Independence & An Earthquake

 Hola todos, 

This week can be boiled down to the 2 major events on the 15th/16th and the 19th.

The 15th and 16th are the two parts of the Mexican independence celebration. The 15th is the Grito (Cry of Dolores) and the 16th is Independence Day. On the 15th we had our Noche Mexicana. It was a big stake party in the stake center. It started off with each ward performing a traditional Mexican dance they had prepared, some of them were pretty cool, a personal favorite was the machete dance performed by the YSAs. After that was the food. We had to leave at 8:30, so we missed out on whatever happened after that, but it was a great time. The 16th, at least in the morning, was super quiet and the streets were completely empty. It was a little strange, but after a night of a serious party here in Mexico it makes sense. We had some sort of party outside our house, fireworks and everything until super late. 

After a normal weekend, the 19th rolled around. President Lyman had advised us beforehand that at 12:20pm there would be an earthquake "simulation", So when the alarms sounded we went outside and did earthquake procedures. But then at 1:06pm we were hit by an actual 7.7 magnitude earthquake!. The Epicenter was off the coast of Michoacán so here in Mexico City, the ground rolled for a minute or two but it really wasn't bad. This is the third time that Mexico has had a substantial earthquake on the 19th. The first was 1985, then 2017, and now 2022, a 0.000752% probability!

To end on a spiritual thought: 

Alma 19:38. 

36 And thus the work of the Lord did commence among the Lamanites; thus the Lord did begin to pour out his ^aSpirit upon them; and we see that his arm is extended to ^ball people who will repent and believe on his name.

After the account of the conversion of King Lamoni, Mormon gives this simple statement. For me it shows the central purpose of the Book of Mormon: to testify of Jesus Christ. Everything was brought back to him, it wasn't "Ammon was a great missionary" but the Lord is at the center of this work.  

Hasta la Próxima,

Elder Neilson

E. Basauri and I

Torta de Panque 

Sunrise

Independence Day-15th 

Noche Mexicana 

Buey

Elder Basauri finally got his picture with the bull

post earthquake nap

Me in Zapotitlan 

President Pace

 Hola todos,

I feel like I just wrote to you guys but it's Tuesday again, so what have I been up to?

After a normal Wednesday we had the special conference with President Pace on Thursday. It was great Hermana Lyman, Presidente Lyman, Hermana Pace, President Pace, and Elder Dominguez (Area Seventy) all spoke. The big message was to be diligent in the work, follow the guidance of our leaders, and have urgency. Elder Dominguez shared how the mission in the grand scheme of things is a super short amount of time, we need to take advantage of it, be diligent! Another insight I loved came from President Pace, "diligence in the mission will bring miracles, not always investigators, but always a miracle in yourself" when we put our whole self into the mission, the Lord's work, we are changed for the better, we become more like him.

The rest of the week was overall normal, we did a ton of walking and visited almost every part of the Tlaltenco. 

Monday is the last noteworthy event which was exchanges with the Elders of Tláhuac. I served with Elder Reyes here in Tlaltenco for the day. My entire time here in Tlaltenco he has been in my district so it was great to get to know him better. 

"That's all folks" 

Hasta la próxima,

Elder Neilson

Parroquia de San Pedro Apóstol Tláhuac

This foto was a mission email profile picture from this point on 

On this exchange with Elder Reyes I bought my Green CDMX raincoat 

Exchanges with Elder Reyes

 Some of the Mission after the President Pace devotional

El Dorrito

the Music Council

Tláhuac Stake Conference

 Hola, 

Another great week has come to an end. 

Wednesday I directed my first district counsel. I think that it went great. We ended up talking a ton about the investigators we as a district are having trouble with. I can say for the investigators we have in Tlaltenco we got some great counsel. 

The rest of the week was chill, we did have a great lesson with our friends María and Hector. We taught them the Restoration and if all works out we will be giving them a Book of Mormon, Wednesday the 7th. María mentioned how she felt that from what we had taught the Book of Mormon will either confirm or deny the truthfulness of our message. And that is exactly true. As Joseph Smith taught it is the "keystone of our religion."

This weekend was the Stake conference for Estaca (Stake) Tláhuac. It is a little crazy to think that I was at this exact conference a year ago in my first transfer of training, the time has flown by! It was a great meeting, we had a seventy (not sure if it was general or area) speak to us and he had a great message. The conference touched heavily on temples and missionary work. The two components of Gathering Israel on both sides of the vail, as we have learned from President Nelson. 

I love this Church and know that it is the true church of Jesus Christ. 

Hasta la Próxima, 

Elder Neilson

oh great and powerful Monsters Energy Drink

District Council 

Laser Tag for Play

Billiards for Pday

Bautizar Conversos

Hola, 

I hope everyone had a great week. We sure did!

The main event this week was the mission tour of Elder Ochoa, general authority seventy and the second counselor in the Mexico area presidency. The theme for the conference was "now is the time for Mexico,"  a prophetic talk given by Elder Gong to the leaders here in Mexico a few months back. Elder Ochoa talked about our part in fulfilling this prophecy. Now is the time to work here in Mexico to build up the Church. He also taught how our missionary purpose can be simplified to 2 words: "baptize converts.'' When we work towards this and focus on the doctrine of Christ we will fulfill what the Lord needs us to do, helping our friends become converted to him. 

The rest of the week was regular missionary work. I did get to do my first Baptism interview Sunday night for the Elders of Tlálhuac. I was a little nervous beforehand, but it went great, and I can happily report they will be having a baptism this Sunday. 

Also President Lyman announced that on the 8th of september Mark L. Pace, the general president of the sunday school, is coming to the mission! This transfer has only begun and it looks like it is going to be a good one!

Hasta La próxima,

Elder Neilson

Early morning Camion 

The Zone with the Ochoas and the Lymans 

Mission tour 

 In the rain

Me with the arch of Tlaltenco

Tlaltenco por 18 Semanas

 Hola, 

Sorry about not writing last week.

So to start a few highlights for that week:

Wednesday the 10th was overall normal, district council followed by music counsel, then after normal missionary work we had the Tláhuac stake mission coordinación. 

Thursday the 11th we had interviews with President Lyman. I have grown to love interviews with President more and more over my mission. To have that one on one time to have an accounting of my mission is something I have learned to love. 

Saturday the 13th was the baptism of Daniela. The service was great. The old bishop did the baptism and a member of the bishop brick did the confirmation on Sunday. Being able to prepare her for this ordinance was great, being able to see her love for the Gospel.

Tuesday the 16th, last P-day we went to La Vaka, it is a super awesome buffet in a mall in our Zone. It was super good, tons of everything, really all you could want. We all left very stuffed. 

On to this past week. 

The big thing was we had the baptism of Lucio on Thursday, another child of members (I seem to have specialized in those recently). The missionaries have been teaching him for the past 6 months, and I met him on my first day here in Tlaltenco. It was great to be able to do the ordinance for him. 

Monday was transfers and I´ll be here for another 6 weeks but Elder Sanchez left. My new companion is Elder Basauri, he was my Zone leader back when I was in Milpa Alta and San Pablo. He is a fire missionary and I'm really looking forward to this transfer. I'm also going to be a district leader. I am looking forward to a new experience!

Hasta la Próxima,

Elder Neilson

Some baby birds we found 

huge burgers 

I bought 2 kg of watermelon

The new companionship 

Baptism of Daniela

La Vaka 

Last Transfers last district counsel 

Baptism of Lucio 

Agosto

 Hola,

This week has been chill, a lot of just normal missionary work. The two big events were on wednesday and saturday. 

Wednesday: were exchanges. I got to go back to El Molino and worked with Elder Yáñez, our direct leader. It was a great day, we had a ton of awesome lessons. And I was able to learn a lot from him. That night I also got to finish a game of monopoly that the Elders of Molino started with the Elders of Mirasoles. I ended up with a divisive win, all thanks to the greens, a great way to end the day. 

Saturday: The Elders of Milpa Alta used our chapel for the baptism of Hellen. It went great. The Elders of Iztacalco also came as Hellem chose Elder Macfarlane to do the ordinance. In total the set up baptism and linger longer were a good chunk of time, but it was all fantastic. I never taught Hellen when I was in Milpa Alta, but it is always great to be able to help, and see someone make covenants with the Lord. 

Sorry it's short this week. 

Hasta la próxima, 

Elder Neilson

Clouds on the mountains 

Morning sky

Baptism de Hellen

Last Days of June

 Hola, 

It has only been four days since I wrote my last letter, but I have some news to report.

Saturday we had the baptism of Kaori. In my last letter I mentioned how for various problems we had to postpone her baptism, but it turns out it was only for a week. Her family rescheduled it for Saturday night, we had no problems with that, so when Saturday came around we had a baptism. We also got to help out with the baptism of Abigail, the daughter of the Primary President. It was a couple hours before Kaori's and I was asked to give a talk about baptism and covenants. It was a great day with two baptisms. However as we were helping with the baptism we sadly weren't able to go to the Stake Youth activity but I heard that it was great. 

Sunday was a normal Sunday, I played piano, every time I play I learn what hymns I don't like to play and I will have to add "Called to Serve" to the list. I love the hymn just not when I'm at the Piano. Church was great this week with the emphasis on missionary work, we heard some great testimonies from the RMs here in the Ward. 

Monday we were able to start teaching two new people. During one of the lessons I felt inspired to invite our friend to church. It was totally off topic for what we planned but he accepted the invitation and we are really hoping he comes. One of the funny things was that right after I invited him Elder Sanchez told me that he was thinking the same thing. We also had a Mission Zoom that night to announce that the Mission hit the Goal of 35 baptisms in a month. It was awesome. We have had this goal for the past few months and have gotten close, but were finally able to hit it this June. 

I have been reading the Book of Mormon a lot lately: and what has become more and more apparent is just how much it testifies of Christ. It is exactly what the title page says "And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ.''   

Hasta la Próxima,

Elder Neilson

Cloudy Morning Sky

Kaori´s Baptism 

Roof water