Dear Family,
It's been a great week in my new area. Having Elder Maynes come see us has really helped me improve my missionary work. One of the things he mentioned before he spoke was he knew we would learn new things from him and with those new things we should move forward. I love that the gospel is all about progression.
I've been reminded of how great it was serving with Sister Boyd. It's nice to see the changes in each other even over the past eight months. The area is great and the members love missionaries and missionary work. They're especially excited that they get to have Sister missionaries in the ward; up until a few months ago the Elders were here for a long period of time.
Sister Rae, Sister Boyd, and I got to teach the lesson in Relief Society this past Sunday and we talked about missionary work. We were able to hear experiences from the Sisters on opportunities they've had to go out and also about some of the fears or hesitancy's they have about missionary work. Everyone was really involved which always makes things run smoothly.The Bishops wife Sister Parker, told us that because there are Sister missionaries in the ward all four of her daughters want to serve missions. We were excited for the opportunity to serve the Sisters here by talking about missionary work and in closing we watched the first vision from the Restoration DVD.
We've been blessed with people to teach and we've been developing the necessary faith to find people prepared by the Lord. He has repeatedly shown us that they are out there. I love finding. It's sort of like a big game of hide and seek:) On Saturday we were knocking in a neighborhood we prayerfully picked the night before during our planning, and the last door we knocked; before our next appointment, a man named Darren answered. We introduced ourselves and we told him that God has called another prophet and twelve apostles on the earth. When we asked him if we could come in and share more and accepted. We shared the restoration and the Spirit present during the lesson was great. I love the we have the Holy Ghost to testify of the truthfulness of our words.
Darren also accepted our invitation to read from the Book of Mormon and pray about the message of the restoration. We're meeting with him again this week and a recent convert of a month or so will be coming with us. We also have the Primary Program for our ward this coming Sunday so we're striving to invite people to come out and see them sing. The Spirit is always so strong when little children share their testimonies of Jesus Christ.
Another experience I had with the Holy Ghost happened this week also. My companions and I walked up to this older woman we saw sitting in her garage and we talked with her for a few minutes. She told us she was born and raised in the Baptist church and so were her children. We told her that there was a prophet again on the earth and around that time one of her sons pulled up. We began to talk to him as well and we invited them to learn more about the restored gospel. They didn't accept and when they said they weren't interested ( a phrase I've heard many times) I was really sad.
As we walked away I thought "How can you say no?" "There's a prophet on the earth.", "Your family can be together forever." I got a little teary and I felt the Spirit comfort me. It was like Heavenly Father giving me a big hug. I know this is the Lord's work. I know He watches over us. I'm grateful to be a missionary and to be having some of the same experiences as the powerful missionaries in the Book of Mormon.
Love you guys,
Sister Green
Monday, November 8, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
11/01/10
Dear Family,
Transfer week has gone well. I was surprised by the results but I'm excited and looking forward to the next 6 weeks. Sister Boyd and I are companions again and we were transferred to North Austin (Round Rock) to be with Sister Rae who has been in the mission for 6 weeks. Currently there are an odd number of Sisters in the mission so we've been blessed to be in a trio, for at least a transfer.
Our area is called Old Settlers and it is a very rich and new area. There are a lot of nice people here and the members of the ward are amazing. Sister Rae is also a Spanish Sister so we've been learning more Spanish from her. I've heard nothing but great things and I feel humbled to know that Heavenly Father wanted me to be here.
Sister Boyd, Sister Rae, and I are adjusting well and quickly. Relationships where the Savior and gospel come first are always better than what we could make them on our own. I don't know of any other way that I'd be able to transition so quickly and adapt to frequent changes; but the Savior's grace is sufficient.Thank you all for your prayers and support and for all of your love. That's helped me a lot as well.
I posted some pictures up of my companions, another Sister (Chavez) who finished her mission on Friday, and our mailman in San Marcos, David. Sister Mauer and I taught him a couple of times and he's really sweet but he's also really Catholic too.
Hope you enjoy them. I'll write more next week.
Love you all,
Sister Green
P.S. My new address is:
1801 East Palm Valley #1623
Round Rock, TX 78664...(Mail is appreciated:)
Transfer week has gone well. I was surprised by the results but I'm excited and looking forward to the next 6 weeks. Sister Boyd and I are companions again and we were transferred to North Austin (Round Rock) to be with Sister Rae who has been in the mission for 6 weeks. Currently there are an odd number of Sisters in the mission so we've been blessed to be in a trio, for at least a transfer.
Our area is called Old Settlers and it is a very rich and new area. There are a lot of nice people here and the members of the ward are amazing. Sister Rae is also a Spanish Sister so we've been learning more Spanish from her. I've heard nothing but great things and I feel humbled to know that Heavenly Father wanted me to be here.
Sister Boyd, Sister Rae, and I are adjusting well and quickly. Relationships where the Savior and gospel come first are always better than what we could make them on our own. I don't know of any other way that I'd be able to transition so quickly and adapt to frequent changes; but the Savior's grace is sufficient.Thank you all for your prayers and support and for all of your love. That's helped me a lot as well.
I posted some pictures up of my companions, another Sister (Chavez) who finished her mission on Friday, and our mailman in San Marcos, David. Sister Mauer and I taught him a couple of times and he's really sweet but he's also really Catholic too.
Hope you enjoy them. I'll write more next week.
Love you all,
Sister Green
P.S. My new address is:
1801 East Palm Valley #1623
Round Rock, TX 78664...(Mail is appreciated:)
10/26/10
Dear Family,
The verdict for this transfer is in and I am going to be.....leaving to a new area; Sister Mauer is going to train. I'm excited for her and for myself too. I was getting a little ansy and feel like I've talked to everyone in San Marcos and I know where they all live because I've knocked on their door:) I don't know where I'm going or who my companion will be but I find out in a couple days.
The week has gone well and it's been nice to meet and teach new people. I'm hopeful for the future of the area it's been a good one. Still don't have much time this week (because of packing this time) but I'll be sure to keep you posted on any upcoming events.
Love you guys,
Sister Green
The verdict for this transfer is in and I am going to be.....leaving to a new area; Sister Mauer is going to train. I'm excited for her and for myself too. I was getting a little ansy and feel like I've talked to everyone in San Marcos and I know where they all live because I've knocked on their door:) I don't know where I'm going or who my companion will be but I find out in a couple days.
The week has gone well and it's been nice to meet and teach new people. I'm hopeful for the future of the area it's been a good one. Still don't have much time this week (because of packing this time) but I'll be sure to keep you posted on any upcoming events.
Love you guys,
Sister Green
10/18/10
Dear Family,
This week has gone well. Peter Wood was baptized on Saturday and received the gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday in sacrament meeting. His baptism was nothing short of a miracle and Heavenly Father helped us prepare everything in time.
I have pictures attached from the weekend. I don't have a lot of time today; I wanted to remind you of transfers next week so P-day will be on Tuesday instead of Monday.
Love you all,
Sister Green
This week has gone well. Peter Wood was baptized on Saturday and received the gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday in sacrament meeting. His baptism was nothing short of a miracle and Heavenly Father helped us prepare everything in time.
I have pictures attached from the weekend. I don't have a lot of time today; I wanted to remind you of transfers next week so P-day will be on Tuesday instead of Monday.
Love you all,
Sister Green
10/11/10
Dear Family,
This week has gone very well. I'm a little overwhelmed by the things we've learned the past few days. Our training with our Mission President was great and I learned a lot. I tried to remember the names of the eight lessons we focused on but I can only remember four of them. Next week I'll have them with me and then I can talk about them, briefly.
The month is going by pretty fast. Sister Mauer and I are in pure finding mode for the most part. We've had to let some of our investigators go but we're still working with a couple if them so that's good.
In our meetings this week our Mission President talked to us about how we can help build trust in the wards where we serve. We have five missionaries here in the San Marcos ward (3 Elders) and we all got together to talk about ways we can best help and serve the members of the ward. It's been challenging to find a balance between finding and reaching out to the members both active and inactive.
I've found strength in a scripture from the Ether 3:2 in the Book of Mormon. The Brother of Jared and his people have just built barges and he's trying to prepare a way for these barges to receive light. He finds 16 small transparent stones and carried them to the top of a mountain where he prayed to God saying:
..."O Lord, and do not be angry with thy servant because of his weakness before thee; for we know that thou art holy and dwellest in the heavens, and that we are unworthy before thee; because of the fall our natures have become evil continually; nevertheless, O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that from thee we may receive according to our desires."
I like the humility of the Brother of Jared. He was a leader among his people but he trusted in the Lord. He knew his weaknesses and knew that the Lord would help him. I love weaknesses; they bring us closer to the our Heavenly Father and help us recognize just how much we need Him and our Savior. None of us can do it alone.
This is the Lord's work and we're blessed to be given the opportunity to be a part of it.:)
Love you guys,
Sister Green
This week has gone very well. I'm a little overwhelmed by the things we've learned the past few days. Our training with our Mission President was great and I learned a lot. I tried to remember the names of the eight lessons we focused on but I can only remember four of them. Next week I'll have them with me and then I can talk about them, briefly.
The month is going by pretty fast. Sister Mauer and I are in pure finding mode for the most part. We've had to let some of our investigators go but we're still working with a couple if them so that's good.
In our meetings this week our Mission President talked to us about how we can help build trust in the wards where we serve. We have five missionaries here in the San Marcos ward (3 Elders) and we all got together to talk about ways we can best help and serve the members of the ward. It's been challenging to find a balance between finding and reaching out to the members both active and inactive.
I've found strength in a scripture from the Ether 3:2 in the Book of Mormon. The Brother of Jared and his people have just built barges and he's trying to prepare a way for these barges to receive light. He finds 16 small transparent stones and carried them to the top of a mountain where he prayed to God saying:
..."O Lord, and do not be angry with thy servant because of his weakness before thee; for we know that thou art holy and dwellest in the heavens, and that we are unworthy before thee; because of the fall our natures have become evil continually; nevertheless, O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that from thee we may receive according to our desires."
I like the humility of the Brother of Jared. He was a leader among his people but he trusted in the Lord. He knew his weaknesses and knew that the Lord would help him. I love weaknesses; they bring us closer to the our Heavenly Father and help us recognize just how much we need Him and our Savior. None of us can do it alone.
This is the Lord's work and we're blessed to be given the opportunity to be a part of it.:)
Love you guys,
Sister Green
10/04/10
Dear Family,
This weekend was amazing. I loved General Conference. Sister Mauer and I did our best to invite people to come see it; even people we met the day of, because it's such an important event. The weekend always seems to go by so quickly but in 6 months we'll be able to enjoy it again.
We met a young college student named Sarah a week ago today and we invited her to come watch Conference. Yesterday we went to the Institute building to watch the first session and around 10:45 Sarah walked in with her Book of Mormon, ready to hear from the leaders of the church. She was really excited to hear from President Monson and she kept asking us "Will I be able to hear from the prophet today?"
She could only stay for and hour because of obligations with a club she's in at school and unfortunately she left just before President Monson spoke. Sister Mauer and I were a little sad but then we thought about the blessing it was to have someone come and be so willing to learn. I'm grateful for technology because she'll be able to watch what she missed online when she has time.
We also have another investigator Peter Wood who we've been teaching. He went to every single session of Conference including Priesthood session Saturday night. One of his concerns was he questioned the authority of the leaders of the Church. We promised him that if he truly had a desire to know and was sincere, the Holy Ghost would testify to him that our Heavenly Father continues to speak to us today through his prophet, President Monson.
Saturday evening he called us and we spoke to him briefly about the things he had learned during the Priesthood session. He told us he was able to speak to the bishop after the session as well and he said he knew, without a doubt, that President Monson is a prophet.
Likewise after the last session yesterday we had a lesson with him at the church and he began to get teary eyed as he talked about the way conference made him feel.He said that some people choose not to believe that there is a prophet on the earth today and twelve apostles that are real but to him it's true, and it's real.
I love the Spirit and how He testifies to us of all truth. One of my favorite things as a missionary is when I'm given the opportunity to be present when someone receives a witness from the Holy Ghost that the gospel or principles we've shared or have been sharing is true, and they decide to act on what they've learned. Lives can be changed forever.
An exciting event coming up is all this week (Tuesday-Friday), half of the mission will be in Austin receiving training on the eight new lessons that the 1st Presidency want the missionaries to learn. The other half of the mission will be trained in San Antonio next week I believe. The lessons are still from Preach My Gospel but emphasis has been added to the most important things that we all need to learn. It's going to be such a spiritual feast:)
Speaking of spiritual feasts I'm reminded of something. I was reading my scriptures in 3 Nephi where the Savior appears here and teaches the Nephites. In chapter 17:1-3 He tells them He has to leave soon. He shares a lot of things and knowing they do not understand everything he says; He invites them to go home, to ponder what He shared, and then to pray to Heavenly Father for understanding.
The Savior's invitation reminds me of General Conference. Our leaders share the things our Savior would tell us if He were here. A lot is shared with us over a two day period and if we follow the counsel we receive it will eventually lead us back to our Father in Heaven.
We've been inviting families as we meet with them, to ponder the messages of General Conference and then to pray for an understanding of how they can apply the teaches individually and within their families. I'm looking forward to doing this and I invite all of you to do it if you haven't already. The Lord will bless you.
Thank you all for your love and support as always. Have a wonderful week.
Love you lots,
Sister Green
This weekend was amazing. I loved General Conference. Sister Mauer and I did our best to invite people to come see it; even people we met the day of, because it's such an important event. The weekend always seems to go by so quickly but in 6 months we'll be able to enjoy it again.
We met a young college student named Sarah a week ago today and we invited her to come watch Conference. Yesterday we went to the Institute building to watch the first session and around 10:45 Sarah walked in with her Book of Mormon, ready to hear from the leaders of the church. She was really excited to hear from President Monson and she kept asking us "Will I be able to hear from the prophet today?"
She could only stay for and hour because of obligations with a club she's in at school and unfortunately she left just before President Monson spoke. Sister Mauer and I were a little sad but then we thought about the blessing it was to have someone come and be so willing to learn. I'm grateful for technology because she'll be able to watch what she missed online when she has time.
We also have another investigator Peter Wood who we've been teaching. He went to every single session of Conference including Priesthood session Saturday night. One of his concerns was he questioned the authority of the leaders of the Church. We promised him that if he truly had a desire to know and was sincere, the Holy Ghost would testify to him that our Heavenly Father continues to speak to us today through his prophet, President Monson.
Saturday evening he called us and we spoke to him briefly about the things he had learned during the Priesthood session. He told us he was able to speak to the bishop after the session as well and he said he knew, without a doubt, that President Monson is a prophet.
Likewise after the last session yesterday we had a lesson with him at the church and he began to get teary eyed as he talked about the way conference made him feel.He said that some people choose not to believe that there is a prophet on the earth today and twelve apostles that are real but to him it's true, and it's real.
I love the Spirit and how He testifies to us of all truth. One of my favorite things as a missionary is when I'm given the opportunity to be present when someone receives a witness from the Holy Ghost that the gospel or principles we've shared or have been sharing is true, and they decide to act on what they've learned. Lives can be changed forever.
An exciting event coming up is all this week (Tuesday-Friday), half of the mission will be in Austin receiving training on the eight new lessons that the 1st Presidency want the missionaries to learn. The other half of the mission will be trained in San Antonio next week I believe. The lessons are still from Preach My Gospel but emphasis has been added to the most important things that we all need to learn. It's going to be such a spiritual feast:)
Speaking of spiritual feasts I'm reminded of something. I was reading my scriptures in 3 Nephi where the Savior appears here and teaches the Nephites. In chapter 17:1-3 He tells them He has to leave soon. He shares a lot of things and knowing they do not understand everything he says; He invites them to go home, to ponder what He shared, and then to pray to Heavenly Father for understanding.
The Savior's invitation reminds me of General Conference. Our leaders share the things our Savior would tell us if He were here. A lot is shared with us over a two day period and if we follow the counsel we receive it will eventually lead us back to our Father in Heaven.
We've been inviting families as we meet with them, to ponder the messages of General Conference and then to pray for an understanding of how they can apply the teaches individually and within their families. I'm looking forward to doing this and I invite all of you to do it if you haven't already. The Lord will bless you.
Thank you all for your love and support as always. Have a wonderful week.
Love you lots,
Sister Green
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