Malary's November (yes, all of November)

Nov 3rd

Oh Greenwood family, how you crack me up, let me count the ways.

I loved the pictures. A lot. President S called me Thursday night and told me that Daddy's surgery went well. It was so nice of him and he said you emailed him or something. President Slaughter is pretty much my mission father. Sister S is my mission mommy. I can't wait for you to meet them. Thank you for the update! Glad all is going well. Sounds super crazy and sometimes I wish there was more I could do to help out. It's weird not being there! I hope and pray he heals well and quickly.

You are superwoman. Grandma told me, I don't know how your mom does it. I know how though. It's a super strength that I've felt a bit of here in Texas. The power of the Savior. He is truly with you in every decision, every step, every new bandage dressing, every sigh of exhaustion. I'm understanding more of that. Sister B is great. There's never a day when she doesn't make me laugh. We are trying to stay busy. This time change threw off our groove a bit but there are exciting changes happening in the ward. It's going to burst with people read to join Christ's true church.

So many AMAZING miracles this week. I wish I could just type them all. A very sweet experience happened on Sunday though. We didn't have a dinner so we were going to go home but was talking about it with our amazing Relief Society president. A sister in our ward overheard, came up and said, "Yall can eat with us." The RS Pres asked "when are you eating?" "As soon as we get home!" she answered. Turns out, they were having their Thanksgiving meal that day because their 18 year old son leaves for his mission to the Philippines this week. It was so nice! The meal was SO good. I'm so grateful for their sweet family. They just set two extra plates and we had thanksgiving dinner! It was so fun. Some of their kids spouses were there too and they were all swapping mission stories. Crazy stories from places like Taiwan and Madagascar. It was hilarious. I just imagined that's how dinners will be with all our family sharing stories and laughing. It was such a blessing. I have so many mission stories for you;) Hahaha I love all yall buckets full.

Xoxoxo,

Sister Malary Greenwood

Pictures! Decorated pumpkins with stuff Grandma sent me. "The Chosen Pumpkin" if you will with the famous scar.

My life long dream came true. We were helping to set up our Halloween party and the guy in charge asked us if we....drum roll please.........wanted to be the pie contest judges!!!!! We tasted seven pies. It was the greatest experience on my mission thus far;) Haha love you.

Nov 10

Howdy mi familia,

I loved the pictures. I bet those turkeys will be so delicious! There were three winning pies and everyone was good sports. This oen mom like fist pumped in the air when she won haha A sweet older lady in our ward is having us over for Thanksgiving. It will be just her and her daughter. She's a return missionary and super sweet. I'm glad Dad is healing. Sounds like good progress though. I wish there was more I could do. We are so blessed to have such amazing family around. You and dad and the kids will make it through no doubt about it. Like you said, the Lord will bless us. I think of what Elder Holland has said though something like, "Some blessing come now, some blessing come later, and some don't come til heaven. But I promise you, they come." Watch the Good Things To Come mormon message. It's pretty much my favorite and totally relatable to our family. I miss Veterans day parade! I can't believe it's almost been a year without Morfar. I talk about him a lot to people.

The work is hastening. The Lord's timing is perfect. We see amazing miracles every single day. I'm so so happy and I feel so loved. Austin is weird. I love it. This ward is truly amazing and these families are so great. This one family is so redneck and amazing. For Halloween they dressed up in all camo. Their daughter who is a beehive is pretty much A's twin. To church she wore a button up collared shirt with a big belt buckle over it and her worn out cowboy boots. Seriously, they are twins. Sister B says hello! She can't wait to meet y'all. We had to take our car into the shop on Saturday so it was pioneer missionary days for us! Haha We walked all around. The weather is perfect right now but it's getting cold.

We stopped by this old couple that can't really investigate or progress because of dementia and health problems but they feel the spirit so strongly. The husband was asking us these kind of deep questions. We were answering totally by the Spirit and we opened up about some things he's been pondering about basically if God knows him. He started to weep. He's like 90 years old. He said what he heard from us was an answer from God. That was so special to be a part of. We don't even remember what we said. Because it wasn't our words. I love them so much. I just love the families here.

Love you so much. Hope you like all the pictures!

Dinner with the I’s who are basically the Austin, TX version of the Greenwoods.

Deer!!! Just roamin on people's lawns.

My sweet comp Sister B

It's rained for a few days straight but that don't stop missionaries!!

Lost the mail key for like four days. All that mail was so exciting even though most of it wasn't for us! haha

Love you xoxoxo

Nov. 17^th

The pictures cracked me up. Especially that hideous mustache thing. Oh and the family Christmas picture. Oh my those boys crack me up!! Glad daddy is feeling better

Yes, we are freezing cold. I'm such a sissy. Apparently this humid cold is a lot worse than regular cold and snow. The ward is amazing. The bishop is so inspired and such a man of God. Sister B makes me laugh every day and the work is the Lord's work. I'm learning so much I can't even write about it all.

So we've been really just knocking and walking a lot. We are trying some new ideas and approaches though. This week a guy answered who the window cleaning guy had just walked out. Sister B asked if his windows were all clean now and he said yeah. "Well," I said, "We do the inside cleaning." We laughed and he chuckled but apparently I'm not very funny... We met people that I know the Lord sent us to even if they didn't want us in it was a reminder to them. Great things are going to happen in this area. We feel it. Oh! I even started talking to this girl in the parking lot because she had a sweatshirt for a ranch on and a horse necklace. I was wearing my horseshoe nail necklace from daddy and totally sparked a kinship. The next day we met her and her dad and they were very nice but weren't interested in learning more. But I just love these people!

Most of all though, I love yall and pray for you all the time.

Sister Malary Greenwood

Nov 24^th

HAPPY THANKSGIVING YALL!!!

Love you more than the number of cowboys hats and boots in Texas.

Howdy!

The capitol building was really fun. Very Texan. I met the cutest little girl who was there for her "Wish". She was fighting cancer and dressed up like a ranger. She was like 10 I think and super cute.

Thanksgiving is going to be awesome. I don't know how, but we are going to the H's house in our ward and the K’s. The K’s are like classic country Texans. Their daughter is the one that reminds me of Audrey. The dad has always had this huge beard. He came over and talked to us at church one day about Thanksgiving and I totally didn't recognize who he was. He shaved his beard! I wasn't sure why since all the men in their family have a huge beards. But then during the opening part of sacrament, he stood up to be the new high council man. Yup. He had to shave. Their family is so awesome. I'll be sure to take pictures. Have fun with the missionaries over for Thanksgiving. Those lucky Elders! I have no idea what I want for Christmas. Maybe just some clothes money since my skirts are falling apart. Haha.There's quite a few Goodwills around here. Anything yall want from deep in the heart of Texas? I'm so excited for pie. There were three that one different awards but the chocolate coconut one was so good. Transfers are in like 2 weeks.

So.... what yall have been waiting for... drum roll please. I was in a car accident. People immediately were there to help. The other driver was totally ok and we were shaken up but fine. You know I haven't really been in an accident before so that was freaky but the firefighters were AMAZING. They cracked jokes the whole time and really really helped us out. The Elders came and picked us up and gave us blessings after everything. Prayer is so real. There were angels in the car. The prompted prayers around was so inspired. They came from Sister B’s family was well. I've learned so much. The Atonement of Jesus Christ can heal all wounds physical and spiritual. We keep working hard. We walked a lot and then members started helping us out and we've had miracles. We've taught great people. OH! That pregnant lady we met a month or so ago? SHE CALLED US! Her mother was coming into town. She asked if we'd still be willing to come help her. She had her baby and needed help around the house. We were so excited!! She's amazing. We invited her to our stake Christmas Musical program coming up. She's very active in her own church but she felt something. We taught some great people this week! Hopefully they will progress and keep allowing us to share with them. I love this ward. The people are so amazing and help us out with anything. The bishop is so amazing and we love him. He cracks me up. I love them and these amazing families here.

All is well. All is well. Hurrah for Israel! Leavin' it all on the field. Love all yall!

Sister Malary Greenwood

Here it is! An Update! This is sept 29-all of October :) enjoy!

I have been swamped. I am going to try and get the blog updated within the next day or so... enjoy this update for now!

Sept 29^th

The pictures had me cracking up. Those boys are too cute. It's so much fun being in a family ward and getting to know the kids. We have some hoodlums in the ward and so many of the families remind me of yall. This one family, the I’s, have won my heart. They have five kids who are SUPER hilarious and crazy and their parents are amazing. Sister I came to a lesson with a new investigator and she testified so strongly of how the gospel has blessed her family. I thought of you momma. I thought of you going out with the missionaries and being so strong. Thank you. You will have to meet Sister I someday. Y’all will be great friends I think. Keep being like a family to those Elders. They are so grateful I just know it. They are so blessed to be with y’all.

The new area and ward is amazing! I kind of miss the ghetto though. There's no ghetto here! We knocked a street called Frodo Cove. And there's middle earth, Baggins cove, and Hobbiton. Pretty fun! It's been drizzly and so gorgeous the past week. I love it here. I love the ward so much. We have been experience nonstop miracles here. There hasn't been a baptism in over a year in this ward and we are working so hard so find people.

I'm so excited for general conference! The prophet of God, the prophet of the whole earth, the prophet who has all the priesthood keys of this last dispensation is going to speak to us. Invite friends to watch it! I loved the General Women's meeting. The Spirit was so strong. I'm so grateful that women that powerful lead the auxiliaries and for President Uchtdorfs inspired words. That day had been a little rough, so everything he said hit Sister B and I and we know God loves us. We know there are families in this area waiting for us to find and teach them. We are so blessed and so loved. More than we could ever comprehend. I look forward to your letter and I'll write you back. Tell the kids I love them lots. Tell Brian he's going to be a better missionary then me. I tell people about the kids all the time I love you so much and I can feel the prayers and love every day. Hope you can too.

Hurrah for Israel! Sister Malary Greenwood

Xoxox

Oct 6^th

Howdy!

 I'm so glad you sent me the strawberry shortcake pictures. Just yesterday at a dinner with a family we were talking about traditions and I mentioned the conference shortcakes and how daddy always puts more whipped cream then the actual strawberry shortcake. So when I saw that picture I was laughing and Sister B saw so now she understands. Hahaha  Sister B says hi! I love her. She is such an awesome teacher. In role plays this morning she really testified with the Spirit. Also, we got to watch Meet the Mormons. It's pretty much the greatest movie ever. It's so cute, hilarious, and entertaining filled with gospel truths take the family and lots of friends to go see it. I loved it!

Those pictures keep on getting better and better!! Y'all crack me up. Oh! I've been adding to my Texas drawl as people talk with us. Here's our vocab from the past week.

Howdy- We were formally greeted with a howdy yesterday and it made our day. We will now be using it regularly.

Fixin' - lazy verb, you've been meaning to do something but are occupied with other things

Mosquiter- noun, an annoying buzzer that leaves your legs and arms covered in bites. The appropriate way to get rid of them is to wait for it to land and slap it while hollerin' "MOSQUITER!"

Sugar- noun, an affectionate term used by mostly older people when you say something nice to them. "Aw sugar, thanks for offering!"

Supper- dinners in Texas are so diverse, delicious, and dangerously hearty meals.

General Conference was amazing. We cannot wait for the ensign issue to come out for us to study them. The talks were so direct, simple, powerful, and inspired. We need to follow the prophet and our leaders with all we've got because that's how we show our love and obedience to the Lord. We will have all eternity to reflect on the choices we made in our earthly lives. I loved Tad R. Callister's talk about parents being the prime gospel teacher. You two were definitely that for us kids. So many times I thought of y'all during conference. I loved that one prayer when he prayed for the missionaries families. One of the Elders was like, "I bet my mom is bawling right now." Haha But I hope yall feel our prayers cause we sure feel yours.

Thank you so much for sharing Brian's umping experience. There are so many gospel truths in that lesson that I'm sure he will remember forever. It's so true and that's how it is out here. I don't back down from what I know to be true. Yes, there's A LOT of repenting involved. Like the brother said in conference, you have to get really really good at repenting..." I just love being a missionary so much. There are life changing and building experiences that I can't wait for all the kids to have. The Lord truly molds you to your divine potential. One man the other day said some stuff to us when we knocked on his door that for any shaky person not built on the foundation of Christ might have fallen. But our faith was unshaken. Our feet were firm. I looked him right in the eye and thanked him for his honesty. There were SO many things I could have said or Sister B could have testified of, but we both felt that we just needed to leave a Christ like impression on him. We are the message of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Defend you beliefs. Be Christ like and defend them!

Leavin' it all on the field!

Love all y'all so much!

Sister Greenwood

Pictures! A few with other sisters on exchanges, a scorpion we found in our bathroom, and so on.

Oct13

It was so fun seeing the Parks! It was such a great surprise and made me feel so happy and loved. They called me Malary and I forgot everyone calls me that! Haha I loved Meet the Mormons. I'm so glad you went to see it! Looking at the pictures last week was the first time I looked at the kids and thought, Wow, they look older. Yikes! The B’s picture was the cutest thing. I loved it and it made me so happy. I didn't know the boys met Sister Wixam! Cool!

Happy almost anniversary! Are you going to do anything special? Fallbrook Cafe? I love you so much.

I loved your missionary joke. Here's mine: What do you call an alligator in a vest? An investigator! haha

A really amazing experience this week happened when we were out proselyting. A young pregnant mother who had spoke with Elders a long time ago let us in. We taught the restoration and she was asking so many sincere questions. We testified the whole time and the Spirit was so strong. After we closed with a prayer she was crying. She was like "I'm so sorry! I'm fine. I'm just pregnant!" Sister B and I love her so much. She was feeling the Spirit so strongly. She's having her baby this week and hopefully we can help her out.

Everyday miracles are there. A funny one was we were out tracting and Sister B had to use the bathroom really bad and there wasn't any close gas stations or anything. So I said, "well let’s just go to one more house. Don't worry, they will know who we are and let us in." Of course I was hoping for it...but it seemed unlikely. We knock on the next house and it was an active members house!!!!! Sister B hadn't been there yet so we didn't know that's where they lived. She used the bathroom and we thanked God knowing He is mindful of us and how situations.

Keep helping your missionaries in your wards as much as possible. Just bearing your testimony to someone, inviting, and praying for hem blesses their efforts in every way.

Love you lots!

Sister Malary Greenwood

xoxoxoxo

Oct 20

Fun! The pictures are so great! Sounds like it was a fun anniversary and birthday party! The story of Sister Wixam cracked me up so much. Those boys... Hahaha We are going to visit the pregnant girl later this week maybe. Bring her some flowers or cookies maybe. Sister B says hello! She amazing. She makes me laugh all the time. She even says, "Holy cow Batman!" Hahaha I hope that I get pictures of baby Nubians when they come!

Elder H that spoke in General Conference about the sacrament spoke in our stake conference and all the missionaries get a conference with just him! He speaks with the power and authority of God. He represents the prophet to us in a way that is so amazing. I learned so much from him during Stake Conference. The Spirit really touched my heart and testified to me things I needed to know. This week went by so fast! Transfer calls are this Sunday but I hope Sister B and I stay here together.

This is a picture of our district! Every district meeting is inspired and helps us improve our areas. They are great leaders. Glad to hear all is well. I love yall so much and pray all goes well with everything. 

Love Always, Sister Greenwood

Xoxo

Oct 27

Hello Greenwoods,

Amen. Life never slows down. I'm so happy to have been in a family where God comes first. I've seen the opposite here. So many people here tell us, "I'm too busy right now" or "Now's not a good time." No time for God?! He literally made time for you. He gave you everything. His Son's gave His entire life you so you could have eternity! We need to make time for God or we will always be too busy.

The ward is so amazing. I love them. Hopefully things start to pick us as they invite their friends and neighbors to hear the restored gospel. We are put in people’s lives by God for that reason. Yup, we will be going to trunk or treat the day before Halloween. Not sure for actual Halloween what we are doing, Hopefully teaching. This is going to be an interesting transfer with quite a bit of change. Good change. I'm excited for what the Lord has in store Good to hear all the updates. I've been thinking about daddy a lot. Praying for him. Recovery pictures will be great!

Love you so so so much,

Sister Greenwood

Pictures: This AMAZING buger place called Burgerfi. I got the breakfast one that was super delicious. They brand all their buns haha we went to a landfill with a sweet nonmember lady who buys clothes for people getting out of prison. We got so many clothes! It was fun. Oh, and a street called Tracton ba dum chee!