Sister Neel 11/29/21

 

Hey everyone!!

I've had a lot of you reach out and ask what address to send Christmas packages too! I apologize I can't respond to each of you individually but this should do the trick! Since I'm moving, the best and safest place would be my mission office address: 5060 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27609 :)) Thanks so much y'all!

Let's dive into the highlights of the week shall we?

**Our Thanksgiving was oh so grand! We spent the morning sending thankful texts to all of our progressing and potential people, ward members, less active/part member families and stake presidency...wheew it was a lot but so worth it! We went to the Young's house for our first Thanksgiving feast and helped them set up their Christmas decor outside. We later went to a less active ladies house named Debbie Giordano and they don't believe in traditional Thanksgiving dinners so they made pizza, fries, pasta salads, ribs, steaks, corn on the cob and a cheese dip tray. It was super interesting but TONS of people were there. Debbie's daughter invited all of her siblings and their older kids, plus neighbors and friends. It made for quite an eventful evening and a fun opportunity to get to know lots of new people!

**On Wednesday the Glorius family invited me over and surprised me with Happy Birthday signs, a poster with kind notes written on it, balloons scattered throughout the entire house, my favorite meal and desserts, a large present and games for an early birthday celebration since I'm leaving Wake Forest before my birthday! Their thoughtfulness honestly meant the world to me and I appreciated how they went above and beyond to celebrate special events that I wanted to have spent here in Wake Forest. 

**On Friday, the elders texted us asking if we wanted to come and help decorate a baptist church with Christmas decorations! Oh how fun that was! We set up over 12 foot Christmas trees and got on ladders to get ornaments to the top. We hung garland, ribbons and wreaths from all the pews and windows, set up Poinsettias along the front altar and helped organize fake candles amongst the Choir section, near the cross. Most of the people that attend this church are elderly and many members came to help decorate. It was such a fun opportunity to get to know so many people and gear up for this fun Christmas season ahead of us! We ended the day with brunch and fun Christmas games, which are always the best :))

A miracle this week was for sure Jeddy coming to church!! We had invited 6 other people but they all fell through :(( Jeddy was swarmed with members who had missed seeing him these past few months and we had two of his fellowshippers step in and invite him to sit next to them during Sacrament and Elders quorum without us even asking! He treasured this experience and we've seen so much growth take place in him as he's accepted more gospel truths. He's softened his heart considerably since I first met him and it's been amazing to witness!

I was able to speak in Sacrament meeting on Sunday!! My talk followed a return missionary, Gabe Glorius and he was returning from California! My topic was how my mission has blessed my life and the miracles I've seen from it. I was able to open up about my struggle with physical and mental health in my first 7 months of my mission and the miracles I've seen from trusting in God's plan. It is literally a miracle that I am here and able to feel so completely adjusted in missionary life. My mental health has improved considerably and I've overcome challenges that couldn't have been done without the Savior's grace and consistent efforts in picking me up when I no longer could walk on my own. I came out on a mission expecting it to be a lowkey adventure that was sweet and to the point. Never once did I expect to be in the Urgent Care not even a week into my mission and battling anxiety that sprung from out of nowhere. Those first 7 months of my mission were some of the most beautiful times of my life but also some of the most challenging times I have ever been called to go through. 

Little did I know that those hills and valleys I had to endure, refined and edified me into the person I needed to become. Those low moments of my mission were where I reached up with the strength of a drowning person, in desperate need for my Savior's aid and encouragement. If anything my trials have shown me how merciful my Heavenly Father is and how His plan is exactly what we need whether we see it or not. I have seen miracles that are personal yet sacred for me to witness as I've continued to have faith in my decision to serve a mission. Heaven's help has literally been a huge reason in my progression as a missionary and I have felt the assistance of angels as I take each step closer and closer to becoming the missionary the Lord needs me to be. Many of these angels have been the people I have served around in Wake Forest and this place will forever be holy, sacred ground to me. I seriously don't know where I would be without my ward family, people I've taught or missionaries I've served around.

There's this amazing video on Gospel Library that depicts exactly how I felt. I picture myself in this man's shoes, speaking to my Father in Heaven and finding that will power, that strength that I promised Him long ago, to serve with all my heart, might, mind and strength, helping people find the truth that they once knew. I invite you all to watch this video and focus on ways you can enjoy your own personal journey and find gratitude along the way. I can promise that life is so sweet and uplifting when we turn our lives over into the Lord's hands.