Last Week

Dear all,

So this will be my last full week in the mission. The 30th will be my last day in O'Neill, then I will be in Grande Island for most of my last p-day, where the Assistance will come and pick me up. They told me I should have time for emails next week because they don't have a lot of people to pick up, but if you don't get an email next week, don't be surprised.

I've loved serving in O'Neill. It's been such a great and faith building experience. We've experience a lot of miracles and a lot of hardship here. I love the people here and will miss them dearly. I wish I could come back and visit soon, but I'm not sure what money will allow. But as soon as I get the chance, I will come back and visit! Along with Logan and North Platte! I would love to visit all the people who have helped make my mission what it's been. Some day!

I plan to make this week a one to remember. And that's by finishing strong. We have a busy week lined up, so I'm hoping to stay focused.

I can't wait to see most of you in a little over a week. I love you guys! See you soon!

With tender love and care,

Ofa atu,

Elder Timmy Nelson

Rough Week And Another Ahead

Dear all,

This past week was a rough week for us with our car in the shop for most of the week. It wasn't too bad though. We are just struggling finding new investigators to teach. We always have less actives to teach though. Hopefully we'll be able to beat up two birds with one stone one of these days and reactivate some less actives while finding new investigators through them. Member missionary work is still member missionary work even if they are less active.

The reason why this next week is going to be hard for us is because of one key thing. Saint Patrick's day. Here in O'Neill it's not a one day thing. It's a whole week long celebration. And it's nothing like Christmas where you get presents and the kids are involved and everything. It's a huge drunk fest. So this week we will be focusing most of our finding efforts outside of O'Neill so we don't have any problems with anyone "under the influence".

I hope everyone is doing well! I love you all!

With tender love and care,

Ofa atu,

Elder Timmy Nelson

Stressful Opposition!

Dear all,

This past week was a good week with Becky and Maykala being baptized. Satan was really trying hard though to make it not happen! I don't think I've ever seen so much opposition in any of my other baptisms.

So to start it off we had them interviewed for baptism this past Wednesday and they passed pretty well. Their fellowships named Jodi Maxwell (one of our less active 12 year olds who is only less active because her parents don't come) was there and was planning on giving the talk on Baptism at the baptismal service. So Becky and Maykala have been living with the Maxwells for a while and that's how we met them, essentially though Jodi inviting them to church. At first both Maxwell parents were very supportive and friendly about the whole thing. Then all of the sudden on Wednesday Sister Maxwell snapped and things got really stressful. She wouldn't let Jodi go to the baptism and told us she didn't think they were ready to be baptized and that she is sick and tired of us missionaries always trying to "push" people into being baptized. Silliest part is, Becky and Maykala are the ones that came to use and said they wanted to be baptized. On top of that, she say they aren't ready for baptism, when she herself isn't coming to church or living within church standard. Her children are the ones setting an example for her, which is very sad.

But despite the opposition, we went on with the baptism. It was pretty sad not to have Jodi there, but it was well worth it. The hardest part is they still live in the Maxwell home and we are hoping they are able to get out soon!

I hope everyone is doing well! I love you all and can't wait to see you in a couple of week! The weather is finally getting nice here! Time to find more people to teach and baptize!

With tender love and care,

Ofa atu,

Elder Timmy Nelson

Not A Good Week, But A Good Week Ahead Of Us!

Dear all,

So this past week was a little rough on us. I'm going to start off by saying no one was hurt, except for the car. Yes, my companion and I got into a car accident. Luckily it wasn't my companions fault, so he didn't lose his driving privileges. So car pulled turned in front of us when he should have yielded on the green light. Then to top it all off, it snowed like 4 to 6 inches the next day with around -30 degree wind. Needless to say, we weren't able to do much, but we were able to get a few lessons in with some less actives, which was better then nothing!

Becky and Maykala are planning on being baptized this Saturday the 8th. We are very excited for them! Their interview is Wednesday, so we are hoping nothing comes up then. We already went over the interview questions with them, so they should be good, but you never know.

Besides that, things are just moving along as normal here in O'Neill. We are hoping to get more people to teach this week as well so that we can start preparing someone to be baptized after Becky and Maykala, even if it's after I'm already gone. As long as O'Neill keep moving up, that's what's most important to me!

I love you all and hope everyone is doing great!

With tender love and care,

Ofa atu,

Elder Timmy Nelson

Last Transfer, Staying In Oneil

Dear all,

Turns out I'm staying in O'Neill for my last transfer, making me a 3 area missionary. My companion and I were really excited when we found out we were both staying for my last! It's going to be a good transfer too!

On March 8th, Becky and Maykala are planning on being baptized! We are excited to see them get baptized and are meeting with them twice a week to help get them more prepared!

Darryl is also doing very well! We are working with the member and teaching him the New Member Lessons! He also blessed the Sacrament for the firs time yesterday! It was awesome!

The Lord is blessing O'Neill and us as we work with the members and work hard on our own! We had a record number of Less Active and Recent convert lessons in O'Neill this last week, which was awesome! We are hoping to keep getting a high number of lessons like that for the rest of my time here, and keep that going after that! We hope and pray to turn O'Neill into a baptizing area! Something that this area has struggled with in the past!

I love you all and hope all is well with you!

With tender love and care,

Ofa atu,
Elder Timmy Nelson

Last Transfer This Week!

Dear all,

So this transfer this week is going to be the last of my mission! What is going to happen!? I'm hoping to stay here in O'Neill for the rest of my mission, but Elder Benson was transferred for his last, so I'm afraid that may happen to me as well. If it doesn't though, I will finish having only 3 areas! That sure would be nice! But 4 wouldn't be back either. It would just be pretty rough just barely getting to finally know everyone in a new area then have to leave like right after! That would not be my favorite. But it all depends on where the Lord can best use me!

As for how things are going here in O'Neill, things are going pretty good. We are still teaching Becky and McKayla and they are set for the 8th of March. This week are going to start giving Darryl the new member lessons, which will be nice. Still doing a lot of service. It's starting to warm up a good amount, which I am enjoying very much. I wish it would just stay that way. Haha

I love you all! Hope everyone is doing great!

With tender love and care,

Ofa atu,
Elder Timmy Nelson

Another Fast Week!

Dear all,

So this past week went by hecka fast! I had a leadership meeting in Omaha, which was nice because I got to see a lot of my missionary friends more then likely for the last time on the mission. The past that wasn't nearly as nice was the drive for 4 hours one way for like 2 days. So much driving! But it wasn't all that bad having people with me.

Things are still going good for us. Not much has changed since last week. We got a little snow which I wasn't too crazy for. And it's still freezing! I can't wait until it's not freezing anymore. That'll be very nice!

I hope everyone is doing great! I love you all and can't wait to see you again!

With tender love and care,

Ofa atu,

Elder Timmy Nelson

Excellent Week!

Dear All,

This past week was a pretty good one! We found two new investigators and got them both set for baptism on March 1st. They are a mother and a daughter named Becky and McKayla! We are hoping that they will progress smoothly and we are planning to teach them at least twice a week. They have even started reading the Book of Mormon nightly together for 30 minutes and we didn't even commit them to do it or anything! We are super excited for them! Woo!!!!!

Besides that things are pretty normal. The Lord continues to bless us with miracles here and there. One of them being Becky and McKayla. Another one was we were driving the other day at night and we were like a foot away from hitting a deer! It jumped out of nowhere and I was flipping out! Scarred me fore life! Deer are not my friends. Good thing I don't drive my last transfer. Only got 2 weeks and a half of driving left. Deer don't scare me as much when I'm not driving.

I love you all! Hope everything is going great for everyone!

With tender love and care,
Ofa atu,

Elder Timmy Nelson

Baptism Time!

Dear all,

So this past week was a pretty good week. We went on exchanges with the Kearney Elders in out District and we blitzed their area so we spent about two days out of our own area, but despite that we were still able to get a lot done.

Darryl is planning on getting baptized this Saturday, so we are very excited for that. His interview will be this Wednesday, so if he can get through that we should be golden! If we have to end up pushing it back a week or two, it should be fine, but we are planning on this Saturday the 25th. We are super excited!

Besides that things are pretty normal here in O'Neill. The work is slow, not a lot of receptive people, but we feel that through Darryl, the work will pick up a lot after his Baptism.

I love you all and hope everything is going well for you!

With tender love and care,
Ofa atu,

Elder Timmy Nelson

Dodged Another Transfer!

Dear all,

I dodged another transfer! If I can stay one last time after this, that'll officially mean I'll be a 3 area missionary! Wouldn't that be nice! But the pattern has been lately that missionaries get transferred to one last area for their last transfer, so if next transfer I'm no longer in O'Neill, don't be surprised.

As for this week, it was definitely bitter sweet. I'll started with the sad stuff. Turns out Brandon is no longer around. He went nuts and apparently destroyed a bunch of stuff and now is no longer living in the town where we used to teach him. Long story short, he stopped taking his medication and so he's gone off the deep end. I sure will miss him.

As for the good news! Darryl is progressing amazingly. He is still set for the 25th and this week we are going to talk to him about how realistic that date is and whether or not we need to push it back. He has received an answer thought that he should be baptized. So it's no longer a matter of if, but a matter of when. Pretty legit!

Besides that things are going good. This week should be really nice weather! Today has been awesome so far and the past two days haven't been below 30, so it's awesome! I'm lovin this weather!

I hope everyone is doing great! I love you all!

Ofa atu,
Elder Timmy Nelson

Frozen

So church was cancelled yesterday because of how cold it was. That kind of stunk, but it gave us a chance to recover from the day before where we were outside all day cutting wood. Let me tell you, by the end of the day I was not feeling very good. Most of my body was numb. Pretty cool. But not when you get your feeling back! Oh snap!

Transfers are here yet a game! Only one more after this one and after that it won't be a transfer for me. It'll be a transition.  D:

Well I hope everyone is doing legit. It's been a good transfer and I'm pretty sure I'll be staying here another, but we'll see what happens.

I love you all!

With tender love and care,
Ofa atu,
Elder Timmy Nelson