WHERE'S. WALDO.

Hey Everybody!!!

I hope you all had a good week. This week has been good here in Santo Amaro. 

First off, two days out of the week, my companion got sick.  He was really dizzy and had a head ache really bad. We ended up going to another city for 2 days while he had an xray on his head.  They didn't find anything wrong. That was good news and he is feeling better now.

And then, on Saturday, we had the opportunity to meet Elder Neil Anderson in Salvador. We had to get up at 4 in the morning to get ready to catch our bus at five. 

We had the meeting in Salvador. Our mission, Brasil Salvador, and the mission beneath us, Brasil Salvador South, were both in the meeting with Elder Andersen. While we were there we were all able to shake his hand. He ended up giving his talk in Portuguese. I don't know how he knows Portuguese, but he also speaks Spanish, French  along with, Portuguese and English. 

When he was talking you could feel the spirit really strong. He talked about how we need to actually have a change of heart and how we always need to be working at increasing our faith. He said our faith is never the same, either it is increasing or it is decreasing. And we always need to be working at making it increase. It sure was a cool experience. It made me realize how blessed we are to have living Apostles and a Prophet here on the earth that can guide us. I sure am grateful to be a member of Christs' church. And the opportunity I have to be here in Brasil. 

It crazy how fast time passes, next year at this time I will be getting ready to go home. I'm glad I have another year to serve our Savior. Well, I hope you all have a good week. Thanks for all the prayers and support. Talk to you guys later. 

                        

Jeffrey R Holland has taught, "In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited.  We will see miracles, not only for ourselves, but also for our loved ones, when we take our limited faith to the Lord and see more faith through His goodness and mercy.

                   

Com Amor,

Èlder Nickerson

DISTRICT. LEADER.

Well, this week has been a really good week for us here! 

First off, we started the week off with transfers and I ended up staying here in Santo Amaro. I was also made district leader.  

They ended up closing an area here. So now, the elder that was in the area that closed is now my companion, and my companion that I had ended up leaving for another city. That means our area here has doubled in size and we stay really busy. 

My companion right now arrived here in Salvador with me, but I have one more month out than him because I was in the CTM longer than he was.   His name is Elder Grossi and he is from a city called Paranaguà. 

This week has been extremely busy for us. The other city we are working in is called San Fransisco Do Conde, and is 30 to 45 minutes away from Santo Amaro.  Two days out of the week we have to go there, then the rest of the days we stay here and work. 

This week we were able to find a lot of new people to teach and a lot of our investigators are progressing. Sunday was also very busy for us when we arrived at church. We had two people we have been teaching come up to us and tell us they are ready to be baptized.  We scheduled a date for them and are hoping they follow through. Next Saturday we have a big conference with our mission and the mission beneath us; Missão Brasil Salvador South.  We are all meeting in Salvador and Elder Neil L. Anderson from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is coming to speak to us. I am very excited for that!

That's about it for the week. I sure am grateful to be here in Brasil, and for the opportunity I have to be a missionary for our Heavenly Father. I know that Heavenly Father hears our prayers and is willing to help us with any problems we have in our lives. Thanks for all the support!!! I hope that everybody is doing well. Talk to you guys next week. 

Com Amor (with love),

Èlder Nickerson 

Haha, our hot water broke again! We had to buy a new heating element and rewire it again..

One of the great thrills a missionary has is to play a part in having the gospel change the life of a person, of a complete family - to see an unhappy mother, a confused father, a lost young woman or young man find his way to the path that leads to real happiness and eventually to eternal life.

No missionary that ever lived failed to influence the lives of many for the better regardless of the number of converts he may have gained.

IT. WILL. ALL. WORK. OUT.

Sorry, I didn't write much last week! I didn't have much time. We had to wake up and catch a bus to another city.  

These past two weeks have been good. Today is the last day in this transfer here and I found out I will be staying here in Santo Amaro, and my companion will be leaving. 

There are 21 missionaries leaving this mission and only 12 new missionaries arriving. So they ended up closing an area here close to mine. Now we will only have 4 missionaries in our house, and I think my companion and I will work in both areas after this transfer.  

We have a lot of investigators right now we are working with.  But when it comes to Sunday and going to church, they don't want to go. But I know if we keep trying, it will all work out. 

I am excited to be able to share the gospel with the people of Santo Amaro one more transfer. Sunday we had a special sacrament meeting. People from the stake came and spoke.  They talked about missionary work. 

I got to make cookies this week.  There were peanut butter and so good!

It sure does make me glad and grateful to be where I'm at and to be able to serve our Savior. Thanks for all the love and support. Hope all is well with you guys. Talk to you guys later.

With Love, 

Èlder Nickerson

BE. OF. GOOD. CHEER.

Hey!!

Today we are having pday in another city called Feira de Santana.  We left about five this morning and took a bus to get here.  So we are using computers in a different place this time.  All the elders in our zone are getting together today to play some games and do some activities.  It is always nice to do something a little different.  

Next week are transfers. We will find out on Saturday who is leaving and the transfer will happen on Tuesday.   It always makes you excited and nervous at the same time.  We know that change is good, but we are all anxious until it is over.

This week we had zone conference.  It is always nice to see all the elders there, and to know that you are one of the many out there bringing the gospel to the people.  There is definitely strength in numbers.  I love the messages that we hear at zone conference.

Our baptisms fell through this week but we have scheduled them again for Saturday.  We always keep our fingers crossed, but all we can do is try.

I sure love you guys and hope that all is well.  Things are going great here.  The weeks always seem to fly by.

Elder Bradley Foster said, "I testify that the Savior will abide with you in your darkest hour.  He is there, and He has declared, "In the world ye shall have tribulation:  But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.""

Much love,
Elder Nickerson

BEST. REWARD. OF. BEING. A. MISSIONARY.

Well, this week has been good and bad for us. 

First off, my companion got sick for 3 days and he wasn't able to leave the house. But since there are six of us in our house now, we were able to do splits every day and take turns staying home with him.  That way we were able to get out and visit our investigators. 

This week we have been blessed to be able to find a lot of new people to teach!!!  Finding people to accept the gospel is the best reward of being a missionary.   We were able to find and put baptism dates on six new people this week. And they all accepted the day, so I sure hope and pray they will follow through.

Yesterday we were at church and a young man showed up that has visited the church for awhile now.  He wanted to get baptised, but his mom and dad wouldn't let him. However, yesterday he told us his dad will let him, so we are excited to get to baptise him and am hoping it will all work out. 

The older people we have been teaching, the same guy with that bad drinking problem; his wife, yesterday when we went to their house, he was the only one there. You could see something was wrong and he told us that the lady he is living with was in the hospital because she almost couldn't breath anymore. But I called her last night and she is doing better and will maybe be released today. We are sure praying for all the people in our area this week.  

I know that through prayer and fasting Heavenly Father hears and helps us. I know through prayer we can talk to our Heavenly Father and he will help us with anything we need help with. 

I hope all you guys are doing well. Thanks for all the support. 

Gordon B Hinckley said, "Don't be gloomy.  Do not dwell on unkind things.  Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight.  Even if you are not happy, put a smile on your face.  Accentuate the positive.  Look a little deeper for the good.  Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, with great and strong purpose in your heart.  Love life.  

Talk to you guys later.

Much love, 
Elder Nickerson