Ambato 7.6.15

Familia!  

FIRST OFF HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!! It wasnt too exciting here in south america... jaja but it was fun nonetheless! 

This week was SO MUCH BETTER!  We still had some hard days, but we saw miracles too!   Our zone decided to fast to see what The Lord wants us to do better, because we have been seeing lots of challenges this transfer and feel that there is something that He wants us to improve.  So i was fasting and praying and i just realized that i simply need to be more humble.  That The Lord has His timing, and His way.. and if i am not humble enough to follow the spirit, or be obedient, or listen to my leaders... or whatever challenge there can be in the mission... then i am not going to be a sucessful missionary!  Our zone is also doing this thing where we do something everyday to become more like Christ.  So Hermana Willson and i decided to recognize the hand of The Lord in everything that happened that day.  It ended up being funny because all of our appointments fell and we didnt have anyone to visit.  But we found a new investigator that said that all her life she has been confused because she doesnt know which of all the churches is true.  It was a blessing to tesify to her of Ther Restoration of the Gospel. 

 I have really come to love that first lesson that we give to everyone.  The message and truths are so simple yet so powerful.  It is a blessing to think back about ALL the houses here in Ambato where we have left the pamphlet of lesson 1.   Even though not many have accepted the invitation to progress... the message of the restoration of the gospel has reached many ears, and it is a blessing to be a part of it.  I know that The Lord blessed us with someone to teach that day, because they needed the gospel.  

We also fasted to reach our goal of 5 baptisms for this transfer.  We have been working with a certain family for awhile. Familia Lopez.  Their two daughters are two of the most prepared people i have ever met.  They both told me that ever since they were little girls, they dreamed to be baptized like Christ.  The daughters came to church one week, but her parents and little brother didnt.  So we were pretty sad... but then yesterday ALL FIVE CAME!!  I have sooo much faith that they will all be baptized this transfer.  They are such a wonderful family. Like most of our investigators, we found them contacting... and i simply felt the spirit tell me to talk with them.  I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!    

I was studying the book of mormon this week and i think i might have found my new favorite scripture 

 38 That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, butthat ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ;that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worshipGod, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and intruth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the manymercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you

I would explain the feelings i had as i read this scripture, but i want you all to read and ponder it.  

I was also reading in mosiah 5. One of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon and i love what it says in the last verse. 

 15 Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast andimmovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ,the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you maybe brought to heaven, that ye may have everlastingsalvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power,and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, inheaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.

I love what it says, the if we are steadfast and immovable, and ALWAYS abounding in good works Christ, may seal us "as His."  

What a beautiful promise!  That if we are faithful and loyal to Christ, he will seal us as His, and give us "everlasting salvation" and "eternal life"  just as He has promised us.  

I am so grateful for His sacrifice.  I am so grateful that in this mission, He is molding me into the person that He wants me to be... and i love Him for it.  

I love you all so much and i hope you have an amazing week!  LEA EL LIBRO DE MORMÓN!!  CAMBIÓ MI VIDA

Hermana Neff 

Larping again

Our zones fave Mexican restaurant 

Just a pretty sky in Ecuador 

The two volcanos that you can see from my rooftop.  The one with snow is called cotopaxi and it recently reativated.. 

the other one is called tunguragua.... dont worry mom that isnt smoke.... 

This time I can't lie that is smoke...

Ambato 6.29.15

HOLA MIS QUERIDOS!! 

So this week we saw some miracles!  In our zone we are doing something to be more like Christ everyday and on Wednesday Sister Willson and i decided to exercise our faith and contact in an area where most the people are really rich and it is almost impossible to get in!  So anyways we went and contacted and most of the people that answered were just the cleaning ladies, but we walked by a little tienda and i felt that i should walk inside.  We walked in and began talking with a young mom who is 20.  She told us that she has been looking for the true church! She has a lot of doubts, but The Lord blessed us with someone to teach... and He blessed us for our faith!  

Then on Saturday we went to visit a contact that we had made.  Well, he wasnt home.. but he lives close to where our old investigator Carolina lives.  We had to stop visiting her because she worked every single day and never had time for us to visit her.  But i felt prompted to walk by her house and to see if she was there.  At first i didnt want to, but we did and she was home!  It was truly a miracle.  

I realized this week that there are lots of moments in my mission when i just dont want to do something.  A lot of times there are certain people that i think i dont need to visit because "im sure they are fine" or " they dont want to recieve us right now".  But i realized this week that when i have those thought, that is when i need to go visit them EVEN MORE. Because those types of thoughts usually come from the adversary.  So family and friends, when you get a prompting to visit or help someone... JUST DO IT!  Dont think, just act.  Because i have learned that when we think, the adversary usually tries to convince us not to act.... and you know and i know that we never want him to win the fight!  

We are seeing lots of challenges in our sector, but working despite the difficulties.  I have faith that The Lord has good things in store for us.  

Be happy.  Go visit someone that needs love!  Share kind words and read the Book of Mormon EVERY DAY!!

I LOVE AND MISS YOU HUMANS!! 

hermana neff

6.22.15

HOLA!

Training again.... and loving it!  I´ll be honest, i think i was a little less than excited when i got the call to train again, but I AM SO HAPPY NOW!  I am training another girl from Argentina, Hermana Willson.  She is the best.  I have never had such a good teaching pattern with anything and we really feel the spirit in the lessons that we have.  She is so kind and so loving and i am learning so much from her.  I am really really content.  

I spent Monday and Tuesday with Hermana Molina- we talked a lot about training it was so fun being with her.  I have made so many friends like Hermana Molina here in the mission that have really become some of my best friends and favorite people in the world.  

On wednesday we went to Quito to pick up the missionaries we would be training.  When i walked in the church i saw Hermana Grace Gardiner!!  It was such a happy reunion.  And it turns out that Hermana Molina (like i said my good friend and i also trained her)  is training Hermana Gardiner!! And we are in the same zone so i see her all the time, which is so so fun!  

We have a few investigators progressing because people FINALLY came to church this sunday! I am so happy.  I love Ambato so much.  I would spend my whole mission here if i could.  I love the ward, the people, our investigators etc.  Oh and this week we had a funny but kinda scary experience.  This guy walks up to us and starts yelling at us telling us that we are false prophets.  He was obviously crazy and i didnt know what to do because i didnt want my new companion on her second day in the mission to start freaking out.  He told us that we had to tell him the 10 commandments by memory to prove that we werent false preachers.  And well, i dont actually know the 10 commandments by memory so i was freaking out a little because he started getting closer and yelling louder.  BUT, i used my charm and in the end we became friends-although i pray that i will never cross paths with this loco again.  

I feel like i always say the same things to you people.  That i am content, happy, and at peace!  I feel The Lord´s love for me and i feel a love for the doctrines of the gospel. I have been been thinking specifically about prophets lately.  The blessing it is to have a prophet to lead any guide the people here on the earth.  I never want the mission to end. I love life and i love this gospel with all my heart.  Missionary work is the hardest and best thing that any person can do, and i am so grateful i chose to serve.  

HAVE A HAPPY WEEK!!! 

Hermana Neff