Hiiii. It's me. Hello. We just had a nice zone activity which was actually really stressful because trying to get young people to focus on something for more than 30 seconds has proven to be harder than most things. Lol. After this transfer I'll have almost 8 months being a zone leader which is SO MUCH. Good thing I like it. Also, did I tell you Elder Harding is in my zone again? I LOVE THAT GUY! Same with Sister Spackman. Fun stuff. We just got back and are very tired. As soon as I finish this email to you I'm going to literally nap so hard someone is going to take me to the hospital because they'll assume I'm dead.

This week we had a ton of really cool miracles. People just showing up to church, members having nonmember family that they want us to teach etc. We keep ourselves busy, that's for sure.

So fun that Jason and Connor got home. Apparently we actually go home eventually. They are nice guys and I'm sure their missions were really good for them. Missions are good for everyone. The Gospel is good at making bad people good and good people better. I've seen it redeem a lot of people who thought they were irredeemable. It's my favorite part. We are baptizing this really nice girl next month who has just changed 100% from who she used to be. I believe in what I'm doing too.

For a day this past week we had Elder Arocho with us, who served in SLC! He just finished his mission, but lives in Puerto Rico, and he was stuck here because of the hurricane. It was fun to be in a trio but also weird. Not used to it. But he was a super fun guy and I found out that as a Missionary in Utah you can't drink caffeine. Like what. I would literally die. Literally. Mormons are nuts. I'm glad to be one of them.

BTW, the church came out with a religious freedom section in the Gospel library. Definitely worth the read.

Anyway. That's my week. I'm really tired so I'm going to catch some zzzzs. I love you more than words can say.

-Your boy

It is me! Your boy! @me! I'm just tranquilizándome here in my Roselle apartment, in which I am staying for another 6 weeks! I'm so excited. And I stay with Elder Hunt too and he is the literal second funniest person on earth aside from my funny mom.

So I'm staying here in Elizabeth. Very happy about that. I even stay as a zone leader too, which I am also really happy about. I don't really know how to be anything else at this point because I'll be going on almost 8 months of doing so by the end of this next one. Elder Harding is coming to my zone!!! I love that guy. Sister Freestone and Sister Hannafin are training new missionaries which is also super fun. Two fresh new faces in Elizabeth. My good friend Elder Feick was just called to be AP which is so fun. Elder Feick is from Kaysville. Love that guy. But anyway. It'll be a nice new transfer. I'm really looking forward to it. I have 6 transfers left, which doesn't seem like much at all. I can't wait to tell you about all the weird food I've eaten and the weird things I've seen. New Jersey is something else, that's for sure. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Seminary has officially started and it's so fun. We go basically every day now because we have this 16 year old investigator that goes and it's nice to be supported. She also knows more about the BoM than any other student there because they're all hardcore punks. But they're good punks. Sister Ortiz teaches it and her and her husband are the funniest. They invited us over to their house at 12 so we could help them set up something and they want to make us lunch and let us do our laundry there so that's nice. There are the nicest members here. Just the best people. I've also gained a whole new respect for seminary. I'm basically taking it all over again and have realized that I should have paid more attention the first time. I also just loved my senior year Seminary teacher. He was just the best. I have a newfound respect for CES. Because teaching stubborn kids is hard.

That scripture you sent from D & C 121 is one of my favorites. It was actually our monthly scripture last month and we memorized it. Good chapter. D&C is full of the coolest stuff. All scripture is full of the coolest stuff. Basically scripture is just cool stuff. I like how you can learn about a civilization through it's scripture. Idk. God is just very good.

In other news, this week we were taken out to a Chinese restaurant and when we were leaving we got fortune cookies and everyone's was very inspirational and mine said, "Oops, Wrong Cookie." and I am still wounded. 

Also I the children's version of the scriptures are the best thing to ever happen. They're so funny. Pictures attached. 

Ok I have to go but I'll email you more later. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!! XOXOXOXOX!

--ME! 

Elder Nielsen has been admiring the artwork in the children's scriptures. Here's a few he sent. Funny boy.

Love this cute kid. Here's portions of this weeks letter home;

I am currently lounging on my bed eating some goldfish my mom was kind enough to send me. In stages in my mission I get really into a kind of food for a while until I get bored. I just got over my salad phase. Moving on to a potato phase.

This week I went on an exchange with Elder Judkins, who went to Viewmont High School and Ms. Merrill is his favorite teacher. Love that guy. He's in training right now and his trainer has been less than adequate so we worked really hard and he was SO HAPPY. He was like "I've done more missionary work today than I have in weeks." And that comment made me sad because he's like me when I was in training lol. But I was able to help him out and I shared some stories from my training (which undoubtedly made him feel better) and he is doing great. Just a really good missionary. I also went on an exchange with Elder Follett who is one of the AP's. Very exchangey week but I'm back with my one true love Elder Hunt. What a guy. Seriously one of the funniest persons ever. We have such a good time and it makes everything all the more enjoyable because a bad companion is the worst. I've been really blessed thus far.

Seminary just started and Seminary is the best. We teach it a few times a week. It's hard to be a member in the church as a teenager in NJ. So there's a lot of influence to be made. So I'm blessed. I love my mission and I love my people.

I've had to re-brush up on my French for the past little bit because some missionaries need help teaching this Haitian guy. We also have a member that only speaks Portuguese so we've been learning that too. Je parle français et yo hablo español y eu falo português e mwen pale kreyol ayisyen. Just kidding. But it's really cool to be able to be a part of the culture of such different groups of people. People are great and the human condition is great and I am full of love and compassion for those around me.

Today Elder Hunt and I are going to Barnes and Noble today just because we can. He has been giving me piano lessons every day at 5:30 in the morning because he is the epitome of charity. I'm learning a lot, actually. Kind of a fun development of a talent. I want to learn to play all instruments ever.

Just found out that we are getting a new 2017 Nissan this week. #blessed. Our car right now is old and sad. Missionaries everywhere else have it hard. I'm just hanging out with my 2017 Nissan and iPad. They see me rollin.

Anyway. You're the best mom of all the moms ever and I love you more than words can ever say. My family is my greatest blessing. I love you.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

--me

This boy makes me laugh every week. He also sometimes makes me send him emails that say "don't do that again". Just because it's free doesn't mean it's a good idea if you know what I mean. Here is part of his letter home. Enjoy.

So this week. We had a normal week here on this week's installment of Jersey Shore. This week the sister missionaries who live close to us literally were dying. They got some kind of stomach thing and we had to take them to an urgent care. They're ok now though. Also this week we put this family (Sanchez) on date for next month and they are literally the coolest people. Like they're so funny. So so funny. And I don't know I just feel really happy. People are great. My companion is the literal funniest guy ever too. I've just had the best companions. Also this week we had MLC which is where all the ZL'S get together and we have a meeting with President and he's just a nice guy. Anyway. That's like a reader digest version of my week. Nothing too exciting and all the weeks kind of bleed together.

You're probably wondering why I am writing you so late. OK so get this. This is literally the funniest thing. So our apartment gets these coupon things regularly and are usually pretty lame but I looked this week and found 2 FREE TANNING SESSIONS AT OUR LOCAL TANNING SALON. Hahahahahaha It was so funny. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE. I didn't even tan and I don't even care. I didn't know if I was uncomfortable or happy. It was a blur. However I won't be making any trips back any time soon due to the high risk of skin cancer and the lack of dignity. Don't know which reason is the motivating factor. I did like the glasses though. Don't judge me.

Anyway other than that escapade today we have a baby shower to attend at 3:30. Because we get invited to those kind of things. I can't wait to guess the baby's name. 50% chance it's some derivative of "José." Hispanics are a lot of things but creative in regards to food and names are not one of them.

What else is new with me? Hmm. This week I ate more guinea pig. Gross. I literally made a robot this week. It's this Facebook page bot thing that president wanted to try out so he asked me to make one. I am Robot King. I have almost finished the BoM again, which is cool. I would love a leather BoM but it has to be in Spanish. If not then save one for when I'm home. I only read the scriptures in Spanish now. I like it.

Anyway though. You're the best mom ever. I love you SO. MUCH. SO SO MUCH. ​Let me know
what I can do for you.
Xoxo,
--your boy.