What Is Heat?

My area is huge, like an hour to drive from one end to the other huge, so it's hard to really label it as poor or nice.  Half of my area is farm land and mountains and ridiculously goregous but not as wealthy.  Then there's a part that is the tourist area and rich in culture.  And then there's where I live which is average except for the neighborhood that is connected to it.  To call it a neighborhood is kind of an understatement. Let me try to describe it to you.  It's called Lomas de Cocoyoc (but in Oaxtepec so go figure) and its basically the Beverly Hills of Morales.  It could easily be its own city!!! First off there are armed guards at the entrance so you can't enter unless someone who lives there lets you in.  Second, there are all these nice stores and resturants inside.  Third the houses are bigger then my own and have grass and air conditioning...which means a lot!!! The other night we were at a member's house who lives in this area and I seriously couldnt remember where I was when we left.  So jump on google maps and check it out...I live in #56 Moctezuma, Oaxtepec.....if you can even google map that.

I went shopping today and when we walked into the store a song, that i deem the theme song of Jamestown #27 (Travis' apartment) was playing.  I half expected Chris Smith to come dancing around the corner followed by Scott Holmes. I was overjoyed.  I could go on forever about the singing here but instead I'll comment on the crazy amount of English music that's everywhere.  The other day we were teaching a lesson and I almost started laughing because "Happy" came on (kind of my theme song) and I just wanted to start singing.  All the time on the buses my comp and I look at each other and start mouthing the words.

So this week, where to even begin, it's hot!!! Shocking I know, but I'm pretty sure I've never been this hot before.  I washed everything I own today (an interesting process that involves multiple buckets and a scrubbing board) and was shocked to see how dirty the water was...Whoops!

Can i just say I LOVE the way Mexicans drive. Americans should take some tips from other countries and realizes that traffic rules arent needed ;) The other day a member was driving us to her house and driving 70 km/h down the windy road...lets just add in that she was also older.  Safe to say it was absolutely awesome!!!

We had the first bugs enter our apartment this week and it was thrilling.  They've never really bothered me but my companion has different feelings to say the least.  But we have a frying pan so all is well ("frying pans, who knew??)! Those scorpions literally didn't know what hit them and some of the spiders bodies were never found.  Basically, the first time we found a scorpion my comp was screaming, which made me keel over in laughter, ending up right next to the scorpion.  A member later told me about how poisonous it was, so I won't make that mistake again! Now my companion just says, "Neuberger, take it out!" and hands me the frying pan all Jason Bourney.

I'm pretty sure all the members and everyone else in Mexico thinks we're starving.  Members feed us everyday and instead of taking food home like my Mom always makes the missionaries do, these members just expect us to eat everything right then and there....four courses at least and always second helpings of everything.  It's great because the food here is amazing (I could go on for hours) but there's a point in which all your body's senses are in red alert and telling you to stop before you die!!!! We eat one meal a day cause thats all we need, but we'd never tell the members here that. They offer to buy us groceries all the time and comment on our small figures.  I'm actually proud that I've managed to maintain mine...and I don't know how long it will last! Hermana Gordita here I come!!!! The mission theme here is, "Go big or go home.....or go home big" and I wouldnt want to be the one to break mission rules.

Anyway, this week was really great overall with the exception of Friday which was easily the hardest day of my life.  We got burned for all 10 of our appointments, 2 of which we had ridden the bus for an hour to get to.  To make things better, no one wanted to talk to us and it was safe to say I was lower then low.  My comp hit it on the head when she said, "it hurts so bad when people reject us because in reality theyre rejecting God." Were offering them the greatest gift of all time and they can't take three seconds to hear it.  But that's the joy of missionary work at the same time, we have a gift that can make you happy for all eternity so when people do listen everything is worth it!!! I have a testimony and I want EVERYONE to hear it no matter how terrible my Spanish is!  Since I didn't have the amazing Travis on speed dial, luckily my district leader stepped in with a powerful scripture and a ton of broken English that put a smile on my face!!! Alma 26:27-28 Turning back is never the answer towards success!!!

The miracle of the week (and yes I say of the week cause I'm pretty sure there's always one).  We were once again wandering around trying to find an address (how miracles always happen) and we stumbled upon a lady who had been reading and studying the Book of Mormon along with the Bible for two years.  Her brother, who lived in the States, was a member and when he died she took his Book of Mormon because she wanted to understand the source of his happiness.  She was trying so hard to live the commandments and just didnt know how.  It was safe to say we were happy!!!! We were like, "we know, we know, let us tell you all about it!!!"

Everyone take the time to watch General Conference this week because I already know its gonna be AMAZING!!!

Thanks for your constant support and letters,

HUGS, smiles, and laughter,

Hermana Neuberger

It's Mexico and It's Amazing!

Is there any better place then Mexico?? Better yet is there anything greater then this work?? Holy cow I don't even know where to begin so if I don't have time to include everything I want to say I just want to throw it out there that life is more then great and I certainly cant stop smiling.

I guess I'll start with the Sunday night before we left the MTC because the experience I had that night will most certainly always be among the top ten greatest spiritual moments ever.  My district and the other district in my zone that entered the MTC the same day that I did, decided to walk home from main campus and stop by the temple to take pics in the dark.  From there we went to the chapel in Wyview and the 10 elders proceeded to give us priesthood blessings.  I can't describe the spirit that filled the room and how thankful I am for the power of the priesthood in my life.  It didn't matter if the blessing wasn't just for me, I still felt its power.  Having 10 of the finest elders I've ever met surrounding me just added to the happiness!!! I was thankful beyond belief for that moment.  We didn't want to leave but knew we had to head home because all the hermanas from our zone were coming to our apartment that night to break the pinata (yes Hermana Sturts mom sent us one of those) and to pop some martinellis (also courtesy of momma Sturt).  We also had more food then we knew what to do with because we all received at least two packages on Friday full of more food despite the fact that we were leaving.  Anyway, huge food fest with laughter and quite a few tears at the end.  My apartment didn't start crying till everyone left and we had our last apartment prayer...when we realized it was our last.

We left the MTC at 4:30 am and surprisingly there were no tears, think we got them all out the night before.  There were so many of us they had to put all of our luggage in a moving truck and use three coach buses...and they took at least three trips.  I tried to sleep on the hour trip to the airport, but how are you supposed to sleep when you're psyched out of your mind and headed to the greatest country ever, MEXICO!!! The plane rides didn't allow you to do anything because the turbulence was ridiculous, like a roller coaster.  When I called home my own mom didn't even recognize me...also a highlight of my trip ;)

We arrived in Mexico around 10:30 where we were met with huge hugs from our mission president's wife and high fives from the AP's.  We had an hour and a half ride to Cuernavaca and I was straight giddy the entire way!!! People tried to sleep, but the zone leaders came to the back of the bus and entertained me with hilarious stories and the view was amazing so I was set.  Instead of sleeping in the office that night with everyone else, Hermanas Sturt, Johnson, and i were assigned to go sleep with the sister training leaders.  When my comp, Hermana Chynoweth, heard that we were gonna be separated she burst into tears and refused to let go of my arm....the AP's were a little freaked out but it all worked out.  The next morning it took all my effort to focus on studies and not run outside and scream ¡Buenas Dias Mexico! I was psyched to find out where I would be serving and who my trainer would be.  So here it is: My trainer is Hermana Young from Texas and she's been in the mission for 5 months so its safe to say were figuring this out together but she's amazing and I couldn't have asked for anyone better.  Were in the Viveros Ward (which fun fact doesn't currently have a church building because its under construction. Instead we meet under a few tarps draped together surrounded on all sides by huge walls...can you say HOT!!!).  Its probably the best ward ever!!! We live in Oaxtepec, in a brand new house that we bought and our area covers 40 minutes out from our house into the country side.  It's a fabulous mix of EVERYTHING. Were kind of opening an area in a sense because they just split the Viveros area so there are two sets of missionaries here and the area we cover is the portion where missionaries didn't really go.  But like I said, were figuring it out and life couldn't be better.

The night we left Cuernavaca to head to our area (about an hour out) the lady we were buying the house from was mad because she hadn't received rent yet and was refusing to give us the keys so we called President to convince her.  Because we hadn't paid rent the furniture that was suppose to have been dropped off and set up earlier that day hadn't arrived so at 11:45 pm we were carrying furniture into our house and trying to set up beds.  All of my companion's stuff, Hermana Young, was still at her old house and the district leaders refused to let us leave...which included the other Viveros sisters who had accompanied us to our house.  We squished the two mattresses together and all four of us slept across them for our first night :) Did I mention that my apartment is beautiful?? That's the only word for it!! We have pretty pink walls and four rooms, FOUR (what on earth do we need with four rooms?!?!).  Minus plumbing, hot water, and air conditioning its probably the nicest place I've ever lived and there's not a bug in sight.

I've met some of the most amazing people ever that often amaze me with how strong their faith is.  I love how the people here don't find it weird at all to talk about God while were riding the bus or just walking down the street.  I literally talk to everyone  I see, better stated I attempt to talk to everyone I see.  I start the conversation and then turn to my comp like, ¨Here you go. Have at it.¨  In our lessons I say everything I want and if it doesn't make sense I can whisper to my comp what I meant and she translates it to the people for me.  I'm shocked everyday by how high my understanding level is and though my speaking level is nowhere near equal, I cant stop smiling because what is there not to smile about.  The greatest moment so far was when we were teaching a family and I got to talk about the first vision and then bare my testimony.  I was pretty sure what I said didn't make sense but then the mom AND the dad both expressed how thankful they were for us and how they simply felt joy in their hearts when I spoke...me and my broken Spanish...if that isn't confirmation that this is the Lords work I seriously don't know what is!!!

Another amazing moment this week all started with a lady on the cambi (bus) who said she would meet with us but then gave us a street (which turned out to be 20 miles long) and no house number...basically a total burn, but we felt like we should look for it anyway.  We started walking down the street and were greeted by the joyful cry of ¡HERMANAS! Turns out there was a family of less actives who lived only a few houses down and they were thrilled to see the missionaries.  We met their neighbors and basically everyone on the street and are now teaching them all.  It was simply another confirmation that this is the Lords work.  And the joy in the grandmas eyes melted my heart.

I think our best lesson this week, for me at least, was with an 18 year old boy who is getting baptized next week. I had kind of been down all day cause I felt like something was missing from our lessons and I couldn't figure out what.  That night I realized that what was missing from our lessons was me, my personality, and in that lesson I some how had the words to make jokes and actually connect with him.  It made my day and I left the house thanking Heavenly Father.

The kids here are the best, members and nonmembers alike, they see us so often that now they run across the street to give us high fives and always scream hola as if they're afraid we wont notice them.  I love it because you don't have to speak the language to talk to children, smiles and funny faces is all you need to make a new best friend.

The food here is unreal, I cant even explain it to you and the members feed us a ton!!! My biggest Spanish fails have been with the simplest words and have left people laughing for days.  The other day I was trying to tell the 18 year old that he was the best and instead called him a woman (WHOOPS) and I asked a 12 year old if her sister was her daughter....which she proceeded to tell all 10 people in the store (the shame) no worries, I'll get there some day!!!

Sorry this is so long but I don't feel like I could truly adequately express my love for this place.  Today we played soccer for hours with our entire zone and it was a dream come true.  I have sunburn, my shoes have dug so far into my feet that you can almost see the bone, I cant speak the language, and sweating bullets, and yet none of that matters because this is the place and everything is simply amazing, scratch that BEYOND amazing!!!!

Hope your lives are just as great,

Share your joy with everyone you know,

So much love,

Hermana Neuberger

PS Real quick funny story: The boy who's mom runs the panadaria down the street from our house was talking to us the other day and he asked us if we were hungry.  We replied that we were fine.  He asked when we had last eaten and we said 2....it was 8.  His face was priceless, basically all shock.  When he found out all we had eaten was quesadillas (the best EVER BTW). He was even more shocked and then he asked super meekly, "Are you guys suffering?"  I died of laughter.  He invited us to come eat with his family, just the cutest thing EVER!!! basically I only eat one meal every day cause its so much i never want to eat again

Travel Plans Arrive

Wow I don't even know where to begin with this week.  It has certainly been the best week at the MTC so far and easily the best week of my mission.  How people don't just love the MTC I'll never understand. Everyone here is so happy and invigorated with the gospel they emanate pure joy 24/7.  I'll try to sum up all the positives of my week for you, but I think the most amazing thing to focus on is that next week when you read my blog it will be coming from an internet cafe somewhere around Cuernavaca, Mexico!!! How neat is that?!?!  I'm terrified to leave the MTC because so far this has simply felt like my mission, but at the same time a single word (in this case Mexico) has never filled me with so much excitement in my life! I don't even know the people yet and I already love them and can't wait to meet them.  Thank you for all your letters of support and encouragement, they ALWAYS put a smile on my face.  I know the Lord has continually blessed me with the greatest friends in my life and not a day goes by that I'm not thankful for each and every one of you!

Today I officially can't walk because we had the brilliant idea yesterday to do lunges from our apartment to the gym (about a 1/4 of a mile) and then do our 250 calves raises with the 30 pound weight.  To say my body no longer likes me would be the understatement of the century!  I'm pretty sure I've never been in better shape though.  Between our morning runs and our midday exercises we are officially on the MTC track of getting swoll!! For today though I'm pretty sure our workout will simply be walking which in itself is a struggle.  At the temple this morning when they asked if any elderly people needed to use the elevator I almost raised my hand to inform him that the youthful sisters on the second row might need assistance up the stairs.

I guess I'll just cover the biggest events of this week: Our district's lessons with Ivett, Both of our teachers are now engaged, and WE GOT OUR TRAVEL PLANS!!!!

So our teachers are engaged, not to each other, but holy cow happiness!  Hermano Rockwood got engaged a day before we arrived in the MTC, but since my companion is obsessed with weddings we have heard every detail about the proposal and how the wedding plans are going.  We actually ran into one of Hermano Rockwood's roommates who also works here and we actually knew more about the wedding then he did which was pretty hilarious.  Our other teacher, Hermana Christenson, got engaged Friday! She left Wednesday for a family vacation where her boyfriend surprised her at the hotel....i could probably go on for an hour over how cute it was but I'll refrain.  We found out early because our substitute told us the news but then faked like we didn't know so she could tell us everything.  She was simply glowing and even showed us the video after warning us that it wasn't allowed to disrupt our focus.  The best was after she told the whole story she bore her testimony about three simple things she knows to be true.  My favorite thing she said was "As you are true and faithful to your calling, God will write your story more beautifully then you could ever imagine it!" I love that.  I could not be more thankful for my teachers! I'm pretty sure I was placed in the district with the best teachers and everyone who works here always agrees.  I feel bad because they have officially seen us on both ends of the spectrum and everywhere in between from giddy out of our minds to fast asleep and yet they do an amazing job.  There lessons are amazing and always invite the spirit in great abundance.  I love the days when Hermano Rockwood has write whatever questions we have on the board and then goes through and talks about each one, literally opening up the scriptures to the perfect verses to help explain what we are asking.  I hope to one day know the scriptures and Preach My Gospel as well as he does...and to be as passionate about the gospel.  I have an entire page set aside in my journal where I write down one liners that our teachers say that strike me to the core and I'd love to share a few with all of you.  In reality I wish you could have been there for the entire experience but hopefully these quotes will inspire you as much as they inspired me.

It's not about what we do or what we say but about who we are that qualifies us for the work.  The moment we recognize it's not about us we can get past our fears and accomplish what we were called to do.  We don't want others to simply join our Church we want them to join Christ! When we teach the doctrine of Christ we show a person how much we truly love them.  You can not love a person more then bring them unto Christ! He [Christ] gave all so that we could give all to them. (these came from all different lessons but magically tied in together) -Hermano Rockwood

We don't knock on doors to find investigators, we knock on doors to show our obedience and then the Lord places those prepared individuals in our path!

I hope that in some way showed how solid my teachers are and if not I wish you could come here and experience the power of their words for yourself!

This week we also received our travel plans which is the first moment in my life where I truly realized I was going to Mexico.  Like I said before, the MTC feels like my mission and I sincerely feel as though I've been counting down the days till my mission, that is MTC days are over.  But the night we got our travel plans might have topped the moment I opened my mission call in excitement.  Us Hermanas were strolling around trying to decide what we were going to eat for dinner when we saw the leader of our district standing at the door of the cafeteria and waving us over with purple papers.  We instantly knew what that meant and ran over to him.  He made the smart decision of taking us all outside before finally handing over the papers.  I didn't even read it, I just started jumping, spinning, and throwing up fist pumps of victory because I already knew what it was. Sisters  Chynoweth, Sturt, and I all ran together and were high fiving and hugging like crazy....then we felt terrible and ran back to Sister Metler and gave her a huge hug (saying goodbye to her as she heads to Heromosillo and the rest of us go to Cuernavaca is going to be absolutely terrible).  Then we took a moment to actually read our flight plans and the next thing I knew my companion was in my arms, literally I was holding her, and she was screaming in my ear, I'M GOING TO GEORGIA!!!!!" Explanation: our flight plans take us all the way to Georgia, where we have a three hour lay over, and then to Mexico.  She's never been east of Utah so she's psyched out of her mind to head to the south, as if the airport really counts as being there.  But she's so excited it's kind of like Olaf and summer and I can't dash her hopes. There were tears, screams, and simply jubilant faces.  When we reentered the cafeteria everyone wanted to know what was up and we basically went around to every table to show them our papers.  The west campus MTC is extremely tight knit and I love it!

Last but not least my district had the amazing opportunity of teaching all together (yes all 8 of us) this week to a lady who is investigating the church from New York City.  She's been atheist her entire life so it was a completely new experience for all of us.  We taught her three days in a row and all the lessons ended up being in English because she wanted us to truly be able to understand her questions and actually be able to answer them.  We sang to her every lesson and the spirit was simply there.  She couldn't recognize the spirit but she always commented on how she loved when we came by because she could always feel our love for her, which she thought was crazy cause we really didn't even know her.  We really tried to show her that we were only emulating the love God has for her and wants her to recognize is all around her.  I can honestly tell you that as we taught her I saw change.  By the end of the third lesson she told us that she had finally opened herself up to the idea of believing in God and I don't think I've ever been so happy in my life.  I really do love her and know how much her Heavenly Father loves her.  I want nothing more in the world for her to realize this.  I can't wait to share the same message with all the people of Mexico.  Oh sweet the joy this sentences gives, I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES!

Sorry this is so long, but I truly had a blessed week,

Hope all of your weeks were equally blessed,

In all you do focus on the good and then your day can be nothing but happy,

With tons of love,

Hermana Neuberger

 

Editor´s Note: This blog is literally being posted from Patagonia from a letter written in Provo, Utah about going on a mission to Mexico.  It´s because of the Patagonia part of this that this week´s posting is so late. The pictures she sent will have to wait until next week.

Hooray for Frontenac Frisbee Heritage!

HOLA everybody,

I guess I'll start off this email with a fun fact: I don't get mail on Saturdays, Sundays, or Monday mornings so on Monday nights I get all the weekend mail and feel loved out of my mind! Thank you for all your fabulous letters and updates.  I love each one and try to write back in the little time that I have!

Well gym time has become better then ever this week, sadly all the elders we normally do stuff with are leaving, but I'm excited for them and know that Argentina will be blessed to have them.  While we were playing volleyball this week I ran to save a ball and made a wild hit that certainly wasn't' going to improve the situation when it ricocheted off the light and sailed over the net, just barely hitting in.  Basically ESPN top 10 worthy, just saying.  I also found a frisbee in a closet this week and took it with me to gym time.  My fabulous companions agreed to throw it around with me and I was happier then happy!! The next day we threw it around again and slowly elders started joining in.  Pretty soon we had 20 people in a circle so we decided to play monkey in the middle.  I don't think I've ever had so much fun at gym time.  FRISBEE IS AMAZING!!!! I bless the Frontenac ward name each day when I hear the Elders calling me legit.  Boy am I thankful for that heritage and my ability to throw a frisbee...and to be able to catch one while were at it.  I might also leave the MTC more in shape then when I came.  Sister Melter and I wake up every morning and run two miles, then during gym time (before frisbee) we run up an elliptical mountain for 20 minutes and then do 10 minutes of abs and 5 of arms! Then again my exercise might not save me from the mountain of food that is enveloping our apartment.  Basically my three companions get at least two packages a week and we do all we can to hand it out to others so it doesn't end up in our kitchen.  We currently have 10 bags of popcorn, 2 gallon ziplocks of homemade carmel corn, a loaf of banana bread, three things of pringles, three bags of chips with queso and salsa, 12 bags of assorted candy, two giant party size m&m bags, a giant swedish fish bag, 2 dozen cookies, peppermint bark, fudge, grapes, carrots, apples, strawberries, 2 packages of oreos, and so many other little random things I can't even describe it all to you.  We are super good about giving it away or watching others consume it but naturally we eat some too....every night.  My clothes still fit perfectly so I feel like I'm okay.  Momma Sturts cooking is to die for!!! Her gingerbread cookies she sent made my mouth water.  Basically since all my roommates are from Utah home backed goods aren't a problem to send cause they get here in two days....I'm just craving Dad's salsa.

BTW On the way back from gym I always uphold the Neuberger family tradition by doing parcore off all of the rocks and the one day I skipped the hermanas made me go back and do it cause apparently it's a highlight of their day.  it's good to know that if I brake my ankle, it will only  be to brighten others lives ;)

Every time I attempt to speak Spanish and know I'm epicly failing, I picture Rogelio smiling and shaking his head at me right behind my investigator.  If you want to talk about the gospel I can stumble through and tell you quite a lot....ask me about my house and i go mute!!! All my words are gospel focused, exactly the way it should be, but it certainly make it more interesting when we get down to Mexico....IN TWO WEEKS!!!!

At the devotional this Sunday they had us stand and sing the EFY medley which many of you are familiar with.  The best part about the MTC though is that they changed the words.  Instead of singing as sisters in Zion we sing The sisters of Zion.  Basically all the words have been changed by the lady who originally wrote the song to talk specifically about missionary work and they're extremely powerful.  I also love that when we sing army of Helaman the words change to, "and we are now the Lord's missionaries".  The entire thing is extremely powerful and while I stood there singing it with thousands of other missionaries I couldn't stop beaming and feeling the spirit that was so tangible in the room.  We truly are the Lord's missionaries called to bring the world HIS truth! I know that my calling is sure and I know there is nothing I'd rather be doing with my time then bringing the light of the gospel into other's lives.

This week we were suppose to teach a new investigator as an entire district, yes all 8 of us at once, but the lady didn't show up.  We were pretty bummed because 8 of us + 1 investigator we were certain would equal instant conversion.  I was really worried about how we would possibly unified as an entire district trying to teach one lesson.  Because the lady didn't show up my teacher decided to be a new investigator for us.  The lesson started out really rough, no one knew what to say and everyone was pretty worried to talk because they thought someone else might jump in instead.  But we slowly got the flow down and then the spirit kicked in.  I don't think my district has ever been so united!! There were moments where we'd all reach for our scriptures to look up the same verse without even saying anything.  At the end of the lesson we sang nearer my God to thee in four part harmony and everyone was in tears by the end. Everything we had been saying before was simply words, but there was no denying the spirit that filled the room as we started to sing.  I know that I am nothing without the spirit and that I cannot teach without his guidance and help.  The spirit is the true teacher and I am only the tool.  Our true purpose as missionaries is to help others recognize that in their lives because once they recognize the line connecting them to Heavenly Father, everything else simply falls into place! 

It's simply been another fabulous week of happiness and joy,

Love you all!!!

Hermana Neuberger

3 Weeks In 3 Weeks Left

Hi everybody,

I'd like to start off by saying thanks for all the random emails, letters, and random goodies. They certainly add extra brightness to my day!

I know you might all get sick of hearing it, but the MTC is seriously one of the greatest experiences of my life and even an hour of attempting to explain why wouldn't ever do it justice.  I wish you all could come here and experience it for yourself.  I'm pretty sure I've learned more about...almost everything in the last few weeks then I have my entire life!

This week didn't include any new additions to our zone but boy did our zone get closer and I am so thankful for each of them.  I truly believe that God places the people we need in our lives to keep us smiling and to help us grow in every aspect.  I could not be more thankful for my companion and the smiles and encouragement she always gives me.  Plus the laughter, which is in such abundance, always keeps my spirits high.  I cannot believe that it has already been another week.  I feel like I was just here at the computer and at the same time I also feel like a month's worth of activities has occurred.

We are now teaching four lessons a day which is actually less stressful then the first week when we were only teaching one.  It's certainly something that you have to get the hang of and then you just can go and go and go.  I get really excited and doubly nervous before each lesson (at least that hasn't changed), but I'm more aware of how to teach to my investigators' needs now, and less focused on trying to dump all my knowledge right back at them.  I love to see the way their faces light up when they feel the Spirit and i hate when my "shattered" Spanish causes them to get bored and drift off.  There are moments where I swear I'm gonna scream cause I simply want to express to these people the power of what I know and how happy it'll make them, but I don't have the words for it.  The other day we were attempting to teach the plan of salvation, which is truly the plan of happiness which I've come to realize in even greater force now that I'm studying it, and I had no words to elaborate on how truly amazing Heavenly Father's plan is for all his children.  I just sat in the lesson and was like, "the plan of salvation is good....it's important...it's beautiful.  Gosh I wanted to break into English so badly!!! But though the struggle is real, I wouldn't have it any other way.  I'm striving each day to become better at explaining it so that one day, hopefully, I might even be better at explaining it in Spanish then i am at explaining it in English.

I love watching how much everyone here has grown and constantly hearing their testimonies, which I know strengthens my own.  When I have self doubts they're all there for me with a scripture, a hug, and the most amazing loving words you'd think we'd all known each other for years.  I love how much we rely on each other because it's further proof that the Lord realizes we cannot do this work alone.  This week we talked a lot more about the atonement and I truly learned more on a subject matter that I already believed I knew a ton about.  The atonement is everything; the center of the plan of salvation, the only way we can make it back to live with God, the only way we can truly be forgiven of our sins, and the greatest gift everyone on the earth possesses that they don't even realize is theirs.  Though I know I will never truly understand the magnitude of the Savior's sacrifice I know with certainty that there is nothing more personal and applicable to each of our own individual lives.  He truly died for me! Even if I had been the only person the Atonement would have benefited, Jesus Christ would have suffered for me.  The atonement was not simply an act, it was a an act for us, an extremely selfless action, that freed all men from every struggle, pain affliction, and sorrow they have ever felt if only they will turn to Christ and except it.  I know of the power this gift has given me in my own life and the comfort it has brought me in times of trial.  I have truly felt my burdens become lightened.  That's what I want my investigators to come to know, that this gift is for them if they will follow Christ.  I want them to feel that power and significance.  Without Christ we can do nothing, but with Christ we can do everything!  (Phillipians 4:13) I once again stand all amazed at how deeply grateful I am for this work and the ability it has of teaching me while I attempt to teach it.  I love how little I truly know and the opportunity it gives me to learn and grow in leaps and bounds each day.  I truly am clay waiting to be shaped and molded in His hands.  

On Sunday my zone took group pics by this creek that runs through the middle of our campus.  The guys tried to do all these boy band pics that just ended up hilarious.  I also took a ton of pics with my comp and keep thinking about how much I'm gonna miss her in three weeks (HOW DO I ONLY HAVE THREE WEEKS LEFT?!?!).  I seriously don't know what I'm going to do without the influence of her sweet spirit in my life and her gorgeous smile!  On the way home from the devotional we had our entire bus singing and I'm pretty sure the music hasn't stopped since.   On Monday night I got hit with the giggles and did a tap dance routine for everyone.  I'm sure most of you have experienced a Kristi Lee meltdown, I like to call it a happy high, and boy was I enjoying myself.  One of the elders started writing deep gospel questions on the board and me and Elder Sturt had so much fun attempting to answer them. Basically it's been the perfect week!

Remember how much the Lord loves you and look for his hand in your life this week,

With smiles, laughter, and joy,

Hermana Neuberger

The Update!

Hello Everybody,

Has it really been another week, because I'm pretty certain it was just last week i was sitting in this exact chair attempting to write faster than the wind.  We literally have very little time to write and when we walked away from the computers last week .  .  .  well I really can't even remember what I said so I hope it made at least a little sense.  If you only got one thing out of it I hope that it was that I LOVE IT HERE and that the work I am doing is the most important thing I could be doing with my life right now.  I feel so blessed to have this opportunity and couldn't be more excited at all!!!

Everyday is basically the same schedule-wise so there's not a whole lot to express in that regard.  The best way to summarize it is laughter till our abs hurt and spiritual highs that brighten my life in a way I can't explain.  The spirit here is phenomenal and like nothing I've ever experienced...and i thought girls camp and youth conference were pretty great.  Everyone here is aware of their divine calling and working harder then ever to live up to it.  I'm pretty sure I was blessed with the greatest teachers on earth.  They know what they're talking about and bring the Spirit into every lesson.  We committed our investigator to baptism in our last lesson with him and he accepted.  I once again had an "ah ha" moment, this is exactly why I am here.  The spirit was incredible and i felt an extreme love for this person I had only known for a few short days.

There is nothing I can complain about.  My mind is going a million miles a minute, I can't stop speaking Spanish when I want to speak English and vice a versa.  It's impossible to truly explain the feelings of my heart to my investigators, we never have a free moment, AND I LOVE IT!!! This truly is the Lord's work and there is no possibility that I could do it on my own, I need his help with everything I do.  This week truly stressed the importance of inviting the S




pirit and letting it do all the talking which is what we should do in our own lives.  There is nothing more important than letting an investigator take a moment to simply recognize the power of the spirit in the room.  Often times it has a greater power of conversion then the scripture you are thrusting in their direction.

With smiles, laughter, and a ton of joy,

Hermana Neuberger

All Smiles and Joy!!

Hello everyone, where ever you might be!

Feb 11, 2014

This could not have been a better week of learning, gaining strength, spiritual moments, and laughter.  I don't even know how to go about informing you all about my happenings over the past couple of days, it's simply been crazy! Whoever said that each day feels like a month was totally lying, because I feel like the time is flying and there is NEVER enough time to get everything I want to/need to done.  I have learned more Spanish in the last few days then I did in all three years of high school combined and even right now I'm translating this email into Spanish in my head :)

Well I got to the MTC late but it naturally all worked out because I got to say goodbye to the brothers and Challie and share one last meal together which was perfect!  When I finally arrived they couldn't locate my district so I just traveled around with the older district in our zone until we had a zone meeting that night (for all of you who for whom that didn't make sense, I apologize).  Basically, there were four districts in our zone, two districts arrived Wednesday and two districts were leaving Monday.  The two older districts were amazing and took my district completely under their wing.  One of them was completely made up of natives so they were fluent and a huge help.  The native district studies in the apartment next to ours, but they always leave their apartment to come over and talk to us except now they're all gone and it's crazy how quickly you can become close to people.  We took a ton of pictures with them before they left and miss them all like crazy even though it's only been a day.

About my district: Well my companion, Hermana Chynoweth, is simply perfect if not one of the most beautiful people I've ever met inside and out! She was actually one of the people I kind of knew before coming thanks to the facebook group and I could not be happier to have her as my companion.  We balance each other out extremely well in lessons and in everyday matters.  We share an apartment with Hermana Sturt and Hermana Metler who I cannot say enough good things about.  I'm sure we win the award for happiest apartment at any hour of the day.  The three of them are all from different parts of Utah and each brings so much to the table.  We're basically a companionship of four cause we do everything and go everywhere together! We just all love each other so much we can't imagine being separated :) There are also 4 elders in our district all with EXTREMELY different personalities.  Elder Laufenberg is quiet but makes really random witty comments and is a walking giant.  Elder Vance looks like Chris (Travis' roommate) and slightly reminds me of him with his off the wall comments but randomly serious side.  Elder Snell is probably my favorite, if i can even have favorites, and ALWAYS carries around his dictionary speaking more Spanish then any of us.  He's extremely humble and all about the rules but in a totally positive, keeps us smiling kind of way.  AND Elder Milligan.....is crazy.  I think his focus level is worse then mine, but he literally has us all laughing for the last hour of study time while Elder Snell (his companion) just rolls his eyes.  Basically, I couldn't have asked for a better district!!! We do everything together and are excited to start challenging other districts to volleyball because we've got some game!

For MTC West we live in Wyview and then walk to Raintree for classes.  All of the Raintree apartments have been converted into classrooms with the front room and the back room both being classrooms, one room being an investigator room, and a spare room for study use.  The Church has added a white board and a big screen TV to every room to help with our learning and it's simply incredible.  They also built a cafeteria and a bookstore in the Raintree parking lot AND bought out another parking lot and placed three mini climatrons (sorry those of you not native to STL) to use as our gym facilities.  Gym time, which is part of our schedule everyday, is thrilling (there truly is no other word to describe it).  Volleyball = intense, but four square = out of this world!! I feel like I'm playing with Travis and Kevin all over again.  You can't just stand in your square or you'll be out in seconds.  It's all simply incredible and I love that we get to go outside everyday multiple times, even though it was raining all week! Plus waking up to the mountains staring you down is always a huge plus :)

It blows my mind to think that BYU is just up the street and everyone is there studying and going to classes just like me.  Basically the MTC is one giant Spanish class after another.  The teachers are fabulous and dying to help you with anything.  I finally resolved three years worth of Spanish questions and am learning tons.  When it's time for bed it's hard to shut down all the Spanish that is running rampant through my brain, plus all i want to do is learn, so it's hard to fall asleep or even go to meals because I just want to keep studying and learning more and more!!! No one pre-warned me that I would be teaching an investigator the second day and I can honestly say that I froze up completely.  I felt terrible for Hermana Chynoweth who had to totally carry the lesson, but the horrible experience was also the perfect learning experience because I resolved from that moment on to never allow myself to be unprepared.  Like the Spanish elders always say, "being nervous doesn't help anything, so just forget it" :)

I think the highlight of this week was our second lesson, for which I prepared like crazy  because I wanted to make sure it would go well.  (Side note: for those of you who don't know, while in the MTC we teach "investigators" or people pretending to be investigators to the church.  We teach them everyday lessons about the gospel of Jesus Christ and invite them to come unto Christ.  It's the same investigator everyday and the entire lesson has to be in Spanish.  That's why teaching the second day blew my mind!)  We prayed as a companionship to be guided by the Spirit in everything we said and the words simply flowed.  In the middle of the lesson, when words began to fail and the Spirit was simply incredible, I had my "Elder Rogers" moment (Best 2 Years reference).  It was in that moment that I was hit strongly with the great work I have been called to do.  Though this investigator may just be an actor, the very act of teaching is quite real and so very important to our purpose as members of the gospel.  This is real and the work is not only important to Heavenly Father, it's extremely important for those we are giving it to! I came out of the lesson and just reveled in the remarkable ability I have to impact others lives simply through the spirit I can bring.  I could not be more thankful for this work in my life!  I know it, I live it, I love it!!! This truly is the gospel of Jesus Christ and we need to do all we can to share it with all those around us.  If I thought the fire was set inside of me before, it is now blazing even brighter.  I hope my investigators now and in Mexico will be able to see it burning in my eyes at those moments where I completely lack the words to speak!!

This is my purpose and this is my joy, to bring just one soul to Christ!!

Love you all tons,

Thank you for your letters and prayers I truly feel them,

Hermana Neuberger