Email from Neal - Received 8/24/09

Hello to my amazing family,

Sounds like families is what brings happiness…. At least that is what I am getting from that email. Gee, I wonder why God so heavily ordains the family????? It sounds like you are all having a blast with all the funny kids. I am really going to have to spend a good chunk of time with them when I get home aren’t I? I miss them a ton!!

Anyways this week has been a good one. Like I said I had my first district meeting, and it went very well. I talked all about Unity, cause I really want the district to be unified. I think that I am succeeding so far. I was scared, but it all went together very well. The Zone Leaders were there, and the great part was that E. Kingsley is one of the ZL’s. I was at his first district meeting in Manchester, and now he is at mine! It was great! After the meeting though I went on exchanges to Liverpool. I LOVE THAT TOWN!!!!!!! The people are so amazing! We went out finding for about 45 minutes and I got 7/4 in that short time. It was incredible!!! Everyone would talk to you. The Liverpool accent is way cool as well! Its called the Scowce, and its very interesting. It was good though. I drove down THE Penny lane from the Beatles, and that was really funny.


We had a really cool experience yesterday. The sisters (who are really an example to us all) were street contacting outside of the church on Tuesday before district meeting. They talked to a lady who said that she was looking for a church. They invited her to ours and told her the time and the day. Well she showed up yesterday, and really loved it. We were able to teach her the Restoration during the Gospel Principals class, and then we all went to Sacrament Meeting. Our meeting schedule is the reversed one, and I am really not a fan of that. This is the one advantage that I can see to it. She became a new investigator before sacrament, and then we had another investigator at sacrament meeting, AMAZING!!!  It was an incredible miracle. We have been praying and looking for those who are prepared and ready to receive the gospel, and the Lord has answered our prayers once again. She is from Romania, but speaks very good English. I was so thankful that we were able to see that blessing and miracle. We will be teaching her tomorrow, and I am very excited.

We are going on the church history tour on Wednesday and I am way excited. We are going to be gone mostly all day long. We have to be in Liverpool for 9:40 in the morning! I am really looking forward to seeing all the sights!!

My studies have been amazing lately! I just read Hebrews 12 today, and it was amazing. Check out vs. 1-14. They really are true!!!! They really help us know that all the trials that we go though is because God Loves us! He wouldn’t give us trials otherwise. I really know that the reason that we go though hard times is because God knows what it is going to take to get us to learn what we need to learn to get to the Celestial Kingdom. I am so grateful for the trials that I have gotten to go though. I spent two hours getting soaked yesterday (I didn’t bring my umbrella), but was happy and smiling the whole time. It was fun, because I knew that I was doing the right thing!!!! I am loving my mission. I love all of you, and I am very grateful for all the support that you give to me. I know that I am in your prayers, and rest assured you are in mine! Stay strong and know that God Loves each and everyone of you!!!!

Love,
Elder Neal 

Editor's Note:  Pictures forthcoming!  Stay tuned!