Hello Family and Friends!

So there was a surprise when the changes arrived! I am not writing you from Altamirano, Guerrero but from a pueblo that is called Emiliano Zapata, in Morelos. Actually I am super close to my last area. President Kusch told me that it would be impossible for my new companion and I to arrive safely in Altamirano so we are here opening a different area in Morelos! My new companion is Elder Millan from Argentina. My first non-Mexican companion in the mission field! He seems like a great missionary and I am excited to get to know him more in the coming weeks!

Impressions of Mexico!

1) I literally saw a grandfather lifting and lowering three of his grandkids in the mouth of a John Deere tractor. Those little guys were having so much fun.

2) Sometimes members only think that coffee is bad if it is in the form of the drink. Therefore, it is not uncommon to receive coffee-flavored candy, cake, and ice-cream from strong members of the church.

This week was so fulfilling for me. And sad as well. I had to say goodbye to a lot of members and converts that I have come to love so very much. I grew to love them because I tried my best to serve them and teach them. I tried to be there for them always. I will never forget my branch in Yautepec. I will love and remember the people there always. Another very fulfilling thing that happened this week as well was the baptism of the Citalan Vazquez family. Jacob, Rachel, and Abihud! It was so touching to see them enter the waters of baptism and receive their confirmation. They were all so emotional and expressed how much this meant for them and their family. They are going to be amazing members of the church. The spirit was so strong during their confirmation that it brought me to tears. Just the thought that another family had come to a knowledge of the truth made me so emotional. Their faith and their desire to change. Beautiful. Pure joy on my part. It was a perfect last Sunday for me in the branch.

Something that I have come to know and understand very well, even before my mission, is that where there is greater light and truth being poured out from the windows of heaven, that there will also be greater darkness and opposition coming from the adversary. Because there was so much light this week, I also experienced a lot of opposition. Satan so desires to ruin or destroy completely everything that we love and appreciate. Everything that comes from God. He picks at our weaknesses and hits us where it hurts most. But I also know that the power of God and the power of the Atonement are far greater than anything that the adversary can bring against us. I know God lives. He is my father. I have grown to love him so much. I am learning to trust in him more and more. Sometimes he humbles me a lot. And I recognize the necessity of  that. But I think that he does it because he loves me and wants me to recognize him in everything. I feel very close to him now. I love feeling close to him. I love feeling the spirit. I love seeing myself and others change and become more like Christ.

I love you all so much. I promise to send pictures next week. We are in a big hurry today trying to figure out how to get around in our new area and getting the house in order. I hope that you all have an amazing week.

Elder Nielsen