Scariest E-mail from El Savador Yet

Hey mom,

Don't worry about me.

 

Everything is just going fine.

 

I like how humble the people are. 

 

The challenge is attendance to church.

 

I was able to feel the spirit this week in a lesson we had with Alex Turcios. We just were talking about the answers we receive from God and he told us his story. He had dreams about the church. He had a dream he was in the church as a member, and he also had a dream that he was sick. He dream that when he called out for help, he called us. He started to weep as he told us his story. I was able to feel the spirit and I felt so grateful for the help the Lord has offered. 

 

We are teaching the Turcios family, Herrera family, Escobar family, Coca family, and Felipe.

 

This week we were at the zone leaders house for a little. We were looking for baptismal clothes. We got into the bag of clothes and started sorting through which shirt would fit Gustavo. I pulled out a few shirts getting just about to the last one and I felt this big pain in the finger. Like a bee sting. I put the shirt down and started the pain walk just kinda pacing while holding my hand. My companion unfolded the shirt and there lay ready to strike again a a a a a a.......... Scorpion. I got stung! It hurt pretty bad. I just started to feel numb everywhere. The venom was just like the drugs that the dentists use. We killed the scorpion and I ate it! It's suppose to help. Bahah, just kidding!!! I just took some medicine and the effects have slowly been going away. Now I can say I've been stung by a scorpion.

 WOO!

 

I love you guys,

 

Elder Neifert

It's Hot in El Salvador

Greetings Family,

Well its been hot. Have you ever woken up drenched? (not having used the bathroom but having sweated all of the NIGHT) OO-da-lolly - it's an oven and is just getting started too. I hear it will be even hotter in March. So here are some pictures I took from the top of our house (didn't come through!).

 

The week was good. There are a lot of challenges. I've taken like 6 one hour bus rides this week. We have been doing interchanges a bunch. There are some good Elders in my district. Just about every one comes from a different country. Guatemala, Columbia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, and the United States. Great group of diversity. And every one says that Christ came to their country hahaha. Who knows. I'm reading in the Book of Mormon - finishing the words of Nephi. Man, he has some great closing words. "It's what the Lord has commanded me and I must obey." Something to that effect. But he left some really powerful things to end with. Really awesome final testimony.

 

For service we have been diggin' holes for bathrooms. Its good work. Doing our dead guy duty. 

The food is soooooo different. Yes the popusas still are here but there is a bunch of weird stuff. I ate chicken feet the other day and I ate chicken throat, and another part I didn't know what it was. There's a lot more variety here. Back in the city people just ate eggs, cooked bananas, blended beans, and bread. Here I've eaten pasta, different cheeses, different tortillas, different salsas, and a bunch of stuff I don't know the origin. 

 

Covenants are so important. Keeping our covenants is a big challenge because it means giving everything. Serving with all of our might mind and strength. The first covenant we made is really well explained in Mosiah 18, but they all come together to make the everlasting covenant. All the ordinances of the gospel from baptism and confirmation to going to do baptisms for the dead, to receiving the Aaronic priesthood, to receiving your patriarchal blessing, receiving the Melchizedek priesthood, receiving the Endowment and then being Sealed in the Temple and renewing all of that every week with the sacrament is the everlasting covenant. Lots of things we need. We better get going on all of the ordinances. They all are very very important if we are to live as God lives.

 

I know it's true. This is the only church where you will find priesthood, where you will find all of the ordinances of the gospel, where you will find a Prophet, where you will find the true doctrine of Christ. If we really know what we have and we study the doctrine of Christ it just makes membership of any other church seem small. Its like when Christ asks the twelve, John 6:67, " Will ye also go away?" and Simon Peter responds in 68"... To whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life." Its true. I love the scriptures! They are so fulfilling. They help me repent. I need to repent everyday.  I love to humble myself before the Lord. He gives me peace and comfort. 

 

Spirit up!

 

Elder Neifert

Birthday Pictures

Birthday Celebrations!

Leaving my First Area

Greetings,

Alright the update:

 We had a baptism and confirmation this week! Hermana Lorena. She's doing great. I could feel the spirit as we laid our hands upon her head to give her the Holy Ghost. We are working on a few others for next month well this month now!

We were able to finish this week pretty well. We found lots of new investigatores (investigators). We had a family home evening at a members house with investigators. IT WAS GREAT: The investigators feel a lot better about joining the church now.

We are going through a few changes here. They called last night and said "Well, Elder Neifert you have changes." I will be someplace else this week. I will be either leaving tomorrow or Wednesday. I have served in this area for something like 8 months. Give or take a little. Its been 6 changes. I feel nervous and a little sad. This is the first time I've had changes before. Who knows where I will be.

I will be leaving my beloved companion Elder Clawson. He is a really great guy. I'm super happy that I was his companion in the mission. We've got some hunting / sasquatch searching / monopoly plans we he gets back.

It feels weird that I will be 20. I don't feel too old. The mission has gone by super fast. 

Anyways, I love you guys! 

I know the Lord really is behind the changes. Hes got a really good plan for us.

Elder Neifert

Quick email to his Sister

Things have been going well. We just got notified that I  have changes. I will be leaving my area. Colonial. I'm actually pretty sad. I like it here. (Not in order) The things I will be leaving: great papusas, sweet house with two bathrooms, awesome cook (she makes us lunch), mediocre washing lady, leaving the remains of our dead squirrel, a really great companion Elder Clawson, and lots of great people who will be baptized soon. I will be missing the people the most.

I love you all! It makes me happy that Emma and Eliza are talking bout me! 

Spirit up

Elder Neifert