Elder Neel: 12/26/22

 

Feliz Navidad!!!🎄⛄️🤠

Spencer Neel <spencer.neel@missionary.org>

Merry Christmas my friends and family!! I hope it’s been so, so good for you all. And now we’re close to the New Year! Can you believe it!? It’s been a crazy good year and I’m pumped to see how the next one goes. But what a week it has been! 

We had our ward Christmas party last week and man, Spanish branches know how to throw parties. We had a DJ, lights, and a ton of food and games. We even had Santa. The highlight of the night was after everyone was done eating we all went to the middle of the gym and danced. Hermana Wright taught me how to really dance and let me tell you I looked good. It was a fun night and I was able to get a lot closer to the members in our branch.

On p-day we went to Top Golf as a zone because it was super cheap! Some of the Elders and Sisters could absolutely smash the golf ball and I hit it just a little less further. Let’s just say I got past 30 ft. 😂 

Later that night we all went caroling and we had such a big group that we had to split into districts. I have the best district in the world and when you have that much love you just sing so much better. We decided to hit all the homes that had snowmen and it turned out to be the best idea. So many people would say that this is exactly what they needed and one lady even offered to pay us! The spirit is definitely felt through singing.

Fast forward to the best time of the week, CHRISTMAS!!!! With it being Christmas it was a lot harder to find and teach people but we were able to have a ton of cool member lessons. We were able to meet with one of our members who hasn’t been able to come much because of work and she didn’t realize how much she needed a message. She had a ton of good questions and we’re going back to help answer them for her. Little things like that have been our fun missionary work this Christmas. 

Christmas Eve was seriously one of the funnest days I’ve ever had on the mission. We started out the morning playing chair soccer as a zone and then making breakfast. I had a wicked waffle and I got my sweet tooth out. Sister Brimhall could not stop laughing and the credit goes to her for this amazing picture.

Later that night we had dinner with the Bradshaw’s and they are one of the coolest families in our branch. They made tamales and the best rice I’ve ever had. They then opened their house to all the missionaries and we invited both of the Lubbock zones over. They had about 20 missionaries in their home and they loved it. Sister Bradshaw had a bunch of fun games for us to do. One of them was she takes a picture of every companionship and sends them in a group message to our moms. Whoever’s mom responds first wins and shout out to my mom for responding just before Elder Allphin’s mom did! Mama for the win. That night I also had to keep the tradition of putting out food for Santa and I made him the best missionary plate. He probably was on a diet this year because he didn’t eat any of it but it’s the thought that counts. 

Christmas day was also so good we had cinnamon rolls at our President’s house and then we went to the hospital to give a lady the sacrament. We missed her (don’t worry we were able to give it to her later that night) but we had the special opportunity to see the Grinch himself pull up and deliver presents to many of the kids in the hospital. He came in on a sweet ride and it has been the coolest thing I’ve seen on the mission so far. Shout out to Elder Christensen for his immense love of Mustangs.

We had a Christmas party that was put on by one of the senior missionary couples, The Nelson’s, in our mission and she knows how to throw parties too. Sister Nelson bought us all kazoo’s and we carried on her tradition of having a kazoo sing along. The rest of the night went by crazy fast with a dinner with the Wright’s and the ZL’s were able to come. We went back to the Nelson’s and had pumpkin pie and then I was able to call my Grandparents!! It was so good to see and talk to them. I have been blessed with the greatest grandparents alive and almost everything I am is because of their examples in my life. I love them so much!! I also opened presents and Santa gave me some gooood stuff. Overall it’s been one of my favorite Christmas seasons ever. 

A thought for you guys comes from the wisdom of one of our members. He spoke of the importance of following the Spirit and how the Spirit will always lead us to Christ. He pointed to the shepherds and the wise men who were told to find the baby Jesus. They were told some things like you’ll find Him in a manger and in swaddling clothes but we never hear of them being told exactly where Jesus was. This member said these people were probably in tune with the Spirit and were guided by Him to where the babe lay. There are many times in our life where we might not know exactly what to do and where we need to go. We are given some direction but not the whole thing. But through the comforting guidance of the Spirit, He will lead us down the right path and help us know what we need to do. Everything the Spirit directs us with is good because He always leads us to Christ and everything about Christ is good. 

I love you all so much and hope it’s been the best season ever for y'all! Until next week and 2023,

Elder Neel