   Well love you all thanks for the support. 

P.S.  I havent opened my package yet cause I've been on exchanges.  And yes, I'm in a car, a Subaru.   Love and miss you all.

Love,

Elder Nelson

P.S.  Why did Letta say she was gonna kill me?  And if you ever see a Carrie Underwood Christmas CD that would be a great Christmas present or ties or money haha.   But did you hear about the new version of the Book Of Mormon thats coming out in October?   The references are gonna have like the New Era and stuff referenced out of it.  So I wanna buy that when I get home.   I don't wanna buy them out here because I don't have the New Era and stuff and they will get trashed.  There was something else I was gonna tell you but I forget what it was, so sorry ha. 

MY RESPONSE:

What a FUN surprise to get 2 emails in one day!!  Kyle texted me right after I got your first email this morning and told me he got his and gave me a "haha!"  I told him I got one too but had just gotten out of the Temple and was waiting to get home to send it on!!  Silly boy!  Always trying to one up me!!!

Letta said she was gonna kill you because you talked about her and the dream she had in your talk.  Several people texted her that day giving her a hard time and telling her "Way to go!"  hahaha!!   Uhmmmmm.......I don't think that you can have a Carrie Underwood CD, I doubt she is on the list of songs or artists you are allowed to listen to on your Mission - but I'd be glad to buy it for you and save it for you when you get home!  :-)  Of course we'll send $$ and ties!!  Bradley said he came home with 80 or so, so you need to outdo him!  haha!  :-)  

NO, I haven't heard anything about the new Book Of Mormon that's coming out.  That's crazy, but cool!!  I could always send you copies of the New Era and Ensign when I send you your packages.  Is that something you'd like?  Dad had a large copy of the B of M that he used for studying and took lots of notes in.  That might be a good idea.  It will be something you treasure later.  Dad gave his to his mom.

Well, I'm always here if you remember what it was!!

I love that your Testimony is growing each time you share it.  You have a special Spirit about you, I know others will feel that as you share your testimony.  I LOVE YOU and am SO grateful to be your Mother!!!

All My Love,

Mom

BUBS:

Yeah I can have her Christmas songs cause all of them are the same as we sing during Christmas.  They say I can listen to country if its talking about God or Jesus Christ and doesn't swear.  The music rules are relaxed.  We have Nashville tributes to missionaries and pioneers that have country tune to them.  They just say to listen to the more relaxed ones on pday is all.  Um maybe the big BoM would be good and New Era and stuff and the Friend I like that better ha. But I gotta go I used my hour and a half today on the computer.  But yeah Brother Barry is funny, he's a cool guy.  K, love you talk to you guys monday!