March 8, 2010

Dearest Family,

First I would like to direct your attention to the fact that my email address has changed. I think I would still get the emails that you sent to my old address but I don't think it is worth the risk. It would be lovely if you all would send my emails to my new address.

TECHNOLOGY!!!! haha we got our phone about an hour after I sent that email to you guys. Missionary work is about 1000 times more effective with cell phones... I don't know how people survived before cell phones were invented. haha I feel a little guilty because the new phone we got is way nice, and the one we lost was... not as nice haha.

Also, Elder Slade's mom is trying to find you on missionary moms... are you on that? I think I remember asking you about this about 6 weeks ago... but I don't remember the answer you told me.

We had a wonderful week. We had splits with our district leader who is going home in about 2 weeks. He is incredible at speaking Finnish. Like, wow. I had the opportunity to serve along side him all day. I realized a lot of things he does that would help me be a more effective servant of the Lord. He really talks to people with his personality... He mastered the language so that he could talk with his personality. People like talking to people I guess is the main lesson I learned. like I already knew that... but it just strengthened my knowledge of this... Does that make sense? haha Sometimes I feel like I just ramble on in these emails and I picture you guys reading it... Oaky asleep on the floor because even he is bored.. haha just kidding (kinda lol)

Anyways, on splits Elder Slade and Elder L (the district leaders companion) were tracting and this man named T let them in and really listened to the message they shared. Elder Slade and I went back to teach him. After the teach he told us that he didn't want to meet anymore. After that I felt kinda bad... but then I realized... Don't feel bad, you shared with that man the restoration of Christ's Church. I did my part and I testified with every fiber of my being... That is what I was called to do.

Anyways I gotta go (another short email lol sorry) anyways, I was reading about the brother of Jared the story about when they crossed the sea. God prepared the people for the sea, he didn't prepare the sea for the people. Here is a little quote I found that illustrates kinda how I felt as I pondered about the Brother of Jared and his faith:

"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men! Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of you work shall not be a miracle, But you shall be the miracle" -Phillips Brooks.

Then this Chinese proverb says it pretty well:

"The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials."

That is what life is about, learning things that really matter and learning how to overcome the weakness of man. I had a little taste of this this last week, I hope my thoughts are coherent enough that you all understand at least a little of what I learned!

There is probably 15 youth in the ward, Fromage. Good to hear all is going well with dad and Nucor :) :) The Lord truly does understand how much we can bear and he is the Master of timing! Finland is the greatest place on earth! I'm serious! :)

Love you all so much! I pray all continues to go well!

Vanhin Thomas Neal Nielsen

P.s Fromage, with this new email there is a ton of space, So I can start getting pictures through email if you would like to start sending them :)

P.P.S Elder Slade and I tracted in to a fat man in a speedo last week... :) haha

P.P.P.S Fromage, could you send me one of those gospel art books? A member in our ward really wants one and can't figure out how to get one... so I offered :)

P.P.P.P.S E's mom was overjoyed at the letter from Sarah I gave to her Sunday.

P.P.P.P.P.S I'm done writing p.s at the end of my emails lol.