Enter August

Wow it's already August. That's so weird. I don't really know where the time has gone. I've got very little time left on my mission, and I feel like I'm just now realizing how to do missionary work.

Sorry I'm writing you on thursday, it's just been a hectic week. We've been really busy. Yesterday was... tough. My companion is a veritable gospel Hercules. It's like he never stops or runs out of energy but just keeps on going with the work. Yesterday instead of having a preparation day where we could relax for even 20 minutes or do anything to relieve stress, he wanted to translate some papers and do some mission documents. I'm reminded of the phrase, "it is not meet that a man run faster than he has strength." I feel like I've been running all this transfer, and keeping pace has exhausted me. I go to sleep exhausted and wake up equally so. However, the Lord expects us to do hard things. I know that if I keep my trust in him I won't burn out. As a result of all the work, we are seeing great things happen. This saturday the 6th, our investigator Silvio will be baptized. Rafael will be in attendance at that baptism, in preparation for when he gets baptized next saturday the 13th. We have a few baptisms we'd like to see happen in september and october as well.

Tuesday we had a conference call with all of the missionaries in our zone. The purpose was to get everyone on the same page as far as our zone goals and some finding ideas. We've been working really hard to revitalize this zone, and on monday we got our results. In the past month, our zone doubled its new investigators found and its member present lessons. In addition we had 1000 more contacts, and in all saw much more work than in the month of June. That really pumped up the zone during the call, and got everyone excited to make this month even better. We know there is a lot of progress to be made, especially in the area of baptisms. However, my companion and I should be leading the pack toward more of that as well, by starting the month off with two baptisms in a row. Then we'll keep it up by baptizing many in september, as we already have a few with dates for that month.

So in getting closer to coming home, I've been thinking somewhat about what needs to happen when I get there. I'm hoping that you have applied me to some different universities around the state (Weber, USU, UofU, BYU, UVU). If they want projection of a Major, it'll probably be business management or public relations or something similar. Let me know who says yes and who says no. I would like to be a part of the whole process. Please keep me updated on when I need to start looking at courses and things like that. The spring semester seems like it's right around the corner, so let me know what I need to do to prepare. If you need me to write any application essays or anything let me know. I'd be happy to oblige. Also, as far as work goes I was wondering if you all could ask some of the people we know if they need anyone to fill some positions in their companies (like in the ward or others). I'd like to get working as soon as I can after getting home. Other than that, the only thing I really want is a gym membership when I get back. I'm eating really healthy these days and I've lost weight just from changing my diet, but I'd also like to work out a lot when I get home, we don't get much time for that out here. So that's about as far as my plans go for now. I feel horribly underprepared for anything after the mission, so I usually just stick to thinking about what's going on here.

I love the work we do out here as missionaries. It's the greatest thing I've ever done. I wish I could just stay out here forever and continue doing it. There is nothing more rewarding, and nothing seems to pass faster. I'm really excited for Brian, who is today experiencing his first full day in the MTC. It's an incredible learning experience. I know three people who are teaching spanish in the MTC so I hope that he gets taught by one of them. Elder Brown, one of my old AP's and Elder Powell, my first Zone Leader, are both working there. I hope that he meets one of them. I remember the MTC like it was yesterday. It's kinda weird to think that soon I'll be saying that about my mission. In no other time have I been required to be so consecrated to the Lord, however I hope to continue to be so afterward. I've seen myself change and grow up, I've learned a lot about life, and I've come to know my Savior personally. I anticipate that these last few months will be some of the most formative ones for the rest of my life. I also anticipate doing everything I can to be fully committed to the cause.

I love my family, and I know that the Lord does too. I know that this church is truly lead by Jesus Christ through His chosen prophet Thomas S. Monson. I know that it is necessary that we begin preparing ourselves now to receive the Lord at His second coming, and that He requires of us not just our time nor our possessions, but our heart, might, mind and strength. Everything.

I love you!

Elder J. Green