This is the last post for this missionary blog. I've been told by several friends that once your missionary comes home, you really miss the weekly letters you both write and receive. That's probably true. But having our missionary home safe is a blessing we'll always to cherish.
As we traveled with Maclaine through the areas where she served there were two things that were extremely obvious. She was continually protected. And the work of all our missionaries is truly the Lord's work.
When the scriptures talk of a marvelous work and wonder that is spreading throughout the earth, we know that is true. And you know it's true as well. What a miraculous thing it is to take part in this great work.
For those of you who are interested, Maclaine is speaking this coming Sunday, February 28th at 9:00 AM at the Edgemont 19th ward, 300 W. Orem Center Street- just west of the shops at Riverwood.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Nearly Home.
(Brian, Hermana Neff's Dad is writing.)
We are nearly home. We've spent the last two days with Hermana Neff. (She's really having trouble with us calling her by her first named, but we've discovered that her people here drop the "hermana" and simply call her "Neff.")
It has been an altogether wonderful time. Every moment with our daughter has been spent seeing her people. To a parent's wonderful amazement, it hasn't been to renew old friendships - although that happens very naturally - it's to have one last time to check in on those she loves, share her testimony, encourage them with a great amount of pure love and then when the time is right, leave them with hugs and kisses, a gospel message and prayer.
Our daughter's greatest concern is that these people stay faithful in the gospel and enjoy the fruits of fellowship with the saints.
What a wonderful and life-changing experience this is for parents as we watch "Neff" go to work for those she loves.
We are nearly home. We've spent the last two days with Hermana Neff. (She's really having trouble with us calling her by her first named, but we've discovered that her people here drop the "hermana" and simply call her "Neff.")
It has been an altogether wonderful time. Every moment with our daughter has been spent seeing her people. To a parent's wonderful amazement, it hasn't been to renew old friendships - although that happens very naturally - it's to have one last time to check in on those she loves, share her testimony, encourage them with a great amount of pure love and then when the time is right, leave them with hugs and kisses, a gospel message and prayer.
Our daughter's greatest concern is that these people stay faithful in the gospel and enjoy the fruits of fellowship with the saints.
What a wonderful and life-changing experience this is for parents as we watch "Neff" go to work for those she loves.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Family History and Chocolate Sprinkles.
Dearest Family,
Hello! Thank you for your amazing emails! Again! I’m so excited for all that’s going on in Provo – awesome job with the unplanned contacts Dad! Wow – that’s so cool! I have to say, (not talking too much about the trip… but that is one of the things that I’m most excited about just to be a missionary with you guys like sharing spiritual insights and doing unplanned contacts!)
And, I’m way excited Mom that you are learning about family history!! That is something that I really want to get into. The other day it was kind of a dead morning as we were contacting and usually I have to think of specific things to talk about or conversations can get kind of distracted sometimes, especially when you and your companion are good friends… anyway, I decided to ask my companion about her ancestors and then she asked me about mine. I realized that I really don’t know very much about them. I’m SUPER excited to get involved in family history. There have got to be people waiting for us to do the work for them.
Speaking of conversations while tracting, sometimes we play little scripture mastery games but when you don’t know a lot of scripture mastery it goes by fast, so it was my companion's turn to think of a game and so she thought about it and then said, “would you rather…”. But, its would you rather missionary style. Its been so fun. I’ve been way into it. We were even with a member yesterday and the conversation went dead so I asked a couple of them. It was fun. Here are a few examples: would you rather have lived in the pioneer times or in Nephi’s times?, would you rather have been missionary companions with Alma or Paul?, would you rather convert a Buddhist or an atheist? Etc. Anyway, just a fun little detail of the week but I know that you guys like details!
Also this week, as I mentioned in my President’s letter we are teaching Jessie and Nelson. They are really awesome. They have had other missionaries from other churches come over before but they haven’t liked it as much as they like hearing from us. Its really neat. They are both so great. Nelson is really quiet and Jessie is really loud but they make a cute couple and its really cool teaching a family. I hope that they keep going and that they get baptized. She loves to make us food after the lessons and the lessons usually get over a little bit later and then she has us stay for some kind of dinner/snack that has French fries involved. The first time it was French fries with fried hot dogs and a really good fry sauce dip that I have the recipe for. Jessie and Nelson are really awesome. I love being in lessons and feeling the Spirit. Its just about the best feeling in the entire world.
Well, I wish that there were more to tell you about the last week. It was a good week. I’m a little bit bummed because I let myself get a little bit distracted. But, I’m totally recommitted and ready to have an awesome week. I was saying my prayers last night and I felt that gratitude that you were talking about Dad. I really cannot imagine even at all my life without my mission. I am so eternally grateful for it.
I can’t begin to count the blessings that I have received there are so many. I think that one of them is the love that I have developed for the scriptures. There are so many things to learn and I’m so excited that I have a whole lifetime ahead of me to learn more and to share. I know that this is the true and living church of Christ. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet and that he has the keys to lead and guide the church. I want to take advantage of every opportunity I have to share the Gospel.
I love all of you more than I can express and am so excited to share with you even more of what I have heard, seen and felt here.
I love you,
Sister, Hermana, Ruman, Zuster Neff
P.S. I’m getting just a few little fun things for the family. They have the fun tradition to put sprinkles on their toast and it's actually really tasty because the sprinkles are really good. I almost wasn’t going to get any then I thought about Gabe and thought, what 7 year old wouldn’t want to have chocolate sprinkles on his toast. So I hope that you’re excited to eat dutch sprinkle toast.
Hello! Thank you for your amazing emails! Again! I’m so excited for all that’s going on in Provo – awesome job with the unplanned contacts Dad! Wow – that’s so cool! I have to say, (not talking too much about the trip… but that is one of the things that I’m most excited about just to be a missionary with you guys like sharing spiritual insights and doing unplanned contacts!)
And, I’m way excited Mom that you are learning about family history!! That is something that I really want to get into. The other day it was kind of a dead morning as we were contacting and usually I have to think of specific things to talk about or conversations can get kind of distracted sometimes, especially when you and your companion are good friends… anyway, I decided to ask my companion about her ancestors and then she asked me about mine. I realized that I really don’t know very much about them. I’m SUPER excited to get involved in family history. There have got to be people waiting for us to do the work for them.
Speaking of conversations while tracting, sometimes we play little scripture mastery games but when you don’t know a lot of scripture mastery it goes by fast, so it was my companion's turn to think of a game and so she thought about it and then said, “would you rather…”. But, its would you rather missionary style. Its been so fun. I’ve been way into it. We were even with a member yesterday and the conversation went dead so I asked a couple of them. It was fun. Here are a few examples: would you rather have lived in the pioneer times or in Nephi’s times?, would you rather have been missionary companions with Alma or Paul?, would you rather convert a Buddhist or an atheist? Etc. Anyway, just a fun little detail of the week but I know that you guys like details!
Also this week, as I mentioned in my President’s letter we are teaching Jessie and Nelson. They are really awesome. They have had other missionaries from other churches come over before but they haven’t liked it as much as they like hearing from us. Its really neat. They are both so great. Nelson is really quiet and Jessie is really loud but they make a cute couple and its really cool teaching a family. I hope that they keep going and that they get baptized. She loves to make us food after the lessons and the lessons usually get over a little bit later and then she has us stay for some kind of dinner/snack that has French fries involved. The first time it was French fries with fried hot dogs and a really good fry sauce dip that I have the recipe for. Jessie and Nelson are really awesome. I love being in lessons and feeling the Spirit. Its just about the best feeling in the entire world.
Well, I wish that there were more to tell you about the last week. It was a good week. I’m a little bit bummed because I let myself get a little bit distracted. But, I’m totally recommitted and ready to have an awesome week. I was saying my prayers last night and I felt that gratitude that you were talking about Dad. I really cannot imagine even at all my life without my mission. I am so eternally grateful for it.
I can’t begin to count the blessings that I have received there are so many. I think that one of them is the love that I have developed for the scriptures. There are so many things to learn and I’m so excited that I have a whole lifetime ahead of me to learn more and to share. I know that this is the true and living church of Christ. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet and that he has the keys to lead and guide the church. I want to take advantage of every opportunity I have to share the Gospel.
I love all of you more than I can express and am so excited to share with you even more of what I have heard, seen and felt here.
I love you,
Sister, Hermana, Ruman, Zuster Neff
P.S. I’m getting just a few little fun things for the family. They have the fun tradition to put sprinkles on their toast and it's actually really tasty because the sprinkles are really good. I almost wasn’t going to get any then I thought about Gabe and thought, what 7 year old wouldn’t want to have chocolate sprinkles on his toast. So I hope that you’re excited to eat dutch sprinkle toast.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
French Fries and Fried Ham.
Hello Family,
Oh I love you all so so so so so so so so so so so much! De verdad! It was great to hear about your week. I loved the Pokemon Gabeism! Well, basically I just love everything that you guys write. I’m excited to hang out with Ruby on Sundays too! It’s such an interesting feeling being excited to go home and really excited about everything that’s happening here.
Our area is doing really great and we are working really hard. But, the blessings and the success is coming from the Lord. So, this morning as I was mopping I was thinking about Saturday chores and how dumb it was that I would complain about doing them. Sorry mom. I’m excited to do Saturday chores when I get back. I’ve discovered on the mission that my favorite job is sweeping and mopping. Ah… there is just nothing like a clean floor. Wow. I’m so weird.
Thanks so much for your prayers for my investigators. I know that they have been helping them. There are a lot of people that I’m pretty excited about right now. They are all women ranging from 17 to like 45 and then one boy who is 15. I’ll just tell you a little bit about them. Chantal – our investigator with a baptismal date. Really sweet and really prepared. Jenny – from Venezuela, about 24 with two kids, she and her husband are struggling but she reads the Book of Mormon everyday and we are going to help her get to church this week. Jessie – from Columbia, really intense but kind of goofy at the same time, invited friends over to listen to the lesson this past week. She loves idea of the Book of Mormon and has a lot of potential. Sometimes she gets kind of passionate about what she is saying and ends up yelling – but she’s funny.
Shirley's – from Curacao comes to church every week and really likes it. Her boyfriend was an inactive member but has been coming back. She is learning a lot from church, and is praying to know if its true. We taught her the first half of the plan of Salvation (we usually divide it up into two lessons because it is so long) and it was cool because she said that she had wondered what happens after this life so we said that that is what we would talk about the next week and then left her with Alma 40 to read and told her that she’d find the answer in there. Way awesome. I love leaving people with things to read because then when you do and when they understand it then they can basically teach you the lesson and they learn a lot!
Judy – from Curacao. She was an unplanned contact (the contacts that we have to do everyday outside of normal tracting. We contact them at stores, or on the street, etc,) she basically already has a testimony of the Book of Mormon and is going to come to church this Sunday! Then Jeffrey is the last one – he is 15 and has been reading the Book of Mormon. His challenge is going to be coming to church. He goes to another church with his family, but nothing is impossible.
Anyway, that’s just a little bit about the people that I’m teaching this week. Can I just tell you how much I love missionary work! Wow. It is just so awesome. I feel like I’m on fire. From the way it’s looking right now, we probably won’t have a baptism before I go. I haven’t given up faith, I’m just being realistic. I was a little bit bummed but I know that the people I teach will get baptized and I have no greater joy than working in the vineyard of the Lord. Just, “thrusting in my sickle” and working hard is about the greatest thing ever. I really feel privileged to preach the Gospel. And, I’m excited to continue to share the Gospel when I get back.
A little while ago I was a little bit discouraged because at first glance there really aren’t that many opportunities to share the Gospel in P-town but I thought about then when we meet with members and they say that they don’t have anyone to share the Gospel with I invite them to pray for missionary experiences. Hello! I need to do the same thing!! So, I’m excited to come back and to keep working in the vineyard. (I read Jacob 5 today so that’s why I keep mentioning the word “ vineyard.”) I love the Book of Mormon and I know that it is true. I know that it is true. I love doing President Martineau’s challenge and asking Heavenly Father in prayer every time I read for the Spirit to testify to me of its truthfulness because He does.
Thank you a million times for all of your support I love you all so so much and lu-uv reading your emails!
Sister Neff
P.S. my goal is to loose 5 lbs in 2-3 weeks. I don’t know why I said that but I just thought it was funny, who knows if its possible - we have lunches with members just about everyday this week. I think the worst thing that I’ve eaten was on Saturday - French fries, fried ham, a huge helping of potato salad, and a cabbage and mayo salad. With jello and sweet and condensed milk. Pretty sure that’s not on the plan. But, its totally all part of the experience. The jump rope is just becoming my best friend.
P.P.S. Sometimes I get sad me, as a white girl, can never do corn rows like all of the black girls can. Everyone has corn rows here! They are so awesome! Devin wants to be Polynesian, Ruby wants to be Native American and I want to be black. hahaha
Oh I love you all so so so so so so so so so so so much! De verdad! It was great to hear about your week. I loved the Pokemon Gabeism! Well, basically I just love everything that you guys write. I’m excited to hang out with Ruby on Sundays too! It’s such an interesting feeling being excited to go home and really excited about everything that’s happening here.
Our area is doing really great and we are working really hard. But, the blessings and the success is coming from the Lord. So, this morning as I was mopping I was thinking about Saturday chores and how dumb it was that I would complain about doing them. Sorry mom. I’m excited to do Saturday chores when I get back. I’ve discovered on the mission that my favorite job is sweeping and mopping. Ah… there is just nothing like a clean floor. Wow. I’m so weird.
Thanks so much for your prayers for my investigators. I know that they have been helping them. There are a lot of people that I’m pretty excited about right now. They are all women ranging from 17 to like 45 and then one boy who is 15. I’ll just tell you a little bit about them. Chantal – our investigator with a baptismal date. Really sweet and really prepared. Jenny – from Venezuela, about 24 with two kids, she and her husband are struggling but she reads the Book of Mormon everyday and we are going to help her get to church this week. Jessie – from Columbia, really intense but kind of goofy at the same time, invited friends over to listen to the lesson this past week. She loves idea of the Book of Mormon and has a lot of potential. Sometimes she gets kind of passionate about what she is saying and ends up yelling – but she’s funny.
Shirley's – from Curacao comes to church every week and really likes it. Her boyfriend was an inactive member but has been coming back. She is learning a lot from church, and is praying to know if its true. We taught her the first half of the plan of Salvation (we usually divide it up into two lessons because it is so long) and it was cool because she said that she had wondered what happens after this life so we said that that is what we would talk about the next week and then left her with Alma 40 to read and told her that she’d find the answer in there. Way awesome. I love leaving people with things to read because then when you do and when they understand it then they can basically teach you the lesson and they learn a lot!
Judy – from Curacao. She was an unplanned contact (the contacts that we have to do everyday outside of normal tracting. We contact them at stores, or on the street, etc,) she basically already has a testimony of the Book of Mormon and is going to come to church this Sunday! Then Jeffrey is the last one – he is 15 and has been reading the Book of Mormon. His challenge is going to be coming to church. He goes to another church with his family, but nothing is impossible.
Anyway, that’s just a little bit about the people that I’m teaching this week. Can I just tell you how much I love missionary work! Wow. It is just so awesome. I feel like I’m on fire. From the way it’s looking right now, we probably won’t have a baptism before I go. I haven’t given up faith, I’m just being realistic. I was a little bit bummed but I know that the people I teach will get baptized and I have no greater joy than working in the vineyard of the Lord. Just, “thrusting in my sickle” and working hard is about the greatest thing ever. I really feel privileged to preach the Gospel. And, I’m excited to continue to share the Gospel when I get back.
A little while ago I was a little bit discouraged because at first glance there really aren’t that many opportunities to share the Gospel in P-town but I thought about then when we meet with members and they say that they don’t have anyone to share the Gospel with I invite them to pray for missionary experiences. Hello! I need to do the same thing!! So, I’m excited to come back and to keep working in the vineyard. (I read Jacob 5 today so that’s why I keep mentioning the word “ vineyard.”) I love the Book of Mormon and I know that it is true. I know that it is true. I love doing President Martineau’s challenge and asking Heavenly Father in prayer every time I read for the Spirit to testify to me of its truthfulness because He does.
Thank you a million times for all of your support I love you all so so much and lu-uv reading your emails!
Sister Neff
P.S. my goal is to loose 5 lbs in 2-3 weeks. I don’t know why I said that but I just thought it was funny, who knows if its possible - we have lunches with members just about everyday this week. I think the worst thing that I’ve eaten was on Saturday - French fries, fried ham, a huge helping of potato salad, and a cabbage and mayo salad. With jello and sweet and condensed milk. Pretty sure that’s not on the plan. But, its totally all part of the experience. The jump rope is just becoming my best friend.
P.P.S. Sometimes I get sad me, as a white girl, can never do corn rows like all of the black girls can. Everyone has corn rows here! They are so awesome! Devin wants to be Polynesian, Ruby wants to be Native American and I want to be black. hahaha
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)