Spam Alert.

Mi Querida familia,

(yep... querida means dear..)

Thanks for your emails! We were able to make it to the library to email. I was kind of worried because whenever there is an opportunity to close, Puerto Ricans always will, so I was thinking that maybe with the hurricane watch they would close. But, from what our district leader told us there is supposed to be some storms today and tommorrow and it could turn into a hurricane so they are making sure we are prepared with water and food. Its good to be prepared but not fun to buy things like canned vegatables. At least we opted to not buy things like spam.

Even in an emergency I don't know if I would actually make myself a little spam sandwich.

Well, it sounds like you guys had a great week. I love hearing about everything that is going on. I almost died when dad told me about Jamie's release date - wow so soon. I could have sworn it was in Nov. Wow. She'll be home in no time! That is just crazy. But, I'm really excited for Sarah too - I am going to write her today - it will be fun because we'll be kind of in the same little region. Well, I really don't know how close Florida is to Puerto Rico, but it feels pretty close probably because people talk about Florida a lot. Not as much as they talk about New York though.

(Jami and Sarah are sisters. Jami is currently serving in Brazil and Sarah leaves for her mission to Florida three weeks after Jami arrives home. We are excited because our ward will have two sisters speaking in church on the same day. One delivering her farewell message. The other delivering her homecoming remarks.)

Anyway, sorry I feel like I am rambling on and on. I guess I'm in just kind of a conversational writing mood today :)


It has been a great week though. A lot of great experiences and feeling the Spirit. We had a district meeting and talked a little bit about following every prompting of the Spirit that we get. It was just something that was said "rapidito" but it really stuck with me. Well that same day we knew we were trying to decide between doing a couple of things. One of them sounded a lot more logical than the other which was knocking doors. My companion brought up a good point about why we should knock doors, but I still wanted to do the other option that seemed to me more effective. Well, just then I got this little impression "do what your companion says."

I thought about what we had learned that morning and knew what we needed to do. Well, we went to this place to knock doors and there were a couple of different buildings that we could go to. Something - the Spirit - really softly told me that we should start with this particular building. So we went upstairs and no one wanted anything but we went downstairs and the lady let us in. In there was this other lady, her friend that was visiting from the neighboring town. We started to talk about the Gospel and she started to ask us questions about what we believed about the after life. I didn't really know where to go with that so we taught her a little bit about the Book of Mormon and showed her a verse about the Spirit world and testified that through Christ's restored church and the Book of Mormon all of these questions can be answered. Then, we asked her if she would like to learn more. And she said yes. The only bummmer was that she lives in the next city over! But we got her info and gave her ours with a pamphlet telling her if she had any questions she could call us.

Quickly she said, "Oh, I have a lot of questions!" Wow! A missionary's dream - someone who is looking for the truth! Then we left a message that night with the elders from that city but they never got back to us. Apparentely they never got the message. So we called them a couple of days later. I was getting ready for bed and I remembered that we needed to call them. At first I thought that I would wait and call them in the morning, but then I remembered that I should always follow my promptings. So I called the Elders and when I told the elder where she lived ( a little bit farther out there for their area) he said, "what? she lives in Angeles? - to his comp. - Ok, elder we're going to angeles tomorrow! -to me- we were just deciding whether or not we should go there tommorrow. Thanks for calling us" Wow, it was just awesome to see the Spirit work like that. Anyway, I don't know what has happened or what will happen with this lady. But I know that the Spirit has been working so that she can have this opportunity. I know that God loves all of His children and leads us to those who are prepared to listen.

Well, this has been possibly the world's largest email but I hope you liked it. I Thank you seriously for all of the constant love and support.

Have a great week!

Sister Neff

President Martineau,

This week has been a great week. Wow - we have seen a lot of progress from
our investigators and had five of them in church yesterday! I think that
is the most that I've ever had at one time at church. It felt great to be
able to be fulfilling that part of the mission vision! We weren't sure if

two of them were going to come Carlos and his friend Lydia because they
called the members that were going to give them a ride and said not to worry about picking them up because they already had a ride to church.

My companion and I were worried that that meant "we don't want anyone to pick us up because we don't want to go". But, we still prayed for them to come and hoped that they would listen to the Spirit and make the right choice. What a wonderful surprise it was to see them walking on their way to church!

Carlos is going through some really really hard times right now but we are so proud of him for choosing to come closer to the Lord in his hard times and by choosing the right! Also, we have had some great progress with our investigator Luz. She is really awesome. This past week she has told us that she knows that the Book of Mormon is true! When we ask her how her reading is going in the Book of Mormon (she is reading it from start to finish) she tells us about everything that is happening in the story. She understands so well and has felt the spirit and the best part, stepped out of her comfort zone and came to church with her daughter! We are really excited for her. She is just such a sweet lady and has a wonderful and willing heart.

Then, there is Daniel and Jessica. They are also making great progress. They are enjoying reading the Book of Mormon and we can see a huge change in their family and in their relationship. When we first started teaching them they would sit at opposite ends of the couch and not really interact while their little girl was bouncing all over the place. Now, they are interacting, and helping each other read the scriptures and pray.

There was a moment the other day when my companion noticed this change that has taken place in their family dynamic. During the lesson she looked up to see Daniel sitting with his arm around Jessica and the little girl sitting on his lap. They looked like a happy family. The Gospel has changed them so much and will continue to change them.

Jessica has told us that she wants to keep learning more and more and she wants to become a missionary and help other people. Is this the same girl that we found outside of her house smoking a few months ago?! The Savior has changed their lives. They are different people. Daniel is still struggling with his challenge to overcome his smoking addiction but I know that within a short period of time they after baptism will truly be born again and they will see even more blessings in their family.

I can't even express my gratitude to the Lord for what he has done for us. I am so grateful for His true Gospel and the happiness that it brings to us.

Chlorine and the Sweet Smell of Summer.

Querida familia,

Hi guyth! Ok, first of all, thanks for the awesome package! I lu-huv the watch! I keep looking at the time just so I can admire my cute watch! Thanks so much for the package - I loved the church news and the Hawaii hair thing too. I'm so grateful that you guys are always so aware of me and know me so well - I love all of the cute little accessories that I have gotten from you throughout my whole mission. Thanks for all of your love and support.

It sounds like you guys had a great week and that Dad had a great experience at girls camp. Wow, I have the hugest testimony of girls camp because that is where my testimony really developed and was strengthened. I was thinking about it the other day as we were driving home and I was in the back seat looking through an old Liahona Conference edition. Its my M.O. with any kind of magazine to look just at the pictures and I love looking at all the people that go to conference so I wasn't reading anything, just flipping through, looking at the pictures. Well, I came across a picture of a statue of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdry recieving the Melchezidek priesthood. It was a beautiful depiction of that sacred event. After almost 2,000 years of the priesthood not being on the earth it was restored to the prophet Joseph Smith in that moment. In the car we were also listening to "Praise to the Man" and I was filled with the Spirit - I know that he was the prophet of the restoration.

Anyway, how does that all relate to girls camp? Well, after this little spiritual moment I was thinking about my spiritual growth. I realized that as a young beehive I learned that Heavenly Father loved me and that I was His daughter. As a miamaid and laurel I gained a testimony about my Savior. And right now in the mission field my testimony has grown so much about the prophet Joseph Smith. The Sprit has testified to me countless times as I share the first vision with the people here in Puerto Rico that he did see God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father's plan for me was that I could come on a mission and grateful that in every phase of our life, we have opportunities to grow in the knowledge of the Gospel.

This week we've had some great experiences. Can I just say that the Spirit is so awesome! Wow, the Spirit and the power of conversion is just so neat. Last night we were "toquing" knocking doors and there were three streets that we could go down. We decided to go down the right side of the street. I didn't say anything to my companion but I kind of felt like we needed to go down that side of the street. (which was sooo pretty, green everywhere and houses on the hills...) and she told me later that she felt like we needed to go down that side too. So after a few houses we found a family all gathered together just hanging out and they let us teach them and a few of them were really interested and are new investigators! Awesome huh? There have been so many times like that I am just so grateful for the Spirit.

Well, I love you guys a lot! We had a really neat zone conference where we talked about when Ammon was laboring in the Spirit and what laboring in the Sprit was - basically praying with all our might like Enos. It reminded me of you guys and your years of prayers fasting and faith.

Thanks so much for everything. I love you guys! I hope you have a great last week of summer. I was mopping with clorox today and when I was dumping the water out outside in the drain it smelled a little bit like a pool. I thought about you guys and that you'd probably be swimming-it-up these last few days of summer (school's already started here). And it made me laugh because that little wiff of chloro was probably the closest I was going to get to the pool this summer! Awesome huh? Anyway, I love you!!!

Hermanita Neff

P.S. Moment of enchantment - I love these things called flamboyan (sp?) trees - they are so gorgeous.

P.S.S. "just wanted to see if you'd come back" member when I used to say that when mom and dad would tuck me in... ok I just wanted to say that I love you guys so much and am so grateful for all of the support and prayers and faith that you've had for me my whole mission!


Dear President Martineau,

Well, we were really blessed this week because we set a baptismal date with Daniel and Jessica! In the past month they have progressed so much. They want to, and are changing their lives through the Gospel. Daniel, who is a liitle bit slower to understand has started to read the Book of Mormon cover to cover and is already plowing through 1st Nephi and when we ask him about his reading, he has a really good understanding of what is going on! Jessica has also started to read and is really making progress with her goal to stop drinking coffee. Last night she offered to pray again and seemed so happy. She aslo asked us if she could come out with us to visit some of our other investigators!! Wow, when we left last night we were so, so happy. The members have really taken this little family under their wing. This past month has been amazing for them, and this next month I know there will be some challenges but we are excited to keep supporting them and helping them on their path of conversion. I love so much seeing how the Gospel can change someone's life.

So, I read Alma 26:22 and did a little self evaluation. I realized some really interesting things. I think that deep down I already knew them but today I decided to do something about it. I know that my faith needs to increase and I know that I need to have more meaningful prayers. I am really going to try and work on this these next few weeks. I think that it would change the way I do missionary work a lot. I read in 2 Nephi 33:3 when Nephi watered his pillow by night because of his people. I always focused on that part before but I realized that there was more than Nephi just crying because of his people. The last two lines says, " clamo a Dios con fe, y se que el oira mi clamor." I realized that that is what I am lacking, faith in my Heavenly Father that he will answer my prayers. Its kind of a hard realization to come to about myself but, that is why we have repentance right? I am really going to try and work hard on that this coming week.

One year and counting.

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

Ok, first mentioning Jake, I now understand when people used to get scared of Jake barking. Ya, its fun being on the other side. Did I ever tell you how many dogs there are in Puerto Rico? There are a lot. I’m not afraid of the ones that are already on the street because they don’t have any territory but the ones behind the gates don’t seem so friendly. So, hopefully they are just all like Jake.

Anyway, Thanks so much for your emails! Wow, that is amazing about Devin. She wrote me an email too and I had a major proud Papa/ big sister moment. There are just so many neat things that Heavenly Father is doing for our family.

Well, as you guys know and mentioned, I hit my year mark this past week!!! Wow, I wasn’t really sure how I was going to feel… Trunky, or good, or excited. “Scared, a little excited.” Name that movie. But it was actually a really neat day to sit back and reflect on what the past year has meant for me. I was really happy and grateful for all that I have been able to do and especially filled with an urgency to be the best that I can be these last 6 months. Its such a little time and will go by so fast. Sometimes as a missionary its easy to let your thoughts wander about what will happen when you get home, or about other things that aren’t related to missionary work but for the next six months I made a promise to Heavenly Father that my mind would be completely focused on missionary work. I feel like I should have made that resolution about a year ago, but better late than never. Don’t worry, its not like I was daydreaming all day about home or anything but I just want to be SUPER focused in doing as much as I can in the little time that I have left.

I just love missionary work so so much. The last week I have felt the Spirit a lot more as I have been contacting. I think it has to do with me having a lot more effective studies. I just feel it so strongly when I testify to the people that Christ has put His church again on the earth through a prophet. Wow, I know it is so true.

To answer Dad’s question, this week is looking Bu-sy! We have zone conference on Thursday and I’m really excited about that. Its kind of fun because we are the only sisters in the zone and our zone is one of the smaller ones so instead of meeting in the cultural hall or in the sacrament meeting room (how do you call that in English?) we have it in the high counsel room. It's a lot more personable and its just so awesome to learn from President Martineau. Now I understand when all return missionaries just go on and on about their mission presidents!

This last week at church was kind of sad because Andrea didn’t come. I guess her and David are having problems and so she didn’t come to church. It was the first Sunday since she’s been baptized that she hasn’t come. I was really sad. But, we had a really neat sacrament meeting and the Spirit was really strong. I had a little ah-ha moment. Even in the hard times, maybe especially in the hard or sad times, Heavenly Father will still bless us with the comforting influence of His Spirit. It was a hard day but I was grateful that Heavenly Father sent His Spirit to that meeting to testify of the truthfulness of the Gospel and of the Book of Mormon and of Christ.

The branch President gave his testimony and it was really great. He is the coolest guy. He lives in a humble house in the country and works on a coffee farm and likes to walk around barefoot. His wife and him always are helping other people, offering food, giving rides, they are just awesome. Anyway, he gave a really inspired testimony and urged everyone to never give up hope. It was great.

We had a really neat lesson with Daniel and Jessica. We watched “the Lamb of God”. Wow. We all felt the Spirit so much. My favorite part was when at the end all you see is in the empty tomb and the sheets folded up. I remembered the experience that Dad had in the temple dedication in San Diego. The Spirit testified to me SO strongly that Christ lives. He lives! Anyway, thank you Dad for sharing that experience with us. I have always and will always remember it.

Well, I love you guys so much!!!

Thanks Devin and Ruby for your letter and email! I don’t have time to respond this week but I just love you guys so much and am so so so so proud of who you are and what you are doing!

I love you all so much!!