Earthquake

Hope this finds everyone well,

This week started off with a bang! Tuesday night as we were walking home a siren started to sound. Me and Elder Crain weren't sure what it was, but our trainers said that it was the earthquake siren, and that we would see the power lines start waving, any second. Everyone started coming out of their houses, we just kept walking as the safest place to be is outdoors, and sure enough the power lines began moving. Then the actual earthquake hit, it felt like the earth was rolling. (The best way to describe the feeling is walking when you are super dizzy). About halfway through the rolling the power went out. (there were these big green flashes of light in the sky which we think were the transformers exploding). After 20 seconds the rolling stopped. We just kept walking home. I had my headlamp on me which was a big help as without it we would only have had the phones for light. When we got to our house we had to wait outside for a while. Once we could go inside we just went to bed. (we got power back sometime during the night, all I know is we had it when I woke up). 

The rest of the week was normal after that. Friday was the only change up. We had interviews with President, and the exchanges with the APs (this was the one that got cancelled last week). The interview and exchanges were great. For lunch we went with the APs to a member's house and they gave us fried rice and chicken. I found out the fried rice and fresh corn tortillas actually go pretty well together! (who would have thought) As the exchanges were with the AP it was back to the Haunted House. This past week the Elders Living there have embraced the hauntedness and when Elders come on exchanges they have begun to scar them. (The classic jump out from behind a wall). I was an unlucky recipient of this endeavor. They showed us some of the videos of the other elders and they were hilarious! Unlike last time, this night I didn't sleep so well. There was some sort of party happening right outside that was super loud and it kept me up for a while.  

We have an investigator who we have been studying the Bible with for the past 4 weeks. We have struggled to know how to teach the gospel without being overbearing or forcing it. We had invited her to Church several times but this Sunday she came. Then during our lesson later in the day she asked tons of questions about what she heard in a fast and testimony meeting. This allowed us to teach her more about the gospel and what we believe than we have been able to in our other lessons. To me this experience showed the importance of going to Church. When we go to church we hear others' testimonies which can strengthen our own. I have had many experiences like this where what someone said in sacrament meeting, or one of the other classes, has given me new insight and strengthened my testimony of Christ and his gospel. 

Elder Neilson

pictures: (only one :( i will get better at taking pictures)

- storm that rolled in late last monday afternoon