Zone Conference

As you can see, not a lot happened this week again, since my title is zone conference... But zone conference was pretty good! We received training on going back to the basics. Too many missionaries are getting to caught up in non-effective ways of finding and teaching, so it was really needed. The first training by President and Sister Jaggi, was about using the Book of Mormon, Preach My Gospel, and the white handbook EVERY day. They should be our main sources of study each morning. I've already been doing that, so that's good! Another training was from the assistants on teaching the 4 minute restoration. We did a lot of role plays, with feedback, so I would say this helped a lot of missionaries.

We went to the skate park with Elijah, because he said he would come to church if we went with him. We've struggled getting him to church, so we decided to give it a shot, but he still didn't come. So, we are going to drop him, unfortunately. It's sad dropping people because you know God has bigger plans for them, but when people don't keep commitments, and we've done all we can for them, it's the only option.

No progress anywhere else really. We've been trying to contact a lot of our investigators, and Eric finally answered! He said he has been super busy with work, but we sat down with him this week, and he has recommitted to going to church, and to learning more. We put him on date to be baptized on the 19th of May. We will see how that goes!

We also made contact with Tristan. He said he read the plan of salvation pamphlet, and got emotional reading it! So he is believing everything so far, we just need to meet more often. He likes to sleep a lot, but whens he's awake he's down to meet. We just need to contact more, but he will get there!

That's all I have this week. I have a testimony of this gospel, and know of the change it can bring to anyone who acts. I love my Savior and am so glad I can represent him every day. Love you all, have a good week!

Pics:
1 - My bowling game is getting really good!
2 - A super cool member drives this jeep and I'm jealous!

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

What's new?

Another very uneventful week from what I remember. I'm pretty sure we didn't have a single lesson all week, and all of our investigators have either dropped us, or we dropped them because they aren't showing desire. So currently, we're only working with a few people... Debra, Will's daughter (I can't remember her name), and a few others. I hope to have a better report on them next week, and also to have a few more investigators. This week we will be doing a lot of finding, so pray for us!

On April 12th I got to do something that was bitter sweet. I got to visit Jarek's grave site, and take a picture. It's just around the corner from where I live, so it was super nice. April 12th was the 1 year mark of his passing, so it was great to be able to go.

For the first time in forever, I was able to receive training vs. giving training, and it was great. Our new district leaders, Elder Olsson, and Elder Escobar are awesome.

My companion and I were able to give 2 talks this Sunday though! We spoke in the Water Tower Branch (which is a bunch of convicts in recovery). There were about 30 people there, so it was interesting. Our talks were on the Atonement. It was really neat though, because they are all trying to repent, and they are on the recovery path. We also had the same talk in one of the main wards we cover. I think it went pretty well!

That's all I got this week. I haven't been getting too many emails lately, so feel free to email me! Love you all have a good week!

P. S. One of the photos is from our dinner appointment, whose house was shot during a drive by a little bit ago. Super cool!

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

Transfers

Transfers are this Wednesday, and I'm staying again. I'll be in this area for 6 months at the end of this transfer. Nothing is really changing expect for Elder Osenga and I were released as district leaders, so that's good! I've been really tired of being a DL the last 11 months, so this should be a relief. We also get to move apartments into our area, so that should be fun! This week was a super good one, but I can't remember all that happened, so I'll just give a rundown. 

The 3 Rowe kids were baptized Sunday morning, and it was a fantastic baptism. Even though it was pretty early in the morning, lots of members of the ward showed up. I got to baptize Kiara and Boe, so it was super memorable! Check the photos below. 

Debra has been on call this week, so we haven't been able to meet, but she is doing super good! We should be able to meet again after this Friday. She's super awesome, and super funny haha. 

I went on exchanges with Elder Young this week, who's one of our zone leaders. We did some service, and tried to do some finding. Wasn't a very exiting day. 

We had interviews with President Jaggi, and it was pretty good. He told me I'd be staying in the area, so I actually knew about a week ahead of transfers, so that's pretty cool haha. He told me next transfer, wherever I go, it will determine whether I'm in the Ogden or Layton mission in July. So that's huge! 

I went to my old area in Mound Fort to teach Manuel and Angelina, and they fed us some chicken so that was fun. We're really trying to push for her to get baptized, but it's not working too well. Will update you all if everything changes, but for now she's kinda no longer an investigator. 

That's pretty much all I got this 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

Layton Temple??

Best general conference I have ever watched in my life! How great is it, to have a Prophet and Apostles that constantly receive revelation for God's children! With the major changes announced, along with the new announced Layton Temple, I definitely sustain President Russell M. Nelson! There were also so many great talks from every session, I hope the spirit was able to teach all of you something from this weekend! We got to go down for the Saturday afternoon and priesthood session, with Marty, and went down with Debra for the Sunday afternoon! They all loved it. If you didn't have the opportunity to watch conference, I invite you to do so on lds.org! You won't regret it. 

Not too much happened this week worth remembering. The 3 Rowe kids will be getting baptized this coming Sunday, so it should be a good week. Love you all, hope you had a good Easter! 

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

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