He is with You

Dana's Baptism

"Happiness Moments"

--Dana got baptized!! What a miracle that was. She has been working with missionaries for a very long time, and she finally decided to really kneel down and pray to know. God always answers our sincere prayers.

--We went to Teotihuacan to visit the pyramids TWO days in a row!! Sunburned, enlightened, and happy. :)

(It was SO cool the second day because we went with a guide from the church who compared everything to the Book of Mormon. The church is true.)

Exchanges with Hermana Carter

--Went on my last companion exchanges with Hna Carter!

--I had my closing interview with my mission president and it was just what I needed.

--We experienced the power of prayer. Long story short, God is very aware of our situations.

  

Headed to the Pyramids

God is your and my loving Heavenly Father. He loves us so much that He wants us to progress, and He wants us to improve.

D&C 95:1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, and I have loved you.

You are His chosen child. He wants you to have what He has.

1 Nephi 20:10 For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. 

 

View of Pyramids

Heavenly Father never said it would be easy, but we won't do it alone. 

D&C 122:7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.  

Day of the Dead Celebration

2 Nephi 2:

6 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.

7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.

8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.

Coco Shrine

9 Wherefore, he is the firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved.

10 And because of the intercession for all, all men come unto God; wherefore, they stand in the presence of him, to be judged of him according to the truth and holiness which is in him. Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed, which punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement.

Hermanas with Elder & Sister Pingree

It is hard to find the exact words to express the gratitude that I have for my Savior, but as I have pondered and prayed, these words have come to mind:

You knew it'd be hard

And that you'd be tried

But God promised that

With you He'd abide

But since you've been here

He's felt far away

You feel so alone

And can't find your way

It feels like fire

That never will tame

And you find yourself

Engulfed in the flame

Happy after a wonderful conference

Your breaths are shallow

There's sweat on your brow

You can't see the end

From where you are now

The flame towers high

You can't see God's hand

Your knees hit the floor

It's too hard to stand

You cry with your might

To Father above

To turn down the heat

'Cause you've had enough

As tears stain the ground

You feel something new

Stronger than fire

A warmth within you

Plants

The process may burn

But He is with you

God knows you by name

And will help you through

Christ faced it alone

So we don't have to

He knows what we need

And what we should do

Fire still rages

But Christ's love is there

You'll come out stronger

Because of His care

Trust in the Maker

And His grand design

Follow His footsteps

And all will align

See you soon!

As my journey as a full-time missionary comes to an end, I have loved reflecting on all that I have learned, and all the people that I have met that have changed my life.

The most important person that I have come to know and love and that has really changed my life, is my Savior.

I know Jesus is the Christ. I know He lives. I know that His Atoning sacrifice continually helps us to progress and have joy. I know that as we choose Him daily, we are purified.

I am so grateful to know that the journey continues, and that every day I can strive to be more like Christ by becoming a better missionary, sister, daughter, friend, wife, and mother.

Trust in the Maker and all will align.

He is with you.

Love, Hermana Greenwood

Faith and Patience

Thania's Baptism

"Happiness Moments"

--Thania got baptized!! Her family members are members and they have been inactive for a while, but they are now back and active and happy:)

--Yolanda got baptized!!! In the beginning, she didn't want to listen to missionaries AT ALL. And now she is so happy walking with the promise of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.

Yolanda's Baptism

--Went on companion exchanges with Hna Inga!! We studied on the roof of my apartment building in the cold... totally worth it.

--Went to Ecatepec again today and did some shopping and ate in a member's restaurant... SO GOOD.

--While shopping, a lady asked me if I wanted to take English classes hahaha

Exchanges with Hermana Inga

--I started to pray for more patience... and then someone stole my phone, and then when we were checking out at the grocery store and my card wasn't accepted, and then the ATM ate my card. Hahaha I have never laughed so hard.

Friend in a fancy hallway

We have been studying a lot about the Atonement of Christ, and these are a couple of verses in Alma 34 that really stood out to me!

3 And as ye have desired of my beloved brother that he should make known unto you what ye should do, because of your afflictions; and he hath spoken somewhat unto you to prepare your minds; yea, and he hath exhorted you unto faith and to patience.

Hermanas eating dinner with a wonderful family

I had never really paid attention to the "patience" part before. As I read it I thought, well of course we need faith, but it is interesting that it talks about patience. And in the end of the chapter it says something similar:

Hermana Greenwood with a cute friend

40 And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have patience, and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions; that ye do not revile against those who do cast you out because of your exceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them;

Cute Bunny

41 But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.

Happy Halloween!

This is God's work, not ours. 

We will continue to learn line by line and precept by precept.

I love the Lord, and I love His work. How grateful I am to play a part in it. :)

Have faith and patience.

Love, Hermana Greenwood

Earthly Father, Heavenly Father

"Happiness Moments"

--When we were contacting in the street, a Christian woman sang to us.

--We rode the Mexicable today!!!

--We have loved having mini dance parties in the house to disney music;)

--I went back to my first area (Ecatepec) to say goodbye to some of my favorite people. It felt like I was going home to my family. I love them so dearly!!

--Maribel got baptized!! We knew from the beginning that she was chosen because after our first lesson with her she was already inviting everyone in the street to come to church:)

I just wanted to share a couple of thoughts from recent studies that I have had!

We are SUPER blessed because Elder Pingree and his wife will be coming to our mission next week, and he sent us a couple of chapters in the Book of Mormon to study.

I have grown to love even more Mosiah 3!

3 I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy. 

The glad tidings of the gospel of Jesus Christ surely brings me joy every day, and it is so simple.

19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father. 

The first thing that comes to my head when I think of being like a child is playing in the backyard, having water fights with the siblings, etc. But this time as I sat pondering, I thought of this video:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/video/inspirational-messages/2013-01-002-earthly-father-heavenly-father?lang=eng 

And this scripture:

3 Nephi 13: 25 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he looked upon the twelve whom he had chosen, and said unto them: Remember the words which I have spoken. For behold, ye are they whom I have chosen to minister unto this people. Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than draiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin;

29 And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, even so will he clothe you, if ye are not of little faith.

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof.

We can have total and complete trust in our Father in Heaven.

I encourage you all to seek Him and His kingdom here on earth before all else.

I feel that there is so much I want to share and so much I want to say, but simply put:

God loves you. Don't forget it.

Love, Hermana Greenwood:)

You Are Worth It

Socorro's Baptism

"Happiness Moments"

--My last zone conference was a success!! We conducted the zone conference, sang a song, and I bore my testimony. I can't believe how fast time goes.

--Round two of bed bug cleaning.

--I have a new best friend puppy whose name is cookie.

--Socorro got baptized!! We met her by contacting people on the streets. The Lord truly is preparing His children.

Gabriel's Baptism

--Gabriel got baptized!! He stopped the Elders on the street over a month ago saying that he wanted to change his life. His life is now completely different, he doesn't drink anymore, and has changed how he speaks. I love seeing the Atonement of Jesus Christ in action in people's lives.

Final Testimony in Zone Conference

In the zone conference this past week, the theme was D&C 18. The worth of souls is great in the sight of God.

10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

11 For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.

Musical Number

12 And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance.

13 And how great is his ajoy in the soul that repenteth!

Normally I just look at verse 10, but I think verse 11 is what stands out to me more. The evidence that your soul has great worth in the sight of God, is the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Christ loves you SO much. He gave literally everything for you. And He did it all alone so that we don't have to be alone in anything.

Never forget how much God loves you. Sometimes we feel like weeds in a beautiful flower patch, but God sees our real potential.

Multi-Zone Conference

My Grandpa sent me this powerful insight:

"And what is a weed?  A plant whose virtues have not been discovered."

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Your worth is great.

Love, Hermana Greenwood

Happier and Holier

Final MLC

"Happiness Moments"

--MLC was a good time! I feel very blessed to be in this mission, there are so many stellar missionaries and our mission president and his wife are amazing.

--President Parry this past week had to scratch his back and decided to use the door post to help him out haha.

Makeshift bedroom due to fumigation

--We pulled out our mattresses from our room to the bigger part of the apartment because the smell of the fumigation was still really strong. It was like a pajama party/ sleepover for a week!!

Making Bread

--We helped a recent convert make bread. Super delicious!!

Yolanda & Alejandra

--With only five weeks left, I am strongly considering sleeping with my nametag on. ;)

General Conference was INCREDIBLE. My testimony of preparing beforehand grew immensely. When we come prepared and with questions, the Lord always provides. 

I just want to share a couple of my favorite quotes!

--"The crowning jewel of the restoration is the temple." -President Nelson

--"This church was formed so that families can be born, sealed, and exalted." -President Oaks

--"Discipleship isn't about doing things perfectly, it is about doing things intentionally." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

--"The joy of the saints comes from being Christlike." -D. Todd Christofferson

Celebration after a long work day

--"We have the divine role to succeed." -Peter M. Johnson

As I have been thinking about the vision that I have for my life, I can't help but think about one of the main themes of general conference. Having your vision set on Christ.

Puffalump has survived 17 months in Mexico!

Elder Holland said that in order to grasp the vision we are seeking, we must fix our attention on Christ. His apostolic promise was that as we place our vision on Christ and cry out to Him, He will hear us, help us see, and save us.

I know that as we intentionally strive every day to be disciples and make the temple part of our life,  we will be joyful and exalted.

This is Christ's church, 

He leads it, He loves us. I add my prayer to that of President Nelson's, "may we all become happier and holier."

Love, Hermana Greenwood:)

Now is the Time

Andrea's Baptism

"Happiness Moments"

 --We had changes and I am with the most adorable companion!!! Hna Villar:)

--Last night at like 10:45 we discovered bugs in the beds... an uber came to pick us up around midnight and we slept in an apartment above the mission offices!! hahah that is something I will never forget.

--We bought super good bread that was warm and danced in the rain last night before the bug emergency happened;)

Fernando's Baptism

--We got to go to the temple this morning. I continue to feel so blessed for serving in a mission with a temple.

--Kayla, Shaid, Andrea, and Fernando got baptized!!!! Wow, it was such a crazy saturday. The Boiler in our church doesn't work and so we ended up having two different baptismal services in two different churches! One of the most stressful and amazing days of the mission. :)

Shaid and Kayla's Baptisms

General Conference is on the horizon!!! I hope you are all preparing to receive lots of light and revelation. :)

Hermanas Guajardo & Greenwood - More rain!

32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

My parents shared with me this quote that they heard in Stake Conference, "Sometimes we talk so much about what to do when the wind blows that we forget what we should do before the wind blows."

Fast Food

3 Nephi 14: 24 Therefore, whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock—

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.

I think that sometimes we sit down and talk and talk and talk, when really the most important part is to get up and walk. Put everything into action.

President Hinckley has said, "Get on your knees and pray, and then get on your feet and work."

D&C 84: 45 For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

New Companion - Hermana Villar

46 And the Spirit giveth blight to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.

47 And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father.

48 And the Father teacheth him of the covenant which he has renewed and confirmed upon you, which is confirmed upon you for your sakes, and not for your sakes only, but for the sake of the whole world.

Cute Little Friend

I love these scriptures. Everyone receives light, and as we listen to the impressions of the spirit, we come closer to God.

And we are never alone in the journey.

D&C 84:88 And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.

Slumber (or lack of slumber) Party

I encourage and invite you all to prepare for General Conference. I know that as we prepare, we will receive revelation upon revelation.

Now is the time to prepare for General Conference, and now is the time to prepare for the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I know He lives. I know He knows and loves us perfectly.

Now is the time to get to know and love Him, so that we may all live as He does.

With much love and joy,

Hermana Greenwood:)