Hello to everyone that loves me!!!!!!!!
This week has been not normal in any sense of the word. Elder Wheat has been sick lately, and he was in bed all day Tuesday (I read the whole Ensign, and a ton of the book of Mormon). We had the district leader and his companion in our area on Wednesday. We caught a bus to Newcastle-under-Lyme (hour and a half one way) on Thursday for interviews and training. We had a really cool ward activity for missionary work on Friday. Saturday was normal except for all of our appointments falling through, and yesterday was way way way cool. We went to Newtown for church and then stayed and worked all day. That was a new experience for me to say the least. There were 14 of us at church. Talk about different. I grew up in big wards, and the first 2 wards that I have served in have also been big! Chorley is like an American sized ward, and Stretford is huge for England. The Newtown Branch was amazing though. There unity and love that was felt there, was amazing. The spirit was still there and very strong, the sacrament was the same, and the lord was with us. “Where 2 or 3 (or 14) are gathered in my name, there I am also.” SO VERY TRUE!!! It was fast Sunday, and so we all got a chance to bear our testimonies. I love bearing my testimony, and I am so glad that I get to do it so often. The members of Newtown were so happy that we were there to worship with them, and the service was just great. Missions are just one amazing experience after another!!!
Later on that day, we went and did our normal thing in Newtown. We taught and talked to a few people, and had a good time with President Briggs. We had a chance to give 2 blessings, and that is another amazing opportunity. I never thought that I would have given so many blessings on my mission, but I have. I am so grateful that I am worthy and not scared to perform that amazing action. For a while I would always hesitate when someone asked for a blessing, but not anymore. I love giving blessings of any kind because I can feel the power going out of me and into them. I feel that the most, when I am involved in conferring the Holy Ghost, but the power is there for blessings as well. I love my mission, and I cannot believe that I have only about a year left. This is going to be a very different year for me, that is for sure!!
We had interviews on Thursday, and I think that this is the first time that I have really felt comfortable talking to President openly about things. He is a wonderful man, but maybe someday when you meet him you will discover how intimidating he can be. He is a BIG business man, and he is very intense. I have heard that he was the CEO of ING….. That’s big!! He is what the mission needs right now, and that is very clear to all of us. He is an amazing man, and an amazing leader. I am beginning to open up to him more. It might be because I have more things to talk to him about, or it might be that I know that he can help, and that he has the answers, or at least he is entitled to the revelation that bring the answers. I love him so much, and I know that he loves me. Mission Presidents are seriously the elect!!! They have so much importance in building the kingdom. They are great men, and there wives are even greater. Sister Bullock is a saint, and there is no other way to describe her. I love them both!!!
I miss snow. Boy oh boy so I miss snow. It was really nice when I got down here to Shrewsbury, but then the past week has been kinda miserable. Cold and really windy. The weather is starting to get better now, and just in time because on Wednesday, the suits go away!!!! Can you tell that I am way excited!!!! I don’t know what I am going to do with myself. I am going to be really happy when I don’t have to shove a suit coat under my jacket!!
I am really excited for General Conference this week!! I have a new appreciation for conference now that I am on my mission! It is a great time to hear from Gods chosen servants, and to feel of the truth of their words. The suits have to go back on for that, but that is really not that big of a deal. We are having lunch with the Newtown branch, because they are going to the same place as us to watch it (Telford).
Next week is transfer week because we are in a 5 week transfer period. I will not be writing on Monday, but on Wednesday instead. And if Wednesday is wild, then I will be writing on Thursday. I think that I am probably staying, and E. Wheat is going, but who really ever knows. It is up to the lord, and it always is. Just keep that in mind, that I will not be writing on Monday. This week is going to be tough because we have to survive food-wise for a week and a half, and we have like NO money! Train tickets to Newtown are killing us!!!
I am still doing really good, and I am moving on and focusing on my work. I thank you all for your support and your love. I know that I have the best family in the world! It is crazy to think that it has been almost a year that we said goodbye, it feels just like yesterday, and I am sure that it is going to feel like tomorrow that I am back home. I am not in any hurry because I have a ton of things yet to do here in England and Wales! I love you all so so so much, and I know that you pray for me all the time. Stay strong, and continue to do what you do best….. LIVE THE GOSPEL!!!!!
Love,
Elder Neal
P.S.
I read this awesome quote in the Ensign. You have probably already read it, cause it was in the First Presidency message but.....
"Pray like everything depended on God. Work like everything depended on you."
That is becoming one of my new themes for my mission!!
Love you,
EJ
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Pictures from Neal - Received 3-23-09
Boys will be boys!
District activity (missing E. Wheat and Ritter)
Me and My Dad - 10 months later
Us and the Zone Leaders (Garcia and Pimentel)
Shrewsbury Castle (I don;t think that they are going to answer)
Welcome to Wales (at least they do it in English too)
NEWTOWN!!!!
E-mail from Neal - Received 3-23-09
Hello All,
I am sorry about getting you all worried. I want you all to know that I am more focused now than I ever have been. I have really made some key decisions and that has made a huge difference. Thank you for your concern, and for your prayers, but know that I am doing great. I am happy and smiling all the time, and I am working hard. We have been really talking about the three types of missions that you can serve. Fun, Honourable, and Sacred. I have been teetering in the middle of Honourable and Sacred, but throughout this week, I am really felt myself move more into sacred. Maybe its cause I have been really busy, and haven’t really had time to think about things, but I do feel better. Thank you for all of your concern, and I am so thankful that I have such a great family that loves me no matter what. I love you all so much!!!!!!
This week has been wild. I was in Telford on an exchange, and the bikes totally kicked my trash!!!! The bike that I rode was really, really bad, so that didn’t help much, but I just haven’t ridden a bike in a long time. I did get better as the day went on, but it was a new challenge for me. Bike Contacting is really fun though, and I really think that people stop more cause they think that we are cops!!! I am going to talk to president and see of we can get some bikes here in Shrewsbury. Elder Wheat doesn’t want them, but they would really help out a lot I think. On Friday night we had a huge sleep over. All of the elders in the district came to our Flat (our freakishly small flat) so there were 6 big guys in there for the night. It was way fun. We were commanded to be in bed at 10:30, and we obeyed!! The reason for it was that we had to catch a train at 6:45 the next morning to go to Zone Conference in Stretford. We got up at 4:30 (that was tough!!!!). It was a really great conference though. Elder Pear Malm of the 70 was there, and he was a riot. He is from Sweden, and he talked all about the spirit, and about how you can still be yourself and have the spirit. He was himself, and he really led by example!!! I learned a lot, and really loved the conference. I have been kinda not been myself lately, for one reason or another (new area, etc) and so this really helped me. He was a great speaker, and he really taught a ton of great things. It was a very long day, but it was good. We didn’t get back until about 7:45, and by that time my head was pounding!!!!! I love zone conference so much. People talk about how General Conference pumps them up, and recharges the batteries, but that is what zone conference does for missionaries. We are going on full throttle all the time, so we need more recharges!!! We have interviews this Thursday which is going to be awesome, and then General Conference!!! I am going to be on overload by the end of this transfer!!!!
I am glad to hear that Grandpa is doing alright again. I have been praying for him and Grandma a lot this week. Tell him that I am thinking about him, and that I actually told a lot of people on the street about him. I was talking about the Plan of Salvation, and I said that my Grandpa just had a really huge Health Scare, but that I knew that if it was the Lord's will to take him, that I knew that I would see him again. It really made people think, and ask me how I knew that. I was able to tell them with complete confidence that I would be able to be with him again. I know that I am sealed to him through you, and that we will be an eternal family. I know that!!!!
Well I really have to get going. We need to get some stuff done. I will talk to you all next week for sure. I love you all, and I am so glad that you are there to help and support me. Trust me when I say that I have happy and focused, and that all is well with me. Keep on studying and praying, and I know that all will be well!!!!
I love you all,
Elder Neal
I am sorry about getting you all worried. I want you all to know that I am more focused now than I ever have been. I have really made some key decisions and that has made a huge difference. Thank you for your concern, and for your prayers, but know that I am doing great. I am happy and smiling all the time, and I am working hard. We have been really talking about the three types of missions that you can serve. Fun, Honourable, and Sacred. I have been teetering in the middle of Honourable and Sacred, but throughout this week, I am really felt myself move more into sacred. Maybe its cause I have been really busy, and haven’t really had time to think about things, but I do feel better. Thank you for all of your concern, and I am so thankful that I have such a great family that loves me no matter what. I love you all so much!!!!!!
This week has been wild. I was in Telford on an exchange, and the bikes totally kicked my trash!!!! The bike that I rode was really, really bad, so that didn’t help much, but I just haven’t ridden a bike in a long time. I did get better as the day went on, but it was a new challenge for me. Bike Contacting is really fun though, and I really think that people stop more cause they think that we are cops!!! I am going to talk to president and see of we can get some bikes here in Shrewsbury. Elder Wheat doesn’t want them, but they would really help out a lot I think. On Friday night we had a huge sleep over. All of the elders in the district came to our Flat (our freakishly small flat) so there were 6 big guys in there for the night. It was way fun. We were commanded to be in bed at 10:30, and we obeyed!! The reason for it was that we had to catch a train at 6:45 the next morning to go to Zone Conference in Stretford. We got up at 4:30 (that was tough!!!!). It was a really great conference though. Elder Pear Malm of the 70 was there, and he was a riot. He is from Sweden, and he talked all about the spirit, and about how you can still be yourself and have the spirit. He was himself, and he really led by example!!! I learned a lot, and really loved the conference. I have been kinda not been myself lately, for one reason or another (new area, etc) and so this really helped me. He was a great speaker, and he really taught a ton of great things. It was a very long day, but it was good. We didn’t get back until about 7:45, and by that time my head was pounding!!!!! I love zone conference so much. People talk about how General Conference pumps them up, and recharges the batteries, but that is what zone conference does for missionaries. We are going on full throttle all the time, so we need more recharges!!! We have interviews this Thursday which is going to be awesome, and then General Conference!!! I am going to be on overload by the end of this transfer!!!!
I am glad to hear that Grandpa is doing alright again. I have been praying for him and Grandma a lot this week. Tell him that I am thinking about him, and that I actually told a lot of people on the street about him. I was talking about the Plan of Salvation, and I said that my Grandpa just had a really huge Health Scare, but that I knew that if it was the Lord's will to take him, that I knew that I would see him again. It really made people think, and ask me how I knew that. I was able to tell them with complete confidence that I would be able to be with him again. I know that I am sealed to him through you, and that we will be an eternal family. I know that!!!!
Well I really have to get going. We need to get some stuff done. I will talk to you all next week for sure. I love you all, and I am so glad that you are there to help and support me. Trust me when I say that I have happy and focused, and that all is well with me. Keep on studying and praying, and I know that all will be well!!!!
I love you all,
Elder Neal
Monday, March 16, 2009
E-mail from Neal - Received 3-16-09
Hello everyone!!!!
This week for me has been a toughish one. Nothing that killed me, but this area is a lot tougher than last. Exchanges with Elder Garcia was amazing. We talked to a ton of people last week….. 82/9 which is really good for Shrewsbury. We got to teach together and it was just like old times. The member that came with us asked us if we practice all the time because we taught so well and in such unity. We just laughed and said that this was not the first time that had taught together! I learned everything that I know from him, so its no wonder that we teach the same! And now I am on exchanges with Elder Rose. I am in Telford right now, and this is a bike area!!! I will be on a bike for the next day, how funny is that!!!!! I am excited to do it, because I know that I will feel like a real missionary (not that I already don't).
I am really starting to like this place. It is so old, and has so much history. It is absolutely stunning and these past 2 days have been beautiful. It feels like summer, and its march! I am also starting to really like Newtown as well. We went and taught a girl in Llandrindod on Friday and it was out in the middle of nowhere. Just hills and sheep for an hour, and then this little tiny village. You all would love Wales. I will try to get some pictures, but we never really have that much time. The people are great, but a little hard to get into. They are very closed about religion and they really don’t like to talk about it. You have to talk to a bunch of them before you get anywhere. It is hard work, but I am ok with it. I am learning the area a lot better, and we are starting to see some really good things happen. The members have lost the trust of the missionaries before me, so we have been really trying to rectify that. We are succeeding, and getting to know a lot of them. They are willing to come out with us, and feed us as well, so we are really making good progress. I can really see good things happening here soon, maybe after I leave, but that’s sometimes the price that you pay for being a builder. You work and work and work, and then someone else comes in and Reaps. I am ok with that though, cause in the mission life your name still gets mentioned. If Shrewsbury booms after I leave then my name will be attached. I am not really bothered about it, but hey its nice. We have Zone Conference this next Saturday in Stretford, and so that will be great. We have an area authority coming…. Elder Malm I think? I might be wrong, but I know that it will be good. We have to catch a train at 6:47 in the morning, so that is going to be really tough, but it will all be ok. I get to go home to a place that I love….. Manchester!!!!
Our hot water heater has been broken for the last like 3 days, and that has been really killer. I am really glad that I am in Telford now, cause I get to take a shower. We came over today to play football, and it was really really good. I haven't gotten to exercise like that for a long time. I wish that our mission wasn't so spread out, cause I want to do more sports, but hey you get what you get. P-day are more rest days for us not sport days, cause we work so dang hard!! Anyways I have to get going. I love you all so much, and I am so glad that every thing is working out at home. Know that I am working hard and doing my best. Satan has been trying to get to me, but I have found that the greatest weapon is prayer, and he can't fight against that! Have a good week, and do well in all that you do.
Love,
Elder Neal
This week for me has been a toughish one. Nothing that killed me, but this area is a lot tougher than last. Exchanges with Elder Garcia was amazing. We talked to a ton of people last week….. 82/9 which is really good for Shrewsbury. We got to teach together and it was just like old times. The member that came with us asked us if we practice all the time because we taught so well and in such unity. We just laughed and said that this was not the first time that had taught together! I learned everything that I know from him, so its no wonder that we teach the same! And now I am on exchanges with Elder Rose. I am in Telford right now, and this is a bike area!!! I will be on a bike for the next day, how funny is that!!!!! I am excited to do it, because I know that I will feel like a real missionary (not that I already don't).
I am really starting to like this place. It is so old, and has so much history. It is absolutely stunning and these past 2 days have been beautiful. It feels like summer, and its march! I am also starting to really like Newtown as well. We went and taught a girl in Llandrindod on Friday and it was out in the middle of nowhere. Just hills and sheep for an hour, and then this little tiny village. You all would love Wales. I will try to get some pictures, but we never really have that much time. The people are great, but a little hard to get into. They are very closed about religion and they really don’t like to talk about it. You have to talk to a bunch of them before you get anywhere. It is hard work, but I am ok with it. I am learning the area a lot better, and we are starting to see some really good things happen. The members have lost the trust of the missionaries before me, so we have been really trying to rectify that. We are succeeding, and getting to know a lot of them. They are willing to come out with us, and feed us as well, so we are really making good progress. I can really see good things happening here soon, maybe after I leave, but that’s sometimes the price that you pay for being a builder. You work and work and work, and then someone else comes in and Reaps. I am ok with that though, cause in the mission life your name still gets mentioned. If Shrewsbury booms after I leave then my name will be attached. I am not really bothered about it, but hey its nice. We have Zone Conference this next Saturday in Stretford, and so that will be great. We have an area authority coming…. Elder Malm I think? I might be wrong, but I know that it will be good. We have to catch a train at 6:47 in the morning, so that is going to be really tough, but it will all be ok. I get to go home to a place that I love….. Manchester!!!!
Our hot water heater has been broken for the last like 3 days, and that has been really killer. I am really glad that I am in Telford now, cause I get to take a shower. We came over today to play football, and it was really really good. I haven't gotten to exercise like that for a long time. I wish that our mission wasn't so spread out, cause I want to do more sports, but hey you get what you get. P-day are more rest days for us not sport days, cause we work so dang hard!! Anyways I have to get going. I love you all so much, and I am so glad that every thing is working out at home. Know that I am working hard and doing my best. Satan has been trying to get to me, but I have found that the greatest weapon is prayer, and he can't fight against that! Have a good week, and do well in all that you do.
Love,
Elder Neal
Monday, March 9, 2009
Baptism Pictures - Received 3-9-09
Before the Baptism
Before the Baptism
Us and the McCallums (Ward Mission Leader)
After the Baptism
It was a great day!
E-mail from Neal - Received 3-9-09
Hello Everyone!!!
The baptism was totally amazing as you can see, but I will come back to that in a minute. I want to answer some of those questions first.
-I didn’t pay for the train ride to Shrewsbury on Wednesday. That was covered by transfer travel.
-We rode the train to Manchester on Saturday night, but then we got a ride back with Jonathan Spencer (my MTC teacher) on Sunday morning. There were no trains running that early. It was really fun cause Jonathan is an awesome guy!!!
-Elder Wheat is from the south coast in a place called Bournemouth. He has been out for about 13 months ish. He is technically only 1 transfer older than me because no one came out one transfer before me. He came out in February with E. Kingsley (my last District Leader) and E. Hastings (my brother). He is a good guy, and he really has a huge Heart. The English accent is a bit tough to understand sometimes, but I am getting used to it. He can be stubborn, but so can I, so we all have our faults. I am senior companion again…. I am really getting used to this.
-Our address is actually Bank Farm Mews not News. I screwed up. The Post code should get the letter to me though. But please tell Heather that so that I can get her letters when they come.
-Newtown is crazy! Wales is Crazy! We will probably never go over there cause it is really tiny, like 20 people max, and it takes 40 min by train to get there. Our area is HUGE!!!! We used to have a car, but they took it away. I am dropping hints to president that we need it back though. Wales is Beautiful though! I am getting some good pictures that I will send soon. Nothing totally breathtaking yet, but when I get one I will send it!
Ok the baptism was amazing!!!! Gus is so cool. He was so excited and ready to be baptised. The trip was long. It took about an hour and half on the train, but it was nice. The train was empty and quiet. I got a chance to study Alma 40….. Alma rocks Korihor’s socks off! Anyways the baptism went amazingly well. Jonathan Spencer gave a great talk about Baptism (he is such a good speaker and teacher), and then I gave a talk about the Holy Ghost. I got a lot of compliments about it. The best part was after Gus and Bro. McCallum had changed, Gus came out in a Brand New Suit!!!! Everyone gasped cause he looked so good, and he had a smile from ear to ear! He looked like a missionary! Too bad he is married, or else I could totally see him serving! Apparently he has already been talking to his friends at work! It was a great experience (as you can tell from my smile). It was really good to get back to Stretford. I have fallen in love with that place. I was ready to leave and move on, but going back there showed me how much I miss it! I got to say goodbye to a lot of the people that I knew and worked with, and I got a lot of pictures. No tears though. That night we stayed in my old flat (WHICH IS HUGE, compared to my flat now), and we had a party, well sort of. We talked and laughed about all the crazy things that we did. I miss E. Nielsen. He is definitely up there with E. Garcia and McIntosh for my favourite comps. The next morning we were up at 5 and out the door by 6:15 to head back to Shrewsbury. It was a long ride, but it was nice. We got to see a really nice side of England. We Drove trough Wrexham in wales, and it was a beautiful sunny morning. It was an amazing trip, and totally worth the £15 train tickets. I was so glad that I got to see Gus make one of the most important steps of his life. He was really glad that I was there too. Church was good though. Really good members, but kinda small. This is the smallest ward that I have been in so far, but it will be good. I have met a lot of the people and I am settling in well.
I am going on exchanges with E. Garcia tomorrow for 2 days!!!!! I am so excited. He is not going to know me. I have changed so much, and grown so much in the past 10 months. If he is anything like you Dad then he will be crying HA HA HA!!!! Well I have to run. Have a great week, and stay strong in all that you do.
I love you all,
Elder Neal
EDITOR'S NOTE: There are 4 pictures that Neal sent, but it takes forever for me to upload them on my computer at work. So I'll post them when I get home. Stay tuned!!!
The baptism was totally amazing as you can see, but I will come back to that in a minute. I want to answer some of those questions first.
-I didn’t pay for the train ride to Shrewsbury on Wednesday. That was covered by transfer travel.
-We rode the train to Manchester on Saturday night, but then we got a ride back with Jonathan Spencer (my MTC teacher) on Sunday morning. There were no trains running that early. It was really fun cause Jonathan is an awesome guy!!!
-Elder Wheat is from the south coast in a place called Bournemouth. He has been out for about 13 months ish. He is technically only 1 transfer older than me because no one came out one transfer before me. He came out in February with E. Kingsley (my last District Leader) and E. Hastings (my brother). He is a good guy, and he really has a huge Heart. The English accent is a bit tough to understand sometimes, but I am getting used to it. He can be stubborn, but so can I, so we all have our faults. I am senior companion again…. I am really getting used to this.
-Our address is actually Bank Farm Mews not News. I screwed up. The Post code should get the letter to me though. But please tell Heather that so that I can get her letters when they come.
-Newtown is crazy! Wales is Crazy! We will probably never go over there cause it is really tiny, like 20 people max, and it takes 40 min by train to get there. Our area is HUGE!!!! We used to have a car, but they took it away. I am dropping hints to president that we need it back though. Wales is Beautiful though! I am getting some good pictures that I will send soon. Nothing totally breathtaking yet, but when I get one I will send it!
Ok the baptism was amazing!!!! Gus is so cool. He was so excited and ready to be baptised. The trip was long. It took about an hour and half on the train, but it was nice. The train was empty and quiet. I got a chance to study Alma 40….. Alma rocks Korihor’s socks off! Anyways the baptism went amazingly well. Jonathan Spencer gave a great talk about Baptism (he is such a good speaker and teacher), and then I gave a talk about the Holy Ghost. I got a lot of compliments about it. The best part was after Gus and Bro. McCallum had changed, Gus came out in a Brand New Suit!!!! Everyone gasped cause he looked so good, and he had a smile from ear to ear! He looked like a missionary! Too bad he is married, or else I could totally see him serving! Apparently he has already been talking to his friends at work! It was a great experience (as you can tell from my smile). It was really good to get back to Stretford. I have fallen in love with that place. I was ready to leave and move on, but going back there showed me how much I miss it! I got to say goodbye to a lot of the people that I knew and worked with, and I got a lot of pictures. No tears though. That night we stayed in my old flat (WHICH IS HUGE, compared to my flat now), and we had a party, well sort of. We talked and laughed about all the crazy things that we did. I miss E. Nielsen. He is definitely up there with E. Garcia and McIntosh for my favourite comps. The next morning we were up at 5 and out the door by 6:15 to head back to Shrewsbury. It was a long ride, but it was nice. We got to see a really nice side of England. We Drove trough Wrexham in wales, and it was a beautiful sunny morning. It was an amazing trip, and totally worth the £15 train tickets. I was so glad that I got to see Gus make one of the most important steps of his life. He was really glad that I was there too. Church was good though. Really good members, but kinda small. This is the smallest ward that I have been in so far, but it will be good. I have met a lot of the people and I am settling in well.
I am going on exchanges with E. Garcia tomorrow for 2 days!!!!! I am so excited. He is not going to know me. I have changed so much, and grown so much in the past 10 months. If he is anything like you Dad then he will be crying HA HA HA!!!! Well I have to run. Have a great week, and stay strong in all that you do.
I love you all,
Elder Neal
EDITOR'S NOTE: There are 4 pictures that Neal sent, but it takes forever for me to upload them on my computer at work. So I'll post them when I get home. Stay tuned!!!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
E-mail from Neal - Received 3/5/09
HELLO ALL!!!
Well I am here in my new area, and let me tell you, it is going to be a VERY LARGE ADVENTURE!!!!! I am going to need lots and lots and lots of prayers and support!! This area has been struggling for a while, and it is in a "right state" as they say here. I am having to exercise lots and lots of patience, and i am going to be working my butt off for the next few weeks. There is a lot of things that need to change, and so that is probably why i am here to do it. The Flat is tiny compared to my Stretford Mansion, and it is also in a "right State", good thing we are moving Please pray for me, and please write me!!! I need the support. I know that i am here for a good reason, and i know that with the Lord i can do all things!!!! Trust in the Lord and everything will be great. Romans 8:28 right (that scripture is all over the place with me)!
3 Bank Farm News
Other than that, things are is absolutely beautiful. The sun is shining today and it is warm! I haven't been over to Wales yet, but we go there tomorrow. We spend one day a week in Newtown, and we never go to church there. Its like a 40 min train ride there from Shrewsbury. This area needs the car back let me tell you!!! Anyways that all i really wanted to say. E. Wheat is an interesting character, but i think that it will work out ok. He had to do emails today so thats why I am writing this!
I love you all, Pray for me!!! 
Well I am here in my new area, and let me tell you, it is going to be a VERY LARGE ADVENTURE!!!!! I am going to need lots and lots and lots of prayers and support!! This area has been struggling for a while, and it is in a "right state" as they say here. I am having to exercise lots and lots of patience, and i am going to be working my butt off for the next few weeks. There is a lot of things that need to change, and so that is probably why i am here to do it. The Flat is tiny compared to my Stretford Mansion, and it is also in a "right State", good thing we are moving Please pray for me, and please write me!!! I need the support. I know that i am here for a good reason, and i know that with the Lord i can do all things!!!! Trust in the Lord and everything will be great. Romans 8:28 right (that scripture is all over the place with me)!
3 Bank Farm News
Shrewsbury SY3 9DQ
England
Other than that, things are is absolutely beautiful. The sun is shining today and it is warm! I haven't been over to Wales yet, but we go there tomorrow. We spend one day a week in Newtown, and we never go to church there. Its like a 40 min train ride there from Shrewsbury. This area needs the car back let me tell you!!! Anyways that all i really wanted to say. E. Wheat is an interesting character, but i think that it will work out ok. He had to do emails today so thats why I am writing this!
I love you all, Pray for me!!!
Elder Johnson
Goodbye Stretford
E. Wheat and I (in our TINY flat)
Good Morning Shrewsbury, on the river Severn
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
E-mail from Neal - Received 3/4/09
I am on the road again. After 6 months of trekking it out in the middle of Manchester, my predictions have come true, and I am getting transferred. I am getting transferred to Shrewsbury, which is way down south in Shropshire. It is one of, or possibly the most southern unit (ward/branch) in my mission. We cover the Shrewsbury ward and Newtown (Wales) branch, but we have no car. Elder McIntosh was trained there a long time ago so I think that you can ask his mom about the area. When he was there they had a car. I say boo! Anyways it is going to be a new monster that’s for sure. I will be serving in Wales so I will be getting a new Welsh name badge soon (I am way excited for that), and I might learn some Welsh as well (maybe). My new comp is Elder Wheat. He is from the south of England somewhere and I hear that he is way funny. I am looking forward to having my first British comp! I am not sure what the address is, but I will tell you on Monday when we have the next P-day. We are moving flats in April sometime too. The move is going to be really exciting and it is going to be a total change in climate and people for sure, but the move is not the craziest part….. Gus’s Baptism is.
There was no way in the world that I was missing his baptism. Gus is so golden and I love him so much that I would not miss it for the world! So I called President Bullock yesterday and got permission to come back up. Now I have been praying for the past week or so that I would get transferred somewhere close so that I could make it back for the baptism. I knew that the farther away I was the less chance that I had. My fear was that I was going to get the Isle of Man, in which case there would be no chance that I could come back. Shrewsbury is kinda in the red area, cause it is quite far away. On Monday night when I found out I was really bummed, and worried that I wouldn’t make it back. I was asking around to see if it was even worth it to call President and ask him. I finally came to the conclusion that there is no harm in asking, and E. Nielsen (I am gonna miss him) assured me that President is a really reasonable guy so I should try. Well on Tuesday I called him…… I got his voicemail….KILLER!!!!!!! I left a message and then had to wait. He called me about an hour later and he didn’t even hesitate to say yes!!!!!! I love President. He also authorized my to stay over night in Stretford and leave early to get back for church! So on Saturday, I am hopping a train (I have to pay for both me and E. Wheat) and coming to the baptism. On Sunday Bro. “Rockstar” Spencer (my teacher from the MTC) is going to drive us back to Shrewsbury. I am going to have to reimburse him for gas so if anyone wants to randomly put some money into my account that would be great. You can call it a golden Baptism present or something! I am really really excited and so is Gus. I had to break the news to him that I was getting moved, and he was really really sad, but when I told him that I was coming back on Saturday, he was Ecstatic!!!!!! He is an amazing guy, and it has been a blast teaching him! His baptism is going to be amazing, and I cannot wait!!!
I love you all, and I miss you a ton. I am excited to move too!!!! I will write you all on Monday and tell you all about the new area. I hear that it is nice down there, especially in the summer (SCORE)!!!!!! Hang in there, and keep studying!!!
Love,
Elder Neal
This really describes my and E. Nielsen’s companionship very very well!
MY STREET (bad pic I know)
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