Letters from Elder Green received on April 29th - Only 2 weeks out in the mission field.  Seems like longer, but he's doing good...

 

Hey Mom,

 Just so you know I am loving it here. I got a package slip to pick up the package you sent me in the main office of our apartment complex but I just haven't been able to get it yet because the office was closed today so sorry no pictures today. I turned the volume off and watched Dad's video. I don't know if I am supposed to or not but that was hilarious and I don't regret it.

 

 It has been super sunny here that past couple of days and it is so beautiful when it is sunny here in Washington. There are definitely good and bad days but that's to be expected when you're doing something like this. We put people on date to be baptized and then they fall off and you have to try and get them back on. You knock doors and people yell and swear at you and slam the door in your face, but every now and then you find somebody who wants to listen. Yesterday Elder Cox and I were knocking doors and we came across a man named Byron. He said he wasn't really interested and we said okay, prayed with him on his door step and carried on with our work. A couple doors down he came walking up to us and asked to talked. He said that he recently had an experience that made him want to get into religion but he doesn't have anybody to talk about religion with and he said he doesn't get why we go door to door trying to teach the gospel in a world where people don't care, he respected that and wanted to talk to us. We set up a return appointment for tomorrow. Who knows if anything is going to come of it but its things like that that give me enough hope to keep going. It makes being a missionary worth it. I still don't feel like I am very good at this whole missionary thing but I am trying and getting a little bit better each day. My companions have been really good about everything and have been teaching me a lot. I get fed everyday by members too which is super rad.

 

Love you Mom. I hope things are well at home. I miss you all the time but more than anything I am excited to be here. Keep me updated on everything going on at home. Also I need a list of everybody's birthdays in the family. That would be great. Love you.

 

Elder Green

 

 

 

 

 

Hey Dad,

I loved your video. I turned the sound off and watched it and laughed very hard.  I have been doing a ton of tracting lately. This week we are going to try and break the record for lessons taught in a week. We have to get 120 between the 4 of us this week so 60 per companionship. Also we have a temple trip on Wednesday that is really going to hinder our efforts so we are going to really amp it up this week.

 

It has been really sunny and beautiful here the past week which is really nice. I went on bike for the first time the other day just for the fun of it and it was great. My companion, Elder Anderson, got hit by a car, though. He was in front of me and went out into the street to turn left on a road and a car was coming up. They slowed down and then revved their engine and sped back up and hit his back tire. He managed to stay on it just whipped him around. The car didn't bother to stop and see if he was okay instead he took off as fast as possible. Elder Anderson was just like, " Well that was weird." And carried on like it is just another day in the life. It was Crazy.

 

Being a missionary definitely has its ups and down but I am having a lot of fun and starting to get into the groove of everything. I am really grateful to be here doing what I am doing. My companions have been really good about teaching me and I am learning a lot. I have been able to help teach quite a few lessons lately. which is scary but I like it. Next month we are anticipating a Russian-Marriagtism which is where we are going to marry this girl, Ashley, and this Russian guy named Vadim then baptize them. I am super stoked.

 

Love you, keep me updated on stuff at home.

Elder Green