Email from August 30, 2014

This week was beyond crazy and I hardly can remember it for some reason! Sounds like a party with non-mormon drinks! O.O but I think if I concentrate I'll remember. So we've gone through more teachers than I can count and with it the investigators that they were pretending to be. I can say most of them were making it hard for us to convert them. We started TRC which is something where we teach someone who might or might not be a member and there have been stories of someone getting baptized because of these so hopefully me and my companion will teach well. I can say that I am passing through a very hard week and once it's over I'll be good to go :) So this week district 123-C brilliantly decided that they should play a prank on us right when our teacher was teaching us. Needless to say it involved some foam poop. Don't ask. The aftermath resulted in a DL being released and Elder Pudil being assigned as acting DL. He's not in our district and we didn't get in trouble I promise. I don't like that they chose Pudil but I'll make it. Hermano Dolbin never ceases to give us the most spiritual experiences and he really is excited when he talks about the gospel. It's pretty inspiring. 

A couple of pics of my classrooms

So I saw Elder Diamond and I saw Elder Johnson this week and I thought that was nice. they're both people that went to high school with me. It's weird saying that. I really enjoyed the pictures you sent me Tay! I really enjoyed them and I even printed out 2 of them and one of them was obviously of Pepper. I've got 2 weeks left in the MTC and I'm ready to get OUT OF HERE!! Maybe fly on a plane for the first time. Ya that's always good. Looking forward to flying on a plane than the actual going to the mission! I looked at my mission via interactive map (Google maps) on the church website and I discovered really fast that the water is green over there. GREEEN!! and it's not St. Patrick's Day over there either. We had 3 basketball injuries in one day this week. 2 of the three were bad enough for the trainer and they both happened to both the people in a companionship. The first injury was Elder Pudil (I don't think it was a coincidence) he feel onto someone's knee with his neck and it was nothing broken but probably a bruise. The thing is he stayed absolutely still for a good 2 minutes in a position holding his neck. He wouldn't answer me or the trainer when we asked if he was alright. The second was Elder Pudil's companion Elder Blanding. He reached in to steal and he caught an elbow to his nose. He is SOOOOO lucky he didn't break it or had to get his nostril reattached. But the thing about him is he really puts on a show if he falls so needless to say I didn't think it was bad until I say his nose barely holding together. The third was a guy (don't know his name) who landed straight on his hip but he was tough and kept playing. My companion I have come to find out is like Ster he just shows me up when it comes to lifting so I avoid ever having to lift with him instead I do push ups and whatever I can do without weights. I have gone more times to the temple than I have ever gone in my lifetime and it has really blessed me! I feel your prayers and I am very grateful for them.

The Church is true and the Gospel is true. Jose smith fue una profeta y traduci el libro de mormon. I know that Jesus died for us so that we can come back to live with him and all we have to do is accept his sacrifice and live to be like him. Yo se que familias pueden juntos por eternidad. I also know that the gospel is happiness and the gospel is love. I have learned that more especially with the people that I have in my district. En el nombre de Jesucristo Amen.

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ELDER NISSON

Email from August 23, 2014

Hopefully I'll be able to send you some more but for right now I can't because I left my camera in the classroom :/ And yes if that doesn't answer your question I did in fact get the camera. I also got the package and the other package as well so I am doing well in that area. I also love receiving the dear elders because I get to hear from you THAT day so that's always nice. Nothing needed right now besides another pair of shorts we have gym every day and am one short every week. This past week was pretty crazy! The water heater in the apartment was broken! so we had water that was so nicely imported from Antarctica and put into our showers. The showers felt good AFTER they were done but I felt like I didn't have any air to breathe! Luckily we were able to get a repairman on the job! But it did feel nice on the knees though. I love receiving the emails from you and dad and I am hoarding them right now. the stack is beginning to be too big and I'm worried that my companion will want me to throw them away from the increasing pile of what he calls "clutter". I hope that Wicked is really good! You've been waiting for that for a very long time! tell Aunt Kalynn that I love her! And that I'm a little upset that I didn't get to get one of her signature hugs before I left. Also I wish you luck with the school! I hope the sounds of jackhammers and construction equipment aren't TOO distracting. I really like your daily keep ups Dad! I really enjoy hearing about what has happened over in the other world. I forgot to mention that last night it started to rain and the thunder was LOUD! There’s loud and then there's LOUD. It had rained all night and all morning and it had flooded the apartment complex! Luckily my district is on the top floor. 

Speaking of my district my zone has gotten bigger. . . . . . A lot bigger! They have added 3 more districts to ours and we have become the biggest zone ever! . . . . . of all time. And to top it all off my president let it slip (totally on purpose) that me and my companion are the next zone leaders. And apparently we are a test so here goes. My speech is including more and more movie quotes and now they're slipping into stuff none of my district has seen before and so I have had a lot of explaining. Elder Larson in my district is too curious for stuff like that to be open ended. . . .  unfortunately. 

I really want to be sent out already! I feel like I'm ready to be shoved out somewhere I don't know and learn my way from there! haha but I guess I'll be patient. Since High school has ended for all of the former seniors we are getting a huge load of missionaries here. And there are more and more people here that I have played basketball against but the weird thing is that I don't ever remember or I don't care so I give thanks to God for easing my competitive spirit. Speaking of basketball I FOUND PAUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! for those of you who don't know Paul (I can't believe you don't) he was the best manager for basketball anyone could ever want! Life here is getting easier and it's starting to become life for me and I hardly remember what I used to do anyway. Still balling it up at least . . . . . I hope! haha 

The gospel is true I know it and feel it every day and I know that Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father love us and that they give us inspiration and a way out only if we take it. I know that hard work brings happiness and working for God brings eternal life! The book of Mormon is the truest book ever written and will always have something new to teach even though no one is adding to it. Joseph smith really did translate it and suffered for something real and tangible. The spirit works miracles and I have seen it with my own eyes. The gospel is happiness.

ELDER NISSON 

Email #2 from August 16, 2014

Today isn’t my P-Day but I had zone conference yesterday so they changed it to today.  I'm also doing good but I've had some really rough times with my companion but it might be me being prideful anyway.

Things are going pretty good for me! I can't complain really! :D My companion is pretty much a long lost brother so we're really good pals. He even finishes my movie quotes!!! IT'S AMAZING! He's from Spokane Washington. We are totally swamped but they give us about 45 minutes for exercising in which time I mainly play basketball in which I have been asked plenty of times if I got any college offers :) so I feel pretty good about myself but I must be aware of pride!! Church is basically the hunger games now. We are randomly chosen during the meeting if we have to give a talk so we have to have one pre-prepared. I sure do know my branch president! He's a lovely little man with a big spirit. He is very respected and he sure knows his stuff and every time we see him he says he loves us. I have no need of anything as of right now but I will let you know :) My district is bunch of guys with no hermanas and you could say it gets pretty wild sometimes. I go to the temple for P-day and then we do laundry then have a class it's pretty nice since we get to relax and send emails. Totally nailed it! oh and by the way one of the elders in my district knows psych episodes like the back of his hand! it's scary. My teachers are hermano Draut who is a teacher version of me. and hermana Savage who is a very fun teacher. They are really good at teaching because we're all guys and still learn. . . ..  or is that the spirit talking? Who knows. My Spanish is on the rise! I can totally bear my testimony and pray and teach a lesson so it's going pretty well. About an hour. Mom and that is it I'm trying to convince some girls to write so I can brag about it around my district. I have gone and it reminds me a lot about the Jordan River temple. PAUL WAS HERE!!!!! I got to see him and I almost cried! haha and that’s about what life is around here gotta go!

OH and the hermanas in my zone have all played basketball or volleyball it's pertty cool actually.

Email from August 16, 2014

So for those that are wondering what my district is like these are the guys I got stuck with. And let me tell you that these guys are the BEST!! Little did I know how many ladies men I have in my district but I'm pretty sure that each and every one of these guys get a care package from some "friend" back home which we all know what that means. There is only one reason why someone would be singing there is sunshine in my soul today when they get a package. . . . . . That’s my companion for ya. In the middle picture it goes top left: Elder Demars then elder gale then Elder Andrews then Elder Goff then Elder Wall then Elder Larson then Elder Kenington then on the bottom left me and then Elder Fjerstad (pronounced Fyairsted) These are a great group of guys and I don't doubt that we'll have some good times along with the ones we've had already. So there is an elder here that is a spitting image of brother John for those who know who that is. Also I just learned that in same general place where I live and learn is a future BYU b-ball player :O whaaaaaat? He's 7 foot something so I would imagine that he would be going somewhere. The devotionals here are amazing! I can't say that I've learned more somewhere else. Speaking of basketball I play every day for about 45 minutes against some OK players but just the other day I played against this guy from Arizona that played in high school and he's good! My whole zone is a group of athletic people ranging from swimmers to basketball players to volleyball players so it's a fun time. Elder Shakespeare (he's in my zone) actually broke someone's neck during a football game! But don't worry he survived and he's pretty nice to me so no worries. Oh and if you guys want a personalized little handwritten letter feel free! And I'll write back! I need your addresses if I'm going to send them! And also feel free to send any care packages! HAHA I really miss you guys but it won't be forever! :D  

A pic of my bedroom

The spirit is very strong here and I love being taught so much! My testimony is getting stronger! Speaking of which I know for a fact that this church is true! And I know that the gospel was restored through the one and only Joseph smith and I know that Christ died and suffered for us because he loves each and every one of us. He has suffered to know us so that we will always have someone to look to when we feel alone! I say that in the name of Jesus Christ AMEN!

Email from August 9, 2014 - At the MTC

So this is my district!! I was glad to know that my companion is super cool. I mean that because my companion is a very active person so I don't have to drag my companion to work out or play some basketball. Speaking of basketball I can say we have some really good players! And some that like to play for fun. If you can find me in the picture you just have to look to the right of me and that's my companion. My whole district is very awesome and friendly. When I first arrived I expected that we would have an orientation of some kind but that was shattered to pieces immediately when we went straight to class and the teacher spoke in nothing but Spanish. I had to recall all my previous experience in Spanish and I can say that I have gotten better a lot better. My companion I'm pretty sure speaks fluent Spanish but he's humble or something and doesn't say that he is. The spirit is really strong everywhere we go but there are sometimes it gets a little rough when it gets loud. Yesterday we taught our first investigator … all in Spanish too. I felt the same way I did when I was giving a talk. I froze and I couldn't remember a lick of Spanish it was awful. I'm pretty sure I spoke a total of 4 sentences. I even got called out by the investigator! She asked me what I think and I swear there was 4 minutes in between each question. I understood her completely and I know what I want to say but I struggle translating it into Spanish. 

Heading to the Temple

Life is work, Spanish, work, gym time, work and then some more work. Here you don't waste a second because it's all important. Our teacher told us we need to be speaking Spanish as much as we can and hopefully that'll help. It might have. 

With all the love and maybe some more pictures once I get my camera 

Elder Nisson

At the MTC...

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Before I Go...

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I Hope They Call Me on a Mission

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