From a Great Adventure to an Altogether Better One.

No, this isn't a picture of Maclaine on P-Day exploring a local fiery volcano. To our knowledge, there are no cone-shaped, lava-spewers located on the island of Puerto Rico.

It's just that I was looking through our photos and found this picture of her from a year and a half ago on an weekend of exploration in Guatemala. It's fun to remember what she looked like such a short time ago.

That said, we're all thankful she's turned in her walking stick for a shepherd's staff and a name badge. By the way, in a month, she'll be nearly one third of the way complete. But don't tell her that, she feels like there's too many opportunities and too much of great work ahead.

When New Converts Call.

This is a post from Brian & Stephanie. This week, we received no email from Maclaine, but I think the following phone call made up for the lack of news from our daughter.

It was nearly seven o'clock in the evening when the phone rang. We didn't recognize the area code or the scratchy voice at the other end of the receiver. But after a few minutes and a call back on a number that had a little more clarity, we found that we were talking to Maclaine's first converts - her "duenos," or landlords.

The landlords had called to thank us for a small Christmas gift we had sent. But that was just the framework of the call. The true sweetness of the conversation was the strength we felt from these great people as they expressed their love for the gospel and their love for our daughter! Over and over again, in their non-native tongue, they continued to reassure us that "while your daughter is in Puerto Rico, you have nothing to fear, because we are her parents while she is away from you."

They also spoke of never knowing what it is like to belong to a religious organization, but through the love of the sister missionaries, "they understand the gospel plan." These wonderful people also told us that they have already shed many tears knowing a day will come when each of their missionaries will be reassigned. But they've also learned that they can, "deal with it when it happens!"

As parents, it is overwhelming to feel the love for our daughter as she preaches the sweetness of the plan of the Father. It's also overwhelming to know that her acts of faith and goodness have already changed the lives of people who will forever bless her dear name.

Finding the lost ones.

This week has been a week full of miracles. The biggest being the return of an inactive family to the church. The dad, Jose is a return missionary but was very inactive for about 10 ten years. We started visiting them a couple of months ago and thought that they would eventually come back to church but never this fast. They had plans to move to the States and he actually flew out for a couple of weeks to look for work and attended church out there, but decided to come back. We don't know all of the details of what happened but all we know is that they called us and told us he was back. Well, the whole family came to church yesterday, Jose went to the priesthood on Saturday and they asked us to come give a lesson for family home evening tonight.

What a joy it was to see their whole family at church yesterday! I feel like we really didn't do very much but were just a small part in the what the Lord was already doing for them and preparing them to come back. But, when I saw them yesterday I couldn't help but feel joyful and grateful for this miracle that we have witnessed.

We are also excited for the baptisms of Melvin and Dianna this week. We found them during consecrated finding time and have watched them grow as they have stopped drinking coffee, are reading the Book of Mormon and are enjoying going to church.

Also, last night we said goodbye to our recent convert Richard. He is moving to the United States for about six months to help his daughter who is in a bad financial situation. He has been very afflicted with the trial that his daughter is going through and has not been as welcoming as he was when he was an investigator. But, yesterday he was asked to say the prayer in Gospel Principles. He said it in English, although I think only the elders and I understood. It was a beautiful prayer. He thanked Heavenly Father for the church and for the help that He had given his family and sincerely asked that He would help those who were in need of help in these troubled times. It was so neat to hear him pray to our Father in Heaven and to hear his strong testimony in the words of his prayer.

Then last night we went over to his house with Carmen and Edwin - who have become really good friends with him and his family. I never want to forget the prayer that Edwin offered. The spirit was so strong as Edwin prayed. It was neat to see, this time with Edwin, his testimony through his prayer. He asked that Richard remember the covenants that he made at baptism while he was away. That is the only part that I remembered exactly but it touched me. To be there with these wonderful people who have just recently been baptized and to know that they have great testimonies of the gospel and that they feel changed by the covenants that they have made was a great experience for me.

Anyway, needless to say, this week has been really great. I feel blessed to be experiencing these miracles and I feel like I am literally living Ether 12:6 - we spent so much time living off of our faith and are now recieving the blessings for that. Wow. I love the Lord and am so grateful for Him and for the Gospel.

I decided yesterday what I am doing now is the most special and most important thing that I have ever done.

Also, I know that you are anxious to hear about the Christmas call thing. But I am too. I don't know anything yet about how it all goes down... so I'm sure I'll be finding out in the next week or so and will let you know.

This past week we also visited an inactive member named Maritza who has been inactive for years and years. She was deeply offended by something that one of the members said to her and decided that she was not going to go back. But, after having a really spiritual and powerful lesson with her she told us that she was going to try to come back (its a step up from "no. I am not coming back") She was praying for help from Heavenly Father when we showed up. I don't even remember what we were doing or how we decided to go visit her - it didn't seem like anything really miraculous to us when we decided but it was Heavenly Father working through us to help us arrive at the right time for Maritza. Anyway, I know Heavenly Father listens to our prayers. I know that He loves us. I know that He sent His son to the earth because He loves us.

I was reading in Luke 2 this morning and was amazed by the multitude of angels singing. It dawned on me that they were singing because they knew what it meant that Jesus came to earth. Only through Christ can we be saved and that is what they were rejoicing for.

Well, I love you all so much. I wish that you could be here meeting these people with me. There are so many members of the ward that I would love to introduce to you. We find out this Saturday if one of us gets transferred so we'll see what happens. But my time here has been amazing.

Love,

Hna. Neff

P.S. Moment of enchantment: I ate the best flan that I have ever tasted last night. I got the recipe so when I get home I'm going to try it.

It's the Season of Giving.

Hi everybody!

Thanks for your emails! And, Thanks for the advent calendar/letter surprise! Wow, it has been really neat to hear from my extended family and to be reminded that there are so many people praying for me right now. It helps strengthens me and reminds me to work hard! And Gabe! Thanks for all of your letters! I loved reading all of them – you are getting so good at writing. I love it!

But thanks everyone for all that you do and for all of your prayers and support! I love you all so so much. Dad, thank you for your suggestion about the 3 week family thing. I really want to try it. The families in our ward are really awesome and I know that they can be great missionaries.
Also, I got the Christmas tree in the mail from the ward! It was really fun to hear from the people in the ward!

Well, this week has been a good one. There aren’t any really amazing amazing stories or anything but we have two baptisms coming up on December 20th. I don’t know if I have told you about Melvin and Diana before but Diana is the mom (about 50) and Melvin is the son. They live in the same house with Melvin’s daughter. Anyway, we are really excited about their baptism. We found them in our consecrated finding time and its been neat to see their testimonies grow and their understanding deepen. Melvin even wants to share it with other people that he knows are suffering. He knows the peace that it brings.

It has been neat to see them grow and learn more. It is just like in Alma’s comparison to the seed and with our faith and works. It grows little by little and starts to flourish. The gospel enlightens our minds and our souls when we just give it the nutrients (or the faith) that it needs. Wow, I’ve seen it especially in my own missionary life. The more I read the more I enjoy reading and the more I learn the more I am filled with the spirit. I’m so grateful that Heavenly Father restored His gospel again on the earth and that we have the opportunity to learn and to also share of its goodness.

Melvin has stopped drinking coffee which was really awesome but Diana has been a little bit more difficult. I’m praying that she will understand the true meaning of the word of wisdom.
Anyway, I’m out of time for right now but I love you all so much and I hope that you are having an awesome, amazing Christmas season. I am so lucky to have you as a family.

Last night in the Christmas devotional they talked a lot about service in the Christmas season and I was so grateful for family that has always been such a good example to me of giving selfless service. I love you all! Tell everyone in the family that I love them and am thankful for their prayers and support!

Love,
Hermana Neff

P.S. Moment of Puerto Rican Christmas enchantment – A ton of Christmas lights and blow up decorations. Sponge Bob and Winnie the Pooh with Santa hats are especially popular. Also there are quite a few people that have their Christmas trees outside on the porch rather than inside! Gotta love it!

More Photos from the Island of Enchantment.

Heating up leftovers

"My apartment. The duenos live upstairs."

Halloween. Wearing stylish socks sent by her parents and showing off her new pillowcase. (Maclaine tells us that after a hard-day's work, she doesn't look that great. We know the feeling.)

Richard's Baptism. "Richard's mom has been a member for 35 years and has prayed for him to get baptized the whole time."

Every envelope the postman delivers has an extra dose of love attached.

Gratitude and a Large Helping of Juicy Turkey.

Hi Guys!!!

First of all, thanks so much for your emails, letters and packages! They strengthen me every time that I read them - especially the emails. But the packages were awesome! I got them at zone conference and EVERYONE came up to me to tell me that I had gotten TWO packages! But we have totally decorated the apartment and I have enjoyed a lot of Hot Chocolate and Sugar Free target crystal light :) It has been awesome too to have music. Good job Dad! Anyway, every little detail and thing was awesome, especially the gifts for Hna. Turcios. She loved the pens and getting a gift from Ruby - even though she wanted to open it right then, I made her wait until we leave on the 24th. :)

We had Thanksgiving in 2 members homes this week. I do have to say that I like the Turkey here better because its a lot juicier but I missed the Yams (gasp) and mashed potatoes and pies. But it was good.

But, well this week has been hard and its been good. I think those two elements will always exist in my letters home. I've had a lot of strengthening experiences.

Dad, really quick before I forget - about your comment about the recession and staying positive and grateful - That is one thing that I have learned a lot about here - always staying positive has helped me so much. I don't know what I would do if I didn't. It is sometimes challenging, but there is always something to be grateful for I've learned and it has helped me so much.

This week we found out that a dear dear friend of ours in the church died. She was baptized just four months ago but seemed like she'd been a member her whole life. She was always willing to do anything for anyone and always shared her testimony. But, I know that Heavenly Father has a purpose for her. She had been sick for a while and had almost died before but Heavenly Father had a purpose for her here on the earth - she needed to hear the gospel. This past week the youth went to the temple. She sent about 90 family names to go with them. I can just imagine her rejoicing with her family on the other side of the veil after they were baptized. It made me think and reflect a lot on the song White Dress. Its such a beautiful song - thanks for including it on the CD. But, I know that the plan of Salvation is true and that Heavenly Father loves us and has a plan for each of us.

Well, I am sending a copy of the letter that I sent to my mission President and also the letter that he sent to everyone this week. I love you all so so so much and am so thankful for your constant love and support.

I love you!

Love,
Hermana Neff

Letter to the President
Thank you so much for your letter. And, thank you so much for coming to Thelma’s funeral yesterday. I was touched by your message yesterday and your letter today. I feel blessed to have known Thelma and while I will miss her presence here and her great friendship I am comforted to know that she is awaiting the Lord’s coming in paradise. When we found out about her death I was shocked, but a feeling of peace came over me when we prayed and when I read Alma 40:12. It was a great testimony to me of the plan of salvation.

We had a lot of appointments fall through this week, have had to walk a lot, and think hard about who else we could go visit to the point where I couldn’t think anymore, but Heavenly Father gave us the strength to keep going. It felt good to come home knowing that you did everything that you possibly could have done that day. On Saturday I was starting to get really tired just before consecrated finding time when a letter that my sister wrote me came to my mind. She quoted the General YW president who said, “I can do hard things”. I knew that the only thing there was for me to do was to keep going. So I did – I kept going and forgot about everything that was making me tired. We ended up finding a woman named Nilda who let us come and teach her for just a few minutes. I have a lot of hope for her. She said that she would like to know why there are so many religions when there is just one God. At the end of that day I had forgotten about how tired I had felt that moment and was grateful to Heavenly Father for giving me the strength to keep going.

One other thing that has helped me a lot this week has been reading my journal. Wow, it has helped me so much to build my excitement, recognize my blessings and remind me of my calling as a missionary. I remembered what you said – that our journals are our own personal scripture. I felt prompted to read my journal this week and as I read it I remembered spiritual experiences and remembered how much support and love I have from my family, from the angels that are watching over me, and mostly the love of my Heavenly Father.

I know that the work that I am doing is the Lord's work and I know that while I sometimes might not see the outcome of the work that I do, Heavenly Father will continue to work His miracles.
Thank you President for all that you, Sister Martineau and Tenery do for us!


Letter from the President
Elders and Sisters,

Sister Martineau, Tenery and I traveled to Cabo Rojo early Sunday morning to attend funeral services for Thelma Rodriguez, a faithful recent convert who passed away in her sleep Thursday night. As we drove, Sister Martineau began to read from the Book of Mormon out loud, from Second Nephi, chapter 25. She read Nephi's testimony of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection:

Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name. (2 Ne. 25:13.)

I thought of Thelma, who truly believed in Christ. I pondered her life since her baptism only a few short months ago. She was excited to share the Gospel with all who would listen. She willingly bore her testimony in a stake conference and a mission president's fireside, at my request. She was fearless in declaring the truth of the message she had accepted and was now living. She looked forward to the day when her husband and family would accept the Gospel. She was sure that day would come. Although none of them had been taught by the missionaries, they had agreed to accompany her to a Christmas pageant activity in the chapel later in December. She was preparing to attend the temple. She served every way possible in spite of physical limitations and illness.

Thelma Rodriguez was truly a latter-day saint.

My meditations were interrupted as we drove, when I noticed three signs standing close together by the side of the road, declaring the speed limit to be 65 mph, 55 mph, and 45 mph. How convenient. I could choose which law to obey, and drive as fast or as slow as I wanted to!

Then Paul's warning came to mind:

For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? (1 Cor. 14: 8)

My thoughts turned to the missionaries who taught Thelma. Surely they gave her a clear and certain sound to follow, because she was so deeply and firmly rooted in the Gospel of Christ. I recalled Thelma's story of the first time she heard the message of the Restoration. She and her mother listened to two elders as they introduced the story of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. She was intrigued, but wanted to know for sure. She said, "This sounds good, but I want to hear your testimony." They responded, bearing pure testimony of the living Christ, of Joseph Smith, the prophet of the Restoration, and of Christ's restored church. At that moment, Thelma knew, based on clear doctrine and the power of the Spirit, that the missionaries' message was true, and that she must act.

And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye cannot err. And as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them, and also gave him power that he should smite the rock and the water should come forth; yea, behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved. (2 Ne. 25:20.)

I thought of two humble missionaries, authorized agents of Christ, who taught Thelma plainly that she could not err. They were much like Moses who raised up a brass serpent before the dying Israelites, bitten by poisonous serpents. If the Israelites only looked, they were healed. The brass serpent, of course, was a symbol of Christ, who will heal all those who follow Him, cleansing them of the poison of sin. He is, and always be, the message we teach.

For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. (2 Ne. 25:23.)

Thelma humbly accepted the cleansing ordinance of baptism, and came out of the water rejoicing, different, happy. She had a new-found hope of eternal life in her heart, and had experienced the "joy of the saints" spoken of by Enos. (Enos 1:3.) She had entered into the way, had experienced a remission of her sins, and had begun to drink of life-giving water like that which flowed from the rock smitten by Moses, water that eventually would become in her "a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14.)

At the funeral services I was asked to speak. I felt impressed to express feelings of love for Thelma, and then to bear simple testimony that Christ lives, and that because He lives, we too will live again. I promised Thelma's husband and sons that they will be with her again, because of Christ. I promised that He stands ready to strengthen, to comfort and to enable us to follow Him, to keep His commandments, in spite of the human weaknesses we all have. And this because He suffered every pain, every illness, and every infirmity that afflicts each of us. Eyes were filled with tears, and hearts were softened, as the Spirit confirmed the truth of the doctrine of Christ.

And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. (2 Ne. 25:26.)

May we never forget that our commission, like that of Moses and Nephi and Moroni, is to invite others to "come unto Christ, and be perfected in him . . ." (Moroni 10:32.)

- President and Sister Martineau