I cannot do everything, but I can do something

(Sent 9-25-16)

Well hello there my dearly beloved Brothers and Sisters,

Breakfast with Elder Gardner (CCM Companion)

I would like to wish you all a happy 25th of September. I don't know why but it feels like a good day to celebrate something.

This week was pretty sweet. I went to the Doctor on Tuesday to check out how my toe is doing, The doctor actually told me that I'm good to walk on it now -- obviously not as much as a normal missionary, but now I can start to work on walking normally again and working out my toe.

Two weeks after the injury. (Lost my appetite.)

So, now I'm walking, I have a normal shoe on, My foot is still swollen but it fits in my shoe :D 🤗 In about 20 days (around the time of our next changes) I should be able to be a normal missionary again and bring people to the truth.

While here, I have not been able to do everything. Like the subject line says however, I can do something. My goal here is to continue not letting the fact that I can't do everything get in the way of me doing the things that I can do. I will do everything that is in my power to do.

Last week (looks even better this week). Hurray for improvement!

Just as is promised, the Challenges that we have in this life always help us progress and become stronger in some way. I have learned so much here -- much more than I even thought that I would learn. I learned how to love people more. I learned HOW to better look for the good in people and focus on that. I learned more how to stay more Christ-like and many, many more things.

Being a missionary of the True Church of Christ on the Earth is the greatest. I love doing it and I'm eternally grateful that I am able. Being a member of this church and having the gift of the Holy Ghost as our constant companion (according to our worthiness) is a blessing so great and wonderful that we will not fully understand it in this life. My invitation to you all is to try to understand just how great and wonderful it is this week.  HOW? - Go help someone in need.  And you will feel the joy that comes from God, through his Spirit.

Love you all!

Have a Great Week!

Elder Greenwood :)

P.S. I just learned of the baptism of a guy that I was teaching named David Gallegos.

He just showed up to the church one Sunday in Meoqui with his girlfriend and said, "We feel like we should be here." He lived in my area. I taught him a bit. I put his date for baptism. I feel very happy to hear that he was baptized :)

Here is a pic of him and his girlfriend getting baptized :)

Hello Americans

Hello Americans.

This week was pretty intense.

We had the chance to meet the General Authority, Paul B. Pieper, Area President of MEXICO MEXIco MExico mexico.  (That was supposed to be an echo.)

(#Mision Mexico Chihuahua)

Landon's Graffiti

I learned SO much. It was an incredible experience. He made a list of all the questions that we had for him, and then he taught us how we can figure it out for ourselves. He focused a lot on our own personal Self-sufficiency. Then he taught us how we can help our investigators better learn for themselves, because that is where true conversion comes from -- when we take the time to look for ourselves by searching through the scriptures, studying talks, and praying with all of our hearts.

Nobody can give you your personal conversion or testimony. YOU have to look for it. You have to take the time and put in the effort. Like building a muscle, you can't ask someone to do push-ups for you to gain more muscle. You can ask them how they did it, and they can give you tips. But, until you put in the effort, you will not progress and get stronger, physically or spiritually.

I have studied a lot this week and have found out a lot more about who I am, the talents that I have, and the challenges that I have. I have found weaknesses I have and sins that I commit often. And I have found how to overcome them. I am now applying things that General Authorities and Prophets have counseled, and I am seeing results. 

My kind of restaurant! Write on walls and eat GIANT TORTILLAS!

I know that as we ask specific questions about how we can become better, or find our own testimony, or how you can help someone else come unto Christ, you will find a way, you will become happier, and Your life will have much more meaning. Your vision will be opened more to the love that God has for you and for each one of his Children.

X-ray of Broken Toe (2nd toe from right)

Please, ask yourself a question: "How can I overcome this challenge?..."    "How can I help my friend feel happier?"   "How can I overcome my personal pride and love others more?"   

Then, look for your answer.

It's there.

Love,

Elder Greenwood :)

God has a Plan for Each of You

Hello everybody! Hope that all is well and stuff is going right in your lives.

Elder Greenwood at the Mission Office

Why is Landon playing on a rolly chair at the mission office?

And why is he playing "Peek-a-boo?"

I am emailing you all today to tell you all that God has a plan for each of you. Now, sometimes you may not know why something is happening. Or maybe you don't know why it's happening at the time that it is happening. But, you know who does know?  God knows

Isaiah 55:8-9

As we trust in him we will find that everything will work out in a way that turns out even better than what you had hoped. Trust in God and you will NEVER be disappointed. If you feel that you are trusting in him and that things are not working out, it's because he wants you to trust just a little bit more. There is a saying that goes, "Everything will turn out great in the end. If things are not great, it's still not the end."

And why is he not showing his right foot in the photos?

(No, this is not the change he means.)

I had some special changes this week because of a special thing that happened that is according to God's plan. While I do not know why it happened, I know that God knew that it would happen and that his perfect plan is prepared to create an ending that is better than I can even imagine :)

You will see in the pics that I send my special thing. hahaha! CHIHUAHUA!!!

(And here they are!)

BROKEN TOE!!!

COOL BOOT!

P-Day Pizza Party to Placate the Pain!

Excerpt from Landon's family email:

I wrote you guys Monday morning last week. And then... Stuff happened Monday night. Lol. All is well here. I love Chihuahua. It is the best place in the world. I love being a missionary, and I know that this is where I need to be. And that everything that happens, happens for an eternal reason that sometimes only God knows. 

I was playing volleyball and I broke my toe. BUT EVERYTHING IS OK! DO NOT WORRY! ALL IS WELL!!!!!!! ALL IS WELL!!!! DON'T FREAK OUT!!!!!!!!! I AM OK!!! I just had special changes to the offices with the secretaries and the assistants. I chill with them all day and we do stuff.....

BUT ALL IS WELL!!!!

Landon has always been willing to share. =)

I am happy. I will heal according to the blessing that Elder Arnold gave me. It wasn't a bad break. I jumped to block Elder Meyer who went to spike. Our feet hit in the air, and it broke my toe right by my big toe on my right foot. I am not allowed to walk for a bit, obviously, but I am still doing the work of salvation. And that is what will bring the greatest joy, no matter what the ailment that is in your way.

Love you all!

Elder Greenwood :)

What a week!

(Sent 9/5/16)

What a week. What a week! hahahaha!

Practicing the guitar

Welp. I must say that this week is a week that I will not soon forget in my mission.

I got my first son, and that son had a whole bunch of health problems, physically, that started to affect him a lot -- so much that Presidente had to come to our house and interview him. Now, my dear son is in another part of the mission with nicer weather. Who knows where. Presidente took him right then and there. Now, I have another son! I am going to finish the training of Elder Carvajal. A guy who was born here in my zone. He's a winner.

Ok, other than that...

Big Miracles this week!

1. Met the guy and his girlfriend who, last week, just showed up to the church services in Meoqui (a little city just outside of Delicias) and said, "we felt that we should come here." The guy lives in my area, and we are now teaching him. He's already got a goal set for baptim after he goes 5 times to church. :)

2. Got a reference of a lady who moved into my area who lives with her less-active member boyfriend. She has been to church many times and only has to get married to get baptized. :)

3. One of our investigators, Felix, was starting to really fall away and not keep his commitments or anything. But, we had a lesson with him with an incredibly strong Spirit. The missionary I was with at the time, and I, and the Spirit helped Felix realize that he has already received an answer to his prayers as to whether or not the Book of Mormon is true. It was incredible. He had his testimony but just didn't realize it. And, in that lesson, I learned another reason why I am still in this area. When I first prayed about the Book of Mormon long ago, I too didn't realize that I had already received an answer. But I had. So, with that testimony, the Spirit was able to touch the heart of him, and now he is progressing great. :)

Miracles are real. Because God is a God of Miracles and this is His true church on the earth today. The Book of Mormon brings to us the fullness of the Everlasting Gospel, and only through sincere prayer and faith in God can we know for ourselves. I know. And I invite any who may not to ask.

Love you all!

Elder Greenwood :)

Moroni 10:3-5: 

Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

Changes!

Hello there, my dear friends and family!

Showing Strength

Showing Off Strength

I hope that all is well and that you are continuing strong in the faith. :)

Welp, we just had changes this week. and I'm going to tell you what happened.......

after I tell you what happened this week!

Love sharing the pancakes!

LOVE pancakes!

This week my comp and I went out to look for a person  that we had contacted in the street a while ago. We found his house, knocked on his door, and his wife answered. We talked to her a bit and she got really interested. We went back the next day to visit. And in the lesson, she asked us if it was ok if she could go to church with us :D

AND She asked us when we could come back and visit the whole family.

AND she reminded HERSELF of the homework that we gave her. :)

Wow! I'm excited to continue with her.

Painting Party

Miracles are real my friends. The only requirement to receive one is to believe that you will, and do something to make it happen. And God will help you along the way and make the result even greater than what you hoped for.

Elder Harrison transferred to another area. =(

Now...

With the changes, I will be staying here in Delicias with a new comp. And I mean a NEW comp! He just made it here from the MTC in Mexico -- Fresh out of the training center and ready to do some good :)

Elders Morales (NEW companion) and Greenwood

His name is the name of my first father (trainer) in the mission, Elder Morales.

He is from the City of Mexico. He is a convert to the church and the only member of his family. The faith that this guy has to come on the mission, being the only member of his family, is incredible. I am honored and humbled to have the chance to train him. I hope to be able to help him become the best missionary that he possibly can. :)

Love you all! Have the BEST of weeks! :)

Elder Greenwood :)

Diligencia

Hello Friends and Family of all ages!

Now I just need some water....

This week has been a week of stuff. I have now completed 1 year in the mission. It went by fast. I love being here and I love doing what I'm doing. I've learned much and still have much to learn. I am eternally grateful that my Heavenly Father gave me the chance to serve a mission. It is the greatest thing that a person can do. If you are at the point of considering going on a misison, my advice for you would be.... DO IT! You will not regret it.

Ready to do the traditional shirt burning

Hit one year mark along with Elder Harrison

It's official! One year down!

Oh look! Found some water! Now I need the boat!

This week, I learned a bit about Diligence. One of the attributes that Christ has. Diligence is the constant effort of doing your best and staying on the path of righteousness (It has a better definition in Preach My Gospel. I just can't remember it right in English. XD )

Quite a change in weather!

The thing is, on a mission, and especially in life, we find ourselves slowly slacking off little by little from the things that we need to be doing. It's natural.

My invitation for all of you is that you can notice those things that you may be slacking off in, and FIX THEM!

Mission Activity - Reunion with Sister from CCM

Find more trust in God and believe that through Jesus Christ change is possible! But the right kind of change takes work, which is why we must be diligent, work, and put in a CONSTANT effort to follow Christ.

(No idea what this is about, but couldn't leave it out.)

I promise you all that you will find purpose in your life and learn to love the Lord more and come to understand just a bit more how much he loves you.

I love you all too! And hope and pray for your well-being! Have a Great week!

Elder Greenwood :)

What Lack I Yet?

How's it going, Everybody?

Hurray for Rain!

Hope all is well and life is great!

This week I re-read a couple of talks from the General Conference of last October. Wow, I haven't done a lot of re-reading of Conference talks in my life. I always just watched them, said "well, that was cool," and moved on with my life.

But, those talks are scriptures, and scriptures help you no matter what time it is or how long it's been.

I promise you all that that is true. Those talks I read really helped me remember who I am and learn things that I can do to become a better missionary and person.

One talk that really helped was by a Seventy that talked about a story in the Bible of a rich and righteous man who asked Jesus, "What lack I yet?" or, in other words, "What is keeping me from progressing?"  "What more can I do?"

He then promised us that if we ask Heavenly Father that, that we will receive an answer, and if we apply that answer in our lives, we will progress, become better, help more people, and become a better disciple of Christ.

My invitation is that you can all re-read conference talks and apply them. Ask God, "What Lack I yet?" And you will find more happiness that you thought was possible. The Spirit will guide you to the talks that you need to read to help you as well.

I love you all!

Have a great week!

And

GIVE 'EM HEAVEN!

Elder Greenwood :)