"...send me some HEINI's cheese, please!"

The last few weeks Elder Greenhalgh has been asking for treats from home. He really wanted cheese from Heini's, so his parents made the trip to Bunker Hill and had cheese shipped to Montana. The order included the infamous Green Moon Cheese but we're betting the Heini's Cheese Fudge will be the first to be sampled:)

Wow, this year has gone fast, I cannot believe that it has been 10 months since I got to Cody! On the night of New Years Eve, we played Monopoly in the basement of the other Elders' place. I can't believe it has been almost a year ago now! WILD! Well anyways, Everything is going good. We are going to be having transfers this weekend, I'm not sure whats going to happen, I'll let you know next week....

Wasn't general conference awesome? GREATER KANSAS CITY AREA?!?!?!?! Wow.... notice... he didn't say Kansas... just the great kansas city area.... theres this little town called Independence on the Missouri side of Kansas City:)

Here is a cool lesson. Too many times, I just kinda "go do stuff" without really asking the Lord what he wants me to do. I am afraid that I won't be able to hear what He wants me to hear, and I"ll miss the opportunites that He has set up for me to do. I asked Elder Geren to give a talk on Humility in District Meeting yesterday. He did, and during it, he read out of Preach My Gospel, a part about Humility. It said, in a nut shell, when we humble ourselves, we have confidence that we will be able to do what the Lord asks us to do. If I truly humble myself, and ask the Lord to use me as an instrument, I WILL ALWAYS KNOW THE THINGS THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO, I won't have to worry. He will know that I'm sincere, and will let me know what to do, and I will be able to have confidence that it is from Him.... He knows a whole lot more than I do.

I love Him a lot... He does so much for me, and as often as I am completely grateful for what He does, He always gives me more and loves me more. It is the most comforting thing to know that we aren't making up these feelings of comfort or "strength beyond our own". Opportunities like this confirm to me that He is there, HE truly is making us feel these ways, He wants to truly guide us.
I have a testimony of that, I've learned this week something that is eternally significant for me. The times that I doubt, and can't just force myself to understand or feel hopeful that I'll "feel it" 100%.... all I need to do is be more grateful. It humbles me. It helps me see that He is out there. He is more powerful than me, or my intellect. All intellegence bows to the majesty that is Our Father.

I hope you guys have a fantastic week.

Love,
Elder Greenhalgh

Recent Family Happenings

August was a special month for the Greenhalgh family and involved some of those things Missionaries worry about as they enter the Mission Field, ie, "what will happen to the family while I'm gone?"

One 13 August, Elder Greenhalgh's Grandfather passed away in Utah. The two of them had become very close the past few years and each looked forward to Temple work following Elder Greenhalgh's release in 2009. Grandpa cound't wait any longer. Elder Greenhalgh was informed of the death by his Mission President and forward the following email to his parents:

"President Fisher called me this morning and let me know what happened. It was such a relief to be able to stop and think about the situation and rely on God for consolation. He provided. I felt a calm cover me after a few tears and thinking about Grandpa, but that calm took over and provided me with the comfort I needed. I know he is still around:) Not too worried about that. It was a comfort to know that people came to welcome him."

On a happier note, Elder Greenhalgh's mother was baptised on 24 August...just one of the many blessings our family has been given during our son's mission.

23 JULY 2008

Hey!

Hamilton is good:) I'm excited to be able to do some work here. I'm sure the Lord is going to bless us... I feel good about it here... it is going to be a lot of work, but I'm ready for it:) Leaving Kalispell, I have to admit, was harder than leaving home. I couldn't stop crying. I put my entire heart into the area. I love everyone, everyone. I loved the work there. I loved my investigators, I loved my companion. It was just super hard to leave. Kalispell will always be a special place to me, especially when I can go back and visit all the people I know so well.

Hamilton will be amazing. I have no doubt there. It all comes down to the eternal truth of "you only get out of something, what you put into it". I intend to put my all into this area, and just focus on the work... it is all that matters. I am glad that I got to leave Kalispell when I did though. It was time. I wasn't as effective as I could be in a new area. I was a becoming a member of the ward by that point, people were calling me by my first name, or "Brother Greenhalgh" you know you need to leave when that happens.

My new companion is awesome! He will definitely be an amazing missionary! He has been out for almost 2 months now. His name is Elder Liljenquist(silent J). He is from Orlando Florida... EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI! He is my third companion from that side of the country.(Elder Kitchen and Elder Barlow were the others) Elder Kitchen is going home tomorrow:( pretty sad, but I'm excited for him, he should be doing awesome at BYU in no time.

I'm in love with the mission and I'm so excited for you Mom, everyone in Kalispell is too!

Love you guys!

Have a good week
Elder Greenhalgh

Transfer Day Monday 21 JULY !

It is always such a treat to hear from the kind people in the Mission area. A member called on Sunday, 20 July to let us know that Elder Greenhalgh will be moving to Hamilton Montana tomorrow. More information will be forthcoming. Elder Anderson is evidently staying in Kalispell for a while; we send our best and our prayers to him and his family in Utah.

New Photo From Kalispell

Members of Elder Greenhalgh's home Ward in Ohio were visiting members of their family in Kalispell, MT this week and were able to see Elder Greenhalgh and his companion Elder Anderson. We thank them very much for sending these photos...

12JUN08

Hi Everyone!

It is neat how once the Lord and I take care of one thing that I need to work on... then the next one just pops up, and we take care of that. This time, i think this one is going to be based primarily on accepting the work that I do, and seeing that is was good. And not expecting more and more and more, MORE than I am willing or able to do. So I'm trying to be optomistic at all times. I'm trying to understand goal setting, and seeing that, If i'm matching and/or exceeding my goals, then what I have done is satisfactory.

I should not try to run faster that I am able... and i'm trying to incorporate that.
I think too many times we are too quick to say "We need to do more, we need to be better, we need to be 100% EVERY MINUTE EVERY HOUR EVERY DAY!" Are we perfect? NO! But are we trying hard, and wanting to do good? Yes. Then we should be rewarded and happy with that. There is room for correction, yes. We should always strive for a little more, but with that striving there should also be an added degree of patience and forgiveness of ourselves. If we come to an understanding with the Source of All Truth, as to the "best that we can do, right now", and we fulfill what is defined by us and the Lord, we should be satistfied, then work for a little more. Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little.

Have a great week ! I love you all so much!
Elder Greenhalgh