E-mail from Neal - Received 7/27/09

Hello to everyone!!!

I am so tired! We have been so busy it is insane. We set up 15 appointments 2 weeks ago, as you know, and we set up 19 this past week. We have been running around everywhere, but it is great! When you are busy you have absolutely no time to think about anything else but the work. I love it. We have been seeing some amazing things happen, and I am so happy! Missions are great. I keep saying that to everyone, but its way true.

I am glad that you enjoyed 2 Nephi 31. It is an amazing chapter. President Bullock just explained that there are only two places that Heavenly Father HIMSELF teaches a doctrine. He speaks a lot and introduces Christ a ton, but he only teaches twice. That is in verse 11 and 15. The amazing thing is what he teaches. Of all the commandments that God the Father chooses to teach, what does he teach??? Repentance, Baptism, and Enduring to the End!!! How important must those principals be?!?!? It was an amazing training. President also taught us something else. Read 3 Nephi 11 and tell me what the first thing that Christ does when he visits the Nephites (proving who he is, is not part of it). It is amazing to think of the scriptures this way!!! I love listening to leaders!

We have had some really cool experiences this week, and some interesting ones as well. We have been working our tails off as I have said, and with that comes crazy experiences. I will start with the not so fun one……

Last Monday we were sitting at a bus stop minding out own business. All of the sudden this group of Muslim teens come over and start asking us for money and what not. They see our badges and start freaking out on us. They are yelling and wanting to start a fight. We were calm, and cool, and just told them that we were not going to fight. They were all right in our faces and it was kinda scary. All of the sudden this car pulls up and this older Muslim guy gets out. The kids obviously knew him, and he told them to get lost. They didn’t really listen so he started to push them away. They move a bit and he starts to get back in his car. They come back to us and he yells at them to get lost. The kids then say this….. “But they have Jesus Christ on their chest.” The guy with out even thinking says…. “and what does that have to do with you!!” I was trying not to laugh. The kids leave and he waits in his car until they are fully gone. Then he turns to us and gives a wink and head nod. We said thank you and he drove off. It was way funny. We saw that kid again last night, and he told us that he was really drunk. We just said don’t worry about it and moved on. I love missions!!!! You have some crazy wild things happen.

Now for a good Story…..

Our investigator named Karen Riley, is particularly doing great. She has quit smoking and so far is doing quite good with that. She has not had a cigarette for about a week now. She said that last week, when she quit, she was really frustrated and angry about everything. She told a member that she was not sure about all of the things that she was doing, and the things that she had been taught. She was even thinking about calling off her baptism. She then told us that she had remembered how she had felt when she prayed about the Book of Mormon and how she feels in the lessons, took a deep breath, and prayed. She said that she instantly felt better. She felt comforted by the spirit, and she knew that everything was ok. That was great to hear. That is my favourite part of the teaching process, when you hear the investigator have a moment like that. You can tell that they really do get it, and that they truly know for themselves. It has been a joy to teach Karen so far, and her baptism is going to be amazing! After every lesson she thanks us for allowing her to feel the spirit. I gave her a very bold promise last time about her smoking. I told her that if she really wants to quit smoking she can, and she will have the Lord on her side. She said that she has tried to quit before, but I told her that this time is different because divine help is there if she wants it.

I am excited and happy…. tired, but happy. I love you all, and I am so thankful for the amazing support that you give to me. I hope to hear from you soon.

Love,
Elder Neal