Joy=Life

Well last week we didn't have more then 20 minutes to write, but it's safe to say it was an amazing week....though at the moment I'm having quiet a difficult time remembering what happened last week and what happened this week...so let's just blend the two.

To start I have to share some of the funniest moments since being here that have left me laughing for days:

1. The other day we went to a house for an appointment, we knocked and heard the normal "¿quien es?".  When we said the missionaries we got, "nadie estan" (Nobody is here) .....ummmmm.  Safe to say we talked to "Nadie" for 5 minutes and all I could picture was Despicable me! Best part, "nadie" told us to come back to teach two days later.  What a great guy.

2. Being an American girl in Mexico is simply awesome for so many reasons, but one of my for sure favorite reasons is all the cat calls that leave me laughing for days.  Ive stopped trying to give them death glares like we're told to do because I always end up laughing no matter what so there's no point.  Best of all we were up in Cuernavaca this week (us four newbies without our trainers) to get visas and basically it's impossible for four American girls to ever blend in.  We were just walking down the street when a car stopped in the middle of the road so the man could welcome us to Cuernavaca in his sexy voice.  Safe to say Elder Monterith was freaked out! Which lead to a whole conversation about how that's our everday life.  He didn't belive us until it happened 6 more times within that hour.

3. This one might only leave Cara DeBellis laughing but I feel that it will at least put a smile on everyone's face.  We had interviews with President Kusch this week, the head of our mission, and I was terrified because we were suppose to teach him a lesson all by ourself.  Before my interview I was standing in the lobby doing every ice skating pattern/tap dance I could remember and basically felt like I was about to jump on the ice for an ice skating test.  My comp and Elder Nish finally distracted me by asking about my name which naturally lead to the pink panther hamburger thing as always (from the Steve Martin version).  So with my back so nicely turned to the door I started imitating the "I want a hamburger" portion for them in full action and character.....naturally right as President walked out.  "So, do I need to let you finish, cause I'd hate to ruin this moment?" Awesome and story of my life hahaha! What number is that Cara??

It's certainly safe to say the mission life is hard, but I'm pretty sure the only factor that was hard this week was attempting to see how much happiness I could handle.  I was basically exploding with joy, all day, every day.  This week we had the baptism of Adriana, an amazing women who just gets it, and she asked me to sing a solo because she loved how joyful I was when we all sang at Alexis' baptism.  I'm all in for singing, but a solo? I was a little more then nervous.  I called our district leader that morning and asked if he'd be in for a duet and he said he would let me know in a half hour. One hour went by, then two, then three....so I prepared "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" and said A LOT  of silent prayers.  Ten minutes before, he shows up and is like, "you ready?"....ummm, sure, okay Elder! We sang the "Lord is My Light."  The Spirit was amazingly powerful and the whole room was in tears.  We all just sat there in silence for a moment and let the joy of the moment seep in.  Thats why I'm here!

This week was just miracle after miracle after miracle and I don't really know how to describe it without sounding like I'm bragging.  I glory in it because I know every blessing wasn't from me, but certainly from the Lord who continuously guides us!  This week we had the possibility of having 21 investigators at church, so I was hoping for at least 2.  The past couple of weeks we've only had one, Adrianna, and now she's a member.  We were praying hard and doing all we could.  We left the house to pick up Francisco (what an outstanding gentleman!) and drop off Mohommad to show him where the church was. It took him 20 minutes to answer and it was enough time to get me sweating.  He was all ready to go, so that put a smile on my face.  We waited for 15 minutes at the arches for the other families and no one showed, but I was still beaming because Francisco was with us.  We got to church and found four more of our investigators already there (huge smile), then two amazing young women told us their mom (not a member) and their neighbors that we are teaching were on their way (face splitting smile), THEN 20 minutes before Sacrament Meeting ended Erendiras family walked in!!!!!! There were so many people at church that we had to invite everyone halfway through the meeting to scoot their chairs together and get rid of the middle aisle so there was room for all the people under our little tarp/make shift church.  The outer walls, under the trees, and any other place with a little bit of shade were packed with people and I just couldn't stop beaming!!!! The greatest part was how fast our ward was to act and rush over to meet our investigators and get to know them.  That's right Dad, this isn't Oregon ;) When our investigators were leaving it was basically a receiving line out the door with so many members saying goodbyes. THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!!!

I truly believe the greatest part of the mission though comes after the baptism.  It's safe to say the progression of our investigators NEVER stops and as the gospel works in their lives it's just....wow!!! Okay, so I'll try to explain that better.  Alexis, the boy who was baptized about three weeks ago and with whom I am now racing through the Book of Mormon, blows my mind everyday.  Sometimes I wonder if he meditates about what he could possibly say to straight up blow my mind out of the water.  The first time he told me he was already on chapter 9 two days after we started the race, the other time when he said he liked church, another time when he told us we needed to talk about repentance because he needed to do that in his life, AND THEN the other day when we asked him if there was anyone he knew that could benefit from this message (which we've done a million times) and he said he had a ton of friends he'd love to introduce us to because he knew the Gospel could greatly benefit their lives.....WHAT?!?!?! *fell out of my chair* He's just so happy at church, crazy engaged, and already being a missionary.  I can't wait to help him get to the temple and maybe out on his own mission someday! Seeing his faith greatly builds mine!!

Well remember how our area is an hour big?? It's safe to say I've never been so broke in my life!!! We get 1600 pesos a month, roughly, and I've spent 1200 on transportation! You're only suppose to spend 500.  We've really been focusing on all the areas nearby that we can walk to. For opening an area were finally starting to reap the rewards! So many golden investigators!!! We have so much work we don't know what to do with it all and the other sisters in our ward are extremely envious.  We're trying to decide how to divide the area.....and it looks like we might have to move upward to a remote town with no members, no investigators, and no menos activos (JOY) and start all over again which I'm not too thrilled about, but I have to have the grand vision of my mission so if that's what it takes thats what I'll do.  

My Book Bag

So yeah, this is my life and I could not be more joyous for it!!!! With transfers we now how 5 missionaries in our ward and four of us are Americans ;) I thought Hermana Encinas, the only native, was going to pass out! For p-day, I took the initiative and invited all the kids who live in our town to meet us at the soccer fields at 3 for some futbol! Can't wait for this next week and all the joy that I'm sure will come with it as I continue to do my part.  Thank you for all your love and support cada dia! I cannot even begin to explain how appreciated it is!! Look for the positive in everyone and doubt the bad!

 

Have a blessed week,

May the joys of life find you where ever you may be,

Hermana Neuberger

This Is Why I Am Happy

Buenos Dias Everyone,

On Tuesday we were way lost and way late for our zone meeting at the stake center cause the cambi chose to take an alternate root.  We asked about seven people for directions (awkward cause it was like, "hi. Have you seen our church. We're lost.") and EVERYONE knew where it was.  They also called it a temple cause its so beautiful which i thought was really cool.

Another exciting note is that in three weeks we will have our own chapel again!!! WOOT WOOT WOOT! Dont get me wrong, the house of prayer is great but a/c is just calling my name when it comes to 90 degree weather and sitting under a black tarp with 10 foot walls on all four sides.  It's basically an oven and impossible to get investigators to come back or feel the spirit.  Their only comments are......it's really hot.

I also finished the Book of Mormon today which was amazing.  Moroni 7 is so boss! I'm also racing Alexis through the Book of Mormon in espaniola and it's quite the experience.  He's taken to it whole heartedly and when we asked him what he's learned he just relates the whole thing in detail back to us then shares his favorite scriptures.....it makes me want to cry with joy every time...that would freak him out

In the course of the past week 10 people have asked me why im constantly so happy; church members, investigators, and other missionaries alike.  All my life this question comes up constantly and i feel like theres no better time then the present to address it.

 

Im happy because:

I know my Savior lives.  Not only do I know my Savior lives, but i also know of his deep and continuous love for more me.  No matter what I go through in this life, He knows exactly how I feel and wants desperately to help me.  I know that as I rely on Him I can find joy in every moment of this journey of life.  I know He cares personally for me and is truly the greatest example I have to follow in this life.  Im so greatful for this easter week when all of our thoughts are turned to Him.  We can never repay Him for all that He has done in our behalf but we can live each day to be worthy of His sacrifice.

 

This gospel is true and even better then that I get to constantly share this glad message of truth with so many others each and every day.  There is no greater work then this gospel, I am thoroughly convinced.  The spirit is here in abundance and blesses me each and every day.  There are times, quite often, when we leave lessons and my comp just looks at me wondering where on earth all my spanish just came from.  It certaintly was not me! The people here have more faith then I truly thought possible and seeing and hearing their testimonies only increases mine.

 

And because of all of you.  Truthfully, i have been blessed all my life to associate with some of the most amazing people on the earth.  Its hard to have a bad day when I can think off all the good times, look back, and smile.  I feel truly blessed  and know it was by no accident that every one of you played a role in my life.  You have all helped build me into the person I am.  The laughter and good times weve shared have filled me with so much joy that when times get hard my storage is overflowing and I can pull through.  Thanks for your examples, your kind words, your laughter, your funny stories, your constant friendship, your encouragement, your smiles, and your joy.  I seriously dont know what I do without you!

 

With sincere happiness and joy,

Hermana Neuberger

The Week I Was Hit By A Bus

MTC

Well, I certainly got your attention just to say.....APRIL FOOLS!!!! (I know that was last week, but I forgot)

I have more to write about today then I have time so I'll try to sum it up in an organized list of awesomeness.  The most hilarious moment of the week was when my comp walked into a bus, a parked bus.  She made the most manly sound I've ever heard and the guys on the back of the cambi were dying of laughter, good times!

Things that Ill never get over:

1. The Food!!!! (one day I won't mention this, but I seriously can't express to you the bits of heaven I'm consuming!!!)  My comp and I are currently trying to decide which panadaria (bakery) is the best in our city.  The overall winner is officially the one that's half a mile away, so that worked out :) You have not lived till you've have tasted Mexican macaroni and cheese (hard to com pare to the American kind).  Its something else!!!
2. How nice the people are! That one I'm not really sure how to explain other then that it's the truth.  Everyone on our street officially knows us and the other night as we were trying to carry our 7 gallon thing of water awkwardly home the husband of one of these awesome families came over and took it from me, then carried it up the hill to our home.  Charity!
3. How amazing my district and zone are!!!! I feel like I´ve known these people forever!!! On Tuesday we had a meeting with all the companionships in the state of Morales.  We all traveled to Cuernavaca only to find that our zone had been told the wrong time and all arrived an hour and a half early.  Well that was totally fine (reference point 3) because the Mexicans tried to teach me games and kept inviting me back to play because they thought it was hilarious how little I understood.  Basically I was running around talking and laughing with all of them and giddy about the prospect of seeing Hermana Chynoweth again.  That was the reuniting of the century, us running up/down the stairs to embrace each other, basically a movie!! I'm thoroughly convinced that every person in this mission is amazing.  Its a requirement! Plus our zone has officially made shirts...we hung out once and it apparently was just that great ;)
4. How happy I constantly am.  I know for some of you, you might think KL always is happy so that´s nothing new, but it truly is. This is a new kind of happy.  Its all centered on the fact that all day everyday I get to talk to people about our Savior Jesus Christ and share the glad tidings with them.  You truly can´t beat that!!!
5. How many good scriptures there are!!!! Everyday I have an hour to simply feast upon the words of Christ and though I´ve read them before I always am struck by new powerful insights that always fit exactly what I need.  Read the scriptures daily for in them you will truly find the answer to all things.
6. How tired I am.  You would think being a college student and pulling back to back all nighters would prepare you for mission life, WRONG!!! At the end of the day I collapse to the beautiful melody of dogs fighting in the abandoned lot next door. We get 8 hours of sleep a night (which is probably more sleep than I have ever had) and some how its still not enough, but that doesn't hold us back from throwing our whole soul into every day.
7. How there are models on all the labels of food items.  Oh yes, I have to buy this loaf of bread because it has a family on it not just a single smiling woman.  Eating this bread will clearly strengthen my family in multiple ways.  Or the man that smiles at me from my milk carton label.  You got to love Mexico! I certainly wonder how those models tell people what they do ;)
8. How everyone here seems to know the Mormons.  I don´t know how, but I seriously believe the people of Mexico have all seen a missionary before.  How cool is that?! It makes talking to them way easier because they're already aware of what we have to offer.
9. How amazing general conference is, every time, no matter what.  There is truly nothing like listening to the prophet and apostles of God just throwing down the doctrine.  Every time I listen I just sit there shaking my head in wonder. The spirit, the message, and the power is not equaled anywhere else.  If you didn't have the chance to watch it, WATCH IT.  If you did watch it, WATCH IT AGAIN!!! I cant wait for the Ensign so I can read and study the talks again.  I felt like every word was for me and if not for me for my investigators.  My testimony was extremely strengthened and I want to simply throw an amen to everything that was said.
10. How true this gospel is.  I´ve seen it changes lives here on the mission and I've seen the way it's changed my life.  I look at people on a daily basis and see all the blessings that could so easily be theirs if they'd embrace this great truth in their own lives.  This past Saturday I had my first baptism, Alexis Sandoval (an 18 year old boy).  Living the gospel was not the easiest thing or choice he could have made in his life and there were numerous times when he simply stated how hard it was and wondered if he could do it.  Watching him get baptized was amazing because you could see the change.  He wasn´t just attempting to live the gospel, he was doing it because he knew it was true.  Afterwards, this amazing young man who rarely shows his emotions said simply with tears in his eyes, "this is better then I've ever felt in my life." The gospel is true.

Me and my companion Hermana Young

Live everyday to it's fullest potential.  Don't ever let a day pass you by with regrets.  When life falls apart, remember tomorrow's another chance to make it better and that chance comes from a loving Heavenly Father who wants only the best for you.  Put your strength in Him and no day will be a waste, you cannot fail!



At Alexis' Baptism

With an abundance of love,

Hermana Neuberger



Mi casa