Saturday, April 28, 2012
D 6
Whats up fam ºº April 25, 2012
Thank you for the update and info on Grandma’s funeral. It stinks that I couldn’t be there, but I’m glad that everything went well and everyone came. It sounds like it was a nice meeting with the different things you guys did trying to tie the generations together and to have Elder Perry talk. Ya, I remember Brooklynn. That’s so cool that grandma had that much of a positive influence on her even when she couldn’t communicate or take care of herself!
Welp, this week has been a lot a lot different. We had transfers and I finished up my time with Elder Guerrero. I can honestly say that I have learned more about how to conduct my life, with him than I ever have. He taught me things that I was doing wrong and I saw how I didn’t want to be and how I can be. So I am grateful for him in as a companion. But now he is gone and I got my kid (new Elder) haha. His name is elder Esparza from Chile. He’s 18 years old and just a smart dude with a big personality. He has been in the church since he was born and knows a ton. He has a ton of experience with the missionaries and knows a lot about the mission so it won’t be too hard to help him along.
This week I have improved a lot in my abilities to conduct a lesson and have it be effective. We got to a point, Elder Guerrero and I, in the lesson where proposing a baptismal date and placing a copy of the Book of Mormon was very easily done.
With the family that grandma helped us find (note from Matt’s Dad: The Sunday prior to Matt’s Grandma’s passing I asked her if it were possible to somehow let Matt know of her love and support –since he wouldn’t be able to come home for her funeral – and to leave a referral of a family for him to teach – well the next day Matt and his companion contacted this family) we taught them the plan of salvation and wow the questions that they had were crazy ,i.e., what is beyond the stars? and what is time like to God? and where did God come from. So we did our best to answer all that we could and I think it turned out well!! Which is good ha .
At church Yohanni showed up for Sunday school and sacrament meeting and loved every minute of it . The Relief Society sat next to her the whole time and she asked questions and I think that she learned so much. We had a lesson with her after church and asked her why she came that day. She simply told us because the Lord wants me to go!! hahaha she’s golden .
Aparte de eso (other than that) I have been studying and trying to prepare everything for the new missionary that came and I totally feel inadequate but I know that I can do it . I just hope that we will be smart and hard working missionaries that are guided by the Spirit to do good things so he can get off to a good start as a missionary then teach others as he gets to lead or train.
I hope all is well in Utah I love yall
Elder Griner
Sunday, April 15, 2012
D 5
Hello family and friends, 11 April 2012
I am writing way early to yall because we are going to be in Monte Cristi this afternoon!! The Elders up there made plans to play baseball with an ex ball player. I don’t know who he is but I’ll let ya know.
This week has been awesome. We had an investigator show up to church and I was so pumped that she got there. She is a 40 year old women whose’ husband died about 10 years ago. She is taking care of her mom that is way sick right now full time. We found her one day when we were contacting and she invited us in to her house with open arms and had a ton ton of questions. That is amazing for us. It’s always nice to be able to answer heartfelt questions. She has progressed so much in only a week; she’s reading, came to church, and met the entire ward. We had the chance to give her a blessing; because for some reason she’s in a lot of pain. She came to church but could only stay for an hour. She made a lot of new friends and now we get the chance to teach her with the members in hopes that she can find out this is true! Oh her name is Yohanni . I don’t know, but after all of our effort and hard work finding a person with such an interest, is one of those “mission memories.” It’s nice to find someone that really is ready for this gospel.
Another cool experience that we had this week was with a guy named Alturo. We contacted him one day as he was leaving, so we set a date to come back and we did. When we arrived he was playing dominos with his friends and so we kind of forgot about teaching him and just sat down at the table and talked to all of them. We got to know all of them and then we played a hand in the game and left. The next day we returned and found him with his wife. They invited us in and we had a perfect lesson with them. This guy was in the military and just a way strong and stiff guy. I don’t think that we would’ve been invited in the house if we hadn’t shown some interest in them and showed them that we are real people too. So, even though it wasn’t really a spiritual thing that we did, I think, that it helped us to get much closer to them.
Another person we have progressing is called Irislady and her family. She is 22 and has a little kid and lives with her parents. At times she is not very serious and she likes to joke around in the lessons. Then yesterday we were talking to her and she stopped us and said, “hey Elders I’m going to get baptized!!! And for her to say that as seriously as she did was crazy to hear, but at the same time amazing. I really hope that she can keep the feeling that she had to help her make that decision always.
In our district meeting this last Tuesday, yesterday, we were doing planning and talking about our goals and contacting 10 people per day. We have our meetings at the church. Anywho, all of a sudden in walks this guy, and we had no idea who he was. He then started to explain who he was and where he is from and why he was there. He was this short chubby Mexican looking guy that was stationed in a little town just outside of Dajabon. He went on to explain that he is a member from California and has lived in Brazil for the last couple of years now. He is a sailor and his tugboat broke down so he has to be here until they can fix it. He said that he saw the church while he was out and about and wanted to check it out. So he came in and shook our hands and then out of nowhere he asked each one of us how we think we can help change this rama into a barrio (branch into a ward) and being missionaries we all said something like work harder, walk faster, knock harder....ya know the drill. Then he humbly said, fast and pray that the hearts of the people here will be opened so that the work here can grow. After that he gave us a reference and then left. I didn´t even get his name but I know that he was sent to us for a purpose because honestly that’s what we need to do.
Editors note: That sounds like a 3 Nephite kind of experience, haha. But seriously if you would like to share in Elder Griners mission experience and help the work of the Lord progress in Dajabon - keep Matt and his companion in your prayers and while you fast.
Editors note: That sounds like a 3 Nephite kind of experience, haha. But seriously if you would like to share in Elder Griners mission experience and help the work of the Lord progress in Dajabon - keep Matt and his companion in your prayers and while you fast.
love yall and hope the best !
ELDER GRINER
D 4
Hi Family! April 4, 2012
I don’t have much time this week because we had to travel to Santiago to buy some stuff and have my comp checked out for his flu... but this week went well and conference was the boss. FOCUSED ON THE FAMILY haha it put me trunky and gave our ward a warning to get a family ready to be taught because almost no one has one here but we´re working on that haha ! I hope you know that I love each and every one of you and want the best for yall and our family. Lindsay i saw a thing that was happening in Samoa in the church during conference... maybe you could be a part of that !! Staci .. dont pop please and tell David to take care of you ..... Dave and Bris I hope ya get the house and don’t spend too much doing it. Mom .. I love you and miss you and your cooking..and Dad .. I love you and hope that you are doing okay taking care of the yard and stuff without me . Casey.... don’t die.
SORRY ITS SHORT !!
ELDER GRINER
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