The Final Email!

This e-mail was sent on April 6, 2010, but was never received.  Neal retrieved it from his sent mail, and now here it is:

Hey there,

Well by the grace of God I have a bit more time to email you, and on a different day (ask me later). I am not going to write a lot, but I thought that I would take the chance to just write one last blurb and bear my testimony.

As I have reflected back on my whole mission, I am nothing but grateful for the amazing blessings that I have received. I have been watched over, cared for, protected, strengthened, and turned into something and someone that I never thought possible. I know without a doubt that the gospel is true. I have prayed so much, and time after time my knowledge of the truth has been increased. I have felt the love of the Lord so many times, and I am happy because of it. I have felt and followed the still small voice many times, and it has brought nothing but happiness. I know that the Book of Mormon is a true record given to us for our benefit. I have gained a love and knowledge of that book that I know it is going to propel me through the rest of my life. I love the words of the ancient prophets, and I am glad that I have that book in my life. Before I left I told a friend that on my mission I wanted to gain a knowledge of the gospel that would allow me to teach and help people feel the spirit, and I know that I have gained that. I know that the things that I teach people are true. The Plan of Salvation is true, and it is the way that God provided for us to be happy. Nothing brings me greater joy than to know that I will be able to be with you all in the presence of God someday. I am pledging to do my part, and I want you all to be there too. My mission has changed my life, and the more I ponder on it the more happiness I find. I have learned so many things, and experienced so many things, and I hope and pray that I will always remember them. We are going to be having some long talks and we are going to go back in the spirit! I know that the atonement is real and available to all of us. I have felt its power more than once, and I know that the only way to gain happiness and salvation is to repeatedly feel it. Christ suffered for us that we don’t have to, but we have to repent! As I have repented time and time again I feel his love. I know that the scripture is true when it says that as often as we will repent he will forgive. If repentance and the atonement are the only reason that I was able to serve a mission, then what must it take to gain eternal life? I think that 2 Nephi 31:20 has something to do with it. I love the Lord, I love this church and the blessings that it brings. I love the fact that I always have someone to turn to, and to share my burden with. I am grateful that he takes my pain willingly. I know that Christ lives, and I will say to you the same thing that I have said on the street time and time again….. I didn’t have to see him to believe that he is there. I know that he lives because of the influence that he has had in my life. I love life, because I have the hope and the blessings of the gospel. I hope that all of you have felt the joy of my service. I am glad that I have gotten to share all the great bits of these 2 years with you. I thank you for your unwavering support. I expected nothing less to be honest. You have supported me all my life, and I know that that will never stop. I will be eternally thankful for the support that I have received.

I need to get going now, but I am grateful that I got to write this to you today. I love you all, and I am really excited to see you in a week. Everyone is reminding me don’t you worry. I am happy though, and I am working hard. I plan on continuing in that path right to the end!

You may never know how much I love you all, but I want you to know that I do! I have to go now and cry repentance to Blackpool!!!!!

Elder Neal

E-mail from Neal - Received 4/5/10 FINAL E-MAIL!!!!

Hey there family,

Well this is the final time that I will be writing to you before I see you. How crazy is that. I never thought that this day would come, but it has. Time is moving so fast, and it is crazy. This is my last full week, and I know that it is going to fly by. I am excited for all the crazy things that are going to happen in this week. I have always heard about how crazy missionaries are in there last week with the spirit and such, so I will let you know in a few days how it goes for me. I am excited and ready to go. I am working hard and still going strong. I have not slowed down at all I feel. We are still trying to build up the area, and I know that this final week is going to be a good one. We went to the temple today because it is a bank holiday, and it was amazing. Of course I had the thought that the next time that I was there it was going to be with you! That kills me, but I am ok with it. I am glad for the experience that I have had, and I would not trade it for the world. Now is the time to really dig deep though, and I know that I can. I will be in Blackpool tomorrow, and then we have interviews on Wednesday, so I have plenty of things to keep my busy. I am excited!

Conference was amazing! I loved Jeffery R. Holland’s talk and also President Monson’s talk at the Priesthood sessIon. I also liked Elder Chistofferson’s talk, I thought that that was great. I went into conference with a lot of questions, and as always I got my answers. I was asking things mostly about the future and looking for things that will prepare me. I received some great guidance, and I will share it all with you when you are here. I got to watch conference at the Chorley chapel and that was great. I saw a lot of old friends, and it was great. I saw Alan Seed, and a ton of others from Blackburn.

Well I am running out of things to say, mostly because I am going to see you in no time. I think you for all the prayers that you have said for me, and I ask that they continue. I have a long final week ahead of me, and I am going to need the help. I hope that all of you have a good week, and I am excited to see you all soon.

I love you all so much!

Elder Neal (for the last time)