Hello!

Yes, sadly it is getting close to my year mark :( but at least the weather has been pretty nice! The new raincoat and umbrella that I bought helps me challenge the weather to try to get me wet... And since then, it has not rained.. So the English weather is scared of me ;)

I can't believe that half of Antelope Island was burned! That is absolutely ridiculous! 

My companions and myself are doing really well! It's the best cause there is nothing that stops us from visiting anyone! We may seem a bit intimidating but it gets the job done!

I'm glad, mom, that you've taken a liking into making exotic salads! Is that the new Utah thing??

Not much has happened, just a load of tracting and wonderful miraculous experiences. I love the mission!

Oh we moved flats into a new one, it took a whole day! And it is a great flat... Even though it is outside of our area!!

I have some items of business... My watch finally broke (not on purpose) it's unfixable so I am going to get a new one for 12-15£. Both my black shoes are destroyed! I threw one pair away and my other I need either repaired for about 20£ or new ones for a little more. My iPad screen cracked (very long story that resulted in it not being my fault completely but I took responsibility) so that may cost a bit of money maybe about 60-80£. Oh and now that it's almost been a year, my Mr. Mack shirts are getting holes so I will find two good quality cheap white shirts and I don't know how much that will be. I also need a new iPad case, the one mom bought for me lasted a month and a half so I will try to find a good durable one :) I do not like these expenses but they are well needed for the work here in England. Just let me know what you think by next Monday cause that is when I will go shopping for all of it :)

Thank you for all that you do! I love you all so so much. Just keep me updated on the family, on everything that is important! How is work for dad? How is Bryce and Spencer??? How is Derek and Kaitlyn! How is all of your work outs mom and everything you do? :)

Love,

Elder Nichols

7/11/16

Hello!

Trio's are amazing! Lots of great things are happening this past week!

We have 6 really good investigators we are working with and we are

bound to gain more for our teaching pool! Here is a picture of me & my

two companions!

The weather is rainy still and it is the beautiful liquid sunshine!! I

keep warm with my big brolly and nice rain coat! I love it when it

rains now!!

Not much to report just all is well and loving life!

Love,

Elder Nichols

7/5/16

Dear Mom,

I am so sorry for not emailing last week and also yesterday! I don't

want to say it but, I forgot to email you all until it was too late!

Transfers have changed P-day to Tuesday's, but other than transfer

week P-day is still on Monday. So on that confusing note, here is my

letter :)

My Goodness!! Crazy changes are here! The first thing I want to ask on

my list of importance is... Is Spencer finished with his mission

papers? Does he have a call? Is he planning on going on a mission?

Sorry I'm just dying of curiosity haha!

The mission is going excellent! Elder Ellis is such a good man and I

love him so much!! He has really showed me my strengths and my

weaknesses just by his noble, desirable, Christ-like example! We are

staying together for another transfer but we are also becoming a trio!

It will be a blast!

We have so many miracles each day, we have a good set of investigators

and it just grows and grows even with the ones who don't continue with

the Gospel. I strongly believe that people who pray at 6 o'clock for

the mission, the missionaries, and the members brings those amazing

experiences! I have seen the 6 o'clock prayer work like a dream! It's

one of those things that we completely drop everything we do and pray

for miracles even if we are in a tea appointment (dinner appointment)!

I feel empty when we don't do it.

Mom I miss my table! When I get home I am going to sleep on top of it

for my first night ;) can you believe that I have hit my 10 month

mark?! I promise I am not trunky!! But it's just gone by so fast!

Don't worry I write in my journal every day so I will never forget my

experiences here in the field!

I love you mom and I thought that this email was deserved to be

written for you due to the lack of none last week!! I am sorry :(

On another note, yes the card! I will patiently await a new one and

let you know when I receive it. Thank you for watching over my

account! I finally gave in to buying a really nice rain jacket! I will

have to send you pictures... Along with the jacket I bought a really

posh umbrella only for 9£!! It's a bigger one that hopefully will last

the rest of my mission! #brollyswag #neverbewetagain.

Love,

Elder Nichols

6/20/16

Hello Mom!

I am doing really well! Oh while you may think I am an English boy, I

am full head on Americanish Nichols ;) so we have four investigators

we are working with heavily and they are miracles! True inspiration

from the Lord came to us as we found them. Elder Ellis is not being

trained... He is training me... in a sense! It seems like he knew

everything that I know and even more than I know since before he came

to the field. He teaches me and I love him so much!! The work is

easier than it has ever been during the 9 1/2 months that I have spent

here!

Father's Day!! I'm surprised you all didn't skip church and get KFC

and have a park picnic ;) those were the best!.. But church is good

too! That sounds really tasty with the food you all had! He has been

he greatest influence and example to me as I have been out on my

mission.

How is Spencer's mission papers going? Has he already sent them in? Or

will he marry Caitlyn while I am on my mission and go on a senior

mission when they grow old? ;) (one of my companions had that happen

to him!!)

Oh take pics of when you go boating!! I want pics and vids!! :)

Aww :( Brother Byers got released?? Man, he was 'the mate for the

plate'. He will be missed as the YM President but it will be for the

best for him not getting translated up to heaven... He has to stay

down on earth by some reason! It's like dad: he is the 'almost perfect

man' the only thing that stops him is his Sunday activities! It's good

cause otherwise he would be translated as well! It's not too hard to

imagine Jeff and Dad being best of buds up in the Celestial kingdom ;)

anyway, love you lots and thank you for the uplifting email!!

Love,

Elder Nichols

6/20/16

Dear Everyone,

Ashton is a huge pool of miracles! The experiences that Elder Ellis

and I have witnessed this past week are partially indescribable as I

wouldn't have enough time or space to write all the miracles we have

been involved with, but none of the less I will share the greatest one

for the week: One day after having tea and a really spiritual hour of

1st 12 weeks I had the slight thought of going finding on the canal

right outside our flat. I thought that impression was just merely

because I didn't want to find too much, but before we left I went to

the bathroom and a huge feeling came over me and pushed me to go on

the canal for someone is there right now. After that experience I told

my companion and we dashed quickly out the door after a prayer. As we

were walking we noticed on the other side of the water were two men

fishing and they yelled at us about a lost boy and police trying to

find him. They also yelled at us in a bit of a 'mocking Mormons' type

of thing, but as Elder Ellis and I were overcome with the spirit, we

preached to them from the distance.. The two men started to listen,

with real intent! They told us to walk to the marina and talk with

them more, so that is what we did. Long story short, we spent another

hour talking about the Book of Mormon, plan of salvation and the

restoration (briefly). There names are Jeff and David. Later on they

gave us their contact details and we set up an appointment with them

both. We went by one day but Jeff wasn't in (in fact no one was home!)

we called him and we had an incorrect number! So we went by David's

home, but as we rang on the flat complex, a cleaner lady walked out

and told us that no one on all the floors were home but at work. She

also expressed to us that a man named mark lives at the address David

gave us!! The frustration came over me and the rest of the day was

difficult. After a couple of days the stress was gone after miracles

and more miracles happened. Now, two days ago, Elder Ellis had a

feeling that we must walk the canal (we call it the 'Miracle Canal').

As we stopped everyone trying to find the purpose of why we were

there, who did we see? JEFF AND DAVID! The Lord answered our prayers!

It turns out that we took down Jeffs number wrong and he didn't hear

the door but was in at the time we knocked by, David was not home at

the time we went by but he got a new phone and told us that mark (who

the cleaner lady told us lived at David's address) lived in the flat

next door and the cleaner lady didn't remember correctly. We will be

meeting with both of them this week and they both love the Book of

Mormon!!

Well everything is well and life is great! Missionary life is so

strange and amazing!

Mom & family: HAPPY FATHERS DAY!! I had the great privilege of

speaking about Daddy!! It was great! Everyone is doing alright I

suppose?!! Summer is here! Whoot!

Love,

Elder Nichols

6/13/16

Hello Everyone!!

I just want to start off by saying that this has been an incredible week! Elder Ellis and I have had soo much time finding! Almost 30 hours have gone into finding people to teach! Just last night (Sunday) Elder Ellis and I had an hour left before we were to go back in for the evening so we walked on the canal right next to our flat. As we walked for maybe 10-15 min, a man runs up to us out of breath and asks us how to get to Manchester city from that very point, so we directed him and walked with him (Share the Gospel) towards the main road, but on our way, we saw and missed the bus that was needed so we waited longer for the next bus (I thought to myself that it was a golden opportunity!) as we talked with this man about really good things, this drunk man comes up to us and pretty much praises us telling everyone around us that we were really good people! He gave me a very awkward hug and then the bus arrived so both of the men got on the bus and not even a minute after the bus left another man from across the street comes running over to talk with us. Long story short, he wants to come to church and receive lessons from the missionaries so we got his contact info and set up an appointment. As we walked home we were so grateful to the Lord for all the great things that have happened!

Well besides the great experiences this week has been really weird on the weather side of it all, we have had really hot and humid days up in the 31 degrees Celsius!! It has been hot hot hot but now it is quite chilly with loads of rain... This area seems like it is a prime place for tracting loads of homes! So. Ribble (my last area) seems like it has prepared me for coming to Ashton to do good and solid tracting! and The best part about it is, is that it hasn't been tracted much in the past!

Mom and Family: Heathens!!! Going to the Zoo without me?!?! haha I love you all so much and I love the picture dad sent over to me! Tons of family was there it looked like! Spencer is loving the great life of NO SCHOOL!! whoot whoot! By the way, have you gotten your mission call yet?? Mom- Not much to say about my area other than it is a really small area and that the flat we live in is pretty typical for England. Your Dutch Oven Dinner! You should enjoy the great stress of having all of the responsibility on yourself ;) You will look back on that day and say.. 'That wasn't so bad! I kind of want to do it again cause it turned out really good!! And I trust myself' haha yeah but I am sure it was absolutely SMASHING!!

Anyway thank you all for your kindness and loving support!!

Love,

Elder  Nichols

6/6/16

Hey Everyone!

It’s been a hectic week, but all is well and I love my companion... His name is Elder Ellis and he is the 'Humble Bumble' from Singapore!

Ashton is great! It hasn't rained for days and days! I the best part about it all is that the buses that we use are really reliable (not like the area of Preston/So. Ribble). Our Flat is a big one! it has a main floor, upstairs, and a cellar that is pretty awful (we never go down there). I don't really know too much of the area because I've only been here for a couple of days and we are still getting lost all over the place! Well we have an old canal that is literally right outside our flat that is great for contacting!

We met the ward just this past Sunday and they are great! I think this ward will be brilliant to work with and I am so excited to be serving in the Ashton 2nd Ward!!!

Its been a crazy non-stop work for us as we started! We have had 17 hours of consecrated finding time in the space of 2 1/2 days and I can tell that there will be many and great miracles that spring forth from this transfer!

not much to say this week, but the stories will come (hopefully) next week ;)

Mom and Family: I heard that Goodwill and Sam Perrie have contacted you and stuff so that is Fab! Those pictures are not the best of me, but they will do ;) Spencer-encer-encer!!! Man, one after another!! I am so proud and happy for you! Graduation is super exciting and I miss it so much! I have been sick for the past 2 weeks and I lost my voice for a while and not I have lost my singing voice, but it has made me appreciate choir so much and I miss it so much. Never forget your experiences from grade school to High school cause they are amazing memories! Bryce!! You get to go on to KJH!!! Junior High School! Huge step up from the 6th grade! Now life starts ;) Have fun and make sure you stay happy :) Derek and Kaitlyn!!! Whoot Whoot a new flat!! the bad part is that it is in Layton... you should be in Kaysville, Fruit Heights, Farmington, Centerville, or even Bountiful!!! Haha I am just kidding! I love you all so very much and I miss all of you! Have fun in the Summer Sun!

Love,

Elder Nichols

5/21/16

Hello Everyone!

Transfers are today! I am going to Ashton!! It is a sad day to leave

the blessed land of Preston/ So. Ribble but it is in good hands with

Elder Weggersen!

Life is great! But emailing time is short but I love all of you!!

Mom and family: Bryce, I love your man of steel shirt! Spencer is

graduating!!! I cannot believe it! Sorry to disappoint you mom for the

bus... I have not been on nor seen a old red double decker bus since I

have been here :/ and dad is 50!!!!! Ahhhhhhh!!

I love you all and keep up with all you are doing!

Love,

Elder Nichols

5/23/16

Good Morning Everyone!

What a week!!! I learned so much history here! Did you know that there is a tree dedicated to Elder Holland called the Jeffery Holland Tree and it is because he sat there and received the revelation on where to build the Preston temple! We also went to two towns called Downham and Chatburn and they are two towns that have been preserved so nothing has changed since the 1800's and that's where Heber C. Kimbel taught the gospel on his mission in England. We also went into a Church of England Chapel (a branch off of Catholics) and sang "We thank the oh God for a prophet". I was surprised cause they don't have a prophet and they loved the song ;)

Anyway! I am so grateful for all of your emails! They have been extremely uplifting and I miss and love you all so much!

Well beyond the Mission Historical Tour, my week has been the same same same, tracting! except this week has been a little more interesting because my companion and I are taking a different approach to this whole finding investigators, instead of telling people who we are, we are asking the people about themselves. I WANT FRIEDND'S NOT INVESTIGATORS! By taking this oh so simple approach, I have already seen a huge improvement in our success! People are more interested in us. One day, it was raining so heavily that once we stepped out of the bus, we were drenched with rain, but we had to tract for a couple of hours so we knocked on this mans door and I had a chat with him for a while on wood working! I showed him the pictures of the projects that I have made and we really got along really well! Sadly he wasn't too interested in the Gospel, but at least he doesn't see us Mormons as robots.

Mom and Family: I love the pictures!!! My Goodness Spencer!! I am so proud of you, I brag about you to all of the missionaries here in my district and a lot to my companion! haha congratulations. Kaitlyn!!! Your a short haired blond!!!! Man life just goes way too fast... my mission is already flying by and I don't want to see what will happen once I hit my year mark! I need to keep telling myself that 'I am still a mission baby, I am still a mission baby, I am still a mission baby' even though just under half the mission will leave for home in one more transfer because they are the Huge group that came in all together, so we will lose loads of missionaries and I will become an older missionary!! EEK! I love you all so much. Mom I shot to you some pictures and I hope you enjoy them... because there is a Double Decker Bus! As well you can see my new-er suit and shoes! 

love,

Elder Nichols