Not a Fake Investigator

The Stover Hall Men at the MTC

Wednesday July 28, 2010?
Hey-one last thing (or a couple) I forgot in my e-mail. Dad, what did you end up doing with my savings account? Also I forgot the pin number to my debit card...even though I told mom I wouldn't. Oh well. O yeah and what did everyone decide on switching rooms and beds thing. I had one more thing but I forgot.
Earlier this week we taught one of substitutes as a district, Hermana XXX (names have been changed to protect the innocent). But this wasn't practice. she told us a bunch of things that were going wrong in her life and we asked questions to help us get to know her better. When she left so we could prepare a lesson plan, a feeling of dread filled the room.
She is 28, getting older, wants to get married, just broke up w/her boyfriend w weeks ago and she isn't sure if her educational path is right. Also her parents live in Colombia. it was way scary because she was a real person, not a fake investigator like usual. But as soon as we prayed, the Spirit came. We taught with the Spirit because we had nothing else. We felt real love, because we only wanted what was best for her. It is incredible how God allows us to see others as He does. We are all His children and He desperately wants all of us back. I can't wait to get to Mexico because I am already starting to love them. We taught her with the Spirit and it went really well. I am constantly amazed at the incredible things we can do with (the) Spirit. I love you guys.
Braden

Elder Ostler, Elder Nelson, Elder Sontag, Elder Young Elder Travis Tingey and Elder Nelson

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 ?
Dear Melissa,
Hey! How has your week been? Have you ready any books lately? This week I have read so much. We wake up at 6:30 awe have class all day except for breakfast lunch and dinner until 9:00 at night. Crazy, huh? but it's worth it, because when we have rules and responsibilities God can bless us for obedience. Since you have my scriptures, you can look up D&C 130:20-21. Basically it means when you follow commandments and parents and Bishops and prophets, God can bless you. I know that is true.
The food here is not that good, but it is better than nothing. I wish I could eat lasagna and spaghetti all the time, but I can't. Will you do something for me? Can you try one new food this week? Just one, and you only have to try it. But I know if you can do that God will bless you for obeying Mom and Da. Just try one, then tell me how you feel afterwards. Also please rub Chika's belly for me. Thanks. I love you. Good luck in your swim meet.
Love,
Braden

And So It Begins...

Our First Letter!
Sunday night, July 25, 2010
Dear Family,
Well I made it in to the MTC and got my nametag. It says Elder Nelson, La Iglesia de JesuCristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias. It is sooooo cool here. I met my district and they all seem like really good Elders. My companion's name is Elder Warr from Meridian, he is really nice and I'm excited to be his comp.
It was a crazy cay, everything went so fast. I saw almost everyone from BYU, Jackson, Jeffrey....etc. I saw like 10 of them.
We got our books and met our teachers, then after dinner, we went to a teaching class. There was 3 fake investigators in different rooms and a group of 30 of us tried to teach them and hellp them realize the truthfulness of the gospel. P-day is Tuesday.
It is incredible how organized this place is. Sorry this letter is so short but we have lights out soon. Also they gave us special permission to write this letter so I'm not breaking rules. (Note from Peggy: That was because I told him to obey immediately and completely all the rules :)
The Spirit is so strong here, I was a little nervous right before we pulled up to the MTC, but this is where I need to be. I can already feel myself changing as the Spirit works through me. Also, for the plaque try D&C 18-14-16. i love you guys. I hope the Spirit will testify to you of the greatness and truthfulness of the work.

Sincerely,
Elder Braden Nelson

p.s. o yeah, our Zone Leader is Rick Millet, he was on my floor at BYU.


And then our first email arrived!
Tuesday, July 27, 7:27 a.m.

Hey Family,

Ok yes I got 2 name tags, one for church clothes and one for p-day with a safety pin on it.It is in spanish. No I did not have to speak in church although we have to prepare a talk every Sunday in Spanish becuase they randomly call on elders to give talks. I am on the bottom bunk because Elder Warr and I have a room all to ourselves. No I have not seen Jon or Janae yet, but there are close to 500 Spanish teachers here so I don't know if I will. My companion is Elder Warr from Meridian, Idaho. He is a way cool guy, he went to Utah State and his first name is Cameron. He is about my height...I will send pictures sometime but we haven't taken that many yet. I like him becuase we always follow the rules like going to bed on time and getting up on time without very much complaining. That is way cool that you got to go into your old house, I wish I could have been there. (See bnpfamily blog) This whole e-mail process is very stressful because there is a big red clock counting down in the corner. So right after you dropped me off they took me into this room where they gave me my name tag and my money card and took my picture. Then I dropped my stuff off in my room and left 2 seconds later to go meet my companion and district. Then we met my teacher Hermano Haight and Hermana Walters. Then we went to an opening orentation with the MTC president and couselors. Then we had class for 3 hours, and somewhere in there we ate dinner. The first day is so jam packed with things it feels like it is a week long. I can't believe I have been here for almost a week, we have been so busy that it has felt like a year. The first day Hermano Haight came in and only spoke spanish, and pretty much that's how it's been the whole time. He taught us how to pray in spanish and since you dropped me off I haven't said a prayer in english. It usn't as hard as you would think though, I think God is helping us. My companion and I set a goal to bear our testimony in spanish to 2 people a day who weren't in our zone and it is incredible how much you can learn in a couple days. Time feels so slow here, I think it's because we have to get up so early.

Part 2 (I think he was nervous about getting logged off before he sent his letter, so he sent it in two parts)

O yeah and a couple more things before my time runs out. I sent a letter, I don't know if you got it. I need to know the dates, all the dates of my Hep A and B and all the dates of my MMR shots becuase they weren't on the immunization record. Also, Kolby, I have been playing soccer almost every day and I'm not very good....but then again it is like 30 on 30 so there isn't much room to play. The gym is closed so no basketball for a while....bummer. But the temple has been closed for a month and is opening today so I get to go and I am way excited. Dad I met like 5 elders going to Independence. Everyone in my zone is going to mexico exceot 4 elders are going to Peru Lima North. Me and Elder Warr are going to Mexico City East, Elder Arnell and Elder Campbell are going to Mexico City North and Elder Bartolomei = Veracruz and Elder WIlliams = Villahermosa. There are no sisters in my district. Elder Bartolomei is our district leader. I am so glad I didn't have to do that, I just want to study. We get gym every day so my gym clothes smell soo bad, but o well. O also I blessed the sacrament in spanish, that was kinda scay but we just read off of a card so I guess it wasn't that bad. I love you guys, don't waste your whole summer in front of the computer...please. And Melissa and Kolby practive your piano..I love you.

Braden