Almost 2 Months?

It's been another crazy, but at the same time, good week here in Clinton! I feel like a lot has happened, so this may be pretty long, but I'll sum up as much as I can! 

Monday, we went hiking at Antelope Island. It was super beautiful there, but there were so many bugs it was way too much to handle. It's in the middle of the Salt Lake, so they are literally everywhere. I got some cool pictures though! After that, just the regular p day shenanigans. Later that night some crazy stuff happened with the missionaries that we live with, and President came over to our place. Long story short, they got emergency transferred because they're pretty disobedient missionaries. They were cool guys, but weren't doing what they were supposed too, so now my companion and I have the place to ourselves!

Tuesday, I had a mandatory family history training in Ogden in the morning, but we also had a lesson with our recent convert Vicky, so my companion and I went on exchanges. I went to the training and my companion went with a member for the lesson. While my companion was going down to Layton, Vicky had to cancel the lesson for some reason, and right after, my companion got a call from Vanessa. She was in the hospital  and needed to be picked up, and my companion just so happen to be right next to the hospital. He was able to take her home snd comfort her. She's been going through crazy stuff and we've been praying for her so hard, but she just doesn't seem to be progressing anymore. Later we met with Jayla and Neesha, who are progressing like crazy. I'm pretty sure they read the Book of Mormon more than us missionaries. At our lesson, they showed up with notes taken from every verse that that they read. It's such a bummer their parents won't let them get baptized yet...

Wednesday, we had our regular district meetings, and then the rest of the day we just did our regular thing, visiting less actives, correlating with members. 

Thursday, we had zone conference! We got to hear from the zone leaders, the assistants to the president, and from Sister and President Jaggi! Their trainings were all good. Sister Jaggi's was all about the Book of Mormon and how it can answer many of life's questions. President Jaggi's was on setting goals and making plans! Later that day we visited this guy named Duane, he's been inactive for about 4 years. He recently got a divorce and seems like he's going through depression of some sort. We had a really good lesson with him, and invited him to come back to church with us, and he said he would next week! So we'll see if he follows through.

Friday, we had our regular huddle meeting with the other missionaries at the Jackson's home. Then later, we had weekly planning. Then something awesome happened, right before we went in at night, we decided to knock on one more door, thinking it was an inactive's house. This guy named Anthony answered the door, he's a non-member that had just moved in. He has some drug addictions, so we told him about how the church can help him. We have a lesson with him tonight, so I'll tell you all next week how that goes!

Saturday, I got to attend Jarek's viewing and funeral. It was extremely sad, but it was good to be able to say my goodbyes, and feel of the spirit that was there. I got to see his parents, and just tell them how sorry I was. I also saw some elders that served back in Jacksonville, so that was good that they went. Later in the day, we just did the regular thing, and I had to prepare my talk still. 

Sunday, I spoke in sacrament meeting in the 6th ward. I spoke for about 10 minutes on Elder Rasband's talk about the Holy Ghost from this last conference. It went well I think, but the sister that spoke before me spoke on the same talk haha. It was okay, because we emphasized different parts of the talk. Later, we had a family home evening at the Jackson's home, Jayla and Neesha both came! It was really good. 

Once again, props to anyone who reads all of this. Hope you all have a good week and I'll email again next week! Love you all! 

Elder Greer

Utah Ogden Mission

923 West 2225 North 

Clinton, Utah

Happy Easter!

Happy late Easter to all my family and friends back home! Hope everyone enjoyed it and remembered exactly what the meaning of it is. So, I haven't written in my journal the past 2 weeks and days are starting to blend together so I don't really have much this week, but I'll list the highlights I remember, like always. 

Last Monday, we played basketball in the morning like usual with all the other missionaries up in Ogden. Later in the day my companion and I went on some exchanges because we wanted to do different things. He went with some elders he's good friends with in our stake, and I went with Elder Allen and Alberts. We went to their area in West Haven to a member’s house to play pool, ping pong, play games, and just socialize. The family is really cool, totally reminds me of my family and how our house was always open to the missionaries to hang out on p-day. 

Tuesday, we had a lesson with 2 sister investigators, Jayla and Nisha Lowder. They're 15 and 13, and are totally ready and willing to get baptized. They have strong testimonies already, and read the Book of Mormon every day. The only problem is, their parents won't let them get baptized yet. They're both inactive members, and are okay with us teaching them, but for some reason don't want them to get baptized. So, we're praying hard that their hearts will be softened. 

Wednesday, we had our regular zone and district meetings, the focus was on planning. Definitely something my companion and I should work on lol. Later, we just had a few lessons with people, and had a few visits with members to correlate the work. Wednesday night my Mission President called me and told me some very sad news. My really good friend, Jarek Sonognini, had passed away in a car accident. I was in such terrible shock and couldn't believe it. He was honestly a really cool, funny, and chill guy. My first thought was to pray for his family, that they may be comforted in knowing that they will see him again. I didn't get much sleep that night at all, thinking of all the great memories of Jarek, and reflected on a scripture we read that week in John, Chapter 3, verses 16 and 17:

    16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

    17 - For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Because the Savior sacrificed himself for us, we will be saved.  I know that without a doubt in my mind.

Thursday, we didn't leave our apartment until dinner because I was still in shock and just couldn't do anything. I had troubles focusing so we decided it'd be better to just study. 

Friday, we did some service at the Habitat for Humanity. It was a super sketchy place, that looked like it had been through the zombie apocalypse. We just carried some things out to the dump, and went through the whole place for metal. It wasn't that bad, but it was definitely something different. I took a picture on another Elder’s tablet so if he emails it to me, I'll add it to this email.

Saturday, we had a recent convert lesson with Vicky who was just baptized. It went pretty well, her main concern right now is whether or not her husband will go to church with her. We had a few members there with us, and they comforted her in knowing that he will go when he can, and that the Ward is always there for her. Later in the day, we helped a family load their moving truck, because they are moving to Centerville. I've come to really enjoy service, so we were pretty stoked about the opportunity we had to help. 

That brings us to the best day of the week! Sunday was great for so many different reasons. First of all, it was my first regular Sunday in over a month! With the small sacrament meetings in the MTC, then General Conference, then Stake Conference, it was nice to finally sit and listen to members talk. We cover 3 wards, all in the same building, so we're at church from 9-4. It sounds worse than it is, it was still really awesome. Later in the evening we went over to the Johnson family's home for dinner. The best part about it, we had my favorite meal! Ham, potatoes, salad, and for dessert, apple pie! It was really good, just not as good as Grandma's cooking haha. The apple pie was pretty good too, but I still love my dad's amazing homemade pies. At 9, one of our investigators called us, and wanted us to come by because she's had a hard day. Her name is Vanessa, and she's been struggling super hard recently. I'll save you from the details, but she basically doesn't think her life is worth it. So, we shared a message and a video, and reminded her of the power of the Atonement. We weren't able to stay long because of Curfew, but she was happy we came over. 

I think I'm finally starting to adjust to the mission life, but at times I still feel like a deer caught in headlights. The people here in Clinton are truly amazing though. Having dinner appointments with a family every night is awesome because I get to meet someone new every time. That has been my week, props to anyone who actually reads these still. Hope you all have an amazing week, looking forward to hearing from you!

Love,

Elder Greer
Utah Ogden Mission
923 West 2225 North
Clinton, Utah

Habitat for Humanity Cleanup

1 Month Down

So, April 8th marks my 1 month mark! I feel like most people have said it flies by, but so far not really! Haha, but it's been another good week here. I also have some very good news for you all, but you'll just have to read and find out!

Monday, we went up to Ogden to play some basketball with a lot of other missionaries, and it was really fun because I've been having basketball withdrawals pretty bad haha, so that was much needed. Later we got our haircuts, and just did some grocery shopping and some emailing. 

Tuesday, we just had some lessons, one of which being with Vicky Morgan who I will talk more about later in this email. Later we went to lunch with some members, and did some finding. Pretty regular day as a missionary.

Wednesday, we had district meetings again, did some role play and learned how to better apply the Book of Mormon to everyone we come into contact with. I realized that's something I need to do better with, because it truly is the greatest converter for people. It's another testament of Jesus Christ, and as people read it they will gain that knowledge for themselves and come closer to Jesus Christ. Later in the day, we went to salvation army in Ogden and did some service for them, unpacking boxes and hanging clothes. 

Thursday, we had the entire district over to our place in the morning for a service project for our landlords. They're an older couple, and have health issues so we were doing some yard work. They also have 12 huge, 200 pound, cement blocks in their backyard that we had to start digging out so that they can plant a garden eventually. It was pretty difficult, but it was also pretty fun being with more missionaries serving people! After that just more teaching/finding.

Friday, we had weekly planning, and also had a meeting with the senior couple that's serving in our stake, the Jackson's, and another set of missionaries to correlate the work some more here in the Clinton area. Had lunch with them, and then continued on our day as regular.

So, I told you all I had some good news, and I wasn't lying! Saturday morning, we baptized Vicky Morgan, a 76-year-old lady! My companion did the ordinance, but baptism number 1, many more to come! Her husband is an inactive member but because of her being baptized we reactivated him. It was a really spiritual experience and I got a glimpse of bringing people to Christ! As long as we continue to achieve that, we're achieving our purpose as missionaries. 

Sunday was stake conference and there were so many great speakers. Our mission president and his wife, the Jaggi's, both spoke and they are such amazing speakers. He told us that we would be giving a 5-minute restoration talk in front of the entire stake, so I was so nervous, we practiced really hard but ended up not even speaking. There wasn't enough time, but I'm fine with that haha. 

The main focus of my week has been using the book of Mormon and inviting people to be baptized. We actually have several investigators on date for baptism. Assuming they keep their commitments, read the Book of Mormon, and go to church, the Holy Ghost will testify to them that this the true church. I've seen many people, including myself, change, and I'm excited to see what the next 23 months hold. 

Hope you all have a good week!

Love,

Elder Greer

Utah Ogden Mission  
923 West 2225 North 

Clinton, Utah

Finally in the mission!

So, this was my first week in the field… and it's been kinda crazy, but has also been amazing. So, the last few days in the MTC were just regular, but it was super sad leaving my district and my zone. 

So, Tuesday we got on the frontrunner and were headed to Ogden. We arrived and we're greeted by the mission presidency, the assistants to the president, and some more people. We went straight to the Ogden Temple from there, and took pictures and just hung around it. After that we went to the mission office and had lunch and a few meetings with President Jaggi. Then we went knocking on a few doors right away, and tried getting someone to commit to baptism in just an hour. My companion and I actually did haha. This 14-year-old kid said he would, so we referred him to the missionaries of that area. Later that night we went back to the Ogden Temple and did baptisms for the dead! It was really awesome, President Jaggi did the ordinance. Then we did some confirmations and I actually did some myself! That was a new but awesome experience.

Wednesday we got to meet our trainers and head to our houses. My trainer’s name is Elder Siedschlag. He's from Southern Brazil, but his name is very German. So far, he's pretty cool, his accent is pretty crazy haha. We're serving in Clinton North, and we cover 3 wards. We didn't get much time to unpack, we kinda just jumped right into the work. Knocked on a few doors, no success though. One guy bashed on our religion for literally 40 minutes, and we kinda just stood there and couldn't say anything. After that we went to a dinner appointment with some inactive members, and it was so awkward. I didn't know they were inactive until we left, so I got a really bad first impression of the members here. This guy basically was telling us about the history of Christianity and how they killed people. Then told us he wouldn't watch general conference because it's weird. So Wednesday really sucked, and I thought this mission was gonna suck as a whole lol.

Thursday was a pretty good day, so it evens out for the day before. I don't remember anything except having zone and district meetings which was really cool, because I got to meet a lot of the missionaries serving here. Other than that, we just went around and met people from our wards.

Friday we did a lot of planning for this upcoming week. We have been on foot this entire time, so we went out and got me a bike. After that we went out and met some more people. We then had a lesson with an 8 year old boy named Denver, whose parents are not really in the picture I guess. I don't know much about his situation, but I'll fill you in when I find out.

Saturday was probably one of the best days yet. We got to go to general conference AM session! We went down on the frontrunner, and took a recent convert named Bill. We all really loved it. I also ran into one of my best friends Brooke Ramsey! I met her at EFY like 4 years ago, and we've been super chill ever since. Didn't get to talk to her much because of conference starting, but it was really amazing seeing her (Shout out to Brooke). When we got back, we watched the 2nd session. Later that night we went to the stake center to watch the Priesthood session, which was also really good. After that we went to dinner with one of our ward mission leaders Brother Simpson, and the high councilman over missionary work, brother Peterson. Both really great guys.

Sunday we went over to the Lindsay's for breakfast and for the AM session of conference. Then we got to go conference again! This time we were went with Bill again, but he drove us down to Salt Lake. Another amazing conference session, the leadership of this Church surely amazes me. Later, for dinner we ate at one of our Bishops house, Bishop Wooley and his family. They have 6 kids ranging from 5 to 16. Shared a spiritual thought, then we were on our way. After, we just stopped at a few more members places to meet people I don't know. Was a great night, met some people that I'll be working close to, while I serve here in Clinton. 

It doesn't seem like a lot has happened this week because of the transition, but we'll be teaching a lot more people this coming week. I have already grown to love the people of Clinton and I can't wait to teach more people. I would be lying if I said I wasn't getting a little homesick, being gone for almost a month now. That's a good thing though, means my family has been doing something right ;). 

Anyone, and everyone, feel free to email me questions, comments, or just a hello if I haven't talked to you in a while! I love you all, and pray for my people back home every night. Have an amazing week, and I'll email you next week!

Love,

Elder Greer

Utah Ogden Mission 

923 West 2225 North Clinton, Utah

Some Random Photos From The Week

Watching conference

Ran into a Wisconin Friend (Chandler Buth)

Pics from General Conference

Random LDS General Conference Photo

A kind stranger sent a text message to Janae with a pic of Elder Greer and his companion on top of the conference center!