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