We had Christmas!

Hey, so I Skyped my family today, so I'm just gonna send out some pictures now. Thank you all! Love you tons!

Elder Nelson

Love you all!!

A cool kid we met at the train station

Getting Indo Curry with our boy, Brother Watanabe

Christmas Eve dinner at our friends, the Ito family

 

The Christmas tree.

This is the hills and the stairs leading up to our apartment.  We get to bike that daily!  Boom.  Big legs.

I love Christmas!

Hello everyone! It has been a great week here in Kanagawa! Elder Burnham and I are having a way good time here, and have seen a ton of miracles and had some many tender mercies poured out upon us.

One of those blessings was that our man Watanabe San got baptized! Watanabe San is the greatest. We met him at our English class about 3 weeks ago, and got talking to him. We set up a lesson with him, went to church with him on Sunday, and invited him to be baptize in our lesson after church. He said he would have to think about it, and went home. Well, he called us on Tuesday, and said something along the lines of, "So like, I wanna, ya know, get baptized. I was thinking about baptism, and then the Holy Ghost came into my mind and said 'Be baptized.' So, how can I do that?" That was about two weeks ago, and he got baptized just this weekend. Huge miracles!

We got to go to the temple on Tuesday last week, right before transfers. As always, it was a very wonderful experience. I went to the temple this time with some questions on my mind that I needed help from God to answer. As I went through the temple, and pondered about my question, I received an answer that I know is from God. I know that Heavenly Father gives direction specifically for each of His children, and that you can always turn to Him in prayer.

I love you all! Have the best Christmas ever!

Elder Nelson

The boys are back

Hello everyone, I hope you are having a wonderful little December! If you can, go do some sledding or something! Enjoy the Christmas Spirit!

Because Christmas is in just a couple weeks, this transfer is cut short, and the next one is going to be extra long. But! This transfer, I'm staying in Kanagawa, and my new companion is... Elder Burnham! That's right, the MTC companions are back! We're both way pumped, and I know that this transfer is going to be a really good one!

I had several experiences this week that taught me a great lesson about the Holy Ghost. I won't go into detail, but I had felt several times to do something. I did it occasionally, but not nearly as much as I should have. I didn't think it would matter all that much, but this past week Heavenly Father let me see what I had been feeling what I had felt. I can testify that God gives us individual guidance through His Holy Spirit, and as we follow that, we will be blessed, even if we don't understand exactly the why of those prompting. I promise that as you follow those prompting, the blessing will come.

I love you all! Have a great week! Drink some hot chocolate, listen to a Christmas song, and share the new Christmas video with everyone. Love you all!

Elder Nelson

The zone after our zone meeting

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Hello everyone! I hope you are all having a very good December! Everyone! Get into the Christmas Spirit!! If you haven't seen the new Christmas video put out by the Church, go look it up! It's so good!

We had some splits this week, on Wednesday we were with Elder Konno and Elder Talbot. We taught several lesson over the split, and had some great finding time. We met with our boy Watanabe San this week, and we were able to teach about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He's so willing to hear what we have to share about Christ, especially about the atonement and repentance. He's been progressing really well this past week, so that's been a huge blessing.

We met with this kid this week and were able to share a really simple message about who God is and who Jesus Christ is. He was way humble and just took in so much, that was a miracle in and of itself, but as we were talking we were able to share the video, "Because of Him", which is about what Christ has done for us. One of the sweetest feelings filled the room as we watched that video, and then as we shared our testimonies and feelings for the Savior. Jesus Christ lives, and He cares so much for each of you.

I love you all! Have a great Christmas season!

Elder Nelson

Early Saturday morning to play soccer with the ward

Elder Talbot and Elder Konno with us on splits

Elder Molen, Elder Spackman, me at MLC. Elder Spackman ends his

mission next week, so this was probably was the last time I'd get to

see him.

We got snow!

Hello everyone! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, and the subsequent beginning of the Christmas season. I love this time of year! I'll just be walking down a road here, and there will just be
Christmas jingles playing over some speakers. I love it!

It snowed this week on Thanksgiving! We haven't gotten snow in Tokyo in like over 50 years, so that was way awesome. It didn't really stick, but it was still awesome to see out of the window.

We had a great opportunity to teach an investigator after church this week, and we talked about a lot of different things, but one thing that stuck out to me was how we come to know things in the gospel. Our friend had some many questions about how he can know, but the one thing we kept coming back to was the Holy Ghost and the Book of Mormon. I'm so grateful for the guidance of Heavenly Father in our lives, and that He guides and blesses us each on an individual level. All that He requires of us is that we ask.

Thank you all! I'm sorry this week is short, I'm running out time. Have a great week! Enjoy the new Christmas video on Mormon.org !

Elder Nelson

The view from our apartment with the snow

Here's the letter!

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a great week! We had transfers this week, and I am in Kanagawa. I love it here! Here is one thing special about this area, and the zone that I'm in. This is the hilliest zone in the whole mission. And I haven't used my bike in almost 5 transfers. So this has been fun. But really, it's been so good! I love this area, and the ward is way awesome!

My companion is Elder Ota. He is from Hokkaido, Japan, which is the northern most part of Japan. He's such a hard worker, and we've been having a great time so far. I really look forward to this transfer!

Also, right after transfers, my friend Kon was able to get baptized! I was lucky enough to be able to come back and participate in the baptismal service. He's the best!

I love you all! Have a great week!

Elder Nelson

 We had to strap my suitcase to my back and bike it to my apartment

Here are also some pictures from Mount Takao

Here's a random man who wanted to take a picture with us

I had time, once.

I hiked a mountain today, so I don't have time to write an email. I love you all, and will write a good one next week. I'll also reply to everyone's emails then too!

Also I'm getting transferred to Kawasaki. My new companion will be Elder Ota, I'm really excited!

Love you all!

Elder Nelson

But why is October already gone?

Wow, I can't believe that we're already in November. This week was a really good one, there were a lot of great experiences that gave opportunities to learn from the Spirit.

We had MLC this past week on Wednesday, so I got to go up to Kichijoji for the day. That was great, I was able to learn a lot from my time there. The next day we had Zone Conference, which was also a wonderful experience. A major theme from both of the conferences was Family History.  We were able to learn so much about it and how it is such a powerful tool in the Lord's service. Shout out to my mom for doing all the Family History work! It's something that I definitely want to start applying more and helping our investigators and recent converts get into.  (Elder Nelson's mom here: Click here to go to FamilySearch.org to set up your free account and get started building a family tree and searching records for free.) 

Sacrament meeting was really great this week. One thing that I've been able to learn a lot so far is that in opportunities to learn from the Lord (the temple, attending church, General Conference) you only get out as much as you put it. This past week I felt the Spirit strongly as I took the sacrament and sought the Lord's guidance. I love the sacrament, taking it really can and will help us grow closer to our Heavenly Father.

I love you all! Have a great week!

Elder Nelson

PS Sorry my letters are short. I'm lame, I know. Here, have a picture of some ribs a member made for us. First time I've had ribs in over a year :)

Skype companionship study with the AP's

How is it already Monday again?

I can't believe that another week has gone by already. Times is flying by so fast. I love being a missionary!

This week we had a Halloween party. The party started at 5:00, so we had to show up about 3:30ish to help set up. Earlier that day, we had lunch with our investigator, Kon. After lunch, we had a lesson with him, and then he helped us set up for the Halloween party. We had dinner at the party and eventually went our separate ways about 6:00. So, Kon is doing really good. Thank you for all your prayers, I can feel them helping us out here!

We held a Chinese Family Home Evening on Sunday at the church. It was supposed to start at 5:00, and when 5 struck, there were a total of 2 people there. So, that's wasn't great. We waited around for a bit, and at 5:15, there were about 8 people. We were feeling pretty lame because there was a lot less people than we expected, so we decided to pray. Right as we finish our pray, 5 more Chinese speakers walk through the door, and more and more follow them as the night goes on. By the end, we had over 25 people at the event. It was such a nice miracles and it was so amazing to see the Lord blessing us in answer to our prayers. I know that God loves all His children and will always answers our prayers!

I love you all! Thank you so much for what you do. Have a great week!

Elder Nelson

Got this Ramen on splits with Elder Talbot.

Because "something wicked this way comes" is too scary

The man, Kon, and us eating Go Go's Curry

The Week. Now in Technicolor.

Hello friends and family! This one is going to be a bit shorter because we got to go to the temple today! Sorry for the , I'll try and put on pictures to make up for it!

Elder Bednar visited the mission! It was seriously one of the coolest events. He opened up by telling everyone that they were not allowed to write down anything that he said, because that would be missing the point. He said that rather everyone should write down what the Spirit was saying, and that those notes would become valuable treasures rather than just something that gets lost in a couple months. (Sorry for the really bad paraphrasing. I try.) I really liked that. I was able to learn a lot from him, but ever more from the Spirit he invited into his teaching.

We're still meeting with our Korean friend, Kon! He's a champ. We gave him a pamphlet to read before our next meeting, and when he show'd up next lesson, their were highlights and notes all over. He is such a champ! Love him.

I love the temple! I was praying and I had the warmest feeling come over me that I know was from our Heavenly Father. I know this Gospel is true, and that anyone who learns and applies it in their life can receive greater peace and joy that you can imagine, all because God loves His children.

I love you all. Have a great week!

ネルソン長老

I found a bear in the Takao Elder's apartment.

We made weird rice seaweed burritos. Yum.

The classic temple pic.

Met this kid on the street. He was way cool!

Also, ran into the Pres himself at the temple. This may be my favorite picture.

Elder Bednar!

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful week, and have used every chance you can to learn and grow. I had a great week, here are some of the highlights!

We met a man named Kon. He is from Korea (shout out to Elder Finch!) and he is way awesome. He told me that this is my name is Korean: 넬슨.So that's pretty cool. We met him on the street on Tuesday, taught him a lesson with our recent convert, Keisuke, and he came to church yesterday! He's a way cool guy, I'm really looking forward to working with him more.

Elder Bednar is visiting Japan! He giving a devotional to the missionaries in the Tokyo and Tokyo South missions tomorrow, so I'm really excited for that. But, this past weekend he held a conference for the members. I was lucky enough to attend with a recent convert of ours. Elder Bednar spoke in Kichijoji, which is where our mission home is, so I was able to be in the congregation as he was speaking to everyone. It was such a great experience. One thing that was shared was about joy. There was a lot spoken, but my favorite bit was all about how joy is a spiritual gift from Heavenly Father. Like all gifts from God, joy doesn't exist to benefit ourselves, but so that we can be a blessing in the lives of those around us. If we seek for this gift for ourself, we will never find it, but as we seek it to bless others, God will pour it out upon us. Turn outwards, give of yourself, and be the Hands of the Lord in your service among His children. As you do that, I know the Lord will bless you and you can find joy!

I love you all! Have a great week!

Elder Nelson

PS President Wada was at the Elder Bednar Conference. He walked up, patted my head, and asked how I was doing. Pretty much the best experience of my life.

Elder Tree and I are on splits, and ran into this dude who is about as crazy as he looks in this picture

General conference!

Hello my family, both by blood and by choice! I hope you are having a wonderful day! This email is going to be way short, I have very little time. We're celebrating a recent converts birthday, so I don't have a ton of time today.

Conference was awesome! Remember, the real learning from conference comes after the actual conference. Keep remembering the things you learned and felt, keep studying the talks, and applying what you learned! I know it will help you, it's already helped me so much.

Elder Lewis is great! We've had a great couple of days together, and I look forward to the next weeks! He's from Utah, likes engineering, and is willing to work so hard. I know we're going to see so many
miracles!

I love you all! If I can just leave you all with one thought, I know that Jesus lives. That's become so clear to me in the past couple days, and I want nothing more that for all of you to feel that to.

Have a great week!

Elder Nelson

I'd say it was a pretty good week.

Man, it has been quite the week! A lot went on, so I'll see what I can remember and write out!

Keisuke got baptized! Keisuke is a champ, after he got baptized we were saying a prayer together and he ask Heavenly Father to help him to continue to endure to the end from here on out. Also, at his baptismal service, he gave a way good testimony about the Plan of Salvation. Keisuke's faith in the Plan of our Heavenly Father is such a good example to me.

We got our transfer calls! I'm going to be staying in a Hachioji again, and my companion will be Elder Lewis. I'm way excited to be able to stay in Hachioji again, and to keep helping the members, recent converts, and investigators here. I have some way good friends here, so I'm way pumped to be here for another little while!

We got to meet with a dude named Narita San this week. Narita San is way humble, and he just eats up everything we gave him. He said he was blown away by what we taught him, and said that he believed what we were sharing. One thing that stuck out to him what how even though Christ paid for our sins, and God will help us through our trials, They won't do everything for us. We have to put forth our effort now, and then the blessings come. Narita said he won't have it any other way. God will bless us as we strive to do our best to have faith in His Son, and to follow Him.

I love you all so much! Have a great week! Thank you for all your letters and words of encouragement and everything you all do!

Elder Nelson

Ps I'm way jealous of everyone who gets to see General Conference! I'm so excited, but it won't arrive in Japan until this next Saturday. I'm so pumped!

Our friend, Narita.

The baptism.

Bonus picture: Joseph practicing running for President

Squirrel Jumpsuit

This week was awesome! We got to keep working with our man, Keisuke, who is a way great dude. Elder Spackman and I met him last transfer, and we've been meeting with him since. He's so solid, I love this guy! We also met with our investigator named Kazu, who I went to the airbase with last week. He looks like he has a ton of potential. He told us the reason that he is learning is so he can learn about a God, and draw closer to Him. Seriously, Kazu has some of the most sincere
interest I've seen. I'm way blessed to be able to meet and learn with him.

Also, we met with President Warnick this week for interviews, so that was great. :)

One lesson I learned this week was when I was having a conversation with my ward's Bishop. He explained to me the difference between loving someone and being sweet to someone. When you love, you give the person what they need to grow and become better. When your sweet with someone, you just pat them on the back and try your best to give them what they want to make them happy. No one in this world loves more our Father and our Savior, and sometimes they give us things in our lives
that seem so hard and difficult. But, just remember to rely on Them, and they will show you exactly how every trial and hard time is for your good and benefit. I love our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and I know that they love you all.

I loved you all! Thank you for all your letters and support!

Elder Nelson

I saw Elder De Andrade again this week!

This is tsukemen, probably my favorite food in Japan. It's noddles that you take and dip in this thick broth soup stuff, and it taste so so good.

Us eating with the other Elders, a member, and our investigators. Left to right: Keisuke, Elder Jennings, Elder Mizuguchi, Elder Tree, Choyo, me, and Kazu.

The Week: Coming soon to an email near you

Hello everyone! This week was way good, there was a lot of good things that happened!

We had a festival on an airbase this week. The base only opens up for anyone to walk on once a year, so there were a ton of people there. We went with an investigator named Kazu, and ate some real American food. It was so crazy being around so many English speakers. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

We held a Chinese Night at the Hachioji church. The event was run in Chinese and Japanese, and everyone who came was supposed to bring some type of food, potluck style. I thought only like 5-6 people would come, but it turns out we get close to 45 people who attended. It was a huge miracles to have everyone there, espcially since we were able to have our mission President and his wife come as well. Sister Warnick speaks Chinese, and so she was able to speak to everyone at the event and share a message with them. It was way awesome!

Elder Yamashita from our area Presidency came to this mission and spoke to us this past week, so that way awesome. I was able to learn a lot from him and from the Spirit. He spoke on a lot of things, but there are two things that I feel like I should share. 1) He was talking about asking for member referrals, and how to more effectively do that. He said we should be asking people if they know someone from one of these situations: recently had a baby, recently moved, recently had a death in the family, or recently married. That's all in PMG, but he reminded us of it. The point is, I know there are a lot l you at home who are looking for ways to share the gospel. If you are, then start with those people!

The second thing he shared was about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Essentially what he shared, and what I feel like I should share, is that the whole purpose of this life is to improve so we can return
home to our Father. Because Heavenly Father loves all of us, He gave us the Atonement to allow us to change and grow. Rely on His Son, Jesus Christ and everything can and will work out for your good!

I love you all! I hope you have a great week!

Elder Nelson

At the Airbase. Yes, Kazu is eating a meat lollipop.

The Chinese night!