E-mail from Neal - Received 7-18-08

Hello Everyone!!!!!

I first must apologize that this is coming on Friday. We Email at the
library, and for some odd reason all the libraries across the counties
were closed for the past 2 days. Something about a strike or something.
Never have heard that a library would go on strike, but this is england
after all right?!?!?! But anyways thank you so much for the package, it
was great. The cookies were really really good mom, me and E. Smith
loved them. The candy was great too. I got the package at Zone
Conference, and i got one from brian and steph too, so that was really
really awesome. Packages are pretty much the most amazing thing ever!!!!

Oh my goodness Zone Conference!!!!! Pres. and Sis. Bullock are
AMAZING!!!!!! (no big changes at all). They are going to be amazing in
this mission, and i cannot wait to learn as much as i can from them.
They are going to take this mission to new heights! There is no doubt in
my mind that they were chosen from god, and that they are in the right
place at the right time (as am i). President is really a cool guy. He is
extremely nice, but very very bold. I can see him as one that you would
not want to get on his bad side, but i do not plan on doing that anytime
soon (or at all for that matter). We had a huge testimony meeting, and
everyone got up and bore their testimony. I have never seen an
intermediate hymn sung at a testimony meeting until now! It was really
really great. I got up and told everyone exactly what i felt, and
actually a lot of what i said in my last letter home. It was the most
heartfelt, spiritual, and emotional testimony i have ever given, and you
know what..... In no way am i ashamed! I know that i am on my mission
because Jesus Christ suffered and died for my sins, and i am not ashamed
to tell people that. So between Zone Conference, reading Alma 26 (my new
favorite chapter.... I LOVE AMMON!!!!), and going to the temple on
Wednesday, i am seriously on cloud 9 right now. Yes the work is hard,
and moving kinda slow, but time is flying because i am happy! I am
staying positive because i know that i have a reason to rejoice (alma
26). I am doing the lords work, and i am absolutely overjoyed to be doing
it!!!!!!!!! England is a crazy place, but when i have the strength of
the lord nothing is crazy, scary, or hard! I really challenge everyone
to study Alma 26 then to also read Pres. Uchtdorf's talk from i think
Oct. 2007 "have we not reason to rejoice". That is my commitment to you,
and i expect a report! If you study that chapter as hard as i did you
will be happy for quite some time!!!!!!!!

It has been raining here a lot, but what else is new. I have two
umbrellas now. One Small one that i can pack away in case of emergencies,
and one really big one that is absolutely necessary sometimes!!!!! Yes
its big, and awkward, but it will save your skin!!! Umbrellas are
something that we just don't ever use or need in Colorado. I think that i
can count on one hand how many times i used one. YEA..... i use one
everyday pretty much. Wetness is a way of life here, and its something
that you have to get used to. Its fun though, i am enjoying the rain. As
long as I stay dry then i am good. I think that i gained that love from
Heather. She loves rain so so much, and i think that that may have
rubbed off on me. Granted i Have only been here for almost 3 months, so
my opinion may change come winter time, but for right now i like it.

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!
You are all such a support to me, and i do not know what i would do
without you! Thanks for everything that you do!!!! You are amazing, and
you are truly the definition of why families are so important in the
eyes of the Lord! Everything that i have in this world is credited to
all of you!!!
Talk to you soon!!!

Elder Johnson

Pic 1 - My new Closet Decorations (thanks to brian and steph)
Pic 2 - CHAMPION!!!!!!

[Editor's Note] For whatever reason, the pictures are not uploading right now. I'll try again later!