Cinco de WHAT?

in our sombreros

 

 

 

Hola hola!

Que rapido! This week went so fast! Probably because I didn't want it to. As most of you know, my companion, Hermana Bautista, finished her mission today. So this week was a week of "lasts." It's been pretty sad. But now this week is going to be a week of "firsts" so it'll be okay.

Monday was our last actividad together. Our last real p-day. It was super fun. The elders prepared a whole bunch of "Minute to win it" games. It was great! 

Tuesday our last district meeting. We ate cake.

Wednesday our last Reunion with our Lider Misional. That wasn't actually that sad...

Thursday our last actividad with the ward. They had a farewell for Hna. B. It was pretty much like a funeral. Lots of crying. Kinda awkward. Because Everyone was talking about the great things that she has done here. And randomly someone would remember me and add me in there as having done something in this area. 

Friday our last visit with our favorite investigators. They are the ones that have a million kids. (Have I written about them?)

Saturday an actividad with all the niños of the stake. they danced and sang. really cute.

Sunday our last Sacrament meeting. Lots of pictures, lots of advice. Really sad. And in the noche, lots of packing.

Our 2 new converts in this area

And that brings us to today. Her bus left at 7 this morning. So we had to be in the Central at the 6:30. Then I stayed with an Hermana in our ward. Studied and did laundry in her house. My companion arrived at 12. So we picked her up, did her laundry and now are here.

I guess I'll answer the questions that mom sent last week.

 T

ell us what you know about your new companion: Name, Age, Where she is from, first impressions, whatever else you can think of.

• Her name is Hermana Rodriguez. She has 21 years. She is from Mexico, Distrito Federal the same as Hna B. I have heard great things about her. We are going to follow all the rules and have lots of success here. 

 

Also - how big is your area?  Do you walk more or ride busses more or other?

• Our area is relatively small. Its not big enough to justify riding the cameones much, so we walk...a lot..



my shoes at the beginning of the day - and at the end of the day

 

What are you running out of?  Anything I can send so you don't have to shop for it?

•  Batteries. They are ridiculously expensive here and My music player died. But for now it's okay because Hermana R has a music player.

How often do you see the other missionaries in your area? Do you have activities together?

• We see the elders of Nacionalista a lot because we share a capilla. We see everyone every tuesday because we have meetings. we don't have many activities. We are allowed one zone activity cada month. We just recently had a really awesome one. It was super fun (see last monday for more information)

And now for a list of random things that I want to tell you.

• I keep forgetting to tell you that I spoke in Sacrament Meeting 3 Sundays ago. It wasn't a disaster.
• I don't think I've told you about our Investigator that we love. She's so funny. She is 25 years old. She has 5 kids and is pregnant with twins. Crazy right? But she's great.
• I'm really glad that I haven't seen any new weird crazy bugs. But the cockroaches here are like 14 times bigger than any I've ever seen. It's disgusting.
• I found out this week that more than once an animal has escaped the zoo that is behind our house. (don't worry, its been almost 50 years since the tiger escaped. The most common animals that escape are the crocodiles (because they are somehow connected with a pond outside) and the snakes. And yes, there have been more than one recorded occurence of snakes appearing in shower drains of the surrounding area. Please pray for me. I'm a little freaked out.
• I've started to pronouce my name like the people here do. It's not that different. I just pronounce every letter. Como NiElsen. Knee-el-sen
• did you know that Cinco de Mayo is not that big of a deal here? For reals. I asked Hermana B if there are lots of fiestas and stuff 5 de Mayo and she said "why? what is 5 de Mayo?" I'm super disappointed

Last pic with Hna B.

Okay. Thats all I have to say this week. Gracias for your attention and your love.

Love you all!

Hermana Nielsen

Melting in Mexicali

Hola hola!

Cómo están? Espero que todos estén bien! I'm just sitting here in Mexicali dying of heat. But it's all good.

This week will be my last with Hermana Bautista. She goes home next week. The rumor is that I'll be staying in Mexicali and training. So I need all the prayers I can get so I don't melt. This week was pretty long. I don't know what's happening. The first few months flew by and now time is slowing down.

Monday Hermana Bautista went to Tijuana for ANOTHER conference. So I stayed with the Hermanas here. We worked in their sector monday night and in mine Tuesday.

Tuesday when we visited our investigator who was gonna be baptized, she said she was still scared and wasnt sure. Somehow me and the Lord convinced her she was ready. We read some great scriptures and she agreed to keep her date!

Wednesday we prepared everything and had her Entrevista.}

Thursday she was baptized! Afterwards all she could say is that she felt so happy. She wasn't scared of anything!

Friday..shoot how come i never remember fridays....

Saturday worked a lot. walked a lot. sweated a lot.

Sunday. Not one investigator came to church despite all our efforts. DOn't know what we're gonna do... 

I had a lot of things I was gonna say. And now I'm here and I forgot them all. I really am gonna start writing things down. 

Oh yeah. Dad asked me what its like to be in a Catholic country for Easter. I don't know what its like in other parts, but here i was really quiet and tranquil for the whole week. Everyone has vacations for 2 weeks so they all left. It was really hard to work this week because no one was here. Saturday and Sunday there were millions of cars parked in front of the Catholic chruch all day. but still we never saw many people. 

Ay! Tengo que ir. Lo siento! I promise a better email. next week

Hermana Nielsen

We have cold stuff again!

Hola

Last District Meeting Before Hna B Leaves



 

 

Hola Hola Hola.

This week felt really long...well in comparison with how the weeks normally feel. I feel like its actually been a whole week since I've sat in this chair. Maybe I'm just getting used to how fast the days/weeks are.

So, as you guys know, I went to Tijuana last week to get things figured out with the visa. Traveled back that night, came and wrote the family, and then we taught a lesson to a new investigator. I can't remember if I've told you about her. She is 25 years old and has a lot of kids. She has a daughter who is 8, a son who is 5, a daughter who is 3, a son who is 2, a son who is 10 months. And is pregnant with twins. It's a crazy situation. But she's so awesome. She told us this week when we went that she has felt so peaceful and happy this week since we started visiting.



Tuesday we had a conference with the President. It was long like usual, but really good. Also our fridge stopped working and all our food went bad.

 

Wednesday. Flip. I can never remember wednesdays. I think nothing important ever happens on those days.

Thursday was good. In our activity with the Sociedad Socorro, we had a "welcome" party for Karen's baby. It was fun and the food was good. We got our new fridge and now we have cold stuff again!

Our New Fridge

Friday....Taught some more good lessons. Committed everyone to go to church.

Saturday. Just walked a lot. Didn't have members to help in lessons so we walked to all our lessons and found out that most of the people weren't home like they said they'd be. Thats one thing that is super hard here. The people don't actually follow through with their commitments.
 

Sunday. We had 7 people who said they would be going to church. And we had members to help bring them and everything. We had 1 show up...Ay! It's so frustrating. They can't progress if they don't go to church. Our investigators are so awesome. Its just that the culture here is that Church is only necessary 2 times a year. They don't understand!

With Hna E

Other than that little bit of complaining. All is well here. We had a super windy week. Which is great because its a relief from the heat. I think we've only had 1 or two days that its been above 100. But still. We are outside all day and it gets hot. I think the average right now is about 95-98ish. So the ugly heat hasn't started. But everyone sure talks about it. They think that warning me is gonna help. Nope I'm still gonna die. Eh. Oh well. The Lord knows whats gonna happen. I'm trusting Him to do what He knows is best. 

Ah! I'm out of time.

Love you all lots and lots!

Hermana Nielsen

It's starting to get really hot.

intercambios!

I feel really bad. Every week I get here and have nothing exciting to say. I wish my life were more exciting.

Monday I was with Hermana Ortiz because the Hermana Bautista and Woodward had to go to Tijuana. 

Tuesday todavía I was with Hna Ortiz. We worked in her sector. It was really windy.

Wednesday...no recuerdo...

Thursday. It was hard day. Really long. And I was thinking about Annie all day. But my comp is awesome and I made it through.

Friday. no recuerdo...oops sorry.

Saturday and Sunday CONFERENCIA! Which was AWESOME even in Spanish. Thanks for the quotes mom. At first I was like "Shoot what conference did I watch, i don't recognize these quotes." Then I translated them and remembered. haha

Sunday night fui a Tijuana with Hermana Eye. We stayed with the Hermanas there and the next day went to figure stuff out with our visas at the border. Then traveled and now here we are.

It's starting to get really hot. This week was really windy but now the heat is starting. I'm not excited. But all the elders are jealous of us here. They want to come and lose weight. 

Sorry I don't have much time because I was late today. 

Love you all. Gracias por todo!

Hermana Nielsen

 

learning how to make pay de elote.