"...and call her blessed..."

This morning as I was studying in the Book of Mormon, some questions came to my mind, and I found myself in the Bible, reading in Luke. I read this verse:

"For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck." -Luke 23:29

Today this verse struck me in a different light than it ever had before.

In my Family Processes class yesterday, a few of the many topics we discussed were changing trends in marriage and fertility rates around the world.

Modern research shows that the way people think about marriage is becoming increasingly disconnected from child-bearing. Many people don't feel there is or needs to be a connection between the two.

 As far as re-population rates, most Western countries are far below the fertility rate (2.1- meaning that 2.1 children per woman are required to keep our population at the same number) required to repopulate their own country. Some countries are so far below the 2.1 rate (at 0.7) that they fear their entire population will be made of foreigners in less than 20 years. Governments of countries who are concerned about their re-population rates try to give their people incentives to have children (like writing out a check for thousands of dollars for a couple who has a baby, or guaranteeing up to 3 years of maternity leave and a guaranteed position at their job for 7 years after that for a mother who has a baby, or even matching any amount that parents put in a saving account for their new baby). Yet despite these high incentives, the re-population rates have not improved.

Now back to the scripture in Luke. As I read it, it struck me that this exact thing is happening today. "...they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck." While many (if not most) individuals still believe in families and desire to have a family, our society and perhaps much of our world are sending us this message... "blessed is a woman who is free from the responsibility of motherhood, who can be independent, who has an incredible career, who can travel whenever she wants, who can do what she wants..."

While it can be wonderful for a woman to have a great education and career, to travel, and to work towards her individual dreams and goals, it seems that today there is so much emphasis on this idea of a woman's "freedom" that motherhood is looked down upon. Being a wife and mother are often seen as limiting or binding.

After reading that verse and seeing what much of our media and society believe about mothers, I wanted to study a bit more about what God thinks of mothers and motherhood...

"Mother: A sacred title referring to a woman who bears or adopts children. Mothers assist in God's plan by providing mortal bodies for God's spirit children." -LDS Guide to the Scriptures


"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
Give her the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."
-Proverbs 31:28, 30-31 (Bible)

"When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!" -John 19: 26 (Bible)


"...yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them." -Alma 56:47 (Book of Mormon)

"Among the great and mighty ones who were assembled in this vast congregation of the righteous were Father Adam, the Ancient of Days and father of all, And our glorious Mother Eve, with many of her faithful daughters who had lived through the ages and worshiped the true and living God." -Doctrine and Covenants 138:38-39 (Latter-day Saints believe the Doctrine and Covenants to be modern scripture and revelations from God)

While we could go into great detail about every one of these verses, they all teach us that God loves mothers. And He always will, regardless of what the rest of the world says. He sends mothers to the earth to play an important role in His plan. He sends them here to teach their children, our future generations, to nurture and love, to testify of Jesus Christ through their deeds. In the world's eyes, a woman who escapes motherhood is blessed, but in God's eyes, mothers are blessed. Regardless of whether a woman has already born children or not, if it is her desire to be a righteous woman and mother, I believe that God is pleased with her desires and will someday (in His timing) bless her to play the sacred role of mother.


Blessed are mothers.

The Closest I Have Ever Been to Heaven

December 22nd of 2015 was the happiest and most important day of my life so far.

The drive to Manti, Utah, was slow, serene, peaceful. The snow was clean and white on the landscape around us as we drove on snow sprinkled roads through the falling sleet and snow. White was everywhere! Almost as if God was sending me an invitation to reflect on the white building I would soon be entering, the white clothing I would soon be wearing, and the purity that resides in the House of the Lord that we would soon enter.

Being sealed to my best friend was an experience I cannot forget. Being in the temple together, with family gathered in the room, a deep sense of peace and light filled me. I felt so close to Heaven.













When we exited the temple, it was still sleeting and snowing, but somehow the cold didn't feel as cold as usual. The warmth felt in the temple still lingered in our hearts. The same warmth that I imagine fills the space of Heaven.









Reflecting on the day, I realize that the reason I felt so close to Heaven was not because of how beautiful the building we were in was, nor how elegant the decorations were, nor because I felt like a princess in the beautiful dress my mom carefully made for me. I felt close to Heaven because of the individuals around me and the gospel of Jesus Christ that enabled that moment to happen. We were in the temple! A place so pure that the Savior Himself could appear there and walk the halls (after all, it is His house). An ordinance was performed there and a covenant was made- these beautiful experiences and promises only possible because Jesus is the Christ and His perfect gospel has been restored to the earth! I felt close to Heaven because my heart was filled with the Holy Spirit of God, witnessing to me that God was pleased with the decision and was rejoicing with us.

But even if I had been in the exact same place, feeling the exact same sweet and wonderful feeling, it couldn't quite have been Heaven without the family and loved ones that were there.

 I felt close to Heaven because I was surrounded by people who I love. I felt so close to Heaven because a new family was being formed. And families are of God. Heaven is family! Heaven is being in the presence of our Father. The Creator of our spirits and bodies! Heaven is being with the people we love, who all are our brothers and sisters! Our earthly parents and siblings! Our grandparents, our aunts, uncles, cousins, extended families! Extended families beyond extended families! Our ancestors and our posterity! Most importantly, our spouse.

 I felt closer to Heaven than I had ever been before because I was being sealed to my new husband- and being with him will make Heaven Heaven for me.


I am forever grateful for my eternal companion.

Stuck in a Hail Storm

How could I possibly be happier and how could I possibly be so blessed??
There are countless tender mercies and countless miracles in my life that remind me there is Someone up above watching out for us that MUST really, really, truly love us. Heavenly Father truly desires to bless us, to make us happier than we knew possible, to see us laugh and smile, to see us come out from trials a little more refined and a little more like Him, and to help us become like He is. Why would He want us to become like Him?? I've learned through my personal study and experiences that the reason behind this goal (to bring to pass our eternal life- life with Him and like Him- in our eternal families) is love. He LOVES us and He is happy. His happiness is eternal and His joy is FULL! He wants us to someday experience the magnitutude of what He feels and has!! He wants us to have that for ourselves!!

To help us to someday obtain this lofty goal, He provides us with essential help. Firstly, our Savior, Jesus Christ, who has the power both to cleanse us of impurity and to change our very natures (to make us a little more godlike- more kind, more patient, more humble, more selfless.) Another incredible and essential gift He gives us is our families and the people who love us most and who we love most. I know without a doubt that the family is of God.

I know that finding true happiness and achieving the potential God sees in us is ONLY possible with these essential parts: our Savior, and our families.

Families teach us to be more like the Savior. They support us in our deepest sorrows and hardest trials. They celebrate our accomplishments with us and experience our greatest joys with us. They help us to reach new heights and have a vision of who we truly are. But one thing I've learned as of late, is that more important than receiving these treatments and gifts from your family, is first being willing to give all of these things to your family. I believe this is the secret for happiness in families: build your life, family, and faith on Christ, and then forget yourself and give all you have and are to the well-being of your family.

Since arriving home from my mission (one of God's great gifts to me), God has blessed me with yet another gift that is greater and more precious than I ever could have truly deserved or imagined. -His name is Seth!

I always believed in these principles I've just written about- but Seth has helped me to see, feel, and know the truth of these principles. He is the most selfless person I know. He has shown me that true joy comes from putting those you love before yourself- making their needs a higher priority to you than your own! His kindness, gentleness, and goodness have confirmed to me again and again my belief that the greatest joys we can experience in this life will be experienced within the walls of our homes and in our families. I always believed that God's plan for us and our families to be happy together forever was real, but Seth has helped me to feel deep inside of my heart that it is not only real, but it is possible.

On December 22nd, I will be married to the love of my life!!! And I've never been so excited for anything in my life!!!

There is no one else I'd rather pass through the difficulties and joys of life with.

He even makes being stuck under a bridge in a rain and hail storm wonderful :)

I am blessed and so grateful.

Grateful

It is hard to believe how time has flown. It is May of 2015! It was back in September of 2013 that I left for a journey that would forever change my life!

I never could have predicted, guessed, or even hoped for what my mission turned out to be. I now know with certainty that all of the cliches I had heard a thousand times before ("It was the best 18 months of my life," "My mission changed me," "There is nothing like the mission," "It is the hardest but most worthwhile thing I have ever done," "the Lord doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called," etc, etc, etc) are true!

It is hard to know how to put those 18 (-19) months into words. But during the last transfer of my mission, while in Santarém, Brazil (a city and people that hold a special place in my heart), I was asked to do exactly that! To put my mission into words- actually, one word! What a hard thing to do. But after pondering and reflecting, the word came:

GRATIDÃO

(or "Gratitude")

I remember distinctly the night before I left for my mission. I remember kneeling alone in a room by my bed. I remember reflecting on my reasons for wanting to serve a mission, and pondering my greatest desires as a future-missionary. In this moment, I felt that wonderful and familiar feeling fill the room- a warmth, a comfort, something enlivening and enlightening. But this time the heaven-sent message did not bring simple comfort or peace, but a deep feeling of gratitude. I had always loved my Savior and treasured the doctrine of the Atonement. But I remember that in that moment, I felt a deeper gratitude, appreciation, and understanding for the Atonement than I had felt before. I remember feeling a desire deep within me take root, and this desire became my greatest goal for my time as a full-time missionary. That goal: To give back to my Savior. To express my gratitude. To give ALL of me- to give every possible part of me I could- to Him! The next morning my parents drove me to the airport and the journey began.

My mission, as I said, was more than I could have hoped for or dreamed of. 

It was full of unexpected twists and turns, trying experiences, times I recognized how desperately I needed the Lord's help and how inadequate I truly am as one of His servants. There were feelings of the deepest sorrows I have yet experienced, followed by the greatest joys I have yet experienced. There were times of confusion and lack of understanding, times to learn how to trust in the Lord, and times when I began to see the pieces of His beautiful masterpiece unfold in my life. Through everything, there was refining. I am forever grateful for my Refiner. Not only has He refined me, but He has literally given me the strength and support to survive the refining fire!

At the end of my mission, as I reflected on all of these experiences- pondering, praying, searching- I found myself again overtaken by that immense sense of gratitude. 

And I found myself again reflecting on these verses of the Book of Mormon, from King Benjamin's address in Mosiah chapter 2: 

 20 I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another—

 21 I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.

 22 And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.

 23 And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him.

 24 And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?

 25 And now I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves? I answer you, Nay. Ye cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust of the earth; yet ye were created of the dust of the earth; but behold, it belongeth to him who created you.

These words describe the feelings I experienced at the end of my mission that I was unable to describe myself. Looking back on the past 19 months, searching for one word to describe what I had learned and experienced, I recognized that although I had given my all -my very best, my best efforts, my attempts at perfection- that I still hadn't managed to adequately give back to the Savior as I had wanted so desperately to do for the past 19 months, beginning that night before leaving for my mission. And in return for my imperfect, broken sacrifice, He had blessed me more than I ever could have imagined possible. And there I was (and here I am) again, indebted to Him. And when we find ourselves in that situation (which we are always in! Sometimes we finally just have eyes and hearts open enough to actually recognize the reality of the situation!), I believe that the answer lies in gratitude. There is NO POSSIBLE WAY for us to fully pay back our Savior, but we can always be grateful. 

As President Scisci spent those precious moments with me in my departing interview, he asked why I had chosen the word "gratidão." I tried my best to explain. He told me that when they ask missionaries to chose that one word to summarize their missions, it is in hopes that the missionary will always remember that word and apply it to the rest of their lives. 

I hope to always be filled with gratitude. 

I have been home now for almost 2 months! I returned home on April 4, 2015. 

And I have now learned that the happiness that seems to increase every single day on the mission does not suddenly disapear or lessen after the mission! It continues to increase! The miracles that a missionary once saw daily, hourly, and even minute-ly throughout their mission also do not suddenly cease! They also continue daily, hourly, minute-ly. 

In the great Texas San Antonio Mission, my companions and I had the theme "milagros cada dia." ("Miracles every day.")  Those miracles are still happening in my life- every day.

What a blessing to be alive. What a gift to have the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ in this life! What a blessing to have an endlessly loving Heavenly Father- who is patient beyond my understanding of patience. What a blessing that we have a Brother who loved (and loves) us enough to have been the sacrifice for our sin, so that we can one day find perfect and eternal joy with him, with our Father, and with our families. What a blessing to have family. I couldn't have been more blessed when it comes to family.

It is my first term here at BYU (in Provo, Utah). I couldn't feel happier. I love this place, the experiences I am having, and especially the people who surround me. It's a great time to feel grateful.

Sep 22: Del Rio!

Hola familia!

What a great week!

Monday and Tuesday were very busy! Sister S and I were running around trying to get a lot of things done at once to prepare to be transferred out of our area! There were many people to visit! We did our best to contact all of our investigators to make the transition of the new missionaries coming more smooth. It went well.

We had Sister B with us on Tuesday because her companion (who was actually my Sister Training Leader Companion- meaning we would plan and go on exchanges with the other sisters together, and while we were doing exchanges, our companions would be together) finished her mission and went home. Sister B is here for two transfers from temple square and she is incredible!

On Wednesday Morning we went to the church and I hopped on the "Border Bus" which is really just a very large van driven by missionaries!

We left around 9:30 am, and I arrived in Del Rio around 3 or 3:30pm, after making other stops to drop off missionaries and eating lunch at authentic super tacos. (spicy!)

My new companion is Hermana A! She was born and raised in Mexico, then later moved to California with her family. She is a native Spanish speaker and has helped me so much with my Spanish! She is an amazing, sincere, diligent missionary. Her humility and desire to learn and serve inspire me so much. I am so grateful for her. I am as happy as a missionary can be! (which is extremely happy). I love (LOVE!) speaking Spanish all the time and having the opportunity to teach in Spanish and English here!

Del Rio is a little town about... 45 minutes away from Mexico! We have two little branches here - one English and one Spanish. There are three sets of companions (Me and Sister A, the sisters we live with, and one set of Elders) and we all work in these two branches. We have the branches divided into three sections so we each stay in our little area. The closest other missionaries are in Eagle Pass (about an hour away). Eagle Pass (they have only 1 pair of sisters and maybe one or two pairs of elders), Del Rio, and Uvalde (the English area that is about an hour from Eagle Pass), plus Carrizo Springs (another hour or so away from Eagle Pass) make up the Border Zone!

It is a very different experience to be here, but I have never been more happy! Well, my whole mission has been tremendously happy!

We are in a very small town. More than one person has told us that it is the kind of town where everyone knows everyone's business. Haha! It is a very friendly place. We are teaching and meeting a lot of people!

On Sunday I attended my first church services in Spanish and I can't express how much I loved it! We attend 4 hours of church. First, Spanish Sacrament meeting, then we have Sunday school (English Branch and Spanish Branch have Sunday School and Relief Society at the same time- their primary and youth are combined English and Spanish), then Relief Society, and then English Sacrament Meeting! It was great! The Spanish branch is tiny! One of the Sisters that left when I came was the only piano player, so I've been chosen as the new pianist! I played piano in Sacrament meeting and that meant that we often had only one hand playing... But I was able to play both hands on a few songs! The members were happy just to have piano! In the Spanish Sacrament Meeting, the counselor who was conducting asked each of the new missionaries to come up and share their testimony. (Sister A gave us other missionaries a heads up that we would be asked to bear our testimony) I love the members of the Spanish branch so much! They are so warm and kind, and they help me with my Spanish! One of the sisters said she wants me to teach her Portuguese! Lots of love and lots of kisses on the cheek in that branch. I love it. Going from three hours of Spanish church into the English Sacrament meeting was a culture shock! The congregation was very large and we had a great pianist!! My brain was still trying to transition back into English so every time I met someone I wanted to say "Mucho Gusto" or "Hi Familia Judd". I felt like the gears in my brain were rustily turning slowly trying to switch to English! It was fun! The English Branch is also wonderful with lots of members that are so kind and willing to work with us!

On Saturday we taught two miracle lessons in Spanish! It was wonderful! My first time teaching real lessons (not just brief street contacts) in Spanish!

I feel extremely blessed. It is so interesting. When I was first learning Portuguese I had such a hard time dividing Spanish and Portuguese in my head. I prayed and practiced a lot and focused on just Portuguese. Before I knew it, it was very difficult to speak Spanish, especially without Portuguese words sprinkled throughout it. Right now, Spanish feels like the most natural thing in the world. I am learning so much every day and Sister A and I are working on being very diligent with our study. In the apartment she speaks English and I (sometimes) speak Portuguese - if not Portuguese then I always speak Spanish. When we leave the house we both speak all Spanish together. It is helping me so much! I know that the gift of tongues is real! Sister A was expressing that feeling to me too! We have both received so much help from the Lord in learning and speaking the languages He wants us to speak to help His people.

I really can't express how wonderful it is to serve here with Hermana A (Ella es una angel!)

Todo esta muy bien. Me siento tan feliz.

Que le vaya muy bien esta semana!

Con amor,

  Hermana Greenall

Sep 15: Transfers

Hello family!

What a great week!

A is doing so well! We had a wonderful lesson with her and her boyfriend Al. The sign language interpreter that came this time, Sister C, is great! I feel such a connection to A.

We received transfer calls last night! It was a big surprise for us. We both expected my companion Sister S would be leaving! But we were shocked to hear that I am also leaving! It is a double out! I will be going to the Border (not sure where yet.) All I know is that I will meet at the church on Wednesday to ride in the van down to the border. Changes are happening! Sister S will be finishing the training of a new missionary and so will I. Sister S will do great!!

If you would like to send a letter this week, perhaps it is best to send it to the Mission Office:

404 E. Ramsey Rd. #105
San Antonio, TX 78216

It is hard to leave our precious area and all of these people who we love with all our hearts!! But we are confident that the next missionaries who come in will take good care of them- after all, they are TSAMmers! (Texas San Antonio Mission missionaries!)

The Lord is truly doing His work. God works in mysterious ways - but His ways are wonderful, beautiful, miraculous! If we can get past the initial fear, heartache, tears, frustration of His plan unfolding, and open our eyes and hearts to His Will, we will begin to see how marvelously He does His work!!

I love this gospel! I love this work! I love the Lord!

I love the TSAM - the missionaries and the people here. I love the privilege it is to be a double assigned missionary! I love how the Lord has shaped me as I have "pushed against the rock" (Dad!) He has taught me lessons that I couldn't have learned in other ways. Today I was thinking about how grateful I am for the miracle the Lord has worked in my life this past year. After a year of praying and pleading, the Lord has not yet changed my physical location (although He HAS worked miracles in the visa process!), but He has truly changed me. And that is a far greater miracle than anything I could ever ask for. He has changed my heart, strengthened me, taught me, lifted me.

I was very touched by this line from President Slaughter's email today: "The message of the Restoration is not what you say–it is who you are. It is your faith; it is your testimony, your goodness, your passion. Who you are speaks volumes more than what you say. It is how you live, how you talk, how you walk. And the more you allow the gospel to change you, the greater the message you become to the world."

Have a wonderful week. The Lord trusts us. He loves us!

All in!

Sister E. Greenall

 

 

Sep 8: All in!

Dearest Family,

Another great week in San Antonio!

This week has been great. Missionary work is hard, but so rewarding. Even when the rewards are not instant or even visible, there is such satisfaction in knowing that the Lord is pleased with what we are doing. I have taken Sister Slaughter's counsel to heart: Seek approval from above, not from below or around.

Each companionship is different. Some are easier than others, but I know that the Lord is teaching me important principles in every situation on the mission. I've realized that the Lord is so aware of the details of our lives that when we win (with His help) even the smallest of battles - like remaining calm and patient in frustrating or stressful situations - He is pleased. I am grateful for his all-encompassing understanding and love.

We had two exchanges this week! I am inspired by these sisters. The more I get to know different missionaries, the more I realize that each one has a unique challenge. What impresses me so much is that these challenges often remain unseen by others (except a companion perhaps, and sometimes not even a companion knows about the individual struggles). When I look around at these missionaries, I see disciples of Christ who are building their foundations upon Him, and upon nothing else. I know that when He is our foundation, we can successfully build joyful and peace-filled lives. We can become true disciples of Him and with His help can accomplish anything He asks us to do.

Directly after the exchange with a few sisters we exchanged with our STLLs (Sister Training Leader Leaders). Sister B and Sister J are examples to me of TRUE leaders. They are elevators!!! They lift everyone around them - their companions, the sisters they serve, those they teach, the members, etc.

Thursday was my 1 year mark! It has been the fastest, most wonderful year of my life.

On Wednesday night, right before our year mark, Sister Th (we were in the same MTC district and are both in the TSAM) received her visa! What a miracle! I am so grateful for that blessing and so happy for her! I have also been experiencing miracles. Over and over again I receiving feelings of peace and comfort, that even though I can't see what directions things are going in (concerning my visa and mission), the Lord is taking care of things.

We had MLC (Mission Leadership Counsel) on Friday. During lunch, Sister S, Sister T, and I sat with the Slaughter family! We were walking by and President Slaughter said, "Join us!" Their 14 year old daughter, told us about the missionary work she is doing with her teacher and how her teacher came to church and loved it! I told President Slaughter, "President Slaugther, I have been dying to talk with you!" He said, "Really! What about?" I said, "I want to be a TSAMmer!" He said, "It was your year mark this week, wasn't it!" All week I had been expecting him to pull me aside at MLC and talk to me about being reassigned - and I was so excited to hear those words!! But to my surprise, he said, "Let's give it one more week." He has so much faith and confidence. He also explained to me that only the Brethren decide if I will be reassigned or will continue to wait for my visa. Everything is done through inspiration. What comfort! After MLC was over, I had a few more minutes to talk with President Slaughter. I am so grateful for he and Sister Slaughter! How I admire and look up to them! The time he took to talk with me and listen to my concerns meant so much to me. He is filled with faith and that has given me comfort and confidence throughout my mission.

I love this work. I look forward so much to continue serving in Texas or Brazil. I know that God has a marvelous and beautiful plan for each of us. His plan for my mission and life is far greater than any plan I could ever make!

Have a wonderful week! Thank you for your prayers and support. The power of your prayers does so much for missionaries!

Love,

Sister Erica Greenall