impACT

Aixa's Baptism

Exchanges with Hermana Salazar on her birthday!

"Happiness Moments"

--Aixa got baptized!!!! She is 9 years old and is the sweetest thing you will ever meet. When we asked her why she wanted to get baptized she said, "Because I want to live in the Celestial Kingdom."

--During the baptism of Aixa, there was a HUGE storm outside... and our clothes were still hung up drying... they got washed twice;)

Eating EYE TACOS

--Companion exchanges with Hnas Carter and Salazar!!! And it was Hna Salazar's birthday so we enjoyed some tacos and cake. :)

--We had a zone activity!!! Played some volleyball and soccer, and ate a good amount of pizza to top it all off.

2 Nephi 2:14 "...for there is a God, and he hath bcreated all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be cacted upon.

Donuts from a member

Agency is a very important gift from our loving Heavenly Father. We were put on this earth with the capacity to choose. We were not sent here to be acted upon.

Sometimes we fall into the trap of saying that we don't have time, that we can't complete everything because our circumstances don't allow us to.

Hermanas Greenwood, Tukuafu, and Vieira

Don't fall into this trap. The Atonement of Christ gives us the strength to do all that He has asked us to.

"Don't pray to have your circumstances changed but rather pray to have strength to change your circumstances." -Elder Bednar

The mountains and oceans that are put before us to cross are for our benefit, they are there to strengthen us.

"We should take care not to resent the very things that help us put on the divine nature." - Paul V. Johnson

 

Zone Activity - Volleyball and SOCCER

And if we really pay attention, we are surrounded by beauty.

And we definitely are not alone.

"There is no physical pain, no anguish of soul, no suffering of spirit, no infirmity or weakness that you or I ever experience during our mortal journey that the Savior did not experience first." - Elder Bednar

My challenge for each of you this week is to take a step back and look at your life. Figure out how to apply the ennabling and redeeming power of Christ's Atonement into every aspect of your life.

CV Hermana who is adored

"In order to make an impact, we have to act." 

-Elder Bednar

I know that the Lord walks with us. I know because I have felt His love through thick and thin. I know because even though this past week was one of the hardest, He helped me push through. Christ helped me taste of His joy even in the lowest of moments.

I promise He will do the same for you.

Trust in Him.

And have an excellent week. :)

Hermana Greenwood

Purpose: Prayers and Actions

3 Beauties

 "Happiness Moments"

--We got to help in the stay-at-home EFY!! We got to know the youth, did practices of sharing the Book of Mormon with their friends, and it was a blast!!

--A couple of people selling cookies were SUPER persistent. They almost put the cookie in my mouth to try it so that I would buy it. Luckily the member that we were with had brought some money and bought us cookies hahaha.

EFY

--*Talking to a recent convert on the phone as we were outside of her house waiting to go to church together* Me: "You ready? We are outside!" *hears running water from a shower* Recent convert: "Yeah, yeah, I am ready! Just let me rinse!"

--Ximena, a recent convert, shared this inspiring thought, "When somebody buys you tacos, it is the same as saying 'I love you.'"

EFY Supplies

Moses 1:39 "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

"The purpose of the gospel is to make bad men good and good men better, and to change human nature." 
- President David O. McKay 

The Lord has given us so many tools to help us to change our human nature, to get rid of the natural man, and become Saints through the Atonement of Christ.

EFY Instructors

1- Prayer. In my email last week, I talked about the importance of crying unto the Lord in prayer. I hope you have all been able to feel a difference in your lives as you have begun to counsel with the Lord. (Alma 34, Alma 37)

2- The Book of Mormon. How often do we read the Book of Mormon like it is any other book? We need to read it with spiritual eyes, expecting to receive answers to our questions. (2 Nephi 32)

Cereal of Love

Kim: "Tomal with Atole is sooooo yummy!"

3- Modern day prophets. 3 Nephi 12:1.

This week I encourage you all to read the talk, "In the Strength of the Lord" by Elder Bednar. (https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/david-a-bednar/strength-lord/)

Every day as missionaries we invite people to pray, to read the Book of Mormon, and to listen to the words of modern prophets. Sometimes as members of Christ's church we forget to do these simple things, or we only do them "because we have to" and not necessarily because we want to.

I invite all of you to remember the importance of a daily habit of praying, reading the Book of Mormon, and following the prophet, by putting it into practice.

Hermanas Greenwood & Vieira after Zone Conference

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

Heavenly Father sees you with a divine potential. 

Work every day to reach it! :)

 Love, Hermana Greenwood:)

Did you think to pray?

Visit to the Visitors' Center

"Happiness Moments":

-Eating pizza three days in a row. (Haha it is funny when the members all have the same idea to give us "pizza for a change")

-Sharing a sweater with an awesome member in the rain as we contacted people!

-Holding a reptile....

-Having three family home evenings during the week!!

Sharing a sweater

This past Sunday the Stake President spoke of the importance of prayer. He asked us:

1- Are you praying?

2- Do you understand how dangerous the world is?

Kim was told that it bites AFTER it was put in her hand =)

He talked about the necessity of praying and how we can't live without the constant guidance and help of our loving Father in Heaven. Recently my wonderful Grandpa posed this question to ponder,  "Is there a difference between 'praying' and 'saying your prayers'?"

FHE Activity

I love reading in Alma 34 when it talks about crying unto the Lord. Praying isn't aimless speaking, it is counselling, pleading, laughing, crying, and so much more.  

FHE Activity - "Before" pic

D&C 10:5 - Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work. 

FHE Activity - "After" pic

D&C 25:12 - For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads. 

The words of hymn 140 say it better than I can; I encourage you all to study the lyrics!!

Kim's Dream VW Van (just needs a few repairs)

My invitation to you all today is in the hard moments, in the good moments, in all the moments, pray. Pray for guidance, happiness, peace. Pray to give thanks. Don't forget to pray. 

God loves you and wants to hear from you always.

Have an excellent week!!

Hermana Greenwood:)

Measure Success Properly

Kim: "I found a GORGEOUS flower that's as big as my face!"

American food to celebrate the 4th of July

"Happiness Moments":

-HAPPY (late) FOURTH OF JULY. A cute couple from the mission made us hamburgers and chocolate cake to celebrate. :)

-Going to an appointment at the hospital for Hna. Vieira (everything is fine, don't be alarmed) and having to wait for HOURS hahaha -- good thing we always have good reading material. ;)

Looks sooooooo good!

-Before we were working in two wards, and with the new changes, we are officially only in the ward Oceanía! Although it was hard to say goodbye to some amazing members and people we were teaching, we are excited to focus on one ward:)

Wonderful Member Family

We should stop measuring success how the world does, and start measuring success how the Lord does.

"When we have done our very best, we will still experience disappointments but we will not be disappointed in ourselves. We can feel certain that the Lord is pleased when we feel the Spirit working through us. Peace, joy, and hope are available to those who measure success properly."

-Julie B. Beck

Soccer with members

Tuck in shirt, hike up skirt, ready to play!

Mosiah 4:27 - And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.

President Uchtdorf has said, "There is more to life than increasing its speed."

The only thing that we have to worry about is rejoicing about Christ.

Score one for Hermana Greenwood!

2 Nephi 25:26 - And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

I asked one of the recent converts (Sergio) to write his testimony in my notebook, and something that he wrote at the end really touched my heart, and I feel that it goes very well with measuring success properly. He said, "I am not perfect, but I am improving."

Happy 4th of July!

As my mom always reminds me, God doesn't expect us to be perfect, but He does expect us to try perfectly. Peace, hope, and joy are available to all of us every day as we live worthy to walk with the Spirit.

Have a wonderful week!!

Hermana Greenwood:)

Suffer with Joy

Sarai's Baptism

"Happiness Moments"

-Saraí got baptized!!!

-Getting caught in the rain without umbrellas... multiple times! :)

-Companion exchanges with some awesome hermanas. :)

-Meeting my new mission presidents (Pres & Hna Parry). They are AMAZING. I immediately felt their love.

We learn in the scriptures that we are here to have joy. But how is it that we can find joy when the world seems to be beating our laughs to tears and smiles to frowns?

Step 1: Remember that your situation doesn't matter, what matters is the direction you are headed in.

Exchanges

D&C 58: 3-4

3 Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.

4 For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.

D&C 6:36 - Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

Step 2: Keep the covenants that you have made and trust in God's promises.

Mosiah 24: 13-15

13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

First Mission Leadership Council with President & Sister Parry

Book of Mormon Jeopardy

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

D&C 82:10

10 I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.

D&C 130: 20-21

20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—

21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

New iPhone....eraser

Step 3: Pray always and give thanks so you can always be rejoicing.

D&C 136: 28-29

28 If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving.

29 If thou art sorrowful, call on the Lord thy God with supplication, that your souls may be joyful.

3 Nephi 18:18 - Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.

Keep moving forward in the right direction, remember the promises God has for you, and pray always.

God loves you! Don't you forget it!!

Have the best week:)

Hermana Greenwood