Sister Neel 12/6/21

 

Hello and happy Monday y'all!

Sooo I've been avoiding this for a couple weeks now but seeing that it's the end of transfers next week it's probably appropriate I share. At my last interview, four weeks ago with President Maurer, I found out I'm leaving Wake Forest next week and heading out to a new area. It absolutely breaks my heart and has created some tender emotions these past couple of weeks for sure. I've served here for over 6 months and have fallen in love with the people to a point where leaving is now extremely difficult. No matter how hard it was to hear that news, I knew that God needed me elsewhere and President Maurer hit on that a lot. He said it was time for me to leave the nest and spread my wings in a new area. He said God had bigger and better plans for me and I had completed the work He sent me here to do. These past few weeks I have applied much faith into these words and trusted Heavenly Father's timing as I now wrap up sacred and holy memories in an area that is so near and dear to my heart. I'm almost grateful in a way I was given a heads up because I'm now able to truly take all these memories in and live up every last moment. I'm excited to see what this week brings and relish in the memories of a lifetime. Wake Forest is truly my little piece of heaven and I will forever thank Heavenly Father for sending me here and being blessed to serve as a disciple of Jesus Christ amongst such good people. How lucky am I to call SO many people we taught, ward members, less active members, my bible study group, homies at Sheetz and our lovely neighbors here in this blessed city, life long friends. I'll love you forever and ever Wake Forest.

Other than that really sad news, it's been an awesome miracle week for sure!! 

First things first, Johnny got baptized!! Not into our church but after many powerful bible studies he felt it was time to make covenants with Heavenly Father and step into the waters of baptism!! He invited most of his family, friends, neighbors and made it a priority the bible study group came as well. What a fun and unique experience! All 40 of us squished around on the couches and listened to Johnny share his conversion story which is such a powerful and moving experience. I'm always touched when I watch people come to know their Savior on a more personal level after experiencing such extreme trials. We then went outside and watched Ethan and Dillon perform the baptism in his hot tub. We all gathered around him afterwards, putting our hands on his shoulders and taking turns praying aloud our thanks to God for Johnny's decision to be baptized. Everyone sang a catholic hymn and then we went back inside to enjoy some games and Christmas festivities for the evening. His family was really touched we came and even Johnny began crying at the support he had received and was so grateful for the ability to call his bible study group eternal friends. Man, I love these people!!  

We were put into a trio for the day since Sister Bruneels companions were headed out to first transfer training and she needed somewhere to stay. After a busy day we had an open hour since a lesson had fallen through and I felt a strong prompting to not head home and do companion study but rather drive the five minutes to Joyner Park and do public contacting/finding. When we got out of the car we ran into this elderly lady with her daughter and her kids and the little girl complimented our dresses. We brought up that we were missionaries and shared messages about Jesus Christ which instantly intrigued both Jeanine and Sarah (mom and daughter). We shared a brief Restoration message on the spot and the spirit was INCREDIBLE!! Sarah began crying and asked how she could get our number or what church she could attend with us so she could learn more. We handed them copies of the Book of Mormon and introduced it to them which they later accepted as the true word of God! We exchanged numbers and happily welcomed them both to church yesterday. What a miracle!

We kept walking and ran into this couple on the swing. We taught a Restoration message on the spot and all the off vibes they had for us immediately fell and they became invested in every word. Their countenance brightened and the joy felt between all 5 of us was indescribable. We exchanged numbers and we have a return appointment to teach them about eternal families! It was almost hard to walk away from them after how happy we all were. We kept walking and ran into this sweet elderly couple who ended up being pastors at a nearby Baptist church. They said they had been studying religion for years but never truly came to understand the 'Mormon' faith which brought a lot of questions. Questions such as why we have the Book of Mormon, what sets us a part from all other religions, why did we practice Polygamy, why do we need Prophets when we have Jesus Christ, can everyone live with God again and does the authority of God still on the earth today. Rather than bash us on our knowledge, we came to terms on EVERY. SINGLE. QUESTION. they brought up!! They were thrilled we reached out to them and were ecstatic to learn so much more about us! They weren't interested in hearing more messages but said they felt the spirit and would call our number if things ever changed. It was such a powerful finding day!

Last but not least, ELDER GONG CAME TO OUR MISSION!!!! And the best part was our ENTIRE MISSION GOT TO GET TOGETHER FOR THIS CONFERENCE!!! Due to how large our mission boundaries are, it's hard to bring everyone together often but on this special day we got to enjoy each other's company and grow as the NCRM together. What a powerful day! The stake center we attended is across the street from the temple so I was able to have Sister Hansen walk around the grounds. We later lined up in height order and were assembled into a mission picture. We had to hold our position for over an hour while we waited for Elder Gong to leave his temple meeting. Right before he walked in, the entire mission stated the Missionary Purpose, D&C 4 and the NCRM statement. What we always recite at every meeting. What a powerful experience to be in unity, in one body and spirit, proclaiming what the NCRM knows to be true! I never got to sing 'Called to Serve' in the MTC with hundreds of missionaries but this experience 100% made up for it!

After Elder Gong entered the room, we all stood, he greeted us, we took a picture and assembled by zone in a line to go out and shake his hand, Elder Palmer, Elder Harding and Elder Adjakitis. I can't even begin to explain the feeling that comes when you look an apostle in the eyes and shake his hand. His spirit flooded my soul and I could feel the immense love he had for me right then and there. He whispered, "Sister Neel, thank you for being where the Lord needs you." Nothing can compare to that moment when you get to celebrate serving alongside an apostle in the great work of the Lord.

We then gathered as a mission to listen to all 4 speakers as well as President and Sister Maurer. This email would be pages long if I could put in everything I loved but here's a few of them!

**We are here to teach the mysteries of heaven we have known since primary 

**think about how long God has been preparing you for this moment to serve 

**D&C 33:2 let our voice penetrate the world with the sound of a trumpet. A trumpet stands out in an orchestra and can reach others amongst most instruments. Hence the reason why the Lord chose this instrument and we represent it. 

**We are serving in the best place in the world. These people here believe in Christ and come together in such profound testimony for Him. God must like us if He sent us here 

**declare the word of God, the divine message of eternal families, the gift of the Atonement, our records and dealings of people in the Book of Mormon, and repentance to a wicked world, that Christ has saved us from sin and provided a way to return back to live with our Father in Heaven. Teach this in such a way where people can't deny that you have been sent here for them 

**take care of your companions and at our 50 year mission reunion, be able to say like elder Holland elder Cook, "we've been taking care of each other for 50 years"

**when we are assigned missions we not only serve in an area but are called for the people 

**Your name will be known at the end of the earth 

**everything that you've learned and experienced so far, put on the altar and the Lord will use it to bless others 

**you are a record of Christ 

**much of what people will learn of the Savior will be shown in us 

**this is about forever. feeling the spirit is like a reminder of our heavenly home

**your hour of your mission is NOW. It's here 

Miracles! Miracles! Miracles! My eyes are being opened everyday to the Lord's hand in His missionary work and I am oh so grateful to be a part of them! Here's some other fun highlights of the week:

**We got to go over to Sister Vinson's house and paint with her to keep her company, eat lunch, set up Christmas and share an uplifting message! She works 10 hour days and barely has enough time for herself so the fact she reached out to us on her day off, wanting to spend it with us meant the world!

**After Sister Vinson, we walked down the street to see if Donya Black was home. A less active lady we haven't been able to get in contact for the time I've been here. And SHE ANSWERED THE DOOR and we had a lesson with her on the spot!! She hugged us and said we were an answer to prayer that day

**We've had a lot of service referrals generated from a facebook page in Durham and one lady, Marie, was in need of raking leaves in her yard. We went over twice to help her and taught a mini plan of salvation lesson on the spot since her husband had passed away. She was so touched and invited us to come back over again to share more about what we believe. She even talked about us to her neighbor and gave her our number to share messages with her too! Marie calls us her "two angels" and it's the sweetest thing ever!

**We had zone council this week and really hit on comp unity. It was a great way to reflect on how lucky I am to have Sister Hansen by my side :))

**The Arsenaults took us fishing for my ten months and then out to dinner! We later went to the Relief Society Christmas activity at Sister Reese's house and enjoyed a fun evening chatting with ward sisters. Her house looked like a Hallmark movie! The Christmas decorations were beautiful!

Anyways y'all, sorry on this email I got a little carried away. So much good happens around here and it's hard not to share. What a blessing it is to be a missionary at this time! There's no place I would rather be. My heart is content and filled with joy. Thank you for everything y'all do for me! I love you guys!!

♡♡♡

Sister Neel