January 12th

Family,

This will be my final time serving here in Nashua, NH... As of Saturday night, I received the news where I will be most likely serve the remaining months of my mission. The Lord has called me to serve in Ludlow, MA (Eng speaking), which is in the suburbs of Springfield! I will also continue to serve as a Zone Leader in that area. My geographic region covers all of Western Mass. with a little area of New York, so we'll see if I can make it out there (been to almost all states on my mission lol). This place reminds me a lot of the final episode in Seinfeld, where their plane crashes in a random remote area of Mass. Yep, that's where I will be haha. Its super random but I'm excited nonetheless! 

There's also a ton of work that is happening over there as well! I already know who my new companion is going to be. His name is Elder Terry. I was able to serve around him before so I know we will work well with one another. I also know a lot of the other missionaries in this new zone so it will be an absolute blast to work with them! 

Surprisingly, I was not worried at all about being transferred so fast, especially during a time where the work here in Nashua started to progress much faster since the time I came in. This week was definitely the way to end off my time serving in the Nashua area though. We ended up extending a baptismal date for our new investigator, E___ S_____. He is from Puerto Rico and is a really good friend from a less-active we were able to get in contact with. I was able to extend a date for him for next month forFebruary 8! He is so ready to be baptized, I was blessed to have been able to contact him and to have also extended that baptismal invitation for him. Although I was only able to work with him for a week, I'm excited to know that Elder Smith and his new companion will even have more success working with Eitel along with working in this area. (This is one of the most difficult areas in the mission). It was great to serve here for both times that I had. There are definitely great families that I was able to re-establish contact with and will continue to do so later on:) 

Although I never made it out to Boston to serve as a missionary, its amazing to know that its all about the people. Hence, the Lord calls all missionaries to labor in certain areas for a reason.  I know that the Lord has more plans waiting for me for my final chapter of my mission. I can't believe the time has already come to this where I already know my final area of where I will be serving. This is my "final push," giving it everything I got for these last 4 months. Cont. #BostonStrong!

Be safe on your travels. Pat, glad to know that my dad has plans to visit you guys and that you will be able to see my sister as well:) Not too long until I will have the opportunity to come out to visit too.

Les Quiero mucho!  

Elder Berthelson

BostonStrong

March 3rd

Family,

Thank you for your letters this week! It sounds like Grandma and Grandpa had an awesome trip as they were able to go to Tennessee and Mississippi this past week. I'm sure Grandma loved going to Graceland as I know how much she loves Elvis Presley. Thanks for the pics too. Grandma and Grandpa looked happy and looked like they had a blast to be with you K. Dad, have you been able to go to any Spring Training games lately? I think its already started up by now. I'm sure Doug will want to go out with you as well. Next time you see him, let him know I'm doing great. 

So this week was pretty cool. President Packard was able to help us out a bunch here in Nashua as he gave us the green light to hand out "anuncios" or "flyers" to people; letting them know about the group that has pretty much already started up. We were also able to hang a lot of these flyers up on the local "Hispanic" stores and buildings that are located near downtown Nashua. It almost felt like we were campaigning for the Church, as we were able to also do a bunch of street contacting and tracking handing out these flyers. I thought it was way cool since I've hardly ever had to do door to door knocking on my mission until now. Even though it's not as effective, I enjoy it a lot! But along with street contacting and tracking, we also passed many of these anuncios out to our members and encouraged them to be involved in the work by having them invite their friends/family members to the group as well. So overall we did have a lot of success, as it showed yesterday during our sacrament meeting. We ended up having a total of 58 people who attended the meeting yesterday! 2 of them were our investigators. This Sunday couldn't have gone better as we also had fast and testimony meeting. My companion and I claim to be the first "gringos" to bear their testimonies in Spanish during a sacrament meeting in the state of New Hampshire. We thought that was pretty cool. I know that this group will only continue to increase from here on out!

We are also working hard with our investigators and less actives as well. G___ Z____, our 8 yr old investigator, is planning to be baptized the following Sunday. He is without a doubt ready and super excited for it! 

We are also working to set a baptismal date for another one of our investigators, P___ J_____. We are planning to meet with her sometime this upcoming week as we plan to set a date with her as early as March 23. We feel that she will be ready to commit to baptism as early as then.

........

Thanks for your testimonies on the temple as well. I know that the temple has a great significance in our lives as we are able to be edified and filled with the spirit every time we attend. I'm blessed to be able to go often and feel that comfort and joy. That's awesome how Devin was able to go for the first time this past week to take out his endowments. I still can't believe you guys are going to Rich's wedding! Crazy he's already getting married too haha. I'm way excited for him.

There's not one day that goes by on the mission where I feel like I am not being challenged. Either spiritually, physically, or mentally, everyday is something different. But I know that my faith is only increasing because of it. 

Keep working hard guys. I love you all.

   

Elder Berthelson

BostonStrong

2-12-13, Transfers!

Family,

I recently received transfers... I'll be serving in Nashua, New Hampshire! Never thought I'd end up there (same place from "The Office" haha)... But there is a spanish branch there and it sounds like it is growing fast!

(editor's note - the Spanish Branch that he is referring to is is in Lawrence)

This week has been a crazy week as far as receiving transfers and getting everything ready. I was able to visit a lot of the members over the past few days and it has made me realize how much these people really love the missionaries. I mean REALLY LOVE us. It was tough to say goodbye to a lot of these people becaase I had known them ever since coming out on my mission in July. It has been a blessing knowing these amazing people for the time I did and the blessing it is for me as well to be close enough to where I can visit them after the mission. Those are the plans I have so far.

Again I apologize for the short length letters I've been sending lately. I am planning to take AD out to lunch here in a little bit while also making a few other quick visits later today. With AD, I know that these will be one of the few other times I will probably get to visit with him for a while... (this is because if everything works out according to the way I see it, he could possibly have the opportunity to serve his mission during the time that I will still be on mine). Wouldn't that be something?! :) Unfortunately I was not able to take him to the temple to do baptisms, but he is planning to go to the temple trip next weekend with all the youth. I am thrilled for that guy! What a blessing it was for me to work with him.

I am blessed to know everything is going well back home.

Siguen trabajando duro y siguen teniendo la fe. I love you guys!