This weeks letter (On time) I love the donut story!

I received Mal's email today. She is once again super busy and out of time. She at least sent us a few pictures. Enjoy! (The red parentheses are from me explaining some of Mal's references)

Sister Greenwood and Sister F

Apparently there were about 10 barking dogs trying to eat them through this fence. Exciting mission stuff :)

This is the church were they have their "break out" Sessions. That is were they teach the gospel on Sundays.

Their missionary tags. I don't think I will ever get tired of seeing tag.

From Mal,

OH MY GOSH! I'm out of time but tell Haylee to write me. THATS SO COOL! (Haylee is a good friend of Mal's who recieved her mission call to Oslo Norway)  Elder Warren is my zone leader and it's so awesome! I was pretty excited and think it's so crazy! Haha (Elder Warren is a young man serving his mission in the same area as Mal and he is from our ward here in Fallbrook!) Thank you for the pictures. I love them.

Yes to the pictures. (I sent pictures and asked if she recieved them) I thought I already told you how awesome it was to have them to show to people. I showed a father going through BMT now who's not a member but his wife is and her family. He really wants to go to the temple to get sealed. I showed the pictures and talked about it and he started crying and it was so sweet.

Anyways! This week flew by! It's raining like crazy out here! There's a few things I wanted to mention about this week. One day out knocking we were getting to the end of the street and hadn't found anyone really interested. Across the street, we decided to knock on their door. I thought Sister F said, "They'll answer." I said of course. But we got closer and noticed the car in the driveway was a Lancer. She had pointed out, "A Lancer." Lo and behold a young single adult answered the door! We set up a return appointment for a few days later, went back, and she wasn't home but her brother was! We taught him the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ on his door step using the awesome pamphlet and invited him to be baptized and set up a return appointment for tonight.

Other awesome experience of the Lord steering His work happened this week. We were trying to find a member of the branch that hadn't been coming so we were hoping to meet him and see if we could help with anything. Well we didn't know where we were and kept turning around. Having a GPS is awesome but the Lord likes to lead us too. Finally, we noticed a little two story run down complex tucked in the back and decided to try there. There was a kid outside so we asked if the member we were looking for lived there. He said no and got his mom. "Sister, look at this!!" Sister F pointed to the door and on the door was our "x" marks the spot. On their door was a Jesus Christ pass a long card that we hand out to people!! It was super faded from the sun and torn a little. The mom comes and we asked her where she got it. Her sister gave it to her but no one knows about the Church! We taught her, and three of her kids, about the Restoration. The Spirit was so strong. Sister F said Joesph Smith's experience of the first vision when he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. She said, "Whew, I just got chills all the way down to my feet." The accepted to learn more and it was such a neat experience.

The most spiritual and powerful experience this week was our investigator class on the Lackland Air Force Base Sunday. A trainee had asked us last week while walking out of class if we could bring donuts. We laughed and said we would try. While deciding what lesson to teach that week, we figured out how we could use donuts for our lesson. For some people, this might sound familiar from something you've read. But we lived. The trainees came into class and we had a big bowl of chocolate covered donuts on the table. I asked who liked donuts and everyone raised their hand! Of course. Airmen K, a very active return missionary came to class to help us with this lesson. We asked the first trainee (the one who requested donuts last week) if he wanted one. He was SO excited. So I asked Airmen K to do 10 pushups so this trainee could have a donut. He easily pumped them out. Next trainee. Yes, he wants a donut. 10 pushups. Enjoy the donut! At about the fifth person, he said he didn't want one. "Airmen K, 10 pushups for this trainee." At this point, K was slower. Around the room giving donuts after 10 pushups. Soon trainees are asking if they can help or do the pushups. Nope. Only K can for them. Two more trainees late for class walked in. Of course they wanted a donut! 20 more pushups. I went into the hallway and found two more who wanted donuts! K's body was struggling. His body came up halfway, then all the way, only to lower back down to the ground. The Spirit in that room intensified. Some counted to help. They expressed feelings like they were glad it wasn't them, their arms hurt just watching, or they felt bad. Then K did 20 more so Sister Fitisemanu and I could have a donut. Red faced, out of breath, and dizzy Airmen K did 160 pushups. He didn't even know how difficult it was going to be. Both of us and K bore our testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ. He's already paid for you. Already suffered for you. Everything you have gone through or ever will. I asked K if he could imagine if the whole base wanted donuts. Imagine the whole world. The Spirit testified of the Savior's Atonement. Repentance is more beautiful then a chocolate covered donut; believe it or not. Then we opened the floor for the trainees to bear testimony. Oh boy was the Spirit intense! It was quiet. I almost was going to say something and I was prompted to stay quiet for a little longer. So I did. Then a trainee bore his testimony of how he's alive today because of a priesthood blessing. WOW. I KNOW they felt the Spirit. I can't even describe in words how powerful it was. I wish all yall were there to feel and experience it!!

Thank you for your prayers and letters and love. I love serving in Texas. I love learning how to be like my Savior. We cannot even comprehend what he went through in the Garden of Gethsemane. But I can feel the power and the love of my Savior everyday. Try to recognize those experience in your life this week and let me know how it goes.

Love, Sister Greenwood 

NO pictures!

Well, this is from the last week, I'm slow this week. She didn't send any pictures, but she does let us know about her new companion.
From Sister Greenwood:

My new companion is Sister Fitisemanu! She's from L.A.! Her family is Samoan but she was born and raised in Cali. You can imagine we get along so well. Before Sister Iverson got transferred to another area, we had a very spiritual lesson. This young woman and her sister and her sister's kids let us into their home to hear the restoration. We use the Church's restoration pamphlets showing the pictures inside asking why they see. We had her read Joesph Smith's first vision experience from the pamphlet. Everytime, without fail, that sacred experience brings the spirit in abundance. We finished the restoration leaving a Book of Mormon and since they were married we told them about the Elders so they can attend a family ward. Turns out their younger brother is being taught by the Elders and they wanted to know what he was learning! So amazing. The Lord places us where we need to be. That whole street was like playing that kid's game hot and cold with the Lord. Cold, cold, warmer, cold, colder, warmer, warmer, hot, hot, closer, BURNING, YOURE ON FIRE! Hahaha I love it.

Sister Fitisemanu and I did breakout on base and church on base for the first time together. I was worried that I would forget things and mess up and look ridiculous. It went so well. We got a good group of trainees at breakout with two nonmembers that want to learn. At church, President C announced our class to everyone that whoever wanted to learn could follow us. Sister Fitisemanu and I stood up and 27 trainees stood up to follow us our the door to our classroom. WOW! But we had prepared. We were excited. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) We have some trainees interested in baptism and taking all the lessons. The Lord has blessed us so much. I love sharing what makes me really happy and hopeful for eternity. 

On Saturday, Sister Fitisemanu and I were trying to find some former investigators of the church. We knocked on one house and the former didn't live there but her brother did! He's such a sweet soul. He confessed that he made mistakes. Mistakes that hurt him, his family, and others. He said he wished he could start over. I testified that he could. He could start completely over and follow Christ. He desires to change. I can't wait to see the Lord's atonement work on his heart. He will come to church Sunday. I'm so happy the Lord prepares people. The restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ improves quality of life. The atonement is real. Watch the Mormon Message Forgiveness:My Burden Was Made Light. It truly testifies how the Atonement heals, comforts, and is really a beautiful gift. It's already been done. Christ has suffered, lived, and died for us. He lives now! Come unto Him. His arms are ALWAYS stretched forth to hold you. I know this to be true. 

My time on the library computer is up!! Too short! I will send pictures hopefully later today at the apartment office. Love all yall so much. Thank you for the prayers, letters, emails, and thoughts. Nothing will frustrate the Lord's plan. 

Sister Greenwood

Short letter after Mother's Day

Oops! I didn't post this last week. The fires threw me off. It is a short letter because we had just skyped for mother's day. What a great experience that was! It was the first time the mission skyped. She skyped from the foyer at church, so there were a lot of interruptions. It was pretty funny. People were talking to her, and walking past and waving hi in the background. I loved every second of it! She is staying, although her companion Sister Iverson is being transfered to a new area. I can't wait to find out about her new companion!
Here is her letter:

You're right! Short letter. Today was crazy. I'm staying! Sister Iverson will be leaving me and I will get a new trainer. It's hard, but the Lord knows best. She's going to be a sister training leader somewhere! We will find out Thursday. So, same address for at least the next six weeks.

We went to the zoo today with Sister Iverson's recent convert she won’t see again for a long while. We went with this amazing family with three little kids. They are so sweet! The little girl told me she wanted to be a sister missionary. I remember when the Sisters lived at Grandmas and thinking that I wanted to be like them. Wow. That was a long time ago. I'm trying to be and working to be that Sister that little girls think, I want to be a sister missionary like her.

I'll make a list of stuff but nothing crazy since we talked. Which was so cool! This was the first time the mission skyped. I can't write anyone else this week but I will next week. Ashlyn is so sweet. Tell her I love her and sorry I can't email. We have SO MUCH TO DO! Don't know how you'll turn this into a blog post. I'm glad to be staying in the singles ward and military branch, but I will miss sister Iverson so much. I'll let you know who my new companion is next Monday! This is going to be one crazy week. The Lord is steering us to hasten is work. Let the new transfer begin!

Love you,

Sister Greenwood

This is her Harry Potter impression for Frank :)

They went to the zoo with this family. How Fun!

This is how we spoke to Malary on Mother's day! It was great! Don't you just LOVE that smile?!?!?

Hey Ya'll

Hello everybody. Here is this weeks letter from Malary. I am really excited because I get to "see" her on Sunday for a Mother's Day Skype! I can't wait! Enjoy her letter and thank you again for your love and support of my girl.

Hey Ya’ll!

I'm definitely soaking it up. I feel like I'm leaking because of everything I'm learning. I don't even know how to put it in words! It gets hard and maybe a little frustrating, but that's just my body trying to keep up with my spiritual self. The Lord's work will not be frustrated in any way.

Cool story! Sister I and I got goose bumps a few days ago. We were driving and passed this great open field of wheat that was completely white. We quoted the scripture that the field is all white and ready to harvest. The field wasn't half brown, a little green, and a patch of white. It was all white and glowing from the sun. The Lord has people prepared. I think of it like this; I have to gain the Lord's trust with these people He has been preparing their whole lives. Like the members, I wouldn't hand over my best friend to just any missionaries until they've proven they are truly the Lord's obedient servants. It was so cool to see.

We biked again last week. But now we have miles again. Actually, once a week we want to bike all day. I would petal hard to the next appointment or destination. Uphill, downhill, uphill downhill. Go, go, go, sweat, sweat, sweat. Once I passed a young person walking and just said hi. I kept pedaling hard. I turn around like I do every so often to see Sister I and she had stopped to talk to him. At first I was thinking about our appointment and destination we had to be at. She started to ride back towards me so I let her pass me and biked up this particularly big hill. Then, a scripture popped into my head from Preach My Gospel. D&C 61:3 "But verily I say unto you, that it is not needful for this whole company of mine elders to be moving swiftly upon the waters, whilst the inhabitants on either side are perishing in unbelief." These missionaries in a sense were traveling swiftly in the river. I was passing by God's children. As I came to the crest of the hill, I thought, ok, the next person I am stopping to talk to. Right at the bottom of the hill I spotted that lucky person. Sister I and I stopped him and talked to him about the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm on the Lord's time, not mine. I'm focusing this week on really forgetting myself and getting to work. I will never be the missionary the Lord knows I can be if I don't consecrate myself.

Sunday was incredible. We taught our progressing investigator class on base. There were sixteen in our class. We broke into groups with a specific topic. We focused on the gospel of Jesus Christ; faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. So each group had a topic with a list of scriptures we chose. I was with one group with these trainees who had such great questions. Our topic was the Holy Ghost. We talked about how the Holy Spirit speaks to YOU. One of the trainees shared such a personal and special experience about prayer and the Holy Spirit. I know that the Spirit testifies of truth. We felt it in that packed classroom. Especially when each group shared what they learned. We really saw how the Lord is in every detail of His work.

After our meetings, church services, and linger longer with our singles branch, we didn't know what to do. We were already over on our miles and the person we wanted to see didn't work out. Our solid investigator doesn't want to meet anymore for a while. So we were a little disheartened, but made a decision. We went to visit a neighborhood we had no success with the day before. Smart sisters, right? Go back to the area you had no luck with. But the Lord provided. First house. No one. Second house. No one. We had parked and were walking. It was pretty hot but not unbearable. The next door we knocked on was going to be our last in that area. We didn't know what we were going to do. We knock. The door opens and calls to the rest of the house, "THE SISTERS ARE HERE!" Then to us, "Come on in, dinners on the counter, make yourselves at home." We were in shock. We had come across a HUGE extended member family Sunday dinner. Three of the people that are supposed to be coming to our young single adult branch we had wanted to meet were there. One of those young ladies had a really good friend living with her down the street who is not a member of the Church but interested in learning! The food was so good. It was a crazy house with tons of people and kids running around, so loud, messy, and..... it felt just like home. I met a sweet homeschool, Shakespeare loving, farming, humble, humorous family. The Lord provides such tender mercies. We just had to push a little harder, walk a litter farther, look a little longer, and He was always there. We ended up having a great spiritual lesson that night.

I love serving here. There's so much I want to learn, do, and work on. But it feels like it's flying right by. I love you so much and know that I pray for you. The Lord says it to Nephi perfectly of course. 1 Nephi 17:13 "And I will also be your alight in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led." The Lord leads us and this mission. I love it.

Sister Greenwood

A lot of avocados from Grandma Needham. The girls love them, although they have no idea how they are going to use them. They mentioned facials...

The Magic Bullet. I sent them a Magic Bullet, and they love it. It is a quick and healthy way to eat. She said it's the best missionary gift ever. I don't know about that, but it is getting hot there, and she said it is refreshing to have a cold smoothie when they are done after a sweaty bike ride.

Their newest investigator.

Sister I kissing a cute chick. They love those cute little farm animals.

Sister I reading the Book of Mormon.