In Short, I Love You All! Letter 06/15/15

Buenos Dias,

How was everybody's week? Mine was crazy as usual. If your week's not crazy you're doing something wrong! Just kidding! But in all reality, this week was nuts. We are teaching so many people, and helping so
many people change. Sometimes I wonder how Heavenly Father chose an imperfect soul like me to help all these people overcome their problems!

In other news Olga was confirmed, Eduardo's getting baptized this Saturday, and we are teaching two families! We need your prayers to find more people!! Also we need your prayers for Elder Olsen, he's
my District Leader and he was hospitalized this week, he's in bad shape! So please send prayers his way! The power of prayer is real!

Another thing that happened was we had interviews and they went awesome! Sister Toone brought cookies, she reminds me of, and looks just like, my Mom! I love it! It will be so hard to leave my mission family in
just 3 1/2 short months!

I'm sorry my email is so short this week and last week! I've got work to do!

Hermana Greenhalgh

Cielto Round #6 - Letter 06/08/15

Buenos Dias,

Pues... I didn't get transferred, and I'm staying with my companion. I've been here 9 months and with Sister Jensen for 6! Wow!! I have two transfers then I die. What the what? Where has my mission gone? Well enough about how it's almost over, let's review what I've learned here in Phoenix!

1. Never go to the Phoenix Library, you will get robbed
2. Always have a smile on your face, "smile and wave boys" you're either happy or crazy!
3. Pray, pray, and pray some more
4. The Book of Mormon is your constant guide
5. KEEP MOVING FORWARD
6. Always say YES to second helpings in Spanish culture
7. Don't use a fork!
8. Stay away from Burrachos (drunk men)
9. Never ride bikes with Sister Jensen, you will break a limb
10. Eat more chili, speak better Spanish!

Sorry I don't have a ton to write about this week, I think I've annoyed everyone with all the pictures! But hey it's probably fine!

Enjoy your week! Stay happy, pray, and keep moving forward!

Con Amor,
Hermana Greenhalgh

Hiking South Mountain last week

Three of the six Perez kids

Phoenix Spanish Zone

District

District

Color coordinating like champs!

Baby Puppy

The funniest man you will EVER meet!  Eduardo is getting baptized June 20th!

With Hermana Jensen

Just Keep Serving, Just Keep Serving... - Letter 06/01/15

Hola Familia y Amigos,

 

Como fue sus semanas? How was your week? Mine was pretty fair! It's been a really long week but gotta keep truckin' on! Something that has been instilled in me this week is how to endure to the end. Sometimes we are given difficult circumstances, scenarios, trials, or whatever else thrown in our path. The real test is, can we endure to the end? I found this scripture and it has given me a lot of comfort when this past week finished, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (2 Timothy 4)"  We have got to keep going no matter how tough it gets, keep moving forward! This morning I climbed South Mountain 2 miles straight up hill with a broken arm, now if that's not enduring I don't know what is! When I reached the top of the cave, I looked down and saw just how far I had climbed. It was an amazing site, and the journey wasn't too hard. If there is anything I want you to get from this letter it would be ENDURE. Learn how to do it, and do it. If the Savior wouldn't have endured the cross and suffering in Gethsemane we wouldn't have the power to endure for ourselves. Jesus Christ is our perfect example of endurance, and can give us so much motivation to just keep going! I've decided the words from "Finding Nemo" fit very well to this situation, "just keep swimming, just keep swimming, what do we do we swim, swim, swim, swim!" 

To add a little bit of cool things that happened this week, Olga was baptized Friday! It was awesome, she's a trooper! When she finished, she was asked to bear her testimony. She felt very nervous and didn't quite understand the question. As she stood there in silence I felt prompted to go help her. I walked up and whispered to her "how do you feel"? She teared up, and was able to express herself. Probably one of the neatest experiences ever! She has suffered so much in her life, and to see her after she came out of the water was so powerful. God is truly watching out for all of us, we just have to take a step back and notice what wonderful blessings we have!

Con Amor,

 

Hermana Lindsey Greenhalgh

Whale see ya I Sea what you did there

Blessings and Answers - Letter 05/25/15

Querido familia y amigos,

How was everyone's week? School just got out here in Arizona so all the kids are going crazy! The weather has been beautiful, and not very hot which is good because having to wear a cast for my broken arm in the
hot sun is not fun! Well, some crazy and amazing things happened this week...skipping Monday and Tuesday..  

Wednesday I had the opportunity to attend a Sister Training Leader specialized training. We arrived at the Mission Home and me and 9 other sisters sat around talking about what we're going to do. Boy were we all wrong! President Toone and Sister Toone sat us all down and said, "Ok sisters, today we are going to do nothing that has to with missionary work". Uh, president what? "We are going to talk about eternal marriage, and families, later we are going to attend the Gilbert temple, and after have a question and answer with the Temple president and his wife in his office."  Talk about the best day ever!

Lately I've been studying about eternal families and marriage, and so have the other nine sisters. President
said he felt very prompted to talk to all of us about it... :) there was my answer! So we stayed at the Mission Home for and hour, then headed to the temple, and then had a question and answer with the Temple President! After, we all got to go to the brides room! The Spirit was so strong! It was truly an amazing day, lots of prayers of mine were answered :) When we finished at the temple President and Sister Toone took all of us out to dinner! Literally, this day was exactly what I needed! I feel so blessed to be able to be on a mission and to learn and grow! I'm so grateful for temples, and eternal families!

Well, skipping to Saturday, Cecilia got baptized in Mesa! We got permission from Salt Lake to go! It was so spiritual, she was beaming! She is such a light, and the Light of Christ shines through her!

Well, that was some awesome things that happened this week! I've learned a lot of patient perseverance, and how I need to be more patient and understanding. Something that I also want to share is about my lovely
friend Olga who is getting baptized this Friday. She grew up in Mexico and was the top of her class, she became an accountant and married, had two kids, and life was going perfect. At the age of 34 she had an
unexpected stroke. It paralyzed her down her left side. She was in a coma for a month, and had 18 brain surgeries, and the doctors say she's a miracle for living! Her family got split apart and now she's living each day with her disabilities on her own. She truly has her foundation built upon Christ! She keeps going and never gives up! I know Heavenly Father gave me the opportunity to teach her because I
needed to learn a lot! And that is exactly what I have done!

Con Amor,

Hermana Lindsey Greenhalgh

My friend, Noe

The Book of Mormon Can Change Your Life! - Letter 05/18/15

Buenos Dias,

 

This week has been pretty crazy!  I got in an accident and broke my arm...yep that happened. Other than that, my studies have been really in depth. I also got to Skype my family yesterday which was good!

 

I just wanted to share my experience with all of you that I had this week. Lately I've been working on strengthening my relationship with God, and trying to improve my prayers. While I was studying about Heavenly Father and His love for us, I was overcome with an overwhelming feeling of peace and comfort. I haven't shared this story with many of you but when I was 17 I struggled with my testimony a lot! I prayed and tried to read my scriptures but nothing would click. I always noticed the example of my mom reading her scriptures every day after work and wishing I could be able to do that and believe what I read. A year passed by and I continued living on the testimony of others.  It wasn't until January of 2014 when I first gained my very own testimony. I decided if I was about to head out on a mission, I better have my feet firmly planted in the gospel. I decided to read the Book of Mormon for the first time ever for myself all the way through, and I was going to do it in 10 days. Well, that's exactly what I did. I started January 7, 2014 and finished January 16, 2014. That was the first time in my life I KNEW 100% for myself that the Gospel is TRUE! I haven't looked back since, I know with all my heart that this Gospel is true, and it can change your life! 

 

As I studied this past week about Heavenly Father, I have realized the love He has for me. I've realized that without this Gospel I would be nothing. I'm grateful to be able to share the message of happiness every day with the people around me. I want to invite all of you, if you haven't for yourself yet read the Book of Mormon, follow the counsel it gives, and learn what God wants you to learn. You can't live on borrowed light you have to figure it out for yourself! "Spiritual light rarely comes to those who nearly sit in darkness waiting for someone to flip a switch, it takes an act of faith to open our eyes to the Light of Christ." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf 

 Some scriptures I wanted to share with you that have helped me throughout my mission:

"And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. Nevertheless I went forth..." 1 Nephi 4:6-7

 "Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves--to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved." 2 Nephi 10:23-24

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation." 2 Nephi 22:2

"But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage." Mosiah 7:33

"Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel." Alma 26:16

I want you all to know that I have a testimony of this Gospel.  I know without a doubt in my heart that the Atonement of Jesus Christ can change lives because I have seen it do just that. I hope you know that whatever problem you face in life, if you rely on the Savior, you can make through anything. Please never forget the importance of the Restoration of the Gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith, without him we would have nothing. 

Just a poem to finish :)

 

I know not by what methods rare, But this I know, God answers prayer.
I know that He has given His Word, Which tells me prayer is always heard,
And will be answered, soon or late. And so I pray and calmly wait.
I know not if the blessing sought Will come in just the way I thought;
But leave my prayers with Him alone, Whose will is wiser than my own, 
Assured that He will grant my quest, Or send some answer far more blest. 

I hope everyone has a good week! 

 

Con Amor,

Hermana Greenhalgh

 

Broken Arm

Mission Leadership Council

Mormon Batallion

Teaching Antonio, Chris, and Alex

 

Mormon Battalion - Letter 05/11/15

Buenos Tardes,

How was everyone's week? I hope all the moms had a good Mother's Day and enjoyed being with family. Here in AZ it was Mother's Day for Mexico and America so work was extremely slow. But it's alright, that's
missionary work sometimes.

As for my week, Monday we had a Mexican fiesta and the Elders made carne asada! Tuesday we had Zone Meeting and Sister Johnson and I trained together in Spanish! Wednesday we had Zone Conference and
combined with the Phoenix Zone. We all dressed up in Mexican flag colors and the other Zone in American colors. We learned a lot about keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. It was neat!  I got a lot of insight from it. Thursday was slow! Friday we had weekly planning, and later a Mother's Day fiesta and a mariachi band came! I got lots of great pictures. Saturday was good.  We had American breakfast for dinner that hasn't happened in ages. Sunday was slow, Sister Jensen Skyped with her family, then we had dinner with the Cid family.

This morning we woke up at 3 a.m. and drove to Maricopa and walked the Mormon Battalion Trail! It was really cool, we had a specialist come out and give a presentation and after we had a small breakfast as a Mission.

Well, that is all I got for this week. Sorry no pictures because we can't use computers to send them anymore, but after the mission you can see them.

Con Amor,

Hermana Greenhalgh

Time Flies When You're Busy! - Letter 05/04/15

Que Es Bueno? What's good?

   Hello family and friends! How was everyone's week? My week was extremely busy! We have 4 people on date right now, and a wedding we are planning for Cecilia, who's getting baptized on the 16th of May. Next there is Eduardo for the 23 of May, Olga for the 30th of May, and finally Beatrice and her daughters whose date is the 16th of May, but we are moving her date! So there's a lot going on right now! We also
found an awesome new lady to teach named Patricia! She is so prepared.  I have never seen the Lords hand so strongly in the work until now! Phoenix is on fire! We are working a ton with less actives as well!
Someone I have been working with for almost 6 months now is finally active after 10 years of being inactive! Everything that is going on reminds me of the story of the lost sheep! It's one of my favorites because no matter how many sheep the Shepard has, He still loves each of them individually! I feel like certain people I'm teaching are those lost sheep I was sent specifically sent here to Phoenix to teach!

As far as everything else went this week, I had MLC with the Zone Leaders and Sister Johnson in Tempe! We dressed like the Mexican flag and wore sombreros and ponchos! We are taking this whole all Spanish
Zone to heart! It was awesome! We were spiritually edified! I have to give my trainings in Spanish now! Oh yes! I'm super stoked! I'm going to miss speaking Spanish everyday when I go home! So most of my District is going to college with me! We are super stoked to hang out after the mission! My companion and I will literally be best friends for the rest of my life! We helped the other sisters this week at our apartment who were fighting, and came to the agreement that President has to keep us as companions for the rest of my mission. I have 3 more transfers!

Another thing that happened this week is we went to the Visitors Center in Mesa with Cecilia! She loved it. Something really cool about her is she keeps every single commitment we give her! She wanted to pay tithing before she was baptized, and wants to go Visiting Teaching! Ahh I just love her! I never want to leave Phoenix. Even though I have been robbed, rejected by many people, crashed on my bike, endured 110 degree days, and not had the most support from members, I love this place!

Well that's about all I have time to write today! I hope everyone has a good week!

Con Amor,
Hermana Greenhalgh

P.S. Something that every Hispanic says when we ask them to do something is "Si Dios Quiere" in English "if God wants", it's a classic saying! Fun fact for you all.

So, one time we had a sleepover and made forts!

It's getting warm!