August 25, 2014 - Letter to Dad - Week 51

Hey dad!!!

It has been a pretty good week here in Talavera!!  I think mom forgot to send her email or it didn't send right, but ya tell her hi for me!  That´s pretty cool that Brother Preece served here!  Honestly this piso I´m in is so old I wouldn't be surprised if he stayed in the same one!  Calle Pio XII you should ask him! hah   

Hmmm the weather is pretty constant, just heat heat heat, although it has been getting a little cold in the morning like right when we get up. but after it's just back to more heat.  We don´t have any air conditioning, and we only have one fan, but it´s ok I'm used to it by now!  Plus I hear it gets FREEZING here in talavera right around Christmas time, which I´ll probably be here for so I'm not looking forward to that all that much!   

Not too much new actually going on in talavera, although we did have an awesome new family move into the branch!  The girl is from the islands, and the guy was a missionary here in madrid two years ago, and they have a baby, one month old, so it´s fun!!  They are excited to help us with the work here, and we really need the guy for priesthood help!  Now we are up to two men that live inside Talavera that are members! ha  Better than none I guess!  Ya I´m training, which is fun and difficult I suppose!  Now that I can speak spanish freely, I really enjoy just talking all about the church and all the lessons and stuff, but I have been working on letting my companion like share parts and get used to teaching as he learns spanish.  He knows way more than I did when I only had a few weeks.  It helps that portuguese is so similar, but anyways,..   

How is work going??  I hope it's good!  We were having correlation with our mission leader and he was showing me the wood floors he had just put in to his house.  They were kinda nice I guess, I think they might have been laminate though... they use a lot of laminate here, and like lame wood floors where the individual pieces come up wayy too easily.  I suppose I did learn a thing or two from going to work with you! ha Well sorry I'm a bit rushed today, but I hope you have a great week!  Love you dad!!

Nate

August 25, 2014 - Letter to Mom

Hey Momma!!

Awkward I have no questions to respond to or anything haha Even more awkward that it was a pretty ordinary week and I´m not sure exactly if I have anything all that interesting to say... Oh well I´ll try and come up with something!!  It was a pretty fun week!  We had a normal amount of lessons, and contacts and people in church, but I feel like it was a better week and I'm starting to get more comfortable and familiar with my area!  On Wednesday we went to toledo for district meeting, that city is so beautiful!  One day when we all come here for a vacation or something we gotta visit toledo!  I ended up getting talked into trying out a burrito place there with the frases ¨dude its like good mexican food¨and stuff like that, butttt I was sorely disappointed :(  ha It was a good burrito I suppose, but my expectations were raised to california burrito level and as I'm sure you can remember I love my california burritos :)  Mmmm I want the barn!! haha 

Oh sooo you should tell nana, there is a member here in the branch that is just like her!  Like literally she reminds me just of nana, and it's weird cuz it's like nana´s here with me in Spain.  The ladies name is Sulema and she is super nice.  She is always taking care of us and leaving us food and stuff and we always see her around with her little grandchildren and ya!  

A new member moved into the ward like I told dad in his email, actually a new family!  A young mom and dad with a one month old baby!  We are going over this week to help them paint their new house, and he is going to help us with some visits!!  He just got off his mission two years ago here in Madrid, so it´s pretty cool to have someone who knows what they are doing to help us out!!  I guess he was a really good missionary back in the day, and we really need some good priesthood leadership now so this will help!  In two of the three areas I've been in my branch president hasn't lived inside of my branch boundaries haha that makes no sense but it's how it is here!  All the strong members kind of get shuffled around to help the areas out!  So ya!!  

Hope it was a good week for you!  I would imagine it was a busy one, I noticed you hadn't written and I thought you like had the send fail or something and then Kendal was saying in her email she didn't get anything from you either, soo I´m guessing you must have had a crazy busy weekend!  She was saying how she told her mom you guys want to go over for her homecoming talk!  Have you talked with kendals´mom yet??  Just curious!!  

Hmmm not sure what else I have to share!!  This Thursday we have a big meeting in pavones, and after like what seems like forever I finally get to see the temple again!  I love seeing the temple!  Bummer I live to far away to go inside!!  And I´ll get to see my trainer and some other friends I haven't seen in a long LONG time!!  So I´m excited for that and hopefully I´ll get some good pictures!!  Hey I like the picture you sent me of us with the cards on our foreheads... How long ago was that??  I miss playing cards!  While I was in the islands I kind of got addicted to this game called Chi which is basically the argentinian version of speed, then president put out a note saying we weren´t allowed to play with face cards :/ rough haha 

But ya life is good!  The branch is good, spanish is good!  I gave a talk yesterday and it was really good!  I had written it all out like I usually do, but then I just ended up speaking to them with my own words and it came out a lot better like that!  I think I might finally be getting comfortable with public speaking!  At least in spanish!  Watch when I get back I´ll still be just as nervous in english! haha hope you are having a great week mom!  I love you and am grateful for everythng you do!  My talk was all about service and how a part of service for members is magnifying their callings!  You and dad have always been great examples of magnifying your callings, and working so hard to help out the young men and young women!  Hope you have a great week!  Love you!

Nate

August 18, 2014 - Letter from President Jackson

18 August 2014

Dear Poulson Family,

This letter is to inform you that your son, Elder Nathan William Poulson, has been assigned to be a trainer. He has demonstrated his ability as an effective, obedient missionary.  As a trainer, Elder Poulson will be responsible for teaching and training a new missionary. This is a 12 week program, which includes an additional hour of daily study, including language study. Both your son and the missionary he is training will be responsible to report their weekly progress to the President. Only the best and most dedicated missionaries are called as trainers. He will serve as a role model for his new companion, and will hold a special place in the heart and memory of that companion.

Thank you for sharing your son with us.  Sister Jackson and I love him and pray for his continued success in this important calling.

Our best wishes to you,



President Scott T. Jackson

Spain Madrid Mission

August 18th - Pictures

My island family the Leone's and peeling potatoes.  Despite the smile I was so sad to leave!!

Well here´s the baptism we had, me and my companion and the view from my piso!!  

Random from talavera and toledo

August 18, 2014 - Letter to Dad - Week 50

Hey Dad!!!

Sooo ya Talavera de la Reina is the full name of the area where I live, and that weather is definitely looking a lot more like what I'm living in!  It´s really dry though so it feels a bit hotter, but I guess I'm used to it by now!  Ya I'm settled here, I know pretty much everyone, except the branch president who coincidentally is on vacation in san diego right now!!  It will be fun to talk to him about that when he gets back!!  I guess he is some super rich dentist guy from another part of Madrid, and he has a super nice car, but other than that don't know much about him!  We had some awesome activities this week, so I have gotten to know all the people in the branch really well!!   

This past weekend we went out to the tahoe river, not sure how its spelled but ya... We had a big branch barbecue and spent the morning out there.  We originally had planned to just go out, eat with them play some soccer then head back to talavera to work, but we ended up getting stuck out there with the branch cuz there was no way back home, so it was a lot of fun but a bit of a waste of time, but oh well its done.  I decided that in my time here I really want to help the youth program here in talavera.  There are a TON of youth who are like inactive, and a lot of the ones who come are like half way in the church and one foot out, so I want to see what I can do to help them all becomes strong members.  It´s really sad cuz there are two or three big families where the mom is a strong member and she brings her kids, but the dad is either a non active antimormon or a non member!  Definitely makes me grateful for how awesome you and mom are and having you as my young mens leader throughout all my young mens time!  Thanks for everything dad!  I love you.   

Everything else is going really good out here!  Sounds like things are pretty hectic back home in a good way with Kara being home and everything!!  I bet when her friend leaves it will get a little more back to normal, but coming from experience, it's hard to get back onto a normal sleeping schedule! It´s almost like jet lag without the flight... But ya, hope work is going well!  I gurantee Kendal will be so excited to see you guys if you were to be there for her homecoming talk!!  And she would love to see Kara there too as well I bet!  Kendal loves you guys and loves hearing from you every week!  So ya, if you can visit her that would be awesome!!  If i count it out right, and I'm fairly certain I'm right, she will be getting home like the very last week of November, and then her talk would be right around there in the first week of December, but you´d have to ask her for better details, she should have flight plans by now I would imagine.   

So we had a baptism this past week!  I´ll write the whole story about him on moms letter so you can share, but his name is David and he´s nineteen!  He's really nice and he definitely was able to get his testimony and he was just confirmed yesterday in church!  He says he wants to serve a mission, so I think that would be way cool!!   

Hmm not sure what else!  How is work going??  It's kind of crazy to me how time is flying by when I realized that football season is starting up again!!  I hit half way in two weeks!!  Craziness,,, Well I hope you have a great week!  Love you dad!!

Nate

August 18th - Picture's of members from Telde

Some of my favorite investigators and members!!!  The lady served a mission in new york!!  Not sure if she was in Binghamton or not... And ya that first guy is easily 7 feet tall-. he was the canarian fight champion for years!!

August 18 - Letter to Mom

Hola!!!

Hey I just sent you a ton of pictures!!!  So ya you should tell me what you think of my haircut!!  haha I definitly went to this asian place at like 1:30 to get my haiurcut, and they were like uhhh can you come back later??  Soo after lunch I just decided whatever I'm gonna try and cut it myself!  It´s not like I have anyone here to look good for as long is it´s wearable let's do it!  And my last resort was if it turns out terrible I'd just go back to the asian place and buzz it, which was tempting cuz it's sooo hot here!!  But it turned out pretty good so I think I´ll keep it for now!!  Aunt Kayce would be proud :) hahah I have to admit though, her haircuts are wayyy better!!  I hope I can still get them when I get back!!  

Be honest is it good or bad???? :) 

Didn't you say they just got sealed a week ago??  I completely forgot, but that´s awesome!!  I was reading all about temple stuff today cuz I miss going to the temple, and this months liahona had a lot of temple stuff in it!  Did we ever get the liahona when I was younger??  Like I know we got the New Era and the Ensign and stuff, but I like the liahona too!  It has a lot more international stuff!!  I´m just hoping while I am here in Spain serving they do a feature about the growth of Spain and stuff!!  Just a few months back they did an article about the philipiines, so I think we should get our article here too!! haha Still got quite a bit of work to go for that!   

It was a good week!  We had a baptism! And then he got confirmed yesterday in church!  I think it was my first time not having to do either of the two things, so I was pretty relieved of stress! haha It was nice and fun to see it all happen!  He´s a good kid, he had been an investiagtor before I got here, and like they had been working with him to quit smoking so he could be baptized, and then we just had a noche de hogar(FHE) last weekend and he was saying all about how he had been praying like just this past Wednesday and he got his answer that this is the true church!  It was a powerful testimony, and ya now he is a member! Its awesome!  

Wanna hear the other awesome thing that happened!  We doubled attendence in the capilla this week!  Last week we had like 20ish people there, and this week 45 show up!  And we are in August which is the dead time of the year here in the greater Madrid area cuz it's so hot and everyone leaves on vacation!  Our branch president is actually on vacation in San Diego! haha wouldn't it be funny if you met my branch president before I did!  Anyway's, we had an awesome activity at the river on saturday, and we ate the most delicious food!!  Yummm we had like steak and ribs and panceta(which is basiaclly bacon but thicker and even better like wow it´s heavenly!!! haha) And then we went to the river and played soccer and we ended up having 4 investgatores at the activity with us too and everything!!   

Hey so while I'm remembering I got your package this week!!  The pants fit great and they are perfect!!  Thanks mom!!  I have been missing having a good pair of charcoal ones, cuz that's my favorite color of pants to wear out working!  I get to wear my two favorite ties with it (The blue ones I got from you and Kendal!!)  I still remember being like dead asleep when you walked in and threw a tie at me like saying hey isn't this such a nice looking tie, and I was half asleep so I didn't really mention anything, but ya it's my favorite one :)  It´s the Nordstrom one with like the squares I'm sure you remember it.   

Hmmm what else, I was able to go up to Madrid this past Wednesday for a zone meeting.  It was really good and like we learned about responding well to investigatores, and also we had a mini testimony meeting since some of the missionaries in our zone are going home like this week to get home for BYU!  Crazy how time flies!  Dad was telling me you guys might go out to visit Kendal and see her homecomng talk, that would be so awesome!!  I know she would love it!! And would love seeing you guys!  She wants to be there in California for my homecoming too, but not too worried about that cuz it´s still like a year away but just fyi :)   

hmm not sure what else to share this week!  I have taught my comp a LOT of spànish this past week!  Ya he has 8 weeks in the mission, so he´s pretty new! haha Think like where I was last November pretty much, except his spanish is further than mine was at the time because portuguese is pretty close, and I really only speak spanish to him haha maybe I´m mean, but he´s leanring so fast!   

Ya I hope my ring is in my suitcase!  I keep forgetting to call the office to bug them to look for it cuz like honestly it really isn 't super necessary at the moment!  I have enough with the stuff from the islands, and I feel like adding another suitcase to the mix would just be a little more hectic in my life, but I´m sure I´ll get it within the next few weeks!   

That's fun that you have Kara back in town as well!  Tell them that I miss them!  Well I miss all you guys!  But dang it's already August!  It´s super weird how fast time is going nowadays!  Like I don't understand at all haha, but I hope you have a great week mom!  Thanks for always being an amazing mom and for setting a great example along with dad... seeing some of the situations these youth here in talavera are in, really makes me grateful for the amazing parents I have!  Hope everything goes well with work, and that you have time for everything you said!  That made me laugh that you ran into one of my old football coaches!  He´s a good guy... Well I think that´s about it, I went to send pictures and realized I havent really taken many... I'll get better at it this week!  Love you!!  Hasta Luego!!!

Nathan

August 11, 2014 - Letter to Dad - Week 49

Hey Dad!!

Things are going pretty good out here!!  Sooo first things first I think I have to correct Apple on this one.  Though it may say 70 to 80 degrees, I have to say it has been in the 100´s every day for this past week!  I am living in a big oven, I swear!  And my piso has no AC, so pretty much its just windows open 24/7 and like I'm so tempted to sleep on the balcony!   

It´s kind of cool we have a balcony with a view from our fourth floor, and its not much but I really like sitting out there at night after we finish up work for the day!!  Ya it´s kind of weird not seeing the beach all the time, but more than anything I was bummed to leave the people of telde!!  Like that's how its been in all my time in the areas!  I'm totally down with switching from place to place and being in new areas and stuff, but the problem is I start making friends with all the members and I don't want to leave!  Just so you know there are several people in the islands that said whenever we end up traveling out there, we have places to stay and food to eat so all we have to pay for is the plane tickets!!  We should take advantage of that one day when I get back! hah I´ll definitely try and get pics out to you guys!!  I dont know if I can today cuz I am super pressed for time, but I´ll try!   

What happened was this morning early we left for a pueblo called Cruce de Lucillo, and played soccer with the local kids and a couple members like all morning, and then ate at the house of a member from peru! It was all great and I had an amazing time, buttt we ended up not having a bus to take us back for a while, so here I am trying to say as much as I can before it is time to go out to work!!  It´s a really busy area!  There is a lot of work to be done, and I'm happy to be here!  It´s pretty fun being with a portuguese guy here!  Not gonna lie sometimes it tries my patience with the language barrier and like trying to explain everything because he is new in the mission, but it´s working out and I'm sure as I get more comfortable with the area things will run smoother!  He has like an ok grasp on spanish and english, so normally we can get our thoughts across in one of the three languages!  Portuguese is kind of similar to spanish, but at the same time there is a LOT of things you have to learn so that you can speak both.  I think it actually must be really hard to learn spanish because of the similarities, but haha its fun!!  I guess they sort of couldn't find my bag in the mission home, but they say they know it's there so I think I'll end up getting it in like 3 weeks or so!  Kinda lame but oh well!  I honestly don't remember what is inside of it besides my temple clothes and my other suit, which I'm sure is way big on me now!! ha sooo I gotta go soon, but I hope you have a great week!   

I have been reading a LOT of conference talks this week, and I really love them!  I ended up snagging all the conference talks from 2006 and I think I have read every single one of them pretty much!  Just from reading them, I really like the apostle Wirthlin... Bummer I never really payed attention while he was still alive!  Anyways love you dad. I hope you have a great week and that work picks up!! HASTA LUEGO!!!

Nathan

August 11, 2014 - Letter to Mom

Hey Momma!!!

Ok I´ll try my best to answer all of them!!  There are a lot, but we´ll see how it goes!! hah Soo it has been a really good week here in Talavera!!  Like I described to dad, it's an oven here and I'm burning to death cuz it´s so dry, but overall I like the city and the investogators and the members and everyone!   

Before Sunday I had only met one member, because the majority of them live in pueblos(little towns)  outside of Talavera and since we don't have a car it's very hard to visit them!  But it was way fun to meet everyone this Sunday!!  They surprised me and called me up to speak and bear my testimony and everything, so that was fun!  I think I'm starting to get better at public speaking, but I'm still not all that good!  It's a branch btw!!  A little branch of like 20 something people out here south of Madrid!  I suppose there might be more, but its August in Madrid so the majority of the people who can are on vacation at the coast!  This is the hottest month in spain, and ya everyone leaves! ha 

The new companion is fun!  If i have time I´ll try and send pictures!  He is a really jokester type of guy, and we get along just fine!!  He is 24 and like I said is from the islands off Portugal.  The language barrier gets annoying sometimes, but oh well gotta make do with broken english broken spanish and broken portuguese on my part occasionally as well!!  I honestly haven't had time to stop and check out any pottery whatsoever, but I have seen quite a few shops as I have been walking through the streets!!  It looks cool!!  Hah I had to laugh at the lots of missionaries question!  Well there is just us two, and the closest missionaries are an hour and a half away by bus, so we are pretty isolated out here!  I have no clue why president likes putting me in little branches in the middle of nowhere, but I guess I'm supposed to learn something from it right??   

I haven't gotten your package yet, but hopefully soon!!  Hmm Amanda why does that name sound so familiar!?!??!  If you could get a last name for me that would make things way easier, because I usually just talk to people and use their last name cuz it's what's on the badge!!  If its Phillipps then ya I know her!  There is a girl who left a while back from Madrid who lives in Escondido, and ya thats cool!  Not sure who else it would be... 

I honestly have no clue what happened to the ctr ring :( and I'm super sad cuz I used to wear it every single day!!!  I hope it didn't get stolen or anything, cuz since I've been serving here I have been really good at taking care of my stuff, so I have no clue where it could have gone :(   

For now I'm good on shirts thanks :)  But I´ll be sure to tell you if I ever need any!!  Not sure on the address, but I´ll check it out and tell you guys another day!  I just know my calle is called Pio XII...   

I still find it so funny that Justin is in water polo!  That's fun!  And then I get jealous because I really wish I could be swimming right now!!  It's so hot out here!!  But I like it!  There are lots more South Americans and I really like their food, so that is a plus!  And ya, I teach english class, I teach second hour of church, and our church hours are flipped!  Like we have sacrament meeting last, which I'm not sure if I like but it's how things are!   

Soooo I have been reading a TON of talks in the liahona this past week, and I really love them!  I love the words of the prophets and apostles... I am super bummed I never payed attention before!  There is one from a seventy that I read this morning and really liked called something like zion in the midst of babylon, and it's really good"!  It had a lot to do with some of the talks they gave at this past confeence as well, like how we should be apart from the world and not let popularity and famous things of the world distract us from the things of the Lord!  It is something really good, and something I definitely got to use today when a group of guys like my age were asking and bugging me about why I couldn't play playstation and watch tv with them! hah Even members sometimes don't understand our rules as missionaries, but it's ok!  They are hard, but they are good and I like it!  I gotta go, but I love you mom!!  I hope you have a great week, and that work keeps getting better!  You guys are in my prayers, and I can't wait to see you all soon in skype!  ya its kinda far still but with the way time flies for me it's pretty soon!  Enjoy your time with Justin and Kara!  Tell them hi for me!  Love you!!

Nate

August 10, 2014 - From Sister Larson's Blog

I am also grateful that transfers only happen every 6 weeks.  I do not like transfers.  It is very, very hard to say goodbye to these missionaries to whom we have grown so close.  But, then again, we wouldn't get these new missionaries and make these new friendships without the transfers.

 We will really miss these three wonderful missionaries.

And they are off to their new adventures!

August 4, 2014 - Letter to Dad - Week 48

Hey dad!!

Sorry no time to say anything cuz i gotta go out and work and my computer shuts off like now, but i hope you ave a great week at work, that's funny that the Larsen's told you guys before ii could about transfers!  Its way hot out here, but I'm excited!  I´ll tell you all about it next week!  Love you!

Nate

August 4, 2014 - Letter to Mom

Wellllll it looks like you already know, but i´m headed up to Talavera!!!  I´m still super sad that i´m leaving and it´s been hard saying goodbye to all these people, but i´m excited too!!  Actually the Larsens are waiting for me right now because I'm heading to the airport to catch my flight!  Not sure if i´ll get to email over there i guess it depends on the time change and everything, but if not i hope y'all have a great week!  i love you!!!  Oh btw this is weird today i hit 11 months in the mission!!  Whattt time is flying bye!  OK gotta go"!  Have a great week"!

Nate

Later in the day:  

Hi!!!

Just so you know I'm here in Talavera!!  I haven't seen a whole ton of it, but my piso seems pretty big and nice, and like ya its way far away from Madrid! haha After taking the plane ride over I had to find a way down to south Madrid and then take a bus ride for an hour and a half to get to my area!  Idk if i mentioned it to yo guys or not, but I'm not the leader anymore, but i am training a new missionary, which is just as crazy!!  haha  The best part is that he doesn't really speak a whole ton of English or Spanish! haha His name is Elder Avila, and he is from an island off the coast of Portugal!  He speaks Portuguese, which is really similar to Spanish, so i understand a lot of what he says, plus back in the islands i started studying it a little bit cuz i want to learn a third language as well!  ahah me and my charmed life i want to learn Portuguese and the lord sends me a companion from Portugal :) yay!!!  I'm way excited and I'm sure i´ll have a ton to tell you for next week!!  hmmm Ya i think that is just about everything!  Tell everyone i love them and that i hope they have great weeks!!  Oh and tell kara i miss hearing from her, and i loved getting the report from Justin on efy! OK gotta go!  I love you!!

Nate

Entry from August 3, 2014 - From Sis Larson's Blog

Monday we all drove to Roque Nublo, one of the highest points on the island, 5948 feet above sea level.  It was over an hour drive on some very windy, mountain roads, but the views were incredible. After finally arriving at the area, we had to have our picnic lunch from the back of our car because there was nowhere to eat.  Everyone seemed to enjoy the sandwiches, chips, potato salad, and chocolate chip cookies.  

Then we had a 45 minute hike to get to the top.  Of course, we had to stop along the way for some photos.  We finally made it to the top.  Roque Nublo is 262 feet high.

 Hermana Grover, Elder Poulson, Hermana Irigoyen

 Elder Poulson and Hermana Larsen

                                Elders Rawlinson, Dyer, Shumway, McWhorter, Thunell, 

                               Hermanas Irigoyen, Grover, Elders Rawlinson and Poulson

 Elder Poulson

Elder Dyer, Poulson and Hermana Grover

 The Missionaries of the Island of Gran Canaria

                                                       A great group of missionaries!

And now, the sad part of our week.  Saturday night we found out about transfers.  We have big changes taking place.  Of course, we knew that Elder Shumway was going home.  Elder McWhorter and Elder Rawlinson are going to Madrid.  Elder Poulson is going to Talavera.  They are getting rid of a companionship in Las Palmas, so Elder Thunell is moving to Vecindario with Elder Gentry.  Elder Bybee will be Elder Wiltbank's new companion and Elder Hansen will be Elder Dyer's companion.  I have really grown close to the Elders.  It is very hard to see them go.  I know they will serve well wherever they are, but we will miss them greatly.  I do not like this part of the mission!