Island of Enchantment

Dear Familia,

Thanks for the letters! Your love and support always lifts me up and encourages me. I love you guys so much and am so grateful that we are sealed together as a family.

Well, I don't know exactly where to start - this week has been really good. At times kind of challenging but really good also. I am actually kind of surprised by the challenges in the mission as a "greeny". They're not so much external but internal as I am learning how to adapt to different people/places/situations, but I am learning so so much. Today I studied about the true love of Christ - charity and about how much love Christ has for each one of us. In Luke 7:12-15 (I think) there is a really neat example of that and also in Alma 7:11-13 I love the description of the atonement. We watched Finding Faith in Christ and it was such a good reminder of Christ's life and also the important presence that He has in our life. That is one of the greatest things that I've learned being out here and testifying the gospel to the people. I have felt His love for others so much and in tesifying to them, I know His love and concern for them. Wow, its just amazing. Anyway, sorry for the random tangent and sorry if its too "missionary". But its just how I feel - I'm so grateful for the opportunity to teach and testify.

Puerto Rico is called the "Island of Enchantment" so, I decided that one of the things that I'm going to do everyweek is write a little "island of enchantment" thing that has enchanted me this past week. I love eating guavas that grow on the trees! At first I didn't really like them, but after a little while (and after learning that they were guavas - horrible that the name affected my opinion - oh well) I love them now! One weird thing that I tried to eat but could because their wasn't too much meat was a turkey neck. Luckily I didn't realize that's what it was until after. Carmen our duena cooks for us probably every day and I love it. Its greasy but good. Here, canola oil is a must for every meal :)

Another thing thats funny is that people say "mama" or "mami" as like a pronoun. Like "mama, see the cups over there, will you get me one". I wish I could say it, but probably not a good choice for a missionary.

Anyway, the last thing that I'll just say really fast is that we had a really neat Zone conference with President Johnson our area authority 70 of the Caribbean. It was really neat to hear his counsel. He counseled us to only teach the people that are ready to hear the gospel. In other words, the people that are keeping their commitments to read and pray. From that conference and just in the past couple of days I have been really impressed with the feeling that there are people that the Lord is preparing right now in our area to be baptized. I feel so blessed to be here and to be a witness to the work of the Lord going forth. It is neat to open up an area and to know that the people here are ready for the gospel.

Anyway, time's run out but I love you guys so much and always pray for you!

Luf,
Hermana Neff

Dogs, Roosters and Hispanic Music

September 8, 2008

Well, this week has been really good. We weren't able to get to work until Thursday because of meetings and mostly the rain. It was raining a lot so the leaders wanted us to stay close or stay inside...not fun. (We've had to buy a bunch of food storage things just to be prepared in case there is a hurricane.)

But, now the weather is looking great and we are out there teaching and knocking on doors. I LOVE my area! It's a town where everyone either has dogs or roosters. The only thing bad about the roosters is they wake me up in the morning. There have been times when I haven't loved that part, but Its probably a good thing because I wake up on time every day! Can you believe it?! The town is so beautiful. There are trees and hills everywhere and the houses are really neat too. They are all made out of concrete and have flat roofs but are really colorful. I've just been realizing the past few days what a tender mercy of the Lord it is to be surrounded by such a beautiful area.

I also love that we hang our clothes up to dry and that our neighbors across the street play old - Hispanic-ish music in the mornings. Not loud enough to distract our studies of course, but it sets a nice little mood.

Another thing that I love is our "Duenos", our landlords. I mentioned before that we are teaching them. They are progressing so much and can't wait to be baptized. But, they are such nice people. Their hospitality is amazing. They are always inviting us to eat (today Carmen said that there goal is for us to gain 200 lbs while we are living there - yikes!) or helping us with something. Wow, they are so neat. But, we've met so many people that are like that. So many people are anxious to feed you and visit with you. That's one thing I like about it here is that everyone (well, the people that let us in) is willing to stop what they are doing and visit with you. Its taught me a lot about charity and about loving other people and having an abundant mentality.

Well, as far as the work goes, it's going great! We have 4 new investigators this week and have some dates scheduled to return. We've visited a couple of inactive families also and I'm hoping that they will return to church. We probably are going to work a lot with inactive members as well as investigators. Pres Martineau said that there are 19,000 members in PR but only 10,000 are active. Wow.

But, I'm getting more comfortable and less afraid to teach. I was a lot more quiet the first few days but I realized that I have been called here to teach and to testify to the people about the TRUE church of Jesus Christ. That only through Him and the saving ordinances by the proper authority we are saved. I've felt the spirit in every lesson that we have taught, it testifies to me that it is true. Joseph Smith was a prophet and that this is Christ's church. I pray that the people here will open their hearts and ask Heavenly Father for themselves to know if it is true and then covenant with Him that they will obey His commandments.

Well, time is running short but I love you all so much and every time I miss you I look at your picture and am strengthened to know that I have your support and your love. I feel happier and ready to work after.

I am praying for you and love you!!!!!!

Hermana Neff


P.S. I receive mail every three weeks or so (transfers and zone conf.) so sorry if there is a little lag time!

P.P.S. My district leader just told me that I guess if there is a hurricane we have permission to make a 5 min call to tell you that everything is ok. Just FYI

"Spiritual Adventure"

We just received our first email from Maclaine. We are filled with love and gratitude as we see how Heavenly Father takes care of all the details and how beautifully everything comes together.

Instead of recapping, she says it all much better herself, so I will just forward parts of her letter.

On Saturday I was warmly welcomed to PR by my mission president's family (Sister Martinuea is so great. She, like all of the other older missionaries, LOVES to give hugs. Hugs are the best.) Then we went to church in another area to pick up my companion. She is so great! She is from Nicaragua and I am so happy to have her. She knows exactly what to say when I either have no clue what they just said or if I have no clue what to say. But, more than that she is a big strength and is always smiling. One of her goals is always to have fun too (don't worry in an obedient way), so that is good for me to kind of relax a little bit and not be so hard on myself.

Anyway, church was good. Oh yes, I drove to church to get practice because I am going to be the DESIGNATED DRIVER! I was panicking, but you just have to be defensive and its all right. Sunday nothing really special happened we just were at the mission home the whole day.

Yesterday we drove to our HUMONGOUS area! There are a lot of fields and we see cows and horses on the side of the rode sometimes. Every time I see one I think of mom and how she would love it. So, our area is really big! It used to be part of the Elders area but they have hardly covered it so a lot of the people haven't seen the missionaries before - really exciting! Driving down here was fun too. We went with a Senior couple - but it was great because every person I saw I thought, "we could teach them". Like one of my teachers in the MTC said, " When I went on my mission, I saw everyone in white". You just see everyone and the potential they have to have the greatness of the gospel in their lives. So driving around the area was really great.

We also met the bishop and his family. The ward is really really great. Everyone is SUPER anxious to help us and the work. We have a member scheduled to come with us everyday for two weeks! Not the whole day, but in the evening. Wow, that is unheard of. They were anxiously awaiting the arrival of the sisters. I am so grateful that I get to be here.

My mission has some really awesome goals for baptisms - one a week and a new investigator every day. (New Inv. is teaching someone and them accepting a second visit)My interview with President Martineau was really neat. He is great. I was getting so excited when he was telling me what he sees happening in our mission. He is all about the members and us working closely together. He says if we meet our goals, his goal is to have a temple announced before he leaves in two years! Wow, a temple would be so neat! Every time I remember those goals I get so excited.

Well, sorry this letter is SO long! But, just really quick. We are living in an apartment under our landlords "duenos". They are actually investigators with a baptismal date! We ate at their house yesterday (So yummy. Rice and beans with this weird looking thing that was delicious. Come to find out, its like a tamale but the paste is made with platano instead of corn). They have told us probably 1,000 times that if there is anything that we need, whatever it is, whatever hour to let them know and they kept using the phrase - confianza - which is like trust or to confide. We didn't have any food to really eat for today so Carmen made us some sandwiches to eat this morning for breakfast . Between them and the elders in our district I feel really taken care of.

Wow, sorry for the HUMOUNGOUS letter! There is so much that is going on but I love to tell! I love you guys so much and am so grateful to get your emails! Thank you so much for your prayers and your support. When I think about being away from the fam for 1 1/2 years its hard, but then I remember what I am here for. Heavenly Father has helped me to get here and I know I am here for a special reason. Its a spiritual adventure.

Ready to go to work.

Maclaine's mission mom sent us a quick note and a few pictures. We should hear from her tomorrow. What we know is this - she's traveling today to a new area that is a resort town on the western coast of Puerto Rico.

Here's a quick picture of Maclaine and her companion.


On a side note - on Maclaine's first day at church, she spotted a picture of one of the missionaries serving from that ward. In the photo, standing next to this missionary was his companion. To Maclaine's surprise, it was and elder Eyre that she knew from high school.