December 18, 2017

Sit down...BE HUMBLE

Well world, I'm short on time as always but I thought I'd take this time to repent and tell you all a story. I think my last email gave you all the impression I speak Spanish already. Well, that very day we went to a dinner appointment and the Lord humbled me hard. It was with two old gauchos (cowboys) and they speak really heavy and I didn't understand a thing and I made a fool of myself trying to respond confidently. So yeah, the language is still a work in progress but at the same time I can function so don't worry too much about me! 

 

The other quick story was this Thursday we spent all day contacting doors, all our plans failed and the sun about killed me. It was a brutal day and right at the end of it, we contacted a door and this is how it started "Hello how are you?" and he responded "BAD!! He doesn't hear me!!" well we took some time and talked to this guy. Turns out he was actually baptized 30 years ago in our church and he felt God had stopped listening to him. We talked about the entire plan of Salvation and it was such a good experience. It's hard to explain but every single question he had, we had a scripture and response. His name is Carlos and we're gonna head back over this week. I'll let y'all know if anything more develops but he told us he's gonna read in his Book of Mormon and pray for the first time in 25 years so that's amazing!!

Well that's about it for me. I hope you all have a very very FELIZ NAVIDAD and look for ways to put the Savior in the center of your lives. 

Con amor

Elder Nixon

I don't have a new photo from this week so here's an old one I may or may not have already sent. I really dunno to be honest I just think it's dope. We're at one of the only touristy spots in Rosario and it's under construction so that was a bummer but I got time to see it how it normally is. It's some sort of flag monument.

December 11, 2017

Left to Dry

First things first, Huge shout out to my parents for the wedding anniversary this week!! Ok, now that that's out of the way I can complain about how stinking hot it is here. It's killing me. We were up close to 100 degrees this week with killer humidity. Our little fans in our pension can't spin fast enough! 

This week I had my first experience as a senior companion. We had divisions (splits?) this week and I was assigned to go out with a brand new Elder from Chicago. He speaks really good for a new yankee, but still my Spanish was our best chance of survival. Not only did we survive, we thrived and had a really successful day. 

The other fun thing this week was our branch's ward Christmas party. The only problem was this culture doesn't wake up til 9 at night so that's when the party started. Our curfew is 9:30 so we didn't get to celebrate much but we did steal some pretty good chicken and bubbly to eat in our pension. We also watched a First Presidency message from Uchtdorf and that was the highlight for me. I understood almost all of it and loved when he said something about it's not about where you are, but the spirit in your heart. So go ahead and remember the Reason for the season and enjoy some cold weather for me!!!

Con amor,

Elder Nixon

sorry for the quality of the photos but one is me and Elder Mallett setting up our Christmas tree and lights we bought. Sadly it's one of the biggest trees I've seen here. The other is the food we stole from the ward activity!!

December 4, 2017

I was a great first week of the transfer! Elder Mallett and I definitely have a plate's full with managing what used to be done by 4 Elders. We had set appointments every hour of the day this week which is RARE so definitely could say we're moving fast here. 

I had a pretty fun experience Thursday in our District Meeting. Our new district has 3 brand new Yankees that don't speak English so they asked me to translate the whole thing to English for them. I was scared, to be honest, but to my delight I was able to do like 95% of it all and even didn't know how to say some things in English anymore. I definitely don't speak great Spanish, but I'm at a point where I can survive so it's been fun lately with that barrier coming down slowly but surely. 

I had a pretty powerful experience this week with an investigator named Celia. She's been investigating for over 2 years and has a testimony but needs to get married before she can be baptized. We shared Moroni 7 with her and talked about faith to work miracles. The spirit was super strong and it really was a great lesson. After the closing prayer, she started to cry when she looked up at us and told us "Ustedes son angeles sobre la tierra" You are angels over the earth. The spirit hit me so hard in that moment. I realized I represent the Savior and to these people, we are literally angels sent to help them. Then this morning I listened to a talk by Elder Holland called "The Ministry of Angels" He talks about how each of us can be angels one to another. So that's my Christmas challenge to each of you. Find a way to be an Angel sent by God to help someone else. I love what my uncle told me today. Christmas isn't about all the lights and snow (which I don't have) it's about the SAVIOR and how we can remember Him

Remember Him by doing what He needs you to do. Be an angel for someone else this Holiday season :)

I love you all so much. Have a very Merry Christmas and always remember the REASON FOR THE SEASON!!!

I couldn't resist finding a way to use my hammock here. If you don't have to stop- DONT!!! The other pic is me and my comp moving all our stuff to the other pension with the help of a member!! 

November 27, 2017

Thanksgiving?

Well world, if you wanna know what it's like the wake up and go an entire day before realizing it's Thanksgiving, I could tell you. It was a weird feeling in the middle of my night prayer coming to realize that it's Thanksgiving. 

But now as our attention turns to Christmas I just hope you all make the most of this time to turn outward and serve others and just love the world. there is so much good in it and yet so much need for even more. I hope you all determine to be the good the world needs this Holiday season!

This week was a good one. We had transfers today and they were pretty weird for me. They closed the neighboring area and put it in mine. They also made me comps with Elder Mallett who has been in my district from day 1 so we already know each other really well. This time, however, there's not a soul my district who speaks English so it's kinda survival now. So yeah, that's how transfers went. We have an entire city to tract and a TON of walking to do. I also have to move where I live to go to the other pension which is a pain but what you gonna do?

This week we saw some miracles. We have an investigator named Ruben who is progressing so dang fast. Every time we leave him a pamphlet or a part of the Book of Mormon to read, he reads it 2 or 3 times that same night. He's almost stopped smoking in just a week and has changed so much already. The gospel changes lives!!!

Con amor,

Elder Nixon

This is me and a sunset and one of the loca familias that have been progressing so much!