Elder Tustin Neilson: Conference & a New Companion

( Last week's letter got stuck in Tustin's outgoing mail box.. so two letters in one again today)

Hey Everyone,

I went on exchanges with an elder named Elder Weinberger this week. It was a nice sunny day when we started but the weather soon turned on us and was raining for most of the day which was a little bit of a bummer becuae we both forgot rain jackets! No worries though, it makes people think you are harder working when you try to talk to them soaking wet. I think it makes people more willing to talk to you.

Part of our plan that day was to visit two returning Members out in one of the farthest corners of our area. The first of which lived on a small island literally on the edge of our area. It was a bit of a wild ride in the rain to get out there but it all worked out and we had a good visit.

But after a sort of long story that involves us taking a picture of the bridge to the little island (its the red Bridge featured below) Elder Weinberger's back tire popped! So now we were a little stranded out about 7.7km away from home with one unridable bike and another member visit in an hour.

But first we had to get dinner (food is important)

After dinner we had about 25 minutes to get to the nearest bike shop before it closed. Despite walking fast, we failed and all the shops were closed. So at this point we tarted walking to the member visit about 30 minutes away. On the way we get a call from the sisters (who were also in the member visit) saying not to bother coming because we had a broken bike and it was raining a lot with lightning and they didn't want us to come all that way (they didn't know we were already out in that corner of the area!) but we realized we wouldn't make it in time to get to the meeting so we started the hour and a half walk home!

A member called us on the way offering to pick us up but their car wasn't big enouph to get the bikes so that wasn't going to help at all. THEN we got a call from the Zone Leaders asking if we could help with a lesson at the church at 8:30. It was 7 so we turned around and started heading towards the church instead of home. Lukily on the way the members coordinated all their efforts and were able to pike us up and get us to the church right on time and also have another memeber come pick up the bikes with thier 12 person van. Big ward miracles happening here! A member even owns a bike shop that stays open until 9 so the bike even got a new tire that night!

you really feel that missionary spirit when you get stuck way far from home out in a thunder storm!

other than that we had an awesome time all watching conference this weekend. I could really feel a lot of power from the Prophet and the Apostles this session. Their pleading to us to repent and trust in the Lord's promises kind of reminded Elder Vernon and I of our pleading to the people we teach. I guess the general authorities are kind of like our missionaries! I can't wait to dive into the talks some more these next 6 months in preparation for next conference!

The Church is true people. The Atonement of Jesus Christ really can make a difference in our lives. We just need to trust in Christ's promises to help us out. I often reflect on the importance of agency and how it connects to faith. When it comes down to it, we really just have to choose to belive the Lord and trust in his promises and power! I think that is a big part of humility. Choosing to give up your desire to have the Gospel proved to you. Like Alma talks about in Alma 32, faith comes after choosing to believe and acting on that choice.

Have an awesome week!

Elder Neilson

Hey Gang,

Yeah, it was transfers on Thursday and Since Elder Vernon has been in Xinzhu for 6 months it was time for him to leave. My New Companion is Elder Ransbottom from Utah sort of near Logan in a town call Newton. Apparently its pretty small like 90% of the towns in Utah. Hahaha.

Its honestly been a really long week because so many things have changed. I can't belive General Conference was just last week for me!

Had a really cool miracle this week. Basically, Elder Ransbottom got assigned to be the district Leader on Friday and Friday night the Zone Leaders asked all the district leaders what their goals were to inspire their district this transfer. And Elder Ransbottom has only been district leader for a few hours and hasn't even met some of the district but he said we wanted to double our friends. We felt this was a good goal because we only had 2 friends at the time and we at the very least wanted to have 4 by the end of the transfer. But then just two days later on Sunday, thanks to the members and a random guy who came to church we were able to double our friends this week! Crazy. Elder Vernon and I litterally only found 1 friend last transfer and now we found two in the first half a week into this tranfer! Starting off right!

We also put in a lot more work to our missionary board we are making for the church this week and finished the 3Dish temple which took forever but was totally worth it.

I am sure some people are wondering, "what is Easter like in Taiwan?" and the answer is basically the same as Christmas (nothing really) except that the commercialism of Easter hasn't even made it over here yet so there wasn't any giant bunnies or spring decorations or anything. At Christmas time you can still find Christmas trees and Santa Claus imagary if you look for it. But our ward had an Easter fireside/linger longer after church which was really nice. They showed an Easter video depicting the last week of Christ's life which I think was a world wide video or something but ours was dubbed in chinese. But it was nice to have a moment of good reflection on Jesus Christ's Atonement and the miraculous gift of the Ressurection. Christ's victory over death (spritual and physical) is truly the happiest message ever shared, and it's amazing to have the change to share it with the people here in Xinzhu.

One of my favorite scriptures I have found recently is Helaman 3:29-30. Is about the power of scriptures,

29 Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—

30 And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out.

It's a great blessing to have the word of God so accessible to us today. And I invite you all to take a look at them daily if you aren't. Expecially the Book of Mormon. It's the evidence that Joseph Smith is a Prophet and that this is Christ's true church. A testimony of that book "shall divide asunder all the cunning and snares and the wiles of the devil" and action on that testimony will lead us back safely to our heavenly home.

Have a great week!

Elder Neilson