May 26: Happiest Days!

Hi family!

I'm a little short on time today! But a picture says a thousand words, right?

Saturday and Sunday could not have been happier. Seeing Brother M be baptized and confirmed was more wonderful than I can say. The confirmation prayer and the baptism were so beautiful. Miracle after miracle after miracle this week. After Brother M was confirmed in Sacrament meeting, I was sitting next to him in gospel principles. The teacher gave him a "Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple" pamphlet, and throughout that lesson, he was flipping through it and looking at the pictures. When he got to the picture of the Celestial Room in the Salt Lake Temple, he stopped or a long, long time. He just looked at it, with light in his eyes, and then he had tears in his eyes. He said to me, "I have to go there."

I've never been more happy. There is no way to express it.

God's love is the most desirable above all things and the most joyous to the soul! (1 Nephi 11: 22-23)

We taught a first lesson in American Sign Language (...with help from the pamphlet!!) this week.

Miracles are everywhere!

I love y'all!

   Sister Greenall

Here is a taste of Austin. Every night we have the most amazing sunsets!

I love my companions!! This is Brother M's famous earring. About a month or so ago, this earring was preventing him from being baptized. His heart has been so changed that when his earring broke, and we offered to fix it, he trusted us! He gave us his special earring! It was in pieces and the links had come apart. Shortly after we had offered to fix it, he surprised us by telling us that he had decided he was willing to give up wearing his earring! But he said he wouldn't give up his hair (we told him to please keep his hair!). We fixed the earring and gave it back to him a few days before his baptism. We were surprised on his baptism day when he showed up with his chain earring in. But I knew he would be true to his word when he said he would give up wearing it. So we didn't say anything. When he went to change into his baptismal suit, he came out without his earring in, and he hasn't worn it since. He has truly given everything and has committed to following Christ and being a part of church.

milagres cada dia!

chau!

May 19: Tudo Bem!

Hello Family!

It has been another wonderful week!

Danica! Happy Birthday tomorrow! I can't believe my "little" sister is turning 19!

Sister T and I received our new companion and trainee, Sister Jo! We love her dearly!

On Monday, we went to Taste of Ethiopia. Sister T and I keep seeing it and decided that we would go on our last p-day of the transfer, as either a "it was a great time together" lunch or a "farewell" lunch.

On Tuesday we had the greatest phone call-lesson ever with Brother M! On Sunday when he told us he wanted to get baptized and asked what he needed to do, we gave him all the pamphlets of the commandments! (that's the kind of person Brother M is. He really does his research!) So on Tuesday we called him and asked if he had read them- of course he had and remembered everything! And he committed to live each of the commandments right there on the phone! Also, that morning I had did my morning study with the question of how we could help Brother M to accept a priesthood blessing. He had never agreed to receive one before, because although he wanted one, he feels he can't accept something without giving back to that individual. While I was studying about the priesthood, it became very clear in my mind that Brother M would one day BE a priesthood holder! Things started falling into place in my mind, and I realized that he could one day serve others as a priesthood holder. For some reason the idea had never occurred to me until then! So Sister T and I realized that the way to help Brother M accept a priesthood blessing was by helping him realize that he needs to prepare to be a priesthood holder so that he can serve others. We talked to him about it on the phone and it was great! He said he would gladly receive a priesthood blessing that night.

So On Tuesday night we met at a member's home and two priesthood holders came. We taught about the priesthood, then Brother M received a priesthood blessing. It was so beautiful and the Spirit was so pure and strong in the room. After the blessing I could see more light than ever in Brother M's eyes, and he sincerely thanked the priesthood holders as well as the member whose home we were at and Sister T and I. He is so filled with gratitude and is so humble these days. And there is a visible difference about him. He really has so much light now. I know that it will be permanent and increase even more when he receives the gift of the Holy Ghost.

I have been studying charity more recently. I know, and I love that, charity is literally a gift from God! I have felt that. It sometimes seems to spring up out of nowhere. I remember the first time I met Brother M and how that love just overcame me, even though I knew nothing about him! God blesses us with love for those we serve, and it is a love that is so hard to explain.

I like how Preach My Gospel explains it.

"When you are filled with charity, you obey God's commandments and do all you can to serve others and help them receive the restored gospel... Charity is a gift from God. ...You will come to feel a sincere concern for the eternal welfare and happiness of other people. You will see them as children of God with the potential of becoming like our Heavenly Father, and you will labor in their behalf. ..You will try to understand them and their points of view. You will be patient with them and try to help them when they are struggling or discouraged... You will develop charity as you look for opportunities to serve others and give of yourself." (pg. 118)

On Sunday we had ward conference. I love what the bishop said during his talk. We should never assume that Salvation will be or should be easy. It was not easy for our captain, so why should it or would it be easy each of us, the passengers. A member of the Stake Presidency spoke about the pearl of great price spoken of in the Bible. He testified that we are the pearls of great price, and that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ see us as so valuable that they would do anything to have us! Our value is determined by the price that was paid for us. Heavenly Father and our Savior have paid that price, and it is fixed. Our value to Them will never decrease or be diminished.

I have never experienced or felt more happiness in my life than I have in these past few weeks.

"The Lord will reward and richly bless you as you humbly and prayerfully serve Him. More happiness awaits you than you have ever experienced as you labor among His children." (Preach My Gospel, first presidency message.)

I know that my Savior lives. This is His true church. I've realized that the more I love the people here, the more bold I become- the more I try to take out any extra fluff to what I say, and the more I strive to help others make and keep commitments. God has made the gospel so clear. He wants EVERYONE to understand it so that they can be an agent and make correct choices.

I know that one of the greatest things we can learn to do is to follow righteous leaders and examples. Even Jesus Christ, the greatest Leader to walk the Earth, was a perfect Follower to a Righteous Example. He always acknowledged his Father and that he only did what he saw his Father do.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;" (The Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 27: 21)

Thank you for all you do and for your prayers and support! I love y'all!

-Sister [Erica] Greenall (I won't be able to just sign "Sister Greenall" for much longer!)

May 12: Happiest Week

Hello family!

This was the happiest week. I think yesterday was probably the happiest day of my life!

On Tuesday we had our first ever Sister's Conference and got to go to the temple! Jo was baptized on Friday and received the gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday! Brother M came to the baptism!

On Sunday he came to church (even though he really should have been in the hospital) and during Sacrament meeting he told me he wanted to talk to us. After Sacrament meeting he told us he prayed, and even though he couldn't feel anything except the intense pain (his health situation is getting worse), he told us, "but I think- no, I KNOW, that this is the only way for me. It is true. There is no way that this couldn't all be true. I've done my research, and the foundation is firm." Brother M wants to be baptized. That is the biggest miracle I have ever seen in my entire life. I've never been so happy.

The work is good! I know the gospel is true and that Christ lives. This church cannot be proven false because just like Brother M said, it is built on a true, firm, and unbreakable foundation, Jesus Christ. This is His church.

Have a great week!

Love,

    Sister Greenall

PS: Sister T and I got a phone call from President Slaughter last night! We are both staying and receiving a brand new missionary to train! I couldn't be happier!!

May 5: The Miracle of Prayer

Hello!

It has been another wonderful week in the mission field. I'm so blessed to be in Austin, Texas!!

This week on Friday Jo will be baptized.

There have been so many miracles this week, but the one that stands out is the miracle of seeing a Child find a Parent....

Brother M is going through some extreme trials. I can't imagine experiencing the pain and loss that he faces. Through the physical trials, though his body grows weaker, his spirit has been growing and becoming stronger in miraculous ways. There are many people and experiences that tie me to Texas, but over and over again I am amazed at our experiences with Brother M.

In District meeting this week, we were talking with our district to seek new ideas of how to approach helping Brother M to pray. As we were asking, the thought came to me: "Why not just write a letter to God?" So when we were able to meet with Brother M this week, and he asked, "How would you recommend overcoming the prayer block?" We suggested the idea to him of writing a letter. To our surprise, he said, "...That's not a bad idea."

He has had some difficult experiences with prayer in his life which has created a brick wall when it comes to prayer. But as we talked to him, we could see so much humility in him, and a sincere desire to connect with his Father. Brother M is very thorough in his research so when we extend commitments he mostly says "We'll see..." This time, we asked if he would write a prayer in letter form. He said, "We'll see..." We said, "Brother M, WILL you write a letter to God?" He said, "Y'all are very persistent. Yes, I will attempt."

At the end of the lesson, he said something along the lines of, "I have to say... For years, the men from another church have talked to me and taught me. I never learned anything. I gained knowledge. But it went in one ear and out the other. But when you two teach... it doesn't go out the other ear. It's incredible!"

That past week he sent us a text and asked us if he could come to church!! We asked him what inspired him to do that, and he said, "...a thought, a feeling. It's not like me!" We testified of the Holy Ghost, and he is accepting of the answers we give him. He is feeling the Holy Ghost and understanding it!

Today he sent us a copy of that prayer he wrote. Miracles are everywhere! God loves His children so much! He knows each of them! And after all of the things we tried to teach Brother M to satisfy his desire for intellectual concepts and principles, the only thing he has really needed to know is that he is a child of God. That knowledge changes lives and people!

I love this gospel with all my heart. I know it is true! Christ lives.

Have a wonderful week!

Love,

   Sister Greenall

Apr 28: How y'all doin?

Family!

It was so great to get your emails! I have been pondering and learning about the temple so much this past week. It makes me so happy to know that y'all were in the temple on Friday together. I love knowing that each member of my immediate family has been endowed and that my parents were sealed in the temple. My family, all y'all, and the gospel are the greatest blessings in my life!

"In the Church we build buildings of many kinds. In them we worship, we teach, we find recreation, we organize. We can organize stakes and wards and missions and quorums and Relief Societies in these buildings or even in rented halls. But, when we organize families according to the order that the Lord has revealed, we organize them in temples."

-Preparing ot Enter the Holy Temple, pg. 1

Sister T got bitten by chiggers! We have had lots of Texan cultural experiences these past transfers... Maybe Danica will have some of the same!

My tooth is good as new! I can hardly even tell it was ever chipped! Mom, thank you so much for providing the insurance information and making sure my card had money on it.

We had a great lesson with Ja on Monday! But towards the end of this week he told us he wouldn't be meeting with us anymore. We also got a voicemail from G's daughter (she wasn't there for our first lesson with them, and was just walking in as we were walking out) saying they were going to cancel our return appointment and wouldn't be rescheduling. So we have lost several of the new investigators, but we know that Heavenly Father can lead us to more! (or lead more to us! Like in A's case.)

We met several people at their doors this week who were under the influence... I know that the Word of Wisdom is an eternal principle! When we care for our bodies, we are able to be more in tune with the Spirit. In Preach My Gospel pg. 96 "The Spirit does not get our attention by shouting or shaking us with a heavy hand. Rather it whispers. It caresses so gently that if we are preoccupied we may not feel it at all. (No wonder that the Word of Wisdom was revealed to us, for how could the drunkard or the addict feel such a voice?) Occasionally it will press just firmly enough for us to pay heed. But most of the time, if we do not heed the gentle feeling, the Spirit will withdraw and wait until we come seeking and listening and say in our manner and expression, like Samuel of ancient times, 'Speak [Lord], for thy servant heareth.' (1 Sam. 3:10.) -The Candle of the Lord," Ensign, Jan. 1983,52. "

I know that we will have our bodies forever! I'm so grateful that Jesus Christ overcame death, so that we can also through Him.

"After we have passed through this life, we will have our bodies glorified, made free from every sickness and distress, and rendered most beautiful. There is nothing more beautiful to look upon than a resurrected man or woman. There is nothing grander that I can imagine that a man [or woman] can possess than a resurrected body. There is no latter-day saint...but that certainly has this prospect of coming forth in the morning of the first resurrection and being glorified, exalted in the presence of God." -President Lorenzo Snow, Oct. 1900.

We had family home evening with Ti, Tr, Jo, and Little K. They are doing so well! Jo will be baptized on May 10th. Ti, Jo, and Little K came to church yesterday for all 3 hours! For the first time! Ti has weekends off now! (Tr is also very receptive but works on Sundays) What a miracle! They loved it! Jo was whisked away to young women's class by the other girls, and Little K got to go to nursery!

We had a wonderful lesson this week with Ch and Sa about temples and being sealed as families. Charlie said he will be baptized one day.

I love these people! I know that our Savior lives. He loves these people! Ni bore her testimony (she was asked to give a talk/testimony) in Sacrament meeting on Sunday. She is on fire! She is so converted to the Lord! She bore her testimony of how she sees Christ in the people of the church and in the missionaries. I also see Christ in the members of this church and in the church leaders. Mi is going through a rough time. She is in difficult circumstances, but I have seen the concern of the ward members, and have heard countless stories of them doing all they can to help her. I learn more about my Savior through the examples of the ward members here, and of y'all back home!

I love these sisters! (Sister Ro, me, Sister T, Sister Wh....I'm pretty sure Sister Wh is actually my cousin Sister J Greenall in disguise!)

There is so much joy in doing the work of the Lord! We are blessed!

I love y'all!

Have a wonderful week in the beautiful state of Virginia!
Com amor,
      - Sister Greenall

PS: There is a brother in our ward who is doing a PhD in Spanish and Portuguese. He helped me with my pronunciation while we were at a dinner appointment with his family... nazalizing is my current challenge. It seems the few times I have heard true portuguese from native or advanced speakers, the contrast between their portuguese and mine has been striking! haha! It's been so great! I love learning Portuguese! And I look forward to meeting the people of Belem Brazil one day! Texas is THE BEST! Danica is going to love it!

Chau!

Apr 21: Otra Semana de Milagres

Hi family!

The time is flying by faster than ever!

We have had another miracle week.

On Monday evening we decided to try and meet a former investigator. We went to their complex, knocked on their door, but there was no answer. I felt like we should knock a few more doors. So I chose a few and Sister T chose a few. We met some nice people but none that were interested. We were about to go and we felt we should do one more door. There was no answer, but as we turned to go back to the car, there was a man walking by with his dog, taking his trash out. We talked to him, and he accepted a Book of Mormon, was interested, and set up a return appointment! His name was Ja and he was very nice! He said "I think yall knocked on my door!" It turns out he was the first door we had knocked (where the former investigator used to live), but he had been sleeping. Our knock woke him up and so he decided to take his trash out and walk his dog. God works in mysterious ways!

On Wednesday we had Zone Conference. Our zone and one other met and we were able to receive training from President S and other leader missionaries (sister training leader leaders and assistants to the president).

It was incredible and Sister T and I learned so many things which we are working to apply in our teaching.

Friday and Saturday were finding days for us. We spent the days knocking on streets we have never ventured to before, and working through our area book, trying to meet potentials and formers.

Sunday was an Easter miracle day.

Ja came to church!

Later, after church, we decided to visit a member who lives with a nonmember. As we pulled up to their apartment complex, the gates were closed, and we had no way of getting in, so we decided to go to our other location first instead.

We went back to the same complex about an hour later, and this time, the car right in front of us on the street turned into the complex and opened the gate. (coincidence? No way!) So we were able to enter the complex. When we arrived at the building where the member lived...we were surprised to see the member outside on the sidewalk, walking her dog. She was talking to her friend who was on the second floor out on her porch! The member saw us and said to her friend "These are my missionary friends from church!" The member's friend, Je, told us about how they were just talking about how instead of celebrating Easter, Je had ended up having a funeral for her youngest son. We asked if we could share a message with her. She said yes and invited us to come up.

We went up the stairs, found her apartment, knocked, and she let us right in. Her granddaughter, Cr and her friend (both young adults), were right inside the door, watching a tv show and doing their hair. Je welcomed us into the living room and had us sit down on the couch.

We invited the other two to join us, but they didn't really respond. We prayed with Je and began, but I felt like we really needed Cr and her friend to join us. We invited them again and asked Je if they would like to join us. Finally they came and turned the tv off. They were really the sweetest girls! We started again with a prayer. It was Cr's father who had passed away.

In the next 45 minutes, we taught the Plan of Salvation (which they loved and instantly accepted) and then the Restoration. There isn't really any way to describe the experience, except that it was exactly like the experiences outlined in Preach My Gospel! We just followed what we had learned from Preach My Gospel, and these three incredible ladies showed the exact responses that Preach My Gospel teaches that prepared people will have! They loved everything we taught them! They expressed the feelings of love and peace they were feeling. They wanted the Book of Mormon! Cr asked after the lesson, "what can we keep and read? These pamphlets?" We said "Yes, but actually, we want you to read the Book of Mormon!"

Cr said: :"Are you going to give that book to me?" she pointed to the one we had showed her. We said, "Yes!" She said, "Good! Otherwise I was going to download it on my phone or get it somehow!"

All three committed to baptism on a specific day in May. Before we even invited her, Cr said she would come to church next Sunday. Je testified that God had sent us to them, and Sister T testified "Yes, we know He has."

God lives! He works in mysterious ways!

I know that in comparison to His efforts and works, ours are nothing! (The contrast between what was accomplished in our 2 days of solid knocking and the miraculous things he did in guiding us to these 3 of His children is so clear!) But I know that all He asks us is that we give our best. He just asks for our best efforts, and He does the rest. I know that it is because Sister T and I gave our best in trying to find people to teach that the Lord was able to guide us to and trust us with these precious souls. I know that it is through His strength that we can do all things and witness miracles. I'm so grateful to be a firsthand witness of His miracles.

I know that Christ lives! I know that He died and was resurrected, and that He lives today. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His Church and the only church on the earth with His authority and the FULLNESS of His gospel. We are blessed!

Love,

Sister Greenall

Apr 14: Oi!

Hi Family!

It's been an incredible week.

A's baptism was so beautiful! She is doing so well. Once again, my favorite part of the baptism and confirmation was the confirmation the next day in Sacrament meeting when she received the gift of the Holy Ghost!

She even let us take one picture before the baptism! (She really dislikes taking pictures!) But she let us take it on the agreement that it would not be posted on the internet! So this picture is only for personal viewing, not for sharing! :)

The blue bonnets are everywhere! They are beautiful!

Today it has been thundering and pouring, with flashes of lightening! Pretty exciting! The 44 degrees feel so cold. I think I will have to live in tropical climates for the rest of my life.

B and S surprised us with these bracelets one day. They are so kind! My family has grown significantly since coming to Texas.

Here are some wise words from President today, "You must realize that the devil does not care what people believe, as long as what they believe is not the truth. Hence the reason there are so many churches."

We are going to B and S's house today to do some service, so I look forward to that!

Some miracles this week:

We met several incredible people while knocking on some doors!

We went to teach M with her grandmother (who is a member) again. We were reading from Moroni 7 and discussing how God makes the truth so clear. He makes good and evil as clear as black and white. On the other hand, Satan, and the world, will try to make everything gray.

After we finished that chapter, I felt impressed to pull out the word of wisdom pamphlet from my purse. We began teaching her the Word of Wisdom. After she read the list of things to refrain from doing, she laughed a little and told us she does all of those things. She is in her late teenage years and talked about how she wouldn't want to commit to something like that before she even turns 21.

Sister T began to lovingly express to her the benefits of making those decisions now. The Spirit started testifying to me of my responsibility as a missionary. I felt a huge responsibility to make everything as clear as night and day to her. I saw in my mind an idea of where she could be 30 or so years from then based on the decisions she makes now, and how those decisions would affect her eternally. I've never been so bold in my life! The Spirit was so powerful, I just opened my mouth, and I know that the things I said were the things the Holy Ghost wanted M to know. I told her about how I had just turned 21, and how my parents wrote to me that they were so pleased with me to know where I was as a 21 year old, compared to where I could be. I testified of the joy I find serving God and following His commandments. I testified that we were representatives of Jesus Christ, and that if we left her thinking drinking was ok, we would be lying. I testified that drinking is in no way acceptable, that God does not allow any sin. I testified that nothing is worth giving up the things God has to offer. God taught me in that experience of the power and authority of my calling as a missionary. The Spirit that was there was not from me, but from God. M at first took it lightly, but as I began to testify, the mood changed, and I could tell she took the message seriously. By the end of the lesson, she committed to live the Word of Wisdom for the entire week.

The thing that impressed me most about that experience was that afterward, I realized that the feeling that had filled me and that was so strong as I testified, was God's love for M. While I was speaking boldly, the only thing I felt for her was love, not anger or anything else. I know that M felt that because when she closed the lesson with a prayer, she thanked God for sending her "friends, the missionaries" and for our and her grandma's support as she tries to live the word of wisdom.

I learned for myself that God chastens, corrects, and is bold with us because He loves us so deeply. He knows and sees the dangers ahead of us, and He wants us to avoid those painful situations and eternal consequences. His love for us is a miracle!!!

The next day I also came across this verse in the Book of Mormon as Alma is teaching his son Corianton: "And now, my son, I would to God that ye had not been guilty of so great a crime. I would not dwell upon your crimes, to harrow up your soul, if it were not for your good." -Alma 39:7

Another miracle!: Yesterday on Sunday, we didn't have a dinner planned, and during church a member asked us if they had us for dinner that night. I told him no, but he asked if we had a dinner planned. I told him we didn't, but that we would be alright. He invited us to their home for dinner, and when we got there, they had also invited their nonmember neighbors over! wow!!

After that we were able to meet with Brother M in the park! A member came with us, and she was the perfect fit for him because she is so peaceful and kind and doesn't get defensive about her beliefs. It was such a good meeting. Brother M had a neck brace on and couldn't use his right arm. His health is not good. He was only able to meet with us because he had some acupuncture done so he doesn't feel the pain right now. But while his health is struggling, I am amazed by his spiritual growth and how he has completely changed!

After that lesson at the park, we went to try B and S's. We hadn't been able to get a hold of them. They are going through a lot of health challenges also. By a miracle, we knocked on the door and they answered! They let us in to pray with them.

I love the people here! I am so blessed to be serving as a representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!

I know that my Savior lives. I know that He truly felt and experienced every pain, doubt, fear, depression, guilt, sickness, anxiety, fatigue, joy, peace, love, hope that we have ever experienced. He knows us perfectly and I am so grateful for that.

Hope you have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sister Greenall