WEEK 2 TULSA (WEEK 22 OF MISSION)

MIIIIIRRAAACCLLLEEE WEEK (no he didn't get his bike back)

HEY FRIENDS AND FAM 

I hope this week was good for all of you!!!! I have some awesome things to talk about today. So in my mission so far I have not ever seen somebody get baptized that I was a part of their conversion. Which I know missionary work isn't all about that, but the rejection can be quite discouraging. 

So this week we had dinner at some members' and their daughter's boyfriend was going to be there who has been investigating the church. We ate dinner and he was such a cool kid he is around 20 years old and has had a tougher life but has seen the happiness the gospel has brought his girlfriend so he has been reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. As he was talking I felt prompted to ask him to be baptized. The spirit was so strong in the room at the time and I have to admit I was sort of bracing myself for the rejection I have heard many times before when I asked the question. So when the word came out ABSOLUTELY from his mouth I didn't even know what to say back hahahaha I just looked at my companion and he took it from there. To be honest I had to fight back tears as they discussed the date and everything. It has been a lot of rejection and to finally hear those words was sooooo nice. I am super excited for him.

This week we also set a baptismal date for LaDonna and a girl named Ashlynn!!! What an awesome week and the Lord is showing me that even though our bikes were stolen and it was freezing cold our work will be rewarded when we trust in the Lord. As we were teaching Ashlynn she had a lot of family there because she is only ten years old and when we were talking to her family getting to know them they told me they used to live in Utah and I said oh yeah? where at? and when the reply came VERNAL I could not believe it hahahahaha I was freaking out and told them about my mom being from there and they were all like yup Loran's Fish and Supply sign we know right where that is next to the Dinosaur Museum haha so mama don't cry because I almost did, and then about 30 minutes later Ashlynn the daughter decided to be baptized! Such a tender mercy in my heart and made me feel like the Lord is looking out for me and I just couldn’t believe this week!!! 

Don’t complicate your lives back home! God's whole purpose in putting us here is so that we could have joy, so if you aren’t smiling and laughing and having fun what are you doing? haha Try to reach out and lift somebody else up, that is the easiest way to find happiness is by forgetting about yourself. 

Love Elder $wag

WEEK 1 TULSA (WEEK 21 OF MISSION)

Hey Everyone!!!!!!

Ya boi elder green checking in with a quick weekly update!!!! 

Like a kid in a candy store!!!

This week has been soooo awesome my new area is sooo much fun. I am in the middle of Tulsa and in the big city and feel like I am back at home haha. I think the lord thought, "Okay, he got through being in the middle of nowhere, I will throw him a bone now and put him in the big city." Haha it is so awesome to be in the city though I relate a lot better with the people. 

Mikey and Elder Nau posing like
these missionary action figures ;)

My funny and awesome spiritual story both are combined this week. We were teaching this awesome lady named Ladonna. She is so funny and we were really able to touch her heart. Her son recently joined the church and so she has gained a lot of interest. Her daughter–in-law was recently stabbed to death in a terrible murder and she was having a rough time with it all. We were able to comfort her with a blessing, and teach her the first lesson and she agreed to the invitation to be baptized. This is how the conversation went a little: 

"Ladonna we want you to feel this comfort and peace all the time and you can do that through baptism."

a little silence.

"Well, all my friends been saying you better not be finna talking to mormons, but now that I think about it... I think im finna be a mormon!!!!" 

She is so awesome I love teaching her she has such strong faith and it is so awesome out here and Elder Nau is teaching me so much and I am growing a ton in the gospel! Thank you for all the love back home! Remember that happiness only comes through Christ and Christ taught us to serve others. So go brighten somebody’s day this week!

Love you all,

Elder Green

WEEK 18 BELLA VISTA (WEEK 20 OF MISSION)

"LAST WEEK AT THE RIDGE!"

Fam and friends what is up!!!!!!

Cheers to a good transfer!

Opening a Birthday Present. What I wouldn't give to know
what they are laughing so hard about!!!

Man I have such an awesome story for everybody this week. So first things first I have been transferred to TULSA!!!!! I am serving in the Mingo Valley ward in Tulsa and I am so excited!!! However, I also am heartbroken because I will have to leave the land that I love here in Bella Vista which won't be easy. When I got word that I was going to be transferred it was pretty rough on me because I really wanted to see the investigators I had worked so hard on be baptized and now I won't get to see it and just felt bad that I might not have had the success that I selfishly wanted. I think the Lord knew that too. Well so there is a kid here who is 17, who I relate with almost perfectly and he and I will be lifelong friends because of the bond we formed. At church this Sunday his dad came up to me and asked if we could talk for a second so I stepped aside with him. With tears in his eyes this father told me how grateful he was that I came here and could be such a friend and example to his son Jacob. He said that Jacob told him that it seemed like every time I would call or text to ask him to come out to dinner with us or to come knock doors with me, it was when Jacob's friends would ask him to hang out and they are not good influences on him. Every time Jake would come out with us and he really has turned his life around and has plans of a mission here soon. It hit me so hard that I can't just judge myself on how many baptisms I am getting because I may not always know the lives that I touch. The lord knew that I needed that closure and comfort and I was so happy to just realize that for myself.

I think that is true for everybody. A lot of time in life we might be feeling like we are doing our best but not seeing the immediate results that we want. Satan wants that to get us down and to have us get down and feel bad about ourselves. The Lord wants us to press forward continuing to try and be our best. That is something I am working on and just want to share with everybody back home that there is success and happiness in following God’s way of doing things. Learn and grow, help others, and find joy. That is the whole reason we were sent here anyway. 

 

Sporting some of his Birthday Gear

Elder Lopez reached his one and a half year mark!

Love you all have a great week! 

#BallinOnABudget

Elder $wag me out Green

WEEK 17 BELLA VISTA (WEEK 19 OF MISSION)

"MEEK'S Dark Year"

Friends and Fam!!!!

Keep old Michael Green in your prayers as I enter the dark year.... haha that’s what missionaries call the year that you won't be home at all. 2016 I will spend the whole year serving the Lord! Pretty cool and I am excited. 

A cool story from the week came on New Year’s Eve!!!!!

Me and Elder Lopez had a fun night planned with some really cool members to eat dinner and play some games and just have a fun holiday. While on our way there that evening a less active and mother of one of our investigators called. Her name is Burnadette and she was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and she went into surgery on New Year’s Eve. She called us that night after surgery and needed a blessing. It was so cool to get to like be walking in a hospital with my nametag and full suit on up the elevators to give her a blessing. It softened my heart for sure as she thanked us with tears in her eyes after we gave her the blessing of comfort. I love the things I get to do on my mission that I would never get to do if I hadn't come out here! 

This week because of flooding, most of our outlets in the house got ruined. This wouldn’t have been a big deal besides the fact that all of our heaters have to be plugged in. haha I really have grown to appreciate like all the nice things I took for granted back home and it was definitely a little bit of a colder week in the crib haha but we are getting things worked out!

Love you all hope you have a great week!!!

Elder Swag