Feliz Navidad

A kind member invited this beautiful foursome to Christmas Eve Dinner

I just wanted to quickly wish you all a Merry, Merry Christmas and remind you how much Peace you can find through Christ.

I encourage you all to look up the lyrics and listen to the song "Peace In Christ." Really ponder on the lyrics and remember how Christ really is a refuge from the storms of this life. Sometimes we may feel overwhelmed, but how amazing it is that in any moment of any day we can reach out to Him, and feel His everlasting peace.

Christmas Day Dinner with Proselyting Sisters and Mission Couples

There is peace in Christ. I know it because I have felt it.

I love you all! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Hermana Greenwood:)

“Peace in Christ” by Nik Day

There is peace in Christ

When we learn of Him.

Feel the love He felt for us

When he bore our sins.

Listen to his words.

Let them come alive.

If we know Him as he is,

There is peace in Christ.

Chorus:

He gives us hope

When hope is gone.

He gives us strength

When we can't go on.

He gives us shelter

In the storms of life.

When there's no peace on earth,

There is peace in Christ.

There is peace in Christ

When we walk with him

Through the streets of Galilee

To Jerusalem.

Mend the broken hearts.

Dry the tear-filled eyes.

When we live the way He lived,

There is peace in Christ.

To the Rescue

Hola!!!

 This past week I was reading the talk by Pres Monson "To the Rescue" and I couldn't help but just soak in every word. He mentioned three specific things that we can do to change our attitude and our habits and go TO THE RESCUE to help others.

Options for Kim's Christmas Ornament (tough choice)

1- have the knowledge of your eternal potential

2- make the decision to achieve that amazing potential and know that it is within your reach

3- love. love is the catalyst to building every relationship.

I couldn't help but think about Christ, His infinite love, and constant striving to do the Father's will. He is our perfect example, and He came to rescue us. I encourage you all this Christmas season to go TO THE RESCUE. Understand your eternal and grand potential, make the decision to work for it, love God and everyone around you, and find those that are in need of YOUR help.

I am so grateful for this time as a missionary to focus all my time and efforts on getting to know my Savior, who really has become my best friend, and being able to share this message with all that I meet.

I love you all! FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!!

Hermana Greenwood:)

(Note from Mom about the photo - Kim didn't send photos this week and I had to put something to make it interesting, so here are the two options I had for her 2018 Christmas ornament. She will surely thank me later for deciding on the Conservative Kim instead of...her model pose.)

Hoops and Hurdles

Hermana Greenwood & Hermana Xique (new trainee)

Update on life here in Mexico:

We had transfers and I am still chilling in my same area. Good thing this ward has become my home and I still love it even after four changes here!

Because of emergency transfers and craziness with visa work, I got a call from my President last Friday to train again! I picked up my adorable companion yesterday and already love her to pieces. Her name is Hna Xique, and wow is she such a hard worker and radiates the love of Christ.

Naomi was baptized!

As we all know, but sometimes forget, the Lord knows best. And His timing is absolutely perfect. I went through a couple of rough patches in this past week, and because the Lord is so merciful and knows us so perfectly, I was able to receive a blessing, and that blessing brought immense peace. I feel that throughout my mission I have been stretched to the point where I feel like I will break, and have had to jump through hoops and over hurdles. But these curveballs that have been thrown my way have helped me become the person that Heavenly Father knows that I can be. And I promise He is doing the same for you, and will help you every step of the way.

Hermana Greenwood with Sonia

My Dad sent me this quote this week that I think fits perfectly:

"God as a loving Heavenly Father will stretch our souls at times. The soul is like a violin string: it makes music only when it is stretched." - Neal A. Maxwell

We may feel like we can't clear the hurdle, can't fit through the hoop, or can't hit the curveball, but I promise you that as we listen to the Spirit, we will be guided in all that we do. And the journey will be joyful.

The Lord really does know best; trust in Him!

And have a wonderful week!

Hermana Greenwood:)

Fancy

Haha...same house number as home

Worth It

"Living After the Manner of Happiness" Moments:

Antonia's Baptism

There's no place like...Walmart

-We found a Wal-Mart and ventured inside to indulge. Who knew that Walmart would feel so much like home??

-One of the dogs we live with stole my sock and ate a hole in it, after laughing for a good long while I realized that I am going to miss it a "hole" lot.

-ANTONIA GOT BAPTIZED. She is absolutely amazing. When we first met her she was smoking 40 cigarettes every day, she has completely changed her life, and has felt God's love for her so strongly. It was amazing to see her, through Christ, change.

They made a real meal!

-Before her baptism we were trying to fill up the font the rest of the way. (Someone had only filled up the water halfway but had locked the door on the side where the knob is to turn on the water.) And so I gracefully climbed over the gate thing from the room to the font and leaped to the steps on the other side to unlock the door and turn on the water. Although there actually wasn't any water left, and she had to kneel to be baptized, I still felt like a hero. ;)

Giving out Finger Lights

I want you all to know how immense your worth is. I feel like it is often the subject of my emails to talk about worth, but it is because I feel like so many can't see their true worth or think they aren't good enough.

#LightTheWorld

Friends at Church with their new finger lights

I encourage you all to read in Matthew 15 about the miracle of the loaves and the fishes. If you feel like you aren't enough, remember that there definitely was not enough food for the multitudes of people that were there, but Christ provided. When we turn to Christ, give Him everything we have, He will work a miracle within us. YOU ARE ENOUGH. Turn to Christ, and He will help you to see it.

Keep lighting the world wherever you are because your worth and light are GREAT.

Love,

Hermana Greenwood:)

Another way to "live after the manner of happiness" =)

Thanks and Giving

Lights at the Mexico City Temple

I hope you all had the most spectacular Thanksgiving!

I sure am grateful, and here are just a few reasons why:

-I am a missionary in Mexico

-Because of that I get a ton of time dedicated to studying this wonderful gospel

Piano Practice

-Although super funny Christian ladies give us lectures in the streets about how we don't know anything, it just makes me laugh so life is so good

Pumpkin Pie!

-My Bishop found the only Bakery that sells pumpkin pie and bought us some for Thanksgiving

-I didn't get bit by the crazy dog who wanted my leg for a late Thanksgiving dinner

-The Christmas lights at the Mexico City temple are absolutely gorgeous

-Drawing hand turkeys are still one of my favorite 
things to do

Her Kindergarten teacher would be so proud =)

-I have amazing and supportive family and friends

-Including my wonderfully fantastic big brother, LANDON, whose birthday is this Sunday!! 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRO. :)

A View of the City and FLOWERS

-I have the opportunity to get to know so many amazing people and share with them how they can get closer to Christ every day

Kim's Thanksgiving Feast

-Thanks to this beautiful gospel, I live after the manner of happiness. (2 Nephi 5:27)

I encourage you all to keep being thankful and giving of yourselves in the service of the Lord. It brings greater happiness than the best turkey, potatoes, gravy, yams, stuffing, pumpkin pie combination ;).

I love you all!!

Hermana Greenwood:)

Mexico City Landscape

Masterpiece

Sisters Greenwood & Soto with Ian at his baptism

Being a missionary is a hoot and a half --

Funny story to start off this email: We were passing by for an investigator, who lives on a big hill, to go to church. We turned onto her street and saw a ton of Jehovah's Witnesses lining the whole street knocking doors. One door above them was the house of our investigator...so we RAN. We ran all the way up the hill and to her door and they were all laughing at us because we were pretty winded by the end.

Ian's Beautiful Family

I also want to give you all some homework. Go and read the talk, "I Have a Work for Thee" by Elder John C. Pingree, Jr. from the 2017 October Conference. It is amazing. It talks about us being a pencil in the Lord's hands, and how we have to be willing to be used. We need to trust in Him and the promise in Joshua 1:5, "...I will be with thee, I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

Ian's cousin (who adores Hermana Greenwood --the feeling is mutual)

We can be tools in the Lord's hands to help make a masterpiece. We are all different shapes, colors, and sizes. Whether we are a marker, colored pencil, or crayon, we are all needed. And in the process of making this masterpiece, we will be sharpened and refined, and with His help, we ourselves will become masterpieces.

Kim w/ a VW van (her dream is to drive with her husband across the U.S. in one)

Trust in the Lord, He is there with you every step of the way, and He will not fail you.

Getting cold in the mornings & evenings!

I love you all! Have a great week!

Hermana Greenwood:)

Purpose

Headed to Zone Conference

Why are we here? 

Where can we find happiness? 

What is the purpose of this life? 

What is my purpose?

This past week I have been thinking a lot about purpose, and studying a lot about this beautiful Plan that Heavenly Father has for us. We are all aware of the scripture in 2 Nephi 2:25 that says that "men are that they might have joy." But do we believe it?

Finding happiness with salsa

In those times that we are really struggling, feeling down, swamped in homework, feeling lonely, do we remember where our happiness comes from?

Finding happiness in the street

In 2 Nephi 5, Nephi says that they 

"lived after a manner of happiness."

The reason that they were so happy 

was because they knew who they were

 and they knew their purpose.

Peeking in her Christmas package! Naughty!

You are a child of a loving Heavenly Father, and following His counsel and guidance will bring you happiness even in the lowest of days.

I know it because I have felt it!

Finding happiness in going for a run!

Through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, 

we too can LIVE AFTER THE 

MANNER OF HAPPINESS.

Go, and LIVE HAPPILY. :)

Hermana Greenwood:)

Miracles

This week was incredible. The day of miracles definitely has not ceased.

Kim's commentary: "Plot twist! Mexico can get cold!"

-I saw a Dad, who many years ago served a mission, but had hardened his heart against the church, pray with all the energy of heart for his family and for strength to return. (We now have a baptismal date for his son.)

-We found out that one of the people we are teaching isn't married. She came with us to Stake Conference where the entire conference was focused on the family. She loved every word and is currently making a plan of how to live the law of chastity and has accepted a baptismal date.

FYI - That's a BYU sweatshirt under the scarf. Haha!

-We have been in contact with our former investigator again. (The one who decided not to get baptized.) He is now on track again for baptism, and is even more ready now than before to press forward with Christ.

Sometimes it is hard to see the fruits of our labors. Sometimes we feel like we have been chopping at the same tree for ages and there is barely a dent. BUT, I promise you that with faith and patience we can find comfort through the Lord now AND see the blessings. If not now, then in the future, but I promise the blessings will come.

Mosiah 24: 16-17 -

16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.

17 And he said unto Alma: Thou shalt go before this people, and I will go with thee and deliver this people out of bondage.

Just like Alma and his people, there will be great trials of strength and affliction, but the Lord is with us, and He will stand by us.

I love you all! Keep pressing forward with faith!

Hermana Greenwood:)

Journey

Font Picture

Sometimes being on a mission feels like you are climbing a really really big mountain. There are sharp rocks, and dusty paths, your muscles ache, and your water supply is running low. And far too often you just end up watching your feet, not looking around you. The path ahead feels daunting, but the moment you look up and see how far you've come, and see the view from where you are, that moment is what makes it all worth it.

Fun hats (member provided)

The Lord is with us on our journey home. Just when you feel like you won't make it another step, a little gust of wind pushes you from behind. When you are about to collapse from lack of water, a little stream is put in your path. Each step we take in the right direction, with the Lord, makes us just that much stronger.

Member received a mission call!

This week I was reading in Moroni 10. I share this chapter with people all the time and felt like I should really study it more. I wrote down all the things Moroni exhorts us to do. I encourage you all to do the same! When we follow Moroni's counsel, many things are promised in return.

P-day feast

Recently my Dad shared this quote with me from Elder Uchtdorf:

"It's human nature to stumble, fail, and sometimes want to drop out of the race. But as disciples of Christ, we have committed not only to begin the race but also to finish it."

Don't know the story, but looks fun!

Christ is with us every step of the way. Let Him in. I know that the journey can be rough and rocky, the race full of switchbacks and thorns, but with Christ it is possible. And more than that, it's enjoyable.

I love this gospel with all my heart.

Have an amazing week!

Hermana Greenwood:)

Remember

Streets look a little intimidating -- just another day for the missionaries!

Daily Planning

This past week has been full of incredibly low lows and incredibly high highs, and as I was studying Helaman 5, my one big take away is to REMEMBER.

Missionary Welcome

• Remember how merciful the Lord is.
• Remember that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can overcome any trial, affliction, or shortcoming that we may face.
• Remember that to get closer to Christ we will be shown our weakness, but that His light outshines any darkness we are in.
• Remember to fear not, because we have the Lord on our side.
• Remember how much Heavenly Father loves YOU.

Smooch from a Pooch

He knows you perfectly and He loves you perfectly. You will never be forgotten. My challenge to you is to never forget Him.

I love you all! Have a miraculous week!!

Hermana Greenwood:)