CUSCO 3.22.14

 I know you were all waiting for me to send you an email today..... HERE IT IS!!!!

We have had a wonderful week here. Some administrative work and other things, but mostly we have had the opportunity to work hard in our sector. (Which is always a great relief considering the amount of time that we spend far away, we take advantage of any moment we can get in the sector.)

We are visiting a less active lady and her daughter, Elena and Gabriela. They live in the poorer part of our sector (up on the mountain) and we often pass by to visit and teach them when we have appointments for that part of town.

Quite frankly, they wouldn´t be less actives if it wasn´t for their difficult economic situation. I can´t say that I understand all of their problems, but it has been difficult for us to find a way for them to make it to church when only Elena works and Gabriela studies. I couldn´t say that their disposition is the problem,every week they lament the fact that they can´t make it to the church and we feel like their comments are sincere, however it they just couldn´t find a way to work out the mother´s difficult work schedule (she cleans up garbage from 3 AM to 12 PM in the plaza de armas and surounding streets).

Well yesterday we went and did service in her home. When we finished, she sat us down and offered us some "queso and choclo" (look that one up). And then spilled the beans telling us that she was soon going to have her day off... SUNDAYS! We were pretty excited. It is good to see the Lord´s hands in helping people keep his commandments when they really desire it.

I love to hear about the things that you are doing at home. Thank you for all of the updates. I want you to know that I pray for all of you every night! Thank you for the love that you have for me and for the Lord´s work. I am so grateful for this time that I can serve as a missionary.

Expect my next mail next monday. Love you all soo much!

Elder Neff

CUSCO 3.13.14

I am so grateful for all the correspondence that I got! I tried to at least shoot a line out to everyone. I want you to know that I love you all a bunch.

Well, to be 100% honest... we had very little time to work in the sector this week. Actually, up until now we have basically had no time at all so, my coments on prosyleting experiences may be rather limited, but I will try to give you some insight onto how the week went in terms of our traveling and so forth.

We are continuing to check area books and daily planners. This week we finished with Abancay and Andahuaylas, tomorrow we travel to Sicuani to finish up the mission tour and that will be about 117 companionships interviewed!

The honest truth is that "checking" area books sounds a little rough and it isn´t at all like that. We aren´t "checking" them in the sense that we are finding falts in the missionaries work with the area books and agendas, it is more like a learning opportunity for them to better comprehend how they can use these missionary tools more effectively. The truth is that ALL of the missionaries have good hearts and want to learn how to better serve. I made a joke to my companion and said, "los misioneros simplemente no conocen la verdad porque no saben donde hallarla!" ;) Which, was totally a joke but turned out to be true when we realized that there was actually a good amount of us who didn´t know how to use these things! So we train so that we don´t get frustrated and can know how to be great missionaries. Preach my Gospel missionaries!

Everytime we travel to Andahuaylas... something goes wrong. I am sure that any one of you would have had a heart attack if you would have seen the road that we had to take from Abancay to Andahuaylas. The main road was blocked off by a land slide so we went up this windy mountain road which I liked to call.... La trocha de la muerte. (the dirt road of death) Literally death because if you go off the edge you fall.... a long ways, to your death. ( But I am obviously writting so don´t worry there weren´t any deaths this time ;) And the worst part is that there are SEMI TRUCKS that are passing us on this road. The views are pretty neat though, (if you aren´t looking down....)

Well family, that looks like all for this week because my time is almost up. I love you all soo much and hope that you liked the personal shout outs! If you aren´t one of the special ones that got the personal messages... I´m sorry I love you too.

Elder Neff

CUSCO 3.7.14

It has been a good week family! Here is the update you´ve been waiting for. 

Time continues to fly by here as we are traveling throughout the mission to finish up the interviews and review area books, planners etc. I love getting to know all of the missionaries and help them with whatever I can, it has been great to have this experience. 

My companion and I had a special moment with our investigator Carlos and his wife Tania the other day. We have been visiting them for about 2 months now and Carlos has made some incredible progress. He was a man who found himself in many problems, and sincerely the couple was almost convinced that they wouldn´t be able to save their relationship or marriage. Now, weeks later they have seen a new light enter into their lives and are realizing that the gospel has the potential to save their marriage, and give them the opportunity to be an eternal family. 

This tuesday Carlos accepted the baptismal invitation for the 15th of march, next week! We are so excitied for him. He has come a long way. It was neat to see his wife´s eyes light up with excitement when he said, " yes Elders, I think I would like to do that!" He is very prepared and we are sure that his is going to be able to follow through with his comittment. 

This week I was thinking a lot about the joy that Ammon and his bretheren felt as they preached the gospel to the lamanites. In reality, their joy came when they were able to see the fruits of their labors, but as the preached, they passed through a lot of affliction and difficulties. I am grateful to know that when we find our self at the point of giving in, the spirit can give us a new sense of hope and promise. That´s the trail of faith, and then we recieve the promise. 

Today we made a hike up to the DEVIL´S BALCONY! (calm down it´s not as dangerous as it sounds) haha I will try to send you a batch of photos. 

Love you all so much! I hope you know that you are all in my prayers.

Elder Neff