1/19/15 Update - Missionary Moments

These are the moments you live for as a missionary:

My mission record, we taught 5 lessons this week WITH members! Seriously, with members, investigators are soon much more likely to 

1-turn to the RIGHT source if they have questions

2-feel comfortable opening up

3-more serious about coming to the waters of baptism

4-staying in the church.

So yes, y'all pat yourself on the back. We missionaries need you=)

If you've never had the missionaries teach someone in your home, do it.

Our main investigator was taught twice this week, PLUS went to ARP.

We taught him in the Nelsons home. They both are RM's and know how to teach. At first it was nuts because they have a 2 and 4yr old boys..... trouble.

Thank goodness for fruit snacks.

But the spirit was soooo crazy strong! He is literally the most prepared person I've taught, besides Peter.... only problem- keeping commitments.

The Nelsons- so great- offered to give him a ride to church. Sweet. No backing out this week. We get there, and turns out he told them that morning to go w/out him..... seriously? I am just fuming, seriously begging Heavenly Father to forgive me, because I am mad. He knows it’s true. So why not just TRY it? 

I'm sure God has had similar feeling for me more than once

But its more for my companion, I wanted him there so bad. We were teaching gospel principles in the next class and had catered the lesson exactly for him......

Well, 40 minutes into the first meeting, we see brother Nelson stand up, and walk down the aisle. Could it be...? No way. YES!!! He was late, but he came! He loved it, and walked out of gospel principles saying "man, this church is SO true!!"  Also, our less active was at church, along with her 3 boys. It was a great day.

Moral of the story, sometimes, it just feels great to have your prayers answered the way you'd like them to be. We will be committing him to a baptismal date (in the past he's refused, doesn't feel he's ready) so keep us in your prayers. =) 

Love you tons, the work is sweet, and God is good.

Sis McNeill

12/22/14 - Lunch with Kirby's Wife

So this week I’m in a brand new area, and apparently in a different mission (it feels like).

This past year I’ve served in the Valley (San Fernando) where there are no members, but a lot of work. I was in the deaf work in Canoga Park, and then moved to mini Mexico up in Sylmar...now, I am in Valencia, in the Santa Clarita Valley.... and it feels like I am in Utah=)

I am training Sister Hovermale- she just came from 6 weeks in the MTC learning ASL and I am training her, and prepping her for the deaf work. She is hard of hearing, and it’s cool to still feel connected with the deaf work.  However training in a brand new area on BIKE is nuts, and wow I have learned that it is hard being a mom=)  Seriously, a mission prepares you for the rest of your life. It’s a roller coaster here, but man we'll just trust the Lord and hang on=)

Love you all, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Try not to be toooo jealous you're not a missionary on Christmas Day. This is the only time I get to be an angel instead of a shepherd. Called of God to bring tidings of great joy. 

Happy CHRISTmas!

-Sis McNeill

p.s. oh ya, one last fun thought. Kirby Heyborne (RM, Best 2 Years, 3 Stooges) is one of our ward missionaries. Had lunch in his house on his table drinking from his cups with his wife... =) cool, ya?

(Michelle here – this last part made me laugh as I thought of Kirby’s character talking about the famous people he met on his mission in The Single’s Ward…I am telling Jess she needs to get a picture with him for her mission scrapbook!)

1/5/15 - Happy New Year/1 Year Milestone

But if You turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and 

put your trust in him, and 

serve him with all diligence of mind, 

if you do this,

He will, according to His will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.

That's been our theme this week. He's taken care of us, and although we've had some frustrations & dumb problems, I've really felt His hand touch my heart this week.

We now have 2 New investigators, finally, people to teach=) YES!

Alex- we met knocking. 29 and in the Aerospace business. Met back up at Starbucks & talked to Him about finding God through the Book of Mormon. He is very positive, but is thrilled to read it, and hopefully can recognize that it is not just a good read.

Also, we met another man through the ARP run by the church. Holy cow, I've never had such an upfront word of wisdom problem. Dealt with drinking, smoking, some marijuana (on my mission, mom, don't worry:). But this is a whole new ball game. It’s pretty intense BUT- he has been clean for 3 months and is really trying to get his life back together. 

He has some family/friends that are members, and he has the most sincere desire to see if this is right. I am REALLY excited for him and have SUCH a deep testimony of the addiction recovery program for the church. It is for everyone, and literally takes you step by step how to apply the Atonement. Sometimes people need more than just Primary answers.

We talked with 89 people about the gospel this week! 

Didn't quite hit our goal of 100- but hopefully with our health good now we can hit it! It’s still intimidating- all these rich people who "have it all" while I'm in a helmet/skirt on bike. Ohhh boy. BUT, working on it. (courage, man, courage). Oh I want to teach a family so bad!! But, whatever His will, I know I’m supposed to be here for a reason.

I am doing much better health-wise. Not full 100% but still better.

Luckily, we were only really sick from Saturday till Thursday, we still gotta have a blast for New Years. Your package was so much fun so thank you! Me and my comp celebrated at 9 (midnight for Indiana). We taped a plastic pumpkin to some ribbon, and did our own little "ball drop." Hahaha sometimes you just gotta make do as a missionary- so it was fun.

Love you tons! Happy New Year! We kicked it in gear, setting goals is nothing new to missionaries=) Really, I encourage everyone to do the same. Swallow your pride, it’s not bad to try and become a little bit better. That’s kinda the point of why we're here;) Set a goal.  So, that’s my little call to repentance, mission accomplished=)

Make every day great, because it’s one day less you get to glorify God.

~Sister McNeill