March 16th

Family,

It's that time of year! March Madness is underway and the weather is certainly getting better, even here in New England.

This week was another great week as far as the work was concerned. Elder Terry and I were able to extend another baptism date for an investigator whose name is J____. We were able to set a date with him for the end of May. So as of right now, we have a total of 5 baptism dates for our investigators, 1 for the end of this month, 2 for April and 2 for the month of May. M___ A____, S___ D____, J___ C____, V___ V____ and J___ G___ are the people who have baptism dates. We are also working with other investigators who are continuing to progress. The members are also very helpful. So the work that we have in our area right now is on fire! 

This past Thursday, we also had the Assistants come to our area to do exchanges with us, so I was able to spend the day with my good friend Elder Stones (him and I came out together in the MTC and now he is one of our assistants to the president). We spent the entire day on Thursday just catching up with one another about our missions. He is also another missionary from AZ and we will plan to end our missions together at the end of June.

Speaking of the end of June, I'll plan to respond to the email Karen sent out about the options that she gave me with regards to travel plans as well as schooling. 

That is awesome that Navy got her call to serve in the Philippines! She will leave the same time I left. Also that Holden was able to come home this past Wednesday. He's already dating lol, good for him. 

I also received letters from Jazz and Dad. Thank you for those! 

It sounds like everyone is doing great and that they are happy. I am also doing great and extremely blessed for the successes which I've seen and for the joys which I've seen from the success of others as well. Alma 29:13-16.  

Keep working hard this week. Les Quiero Mucho!

Elder Berthelson

BostonStrong

March 23rd

Family,

Thank you for all your letters and emails. 9th place isn't so bad for the tournament pool:) LETS GO AZ!!! We'll find out where we are all seeded when it really comes down to it in the final four. 

This week was a pretty normal week as far as working with our current investigators. Unfortunately, it has been kind of rough working with a few of our investigators because of the fact that we had to move some of their baptism dates for the next month, since they will not be ready in time for the baptism dates that we originally had them scheduled for. Yes it is frustrating, but it feels like I have dealt with this many times throughout my mission, so this is nothing too shocking. 

This past Saturday we also went to the Temple to help out with baptisms for our recent converts. G__ W___ was the recent convert that attended from our ward here in Ludlow. He is the man! Talk about a guy who is on fire with his testimony, its him. He usually comes out with us to help us teach lessons about 3-4 times a week and sometimes multiple lessons throughout the day. So he is definitely doing his fair share of missionary work and helping us out too. 

 

I really don't have much else to say this week... other than blessings I am witnessing from even the little moments day to day. Because of this, I am happier and feel better about the progress we are making in the work.  

I also emailed Karen about my interests on where I want to attend college. I thought and prayed about it and feel pretty set in attending BYU-I for the fall and winter semesters. I will need to get more information about it and start picking classes once I am also decided about a specific major I want to pursue.

Sounds like everyone is doing great. Congrats Jazzy on your acceptance to LSU!!! Por Fin!! I'm way excited for you:) ..........

Thanks for all your support. Continue to keep us updated on the NCAA tourney!! Les quiero mucho!!

Elder Berthelson

BostonStrong

March 2nd

Family,

I can't believe its already March... Its one of the best times of the year considering March Madness and Spring Training that's happening right now. I am also doing great! I am working hard and enjoying the blessings that I am receiving as a result from the hard work. I feel like it is all paying off. We were able to set a date with J____ C___ for April 12th. So now we currently have 4 investigators with baptismal dates with 2 more that we will extend a date with hopefully sometime later this week. 

It is going to be a great week this week as well. We have a scheduled temple trip for all the leaders in the mission on Wednesday, so I will have another opportunity to go to the temple! And this Saturday is M___ M___'s baptism, so everyone is looking forward to that.    

Other than that, not too much has been happening... just another week. Glad to know that E Lee and Johnston are back home, crazy to think that.

.............

Thank you for all your letters that you've sent, I look forward to reading those soon! Have a good week. Les quiero mucho!      

Elder BerthelsonBostonStrong

February 23rd

Family,

This week has been another solid week in terms of extending Baptismal Dates for our investigators! The weather here blows but the work is progressing. Elder Terry and I were able to extend 3 more baptism dates, one for V__ V____ for May 2nd and two for our new investigators R__ D____ and N____ R____ for the end of March. R____ and N____ were actually found while we were tracking the streets at 8:30 at night when it was only 10 degrees outside. It was definitely a tender mercy for us since we were able to leave a blessing on their home that night and then later they committed to attend church a couple days after. It was awesome! So right now we have planned 6 baptisms, most of them lined up to occur at least every weekend in March. It sure is a blessing to have the success that we've been having. The key to all of this is the blessings that comes through obedience, diligence to rely upon the Lord, and by working with the members:) 

Thank you for your emails. ,,,,,,,,,,and yes, I'm stoked to play the courses:) Can't wait!

As for now, I will keep doing the Lord's will during this time in his service. I'm blessed for the miracles that I've seen and the spiritual progression I'm able to witness in the lives of others and for myself as well. I know that Heavenly Father has his purposes, even during times of difficulty. This is just his way of preparing us to become his choice sons and daughters that he knows we are.

Thanks again for all that you do. Keep up the good work. Les Quiero Mucho! 

​

Elder Berthelson

BostonStrong

January 19th

Family,

Everything is going well for me in my new area! I have no complaints of anything whatsoever in regards to the missionary work in this area. So far, we have 3 baptismal dates set for a family, all that are going to occur for the month of Feb! The elders and sisters that are in the Springfield Zone are awesome as well! And yes I believe this is the place where I will most likely end my mission.

As far as the members go here in the Ludlow Ward, they are great:) There are so many members that are willing to come out with us during the day, which has been the most I've been able to see on my mission. For my first Sunday in the ward, I was able to meet 3 families that are also from out west in AZ. So yesterday at church I was able to have some sweet conversations with a few of them, with one of the members also being a graduate from Mountain Ridge H.S. back in the 90's. Such a small world...    

For the majority of this week, I've just been pretty busy with good-byes being said back in Nashua and new work that I was able to do here in Springfield. It's great! Plus the Pats are in the Superbowl, so the people here in NE are pretty content as well:) 

 

I'm glad you all had a good time at the Hathaway's! That is awesome how you guys were able to see one another. The pics in New Orleans reminded me of when Jazz and I went before I left for college. Great times! I will make a trip out there soon enough. 

Keep me posted on the cruise with Grandma and Grandpa. I'm sure it will be a hoot lol. Tell them I say hi and I love them as well.

Have a great week. Les Quiero Mucho!   

October 20th

Family,

Thank you for your emails, including Pat- thank you for your email too! I'm glad that you guys were able to give service at the GKTW and it looks like you guys had a BLAST on the cruise to the Bahamas!! The pics are awesome!

   

This email is going to be kept short. Unfortunately this week has not my best week... I have been sick for the past few days and many other things have been going on; stupid things like earlier today when I got my car towed in the parking lot in front of our own apartment. That was a mess. And tomorrow I have my check-up for the urologist. I'll let you know how everything goes with that. Please don't be too concerned about all of this, I know everything will be fine.

The work is going well. We have a couple of our investigators who are really progressing, including S____ X___. We have a baptismal date set up for him for November 29th. His family is also interested in learning more about the gospel. Him and his family have an incredible background being from China and only living here in the states for a couple years. We are praying that S____'s wife and kids will follow his example of having the desire to join the church.

I don't really have too many other things to say as far as the work is concerned. Elder Lee and I are doing great, I enjoy being his companion. I sure do learn a lot from him.

Dad- I am writing you a hand written letter as well. 

I'm blessed that you guys are doing well and enjoying life. That is what its all about!

Keep working hard. Love you guys. 

Elder BerthelsonBostonStrong

September 8th

Family,

 

Like always, I am doing great! Not only did my previous companion receive a change from transfers but my current companion now, Elder Ripplinger, also received transfers. He will be serving in Franklin, Mass. which means I will have a new companion! His name is Elder Lee. I hear he is a great guy, from Gilbert, AZ. I know that we will get along great, we've already made good connections with one another. I am way excited to be working with him! The only thing is that he has never been a ZL before, which basically means I have to train him on everything that I've learned. Plus, there are many other changes that have occurred within our Zone as well. I've only been in this position for a little over a month, so it'll be fun to see how everything will go. Like I said, I'm excited for the change! I enjoy having different experiences, especially the ones where I know that I will have to be challenged a little bit. Its all good too because I also know that this experience will allow me to rely more heavily upon the Lord to seek for further guidance of what He wants me to do.

 

It has just been a crazy week with Leadership Trainings, Zone Meetings, Transfers, etc, which meant our work has been a little slower than normal. Unfortunately, our Investigators aren't progressing as well as they should be either. We had to move a couple of their baptism dates back for our investigators B___ and M_____. One because of Stake Conference that is coming up for us in the next couple weeks and another because of different circumstances. We are doing our best working a lot with our Recent Converts though. Like I said from my email from last week, we are giving these individuals the opportunity to feel the spirit very strong in their lives, such by attending a sacred place like the Temple. And because of the spirit they felt, I know it will give them opportunities to share those great feelings with their non member friends as well. I am blessed for the work that is we have in our area and the opportunities that are given to us. I am also blessed for awesome ward members, such as the D_____. They are my favorite family in the ward because of the connections we've made. Bro. D_____t and I talk sports and their family is always willing to help us with the work. They have been giving us referrals which is always a blessing too.

 

I received both the Labor Day letter and the package in the mail the other day. Thank you guys!!! Tell Cambria and Hunter I said thanks for their letter! Can't wait to spend some time with them back in AZ! They are awesome:)

 

I know that the Lord has plans for the Christensen family. My heart goes out to them, please send them my regards and let them know that they are in my prayers.

 

Keep working hard! You guys are in my thoughts and prayers.

 

Les Quiero Mucho!!!

Elder BerthelsonBostonStrong

June 9th

Family,

Thank you for all your letters! It sounds like everyone is doing great.

This week was yet another exciting week for us! This past Wednesday we extended another baptism date for one of our new investigators, N____ L_____. He is originally from Portugal but has lived in the states for some time now. So we were able to teach the Restoration to him, parts in Portugese and other parts in English, which was very cool. His girlfriend was also recently baptized in the ocean off the coast of Lisbon, Portugal just 3 weeks ago. We pray and hope that work won't get in the way of church for both N____ and F_____ (his girlfriend). 

We also had our stake conference this past weekend. It was such a neat experience because we had both 2 members of the 70 come to speak to us, Elder Lansing and Elder Nielsen. They were present during this stake conference because there were recent changes and callings for our stake presidency here in the Nashua stake. Both Elder Lansing and Elder Nielsen gave amazing talks, all directed towards missionary work. During Elder Nielsen's talk, he showed a video with all the missionaries who sang "called to serve" during the world-wide broadcast that was presented from last year's theme "Hastening the Work of Salvation." The very same broadcast that I sang in when I was in the MTC choir! I don't know if you guys had the opportunity to ever watch that broadcast, but it hit me during that presentation just how significant it was and still am that I am part of the "Work of Salvation" at this very time. Elder Perry gave a quote during the broadcast that explains just how important this time is, he says “This is the most remarkable era in the history of the Church. This is something that ranks with the great events that have happened in the past history, like the First Vision, like the gift of the Book of Mormon, like the Restoration of the gospel, like all of the things that build that foundation for us to go forward and teach in our Heavenly Father’s Kingdom.” Jazz and I are missionaries serving during this Historic event that has and will continue to take place. I know that it is not a coincidence that we were called to labor during this specific time and how blessed we are to be a part of it. 

A crazy thing happened this week- The story that I told you all last week about A___, the same restaurant that I gave a blessing over, flooded this past week... he's still interest in the gospel, but it's pretty sad because he told us now he wouldn't have enough time to listen to the discussions since he only works one job and things are pretty crazy for him right now. It's good that he is still positive about everything because he said that his insurance would take care of it. He plans to return to that job back in the restaurant in a few weeks once everything is fixed. We hope that the English Elders will work well with him once he gets everything fixed with that restaurant.

Another one of our investigators, C____ M_____ is progressing and will hopefully receive a baptismal date soon. Other than that, not too much has been happening this week. We visit a lot of members and try as much as possible to get in contact and invite our inactive members.     

Dad- I'm excited to get your letter, I hope you know that I really appreciate when you send those to me! What's going on with the Red Sox man?! I hear the Yankees aren't doing so hot either lol. Its all good, there's still plenty of season left for the Sox. 

Karen- I hear you on the part about Utah. First thing I think of is Lake Powell though!!! Great times, can't wait to go back! How many Temples can you cover in one trip?! That is so cool. What a special blessing it is to visit all those sacred places, 7 Temples in 3 hours... only in Utah I guess haha. I did get the scriptures for Aaron the other day, I will have them mailed to him later on this afternoon. 

Jazz- Que esta pasando con la clima por aya??... Esta chile en chile, eso no tiene sentido jaja:) Sigue trabajando cada dia. Miras a los pequenos milagros cada dia. Eso me ayudo especialmente cuando la clima fue muy duro y frio para mi aqui en new england.     

Yesterday we also had the opportunity to attend a baptism to an investigator we taught back in Nashua, I____ R_____. I attached a photo of him and I. How great it is to see the success from our labors! 

Thanks for all your love and support. I pray for you guys daily.

Les quiero mucho!

    

Elder Berthelson

BostonStrong

May 5th, Cinco de Mayo

amila,

Feliz cinco de mayo! Gracias por sus correos. Voy a escribir todo en espanol para celebrar este dia famoso! (cual no tiene mucha significa aqui en Los Estados para nada... jaja!) (disculpe K). Se recuerden lo que paso el ultimo ano durante este tiempo?? En realidad estuvimos en San Diego solo caminando alredador el parque en Old Town. (Despues asistiendo el templo por aya). Me extrano Old Town, SD. Pues, la proxima vez en que podamos visitar eso lugar, podemos hablar todo en espanol para toda la gente aya. Estoy emocionando a visitar San Diego otra vez y usar mi espanol. Eso seria muy chido! jaja. 

(eliz May 5th! Thank you for your post. I will write everything in Spanish to celebrate this famous day! (which does not have much meaning here in The States at all ... haha!) (sorry K). They remember what happened the last year during this time? Actually we were in San Diego just walking alredador park in Old Town. (After attending the temple aya). I extrano Old Town, SD. Well, the next time that we visit this place, we can talk all in Spanish for all people aya. I am excited to visit San Diego again and use my Spanish. That would be really cool! haha.)

 

 

Muchas buenas cosas pasaron durante esta semana! Entonces yo recibi las noticias sobre las transferencias y voy a quedarme aqui en Nashua. Todavia Elder Johnston esta mi companero. Estoy emocionado para quedarme aqui y continuar a trabajar con la gente en NH. Oh tambien, yo recibi buenas noticias ayer! Pues, hay va a ser una serperacion en el barrio de Providence, RI! Esta fantastico! Yo escuche las noticias ayer de mi otro companero, Elder Gonzalez, y el me dijo que el barrio crecio tanto que ellos necesitaban dividir el barrio... Entonces ahora, ellos tienen dos barrios, uno en Providence y el otro en Central Falls, mi primera area en la mision! Yo nunca pensaba en este pasando, por los menos mientras yo estaria aqui en la mision. Pues, hay muchos milagros que estan pasando, especialmente en las areas anteriores en que yo servi. Es una bendicion, que yo tenia la oportunidad a servir alli y ayudar esta maravillosa cosa pasa.      

 

(Many good things happened this week! Then I received the news about transfers and I will stay here in Nashua. We do this my companion Elder Johnston. I'm excited to stay here and continue to work with people in NH. Oh well, I received good news yesterday! Well, there will be a serperacion in the neighborhood of Providence, RI! This fantastic! I heard the news yesterday from my other companion, Elder Gonzalez, and told me that the district grew so much that they needed to divide the neighborhood ... So now they have two districts, one in Providence and one in Central Falls, my first area in the mission! I never thought about this happening, at least while I'd be here in the mission. Well, there are many miracles that are happening, especially in the above areas that I service. It is a blessing, that I had the opportunity to serve there and help this wonderful thing happens.)

 

 

La proxima semana, Elder Johnston y yo tuvimos la oportunidad a extender una fecha bautismal para un chico, se llama I___ R______! El tiene 17 anos y creo que el este listo para bautismo. Nos sentimos inspirados a extender una fecha para el primero domingo en junio (1 de Junio). Y tambien, esta semana, tuvimos 47 personas que se asistieron la Iglesia para la reunion sacramental ayer. Esta tiene significa que los numeros por el grupo espanol en Nashua esta creciendo y estamos tener mucho exito! Nuestras oraciones estan siendo contestadas! Por poner la fe y la confianza en Dios, podemos recibir muchas bendiciones en nuestras vidas. Yo tengo un testimonio en eso. 

 

(Next week, Elder Johnston and I had the opportunity to extend a baptismal date for a boy, I___ R____ called! He has 17 years and I think you are ready for baptism. We are inspired to extend the date for the first Sunday in June (June 1). And also, this week, we had 47 people who attended the church for sacrament meeting yesterday. This has meant that the numbers for the Spanish group in Nashua is growing and we have great success! Our prayers are being answered! By putting faith and trust in God, we can receive many blessings in our lives. I have a testimony of that.)

Papi- gracias por la proteina:)  Sigue trabajando duro con el trabajo y en el gimnasio!

Jazzy y papi, disculpen por la mala punctuacion que yo use por esta carta. No puedo poner los accentos y todo de esos... Y karen, voy a escribir un otro correo para ti.

Gracias a ustedes por sus ejemplos para mi. Yo se que este evangelio me trae gran felicidad y que me puedo expresar esa para todas las personas con que estoy trabajando. Disfruten su dia! Voy a comer muchos tacos y tener una fiesta hoy! jaja.

 

(Papi-thanks for protein :) Keep working hard with work and the gym!
Jazzy and dad, sorry for the bad punctuation that I use for this card. I can not put the accents and all of those ... And Karen, I'll write another post for you.
Thank you for your examples to me. I know that this gospel brings me great happiness and I can say that for everyone I'm working with. Enjoy your day! I will eat many tacos and have a party today! haha.)

Les quiero mucho!        

I love them very much!

We Can Find Happiness, April 28th

Family,

Thanks for all of your letters. All I have to say about Devin Hampton is that he looks READY and of course he is going to be an awesome missionary. I'm glad that you guys had a great time in Palm Springs. Man, everyone looks so old, all the cousins and everyone... its crazy! 

I'm doing well. The work right now is a little tough right now. There's only so much we can do as far as inviting others to attend church and having them keep their commitments. We also had to move J___M___'s baptismal date from this past Sunday to next month (May 25th). His mom said that she didn't feel like he was ready for baptism yet. J____ even asked me to perform his baptism... I have no idea whether or not I will still even be in this area by then. We have transfers next week and I believe I am being transferred, but we'll see what happens though. 

I have had the opportunity to teach the Plan of Salvation twice this past week to two different investigators. I absolutely love the Plan of Happiness. It's eternal perspective always makes me wonder how much of a significance I even make in this grand spectrum of His perfect plan. But I do know that the Lord has plans for me, as far as the people He wants me to bless and the person He wants me to become. I have no doubt that the Lord has that same connection for all of His children. He wants us to succeed and be happy. This is my testimony that I know that Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for each of us.  

The Boston Marathon was also definitely something worth remembering on my mission. I'm blessed to have cool experiences such as that on my mission.

Keep working hard. I love you all!

March 26th

Family,

I absolutely hate cold weather, it's only 20 degrees right now... and its almost April. I hope it's nice and hot where back in Phoenix. Other than the cruddy weather and the chance of snow for today I'm doing pretty good. One of the blessings of serving state-side is that I get up-to-date scores on the tourney, which also meant finding out what happened to Duke... What did happen to Duke?! Jabari Parker should've just decided to serve a full time mission... Oh well, picking Duke a few years ago was definitely worth it! Maybe next year haha.

This week was good as far as the work is concerned. Not too much happened with our progressing investigators Oscar and Blanca this week, but we did have success with one of our other investigators, J___ M____. He is an 11 year old kid whose mom is a less active. We even have a baptismal date set for him for the 27th of April! One of the biggest problems of why his mom is less active is that J___'s brother, E___, has an extremely severe case of Autism. (The picture is of me cutting E___'s hair, he can't sit still so his mom had to basically hold him down in a chair the entire time- she was very grateful for us doing that service for her boys because they aren't able to go to a barbershop since his autism is so severe). Only J____ was able to come to church this week, although he didn't understand anything that was said in Spanish, I think he still enjoyed it. 

 

This past Sunday as well, I also had the opportunity to give a talk  in our sacrament meeting. I spoke on how we can strengthen one other as family members. It was pretty cool since this was pretty much my first time on the mission giving a talk in an organized sacrament meeting all in Spanish.

Some other interesting things that happened just yesterday was that we were able to meet with one of our less actives, Hermano C_____, from Ecuador. He has been less active for about 5 years now and has been attending the Catholic church. (He actually came back to church 2 weeks ago for the first time since, but doesn't want to go back). .......But we promised him that he would be welcomed back into the church, and by that, will not feel embarrassed whatsoever. He promised he would attend if we went to a session of his Catholic mass before our church will start this Sunday. So this Sunday, we're planning to take up that challenge. It should be pretty interesting, I've never attended a Catholic mass before lol.

 

One last thing that happened yesterday was that Elder Johnston and I were able to drop by one of our other investigators, M____, and the only thing we had planned was to see how she was doing and to get to know her a little bit more. But when we arrived, we found out that her whole family as at her house all at the same time. So we decided to watch the restoration video and bear testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith to everyone that was at the house.  There was a total of 11 people at the house. That was the most I've been able to teach at once, it was pretty cool to share my testimony to all those people all at one time. That also could possibly mean a good amount of those people in that family might one day become actual investigators in the future, we'll have to see though.

Not too much has been happening besides that, Elder Johnston and I have been working hard and doing our best. I'm blessed to know everyone is doing well back home. I know that our families can be strengthened in so many ways through serving one another.

I love you guys so much! You are in my prayers.  

Elder Johnston and the Hermanas)

            

Elder BerthelsonBostonStrong