Hola! Familia y amigos! So I don't remember if I wrote about Jerry, Ruthie, and Lance yet, but they are a Micronesian family that we found a few weeks ago. They all love the church and have all attended at some point in time when they lived in Micronesia. Lance attended for quite a while when he was living on an island that had no Catholic church :) They love the elders out there and were excited to see girls missionaries here. During a first lesson that all of them were there Lance asked us if he could have a copy of the Book of Mormon before we could even offer it. It makes you feel so good inside when other people are as happy about the gospel and especially the Book of Mormon as you are! 

Last Tuesday on exchanges with Sister Dougherty we saw Jerry and Ruthie. I felt strongly that we needed to focus on the nature of God--who He is and how he has a body like you and me, just in better condition. Ruthie described the feelings of Spirit when she learned that God literally hears us. He has actually ears to hear us. He is someone she can picture in her mind's eye as she prays. He is not some ominous mass, but someone with a heart and mind and feelings like ours. She was soo happy to learn this simple truth. I hope I can show that much enthusiasm every time I learn something new, and allow it to change me as it did Ruthie. 

Our exchange was full of lots of other miracle moments and tender mercies...and tried my patience just a little, too. With no map and no GPS it was an adventure finding a few places. But the Lord used this to our advantage in leading us to new people to befriend and teach. After multiple U-turns and going up and down the wrong street entirely I was able to determined we needed a map. On our way to the nearest gas station we spot another road that Sister Belyea and I had tried to find before and had concluded it was in a gated community. Instead this lead to a whole new family community we could access. 

We park and head to the less-active member who lived on at the back of the division. On the way we see a woman wiping down her motorcycle and Sister D points out how she loves motorcycles, we decide that's enough reason to talk to her and head her way. Striking up a conversation like she knew this woman for years, Sister D gets us into the middle of a discussion and the lady is surprised there are girl missionaries. Not just guys in ties. (Only the second or third time we got that this week). She tells us how she and her husband just got back from a road trip to Colorado and how they are obsessed with the Mormon Pioneer treks. They even met a youth group on a trek and were extremely impressed. Kate and Tom invited us in and shared with us his favorite pioneer stories, and Sister D shared one from her family's history. We then shared a brief history of the Book of Mormon and they said we could back in 7-10 days. Going on another trip. They asked for a copy of the Book of Mormon and said they would like to see what our services are like. 

Thursday. End of summer. End of the month. Best time ever for service--it's when everyone is moving in/out. We offered to help a couple carry some things in and the wife was happy to have us help she just said her husband might refuse. Well, sorry to say, but missionaries are fantastic at taking away people's ability to choose. Instead of asking him if we can help we tell him we're helping and start picking boxes up to carry in. They offer us tea or water for our service....and well, guess which one we chose. 
We ask about their family and religious background and for a long while they aren't very open. Cordial but not super interested. Slowly, firmly, and boldly we begin bearing our simple testimonies of the Savior and the power of the Book of Mormon. As we tied everything that we shared to the Savior and His love they began asking more questions and by the end--of her own fruition, without being asked if she would like to--Lisa says she wouldn't mind reading the Book of Mormon. The husband was cute, when asking for the spelling of their names to get their information at the end he says we can call him "brother" because we're "sisters". That put a smile on my face. 

I love being a missionary and sometimes it is hard. But it wouldn't be worth it if it was easy.

Sometimes we question ourselves. Our thoughts. Our hopes and desires, our aspirations and dreams to pursue. One thing I love more than anything about what I'm doing now is that I know it's the right thing to do. If you are serving someone. If you are loving someone. If you are bearing another's burden. If you are the listening ear for another. If you are sharing the gospel and giving hope to another, you are right where you are supposed to be. Right is right. No need to question that. 

Today is Labor Day. So let's go Labor in the Lord's Vineyard! (yeah...I know a little cheesy. What do expect from a Wisconsinite?!)

Love, 
Hermana McNeece  

Family and friends, 




I can't believe it. This transfer is flying by. My mind and even my legs are having a hard time keeping up with everything that is happening! We’ve biked all over Surf Side this week. Rain and shine…lots of sunshine. Sorry, mom, I missed a couple spots when I put sunscreen on and am a few shades brighter than usual.




One thing I wrote President Turner about this week is about how God always knows best.  God is literally our Father in Heaven and He wants us to talk to Him. He doesn’t want us to shy away from asking Him for help or for specific blessings. He wants us to, as Moses did, speak to him “as a man speaketh to his friend”. We are not strangers. Because we are His children we have many of His same attributes.  Some are more underdeveloped than others but we have been given them nevertheless.  And because we are all children of Heavenly Father we are brothers and sisters and have some of those traits in common.  What a wonderful thing to think about! We share heavenly traits with those who are sitting right next to us! Those who we walk past on the street or stand behind at the check-out line.




Donna is a fiery little lady who tells us countless times that we were God-sent. We’ve had a few stumbling blocks teaching, but she is so humble that she is willing to reconsider a lot of the things she’s learned over the years. What if we could all have that attitude, “I thought this was right but if not, I’m willing to hear you out. Ultimately it has to be right with my heart though.” I love her! Glasses and wispy grey hair, slightly colorful language, and determined to stay alive until her son and her “daughter-in-law” get married. Seriously, that is what she prays for. She believes there are some things that God wants her to know before He takes her home, and that she needs to share with those around her.  Whoa! Are we actively seeking those things that God is trying to tell us? And are we sharing that wonderful knowledge with those we love and who God telling us to talk to? Just some food for thought J




Last Monday Sister Belyea and I were having a hard time with all the people who have dropped us/have fell off the planet since I’ve been here. I remembered my experience back in Spartanburg with Sister Peatross of praying to simply have lessons. Nothing more. Just to teach lessons. Monday I felt inspired to pray to find one new investigator each day, whether or not they progressed. Simply  someone who would hear us out for a lesson and return to share more.

I prayed for before we left for the night to go out to be “led to those who are prepared to hear the message of the Restored Gospel TODAY! I prayed to discern the needs and concerns of those we meet. 


And with that we left the apartment.  Our first appointment of the night we felt strongly we should not go to his house and our other appointment had to reschedule for another night. So we picked a random place to knock. Believe me, random. But as we turn in I feel we should go to Sister Miller’s neighborhood.  I say this and we decide to knock a little then go to her area. We don’t even make it to the second door and I have the strong thought, “You need to go to Sister area.” Me, my rational thinking, and my natural man came out a little as I feared having one of “those” times that you do what the Spirit says but it seems like nothing ever comes of it. I will be honest, I didn’t want my new companion to judge me for having nothing come of a little prompting. Well, God gave me a kick in the pants and tells me that if we do not leave now we will miss an opportunity, and it will be on my head. The words fall out of my mouth, “This isn’t where we’re supposed to be.” So we get in the car and pray. I still feel we need to be in Sister Miller’s neighborhood and we book it over there (within the speed limit, of course!).

We decide to start by seeing Ray, an investigator who is preparing for baptism this next month but who I had yet to meet. While walking there a guy pulls over in a van, “Hey, I gave y’all the wrong number.” It’s Sam who we talked to the day before, who I didn’t get to see. We had to stand outside because there were only two guys inside and two of us, so he yelled down the hallway and said he would meet with us Monday at the appointment we felt we shouldn’t go to. We felt good about Sam, but not so much his friend and with the wrong number and possibly a wrong address we were left a little empty handed. Now we had the means of meeting up with him. Wahoo. We figured out why we were supposed to be in that area. Or so we thought.

Over the fence were some apartments that the Elders in the area use to live in and I remembered Sister Belyea wanted to knock but we had run dry out of pass-along cards the last time we were there.  Well, we have cards now, so we go to the second building. I had wanted to go to the next one but I decided to follow my companion on this one. 5 doors and we are able to find two people who said we could come back! What a miracle. Or so I thought. 6th door. Knock-knock.

A black man, father of a few kids, opens the door, looks at us, and takes a step back and all three of us just look at each other. For 10-15 seconds we look back and forth with those squinty eyes that say what Sister Belyea finally voiced, “Do I know you?”

He says no, but Sister Belyea and  I know better. Pre-earth life comes streaming across our minds. We were meant to find Willie. 1hr 40 minutes, dozens of questions, and in the middle of a storm, later we finally pull our shoes off and run in bare feet through the river in the parking lot to the car.

We are both amazed at God’s goodness for the next two days before our follow-up appointment. We cannot imagine how God can be so good to us. At our next appointment Willie wasn’t ready for the fullness of the Gospel quite yet, but we were meant to find him. We don’t see the whole picture of his life and what God has in store for him.

Listen to the feelings of the Spirit. Follow them, or you will miss out on so much of what life has to offer. Of what God has to offer you!

Love,
Hermana McNeece

We are in the finding stages right now. A lot of people have stopped progressing or dropped of the edge of the planet (and you thought it was round!). We biked around a huge apartment complex community to follow-up with a handful of people who were--you guessed it!--not home. We pulled in and are putting our bikes on the rack when we see a young guy obviously watching us. When all else is awkward, just address it. The car is running, we go over to his porch and ask if we can leave a card with him, then it snowballs into a conversation about where he came from and his religious background. He's Micronesian and he's attended the Mormon Church back home in Micronesia. He speaks good English--only been speaking two years--but it simply helps us to really teach simply and according to his needs. After a full lesson on his indoor porch we set up a time to come back and he is possibly one of the nicest people I've met on my mission. There are lot's of nice people out here, don't mistake that. But it's nice when you can tell it's not forced or for the sake of being courteous, but rather they're nice because they're a nice person. It's part of who they are. 

We knocked a random street before our next appointment. Time ran up with no success and we go to head back but I feel and say, "Let's knock one more door." A teenage girl, Kaylee, opens the door and comes out. We sit and have a full lesson at the table on her porch. Testifying of how much this will bless her and give her direction. And then she invites herself to church. Okay. Yeah! You can come!  (She ended up being out of town with family, but promised to come next week and she read and loved the pamphlet we left with her). 

Oh, I met Michael's H.T.'s daughter, from Nephi, Katie Davis. I told her about Brandee being sealed and about Reesa. She's going to write home today about it. She serves in the same stake, in Florence, and is my Sister Training Leader. I also gave her the other "Live, Love, Laught" bracelet I had. 

Oh, I got all y'alls letters. Thank you sooooo much. They mean a lot. 
We did service for a couple who are coming back to church. We helped them plant and transplant plants, and weed. It felt like I was right back home with grandma gardening. One of those tender mercies that Heavenly Father throws in throughout the week. 
Next day, we go to find a less-active member on the ward list but kept turning into the wrong streets, and so we knocked. We knocked two apartment buildings and I wanted to move on with plans but said in my head, I'd stick it out for another building. When we walk up to the next building we meet Tanner. He isn't religious. He is tired of everyone claiming truth and wants to know how can all of these churches be right? What if...what if...what if... we didn't go to the next building? The importance of enduring to the end. Or as Sis. Belyea says, Enjoy To The End! 

Saturday, Sister Belyea and one of the other sisters we live with got sick. So I and the other odd companion went on a temporary exchange and had some amazing lessons....ahhh out of time. Write more later. 

Love y'all ! You're in my prayers :)
Hermana McNeece

Hey, Y'all!
Where to start?

Transfer Wednesday was a fabulous one! I got to see Sister Peatross, Sister Ramstedt (MTC companion), and the Everitt family from Spartanburg. Didn't think it could get much better than that until I found out my new companion is Sister Belyea, the sister that Sister Derrick trained right before me, and I moved 5 1/2 hrs away to serve with her at Surfside Beach! Yep. The beach. What a way to start a new transfer and this peak of my mission. My first night out we had a lesson on the pier with a sister who has recently started coming back to church. You would never have guessed she'd stopped going to church. She loves the scriptures and Heavenly Father so much, especially his creations. And so it was only fitting that she was the person who took me to see the ocean for the first time in my life! 

Went to the end of the pier, looking down we saw jelly-bobs and not long after one...two...thre--four--no, five sharks! Seeing the ocean without an end made me think of our Heavenly Father's love for us. There is no end. His tender mercies that He places in our lives on a daily bases have no end. The grace, support, and aid He provides has no end, as this Atlantic Ocean seemed to have. No end. 
Since a year ago when I was on bikes for my first transfer in Spartanburg I have wanted to be a biking sister soooooo badly. And so as evidence of His endless love, Heavenly Father blessed me to serve in a biking area. What's more it is flat. Pancake flat. I didn't believe companions and missionaries who said the lower part of the state was flat. I've been in the upstate my whole mission where it's hills without end. So yes, I didn't believe it 'til I saw it and biked it. It is so flat and pretty and there are houses on stilts. (No, I'm not making it up). I love it here. And I love the people. When I thought my heart couldn't get any bigger it opened up and made more room. Like a can of sardines, they just keep lining up and squeeze their way into my heart. I don't know how Heavenly Father has room for all of us kids, but it is an amazing feeling. 

Yesterday, we had an amazing miracle. To set the scene, the Surfside ward is the one that all the tourists go to when they're at the beach. We had a constant stream of visitors that we welcomed as they entered the chapel. Sometimes asking where they're visiting from, and not expecting to see them again. And so it was with a couple of women who came and after Sacrament Meeting asked where the investigator's class was. We pointed and said we could take them in a minute, but like any normal member would, they said they could find it. At this point most tourist visitors have left but these women stayed for Relief Society. A convert of some years taught the lesson all on baptism, testifying often of how it differed from her baptism in her previous church. After Relief Society ended these women talk to the Relief Society President and to the Elders, then to us. Morgan wants to be baptized.

What?

Let me clear my ears.

You're not a member?

The mom is a less-active sister and this was her first time back in over 10 years and her daughter who'se in her 20's and who did not grow up in the church, came with her and after that lesson wants to be baptized. 

You want to say "this doesn't happen". No. People don't come to church on their own, stay the whole time, then tell you they want to learn more and be baptized. Guess what? It does. It did. The Lord is hastening the work. People are finding or remembering the safety and security that is only found in Christ's Church and by living His teachings. And they find in so many different ways. Through you. Through me. Through their children. This is the Lord's work. It will move on regardless of all things. But it is our privilege and blessing to accept the call to be a part of it. Abroad or at home, online or on the bus, at the store, through a letter, a kind word, serving a friend or an enemy, hearts will be softened--including our own--and we will see the Lord's hand more frequently and abundantly. So come. See the blessings, feel the joy, and then watch the work move forth "boldly, nobly, and independent." 

I am so blessed. Thanks for all that each of you do.

Love, Hermana McNeece

Transfers week! And I am headed out on Wednesday! I'll let all y'alls know my new companion and new area next week :)  What a week. What a transfer. What an area. I have been so blessed.

Book of Mormon Class. Sister Anderson and I were in stitches the rest of the night. I have never had a Book of Mormon class like that. NIV Bible readings. False doctrine from non-members about the godhead, stories about rats and hospital visits. After many attempts by the instructor and his wife to get things back on course I interrupted everyone and told them that we were reading one of my favorite stories and asked if we could finish. It worked for awhile. But more stories came up. Brother Gunter made sure to end with his testimony of the Savior and it got much better. I did learn from that experience, believe it or not. If you have the Spirit there you can always clear things up and get out alright at the other end. It's when you don't have the Spirit that disagreements and differences cause havoc. I love the Spirit. Thank Heaven for for the Spirit. Literally. 

Highlights from dinner at the Bishop's: Played telephone to demonstrate how the Bible has been changed over the years. The kids did their good-bye run all the way down the street as we drove away, telling me they were going to miss me. I told Isabel she has to write me or I won't come back to visit....actually, I don't think I could come back without seeing them. I love their family waaay too much, especially Steelman. Steelman would not talk directly to the sisters since I got here, he would always have Bishop relay messages to us from across the table. Last night, though, he was the biggest little chatterbox I ever did hear! The only time he stopped yammering was when he snuck under and out from the table. Of course it was quite the task to get back out the door after we introduced the telephone game, then they just wanted to play that and other games with us all night....One day. Not now :( 

Kathy, the sister who was baptized right after I got to Easley, had a death in the family. An 11 year-old boy. Kathy is still new to the Plan of Salvation as we know it and how significant it is. We tried to share with her a little about it to comfort her but it was like filling a cup with a hole in the bottom. It just wasn't going to fill it. She needed something else. Since I've come to Easley I've worn the purple bracelet I received from Reesa's funeral last year. I have prayed for an opportunity to share her story with someone. I pulled off the bracelet and handed it to Kathy. Words came to me that were not my own. I told her about Reesa's happy personality and desire to make everyone else happy. How we don't forget these people, but we remember them. We allow their influence to bring about good in ourselves. Reesa and this little boy want their friends and family to be happy. It's okay to be sad, but remember they're happy and want us to be happy. 

Those weren't the words exactly. I don't remember a lot of what I said. I simply remember I knew it was right. It felt right and was the only thing that would begin to fill that glass that would not be filled. Kathy's countenance changed as I shared Reesa's experience. She slipped on the bracelet and just kept staring at it. Then she smiled. Said thank you. We prayed and went on our way. Who would have thought that a missionary in South Carolina from Utah would have a cousing with a dad whose bracelet and story would be the answer to a sister's prayer thousands of miles away, late on a Wednesday night. How can anyone doubt there is a God? 

Much love, 
Hermana McNeece

Dear Mom and Dad, 
It's been a long week. A really, really long week. I went on an exchange with Sister Robinson in Simpsonville on Tuesday-Wednesday. It was exactly what I needed. We biked--which I have missed sooo much since my first transfer in Spartanburg. Sister Robinson throughout the exchange was able to help me a lot. She actually use to serve in in my area, a year ago, and has faced very similar challenges as I am right now. 
We biked to someone's apartment but they weren't home. So while we were there we called another investigator, TJ, who is sometimes in that area. While we were talking on the phone we could see a guy smoking on his porch who was listening in so when we hung up we went and talked with him. After talking for a minute he let us know that he knows TJ and asked why we were meeting with him. What a great question! Glad you asked, Jaylin. We're missionaries....We talked with him about repentance and change and the joy and freedom that comes from it. We then invited him to come listen in when the sisters teach TJ, and he accepted. I was also happy to remember a specific person on Mormon.org for him to look up who he could relate to.
We had dinner with the Smiths. They had many of my favorite foods. Raspberries, roasted veggies, avocados, and cheesecake. Something seemingly so small, but meant a lot to me. The Lord's tender mercies are everywhere. They are a very strong family and have a great desire to share the gospel...but warned us against seeing their neighbor :( There's still people who need more tenderizing. 
Herb. This was a lesson I think I needed more than him. We talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ--having faith that leads to repentance and baptism and confirmation. We read Enos with Herb and he had so much to say about it. He really understood the importance of the entire process of repentance. What touched me the most was his desire to forgive others. He asked about what we do when others have either wronged us or are doing things that are hurting others and keep doing them. It really made me think. While sitting on his porch I felt strongly the desire to experience what Herb wants, to forgive others. I felt like it's time. I had the desire to surrender those things, to lay them at the Lord's feet. As Enos shows us, the best (and sometimes the only) thing to do is to pray. I heard a talk from Pres. Monson recently. He told us, "Prayer is the Provider of Spiritual Strength." Sometimes you need the strength to pick things up. Sometimes you need the strength to lay them down. 
The next morning Sister Robinson and I drove around trying to find a lady the sisters had met the other week but we couldn't find her home. We went home a little early so we could update a little and wouldn't be late for our ride. We got home and started to the door but both felt like we should go back out and see at least one person. We got back in the car and drove to an investigator's home but they wouldn't answer the door. We were going to make the best of our time and decided to knock on three doors. Neighbor across the street--lady who is sick, but came to the door and talked with us for a minute. House with the fancy yellow car--caught a man who works 3rd right before he went to bed. Yes! We didn't wake him up. That's the worst, waking day-sleepers. And we tried one other home and left a card in the door. Maybe not a lot came of going to those three homes, but we felt like we had at least put forth the effort and exercised our faith. That's really what a lot of days are like. Are you going to show your faith? 
(Yes, dad, I'm still in Greenville...Easley, really. Transfer calls are this Saturday). 

Wish I had more time. I LOVE Y'ALL!!!! Your letters mean a lot and always arrive at the very best time. Tender mercies indeed. 
Love, 
Hermana McNeece

Family,

We have seen this less-active sister a couple of times since I've been in Easley. Her Visiting Teacher, Sis. Looper, has been diligent in wanted to see her but she won't always answer our calls or cancels appointments.  We tried to get ahold of her last night as a last effort and this was her text back to us:

Pauline: Hi Girls!!! ....GUESS WHAT??? I'm not sure if u knew this, but I had started smoking a few years back when I was hurt on the ambulance and haven't been able to quit. Well, I really miss going to hcurch, but felt so guilty, I just couln't go while I still smoke. Well, last Monday, I was thinking about church, relief society and really missing everything and I had a serious talk with Heavenly Father. I told him how weak my will power is and how much I needed his help...so I went to bed.

Tuesday morning I woke up and said, "I'm done." Threw away ashtrays, cigs, and for 6 days- I haven't touched one or wanted one!!! I have been cleaning like a maniac and don't want to smell cigarette smoke ever again!!! Now I can come back to church!!! 
I couldn't put them down..didn't want to, but now- I haven't cheated once and am finally done-forever.

YAY!!! U will never know just how much u both helped. Every time u stopped by-guilt ate me up! I was so ashamed..I wanted to be around u both and [Sis. Looper] but couldn't bc of stupid cigs and the smell of stupid cigs and the smoke smell...now there is NO REASON I can't b with u guys and back in church!!! I'm so excited!!! 

Because Sister Looper was so diligent in loving this sister she was able to make this amazing change.

Out of time but I looooove y'all! 
There is hope for all :) 
Hermana McNeece

Dear Family, 
Glad to hear about your adventures hiking and about the Rasmussens coming to visit. (Could you get Brooke Small's email/address?).

I've actually thought a lot about Patriarch Small lately, and about when I received my Patriarchal Blessing. It was a beautiful Saturday, May 3rd 2008. Patriarch Small and his wife were preparing to leave on a mission and this was one of the last weeks he would be giving blessings. Normally he would have given it to me on Sunday but dad was leaving for a business trip Sunday morning at 8:00. I remember Patriarch Small getting up every Fast Sunday to bear his testimony. Always simply and brief, but with power that left you without a doubt that what he said he knew. I studied the Old Testament and accounts of Patriarchal Blessings found in there. I didn't really know what to expect. I simply knew I needed to prepare myself as best I could and trust the Lord and His servant who would bestow this blessing. 

Patriarch Small invited me to bear my testimony. And so, for the first time I bore my testimony aloud--to my mom, my dad, and Patriarch Small. I don't remember what I said. I do remember that I felt that what I said was true. I had always known in my head they were true. I said they were. But now I had testified. I felt the "swelling motions" that Alma speaks of when we allow the word to have affect on us....Just like in times of old, the patriarch laid his hands on my and pronounced blessings and declared my heritage as a daughter of the house of Ephraim. I went home with my heart full and with a solid peace. A peace that is not one of this world but comes only from living the Gospel of Jesus Christ and receiving the blessings found by being an active part of His kingdom. I remember one of my sisters acting as if it was any other day. Nothing too special or different. That day may not have been any different from any other for me as well if I had cast away the blessing as a thing of naught. But because of what I felt and heard that day I determined in my mind to become that daughter of God that He sees me as. 

I believe Patriarchal Blessings are one of those hidden treasures spoken of in the scriptures dependent on our worthiness and diligence. For me it is an assurance that God is there, that He loves me, and that He cares about me every step of my journey--before this life, during this earth life, and the awaited destiny that awaits me hereafter. The Priesthood is a very real power that is exercised according to our faith, by those in authority to do so within Christ's church. I cannot express how thankful I am for having its constant presence and influence in my life. 

When a best friend, mother, mentor, teacher, or sibling's words of assurance fall short my Patriarchal Blessing is there as the voice of God speaking directly to me. I may or may not have a miraculous experience as I read it but I do feel the Spirit every time. God is able to assure me that all the little but hard things I'm doing will be worth it. They are worth it. Now! My small efforts that seem to be leading nowhere are constantly drawing me to my Savior.

How sad Our Savior must have felt as many only sought His "super-powers" and the miracles they brought, seeming entertainment for self-indulging onlookers. How great His joy must have been when He could simply spend one-on-one time with Mary and Martha, when he spoke simple words of assurance to multiple parents that their child would be alright. How great must have been His joy in when He took children "one by one" to bless them. How great was and is His joy in the individual. How happy He must be sending small, simple, tender mercies each day. Some to help us out of a slump. Some as answers to prayers. I like the ones most of all that He sends simply to tell us "I love you". Christ performed the awe-inspiring sacrifice, the Atonement. Because of that wonderful miracle wrought by the power of the Priesthood we can change. We can become His work and glory. Remember it was the little acts of love He did from childhood up that prepared Him to perform the greatest act of love. It was resisting the lesser temptations of the devil that enabled Him to submit His will to the Father, rather than set aside the bitter cup. So it is with us. Our daily decision to resist evil, our daily decision to do good, they are what will prepare us for greater things to come. 

What is something small someone has done for you that has affected you for days or years after?

With love,

Hermana McNeece

P.S. Could you send a copy of Gma McNeece's and Papa's Patriarchal Blessings? 
P.P.S I'll write a hand-written letter with specifics from this week :) 
P.P.P.S. I love you!!!!!!

My family, 
It's being at the right place at the right time. It's doing the right thing because it's right thing, and loving someone because they're your brother or sister. 
Missionary life isn't a bunch of huge monumental occasions. A mission is made up of little decisions, of following the spirit, and doing good things of our own free will. (No, the Lord does not tell you everything). 
This week of my mission was made of sitting through a rainstorm with Charlotte and Sister Anderson, discussing what means the most to her. How revelation to her is acting on those thoughts that come to her to call someone up spontaneously. That is how God answered her prayer one day. A lady she knew was sick but felt she needed to call Charlotte. Since then she has taken the initiative to call others regardless of how odd it may seem. 
Sister Anderson fixed a weed-wacker this week!...she helped fix it...she watched someone fix a weedwacker. She figured out how to replace the broken part without going back to the store and let the guy to the work :) 
Lost pounds of sweat while loading a truck up so our investigator can more. 
Said a prayer with a woman whose mom had passed away. 
A lady asked if she could have the Book of Mormon she'd given back to us because she felt bad. Man those consciences! They just eat at you! 
Met President and Sister Turner. They are fantastic people and I'm excited to get to know them better. The thing that stood out to me the most when Pres. Turner spoke to us was his comment about looking for the "slow, calm, quiet miracles." I've applied that these past few days and it has made all the difference. Give it a try! 
Love y'all! and God Bless! 
Hermana McNeece

Book of Mormon class:1 hour head-up substitute
RM Elders, Sisters,
Mother 'n daughter
Richard and his tablet
84-year old cat-seeking mother
Conspiracy theorist
Saved-by-a-miracle member
A Mormon twist on Wednesday night Bible study.

In the mission contention doesn't thrive,
must trust your companion to survive.
Felt a need to see Millie,
She babbled on as we meet a new lady
Who knew a Mormon and misses her family. 

Every day is a miracle.
A co-worker from Wisconsin was last Monday's.
"Not yet." She said to her missionaries.
This was her answer for many months.
But what could bring SIster McNeece greater joy
Than to know her Friend decided to give being a Mormon a try!
Now she's baptized and serving beside those missionaries serving just like me.
What more could a missionary, a member, a friend want more? 

Today the tides turn. The mission president is gone. From Utah the Turners have come.  Love y'all! Hermana McNeece