este es el momento

"Living After the Manner of Happiness Moments"

-I gave a talk in church and afterwards my companion was making fun of how red my face gets when I get nervous she basically said: "Hna. Greenwood, your face talks for you. When you got up to speak I was like, 'is that Hna. Greenwood or a piece of salami?'"

Needless to say my confidence increased ten-fold;)

-Hna Tukuafu (one of the girls in the other companionship that I live with) got lice! Our mission president's wife told us to go out and buy special shampoo and wash EVERYTHING in our house. I don't think I have ever washed so much clothing in my life. Surprisingly, washing things by hand is pretty fun!

Being a missionary (or just living life) continues to have its ups and downs, twists and turns, and sometimes it feels a little unbearable. Whether it's because you've been rejected, people didn't keep their promises, you feel alone, the computer shuts down in the middle of a big project, or you simply get a bad haircut, and you feel that there is no glue that will ever piece back together your broken life, grades, or heart, I have the solution. I may not be a doctor, but I have medication that I want you all to apply daily.

The first batch is called JOY. Joy stands for Jesus, Others, Yourself. When we think of Christ first, and focus on Him, the next thing we will do is look for others who need our help and love. (Just take a quick look around, and offer your love.) And I promise when you do this, you yourself will be well taken care of.

The second is called primary. I call it primary because that's exactly where I learned it. It is to read your scriptures daily, and soak in the messages that were put there for YOU to learn, grow, and feel of Heavenly Father's love. It is to pray fervently, because I promise you that Heavenly Father is waiting anxiously to hear from YOU and wants to help you feel His peace and live His plan of happiness.

Este es el momento. Now is the time to make the decision to have JOY in your life, which is everybody's PRIMARY purpose here. ;)

I love you all. Thank you for being who you are, and I encourage you to keep working towards who God put you here to be. Your influence is greater than you know.

Have the grandest week of your life:)

With great love, 

Hermana Greenwood

Dearly and Perfectly

"Living After the Manner of Happiness" Moments:

Nancy's Baptism

--My companion is still learning English, and sometimes that makes for some of the best moments. I asked her if she had heard of the song, "You Are a Light on a Hill" and although she hadn't, she tried to translate it. It's unfortunate that "hill" and "hell" sound so incredibly similar. I think I would rather be a light on a HILL. ;)

Christopher's Baptism

--We found some see-saws (or teetertotters?) and decided to take a little break and play. Maybe we should take the new missionary changes more seriously and wear pants because playing on those things in skirts probably wasn't the best idea. But it was beyond worth it because I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe!! :)

Being a missionary has changed my life. It has changed my life because it has changed my perspective and my understanding of life and the gospel. I think a lot of the simple scripture found in 1 Nephi 11:17 - 

"...I know that He loveth His children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things."

I have learned more to trust in God's timing and in the infinite grace of Christ. Although the process of learning, growing, changing, and understanding isn't always a comfortable one, it is a process that has brought more joy into my life than I can possibly express.

I don't know the meaning of all things, but I know that God is our Father, and He loves us

 (including YOU) so dearly and so perfectly. Don't ever forget it. :)

Hermana Greenwood:)

2019 - HAPPY NEW YEAR

How has another year come and gone?

Hermanas Greenwood, Tukuafu, Xique, and Soto with member friends at church

The year of 2018 was one of the best of my life. I have had so many new experiences that have changed me for the better, met so many new people that have blessed my life, and gotten closer to my Savior more than ever before.

Normally during this time people make a lot of goals and plans to improve their lives. Something that I have realized on my mission is that we should be making goals and plans to improve EVERY DAY.

Another View

This past week I was studying a talk called "Where Am I?" by Elder Mervyn B. Arnold and felt it was the perfect talk to think about starting this new year! I encourage you all to give it a read!

"We were born in this day and age to learn the lessons that we individually need and also to DO THE MOST GOOD with our individual talents and personalities."

You have so many gifts and talents that your loving Heavenly Father has given you, I encourage you all to make goals and plans to help build upon these talents and gifts that make you who you are.

 

I think Hermana Greenwood has seen "High School Musical" one too many times! =)

You is kind, you is smart, you is important. (Just in case you needed THE HELP remembering;) )

I love you all, thank you for your wonderful influences in my life!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Hermana Greenwood:)

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" =)