This week just flew by! Can you believe that I have already been gone for two whole months crazy sauce! Well started this week off real quality-like with a sinus infection that would have killed an elephant (nose humor). But NOT me!!! First because over the years I have been building an immune to these sinus infections (Shout Out to my main man PETE SUNDWALL!!) and Second I had the Lord and HE is just a champion with that whole healing thing (read the Bible he heals A LOT). On top of this all of our investigators decided to stop progressing and avoid like the plague (which honestly, I might have had). So yes this was tough... The world seemed to be against and I found myself questioning, "Umm... We are trying to do YOUR work! Could we get a little Help!!!!" Well what I didn't know was one of the greatest "HUMILITY PUNCHES" the Lord has ever dealt was headed my way... So the first thing the Lord did was SERVICE!!!! It reminded me of the good old days, Pick axing with the Ginger (Austin) and the Aloha Pools crew. SO yes my hand didn't work for the rest of the week. We had to remove about 10 tons of cobblestones from this path in a member’s back yard and that was fun! And then we had to dig a hole for an in-ground Trampoline... BY HAND... SO FUN! And guess what we found when we were doing this A TREE STUMP!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOT! So with a hatchet (yes a hatchet like the one small children use for Indian Halloween costumes) and a Pickaxe we proceeded to remove this stump. For a little perspective this tree stump was roughly a 2.5 feet in diameter and had three enormous roots ranging from 1.5 to 2 feet in diameter. Ahh Manual Labor... I loved it so much TRULY it was the best!! Loved it so much!!! Well next we met with this old In-Active man by the name of Brüder Florig... The only way I describe is an old, chubby, happy, friendly, troll. I know it sounds rude but that is truly what he is. So we sat there for an hour hearing the most obscure random nonsense because he talks nonstop! It is ridiculous! WELL we were meeting and of course he just began to sing this random song (which we sang on Sunday, Elder Emery lost it and yes I was uncontrollably laughing on the stand). It was hilarious so we had to match of course (our competitive spirits are to strong). SO Elder Emery and I sang "Nearer My God to Thee" it was kind of the coolest thing ever! I mean who can say "Oh yea I totally harmonized on a Hymn with that BYU superstar!" Yes I am a tad star-struck but that’s good it keeps me humble. Well while were trying to teach him (he did not want to listen and literally would talk over what we were saying) I received this prompting. "This man, Is my son and your brüder." wow intense RIGHT!!! From that moment my attitude changed and I really began to love this hilarious old man with suspenders that were holding up his unbuttoned pants (If you can't tell this man is ONE of a KIND). So I was having all of these cool experiences and my faith was growing but something was lacking; something I could put my finger on... It was trust.
Well weekly planning came along and we were having comp inventory and talking about the interviews we had with President Schwarz. I was telling Elder Emery how the questions that Pres. asks are SO inspired. Well we got to talking about what these questions were, and the thing about these questions is they pull answers out of you and while I was telling Elder Emery this I started to realize that thing I was lacking... Trust. My inspired companion asked me, "Elder Nilson, Do you trust the Lord..." It was hard to answer but I looked at him and responded, meekly "no." Now trust is kind of a big thing that is necessary to be a good missionary and I knew it. But completely trusting the Lord has always been hard for me. I always thought that I was going to be an MDT major at BYU; I thought I was going to win that Opera Scholarship and Performing trip to New York... I put a lot of faith in the Lord to give me what I WANTED with not a whole lot in return. Originally I was not planning on a mission I didn't want to serve and lose two years of performing. I always imagined that I would have music and performing be my mission and that if a big name actor was LDS it would mean more then 2 years of knocking on doors and telling people to read the Book of Mormon. But this was apparently not part of Gods plan for me. He knew I needed a mission, even if I didn't want it. So yes at the end of my senior year I lost all Trust in God... I am ashamed to say it and now I wish I could take every second of it back.
SO this is an apology for everything that I did from about April until June 3rd of last year. I am so sorry. I have hurt a lot of people and I am sorry. Mom and Pops I am sorry! I am sorry for what I have said and what I did. I was really lost! Thank you for not losing hope and making me go on HT that means the world to me. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I am sorry for everything...
SO continuing the story while I was talking with my comp (and crying, embarrassing right;)) He said something... He quoted scripture and not only did he quote scripture but he quoted my FAVORITE scripture that I have had since I was little when I read the Book of Mormon the first time with just me and my dad. And that is "And I was lead by the Spirit not knowing before hand the things that may come. Nevertheless I went forth..." 1 Ne. 6-7 However, He changed the the words a little... He said, (speaking of how he got on a mission) "And I was lead by the Spirit not knowing before hand the things which I should do. Nevertheless I TRUSTED IN THE LORD..."
Well I had a perfect opportunity to try out my new found trust and Yes I gave a Talk in sacrament meeting yesterday!!! It was so fun! That is the reason I was sitting on the stand behind the bishop who already isn't to crazy about missionaries and was laughing uncontrollably! Because while I heard the song I was picturing my old troll friend jamming by himself with Elder Emery and I sitting awkwardly in his cat infested home (yes pops he has a cat). BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was able to speak with semi good German! It was so fun. And all I talked about was Es Kommt, and Trusting the lord...
So what have I learned..? Faith is important... BUT it is TRUST that leads us to act. WE " Go forth" when we trust the lord. Trust Him, He will NOT fail us...
Love,
Elder Nilson
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