Elder Neel: 10/31/22

 

Welcome to Small Dirt!

Spencer Neel <spencer.neel@missionary.org>

Hola todos!! It feels so long since I've emailed you all but that's because I'm officially in Texas!! We flew out on a p day so that's why there wasn't one last week. I said goodbye to my district who are some of the most amazing people and best friends I've had. I miss them but I know they're doing amazing in all of their missions. 

I can't tell you how good it feels to be in the field. All my training has led up to this moment and it's really going to be the next best two years of my life. When we arrived in the airport we were greeted by our mission President, his wife, and the AP's (assistants to the president). Elder Ryan and Elder McDougall gave us giant hugs and gave us the best surprise ever. We were literally 5 minutes from being off the plane and they told us to grab our luggage and then we were off to Texas Tech campus to share the Gospel with the students walking around. I was so pumped and slightly nervous at the same time, this was going to be my first time ever sharing the gospel in a real life setting! I went with Elder Ryan and a guy who came with me Elder Omer and we went around campus getting to know people, sharing scriptures, inviting, sharing our testimonies and so much more. I loved it. I felt the joy of bringing people closer to Christ and sharing what I know about Him. We also had a hilarious moment, Elder Ryan saw two girls talking and he was really excited and said we should go talk to them. I was confused but we went up and Elder Omer tried sharing a scripture with them and I tried getting to know them and it was so awkward. They just kept laughing. Turns out they were already members and Elder Ryan pranked us so good. It was so funny and Elder Ryan would not stop teasing us about it. 

Man this is going to be a longer email but I'm trying to cram two weeks into this! I got my first area and companion!!! I am in Big Lake Texas and it is a huge area! Well huge because we only have 3 little towns in our area and they're all super spread out. The biggest town has just over 2,000 people. I am loving the small town vibes. We call Big Lake, Small Dirt because there really isn't a lake and it's all dirt. My companion is Elder Malquist and he is a stud. He just got out of training but I can't tell you how much he has taught me. He's especially good with Big Lake because he's been here for about 3 months now. We have the coolest branch president who loaded us up with food and is the funniest guy alive. We have a sweet little apartment and it's right across from the Cowboys for Jesus church which is awesome🤣 

Life as a missionary is busy but so so fun!! Some highlights of this week were Elder Malquist and I stapled pass along cards to candy and handed them out to people at the city trunk or treat! We picked up a new dryer for the branch and it's sweet. We're teaching some kids who want to be baptized but it is so hard to keep their attention so we're trying to create some games for them to keep them interested and share the gospel with them at the same time! They are some of the funniest kids ever. We had the primary program at our church this past Sunday and our church is in a home. We have about 20 people come to church and it is a tight knit group, everyone is so loving and kind here!! Yours truly also got to be in the primary program because one of the kids didn't show up and I've got to say I'm still pretty good at singing the songs 😎 

Thanks for bearing with me everyone, this email is kind of all over the place. I've been reading a lot from the Book of Mormon for my studies and a chapter that has really stood out to me has been Alma chapter 7. In verse 12 it says "And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." Christ atoned for our us so that He may know how to comfort us in anything and everything. How beautiful is that? I have seen this personally recently as I have been called to an English area and have an English companion. Learning Spanish on my own has been a struggle and it's really hard to use it. But I am here for a reason and I will do all that God and His son ask of me. Christ is always with us and loves us so much. Through the joy and the struggles He is there. I testify of this. I promise that as you try to find Christ daily and grow your relationship with Him, you will have so much more peace and joy! I love you all and until next time

Elder Neel 

Here's my huge photo dump for you guys ☺ 

Also shout out to my sister Alaycia, SHES MARRIED!!!! And I got to be there in cardboard form. She's so amazing and the best sister ever, I love you!!!