Email from Neal - Received 12/10/08

Hello to my Amazing family!!!!!

First of all, I must tell you that I am really kinda sad today….. I left my gloves on a bus last night, and I am rather frustrated about that! They were so nice, and the looked so good. They fit me perfectly, and they were warm!!!! I don’t know what I am going to do. I found a lame pair in the house that I will use for the time, but someone at home would be amazing if they sent me another pair!!!!!! I am going to look around here for some, but I don’t know if I will find anything good! I am sad, but I will survive after a few tears……..

I am staying in Stretford with E. Lloyd. I am going to be finishing training him so that will be fun. We are getting 2 new house mates, so we are going to be back to a 4 man house!! They are fun, but they are tough sometimes. This one is going to be great though because the 2 guys that are coming in are workers, and that is really really good!!!!

Ok now I really need to talk about all the amazing things that have happened lately….. First John Glespen has disappeared which is good and bad. He “had” a baptism date, but no more. He was a little unstable and it really was very difficult (spiritually, and emotionally) to teach him. We are moving on and forging ahead!

Sean Reader however sent us a text last week telling us that he had asks someone in the ward to baptize him!!!! Yea that came out of no where!!! We hadn’t taught him in a month, cause he would never keep appointments. We backed off and let the YSA take over, and boy did they!!! He has come to everything in the past few weeks, and now he is keeping all of his commitments! We have seen him everyday, and we are helping him to get ready. Right now we have scheduled him for the 27th, but that might change because all the YSA might be gone that weekend cause of Christmas. He is really really excited, and happier and more open than I have ever seen him before! We have even been talking about him going on a mission!!!!!!! MISSIONS ARE AMAZING!!!!!!!!

I heard from E. McIntosh last week…. Karl is doing amazing, and his mom and her boyfriend are going to get married in January, and then baptised the next week!!!!!!!!!!! Again MISSIONS ARE AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!

I got to give a blessing to a girl that is not a member last week. Her name is Neetika, and she is a Hindu from India. She grew up in Belfast, and her best friend is a member (RM from Germany). She has been having a lot of problems lately and so her friend told her to call us (we live right around the corner), and SHE DID!!!!! I had the privilege to do the blessing and let me tell you……. WOW!!!! The spirit was with me. Scriptures were flying through my head, thoughts and words, and inspiration was coming from all directions. I know that the Lord was talking through me, and what is better is I am learning more and more how the Lord talks to me. He speaks to each of us differently, and I am really tuning into how he speaks to me. I am trying my hardest to listen and to more importantly obey!!! The power of the priesthood is incredible, and very very real!!!!!! This church is true and living, and I am so grateful to be able to partake of it!

I love you all, and I hope that all goes well for the holiday season! I am missing all of you, cause this is my first Christmas away from my family and my home, and that is sad sometimes, but I know that you are all there and praying for me!!!!

STAY STRONG!!!!!!
Elder Johnson