Baptism Date

Dear Mom, Dad, Devin, Ruby, and Gabe and Jake

HI! I don’t think that you’ve gotten my last letter but I got all of yours this week! Wow! Thanks for everything! !!! I had received some other letters (including newspaper clips from Aunt Carol) but my Zone leader gave them to me - he said that all of my mail was about half of what the entire zone received. But I loved everything – I’m even wearing the cute clip that you got for me in Newport right now.

It was so fun to see the pictures and hear about the trips to Cali and Mexico. Grandpa Neff was really nice and wrote me a letter and told me a little bit about what happened . And California adventure – wow! It sounded like a lot of fun. And, oh my cute homecoming date! That looked like so much fun.

I hope that this weeks is a good Halloween week for you guys. We have to stay in our apartment after 6 because apparently it gets really dangerous here – people throwing rotten eggs and stuff like that. Plus, there are already Christmas decorations… but, My companion and I are going to have a little party – especially with the wristbands, treats and socks… don’t worry we are going to take pictures. Speaking of, I lost my camera. I don’t want to say it was stolen, but I haven’t seen it for a few weeks. But, I’m looking on the bright side because I’ve already printed a bunch of pictures from it and I decided its better to loose it now at the beginning of my mission than later. But my companion has a camera that we kind of share so its all good.

But this week has been good, crazy and of course a little bit trying. We are still having trouble finding people to teach but we have a baptismal date! Yay! Here is the story about that :
His name is Richard (60) (Just so you aren’t surprised by the pictures). He is the son of a member in our ward and is also our neighbor. We started to teach him when we first arrived here and taught him a few lessons. But, he was very hard to read, didn't like to be asked questions and very defensive when we would try to ask him questions. He has lived mainly in the United States and so speaks better English than Spanish so it is easy for him to be less talkative. He has gone to church every week for years but has never wanted to find out more about the church and had never read from the Book of Mormon before. But, my companion and I decided that he was not ready to accept the gospel and so decided not to visit him. Well, a couple of weeks went by - he was still coming to church but we were not counting him as an investigator. He asked us if we would come by on one of these Sundays. We decided to set up a lesson, teach lesson 3 and extend the invitation to be baptized. It was last Monday when we taught him. We had two appointments scheduled before that and a member ready to go with us. Well, both of the appointments fell through as well as our back up plans - I was discouraged. But we both felt that we would be able to extend the invitation to Richard and that he was going to accept.

When we arrived at his and his mother's house, I noticed that he was different. He was a lot more friendly and willing to communicate with us. Well, the lesson went great, the spirit was there and we talked about how he knew that he needed to change his life. But, with our encouragement and assurance that if he set this goal to be baptised that he would be ready he accepted to be baptized!
It is amazing to see the change that has come over him. Although he still is shy, he smiles more, answers our questions, sings the hymns, and is so much more receptive to our lessons. We taught the word of wisdom (which is his struggle) and he was completely ready to live it knowing that it was what he needed to do.
Anyway, I am really excited for him to be baptized and grateful to have seen the change that has come over him.
We are still having trouble finding prepared people in our tiempo consagrado. Many of our appointments have fallen through, but the Lord has provided us with many tender mercies that keep me faithful and hopeful. This week, I am going to focus on bearing a more sincere testimony and extending a more straightforward commitment while contacting. I hope and pray that we will be able to find more people ready to be baptized. With the Lords help I know that we can.

But, here are a couple of other highlights from this week:
Yesterday, we contacted in the rain! I was loving it. It wasn’t even a sacrifice for me. But I loved doing it because I just kept thinking of why I was doing it – because I love Heavenly Father and I love the Savior. I was teaching a less active member and I was reminded that that is why we do everything in the church – because we love Heavenly Father and want to obey him. But, really I loved tracting in the rain. We were soaking when we got back but I really loved every minute of it. I also loved yelling so they could hear me from their houses from the gates while it was raining “We are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!..” It reminded me of the primary hymn… “I belong to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. I know who I am, I know God’s plan, I’ll follow Him in faith…” Wow, I’m remembering the lyrics right now and loving them.
Another highlight was explaining yesterday to an investigator in church why we are baptized by immersion.

Well, I love you all so so so much and I love hearing from you every week. I was a little bit homesick after getting the mail but it comforted me to know that I’ll always have contact with you on Mondays! I love you so much and hope that you have a happy happy Halloween this week!

Hermana Neff
P.S. I ate the Candy Corn that you sent me in less than 24 hours I think… good thing I don’t have the limitless jar at home
P.P.S. Moment of Enchantment! We went to some caves last week that I explained in my letter that you haven’t gotten. It was really neat but even more neat to find out this week that they were Pirate Caves! This pirate named Cofrecí used them to live in and hide his treasure. Just call me Captain Jack why don’t ya! Anyway, it was pretty fun to find out! Luf youwr!
P.P.P.S Elections in Puerto Rico are crazy

Photos from the Isle of Enchantment.

The baptism of her landlords.

Making Guatemalan Tortillas with the Guatemalan sister missionaries.

The hills and the clouds that Maclaine loves in the area she serves in Southwestern Puerto Rico.

Standing by the lighthouse at the beach in her area.

Trial of Faith

Here is a compilation of a couple different letters. One is an email and the other is a hand written one while waiting at Walgreens for the Elder's to buy fishing supplies on their way to the beach on P-day.

"Hi Guys!

I have learned a lot this week about an answers to prayer - first with an experiance with some scary dogs - we were tracting and usually I'm not afraid of the dogs because they can never jump the fences but these ones definitley could. My companion and I decided to say a prayer and when we walked back there was only one of the dogs that was standing up. The rest were lying down and just barking. I KNEW that we were protected by Heavenly Father, it reminded me kind of of Daniel in the Lion's den. THe other answer to my prayer was yesterday when I spoke in church. Wow, the spirit helped me so much because I was able to say everything that I needed to say without looking at my paper that I had written. THe words came into my mouth clearly and I felt the spirit.

Well, this week has been another trial of my faith with finding people who are ready to hear the gospel. But even when we go out and tract and have no success I find a lot of joy in having faith in Heavenly Father and in being positive. I think that is one of the gifts that I have been blessed with is being positive in situations that aren't perfect - but I think that my parents have taught me well! "Positive Energy"!

I've been reading a lot about faith and miracles and I've found that Heavenly Father cannot perform any miracles w/out us having faith.

Here are a couple of funny things that have happened lately... I have no idea how much food I've been able to eat. The members keep feeding you and feeding you and feeding you. But it's always delicious. :)

Yesterday we were at the Bishop's house and he was cutting coconuts w/some other people. It was so neat to see them cutting coconuts underneath the palm trees. BUT, then I had to eat one. Have you ever tried warm coconut juice? Well, let me tell you, not that great. Actually, pretty gross- and my companion wouldn't drink mine so I had to finish it! Then I finished it off w/the coco inside- you know that kind of resembles a jelly-fish? Anyway it was funny and definitely something I'll never forget!

Well, we arrived at the beach and it's really pretty. I love driving in this part of the country. It's green and ' hilly' and there is a song that we always listen to when we drive though. It's kind of Alison Krausish and fits perfectly.

I started reading the Book of Mormon the other day and was so impressed by Nephi. His calling wasn't a missionary like Alma but it was to lead his family. I thought about us and our family-especially as I've been working w/ a lot of inactives lately - how we can always be an example and I'm so grateful that you are my family.

Gang Bangers on Horseback.

Editor's Note: This is a copy of a letter we received today from Maclaine. In the future, we will scan the little drawings she puts in her letters and on her envelopes!

Dear Family,

Well, right now I'm at a zone activity in Hormiqueros. The sisters are all in the kitchen cooking a Guatemalan somethin somethin. But there's not a whole lot for me to do... so I'm just relaxing. I'm pretty impressed - they are handling the meat and everything :) (Maybe I'll learn how to cook here in PR.)

It's a hot day, but in front of the fan...just perfect.

Well, there isn't too much to write but I just wanted to say hi and that I love you.

Oh, my little Puerto Rican favorite thing this week - the clouds! I don't know why, the clouds are so pretty down here. Driving down from a hill and seeing the countryside with the clouds covering them - I can't really explain it but they are so pretty and puffy. Even when they are black and rainy, I love them. Sometimes even more.

Another thing I don't know if I mentioned before but it's funny: All of the "gang bangers" don't skateboard or ride in low rider cars - They're going horseback. They all ride horses in the streets! It's so funny to see a tough looking guy with baggy pants and no shirt riding a horse!

This week, I'll take a picture of my house - it's cute. We even hang our clothes to dry!

I love you so much,

Hma Neff

Going to the Beach Today...

Editor's note: With hurricane Omar less than 36 hours away, why not go to the beach on p-day?

Wow, thank you so much for your emails this week. They inspired me so much and .... there just aren't words to describe. I love you all so so so much. I love hearing about everything that is going on and about everything that everyone is doing.

I had to write an extra email to one of the people in the office about my license so I don't have really a lot of time, but we are going to the beach today so I'm planning on writing a longer letter.

This week has been hard but there have been a lot of great moments too. We are in an investigator drought so it can be discouraging but we have visited a lot of inactive members which I love doing, I love being able to help remind them of their testimonies of the gospel and why they got baptised.

One little experience that I had yesterday I was really grateful for. We were in the house of a member and they have a girl, probably about 20-25 that has Cerebral Palsy. We all sat around and sang How Great Thou Art and I was sitting next to her and holding her hand. I was so touched and felt so blessed to be sitting next to her. Then I thought of Christ when He blessed all the children and all of the sick and afflicted. I feel so blessed to be a representative of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to preach His gospel.

Ahh, time is up but I love you!

October 5, 2008

This week has been good. Dad asked me about my district and my zone - they are awesome! There are six in my district, which two are the Zone leaders now. But, we are with them a lot - going to church, meetings, giving them rides etc. They are so much fun to have in the backseat. I don't love being the driver all of the time but, I'm getting a lot more aggressive - driving wise (Good thing? hopefully)

There is an elder serving a mini mission (a lot of P.R. members serve mini missions - they go to another part of the island and serve for a few months- its really neat because it helps them see missionary work and then helps them when they go back home to their wards) but he is hilarious so its fun to have the elders around. My zone is really great too. We've seen a lot of each other lately with conference ( we all went to the stake center with the members to watch it) and its really fun because there are 8 sisters in our zone. 2 of them slept over at our house on Saturday night - we had a little sleepover party. Well, not really - we were already stuffed from pizza and hot chocolate that some members gave us. But, it was fun nonetheless. (Did I just say nonetheless?)

Anyway, this past week has been good. We had transfers - so I got to see the whole mission as we gathered to be instructed from the President, APs and Sister Martineau. It was really great. I felt really strongly while the president was talking about our goals as a mission (that in Nov and Dec every companionship has a baptism) and our vision for the mission that he is a servant of the Lord, that these goals for the mission aren't his, but they are the Lord's. Anyway, it was really neat to make plans about how we are going to advance the building of the Kingdom of God.

Oh wow, and then conference... first of all ... lets give it to the girl who stayed awake the whole time! Yeah! It was so awesome. My favorite talks were Elder Bednar's about prayer, President Monson's about Joy in the journey, and Elder Christofferson's about the Building up of Zion. Especially in Elder Christofferson's when he talked about Zion that this gospel is the most important thing in our lives. I don't think I really realized that before, well maybe a little but not like I do now. I was reminded about my sacred responsibility as a missionary but also as a member when I return to give my life to Heavenly Father.

We also had the baptism of our Duenos! Wow, the spirit was there and they seemed so happy.

Well, I need to go but I love you all so much! I know that it is only through faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghostt, and enduring to the end that we can return to live with our Heavenly Father.