First Letter Home

We received a letter from Amanda yesterday...so here it is:

Dear Parentals!
Ah yesterday was the HARDEST day of my life! After y'all left I couldn't hold it together. I cried all day and I miss yall so much! I just don't feel up to the task, but I know why I'm here and I know I'm supposed to be here, so I'll be fine. I know this is going to be one of the hardest things in my life but also so rewarding. Please pary for me. Mom, the card you gave me was so perfect! But really don't worry about me, its great. They keep us so busy. But I know I can do hard things and I just have to keep telling myself that (smiley face). Right now I just need to be 100% dependant upon God and have total faith in Him. I love this work and the gospel. I've finally begun to LOVE learning! Its awesome! I wish I could call home for advice, but emails will have to work. Oh write me @ Dear Elder, my box # is 257 (put that on facebook...another smiley face) LOVE YALL SO MUCH & MISS YOU TO DEATH!
(heart) Hermana Nelson

At the MTC

Hermana Nelson's scheduled arrival time for the MTC was September 20, 1:15 pm. In true Nelson fashion we were cutting it close. Parking at the MTC on a Wednesday is at a premium. Bobby took Tyler and Kylee and Nate with him to a friends house and the rest of us drove to the MTC. Only one car can go through the official drive-thru so Ty and Alisa scrambled to find parking places around the MTC area and met us in the MTC parking lot. We still hadn't taken Hermana Nelson's photo for her missionary plaque so we quickly did that and then all stuffed ourselves into our car. It was a tight squeeze considering Hermana Nelson's luggage took up half the car. We only had about three minutes while the Elders took the luggage out of our car to snap a couple of photos and have some hugs good-bye. Maybe it is better that way. We love our sweet Hermana Nelson and can't wait to post her own words about this wonderful mission she is serving for our Savior.

The Last Supper

Before taking Amanda to the Provo MTC our family wanted to meet up for her "last supper". One of our family favorite hangouts is Chiles and so we met up at the Chiles in Orem, UT. Alisa and Nate came from St. George; Angela and Bobby, Tyler and Kylee from Logan and Ty from Ephraim. We all converged at Chile's around 11:45 on September 20. Amanda's check in time for the MTC was 1:15. It was fun just hanging out and goofing around with each other one last time. We tried (or at least I tried) not to think about the separation ahead and focused on just what an amazing family we have and how much fun we have together. Chile's must be a popular before MTC tradition because we saw several other families there enjoying their "last supper", too.

Setting Apart

This is Amanda's mom and I am setting up this blog of her missionary adventures for her. As I receive emails from her I will post them on this blog so you all can be kept up to date in Amanda's own words. For now I will write for her. Amanda was set apart as a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 9:30 pm on Tuesday, September 19 by President Lyman of the Bloomington Hills Stake. It was such an amazing experience. Amanda is so excited to serve the people of Paraguay and to help bring them the happiness she knows through the gospel of Jesus Christ. We all appreciated the advice that President Lyman and Bishop Ott gave and the testimonies they bore. Amanda bore her own sweet testimony. I think you will be able to tell from the pictures the light that is in her countenance.