Jun 30: Leon Springs!

Hi Family!

It was another great week in the TSAM!

Here is my new address:

(Please email Erica's Mom if you would like her direct address: christine.greenall@gmail.com
Or you can use the San Antonio Texas Mission address on the right of the blog page)

I'm going to do this in Dad's weekly email format!

Monday:

We had p-day at the Y Family's property which was fun! I got to play tennis with my companions and Sister W and Sister R!
We taught a first lesson to a lady named L who was very nice! We also were on a street knocking and Sister T said, "Hey...that looks like JJ and K..." I told her she was hallucinating because it was too hot (because JJ and K didn't live on that street!)... Sister T was right! We realized they were going into the C Family's home (a family from the ward) for the singles FHE! We dropped in to fill up our water bottles and use the rest room and were amazed to see all of the singles there! Members and Non-members alike all gathered and starting with an opening hymn! It really touched us. Ever since Sister C was called as the ward 45+ singles coordinator I have been touched by her example of "magnifying" her calling!

Tuesday:

We met with Sister M. I love her! She is humble and desiring to learn. We taught about the Plan of Salvation and addressed questions she had.
We taught L and C (a teenager who lives in the same house) joined the lesson! He was excited about learning and wanted to come to church. Agreed to join us for our next appointment.
We met Brother K! (We had been trying to meet him since Sister Salisbury and I were first in Merrilltown together!) He is amazing! A convert with an incredible testimony! He works at night which has interfered with coming to church.
Dinner with the K Family!! They fed us lobster tails! Yum!! They are the greatest! (it's true, Sister K!! ;) )
We met with Sister H! She amazes me. She has such a strong testimony. As we met with her for the last time, I reflected on the first time I had met her back in... November? She has made incredible changes in her life and is truly an example to her family.
On Tuesday night we were worried about Brother M. He hadn't replied to our text messages, and when we drove by his house, his truck was gone. We talked to the land lord and she said he was usually home by then.
We stopped by later that night and he had arrived home. Patricia welcomed us in and called up to him to come down stairs. What happened next was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. We heard him come running down the stairs to come see us. But when we saw him, it scared us. He was so shaky. He could not walk in a straight line and could hardly stand. When he tried to speak to us, it came out shakily and he could not stop stuttering over every word. He calmly said something like, "I-i-i-it ha-ha-ha-happens s-sometimes. I h-ha-hate it wh-en-en I-I can't t-talk." That's when it truly sunk in how bad is condition is. He goes through ups and downs but usually doesn't let anyone see the downs. Sister T and Sister J both burst into tears right there. We put our hands on his shoulders to keep him balanced, and offered a prayer with him. I said a simple prayer, and then we asked Brother M to go lay down.

In Preach My Gospel it promises over and over again that the Lord is preparing people to "receive" his missionaries. Brother M truly "receives" us.

That was an emotional night.

Wednesday: We were preparing to go out for the day, and decided to text M, one of our recent converts, to see if we could go by. We had found out that she had texted a member in the ward asking for no more contact. She hadn't been responding to our texts or calls. I texted her and told her I would be leaving the next day and asked if I could drop by to give them a big hug. She replied saying that she was truly sorry, but that she and her family were no longer part of the church. She said that they were eternally gratefully for what Sister Salisbury and I did for them emotionally, but that they didn't want contact from anyone. I later texted to ask if I could write to them, and they said they would love that.

But when we got that text we just sat in our room, quiet. After a moment I asked, "Do you mind if I go to the closet for a while?" I couldn't hold anything in anymore. I kneeled in prayer and sobbed like a baby. Sisters T and J soon joined me and we all prayed together. The Holy Ghost and prayer truly bring peace.

While it has been hard to see Brother M suffer physically, or to see other families struggling with personal challenges, or financial challenges, or sickness, nothing compared to the pain of seeing someone I love turning away from the church.
I got to talk to Brother M on the phone with my companions on Wednesday. He sounded a bit better, but was still stuttering. but he was laughing and positive as always. He loves the gospel!
I remembered Brother Porter (my MTC teacher) describing that in order to bring others to where we are in the gospel, we need to go where they are, and feel a little of what they feel. I've learned on my mission that in order to feel the greatest of joys, we also must feel the deepest of sorrows. The greater our capacity to feel sorrow grows, the greater capacity we gain to feel joy, and visa versa I think.

We had a good rest of Wednesday evening, having dinner with the J Family and hearing about their awesome missionary work, meeting some of Sister J's neighbors, contacting, etc.

Thursday: Transfer meeting! I said goodbye to my wonderful companions, Sister T and Sister J! I love them so much.

Sister R (from the other sister companionship that shares our apartment) and I hopped on the bus to San Antonio!
I met my new companion Sister M who is finishing her mission this transfer! ( ie: her last 6 weeks) She is incredible and we already love each other.

I'm about out of time! But I love my new area and companion. Leon Springs is much different than Merrilltown! There are a lot of big huge gated communities. It is a very wealthy area. It is a different culture. But the people here are so kind and family oriented. The ward members were so welcoming on Sunday and I enjoyed meeting a lot of them. The work is good and the gospel is true. I am blessed!!

I am so excited to hear about Sister Danica Greenall's first week in the MTC!

Love yall!!

Sister Erica Greenall

Jun 23: Hello!

Hi Family!

I only have about 12 minutes to write, so I will keep it brief! Today we are going to an activity with the other missionaries. About once a transfer a family in the stake invites the missionaries over on a P-day. I've been about 3 times before. They have a very large property (soft ball field, tennis courts, basketball, soccer, etc) and they invite us over and provide lunch for us. It will be a fun trip and it will be the first time going for my two companions.

It has been a wonderful week. I am learning a lot!

Last night we received transfer calls from President Slaughter! (He only calls if you are becoming a trainer or moving to a leadership position.) He told us that Sister T and Sister J will be staying in Merrilltown! That was wonderful news!! I know that they will do a wonderful job of taking care of the people here! I will be transferring and have been asked to be a Sister Training Leader.

On Sunday at church I received a lot of guidance and answers to questions. Sacrament meeting was wonderful. The days leading up to Sunday, I focused more on the Sacrament and truly desired to be healed and have my burdens lifted. As I took the Sacrament on Sunday, I felt the relief and peace that can only come because Jesus Christ is my personal Savior. I am so grateful for Him! I'm so grateful for the opportunity to access His Atonement on a regular basis.

In Relief Society, we talked about weaknesses and strengths and Christ's saving power. I've realized that what I thought was a strength of mind- patience- isn't quite as much of a strength as I thought it was! Lately I have been feeling a lot of pressure, like a weight on my shoulders. I finally realized during that lesson that I was feeling that way because I was expecting MYSELF to make myself more patient. On Sunday I realized that isn't at all how it works! Christ isn't our Savior so that he can watch us go through life trying to make ourselves perfect on our own! He is our Savior so that when our own strength isn't enough- or our own patience isn't enough- he can BE our strength. He can give us some of HIS strength, or HIS patience.

So while my patience and strength were feeling like a rubber band that was being stretched to breaking point, I've finally realized that the solution wasn't what I thought it was. I thought I just had to keep stretching my rubber band a little further and a little further to increase my patience. ...But the reality is that one rubber band only has so much capacity. The rubber band just wasn't made for that much stretching! I think sometimes what actually happens is that we stretch our rubber band a little more and a little more, and instead of become a bigger rubber band like we though it would, it just snaps! What determines whether we progress or digress at that point is whether we turn to the Savior or whether we turn to ourselves and find that there is no solution and we are broken. If we choose to turn to the Savior, we will find that he can give us a bigger rubber band, with greater stretching capacity! He can literally give us more patience. His patience. He will be our strength when our own is not enough!

Alma 26:12

I'm grateful for a Savior who is the solution to EVERYTHING. Who is willing to give selflessly and endlessly to help us achieve the eternal potential our Father sees in us.

I love y'all!

Thank you for your prayers, love, and support. Your letters and emails are so encouraging!

Love,

Sister Greenall

Jun 16: Oi!

Hi Family!

It's been another great week in the Texas San Antonio Mission!

On Monday evening we met a wonderful new family! The F Family! We have often seen a man who rides down the street in his electric wheel chair, and every time we see him we comment on how he looks like such a nice person and we would like to meet him. This time when we drove by he was parked in front of a house, so we pulled over and walked over to him! He was very kind, and eagerly set up a return appointment. He introduced us to his wife and son! They also had these adorable puppies that looked like a baby version of Marcia! (By the way, how are Marcia and Treasure liking Uncle Ken's house?)

We also met a man named Ce! He was outside by his car in an apartment complex. He was putting saran wrap around his car windshield. There was a huge hole in the window! ...He said it was one of the downsides of living in an apartment complex with lots of boys that like to throw balls around! oops! But he was so nice! He said he had a few minutes to hear our message, so we shared the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. He was excited to read. He has an extremely busy schedule and doesn't usually get home until after 9pm, so we were lucky we caught him then. But he happily gave us his phone number so we could talk about the Book of Mormon more.

We called him this morning and he said he has liked it so far! He has only been able to read a little bit at the beginning, but he asked us to call back on Wednesday to talk about it more.

Another interesting fact, he and his wife write gospel music! They have a big group that travels!

We met a Televangelist that night also! That was interesting!

On Tuesday we had an incredible lesson with Sc. A young member of our ward (he will be getting his mission call soon! A convert of about 4 or 5 years) came with us and shared the perfect testimony of baptism that addressed and answered Sc's concerns! The Spirit was incredible. By the end of the lesson, Sc had committed to baptism on a specific date and was excited!

We had a wonderful lesson with L and our new convert, A came as well!

After our dinner appointment that night, on Tuesday, we were getting into the car, and suddenly we heard Sister T saying, "ow! ow! Ow! OW!!" ...She had stepped in a mountain of fire ants!

So we went home and got her cleaned up! Luckily we had some Benadryl (thanks, Mom! You gave it to me before I left, and we've used it several times for Sister T because we keep finding out about allergies we didn't know she had!).

The Benadryl made her super drowsy and her foot was hurting a lot. An hour or so later she was well enough to go out again, although she was a little loopy, so Sister J and I did the talking. We met an incredible girl named V! She loved the message of the Restoration and told us "I am excited to read this!" as we gave her a Book of Mormon.

We had dinner with the M family again on Wednesday. Brother M and the kids had gone to Stake Conference and had each brought a note book! So after dinner, they each shared what they liked from the talks! I was touched by the simple, powerful statements of truth that their 9 year son had written! "Thomas S. Monson is our prophet today." "Families are not just for this life, they are forever." The older son, in high school, had been particularly touched by a talk about the temples.

The sick bugs are going around again, and on Thursday poor Sister T got the flu or something! ...Sometimes it seems like all of the bad stuff happens to her!

By Friday she was better! We had an incredible training by President Slaughter on Friday morning. Faith in Finding. We are applying a lot of new principles to our work here in Merrilltown!

On Friday night we saw a man walking down the street with a Brazil shirt on! He looked like he could be Brazilian. (PS: this week we initiated plan "Bring Brazil to Texas" which involved me teaching my two companions and the other two sisters who live with us Portuguese, all of us becoming very tan, and us teaching all the Brazilian people in Merrilltown.) So we quickly pulled over into the gas station that he was about to walk past, parked the car, and walked over so that by the time he passed by we could easily and casually intersect with him! It worked! He was super friendly! Turns out he wasn't Brazilian but he loves the Brazilian soccer team and supports them in the world cup!

Saturday and Sunday were wonderful days! Great days for finding fathers! We met several great people, got a few return appointments. Our new convert N fed us dinner on Saturday! ...we had no idea she was a professional chef!

On Sunday we were in an apartment complex and passed by a man who was sitting at his front door (either smoking or on the phone...I can't remember which) and we waved to him. He waved back and asked how we were doing. He was super nice! He was up on the second floor. I felt like we should talk to him. We went and knocked on the door we had been heading too. On the way back to our car, we passed the man's door again, and he wasn't there any more. We went up the stairs and knocked, and a lady named Ti answered! We testified, asked if we could share a 10 minute message, and she said yes! The other people home weren't available, but she listened to our message and said she would like to be baptized and read the Book of Mormon. She will be having a baby really soon, but we made a tentative return appointment and got her phone number.

There are miracles all around us every day!

I'm so grateful y'all had a good week and a happy Father's day.

I love you!!

-Sister Greenall

Jun 9: The Lolly Brass Band

Family!

Of all of the places to have a sousaphone... I never would of guessed the public library in Pflugerville! The Lolly Brass Band (wearing a variety of colored overalls and clothing, large silver brass instruments, marching around the library, a train of kids following behind them) just passed by us! My p-day just got even better!!! I didn't know I could miss brass music so much!

This week has been wonderful!

...Wednesday, June 4th, was my 9 month mark! That was the fastest 9 months of my life...

The Sisters surprised me the P-day before with a happy 9th birthday cake! They got a candle in the shape of the number 9, and they used green frosting since it's my favorite color, and it was even gluten-free!

C was baptized on Saturday and it was such a beautiful baptism! S sang an old Celtic folk song that is his favorite. The same song was sung at their wedding as she walked down the isle! I wanted to cry- it was so beautiful! I think it was called "Morning has Broken".

C will be confirmed next Sunday since this Sunday was stake conference.

At the end of the baptism, Brother S gave a brief testimony (he conducted the baptism) and he said something like, "This means that June 15, 2015 is the soonest day that you two could be sealed in the temple for time and all eternity." Wow, that was a powerful moment! It was an incredible experience for all who attended!

It was a bit of a wild week because of exchanges. We have seen many miracles this week! Several new investigators, and a less active member whose attitude and countenance completely changed after reading from the Book of Mormon! We had offered to send her a few verses by text message every day and she was happy about that. When she finally got to reading the verses we sent, she said she couldn't stop reading and read for an hour. She said, "I didn't expect to feel different by reading. I didn't expect to be changed so much. But I just want to keep reading!"

It was a good experience to be on an exchange in New Hope for a day! When I came back to Merrilltown, Sister T switched me places. They needed her in New Hope so that one of the sisters could go to a doctor's appointment and leadership meeting in San Antonio. It's nice to all be back in Merrilltown together again!

There are a lot of changes happening in the mission. We are always trying new things and having new trainings. This is one of the missions that the church mission headquarters visits and tries new things with. So they recently visited and taught at MLC and now all of the things they taught are spreading throughout the mission.

We are focusing on effective lesson planning and short powerful lessons. We teach using the pamphlets and teach about 7 minute, simple lessons, as a finding tool. I know there are prepared people who are waiting to receive the message of the restoration in our area!

I know that when we are obedient and magnify the callings the Lord has given us, we can become powerful instruments in his hands.

Here are some powerful statements from President Slaughter today in his email:

"To the saints in Rome, the apostle Paul taught that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16). Notice that Paul did not simply define the gospel as the word of God but rather the power of God. Emphasizing this same principle, Paul taught the saints in Thessalonica: "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power" (1 Thes. 1:5).

In our day the Lord said that whatsoever his servants "speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation" (D&C 68:4). Imagine the power you have when you speak as moved upon by the Holy Ghost!

As servants of the Lord, we humbly announce that the wondrous word of God has been restored not merely to be learned but rather to be lived. That is why "helping people come to Christ" is less about "teaching" and more about "inviting" people to do something. When people live the word and rely on the word, it gives them power to change–power to be saved.

Everyone will have an opportunity to hear and accept the gospel; but they must hear it preached by one of the Lord’s legal and authorized servants. That is who you are. You play a significant part in this great plan."

Saturday night and Sunday had to be the two most incredible stake conference sessions I've experienced! The theme for both was "Hastening the Work." At the Sunday session, both President and Sister Slaughter spoke, as well as the temple president and his wife, and our stake presidency! Sister R, baptized in March, was in the small women's choir. I was sitting next to L, and right behind me were my two companions next to Brother M! Is this a dream??? I love being a missionary! I love the people here! I love the gospel and know that true joy comes through applying and living the principles of Christ's gospel as found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As President Slaughter said in Stake Conference, we are the people of the Restoration! There are miracles around that cannot always be seen by those who do not know they are there. Priesthood keys have been restored to the earth, families can be sealed in temples, living prophets are on the earth! Once we help people to open their eyes, they will begin to see these blessings, and their lives will never be the same.

Our stake president talked about the mist of darkness. On Saturday night he encouraged us all to read 1 Nephi 8 and 3 Nephi 8-11 and he asked us questions about the mist of darkness. The way out of the darkness is Christ! We know that! Who around us is in that mist of darkness?

Sister T, my companion, said something that really touched me recently. We were driving and past the place where there are always several homeless people gathered. We saw a man riding his bike across the road, drinking a soda, and returning to the place where the other people were gathered. She looked at him and said, "He chose to follow Christ and come to this earth just like I did. But what's the difference between us? I was born into a family who has the restored gospel." It hit all three of us the huge responsibility we have to bring our brothers and sisters out of the mist of darkness and to invite them to Christ. We are surrounded by our brothers and sisters who Heavenly Father loves so dearly! Of all of His children, we were blessed to find the gospel in our lives, whether born into it or finding it later in life. Our responsibility is so great!

L is doing so well! She is so eager to be baptized. She says she keeps imagining this scene of her coming out of the water, and she feels so peaceful about it.

We are teaching a new person named Sc! He is great!

I love the gospel! And I love my family!!! Thanks for all you do and for your prayers, love, and support!

Com amor,

Sister Greenall

Jun 2: Miracles in Merrilltown

Hi family!

As always, I don't know where to begin.

Brother M has had a wonderful week as a member of the church.

We were surprised this week to be informed that C (S's husband) has decided to be baptized! S was baptized in September. C will be baptized this Saturday. Parting-the-red-sea-kind-of-miracle? Yes!

This week we have met several new investigators!

Recent converts are doing well.

Another miracle: (the power of fasting is very, very real)

Yesterday my companions and I decided to fast specifically for L. We were seeking guidance of how to help her understand the need for being baptized into this church by Christ's true authority.

We had thought she was going to come to church, but were sad to see she didn't come. But while we were there, another sister in the ward (who became facebook friends with L) said that L had messaged her and told her she couldn't come to church because she needed to go pick up her daughter or something, but that she would definitely come next week. So we felt better. Later that evening, at about 6pm, we wanted to visit her. We sent her a text and asked if we could stop by that night, she said yes, and we asked if we could come by right then, and she said yes! We got there, and she was waiting outside on her porch. She asked if we had gotten her texts. We hadn't! She showed us on her phone. She had texted us several times, telling us that she wasn't going to be able to come to church because her daughter needed her, but apparently our phone is having some problems! She asked, "Did you get my text about June 14th?" We said no... She said something along the lines of, "Well, I've decided to go through with being baptized! I want to do it!" She then explained more to us, asked what it all entails, and said, "I am committed to this baptism!"

So many incredible things happening! As always, the windows of heaven are open, and the Lord is directing His work!

This coming week we have exchanges. I will be leaving Merrilltown for the first time! (even my one exchange back when I was in the Mount Bonnell ward, I went to Merrilltown on the exchange, so I've never actually left Merrilltown for an exchange!)

I love this work! I love this area! I love these people!! And I love Christ and His gospel! We are so blessed! I can even comprehend how good and merciful our Father in Heaven is.

I love y'all and hope you continue having wonderful weeks!

Love,

Sister Greenall

Danica reports to the MTC in how many days?? 23??