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