Sister Neel: 3/14/22

 

Hello everybody !! 

This week was awesome! Definitely had its challenges and some rougher moments but the good so outweighed the bad and provided us some amazing experiences! Also, everyone's been emailing me about this and I think it's hilarious. To answer everyone's questions on a public email, yes, Kahanu Kia arrived last Tuesday and is officially serving in the NCRM. I'm sure he has paparazzi from Notre Dame trying to figure out where he's at but Fayetteville should keep him safe ;)) iykyk. Nothing like having the NCRM make the news once in a while :)) 

☆ HIGHLIGHTS ☆

* we were in meetings everyday this week. Tuesday was stake leadership coordination with the stake and zone leaders, Wednesday was an STL meeting with sister Maurer and the sisters, Thursday was stake coordination with the stake high councilors, the stake presidency and the zone leaders, Friday was a meeting with President Maurer, the APs and the zone leaders so we could account for our zone, review goals and review transfer updates and changes for the next 5 weeks. Saturday we met with the zone leaders to prep for MLC (mission leadership council) and the mission tour coming up with elder sabin. And Sunday was the classic accounting calls with the zone and zone leaders. Wheew! Busy busy busy. Lots of big things happening in the zone and lots of exciting things coming up! Sister Johnson and I have been prayerful about what needs to happen and new events are taking place which is exciting!! 

* we pulled off on the side of the road to do a video chat with the elders and so many people pulled off to ask if we were ok or if we needed help. The south is literally soooo kind

* we had mutual and the focus was centered around Sister Johnson and I! We each shared our reasonings why we came out on a mission, what got us here, what mtc was like and what pushes us to live each day to the fullest. I spoke openly and honestly about my experiences and it really humbled the branch to hear more of my past and the growth that took place. President Peterson got choked up and when I finished speaking he said, "The first time Sister Neel got here and we walked away from our conversation, I looked at my wife and said, 'Meg...I'm not sure Sister Neel is going to make it.' And now look at her shining and glowing amongst us again. What a privilege it is to witness missionary growth and the personal experiences of someone who so dearly cherishes." Wow...this place is truly home you guys. I can't imagine being anywhere else 

* we had a pretty bad storm hit us on Saturday and the wind was so bad it was shaking our house a bit. Ya I know...crazy. The water was coming down so swiftly and hard that Sister Johnson and I had to yell just to hear one another. We were warned the previous day to stay indoors by our neighbors due to the bad storm brewing. They weren't kidding haha. Unfortunatley our windows still leak and we were frantically grabbing towels to stuff the cracks in the windows. The rain let up and we met Brother Noe at goose creek and the place looked like a war zone...fallen trees were everywhere, debris covered the roads, at times on our trails we couldn't even tell which was the path and just the basic terrain. Everything looked like a swamp and we were walking through massive puddles just to get to our destination. It was insane to see what an hours worth of mother nature can do to an area. We spent some time down by the river, Brother Noe sang for us and then we trudged back to the car before the next storm rolled in. Sister Johnson and I were still in proselyting clothes so we joked that we were the pioneers and Brother Noe was leading us along the trail hahaha! The funniest thing happened tho. Brother Noe was telling a story when we heard a loud crack and crash to our right. We all jumped and turned around to see what happened only to find a massive branch had fallen off of an oak tree. Brother Noe says, "And that girls, is what we call a widow maker." Oh my gosh...he had me rolling for a hot second it was so funny XD

* We got to do less active visits with the senior couple here in Greenville and even showed them the beach! It was fun to spend some time with them, they low key remind me of my grandparents so it's always special to hear their stories and spend extra time with them. We then went to dinner with them and the Smiths at the President Peterson's home and enjoyed a delicious roast and funnel cakes. We spoke of the work going on here in the branch and how we have big plans for our people coming up this week. Sister Smith told us she has never seen so much work get done in a branch in her entire life and she is completely astounded at the goals we are accomplishing. The branch calls us their little miracle and is amazed at the love we have for work and helping people grow. Best compliment ever!!

Alright y'all now lastly for the miracles. Matthew has come to know that the Book of Mormon is true and it's manifested to him every morning in his personal studies. He studies from 9-10 just like us! He sends us what he learned, how he applied it and what he's going to do with that knowledge. He's been testifying to his dad about the lessons he's learning and isn't afraid to share his Book of Mormon insights with others. He literally bears testimony to his friends all the time and will send us screenshots of their responses. He's on fire!! He's now living the Word of Wisdom and has done some in depth studies on gospel library about the benefits of not drinking coffee and tea and has seen miracles since he's ridded those items out of his diet. He's fighting major sleep throughout the day but he keeps reminding himself how important the Lord's commandments are and then suddenly it gets easier. This man is SO. ELECT.

On Sunday we got 14 people to church...14 PEOPLE!!! 9 were non members and the other five were a less active family and one other member. It was so cool because we sat down and people kept trickling in throughout the meeting and the branch presidency on the stand just kept smiling bigger and bigger. Slowly but surely all the empty benches were being filled in the branch and it was hard to find an empty spot. My soul just wanted to leap for joy each time I looked up and saw someone enter the chapel, make eye contact with us, smile really big and sit down only to get clapped on the shoulder by a member and fellowshipped instantly. 

It was amazing because the Stake Presidency came to speak with us and President Day said he never plans for his talks, only seeks inspiration during sacrament on what he should touch on. He got up and spoke on trials and covered specific events or details that Matthew has or is currently going through and helped him find solutions to his problems. We had a lesson with Matthew the previous evening and he was really emotional with what life was throwing at him and couldn't understand what he did to deserve his circumstances. We prayed that night and pleaded with God to send him some divine power from heaven and that prayer was answered the next day in sacrament meeting. Tears were just streaming down my face the entire time President Day spoke as the message he delivered was clearly being spoken though a servant of God and straight to Matthews heart

After sacrament meeting was over, the talk in that room and the congregation with the members and people we brought was such a powerful situation to witness. The branch members swarmed them, embraced them, listened to their story and found instant friendships with one another. I had a quick moment to pause and scan the room at the intense happiness taking place and the joy that filled each and every corner of that room. The chapel shined brighter that day and I felt happiness and joy that only God would know how to put into perfect words. It was so sweet though, after we had all of our people settled in their second hour classes, Sister Johnson and I ran to the bathroom and she gave me the sweetest compliment ever. She said she had stepped out of the pughs and was walking to the door when she heard the happiest laugh that she has ever heard, she turned around to see me completely surrounded by members and people we were teaching and she said the world just stopped. She saw me smiling from ear to ear, laughing with those I was surrounded by and watching the branch members cling to my arms as I helped them come to love the people we are teaching as much as I do. She said I was shining differently that day and everyone seemed to gravitate towards it. She said that was a moment she wanted to show me when we get to the Celestial kingdom and have it on repeat so I never forget the impact I have on those around me. It was so kind! Sister Johnson is the best at lifting those around her.

After the second hour (which everyone stayed for) we made our way to the linger longer brunch our branch was hosting and again got to witness such joyful interactions with our people and the members while they ate and shared memories. We were hearing the amazing experiences Rockell was having in his book of mormon studies when I heard, "Hey girls!" I turned around only to see BROTHER NOE standing in front of us, hands in his pocket and smiling extra big. I was in shock. I wanted to cry and run up and give him the biggest hug. He hasn't come to church in 45 years...he went less active only a few short months after he was baptized because of some unfortunate happenings between members. He has become bitter and held onto past feelings for years but still adores the people of the church, hence the reason why he walks with us each week. When I served here 9 months ago, Sister Crockett and I almost had him attending church again after a powerful lesson the ferry but he never went after he found out we were leaving the area. And that desire to go has shriveled over the time he's been alone. Sister Johnson and I felt prompted to invite him to come to the linger longer, not really knowing if anything would come out of it and yet here he was. A living miracle was in front of us. My eyes flooded with tears and I felt like my heart could burst. The branch members were appalled to see him and beautiful reunions took place. He was approached by the stake and told that he was needed back in God's church. We needed him and so did the Lord. Even the senior missionaries said they had prayed him here and were impressed to let him know the Lord needed Brother Noe back on his side. You could tell it impacted him so much and he's not a man of few words and yet he stood there speechless. You could see the Holy Ghost working on him and bringing back powerful feelings he had forgotten. It was such a privilege to see the love the branch has for him and for the promptings of the Spirit that opened his eyes. We love Brother Noe and are praying for him!!

Man Sunday was such a highlight of the week and will forever be such a beautiful day to me! This area brings out a side of me I never knew I had and creates joy that is sweet to the soul. My roots are developed in Washington and I thank Heavenly Father every night for letting me come back and experience my little piece of heaven. I wish each one of you could walk the streets of Washington, embrace my sweet members, sit in on lessons taught to my dearest friends, sit on the porch with our neighbors and laugh until the sun went down, meet the many people I've come to call my friends who work in downtown, smell the fresh sea breeze and witness the culture of Washington with me for just a day. It would forever change you, just like it has me. And I couldn't be more grateful I decided to serve a mission and experience what I have. I wish I could have this forever.

I love you all! Have a fantastic week!

Sister Neel