Monday, January 26, 2015

New Companion!

Jan 26th



Jan 26th
Hello family,

I'm glad you liked the deep in the heart of Texas story. I thought it was a highlight of that week. Dinners are fantastic, Austin is weird, and the work moves forward. No snow for us. It's been a little chilly at nights but perfect during the day. Audrey's steer is so cute! He sounds like a rascal. I loved the updates from what's going on. That's my favorite part of emailing. Tell 'em all I love them.

Transfers were crazy! I miss Sister B like crazy. It didn't seem like we were together for four and a half months. She's now in San Antonio. My new companion is Sister F. She's from UT but was born in the Marshall Islands. She has been out for just about five months. Sister F is a powerful, bold teacher. It's been miracle after miracle. It's the first time I'm older than my companion! The most amazing thing about Sister F is that she's an American Sign Language sister. She prays and teaches in sign all the time. She even translated in a ward that's in our stake for a deaf family. She took ASL in high school but her trainer has a passion for teaching deaf people. So President Slaughter allowed them to study sign. She I'm doing language study with her and she's teaching me. It's so much fun. We finger spell in sacrament and then she teaches me the sign. I love it.  

The P family's baptism was beautiful. The Spirit bore witness that their baptisms were done by the power and authority of God. They are so happy. The Pleasant family radiates joy. I'm so happy for them. I love them so much. Sister F and I did the talk on baptism. We simple and shorty stated the elements of true baptism how Christ taught: 1) True baptism is only for believers 2) True baptism is only for the repentant 3) True baptism is by immersion like Christ 3) True baptism is done by the proper priesthood authority from God and 4) True baptism is followed by the laying on of hands to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. I'm so happy for them. I cannot wait until they enter into the temple to be sealed for time and all eternity in a year.

I look forward to baby goat pictures!! I love preaching the gospel and teaching the restoration of Christ's Church. I'm leaving it all on the field.

Love you always,
Sister Malary Greenwood

Pictures: We ate at Salt Lick BBQ for Sister B's birthday. It's a world famous place, an original. It's waaay delicious. I got a tshirt that has a picture on the back of their bbq pits says "You can smell our pits from miles away!" That yall would enjoy that.

For her birthday, I started her on the birthday cereal tradition. Frozen cereal. The best!

The birthday cereal tradition has spread! Happy birthday Sister B!

Dinner at Salt Lick

Looks like a lot of leftovers!

New companion! Sister F!

What a pair! Sister B has transferred to a new area, but I am sure they will still get to see each other!

Deep in the Heart of Texas

January 19th



Hola mi familia,

I'm thinking about the McCallops a lot and praying for them. I love Aunt Judy. She was such a hoot. I love them so much. I'm so grateful that we have the knowledge of God's perfect plan. It's a plan of happiness. Death is an essential step to eternal progression. How grateful should we be that our families can be sealed for time and all eternity not severed by death because of the restored powers of God to a prophet. Hurrah for Israel!

This week flew by with all the things we had to get done. Drum roll for transfer news.......Sister B is leaving! We are so sad. I love Sister B. She's been an amazing companion. But she's going to do amazing things wherever she goes. Transfer meeting is this Thursday. The weather has been a perfect 70 degrees the past couple days. A little chilly in the mornings but perfect for tracting during the day. The kids sound like they’re doing awesome. Of course they are, they’re Greenwoods! Good luck with classes and running. Being able to just run is a blessing. It's been too cold in the mornings to run lately. Plus I'm so not in shape anymore haha’
Here are my messages to the kids:

Robert: Keep going out with the Elders. I was thinking about a good way to prepare for a mission. The best way I can think is to invite a friend to hear from the missionaries or come to church and see the gospel change their lives. You will have a deeper motivator and sense of purpose when you’re looking for those people who will act. P.S. Did you get the pictures I sent you?

Audrey: When you are a missionary you will school these Elders with your basketball skills. A little girl's resolution was to milk a cow. I was thinking how cool it is that my sister raises and milks goats.

Joey: I hear you are a teenager. Good luck. I wish I had a video of you telling a story to hear your man voice. Oo! Sing that Josh turner song and record it for me! hahaha

Frank: I miss you tons. I tell funny stories about you a lot. I'm still looking for the perfect wife for you. Just you wait...

Brian: Lalalalala lalalalala  i love you (whispered very softly) Shhh...secret tunnels. Love ya! Work hard in baseball and school. Share the gospel with them too. Get your whole team and coaches to come to church!!! That would be so awesome!! I know you can do it.

Oh hilarious story! Ready? At a zone conference last week (with the mission president I might add) we sang a thank you song to the relief society women that prepared our lunch. Then this lady gets on the stage and says "I have one for you." She yells, "THE STARS AT NIGHT ARE BIG AND BRIGHT.." I did the claps and said "DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS." You will be proud to know that I was the only one. Maybe one other faint elder but it was hilarious. Thank you for raising me on PeeWee Herman's Big Adventure.

Love all yall with all my heart. Deeper than the heart of Texas.
Sister Greenwood

Two amazing missionaries

Frozen January

January 12th



Hahaha Your opening question cracked me up. I needed that. Glad you like the hair cut! At first it was super weird. But I love it now. I can't wait to see Frank pass the sacrament. That's awesome. I loved what you put at the end of the email of what the boys said. It makes me so happy! I don't believe how tall Joey is now. I loved especially the lalalala song from Nacho that Brian quoted. That kid's a hoot. Tell Brian if he comes to the TSAM it means he is "highly favored of the Lord." This mission is special! If he comes here that would be awesome. Especially if Robby comes here!!!
I can't wait for y’all to meet the families here someday. Your primary class sounds awesome. Prays coming your way always! The pictures you sent me were awesome. The weather is literally freezing. The lowest I saw was 29 in the car. One day when tracting it was like 34 degrees and raining. Ice was everywhere. The plants were all frozen over. We were walking under a tree and ice started to fall out of it and whacking us! It's still cold but not freezing. I'm SO excited for all of y’all to serve missions. It's so exciting. I'm already excited to serve a senior mission! Hahaha Sister B is doing so well. We are having so much fun. Brother P is the first baptism she will be experiencing on the mission. And boy does she have more to come. She's such a hard working sister. Y’all will love her. I’m learning so much. I LOVE the people here.

But, I love all yall so much more.
Sister Malary Greenwood

P.S. We knocked a California Cove! Haha
BBRRRR!!!!

Icy icicles! Why is she out walking around in freezing weather?

Gotta take a picture at California cove :)

Happy New Year Sister Greenwood!



January 5th
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

WOW! It's just cold all over the states! I can't believe it snowed. And I missed it! It's 40 degrees right now and was 27 I think this morning. How fun! Good luck with school. All the kids went back today and we have some teachers in our ward and they are dreading it. I can't believe all those Elders are home! Wow. Glad you saw Elder Warren. He was such a great leader. That's cool you saw Jan Peterson! I've been thinking about them. I loved the pictures. They cracked me up. Carne asada fries sound so good!! Definitely a Cali thing. Not much of it here. I just love you guys.

We've been so busy. Almost no time to sit! This past week a father in our ward has decided to be baptized. I LOVE the P family. The mother is very active. She's an amazing teacher. Mom, you would love her. They have two children, who are going to be baptized with their dad at the end of the month. We've been teaching him like crazy and he's so amazing. They have an amazing story. The Lord has truly been working on his heart. We will have to go to their sealing next year! I attached a picture of their kids one night went we went over for a lesson. They had hillbilly teeth and mustaches. I'm tellin’ ya, y’all will love them.

Thank you so much for the hilarious email and even more hilarious pictures. I love all y’all so much. Oh.. by the way... I cut my hair. Surprise! And gas was 1.99 9/10 I've NEVER seen it so low! Haha
 
Love, Sister Malary Greenwood
Low gas prices!

Glow stick creation. TSAM=Texas San Antonio Mission 

Flamingos here are a big deal. I find it quite hilarious. I will always knock on doors with flamingos in the yard:)

Hair cut!

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Can You Believe I already have December done??? Here is Mal'sDecember

Merry Christmas (late) Enjoy her thoughts and appreciation for so many blessings.

12/1/14
Howdy!

Like every single week, the pictures never fail to make me so happy. That's so cool Elder Taylor/Not Elder Taylor anymore visited!! He was really the first Elder with Elder Hensley to start the mission prep classes? That's so fun! Thanksgiving was awesome here too. Pecan pie, deep fried turkey, and all kinds of yummy sides. With the one family that was a daughter just like Audrey it almost scared me. Her name is M. She comes in the house, gym shorts, cowboy boots, very muddy knees, and I thought of Audrey. We ate at the kid table and this wasp lands on one of the kids plates. M whips out her pocket knife and chases down the wasp to stab it. Laster we were talking with her dad, Brother K, (who's pretty amazing) and she's killed a few deer this past year. In Texas you need 10 acres of land to shoot and they have 9. M was begging him the other day to shoot this deer on their propterty and he said "no, I’ll go to jail!" And she responded just how Audrey would and has. "So?" Hahaha It was so much fun. Then we went to the H’s. Sister B and I were bursting with how much we ate. I actually had to undo the side top button on my skirt I was so full!! Hahaha I should have worn a stretchy skirt!
It's so fun to hear all the fun things going on and see how big everyone is getting. It's fun to see pictures of missionaries too! The best Christmas gift would be to have a family be taught and baptized in our ward:) But there's a nice Goodwill here that I can buy some clothes at. That's really all I need. But it's not even an urgent thing either. The weather has been perfect then today it's pretty cold and windy. Sister B says hello! I cannot believe it's almost Christmas. Yall NEED to watch the "He is the Gift"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzjFEMmM0Xs video and share it with everyone. That's all we are using in our missionary efforts and contacting
What was really amazing this week was when we were tracting in an apartment complex and we knocked into this couple from Puerto Rico. The husband let us right in and we met his sweet wife. She only spoke Spanish. We taught the Restoration and we were all feeling the Spirit immensely. He translated every part of the lesson to her. He said things like "I know you didn't knock on my door for no reason. God sent you. I feel God here." I just love them. We had a pass off lesson with the Spanish called missionaries and they had a great lesson. They will be baptized! It's so exciting to be led by the Lord. Another young lady in a different complex was walking up the stairs so I told her who we were and she was like, "wait... mormon missionaries? I was taught by missionaries in Georgia!" She moved a few months ago and hadn't been in contact with anyone about the church. That was amazing. This week has been full of miracles. I LOVE TEXAS. This is such an amazing, faith based, spirit led, family focused, and joyful mission. Thank you for everything, including yall being my prime gospel teachers. I love you so so much.


Much Love,
Sister Malary Greenwood

second Thanksgiving dinner! (how do her skirts still fit?)

Martinellis and a boot! How cute!

Sister missionaries, preparing to chow down!

This is a very Thankful girl on Thanksgiving

This was their first Thanksgiving dinner!


Dec 8
Family,

I'm so excited for Skype! We have no idea our plans for Christmas or how it will work yet but when it gets closer I'll let you know. Sister B is the most amazing companion. I love her and cannot wait till yall can meet her. She's going to be a sister in our family now. Glad that sweet grandma called you! Her husband was a mission president and she had four missionaries serve. She thought you'd like a call. That was nice of her. Glad Daddy is recovering speedily. I'm sure daddy wants to be out working asap. I'm grateful I inherited that work ethic gene (or rather you beat it into me). Haha I love just being out and working. Even at the end of the days the numbers don't show it or if your pessimistic you could miss all the miracles God unfolded right in front of you. I loved the pictures. Thank you for including a picture of Benny. So I read what you said about Brian and the chopsticks to our bench of emailing missionaries in the family history library. Cracked every one up. Facebook worthy I'm sure. Thank you for your fasting and prayers. Every ounce of faith blesses us. The Lord hears and lets Sister Burrows and I hear it too. The spiritual experiences have been like treasure to me more than anything else. People ask me why I'm serving or what made me decide to serve. I always knew I would. But one reason I share with people is because I want all my siblings to serve and experience the things God has to shape them to their divine potential. 

I can't believe Elder W is going home! I'm so grateful he served as my zone leader in SA. Missionaries were always trying to get the scoop on him haha But every single missionary looked up to him and his powerful testimony. I'm excited to hear where Robby goes. If he prays really hard and repents a lot, he might be worthy enough to be a TSAMer. Haha Wow, that was a bust of pride... But the TSAM is the best thing ever. I love President S and his wife.

There's one amazing experience I wanted to share that happened with a member in our ward. Sister R is a convert of a few years. Elders knocked on her door one day and as she says, "I was ready!" She was an elementary school teacher but her health declined and now she's retired and wheelchair bound. The Stake here has a Christmas concert they put on every year for the community. It's big. Everything is bigger in Texas. Sister R wanted to invite her apartment building to the program. We planned it all out. She wanted to climb the stairs, knock on their doors, and invite them. She did exactly that. I stood behind her going up the stairs. One at a time. She was exhausted. I carried her wheelchair up so she could rest and invite people. She testified at all her neighbors' doors. They were all touched by her commitment and love for her Savior. The way back down was harder. She had to sit on each step and pull herself with her arms while I guided her weak legs and Sister B braced her from behind. She is my hero. If she did that, what in the world could stop us from making a simple invite to a friend or stranger? The love of our Savior motives and changes us. I'm so grateful to be in a ward with such faithful members. We all need to be more like Sister R.

I love y'all so much.
Sister Greenwood
Longhorn instead of reindeer

Cabela's where they meet in the parking lot to go on exchanges!





Mal's tree. It is just one step up from Charlie Brown, but the message of what is important at Christmas is not forgotten.

Dec15
Hola familia,

Not sure on the skype thing. A family did volunteer to have us over and use their computers. But hopefully it will all be figured out by next monday. I loved the pictures. The boys are hilarious. Yay for last week of classes! The kids here are excited for Christmas break. Our Christmas party was last Friday and it was so cute. The last event was the nativity. The kids ran off and on the stage for their parts as Brother I narrated. I was watching them and I just felt how much I love this ward. They are amazing. A little girl named A sat in front of us at church. That family is from Utah and never had much interaction with the missionaries. "Sister Missionaries!!" She always calls to us. She stared at us like all of sacrament meetings. She draws us pictures all the time. There's nothing that melts your heart quite like little kids running to press their faces to the window at the door and yell "The sister missionaries are here!" I might have wrote that to you already but it's just so cute.

We've been teaching with the video "He is the Gift." We've shared it with people out walking their dog and they pull it up on their smart phones. Or on their doorstep. Or even let us into their home. A non practicing Muslim family from Turkey love it and the Book of Mormon. Wow. The Spirit pieces peoples' hearts. I've seen so many miracles. I can't do anything. Everything is the Lord's will. I love the TSAM. We are having an ALL mission conference this wednesday and I'm
Sister Burrows and I got to go to the temple this past week for the first time on our missions. It was incredible. Everyone that can go to the temple. GO. People who cannot. Go look at the Christmas lights and think of the Savior and how He can help you enter in those beautiful doors.

Love ya lots,
Sister Malary Greenwood
xoxoxox

Pictures: San Antonio Temple



Dec 22
I can't figure out how Christmas is already here... It's been a year since I went through the temple. There's been a lot of reflection going through my head and I'm so grateful for all that has happened. We had a young woman come out with us who puts her papers in next October. She said that she cannot wait and just wants to leave. I remember that exactly feeling and here I am 9 months in to this amazing mission. Mission time is weird... Thank you for the pictures. I can't get over how big everyone is. Christmas sounds like it's going to be a party at the Greenwood house! Whoop whoop! So we will be skyping at the F's home. We gave them your cell number to coordinate. There are such a sweet family. We plan on Skyping at 2pm Texas time We have a time limit of 40 minutes. I'm so excited!!!

We had our mission wide Christmas conference last Wednesday. IT WAS AMAZING. I wish Sister Bu would have sang in the talent show. I got to see people from my MTC district. It was a little sad because all of my past companions are home so there was no reuniting. But I saw Elder and Sister C from my time on the air force base! I'll have to tell you about it. Love all yall so much and can't wait to see yall!!

Sister Greenwood

Pictures: "Marianachi-naries" sang at the talent show. Hilarious.
A cartoon from Sister G who served in the Washington DC mission in 1999. She showed this to us and boy is it accurate.

Sister B and I so happy. That is a scarf grandma hampton just sent me!

She says the Texas star is everywhere!

"Marianachi-naries" sang at the talent show. Hilarious.


Dec 29
I LOVED the pictures! Yall look great. Sister B recognized the place where yall were. It looks super cold. Grandma Hampton sent me some great pictures too. Christmas was so much fun. But it just came and went! You really have to enjoy every second and find joy in little things because it flies by. Sister B and I loved skyping. I can't wait for you to meet her family. When people ask us about skyping I tell them about the hillbilly teeth. They crack up! That was fun. I loved seeing yall and laughing so much. Sister B thinks yall are hilarious and that Brian is super cute. I really had an amazing Christmas with my Hill Country Ward family. The work is moving ward and we keep teaching people! I love teaching. I love feeling the Spirit direct us, especially in studies, on what people need. Just this morning we were personally studying and I was thinking of our lessons tonight and then in companionship study, Sister B thought of the same topic that I did for a lady we are teaching tonight. COMP UNITY! I love this mission and I love President S. I love yall and hope you have a happy happy New Year!

Love,
Sister Malary Greenwood







Thanks for reading about Malary's mission experience. I know she appreciates all your prayers and well wishes. She is incredibly happy and grateful that she can serve a mission. Write, email, and send pictures. She loves to hear from you!