Lost, but Then Found

.............well.....  Malaria is pretty bad.  Or so I've been told.  So I figured that if I ever DID get it, then I'd let you know.

WoW!   I'm already on my second transfer now.   I just got done looking at the transfer slides and it looks like Elder Lake is going to be in my Zone!  Dondo is going very well.  We had to drop about two investigators this week,  President Spendlove told us in Zone Conference that we can only teach families.  I'ts been hard to drop these people but currently what the Dondo group needs right now are families and strong members who can be leaders.  So that's who we've been looking for this past week.  We started teaching Tito and his family this week.  He seems very strong and has a lot of potential.  The hard thing is, that no one is married here in Mozambique, and to get married the process takes about a year or more.  

I mentioned Vitor in the last email.  His family is progressing as well.  He didn't come to church though yesterday.  What surprised me was that his wife (unmarried)  did come.  Vitor had to go to Beira on Sunday so he couldn't make it, but his wife still showed a lot of faith by coming to church without him.

This week we went on splits, and I had the wonderful opportunity to serve with Elder Gibson.  It was interesting to have the opportunity to teach with someone else.  It's amazing how accustomed I became to the way my Trainer Elder Gergetz teaches.   I've decided that my trainer is awesome, he really pushes me to grow.  Yesterday when we were going to visit a few families after church he had me lead the way. (Now to gain some perspective on this you're going to have to go to Google maps and look and the little town of Dondo Mozambique.  You'll notice that outside of the central part of the villa  there are various trees and huts.  No one had addresses, there are just random, very random, paths that lead this way and that.) So, Elder Gergetz told me that I was leading the way to a particular investigators house.  Well.... I failed.  I took a wrong turn and he didn't let me know I did until I had realized about 10 minutes later when the path started to look a little bit unfamiliar.  Finally we arrived at the house and were able to teach a great lesson.  So that's that.  

p.s. in case you're still wondering, I don't have malaria. At least I don't think I do.  

Of Investigators and (young) Men...

I have great NEWS!!!  I'm still alive!  I think Africa is absolutely incredible.  This week has been a long week, a lot has happened.  As I mentioned in the last letter, my trainer is Elder Gergetz, he's from Manti Utah, and every day I continue to learn more and more from him.  He and I are currently teaching about 16 investigators.  We're going to have to drop two or three of them this week though, they haven't been progressing and there are so many other people to teach that we have to focus on the people who are ready to hear the word of God.  We had 12 of our investigators show up to church last Sunday.  (The church in Dondo isn't a branch, it's still a group, and the missionaries here, for the most part, have all the callings and responsibilities.  The six missionaries in Dondo all live in the same house, which happens to also be the chapel. It also happens to be the most expensive house for the missionaries in our mission.)   This past Sunday we had 85 chairs set up, which was the most we could fit in there, and we filled it up with people completely and then some.  President Spendlove has asked us to focus on teaching only families, and a few of our investigator families showed up at church.  It's been great to be able to see the progress of those who complete with the challenges we've given them.  

On Friday the Zone Leaders from Beira came to visit our district.  One of the Zone Leaders walked with Elder Gergetz and I.  We were visiting Vitor and his family (Most always, when we teach, we are seated outside our investigators house)  Suddenly an obviously drunk guy came and sat down on one of the chairs and started smoking.  Vitor proceeded to tell him to leave and to stop smoking.  The drunk guy, without a word, brought the cigarette to his mouth and continued to smoke.  Vitor got up and dragged the drunk guy away while the man in slurred speech continually said, "Eu Acredito em Deus!  EU ACREDITO em DEUS!!"  

Vitor came back and we continued to teach him about faith, when a few moments later we hear the kicking and clattering of metal pots and pans.  The drunk man, in frustration, was kicking over these metal pots that vitor and his co-workers make for a living. Throughout this whole time the man would be saying, "I Believe in God!"  

We went back to our teaching, seeing as we couldn't really do anything about this man.  Vitor and his family listened attentively,  Vitor's co-workers were still on the other side of the road (or small path) working on the pots along with trying to get rid of the drunk man.  Suddenly we heard a clap as one of the other men had slapped this drunk man.  The drunk man then took off his pants and started chasing after the man who had slapped him with a stone in each hand.    By the end of the lesson the man had returned,  his pants were back on at this point.  Elder Gergetz and I with one of the ZLs proceeded to go to our next lesson and this drunk kept on following us everywhere.  Soon we were able to walk far enough away to lose him and not be able to hear his constant droning about how he believes in God.

I love being a missionary, and constantly everyday I'm learning more and more.  I can't believe that it's already been two week here in Mozambique.  Oh and I've got to say....the food here is AMAZING!!!  I love it.  I hope all is well with everyone back home.  Feel free to write me!!!,  but to send a letter will be be expensive and it will probably take weeks to get here, if it does at all. 

-Elder Greenman

First Week in Africa

WOW!  What a week.  I've been outside of the US for exactly one week now.  About four of those days was consumed by travel.  I left SLC on monday morning of last week.  I arrived in Africa on Wednesday of the same week.  President Spendlove and his wife were their to greet us.  They are So different than what I had imagined they would be.  They are hilarious, and joke around a lot.  One of the elders who came in with us was from New Zealand.  The teased him about his accent ALL the time.    When we arrived we were assigned to our different areas.  I was then told that I'd be serving in Dondo,  a very small Jungle Town about an hour west from Beira.  To get to Beira one must take a 17 hour bus ride.  President Spendlove couldn't get any tickets for the bus that left that following day or on Friday, so we stayed at his house for a couple nights until Saturday morning at 3a.m. we made our way to the bus stop where seven of us missionaries began the long haul to Beira.    The bus ride was uneventful and the only thing I thing that I could say about it concerns the road conditions.   They were bad!  When we were about 5 hours away from Beira the roads were so terrible and so filled with potholes that the bus was going everlastingly slow.  We arrived in Beira well after dark and a Missionary Couple picked us up and drove us to our respective homes in Beira.  I stayed at the Beira 2 house because I'd be heading out to Dondo the very next morning to meet my trainer and arrive just in time for church.  The Beira 2 house is one of the better houses in the mission, other than the ant infestation which practically every house has.  I slept on the floor with a spare mattress, but didn't have a mosquito net or blanket......so when I woke up the next morning.....I had bites all over my arms.  

I then arrived in Dondo at about 15 minutes before Church started which is at 9.  So,  first off,  Dondo has the very best house in the mission, it is also the most expensive of course.  We also hold church services in this house.  I'll be sending pictures to go along with this email.  

This week, other than all the traveling, has been a great week.  I've only been in Dondo one day, and I know it's going to get better and better.  

Until Next time!

Last Week in the MTC

WOW!!!  Time sure has flown by extremely fast, but the days seem to get slower and slower as I get nearer to my departure date.  I received my flight plans last Thursday!  I was surprised to see that it will take three days to get to Mozambique.  I leave from the SLC Airport at 11:25am and then arrive in Chicago where I have a three hour layover.  From there I fly to London where a ten hour layover will greet me as I walk off the plane.  From there I fly to Johannesburg South Africa.  I'll have another three hours in layover before my flight to Mozambique Maputo.  From there, If I understand correctly I'll be staying at the mission home for a few days before I'm sent off to my first area!  I'm overwhelmed with excitiment thinking that in a week and a day I'll finally set foot in Africa.

My experience at the MTC has been one of great growth.  I'm come to know my Heavenly Father on a more personal level.  My testimony of Jesus Christ's atonement has bloomed into a realization that through Christ, all can TRULY be saved.  The Gospel is a beautiful thing.   Yesterday, while sitting in class, I began to ponder the greatness of this creation.  I know that there is no possible way that this Earth could have become so beautiful without a God.  I came to a deep understanding and solid conviction that there is no way that the human body, as complex and incredible as it is, could have JUST come to be without a loving Heavenly Father who created us, AND has such a vested interest in our success in this life and in the eternities to come.  Not only have I learned so much about the Gospel in these short two months, but I've learned how to comunicate better with people.  I've come to know so many new people, and have learned to see things as they see them.  Its a beautiful thing to be able to be here at the MTC where the spirit is so incredibly strong.  As I prepare to leave, and as I go throughout this last week I'm committed to do everything else I can to learn, grow, and progress.  As a Missionary I want to know the Gospel so well that I may be able to rely on the Spirit.  I know that when teaching with the Spirit it is possible to say the simplest words yet convey the eternal expanse.

-Elder Greenman

Hello everyone!!!  Once again this week has flown by incredibly fast.   This past sunday was Fast and Testimony meeting.  It was the most spiritual, and at the same time enjoyable one I've ever been a part of.   First off I'll give some background...

Elder Brooksby, who is going to Portugal,  had appendicitis and had to be taken to the hospital.  Long story short, is they gave him some extremely powerful meds that mess with his head.   During Fast and Testimony meeting so many Elders were getting up and bearing their testimony.  Finally, as one the elders finished, three other elders stood up as if to go next.  Then Elder Brooksby slowly stood up and turned around,  he told all the others to, "Sit down! it's my turn!"  He slowly walked to the podium and proceeded to say that not only is this the first time he's born his testimony in the MTC but the first and hopefully the last time he'll do it under the influence.   After that he said something that really touched me, "You know Elders,  even though i'm heavily drugged, I can still feel your spirit.  Do be honest, I don't even remember how I got into this room.  I remember getting in the elevator, but not out.  But as i've sat in my chair here listening to you, I've felt the spirit overpowering the effects of the drugs"

He proceeded to bear his testimony which was simple and it seemed hard for him to get those feeling in his heart to his mouth. 

Another thing happened on Sunday which i'll never forget.   As our Zone headed off for out temple walk at 2:45 we had just come off the MTC Campus and were at the Crosswalk waiting for the walk signal.  There were some "protesters"  with big crosses there (on public grounds)  and the began to talk to us.  Asking us if we could think for our selves.  One of the men began to "testify" that we were being manipulated and that he once was a mormon.   He had a printed copy of his "testimony" and began an effort to pass it out to the missionaries there.  First off, we had been told previously by President Brown to not speak or interact with them.  That didn't seem to be a problem. Second off,  I laugh inside and ask, "Did those people really think they could get one of us to cave?"   The spirit here at the MTC is so strong,  I feel it every day, and in every hour of that day. I feel extremely sorry for those men who drag those heavy wooden crosses all the way to that crosswalk corner by the MTC, and then proceed to waste their time trying to tear the church down.  I'm glad they do it in the sense that I have the opportunity to gain a great testimony of this work and the divinity of its message.  I know that this Church is true.  I know that the Book of Mormon is also true, and that because I know this, so many other things follow.  I know Joseph Smith was the Prophet of the Restoration, and that Jesus Christ is my Savior.  I know that the Gospel blesses families to and eternal level. And I'm very grateful for my family

-Elder Greenman

Experiencing Prayer Like Never Before

May 1, 2012

I can't believe that I'm starting my sixth week here and that I'll be heading for Mozambique 29 days.  Everything happens so quickly.  When I first got here it seemed like May 28th was an eternity away.  Now I look back on the first day I arrived at the MTC.  I was so excited to come. I'm sure my family thought that I was just excited to get out of their sights.  Eversince I could remember I had always wanted to serve a mission, and the moment had come.  I remember that day well, sitting in Isaac's  apartment.  We had arrived at Provo a few hours earlier than my "check-in" time.  The family was gathered together to have lunch before we all walked to the MTC together.  All I could think about, at that time, was that I wanted to be in that Missionary Training Center.  I look back on that day with similar feelings.  Right now, I can't wait to go to Mozambique and spread the word.  Don't get me wrong,  I am loving my MTC experience. 

I've never prayed harder in my life before!  It was just last week when I had an amazing experience with prayer.  I knelt down after a long day and began talking to my Father in Heaven.  It was the first time I felt like I had a real conversation with God.  It was AMAZING!  The Spirit was so strong with me that next day, and I continued to be enlightened by it like never before.  I've learned a lot about prayer.  Not only is it an opportunity to know God's will, but also and opportunity to be accountable.  I've grown and felt the spirit more each day as I begin my day with a prayer, talking with God about what it is I want to accomplish that day, then at night to be able to return to him on my knees and talk to him about how my day went and How I can do better the next day.

I've never studied harder in my life.  There is so much time here each and everyday where I can just turn to the scriptures and study.  The MTC Spirit seems to launch people into spiritual progression here.  I know that as soon as I get into the mission field I won't have as much time to study as I do now.  This just pushes me to study hard and gain as much knowledge as possible. 

I think it's safe to say that now I have a pretty good grasp on the portuguese language.  I think you could say that I'm tri-lingual now.  I love speaking portuguese.  Interestingly enough Spanish isn't mixing in with my Portuguese, but on the other hand.  My portuguese is wrecking my spanish.  I'm pretty sure that when I get back from my mission, it will take me at least a few weeks to speak spanish again properly.

I'm in the MTC Choir now!!!  Big news right!?   haha, not really.  To be in the MTC choir all you have to do is show up the night of the performance and practice for 40 minutes.  Regardless, it's  a great experience! Our Choir Director is absolutley hilarious.  He makes music even more enjoyable than I ever thought it could be.  On Sunday I was able to sit down next to Elder Lake.  He and I sang together and were also able to talk about how things are going back home.  (Speaking of which, is there anyway I could get a ballot for this upcoming election?)

I'm meeting so many new people here at the MTC.  What a wonderful experience it has been to relate and connect with the new Elders who come into our Zone every Wednesday.  Its a weekly reminder to when I came in on the 28th of March.

Until next week I remain ever anxious to serve,

Elder Greenman.

Fourth Week...

The MTC life is great.  Elder Heaton and I auditioned to perform a musical number in front of the entire mission.   We're in and are probably going to do it next sunday or tuesday.   On sunday and tuesday nights the MTC hosts a speaker.  On Tuesdays the speaker is always a General authority.  Elder Heaton and I are kind of getting nervous.   The classes here are great, but so is the time between 9:30 and 10:30 when all the missionaries return to their residence halls.  At this point we change out of our suits into more comfortable clothes to sleep in.  In our Zone we have a tradition called "tagging"  if a missionary is found outside his residence hall room without a missionary tag then one of us slaps on Elder Awbrey's safari hat and then about five or so Elders proceed to tag the missionary who is not wearing his tag.  

I'll send pictures soon!

Mostly all the teachers and staff here at the MTC attend BYU.  At the close of BYU's Summermester everyone's schedule here at the MTC changed to accomodate the teacher's needs.   My district has ended up getting a totally different schedule than the rest of my zone's.  P-day's are now on tuesday while the rest of the zone has their's on Friday now.

One of the advantages about my new schedule is that I'm on the same schedule as Elder Lake who is in a different zone.  He and I get to talk and see each other a few times each day.

I got and email back from Elder Awbrey, who I made good friends with here in the MTC before he left for mozambique.  He said the portuguese in mozambique is totally and so different than the portuguese taught here.  He said it's extremely impoverished and extremely warm.  He said he has a great companion and is having an incredible experience.