Departing Temple Trip & Last letter

Well, all I can say is that the last week of my mission has been amazing.  I can't think of a better way to end the best two years.  On Friday we went to the temple with all of the departing missionaries.  After the temple we went to Olive Garden (full circle haha) and ate there.

 

 Seattle Temple Trip

March 27, 2015

 

 All of the missionaries going home tomorrow

Seattle Temple Trip

March 27, 2015

(Blake is top row, 3rd from the left)

 

 

On Sunday at church we had 6 investigators come!  The Bishop asked me to bare my testimony to the Ward since I was leaving and it was a cool opportunity for me.  After church we had dinner with some members, the Saumanis.  Then we went to the church to fill the font for Ron's baptism.  The baptism went great!  A lot of people came so we had to do the service in the chapel.  I was the one that got to baptize Ron.  Leaving my mission with a baptism was definitely an awesome way to go.

Ron's baptism

To end the night I went to say goodbye to Sok and Erin. Sok was my convert from Wapato Park.  It was so awesome to see them and how great they are doing. It helped me see that the past two years I spent serving the Lord helped changes people's lives.

While I was at the temple I was able to stand in the Celestial room and ponder on my mission.  I thought about the good things I went through; the miracles I have seen, the fun that I had with my companions, the incredible lessons I had with investigators, the miracles that I had knocking doors, the awesome members that I met.  I also thought about the hard times I went through; the heart aches, the investigators that were so close but couldn't take the step, the people I saw "partake of the fruit" and then "fall away into forbidden paths.  I thought about the chances I had to grow and the mistakes I made and what I learned from them.  As I did so I had a feeling of peace come over me.  I feel that I did what I could in the service of the Lord.  I know I wasn't perfect, but I can honestly say that I tried to be obedient and I tried to serve the Lord to the best of my abilities.  Because of Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father and my mission I have been able to change.  I know that my testimony is much more strong now.  I am more patient and kind.  I have a greater understanding of the gospel, I know that Jesus Christ really died for me, I know that the Plan of Salvation is real, I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints really is God's church on the Earth, I know the Book of Mormon can change peoples hearts and minds, I know that Joseph Smith really was a prophet of God and the tool in God's hands to restore the fullness of the everlasting gospel.  I know that in a grove of trees in New York, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ really did appear to him.  The spirit has bore witness to me that these things are true.

It breaks my heart to leave my mission.  I suppose that heart break is a good thing, though, because it means that I loved my mission.  I really did love my mission.  It was the best decision that I ever made.  I thank the Lord for giving me such a great opportunity.

"My brothers and my brethren, behold I say unto you, how great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed when we started from the land of [Utah] that God would have granted unto us such great blessings?

"And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work."

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
 

Elder Blake R Green

P.S.

To answer your questions;
 

We have Transfer meeting today at 2:30 then we go to the mission home for the "dinner for the dead".  The sisters spend the night at the mission home and we spend the night at "the mansion" where the APs, office elders and Tacoma West ZLs live.  Good news; Elder Smith is the new AP! That means I get to spend my last night with one of my favorite companions!
 

I am very excited to see you tomorrow. Either Texas Roadhouse or Timbermine would be great! I need a steak!

Mission Temple Trip - See you next week!

Hi Mom! Hi Dad!
 

Probably the highlight of my week last week was being able to go to the Seattle Temple.  The temple, or Malumalu in the Samoan tongue, was so awesome!  It was amazing to be in there with all of these missionaries that I love so much.  The thing that I love about the temple is that I feel like it widens my vision.  It helps me see things from an eternal perspective.  I am really excited this week because I get to go again with all of the departing missionaries!  I am going on Friday.

Mission Temple Trip

Seattle Temple

March 14, 2015

(The Tacoma, Silverdale, and Port Angeles Zones)

 

 



 

Seattle Temple

 

Walking in to the Beautiful Temple

 

Blake at the Seattle Temple

 

 The Tacoma, Silverdale, and Port Angeles Zones

 

 (Blake is 3rd from the left, front row)

 

 

The Tacoma Zone

(Blake is top row, 2nd from the right)

 

Having lunch after our temple session

 

 

Seeing Wendy Webber at the temple was the coolest thing!  I immediately understood why you love her so much - she is freaking awesome!  I was really confused when she walked up and started getting all excited that I was Elder Green, ha ha, but once I found out who she was it all made sense.  I was walking on air though haha it was seriously so cool. It definitely was a tender mercy.

 



This is Wendy Webber and Blake.  Wendy is Elder Webber's mom.  Blake and Elder Webber were companions in Raymond, WA, and have remained close friends.  Elder Webber is also still serving.  Wendy was on vacation visiting a friend in Seattle.  As she was getting ready to walk in to the temple, Blake walked out.  She recognized him from his pictures. 

 

 



This week was pretty good but had ups and downs.  Tasi, who was on date, didn't come to church so now I won't be able to baptize her on Saturday.   Ron, a 14 year old kid we are teaching is still on date to get baptized this weekend, however, so it should be good.  I will be grateful for the blessings that I do have.

I am really weirded out that I am actually this close to the end. I CAN'T BELIEVE I WILL BE HOME NEXT WEEK!!  It is bittersweet to say the least.  I have a lot of plans for my first week home haha.  My to-do list includes: getting that shot for my allergies, buying new g's(mine have fought a good fight), going to the Ogden temple, trying to track down as many of my friends as possible, going to Betos, chick-fil-a, and In and Out burger, and of course playing with Sage, Zeke, and spending some time with the family. 

 

My interview with President Blatter was really good.  We talked a lot about me going home and what my plans are.  He gave me some really good advice and counsel. 

Keep your eye out for a good deal on a car since I need to get one when I come home. How do you feel about Scion TCs? I think they are dope.

I am excited to see you next Wednesday. I will probably e-mail next Tuesday since Bagley still needs to e-mail.

 

Love you!

Elder Green

 

 

 

Another Ward did a cultural night and they had the Allenmore youth dance for it.  It was dope, I have a video that I will show you when I get home. We got to go because one of the kids dancing is one of our investigators. (Eric, the big guy on the far right by Elder Bagley).

 

 

 

 Tacoma Saturday  Conference

and "Pi" Party

March 14, 2015

(Why today?  Because 3.14 is the value of Pi)

 

 Eating Pie to celebrate "Pi" day

 

Tacoma Zone



Mission temple trip this week!

Hi Mom!  Hi Dad!


Not much time to write today...This week is going to be pretty dope for us.  We have a mission temple trip in Seattle, and we are having some one-on-one interviews with our Mission President on Friday.  So I'm pretty excited.  We have 3 baptisms lined up for my last weekend so hopefully they all go through and I can finish my mish on a good note.


I definitely am pumped to learn how to ride . Keep your eye out for a good bike for me.  I am going to have to hit the ground running and get a dope job when I get home so that I will be able to finance all the things that I want and still be able to save up for school.  I decided, by the way, to sell my bike. I figured that it would be much easier than taking it apart, sending it home and then paying to re-assemble it.  I can just sell it and make money instead.  Plus if I really want to go mountain biking I am sure Dad would be okay with me using his bike.


Today I officially have less days than Elder Bagley has months left on his mission haha!
See you in two weeks.

Oh, by the way, there are a ton of people from my Ward that are going to Utah for conference so I want to go to SLC on Saturday for conference so I can see some of them. You're invited.

Love,
Elder Green

A visit from Elder Maynes

Hey Mom! Hey Dad!

 

This week was pretty good.  Tasi didn't say no to being baptized on the 28th but she isn't sure yet. She is still praying about it.  I think it would be really cool to be able to baptize her before I leave.

The highlight of the week was definitely Elder Maynes of the Presidency of the Seventy.  We had the entire mission go to it and it was awesome!!  He said a lot of really profound things that I think our mission needed to hear.  He was really impressed with our mission overall, though!  One thing that he said that I really liked was he talked about fear and faith.  That if faith overcomes fear we will be obedient, but if fear strips faith we will disobey.  It was really a powerful sermon that he gave.  So glad I had the opportunity to hear him.

Elder Richard J Maynes

of the Presidency of the Seventy

 

 

Things are going good here.  I got my March package haha - I really enjoyed all the holidays.  It was a lot of fun!  I'm working hard and enjoying every last day of my mission.

 

Thanks for all of your prayers!

Love you!

Elder Green

 

 



Hi Mom, Hi Dad!

 

Jesse, who was going to get baptized last weekend, is going to get baptized the Sunday before I leave.  She is just fine physically but financially she is struggling now because of her car wreck.  She will be okay, though. Keep her in your prayers.

 

We had a way dope church tour this week with a girl named Tasi.  We challenged her to be baptized and she is going to tell us today if she will be baptized on the date we extended.

We had our "Why I Believe" Fireside last week.  The fireside was a lot of fun, and they are always so awesome!  Sok bore his testimony at the fireside, and also George, who Elder Bagley and I baptized a few weeks ago was there.

Pictures from the "Why I Believe" Fireside

 

 The missionaries from Tacoma at the Fireside

(Blake is top row, third from the left)

 

 (Top row, third from the left)

 

 (Always a goofball)

 

 

 

 



That is cool that one of the missionaries you fed last week has grandparents in Chehalis.  I knew a Sister Brittain but I am not sure if she has grandkids.  Thanks for taking care of the missionaries there!! 

 

Things are going really well for us!  Thanks for all your prayers!

Love you!
Elder Green

 

 Elder Byram, Elder Green, Elder Geddes

Elder Bagley (floor)