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

Follow the Prophet

Sergio's Baptism!

Farewell to President & Sister Naumann

"Happiness moments":

-Sergio got baptized!!! 

-Last interviews with President Naumann were amazing!

-My companion unintentionally made a pun! A cat was wearing a Catholic necklace, and she called that cat super "cat"olico (which means Catholic) HAHA

-A couple in our mission said that they have been "cansados" (tired) for 48 years instead of "casados" (married) for 48 years.

Clotheslines

Recently I have talked to many people who are struggling with finding hope in their lives, who get overly stressed with everything, and who seem that they can't see life as anything but a giant stumbling block.

I am SO grateful for the words of prophets that help to guide us and help us see that trials aren't stumbling blocks, but stepping stones.

"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning." - Gordon B. Hinckley

"Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, 'I'll try again tomorrow.'" - Thomas S. Monson

Fancy Sombrero

"Be patient with yourself. Perfection comes not in this life, but in the next life. Don't demand things that are unreasonable, but demand of yourself improvement. As you let the Lord help you through that, He will make the difference." - President Nelson

Don't forget to do the little things this week! Read your scriptures, study the words of the prophets, say your prayers, and look for the hand of the Lord in every moment.

I know that God is our Father, that He loves us, and that He wants us to be happy. Look to Him.

Have a grand week!!

Hermana Greenwood

Standard of Truth

"Saints"

"Happiness Moments"

-On Intercambios with Hna Fernandez, EVERY person we ran into (member of investigator) gave us food.

-On Intercambios with Hna Rice, we had a family night and played charades and laughed the night away.

Intercambios (exchanges) with Hermana Fernandez

-Talking to my papa on Father's Day!!!

-I bought the book Saints and have fallen in love with it!!

One of my favorite things at the beginning of the book (Saints) was a letter from the First Presidency. My favorite part says,

"You are an important part of the continuing history of this Church. We thank you for all you do to build on the foundation of faith laid by our forebears."

Rainy Day Hair

In the guide to study the scriptures in Spanish, the word "Saint" means: "A faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

Kim: "If you don't peel mangos to eat them, you're not living your life right."

We are all a very important part of God's marvelous work.

Raincoat needed!

D&C 115: 5 Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations; 

May we all be a standard of truth by being a saint and sharing our light!!

I love you all!!

Hermana Greenwood:)

Kim: "Ginormous moth! We chased it out with a broom and a plastic bag!"

Stand Out, Stand Up, Be Different

"Happiness Moments"

-For the life of us we can't go to sleep on time because before we pray at night, we talk about our day and what we want to give thanks for, and end up laughing for at least 10 minutes because of all the funny things that happened and how grateful we are!

-We went out to do member visits with a senior couple (the Youngs), and just a few minutes later.... RAIN. I don't think I have seen it rain so hard in my life. We were absolutely soaked, but couldn't stop smiling!!

-A taxi driver this week asked if I was from Argentina!!! Language break-through;)

-People always ask what my last name means... and this week someone told me that my last name should mean "white wood" instead of "green wood" because I am so white... hahaha

"True disciples of Jesus Christ are willing to stand out, stand up, and be different from the people of the world. They are undaunted, devoted, and courageous."

-President Nelson

Sergio, one of the amazing people we are teaching, is working hard to change his life. He has a long and heavy past, but is determined to change. (We are also working with the Youngs (the senior couple) to help him have friends and feel comfortable.) In our lesson yesterday we were asking why he had such a desire to change. He pointed at the picture of Christ on the pamphlet of the Plan of Salvation, and specifically at the light that surrounds Him, and told us that he sees that light surrounding us, and wanted that kind of light in his life as well.

President Nelson has said that we are far more different from the world than we think we are. I encourage you all to magnify that light that you have, and to share it with all.

Don't be afraid to stand out, stand up, and be different!

Love, Hermana Greenwood:)

Drop in the Ocean

"Happiness Moments"

-Ana Julia got baptized!!!! (Cool little side story with her: all of her kids are members, and she has been meeting with missionaries for 8 months but has never felt the desire to make the necessary changes needed to be baptized. She said that what made her realize the truth and what gave her the desire to change was because she started reading the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon has SO much power.)

-One of the missionary couples invited us over for dinner and then took us to the roof of the office building to see the AMAZING view!!

-We had a super fun family night at the Bishop's house with a recent convert!! (Spiritual message, charades, and bagels are the perfect family home evening combination;) )

-Hermana Vieira's birthday was a MAJOR success. (We ate enough food to last a lifetime)

-We decided to make pancakes and show up at the house of four of the hermanas in our zone to surprise them with breakfast!

-The rainy season is starting!!!! :)

-Hermana Vieira and I had a spontaneous pillow fight.

Today I want to let a couple of quotes and scriptures do the talking for me.

President Hinckley helps us know what to do when we have worries, feel despair, or feel weak --

"The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best medicine for despair is service. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired."

 D&C 6: 

32 Verily, verily, I say unto you, as I said unto my disciples, where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching bone thing, behold, there will I be in the midst of them—even so am I in the midst of you.

33 Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.

34 Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.

35 Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you.

36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

37 Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

As the brand Nike says, "Just do it." I think sometimes we second guess ourselves when we really shouldn't. "Never suppress a generous thought." -Camilla Kimball

D&C 108:

7 Therefore, strengthen your brethren in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings.

8 And behold, and lo, I am with you to bless you and deliver you forever. Amen.

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." 

-Mother Teresa

I feel so incredibly blessed and grateful to be a missionary and to be able to be a drop in the ocean!

I encourage you all to go out and be that drop in the ocean for somebody else. I know that your influence is great!!

Love, Hermana Greenwood