E-mail from Neal - Received 1/28/10

Hello to one and all

Well the time in Wigan has come to a close. After 6 glorious, but crazy months I have been moved. I had to say goodbye to the amazing-ness that is Wigan. I had some hard times there, but I made the best of it, and I left knowing that I changed many lives for the better. That area was so good for me, and I will honestly never forget it.

I am now however moved to one of the most amazing areas that I could be in. President came up to me yesterday and first asked me how I was doing with my surgery and what not, and then he said this to me…… “The _________ ward is historically the highest baptizing area in the mission. You are sent there for a specific purpose, so go and do what you know how to do.” That put me back a bit for sure, but I was really flattered by that comment. I may not be the best finder, but I have been really blessed with the talent of teaching, and that is how you get people in the water is by teaching them. I feel that is why I had the great success that I had in Wigan. I am excited to be here now, and it's so cool that I get to add the famous city of Preston to my list of areas! And yes this is probably going to be my last area as well. I am now the District Leader in the Preston area. I am living in the same flat as the Zone leaders, and I have a huge district. I am over South Ribble, Blackpool, Lancaster (sisters), and technically the zone leaders, but they don’t really count. I am way excited. Here is my address……

49 Centenary Mill
Preston
PR1 5JQ

Please write soon and often (pass that on to all those who need to reply to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wink wink, hint hint)

This area is full of college students, and many, many, many, many, etc prepared CHINESE people!!! I met two of them last night, and I will testify to the fact that when China becomes open to missionaries, it is going to EXPLODE!!!!!!!! They are amazing people. So prepared and intelligent, and they are great to work with. I will tell you more as time goes on, but just know that this area is going to change me a lot. I am going to have to teach super simple, and that is exciting. I taught about fasting last night, and I have never taught that simple in my whole mission, but I also don’t think that the spirit has been as strong in all my teaching. Funny how that works!

My new companion is named Elder Dittmer, and he is from Hamburg, Germany. He came out last transfer so I am his follow-up trainer. He is really great. His English is very, very good and he is a really powerful missionary. I am really excited to be with him. I know that I am going to learn so much from him, and I hope that I can pass off some knowledge as well. He is about 6 foot 4 or 5, so I feel very short when I am with him. But that’s good though cause if we get into trouble no one will mess with him.

The last few days in Wigan were good. I got to say goodbye to everyone that I needed to. I didn’t really get too worked up about it cause I am going to be back in a few months, and I told them all that. I am excited to see everyone again. Elder Weekes took over the DL position in Wigan, and I know that he is going to do a great job. I totally called that that was going to happen as well. He will do great. We were still living at the Wigan flat when I left, so that made transfers interesting. We had to go over to the Hindley flat and get all of my stuff and truck it over to where we were staying. It all got done in the end, and all that I forgot was my hair gel…… CURSES!!

I am glad to report that I think that I have made a full recovery. I had to lift some of my stuff yesterday, and nothing hurt at all. I was trying to be as careful as I could be, and it worked, I didn’t get hurt. I was also running around a bit too. It was mine and Elder Burnett’s last time to play Frisbee (he loves ultimate too) so I pulled out my disk and we threw it around the parking lot. It was great to get out and run again. I am going to start running a lot so that I get rid of all this fat that I have gained. I think that I got all of my weight back that I lost in the hospital. No fun!!! President called me on Monday morning asking how I was feeling, and how recovered I thought that I was. I told him about 85-90% which on hindsight was probably not totally accurate, but that’s what came to my mind. I found out yesterday that I was being looked at for two areas….. Either here in Preston or in Chester. Chester is a bike area, and they didn’t think that I was healthy enough for that so I am now in Preston. I am very happy about that, cause I did not want to go to Chester. I am happy right where I am now! I would have gone of course, but I am here now, and I am not moving.

Well I think that is all that I have to share right now. I love you all and I thank you for your prayers. They were answered!!! I was studying D&C 93 today, and I learned some way cool things about receiving the fullness of the glory of God….. Way Cool!!!!!! Check it out. I will be writing again on Monday so take care until then!

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!

Elder Neal

E-mail from Neal - Received 1/18/10

Hey there Fam!!!

Well I am back on my feet and having fun. I am not fully back to my normal self, and I don’t think that I will be for a while, but I am at least out working again. I stayed in until Friday, and then I have been out and about since then. I have discovered that a little extra rest is needed each day, and then I have the energy that I need to get through the day. I am planning on that extra rest being done away with by the time that this week passes. I am planning on getting transferred so I have to be able to lift bags. That might be a big pain, but I will do what I need to do I guess. I almost finished the Book of Mormon this week. I am on Moroni 6 so you do the math. I am really loving it. The reason that I am trying to hurry to finish is because in Feb we are starting to read the Book of Mormon as a mission. We are going to be highlighting all the passages that either talk about Christ, or the passages where he speaks. I am really excited. I am not going to be finished by the time I go home unless I break my leg or something, but I will continue it when I get home. I set a goal to finish the Book of Mormon twice this year, along with the New Testament and the Doctrine and Covenants. I know that I can do it…. Daily study right? Anyways I hope that you also enjoyed the pictures. That is the true evidence that I was in the hospital, IV and all!! It was an experience that is for sure.

I really don’t have a ton to report on this week, cause I didn’t get out that much. I did begin to go out on Friday though and I set up two appointments that day, it felt very good. It was a testimony that I was still a missionary, and that my skills didn’t vanish over those 2 weeks of inactivity. I felt good, and have felt good ever since. I have to give a district meeting tomorrow, so I will need some help with that one.

Our house is still waterless. The pipe that burst has not been fixed, and so we are still living with the other elders in Wigan. President wants us out of there ASAP, but we can’t go anywhere until it is all fixed. We have been bugging the landlord, and nothing has happened. We are getting tired of waiting around, but living in the 4 man flat is way fun. We are getting a lot of work done and doing good things, so we will survive until we can get into our flat again.

Ok I am really running out of things to say because I haven’t done anything. You are right that transfers are next week, and so I will be emailing probably on Wednesday. Everyone says that I am going to be a Zone Leader, but I don’t know yet. President asked me about putting sisters in Wigan, so who knows what is going to happen. I am just praying that I get a car for my last area. The chances of that are kinda high, so we will see. I am ready to move. Wigan has been great, but the time has come to get a move on I think. I am going to be going into my last area I believe so that will be good as well.

Thank you so much for all the prayers and support throughout this process. I have really been well taken care of through out it all. The ward has been great, and so have all the missionaries. Don’t worry about a thing, I am doing great.

Keep on studying and constantly improving. I love you all, and I want you all to know that I pray for you constantly. I am so grateful for all the things that I have been given in my life! Thank you for all that you do for me!!

Love you all,
Elder Neal

E-Mail from Neal - Received 1/11/10

Hello one and all!

I am doing quite good I would say. I have been inside constantly since i talked to you last, and that is starting to get to me. I have had a lot of time to study and chill so it has been nice. It is preparing me to go out and destroy my area for the last 3 months. That's what the plan is anyways. The wound is looking good. It is still swollen and tender, but it is looking good. I wanted to keep the bandage off of it, but I figured that while I slept I didn't want my pants to rub on it so i cover it back up. We are switching around companions all the time, so I never have the same comp for more than a few hours. Elder Burnett is going out quite a lot cause he is the missionary for our area, and so he is getting quite tired, but he is doing well. Both areas did really well last week considering that we were 1 missionary down, not to mention that it was the leader that was down. Things are going really well.

I got the card that the family sent! It was very nice I liked it a lot! Unfortunately I really don't have a whole ton to tell you, cause I have been in a flat for the past week, and it is looking that I might be there for this week as well. I am going to be going to interviews and training on Thursday, and I will talk more to president there. I am just taking it easy and healing up. I went to church yesterday, and it hurt a bit to have to stay active, and I was very tired at the end of it, but I survived! I had to wear all of Elder Weekes clothes, cause I didn't bring a suit from my house.... it's crazy! The big problem now is the snow and ice. We did get a bunch of snow on Tuesday, and it has not made things easy. I have almost slipped a few times, and each time that I do it doesn't feel good. I am having to be very, very careful when I do anything! I think that that will hold me back quite a bit, but I will survive.

We had a funny surprise a few nights ago. The Working elders were stopping by my flat to grab the post and a few things for Sunday, and they discovered that a pipe had burst in our flat, and that it was now flooding! Yea that was way fun. We are going over there now to see what the damage is, and we are going to call the land lord and get it all sorted. I guess it's a good thing that we are staying where we are, cause now the Hindley flat is just a mess. No bother though it will all get worked out. I should be back there by the end of the week.

Well I have been studying quite a lot, and i have learned a lot of cool things. I read all of 3rd Nephi and I am almost finished with Mormon now, so I should finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the week. I have to get off the internet now cause they need the computer, but I think that that is all that I need to say.

I thank you for all of your prayers, they have been felt! Stay strong and keep studying. Don't worry too much about me, I am well looked after. The ward is feeding us every night this week HA HA HA!!! The Relief Society is the same everywhere!!!!!!!

Love you all so much,

Elder Neal

E-mail from Neal - Received 1/4/10

Hello to one and all!

Thank you for your prayers. I have really needed them this week. I am happy to report that I am home, out of hospital, and much happier for it. I got released this morning which was a great relief. I thought that I was going to have to stay in for another day or so, but the Doctor came by today and said that I was free to go. Everything was looking fine and there was no reason for me to stay. I am still no where near my full self, but that understandable. I am planning on doing nothing but resting and chilling for the next few days. The other Elders are going to be switching off who stays with me  for the next week at least. I am really tired and haven’t eaten properly in almost a week so I have a long way to go.

So let me tell you about what has happened to me in the last week…..

Tuesday – Worked all day long. Started feeling a bit ill in the evening right before bed, but nothing unusual.

Wednesday – woke up at 2 in the morning thinking that I was going to DIE!!!! I think that that might have been when the rupture occurred. The pain settled a bit and was able to sleep, but not well. I woke up still in pain, but I was not able to work at all. Stayed in that day and just kinda suffered. I didn’t think that it was anything major until that night when I had a sudden flash of inspiration telling me it was my appendix. I made some calls, confirmed it, and went off to hospital. Took morphine and was able to be comfortable for a long time.

Thursday – Had surgery about 2, and spent the day sleeping and waking back up.

Friday – Really good day. Was able to get back into my normal cloths, have a wash, and eat some food. I felt great all day long, and thought that it was all going to be great.

Saturday – Horrible day. I woke up and threw up several times. I had eaten too fast, and my body wasn’t ready for it. My fault. I suffered through that day improving a bit in the evening. I was not a happy bunny that day.

Sunday – Felt a bit better, but still not amazing. I was able to take a shower, and relax a bit. I ate a bit, but nothing huge. I was able to partake of the Sacrament, and all was well. Still thought that I had a few days to go though.

Monday – Woke up feeling alright. Got told I could go home, and now I am back. I am still very weak,  and I really need to eat something really badly!

I am alive though….. Just! The Socialized health care isn’t overly bad. I was in a room with 9 other men the whole time so that was interesting. I have never been a patient in a hospital before so I really have nothing to compare it too. I guess you can all tell me what should have happened, I will tell you what happened to me. It was ok I guess, but I know that it could have been better. I am now doing my own thing now, and working to get back to normal. I again thank you for all the prayers, and ask that they continue. I am not out of the woods yet. It has been an interesting experience, but nothing that has destroyed me. I have just had to laugh a lot. It hurts, but that’s all I can do! It was a nice way to bring in the new year, that’s for sure, one that I will never forget. Oh yea I think that I lost something like 6 pounds since I was in hospital…. Fun huh.

Well I think that that is about all.  I am going to go and get something to eat now, cause I am dying.

Again thanks for all the support and prayers. THEY HAVE BEEN FELT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lots of Love,

Elder Recovering Neal

Message from Mom

[Editor's Note] For those who haven't heard, Neal had his appendix out last Thursday afternoon. It had ruptured before they got him into surgery (thank socialized medicine for that one...they made him wait for the surgery). Mom has spoken with the mission president several times, so we are keeping up to date on the situation. Here's a message from Mom:

Neal is doing well and should get out of the hospital either today or tomorrow. His Mission President says he will be on “house arrest” for a couple of weeks. I want to send a snail-mail to Neal every day because he may not be able to get our e-mails for awhile. I’d like to include some things to help him get through these next couple of weeks while he is recovering . So here is the plan. Saving Elder Neal – 100 things to do (Missionary approved) to fight boredom. If you will all send me a few ideas, I think we can reach the goal and I will send him about 10 ideas every day. I’m sure that you can think of things that will make him laugh, but some things that will really be productive also. It is so hard not to be able to call him on the phone. I’d really like to do that every day. Oh well……………..

Thanks guys. Judy