August 23, 2010

Hey everyone

One of the hardest things to do in the mission is to let go of people you are teaching. It´s hard because you care about them and you want to see them progress because you know that this is what they need. But people have their agency and you can't force anything on anyone because that is not in Gods plan. That has happened to a lot of the people we are teaching and so we are finding new people but then when we go back and they don't want to listen anymore. If people could just open their heart and be open minded and listen with true intent it would make the world of difference. sorry for venting a little, it´s just really frustrating sometimes. Don't get me wrong I love being here and teaching people but sometimes it´s just kinda hard because people like to follow Jesus in their own way not in the way that he wants us to follow him.

Well this week my comp was sick and had a bad cough and a little fever. He asked me to give him a blessing of health, the other elder did the first part and I gave the blessing. For those of you who have never given a blessing it is really special, it truly is. My comp asked me if I wanted to do it in english and I said no because i don't know how to start it in english. Anyways I want to bear witness that the power of the priesthood is real and that it´not something that we just talk about but that it truly has power. The spirit truly does guide it, and the words just come.

I was a little sick this week but I'm ok nothing too bad just a runny nose. The weather here is really nice lately so that has been really great. One of the elders we live with is from Columbia so he had to go to Santiago last monday for his visa. So he went to subway for us and bought us some. I have a pictures of it that I want to send next week they are really sweet haha. Well Juan still needs to get baptized so if you could all keep `praying for him that would be great. Take care everyone.


Love Garrett

August 16, 2010

So does everyone remember Jose the one who had problems about, who is Jehovah and Joseph Smith and who had tons of doubts and it always just made me frustrated a lot? Well we had not taught him in a while because he had been busy with work but not last week but the week before we had activities in the church and he came to all of them and we watched a video about Joseph Smith and another night somebody from the temple presidency came and talk about temples. So this past Wednesday we went and visited him. He told us that he had been having dreams about his brother and his dad who are dead and he never has dreams about them. He told us that he started having dreams with them in it and with water and the water was very clear and he went into the water and his brother and dad did also. So after he told us that the spirit was telling us to invite him to baptism so I did it and he said YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was AMAZING I could not believe it, i was almost in shock haha. It was so good to hear him say yes. I have been teaching him for about almost 4 months and it has been so much fun to see him change and how different he is now. When we first started teaching him he was very quiet and did not say much in a lesson and it was really hard. It was hard to get a conversation going with him about something. It was so hard for me. But in time he started feeling more comfortable with us could joke around with us. He has kinda a dry sense of humor but hey he has come a long way from where we started and thats whats important. My companion did the baptism but hey I don't care just as long as he did it thats all that I cared about.

It Truly is amazing what this gospel can do and how people can change and be happier by hearing this message. this is why Í am here to help people come unto Christ and to receive their salvation because there is no other way that they can get it. this week was nuts because we had 2 full days of training from out assistants of this new way of teaching that will change my mission and every other mission and will help this work sky rocket. I don't have much time but hope all is well with everybody and take care and it´s good to hear from you.


Love Garrett

August 9, 2010

Well It was another interesting week, it had it´s up´s and downs and some things happened that were really hard to see, with some things that people said and did but I am learning so much about myself and the kind of person that I am. So Juan the 22 year old that we are teaching had an interview with one of our assistants and that was really good for him but his only problem his his FEAR. His fear of his family with his parents because they are HUGE catholics his dad is studying to be a monk or something. This week we fasted for him and I was praying like all week and he was always on my mind. He needs the confidence to tell his parents. He knows everything is true and has no doubts so that is really good and he really wants to get baptized. So if EVERYBODY could PRAY FOR JUAN PLEASE that would be great. Also had another cool experience with this new convert, of the other missionaries when i was on splits with the other 2 that we live with. This lady always thought that I was kinda a jerk or just that I had bad feelings towards here or something but I didn't at all. That day when we went and visited her I shared this scripture with her in mosiah 23 about when we have trials but it was really powerful and she started crying and now she totally changed her feelings about me. It was a really cool experience because she was having a really hard day that day and I was able to help her and it made me feel so good.

I gotta go but I hope all is well and love you all.

Ps PRAY FOR JUAN TO Have Confidence.

Love Elder Nichols

August 2, 2010

Hey everybody this week was pretty rough because we lost a lot of our investigators so I don't have much to say. But if every one could pray for Juan Baptist he is ready for baptism but just is lacking the courage with his parents and family because they are all catholic. He is 22 so he can make the choice but he is an awesome guy he knows it true every time we share with him he feels so different but a good different I hope he can get the courage that he needs to do it.


Hey for all of you who emailed me this week thanks and sorry for not getting back to you but i will next week. I am going good just now in the process of looking for new people. I hope all is well with everyone. I love being missionary a and all the great experiences that I get to have. Even though it´s tough at times it will be worth it in the end, that's what I keep telling myself at least.

ps I hit one year on thursday!!!!
Love Garrett

July, 26, 2010

¿Hola como esta todos?

So spring is just around the corner here and I am excited!!!!!! I mean the days are getting a little nicer but at night it´s still really cold but it´s all good. The houses here are like refrigerators. It´s colder inside the house sometimes than outside. But I am doing good because I am staying in my sector so I am happy about that because we are teaching some really good people.

So this past week I went to an appointment with the new missionary who has like a month in the mission to an investigators house. Going into the lesson I didn´t have a clue what to teach I really didn't. This girl who is 16 has a problem with tea and her mom as well and the mom doesn't think she can stop drinking tea and the daughter has come to church twice but is struggling with tea also but doing better than her mom. We first went over 2 nephi 31 a little bit to review to see if she read it and she did. So I had a scripture in mind but then my comp said hey lets share 1 nephi 3. That was really interesting because I was thinking earlier in the week how could I help her and I had thought that but had forgotten about it. So we shared about when Nephi had to go get the plates and how it was something hard but it was a commandment and the Lord would provide a way. As I was teaching this it was amazing but I was just speaking and really was not thinking about what I was saying, the words were just coming with the spirit. And thoughts were just coming into my mind and ways to explain it to them. I realized how important the spirit is and how it´s everything in this work and without it our words are just words. I don't know it they understood everything I was saying but I know that the spirit was testifying to them that this was true and that they can stop drinking tea.

Anything is possible, anything with the Lords help and if it is his will and we can change things in our lives if we are not happy. There are things that I am trying to change about myself and it is really hard but I know that in time I will be able to win in the end. We need to have the long term perspective and look in the end and see what is it that we want. Do we want eternal life with our families and live with our Father in heaven and Jesus Christ? If yes, than we just might have to sacrifice a few things in this life. Do some things that we don't want to do,go up some steep hills,go the extra mile get close to the edge of the cliff . We have to do these things in life because if we want eternal life then we must remember that NOTHING IN THIS LIFE THAT WAS WORTH DOING WAS EASY.

Love Garrett

July 19, 2010

Hey everyone I don't have much time but I just wanted to say something funny that happened, is that my comp fainted on Sunday because he was giving a talk and we were fasting and it was kinda funny but he was ok. This week was good and bad but we are making progress I with I had more time to talk but we have a guy we are teaching named Juan the baptist, it´s kinda funny he is 22 and really smart and I love teaching him he came to church this past week and he knows it´s true and his family is catholic but that is the only problem. He feels so good every time when we teach him he says he feels really weird but he means just different.

So tonight we are having a family home evening and I am making blt´s pretty sweet huh I am excited. Well gotta go.


Love Elder Nichols

July 12, 2010

Hey everyone!!!

Wow I am beat we played futból this morning for about 3 hours with a ton of Chileans and I am dead. I scored a goal so that was cool, but I am going to be really sore tomorrow because I am right now. Today was muy bonita esta manaña. So we have this English class and it´s really weird I noticed to say a prayer in english and I don't like it. But anyways sorry kinda random. The weather here has gotten pretty cold and only rained a little so that has been good because it is no fun in the rain. I cant wait for the spring which is like not until September October. SO we got a new misson president and they are gringos aka from the USA. They are from California they are really great , tomorrow we have interviews so i can get to know the president better and his wife. His wife seems really sweet and fun.


I saw a miracle happen this week. So Jose who I have been talking a lot about in the emails finally understands. his only doubt was about Jehovah and Christ and so we had a member of the branch presidency come with me cuz we went on divisions and he was teaching with guy with the bible and just pure power and explaining things so clearly and I understand it better now. then we went over how to truly pray, but not just pray but to really sincerely pray because I had always felt he was not truly praying like he should to receive an answer and I could never explain it that Well to him in Spanish. But this guy I was with did so good and it was amazing. At the end of the lesson he said he understands now and I think he may be ready for baptism. Tonight we are going over for a family home evening with him at his girl friends house who are all members and her as well they are all converts. Tonight we are going to set a date with him if all goes well.

Well now much else to say but you are all always in my prayers and I miss you all so much take care.


Love Elder Nichols

June 28, 2010

Hola todos


So this morning we went and played soccer in this sweet field it was astro turf and we got to wear special cool soccer shoes it was cool. I scored 3 goals it was pretty sweet then after we had a barbecue it was really good. I am really tired right now. This week was pretty nice it didn't rain at all it was a miracle. We taught some good lessons this week and one of our new investigators came to church and is progressing so I was way happy about that. I am really sorry but I really don't have much to say this week was kinda boring but we did have zone conference and got to see a lot of my buddies so that was fun but sad also because it was the last conference for president Chavez he is leaving on Tuesday and we are getting our new president on Wednesday he is from California. His name is president Humphrey and I heard they are really really nice. I am kinda excited but kinda not I don't know, it´s weird, but you know what is weird is that I will have 11 months on the 5th of july. Well I gotta go I am going to send some pics of us at our bbq and of some sunsets that I had to take.


Love Garrett

June 21, 2010

Hola VIVE CHILE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So right now I am at an Internet cafe in center part of my area and Chile just won and beat the Swiss. Everybody exploded and there are sirens and horns and people flooded the streets and yelling for joy and everybody is just so happy it´s great. I am scared to know what it will be like if they lose. But I took some pictures so you can all see what I am talking about. But this week was great I got my new comp and he is really cool he is from Utah, but has lived in other parts of the states. His name is elder Garey and we teach really well together. I was really scared for this week because I would have to lead the sector because my new comp didn't know the area or anybody but it actually worked out pretty good.

It rained almost everyday this week and it rained hard. It rains sideways here it´s really weird and thanks to the rain I got a nice little cold but it´s all good. But knocking doors in the rain really really sucks I'm just being honest. We found some really good people this week and I was really happy about that. We are teaching some good people and really trying to help this guy in his 20´s stop smoking and move out of his girl friends house so he can get baptized. But we found 7 new investigators which was really cool. The other elder from Columbia is training a greenie so it´s really fun to have him in the house and to teach him some stuff. But we went out on splits the other night for about an hour and we got into a house and I had to teach the whole lesson and that was my first time I had ever done that before. I understood mostly everything she said but it was still hard but the new elder bore his testimony with so much power and spirit it was awesome. Then we went out another day and got into another house of this 16 year old kid and taught him, it was pouring rain at the time so I was grateful that we got in.

Last night we taught one of our investigators who is really searching for an answer he is doing everything in his power to get an answer. He is reading the book of Mormon and praying and going to church. He doesn't have much of a personality so it´s kinda hard to teach him because he is very serious like all the time. But we are doing our best and I am asking you to pray for him if you could because he is a good guy he just needs some prayers.

Well I don't know what more to say but I know that Jesus is our savior and that Joseph Smith really did see God the father and Jesus Christ and that Christ restored his church on the earth again so we can live in happiness and no confusion. I miss you all and take care.

Love Elder Nichols

June 14, 2010

Hola bueno tardes


Hey guys hows it going? SO here are some pictures from today from the RAIN. It has been raining here for the past 24 hours straight it has been nuts. It rains so freaking hard here. It was like a river in the streets and I was walking in running shoes. I need to buy some rain boots or something cuz I was soaked when we went outside. We played soccer today as a district it was so much fun a couple of the sisters were pretty good it was funny. I had a good time. Then we went to this pizza place called Alo pizza it was pretty good. Today was transfers and my comp is going!!!! He had been here for 7 months and it is time for him to go. But I am excited to get a new comp. O the other pictures is some zone activity that we went on and there was this cool lake that was there I hope you guys like the pictures cuz I did. Hey uncle rod if you want to touch up the pics be my guest you could probably make them really cool.

So this week was pretty good, kinda frustrating at times and I wish I could take away some peoples agency sometimes, but I can´t. We found some really good people the last weeks email about how crappy the day was actually turned out pretty good because an appt that we had for a week in advance they all ended up being there for it and it´s this woman and her two kids and her brother who told us he read the entire Book of Mormon like a few years ago but lost it and really liked it. They all understood baptism perfectly and they all have dates for the 11th. The moms friend was baptized and she thought the baptism was so beautiful and she loved the movie about the restoration that they watched at her friends baptism. I really hope all goes well with this family.

Well I gotta go but hope all is well with everybody and feel free to write me if you want or have any questions.

Love Elder Nichols

June 7, 2010

Test of Faith

Hola todos,

Wow this week flew by, crazy how time flies when your having fun. So the weather here has gotten pretty cold and it rains like once every week which isn't to bad but it will rain a lot more in the coming months. It´s so cold in the morning I don't want to get out of bed and do my exercises but the food here is so unhealthy they use so much oil it´s crazy so I have been getting better with my exercises. Speaking of food I ate boiled chicken the other day and people need to know that chicken should not be boiled ever its not good. O well it´s not the end of the world but some people think it will be in 2012 which is really funny when people ask us if the world is going to end and sometimes we say yes just to be funny, but we all know I hope that the world is not going to end.

I am doing good, feeling good, just trying to find the prepared people here. But some days it is harder than others and some days the Lord wants to test our faith and see really how bad we want it. So my comp is district leader and he went to another sector to do an interview for the day on Friday so I was with an elder from Peru again and we had a pretty full day planned and had some really good appt. set so I was excited. So we set off for our first at 330 and nobody was there so we went and did contacts on our way to the second appt and we got into this old guys house but we didn't technically get into his house because he pulled out two chairs from inside and said he wanted to look at the girls as they passed by, so that was pretty funny. After that we went to our next appt and she wasn't there so we did contacts and just taught people in their door ways like two people but none of them seemed that interested. So at this time it was about 6:30 and we went to where our next appt was, in the area and did contacts and talked to a lady in her door way whose husband abuses her and that was really sad. Then we went to this appt we had and it was this family that we had taught once and they couldn't, and after that I wanted to cry. It was about 8:00 pm and at that time we were 45 min away from our next appt if we were to walk so we took a taxi and this appt never fails so I was excited. We had a member with us so i was excited about that but we went to the house and their daughter was sick. So we had a back up plan and that failed and I was pretty tired it was about 9:20 at that point. We kept contacting houses nobody answered. My comp and the member stopped and thought who they could visit and I just kept walking and I saw this lady sitting on the side of her house smoking a cigarette. So I went over and started taking to her and she told us she was just thinking about her life and needed some strength and told us she had been praying. We taught her lesson 3 about baptism and she was golden and I know that God was testing my faith. We have an appt with her tonight so am way excited about that. Well i gotta go but Hope all is well with everyone.

Love Garrett