Author: C. Nichols
O Ultimo
25 de Junho 2018.
HEY FAM.
I had a great week. We worked hard, went on splits, I had my final zone conference, and got to talk with President Lacerda for a good hour in my interview. In my interview during the zone conference President Lacerda offered me the chance to stay 2 more weeks if I didn´t have any plans. I talked with him for a long time and then he came to the conclusion that he wants me to travel my entire last week doing splits to influence and help some missionaries who are struggling. I will be traveling to São Gonçalo tomorrow, Lavras on Wednesday, and Campo Belo on Thursday. We will get home Friday morning where I will pack my bags and visit some of the members that I had some good friendships with and then saturday morning I will be off to Juiz de Fora. It´s good because we will just work hard with other missionaries to help their areas.
I don´t think I will be able to write you guys next week because here in our mission the monday before going home they do a Self-Sufficiency course of about 8 hours to help missionaries find jobs and start their own little business. So I think this is officially my last letter of the my mission. Geez, thats crazy.
In this last letter all I would like to do is bear my final testimony. I will be sincere and honest.
In the beginning of the mission it was really hard. I didn´t like it at all and I felt deceived on what the mission would be. From letters that I had read of other missionaries I assumed that I would baptize 10 people every week here in brazil and that I would never find difficulties or sadness. It was an extremely unrealistic perspective, but it was what was in my head. Over time as I began to study the scriptures more and ponder, the mission became beautiful to me. I began to LOVE working and finding people to teach and to love the members and their efforts to help the church grow. As I began to learn more about my Savior Jesus Christ my love for him and the church grew. As I came to know the Prophet Joseph I felt sincerely in my heart that he was a Prophet of the living God.
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is undeniably the only true church on the face of the earth. I know that the head of this Church is our Lord and Savior Jesus Chirst and that the church is directed here on the earth by a Prophet that is called of God. I testify that Russell M. Nelson was called by the Father and that if we listen and follow all the he teaches with exactness we will be blessed and will be able to live happy lives. I know that all the leaders of the church are called of God and recieve revelation in their respective areas. I know and testify that the Book of Mormon is true. It is the word of God and is the only book that together with the Bible holds the Fulness of the Everlasting Gospel. I know that the Plan of Salvation is real and that we will able to live with our families eternally. I know that the temple is the house of the Lord and that by going there frequently we can become molded by the spirit and we can learn from on high. I KNOW that Joseph Smith was a prophet. That through him the True Church of Christ was restored to the earth. I know that by prayer we can recieve answers to our questions and recieve guidance in every matter.
There is so much more that I have learned in these last two years. The Lord has truly polished me into a person who is more on the path to Christ. I am not perfect in any way but I know now the true and right path. These were the best two years for my life.
I am so thankful for my mission. It changed me and was the best experience of my life. The Lord has blessed me immensely in these last two years and I am eternally grateful for the chance I had to serve. The Lord GAVE so much more to me than I gave in these last two years. I want to thank my family and friends and all who supported me. I love my Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ.
Until next week, when I will see all your faces once again
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Nichols
Personal Revelation
June 18th 2018.
I don´t have much time. I was answering emails to individuals this week. I have an invite for you guys. I was studying the conference talk “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for our Lives” by President Nelson this week and it was amazing for me. It helped me answer so many questions and cleared my mind about somethings that I had doubts and questions regarding my life after the mission.
Elder Nichols Itinerary
June 8th, 2018.
Today we received Elder Nichols’ Itinerary!!!! It is real! He is really coming home next month!!! Hoooot! Hooot!!!!!!
28 Days
4 de Junho 2018.
Hey I can´t write much today. But an 7 day Adventist we we are teaching went to church this week. It was awesome! We had investigators at sacrament meeting!
Letter from President Cordner
May 20th, 2018.
Sister Nichols
A quick note. I spoke w elder Nichols’ mission president recently. He raves about your wonderful missionary. Says he’s among his very best! Wanted to make him an Assistant but he’s too valuable in the field training other missionaries.
I told him I was not surprised!
Good job Mom!!
Miss you guys
KC
The Last of Us
21 de Maio, 2018.
HEY FAM! Geez……I am now with my group the oldest missionaires in our mission. I want to cry a little because I think about leaving the mission and I feel sad and at the same time happy because I get to see you , it´s a little confusing. 6 weeks left. The only thing I can do is make the absolute most of it.
This week was hard, but filled with great moments. I had told you that it was my desire to train an American greenie. The Lord responded. I will be staying as a zone leader, BUT I will be training a new zone leader named Elder Salvatierra. He´s from Mato Grosso do Sul and I will be picking him up tomorrow from the bus station. I´m really excited to be able to serve with him. He (from what I´ve heard) is extrememly obedient and hard working and I can´t think of a greater blessing than to have him as my last companion.
Stories:
I learned a huge lesson this week about gratitude as we were working in the street going to the chapel. We heard a little kid screaming and crying and I thought “Geez this little guy is so chato, why is he crying.” I then looked to the other side of the street on the side walk and saw. A 8 year old boy and a 5 year old boy holding their moms hands trying to lead her home. She was drunk and could barely walk, she stumbled the whole way and her sons were trying to take her home so that they could sleep. It was 8 at night. We went over to try and help and the kid said “Can you guys help us. My mom can´t walk and I want to go home.” We didn´t have money for a taxi because I´d left my wallet at home and there was no one in the street. We help them to get on their way home and we prayed for them.
For everyone back home. Be grateful for your parents. Be grateful that we can look up to them as examples and that they help us get home instead of the contrary.
I had an awesome experience with personal revelation this week. I was praying the whole week and wrestling with Heavenly Father to be a trainer and no longer a zone leader, but I kept feeling the same impression. “You will stay, I need you here” I didn´t want to accept it, and so I kept praying to change his opionion hahaha. One night when I was praying it was brought to my mind a specific part of my patriarcal blessing that say I will wear out my life serving the Lord and that I will recieve callings of responsiblity. A thought then came to me that said “I am preparing you for the future. You will stay here.”
I knew the transfer before it happened and I felt a big confirmation when it was passed on to us last night.
Vanderlei and Talita a family that we baptized a few months back got intervewed this week to begin preparing for the temple. I want to come back to Brazil to see their sealing next year.
That´s all I got this week. Sorry for few letters. I still have so much zone stuff to do before my email time is over.
I traveled 10 hours to do baptismal interviews and so that was just a mess, I don´t like traveling in the mission hahah, but I got to go with Elder Santos who is one of my best friends out here and so it was fun because we talked a lot.
I love you all. I´m so grateful for all I have. My family. Our Savior. Our Heavenly Father. The Church.
Have a great week everyone!
Elder Nichols
Photos
We have not received an email from Elder Nichols lately because he has been so busy, but I have been able to find pictures of him on the mission Facebook page and in other missionaries’ blogs.
My Week
23 de Abril 2018.
Hey FAM! I cannot write a lot this week, because a member invited us to go fishing and so we are going to fish and then do a barbacue at his house.