July 28, 2014

Well my brothers and sisters this week was the most eventful one of my mission.

Monday night President Wirthlin called us and told me to give the phone to Elder Reyne.  He took the phone and the next thing he said I will never forget, "oh no".  He immediately called his mom.  And then proceeded to talk about his dad with me.  He talked to his mom and found out that his dad's cancer has spread to his brain and he has a few weeks to live.  I can't describe the feelings I had when we found this out.  My heart sank right to my stomach and I (being a baby) started to cry.  Elder Reyne was sooooooo strong.  He didn't cry once.  But I knew he was very distraught.  We called President back and he told us to pack our bags and go visit our investigators and members and tell them that we were leaving.  We had an hour to pack...which freaking sucked!  I have so much pointless crap it's ridiculous.  But we made our way to the zone leader's apartment in Albany.  Then the next morning we took Elder Reyne to the airport.  Let me tell you this....Elder Reyne is such an awesome guy.  He only cares about others and serves with all of his heart.  I wish I was this strong when my dad was going through this.  Please pray for him, his family, and his dad.  I know there was a reason why I was called to Greenville.  We have be struggling the past few weeks with finding new people to teach and I know that the Lord knew this was going to happen.  If we would have picked up anybody we wouldn't be able to teach them and they would have been left alone.  The Lord has His hand in all things.

So everyday this past week I worked with the Zone Leaders and also the Elders in Troy.   I was bounced around  both areas like a beach ball at a Nickelback concert.  I loved it!  I got to work with my brother from another mother, Elder Jepsen.  And I also got to work with Elder Pettet and Elder Dutsin.  It was a blast.  Troy is sooooooo ghetto!  IT'S SWEET!   Black people everywhere!  They sit on the porches and just chill and the people call them porch monkeys.  Idk if that's a racist thing or not but its super funny haha.  It definitely is racist :)  It was fun while it lasted.

SOOOOOO now I'm in Amsterdam in a trio with Elders Free and Snell.....ITS A BLAST. Amsterdam is this ghetto little city near Albany.  And 90% of the population is from Puerto Rico:)  It's crazy.  It's like I'm in Mexico.  Except the other ten percent of the place is black.  I love it!  People are so humble here.  I don't know if I will stay here next transfer but I will find out on Saturday from President Wirthlin..but hopefully I will stay here a while. Who knows....

Yeah, I'm stressed out of my mind but I know that I am needed wherever I go.  Heavenly Father knows all and puts me where I can help out the most.  I'm a little short on time but I want to testify to you all that I know that this work is hastening and that this church is true.  God hears and answers our prayers no matter what.  The most we can do for him is to serve others and submit our will to his.

I love all of you and I keep you in my prayers.  Thank you for your support and love.  Keep it real and know that the church is true, the book is blue, and this crazy lady next to me smells like urine.

Love,
Elder Hunter Neus

MMMMMMMBYE nooooowwww

July 21, 2014

MMMMMheyyyyy

What is up my friends/family? I hope you are all enjoying the dry heat because it felt like the amazon here in NY. Shoot me right in the face.


This week kinda sucked...actually IT FREAKIN SUCKED!!! Nothing happened...it was just one of those weeks where you have no motivation and you put all of your trust in the Lord and you come up short. It was a real bummer. Greenville is so dead its ridiculous! All we can do is tract...anddddd it gets real old real fast...but oh well. This week will turn around.:) I can't really complain. There are areas all over the world that are probably way more burnt out than this one.


So on a good note Saturday we went all the way across the river to Hudson. We needed an oil change really bad and thought it would be a good idea to say what's up to our boys in H-town. They were in  Catskill so we broke into their apartment;) hehe:) SOOOO...their apartment was a FLIPPING DISASTER...so grody. I wanted to throw up. Not really..but it was bad. So Elder Reyne and I cleaned for about an hour and made it look real nice then went to Taco Bell..that was a big mistake...Idk Taco Bells in NY are way more gross than the ones in Arizona...probably because the Mexicans make it more authentic. I don't know. So yeah back to the story. After Taco smell we went back to their apartment so we can scare them...and they were home..yeah lame. Cool story huh? naht.


Yeah this week was very uneventful. I tried to scare Elder Reyne as much as possible to lift our spirits. Didn't work that well. He is so sneaky and knows when I'm gonna get em. I even hid under his bed last night and he knew I was there. Bless his  sweet sweet heart. I love this guy.


Have a good one this week. Take it sleazy. And choose the right no matter what:)
The Church is true, the book is blue, and Elder Reyne might kill me;)

Love,
Elder Hunter Neus

MMMM BYE NOOOOW

PS: Keep Elder Reyne and his dad in your prayers. Thank you:)

July 14, 2014

YO YO YO whaddup Mesa!

"It was the best of times it was the worst of times".

"If you want to die come to Greenville".

Those quotes were both from the branch president. There was a sister that had a heart attack at church yesterday and he chose to say that when the ambulance left and took her to Albany. Lets just say this isn't the most optimistic branch in the church. Haha yeah....

So this week nothing really happened. Except we went to Albany for Zone Conference:) It was so sweet! I saw a bunch of my brothas I haven't seen since Vietnam it seems like. Sweet sweet Elder Jepsen was there oh yeah and Elder Pettet. It was good to see them. President Wirthlin finally got my name right...he has said my name wrong since I came to New York. "Elder Noise".  He gets almost everyone's name wrong. Even one of the AP's haha. Oh well...

Elder Reyne is doing well.  I have really been working hard on getting him to talk to people. He is just really shy. But he is so awesome. I love him so much and just want him to be successful. He has had a pretty hard life. His dad is suffering with cancer and I think it's hit Elder Reyne pretty hard. His Dad is such a cool dude! I give him so much credit for coming on a mission and serving the Lord and really giving his whole heart to the work. It takes a lot. I KNOW Heavenly Father sent me here to buoy him up when he is down and to give him support. I know exactly what he is going through.

Please pray for his dad and for him. THANK YOU

This week was pretty slow. We didn't find any new investigators but we did a butt ton of service. Which was great:)

Well I want you all to know that our Heavenly Father loves us so much and sometimes we don't know why he gives us these trials but I do know that he knows all and knows what will make us stronger through our faith and obedience to his commandments.

Choose the Right and keep the swag mature. The church is true, the book is blue, and Elder Reyne's sister is pretty cute..what? haha

Love,

Elder Hunter Neus

mmmm bye nowww 

July 7, 2014

Birthday, fireworks, killer German shepherds, and black Jesus.

Yo Yo Yo what up Arizona and probably some other places around the world!?

This week was AMA ZA ZING! Greenville is on FIRE! well almost...We didn't have a ton of lessons but we found some sweet sweet people:)  And we definitely saw some miracles!:)

My birthday was this week! I turned the big 19. HOLY CRAP! Time seriously flies. We had a good birthday party after district meeting. The Jensons are so awesome! They do so much for us. Its kinda cool having a birthday on your mission. The whole day was just so fun.  I love Elder Reyne to death. Once he got out of his shell we just instantly hit it off. I push him to the limit sometimes but that's what makes it fun. He is super skidish! So one night this week our bedroom light just randomly started glitching out and looked super creepy. So Elder Rayne was in the bathroom and didn't know about it. So I turned all of the lights off except that one and just started knocking quietly on the bathroom door. He was something like" what do you want?" " HELLO?" So he got done and opened the door and saw me with a terrified look on my face. So I told him to shut up and be quiet and I yanked him by the shirt and moved his head toward our bed room. He freaked out and ran in the bathroom. His face turned so white and pale and then he asked me " dude what should we freaking do?" so I asked him if he has ever preformed a blessing on a home....hahaha then I just told him its the light and we need a new bulb and he just got so relieved. I think he was kind of mad but oh well we joke about it all the time:) I was thinking about taking him into the room and right when I walk in I would of faked a seizure hahaha but eh better not.

On the 4th of July we went to fireworks. The were okay. It was kind cold and stuff so not really the best night. Our branch mission leader and his wife took us. They are from Yonkers and they have the deepest accents ever. they always bicker when we are around its so funny. This was their argument after church yesterday

"You need to slow down Ray!" " You need to shaddup okay?" haha idk good times

Some dude from Grenada invited us in when we knocked on his door and tried to convince us that Jesus was black.... He was pretty convincing but it kinda made no since. He was really cool but he was a bit wacko. He drove a sick Audi though and makes a butt ton of money...I don't know how but I won't ask.

Oh yeah we almost got eaten by German shepherds but I will save that story for next week. These communist librarians want us to get off:( oh well...you gotta love everyone.\

So yeah thank you for all the birthday wishes and mail and stuff. It really means a lot to me. Well LOVE YOU ALL

The church is true, the book is blue, and Jesus wasn't black:)

Love,

Elder Hunter Neus

mmmm bye nowwww

June 30, 2014

Geez'em where do I begin. Well, first I don't have a lot of time. These library people are very stingy about their computers and hate us so yeah.

Greenville is soooooo sick! It is in the middle of the Catskill mountains! Very rugged and dark. It feels like I am in the deep dark forest of old communist Russia. Our apartment is in this Irish town where they have crazy weird Irish accents.....crazy stuff. And everyone in our branch has a thick New York accent. Pretty sweet. This is literally what our branch mission leader said to me when I first met him. "Neus? Neus huh? aye Mark you know a guy with the last name zeus right? what? You don't? eh what the hell"  hahaha now just picture that with a thick accent.

My companion is Elder Reyne :) haha he is the bees knees! He was very shy and timid at first but man he is awesome. He is from California and has red hair....yeah. He's sneaky small and smells like cabbage.

Well all we do is tract pretty much. Which I don't mind but it gets a little tedious. That's all missionaries have done here since the restoration of the Gospel Of Jesus Christ it seems like. But we have had good success. He just has a hard time being bold. But I don't :) It was hard for me at first but I have found it is absolutely necessary in missionary work. Like Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, "We need to use sweet boldness".

Well these ladies want me to get off so I will. They kind of remind me of those chicks in the movie Hercules that cut the cord of your life.....ugh depressing.

Well I better head off before they lynch me haha.

Choose the right, and trust in the Lord.

Love, Elder Neus

June 23, 2014

PEACE OUT NORTH!

"Though we may not necessarily forfeit our lives in service to our God, we can certainly demonstrate our love for Him by how well we serve Him"

HELLO HELLO friends and fam!

So this week has been so sweet! We picked up probably the most solid investigator Ive had on my mission so far, we've had 4 golden referrals, AND I'm getting transferred!!

HOLY CRAP! I'm heading on down to Greenville. It is right below Albany. And pert near Massachusetts. I am so pumped. Elder Davis served there for six months and said its super dope so I cant wait. I'm gonna miss Massena...but I'm mostly gonna miss Elder Koga in Potsdam. I'm so glad he got to be my Zone Leader for a transfer. Coolest trainer in the world. I'm also gonna miss his companion Elder Horner but that's besides the point. Elder X is gonna take over the area and train. I was SOOOOO shocked when we found that out from President .  We have all come to the conclusion that its just a huge call to repentance if we've ever seen one.  Well besides him of course. President in my interview was like " Elder X needs to get off his lazy butt and get to work. I'm sick of his crap" hahaha I laughed so hard. Its true though. Its been kinda hard trying to get him motivated. He puts on a show when he is with others and makes it seem like he is the one trying to work hard but nah. He has TONS of potential but he doesn't realize it. I hope he finds it soon. I love this guy. Whom the Lord calls he qualifies.

Well yeah so I get to drive down with sweet sweet Elder Davis 4 hours to Utica. Its gonna be so fun. Hes going back home to Idaho. He has been such a good example to me and how a missionary should go about doing things. One of the most humble people I've ever met. Gonna miss him too.

Being a missionary in New York is not easy. It seems like everyone is addicted to either cigarettes or coffee. And most of the time even BOTH! Everyone and their grandmas is on welfare, and people are just stuck in their ways. But something I've been doing lately is looking at everyone on the same level. Poverty or rich. Young or old. On drugs or not on drugs...well we actually try to avoid those people but yeah. You get my point. But I have seen such a difference on the way I talk with and treat people. I have more of a love for them. Yeah sometimes I will  get a little mad or discouraged when someone yells "SCREW GOD" or most recently "homosexual idiots" but I try to love them.:) ITS GREAT haha

But anyways I love alls ofs yous:) Keep on keepin on and choose the right:)

LOVE, Elder Neus

mmmmm bye now 

I look like the only happy missionary but yeah they are smiling on the inside haha

June 9, 2014

'If I had a year left I would slit my throat Elder Neus" - Elder Huff the branch president who's about to go home.  Haha just another great quote I have heard out here. Well HELLO HELLO ARIZONA PEOPLE

This week wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I had a blast!  First we had a boring first few days.  Just pounded the pavement. But let's fast forward to Friday.   We woke up and went to the gym.  THEN we went to do some service at the Relay for Life.  It was really fun.  We helped them fold shirts, make a stage and eat their pizza:)   Later that day we had the one year anniversary party for the Massena Branch!  It was so fun!  I had a bunch of fun. I don't know if my companion did, but oh well, he doesn't like sports...yeah I know...lame.  We played some volleyball and frisbee.  IT WAS SO HOT.  It felt like a sauna. New York is super freaking humid. The complete opposite of Arizona.

So then on Saturday we woke up at 5 and went to the Massena Arena to set up a booth for the Massena Heritage Festival. We had a projector to show Mormon messages and I'm a Mormon videos and tons of cards, DVDS, Book Of Mormons, and stuff like that.  So it started at nine and went until 5...SHOOT ME IN THE FACE that's a long time to be sitting down. We gave away a lot of stuff and the most promising person tried to bash us at the end of the festival. She made no sense whatsoever.  First she says, "Why do you worship Joseph Smith?  And why do you like him more than Jesus?"  So I stood up and pointed to my name tag and said "MA'AM, DOES MY NAME TAG SAY CHURCH OF JOSEPH SMITH OF LATTER DAY SAINTS OR DOES IT SAY JESUS CHRIST?"  So then she says, "Well you guys don't believe in the bible just that dumb Mormon book."  Then at that moment Elder Davis (who was hanging out with me at the time) says, "THEN WHY ARE WE GIVING AWAY BOTH?"  This went on for about 15 minutes when finnaly we both stood up and bore our testimonies on Joseph smith and The Book Of Mormon.  Done-zo.  Elder Davis leaves in a few weeks to go home and was like "I've never wanted to bash until now."   I felt so bad. She looked so dumb and immature.  I'm sure she regrets it as much as we do.  Bashing doesn't do anybody good except Satan.  Ugh yeah not trying to do that again.  I felt the spirit but didn't feel it after.  Words of advice:  
NEVER BASH. EVER...  

Well that was my week. I hope to hear from all of you soon. The church is true the book is blue and Moroni is on that ball:)

Love, Elder Neus

MMMMM BYE NOW

June 2, 2014

Hello Hello!!!  "If you don't have constant contact with God try knee mail!"  Haha that was on some churchs billboard.  Pretty funny.  BUT TRUE!

This week was hectic.  We had exchanges with Malone on Tuesday and that was a very interesting.  I wish I had more time to write this email.  I had a huge email and just freaking deleted it.  Ugh well...uh yeah.  Next week will be better!

SO...yeah.  This upcoming week is gonna be the hardest one of my mission.  Exactly one year ago yesterday I got on my knees and I asked Heavenly Father if this church was true.  At that moment I KNEW it was.  That night my dad also said his last words to me before his spirit left his cancer ridden body and into spirit paradise.  I am so glad that I got to talk to him before he passed away.  He was such a great example for me.  He loved this gospel so much and knew it was true.  

I wish I could write more but my companion wont shut his mouth.  Haha very distracting... Well I love you all so so much and thank you for all your support.

I love hearing from you SO WRITE ME haha

Love, Elder Hunter Neus

mmmmmmmm bye noowww

May 19, 2014

Doctrine and Covenants 133: 26  And they who are in the north countries shall come in remembrance before the Lord; and their prophets shall hear his voice, and shall no longer stay themselves; and they shall smite the rocks, and the ice shall flow down at their presence

Hello hello! That verse just pumps me up every time I read it! So cool!

SOOOO...I have a new companion. His name is Elder Zenger. He is from...hmm...probably Utah...I think.  It's just safe to assume he's from there.  Wait - he just told me he's from Layton, Utah.  Okay yeah awesome haha!  He is so funny!  We get along really well.  I'm really gonna enjoy serving with him.  He is so goofy - I love it!  This morning he woke up, went over to my bed and farted on it.  Then went back to bed...I was half asleep so I didn't know if i was still dreaming or not...I should probably ask him why he did that.  Actually probably not!  hahahahaa

We baptized Tracey on Saturday and it went so well.  And yesterday he was confirmed a member of the church and was interviewed to receive the Aaronic priesthood next Sunday. HOLY COW!  It is so great to see a family that was so far away from happiness come unto Christ and actually be happy.  The Trimms are so great!

Well I need to make this email short - we have a busy P Day ahead of us.  I love all of you and enjoy your emails and support.  Love Ya!

Elder Neus

May 5, 2014

"You have to make your plans and plan your makes...I don't know what that means but ya gotta do it!" - President Wirthlin

Hello hello

"Sister Musser...why do you need to hold the priesthood when you can hold HIM every night?"

President Wirthlin just makes this mission so awesome.  This week was so great! We had a couple baptisms and found a lot of new potential! I will start with Wednesday.

Wednesday. We had district meeting down in Potsdam and our district leader Elder Child and his companion wanted to exchange afterwords. So I went to Malone with Elder Adam. He has been out about six months and the past 4 weeks he has had to stay inside due to his huge headaches. BUT they have the best apartment in the whole mission. They have a huge 60 inch flat screen in their living room with a nice fireplace, washer/dryer, keyboard, another TV in their bedroom, basketball hoop, etc.... So spoiled. So we had to stay in the whole exchange..(not complaining) haha. And while we were their Elder Adam got the word from President Wirthlin that he is going home on Saturday...so crazy day.

Thursday. I woke up with a dang cold. So that whole day we stayed inside in Massena. Not too bad.

Friday. I don't even remember. Still sick.

Saturday. Day of Debbie's baptism:) Wake up and NOT SICK THANK GANDHI!  Haha probably cause I drank a glass full of  cough syrup before I went to bed.  BUT so the day goes on and around 5:00 we head to Potsdam and get ready for the baptism. So I am baptizing Mary Beth...and let me tell ya, she is not the smallest girl in Massena.  She is the other Elder's investigator but she wanted me to baptize her.  So I dunk her and I am so happy that she didn't faint like she said she would.  Because I would've died.  No joke...Tender mercies.  And Debbie is scared of water too and Elder Jepsen baptized her and said her last name wrong so he had to do it again haha.  I think she's even more terrified of water now.  No, but he did a great job.  It was such a good day.  So I had the blessing of confirming her the next day.  I felt the spirit so strong it almost put me to tears.  I can't really describe the way I felt.

I can't wait to see the rest of the Trimms get baptized later this month. They are so ready. I love them so much!

Well that was my hectic week! Thank you all for the support. I love you all:)))

Love, Elder Hunter Neus

MMMMMM BYE NOOOOOW

April 28, 2014

"Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love."
President Thomas S. Monson

This week has been pretty exciting up here in the north country! Elder Jepsen and I have been really busy. Last week was all a blur due to the weirdness. But our investigators are getting more and more excited about the gospel. Debbie is getting baptized on Saturday and she can't wait. And her husband Tracey wasn't going to due to his love for alcohol but told us last night he hasn't drank in a while and wants to get dipped on May 20! SO AWESOME!!

Our mission has a new teaching method. President Wirthlin saw that even with the mission doubling in size our baptism rate has stayed the same. So with his "connections" he called Salt Lake and talked to a general authority and they gave us a new modified way to preach the gospel. We are the first mission to use it and it has really changed missionary work here. We have taught more powerfully and simply. It has really changed the work. With this new method we get an average of about 4 referrals each visit. And we stay no longer than 15 to 30 minutes. CRAZY!

But something has been on my mind lately. And that something is gratitude. Gratitude like it says in Preach My Gospel is a form of humility. Being humble is willingness to submit to the Lords will and to give him honor for what has been accomplished. Mosiah 4:11 states this perfectly. We need to be grateful for what we have. Being here in Massena has been a humbling experience. There is so much poverty. Yet they thank God for everything they have. Well....most of them. But they still are thankful. Before I came out here I was very prideful. I thought of myself before everyone else until my dad showed me what it is like to have true gratitude. He never talked bad about anyone no matter what they have done. And I never heard him once complain about him suffering with cancer and dying. Well except when they tried to give him a catheter...but that's understandable. That would suck haha. But he tried so hard to love evryone and to be humble. Another great example for me is Christ. He was beaten, persecuted, and killed but never once did he think about himself. Those two people have changed my life and the way I think forever. Let us be ever so grateful for what we have and serve our brothers and sisters.

I bear my solemn witness that Jesus is the Christ. He is our master and only through him we can have everlasting life. I know that he lives and loves us. And I know that as we are humble, submissive, and grateful that blessings will pour out of heaven. 

Well keep on keepin on. Write me :) The adress is
PO Box 149
Whitesboro, NY 13492

Love,

Elder Neus MMMMMMMMM bye now

April 21, 2014

Okay so first off Massena is freaking weird.

Let me explain...

hmm...  SO we went to this less-active's house in this freaky high rise building.  We got up to his door and HE HAS ONE EYE.  Then he lets us in.  We walk in and its instantly apparent that he has no underwear on.  Yuck.  THEN we look around his house and there are posters of girls in thongs and stuff.  So we sit down and try to share an Easter message with the guy and he turns on his weird gypsy music and starts singing to us.  I wanted to just get up and leave but he has never let missionaries in so we decided to stay.  The spirit came back when he turned off the music.  So the.... AND HERE COMES THE KILLER.... he has dialysis twice a week and he is wearing some short gym shorts and he showed us the scars near his nether regions and we saw things that will haunt my dreams for eternity.  I felt like I needed to repent.

Thats only one of our experiences this week.

We have seen butts, hard drugs, prostitutes, drag queens, you name it we have seen it.  And one thing that all citizens of Massena have in common is no dang teeth.  I LOVE IT! These people need the gospel and they are receiving it gladly.  Most of them are really accepting to what we share.  The Lord loves everyone and we try to remind ourselves that when we are in those sticky situations.  "Come what may and love it"!

Easter was so great.  We ate dinner at Elder and Sister Huffs house and we all left 5 pounds heavier.  I love the Easter season!:)  It's a time where you can really focus on Christ's atonement.  He died for each and every one of us. " He is ^adespised and rejected of men; a man of ^bsorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we ^cesteemed him not .,Surely he hath ^aborne our ^bgriefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.   But he was ^awounded for our^btransgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his ^cstripes we are ^dhealed.

I just love those versus in Isaiah. He truly did bear our sins. He loves us and wants the best for us. He has been through every hardship that we have had and ever will have. I know this to be true and I bear witness that He lives.

Well love you all and hope to hear form you soon. Write me some letters.... I'll write ya back.:) hah

Love,

ELder Neus

mmm bye bye now

April 14, 2014

mmmmheyyyyy

“You will have the comfort of His love and feel the answer of His drawing closer as you reach out your arms in giving service to others. As you bind up the wounds of those in need and offer the cleansing of His Atonement to those who sorrow in sin, the Lord’s power will sustain you.” I just love that quote by Henry B. Eyring. If we were aloud to pick favorite general authorities he would probably be mine haha:)

This week was good we are really enjoying the warmth. Elder Jepsen and I are loving the fact that we can walk down the street and talk to people. It seems like Massena has come out of their winter shell. We had a few hard days this week when no one would let us in.  Everyone, it seems, like didn't keep their appointments.  And kids and some adults yelling choice words to us while walking down the street...  But we put trust in the Lord and He helped us out a ton.

Our investigators are still being bosses. On May third we will have three baptisms! That's unheard of up here. Heavenly Father is blessing us so much. He is helping out our investigators as well. I've never seen anyone so excited about the gospel. I can't wait to see them get sealed to each one of their families in the temple some day.

Well I hope to hear back fromm you soon.

Love,

Elder Neus

mmm bye now

March 31, 2014

North Country.  The men are men, the women are men, and the bears are scared.

mmmmmmheyyyy

The good keeps getting better.  A wise, old homeless man who is in this library's computer room just said that.  I thought I should share that with you.  Man life is sweet.  Jepsen and I will stay together another transfer... our prayers have been answered! haha   We just love each other and we get each other - its awesome!  I have only had three companions and only one of them sucked.  But overall, I get lucky with companions :) haha   Massena is great!  Our investigator family is still looking solid.  Debbie (the mom) loves coffee (like everyone in New York, pretty much).  But one day this week she got up wee early to sin and drink some demon juice and she reached for the pot and a can of soup fell and hit her right on top of the dome.  THEN she grabbed it and her head hit the counter.  Powerful.   Haha, tender mercies.  She doesn't even want to touch the stuff.  She will be a great Relief Society president.

Well we had another great big snow storm yesterday and so church was cancelled.  BUT the Trimms (our investigator family) wanted to go really bad and say goodbye to Elder Black, who is going home this week.  So President Huff said we can have sacrament meeting with just them and the other Elders...  It was amazing!   Such a great testimony meeting.  I can't wait for them to be baptized.

"WE'LL ALL DO THE DIPPP... Jesus is the way truth and light... you can have eternal life but first ya gotta be baptized!"  

Well the work is hastening brothers and sisters.  It is a great experience to be a part of it.  You can too, just open your mouth.:)

Love,

Elder Neus

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM BYEEEEEE NOWWWWWW

March 24, 2014

Hmmm well....where do I begin? Massena is great!  Elder Jepsen and I are really seeing miracles!!


We volunteer at the Methodist church on Thursdays washing dishes. So we talk to people and just do our thing and a few weeks ago we talked to this family who was really nice to us.  And every week we just got closer and closer and eventually we set up a dinner appointment with the dad and we taught him about family history.  That was a few weeks ago.  Ever since then they have come to church every week, we taught them everything from The Restoration to temples, they meet with us every other day, and are getting baptized May 3.   IT'S SO AWESOME!  They love this gospel.  

Man we are so grateful to be here in Massena.  This is the craziest place, though.  BUNCH of Mohawk Indians.  LOTS of mean French Canadians.  AND A WHOLE CRAP LOAD OF COLD.   Isn't is suppose to be spring?   We woke up this morning to go to the gym and it was -15 out....  I miss the heat, to be honest.  But the blessings are too great to even think about home.  This guy we ran into yesterday said that I have a cute smile so I don't know if I should be creeped out or thankful.  He was a little out there.  BUT yanno New York is like that.

AHH this is cool!  This investigator family we have lives out in the middle of nowhere and we visit them and "teach them" every week.  Brother Gardner (the dad) has a few tasers so on Friday I gained the masculinity to get tased by him.  MAN IT HURT.. but it was so worth it.  I feel like when we do these stupid things our investigators trust us more.  It's really weird.

Well... I am proud to be an American... wait I mean missionary;) ha

Love,

Elder Neus

mmmm byeeee nowwwww

March 17, 2014

mmmmmmheyyyyy

This week was......good. A lot of people bailed on our appointments, we moved, had two huge snow storms, and had ZTM. We were busy but at the same time we felt like bums.

So Elder Jepsen and I had an appointment with one of our investigators named Ira and he is one weird dude. We were sitting there in his house teaching him about the Word of Wisdom and he asked me about the ring I had on my finger. So I told him it was my CTR ring and of course he asked me what CTR meant so I told him...then we go on in the lesson and randomly asks me how much it was and where I got it .Then out of nowhere the spirit told me to take it off and give it to him. So I did. And he goes "Neus... that means so much to me like I cant even tell you how much that means. I will always remember this." Then he goes in his room and gets a chain and puts the ring around it and wears it. Anyways we get back to the lesson (he gets off track a lot) and again he says "this means so much I would do anything for you! I would give the shirt of my back for ya man"....so Elder Jepsen and I look at each other then back at him. So I just say "really you would?" and he goes "yeah man..WANT ME TO PROVE IT?" and I just say "uh I don't know". Then he just takes off his Jeff Gordon shirt and gets a pen and signs the thing and throws it at me and says "see I told you I would do it for you man" then looks at the ceiling and kisses his CTR ring! So now I have a official autographed Jeff Gorden shirt from THE Ira "the man" Shantie. These kind of things happen every day. Its crazy...

I just love people. Its these experiences that make missions so fun. I feel like these situations help boost my confidence in the people of New York. God makes his children so unique!  But New York is a hard . People are stuck in their ways. They love their coffee and cigarettes. But I truly do love them. I was called to New York for THEM. I love this work!

As missionaries we "INVITE others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end". Inviting is such a key! WE INVITE. That's all we can really do. We cant take away their moral agency and force them to choose the right. But we can invite.:) when we invite we are not forcing them we are letting them choose. The spirit will touch their hearts even with something so simple as inviting your friends to church, mutual, seminary ext...The Lord doesn't ask much of us. Just to follow him and keep his commandments. It isn't that hard. So just go out and invite!! People wont look down on you for doing that. It is just so simple and i wish I knew that before my mission. I have a firm testimony of this gospel. It has blessed me so so much. Life is sweet! 

Love Elder Neus

MMMMM bye now

March 10, 2014

Hello Hello!! This past week was so sweet! I am really enjoying my time here in Massena! Its cold and sometimes you want to just go in for the night really early but the worth of souls is great in the kingdom of God! Elder Jepsen and I are really tearing it up! We picked up 3 new investigators and they all came to church with all of their families:) I cant believe how many miracles are coming about here.  Hard work and obedience are keys. The scabies are still here. Thats all I have to say about that mess. But other than that things are fantastic.

So my dad while on his mission always wrote home saying "Life is good :)"  And I have been thinking about that a lot lately. My first thoughts were wow he must of just slacked off and had fun his whole mission and didn't do any real missionary work because sometimes life isn't good it seems..I was so dumb to think that. But he always said that phrase no mater what the circumstances were while he was out there. He also didn't complain ONCE while he was dying with cancer.. That showed me a lot. When we complain we are feeling bad for our our self's  and that is no good to us or others. It brings us to a worse place than where we were before. And my dad found that out. I don't know where in his life he found that but he did. 

We need to think about that. Life IS good. It is all a part of Gods perfect plan for us. We do not need to complain about our situations because God puts them there and we grow from them. and through Jesus Christ we can get through them.
I am so glad to be out here! I thank every one of you for the support and love. My dad is here with me. The veil is thin. And  LIFE IS SWEET

Love Elder Hunter Neus

mmmm bye now

March 3, 2014

HELLO...so this past week has probably been the most spiritual ones of my life. So first I would like to say thank you to all of you have been in my life and all the help you have given me throughout the years. I am most humbly grateful for all of your support and motivation. So we have seen so many miracles in Massena. People have told us that this is  the most success they have seen in a while since the branch opened. We are opening soooo many doors for the future its nuts. This week we had 4 new investigators and had at least million lessons ( pshh not really but we had a lot)! Thats so rare up here. We are so pumped.

BUT there is a HUGE drawback to this week....UGH...Elder Davis (part of the trio til tomorrow) had a weird "hair follicle infection"  so we went to the dermatologist and he was in seeing the doctor for at least 2 hours. Elder Jepson and I were super bored and annoyed. So he finally comes out and we were walking out of the office and we ask him what the heck is wrong with him and he just hands out a paper and it says in large letters "SCABIES"................................................................................................................Right then my heart dropped because I have been getting really itchy and have  burning sensations all over my body. So I was pretty scared to be honest because a few missionaries have gotten it and like its really bad. You scratch and scratch and scratch till you fall asleep no joke. So its pretty contagious and I have the dang thing. So retarded man! IT SUCKS. I am not trying to complain but I feel like a creepy doped out crack bum all the time walking and knocking on doors trying to talk and itch at the same time...:( blows. But I get to rub ointment on my body all day and wash everything we wear and sleep in. BUT we have a washer and dryer in the apartment so HOORAY naht.

I am just so blessed to be here. The Lord is my light. That Hymn just makes me cry every time I hear it. I would just like to bear my testimony that I know with a surety that the Lord is my light and I feel him and my dad everyday while I am out here in his vineyard. May the Lord bless you and your families. I LOVE YOU ALL

One Love

sweet sweet Elder Neus 

MMM bye bye noooow

Ties for Elder Neus

So March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month...  And the color for colon cancer is blue...  So I decided I wanted to send Hunter a blue tie to wear in honor of his dad.   And then I decided I should get his uncles and grandpas involved in sending him a blue tie, too.  This then turned into a pretty big project which included past scout leaders, neighbors, bishopric members, seminary teachers and friends.  I asked them to find a blue tie (preferably from their closet) and write Hunter a note about his dad.  Well the response I got was overwhelming!!  I had 31 blue ties, along with notes which included funny stories, testimonies, memories and impressions of Brian for Hunter to remember and learn about his dad.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this fun little project!!

February 10, 2014

So this week was pretty good. Elder Hatanaka and I are starting to get along more. He is just sort of weird. Which is alright but it makes things kind of hard. He likes to be in charge so I kind of just let him. Haha he will take over the area next transfer for sure so I will just make the best of it and try to be patient.

I've been here too long..Trumansburg is great, the members are sweet but I feel like I have started to coast and I am sort of dragging my feet. 6 months in one area is hard. Especially when their is little to no support from the members. We have some that are solid but some just don't want to try. So we are trying to boost their desire to help hasten the work. We are seeing their progression slowly manifest itself with them offering to go to appointments and feeding us. They will change:)

So I have been studying and pondering the Atonement in my personal study this week. We often think about the redeeming power of the Atonement and how we are cleansed from our sins. But we sometimes forget about the enabling power of it. It strengthens us and helps us out in every thing we do according to our faith. It CAN and WILL change us. Sometimes we pray for our circumstances to change. Actually all the time ( well me anyway). We may not realize it but we do. BUT we shouldn't! Lets take some of the BOM prophets for example. Nephi prayed to The Father when his brothers tied him up to have the STRENGTH to break the bands. Alma and Amulek did the same. They rarely ask the Lord to change their circumstances but pray for THEM to have the STRENGTH to change them. We can do the same. The Savior strengthen us through his Atonement. Let us build our faith so we can do the same. I have witnessed with mine own eyes the strength that the Lord gives us. What we can do is be "humble, patient, submissive, meek, humble, full of love and willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." We will  see the great blessings if we do so. 

Well I love you all and hope you have a great week! I will try to do this every week.

Love Elder Neus

MMMMMMM BYE NOOOOW:)