Hasta Pronto Espanol, Howdy English

(Written Monday, August 17, 2015)

Well Friends and Family,

The transfer has come to a close and so many changes are about to happen it's not even funny.  My pattern of staying 3 transfers in an area and then moving on to somewhere else has continued as I will now be switching areas once more. I must say that I really grew to love this ward, this has been my favorite area thus far because we have had the sacred privilege and blessing of reaping from the Lord's harvest so fruitfully here. This past transfer, I watched 8 wonderful people and beautiful souls follow the example of their savior, Jesus Christ and make the first step to receiving eternal life through baptism. I feel like I have done what the Lord needed me to do here and we closed on a good and strong note by seeing the De La Torre family get baptized.

Many of these people have become a second family to me and I will be so sad to leave this area, but I must go where the Lord wants (and needs me to go) When our bishop announced it in sacrament meeting he had us all come up and I watched many people look so sad with tears in their eyes as we got to share our testimonies with them. I know this is the Lord's work. I know the next sisters will be able to do things that we couldn't do here, they will have a different gift with people we could not help. I know this is the Lord's work and not mine and it will continue on when I leave, but I still wish I could have done even more here. This area is the coolest with so many prepared people and it's been very nice having the temple 3 minutes away from our apartment. The spirit is strong in the Sunrise Stake. It's been a blast and I know we did a good job here.

So, you might ask, where am I going and what is happening. Sister Haycock and I are both getting transferred out of this area because both of us have been asked to be Sister Training Leaders which for those of you who don't know, I will be a leader in a zone of missionaries for the sisters. It's like the girl version of a Zone Leader. Which also means, that I will have to leave Spanish behind and speak and teach and serve the English folks. I'm pretty sad about it because I have grown to love this lyrical and romantic language. I don't know when I will have the chance to serve again as a Spanish speaking missionary because all of the leadership positions only speak English, but I know that Heavenly Father has a plan and I'll still be able to study Spanish for an hour a day. it's just going to be way different. My next area is just north west of here and is called the North Zone. I will be serving in two English wards and I will do exchanges with the other sisters in my area quite often, I will have other meetings to attend and hopefully will learn, grow and change a lot! I don't want anyone to recognize me when I come home.

Last Friday we had the privilege of teaching the Rodriguez-Garibay family what a family home evening is and how it can strengthen their family. We thought it would just be the family, but as you can see in the photo, literally all the neighborhood kids came over and there were like 20 of us (including Jaime who came too) So we started with a song, I am a child of God and all the kids loved it, we talked about our families and why they are so important and then we acted out stories from the Book of Mormon with a bag of random props. Sister Garibay said at the end "Okay! Everyone come to my house on Monday and we'll do it again!" This family is incredible at sharing the gospel with others and helping all those kids feel as though it was a refuge at their house! We are excited to go again tonight and celebrate Emely's thirteenth birthday and do more fun activities! I think I will miss this family and Jaime the most, but I am grateful for this time I have had to serve here.

Serving a mission is the best thing in the world! Be prepared to continue to hear about crazy miracles in the transfer to come!

So much love,
Hermana Alayna Nelson

Subjects are Overratted

(Written Monday, August 10, 2015) 

Hi Family and Friends!

I wish I had a more creative title, but I don't feel like too many crazy things happened this week. Israel got baptized on Saturday which was so special! The family is nearly complete and it feels great. They have an older sister who kinda lives at home and kinda at her boyfriend's house, but they really want her to be a part of this too because it's been making them so happy! It's wonderful to see all the tiny yet profound changes each week. I love this gospel.

We also got ipads which has been one of the weirdest things of my life, it's interesting to interact with technology again and use it to teach people. I kinda don't like it, but I'm working on it. I thought the picture below was pretty clever haha. but that's just me ;)

Also, our zone had a really awesome conference this past week where we talked about appearance and how we can help people by showing them what they don't know through questions and helping them realize they want answers to those questions and then providing the answers through the Book of Mormon. It was a spiritual experience that I thoroughly enjoyed. At the end we talked about why we came on a mission and why we were going to stay on our missions, which re-centered us on our purpose and focus. I love serving a mission. I love all the tools Heavenly Father has given us to be successful and I love the person he is helping me become. I am so grateful for the opportunity to change, it just keeps sticking with me. The church is true and Heavenly Father is calling each of our names! He loves us because we are his children!

I can't believe this transfer is coming to a close, I feel like Sister Haycock just got here and I really want to stay here with her, but we will know what happens this Saturday! One more transfer would be lovely, but I will go where the Lord wants me to go.

May all of you have a wonderful week!
Love,
Hermana Alayna Nelson

So I can finally send videos! This is a clip of me singing at a zone
conference :) I love and miss you all!

A Week of Blessings

(Written Monday, August 3, 2015)

Wow Everyone,

I can't express how grateful I am to be a missionary for my Savior Jesus Christ. I have seen nothing but miracles and blessings that I know can only come from above. How privileged I am to be part of this great and marvelous work.

This week, I got to do an exchange with one of the Sister Training Leaders in an English area and met some wonderful people. I met a woman who had part of her leg amputated and I loved what she said "I never knew what to say when I was around people with disabilities so I don't want people to feel that way around me, so I just call him Stumpy" I thought she was so funny and cute. She is far more concerned with the people around her and helping them than she is about all the challenges and hardships she has been through. She is the definition of optimism and it helped me see things in a different light too! I want to be happy no matter what my circumstances or life challenges. She really proves that it's a choice, it's just something I need to learn!

I also got to watch Jaime bless the Sacrament in church yesterday! I am so happy to see him progressing along so well here, it is the most beautiful blessing ever.

We also had a wonderful training this week about helping our members set visions and goals for themselves to really achieve further steps of conversion in the church! That was really neat to learn about and we've been working to apply it with many of the people that have recently been baptized here! I love helping people see higher and reach higher than they think they can!

We also learned about doing member missionary work. So many of us don't have a testimony of it because we never did it before our missions. I was guilty of that way too many times before my mission and they helped us realize that if we don't start doing it now that we won't do it when we get home because we will still be afraid to do it. So I just want to let all of you know that I have a testimony that Jesus Christ is my Savior, that He knows me by name and He loves me. I am sorry if there has ever been a time where I have not lived what I believed to the fullest and made you confused about my beliefs. I can honestly say now that I have changed for good and bettered myself to represent what I believe. I know that change is possible with Jesus Christ and that without him, I would be nothing. I look forward to continually sharing with you what I know and how it can bless you! You are my friends and you are so important to our Savior too.

We were also asked to teach the Young Single Adult class at church on Sunday and it was about how we can accept the atonement and make changes. I feel like that has been a theme for me recently, making changes to be better and recognizing that we can only do it through our Savior, Jesus Christ. (2 Nephi 2:6-8 <--read it, it's sooo good!)
I shared with them the poem "The Room" By Joshua Harris It's beautiful and talks about what Christ has done for us. We all were crying about how grateful we are for this gospel and we committed them to share it with their friends now too because it's one of our biggest regrets! I love everything that I am learning. I love the person I am becoming and I wouldn't trade these experiences for anything! I love you all and I'll be done before we know it sadly, but I still have so much time to learn everything!

Pursue something Great this week, Love,

Hermana Alayna Nelson

PS: Parangaricutirimicuaro is a city somewhere in Mexico evidently and my recent convert Becky Garibay has been trying to teach me how to say this really fast for the past couple of weeks. I couldn't get it forever until the other night and now I can say it really fast. She said in her Spanish accent English "okay, now you can marry a good Mexican boy, you are practically Hispanic yourself" The best compliment is when people tell you that you look Latina. I love this culture so much :)

The Room by Joshua Harris

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with small index-card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endlessly in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I Have Liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one.

And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match.

A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I Have Betrayed."

The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I Have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed At." Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've Yelled at My Brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done in My Anger," "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped.

I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my 20 years to write each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked "Songs I Have Listened To," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of music, but more by the vast amount of time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded.

An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: "No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In an insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With." The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.

But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus.

I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one?

Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card.

"No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood.

He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished."

I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

Bring The Towels!

(Written Monday, July 27, 2015)

Hello friends and family,

This week was simply incredible! We worked even harder this week and saw so many miracles from it! We hit the Standard of Excellence for bringing members with us to lessons and even exceeded it which made us feel so happy because in my whole mission I have never hit that goal.  We have many people working towards baptism and just watched a family get baptized on Saturday! The dad will shortly be following this family but the spirit was very strong for the Rodriguez-Garibay family! We watched on the side of the font as each one got baptized and watched their other family members, the mom was last and when she came out we asked how she felt and she said clean and smiled and laughed and then grabbed me and Sister Haycock into one big wet hug, but we didn't even care because we were so happy! I'm so excited because Emely will be able to go to girls’ camp on Tuesday and have so many wonderful experiences that will change her life even more! It is such a blessing from God to be able to know them. This family is incredible and will do such wonderful things!

Ignore the poodle hair and just see how happy we are!

Their blessings were beautiful as they received the Holy Ghost, each of the kids was promised to grow up strong in the church and to be wonderful teachers, serve missions and marry in the temple! I was so overjoyed! Also, Matthew, who is 15 got to get the priesthood and Jaime my other recent convert got to help give it to him, it so wonderful to see the gospel change and bless lives!

Jaime was also called as a ward missionary meaning he will come out and help us all the time! He has a wonderful testimony and he will be a great asset for us! We also hooked him on indexing for the church and he loves it! So many wonderful things are happening in the land of the happys :)

We watched the Book of Mormon touch another woman's heart as she recounted a story about reading Mosiah 4 and cried as she said she wants to be a better mother and friend and serve harder. I know the Holy Ghost touched her heart and she will be ready to be baptized soon too! I love the power that the Book of Mormon has to help us desire to be better people!

Although we are still running around like chickens with our heads cut off, we are so happy! I love the mission, I can't believe I'm already halfway, it goes too fast and it will never be enough service!

I love you all!
Have a safe and wonderful week,
Hermana Alayna Nelson

PS: This is us today, emailing like taken an hour ago! Enjoy!

"What the Heck is a Webelo?" And Other Life Questions.

(Written Monday, July 20, 2015)

Family, Friends, Universe!

I am so privileged to be serving here in Las Vegas. I am in the best area of the mission and I wouldn't change a thing about what is happening here! Heavenly Father is blessing us so much and I feel His love every day, but more importantly, I feel His trust now, which is far better in my opinion than His love.

We have 11 people that are getting ready for baptism (they have a date set) and we've been having so many join us for church and also steadily finding new people that Heavenly Father has sent to us to teach. I know it is not by my efforts at all, it feels as though these people have simply fallen into my lap and I just get the privilege of teaching them the simple things I know to be true. This is truly an amazing thing I get to be a part of and I feel so happy going to bed exhausted every night. I am working harder than I ever have in my mission let alone my life and I LOVE IT! But the only thing I wish I had was more time. Time is going way too fast now and it's only bound to go faster. I feel like I am running after the train of time that is speeding me along saying, wait for me to catch up, this is too fast.

Two incredible things happened this week:
Jaime got baptized and we took a very ready family to the temple to teach them about how they can be a family forever.

Saturday started when I woke up from a dream where we were at Jaime's baptism and I was giving a talk on the Holy Ghost and in my dream, I was using some scriptures, so I made sure to include those scriptures in my talk. We went to do our personal study on the lawn of the temple (literally the only place in all of Las Vegas that has a giant green lawn, it reminds me of home) and it was so peaceful that morning. Afterwards, we met up with the Garibay family who are getting baptized this upcoming weekend and we did a tour. As you can see in the picture, they are such a special and wonderful family!

We took them into the courtyard and talked about eternal families and the mom grabbed all her kids into a big hug and said I want to be with them forever and I want to help my ancestors. We have to do this. She began to cry and it was such a special moment. The spirit is very strong at the temple and this family will do so many wonderful things here!

In the afternoon, I got to watch a dear friend and brother of mine get baptized and it was so special! I am so proud of Jaime and the spirit was there! He is an incredible man and I know he will do great things for the church. When he got his blessing to receive the Holy Ghost, it was straight from Heavenly Father because the things the man said were things that he didn't know about Jaime.

I know this church is true. I know that Heavenly Father loves us and I know he is proud of what we are doing.

To answer the above question, I learned what a webelo is, I never knew. A Webelo suggests an inner change or advancement of becoming better. I think that is so cool because that is what I am here to accomplish I guess, becoming a webelo in life and you are too (yep, this email just got cheesy) I love seeing these inner changes that make such bigger outer changes for us!

To close off with some other life questions, when asked what superhero would we be, we have discovered them in a book of superheros. I would be Kitty Pryde (yes with a Y) and my companion would be Dazzler. You will have to go to the blog to see our superheros, but they definitely look like us! When we asked Jaime what names he would guess we had, he obviously guessed Spanish names, so I evidently look like a Martina and my companion looks like a Sandra. Life questions answered!

I love you all have a great week!
Love,
Hermana Alayna Nelson
AKA Kitty Pryde
AKA Martina

Hey, Sister Hay

(Written Monday, July 13, 2105)

Hello wonderful friends and family,

It has been an amazing first week to transfer number 7! I am so happy to be working with Sister Haycock, or as Veronica (one of our 8 year old members) calls her: Sister Hiccup. She's a Georgia peach and lives two hours away from Sister Stark, but didn't know her until they met in the MTC in Mexico (she came in with Sister Stark) she is fun and crazy like me and has a wonderful bubbly personality, we already have crazy jokes and laugh way too much but we are having so much fun doing Heavenly Father's work, I feel so privileged to be able to work with her. We will see many miracles together this transfer :)

Me and sister Haycock this morning

We did all kinds of random things this week:
Monday Sister Stark and I celebrated an end to a beautiful transfer by going to DI and I bought so many things, five shirts and five skirts for 25 bucks. All good things and much needed! (One of the shirts is a t shirt that I won't get to wear as a missionary, but it was too good not to get, it says I want to believe and has a UFO on it...so sweet)
We also went to go say goodbye to some of the people we teach and while we were with Jaime there was a crazy rain storm! (Check the blog for pictures! It was so pretty) I really miss Indiana rainstorms so any time it rains here it's such a treat for me! There was a beautiful rainbow over the chapel just as we got there for another lesson.

This week was 7/11 so we got free slushies, we got chocolate covered strawberries at our dear friend Isabel's Missionary farewell (she'll be serving in Anaheim, California) and we made lots of cookies and ate way too much food so we both probably gained 20 pounds this week, but who cares?

I have always wanted to take a watermelon picture like this
and I finally got to with the Hernandez family and Sister Stark :)

I love the opportunity to serve a mission, I see blessings and miracles every day and I feel so grateful to be able to do this. It goes way too fast and I feel like I'm running to hold on, but it feels so good. Jaime and Pepe will be getting baptized this weekend and we had the miracle of this new family that we are teaching come to church with us, and the dad who was not interested before he came with them for the first time! We had 8 people in total at church today that are learning from us and we felt so happy helping these people feel of the blessings and peace and love that Heavenly Father has for them.

We went to the funeral of the young man who passed away last week and one phrase really stuck with me, one of his brothers said that "the trials come after the preparation is finished" I believe that is true because although it has been hard sometimes, I know I have been prepared to handle the trials that I have passed through. This family's strength has been incredible to me and it reminds me of two scriptures.
Alma 13:28 "...watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit" I like this scripture because I think we can apply it to say that we won't have trials that we can't bear either.
I think Heavenly Father is helping us so much with everything we go through and it reminds me of this scripture which is one of my favorites in Mosiah 24:14-15 "And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in... 15And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." 

I love this church. I love the scriptures because they are proven true to us daily and I love being a missionary!
May Heavenly Father bless you this week! Please think on how he has helped you through your trials and you will see that you have never been alone.
Love,
Hermana Alayna Nelson

God's Army

(Written Monday, July 6, 2015)

Hello Everyone!

What a crazy quick week it has been and we are at the end of another transfer! The verdict is that I will be staying here in Los Feliz for another transfer and Sister Stark is moving one area over so I will still see her once a week in meetings, but she will be working in a different area. My next companion's name is Sister Haycock and she came in with Sister Stark, she is super cute and I look forward to working with her! We had a wonderful fourth of July by going to a pancake breakfast with the sisters in our area that day and we tried to go and look at the fireworks on the mountain for a few minutes, it was a crazy party and I really want to come back sometime for the Fourth of July festivities as a regular person! It was so cool to see fireworks all over the valley! I tried to take picture of it but it just didn't do it justice.

4th of July pancake breakfast with the sisters

We didn't end up having any baptisms, but I know that this next transfer we will see so many miracles with people coming into the fold of Jesus Christ. There are so many ready people that we have that are right on the cusp of being ready and I look so forward to all the miracles we are going to have.

We had a very powerful moment this week with a new member of our church, her name is Jackie and her daughter is Veronica. We did an activity where we reminded them how far they had come and how much their testimonies had grown by having them write them down. We played church music and had a bunch of photos of Jesus Christ. It was pretty spiritual as I was writing down what I knew to be 100% true and how much I had learned.

I am so grateful for who I am and who I can become. I know that my Savior loves me. It was so cool being a part of God's Army on the Fourth of July, this will be the one time I will get to say that I got to do that. I wear His son's name on my chest and I am part of the most important army that exists. How cool is that? I read a quote in one of our church magazines this week talking about the importance of Religion and Government working together separately but how they are important together. This quote has quickly become my new favorite because I have seen this come true first hand. An apostle of the lord that was also working on the president's cabinet committee during the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower said
"The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of the people and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold people by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature" --Ezra Taft Benson

I have seen the gospel of Jesus Christ change broken homes with abuse, drugs, alcohol, little or no purpose and bring them into a refuge, with more unity and love and a purpose in this life. I have also realized that this gospel that I was privileged to grow up in has protected me from a world of hurt and sorrow. I know Jesus Christ lives, He knows and loves me and you and he can help us become who we want to be and who HE wants us to be.
Much Love,

Hermana Alayna Nelson

The last of Sister Nelson and Sister Stark

Meet the Missionaries

(Written Monday, June 29, 2015)

Hello everyone,

It was another eventful week! Jaime finally came home from his time in Hawaii and we were able to finish his lessons with him this week and he passed his baptismal interview so he will be getting baptized this Saturday July 4th at 3pm! We can't wait for this to happen! It is going to be so great!

We also took Jaime to the documentary that some people made for our church called Meet the Mormons. This was the second time that I have seen it and it made me so happy and feel the spirit again very strongly. He really liked it!

They also had a photo booth there so as you can see, all us missionaries took the opportunity to get a nice shot together! We are only missing two elders, but the random guy that works for cricket I guess makes up for it ;) where did he come from?

I was kind of battling round two of my illness this weekend, I am feeling a little better at the moment, but I think the heat is just getting to me! I don't really know, so prayers are always good! Don't worry, I am resting lots and trying to take care of myself!

There isn't much else exciting or crazy to report! We just keep on going! I love my mission, even when it is hard! Everyone hang in there! I will have more exciting news next week, it's the last week of the transfer so I'll have exciting news about what's happening with next transfer!

Much love!
Hermana Alayna Nelson

"Hoosier finds Corn in Sin City"

 (Written Monday, June 22, 2015)

Hello Family and Friends,

Hope all is going well, this one won't be too long because I was actually kinda sick this week, so a lot of my time was spent sleeping! I am trying to take care of myself in the best way that I can! But we did have some cool things happen this week!

The first picture is of me with corn! YES I FOUND CORN! Yay! One of our members is a bike vendor, just like in Mexico they ride around and sell things like chips, slushies and corn with mayonnaise and chile and Parmesan cheese, it's really good and I haven't had one since my brother made them a long time ago, so it was great and I felt really authentic to the culture for a little bit ;)

But the biggest thing that happened was our valley wide family history fair! We had a man come down from Salt Lake City that is in charge of Latino and Mexican records and he talked to us about our families and learning about them, which was incredible! My Spanish is getting so good now that I don't really have to think so hard and pay attention, but like English I can just sit and realize oh wow, all this is going in one ear and making sense right away! YES! This is a good place to be! At any rate, he really made me want to do family history research and learn more about my family! He talked about how the most important part isn't the date of birth or the date of death but the dash in the middle that sums up our whole lives and that if we can capture stories and pictures of them, they will continue to live on forever and won't really be gone and we can learn from them so much!

My Recent Converts Gaby and Jorge were there! It was so good to hear that they will be going to do baptism at that temple this Saturday.  The dad an son have the priesthood now and the son went to youth conference in Utah this past week! The parents came to do family history at our fair and they told me that Alejandro has already done so much family history work, this kid is on fire and so elect :) I am so proud of this family! They are doing great things!

Malachi 4:6 is a prophesy that we can fulfill today "and he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers."  If we turn to them and knit our hearts with theirs, we can learn and grow so much! My invitation to you this week is to visit the church's free website (for anyone in the world to use, not just members of our church ) www.familysearch.org and start learning about your family! One thing the man said was that if we don't record the stories, they die with the person, but if we talk to our grandparents now, we can preserve pieces of them here with us forever :) The biggest question I am dying to know is how my grandpa met and married my grandma! I wish I had time to do family history work right now, so you'll have to do it for me and tell me what you learn this week! I promise it will bind you to them and it will bind you to your savior! David Archuleta has a really cool song that came out about Family History, it's in Spanish and called Nunca Pense.  Get excited about learning about your families by listening! It's wonderful!

Much love,
Hermana Alayna Nelson

Cereal, Folklorico, Rainstorms, Peaches & Umbrellas

(Written Monday, June 15, 2015)

So in case you didn't sense the randomness of this week from the title, it was nuts!

Among many things, we had the exodus of the cereal into the back of our car from a member! We got so much from a member that it fed all the missionaries in this area!

I stole a peach from someone's tree because they didn't answer the door.

I rang another doorbell with an umbrella which required much skill because I had to reach through the gate.

And I took a picture with a TV in the middle of the desert.

We met a lot of wild animals this week and got caught in a rainstorm (which started as a windstorm that felt like a tornado and blew stuff in our eyes). But then I took the opportunity to dance in the rain since it never happens here.

We went to a church party that was a cultural night and they had Mexican decorations and dancing in the traditional dresses called Folklorico. I took videos, but I guess they are too long to send, so one day you will see them! Our bishop got up and sang the song that he used to propose to his wife to her again called "Eres Tu" :) It was so cute! Spanish music literally sings to my soul these days, how did I never know! I LOVE IT!

It's starting to get really hot here, but exciting things are happening when we listen to the spirit. This week we had an appointment to show a lady around our temple but she canceled, normally we would follow our back up plan, but I had a small feeling that we should go walk around the temple and that someone would be there for us to talk to. So we drove there, prayed and said we would walk around the temple once and go back to our other plan. We did so and didn't see anyone, but as we were walking back to our car, I saw a little boy and thought very strongly "go back" as we did, we ran into a Spanish Speaking man and his 10 year old son. They also spoke perfect English, but the dad wasn't a member. We were able to take them into the lobby of the temple and answer some questions for them, it was just so neat to meet them. They told us they were being taught by other missionaries and went to a different building of our church because his wife and ten year old son are members, but we haven't been able to figure out who's teaching them! It was incredible to see that when we listen to the smallest of thoughts, that God uses us as his instruments.

That same day we knocked on a door and I felt as though we should walk further up the street, we knocked on an unplanned door and no one answered, but we were able to talk to another kid outside that was so friendly and has a bunch of Mormon friends and we were able to answer some of his questions about the church too!

Miracles are happening here and this week there will be so many more! I love my Savior, My Brother and My Friend Jesus Christ. He is the reason I am here, because I want others to know of him and love him too in a way so personal that will change their lives! Keep going and be believing!

Much Love,
Hermana Alayna Nelson

Pictures: Literally in the windstorm, so many things were blowing in our eyes!

I found my perfect car! I love Hello Kitty way too much!

Us with the wonderful young women that did the Folklorico dances :)

Check the blog, there are so many more photos on there, I did a good job to make up for last week!

A Trip to Hawaii

(Written Monday, June 8, 2015)

Hello World,

Another week has passed, how, I don't know! It seriously feels like it was just P-day so I hardly took any photos this week! Sorry about that!

But I do have some exciting news! Someone is going to Hawaii! And it's not me haha Jaime, our investigator is going to Hawaii for some special military training on their base. He will be there for about a week and a half and this is why this story is cool. Jaime had a smoking problem and we hoped that wouldn't mess up teaching him, but as we taught him about God's plan of health for him and how he can receive so many blessings, he quit smoking that day and has only had one since and hasn't bought more or had more. He is doing incredible! He said that he came to realize that it was a temporary solution to his problems and that he didn't need them! It was so cool to hear! We also told him we were going to give up things with him too to help him feel like he was on a team, so I gave up naps, which I have been taking nearly every day during lunch for like the past month so it was a big deal, but I wanted to do something hard and feel how he felt and pray for help and also, I wanted to finally get caught up on my journal. Sister Stark gave up candy and sweets and we did it! I have to say, my first few days, I went through withdrawals and it was so hard, but as I prayed for strength and prayed that Jaime would have strength, it became a little easier. Towards the end of this week though, I have felt like I am coming down with some sort of cold/sore throat thing and the sudafed my mom sent me was only working a little bit. It was exhausting me to no end, so sadly, I had to break my streak and start napping during lunch to get a little extra rest and strength so we wouldn't have to take time out of doing other important things. But I rationalized that sometimes naps are healthy and necessary but that cigarettes will never be healthy or necessary, also, Sister Stark had to break hers because of dinner appointments where members give us candies and such, but it's okay, we are recommitting and the important thing is that Jaime is still going strong.

But the cool thing is that we took Jaime on a tour of the temple and he said that he just felt joyful there which was so cool to hear! He said he wanted to come back and he was going to make it a goal to get married there and do baptisms for his family members! He loved it! Then a brilliant idea popped into my head to tell him to visit the Hawaii temple while he is down there. It is only an hour away from his base and he was looking up directions and photos and getting so excited! He's not sure he will be able to go, but last night he asked us to pray with him that he would be able to go somehow! We know that Heavenly Father will make it happen somehow because it is a worthy cause!

So that was my week! Exciting things are on the horizon, it is so amazing to see the gospel change people's lives and excite them for everything that Heavenly Father has in store for them! I know this church is true! My invitation to you this week is to pick something that you rely heavily on and try to let it go for a bit and pray for help from God. I promise you that your relationship with your Heavenly Father will grow and you will be more productive!

Love, Hermana Alayna Nelson

PS: These are the only two photos I have for you this week.

This is Pepe, the one we teach that has been learning from missionaries for nearly 15 years and he bought us sombreros so that we don't have to walk in the sun, He's such a cute man.

And then of course a picture of me today so you know I am happy and alive and also because I didn't send more pictures. much love

Prayers in my Sleep

(Written Monday, June 1, 2015)

Hello Family and friends!

Lots of pictures are going on the blog today!

Nothing too crazy happened this week, I'm still steadily sleep talking at night by saying prayers in Spanish for my investigators... it's kinda funny actually.

This week we had a big conference for all of the congregations close by and I learned so much from the president of it! They even had a youth session in the evening where us missionaries got to sing for the youth and then share our testimonies about why we are missionaries and what we have learned! I am learning so much and it's still not nearly as much as I want to learn, but I will just keep going and setting goals and trying to work hard!

I hope all of you are making steps in one way or another to move forward and increase your faith and relationship with Jesus Christ! It's such a rewarding feeling and one that is hard to express in words.

I love this mission, it's crazy to think that in July I will be halfway done! I don't want that to happen! So just keep praying that I learn a lot and that people give me water in the streets because it is getting hot.

The picture I attached of me and Sister Stark is from today and my hair will probably continue to only be done up in a ponytail until this heat leaves (so like for the next three months, this is the hairstyle I'm looking at) I'm ready to continue to see miracles!

I'm sorry I don't have too much time or much more to share, my investigators are moving along really well! They are special souls given me to serve from Heavenly Father! I love this work, I know it is true and directed by God!

Have a great week!
Hermana Alayna Nelson

Slushies and Staying Here

(Written on Monday, May 25, 2015)

Hello world!

This week went pretty grand, we learned a lot from leaders of the church about how Ipads are going to help us fulfill our purpose as missionaries so much more and they will prepare us for things to come by teaching us good habits and reasons to use technology. I'm so grateful to learn everything from this time here. Really we learn so much about our futures and how to prepare on the mission.

I am so grateful. I get to stay here for one more transfer (6 weeks) with sister Stark and I'm really grateful for another 6 weeks because we have two people preparing for baptism here, one of which is Jaime who learned about the Holy Ghost and compared it to his "battle buddy" since he is in the army! Whatever works to help you understand! He has decided to get baptized on July 4th! I'm so happy! He has become a very good friend of mine and I know I am here to help him!

Also I wanted to share a quick and cute miracle with you all this week. Here, we are kinda living in a mini Mexico! I love it! There are people riding around on bicycles selling slushies and food and the cowboys and everything. So it was particularly warmer the other day on Saturday and we saw these guys and I was just thinking, "Man, I really want one of those, but I have no money." Then the guy motioned us over and I told him "no tenemos dinero hermano" (we don't have money) and he told us the man in the truck bought them for us. Turned out it was Jose Luis who we were going to be meeting with his family later that day and he told us he knew it was hot and wanted to help us out! It was the nicest and simplest tender mercy, but it helped me know that Heavenly Father is mindful of us even with small and simple things. I'm so grateful!

I love the mission so much!
Everyone have a great week!
Hermana Alayna Nelson

My district

A Quick Hello

(Written Monday, May 18, 2015)

Hello Everyone!

I wish I had more to say, but this week was relatively uneventful, we went on exchanges with our sister leaders and learned a ton from them! We also had a lot of meetings and we are preparing for a giant mission wide conference this Wednesday where we will learn a ton more about ipads and using them as missionaries! There may even be someone really important coming from the church, so we are all very excited!

This transfer is coming to a close and I feel like it just started! Time is seriously running away from me!

I really do love you all! We find out what happens for next transfer this weekend and expect to hear about all kinds of miracles next week!

I love you all so much! Hang in there and keep serving the Lord!

Much Love,
Hermana Alayna Nelson

Us with our Mexican drinks

Us with our 8 year old recent convert Veronica Last night :)

Mother's Day, Cinco de Mayo and Baptisms

Salutations world and Happy Mother's Day once more!

This week has been incredible, there was such a wide variety of things that happened!

We had a zone conference where we were spiritually enlightened by our leaders and learned so much.

We also were able to do our first temple tour with one of our investigators and his girlfriend who is a member that wants to relearn everything. It was so incredible to see the spirit work on both of them as we walked the grounds. Tomas, our investigator described the feeling best when he said' " it's like going on a vacation, but better because all of your problems just leave you and it's not like at the end of your vacation when you're just worried about having to jump back into to everything you were doing... you just feel a never-ending peace." He also said his first out loud prayer with us and his girlfriend, Aarika, started crying. She said she couldn't believe this was happening and that it wasn't too late and I bore testimony that it is never too late for Heavenly Father and just how much He loves her. They also each got to pick a spot on the temple to be their spot and their promise to themselves and to God to enter in one day and be married. It was very special to see how much this was changing them and I know that one day they will be able to be sealed or bound together forever in the temple and not just 'til death do us part.

Another wonderful thing about this week was that Jaime, one of our investigators came to church for the first time this week and loved how he felt and what he learned! It was incredible! I know he is very ready to accept the gospel in his life and he is a really cool guy.

We also celebrated Cinco de Mayo at one of our district meetings... so that was awesome.

But the most exciting moment from this week was being able to go to my first baptism. Gaby, Jorge and Alejandro all made the choice to be baptized and it was so special for me. I know this family will do wonderful and great things here and that this will bless their lives so much! I have grown to love this family and am so grateful for the opportunity I had to teach this family and see them progress. What made it even more special was that their 14 year old son has been reading the Book of Mormon diligently and studying and learning about the church and when the leaders were welcoming him in, he began to cry. I did so well not crying the whole time, but when I saw this, I cried too, because I knew that the spirit was touching his heart so strongly and I also remembered that from the beginning I could see him serving a mission and changing so many lives one day. I know he is realizing that now too and I am so glad! I love them so much.

I also love the gospel of Jesus Christ and how as missionaries, we are able to see it change the lives of so many people in so many different stages, the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true, Jesus Christ lives and directs this church. I love Him, I serve Him and this time of my life is something I am so grateful for. It was wonderful to talk with my family yesterday and it's crazy to think I only get to do it once more at Christmastime and then I come home in April. It's going to fast, but I am doing everything I can to enjoy it!

Much Love,
Hermana Alayna Nelson