Atesora A Jesús

Hola a todos!!! Feliz lunes!

Hey yall!!! BIG THINGS happening over here in the KLM, we had transfers friday and after half my mission spent in Louisville fifth branch, I'm saying hey from Jasper Indiana with Hermana Jackson! It was a tough week saying goodbye to everyone, all of the members, friends, missionaries were really like family to me and I miss them an insane amount. Our little fifth branch taught me so much about what real selflessness and humility looks like, they have the biggest hearts and were always ready to give of themselves to help the work. I love them with all my heart!

I already love Hermana Jackson, she's diligent and gives her all but loves to have fun, shes just the best. I actually didn't know where I was (as usual hahaha) until yesterday when i finally looked on a map. Jasper is a cute little town, some parts are more ghetto than others, but I genuinely am so stoked to serve out here. The first thing I noticed was how all the houses and businesses had nativities set up in their yards, it was the cutest thing ever. When we got here friday afternoon we just threw my stuff inside the house and got to work. We were supposed to have a lesson but she wasn't home so we did a lil door knocking around the complex. We ended up meeting Yubisa and Anis, they welcomed us in like we were old friends and we got to share a message with them, turns out they're related to another friend were teaching so they already knew a little bit about us! They said they might make us food so cross fingers that we get arepas cause those things are amazing.

Had a bunch more lessons that night and then went to sleep exhausted because I spent the night before transfers packing. The next morning was so much fun because we got to work at the food bank for a few hours and the volunteers there are the best. A lot of the people we brought food orders out for were hispanic so we got to use our Spanish. After that we had to change into dresses in a gas station, i got a little dr pepper pick me up, and then we had a lesson with our friends Yanuriz and Angel who are on baptism date!!! They are so much fun, big talkers, but they love the lessons and have been reading in the BoM, were hoping they get baptized in january, but I really do love them so much. That's the thing about your people you teach, wherever you go you just love them because God opens your eyes and hearts to them so you can help them feel of His love. Its one of my favorite parts about being a missionary! Anyways, so later we had weekly planning which took us a good few hours because of how many friends we have out here. Jasper is a busy area!!!

Sunday was crazy, we have church at 10 which is new, and people are actually on time for church lol. Its my first english ward too, but its small and everyone is so friendly already love em. I had to translate for sacrament meeting which was scary, but it went well i think! Yanuriz and angel were there and they gave me thumbs up so yay! They had the primary program which was adorable!!! Me and Hermana Jackson taught Relief Society and we used the talk Jesús Christ is the Treasure by Elder Renlund from the most recent conference. I loved the phrase "looking beyond the mark." If Jesus Christ and His gospel are the mark, why do we look for more than what we have? Its so easy to take for granted the significance of all that we do and believe as members of His church. We look to other sources for support and joy and guidance, looking beyond the mark of what God has already blessed us with. I'm not the kind of person that likes to rely on others for help, and sometimes I think I know whats best for myself, im kinda stubborn like that. But, looking to the mark means knowing and trusting that what God has to offer is better than what we want for ourselves.

After church we had a coordination and YALL! We get fed almost every day over here because the mission coordinator makes sure we get meals. It was hard in the branch because they're were so many missionaries and not enough members, but yeah our coordinator is always on top of that, he's the best. We had choir practice after that and I got to meet more members, and then we headed over to brother braedens for lunch with the sampson family. Brother braeden is a Chef, he made us this huge lunch with chicken and corn and mashed potatoes and everything it was SO GOOD. And the sampson family are my favorites, i played shuffleboard with their kids and me and spencer beat everyone. Me and their older daughters were just quoting studio c and going crazy over pride and prejudice hahaha. We shared a little spiritual christmasey thought with them and then left for a lesson with yanuriz and angel. We taught them the 10 commandments and explained how we keep the Sabbath Day Holy. Yanuriz made this flan and told us to try it and tell her honestly if we liked it or not. I usually really don't like flan, but hers was so good 10/10, I need the recipe. After that we ended up going to the sampsons house for fhe and their kids dressed up to reenact the Nativity, me and Hermana Jackson got be wisemen with luke. We sang christmas hymns and it just reminded me of all the years my family would do the same thing christmas eve, to just think of the Savior and let your hearts be full of gratitude and love for Him and all that He had given us. It was especially nice after a crazy stressful day to just sit in the living room of this family and feel of God's love for them as we thought about the real reason for Christmas.

My invitation for yall this week is to treasure Jesus this week. Look to Him as your mark. In the 5th branch a lot of those members were converts and they still had that real appreciation for the gospel and all of the blessings we've been given. They have just had their eyes opened and their hearts are filled with gratitude for it all. If we can live in that mindset, not just learn about the gospel, but truly live in it, we won't lose sight of Him.

I love you all!!! Les quiero a todos!!!

- Hermana Neil

Photos in order maybe

- thorntons run

- tree farm

- roseliiiiiiiin

- bye to branch presidente

- alex and rowan

- me and my bestie abby

- mama liz and leany

- 5th branch fam

- cutie hurstbourne