New experiences to have

Dear Mom,
Its great to hear how things are. I can't stop laughing about how the kids are doing. HAHAHA I never thought Emma and Ryan would ever do that. I am very very happy for you and your calling. I know you will do great!!! I know the kids will come around. I have learned that our trials and hardships were chosen by ourselves. I know Emma and Ryan picked their choices cuz they know inside themselves that they can get over it. They just have to be smart and put all their trust in their Lord. I know that has helped me a lot on my mission.
My companion is good. I am very like around the zone and the Zone Leaders really like me and they found out more about him. His name is Elder Springer. He was an apostate missionary at first. But I don't hold that against him, and good I didn't. Cuz later I came to find out that his parents don't support him on being out here, and went through a hard time through his life and his mission. He asked me if I can help him get through this transfer. If he doesn't do well, he gets sent home. All he asked for me is to work hard and help him get stuff off his mind. He is suffering from depressing-like really bad. He did counseling and is taking meds. Why I tell all you this is because I have come to learn that you never know what is behind the scenes of people and their lives. So love them as Jesus loves you. Don't hold peoples physical characteristics, past or anything against them. God made them that way because they are strong enough to get through it themselves. So if you ever get into a place like that, first know your Heavenly Father loves you and that you have to keep taking the punches and keep pushing forward. Elder Springer and I are in the Rinn Valley Ward still and the Ward got split up. It was Stake Conference yesterday and they shared the news. So Elder Clay and Elder Blaylock are in the other Ward. I was put on bike this transfer but now they split up the Ward and the Ward boundaries are HUGE!!!! So we get a car at the end of the month. or late next week.
But know I am doing well. Oh and another thing I learned was, "don't give up, cuz every time you get the feeling like giving up, that means there is something big is going to happen." I felt like giving up this past week, but I promised myself that wouldn't give up and to finish. I am great now! :) Oh and thanks again for doing that. And yes we did.

Much Love,
Elder Green the Younger.

P.S: tell the kids to straighten up, or I'll come home early and knock some sense into them! ;) jk. but tell them I love them! I'm glad I am an example to them. Means a lot to me.

Ups and downs are a part of a mission

Dear Mom,
That's sooo great that the pumpkins and Angie are soo Huge!!! ;) JK JK JK!!!! Not in a mean way, I am stoked that Angie has a baby. And that the kids are loving everything. :) Makes me stoked that Ryan is growing up soo fast. I'm ecstatic for when I get back home he will be big enough to do things with. Hows Derek and Emma? I don't hear much of the Frenemies :) Glad to hear that Katie and Claire are doing well too.
I guess you have to be right on that one on about mastering my own. But it would of been fun pounding on some kids.. But I'm glad that I am who I am. I am truly grateful for all the hardship and trials that the Lord has given me. If I had to learn a lesson this week it would be that. I think its in 3 Nephi 13:32, it says in a nutshell that our Father knows what we need. And I can truly testify on how true that is. I am soo grateful for all I've been through. I wouldn't be the person I am today if it wasn't for the Lord and I know he has stuff for me to fulfill if I stay worthy and obedient.
This week was hard for me emotionally. It just was hard in a way. Its not that I am home-sick, but still adjusting to the lifestyle of a missionary. Yeah I do what I need to do but it doesn't help when my companion is Trunkie and is always talking about home. I am not blaming it on Elder Clay, I LOVE Elder Clay, I consider him as a life long friend. But every day he talks about going home after this transfer. But I will be fine, I know that the Lord hasn't given me trials and burdens that are unbearable.
Transfers are this week. Elder Clay and I are getting split up but we are both staying in the area. I am getting one companion and he is getting another. I just barely found out who my companion is. I have no clue about him but he sounds like a good missionary. Elder Springer is his name. Sooo... yeah :)
I love you mom and tell the fam bam I said hi and that I love them all.

Love,
Elder Green the Younger
6480 County Road 5 Erie CO 80516

Lessons continue...

Dear Mom,
My birthday was great, I really loved it all. Thank you again for putting money on my account, and I had a ton of fun.
HAHAHAHA sorry, but that was kinda funny. But loving others more then loving myself has been more easy then I thought to be honest. But considering that I hold and wear HIS name, its time I think about others and serve others and put myself last. I can testify how true that is. I have learned MANY things on my mission so far and that is one of them. I truly do love serving the Lord. Even in the hard times. Its not that I'm "missing home" but its just a HUGE difference. From being lazy to actually working hard every day. That's a big leap for me. But I ain't complaining. Just saying how much I've seen a difference. AND I LOVE IT!!!
Our Investigator watched both sessions on Sunday with us and the family we were with. She is going to watch the Saturday sessions this week. She said her self after Elder Bednars talk, "Its inevitable that I'll be baptized" and we were like, lets do it now. But we have to teach one more lesson and get her to church one more time then we will be able to. SO we are STOKED!! :):)
I'm super glad that the kids and the fam bam is doing well. I do miss eating garden dinners but some families here do it as well, but not as well as home. But better then nothing :) I pray for all of you guys and I love all you guys!
Love you mom, thank you again for all you have done and continue to do for me. Ill send you the address tomorrow. We do Mormon.org on Tue. so we can familiarize ourselves so we can explain it to investigators. But sorry I was forgetful on that. Ill be better on remembering.
This week was very memorable for me. Monday for our Pday we went mountain biking, I crashed a few times and I biffed it hard core. It was kinda fun. It was raining so it made it dangerous is why I kept on crashing. But I loved it. OH!! and I was challenged to box some Priests and a teacher. These two box competitively, and note that, I've never thrown a punch at anyone in my life and never got into a fight with anyone. But, I went against the teacher and his names Preston, I was scared to be honest, I didn't know how to fight.. so we got into it, I dodged every punched he threw at me, I hit him with my left then later I got him with my right then when down for ten seconds. Then his older brother Ronnie got mad that I beat his brother, and before Ronnie said that I was going to get my world rocked. But Ronnie was surprised that I was fast and quick. So he said we were going to go half and half. But he went full out and I wasn't expecting it. SO he beat me down at first then I got back up and so I got really mad that he did that, so I backed him up to his corner and punched him with my left, he tried to recover, then I punched him with my right, right to the face and then he just dropped and passed out. I felt really bad so later after we were done with our appt. we went to the store and I bought them candy. I know I'm not out here to beat up little kids, but in my defense, they challenged me cuz they were talking mad trash. Their dad was watching and was happy that someone actually put them in their place.. He said that not me. But it was funny. I felt bad cuz I took a lot of anger out on them and they didn't deserve it.. But they are good and I'm better. IDK why didn't we try Boxing ;)? I could of taken so much more anger out on other kids then you guys. I do apologize for doing that in the past. Love you mom!!                                                      

Much Love,
Elder Green the Younger

Another day, another lesson

Dear Mom,
I'm doing well. This week was really good. We got hair cuts, and taught A LOT of lessons. It was great. I find myself grumpy when I'm not serving someone or teaching someone. I find myself loving others and then I find myself more happy. So its great. I learned a lot this week. I'm glad that things are going well with you guys. I hope that things continue to be well with everyone. Know that you all are In my prayers. And I want to thank you all for all your guys prayers.
I too am excited for conference. Our investigator is coming over to a members house and watching it with us. We both are very stoked for Sunday. I'm going to miss the tradition that we usually have, but I guess I can sacrifice that for a couple of years. Our investigator is doing great! She has already read most of the book of Mormon. She goes tot he bible study, and what she shares with us, about what they talk about in the study, she basically says they are proving themselves wrong every time she goes. So its great to see that she sees the truthfulness of it all. Shes literally the "golden" investigator that everyone talks about. Shes great. She couldn't go to the women's conference cuz her daughter has a fever at the last minute. She was all ready and dressed and ready to go. But she said, "I think the Mormon religion is trying to tell me that I need to be a better mother and stay with her Daughter." So she stayed and took care of her daughter. She didn't make it to church either cuz of her daughter was sick. Its okay cuz we have a Apt. with her tomorrow night. Shes doing wonderful. I'm still loving every minute of it all so fat.
Well thanks again for all you guys do. I really do feel all your guys prayers. I see the rewards for being an obedient and hard working missionary. I LOVE IT! I love you, tell the kids l love them as well! tell them I said hello too! :)

Love,
Elder Green the Younger

some pics of my humble abode:

I love being a Missionary!

Dear Momma!
Well I have great parents who have taught me to be appreciate of what I have, (You get what you get and you don't throw a fit) I learned over my short time as a missionary that you should be grateful for what you have and make the most out of it. And due to that lesson I have come to love being a missionary and a son of God. My testimony has grown so much, I have grown to love the people in the Rinn Valley and every missionary I have come to meet. I am truly lucky to have Elder Clay, yes he is goofy as all can get, but he is as mature as a young man can be. He has taught me a lot and I am grateful for him and his testimony. Its just great to be strengthened but other testimony and example. So yeah, things are going great! This last week was way busy but great! Which I'll get to a little later in the letter.
It's been freezing in the mornings but then warms up. I use to think that Utah weather was bi-polar but being here for so long, I was gravely mistaken. Colorado weather would probably be the hardest to predict. Oh well, good thing I love the cold and the heat.
I do miss the garden dinners, but luckily families here do that as well but it just isn't the same or nearly as good. That stinks that he couldn't come for dad's bday.. But on the optimistic side of things, at least he has a job and is supporting his wife and family. Being out here has shown be why I need to be a hard worker. The spirit has taught me so much and has so much more to teach me and I am excited. But that is kinda funny that dad bought himself a box, sad but kinda funny. HAHAHA! I was kinda envious that ya'll got to go to the temple. But the Fort Collins temple will be opened and dedicated while I am on my mission, which I guess is a gift for me and all the missionaries cuz its going to be a powerful tool to use when it opens up! :) But tell dad happy late bday! ;)
Well I guess I should tell you how my week went. It was great!!! I am loving it more and more. The first couple of days were sooo long. Until on Wednesday we got a text from the Church headquarters giving us a referral. They gave us the investigators name, address and phone number. But Thursday night we had dinner with the Redfurd's, (great family, one of my favorite) and Brother Redfurd served a mission in Uruguay years ago, but we invited him to come with us to visit the referral. He got dressed and came with us, we eventually found her house, we knocked but she wasn't there, so we called and left our testimony and a message. She called back that later that night while we were in an appointment, she said she'd love to listen to out message. So we set a time and place to meet with her. We met with her Saturday night at 7pm at the church building. Taught her the first lesson, but didn't get through with it, but we invited her to come to church the next day, (which was yesterday) and she came. She was worried that the members were going to judge her for having a kid with no ring on her finger, and that they weren't going to be welcoming. She came to church yesterday and everyone was welcoming. It was great, she said she loved it. She also wanted to start off slow and go for an hour at a time. But she ended up staying the whole time with the Redfurd's. She was worried about leaving her daughter at primary, but she just loved it all. The daughter as well. And they are coming to church next week for sure and we have a meeting with her on Tuesday at 7. So we are stoked and excited. :)
But yeah, that was my week. Great and fun. I am loving my mission as well. I love you too and tell the kids I love them all and they better turn out better than I did. My advice would be, obviously pick good friends who the Savior would pick. Just as he picked the 12, you/we all should pick them as he picked his.

Love,
Elder Green (The Younger)

Keep on tracking

Dear Momma!
 I love them. You and I both know they are my everything and I miss teasing, playing, talking and being with them. But they all better know I love them all. Even the older knows.
Yeah its super great! This last week was slow.. but we hit 30 lessons though which is great. It was a normal week so nothing really exciting happened. It was a hard emotional week for me though. Its hard to keep ourselves busy and when we don't and things are slow, I just get really home sick. But I tend to find something to uplift myself so I can keep pushing on. But I still am loving every minute of being a missionary. Things are going well, slow but well. The whole baptism isn't gonna slow me down, yeah it sucks really bad, but we aren't gonna give up on someone who said himself that he knows he wants to be baptized and he needs to be. All his own words so I'm not gonna give up on him, or anyone. Because Jesus never gave up on anyone of us, and we as missionaries and members represent Jesus Christ. And as missionaries, we carry and do his work 24/7 for 2 years. So I wont give up on anyone.
I am soo excited for you guys and the whole temple. Members here go and take pictures and show me when I get back. It looks sooo beautiful and different. I am excited for you all.
I really don't want to come home to dead people in the back of our yard.. Id rather come home to people playing sports back there. anyways,
I love you mom and let the fam bam know I love them all.

Love,
Elder Green (The Younger)

Missions are work

Dear Mom,
Things are going quite well. I kinda forgot why last week was all weird. It was transfers and when transfers comes around it kinda messes everything up. BUT! Elder Clay and I are still together. Him and I kinda want me to kill him off. You shall receive a normal email for the next 5 weeks. Till transfers come around again. MAYBE I don't know. But yeah things are well. That's great to hear that the kids are doing well. Tell them I love them and REALLY appreciated all their letters! It helped me get through the week. That's soo cool that Leanne got a deer! Tell her and Blake congrats from me! :)
That sucks that they are or might be putting a cemetery where they practice Lacrosse. Its kinda not big enough to be putting dead people there. Its kinda for the city to hold sporting events there. Its just would be weird to put dead people there. To me at least. Hopefully they don't cuz that's just weird. I am proud of Claire on growing up and enjoying her Jr. High days. Katie.. (NOT to toot my own horn but..) Katie was always say jokes and doing funny things around me and the kids. I am SUPER glad she is coming out of her shell a little bit. Better then nothing though.!
The mission conference was GREAT!! I was the first missionary to shake Elder Cooks, Elder Christensen, Elder Baxter and Elder Rhodes's hands. The district that I am in sat in the right top bench of the chapel, and they happened to walk into that door. SO we were the first to shake his hands. It was SOO great to hear them speak, they just spoke and made everyone want to be a better person. I know that effected me and the way I look towards life and my mission. I am truly grateful to be where I am. They had to cut the meeting to only 2 hours cuz they had a meeting they all had to attend. But they said that Elder Baxter is coming back in a month or two to tell us more about the Ipads. But I wasn't really looking at the Ipads, I was just excited to meet and talk to them for a couple of seconds. I loved it! I am loving my mission even more.
Things are going well. The investigator that had the baptism probably isn't going to be baptized... :( He has a step dad that he looks as a father figure and his dad is a VERY anti-Mormon man. EVEN thought he doesn't need his permission, his mom doesn't care or doesn't really mind what he does. It sucks really bad cuz he said he knows and wants to be baptized.. And just one influence changed his mind.. It just sucks.. I still love ever minute of my mission still. But just those minutes that are hard cuz things don't go accordingly.. JUST REALLY SUCKS!!!!
Well mom, know I love you and everyone, thank you for all you have done.

Much Love,
Elder Green (The Younger)