Staying in Hyde:)

Dear Family & Friends

Sometimes I just do not know what to say and I will be honest... I don't know what to say today. This will be my longest area! I love Hyde and am grateful to spend one more transfer here. The members and I are building good relationships, hopefully the work I have done for my Heavenly Father here in this area will greatly benefit the future missionaries who serve here. I pray that this coming transfer will be better than the last (in a positive way) for each transfer needs to be better than the previous one. It is time to raise the plane to another level, with 15 months under my belt and one more companion, it is time to hit the pavement and cut the chains that prevent missionaries from gossiping from Hyde's past life and have them gossip about it's new life as a blessed and baptising area! It will happen. I know it. I am here for a purpose and have not found it quite yet and that is why the Lord is keeping me here.

It's been fun with Elder Leishman, I love him so much and he has changed more than I give him credit for. He is a strong missionary and I am happy to have served with him.

I have struggled this week due to a silly cold that plugged my ears! I couldn't hear out of them for a whole week!! The ear pressure made my thoughts cloudy and hard to focus. It's a terrible excuse but I've never had anything like it! It was a struggle to teach and find cause I couldn't hear to save my life... but now I am almost back to normal and am ready for a super surge of spiritual significance.

Mum & Fam: first things first, mom I actually have nowhere or time to play much piano. I play at most once every two weeks (and not for very long). I have lost a lot of technique and skill but it will come back when I come home. The Skype deal... well I'm not sure how it'll work yet cause we need a place to do it and we are working on that, but it'll probably be on Christmas Day. I will keep you all posted and I will make sure it is a easy going call (no problems like the past). Third time is the charm right?? Crazy spencer working crazy hours, what a kid! That message that grandma sent was so sweet!! Haha it hit me when she said "when you come home you can come over and have fun... again" :,)

Good Job Mom! I know that it is not always fun giving a talk in church but hey, it gives you an opportunity to bare your sweet testimony that us family have always enjoyed!

I am well, no problems or concerns. I am learning a lot and growing a lot. Thank you all for your love and prayers :)

Love,
Elder Nichols

Next week are transfers :)

Dear Family & Friends,

It's been a tuff one! Even though I've been ill with a little cold, we survived and all is well! Elder Leishman has now experienced one of those days were nothing went according to plan and we had to eat and eat and eat... then eat some more. First off after our first lunch in the morning we went over to Chris' to share with him about family history and an update on his job, he is now kick started his family search and to thank us he gave us a load of food for second lunch. Then we had to travel to one end of our area to give a recent convert a blessing with the sisters, she fed all of us a heaping plate of African food, and then it took another 3 hours to travel to the opposite end of our area to have a tea appt with a member and he took us to a Carvery (kind of like Chuck-a-Rama). He had a grand idea to buy the biggest portion of food for us called "The King Size". We defiantly broke the word of wisdom that day as well as our belts...


We went by our one really good investigator Kathryn, she has been busy but now is settling down. We are getting her to read the Book of Mormon and hopefully she can come to church soon because of her broken ankle. She really wants to come to church on Christmas Day so that should be nice! We also were able to stop by Roy and share with him a quick Christmas lesson (he has been Less Active for 12 years). It went really well.

Everything is great in Hyde, next week are transfers so just know that emails will be on Tuesday! By then we might have the Skype plans but I'm not so sure yet.

Mom & Fam:


Well I love to hear that we have a real Christmas tree and not a fake one like the one back in our flat here in Hyde:) Spencer seems like he is doing really nice! I love him so much. Bryce is the bomb and I love him so much. D&K are just so great and miss them loads. Mom, you are just amazing!! Decorating the tree into beautifulness. Dad way to be the serviceable man! I love you all so much! I will love to see you soon!

Love,
Elder Nichols

Gratitude

 Family & Friends,

What a week! I would love to express my ample amounts of gratitude since Thanksgiving does not really exist over here. I am thankful first off for the Book of Mormon, I am thankful for the tedious process that succeeded as the book was published. I always say, "No great thing comes simply" and the Book of Mormon came at great cost/lengths! I am thankful for my family and my peers, both in and outside of the mission. I am grateful for the hard lessons I have and am learning. I am thankful for my companion and the love he extends to me. I am thankful for Hyde ward and the Strength they give me in this great work. I am also thankful for having a marvelous Mission President! My leaders are great Men that I look up to as examples. Thank You!

Lots of finding has happened here. It's all about the "keeping your chin up" and having a positive attitude on everything here! I have learned the most from this area especially patience. I am still waiting for the Lord to bless us with someone who is prepared to walk into the waters of baptism! Just yesterday on our way to ward council meeting, a member was talking about two potential referrals that he is working with and finds them fit for the Kingdom! He eventually will allow us to teach them is what he said, but he is doing his work as a member! Miracle!!

I have come to the knowledge that if you love others they will feel that love and give the love back! It's like if I give the sweetest most desirable present or gift to someone, they in return will feel the need and divine responsibility to give back something they view as precious! Now I am not saying I expect anything from anyone, but the dichotomy between this principal is remarkable.

Have all of you watched the New Christmas Initiative?? It's so good! I can't wait to serve... more ;)

We are really working with a man, I might have mentioned him before, but he is a member, but has been less active for a long time. He and I are best friends; the only thing that prevents him from coming to church is his bus schedule. If you would like to pray for him because he has applied for a new job and he needs it. It's the only job out there for him! Thank you :)

Mom & Family: time slips away too quickly! Mom thank you for your email, it was a good cheery email that got me in funny spirits as you told your silly joke!... why were the Lamanites always hungry? Because the Nephites hid the plates ;) anyway, I have bought a couple things to remember places by... mostly clothes, but I dislike buying stuff, I don't like to spend money. That's for my schooling back home :) my electric shaver finally busted (dads old one that he gave to me years ago the old plug in) I am now officially learning how to shave with sharp razors 😱. SPENCER!!! AAAAHHH #Missionsareamazing! I am proud of my two younger brothers. I cannot wait for Skype to see you all! And Bryce's birthday!! I said happy birthday but you've been on my mind all week! I love you all so much! Thanks mom for sending the Christmas package! Can't wait! The other packages took so long cause they arrived in the office but never got delivered to me quickly, cause that's mission life :) well have a great week! I don't need much, just you love and prayers! 

P.s. I am always using the bus, cars are for those who get their license, I've thought about it cause it reduces insurance by 15%! I just am lazy to get my license. so I either bus or walk :) #countthemiles

Love, 

Elder Nichols

Thanksgiving!

Dear Family & Friends,

Happy Thanksgiving to all Americans!!! How I will miss this memorable holiday!

Anyway, all is well and very wet! We had some snow just a few days ago

that was large and quite fluffy for English snow! It truly felt as

though Christmas is just around the block. My companion and I are

really trying our hardest to bundle up every day in this cold and

humid weather. We had the great opportunity and privilege to witness a

baptism that the sisters receive credit for! It was truly an

experience! President Ulrich attended and it was great to see him.

We had Stake Conference yesterday and it was fabulous! The Stake

president was so gung-ho that when the dedication of the Paris, France

temple comes, the Stake will have a road trip to see it dedicated!!!

It's absolutely incredible! Anyway, we have been challenged to read

the Book of Mormon within one month! Similar to last Christmas, I am

now scrambling to read it so fast and the incentive is when we finish,

we will do baptisms for the dead!!

Mom and Fam: Tea Time is just having dinner :) Bryce!! Happy birthday

to you! You are so big and great! I finally received the packages and

the letters and stuff! Thank you so much!! It is fantastic! Those baby

pictures almost made me cry!! Haha, I love them so much! Thank you mom

and dad for all that you do and I love my brothers and sister, and

maybe almost sister ;) keep up doing what you are doing and don't

overindulge yourself, but eat enough for me! :):)

Love,

Elder Nichols

Hello family and friends,

It's so good to hear from all of you. I miss you, I love you and I

pray for each of you daily!

Not much has happened this week, but we did go to a wedding of a

members who there were many many non-members there! One of the

speeches was 45 min and they quoted the Proclamation To The World and

quoted many General Authorities. It was a drag for everyone but us

missionaries who thought it was amazing for non-members ;)

We have been working hard and diligently here in Hyde and love the

members so much! The area is starting to really progress in missionary

work.

It is getting quite chilly and I'm not ready for cold and wet... But

it will be another Humbling experience :) I love the green and the

orange and the yellow on the trees!! I have a picture from today.

Mom and Fam: all sounds well! Thank you for your birthday greetings

and send my regards to bishop and brother Byers as well as Dave Schram

and the Stevensons. You all sound like good things are coming your

ways and have already come :) I love you all so much!!

Love,

Elder Nichols

Hello family and friends,

It's so good to hear from all of you. I miss you, I love you and I

pray for each of you daily!

Not much has happened this week, but we did go to a wedding of a

members who there were many many non-members there! One of the

speeches was 45 min and they quoted the Proclamation To The World and

quoted many General Authorities. It was a drag for everyone but us

missionaries who thought it was amazing for non-members ;)

We have been working hard and diligently here in Hyde and love the

members so much! The area is starting to really progress in missionary

work.

It is getting quite chilly and I'm not ready for cold and wet... But

it will be another Humbling experience :) I love the green and the

orange and the yellow on the trees!! I have a picture from today.

Mom and Fam: all sounds well! Thank you for your birthday greetings

and send my regards to bishop and brother Byers as well as Dave Schram

and the Stevensons. You all sound like good things are coming your

ways and have already come :) I love you all so much!!

Love,

Elder Nichols