Elder Nielson’s Testimony of Prayer

I wish to acknowledge the hand of the Lord that has been with me constantly. It is really is satisfying. I feel as if I am buoyed up, I don’t tire as easily. I am not bored being in the grader 12 hours a day. Yesterday I came upon a large washout in the road I was grading. It had formed a cliff six feet high. There seemed to be room to make a new road next to the washout. I tried to ascend the hill, but a large boulder caused me to spin out. I looked for another way up and finally found a rather graded incline up the hill a few hundred yards away. I was able to make at up between the trees and rocks. Once on top I returned to the washout hoping to go down the narrow way and push the big boulders in front of me. I went over the edge and got high centered on the blade of the grader and there I was, miles from headquarters, alone. I prayed and asked Heavenly Father how to get out. I was impressed to maneuver the blade back and forth, and sideways finally making a grove that let me lift the blade ever so much, then the tires were on the ground and I pulled out. I worked about 2 hours making a new road around the washout and got home just as it was getting dark. I sure didn’t want to be out in the thousands and unfamiliar acres trying to find my way home. Elder Keith Nielson
This is at the bottom of the washout the next day.

The washout.

Our 1st Week

Well, what a different life we have than Kurtis in Ecuador.  He works so hard and what an example.

Our week started with Keith learning how to drive a road grader with no steering wheel.  He says he has no time to get bored because of the learning curve and the terrain.  He has graded every day from 7 am to 6 or 7 at night.  Saturday we watched conference and before and in between seasons he textured a bedroom-a big bedroom.  Sunday we watched conference again and had dinner at the manager’s home, with his family and the other missionaries and intern’s family.  The intern is from Blackfoot area and knows Jordan and McKenzie Linn.  They are going to school in Rexburg and have one little girl named Blakely.

I stayed home on Tuesday, but Wednesday, October 1, went to Crowell, Texas with the other sister missionary, Sister Layton, to volunteer at the school.  She is normally there all day, but we left an hour or so early because the class we were in, in the afternoon, had a substitute and she didn’t quite know what to do with us.  The first little boy I worked with just wanted to talk.  He kept saying he was dumb.  He lives with his uncle and aunt and his grandmother lives there too.  He father was found dead and his mother is mean and he does not want to live with her.  He kept yawning, but could read.  He just didn’t know it.  The other students were pretty much the same story.  Makes you want to take them all home.

Thursday Sister Layton and I worked on her family history.  We were successful.  We need to get back to it-she will be able to submit names soon.

Friday, she and I went into to Paducah to the post office, quilt store, and grocery store.  Paducah is 15 miles from the ranch turnoff and Crowell is in the opposite direction, but 20 miles.  The ranch is in Paducah school district but the ranch kids go to Crowell because their mother is a teacher there.  The bus (suburban) does come here, if needed.  Much to our dismay, the quilt store was closed on Fridays.  The grocery store is small, but we found what we needed.  The milk was cheaper ($4.19) than Walmart’s ($4.25) in Childress.  No Winco.

The Mission Directors are coming here on the 17th for a Zone Conference.  We do not know what that entails.  We will meet with them in the morning then they will go on a ranch tour, then we will all go to Paducah for dinner and they will stay at the hotel (Hunter’s Lodge) there.  Hunter’s Lodge is a very unique place.  It looks like an old court house, but there is an old court house, so do not know what is was originally.  We have been assigned to read Jesus the Christ by Easter, which is about 5 pages a day.  We are doing good, even ahead of schedule.

Triangle Ranch, Texas

We arrived here about 5:00 p.m. after stopping in the town of Childress to get food and fuel.  We had been told that the ranch was flat and not very pretty, but opinions can differ and ours sure does.  We think that this a beautiful place.  It is green, has lots of grass and trees.  It is warm, hope it stays warm in the winter, and our apartment is great.  I do feel like I get a headache when the gas oven is on, but we open the doors and windows and turn the ac so it won’t run. 

 

Leaving Highway 70 for County Road 345.

The lane is only 5.5 miles long.  Grandpa Brown wouldn’t know what to do with such a short lane.

Outside of our apartment which is at the end of the garage.

The two road graders rented to grade the 900 miles of roads, which is what Elder Nielson and Elder Layton do all day.

Corals and barns behind our house.  There is a hunters house inside this fence, the office is next to the barn, shop is behind the barn and intern’s house is to the west of the office.  The other missionary apartment in on the east side of the ranch house.  Nothing sloppy here.

Continuation

Next we were at Jensen’s.  We attended three ballgames, watched women’s conference, ate really good food and attended Kameron’s ordination.  He is now an Elder and right after the ordination, gave Cole a blessing since he is having such trouble with his knee.

Didn’t take a picture of Weston after his game.  Hopefully I will remember to always take my camera wherever I go soon.  Weston did give the best talk in sacrament meeting. 

Ren and grandpa are still best friends.  Wyatt and Grandpa made a headboard.  Doug and Kameron went to Michigan for the Wyoming football game and Erica tended us all.

Texas or Bust

We are on the way to Texas.  It will take several days.

Saturday, September 20, leaving home.

We have been stopping to visit with everyone.

First stop:  Telfords. 

Rett is falling asleep as we make blonde brownies.

Ashley, Claire, Rett, and Justin going to church.

Emma feeding calves.  On Sunday she had gone early to church with her parents so she is not in that picture.

Next stop: Sara and Luke’s

Luke and Grandpa playing baseball.

Getting ready for dinner.

When we (Tricia and Mijken too) went to Ren’s baptism we saw these at McDonalds in Evanston, Wyoming and we just saw them again!

Next stop: Jensens to be continued

Address in Texas

Our address in Texas will be:

4542 County Road 345
Paducah, Texas  79248

The things you do before you get to leave on a mission!

Repair the barn roof so it won't fall in while you are gone.

Take lots of pictures and decide that not one of them will work for your plaque. Go take some others.



Can the peaches so you will have plenty to take with you to Texas.



Get electricity in the fruit room so Kristin can run a heater in it when the temp is –20 degrees.



Buy new shoes!!! Oh, too bad, I had to go shopping.



Repair the roof and siding plus put heating oil in the tank.



Pack the totes (don't forget the quilting frames), and

 

prepare the talks.