An Optimistic Attitude Helps with Everything!

Just so you know, Mom, I got everything in the packages alright. I was extremely appreciative of the burritos...Really! Tito's burritos here in England! Mexican food is so amazing! (Apparently this was a miracle that frozen burritos and salsa cleared customs...but the package sailed right through...I guess this missionary mom was lucky.)

Portsmouth Zone Conference. President and Sister Millar are right in front,
and I am behind the elder with the bright red tie.

This week was another week of just crazy weird miracles. We started out with Zone Conference, which was absolutely fantastic, as always. I'm amazed at just how much simple things that people have said there apply exactly to what we need in our area. We're working hard on getting to know the members a lot better now, as we realize just how important that is. If we can establish a good relationship with the ward, then we can begin to help less-active members return more easily. Once we do that, we begin to make a bridge to new investigators. Plus, it really is so nice having a good ward family to rely on. Missionaries miss having family members they can turn to, and so the next best thing is a good supportive ward.

We came up with a few good ideas that we're working on implementing to get closer to ward members: spending P-days with them, taking part in doing service for them, and the "Reverse Dinner Appointment" where we essentially invite ourselves over to cook them dinner.

We've also been pushing forward trying to utilize the zone's Preach My Gospel Area List that Elder George came up with. It's a fantastic idea. Basically, it involves prioritizing where our efforts will return the most results. It's really helped for us to get to know which less-active members we're working with, and really getting to help them better.

On Friday we helped out at Sister Edna Jones' memorial service. I only had two chances to meet her, but from what I know about her, she was such an amazing woman. She and her husband served in a bishopric, stake presidency, temple presidency and mission presidency. Their son is in our mission presidency as well. It was a great service, and really made me feel appreciative of our knowledge of the Plan of Happiness. Those who spoke at the service were so optimistic. It turned the funeral from a sad occasion to a glad celebration of her life. I can't believe how grateful I am to know that this life is not the end, but merely a part of a greater plan that's pushing us towards our greatest potential.

Following the memorial service, we were able to give further service by giving a blessing to a man in Chichester Hospital who is a member of the Worthing ward. It was so cool, though, because not only were we able to give this man comfort and help him in this time of difficulty, but he happened to be the father of one of the less-active members that the Chichester elders have been trying to contact. Furthermore, the man who asked if we would come with him to give the blessing has a connection to our family friends here in England, as his wife works with one of them.

It's just amazing how these little things add up.

Saturday was spent on exchange with Elder Cullen. We went down to Wittering, and holy cow was it stormy... A huge storm rolled in this weekend, and so walking around Wittering (which is right up against the coast) was quite an experience. Brought back a bit of homesickness, though, to walk into "Wittering Surf Shop" and pick up a bar of surf wax, and then to walk down to the beach and actually see people surfing.

Surfers on a stormy day in Wittering!

On exchange with Elder Cullen in Wittering.

If there's one thing I've learned this week, though, it's how much an optimistic attitude helps with everything. Uncle Ben wrote me the other week, and said that the three things that helped him out on his mission were being Positive, Obedient and Working hard. I can testify that those three things help us so much not only on a mission, but in life in general.

So glad to be out here serving the Lord.

Love you,

Elder Green