Hello Hello,

Wow, writing to my wonderful family never gets old! I enjoy hearing from all of you and I look forward to Monday mornings! I don't have a lot of time to write today but this past week went exceptionally well. I have to admit that around the holiday season I've thought a lot about all of you and at times have wished to be where you are; but I'm realizing more and more the importance and the significance of my purpose as a missionary. It took me awhile but I can honestly say that "I know" that I am exactly where I need to be.

This past week we had Zone Conference where we get together with other missionaries and our zone leaders teach us and help us find ways to improve. One of our zone leaders talked about purifying our hearts and sanctifying ourselves. He talked about how that purifying can cause us to see our Savior and "know" that he lives. He said that when we see him it's like we will see ourselves because in that moment we are just like him, pure.

I have a difficult time telling it in an e-mail but I loved it and they also talked about faithful dedicated service and about how it is important to yield our hearts to God.

After zone conference I told myself that I was going to lose myself in the work and focus my thoughts on helping others. My companion and I have been able to find a lot of people to teach this week and we've set goals as a zone, district, and companionship to measure our progress.

As we've taught the gospel to people this week and have helped them come to understand the nature of God and of the love He and our Savior have for them, I cannot explain in words what that has done to my heart. I have compassion for them and I have a desire to help them learn more.

Last night my companion and I taught a lady who has two autistic sons between 4 and 7. We met her about a week ago when we were knocking and we introduced ourselves as missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ. She told us she wasn't interested because she had two autistic sons and she brought one of them to the door to prove to us that talking to them would be a waste of time. My companion and I bore testimony to her that we are all sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father regardless of who we are, where we come from, or what we look like and we promised that the gospel would bless her life and give her strength. She agreed to have us come back and we met with her again last night.

She told us about her life and about being a single mother. She wasn't bitter and she realized and acknowleged the blessings in her life. She also told us about times where she felt peace and comfort when things were really tough and also about times where she felt without any hesistation that she had been guided to make certain decisions that ended up helping her along the way. We were able to teach her a brief restoration and it was great to help her learn more about her worth as a daughter of God.

Being a missionary reminds me of a General Conference talk titled "Teaching Helps save Lives". My companion and I have only just begun to help this woman and others like her but through our faithful and dedicated service we can help them come closer to and understand the love our Heavenly Father has for all of us.

I love you guys,

Sister Green