"According To The Desires Of Our Hearts"

This week was a roller coaster! We had to drop a few people :( that wasn't too fun, but we needed to because we found 3 people that were prepared. Sometimes the Lord presses us to let people go cold for a minute so that someone that is ready can be taught. It was a sure act of faith because we didn't have any appointments for a few days. That's a cause for frustration, but we worked and ended up with some great results. This coming week we have some great opportunities to help people grow closer to Jesus Christ. Like tonight we have an appointment with a member referral in the members home! That's golden! It doesn't get better than that!! We are in extreme re-build mode! 

In other news: Elder Fillerup and I set a goal to get fit at the beginning of this transfer. We are happy to report that after 3 weeks I have lost 10 more pounds. That equals out to be 55 pounds total that I've lost (so far) on my mission. 


My perspective has changed a lot. It's interesting what you can be taught by the spirit just off of one single quote. We have been studying desire this week, and in result I have found a new meaning to my calling as one of the Lords Representatives 


"The greatest men came to the top because of the strength that grew
out of meeting resistance." -M. Russell Ballard

Through my life my sweet Mother often
wondered what the Lord was preparing my family for. Trying and
failing, trying again, failing again, over and over for the past 9
years of my life. The circumstances were unbearable, the struggle was
a real one. Suffering heartaches, disloyalty, sudden deaths,
sicknesses, financial crisis, spiritual whirlwinds, sin, temptation, a
broken home, helping support a family, and wrestling the adversary.
But trial after trial the Lord was there, helping us build strength,
never once did he give up on us. I have often wondered What was the
point of all that? Here is my partial answer:I am the man I am today
because of the strength I have gained from growing up the way I did.
God, has let me pull through those times for this moment right here.
These resistances prepared me for this moment right here, today, in
the mission field. The "dry area" shouldn't phase me, the rejection
should be a "challenge accepted" moment to act on what commitments I
should extend to bring that person to humility. I have been prepared
for resistance, and trained in the furnace of the refinery, I had to
act, or I was going to get eaten alive. The Lord has prepared me long
and hard through those years, and what will be my outcome? What will I
do? I have been given talents to work through affliction, to bust
through the darkest hours, and to find the light of the gospel. Will i
doubt the Lord? Will I stand ready? Will I take what I have been given
and build a kingdom? I didn't lay down when times got difficult, and
for that reason I was made strong. I worked with my circumstances, and
I got through it. I can work in any area, and leave it better then
when I found it. I can sure change my circumstances by the desire of
what the Lord has placed in my heart. Through the resistances that
have been placed before me in past years I have been given the gifts
that are necessary to build just a sliver of Zion. Each family I come
in contact with has experienced at least one of those trials if not
more. But I have been prepared spiritually and emotionally to help
them. I will no longer let that go to waste. "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". I will
"declare his generation" from 10am to 9:30pm. Every day.

“Our time in the mission field is short but eternally important"

"Become a creator of circumstances instead of a creature of circumstances."

"By being able to control what we put in this mind of ours, we determine our own lives. “as we sow, so shall we reap.” We can see how important it is to sow the right beginning thoughts. Another interesting fact about our minds is that we can only entertain one thought at a time. Therefore, your destiny may be determined by one single thought, and it is up to you whether you make it positive or negative. Think baptism and you will baptize. Your actions, attitude, mission, and life will be directed by your thoughts." -M. Russell Ballard


-- 
-Elder Greenburg
Missouri Independence Mission

Rebuking of the sisters 

 Comp-mansionship

Shots Fired!

What's up! This week was crazy! I can't even believe it's Monday again! We ran like mad this week. On Tuesday we did our stake reports, our computer crashed on Friday, so we had to re submit everyone's comments/indicators. That took all day! We only proselyted for like 1 hour! Then on Wednesday we had Mission Leadership Council where we got trained on an app called the "Area book planner" it's an amazing tool that keeps track of pretty much anything and everything EVER! Investigators, events, schedules, planner, indicators.! I love it! We were in the mission home from 8am to 5pm and then we had to go to stake correlation at 5:30pm. From one meeting to the next! We were able to contact our investigator that night. They have been to church 3 times and never been

taught before. They asked us what they needed to do to qualify for Baptism. I don't think I have ever heard someone ask for that before! But I will take it! We are meeting with them this week. 

On Thursday we prepared for Zone Training, it was a lot to cover because we had to train on the Area Book Planner. We hosted the training in the basement of the Historic Liberty Jail! It went great! Then I went on an exchange with some Elders in our zone until Saturday. They had a biking area and I blew out my knee! It's okay though because half of our Ward consists of medical students and residents so I got it checked out. I will survive! 

Saturday was the only full day we had of proselyting so we just tore up our contacts to get people to the next level! This upcoming week is going to be normal! We also get to go full swing with the area book planner tool. It's going to enhance our efforts! 


Here is an excerpt of my study journal based on the Atonement. 

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."  
If we love the lord, we are to think on these things. This is the importance of knowing who Christ is. As I think on these things I know that I am beginning to know who he is, and I am able to internalize his charity, and grace. 9 "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." This applies to all teachings in Christ. The lord is our master teacher. He has made this promise that if we do these things, we will have peace. Once we begin to understand the Savior and his purpose we can feel his love, this is how we are able to be converted to him, and not material things. It only comes through putting that change in our hearts. 10 "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity." -Here is the catch 22. Here is where most people become less active and begin to fall into traps, right here. You can do all these things, but without opportunity and a desire to act, it means nothing. If we don't give ourselves or others chances to grow, we will never become converted, we will never overcome our weaknesses even if we do these very things. 
(Conclusion): 3 points for conversion that I've picked. 
1.) Opportunity is one step toward repentance. When we give ourselves goals, and achievements, we receive opportunity to become better, when the Atonement is applied, along with the teachings of the Savior, it can change our very nature. 
2.) The Atonement is one step towards Charity, the pure love of Christ. When we feel this love within us, it gives us opportunity for success. As we act on this, and recognize that others can receive his love, we will understand that God loves all of his Children, and as representatives, we will be able to branch out that love through the Doctrine of Christ. 
3.) The desire to change is what makes us Latter Day Saints. "Saints are sinners who keep on trying"-Elder Renlund. We feel the Holy Ghost pressing us to change, we feel the Godly sorrow. We can be reconciled unto God as we use the Atonement, it may take time, or many failed attempts, but as we keep trying, we will be able to look at the progress we have made with the savior on our side. 

I love this work, and I love the Lord! Here is a picture of my zone after the training we had at the Historic Liberty Jail 

Love you! 

Jared and his Zone at Liberty Jail

What happened to this week!?

I have been transferred to North Kansas City to serve as a Zone Leader in the Liberty Stake. (15 minutes away from the Liberty Jail. ) My new companion is Elder Fillerup. (yes that's his real name) lol! he's from California. He's super sweet! Elder Fillerup is such a giant! Woah! I have never been so impacted by a missionary in such a short period of time before! I feel like we are going to have a lot of great things in this area. I'm learning so much!

I have had a fantastic week, probably the best on my mission so far. I have been running since I got out to KC! Whew! we have had a lot to do. We had a Stake meeting with President Vest, and President Morgan (Stake Pres.) and then prepped for stake reports. proselyting time was a tough gig this week. It's about to get even crazier because we have Mission Leadership Council on Wednesday, Stake Correlation on Tuesday, Zone Training prep on Thursday, Zone Training on Friday, and then an exchange till Saturday. Pretty full of stuff to do! It's interesting how the Lord helps us move this work forward for other missionaries.

"The fight in this world is not with others, it is with ourselves." The adversary sneaks his way into our hearts and minds to deceive and entice us to act on our weaknesses and fall into sin. Here's the good news, the Lord Jesus Christ knows our hearts and minds. He knows our weaknesses. As we come unto him, He will make them known unto us so we can be humble. As we continue to humble ourselves before him and exercise faith in him, He can make those weaknesses become strong. (Ether 12:27) This is the accessing of his Atonement. The action of humility, and faith that the Lord can and will make our weaknesses strong as we council with him through consistent diligence, we can find that the enabling power of his Atonement is real, our testimonies are strengthened because we recognize that "The Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them, that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." (1Nephi 3:7) I have a testimony of this holy work, I know the taste of redemption, I know the feeling I have to press on when my body begs for rest isn't from my strength and endurance, but only through the merits and mercy of the Saviors everlasting Atonement. He won't give up on the children of men, he has never thrown in the towel for me, and I will never throw in the towel for those I have the opportunity to serve in his name. I know him. I know he lives, I have a relationship with him, and I pray that it will never cease.

Lesson #1 if you go into the church building, and need to go back outside for something. Make sure you have the keys with you, Oh, and your phone. We got locked out for a while scratching our heads

Oh yeah! The KC temple is in my area! I literally walk out of church and it's in the same parking lot! It's pretty cool, I still have only 4 times a year that I can go, but it helps with talking to people because it's noticed for miles and everyone always wonders about it.

I'm loving this work!

 Love you all!

(Top) is my son. (Elder Amosa) below him is Elder Holker (grandson)

and then me. And then my grandpa/companion (Elder Fillerup) 

Great Week,new Calling

Mom's Side note: Since this email I received this additional email:

Pres. Vest called me Wednesday, and said "I need a pure heart and clean hands for next transfer, I felt that you were the one prepared, can I count on you? it will be a pleasure to work with you" that's the curve ball, I'm not sure where I'm going next, I find out tomorrow....but something's up. 

 I don't know it's just a big transition. My new comp is a body builder, so I might be getting beefed up lol. It's just a big step for me. 

I'm being transferred to Liberty Missouri to serve as a Zone Leader. That's by AoA and liberty jail. 

This week was great! But I'm super tired. We get to take one of our investigators to the visitors center tomorrow, super excited about that! And I just licked another Elders foot.....side note....btw....you do weird things when transfers are around the corner...anyway! We had a solid week, went on our last exchange for the transfer. President Vest called me and threw a curve ball, so I don't know where I'm going to be next week.....yay! 

Here's my journal entry on the Atonement! 

 I like the assurance of repentance. If I were to cut my arm on accident, would I just let myself bleed out everywhere, or would I give aid to it? Well I know I need to give aid to it because if I don't, it will become infected, or bleed enough that I pass out. Same with our spirits. Do we just suffer in guilt and pain or do we apply the aid of the Atonement? I know that if I don't give aid to my spiritual wounds, they will become infected with doubt, the faith I did have would weaken, and eventually I would spiritually pass out. Oh why do we automatically want to cover our wounds with dirt instead of medicine? The Atonement can heal our wounds, and awake and arouse our faculties, we will become reconciled to God. We can become strong, the Lord can heal us. Or we can continue the shame game that the adversary loves to play. I believe there is a much better way. We don't have to suffer the pain of anguish if we would humbly submit to the lords way, we may feel growing pains at first, but we will find that it is, in the end, easier than fake ideas, emotions and deceiving enticements from the adversary. We sometimes live our lives in complete and utter misery, when we don't have to. Pride can be a deadly factor, and will yield no good fruit, but as we humbly nourish, and prune, and dig, and dung our spiritual trees, and graft in the light of the Atonement into our spiritual vines. We will begin to experience the change that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has to offer us. The seed of faith will begin to take root in us, we will begin to understand his will, the spirit will be our guide, and "our confidence [will] wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon [our] souls as the dews from heaven. 46The Holy Ghost shall be [our] constant companion, and [our] scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and [our] dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto [us] forever and ever." The Atonement is the access of spiritual power and strength. We cannot walk on a broken leg. Likewise, we cannot teach with a broken soul.

Loving the mission! And the people!