Elder Neel: 1/30/23

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!?!?

Spencer Neel <spencer.neel@missionary.org>

Hello my friends and family how are you!?!? I am so sorry that I haven't sent an email in over 5 weeks so it's a big Happy New Year to all of you! It has been crazy busy out here and I put off writing an email for too long! For some of you this is my only way of keeping in contact with you and I promise I will do better.  So buckle up and here we go🤠

We had transfers in the beginning of January and I am officially out of training. We're already over half way through this transfer and I cannot believe how fast time flies. I bet you all can feel that too. I am still in Lubbock in the Quaker Heights North area and Elder Allphin and I are still the coolest duo in the Wild West. This past few weeks have been full of little miracles and I can’t wait to tell y’all all about it. First we’re going to start with the fun though.

I seriously have the best district and zone a missionary could ever ask for. We almost do everything together and it feels like one giant family. There are two zones in the city of Lubbock so there are a ton of missionaries here. Every Sunday morning we go on a morning walk at 6:45 a.m. as a zone and I have been able to get very close to each missionary here. Missionary work is so successful when you are united as missionaries and it’s been so fun.

We had a giant BBQ with both zones last monday and Elder Scott got about 50 burger patties from a member so he brought a grill and we cooked them all up. He really knows how to cook and Texas has the best meat in the Country. You all have to come out here and try it sometime. 

It snowed in Texas this past can you believe it!? We only got a little over half a foot so not that much but here in Texas that is nuts. Everyone here does not know how to drive in the snow and it is hilarious. You really got to be careful when you hop on the Texas roads. It sadly almost all melted the next day but I never thought I would see it out here! I have heard Utah is getting dumped on with a lot of snow so you all stay safe but have a blast! 

After our district council we came out to find that some kids had made missionary snowmen for us. School was canceled out here and it was so awesome to see these! They are honestly my favorite.

Honestly I think west Texas is beautiful. It is nowhere near as amazing as Utah, but after being here for a few months it has really grown on me. The sunsets out here look like the sky is on fire and I just love everything that God has given us!! 

This was absolutely crazy but I saw an elephant off the side of the street. I don’t know if they had the circus going out here but he was just chilling off doing his own thing. There’s so many things you never think you’d see but you do. That’s what you get as a missionary being out and about all the time! (He’s not real I’ll spill it but it’s still hilarious 😂)

We helped the Hermanas we branch share with on a project they were working on for Facebook. They are in charge of the Social Media work for the whole mission and we get roped into a lot of things to help them out. After the project it turned into a small photoshoot and we got some good pictures. The Monteray Elders joined us and they are some of my favorite people ever. Most everyone knows I don’t truly smile for pictures (my mom knows this best😝). Here’s to your enjoyment!!