Hermana Greenhalgh

Hermana Greenhalgh

Monday, November 24, 2014

Attitude of Gratitude >> HAPPY THANKSGIVING! - Letter 11/24/14

Feliz dia de las Gracias!!

Como estas todo? :) I miss you all! This week has been really good! I have seen lots of miracles! So, on Tuesday, President Toone's secretary called us and President Toone asked us to work at the Mesa Temple light show this year! Not very many people get that opportunity in their missions so I feel very lucky!! We also received a family referral which means we have 4 or more potential baptisms and investigators! 
 
Phoenix never ceases to surprise me!  I see more and more things every day that remind me of Nacho Libre! Which, by the way, Libre is free, and his song he sings in the movie means he is now free of being a monk. Fun fact for you all! On Friday Sister Thompson and I had the opportunity to go to Mesa for a light show meeting. There were sisters from 3 different missions. After seeing the way they presented themselves and acted I'm SO GRATEFUL to be in Tempe Mission. Sister Toone and President Toone keep this mission running so smoothly and the missionaries are obedient which is key!
 
Friday Night we attended Edgar Torres' funeral which was really sad. It's crazy how other funerals are when they aren't in LDS environments. People are a lot more sad, and they don't realize that they will see their families again. After the funeral we had an amazing lesson with a Converso Reciente, or Recent Convert named Hermana Araceli. We shared a new Christmas video that the church is launching Black Friday in Times Square, on YouTube, and other sites! It was super spiritual and powerful. I encourage all of you to watch it as soon as it comes out! It's called "He is the Gift."
 
So a funny story for you this week...On Saturday we had dinner with a family outside of our area and when we got to their house we parked our car and walked inside. 20 minutes later the neighbor came over and started screaming cuss words in Spanish at us because he didn't like where our car was parked. The family just shook their heads and told us not to worry about it. I guess the guy thinks he owns the sidewalk in front of his house. Well he threatened to hit our car with his truck the next time our car was parked there. It was pretty ridiculous!!
 
I just wanted to end this email and say THANK YOU to everyone who has supported me while I've been on my mission! It truly is a blessing to be able to bring others unto Christ, and help them feel of the Savior's love. I'm so grateful for the place I get to serve in, and the people I get to rub shoulders with. I have truly learned the meaning of consecration, and how to give all that I have to help others. I'm so grateful to all of those who have helped shape and mold my life, especially my mom and dad and sisters. I'm so grateful for my Grandma Pat who taught me how to love everyone, and be grateful in any circumstance. Finally I'm grateful for the Savior and the Atonement that gives us the opportunity to change every day and become better.
 
I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful THANKSGIVING! Remember how blessed you are, and never forget Heavenly Father loves you!

Con mucho amor,
 
Hermana Greenhalgh
 
 
Puppies!
With Hermana Thompson
Flour fight
New sweater!

 

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Tests and Trials are for Polishing - Letter 11/17/14

Hola Familia,
 
This week has been great, and very sad as well. One of our investigators passed away on Tuesday, and Elder Collins (my old District leader's) Dad passed Sunday morning. I know that trials have to happen for us to grow, but sometimes I wish they didn't have to happen. I think of the Conference talk from President Uchtdorf and how he compares us to diamonds needing more polishing in this life in order to be brilliant and radiant. I would ask that you keep the Collins family in your prayers and especially Elder Seth Collins, and the Torres family with the passing of their son and my investigator Edgar.
 
On a better note we were able to watch the Phoenix Temple celebration and dedication. It was very unique, I have never experienced that before. The Phoenix Temple is very small, but very beautiful none the less. I can't wait to return from my mission and visit many more temples. I hope you all are attending the temple and feeling of the Spirit that is there. I would give anything to be able to attend whenever I wanted.
 
Sister Thompson and I have had so much success this week with finding 8 new investigators and really working hard to put people on date for baptism. It has been an adjustment working with a new companion, but once we have smoothed out the rough spots we've worked pretty well. I'm the Senior companion in the companionship so it means I have to make all the decisions. It is a lot of responsibility, but I know it will prepare me for other callings.
 
Well I don't have much to say this week besides KEEP MOVING FORWARD. I hope this next week will have less hardships than this one.
 
Love you all and be safe,
Hermana Lindsey Greenhalgh

Monday, November 10, 2014

Phoenix 101 - Letter 11/10/14

Buenos Dias!!!

I'm in Phoenix!!!! Well just to let you know it is completely different from Casa Grande.  I miss Casa Grande like crazy, and all of my investigators.  But, I'm so happy to be here in Phoenix. Well I have comprised a list of Phoenix 101 and some things you should know about it...
 
Phoenix 101
1. There are 3 dogs for every person who lives here.. especially chiuahuahs 
2. I am the only blonde person I have seen the whole1/2 week I have been here. 
3. There are ice cream trucks on every corner with creepy music, and they follow you around.
4. Fresh made churros every Saturday!
5. Yard sales though... Everyone has one everyday... I mean EVERYONE.
6. Phoenix is Mexico, It really is.
7. Cholos: Drug Dealers
8. Brinca Brincas: Jump houses at every party
9. I CAN RIDE MY BIKE WITH NO HANDLE BARS!
10. Eloteros... Men on Mexican bikes selling food. Yes they do exist.
11. Nacho Libre is REAL.
12. 99 cent Goodwill
13. No one has parents, everyone is raised by their grandparents
14. No one is legal. Border Patrol does not exist here
15. Cockroaches everywhere
16. The Sun is unusually hot, and we ride bikes every day
17. Soccer is a super big deal here. Tournaments everywhere you go
18. Dulce Mexican candy Aisle
19. Cactus is in the Produce aisle, it's actually pretty good.
20. Apartments, EVERYONE lives in them
21. City buses, dirty but convenient for all
22. Homeless people #panhandling
23. Murders and molesters. We have cops and helicopters constantly looking for someone. We get papers in the mail to warn us on the daily.
24. Strip clubs.. SICK NASTY! Keep your eyes on good things.
25. The ghetto
26. No one knows how to wear modest clothes
27. Everyone is 30 minutes late to everything. PHOENIX STANDARD TIME
28. People line up by 10s to bear their testimonies, I work in a huge Ward now not a Branch anymore!
29. Mexican Bread for the Sacrament
30. Phoenix is a real life Novela: Mexican Soap Opera
31. Everyone kisses you on the cheeks...don't like it. Get used to it.
32. Tennis shoes on every telephone pole
33. No one keeps the Sabbath Day holy, not even the members
34. Canal Catfish, yes people do feed us fish from the canal
35. Pawn shops on every corner
36. ...MY FAVORITE... Street corner churches, people who preach on the corner and catcall about God, and how much they don't like missionaries
37. Taco Busses
38. Sons push moms around in wheelchairs to get from place to place.
39. People steal shopping carts from stores and then use them back and forth to different stores and then store them in their house. 
40. Billboards, bumperstickers and signs.. Careful what you look at.

Well this is my random list of things you should know about Phoenix! I hope you enjoy!!  I will continue to add new facts and findings each week! All is well here! 

Love you all,
Hermana Greenhalgh

Monday, November 3, 2014

Another Week - Headed to a New City - Letter 11/03/14

Hello Family and Friends,

Well I'm being transferred. This week has been pretty good. I was able to learn a lot and meet more people. So my companion got called to be a trainer and I'm leaving to another city. The weather has been really cold, but it's good because more people are outside now. Halloween was fun we stayed home and watched
movies and had pizza. It felt super weird to not be doing anything, I don't know how I used to sit home and watch movies, I could never do it again. I'm excited to be moving to another place to start new adventures, I'm a little bummed that everyone in my apartment got leadership calls, except me. They have been kind of rubbing it in my face, but I'm just trying to be patient in adversity. Well, I hope all of you have a good week, and keeping doing good.

Love you all,
Hermana Greenhalgh