Elder D. Andrew Greenman

Our son, Elder Andrew Greenman, has been called to serve in the Mozambique Maputo Mission. He has asked me to create this blog so that you, the reader, can read his letters to home. His current writing address is found below along with the most recent letter.

Monday, January 27, 2014

A Brand New Transfer

A lot has definitely happened in the past few weeks.  (Editor's Note: Andrew did not write a letter last week due to the fact that he had no P-day--He had transfers that day, plus the busy-ness of an audit process) The audit that happened last week was a really good experience.  I could definitely see myself going into finances.  I'm still going to go into business, but I'm pretty sure finances are an essential part of that.

On last week's Saturday night, my companion, Elder Brandao was transferred to Maxixe.  For the next two days, until Monday I stuck with the Office Elders while I waited for Elder Williams to come from Matola.  I really like Elder Williams.  I went on a division with hime about three weeks ago, and we had a lot of success on that division.  Now is no different.  The Lord has blessed Elder Williams and I much this week.  We've had a lot of good time in our area.  We sat with about five new families this week.  This past week Elder Williams and I prepared the zone conference presentation.  This zone conference is going to be super nice!  Some of the things that will be talked about are:
Zone Conference in Beira with Elder Hamilton and his wife
President will talk about the life of two servants.   Gehazi, servant of Elisha, and Samuel, of Eli.  Gehazi was ungrateful and did not have his heart in the right place.  He saw many miracles but did not benefit from them.    Samuel was humble and learned much as he grew in the ways of the Lord.   The question is:  What kind of servant do we want to be for the Lord?

Elder Hamilton, of the Seventy arrived in Mozambique on Saturday.  He went straight to Beira for the district conference there.  It rained a lot, but we still had a turnout of over 1000 people.  Zone conference in Beira will be tomorrow, and in Maputo, it will be on Thursday.  Elder Williams and I were actually able to fly up to Beira for the zone conference.   Yes...I'm currently in Beira.  It's so nice to be here, it feels like home.  Elder Williams and I want to spend the P-day visiting the families that we've taught here.  

      Zone Conference in Maputo with Elder Hamilton and his wife
The plane ride here was quite the adventure.  Ever heard of turbulence?  ya...there was a lot.  Was my heart thumping like crazy?  Yes!   Did we make it safely?  Yes! 
Elder Williams and I are learning much

together, and are really excited to help the missionaries here in Mozambique.   All is well with me,  I'm absolutely loving my mission!

-Elder Greenman




(Editor's Note: These pictures came from Andrew's Mission President's Blog, Thanks goes to him, since Andrew has misplaced his camera...or a monkey got a hold of it again!)

Monday, January 13, 2014

Malaria, Not Me This Time

Yup.... my companion, Elder da Silva got Malaria.    He's a native from Mozambique and has had it before, so it didn't last too long.  He's fine now.

On Wednesday I went on a division out in Matola.  Last time we did a division with the Zone Leaders there, I stayed in Maputo with Elder Santos.  This time, Elder Santos came to be with Elder Bra
ndão, and I went to Matola to be with Elder Williams.   Elder Williams is one of the most solid missionaries I know.  He's a natural leader and is doing so much with Elder Santos to help Matola.  The division we had went really well.  After we went out the door, we only had to wait about 8 minutes before it started pouring rain on us.   We didn't go back.  We just continued walking. After another 20 minutes nobody seemed to be out on the streets.    Along the streets of Matola there were a few bus stops where some people gathered hiding from the rain.    We walked from bus stop to bus stop contacting the men there.   I don't think I could have been more wet if I were swimming.   Regardless of that, we kept working hard, searching for those families that the Lord was preparing for us to find that day.    We ended up finding 16 families that day that accepted our invitation to visit them.  We also had 10 new investigators that day.  We sat with two new families.   The first one was in the late afternoon.  Many  of our lessons had fallen through, and the sun was back out. (the funny thing is, is that I had become completely dry after a few hours in the sun.)

We were walking in an area called Liberdade, at the time there weren't any men on the road, but there were two little boys playing.  We asked them if their parents were home.  They said yes.   We asked again, just to make sure that both of their parents were home.  They were.  The house was close by, and we managed to sit with the entire family.  The lesson went very well.  I find it interesting that the Lord most often blesses us with these great families in the very moment that things are hardest.  We just need to choose to have a good attitude all the way.  On the division, we could have let the early morning rain affect us,  we could have let the dropped lessons get us down, but because we didn't we were able to recognize the blessings that the Lord had in store for us.
I know that in my life I have lost opportunities because I was looking down.  The opportunities were still there, but I didn't recognize them.  I believe that the Lord always gives his children opportunities, and we need to keep our head, and spirits up. 
I really enjoyed the division with Elder Williams.

This week we will be preparing for an audit this weekend, and the audit will be closely followed by a visit from Elder Hamilton of the 70 at the end of this month.

-Elder Greenman

Friday, January 10, 2014

Elder Greenman with Armando

Elders Largent and Greenman met and baptized Armando last year.