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
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