Week 77

Hola family, friends, and loved ones from all places,

I want to start this email off by thanking EVERYONE who has given me love, support, written me, prayed for the welfare of the people I've served with in Puerto Rico and Orem Utah, and just overall has showered me with love.  I am so grateful for each and every one of you.  I wish there was a way to repay you all individually and bless you all just as you have blessed me these past 18 months, but I will find a way!! Haha!!

So I will answer your two questions first, then get to my testimony.

This last week of my mission WE WORKED SO HARD!  I was so happy and felt at peace with our efforts!  Highlights from last week:

Monday:
- We had one of the best nights of work that night!  We were able to contact and meet a LOT of new people and hand out many Books of Mormon.

Tuesday:
- Went and visited a family in one of the English wards we cover, named THE Richards.  They are a really special family, and definitely a family that needed to know that Heavenly Father was aware of them.  Their first 3 daughters are exactly like Jade, Khloe, and Maya - so cute and precious!
- We heart attacked the Hood Family!
- We visited Patsy, an old investigator from a couple transfers back.  We sang her a song and she was really happy we came by.

Wednesday:
- We went to visit Hermana Alvarez, an older lady who's health isn't the best. She's from the DR (Dominican Republic) and is so sassy, it's fantastic, haha.  We go and talk with her and sing her songs until she falls asleep.  She's adorable!
- Had an AMAZING lesson with Surya and Ivan!  We talked about the Atonement.  It is so cool to have watched them both grow so spiritually ever since I've been here.
- We went to go knock on an investigators door, and met his 18 year old son Brian instead!  He was super cool, and we gave him a Book of Mormon and he had alot of questions and we were able to answer them by using the Book of Mormon.  He is GOLDEN.

Thursday:
- Had my last District Meeting and It was amazing.  Elder Brito surprised us by bringing donuts - yummy!  I gave a training on following the Spirit and at the end, we all shared what we liked from the transfer.  Then Elder Brito asked everyone to go around and say what they had learned from Elder Lopez and I (Elder Lopez is also going home).  Then I bore my testimony. It was very emotional for every one, and the Spirit was so strong!

Friday:
- We were at the Jordan River Temple Open House training at the mission office with all of the Sisters in our Mission, President and Sister Killpack, Sister Baird and Sister Lindley, and the wives of the two counselors in the Mission Presidency.  For the first half we received a training on how to give the tours and the spiritual preparation needed.  Then we had lunch.  Then, it felt kinda like our own little general conference women's session because we heard talks from, Sister Killpack, Sister Baird, and Sister Lindley.  During Sister Killpack's remarks, we all wrote our names down on a piece of paper, everyone chose a different name, and whoever had our name stood up, and gave us compliments.  It was so nice.  Then once all of that was done, we decorated cookies!

- Later that night, Sarah (aka Hermana Pearce one of my companions when I was serving in Puerto Rico) came out on splits with us!  It was so nice to see her again.  She also told me how President and Hermana Smart told her that they had prayed individually for each person assigned to the Puerto Rico Mission to see who should go back.  They said that when they got to me, they felt so strongly that I needed to finish my mission here.  I felt so happy, knowing that I too felt the same inspiration!

Hermana Zayas, Pearce & Green on splits! 

Saturday:
- Saturday was NUTS. It was so busy! But we had a good lesson with Angel!
- Had my last lesson with Patsy, and at the end, we hugged, and she said, "you are really special to me".  She was crying a lot, and I was crying a lot.  It was a beautiful moment.

Sunday: Man I cried so much yesterday, Haha!
- WE HAD 10 LESS ACTIVES COME TO CHURCH, ONE OF WHICH IS A MIRACLE, AN ABSOLUTE MIRACLE BECAUSE WE FOUND THEM ON ACCIDENT AND THEY CAME TO CHURCH.
- THE sacrament was super special yesterday.  The Sacrament had SUCH a POWERFUL meaning. I was just bawling (silently) the entire time because of the roller coaster of emotions I was feeling.  I cried because I was sad, realizing this would be the last Sunday in this Ward, taking the sacrament as a Missionary, then crying out of gratitude for having been able to be a representative of Christ, then crying out of sadness because the Savior seriously went through so much pain, and I want to find a way to do something for HIM, that could repay Him, then crying because of a confirmation I felt by the Spirit saying, "You have been my servant, that is how you repaid me", AND THEN CRYING BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN THE BEST 18 MONTHS OF MY LIFE!!!
- OUR STAKE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT MORGAN, TOOK TIME OUT OF HIS DAY TO COME SAY GOODBYE TO ME. AND THEN HE WROTE PRESIDENT KILLPACK LATER THAT DAY THANKING HIM FOR SENDING ME AND HERMANA ZAYAS TO THE AREA. PRESIDENT WAS SO HAPPY, THAT HE CALLED US LAST NIGHT AND TOLD US HOW PROUD HE WAS OF US.
- Our Relief Society made me a cute little book and they all wrote notes for me in it.  it was very touching, and yes, I cried so much again!
- Went over to the Stillmans for dinner! We had steak. It was amazing.
- Had the best lesson with Alex!

My Little Book from the Relief Society

Stillman Family

Today:
- Had our zone activity and played volleyball for like 2 hours. Said our last Testimonies to our zone. Well, tonight we have a LOT of lessons with members, and less active families, and we are going to try and visit and contact some investigators so I can bear my testimony to them and sing them a song.

Tomorrow:
- Tomorrow will be my last day of work in the mission field. So we are going to work SUPER HARD.  I'll say goodbye to Jai and Rylee's families, (my 2 converts here), and we are doing this really cool thing called an Area Blitz.  It's where all the missionaries in my district (four companionship's, so 8 missionaries total) are in one area, and we all try and get as many investigators as possible to help an area grow.  So I will be going SO HARD and it's my last day, so I've gotta make it busy and good!
We've been doing really well on our goal of handing out a case of Book of Mormons before I leave!  We've handed out a LOT, but we still have quite a few left to go.  So we'll work hard my last day and see what happens!

Wow, that's all I have to say is WOW.  I am just in shock.  I cannot believe that in just a couple of days I will be hugging you all and talking with you in person!  Time really has flown so fast.  I would like to end with sharing my testimony with you.  Okay. Well. Here I go.

"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life" (-3 Nephi 5:13).  I am so beyond grateful for the opportunity I have been blessed with to represent the Savior, Jesus Christ.  I have learned so much, experienced so much, and more importantly, come to have a personal relationship with Him.  I know He loves me and knows me personally.  I have come to love what he taught, and learned how important it is to follow Him and His example.  I have come to learn that His Gospel is truly the path For each and every one of us to return back home with our families to live with our loving Heavenly Parents.  "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Romans 1:16).

I know that increasing my knowledge of The Plan of Salvation is what has molded my life and has helped me, and many others through times of grief and sorrow, knowing that a loving Heavenly Father has created and given us a path back home.  And the center of this plan is Jesus Christ and His Atonement, His suffering in the Garden Of Gethsemane for our pains, sins, and afflictions, His Crucifixion, and His Resurrection.  He made it possible for us to overcome all these things, and the only thing He asks of us to do, is "Follow Him", to have faith in Him, repent of our sins and have a change of heart to become more like Him, to follow his example and be baptized and give us that door to enter into the kingdom of God, to receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end.

These principles need to be our foundation of our lives.  Just like Helaman 5:12 says, "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."  It was this very foundation that has helped me overcome my trails.  I know that families can be together forever and that they are meant to be this way - Eternal.  "Till death do us part" does not exist for the Lord, because families are the most important thing we have and will continue to have.

"I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.  And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me."

This has been my joy.  Helping other's feel, experience and obtain the same knowledge and blessings I have been lucky enough to receive for myself and my family.  I know that the same Church that Jesus Christ Himself established was lost, once He and His Apostles died.  And now has been restored and brought back by a Prophet, Joseph Smith, who was an instrument in the hands of God.  And why was the Church restored? So that ALL of God's children could enjoy the covenants and ordinances that make it possible for us to live with Him as families again forever!  We can know that all of this is true by reading the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.  This book was written for us, for OUR day.  And the purpose of it is to testify that Jesus is the Christ.  As we read, we will come to find how applicable it is, and that it too, is the word of God.  Without the Book of Mormon in my life, all the things I have testified of above would not be in my life.

I end with one of the very last scriptures in the Book of Mormon, as my personal invitation and witness of Jesus Christ: "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God"

This is just a small fraction of my testimony.  I testify as a representative of Jesus Christ that He lives, and He is still leading and guiding His church today.  Let us all come unto Him.

I say this in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.


Love always,

Hermana Kali Rae Green

Departing Sister Missionaries with Sister Killpack

Departing Elders & Sisters With President & Sister Killpack

Trip to Temple Square with the Departing Elders & Sisters

Trip to the Provo City Temple

Week 76

Hello Family! I am so excited to see you so soon!

Spiritual experiences.. So this week we had TONS of meetings (I'll get there) and one of the biggest topics was what it means to keep the Sabbath Day holy and the emphasis on the Sacrament.  Side note - ever since I had 6 months on the mission, I've been trying to find different ways to make the Sacrament more meaningful.  For months I don't feel like I was able to do that, until yesterday!  This week in my personal study I just dissected every part of the Sacrament and came to a simple truth: as we take the sacrament, we promise to renew our covenants we have made. As we do this, we are promised two things: the forgiveness of our sins, and the companionship of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is the purifier, and we can only have him with us when we Keep the commandments and keep our covenants! So it's like a perfect circle. There were a lot of other cool things I learned too but I can go into detail when I get home.  But yesterday, I had a completely different perspective on that. I truly did feel renewed and clean.

Investigators! This week was super successful! We were able to get a lot of new investigators and improve our teaching skills a bunch!

Angel and Verónica: so I'm not sure how many of you remember Verónica, but she was an old investigator a while back.  She texted us out of the blue last week and asked if we could come by and help her son, Angel be baptized!  He's 11 years old and super prepared!  They had been taught by missionaries before many times in the past and has a strong desire to be baptized.  We had our first lesson with him on Saturday, and he said the opening prayer, and answered all of our questions super well!  We asked him if he knew that he was a child of God, and he said, "yes, I've always known that".  My heart got happy, because there is no better feeling than knowing you are a literal child of a Heavenly Father.  At the end of the lesson, Hermana Zayas invited him to be baptized on March 24th, and he said yes!  We are super excited for him, and we haven't had anyone on date for a really long time!

Ivan: so, Hermana Zayas and I as we were planning for our lesson last week found a POWERFUL new way to help teach the lessons to Ivan and Surya.  We felt that we could teach the principles of the lessons through reading specific chapters of the Book of Mormon with him, and then the following night, reviewing and then going into the lesson in a little more detail.  It has helped him SO MUCH, and he is so much more active and attentive in the lessons.  We have seen a BIG change in him and Surya and they have come to sacrament meeting for 3 weeks in a ROW.  We are so proud of them and we have such a special bond with them.  They are really special to me.

Rosanna and Martha: a senior couple sent us a text about two weeks ago about a family of old investigators who have taken the lessons many times.  Rosanna is married to an active member of the church and her mom's name is Martha.  We tried contacting them the day after they sent us a text, and we rang the doorbell and they answered through their fancy doorbell and said they couldn't attend us, but that we could come another time.  Which, that usually means that they're not interested. So we left, but we left some pamphlets with them with our number on it.  A DAY later, we received a text from Rosanna telling us when we could come by!  It was a miracle because that NEVER happens. We went by yesterday and discovered that Rosanna's dad died a year ago this Thursday. We testified that families are meant to be together forever, and shared the Book of Mormon with them and some of our favorite scriptures. The future is so bright with them, and we are excited to see where this goes.  Rosanna has a 6 year old daughter who made a drawing of us during the lesson.  I think mine is spot on, I'm on the right.

Alex: we haven't been able to see him this last week.. But we hope to see him this week.
We've also contacted a lot of people this week, and have tried this new thing where we ask them what they desire most in life, and find a scripture in the Book of Mormon to help them meet their needs.  It is a POWERFUL way to contact (that was something we learned in Combined District Meeting) and we've handed out like 5 Books of Mormon that way!  We are excited.-

Tender Mercies:
- We got 4 new investigators this week! Woo!
-We were given $20 each today to pay for our groceries at Wal-Mart by a lady who's daughter is going on a mission this Wednesday.
- Got to be reunited with the old Spanish zone for a meeting we had on Friday. I got to see Hermana Laurie, and she bore her testimony in English.  She's progressed so much!
-We bore our testimonies in Sacrament Meeting yesterday, and a member in our Ward got up, and said that we inspired him to bear his testimony because of our example.
-While trying to call old investigators, someone called us back, told us he had moved and that he is taking lessons with other missionaries and bore his testimony of the restored gospel!

Zone conference was great! I learned so much, and we didn't bear our testimonies.. We think President forgot. Haha. But apparently we are bearing our testimonies at our zone activity on Monday.

I CANNOT BELIEVE I WILL BE IN YOUR ARMS NEXT THURSDAY, MY WONDERFUL FAMILY YOU! I AM SO EXCITED! But I am also STOKED to work as hard as I have EVER worked this last full week I have! Hermana Zayas and I ordered a box of Books of Mormons and we have a plan to hand out ALL of them before I leave. Challenge accepted.

Last week was full of meetings.  Last Wednesday we had Combined District Meeting (zone meeting), and then on Thursday we had zone conference, and then Friday we had a daily dose meeting, a meeting for all the Spanish speaking missionaries. It was so amazing to be reunited with ALL of my good friends I've made. Lots of hugs and smiles.

This week we have a lot of fun things planned! A lot of appointments, and service opportunities. On Thursday I have my last district meeting ever! Saturday all of the Sisters in our Mission are going to be in a meeting pretty much all of Saturday to be trained on how to give the Jordan River open house tours. (Our mission is one of the 4 that gets to help with the Jordan River Temple Open House and the Sisters will be able to give tours of it to the public! I won't be there but I get to go to this meeting to hear about how it works!) Sunday will be my last Sunday in the Mission and it is going to be hard to say goodbye to this Ward and the people I have grown to love so much! I love, love being a Missionary and serving the Lord with all my heart! I'll see the people of Orem soon when I return after my Mission to attend UVU.

Today we had a district activity! We played board games for like 2 hours. Twas great.

Mom and Dad, I love, love, love this spiritual thought! It goes perfectly for this last week! I AM READY TO BAPTIZE ALL of PLEASANT GROVE IN ONE WEEK, haha. Just kidding.

Well family, I'll write to ya next week. AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK. 😊😊😊

I love you!


-Hermana Kali Rae Green

Week 75

Hello Family & Friends,

Spiritual Experience: So, Sister Panton told us about one of her young women (Aly) who was really struggling, and she asked if we could stop by and visit her.  So, we did!  We went over last Wednesday, and we knocked on the door, and she let us right in right away!  It was as if she was waiting for us and knew we were coming.  We had an amazing discussion with her about what she was going through and tried to help her as much as we could.  It was a great visit, and we set up a time on Saturday to make brownies with her and do some service by taking the brownies to other young women she knew of that were also struggling.  Later that night, Sister Panton told us that she had talked to Aly,  and Aly had mentioned that the morning we came by, she was feeling really sad, and she prayed and asked Heavenly Father to send her someone to help her. Then, a couple minutes later, we knocked on the door.  That made my heart really happy and continues to testify to me that Heavenly Father knows his children and is aware of their specific needs.  If we pray with a sincere heart for His help, He will send help our way!

Investigators:
Alex: We taught Alex for the first time last week! It was good. Because he's young, we are trying to help him gain a testimony of the Savior. He came to Church with his family and we are planning on going by again this Sunday.
Ivan: He's been doing really well! We read about the 2000 stripling warriors in Alma and he loved it. On Thursday, we watched the movie called, "The Testaments" about the Book of Mormon times right before Christ comes and visits the people in the Americas.  It was a really spiritual experience for all four of us, (Ivan and Surya, Hermana Zayas and I). They also came to Church on Sunday!
Gina: We had exchanges last week, and Hermana Zayas was with Hermana Dixon and they had a lesson with Gina.  They invited her to be baptized and she said yes!  Only problem is that she is going to the Philippines and won't be back for another 3 months..... So, there's that.  But it's okay!  We plant seeds!

Tender Mercies this past week:
- On our exchange, Sister Frishkinecht and I got to do impromptu service and helped paint a staircase for an elderly women!
- On the way to our District Meeting, we got a very frantic call from a Member in our Ward, asking us to go check on his wife who is very pregnant and felt like she was going to faint.  We went by, called a couple of sisters to come help us because we couldn't stay, and were able to do some needed service for her.
- Our investigators all came to Church on Sunday!

Our going home activity day in Salt Lake City was so fun!  Right as we pulled up to the temple, we saw that it was closed, that was a bummer, but on our last day before I come home, we will go and do a session at the Salt Lake Temple, so I am content.😊  We still went and did fun stuff!  We went to the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Building, took pictures by the Salt Lake Temple ( I don't have them :/ ), went to the “Meet the Mormons” theater and watched videos that they only show on Temple Square, also went to the visitors center, then we hit the road.  We ate a yummy lunch in the car, then did a session at the Provo City Center Temple! I have to say, that is one of my absolute favorite Temples.  It looks like the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland.  It was a great day!

My closing interview with President Killpack was amazing!  It went really well and he gave me a lot of good advice, and counsel I'll never forget.  It was a lot of discussing my future plans and talking about the course of my mission and how I have changed and grown.  I love my Mission experience and how I have grown into a better disciple of Christ.

The next two p-days are going to be pretty fun! Next P-day we have a district activity, and my last P-day we have a zone activity. Pretty exciting!

This week we have Zone Conference Thursday Afternoon. I am super excited!  It's weird that it's my last one.  I'll be giving my departing testimony since its my last Zone Conference.  I love the opportunity to share my testimony, but it will be emotional knowing that I will be leaving, but all is good and I am grateful for the opportunity and experiences that have changed me!

This Friday all the Spanish speaking Missionaries have a meeting at the mission office. I'm so happy because I'll be able to see all my good mission friends from this Mission and old companions like Hermana Laurie!

I REALLY needed that Spiritual thought and uplifting comments that you both put in the email last night. It helped me a lot in a time of need.  At times, we put this "perfectionist" label on ourselves as missionaries and people in general, and I really just want to do my absolute best these next couple of weeks. Last night I was a bit down, and frustrated with a couple of things, but your Spiritual thought couldn't have come at a more perfect time!  I love you and thank you.

That's crazy about President and Sister Ward!  I'm glad that the Ward’s are moving up here cause we can all party together like a family!!

We watched a really cool video in the visitors center about the translation of the Book of Mormon from Oliver Cowdery's point of view.  It was beautifully made and it strengthened my testimony so much.  There's just no way I can deny the power that The Book of Mormon contains.  It could've only been translated by the power of God.  So, if you know these things, then share It!  If you don't, I invite you to read it, ponder it, and ask if this book was translated by the power of God.  Our Heavenly Father has provided us with more scriptures, full of guidance, and more knowledge about the Savior, Jesus Christ.  It is evidence of God's love for ALL of His children.  Take the chance and read the Book of Mormon, and just ask Heavenly Father if it is true. He will answer through the power of the Holy Ghost, made manifest through feelings of peace, joy, and comfort in your heart and mind.

This week is going to be a great week. The work of the Lord is advancing. It's a great time to be a Missionary.  Life is great.  I am really trying to give my very best these next couple of weeks.  I know that there is still work to do, and I am going to find it, and do it!!

I LOVE YOU, FAMILY. Keep on, keeping on.

-Hermana Kali Rae Green-

Week 74

Hello, its me....,

Spiritual experiences... well yesterday we had a really cool experience.  So, we have been trying to visit this less active lady in one of the English wards for about a month now.  Hermana Laurie and I went by once before Christmas, and had a great lesson with her, but haven't been able to catch her since.  Our ward mission leader for the Ward she is in, asked us to go back after he had heard her talking with her neighbor about her last visit we had with her and how much it helped her.  So, before dinner yesterday we decided to see if she was home, and she was!  We had no idea what she needed, but knew the Spirit would guide us.  We got in to talking with her and she told us how she didn't feel like she had a purpose in her life and that she wanted a change and that she wanted guidance.(which is like the golden question to any missionary's ear).  The more and more we kept talking, the more things just kept coming to my mind!  One thing in particular was the scripture in 2 Nephi 32:9 "But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul."  After reading the scripture, she said, "wow, that was exactly what I needed to hear".  We talked about how prayer is so important in receiving guidance in our daily lives.  After a lot of good discussion, we told her of the three things President Nelson invited us all to do last Tuesday in his address to the World:

1. Keep on the covenant path.
2. Begin with the end in mind.
3. If you've fallen off the path, to come back, because there is room for everyone in the Lord's Church.

After hearing President Nelson's message, she told us that she wants to start praying, reading the Book of Mormon to her kids, and wants to go back to church!  It was a miracle!  We also decided we would come over each Sunday night to read the Book of Mormon with them.  She was so appreciative and we could tell that she really needed that visit.  We are so excited for her.  It's times like those where you really feel like the Lord is using you as an instrument in His hands, and oh, how he orchestrates everything so beautifully.

Investigators:
So the week after fast Sunday, a member in our Ward brought a friend to church!  Her name is GINA, just like my beautiful Mothers name!  She has come every week so far and has loved church!  She is super engaged in all the classes and loves to learn.  We haven't been able to teach her because she works a lot but yesterday after Relief Society, she turned and asked us, "So when can you come over?"  We were so happy!  We set a return appointment for tomorrow and we are going to invite her to be baptized!  We are excited, and she is so ready.  We also gave her a Book of Mormon after church and invited her to read it.

So, Heavenly Father is so kind and loving that he has continued to bless my life with more nine year old's to teach!  The Bishop last week gave us a reference of a family in our ward who is coming back to activity in the church and wants their son to be baptized!  His name is Alex and we are so excited to teach him!

Tender Mercies:
-We got to hear from a modern day prophet last Tuesday!
-While tutoring Tyler in Spanish last Wednesday, our dinner appointment called, confirmed dinner, then called us back, and cancelled.  Over hearing this, Sister Panton offered for us to stay for dinner, and man, oh man it was good stuff.  We left them with a song for our gratitude for feeding us and opening their home to us.

-The Sister Trainers heard I was sick last Thursday, so they brought over medicine and smoothies for Hermana Zayas and I.
- I have had so many lessons this week where people have told us, "you always come at the perfect time"
- IVAN AND SURYA CAME TO CHURCH! and so did Gina!!
- At our Stake Mission fireside  last night, the old Stake President and now one of our Ward Mission Leaders, after hearing I was ending my mission in three weeks came up to me and said," THREE WEEKS? I didn't know we were losing you that soon.  Then, with tears in his eyes, says, "You've inspired me in so many ways. Thank you for your service".
- Received answers to my prayers regarding my path to follow after my mission!
- Mom followed the Spirit and got me an apartment in Provo for school after my mission! THANK YOU!   I am so excited!  President Killpack recommended that very same apartment complex so the Spirit knows what is best for me!  I am super excited!!!  It just shows to me that the Lord's hand is truly in the details of our lives, and that he is simply just confirming the plans to us.
- Last but not least, 16 MORE MISSIONARIES ARE GOING BACK TO PUERTO RICO AND 8 OF THEM ARE SISTERS!! I AM SO EXCITED FOR ALL OF THEM! #goinggozo

So last night, we had a Stake Missionary Fireside and it was incredible.  It was for members of the Ward Council, Ward Mission Leaders, Ward Missionaries, and us full time Missionaries.  It was put on by the Stake.  We have been planning it for months and months, and we even got to speak about how to extend invitations and did some role plays.  It was the Elders and Hermana Zayas and I.  I spoke at the end and just offered my testimony.  The Spirit was so electrifying in that meeting, and I'm not really sure how to describe it, other than it was so powerful!!

Stake Missionary Fireside

Dad, I absolutely loved your spiritual thought! You actually answered a long time question of mine, about what the fire meant in Chapter 17 of 3 Nephi. This spiritual thought lead me to a better study of my Christlike attributes.  So, thank you!

This week has been a bit rough because I have been sick and feeling super exhausted every day. But the work goes on!

The Panton's have offered to feed us dinner on the 13th of February as a "farewell" dinner. Apparently, Brother Panton is thinking of something really tasty. I am excited.

This Friday is our departing activity, so we are going to spend the day in Salt Lake! We'll start off by doing a session in the morning at the temple, and then have lunch and go tour all the historical buildings surrounding Temple Square!  I am PUMPED!!

Next Monday I have my final interview. Crazy, right!  I cant believe my mission is coming to an end, but just because I will remove my Mission Tag, it doesnt mean I cant be a member missionary forever!  Life is really great, and I am so happy with where my life is at this time.  I want to end with a quote Sister Smart shared with us in her email to the Herman's of Puerto Rico:

"The JOY we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives, and everything to do with the focus of our lives~Russell M Nelson"

Love you all, and have a great week!

-Hermana Kali Rae Green

Week 73

Hello family & friends,

So, on Tuesday we went over to the Wilbert's house to help them pack up their house, because they are moving.  We were helping them and I had been just feeling a bit down and I started asking them for advice and when I was describing the things that had happened they just looked at me with such love. That love was just so overwhelming and I felt the love of the Lord.  So, I asked Brother Wilbert for a blessing, and it was one of the most powerful and meaningful blessings I have had.  The Lord knew exactly what to say to me in that moment. What was also so amazing about the blessing, is when I asked Brother Wilbert, he looked at me as if he knew I was going to ask, and said, "yes".  He then said that there is a chair that he gives all of his blessings to his kids in, and the night before, they had pulled it out after 8 months of it being in the garage, and we all realized it wasn't a coincidence.  It was a tender mercy for sure.

So, the fasting and prayers by the members for missionary work, that I talked about last week, have all paid off, because we now have 5 investigators, 2 of them came to Church on Sunday and we are receiving referrals from members and they are bringing their friends to church as well!  The power of exercising faith through fasting and prayer is so amazing.  The Lord is truly involved in the details of our lives and wishes to bless us, we just need to ask with real intent and faith. 

Tender Mercies this past week.
1.  The Lord provided me with needed counsel, love and comfort through a Priesthood Blessing, at the precise moment I needed it!
2.  We had 2 investigators attend Church after not having investigators at Church for months. The Lord answered the fast and prayers of our members.
3. One of those investigators was Jesus Q!  We were teaching him in October and then dropped him, but now we are teaching him again!
4.  Members came up to me at church telling me how they don't want me to be released because they are going to miss me (': 
5.  We got two referrals this week who are actually interested in the Gospel and our message!
6.  President Killpack helped me figure out my future! haha. 
7.  We had a companionship study that helped both Hermana Zayas and I become better Missionaries!

I just want to take a moment to express my love and gratitude, and congratulate all the Elders who have recently returned to Puerto Rico and the recent baptisms that are coming once again from that beautiful Island that I will always love!  The work of the Lord is moving along once again in Puerto Rico, and He is keeping His promises. This strengthens my faith.  Life is good! :)

So Dad, once again, you are on the same page as I am, Spiritual thought wise, because that scripture you used in Romans1:16, I found yesterday for the first time in my scripture study, and I loved it.  Then I open my letter from my parents, and Dad used the same scripture!  #Greenpower.  I will share it with my companion, members, and investigators, because I love it.

Hermana Zayas and I are working hard to find those who are ready to receive the gospel and we are determined to baptize in my last transfer, and we think we might have found them!  Things are going really well here in Pleasant Grove!

I am so happy and I love life. I am excited for the month I have left, and I would like to end with this scripture!

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth" -Romans 1:16

Have a wonderful week, and keep looking for ways to share the gospel! 

All my love, 
Hermana Green

Week 72

Hello wonderful family of mine,

So we had a very special experience this week.  Hermana Zayas and I have been really trying to follow the spirit this week.  With that said, we forgot to put in a name of who to visit on Saturday morning, so we decided to pray, and look for guidance on where to go.  After we said the prayer, I received a feeling that we should pass by Sister Wilbert's house.  So, we followed the prompting, and she was at home.  After talking, she became emotional about some struggles her family is going through presently.  We all knew that the Spirit was guiding us to go visit and comfort her.  It was a beautiful experience, to say the least.

So, we fasted specifically to find 2 people that the Lord has prepared to enter the waters of baptism this transfer, and we feel really strongly that we found one of those people last week!  Her name is, Alondra and she is 18 and was found in a miraculous way.  On Friday, we had planned to go find an old investigator from, the area book, we went to the house only to find out the address was wrong.  However, we found another member of our ward instead at that address.  We asked him if he knew of anyone that we could go visit and he pointed to the apartment right next to his.  So, we knocked 3 times and no luck. Then as a joke, I slightly said to Hermana Zayas under my breath, "I command you to open the door".  Well, to my shock the door open right then, I know, crazy, right? Haha!!  We ended up talking to this lady that opened the door and we gave her a Book of Mormon.  She was so happy!  She wanted to meet with us the next day, but her mom had to go to the hospital so we rescheduled. But we're excited to see where this goes.

We have been searching up every single person in our area book, and trying to visit them to see if they are interested in hearing about the Gospel.  It's been really interesting and we've had a couple of really good experiences!  We've handed out the Book of Mormon quite a bit and have had many chances to testify of the truthfullnes of the Restoration.  One thing Hermana Zayas and I are really focusing on this transfer is a section in Preach my Gospel called, "Teach when you find, and find when you teach".  Which basically means that in every moment we should be constantly looking for the chance to bear testimony.  It has strengthened our testimonies and has helped us have success.

Tender Mercies this week:
1) Hermana Zayas made me a really good breakfast one morning
2) A man today offered to buy us lunch, when the cashier beat him too it and said, "I already paid for it".  She told us she just got back from her mission 3 months ago and she wanted to show her appreciation for missionaries.
3) A member in our Ward made tostones (one of my favorite Puerto Rican foods) for Hermana Zayas and I.  This brought a smile to my face, and also brought back tender memories of my time in Puerto Rico.
4) I had many members in the ward come up to me on Sunday saying how they thought I had gotten transferred, and they were so happy to see me, but are very sad that I am finishing my mission so soon.  I have really grown to love these people in Orem.
5) Perhaps the biggest tender mercy of all, Heavenly Father knew how hard it was for me to leave Puerto Rico, so he allowed me to end my mission with a Puerto Rican companion.

I love my district! It is Elder Brito, Elder Price, Hermana Cazares, Hermana Miller, Elder Lopez, and Elder Howell. All wonderful missionaries!

On Tuesday, I had a,"My Plan" meeting. "My Plan" is a 6 week program that helps missionaries who are going home reflect on what they've learned and make goals for the future. There are 4 Sisters and 3 Elders going home with me, I know all of them pretty well, so it's a good group.  5 out of the 7 are in my zone.  We met with President and Sister Killpack and talked about our future plans and My Plan in general.  We also talked about when we would be going home and what activities we will be doing.  On Jan 26th we are going to Salt Lake all day and doing a session in the temple, and spending all day in Salt Lake in temple square doing different tours.  I'm super excited! On the Jan 28th I have my final interview with President, it's an hour long - Woo!!  So here's the dealio.  I will be coming home on Feb 15th.  I'll be in the mission home that week doing departing activities, going to dinner, final testimony meeting and spending the night in the mission home on Valentine's day.  My flight leaves Salt Lake at 11:30 am, and I arrive in Orange County (John Wayne Airport) at 12:30 pm.  I am super excited to see my family, but SUPER sad my mission is ending! This has been the BEST experience of my life!!

Okay, so something I am SUPER excited about is a Book of Mormon challenge I started!  It is based off of the goals that I want to accomplish this year and I have chosen four goals to look for guidance and inspiration on, as I read the Book of Mormon:
1) Family Goals
2) Ways I can come closer to the Savior and, "point my soul towards Him" (inspired by Jacob 4:5) and progress as a Daughter of God.
3) Church Goals
4) Education and Career goals

I was inspired by Jacob 4:5.  I felt the strongest desire to continue progressing as a disciple of Christ, and I wanted to take President Monson's invitation from the April General Conference to make a better effort in reading the Book of Mormon.  But, I didn't want to read it just to read it.  So, I took a hardcover, brand new Book of Mormon and decided that I wanted to study it and look for the ways in how it can guide my life.  I draw so much closer to the Savior and to Heavenly Father as I read and look for this guidance and I invite you all to do the same!

With the passing of our dear prophet, Thomas S. Monson, I have had a lot of time to reflect on who he was and how grateful I am for the Restoration of the Priesthood keys and authority.  I am grateful for the example of service that President Monson rendered to all, and I hope that I can become like him in that aspect.  I am so grateful that even though a Prophet passes to the other side of the veil, we don't need to fear.  Thanks to the Restoration, there are still worthy men that have these same Priesthood Keys to guide the Church through revelation.  How lucky are we to have a knowledge of these things, that we are not lost, or in spiritual darkness, and we will still be led by a Prophet of God going forward.  I have no doubt that the next prophet has been prepared well by the Lord and I am grateful that President Monson is now resting in peace with his wonderful wife.

The church is true. What more can I say.

Love you all.

-Hermana Kali Rae Green

Week 71

Feliz Año Nuevo a todos!

I hope you all had a wonderful New Year's and are enjoying all the festivities.  Can't believe it's 2018 already, crazy!  But I'm so excited to start a new year and to continue applying the things I've learned so far on my mission.

You know, there are just some families that you meet on your mission, that you know you were supposed to meet.  That happened last night at dinner with the Arancibia family.  They are in the Elders' area and they heard Hermana Laurie was from Chile so they invited us over to eat with them, because they're also from Chile.  They have a son right now on a mission and Hermana Arancibia was sharing with us, all these miracles and stories their family has had ever since their son has been on his mission.  She just has so much love for missionaries and the whole night her, and her husband were just so grateful that we were having dinner with them.  One thing Hermano Arancibia said was, "having you sisters over is such an honor.  It's like inviting the Savior over into our house and having him eat with us."  I was taken back by his comment and felt such overwhelming love and gratitude for him and his family.

The Arancibia Familia

Another spiritual experience was a couple of days ago, at the Bishop' s house, but it starts a little earlier than that.  I don't remember if I mentioned this a couple weeks back, but while eating at Costa Vida one night, a man came up to Hermana Laurie and I and gave us $100 and then left.  We both decided that we wanted to give the money to a family that needed it in the Ward.  We talked to the Bishop and he said he would think of someone that was in need.  We went to his house on Saturday night and he gave us the name of a family who is very self-sufficient, and humble.  The husband had an infection in his mouth and had all of his teeth removed.  They work multiple jobs, and have a pretty big family.  He told us more things that just touched our hearts and we knew that we needed to give them the money.  The Bishop was shocked at our willingness to just hand it over, and it brought me back to seeing my parents example of how being charitable and giving to others brings a lot more happiness than keeping the material things, like money, for ourselves.  So, thank you, Mom and Dad for teaching me that lesson long, long ago.  We put the money in a little card, and signed it  anonymously - #Light the World hasn't stopped! It's only just the beginning!

So, TRANSFERS: I am staying in my current area and Hermana ZAYAS is going to be my new and last companion!  I am so excited!  I think Heavenly Father has a sense of humor, because with this new companionship, I have now been companions with all the Sisters in my Zone, and what better way to end my mission, than with a companion who lived in Puerto Rico before her mission!  The Lord is in the details of our lives, my friends!!  Hermana Laurie is heading over to Lehi with Hermana Orjuela.  I'm sad to be separated from her, but excited for her to have new experiences.

I'm going to Miss Serving with Hermana Laurie.

Well, Hermana Zayas and I are going to start the New Year and new transfer by contacting every single investigator on the books.  We also have really big plans for the Ward and Area.  Hermana Laurie and I talked to the Bishop in preparation for our talks we gave yesterday (which went super well!), and had the idea to ask the Ward Council to include missionary work in their personal fasts.  Well, the Bishop liked the idea so much that he invited the entire Ward to do the same!  It was amazing to feel the unity in the Ward.  We also cover 7 other Stakes in our Zone, all of whom we've never visited.  So, we have plans this week to contact and visit each stake President and their High Councilman over missionary work, and get the work flowing here in good old Pleasant Grove.  Hermana Zayas and I are ready to take over the World with Baptisms, haha!! - #goteampuertorico

Tender Mercies this week:
1. We went to the Temple, and saw President and Sister Killpack there!
2. Went to MLC and one of my good friends I've made in the mission, Hermana Urbina, came up to me and gave me a necklace of a bike (representing missionary work) and said, "Merry Christmas!"  I was shocked.  I asked her why she was giving me something when I hadn't done anything for her.  She said, "well we had an extra necklace and my companion and I were thinking of who we could give it to, and we thought of you".
3. I was reminded of my Dad's wonderful example of serving my Grandpa for the last three years, while I was helping Hermana Laurie last Thursday, all day, because she got the stomach flu.  It truly was such a blessing to serve her all day, and to try to do as the Savior would do.
4. Received two new investigator references from a member in our Ward
5. Finally found a less active member we have been looking for ALL TRANSFER, and she was really touched by the #LightTheWorld video, and said, we could come by anytime.

Temple Day with Hermana Zayas, Cazares, Green, Laurie and Elders Brito and Lespin.

Well, in preparation for my upcoming release from the mission, President Killpack asked me to fill out this paper of goals for one year from now, and 5 years from now.  I really like this, and the thing I was focusing on the most, is continuing the progress I've made on my Mission so far, and applying it after the Mission.  Progression doesn't have to stop at the end of my Mission, rather, I've only begun to prepare for the rest of my life.  Dad included a quote by Elder Holland in his spiritual thought yesterday that I really liked, and that is my focus for this New Year in progressing as a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Elder Holland said; "When Christ comes, the members of his Church must look and act like members of His Church are supposed to look and act, if we are to be acceptable to Him.  We must be doing His work and we must be living His teachings.  He must recognize us quickly and easily as truly being His disciples.”  So, that's my goal, to be like Him and to still be recognized as His disciple, with, or without my Missionary Tag.

I Love our Zone!

I loved seeing all the pictures of my cute Puerto Rico families and their Christmas presents you sent.  My favorite part is seeing the framed pictures of me with them in their homes, what wonderful memories.  Thank you, thank you, thank you, for helping me with this Christmas project.  However, I can't even take any credit for it,  because you and Dad worked so hard to put together the packages and mailed them to them, from me.  That's the best Christmas present I have received, so thank you!

Last week I had MLC, CDM and a mission activity.  The two meetings went really well, and I gave my 20 minute training on how the Atonement is the central to our purpose as missionaries.  The entire point of missionary work is to help others, "receive the message of the restored gospel".  Gospel, means, "good news" and if we look in the Bible dictionary under, "gospels" it says that, "the good news is that Christ has made an infinite Atonement".  So, we are helping others receive the ATONEMENT.  Why? Because it is the ONLY way we will be able to return happily, as families to our loving Father in Heaven.  Salvation is personal, and we alone are responsible for our own sins, and the only way to be cleansed of those sins is through the Atonement.  This knowledge is way too important to be kept just as a testimony in our hearts.  Heavenly Father knew that, so he sends missionaries all around the world to help others develop faith in Jesus Christ and His ATONEMENT.  I don't think it's coincidence the placement of the word, "Atonement" in our missionary purpose statement either.  "Our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel. Through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement,  repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end".  Notice, that the word, "Atonement" is placed right after faith.  It is not after baptism, nor after enduring to the end, but before repentance.  In order for us to truly understand the reason why we repent, get baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end is by understanding WHO Jesus Christ is, and why He did what He did, and what that means personally for each of us.  That's a little bit about what I taught about in my training lesson.  Hope you liked it as much as I did!

Friday night we had our mission new year activity from 5-9.  We met in Thanksgiving Point and met the Killpack's whole family, and then went down the street to the Luminaria, an exhibit full of incredible Christmas lights, and a "Light of the World" outdoor exhibit of Christ's life in statues.  It was so amazing and beautiful!!  We have to go again next year as a family, because It is so beautiful. It was a lot of fun and a night I'll never forget!

Luminaria 2017

Sunday, Hermana Laurie and I spoke in Church.  That was fun, and we got the Ward excited about Missionary Work -Yay!!

This week is the start of my last transfer and I am so excited to work super hard and give everything I can muster, over to the Savior and His work.  I am grateful for all of the love and support I have felt and I am excited to see where this year takes me.

Love you all.

-Hermana Kali Rae Green