Sister Neel 10/11/21

 

Happy Monday everyone!

It's BEAUTIFUL over here in Wake Forest! Since North Carolina is straight up 90% trees, the fall season makes this place paradise. It's a color show everyday :)) But Sister Hansen and I are stoked! There's only 20 more days until Halloween and we are on bikes for this next week! President Maurer has 3 areas in our district sharing two cars. Pretty much how it works is we get two weeks of driving and 1 week with biking, so now it's our turn. We asked for leg day and we got it. Thunder thighs here we come y'all :))

Highlight of the week? For sure booing members. We printed off halloween papers that said, "You've been booed," cut out ghosts, made halloween sugar cookies and doorbell ditched multiple members in our ward. I forgot how fun it is to run for your life and not get caught haha! The Van Hoose and Henderson families both had pretty excited kids and one of them screamed out, "Thank you Santa!!" Not quite the move we were going for but hey it works XD.

We had zone council this week and something President Maurer asked was why every area in the mission couldn't get a baptism every transfer. One way to strive for this goal was to incorporate Preach My Gospel in our everyday life and to study it thoroughly. It's our tool guide as missionaries and will create the miracles we seek in the NCRM. President Maurer announced we are a 'Preach My Gospel Mission,' and that's what we were going to be known as. Pretty cool! Our Zone Leaders also informed us that our mission is fifth in all of North and South America for facebook finding!!! Because of this the church sends our mission referrals all the time and in this past week alone we've gotten 7!! President Maurer still encourages us to do the majority of our missionary work with in person contact in public places but when we do get on facebook we are poppin off! Lots of big things are going on over here!

Our zone had interviews after zone council so everyone brought food back to the mission office and we hung out in the gym until it was our turn. I was the first missionary to go meet with President and Sister Maurer :)) I was able to express a few concerns I had about me personally and after ranting, President looked at me and said, "Sister Neel do you ever feel like you're expecting too much?" His response caught me off guard and was the last thing I was expecting him to say. It caused me to have a deep reflection on my personal growth and the way I was going about my shortcomings. His feedback was beyond loving and I was amazed at the suggestions he gave. "We need this version of Sister Neel in the NCRM. Without you, we fail." What an amazing and inspired man! I then met with Sister Maurer and she always fills my emotional cup. Never have I ever laughed harder with anyone than that woman <3. She gave so many helpful tips on training and she said many inspired words that were answers to my own personal prayers. Her love for us as missionaries is tangible. I got up to give her a hug and she pulled me back so she could look into my eyes and said, "Sister Neel...I. Love. You. I am so blessed to spend these 18 months with one of Heavenly Father's most precious daughters God." Her words hit deep. I feel beyond spoiled I get to serve with them! They have ALL my respect and love and will forever be such a huge part of my mission. 

We did service at Natalie's house! She's a part member lady in our ward and hasn't been active in over 2 years. She reached out asking if we could come help her pack up before she moves in with her boyfriend next week. Her apartment was packed full with furniture and random home goods...I honestly was overwhelmed haha. We helped load up sacks and haul them down the three flights of stairs to our car. Their neighbor on the second floor came out and dumped toilet water right where the staircase meets the floor and walking in it was beyond disgusting. Other than that we got a lot done and she asked us to haul everything away to a Good Will. We looked on our google maps and the nearest donation center was out of our area...we were stuck with a loaded car and nowhere to go. I had the prompting to start driving but I pushed it aside and began looking for more areas to drive too. The prompting came again so I finally listened and turned out onto Main Street only to look over and see a donation box in Walgreens parking lot! Success! It was literally right around the corner and we were able to easily drop off all the donations. I'm proof you should always heed spiritual promptings ;)) 

We were about to head home when we saw a family loading a truck with couches. I felt prompted to approach them and give them a pass along card. Both of the elderly men who stayed behind had broken English but were as sweet as we could be. We told them who we were and that we shared messages about Jesus Christ. Their eyes lit up and they informed us they wanted to study with us. We exchanged numbers, shook their hands and let them know we would be in touch soon. One of the guys' names was John and he joked for us to be on the lookout for when 'John the Baptist' called XD. Such a cool find! 

On Friday we had a lesson with Joyce and she expressed she was in a lot of physical and mental pain. We felt prompted to ask her if she would like to receive a priesthood blessing and she said YES!! Now get this. Joyce hasn't allowed anyone in her home since before covid hit but she realized the importance of a blessing and asked us to come THAT evening. We texted the Elders and through some miracle they had a pretty open evening. We met up at Joyces apartment in Raleigh and were FINALLY able to meet her in person!!! The Elders shared a scripture, testified about the importance of priesthood power and gave her the sweetest blessing. The spirit in that room was incredible!!! Everything that was talked about in our previous lesson regarding faith over fear was mentioned in her blessing. It was such a beautiful experience to be a part of! You could tell it impacted her and when we texted her the following day, she said she was already feeling so much better. I'm so thankful for priesthood power and the opportunity we have to better hear what our Father in Heaven needs us to hear! 

Lastly our week ended with Stake Conference! It was broadcasted over zoom so our district met up at the church and crammed in our clerk's office to watch it. The Elders brought a rotisserie chicken, fettuccine alfredo casserole and salad for lunch. It was a fun Sunday afternoon! 

I just want y'all to know how happy I am to be a missionary! The Lord makes the unqualified qualified as we turn our lives over to Him and I've seen this as I am growing and learning so much out here in the south. Like Nephi, I've relied heavily on the spirit to direct and guide my  thoughts/actions and through that, my learning has enhanced so much!! Through personal study I've allowed the Holy Ghost to teach me and create a new viewpoint of the gospel that I never before would have known. It's the best learning period of my entire day! I invite each of you to take that one on one time with the Holy Ghost during your personal studies; and truly feast upon the words of Christ as he teaches and opens your eyes to a perspective of the scriptures that one could only find through him. I can promise you it's SO SO worth it! I've come to have a deeper testimony of the Book of Mormon as my understanding enhances on the messages or spiritual nuggets hidden within and I give all credit to the Holy Ghost! It's the best schooling, best time period of study and best opportunity for me to strengthen my testimony as I learn from the master teacher. The Book of Mormon is true y'all!!

Sure love you guys!! 

♡♡♡

Sister Neel