The Perfect Day

Manuel and Sandra were baptized!

Hermanas Carter, Guajardo, Greenwood, & Rice

"Happiness Moments"

--We ate waffles with Andrea (she will get baptized this week) this morning and I feel fat and happy;)

--I had interviews with President Parry and I feel so incredibly blessed to have such an amazing mission president. The Lord knows exactly what we need.

la guerita y la morenita (white girl and brunette)

--The Hermanas that live next to us locked their keys in their apartment and nobody had an extra. The landlord somehow managed to take out the window of the bathroom (it is a VERY small window) and wiggled his way in to be able to open the door from the inside. Haha it was quite the night.

--We had a ward activity where we cleaned the church. My companion and I scrubbed the baptismal font with Clorox for more than an hour haha. I have never had so much fun cleaning.

--There was a devotional in the Visitors' Center! I love how much music invites the Spirit.

Zone Conference - Hermanas Greenwood & Tukuafu

--Sandra and Manuel got baptized!!! The first appointment that we had with them, Sandra did not show even a spark of interest. But as she began to pray and read the Book of Mormon and come to church, she opened her heart just enough to let the Spirit in. What a miracle it has been to see their progress!!

I think we all dream about what would be our "perfect day." And this past week I finally figured out how we can have the perfect day, every day. It doesn't matter if we are missionaries, a mom, a son, studying, working, we can have a "perfect day" every day. Here is the definition:

Perfect day: Seek after, listen to, and follow the Spirit.

How simple is that?

Hermanas Guajardo  (companion) & Greenwood

3 Nephi 19: 9 - And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them.

What is what we most desire?

Alma 58: 10 - Therefore we did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would strengthen us and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, yea, and also give us strength that we might retain our cities, and our lands, and our possessions, for the support of our people.

11 Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in him.

12 And we did take courage with our small force which we had received, and were fixed with a determination to conquer our enemies, and to maintain our lands, and our possessions, and our wives, and our children, and the cause of our liberty.

I know that as we seek after (or pour our souls in prayer to God), listen to (the assurances and peaceful feelings), and follow the guidance of the Spirit (or take courage), every single day, we will have a perfect day.

I love the Lord with all my heart.

I know that we are never alone.

Have a perfect day!!!

Love, Hermana Greenwood:)

Liahona

"Happiness Moments"

Noche Mexicana

--We had another zone activity!!!!

--It was the birthday of one of the Elders in our ward and a family bought a chocolate cake that was to die for.

--Intercambios with Hna Rice had our stomachs hurting from laughing so much.

--We had a Mexican Night to celebrate the independence day of Mexico!!!!

This week the main thing that was on my mind was how grateful I am to be a missionary and how grateful I am to know of the goodness and hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We really are so incredibly blessed to know that we have a loving Father in Heaven who sent His son Jesus Christ to be our best friend and Savior. I love learning every day how the Spirit speaks with me specifically, and testifies of both the Father and the Son.

My mission president gave us permission to watch the BYU devotional that President Nelson gave today. How blessed we are to have a living prophet!! If you couldn't watch it, I encourage you to go and watch it now!

Zone Activity

1 Nephi 16: 28 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them.

29 And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.

Continue to be faithful and diligent in the small things in your life.

Learn to find the good, and always give thanks. 

I promise that the little things are the big things.

I have been focusing on doing the little things and have never felt happier.

Love, Hermana Greenwood

Walk with the Lord

Leticia's Baptism! =)

 "Happiness Moments:"

--Leticia got baptized!!! The Lord is truly preparing His children. She was just outside of her house when we started to talk to her and she wanted to learn more. She gave up coffee, and she loves to read the Book of Mormon daily. She is such an inspiration, I love her with all my heart!!

Wet red shoes make stained red feet (looks nice with her fancy tan)

--*Hna Guajardo getting ready in the morning* "Ya know, it doesn't make a lot of sense that I am plucking my eyebrows just to draw them in...."

--It rained cats and dogs and my color of my shoes stained my feet haha, and it won't come off!!

Teaching the Youth

--There was a youth stake activity where we gave all of the youth mission calls and we went through all of the missionary lessons. It was a blast!!

--Intercambios with Hna Ramirez was a good time!!

Exchanges with Hermana Ramirez

--MLC was super awesome!!

Today I just want to share this scripture that was shared in MLC this past week that really touched me.

Moses 6:31 And when Enoch had heard these words, he bowed himself to the earth, before the Lord, and spake before the Lord, saying: Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?

Mission Leadership Council

Rewards of Missionary Work

32 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good.

33 Say unto this people: Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you.

So happy together!

34 Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me.

35 And the Lord spake unto Enoch, and said unto him: Anoint thine eyes with clay, and wash them, and thou shalt see. And he did so.

Swingin' in the Rain

36 And he beheld the spirits that God had created; and he beheld also things which were not visible to the natural eye; and from thenceforth came the saying abroad in the land: A seer hath the Lord raised up unto his people.

37 And it came to pass that Enoch went forth in the land, among the people, standing upon the hills and the high places, and cried with a loud voice, testifying against their works; and all men were offended because of him.

38 And they came forth to hear him, upon the high places, saying unto the tent-keepers: Tarry ye here and keep the tents, while we go yonder to behold the seer, for he prophesieth, and there is a strange thing in the land; a wild man hath come among us.

39 And it came to pass when they heard him, no man laid hands on him; for fear came on all them that heard him; for he walked with God.

As we choose to serve the Lord, we never need to fear. 
The little things that He asks us to do really are the big things, and He will walk with us.

Have an amazing week!!!

With lots of love, Hermana Greenwood:)

Eye Single to the Glory of God

Wardrobe Switch for Zone Conference

"Happiness Moments"


--Zone conference was a success!! My companion and I shared a little about what I shared last week in my email, and it was really special. :)


--Presidente &Hermana Parry came with us to a couple of appointments! It was amazing watching them teach individually and also as a couple.


--Stake Conference was amazing! One of the seventies (Elder Chavez) was there, and I got to meet him! Turns out he was my brother's first mission president!! What a small world!!

One perk of getting a new companion -- new clothes to wear!

--A cute family invited us (all three companionships in the ward) over for pizza to celebrate her birthday!


--The Lord blessed us immensely this week. He led us to people who He has prepared and who are ready to make covenants with Him. I love this work.


--I full out tripped for the first time on my mission!! Got some quality battle wounds. And the person we had just contacted who rejected us.... just closed her door.

Crepes with some amazing new friends

I just want to share really quickly a scripture that touched my heart this past week--

D&C 88:


67 And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.

Trip to the Visitors' Center after Stake Conference

68 Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.


This scripture teaches us a never-ending cycle that WILL help us to come unto Christ and become perfected in Him.

Effects of an uneven sidewalk

As you keep your focus only on the glory of God --> you WILL be filled with light (there shall be no darkness) --> you WILL be able to comprehend all things (spiritual, temporal, etc.) --> and you WILL be sanctified --> which leads us to have an even greater focus on the glory of God.


How simple it is!! The choice is yours!!

Kind member family provided dinner for the missionaries

I invite you all to evaluate where you are in your life. Take a step back to see if your focus is on the glory of God, and if it's not, do what it takes so that it is.

I love you all! Have an amazing week!

Hermana Greenwood:)

Search, Ponder, Pray, Share

Drenched on Exchanges with a Member

 "Happiness Moments"

--Eating hamburgers and fries at a little stand outside of the university that is in front of our house.

--Going to the Devotional in the Visitor's Center at the temple.

--Inviting everybody in every bus we get on to learn more about Jesus Christ.

--Getting DRENCHED with rain in divisions with members.

(Haha the good news is that the member still wants to go to appointments with us. :) )

--The fact that the Bishop always calls us "Elderas"

Tomorrow we will have Zone Conference, and we have been studying a lot about the importance of the Book of Mormon, and focusing always on the Atonement of Christ.

My President asked my companion and I to share a couple of thoughts about one of the talks that we read to prepare, and I want to share a little of what we will share tomorrow!(https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/04/45callister?lang=eng) 

Because of the fall of Adam and Eve, we live in a fallen state where we are subject to physical death, spiritual death, affliction and sickness, and weaknesses and imperfections. And thanks to the enabling and redeeming power of the Atonement of Christ, we are able to overcome them all.

1- physical death (Alma 11: 42-45)

2- spiritual death (Mosiah 5: 7-8)

3- afflictions/sicknesses (3 Nephi 17:7)

4- weaknesses/imperfections (Moroni 7: 48)

I am so grateful for the Atonement of Christ in my life. For the knowledge that with His help, I can always come home.

Brightness of Noonday Sun

“If there are some of you who have been tricked into the conviction that you have gone too far, … that you have had the poison of sin which makes it impossible ever again to be what you could have been—then hear me.

"I bear testimony that you cannot sink farther than the light and sweeping intelligence of Jesus Christ can reach. I bear testimony that as long as there is one spark of the will to repent and to reach, he is there. He did not just descend toyour condition; he descended below it, ‘that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth.’"

-Truman G. Madsen

I also love knowing that as I feel the witness of the Spirit in my life, I can have the assurance that I am on the right path.

“If you have felt the influence of the Holy Ghost … , you may take it as evidence that the Atonement is working in your life.”  -Henry B. Eyring

I love learning more and more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ every day. I love living it and finding joy amidst the struggles. I love sharing the knowledge and hope of Christ's Atonement with all those I encounter.

My invitation for you is to search the scriptures, ponder about the life of Christ, pray for a spiritual confirmation, and share something that you learn every single day this week.

Keep sharing the light that Christ has given you!

Hermana Greenwood:)

Anyways

MLC

Hermanas Greenwood & Guajardo

"Happiness Moments"

--I got a new companion!!! Hna. Guajardo is from Ciudad Juarez and I already love her with all my heart!!

--A member took us out for breakfast and we ate crepas and cinnamon rolls and atole!!

--I am officially mexican!! My stomach has been bothering me and my zone leader finally convinced me to go to the doctor.... lol turns out I have gastrites and worms....

Meds

--When I told an investigator that I had worms and gastrites, she almost forced medicine down my throat, and when she turned around I poured it back into the bottle without her noticing and the other investigator (her son) and my companion and I could not stop laughing. Haha we are such children, I love it.

Today I just quickly wanted to share a poem that a family in my home ward shared with me a couple of months ago for my birthday. (Shoutout to the Clegg family!)

Zone Conference

It is a poem by Mother Teresa:

“People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."

Training at Zone Conference

We all have the light of Christ within us to help us know right from wrong. As we are confirmed members of Christ's church, we are given one of the greatest gifts, the Holy Ghost, to help us to do everything the way the Lord has asked.

As we live in the world, but not of it, even as people don't accept us, we can do it anyway, and we will enjoy the blessings promised in this scripture:

President & Sister Parry with hermanas

D&C 89:18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;

19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;

20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.

21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.

I love the Lord, and I love His work!

I hope you all have the best week!!!

Hermana Greenwood:)

Smile

Iguana

"Happiness Moments"

--Companion exchanges with Hermana Rice!!

--We went up to the roof to watch some kids practicing for the quince años (quinseñera) of one of them!!

--Got hardcore caught in a storm when we were on divisions with members. We ended up running many blocks to make it home and wrap ourselves in towels and put on sandals. Haha basically a vacation;)

Mission Office - Special Changes from last week

--Got to go to the temple:)

--A cute 9 year old girl named Zoe was baptized!!!

This past week as I have continued to study about the Atonement of Jesus Christ along with the worth of souls, lots of things began to click in my mind.

Exchanges with Hermana Rice

Today I just want to share with you all a couple of verses found in 2 Nephi.

2 Nephi 9: 18 But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever. 

As we recognize that EVERYTHING in God's plan is for our benefit, especially the Atonement of Christ, we come to understand better how much it is that our Heavenly Father loves us.

Service - Painting a friend's house

39 O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal. 

I love the classic thought of SMILE with this verse. (Spiritually Minded Is Life Eternal)

KFC for the win!

As I had expressed a couple of weeks ago, I feel like the past month or so of my mission was full of twists and turns that I wasn't expecting and in the moment I honestly didn't want. But through these experiences, and those that I continue to pass through, I have begun to dig deeper in my studies, and I am learning and growing more and more by understanding how much power Christ offers us daily.

Taking her own advice - Love that smile!

Even if it is just the strength to smile, it changes everything.

I love you all!! Keep pushing forward and keep smiling!! :)

Love, Hermana Greenwood