Pancake Miracles

Hey,

I've had some hard days as well. Its stinks but looking back I wouldn't take away those hard days because I wouldn't have learned so many hard things!

Haha, I love the Shepherds! They are a pretty awesome family. Really they are super cool. I loved visiting them in their house.  They are good Shepherds for the ward  -  super awesome!  

Well I talked about feeding the sheep of Christ yesterday in church. Really there is a lot of room for improvement in this area. There are lots of less actives in our area. People who were baptized and then just fell away nice and slowly. Missing one Sunday then two then, "she gone". Our ward is putting up plans to reach out to those who are sick literally and spiritually. The Elders of Israel are marching on! It's going to be a good week! I'm excited to bring some mo people to church!

This week I've noticed a big change in the relationship with my companion and I and if you would like to know what the difference is its... its...pancakes! Yup. Eat them and weep. We bought a fat bag of pancakes last Monday and we have been eating them everyday! Alright there is more to it. We take turns cooking every day. I cook one day he cooks the other and we share! Its really awesome. We are also reading the new testament together. I think that we just have been blessed with the capacity to love! Its a little cheesy but its true! Really the Lord has changed our hearts. Through our prays and our efforts He has purified us! I've grown to love my companion and I know he has grown to love me as well. We still have mistakes but we are more patient! Really I can see now how the Lord has put things in my life, people, places, and even trials to help me! Its really awesome to be here!!! I love it! There isn't anywhere else that I would be!

My testimony has changed a lot. I think that before when I was went to bear my testimony it was "what will I say?" but know I feel it!  Its not just what I can say to look like I have a testimony its actually what I know and believe to be. My faith has grown! It continues to grow. There won't be a point where I can say "I have arrived".  At least not in this life. Discipleship is the journey! Exaltation is the destination. Our run of life, our testimony, really anything pertaining to the gospel is like a marathon not a sprint. All we have to do is finish with our torch still lit. It's like the Greeks in their marathons. The goal was to cross the finish line - yes,  but they also needed to cross with their torch still lit. Everyday here I have had to defend the church, Jesus Christ, the Gospel and it has helped me. Mutually it has helped everyone. I couldn't grow without people to listen or to reject me. It is necessary. I have found that my testimony in the Savoir has grown more than anything. I love a video we have of Jeffery R. Holland talking about missionary work. He says,"It was never easy for Him so why should it be easy for us?" When we ask why is it hard, is there an easy way out, can I skip the gloomy parts. WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT SOMEONE A LOT BETTER; MORE PURE; SOMEONE PERFECT ASKED THAT QUESTION A LONG TIME AGO. He asked, Is there another way? Father take this cup from me. But he took it: So maybe we should take it too. Salvation was never a cheap experience. Missionary work isn't cheap either. It requires so much of us. Just as is costed so much for Him. Its symbolism. A token of what He felt. But that is really all it will ever be - a token. It would be wrong to compare our sacrifice to His. To complain of our sufferings compared to His. I know he LIVES. He is the mediator. He the the good shepherd. the son of David! He knows His sheep. And His sheep know Him. He himself has called us. He calls to us. I know it's His work. It is His church. I know he has chosen prophets and apostles today! They know His Will and make it known to us. I know the Book of Mormon is True. It is the keystone of the church, of the doctrine, of our testimonies. I bear my witness that I know these things are true.

These next six months I would like to read a lot. Reading all of the canonized scriptures. I need to finish D&C and Bible. I would like to continue the ponderizing! Throughout my mission. My scripture for this week is Matthew 21: 20 and 21. If you have a favorite talk or something of that sort it would be awesome if you could send them to me. Seth has sent me some and I love them!

I love you! Keep the Faith! It's such a small word that means a ton! Moving a mountain or shrinking a fig tree that doesn't produce fruit. Watch out fig trees here I come!

Pray on!

Elder Neifert