Coming Home...

This is a picture of us golfing and my last baptism in South Carolina as a servant of Jesus Christ.  I am so blessed and humbled at the opportunity I have had to serve these past two years and become who the Lord wants me to be. I have a lot of thoughts and feelings right now and I know my time as a missionary is over.  I am sad that I will not be able to go out everyday and knock doors and invite people to be baptized and repent.  I am excited to see my family.  The thing I am most thankful for is the chance I have had to spend time on a mission.  It has truly changed my life forever.  I have never loved something as much as I have loved my mission.  I have been changed eternally and spiritually blessed. 

We baptized this amazing lady this week.  She is in the Air Force and read the entire Book of Mormon in a week.  We taught her for about 3 weeks then she got baptized.  I have never felt the spirit so strong at a baptism as I did at hers.  She is truly amazing.  She bought me a cake and a watch for me birthday.

This past week was so great and spiritual.  I know this week will be filled with much excitement, miracles, heartache, and joy.  I love you all so much and I want you to know I know this church is true, that Jesus is the Christ and that he lives and died for us to take away our pain.  I know the Book of Mormom is the word of God and brings happiness to all.  I know Joseph Smith was a prophet and that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today.  I love being a missionary and will cherish this experience everyday of my life.  I love you and all and pray for you always!

Love you all,

Elder Dane Nielsen

Mission Family

This is us golfing and all the missionaries in my "family tree".  I trained four of these Elders and the rest of them were trained by one of the four I trained orginally..... they are my mission family.  The David A Bednar conference was wonderful I loved it so much, the spirit was so strong.  I love my mission and being able to serve the Lord.  I would not have traded this experience for a lifetime of wealth or temporal happiness.  I have felt the love of Heavenly Father daily and the cleansing power of the atonement daily as well.  I love serving a mission and being a representative of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Love you all,

Elder Dane Nielsen

Thrashing the Nation

Not much new here.  I'm just working hard and thrashing the nation!  I love my mission!!

Love you all,

Elder Dane Nielsen

26 days....

Picture of a huge gator (probably 10 ft long) we saw this week that swam right towards us.  This is me and Elder Oviatt wearing our Spanish Fork 1/2 marathon & 5K t-shirts.  I love this work!

Love you all,
Elder Dane Nielsen

Name Tag

Not many pictures this week I'm way too busy.  I love my mission and am going to continue to work my hardest until the second I am forced to pull this name tag off my chest.

I love you all,
Elder Dane Nielsen
 ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---  
It was so great to hear from Dane today and to feel of his spirit.  As the end of his mission becomes more visible, it is hard as a parent to be so excited for his return home when you know this is not what he wants.  Dane told me today that when the announcements for changing the missionary age came out he was just praying that they would extend the length to three years.  He told me that the hardest day of his life will be November 17th, the day he returns home.

As a parent I could not ask for more.  He has not only gained a testimony of the gospel, but has fallen in love with serving the lord.  This whole process of a mission reminds me of having a new baby.  We are here at home so anxious and excited (don't forget cleaning) to see our son return home.  He will once again be returning to us straight from his heavenly father, just as he did once before.  The best part is he will be able to share all he has learned with us.  As his heart breaks, our hearts swell with pride and joy.  I long to see him, hear him, and look into his face.  With only 33 days left....I pray that he will feel the love we have waiting for him at home.

We love Elder Nielsen and thank you for making this journey of service and love possible in our home.

Love MOMOMOMOMOMOM

Grovetown, GA

Picture of me and the fire truck in Grovetown, GA.  I love my mission, general conference, and the person I am becoming.  Have a great week.

Love you all,
Elder Dane Nielsen

In the Middle

This first picture is of the other missionaries in my district.  The second one is of me and my new companion, we got a cake for one of our investigators for his birthday.  We are covering Grovetown, GA and also the Fort Gordon military base where we get to teach the soliders.  It is a lot of fun and we are having a lot of success.  I love my mission and am glad that I'm "right in the middle" as Elder Utchdorf said in his recent talk.  I still have a long time before I return home and have truly cherished the short time I have been out.  I look forward to pushing hard the last two months.  I love you all and appreciate everything you do for me and for your service in the church.  Do your home teaching and never lose the faith.

Love you all,
Elder Dane Nielsen