beijinhos

BOA TARDE!!!
Ah today has been so great. And getting on email and seeing your emails makes me giddy. Seriously everyone stares at me in the internet cafe because I’m grinning and giggling with my face two inches from the computer screen. No kidding. Well the creepy guy with dreads next to me is into it...anyway thank you for all the updates! I can’t stop apologizing for the lack of responses to emails. They are so long and full of awesome detail that I would need an entire week to write what I would actually like to write back. BUT I need to clarify real quickly. When I sent my address I wrote it wrong and just now caught it. It’s Ornelas not Omelas.....but I’ve still been getting everything! The mailman must know that I just don´t know how to read.

This week we found Francisco, a single father from Angola and he brought his daughter to church yesterday and calls us his angels! Hopefully everything turns out okay!

Okay so yesterday we ate at our Bishop’s house after church it was really good and they are all about manners. They all eat with a fork and a knife here and it’s rude to just use a fork. You have to use
your knife to scoop your food onto the fork. It’s very hard for me. They totally knew I had no idea what I was doing cause I was just holding the knife pretending to use it. And when you want more food you like place your silverware a certain way and when you’re done you put them pointing to the left and parallel? News to me. Vanessa started fighting with me because she said these are universal manners and people in America do it too....um I’m from America and I’ve never see anyone do this. She was like then how to people know you’re done eating? And I was like idk you say you’re done and stop eating? And she was like NOOOOOOO. And I was like YESSSSSSS. Am I the only person
in the world that didn’t know this?! Whatever, she’s never been to America. When I come back I’m not using a knife.

In other news I have an addiction to pastel de natas. Google them. I have like two a day. Irma Dos Santos says I have a problem.... I say I’m only in Portugal once. Works for me.

Our ward is taking a Temple trip next month to Madrid and every time some one talks about it I die a little inside. I want to go so BAD. You have no idea how much I miss the Temple. I can´t wait to be able to go again. I haven’t heard any updates on the Temple in Lisboa. But its already my favorite in the world...next to Mesa and Oakland.

GENERAL CONFERENCE is SO SOON! I´m dying I´m so excited. I miss watching it being surrounded by my family and friends eating a massive breakfast in our pj´s. But no matter where you are watching
conference, the message is the same. I invite EVERYONE members and non members to watch.
They will be broadcasting it in the chapel here and in the garage they will have it in English! I’m actually excited cause the senior couple is making food and there are couches in the garage :) score.

Finally.... I´ve been impressed to tell all of you about being a missionary. Missionary work is nearly impossible with out help from the members. References and having members present makes all the
difference in conversion. I challenge all of you to be missionaries. Talk to everyone you know about the Gospel. NEVER be ashamed of your faith. Yes we can be shy sometimes but we need to understand this Gospel is MANDITORY for EVERY soul. And if we don’t share it with others His Kingdom won’t grow. It we want to be with our families forever we need to do all that we can to share the Gospel. And it all starts with being an example. When you live your life worthy of the
Holy Ghost people will feel it and it will spread and your light will shine. Others will see that light and want to be a part of it. Be friends with the missionaries in your area. Form strong relationships
and introduce them to you´re friends. I love you all and because I love you I want all of us to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father.

Please have a good week :)
beijinhos (kisses)
Irmã Nelson

Pretty Porto

HELLO!!!

Thank you for your emails, honestly they make my entire week. This week was a better week for teaching. We had a zone meeting on Wednesday to talk about what we could improve in our zone. I could actually kind of understand. So I think I’m getting there with the language. I see you got my pictures. Right after emailing last week we went over to that bridge and it was the most breath taking view I have ever seen. 

 

We didn´t have a lot of time (we never have enough time; people who have served missions know exactly what I’m talking about). I wish so bad that I could write individual emails back to all of you and say what I really want to say and go into detail but never have the time. But we will all just have to talk for a really long time when I get back :)

 

This week I received an email from Dene, Paris and Jenny. I died I was so happy! I need more stamps so I can respond to your letters. But finding stamps here to the US is nearly impossible.

 

This week we helped several people move. One was this adorable lady named Giselle from Germany. She has lived in Portugal for 27 years teaching ballet and has two sons. One is a member and one is not. We are trying to help the one son to accept the Gospel. We also taught one of our recent converts Vanessa a few times. She’s adorable and from Mozambique and has the whole Rihanna thing going on. We´ve also been helping her move. During one of our visits she said she came across a ton of anti-Mormon videos and websites that started to make her doubt her faith. It’s heartbreaking to see what people have to say out there about our religion. It’s Satan working so hard on us to deny what we know is true.

 

I know without a doubt in my mind and heart that this Church it true. The Spirit has born testimony to me so strong of the truth of these things. I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. Every time I watch the restoration video (I nearly have it memorized in Portuguese), I know that he saw God the Father and His Beloved Son. Sharing this gospel is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I can´t wait for the day when I´m finally fluent in the language and can really make a difference in the lives of the people here.

 

I´m sorry my letter is so short this week, but the most important thing is that you all know my testimony and I invite all of you to thank your Heavenly Father for all of the many blessings in your lives. He loves each of you so much and knows each of you individually. Thank you all so much for everything. I’m sorry I don’t have time to answer all of your questions but know that I’m perfectly happy, working hard and seeing miracles. And that I love each one of you.

 

You´re always in my prayers...

-Irmã Nelson

Oh, this week we found a McDonalds by our house. It’s seriously the most glam place I’ve ever seen. They are so nice in Europe it’s insane. They even have different food, nice couches and super dressy outfits! ( McD´s in the USA needs to take a tip or two from these people) and we may or may not have eaten there twice.....don´t judge me

Pics from Portugal!

Presidente and Irmã Torgan

first companion- Irmã  Dos Santos

 

Porto's church building

BOM DIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love all of your emails. They seriously make me miss all of you so much. Thank you for remembering me. Okay we are really limited on time today but I will fill you in on our week.

 

The language is still hard but I´m beginning to understand a little better. Everyday with the Lord's help I will continue to learn more and more. Some days are hard and I think to myself that I will never become fluent in the language but then I remember all of your encouraging words and I feel much better. I absolutely love being a missionary and in time I will learn everything I need to know.

 

Last pday was awesome after I finished writing you guys. my comp and I walked around Mercado do Bolhão. It’s really pretty.We went in to a huge Catholic cathedral and the people inside stared at us because of course they know who we are. My companion let me go into Zara and I found a killer skirt for $5. I was pretty happy about that.Then we went to this store called Continente which is like Wal-Mart Super Store plus Target. So big and overwhelming.I finally saw the dried cod situation. So bizarre. So much fish.

 

The bus drivers (motoristas) here are so glam. They wear massive trendy shades and have Euro hawk haircuts. One had really long hair with a plastic headband. So funny. They never smile, they´re just too cool.

 

We were a little sad this week, several of our appointments fell through. We have people that we pray for each week that we want to be baptized called Revelados.We had a couple (Annabel and Manuel) and their daughter who have been in church the last two Sundays.We stopped by their house everyday and some times twice a day and they were never home (I felt like such a stalker, but my comp and district leader told us to do it).We called them over and over and they wouldn’t answer.A sister in our ward sent us to her (Claudia) granddaughters house and we get to the door and her little boy answers the door.Then Annabel comes to the door and Claudia comes to the door and screams at us to go away and slammed the door in our face.I was so sad.Then it started raining and the bus stop was a mile away. It was a great time. But we just calmed down and ended up laughing about it while we walked in the rain. Adelberto didn’t come to church this week so we have to push his baptism date back another week. Hopefully he is still doing well.We haven’t heard from him in two days.

 

Well I have got to go. Thank you all for everything. I´m so grateful for this Gospel and my opportunity to serve. This mission is teaching me so much and I´m having so much fun learning a new culture. The work is so amazing and it is such an honor to teach about God and His beloved Son everyday. I know this Church is true with all of my heart.

I miss you all.~

xoxo

irmã nelson

Bom Dia!!

BOM DIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

HOW IS EVERYONE?!

So much has happened this week. Thank you everyone for your sweet emails they are so encouraging!

 

So to answer some questions, my health is good I can walk for hours and it doesn´t bother me a bit. These boots may ware out soon but I guess that’s part of being a missionary. It´s still pretty hard to communicate with my companion, it really is like a guessing game and charades. But my companion had a quote in the MTC on a magnet she loved. It said that "life begins at the end of your comfort zone”. 

 

We met a man named Isaque from Brazil the other day on the rua (street) and taught him a couple of days later in a park. While my companion was teaching the 1st lesson and I tried acting like I knew that she was saying a pigeon pooped all over her. It was so sad but she wiped it of her face (it was everywhere in her mail, on her face, on her clothes) (I hate pigeons btw) and kept on teaching. She really is such an example to me as a missionary. She’s a great teacher and so obedient. One day we will communicate really well.

 

Some of the things I love about Porto; obviously the people here worship soccer (futebol) and the stadium here like owns the cardinals stadium. When a game is one no one is out on the streets and they’re all completely focused on TVs inside restaurants cafes and bars. It’s hilarious. But also makes proselyting a little tricky. Another thing I love here is obviously the bread and all the building have these beautiful wall tiles. I want them on my future house. 

 

One night as we were heading home we met a man named Adelberto. We have taught him two times now and he already wants to be baptized. We´ve set a date for the 10 of March and we threw a little birthday party for him (we couldn’t actually stay) at the center for jovens (youths), he was turning 22. The youth center is under our chapel. It is for LDS and non LDS people 18-30 to hang out, etc. and a senior couple serves and cooks them food on Fridays and Saturdays. They have a ton of jovens. He was awesome and will be the first person that I street contacted and hopefully gets baptized. 

 

Yesterday at Sacrament Meeting the Bishop had me share my testimony with the Ward in Portuguese and everyone came up to me after and told me I spoke really well. But I still can´t understand anyone. But I’m getting there. I love our little English Gospel Essentials class. Elder McConkie taught us and he is so knowledgeable about the Gospel. Oh and I was informed at church by the Bishops wife that she will be helping me learn the Porto accent. She said that in Porto it is rude to use voce and tu (their forms of you). So basically I have to start all over again. I have to use senhor and senhora always. They are extremely formal here and their accent is nearly impossible to master. So that’s going to be fun.

 

Well, I’m all out of time but I love you all. I’m so glad to hear Jami Pond and Richard Cunningham are home and well and that Darien’s baby is perfect. Courtney filled me in on all the celeb gossip and mom always updates me on Mitt Romney.

 

Thank you all for your prayers--

This week in the scriptures I read section 31 of the D&C and put my name in instead of Thomas Marsh and it brought me so much comfort. I`m also reading in the Gospels right now in the book of Luke. I love reading about the life of our Savior. He was so selfless and leads by example always. I’m so grateful for Him and His atoning sacrifice. He loves all of us so much.

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH and you´re always in my prayers

xoxo

Irmã Nelson

Reporting from Porto!

I have no idea where to start so I will just start from the day I left the MTC. We left Tuesday around noonish for the airport after I finished packing my extremely over weight suitcases and mailed nine boxes of stuff from the MTC. Seeing mom and dad at the airport was wonderful. I love them so much. The PMGs are perfect! It was funny because there were so many of us on our flight. It was hard because they played three of my favorite movies on the plane but I read my scriptures and slept instead. 
We had a long trek from one side of the Paris airport to the other to our flight so I started talking to people. I met this cute couple from Canada that was going to vacation in the Algarves. Apparently it’s super glam down there. The guy is like, oh I have an article to show you and it’s about why people shouldn’t trust Mormons from some Canadian magazine. We were like uhhhhh you can trust us! Then we met a cute French girl and gave her a pass-along card as well. 

On our flight to Lisboa I sat next to a Portuguese couple with a cute baby and out of nowhere the lady starts breastfeeding in the open and doesn’t cover herself so I get really uncomfortable and pretend to sleep for the rest of the flight. We landed and it was the coolest view of Lisboa. When we got there 15 bags in our group were lost but not mine thankfully.  

I met President Torgan and Irma Torgan. I love them! We got to the mission office and he gave us our assignments. I am assigned to Porto!! We have the cutest chapel ever, I’ll send pictures next week. So then after we get our calls we had the best dinner I’ve ever had. Then we had a testimony meeting where I fell asleep. After the testimony meeting we went to bed. Sister Gourley, Sister Walton and I slept in one giant bed because we are clingy and it was our last night together. 

We all woke up at 4am because of jetlag. We had another really good meal for breakfast. We went to the mission office for orientations and I met my new comp. Okay so....she doesn’t speak one word of English. She is from Brazil and finishes her mission in 5 weeks so I will get trained by someone else who doesn’t know our area. When she leaves I will have to show my new trainer the area and introduce her to the members and investigators. Scary. So after we had all our meetings we were off. And because of my ginormous suitcases and the box that mom sent to the mission home it was tricky getting everything to Porto from Lisboa. So they piled like 10 of us in a van and we drove to the train station. We took a three hour train ride to Porto, then a metro, then a bus and up a giant hill to our apt. 

Our apt is on the top floor so that was fun getting all of it up the stairs. Our apt is big but old and there’s no light in the kitchen, no washing machine (so a member in our ward does our laundry) and very little warm water for showers. The apt is freezing so we study with blankets and coats on. It’s colder inside the apartment than outside the apartment. So imagine doing all of this and trying to communicate with a native comp. HAHA it’s been tricky. So our first night we went out tracting which was fun. I met Vanessa at our chapel and she’s from Mozambique and looks exactly like Rihanna. She’s adorable and speaks English. On Friday my first full day we had weekly planning. I wanted to cry because my comp kept handing me huge stacks of progress reports and I had no idea what she wanted me to do with them. So I acted like I was doing something and she obviously figured it out. So funny.

We have some awesome people in our ward and it’s a pretty big ward. We had 80 people in church this week. There’s a cute senior couple that speak English and we have a Gospel Principles class in English with two recent converts from Ghana. I love them. Oh and they have RS, then Sunday School and then Sacrament Meeting. At church a man who was completely drunk walked in yelling at people. We were like uhhhhhh that’s new. I cooked a meal for my comp after church, then we went tracting and I had my first meal at a member’s house. It was with two sisters, one speaks English and is 23 and her sister is 19. They have a Brazilian member living with them. They are awesome and can speak a little English. They made a casserole with tuna, pineapple, noodles and cheese. So different and I had to eat the whole thing because if you don´t they will get offended. I loved desert it was rice pudding but they use noodles instead of rice, with cinnamon on top. They call is aletria. It’s a traditional Christmas dish but they like it so they made it for me. I swear the only food here that is the same as home are green olives and diet coke. So great. 

We have some awesome investigators. I don’t talk much but they think its endearing that I’m here and trying to learn the language. Lucia is so cute and reads the book of Mormon but is nervous to go to church, Americo is like 70ish and we met with him at the church and had this awesome member present and it was the most intense debate that I could barely understand. We have many others and it is amazing. We were walking down the street and this guy Leonardo, who was so drunk with a cigarette in his mouth yelled to us. Normally I would have kept walking but we stopped and talked to him and he actually listened to us. We told him about our church and how drinking and smoking is very bad for us and Christ wouldn’t want us to do it. We handed him a pamphlet with the picture of Christ on it. He started crying and kissing the picture of Christ and then I started crying and we said do you want to be baptized and he mumbled yes I do. Even though we had no idea what his problems were and even though he was drunk, we knew he was sad and wanted a different life. We got each others numbers and set up an appointment to meet again. When we said goodbye he tried to kiss me on the cheek and Sister Dos Santos was like NOOOONONOOOO! I like the whole kissing on the cheek thing they do here, obviously not with the males but every woman I meet does it. I feel so European or something hahahah. 

Two days ago we wanted to drop by Leonardo’s house so we spent two hours trying to find it and he wasn’t home and wasn’t answering his phone. But we left a note and he called us this morning and we are going to teach him tomorrow. I can’t wait. Yesterday was our pday but we had zone conference so two zones Porto and Porto North got together and President Torgan taught us. We met a bunch of Elders. They speak so fast it’s so hard to understand. I was talking to one of my friends from the MTC, Elder Palmer about my bus pass and Irma Torgan’s mom yelled at us for speaking in English. It was funny because she doesn’t remember that I’m new. So because of our conference yesterday we have our pday today. Sorry I’m out of time. I love you all. 

Irma Nelson


NEW ADDRESS:

Irma Nelson

Rua de Aries de Omelas Nº7 2

Porto 4000-023

Portugal

[Images via google. Just an idea of where she is serving :)]

Off to PORTUGAL!

Hello,

 

I feel like I've been here forever. I'm so ready to leave but it’s so very true how my companion put it, she said that the MTC is like our womb. We're so safe, protected and comfortable here but it’s our time to leave. I have loved every minute here and all the wonderful people I've met and relationships I have made.

 

This week was great. We were so excited to go on our last temple walk yesterday but we were snowed in and weren’t allowed to go.  So we took tons of pictures inside with the branch and made it fun.

 

We had infield orientation on Friday which was pretty cool. They talked about how we contact, find and how to work with members in our missions.  We were able to meet some of the missionaries from “The District", they're like MTC celebrities. It's funny because we've watched video clips from their missions every class for the last two months.  We had our departure devotional last night; it was nice so see all the missionaries that are departing.

 

At orientation they told us they have a 12 week training program that started in August where all new missionaries have one extra hour of companionship study in the morning.  In Portugal we wake up at 7am not 6:30am and go to bed at 11pm instead of 10:30pm because Portuguese people stay out and eat dinner around 8-10 pm.  So this should make us more effective as missionaries.  Our teacher Brother Mateer was in our same mission (he has been home for about a year).  He told us about the food, culture, President Torgan, and different areas in Portugal.  I don’t think I've ever been so excited in my life! I'm nervous because when the Portuguese people start talking to me and I will think to myself this is not what I have been learning the last 2 months!

 

This week what I have really been learning over and over is to stop wanting what I want and want what the Lord wants and to completely subject myself to the will of the Lord. Every time I pray I should pray for help to make His wants, my wants. This Mission is not about me. The more I serve others and completely trust in the Lord He will shape me into the person He wants me to be and help the people He wants me to help. If I do so, then I will feel closer to the Spirit and let it guide me to people who are prepared to accept the Gospel.

 

Yesterday during our fireside I was thinking about all the powerful testimonies I have heard over the years that have stuck with me, especially the testimonies of all the members of my family, my friends, my seminary teachers, my advisors, my church leaders and powerful converts.  These testimonies have always resonated with me and helped strengthen my own testimony.  Thank you all for your faith.

 

As soon as I get to my new area in Portugal I will email my new address.  I'm so excited I can barely stand it. A man from orientation challenged me to make the first contact before my trainer does.  I'll probably just run up to some random person and yell OLÁ!....and then not know what to do next.  It will be awesome and awkward all at the same time.  I can't wait!

 

Well I love you all and I'm looking forward to writing you all next week from PORTUGAL! Ah I wonder where my first area will be. I know it will be just what the Lord wants :)  Have a wonderful week. You're all in my prayers!

 

xoxoxo

Irmã Nelson

 

Last Week In The MTC!

OLÁ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This week was so great. I miss all of you very much.

I would NEVER leave my favorite people in the world behind for this long if it wasn't for something THIS important. This work changes LIVES and in a week I get to witness it first hand in Portugal. It is necessary that every soul hears this message so that all of us as Heavenly Fathers children can return to His presence.

  

EPIC story of the week....ELDER NELSON AND ELDER HOLLAND CAME AND SPOKE TO US ON TUESDAY. I almost died. Literally. It was the 50th anniversary of the MTC so many general authorities were here. Since there were many visits only a couple hundred out of 2000 missionaries were allowed in the gym so see them speak and the rest had to go to the over flow and watch from a screen. We didn’t want to wait in the 2 hour line so we just hung out and studied in the basement until the doors opened. So when people started going in they only let like 50 in at a time and for some reason we were way in back and did not think we would get in the room.  Then a bunch of elders yelled LET THEESE FOUR SISTERS GO! And I was like huh? And so they parted the crowd and let us be the last missionaries in the room.  I said no that’s too nice but we literally got shoved in the door.  We were split up but then they decided to bring in a couple more to fill the floor so my companions and I booked it to the floor and found seats together that were 15 feet away from the apostles. Irma Walton and I were squeezing each other for a good 15 minutes. Elder Holland bore a very powerful testimony about our obligation as missionaries to honor those who came before us. And Elder Nelson spoke on the history of missionary work and the MTC.  He then rededicated five buildings on campus. I think this was the first time I had ever heard an apostle pray. It was amazing and very beautiful to hear. Definitely one of the highlights of my stay here.

Well, my health is good, the language is coming along, and I'm ready to leave for Portugal. I'm nervous but ready.  Nine weeks is a long time but I've needed it. Our branch President said they are starting a pilot program here where they delay all the missionaries three weeks that are scheduled to be coming in this week and are only keeping them here for six weeks. They want to see if six weeks would be better than nine.  They think by six weeks you can't speak well but you can communicate. I'm really curious to see how that works out.

Well I love you all with all of my heart. This Gospel is so true and perfect and I'm so honored for this privilege to serve. Our branch Presidents wife made the sisters of our branch this book mark and I’m obsessed with it! It says...

"Many young women are serving missions. Many are preparing to serve. Not because they aren't married or have nothing else to do; but because they have a desire to serve and therefore are being called to the work. The reason so many are going is because in the next generation, Heavenly Father  will be sending His Priesthood Army to the earth and wants to send them to Mothers who have been properly trained and taught in the Gospel. What better training can a young woman have than that of serving a mission?"

-Gordon B. Hinckley, Brazil Maceio Mission, 2000.

This is what it's all about. If any sister is reading this and is considering to serve please pray and seek confirmation from the Lord to serve a mission. I've only been here eight weeks but it has been the most rewarding and satisfying experience thus far in my life. I'm in love with the Gospel and women are such powerful missionaries.

Thank you for your wonderful examples and prayers. I love each of you individually.

xoxo,

Irmã Nelson