July 4, 2016

Hello! Happy Independence Day! There are no regulations out here
concerning fire works. We are going to watch a member blow stuff up
later. I guess last year he blew a microwave 50 feet in the air. This
should be interesting. I guess a lot of non members come, and
proselyting is allowed. This guy uses sticks of dynamite. I'm excited
for this.

We have seen so many miracles this week! We have been ripping up the
Ward roster lately. We get in with the member, invite the spirit with
a brief 5 minute message, and then we talk about people. When you talk
about people, a special spirit hits their hearts. I've seen it. It
works. We ask about people that we don't know, they tell us, while
telling us they are making their own invitation to act. Near the end
of the discussion, we find that people say "I will" and we say "we
will follow" we ask about people that nobody knows about, we find that
people who are listed as DNC are actually still friends with members,
and we are able to use the members as proxy. With this method of
finding we have obtained 5 focus families from the Elders quorum, the
relief society president (who doesn't normally work with elders) gave
us a list of 30 names that needed contact, and the high priest group
has names that they want to discuss this Saturday, and they have
already assigned their TeamUps. All from asking people, about people.

I've seen quite a few miracles happen recently. About 9 months ago I
was called out to a hospital to give a blessing to a women. As I gave
the blessing, I sealed her up to death. I had his overwhelming
impression to tell her to let go, and that things here are going to be
alright.. She passed away with my hands on her head. Her husband was a
non member, but asked for a blessing shortly after. I gave him one,
and admonished him to join the church. I left. I had thought about
that man for 9 months, not knowing where he was. Every day I would see
his face somewhere, whether it be in a street contact, or at a members
home. I even saw his face in the temple.. Finally I got some closure.
I was on exchanges with one of the assistants yesterday, and we
knocked on  recent converts door. All I knew about this recent convert
was that his wife passed 9 months ago, and he has fallen less active.
It was the man from the hospital. He was baptized shortly after the
incident, but still not doing well since his wife passed. He looked
sick, lost a lot of weight, and stopped attending church. He
remembered my face. I could never forget his. He then asked for a
blessing. In which I remember teaching him the plan of salvation, and
blessing him with the promises that are in store when you are sealed
to your wife.

The opportunity given to me to magnify the priesthood, has been the
most fulfilling part of my mission.


I also found a new gift this week that I didn't know existed. I can
love people. It's weird how that works out. I use to hate people! But
I just felt this great deal of compassion come over me, that I didn't
quite know about. Here is my thinking. One of the fruits of the spirit
is Love.  So maybe I don't have the ability to love people through
Jared's point of view. But as the spirit is with me, I can sure love
them from the Lords point of view, and that is much easier. Cause I
have a short fuse sometimes. Lol But there are times that I myself
can't possibly love someone, but the Lord can, and as I radiate that
love, I will see them as He sees them.




Elder Jared M. Greenburg
Missouri Independence Mission
Kansas City Stake