Tlaltenco

 ¿Qué Onda?

Transfers have come and I have left San Pablo, but here is a quick recap of my last week:

Wednesday: we went to Tlalpan again so I could direct the missionary choir over there. On the way back we realized we were in the historical center of Tlalpan and got to walk past some cool historical buildings, like the house of the Virrey of New Spain and the hacienda of Santa Anna, yes the one from the Alamo. 

Thursday: Were exchanges with the Zone leaders, I got to spend the day with Elder Crabtree, we had a great time and I learned a lot from him. One of the insights he shared with me which I really liked was "how we only get to be a full-time missionary for 2 years, after that we can do whatever we want. 2 years to serve the Lord, and we don't want to end it with having regrets about what we did or didn't do." It was some great counsel to have with almost hitting my year mark.

Friday: Elder Crabtree and I had to walk down from San Pablo to San Pedro to finish exchanges because no buses showed up, also we got transfer news, Elder Ituarte and would both Leave San Pablo. 

Saturday. The new Casa de Oracion opened in San Pablo. It is super nice, I waited 6 months to have it open on my second to last day in the area. 

Sunday: It was a great sunday, we had 9 investigators show up to church, we then got to go down to La Noria to have the Zone´s end of transfer testimony meeting. Zone Villa Coapa had a ton of amazing elders and hermanas and I was blessed to serve there with them for the past 6 months.   

Monday: We went to the Offices for transfers.

So where am I? I'm now serving in Tlaltenco. It is another very large area, on the east side of the Mission. I´ve been in Mexico for 10 months and haven't crossed the midline of the mission yet! East side for Life! My new companion is Elder Sanchez. We were in the same district back when I was in Constitucíon. He is a great missionary and this should be another great transfer!

To end a scripture from my book of mormon reading this week. 2 Nephi 32:3 "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." I love the ending, it is so simple but powerful, "feast upon the words of Christ'' the scriptures, teaching of the living prophets etc. and they will tell you what you should do, how we should live, how to act. It reminds me of a favorite Primary Song Scripture Power:

1. Because I want to be like the Savior, and I can,

I’m reading His instructions, I’m following His plan.

Because I want the power His word will give to me,

I’m changing how I live, I’m changing what I’ll be

 

Chorus

Scripture power keeps me safe from sin.

Scripture power is the power to win.

Scripture power! Ev’ry day I need

The power that I get each time I read.

 

2. I’ll find the sword of truth in each scripture that I learn. 

I’ll take the shield of faith from these pages that I turn.

I’ll wear each vital part of the armor of the Lord,

And fight my daily battles, and win a great reward.

Hasta la próxima,

Elder Neilson

 

Exchanges with Elder Crabtree 

 Elder Crabtree, me, and our dead dog friend 

Last picture with Elder Ituarte

The volcano in Tlaltenco

Elder Sanchez and I  

El templo de fútbol mexicano

 ¿Qué Onda?

Had another great week this week, i don't have a ton of time so only a few highlights:

I'm conducting a special musical number in a stake Confrences so on Wednesday we went to a rehearsal, it was pretty good, I did find out latter that I had printed off the wrong arangment so I got a little lost at times, I fixed that now

 

We had interviews with President Lyman, it was fantastic. Having that one on one time with him is always something I look forward to.

On Saturday we had the baptisms of Mahonry and Elias. They were great. I got to do the ordinance for Elias while Elder Ituarte did it for Mahonry. They both have grown alot spirituality and both want to serve missions when the time comes. 

Sunday I gave a talk on the Book of Mormon, and how it is the key stone of our religion. The theme was inspired by the Zone Confrence we had a few weeks ago. 

This pday, as a dristict we went to Estadio Azteca again. Even though Elder Ituarte and I have already gone it was still epic. We all want to got to a game there post mission. 

Hasta la próxima,

Elder Neilson

Pictures:

Fútbol after estadio azteca  

Más estadio azteca 

District at estadio azteca 

Baptism of mahonry and Elias 

Bautismo

 Hola,

I hope everyone is doing well, here in San Pablo we had a great week. 

My big news this week is José got bauptised. We had to pospone his baptism a few times but it all worked out in the end! The bauptisms was a little crazy as we started 30 minutes late waiting for a member of the branch presidency to arrive, the traffic was really bad. José had a great experience so no complaints here. This was also the first baptism for the branch in 8 mounths so they were excited about it. We also have two baptisms next Saturday that we are looking forward to.

The rest of the week was pretty normal. We were able to find a few new people to teach, a few of them I think show a lot of promises. 

I was also atracked by another dog this week. I defended myself exceptionally well if I do say do so myself, came out untouched. With my record so far as 2-0-0 I think I'm doing pretty good. 

Hasta la próxima, 

Elder Neilson 

The District con Capas

Epic murals at a mall we found this P-day

Me and the relief society president's dog Lilo (didn't know my comp took this picture)

How Burger King spells "Kim"

José's baptism 

the beans!

Día de la Madres y Conferencia Estaca

 ¿Qué Onda?

This week was jam packed with stuff!

First on Wednesday there was Zone Confrence. It was great, Elder Ituarte and I were leading the special musical number so had to get there are 9am, to make sure we weren't late we got up at 5 am, all the music went great, especially the special mothers day number we sang for Hna Lyman. The theme of the Confrence was the Book of Mormon, and helping our investigators experience the spiritual power of it. The Book of Mormon is the key stone of our religion, it is what sets us apart from all other Christians sects, if we aren't using in missionary work we are playing the game with one arm tied behind our backs, how do you know Joseph Smith was a Prophet, the book of Mormon, how do you know the Church of Christ has been restored, the Book of Mormon. It is central in all aspects of our doctrine. 

Thursday, we had exchanges. I got to go back to Milpa Alta for the day and work with our District leader Elder Petersen. It went great, we had one lesson with an investigator named Aldo who I had taught when I was serving there. The lesson went really well, he really wants to do the right things. 

Friday after returning to San Pablo, was a normal day. Saturday and Sunday on the other hand were crazy. 

Saturday and Sunday in San Pablo were Carnaval, and San Pablo is known for its Carnaval people for all over the city go. It's similar to a massive fair: food, rides, music dancing, alcohol, the works. The Main Streets even close down. Luckily stake Confrences was Saturday and Sunday so we got to avoid some of the crazy. 

Saturday night has its own crazy story though. The missionaries in the zone were asked to sing a song for the adult session. We sang "A Child's Prayer" in English and it was fantastic. However the session ended at 8pm, and after taking to the other missionaries and taking the MetroBus to street with busses to return to our area it was 8:45. Due to that and the possibility of no transport to San Pablo because of Carnaval, we decided to go sleep with the elders of Milpa Alta (we had packed clothes just incase this happened). By that time busses more or less stopped running and the one that were, were so full that we would of had to be hanging out of the bus for the hour+ ride back. At 9 pm we called President Lyman and explained the situation, he said not to worry and called us an Uber, but it canceled on us. That is a problem here at times in Mexico City ubers really like to cancel on you. Then for the next hour and forty-five minutes while chilling at a Little Ceasars we had 16 Ubers cancel on us. (For those wondering I did buy a pizza.) Finally one Uber didn't cancel and we were were able to get to Milpa Alta at 11:30 pm. 

Sunday was the general session of stake conference, it was at the taxqueña stake center, as the ones in the stake weren't going to be big enough. The Milpa Alta ward a booked busses so we're were able to hop on those. It was a great meeting, after we returned to San Pablo, Carnaval was in full swing. A little crazy walking in those streets. I also got to call home and wish my mom a happy mother's day

Monday was a good day we had some great lessons, and got a investigator back on baptismal date. 

Pday today we went and played billiards with some other Elders, and after Elder Ituarte and I went to a tianguis of musical instruments. It was all pretty cool. 

Hasta la próxima, 

Elder Neilson

Carnaval Float 

Late Night at the Little Ceasars 

 The Zone 

Zone Confrence 

Another week at 9000ft

 Hola, 

It feels like I just wrote yesterday, time is really flying up here! I even hit 10 mounths on Saturday. Two more and I'll be halfway through my mission!

This week wasn't the most exciting, we weren't attacked by dogs or anything, mostly just contacting people. Elder Ituarte and I realized that even though we have been in San Pablo for a month and a half, and have contacted tons of old investigators, there are still a ton we haven't. We set the goal for last week and this week to try to contact all of the old investigators here to see if the are still interested. 

We also had quite a bit of work for the music council, Zone Confrence are this week and a ton of stake Confrences are this mounth so we had quite a bit a stuff to do to get musical numbers set for those. We also had a few emergency calls were the music committee chair informed us that he was just told we have to get music numbers set up for for conference we weren't planning on, and for one we needed it set by the hour, great fun! We were able to get everything sorted out. 

This week I had the opportunity to read D&C section 6, a revelation recived for Oliver Cowdery. There are a lot of parts I like but I will share only two one is verse 13 which says: 

"If thou wilt do good, yea, and hold out faithful to the end, thou shalt be saved in the kingdom of God, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God; for there is no gift greater than the gift of salvation." 

Salvation is truly the greatest gift of God! It is the reason we came to earth was to have the  opportunity to return and live with him again. The for me what a blessing it is to have these two years to help others start the covenant path with ends with salvation. The other verse I liked was 23: 

"Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?" 

Oliver Cowdery had received a divine witness of the truth of Joseph Smith's testimony of the gold plates, but he was having doubts in spit of that. For me I know I sometimes do the same things, I can doubt what I know I have a testimony on. It is the the last part that I love "What greater witness can you have than from God?" When we receive a witnesses for the holy ghost we can't doubt it! It is the truest and most powerful witnesses that we can receive. I know that Christ lives and the he is our Savior and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is Christ's church on the earth. 

Hasta la próxima, 

Elder Neilson

p-day with the boys

Parroquia de San Agustín Ohtenco

It gets super clear after it rains