Hello again!
Last week was crazy because we had P-day, Zone conference, Christmas eve, Christmas day, and boxing day all in one week. It was a bit hard to do any real work, but we did ok I thought. We actually taught quite a bit, and had some great success. We actually got to date 3 people for baptism this week. One of them was a man that I found on a bus a few weeks ago named Felix, and the others were a father and son that we have been teaching for ages. It was really good to see that success! I was so happy when they accepted those dates, and when they said that they are excited to work towards it. I love this work so much. I am happy and excited, but a bit tired. I think that it might be because I am getting sick, but I hope that after this weekend I will be ok. We have new years eve and new years day, and we are not going to be nearly as busy as last week, so I might get a chance to sleep a bit.
Anyways obedience…
I enjoyed the study of obedience this last week, and really learned that there are two types of obedience; blind obedience, and purposed obedience. There are examples all over the scriptures. Sometimes we have to do things blind in order to understand why we are doing them. The part that I really thought was good was that blind obedience turns into purposed obedience. You learn for yourself why you are doing something and then you do it cause you know that the blessings will come. It is amazing how it all works. I think that one of our goals in this life should be to be obedient for a purpose in everything that we do. We need to know why we are doing something, and then do it cause we know that it is the right thing. Obedience is really how all blessings come about. Elder Holland said that obedience is the first law in Missionary work…… you can’t get to law 2, 3, 20, or 90 with out first mastering #1. It is very true. When you are obedient things work. Go read in the Book of Mormon how many times it tells you that when you are obedient you prosper. Its quite a few times. It was a very good study, that’s for sure.
We are still working hard. E. Burnett is a solid missionary. Much better than me in a lot of categories. I have learned a lot from him, and I know that I will continue to as the transfer goes by. He is really fun to be around, and we are going to continue to see success. I know that we will.
Well I think that that is all for me this week. I really don’t have too much to say except that I really loved the phone call, and that I do miss you all. You are all such an amazing support for me, and I am glad that I have you all!
Love,
Elder Neal
P.s. I will send some pictures next week!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Pictures from Neal - Received 12/21/09
Merry Christmas from me and Elder Boahene
The Wigan Crew
My Boys!
Me & Elder Burnett
England Snow (if you can call it that)
Merry Christmas, Grandpa!
Someone had WAY too much time on their hands
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!!
The Wigan Crew
My Boys!
Me & Elder Burnett
England Snow (if you can call it that)
Merry Christmas, Grandpa!
Someone had WAY too much time on their hands
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!!
E-mail from Neal - Received 12/21/09
EDITOR'S NOTE: Neal sent several pictures, which I will post later today. Check back!
Hello to everyone this Christmas season!
We have snow here in rainy England. There is about 2 inches (maybe) on the ground. It makes me feel closer to home, but it is still nothing. I have really been laughing cause no one here knows what to do in the snow. I heard so many comments that made me laugh so hard. I got a call Sunday morning from a man that was going to give a recent convert a lift, and he said that he wasn’t going to chance it. I then called a good member that always helps us out and he said that he could, but he asked me how the roads were. My reply was something like this….. “I would drive on them, but then again I am from Colorado.” Elder Burnett just laughed cause he felt the same way! At church we heard another member say this…. “Well we have the 4 wheel drive so I think that we will chance it.” I had to really hold myself back from bursting out laughing. People in England crack me up! This isn’t even snow. Look at the picture that I sent home and judge for yourself.
That is so cool that you had a good sing in yesterday. I would have love to have been there. I think that I have told you this, but I have gained such a huge appreciation for singing on my mission. I usually sing with the special musical numbers at Zone Conferences, and I love it. I would have loved to be there and sing in the chorus. I am going to join the choirs when I get home. Both in the singles ward, and in Lakeside if they need the help. I think I have told you this too, but I am not a tenor. Well actually I think that I am a Baritone, but who really knows. I just love to sing now.
Ok now that I have rambled about all sorts of random things I am going to tell you what I learned about Diligence this week. This has been a great attribute to study, I have really enjoyed it! I learned some way cool things. In D&C 107:99-100 it teaches us that if we are not diligent we will not be able to stand at the last day. I thought to myself why that is? I found the answer in Jacob 4:19…..
And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day.
Well I think that that teaches us exactly why we must be diligent when it comes to missionary work. I thought that was very cool, but what about in the rest of the things that we do? We have to be diligent in keeping the commandments, or else nothing good will come. We have to be diligent to win the prize, and what is that prize? Eternal Life of course. That is reason enough to be diligent I would say. As we all strive to be diligent we will be greatly blessed. The great part is that after you establish your diligence in obedience then you don’t really need to worry too much at all. You know what you must do, and you are excited about doing it. Be diligent, and you will win the prize!!!!!!
We have a great new investigator named Felix, and he is going to get baptised in January. He is so prepared, and so much fun to teach. He is from Zimbabwe, and he is really looking for this gospel! All the questions that he has had, have been answered by the two lessons that we have taught him. We are going to date him for baptism tomorrow when we see him, and I am really looking forward to it!
Well I think that is going to do it for me. We have a lot of stuff to get done today. I have a lot of letters to write as well. We are allowed to write letters over the holidays as well, so that is exciting. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and I hope that you enjoy all the time together. I am looking forward to hearing from you on Friday night. I love you all so much, and I am so grateful for all the things that you do for me. Keep on studying and living all the Christ like attributes that you have been learning about and applying. The goal is to become like him, and I hope that we all can!!!
Have a good week
Until Friday…
Elder Neal
Hello to everyone this Christmas season!
We have snow here in rainy England. There is about 2 inches (maybe) on the ground. It makes me feel closer to home, but it is still nothing. I have really been laughing cause no one here knows what to do in the snow. I heard so many comments that made me laugh so hard. I got a call Sunday morning from a man that was going to give a recent convert a lift, and he said that he wasn’t going to chance it. I then called a good member that always helps us out and he said that he could, but he asked me how the roads were. My reply was something like this….. “I would drive on them, but then again I am from Colorado.” Elder Burnett just laughed cause he felt the same way! At church we heard another member say this…. “Well we have the 4 wheel drive so I think that we will chance it.” I had to really hold myself back from bursting out laughing. People in England crack me up! This isn’t even snow. Look at the picture that I sent home and judge for yourself.
That is so cool that you had a good sing in yesterday. I would have love to have been there. I think that I have told you this, but I have gained such a huge appreciation for singing on my mission. I usually sing with the special musical numbers at Zone Conferences, and I love it. I would have loved to be there and sing in the chorus. I am going to join the choirs when I get home. Both in the singles ward, and in Lakeside if they need the help. I think I have told you this too, but I am not a tenor. Well actually I think that I am a Baritone, but who really knows. I just love to sing now.
Ok now that I have rambled about all sorts of random things I am going to tell you what I learned about Diligence this week. This has been a great attribute to study, I have really enjoyed it! I learned some way cool things. In D&C 107:99-100 it teaches us that if we are not diligent we will not be able to stand at the last day. I thought to myself why that is? I found the answer in Jacob 4:19…..
And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day.
Well I think that that teaches us exactly why we must be diligent when it comes to missionary work. I thought that was very cool, but what about in the rest of the things that we do? We have to be diligent in keeping the commandments, or else nothing good will come. We have to be diligent to win the prize, and what is that prize? Eternal Life of course. That is reason enough to be diligent I would say. As we all strive to be diligent we will be greatly blessed. The great part is that after you establish your diligence in obedience then you don’t really need to worry too much at all. You know what you must do, and you are excited about doing it. Be diligent, and you will win the prize!!!!!!
We have a great new investigator named Felix, and he is going to get baptised in January. He is so prepared, and so much fun to teach. He is from Zimbabwe, and he is really looking for this gospel! All the questions that he has had, have been answered by the two lessons that we have taught him. We are going to date him for baptism tomorrow when we see him, and I am really looking forward to it!
Well I think that is going to do it for me. We have a lot of stuff to get done today. I have a lot of letters to write as well. We are allowed to write letters over the holidays as well, so that is exciting. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and I hope that you enjoy all the time together. I am looking forward to hearing from you on Friday night. I love you all so much, and I am so grateful for all the things that you do for me. Keep on studying and living all the Christ like attributes that you have been learning about and applying. The goal is to become like him, and I hope that we all can!!!
Have a good week
Until Friday…
Elder Neal
Thursday, December 17, 2009
E-mail from Neal - Received 12/17/09
Hello Family,
Well, my purpose in Wigan must not be complete yet. I am staying for at least one more transfer. I am thinking that this is really going to be my last one though. I am now serving with Elder Burnett. He is from Taylorsville, Utah and he has been out for about 4½ Months. He was trained by the same missionary that trained Elder Llaguno, so I know that I am in for a treat. This is his second area, and he is a stellar missionary. I have more to learn, and I know that I am going to learn some things from him. He is an amazing singer as well, much better than me. We are going to have a lot of fun together. He is much more of a lead solo type singer, and I am a powerful chorus member I have decided. Its going to be fun though. We sang “Be still my Soul” this morning and we broke off into some 2 part harmony….. it was great! Anyways E. Boahene is now in Wrexham, Wales with E. Phillips. E. Phillips was my zone leader when I was in Blackburn, and I absolutely love that Elder. He is amazing. He is in his last transfer, and he got released as a zone leader, and he is now with E. Boahene. I think that it is awesome that they put the two Africans together ha ha ha!!!!!! They are going to do amazing things, as are we.
I really don’t have all that much to talk about really. We had interviews last week, and that was really good. I had a really good interview with President, and I learned some new things. I learned that he has wanted to make me a Zone Leader for a long time, but he has been waiting for me to prove myself as it were. Like I said I still have a way to go, but I think that this transfer is going to be the ground breaker. I hope so, but we will wait and see. It's all up to Lord and that’s how it goes. I will do what I am ready for, and what he wants me to do.
Ok talking about humility…. First of all, Alma didn’t say that quote, Ammon did. He is my book of Mormon hero so I know all of the good stuff that he says. I really liked studying about humility. It gave me a chance to look at pride as well, and how I can recognize pride in myself. I learned that basically anything that puts yourself above anyone else (God especially) is pride. The Book of Mormon is crazy when I comes to pride and the mass destruction that it causes. I am in Helaman right now, and in there it talks about how the Nephites were brought to destruction in “Not many years” The footnote says that that is 6 years. How a people can go from amazing prosperity to complete pride in 6 years is totally beyond me! I also liked how humility is also all about allowing our wills to be swallowed up in the fathers. That is always an amazing concept to me, because it is hard a lot of the time. That means that you have to completely forget about what you like, and the things that you deem comfortable, and do all the things that God asks of you. It is possible. You were right as well….. Patience and humility are connected all the time. They both require acceptance. This program has really been amazing. I have really loved the study of diligence this week, because that is something that I need to work on. I will let you know all about that next week.
Ok funny story time…..
We are having a Ward party on Friday and we had to build some little stalls for the gym. Well they were all going at it with little screwdrivers, and I really couldn’t stand for that! I found a drill that someone brought and went to work. I had those things done it no time at all. Everyone was amazed at what I could do with a drill, and I just laughed. It was great fun though. It brought back really good memories.
Ok will I have to run now sorry, but I am really out of time.
I love you all so much, and I am looking forward talking on Monday and then Friday!!!!
Love,
Elder Neal
Well, my purpose in Wigan must not be complete yet. I am staying for at least one more transfer. I am thinking that this is really going to be my last one though. I am now serving with Elder Burnett. He is from Taylorsville, Utah and he has been out for about 4½ Months. He was trained by the same missionary that trained Elder Llaguno, so I know that I am in for a treat. This is his second area, and he is a stellar missionary. I have more to learn, and I know that I am going to learn some things from him. He is an amazing singer as well, much better than me. We are going to have a lot of fun together. He is much more of a lead solo type singer, and I am a powerful chorus member I have decided. Its going to be fun though. We sang “Be still my Soul” this morning and we broke off into some 2 part harmony….. it was great! Anyways E. Boahene is now in Wrexham, Wales with E. Phillips. E. Phillips was my zone leader when I was in Blackburn, and I absolutely love that Elder. He is amazing. He is in his last transfer, and he got released as a zone leader, and he is now with E. Boahene. I think that it is awesome that they put the two Africans together ha ha ha!!!!!! They are going to do amazing things, as are we.
I really don’t have all that much to talk about really. We had interviews last week, and that was really good. I had a really good interview with President, and I learned some new things. I learned that he has wanted to make me a Zone Leader for a long time, but he has been waiting for me to prove myself as it were. Like I said I still have a way to go, but I think that this transfer is going to be the ground breaker. I hope so, but we will wait and see. It's all up to Lord and that’s how it goes. I will do what I am ready for, and what he wants me to do.
Ok talking about humility…. First of all, Alma didn’t say that quote, Ammon did. He is my book of Mormon hero so I know all of the good stuff that he says. I really liked studying about humility. It gave me a chance to look at pride as well, and how I can recognize pride in myself. I learned that basically anything that puts yourself above anyone else (God especially) is pride. The Book of Mormon is crazy when I comes to pride and the mass destruction that it causes. I am in Helaman right now, and in there it talks about how the Nephites were brought to destruction in “Not many years” The footnote says that that is 6 years. How a people can go from amazing prosperity to complete pride in 6 years is totally beyond me! I also liked how humility is also all about allowing our wills to be swallowed up in the fathers. That is always an amazing concept to me, because it is hard a lot of the time. That means that you have to completely forget about what you like, and the things that you deem comfortable, and do all the things that God asks of you. It is possible. You were right as well….. Patience and humility are connected all the time. They both require acceptance. This program has really been amazing. I have really loved the study of diligence this week, because that is something that I need to work on. I will let you know all about that next week.
Ok funny story time…..
We are having a Ward party on Friday and we had to build some little stalls for the gym. Well they were all going at it with little screwdrivers, and I really couldn’t stand for that! I found a drill that someone brought and went to work. I had those things done it no time at all. Everyone was amazed at what I could do with a drill, and I just laughed. It was great fun though. It brought back really good memories.
Ok will I have to run now sorry, but I am really out of time.
I love you all so much, and I am looking forward talking on Monday and then Friday!!!!
Love,
Elder Neal
Monday, December 7, 2009
E-mail from Neal - Received 12/7/09
HELLO FAM!!!!!!
I am really looking forward to Christmas. I really do think that I am leaving though, and that makes me sad cause I would have had a great Christmas in Wigan. The members are already starting to fight over who is going to get us. I think that we are going to have to split the companionships up. We want to stay together, but I don’t think that that is going to happen. I really do think that I am moving though. Sad day, but I will live. That does mean that transfers are this upcoming week, and so yes I will be writing to you on Wednesday. Can you believe that after this transfer I will only have 3 left! I don’t know where the time has gone, but I am loving all the time that I have had!
Again, I am way jealous about the snow that you are getting. We have gotten nothing be rain, rain, and more rain, but hey that’s England right! I wish that we could get a foot of snow, but the country would literally freak out and probably go into self destruct mode!! I would love it though. Its funny how you miss something, when you don’t have it for a long time.
Gary got baptised on Saturday, and I got to do it. It was a really cool experience because I was the one that first talk to him. I got to see the whole process start to finish! He is such a cool man. He is totally changed his life around and he loves the new life that he has. He has already started to make some great friends in the church, and I know that he is going to do great. He reminds me a lot of Alan Seed in Chorley! I was really happy to have been able to teach him, and eventually baptize him.
Ok so patience……..
A great attribute to study, and like you said it is an action word as well, but a different kind of action word. This action word really happens after the other action words. I really liked Alma 32:41-43 cause it talks about how you need Faith, Diligence, and the Patience. You have to believe that something will happen (which also ties in hope), you must diligently work to show your faith, and then after you have worked you need to wait patiently for the blessing. I love the gospel….. it just makes sense!!!!!!!!! I also really like Romans 15:4 talking about how we need to have patience in the scriptures. I thought about the Nephites. A lot of them had patience, and a lot of them didn’t. When the time started to get too long they started to doubt. They couldn’t wait. If they would have then all the promised blessings would have been theirs. D&C 101:38 was also a great scripture that talked about how we must have patience in order to inherit the kingdom of god. Again something that is so true. We can hope and pray for eternal life, but ultimately it is a lifetime away. We have to wait. I am happy with waiting, cause the longer that you wait the more experience that you gain. The more experience that you gain the more knowledge you receive. The more knowledge you have the greater responsibility, and ultimately the greater blessings you receive! Again I love this gospel…. it is all so easy to understand. All I really can ask is why has it taken me 21 years and a lot of mistakes to figure it out? I guess that is life.
Anyways I am overall doing really great. I am working hard and this past week was a very good one. I was really working on consistency. I feel that that is what I am lacking when it comes to taking the next step in my mission. Everyone around me says that I am going Zone Leader next transfer but my answer is always the same…… “Not yet, I am not consistent enough yet.” I will be called when I am ready, and I am willing to patiently wait for that. Until then I must exercise faith and diligence….. funny how that works!
Thank you all for what you do for me. I think about you all the time, and you a huge motivation in my work. You are all part of my testimony because I testify about families all the time!!!!!!!!!
I love you
Elder Neal
picture - that kitchen is Tiny.... and we are all not small!!!!
I am really looking forward to Christmas. I really do think that I am leaving though, and that makes me sad cause I would have had a great Christmas in Wigan. The members are already starting to fight over who is going to get us. I think that we are going to have to split the companionships up. We want to stay together, but I don’t think that that is going to happen. I really do think that I am moving though. Sad day, but I will live. That does mean that transfers are this upcoming week, and so yes I will be writing to you on Wednesday. Can you believe that after this transfer I will only have 3 left! I don’t know where the time has gone, but I am loving all the time that I have had!
Again, I am way jealous about the snow that you are getting. We have gotten nothing be rain, rain, and more rain, but hey that’s England right! I wish that we could get a foot of snow, but the country would literally freak out and probably go into self destruct mode!! I would love it though. Its funny how you miss something, when you don’t have it for a long time.
Gary got baptised on Saturday, and I got to do it. It was a really cool experience because I was the one that first talk to him. I got to see the whole process start to finish! He is such a cool man. He is totally changed his life around and he loves the new life that he has. He has already started to make some great friends in the church, and I know that he is going to do great. He reminds me a lot of Alan Seed in Chorley! I was really happy to have been able to teach him, and eventually baptize him.
Ok so patience……..
A great attribute to study, and like you said it is an action word as well, but a different kind of action word. This action word really happens after the other action words. I really liked Alma 32:41-43 cause it talks about how you need Faith, Diligence, and the Patience. You have to believe that something will happen (which also ties in hope), you must diligently work to show your faith, and then after you have worked you need to wait patiently for the blessing. I love the gospel….. it just makes sense!!!!!!!!! I also really like Romans 15:4 talking about how we need to have patience in the scriptures. I thought about the Nephites. A lot of them had patience, and a lot of them didn’t. When the time started to get too long they started to doubt. They couldn’t wait. If they would have then all the promised blessings would have been theirs. D&C 101:38 was also a great scripture that talked about how we must have patience in order to inherit the kingdom of god. Again something that is so true. We can hope and pray for eternal life, but ultimately it is a lifetime away. We have to wait. I am happy with waiting, cause the longer that you wait the more experience that you gain. The more experience that you gain the more knowledge you receive. The more knowledge you have the greater responsibility, and ultimately the greater blessings you receive! Again I love this gospel…. it is all so easy to understand. All I really can ask is why has it taken me 21 years and a lot of mistakes to figure it out? I guess that is life.
Anyways I am overall doing really great. I am working hard and this past week was a very good one. I was really working on consistency. I feel that that is what I am lacking when it comes to taking the next step in my mission. Everyone around me says that I am going Zone Leader next transfer but my answer is always the same…… “Not yet, I am not consistent enough yet.” I will be called when I am ready, and I am willing to patiently wait for that. Until then I must exercise faith and diligence….. funny how that works!
Thank you all for what you do for me. I think about you all the time, and you a huge motivation in my work. You are all part of my testimony because I testify about families all the time!!!!!!!!!
I love you
Elder Neal
picture - that kitchen is Tiny.... and we are all not small!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
