Sister Neel: 7/12/22 Signing off

 

(Grab your tissues!  This is powerful!  Thank you for loving and supporting Alaycia.  It means the world to our family! ~Jeni)

Hello to my dearest family and friends,

Cheers to 18 months, 13 beautiful companions, 5 areas and one incredible mission that has changed my life completely. The Lord walks the lands of NC, He's felt here. And I have loved this journey right alongside Him. I am so incredibly happy and feeling so blessed at what I got to experience. 

I love North Carolina. I love the green trees, the ability it has to make you feel like you live in the jungle. I love the Southern hospitality and the way you could meet a stranger and 15 mins later they're your life long friend. I love the beach, the sweet salty air and sunsets that light the water on fire. I love the spirit that is carried amongst many Christian believers. I love the country lands and the corn fields that go on forever. I love the motto NC stands for, first in flight. I love the humid air and the heat of the day that keeps you fresh and motivated to continue to work hard and grind. I love the country songs that are played from all stores or the Christian rock bands that play in all the parking lots. I love the missionaries that serve here and the family bond we have amongst the mission. I love President and Sister Maurer, for the love they've built here and the unity that's followed. I love who I've become. I love what I've learned. I'll forever view NC as sacred and holy ground. This place is home 

And with that, here's some special highlights of the week:

☆ We had such an awesome p day today! Got lunch, played mini golf on this resort, had some mega lit basketball games going, signed transfer journals, ate cake the YSA dropped off in memory of us and said partial goodbyes. We are all going to breakfast in the morning before we caravan to transfers, but we still got super emotional as we sang "God be with you till we meet again." And hugged goodbye. Or handshaked the elders hahaha. Everyone was bawling their eyes out, we feel like family it's so amazing. And it feels so wrong to be splitting up. But it's awesome because we have a lifetime of memories planned and I can't wait till these people follow me home. Ah I'll literally be counting down the days 

☆ we had a lesson at fuzzy peach with Sister Boetcherr about the power of the liahona and we can have modern day liahonas in our life. Shes still preparing to receive her own and we are so stoked for what's in store for her! We asked bishop to extend her a calling to help her feel included in the ward. She's seeking for higher callings and so we are helping her do just that 

☆ we did less active visits out in the country lands of Richlands and after a few homes where no one answered, we came across one that sister Parker had said she had a bad experience at previously when she had stopped by alone. She was hesitant to go over but we felt the spirit prompting us so strongly to stop by. So we did and Amy happened to be out on her porch and after a brief visit, she invited us inside to tell us her conversion story. It was a beautiful conversation. Her husband, who is a non-member, came and joined with us!! They said that it had been a rough week and our presence warmed their home. Rather than push us away they felt strongly to let us in and their hearts were softened. We have a return appointment set up and we are excited to teach them again 

☆ we had dinner with sweet Sister Lanier from the ward and our lesson consisted of handing out a copy of the BOM to someone she felt prompted to. It was totally out of her comfort zone and she was nervous. We spoke by the spirit and offered words of comfort and encouragement. I had such specific words come to mind that touched on specific situations she was going through. She sat there and bawled, holding our hands and thanking us over and over for our examples. She said that we changed her life through our sweet friendship and this lesson enriched her soul. We promised such specific blessings as representatives of Jesus Christ and her home was impacted. I'll always love those lessons 

☆ at church, I was surprised by the bishopric and asked to give my departing testimony. It was special. People said I looked like I was on fire with Christ's light. It was super cool cause we got to attend all of the wards in our district and support the people that we attended their baptisms with, who also received the Holy Ghost. Nothing like going to church with your besties. Also, in our ward coordination meeting, President Reese was so emotional at the end over our service and the way we've flipped the ward to be more missionary focused. It was so cool

☆ we ate dinner with the family of someone I graduated with in high school!! I didn't even know they were in my ward until we went to dinner that night and the connection was so freaking lit!!! 

☆ we got lost while we were street contacting lol. We parked our car in a neighborhood and walked for several hours, talking to anyone and everyone. When it was time to go back we realize we had no idea where we were. We said a prayer and followed the promptings back to where our car eventually was. It was so cool!! Also, that night, Sister Pauslen's mom paid for our food at Logans Steakhouse and that was amazing!!!

Anyways there's the happenings of my week. All the fun mems :))

Its kinda crazy to believe that my mission is coming to a close. I don't think I have words to adequately express how grateful and honored I am to have been a representative of Christ here in North Carolina amongst the people that I've come to cherish and adore. My heart has been completely changed. I am not the same Sister Neel that got off that plane 18 months ago. And i sure as heck will be returning home a glorified and powerful version of myself that God has shaped and molded to create something that I needed to find through my mission. 

I love what I learned. I love what I got to see with my own eyes. I love what I got to feel. I love what I got to teach. You guys the gospel is so precious to me. My testimony has been built upon a firm foundation and I want to tell the whole world how your life can change just like mine did. I thought I knew God. I thought I knew the gospel well enough. I thought I knew what my testimony was made of. And then I came on a mission and that's where I really found myself. I found the pieces that solidified all I know to be true. I found myself immersed and thrown into deepening my understanding of gospel truths and principles and soaking in the teachings of the Holy Ghost as I studied and enriched my mind. 

I found God through reaching out. Seeking His light. Seeking His support as I found myself being challenged with difficult and nearly impossible trials that weighed and crushed me. I had to learn how to grit my teeth and push through the unquenchable, trusting and knowing that God was in front of me enabling me to take those next steps to keep winning. I found Him when I sought the direction of heaven regarding His people I was entrusted to teach. My life revolved around these sweet southerners. I woke up thinking about how I could bless everyone I came in contact with and went to bed pondering, worrying, stressing and seeking higher counsel for the people that were investigating the gospel. My happiness came from theirs. From watching the fruits of the spirit fester within and truths that spoke to their hearts. 

There is power in watching other people's spirits awake. There is power in being the first person to introduce the gospel to someone who's never before heard of what we live. There is power in watching the Atonement of Jesus Christ play an effect and vital role in the life of those you are cheering you on, literally running along side with as you keep them progressing on the covenant path. There is joy watching people partake of the gospel and choose to progress. They choose baptism and choose a life of honorary dedication to God. I find true and meaningful happiness amongst eternal families. In the Book of Mormon and the power that's contained in the teachings within. In partaking of the sacrament and renewing covenants with God as I embark on a new week. In the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. In the opportunity I have to be a member of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. In our beloved prophet and the many others that paved the gospel way so we can have the fullness today. In the knowledge we have in knowing God's plan and being reassured where we're going after this life. And especially in knowing that we are sons and daughters of a Heavenly king. A God of infinite worth and wisdom that loves you and I with an eternal kind of love. That is my joy. That is what radiates from my being to these sweet people and I can't help but share it with everyone. It's too good not to share 

I'm so incredibly happy for these past 18 months. I know that the work I helped to spread to God's people has blessed me in ways I never knew I needed. These sweet spirits that I got to know have been engraved on my heart for all eternity. I'm going back to heaven with so many special friends 

I know that this calling is sacred. I know that being a representative of Jesus Christ brings joy, an indescribable and contagious joy. I am grateful God trusted me with this calling. I'm not ready to hand my tag back to God but I'm proud that I can do so honorably. There's nothing better than being called Sister Neel. I'm going to miss this all. Everything. I'm going to miss being a missionary but I know that it'll be stamped on my heart forever and ever. 

Thank you guys for following my journey. Thank you for your support. This has been incredible to experience with you. I wouldn't want anyone else on my team. For sure add my new email to all your weeklys, (for those missionary friends of mine) lace.neel101@gmail.com and everyone stay tuned for that homecoming talk yall have been waiting 18 months for ;))

This is Sister Neel signing off for now. I love you all ♡♡