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