Political Stuff Heating Up

Hola Elder Nielsen,

It has been 58 degrees out the past few days and feels like spring.  We love it! Most of the snow has melted now except for in the shady places. It has been a good busy week.

We are having the presidential elections in the US coming up and all the candidates have been coming to Elko to try to get people to vote for them. On Monday morning I went to hear Marco Rubio speak, he is a senator for Florida who has some conservative values. Then Monday evening, mom, Summer and I went to hear Ted Cruz speak at the convention center. His deal was a show. He is a senator from Texas who mom likes and I was leaning towards Rubio or Cruz so I wanted to listen to both of them before I voted on Tuesday. But after attending Cruz's event on Monday I was sold. They had David Osmond, the son of Alan Osmond sing the national anthem and another song. He has been on American Idol and has that crystal clear Osmond voice. We enjoyed that. Then they had Glen Beck speak. Who mom listens to on the radio everyday. He is LDS and I had not ever listened to him or gave him much attention, but I was very impressed. He was a great speaker and really sold me on Cruz' values and ability to be a great president. Then Cruz came out and spoke to the group. The convention center was packed like it is with the Christmas choralier's concert.  But Cruz did a great job and sold me. They were running against Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, and Donald Trump. Trump is a lose cannon and has been winning all the other states elections so far.  He is a crazy man and you never know where his is coming from or where he is heading. But I believe the american people are fed up with politics and want something different. But I think he is a dangerous guy to be in that powerful position.

Bush dropped out of the running as he was not winning and a few of the others need to drop out. Really it is between Trump, Rubio and Cruz on the republican side. HIlary Clinton is running against Bernie Sanders for the democratic side. Things are pretty scary on the political side right now in the US.  On Tuesday, we had a PAL game and we played probably the 2nd or 3rd best team in the league and we only lost by 1 point, so I was happy with our performance. Summer had 2 points. I dropped mom off to go vote before our game and I went after our game. Cruz won Elko county but Trump won the state of Nevada, so that is not good. Also on Tuesday I was a watch dog at Adelaide's school, so I got to spend the day with her. She really enjoyed that. She was so excited to have me go to school with her that day that she got up and was dressed and ready to go to school at 7 am. She does not go until noon, but she was ready and excited to have her dad with her at school.

On Wednesday, we had PAL practice. We only get about 6 of our 9 girls there at practice so it is hard to try and put in any plays or run defenses. Afterwards we were waiting for some parents to pick up their girls and found out about a few a them. The little Filipino girl, both her mom and dad are doctors. And another little girl on our team that live by her up by the new Marriott, both of her parents are anesthesiologists. So both families are very wealthy. We were thinking that you might be able to meet with the Filipino family when you get home off your mission. We went to the East stake and mom and summer played on a women's team from that stake. Summer did really well and had 8 points. I think it is good for her to just play and get confidence and a feel for the game.

On Thursday we had PAL pictures and YMYW. Addie was coughing a lot and wanted me to rock her as she had a fever and head ache. There has been some colds and sicknesses going around.

On Friday, Elko played Clark in the state semi finals. Mom and I went out to dinner with the Simons and another couple that was visiting them from West wendover who are LDS. He is a judge over there and comes over to help Mason. It was a nice dinner, we used the gift card I received from the Elko baseball team for doing the announcing for the games. Then we listened to the games on the radio. Elko did not score its first points until 2 minutes to go in the 1st quarter. Clark has 2 freshmen that start for them. We knew what would happen, they would shut Eric down and win the game. That is why you need 5 threats to win a game. Elko lost 54-37. Baum had 12 points, Eric had 9, and a few others had points, but when you only have one threat, it is easy to shut down. I don't think Elko will ever beat Clark with Klekas coaching. Desert Pines beat So. Tahoe by 20 points and Clark beat Desert Pines in the final by 4 points 43-39. So Clark has won 3 out of the last 4 state championships.

On Sat. we went out to Spring Creek to watch Summer play volleyball. Then I worked on taxes all afternoon. Sat. evening we went over to the simons house for a birthday party and pizza. Stephan Curry has been playing great again this year and Golden State will be the 1st team ever to win 50 games before a certain time period. He played on TV Sat. and had 43 points and 12 3-pointers. They have only lost 5 games this year.

We had good meetings in church. We have to go to new beginnings tonight as Carly will becoming a young women in Sept. I can't believe it.

Well, have a super week. Keep working hard and being exactly obedient. We love you and pray for you always. Being a special witness of Christ is truly amazing. Take advantage of every moment you have. Reagan Goulding got her mission call to Concepcion Chile. Kyle Olsen is engaged and will be married in July some time.

Love Dad

It is Finally Warming Up Here

Dear Elder Nielsen,

How was your week?  Ours was good, busy as usual and quick. Monday was President's day, so I had the day off and the kids were out of school. We stayed home and I worked on taxes and cleaned around the house.  It was a nice break. We did not go any where.

On Tuesday, we had a normal day of work and after work, I had to go out to Spring Creek for the FAFSA night. We only had about 10 people there, so it was a small crowd. Mom had to practice alone with the PAL team.

On Wednesday, I had meetings from 8:30 to about 1 pm. Then I met with a few tax clients to do their taxes. We had a PAL game and we won by 5 to 8 points, but it was close. We were ahead for most of the game, but they only had 5 players, so they were tired. Angel the Filipino girl whose family was taught in our house by the missionaries was playing on the other team.

Thursday, we had PAL practice in the evening and YMYW, but the both of my teachers were out of town with the band for the regional games, so I did not go.  The Elko girls lost to Lowry by about 15 points. Lowry girls team is playing a lot better. Our team has not been playing well the past month. So the girls are done. The Elko boys played on Friday night against Fernley. We had a very slow start and Fernley was leading most of the game until the 3rd quarter and our defense picked up. We ended up winning by about 10-12 or something. The pressure gets to Eric and he does not play well. Baum had a big game. Saturday Elko played South Tahoe in the regional championship game. So. Tahoe beat Lowry the night before and Lowry had beaten them 2 during the regular season. In the boys championship game, South tahoe was leading almost the entire game.  We did not play well again, and struggled making shots. But we ended up winning by 2 points. South TAhoe had the ball at the very end and threw up a half court shot that hit off the front of the rim. That shot would have won it for So. Tahoe. The Lowry girls ended up beating Fallon girls who were undefeated up to that point. So we play Clark next week in the state semis and Desert Pines plays So. Tahoe. We will see how that goes.

We have a trek meeting tonight with Summer. She will be going on Trek this week. I saw Mr. Dumas at a meeting this week, and he asked about you. He said he misses you and the rest of the boys this time of year. Summer had 2 volleyball Adobe games on Sat. and they won both. She does not play that much, but I thought she did very well. She had two kills with her left hand that looked great.  That is hard to do. I was very impressed.

Keep working hard and being obedient. We love you and are happy you are on a mission. The best place in the world for you at this time. Remember who you serve and always be His representative.

Love

DAD

Another Week Gone

Hola Elder Nielsen,

Here we sit to write another letter.  The weeks keep blowing by very quickly.  We had PAL practice on Monday evening.  Mom says our practices are a lot more effective without the 2 twins holding us back.

Tuesday I had to drive to Jackpot High school for FAFSA day.  We had good weather so that was good.  I always enjoy going to Jackpot as I get to use my spanish talking with the parents of the students.  That evening I had to go to Wells High school for FAFSA night. So after Jackpot, I drove back to Wells and hung out at Burger King as they had free WiFi. So I was in there for 2 hours or so doing tax returns and checking emails etc. I had to be at Wells HS at 5:30 pm and was there until about 7:30 pm. The counselors at the schools there are so appreciative of me coming and talking to the students and parents. That is one of my favorite parts of my job.  Getting out and meeting and talking to new people.  I enjoy it very much. (But I am kind of shy at times. ha ha) I got back at around 8:30 pm and was tired. 

On Wednesday we had another PAL practice.  

On Thursday, I started meeting with people to do their taxes, so tax season is officially on.  We had our 1st PAL game on Thursday and we got blown out. We played Suzie Beatty's team and they have a team made up of all the good players from Carly's age with Marina Vera and a few other good players. I thought most of the teams would be playing zone defense and had not put in a man to man offense yet, so our girls could not do much.  We turned the ball over a lot.  I was getting frustrated as I really wanted to beat them. But I will put in a man to man offense and we should get better.  One of our better players hurt herself in practice the night before so she really could not play and do much. They beat us like 40-8 or something like that.  But we will learn and get better. I hope we meet them again. Summer had 4 out of the 8 points.  Carly is playing with us and she did well as well. She is playing a lot better on our team than she did on her team her own age.  She and Summer just need more coaching and more confidence in themselves. We need to work on their ball handling skills.  They get nervous and pick up their dribble and then throw the ball away.  After our game, Summer and I went to YMYW. It was the combined activity and we watched The Other side of Heaven. I really like that movie and enjoy seeing all the Polynesians.  With Amber serving her mission in Hawaii, the Polynesians are special people to us like this Hispanics.

On Friday, Elko was playing in Fallon and in Fernley on Saturday. The Fallon girls are 27-0 this year and beat Elko girls who was in 2nd place by more than 40 points and the mercy rule was in place. Elko boys beat Fallon by 11 I think. A few of Fallon kids, 1 was their leading scorer got kicked off the team for partying.  They seem to do that a lot in Fallon. Elko beat Fernley by quite a few points.  I was watching BYU playing bball on BYUTV and they got beat. They seem to struggle this year. 

On Saturday morning I did the clock for the freshman boys and girls teams. Then we had a PAL game at 1 pm. But I was 1/2 hour late getting to the game. We played Wendover and were up by a bunch when I got there. So mom had them all under control. Perhaps mom should coach them more often. Wendover was not very good.  We beat them like 38-18 or something. Summer said she had 8 points. The game was in hand by time I got there.

Today was fast Sunday and we had good meetings. There was a couple wanting assistance from the church that came to church, the lady had been in jail for the past 3 months. So asked the missionaries if they had gospel essential planned and they said they did not, so I took them with the missionaries into a class room and I taught them the plan of salvation. They seemed to be fairly interested. I told the missionaries to jump in and add any thing they wanted to the lesson and they did not say hardly any thing at all.  Then after the meetings, I sat down with them and went over a budget with them before the bishop met with them.

We had the missionaries over for our "souper bowl sunday" meal. Mom made 3 kinds of soup with bread sticks. Denver is playing the Carolina panthers and I saw that Denver was up 13-7 at half time.

We are excited to hear how your lesson went with the 300-400 college students. We have been praying all week that their hearts would be touched and that many of them would want to know more.

Keep working hard.  I was talking to my sister Sharon last night and we were talking about the plan of salvation. She read a quote from Neal Maxwell that said basically every thing we do on this earthly life will prepare us for the more grander scale of the spirit world.  The same work is going on in the spirit world but the scale is 10 time larger and the hastening needs to happen there as well. It was interesting to think that what we are doing here, will prepare us for the next life in our work there with the spirits.

Have a super week, we love you and pray for you always. Remember to be the very best representative of Jesus Christ that you can be. Think, act, talk and teach as he would.

I sent you those freezing rain videos, hopefully you were able to see them.

Love,

Dad