Miracles and Melodies

Well it's safe to say that everyone in Mexico knows that Hermana Neuberger loves to dance and sing....and I might have to admit that a few people might have witnessed me bust a move here or there.  I found out the other day that a large percent of the people I know here believe that I'm gonna be crazy famous some day because of my singing and dancing skills.  If that isn't proof enough of the fact that nobody has actually seen me dance for real I don't know what else is :) 

Second of all my teachers in the MTC did not even come close to informing me about how much trouble people would have pronouncing my name.  I love how the same things always go down: 1) Hermana Neu....... 2) Hermana Young and Hermana.... 3) Hermana....Youre just the best 4) Neubaby (the new one from this week that's really caught on) 5) Gerber.  

Nuestra Panderia

Safe to say people here don't have a clue unless they've sat around to take the time and luckily for me a few incredible souls really have!!! 

So it's also safe to say we need to get our new building finished pronto because as much as I love sacrament meeting under a tarp, I don't exactly love the grass that rains down like snow throughout all of sacrament! The tarp has fallen down every week for the last month so every time we  get to sacrament on Sunday there is a new unique configuration of how it's being held up after being ripped down by the storms.  This week they were using brooms, rocks, ladders, and trees.

Future Missionary Adriana

Well I'm not trying to brag on my converts or anything, but I'm highly certain they will never cease to amaze me.  There really isn't enough that can be said about Adriana other then the fact that she wasn't just baptized, she was converted with all her heart, might, mind and strength.  Now she's doing all she can to help others also get that experience!!! She comes out with us everyday and wants to be a missionary with a name tag so badly.  When we told her the other day that single sisters can serve missions at any age she jumped up and down with joy (I'm pretty sure I heard every single guy in a mile radius groan haha).  Someone gave her a future missionary name tag the other day at church (pic included) and she's thrilled out of her mind.  The other day when she went out with us (I forgot my name tag......) she stopped and contacted a family all on her own and then said the reason I had forgotten my name tag is because she deserves it more then I do :) Gosh I love her so much! Plus she loves seeing us which always makes my day.  I made the mistake of mentioning transfers last week and she started crying at the thought that we might be leaving.  She now checks every week to make sure that it's not the week we could be leaving.  I'll stay here forever if I can just travel around with her as my companion!

I seriously love less actives and how much they love the gospel. Plus seeing them grow again and use there dormant faith is sometimes even better then new investigators. We currently have a family that doesn't want to take the lessons any more, wasn't attending church when they were taking the lessons, and now that they're not taking the lessons have been at church 4 Sundays in a row......are you as confused as i am?? They're also the family of Adriana so that's pretty laughable :)

We've been working really hard to find every person in our ward, now that we've finally obtained a ward list that is.  In one colonia we officially have FHE every week with two less active families (the Cruzes and the Rojas), who happen to kind of be neighbors!

Family Home Evening

It's a really big deal and makes me so happy every Wednesday night. Last Wednesday night, my comp and I were 10 minutes late and they would not let it go that we had shown up late.  The amazing grandma, hermana rojas, said she'd been waiting for our smiles to brighten her house since 6 (an hour early) and my heart just melted!!!! They've now reached out and invited members in the area and other friends, so basically pretty soon there's gonna be 30 people attending FHE and I think the more the merrier for sure!!! The hard part is that the reason they can't attend church is money oriented, BUT yesterday they were all there and radiating so much joy that I'm pretty sure I gave them each 10 hugs.

So if that's not enough miracles for you i'll just throw in another as icing on the cake. Yesterday we went to a whole new area that we though was where some families on our ward list lived, simply because no one had ever heard of the streets before and because no one knows that area.  We wandered for a while and found a few of the houses, but nobody was around.  As we were walking we ran into this old man (didn't think anything of it), walked down another street, passed him again, and then as we were coming back from a dead end we saw him again....so it kind of felt like time to talk to him.  He knew the person we were looking for and lead us right to the house. The man who lived there wasn't home, but as we were walking down the street another man dropped his water jug cause he was so excited to see us and gave us the most enthusiastic handshakes.  Turns out it was Miguel, the guy we'd been looking for, and if we hadn't taken the time to talk/walk with the other man we would have never run into Miguel because we would have already been gone.  Miguel hasn't had contact with the church for 5 years, but reads the gospel doctrine manual every night and studies the scriptures.  He's 70 and lives all alone and basically told us to pass by all the time.  As we were leaving, he told the guard to always let us through.  He must have said that we were missionaries from his church at least 10 times and just couldn't stop smiling.  I have to admit my vision was quite blurry as I left due to the abundance of joy I was feeling.

So is this work worth it?? You better believe it is!!!! When we find the right people nothing else matters because I'm truly there for them! There are days where I get laughed at and ridiculed for how much of my life I'm wasting, but then the flip side happens and people call me marvelous, an angel, and a miracle all in one day and it's safe to say my happiness is so sky high that the other moments really can't get me down!  People always say to do what you love and love what you do....so I'm thinking of a new career path: Life long Missionary :)

I love you all!

Hermana Neuberger

Rockin' my new soccer jersey!

The jersey has my favorite number and check the name! Awesome!

If I Only Had One Thing To Say

I finally truly understand what Bishop Bezzant meant when he told me to ponder on what it meant to have an "eye single to the glory of God" (DC 4).  For some reason that idea came into my mind quite often this week and im pretty sure missionary work is the only time in which we are truly following through with this action.  Heavenly Father has said that His work and His glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of his children and here on the mission we are those tools.  Here we have the chance and the means of bringing about the salvation of those souls who have never before had this chance to experience a fullness of joy.  I can be honest in saying that there is no greater blessing then keeping an eye single to the glory of God.  I rejoice in the fact that i never seem to be thinking of myself throughout the day because here on the mission it isnt about me, its about them (jesture to the rest of the world), my brothers and sisters who need this gospel of joy and happiness just as much as i do.  Thats why im here and when i see others find the joy it only makes mine that much more full! I love this gospel and I love my Savior.  I consider myself blessed everyday to wear his name on my chest, because He is who I want to represent!

That One Where I Had No Time

Well today we hiked a mountain....to see the lamest pyramid ever....but the hike was amazing and sooooooo fun!!!!!!! But now I only have 20 minutes so that happened.....

Funny story of the week:

We ran out of tp late at night (which for us missionaries means it was like 10pm) so we had to go run and get some.  Naturally the corner store was closed so we had to run like three blocks and for us it felt like it was 1:00 in the morning and I was giddy from being a "rule breaker".  We purchased the tp and hid it in my coat and started running up the hill fake shouting, "I got the tp" (totally thinking of Sydney/Connor Black and that AMAZING summer!!!)......and then the police came pulling up to the house I was right next to...two cop cars....life is just awesome!!!

Told you it was a great hike!

I've also now experienced two earthquakes here in mexico.  For all those who have asked, I'm doing just fine, thank you for your concern! The damage wasn't anywhere near me, but we certaintly felt them and we keep thinking the volcano is going to explode anyday now...that would be the day!

So I loved talking to my family on Mother's Day! It was wonderful to talk to them and hear their voices. And since I'm so crunched for time I want to share somehthing that my friend Elder Schmidt sent me in his letter this week that I absoluetly love and I think sums it all up so well!

"Is your mission hard?"
Let me ask.

Don't know what these are, but they like food

Is it hard when you get the door slammed in your face everyday?

Is it hard when your investigators are not at appointments?

Is it hard when [21] people are lined up for church and only one is there?

Is it hard when people don't understand the blessings you can help them find?

Is it hard when you find solid people, who live in other areas?

Is it hard when you feel you just don't live up to what is needed?

The answer to all of these-- yes. 

But let me ask, Is it worth it?

Is it worth it to find an investigator and teach the Restoration of God's church?
Is it worth it to teach people there is hope in this life and also in the one to come?

Is it worth it to see the one investigator at church find a home in the ward?

Is it worth it to see a light come on in someone's life as they understand God?

Is it worth it to help someone make the first steps towards baptism?

The answer to all of these-- Absolutely!

Everyday is hard and yet everyday is a grand new adventure! You never know of the blessings Heavenly Father has lined up for you that day until you go out and get them. Yeah there's bad days and the days when I think of everyone back home and all the fun things that I could be doing.....but one moment, one blessing reminds me of how worth it this all is and I really couldnt think of anywhere else I'd rather be!!!!

I'm sure there's more I'd loved to say and that 'Ill remember in like 20 minutes, but I guess that's it for now. Until next week keep making the world smile wherever you are!!!

Hermana Neuberger :)

How Is It Already May?

Wow what a week of miracles! Add to that the too short bathroom curtain, the lady who invited us to her birthday party on the cambi (which of course we went to), the fact that I wouldn't be surprised if I was out of layers of skin, the rejection door (story to follow), the fact that I had oysters for the first time in my life (yes Cara DeBellis I admit that I've been lying to you for years. No hard feelings??) AND CARNIVAL and you're talking about one of the most crazy amazing weeks ever!!!

I really was gonna take the time this week to tell about all my investigators/friends but I talk to my family for real this Saturday and I want to have stories to tell them so I leave that as a promise for next week.

The highlight of hilariousness of this week for sure had to be when we trying to find a family that we had contacted the night before in the street.  Basically we knew the address they were giving us was incorrect along with the last name because their younger daughter said, "that's not us" before they could silence her, but we went to find it anyway hoping the Lord would plant a miracle in our path as He has done so many times before.  This miracle happened to be the one of straight up laughter!!!! We found the door and my comp knocked only for us to notice a second later the sign that was in the upper corner of the door that said something along the lines of: This house despises all other religious sects, we do not allow soliciting, we persecute other religions, all Hail the Virgin Mary!......yup, so that happened.  We gracefully covered our tags with our hair when the guy opened the door cause i certainly would prefer my face to stay in this same arrangement. We walked away dying of laughter! Usually it drives me insane when people give us fake addresses but the fact that they took the time to give us the address of the rejection door....well oddly I was okay with it!

This week was another testament of how boss the scriptures are....I sincerely hope you don't consider that sacrilegious of me to say.  I just couldn't stop finding amazing scriptures all week that just had me fist pumping like crazy.  The best part is that most of them were just those amazing one liners. This week I took a break from reading Moroni 7 (always gets me) and read my favorite chapter from the Bible, Romans 8, again for the first time since leaving on my mission. WHY HAVE I NOT DONE THAT BEFORE?!?! I was once again reminded of why the scriptures are so true.  The thing I want to "read" to you is Romans 8:31.  Summarizing from Spanish it basically says, "If God is for us who can be against us?" Amazing! Basically I've been thinking a lot about that this week.  We shared it with a ton of people and it just always put a smile on my face cause its simply a testament of truth.  We can do everything when we are in line with the Lord.  It reminds me of 2 Nephi 2:24 (all things are done through God who knows all things).  We have the greatest power in our corner and when the day looks dull LOOK UP and remember it!!!!

Have a blessed week and laugh a little for me,

the church is true,

Hermana Neuberger

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