Explosion? No Big Deal

It's been quite an eventful week! While tracting in the Avenues (West Ogden, the ghetto) we watched something blow up... But I'll get to that later! I actually remember what happened most of this week, so here's how it went:

Last pday we did the normal thing, but that night we lad a powerful lesson with Debra. We watched the movie "Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Restoration". She loved it, and afterward Elder Osenga and I bore testimony, and she and her husband were crying. Then, her husband Brian bore testimony to her how he knows it to be true. By the end, we were basically all in tears. We then talked about how they can be sealed in the temple a year after she is baptized. She hasn't picked a date yet, but she's getting there! 

Tuesday, I went on exchanges with Elder Starkweather, in Mound Fort. We did some finding all day, and played a lot of basketball with kids on the streets. Needless to say, we always won, and got to share a message. Later, we found this kid named Kevin, that totally wants to get baptized. His mom is all for it, and they are trying to get reactivated. 

Wednesday, we had district meeting like usual. Then, we had service at the Ogden nature center for like 3 hours. We planted some seeds, and it was pretty fun! The rest of the night we did some finding. 

Thursday was the very exciting day! We are in the Avenues, walking down B Avenue, when all of a sudden, BOOM! About 50 yards in front of us, a power pole just blew up. It looked like a lightning bolt, but much wider. It was extremely loud as well, sounded just like a cannon! So, all the neighbors started coming out, and seeing what was up, they just see 2 kids in suits and ties, standing in shock. Eventually, when we figured out what it was, we ran over to the fire station, which is only like 2 blocks away. Then, the rest of the day, all of Ogden and West Haven were out of power! It was insane. 

Friday, we did knocking and street contacting all day, and met some potentials! We met this woman named Joyce, who has a member daughter, and has always been curious about the LDS church. So we taught her a little bit, and she committed to Baptism! 

Saturday, I can't remember all what we did... But we did go to a High Priest dinner with Debra and her husband! It was pretty fun haha. Later than night, we went to the Ogden Tabernacle with them, and watched "The Lamb of God" performance. It was a really nice musical performance. 

Sunday was a normal Sunday. Lots of church, and trying to get investigators to church. 7 came though! It was good. 

That's all I got this week. Not sure if I have any photos.... But I'll take more next week! Love you all!

Elder Tyler Greer
tyler.greer@myldsmail.net
Utah Ogden Mission Office
4380 South Orchard Ave

Snow, Rain, and Heat

Utah might be even more bipolar than Florida. This week basically had all the seasons! Snowed super hard, rained super hard, and was super hot a couple of days. Needless to say, I'm excited for it to be spring, and stay spring. Not a super eventful week, actually quite the contrary. This week sucked! We have a very large teaching pool, but no one is keeping commitments, and the week just kept dragging on. They all express interest in learning about the church, and being baptized, but won't commit. It's super sad, especially when we do everything we can for them. 

This week involved a lot of finding, mostly tracting. Didn't really find any solid new leads this week either. It's super discouraging, but we are trying to keep our heads up. We had a few lessons with Debra, but she is not willing to set a date for her baptism yet. Still fears that her parents, and her son, will disown her. Although, she does know it's true and received her own testimony of the book of Mormon. We will keep working with her, and will keep you all posted. 

Elijah and Romona accept us coming over, and commit to accepting a ride to church, but then we set up a ride to go over there, and they're not there. It's super sad, so we may need to just stop teaching them. 

We met this guy named Tristan, who's had a lot of deaths in his family, and a friend group that accepted us to come back, so we will see where that goes! 

Zone conference was this week, and it was really good. For some reason, we gave a 45 minute training on following up after lessons, and keeping daily contact with investigators. Not sure why, but it went well! 

Oh, I almost forgot! My Greenie (missionary I trained), Elder Link, who went home, came back to visit! I got to go to dinner with him, and his family, and it was awesome! That's really all I got this week. Sorry for the crappy update! Love you all! 

Elder Tyler Greer
tyler.greer@myldsmail.net
Utah Ogden Mission Office
4380 South Orchard Ave
South Ogden, UT 84403

Less sleep, more baptisms

This time change has got me messed up! Losing an hour of sleep as a missionary, is probably the worst thing possible. We already don't sleep enough! It works out for the best though, because now it doesn't get dark so early, so people are more receptive in the daylight! Anyway, it's been a pretty good week here. Enrique was baptized! For those who read these every week, he's the one who is in Harisville, that Elder Atienza and I were teaching, helping the sisters out! So it was a great baptism. He asked me to give the talk on the Holy Ghost, so I felt honored! Check the pictures out below. 

This week was mostly just a finding week. We have been doing a lot of tracting, and knocking doors! We've been able to find a few potentials, but we will see how many are solid. 

The only person that came to church this week was Debra, so basically everyone fell off their scheduled baptism date. They need to attend about 3 times, so it's kinda a bummer. We are planning to get them all out next week! 

Something funny happened this week.... So I always make fun of Elder Fry's driving, because he's super bad, and always comes super close to ditches , when he tries to make a 3 point turn. Well, after all the close calls, he drove into a ditch! It was so funny, and we watched it happen because he was picking us up when it happened. It ended up not being that bad, but still hilarious! Check that photo out below as well ;) 

I don't have much else! Sorry about the short update. I'll try to do better next week! Love you all, have a good week! 

Elder Tyler Greer
tyler.greer@myldsmail.net
Utah Ogden Mission Office
4380 South Orchard Ave
South Ogden, UT 84403

1 year down, 1 to go! 😭

On March 8th, 2018, I will have officially been on my mission for an entire year. I have learned and grown so much this past year than I ever thought was possible. My testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important growth that I have seen and felt. 

I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. He lived, died, and now lives again, so that we all will forever live. His atoning sacrifice not only frees us from sin as we turn to him, but gives us constant strength and aid in our trials. He felt everything we would feel according to the flesh, so that he could know, according to the flesh, how to succor us (Alma 7). I have literally felt his hand in my life, and in my mission this past year. I've seen my own life change, and the lives of those that I've taught change as well. He's real. He's willing to help anyone who turns to him. That's why I wake up every morning, to help people understand how they can receive this help. There's no greater joy in this life than that of sharing the gospel and bringing people to the Savior. 

I know that The Book of Mormon is true, and that it is another testament of Jesus Christ. It was written for our time and day, because God knew that it would help us. As we apply the principles that we learn from the Book of Mormon into our lives, it makes it easier. Just like the Bible, it brings us closer to the Savior. The Book of Mormon clarifies, and testifies, of truths found in the Bible. With the Book of Mormon and the Bible together, we have the fullness of the gospel, along with all of teachings we need. Everyone can receive their own witness of the Book of Mormon, as they accept Moroni's promise at the end. 

Moroni 10:4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

I have read the Book of Mormon multiple times, and can promise as a representative of Jesus Christ, that the Holy Ghost will testify of the truth of it unto you. He did so for me, and that has changed my life forever. 

This last week was not too eventful, but here's a quick run down on some things that's happened. Genesis, from my old area in Mound Fort was baptized! I got to attend it, and it was great. Elder Link went home, so at our last district meeting, we took "funeral" pictures of him. Check them out below. Charles got the priesthood, and will be going to the temple with us this week. That's basically all I got. 

I love my mission, and I love all the support I get from you guys. Always remember I love you guys (whoever still reads these)! I'd like to give a shout out to my mom, whose birthday is this week as well! Without her I wouldn't be where I am at today, and I owe it all to her, who brought me in to this world! Happy birthday mom, I love you! 

Elder Tyler Greer tyler.greer@myldsmail.net
Utah Ogden Mission Office
4380 South Orchard Ave
South Ogden, UT 84403