Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope your week is super spooky! I almost ran into a huge spiderweb that would have killed me. Think Lord of the rings...yeah. My companion saved my life. Spider is Kumo in Japanese. Kumo also means cloud...

I was so happy to hear from the Stones this week! Thanks for the package, pictures and letters! It made my week!

THis week was really great. We taught three lessons to a new investigator named tsugumi. she is really cute and is basically your average teenage girl. Loves to shop and loves boybands. SHe is always asking me which boy I think is cutest out of her favorite band and Its always awkward haha. SHe doesnt have a lot of interest in the church right now, just learning english, so thats been kind of rough in determining weather or not to keep teaching her, but I do feel like we hsould continue to fellowship her and teach by example and through love so even if she doenst get baptized right now she can remember the spirit she felt when she meets future missionaries. 

We had a reallllly great lessona bout the plan of salvation with this girl named Chinatsu. SHe is so cute! Talk about a prepared person. It was probably the best lesson Ive taught so far. We really prepared well and It paid off. Preparation is so important. Also I realized that Heavenly Father really trusts me to do this work. It was a neat experience. 

We went to a halloween party for one of our english class students. She made this huuuge shokuji with all this awesome food. SHe is so funny! We do a lot of stuff with her on Pdays. She knows everything about the gospel but isnt ready to accept it yet. We did some good fellowshipping with two of her friends at the party and got to pray over the food and sing a hymn at the party too. It was good to be able to fufill our missionary purpose at an event like that. 

We went on splits with the sister training leaders. it was fun to work with them- they are both super nice and brought a great spirit to our appartment. 

We had a little miracle with a less active who made an appointment with us but we couldnt find her house. so she suggested we meet at the church! it was the best BRT ever! She said she wants to come to church and I know she knows its true, but she makes these rock things for a hobby and like puts flowers on them and sundays are the days she can sell thme at events so its kind of tricky. so I am praying that she can make the decision to put god first and come to church. I know that she will be so blessed if she does. We have so many ward members that she would get along with great.

SPeaking of the ward memebers, they are doing such a great job to help us! they take us to find less actives, do lots of mogis an joints- its so awesome. and they give us lots of food which is really nice. 

Miss you all! Thanks for your emails and letters I love hearing about whats going on at home - I will try to respond as fast as I can!

aishiteimasu!!!!!!!!

Sister Nelson

this is for you dad and the boys- its a samurai warrior!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! not a real one, its just a costume. THink about wearing all that when you go to battle!

Quick Note

Happy Fall!!!!!!!!!!!! (Aki is fall in Japanese)

THis week was really interesting. We basically got dropped by all of our investigators and couldnt seem to make contact with anybody who wanted to listen to us. it was a rough few days. But durring personal study I was reading in the scriptures and just realized that as long as I am doing my best that is still success for that day. I actually think that was from the liahona magazine. There is a great missionary article in the october one.Also I think Travis is in the liahona  in the Mongolian celebration article picture...I swear it looks just like him.  I was reading in the chapters about the doctrine of Christ in the Book of mormon and read seek and ask and ye shall find! I realized that we needed to be asking people for more referalls. We tried to implement that this week. It felt really good to be doing more productive searching- we were seeking for the people and making an effort. The same thing applies to member missionaries- you have to have some guts and just talk to them! let them know that you still will be friends and you dont want your relationship to change if they say no, and then invite them to learn or to an activity! 

We had a fun ward activity- we picked potatoes at a members farm! it was so fun just like going to Brother Daniels! and then we made miso soup with the potatoes for lunch. SO GOOD!

SO this week my companion got really sick after eating some gluten in some miso soup. tricky little miso. We were stranded in the appartment for two days. Wow let me tell you, after being out and about on a bike or some form of excercise to zero excercise is an adjustment! but we did some great work in organizing our area book, cleaning the appartment and contacting less actives by phone. I got a return appoinement with one! yay!!! 

We went on a walk to get some excercise and fresh air. Near our appartment is a buddhist temple. As we entered the grounds I had this huge overwhelming feeling that there were so many people who wanted to have their work done. the spirit was so strong. It was a very spiritual experience that really motivated me to keep going! 

When you cant go to the people, God brings the people to you! We were sitting at home doing some study on Sunday when we couldnt go to church, and we get a knck at the door. It was this cutest 14 year old girl who had stalked us back to our appartment. She wanted to learn english. I told her about eikaiwa (english class) and she said she wanted to go. She noticed a picture of Jesus in the Genkon and wonderd who he was. I told her a little about him, about Heavenly Father, and gave her a book of Mormon and gave her a passage to read. SHe left promising to call us if she had questions　about english. SHe came back like five minutes later  and just started talking about these random things. I was  a little confused. But she made an actual return appointment for today at six! I realized after she left that heavenly father had her come back so we could have a new investigator for the week. (when people make return appointments they are considered a new investigator). And he also gave us the information we needed to prepare a lesson to fit her needs. Before she left, she told me that when she saw us she felt really happy and thats why she wanted to come talk to us. I know that is why she kept talking too- because she felt the spirit! I am really excited to befriend this sweet girl and to help her understand her divine nature. It was a great miracle!

Love you you all! Have a great week!

Sister Nelson

This is the Potato Party!

Nelson Tidbits

Konnichwa! Its a beautiful Aki (fall) day here today. We have been sleeping with the windows open. In the morning it always smells like a campfire because they are burning ricefields so its like camping every day! it smells just like the cabin. Its a nice reminder of home!

I thought conference was so great! My favorite talks were the ones about women. It really reminded me of how special and divine our calling is to be a mother and to have that special opportunity. I am so thankful to have so many wonderful women as examples in my life. My own mom, obviously, is the best Mother of all, but so many other people have been such good examples of sacrifice, love, charity, and determination. Especially my grandmothers, aunts, and the Relief sociey ladies in Rockwood II and Decatur wards. Love to you all! I loved Ulisses Soares talk about forgiving others and trying to be better every day. When he said quoted `father forgive them, for they know not what they do``. it hit me real hard. It made me think about my response to opposition. I have set a goal to thank heavenly father for the oppposition I recieve and try to see how it has actually blessed my life. Wish me luck. haha. I had the tissue box for every session of conference. I was like old faithful the whole time. I probably should have brought some other clothes to change into because I cried so hard. I Love conference. I want to make a huge sign for my future house that says ```there is room for you here`` after hearing Elder Uchdorfs talk. SO good. I loved how Russel M Nelsons talk talked about how our bodies are symbolic of the atonement. So deep. It reminded me of Sister Brants challenge to find the Savior in everything. Challenge accepted! 

What did you all think about Conference?

Oh my gosh can we talk about how good the relief society broadcast was! I loved the emphasis on keeping covenants. We have covenants because they allow us to become more like god. When we have somebody to account to, our progress intensifies exponentially. I found so much comfort in knowing that the little things we do, the little acts of service are great ways to always remember Christ and to reflect his image in our countenance. I loved President MOnsons statement that we never walk alone. The Savior is right behind us. I wish I had President Monson as a little shoulder angel. He would make my day. Maybe like him on one shoulder, and the Chamelion from tangled or something on the other.　

okay so last thursday was my first transfer! I stayed in Ube but I have a new companion! Her name is Sister Smotherman. She is so fun! Guess what Dan, shes Gluten free! So we eat a lot of rice! haha like we dont do that anyways.

This week was a little challenging as our sweet little investigator called and said she didnt want to be baptized anymore becuase she didn:t want to be a Christian. Even though it was a low blow, I had this enormous feeling of peace from Heavenly father. I know he is concious of her and her needs. I also know that he is concious of everybody and is familar with our trials, thoughts, needs, and mistakes. He knows our souls and hearts better than anyone. And he loves us anyway. In 1 Nephi it says * I do　not know the meaning of all things...but I Know that God loveth his children.`` its so true! 

On Pday we went to an ancient Japanese samurai house and dressed up in Kimonos with this fun family in our branch. It was so fun! Then we went back to their house and I gained ten pounds on fruit salad and okonomiaki.... they just love to feed us here! Also dad I found some clear shoe polish finally. Now my shoes dont look so hideous! you would be proud. 

Hope you all have a good week! What is everybody being for halloween? ALso can somebody please tell me about UChoir and how thats going?? Good luck this semester!!!! Cant wait to hear vespers!...at some point!

Love,

Sister Nelson

This week I have a little Challenge: Write down your testimony and then think about how you came to know what you know. Why do you believe what you do? What evidence do you have? You will be filled with Gods love for you!

Conference

Konichiwa minasan!

Hope all is well! This week I just wanted to share a few miracles that happened over the past week or so. All I gotta say is the gospel is TRUE! 

Hope conference was great! I cant wait to watch it this weekend. The relief society broadcast was amazing! I hope I can be like Tiffany someday. 

Thanks for the conference quotes mom- they were exactly what I needed to hear! I had the same question about my new companion that I am getting this week! Love you!

1. We have been teaching a lady who is a previous investigator. She has been meeting with missionaires for a few years now but hasnt been baptized yet. We decided in order for this to happen, we needed to be bold. So we set a date for her and decided to visit her every day of the week that we could. At our third lesson of the week she accepted our baptismal date! She also came to church on sunday and fasted! How cool. She bore her testimony in relief socity. She has a very tender and loving spirit. Her concern about baptism was not having any white underclothes! She is pretty old. We are working with her on helping her understand the atonment and her baptismal covenant. We still have a long way to go- but I have the faith to know that whatever happens, the Lord is concious of her and her needs. 

2. We went housing one night. It started to rain really bad but we kept on going. We ran into this cutest phillipino girl who spoke english and said we could call her anytime to meet with her! she accepted a book of Mormon and asked us for our information (that never happens!) she even gave us her meshi! (buisness card). 

3. Later that same night, we ran into this man taking in groceries to his house. When we asked if we could help after talking a little about the church, he was like no thats okay! and then he goes back into his car and gives us his umbrella! so kind! 

4.　On sunday, we were riding our bikes wayyyy far to go visit a less active and do some housing. on our way, we met this cutest little 17 year old nihonjin girl who spoke english! SHe taught herself on the internet. so cool. (that was her catch phrase after everything we said! haha). SHe wanted to learn more about the church and was way excited about the Book of Mormon. She is coming to america in december to learn english and about christianity. she is buddhist. Anyway, later that day sister sharps tire popped. we began the LONGG walk back to our appartment in order to make it there by nine. we were an hour out by bike...so walking would take about two+ hours. I prayed for a miracle. Welll we sure got one! on our way back, we met the same girl. She wanted to walk back with us because she lives by us so she was going the same way. We were able to teach her the message of the restoration. She really felt the spirit and I was able to testify to her that the spirit was testifying of truth. We are going out to lunch with her this week! She works at our favorite sushi resteraunt. she is going to give us a discount! haha shes so awesome. Heavenly Father really answered our prayer of finding people we could speak to. 

5. One of our investigators doesnt have a car or a bike. She lives like 40 min from the church walking distance. We had a lesson scheduled at the church with her, but the joint we were going to use who had a car was unable to make it. We biked to the investigators house and told her we could do the lesson at her house. she wanted to see the church so bad that she was like no we are going to walk! So we did! I am greatful for her example of faith. It was inspiring to me.

6. We got a billion apples from our ward members on fast sunday in our fruit basket for the missionaries that they do every sunday! so nice! also we got popcorn!!!!!!!!!! wahho!

THanks for your prayers, emails, letters and support. 

Dont fear, the lord is on our side!  Alma 7:15. 

love you!

Sister Nelson