"Did I just say Peeps?"

Hey Guys!

Thanks for the package! We had interviews this past week and so I got it! I loved everything that was in it. Especially the El Salvador stuff! I didn’t really realize how Bret Walker’s exercise thing worked but then I figured it out and its super fun to use haha! But seriously thanks so much for the package and for the letter mom! I loved it.

My letter might not be super long today just because I’m fasting for an investigator named Luz that is in Lares. She is awesome. She isn’t married but wants to get married so that she can get baptized but her husband doesn’t want to. So on my intercambio in Lares I got to teach her!

Anyway, the sisters had planned to teach her the 10 commandments and kind of emphasize that she needs to get married. But, that morning as I was thinking about her the story of Esther popped into my mind (or better said, the Spirit reminded me of her story.) So I read Esther that morning and then shared it with Luz and invited her to fast like Esther did and I commited to fast with her. Anyway, it was really neat how the Spirit worked through me and that Luz is actually doing the fast and that the story of Esther helped her! Anyway, so “for that”(‘por eso’ in Spanish means that’s why, so a lot of times we say that and then catch ourselves “I don’t think that people actually say ‘for that’ in English!) I’m a little bit fuzzy today so sorry if my email doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Lares was really fun. We were actually only there for one day because the next day was “Grito de Lares.” I guess in the 70’s there was a big revolution that formed against the U.S. and it all started in Lares so its kind of an anti American day, so they shipped us out for a couple of days. But, it was good to see everybody. It was weird though because it was like I was their but not their at the same time. I was there but I didn’t have the stewardship over that area anymore so I didn’t feel as connected to it as before – but I loved seeing all of the peeps. Did I just say peeps?

We had a great week though in my area. We found 11 new investigators! That is the most that I’ve ever found in my whole mission. It was really neat. Now our focus this week is going to be getting the members involved. This will be a little trial of my faith but I just have to have the faith that the Lord not only is preparing the hearts of the investigators but also the members to come out with us. So that is what we are working on this week.

I feel like there is something else but I can’t remember. But, last night I was looking through the little book that we made before I left and I was all alone but just cracking up at the quotes that Devin and Ruby made for me. I was laughing so hard inside when I read, “I can’t do my work!” Just thinking of Devin saying that on our trip to Cali was so fuh-nee.

Anyway, well I love you guys so much and am so grateful that you are my family. Thank you for your constant love and support seriously! I know that this is the Lord’s work, and that no matter how tired or discouraged we are we have to keep working for the Lord’s cause and He will bless us. I love you guys so much. I know that the Lord is preparing the hearts of the children of men everywhere to accept the Gospel. I have been able to be a witness to that.

I hope that when I get home from my mission I will be able to continue to be a missionary and to spread the Gospel. My mission has, and is changing me and I hope that the Gospel will continue to change me throughout my life! For right now though, with the Lord on our side, miracles can happen right here in Puerto Rico!

Thanks so much for your email! Wow- that’s awesome that Tenery and Sis. Goodie came over last night! Also, speaking of the Primary program, we helped with our little primary yesterday practice for their program. It was really fun. There were about 7 kids there which is a lot for the primary. Usually there are only four. But it was fun to sing primary songs with them in Spanish – it kind of reminded me of El Salvador.

I got the Jesus the Christ in the mail! Thanks so much Edgemont 19th bishopric! It is so pretty, and I’m excited to read it. I am really excited to have such a nice copy with my name on it!

So I got some really great news. Yesterday, Hector, Elliot, and David (our convert Andrea’s husband) were ordained to be elders in the Melchizedeck priesthood! Que gozo! I think that they are really in need of priesthood holders in the branch and so the district president interviewed them and then yesterday they got the priesthood! I was so so happy. I know that the work of the Lord will continue to roll on and that the elect will continue to join the church and that the church will continue to grow.

Something kind of cool that happened the other day – we had to go get an inspection done on our car and we talked to the guy that was doing it for a while about this and that. He said about 20 years ago some missionaries came over and they watched a movie that he has remembered ever since. He wasn’t really interested in us coming over to teach him but we did give him a copy of The Testaments. He said that he was in a religion class at the Universidad and that he would show it there. Cool! Well, today while filling up with gas we saw him and asked him how it was. He said that he loved it and that his whole class loved it. There are a ton of people that are borrowing it right now! He still wasn’t quite ready for us to come over but we gave him another video “Juntos para siempre” (Together forever.) He said that he would watch this one in the class today and we told him that he could give our number out to the people in the class. Who knows what will come of it but its great to be planting the seeds of the Gospel in the people’s hearts.

Ok, so other neat thing. We had a general authority come to our zone conference on Friday. The four of us sisters were the last to arrive and he greeted each of us personally. He looked at my name and said, “I met an Elder Neff last week in the West Indies, is he a relative of yours?” “He’s my cousin!” I said. Anyway, it was really neat to think that he saw Andy just last week. I felt super connected to him and to the family. But the general authority was really great. He talked a lot about faith. I wish that I could just copy all of my notes and send them to you. But he talked about what faith really is – 1) Knowing that Christ is our Savior 2) Conforming our will to Gods will 3) Working hard 4) Humility. That’s just a little brief summary. He told a really neat story about how when he was called to be a stake president he seriously doubted that he could do it so he told the seventy that. He was expecting the seventy to encourage him and tell him that he could but instead he said, “you’re probably right” but a few seconds later he said, “but the Lord can."

Saturday morning after the conference I decided to study a little bit more about what Elder Anderson said. Usually I like to write down a question at the beginning of my studies and then look for the answer so that morning it was something like “ How does knowing that Christ is my Savior help me to do His work here in?” During the study I read the reference in Matt. 28:17-20 and the connection clicked. I know that Christ is my Savior and He is the one that has given us the commandment to baptize (and to follow the ward mission plan) and because I know that He is my Savior I know that He will provide the way for us to accomplish our goals. Wow. My faith was renewed.

That night as we were making our goals for the next day we got to the “referrals contacted” box. Kind of out of the blue I thought, “Hey, why don’t we have the faith that a member will bring someone to church that we could teach?” So we did. And, even as we went to church, I knew that through Christ, it would be possible. Church went along well, and to tell the truth, as the classes got rolling I kind of forgot about that goal we had made - until I met Nissette. We started talking to her and she started telling us about the really hard time that she was going through, then I found out that she is a nonmember daughter of one of our members. She then asked us to come over and visit her that night! So, we went over that night with her mom and taught her the first lesson. She is excited to read the Book of Mormon, participate in the Ramirez’ Family Home Evening tonight and even mentioned getting baptized!

She has been prepared by the Lord. Her mom is also really really excited. At the end of the day I felt so grateful for that blessing that the Lord gave us – we contacted a referel, had a lesson with a member present and have a golden new investigator. But, more important, Nissette is on the path of conversion. I don’t know if I have ever felt this full of faith in my whole mission.

Wow. That was really neat for me – its my new motto kind of.

I love you so much and I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is the kingdom of God on earth. I know that Christ is my Savior and if we truly have faith and work hard, He can make anything possible.

Love,
Hermanita Nefita

Hello Family!

Wow, a lot of great stuff going on in Ptown! Thanks so much for the emails.
That is really cool about President Robinson and especially all of the connections that he has with everyone - especially his son serving in Puerto Rico. I hope that my mission has that life long effect on me and that I will remember the people here everyday for the rest of my life.

I have kind of been thinking about that lately - or just about how the mission has changed me. I know that it has but sometimes it is hard for me to recognize it in myself. Sometimes I'm scared that when I get back I'll loose all that I have gained here. I guess that is just part of enduring to the end though, making sure that you are continually progressing.

And, Mom, speaking of the temple, we read "Casistencia al Templo" (attending the temple) today for companionship study. It's a part of the missionary handbook that we read every morning in companionship study. Anyway, we were both just talking about how much we love the temple! Wow, before I always took for granted that it was just right there. We had a lesson in relief society about family history work and work for the dead in the temples. A lot of times at church I make a little list of things to do when I get back, because the lessons are usually about things that as missionaries we can't exactly do but now I am totally inspired to do family history work when I get back! Not only do I want to do the work in the temples for them but I want to learn more about my heritage!

Well, things are going great. Wow, it was an awesome weekend. The week started out really slow and continued to be slow just looking for people without a lot of success. Friday was probably the slowest day, just going from place to place without any success and an entire tiempo consagrado without any first lessons. It was pretty discouraging to come home exhausted and part of me wondering if we were ever going to find anyone. But, I told my companion that we are being obedient and working our hardest and that because of that the Lord will bless us.

I also remembered similar times that I had had in Boqueron and in Lares going through little dry spells but remembering that it was after the trial of my faith that Heavenly Father showed us the miracles. It gave me a lot of strength to have those other experiences to help me during this particular trial of my faith.

So, Saturday came around - another day to go out and work to find someone prepared. I had felt a few days before that I needed to fast on Saturday but I wasn't really sure why and wasn't planning on doing it. But on Saturday, after lunch I just knew that I had to and so I started my fast. My companion decided that she would fast as well and so we decided to fast together to be able to find someone that would be prepared to be baptized. Then, I also was fasting to be able to feel and follow the promptings of the Spirit more.

So we left and went to work. We didn't have any citas planned so we decided to work from some old investigator records and some potential investigator sheets that Elder Fierro gave us. The whole afternoon/ night we did some detective work and found a lot of people that were on the list. At one point we were driving to find an old investigator but I felt the distinct impression that we needed to be going the other way on the street. So without knowing why, we turned around, and found ourselves in a bakery doing some contacts. We were able to have a really great contact with a girl working there. It feels like she is the reason why the Spirit told us to turn around.

Also, my companion decided to walk instead of drive to find another person on the list and on the way we offered to help a lady take her groceries in. We started talking to her and got to know her a little bit. She is a widow who lives takes care of her niece whose parents have also died. We talked with them about the Gospel, set a cita with them and are really excited to come back. By the time we came home we had found 7 people who all have lots of potential to progress and in the future be baptized! When we got home I had actually forgotten that we were fasting for that exact reason! I know that the Lord prompted us to fast so that we could find these people and that night we both could recognize and follow the Spirit . I have no doubt that if we wouldn't have fasted, we would have had a completely different night.

I feel so grateful to Heavenly Father for all that He is doing for us here.

President has given us the challenge to baptize someone this transfer and so I decided to make that my goal for the rest of my time. I think it was a little revelation because it has given me something really meaningful to work for. I love decorating my agendas with little quotes, scriptures and pictures from the ensign and I already have planned what this new one is going to say on the back to remind me of my goal " 4 more waiting." Cool huh? I KNOW that four more people are out there waiting for me to bring them the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that Heavenly Father can lead me to them if I am obedient, follow the Spirit, and work my hardest. There was a really neat quote from President Hinckley its something like, "Just work hard and do your best. But make sure that it is your very best." I love it.

I love being a missionary so much. I love testifying of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I absolutely love being able to be a "detective" looking house to house for referrals and contacts. I love asking people questions in the lessons to find out what they feel to help me understand what they need and then listening to the Spirit to know what to do each. Just yesterday we taught a young single mother and because we had a good conversation with her before hand, asking questions and listening she was able to open up to us and express to us her concerns about praying. She felt ashamed to pray to God because of the things that she has done in her life. It was a beautiful experience to testify to her that she is a special daughter of God and that He still loves her. It was such a neat lesson. At the end we told her that she could call us for anything that she needed and she seemed anxious to do so. She also seemed really interested in coming to church to. Wow, it was a wonderful wonderful lesson!

I just love this work so much. I even love having to eat everything that the people give you to eat so they don't feel bad! The mission is definitely the hardest thing that I have ever done but it is the most beautiful rewarding thing that I have ever been apart of. I love the Lord and this work so much! I hope that I can continue being apart of it my whole life!

I love you all so much and am so so so so so happy that we are an eternal family

Sister Neff

Just down the road and extremely happy.

Thanks for your emails! I luf them a lot every single week! Anyway, I don’t have too much time to write today because we are going to some caves today for a zone activity and my computer was having probs so I got started late too.

But, drumroll…. I am in a pueblo down the road from my last area! And, for the third time in a row I’m doing a white wash and opening up an area for sisters! I can’t tell you how excited I was when they said it in the meeting. Wow, its crazy. So, I’m still in the same district and everything which is really awesome because I get to hear about how everyone is doing and also kind of help Hermana Mertlich when she needs some help or advice but she is doing great.

It is so crazy to see someone else kind of where you were a few months ago – not knowing how you can do certain things but being able to do them anyway because Heavenly Father is on your side. But where I'm at is a small little branch. About 20-30 people go every week – in the past they have had a lot of challenges but everyone is really excited to have six missionaries here now - Us, the elders and a senior couple (both parents are from Mexico and they make some killer Mexican food). There is a lot of potential here. My companion is from all over because her dad is in the air force. She is really awesome – we are pretty different but work together really well. She has SO MUCH energy but its really good for me and also the people here. It will be a great transfer!

We have just been contacting a lot the past week and meeting the members and everything. But the last few days especially because we have been contacting a lot and bearing our testimonies a lot I have been able to feel the Spirit really strongly. Yesterday we were only able to talk to one lady that accepted the message but wow – I felt the Spirit in almost every contact. I know with all of my Heart that Christ is my Savior, and that this is His church. I just know it! I feel so blessed to be out here being able to proclaim the Gospel of Peace to the people here in Puerto Rico. I love you all so much. I know that this church is true, that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is SO true.

Hopefully next week I’ll have a little bit more to write about but I love you all so so much and pray for you daily!

Sister Neff

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Dear President Martineau,

Wow, I was SO excited to be sent to work here! For a lot of different reasons but one of them was to be opening another area! I love it so much. It has been a good week. My companion is, like you said, one great big ball of energy but it is exactly what I need. She has so much animo for the work and a lot of faith – so its been really inspiring. I really feel like Heavenly Father has special plans for us here. Yesterday as we were driving to Lares for a district meeting we were able to drive through the outskirts of our area. I felt the impression that there are people in our area who truly are looking for the truth but do not know where to find it. I want to find them and help them have the blessings of the wonderful, true, and restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that with His help we can.

I am excited to be working with the members. Its going to be a fun challenge and journey to be able to gain their trust and develop a working relationship with them. I know that it isn’t going to come over night but I hope that the more we get to know who the members are we will start to serve them, inspire them and train them to be member missionaries. Sometimes I am a little bit shy about challenging the members but aspire to be a challenging and testifying missionary – even to the members. This will be a good opportunity for me to break out of my shell and get the members here more involved in missionary work.

I’ve also been thinking about what I want to accomplish with the transfers I have left. I decided that I want to become the missionary that my Father in Heaven wants me to be. That is my goal. I want to find the prepared people. As I was leaving Lares and saying goodbye to my covert Elliot he told me to go to my next town and find another Elliot. That is what I want.

I am working on becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ and become more like Him. I did the Christ like attribute activity in chapter 6 of PMG and it helped me a lot. I made a little realization this morning. I think sometimes I think that I will become a better person with time, without having to make goals to work towards. But I realized today that if I want to become more like my Savior I have to make goals and take the initiative to do it. It isn’t just going to come by itself. I am really really excited to work towards this goal of becoming more like my Savior and to become the missionary that he wants me to become.

Well President, thank you for this marvelous opportunity to serve!!!

Lares: Pueblo de mi corazon

Mi Querida familia,

Sorry that this email is late. It was hard for us to get into email today because it was really crowded so we decided to come up to the mission home in San Juan to hang out with President Martineau and to do email here. Haha. I'm serious - kind of. We really are at President's house but its because my companion is going to train!!! and her greenie is the only new missionary this transfer so they asked us to come up to do the new missionary orientation with her. But its kind of funny to be sitting at President's computer writing an email to him. I was joking and said to my companion [that I should write,] "Dear President, you are eating spaghetti in the next room. I hope that you are enjoying it." Anyway, I love being up here because I love the Martineaus.

But wow, I loved hearing about your experiences of the past week. I don't have to much time so I can't respond as much as I'd like but I'm so glad Dad that you felt close to me this week as you were in El Salvedor. I love you. And Mom, thanks for the "confidence boost" but seriously thank you so much for what you said I love you.

Well, I wrote about everything that has been happening in Lares in my President's letter but as I already said, Im leaving, or rather, have already left Lares. I was describing the feeling to my companion as I was saying goodbye to everyone yesterday. It's like there is this big hole in my chest that just keeps getting bigger and bigger as I say goodbye to more and more people. I know that I will see them again, but I found out yesterday that even so, I really hate goodbyes.

Seriously everyone has been so good to me. The whole branch has treated me like I've been their daughter and I love them so much. I really hope that I can return to serve my last transfer in Lares, but if not, I am already planning my return trip to Puerto Rico and Lares will be my first stop.

I think the hardest goodbye was to Elliot. I knew that he was going to cry because he cries a lot but I didn't imagine that I was going to cry - and you know - or at least I've told you how I hardly ever cry. Wow - it was really hard. But I feel so proud to have taught him. He is so strong and I know that he will be a great leader in the church.He said that he hopes that I find other "Elliots" in my new area. I do feel blessed that I had the opportunity to see him, Hector and Andrea progress in the church before I left. Anyway, enough about that - its kind of a depressing subject.

I am excited for my new area - kind of scared and excited at the same time. The one thing I like about going to knew areas is the automatic renewal of faith that you have for finding. I was talking to my companion about it and it is so much of a challenge to have faith when you can see things that are contrary from the thing that you are having faith in. But, its easy to have faith when you haven't seen what seems like the "real situation" yet. I think that the real trial of our faith when everything else tells you that its not going to happen but you keep that belief in what you can't see but what you know is true. Does that make sense? I don't know how to explain it, hopefully it made a little bit of sense.

Anyway, it will be difficult at first to be in a new area but also really good. Its kind of been a little bit of a roller coaster and I think that is probably how its going to be in about six months too. I'm just getting a little taste. But, seriously thanks so much for all of your love and constant support. I love you guys so so so much and am so grateful that you are my family. I know that this mission is what my Heavenly Father wanted me to do - that it was part of the plan that Heavenly Father had for me. Even though at the first when I realized that that was His plan for me I was kind of unsure if its what I really wanted to do. I am so glad that I did. I know that when we follow His will He will make more out of our lives than we can.

Anyway, I love you so much! I hope that you have a great week, that Gabe gets better and that the kids do good in their games and races. I'll be praying for everyone!

Sister Neff

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Dear President Martineau,

Wow, there are so many things to write about today. We had a really amazing week. We set two baptismal dates! One with Carlos and one with Luz! They both have their individual challenges and it will take some work but they both have the desire and the capacity to do it. For our district meeting we read "The Challenging and Testifying Missionary" and I realized that I need to be the kind of missionary that challenges more. When we read the talk and my companion and I thought about Luz and knew that we needed to challenge her. So we did and she accepted!

Although my heart is breaking to leave Lares right now, I am so grateful for what the Lord has done here in the past transfer and I am glad to be handing it over having left it better than I found it. A little before this transfer I felt like I kind of had plateaued both in my personal progression and in the progress of the area. We weren't having very much success and I wondered why. Part of me was content with having already had 3 baptisms in the area and thought it was close to impossible to have more. But I wanted to progress and it just wasn't happening. Then I read Helaman 3:35 and realized that maybe the Lord was giving me this opportunity to become more humble and to develop more faith.

Well, six weeks later and here we are with 4 people being ready to be baptized. I know that it wasn't a coincidence that when I decided to try to have more faith in the Lord, these great things happened. I am so immensly grateful for what He has done in Lares. I truly cannot imagine what my life would have been like without my mission. I hope that in my new area and during the rest of my mission I can become the missionary that Heavenly Father wants me to become. With His help I know I can.

Thanks for everything!

Sister Neff