Letters from Elder Johnson: E-mail from Neal

Hello family!!!!!

Wow it really sounds like you guys are in no lack of excitement without me. It sounds like that your lives are still moving at a 1000 MPH and that it isn’t going to stop anytime soon. I am really glad to hear that….. It makes me happy inside!

So I am in Chorley right now. My home sweet home!! We had the chance to go to the Temple today, so we took it. I love that place!!!! I love being in the presence of God, and really communicating with him on such a personal level. The revelation that one receives in the temple is unsurpassed. I needed an answer today, and I know that I received it! I guess that all that I can do now is wait, and see if the answer that I got pans out, only time will tell though. I did the last two names that I had, so I will send them back soon. It is really strange being back here though. It has been a long long time since I have been here like this. I am so happy that I was able to come though. The accent is totally different to Manchester though, oh my goodness. This accent here in Chorley is a strange one that’s for sure. Maybe you will be able to hear it one day.

So yes transfers are next week, and I am 85% sure that I am moving. President came to our house for interviews this transfer, and while he interviewed us Sister Bullock inspected our house (SCARY)!! It was really clean, and we won the clean house gift (BROWNIES!!!!!!). Anyways president asked me how long I had been there and I said 6 months. He said that 6 months was about the longest, 7 ½ is the extreme, but that my time in Stretford was nearing the end. I am cool with that. I am ready for a change. The big city is great cause there is always something crazy to do, but I am ready for something new. My only hope is that I will not get sent too far so that I can come back for Gus’s baptism. I will be praying for that now, but its not up to me its up to the lord ha ha ha. The new p-day thing is going to be odd, but its going to be good. Monday is going to be really a lot better I think.

So Gus is doing amazing!!! He is totally prepared and has been since we first taught him. He is readily accepting everything that we teach him, and he is so excited for his baptism. He already got that Saturday and Sunday off work so that there are no problems. It is going to be great. There is a Baptism up in Swinton this Saturday so we are going to try to get him up to that so that he can see what he is going to be doing, and so that he can feel the spirit! The Spirit is the Key!!!!!!!!

I got to give a really cool training in District meeting yesterday. I was asked to talk about how we can listen to Spirit to lead us to those that are prepared to hear the Gospel. I came to the conclusion that the main way that people are prepared is by the spirit, and that it is the same spirit that we follow and listen to. How cool is that… the source for their preparation is the source of our guidance. Its like a match maker of sorts HA HA HA!!! We have been really trying hard to follow that spirit and to find those that are prepared. We did 71/16 last week, and it felt really really good. We have been working really hard, and the time just seems to fly. I have been walking down my street at night, and I have stopped and thought about how I haven’t been thinking about the stuff that I usually do, because my mind is totally focused. My thoughts aren’t wandering, and I am a lot happier!!!! Work is amazing, and I am so glad that you taught me how to work when I was young. I am not complaining, don’t worry about that. I am always happy, just sometimes I am less happy than others. I often times think about what Elder Garcia once told me….. “be the Missionary that your mum thinks that you are.” I then picture you all sitting in front of the TV and watching my mission. I also think about you maybe standing off in the distance in Piccadilly square and I think about what you would think. Some times I am proud of what you would see, but sometimes I am not so proud. My goal is that if that ever did happen that you would be crying and overwhelmed with the work that I am doing. It is tough sometimes to keep that up, but it is worth it!!!

President is having us choose two topics that we are going to become EXPERTS at during our study time. I chose the great apostasy (because it is so relevant to this country), and the Atonement. I am going to really start diving in hard and strong to those and really become an expert. I am almost through Luke, and Alma just keeps getting better and better!!!!

Well I love you all. I am so thankful for all your support and love. I am very proud to call you my family, and I always will be. Keep on studying and praying.

I love you all!!!!
Elder Neal