Hi family and friends!
It was an incredible week in Castle
Hills.
We spent a lot of time at apartment
complexes this week, contacting and seeking those who are prepared to
accept the restored gospel. At one complex, we walked by a group of
kids sitting at a picnic table. They said, "What are those cards
you are giving people?" We showed them our pass along cards,
with pictures of Christ and the temple. They said, "Can we have
one??" They all wanted one! They really looked at the pictures
and loved them. Later, my companion asked me, "Do you think
kids see Christ when they look at us?" I thought that was an
incredible question. I've noticed over and over again on my mission
that kids smile when they see us! They wave and smile, and want to
talk to us! I know that young children truly are innocent and that in
order to become Christ-like, we must become child-like.
We had Zone Conference on Tuesday! I
learned so much! My favorite training was President Slaughter's first
training, about who we really are. I didn't know that when our
lineage is declared in our Patriarchal Blessings that we literally
have that blood in us! I always figured we were adopted into certain
tribes. But President Slaughter corrected that common misconception.
When we are told what our lineage is, we literally have that blood
within us. "The Blood of Israel is flowing through our vains!"
He talked a lot about the scattering and gathering of Israel. Wow! I
need to study that more.
A miracle this week:
We went to an apartment complex to
visit Ar again. He wasn't home, but as we were walking around, a
woman far down the walk way, at the front of the complex, caught my
eye. We went over to talk to her. She was in an electric wheelchair,
parked in front of a little part of the sidewalk where it went up
(like a tiny driveway, but sidewalk version). We asked if we could do
anything for her. She said something along the lines of, "Can
you push me up the hill?" We said of course! She told us her
battery had died. Once we got up the little hill, it was clear that
her battery was not going to get her back home. It was completely
dead, and her apartment was on the other side of the complex. Because
it was an electric wheelchair, it was heavy, and even though she
could walk a little with something to lean on, she would not have
made it all the way to her apartment. We were able to push her along
until we got there, and were able to plug her chair in at her
apartment. She was so grateful. It was touching to me to see how
aware Heavenly Father is of His children. We were not able to see Ar
that day, or even meet any others who were particularly interested,
but Heavenly Father wanted us there to help one of His daughters who
needed a boost. In Preach My Gospel we learn that visiting teachers
are basically missionaries for members, and that missionaries are
basically visiting or home teachers for nonmembers! I love this, and
I know that it is true! This sweet lady did not have a visiting
teacher, but Heavenly Father quickly called a couple to her to give
her a hand. God is a merciful, loving, and very aware Father.
We got to drop by the C Family's home
this week. They are the family in the ward that is from Brazil! I got
to do a little bit of language practice with Sister C and the two
little girls (8 and 6). It was wonderful.
On Friday and Saturday, I got to go on
an exchange. During the exchange we had dinner with a family who had
3 sons and 2 daughters. During the meal I felt like I should ask the
oldest, R, about his plans for a mission. I asked how old he was, and
when he said 18, I said, "Wow, you could go on your mission
soon!" He smiled and kind of laughed. He said, "That's a
whole big thing!" And started talking about how he was still
trying to decide and it was a big thing for his family right now. It
was obvious that his parents knew that going on a mission would be
the right thing for him, but that they wanted him to be able to make
his own decision.
I've had a couple of times on my
mission where suddenly a reason for me being somewhere became very
clear. I had that with M once in my last area, when it became very
clear to me that if I didn't let her know that drinking was not ok in
God's eyes, I would not be fulfilling my purpose as one of Christ's
servants.
At that moment with that sweet family,
I began to feel very strongly that if there was anything I could do
or say to help R make the decision to serve a mission, then it was my
responsibility to do it right then.
As we finished eating, I felt impressed
to share D&C 18:15 as well as little parts of Brother M's story.
Throughout the dinner message, Brother and Sister T got tears in
their eyes, and the kids were all quietly listening. I finished with
my testimony that any sacrifice is worth just one soul in God's eyes.
I promised R that he would never regret serving his mission. I could
tell he felt that that promise was not just from me, and his parents
both had tears in their eyes. As we left, they thanked us so
sincerely, with light in their eyes, and smiles on their faces. They
sent us home with a whole bottle of root beer and dinner left overs
in bags.
There are moments when you can tell
that someone is seeing you not for yourself. I cannot explain how
humbled I feel in those moments when I can see that someone is
looking at me and seeing a representative of Jesus Christ. That
dinner experience was one of those moments.
We have a lot of Spanish speaking in my
area.
We tried to meet Ar again later in the
week. He was not home, but we realized we had never gone to the 2nd
floor of the complex before. We went up and after knocking a few, we
met F. She was a young woman/teenager, open to our message, but there
was a woman in the background at the kitchen table who looked
unhappy. There was also a little girl (about 6) who came to the door
and smiled up at us. F was open, but when she went back and asked
the woman if we could come in, the answer was no. But she said we
could share it there in the doorway. She told us she was sorry we
couldn't come in, but that her mom wasn't feeling well and only spoke
Spanish. I told her we could speak some Spanish. F told us that her
mom's mother was passing away. We told her we had a message that
could bring comfort. She went back and told her mom, but when she
came back, she said we could just teach her there at the doorstep. We
pulled out the restoration pamphlet, and after just the first picture
of Christ, F's mother called her back and talked to her. F asked us,
"So you speak some Spanish?" We said yes. F said, "She
said you could come share." So we went in and joined the woman
at the table. She looked so sad and began to explain to us in Spanish
that her mother was very ill and could be dying, but was all the way
in Mexico. She sobbed as she told us that she is praying for her mom,
and she has faith, but that she just doesn't know what is going to
happen. She explained that she cannot go to Mexico because it is so
dangerous in the city where they lived - that is why they came to the
U.S.
I was able to share a simple Plan of
Salvation lesson with her and her two daughters. R, the little girl,
brought water bottles and gum and put them on the table in front of
us as we were teaching. The mother, D, cried as she listened to my
broken spanish with lots of portuguese mixing in. Even though it was
not eloquent at all, I could tell that she felt the power of the
message of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation. She cried as she
learned about the Spirit World and the chance to receive the gospel
after this life for those who have not learned about it. We asked if
the Spanish missionaries could come back to teach them more. She gave
us her phone number and said yes. Before we left, we prayed, and R
smiled and gave Sister S and I each a big hug and said, "Thank
you for helping my mom!"
The Spanish Elders went back that night
and met D's family, including her husband who had been away when we
were there. Things are going very well.
Every day is filled with miracles. God
is truly aware of the simple and small parts of our lives and the
lives of all of His children. He loves us so deeply and understands
what we need to be comforted and what we need to progress towards our
eternal potential. I am grateful for a loving Father and I am
grateful for a Savior who succors, understands, and refines me.
I hope you all have another wonderful
week!
Love,
Sister Greenall
The North Zone! In the middle is President Slaughter with his daughter.
