Bi-Polar Chihuahua :)‏

How's it going, People?

Elders Greenwood and Vivanco (companion)

Homemade Tortilla!

Crazy week of weather this week! Hahaha! Sunday and Monday had some normal Mexican heat going on. Then, we "caught wind" that it snowed in Cuahtemuc (another city) and that wind comes up to the city of Chihuahua, near us. Tuesday and Wednesday it was COLD! and Windy. It even rained. Then, it went right back to hot again. Super extremes going on here. I've learned that I shouldn't pack up my jacket until May or June. Hahaha!

Rebeca's Baptism

Speaking of extremes... as in, EXTREMELY AWESOME! We had a baptism! And, even cooler, the brother of the girl who was baptized got to baptize her! Awesome stuff! She, her brother, and their mom are all members now and have the hope of being sealed in the temple some day. Awesome :) That is what life is all about. Being sealed in the temple and living a life like Jesus lived brings more happiness than you'll ever even know in this life and promises happiness that you can't even comprehend in the next life. :)

Honoring Cousin Heidi Around the World

Great pictures from flipchart

My scriptures of the Week are Luke 22:32 and D&C 108:7 -

"But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, STRENGTHEN THY BRETHREN."

"STRENGTHEN THY BRETHREN in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings."

What is eternal life without family? First and foremost strengthen your family, and then, strengthen your extended family, those people on the streets, in the halls, in the store, are all our brothers and sisters. Jesus Died, and was resurrected so that we could be resurrected as well, but The promise goes even further. All it takes is a little more effort. And the promise is Eternal Life.

Zone Photo at Transfers

Love you all! Have a great week, and strengthen those around you!!

Elder Greenwood :)

Una Carta para Ustedes‏

Pretty tough week went down this week.

Even the cows wouldn't stick around.

I'll keep at it.

Lots of hard work and we didn't see too many results. But the results that do come make everything worth it. I know that with perseverance, all the hard work will pay off, and we will see results and bring good fruits unto the Lord.

I think they're warming up to me.

Like 2 weeks ago I mentioned some dude who said that he wanted to get baptized. (He told us that on the street.) But he didn't know his address, so he gave us his phone number. And we tried and tried to get in contact with him, but nothing worked.

Then, Tuesday night, we were planning on going and buying our food for the week at a store in our area when we heard someone yell, "ELDER!!!!"

All ears now. =)

We turned around to see that dude, Mauricio, running to catch up with us! It was crazy! So we went to his house and had a lesson with him.

Thanks to our Heavenly Father, through our diligence and hard work, we will receive mercy. That was a little piece of mercy that we received that day to give us the motivation to keep moving forward.

My scripture for the week is Romans 8:38-39:

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

  39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Super good scripture about the love of God and of Christ for us. With them at our sides, when we trust in them, nothing is impossible. Love you all! Have a great week! Serve the Lord in some way!

Elder Greenwood :)

Baptism!!!

Happy VISIESTO everybody!!!!! (That's what they call Leap Year here :) )

Pretty sweet P-day to celebrate!!! We went to a museum and learned all sorts of stuff about Chihuahua's history. There were parts about the Catholic Saints, the mean Americans who kept taking their land, and the Mormons who settled Ciudad Juarez! Super cool stuff!

Also! This week we had a baptism!!! Hermana Monica Alfaro. I had the privilege to get to know her from the beginning of her experience with missionaries. She had never talked with us before. She almost didn't let us in when her son told her about us and how he had met us (she told us) because she was in a bad mood. But she loved the feeling that we brought. And, even more, she loved to read the Book of Mormon and the other things we gave her because of the sense of peace that it gave her. The most important thing to her is family. Especially after her husband died, her two kids are incredibly important. And now, she has the hope and faith that she can be sealed in the temple to her husband after a year of being a member. Absolutely incredible.

Baptism of  Hermana Monica Alfaro

This work brings people so much hope, peace, joy, and happiness. The experiences had here are unlike any other that you can possibly experience. I love being a part of this work. We are as the Army of Helaman.

Scripture of the Week - 2 Corinthians 12:10 – “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: For when I am weak, then am I strong.”

How is it possible that Paul is rejoicing in his challenges?

The answer is in Ether 12: 27 -

”And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”

As we humble ourselves before the Lord, we learn that our challenges make us stronger as we put our faith in him. I would not be the person I am today without the challenges that I went through.

The  Invitation is that we all find joy during the dark times and keep the faith that the sun will rise again.

Love you All! Have a great Week!!!

Elder Greenwood :)

What a Week!

This week was even more full of divisions! hahaha! I legit only worked with my comp Tuesday morning. The rest of the week was full of divisions.

Most of the days though, he slept in the same house as me. But, one of the days, when we were ending divisions at night in the central terminal of buses, the bus I took to get there was also the bus my comp and I were going to use to get to our house. So, the plan was that I stay on the bus, the other elder would get off, and my comp would get on. My comp was in line to get on. The other elder got off, and the bus left!!!! ahhh!!! Totally freaked for a bit! I went up and talked to the bus driver, and he was like "oh, no worries, I'm just moving around to a different spot." hahaha! So I went a good minute or two without my comp in a bus. It was pretty intense - hahaha!

6 Month Tie Burning, Mexican Style

And then, the next day, after that happened, I reached my 6 month mark! Rock on! I'm already 1/4 of the way done with my mission. I find that crazy to think about. I've already learned so much and experienced so many things. And now, I have 18 more months to experience and learn more and help as many people as I can (with the Spirit) come unto Christ. I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store. :)

Also had another meeting with President this week. (Never heard of having 2 in 2 weeks, but it happened.) We talked about D&C 6:9-11 and the gift found in there. 

9 Say nothing but repentance unto this generation; keep my commandments, and assist to bring forth my work, according to my commandments, and you shall be blessed.

10 Behold thou hast a gift, and blessed art thou because of thy gift. Remember it is sacred and cometh from above—

New Guitar!

 11 And if thou wilt inquire, thou shalt know mysteries which are great and marvelous; therefore thou shalt exercise thy gift, that thou mayest find out mysteries, that thou mayest bring many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, convince them of the error of their ways.

We, as a mission, are working on finding and using and understanding this gift. It's super cool. In Spanish, it's "El Don de Descubrir Misterios." 

Resting from Soccer on P-Day 

My scripture of the week is 

Moses 7:18 -

18 And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.

Classic. I'm going to focus on the last part and help others in any way I can to not be poor and to have joy.

Love you all! Have a Rock-on Awesome Week!

Elder Greenwood :)

Cosas que hizimos esta semana :)‏

What's up y'all!!!

This week was a good week. We did a lot of divisions and stuff. But I know that through our hard and efficient work that we will see miracles and baptisms.

Speaking of miracles, 2 of our investigators came to the church all by themselves this week!! Normally, we have to pass by their house and remind them, or wake them up.We had a plan to visit one of them and go to church at 8:30 with her. We called her just before we got on the bus to go to our area, and she said "oh, I'm already headed out the door for the bus to the church." YEAH!

So we went on the bus to the stop closest to the church to wait for her. After like 10 minutes we started to worry and we called her again, and she said "Oh, I'm almost there."All by herself she went to church. This person's faith is strong in the blessings that come from going to church.

And our other investigator, "we didn't have time to go to his house," we called and called and there was no answer. And then, in the church, he just walked in!!!! This kid is 16! And he came all by himself!! It was incredible!!

Blessings come eventually, when we are doing the things we know we should. The thing is, they don't always come when we want them to. But they always come. Have faith and a perfect brightness of hope. Blessings always come :)

Love you all!! Hope your Valentine's Day was Swell!!!!

Elder Greenwood :)

The Week of Love

Elder Greenwood with Elder Vivanco (Companion)

Happy "Week of Love," Everyone!!! Hope all is well.

This week was full of a lot of different things. We had a lot of divisions and stuff go on. My comp and I didn't get to work too much together but we still got lots of stuff done. :)

Right now, we are helping out a less active family, who has not been sealed in the temple, accomplish the steps necessary. They are working on understanding the WHY behind why we want to receive Eternal Life.

I invite you all to think about the WHY you want eternal life. It will help strengthen your testimony and drive to achieve it. And I encourage you all to watch/ read talks revolved around THE ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE. When we have the eternal perspective, and always remember why we are Latter-day Saints and why we do the things we do, then Satan will not be able to touch us with his temptations.

Cool dog, but NOT a Chihuahua!

We are also helping a few other investigators progress towards baptism. It is an incredible feeling to be an instrument in the Lord's hands to help bring about this work and help and watch others change and come unto Christ.

My scripture of the week is John 3:16 -

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

#AvoidTemptations!

In this "Week of Love," I invite you all to remember what Christ did for us. And why. He paid the price of every sin we have or will ever commit and felt every pain or sadness we have or ever will feel. And He did it because He loves us.

How can we possibly show our love for Him or our gratitude for His eternal sacrifice?

Answer the question, make a goal, figure out how to accomplish that goal, and do it.

And you will feel the Love of God in your life more powerfully than you can even imagine.

I love you all! Have a great week! Con Dios, nada es imposible.

Elder Greenwood :)

What Up People!!!

Elders Greenwood, Larsen, Vivanco, and Olenslager

Scripture of the week - Mosiah 3:13
(It's a good one.)

13 And the Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among all the children of men, to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy, even as though he had already come among them.

Also, all of you should read 2 Timothy. It's about being a good soldier of Christ. It is awesome. :)

Had changes!!! Jk, I'm still here. There is a work for me to do in this area still, and I am happy to still be here with Elder Vivanco to see these people change and progress towards baptism. :)

It is one of the coolest things I have ever seen - the testimony of someone grow. We have already had amazing experiences here, and plan on having more. :)

Mexican Corn on the Cob

Ward Family Night making Elotes

Delicioso!

Some of our Investigators

Elder Holland Bouncy Ball - Life has its Ups and Downs

Someone just contacted ME on the bus on the way here. He lived in Utah for a bit, got to go to church, and loved it!!! So yeah, we gonna visit him this week :)

Bedroom

Really starting to settle in here

Don't have a lot of time, but I love you all!!

Elder Greenwood :)