Humility. 12/26/12

Dear Family and Friends, It’s been a great few days here in the DR. Christmas eve we had to be home at six, but 2 members brought us food, as well as the lady that lives below us. Christmas Day we had to give out 15 Books of Mormon that we had previously marked, signed, and wrapped in gift paper. However, apart from the Christmas party, zone activity, food, presents, and service, my favorite day was last Sunday. My companion and I had to speak in sacrament. I had a whole talk figured out based on why we should spread the gospel. To be perfectly honest it was kind of abrasive, and many times I felt as if it might offend more than help. My companion spoke first and set the tone with a talk on charity. After that there was no way I could give such a talk. I abandoned my original thoughts completely and spoke from my heart. I spoke the thoughts that the spirit gave me. I spoke on how we can be humble and loving in our approach in sharing the gospel. We don’t have to say I am right and you are wrong and you have to convert or you will be sorry. Also, even though it is a good start, we should not only spread the gospel out of obligation or duty alone. It is our duty as Disciples of Christ and children of our heavenly father, however, there is a stronger, more effective approach. Something close to the following and as the spirit directs. “My dearest friend, I care deeply about your happiness, your success, and your family. I have something in my possession that is the secret to everything good in my life, and I would never be able to live it down if i did not share it with you. It is sacred and special to me, and i hope that it can bless you as well. It is my relationship with the living Jesus Christ and His church. Once again he is personally guiding us through newly called and ordained Apostles and Prophets. He lives, He loves us, and he has not forgotten us. He has given us promised blessings and special authority to serve others in His name. Through this special priesthood authority we can seal families together even beyond the grave. Fathers can give heaven inspired blessings of council, comfort, and health to their loved ones. We have received more of the precious words of Christ in a sacred new book of scripture. My friend, I only wish for you to enjoy the same peace, hope, love, and quality of life that I do so enjoy. Please, open your heart and mind to more, and be a partaker in eternal bliss.” Sincerely, Elder Jared C. Nichols

Nothin much. 12/18/12

Dear Family and Friends, I hope you all are doing well in this Christmas season. I love you all very much and it was great to receive a few letters at the Christmas party yesterday. This Sunday I get to speak in sacrament and I am pretty excited. I´ve been studying the apostasy and restoration like crazy this week and I have a few ideas. Next week I will be writing on Wednesday instead of Monday. We are all having special transfers to avoid traveling on New Year’s Day. Everything is going well over here. My companion and I get along great. He is a very humble guy and teaches me not to worry so much or let dumb people get to me. Companionships are definitely inspired by the lord. These last few weeks we have been trying to make sure that we make contact with a member every day. We are trying to help improve relations between the members and missionaries. We are also talking to a lot of new people which is fun. Hope you are all doing well. Elder Nichols

Walk, walk, and walk. 12/10/12

Dear Family and Friends Well... what can I say? This week we walked a ton. They called a new ward mission leader in the ward, and his wife is the recently called Relief Society President. They expressed to us the concern that the ward is distant with the missionaries because there is hardly any relationship or trust there. So we hit the pavement this week to go visit members in their homes, and i even got permission from the Zone Leaders to leave our area to go visit members in the other area that belongs to our ward. We are planning to visit even more next week and try and get the ward more excited about missionary work, and the gospel in general. Also, ever since President Hernandez raised the bar on the number of daily contacts, we have not missed a single day. It has been a real test of diligence and patience, but we have seen the fruits. The funny thing is that most of the fruits have nothing to do with finding new investigators, or even people that are better prepared or have more interest. Mostly I just feel good for being obedient, and find it easier to resist other temptations. It has been a great week and we are all getting excited for the Mission Christmas Party on the 17th. We also have interviews tomorrow, which are always uplifting. Take care. Elder Nichols

Raising the Bar. 12/3/12

Dear Family and Friends, Hope you all are enjoying your December. It’s still just as hot as ever here. It’s been summer for 16 months, but I´m not bitter. Anyways today for pday we went to La Romana and played soccer against another zone. Our zone won. Then we played Latins Vs. Americans.... I don’t think I have to reveal how that went. We had a good time, and ate pizza afterwards. Turns out we were out there in the sun for a long time.... a really long time... So I look like a lobster, and my legs feel like Jello. On another note, my new companion finally was able to get over his dengue on Thursday, so we have been working hard the last 5 days. President raised the bar, and now we have to do 15 contacts every day. That´s 15 houses by the way, not 15 people. The first night it took us 2 hours and nobody let us in. Yesterday we had a member with us and it took 4 and a half hours. The idea is that if we contact more, we should find more people that are ready and willing to follow Christ. That is statistically speaking of course. But I am happy to raise the bar and be obedient. The new requirement has pulled me out of a rut and gotten me to work harder and be more diligent. Bueno, esto es todo por ahora. Quiero que sepan que tengo mucho amor por este evangelio, y que estoy esforzándome ser un mejor misionero, pero también mejor discípulo de Jesucristo. No queda ninguna duda en mi mente en cuanto de la veracidad de La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de Los Últimos Días. Para ellos que realmente tengan el deseo de seguir el Señor, les brindamos buenas noticias de que Él está dirigiendo su propia iglesia personalmente. Les invitamos a preguntar a Dios, y confirmar ésta verdad con Él. Translation: Well, that's all for now. Please know that I have much love for the gospel, and I'm striving to be a better missionary, but also better disciple of Jesus Christ. There is no doubt in my mind about the veracity of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For those who really have a desire to follow the Lord, we bring good news that He is personally leading his own church. We invite you to ask God, and confirm this truth with Him Elder Nichols

His Image. 11/26/12

Dear Family and Friends, Not much to write about this week. My new companion has been sick with the same tropical fever that I had before. Yerdis is still very Hindu, but likes the explanations we give to his questions. Him and his wife see us as the official Christian authority. We are their go to guys so to speak. Altagracia has kind of hit a wall in her progression, as she has not been to church in almost 2 months, despite her baptismal date and other extreme progress. In other news, we spent thanksgiving as a district at Burger King. I found the most expensive burger on the menu and wrapped my readjusted jaws around it in a triumphant celebration. It wasn`t turkey and mashed potatoes but it was still glorious. I am very uncertain of the spelling of that word. As for a spiritual thought, I included a photo of something that sparked a spiritual moment. I was just trying to organize, clean, and decorate my study space with some pictures of Christ when the arrangement I created struck me. My plaque over the first picture of Christ makes him look a little like a missionary, and I was reminded that we are literally His representatives. Would someone else see His image in my countenance? More importantly, would the Savior himself see it? Which brought me to the next photo entitled “My missionary commission.” The back of which gives an inspiring declaration and reminder of what we do as missionaries, and I don't mean walk all day under the sun and get rejected. I mean that we are sent by Him to say His words, think His thoughts, and bring souls unto Him. The words of Elder Holland still ring in my ears, in that this comission is for life, and is to change me forever. Finally, a picture given to me by Elder Hubbard upon his departure entitled, “Lost and Found.” It reminded me of where I was a few years back, and who it was that found me, didn´t reject me, and changed my life for the better. My brothers and sisters, rather than be members of the church that obey the rules out of obligation, let’s be disciples that follow out of love, and are trying to be like Him. Love, Elder Nichols

Higuey X 3. 11/19/12

Dear Family and Friends, Well, transfer calls came and I am staying here in Higuey. My companion will be Elder Ford. I have met him before but I don’t really know him. There isn’t really much on my mind right now other than I will miss Elder Hubbard. He has a great big heart and it has been a pleasure to work with him. We have had a lot of good experiences, both fun and spiritual. The mission truly is an adventure, and I love and respect every companion I have ever had. Maybe not at first, but by the end yes. Look for the good in people. Love them just because. Serve them. Be the friend you would want to have. Forgive easily. You will find more happiness in your life. Elder Nichols

Lost in Translation. 11/12/12

Dear Family and Friends, This week was really slow since we were recovering from Dengue, so we weren´t able to teach very many people. However, Tuesday and Wednesday we got to go do some humanitarian work with some American dentists and doctors. All I did was translate, but it was pretty fun. I also had to help hold down a some incredibly strong little kids that were freaking out. I took a few pictures but I’ll have to send those next week. We just did a bunch of dental work for children, a.k.a. pulling rotten teeth. We also gave out a bunch of hygiene kits and did check ups for a bunch of pregnant ladies and their kids to make sure everything was ok. It was fun and the people we were translating for were all really nice and mostly LDS. I really enjoyed it and they said that we helped a lot. I was really grateful to get some service in. We just haven´t come across many opportunities to give service, so it felt nice to finally be able to help out. Other than that the mission has been pretty normal. Just trying to encourage people to keep the commandments so they can receive the blessings and feel closer to Christ. We are still trying to help Yerdis receive a personal witness the Christ is his Savior as well. I imagine that our Heavenly Father wants Yerdis to have that testimony, so if it hasn´t yet been revealed to him I am sure there is a good reason. I was thinking in church this week about the things that really matter in this life. We deal with many people inside and outside of the church that have just fallen into a routine in life and are going day by day. Many people put so much emphasis on money, prominence, material objects, or daily chores and have no idea what really matters. We all have to move on from this world. The only things we can take with us are what remain in our head and heart. I would also add our relationships. Our intelligence rises with us in the resurrection, and the prophet Alma says that our state will be awful if the Word of God is not found in us. Judgment is an assessment of the type of person we have become, not a tally of good acts vs bad acts and the hope that we are not in too much debt. Who we are matters. Christ like attributes are keys to the celestial kingdom. How could we live in that kingdom if we do not possess those attributes? How would heaven be complete without our family and friends? We need to study the Word and make it a part of us. We need to submit to the will of God and be more like Christ. We need to do temple work for our families and missionary work for our friends. These are the things of eternal significance that will bring lasting happiness. Elder Nichols