Mini MTC

Hey yall!

This week went by do fast but not too much happened! On Tuesday in the middle of the night, we went to the bus station in Montevideo to drop off Hermana Rivero. Then, I spent the night in Montevideo and got my new companion, Hermana Payne, on Wednesday morning. 

It has been so much fun with Hermana Payne! We are constantly laughing because as we walk in the streets everyone just stares and laughs at us because we are two blonde Americans. We had a member keep telling us how she loved our hair and ask to take a picture with us to send to her family. 

Before our first lesson together we were a little nervous about the whole Spanish thing because we both don't have too much time on the mission, but the spirit was so strong and the gift of tongues is real. We were able to talk to our friend about baptism and she accepted the invitation to be baptized. Sadly, she didn't come to church this week. 

This weekend our stake had a youth activity. They created a mini MTC for the youth. Each youth got a nametag, companion, and district. My companion and I taught a class and it was so fun! It brought back the good memories of the CCM! Anyways, that was pretty much my week! 

Have a great week! God loves you!!!

Hermana Neuberger

new companion Hermana Payne

view of Montevideo from apartment

 

Uruguayans are so nice

 Hey yall! 

This week we were so blessed! The people in Uruguay are literally the nicest people. They might not want to hear our message or come to church, but they are willing to give us whatever they have.

Tuesday was my birthday and while we were contacting people in the streets, I decided to tell people it was my birthday to help start conversation. We started talking to these ladies (a mom and daughter) and found out they had been taught by the missionaries a couple years ago. After a couple minutes, they invited us to come back on Thursday and told us they would make milanesas and a dulce de leche dessert to celebrate my birthday! We went back on Thursday, taught a lesson and feasted. 

Also, on Tuesday we walked past a couple of members' houses and they were outside drinking mate. They invited us to stop and gave us food and drinks for my birthday! 

Saturday night we were at the store and we saw a man that we met knocking doors with his girlfriend. We talked to them for a minute and they asked if we had hats to protect us from the sun. (I get this question like 5 times a day...everyone here is so worried about my skin because I am "so white") Later that night we were in our house and got a phone call...they called us and told us they were at our house with a gift. They brought me a hat hahaha! We have no clue how they know where we live...

On Sunday we went to visit a house we had knocked that said we could come back. They were super nice but are really involved in their church. They gave us Bibles and we gave them a Book of Mormon! They also wanted to practice English, so that was fun!

Sorry this is long, but we have seen so many tender mercies this week! I love this quote my mom sent me:

"The most humbling statement we can say is I am nothing without God. And the most powerful statement we can say is with God I can do anything."

God has given us so many blessings, He is so good! 

Have a great week!

Hermana Neuberger

Also, we got transfers and I am staying here and getting a new comp...Hermana Payne! We shared a chapel in my last area! I am SO excited, she is the best!!!

The Grind

 Hey yall! 

I hope everyone had a great week! Not too much happened this week...just the grind! Here are some highlights:

- We had an asado with the family we are teaching! On Sunday, we went to their house so we could walk to church together (their house is probably a little over a mile away), but they slept in and didn't come :( 

- We had exchanges! I was with Hermana Dahl and we worked in the streets all day, it was a good time! We knocked on one door and a man answered and told us he was making torta fritas. I told him how much I liked torta fritas and then he gave us some! Sadly, he didn't want to hear our message.

- I found dulce de leche milk. 

- President called us this week and the first thing he said when we answered the phone was "Hermana Neuberger did you see who won the National Championship?....I knew you would be happy the SEC won."

I read this scripture this week and love it. Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." 

I feel like this transfer I have been questioning the Lord a lot, but this helped me realize His ways are different than mine. Sometimes His plan is different than what we want, but His plan is always better! We just got to trust in it!

Have a great week! God loves you! 

Hermana Neuberger 

Be Real

Hey yall!

I hope everyone had a great start to the new year! 

This transfer I have been learning a lot about the character of Christ. To be honest, this transfer has been hard. I have had struggles with my companion, our friends seem to be progressing but then they decide not to meet with us again, we do a lot of work inside, etc. During the hard times, I have been trying to remember Christ. His life was not easy, He was hated, rejected, and crucified. I love the words of President Holland, "Missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. We are disciples of Christ so we must be prepared to walk some of the path He walked, feel a little pain that He felt, shed at least one of the tears of sorrow He shed." The mission can be hard, life can be hard, but when we are struggling we are standing shoulder to shoulder with our Savior. He knows what we are feeling because He has been through worse. I am thankful for our Savior, Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the experiences I am having and know that I am where God wants me to be and with who He wants me to be with. Sorry for the rant, I thought I would be real in this email. 

Highlights from the week:

- I actually like mate now!

- We had zone conference this week!

- A family we have been teaching accepted dates to be baptized, we are trying to help them come to church...so please pray that Luis and Laura will come to church on Sunday.

- I bought a 5 liter tub of ice cream and have eaten a good amount of it.

I hope yall have a good week! And Go Georgia (SEC- it just means more) !!

Hermana Neuberger 

The Golden Arches

drinking mate

Laura and Luis