What a week!

           we had another special conference this week! so The 4 elders in my house all woke up early got ready and left. in total it was an hour and a half to the center where we had the meeting. we got there and right in front of the building saw two sister missionaries walking the other way and asked them. where are you going? they said we are going back home the meeting was cancelled! the night before this all happend our zone leaders sent us a text saying that it was cancelled. but our district leader never got that text and so we went all the way to find out it was cancelled... but it was fun! 

          then this week we had interviews with president! in my interview i got a feeling that he has a lot of trust in me! it gave me a feeling that not only him but my Father in Heaven also has a lot of trust in me! i tmakes me want to work SOOO hard so I do not let either of them down. 

        

         the work is working! we are seeing an increase in our sacrament attendance that is amazing, but we are struggling because all of our worthy priesthood brothers are working with the stake and it seems like we keep losing leaders to help the ward. the amazing thing is we had a ward council meeting where the bishop adressed all of his problems that he had with the missionaries in the past and said i am sorry. it was one of the most spiritual meetings i have been in yet on my mission! It was amazing to see so many humble hearts turn to the Lord for help in a time of need! this humility is going to help this ward I know it!!! 

         We have a menos activo named Jose that is really awesome we are seeing an incredible change in him and think he is going to come back to the church this week! keep on listening next week to find out whats going on with him!!!

I want to give a special thanks to all of you that read this for this special week of thanksgiving! Your prayers are felt and needed! I am so grateful for the thousands of examples that were and are in my life thank you all so much!!!

And my family! Mom, Dad, Jessi, Dalton, and Gabe. you all gave me so much! so much more than i ever deserved! but i want you all to kow that i am so grateful for everything and i am so grateful that we can live together forever!!! "Groen, we are loyal to God and each other!" 

Love Elder Groen!!!

Sorry everybody!!

I didn't have time to write my big long letter that usually isn't that long i am going to try and get better at that! please know i love you all and pray for you all see you next week!!! and i will write a letter all about this week and send it next week how does that sound? Chow!!!

Love Elder Groen!!!!

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(I asked Ethan about the Iguana in the picture posted in the last blog.  Here is his answer:)

we went to a house that Elder lopez said they contacted before i was here. they hadn't been in before but we were going to try! they let us in and we went to the back yard! there was two guys about 28ish and a girl too! the investigators name is Felipe! we just spend about a half hour getting to know them and then they started asking about the church. when they did they asked about the word of wisdom. then he said " I love nature and everything to do with it including my lizard and marajuanna." it was wierd but then he went and got his lizard and thankfully not his marajuanna. now we have taught another lesson and he said he would read the title page of the Book of Mormon and pray about it! I know he felt something which is why he lets us come back! his name is Felipe!

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(And here's the treat of our week.  Ethan didn't send it to us.   I got it from the mom of one of the other Elders in the song. Enjoy!)

Hey Guys!

So this week we had the most amazing chance to hear from Elder Vinas, Elder Christensen, and Elder Nelson! they all spoke about wonderful things! but Sister Nelson and Elder Nelson were absolutely incredible! Sister Nelson told us of our divine heritage and the spirts that are with us helping us everyday of our lives! she said we need to be constantly praying to realize where we came from and what we have to do! and that we need to pray always to know of the spirits that are with us always! Then Elder Nelson spoke of The Abrahamic covenant and our divine lineage in this earth and the gathering of the 12 tirbes of israel! both were amazing but what happened at the end of the Meeting was a miracle! 

      Elder Nelson had a translator the entire time and spoke in English because he doesn't know spanish! but at the end he said now i am going to give you an apostalic blessing! but he said that in spanish! then he gave us an apostolic Blessing in PERFECT spanish!!!! I don't know if he was or wasn't to the others in that room but when he gave that he was literally glowing!!!!! right then i felt the spirit so strong and i will never be able to deny that he is an apostle of the Lord! i know without a doubt that the Lord sent him to Chile to help us help the people! it was INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!

       other than that the week has been good! We are finding many many new people to teach we are tring to have faith that the Lord has a plan and prepared people for us to teach! President Cook sent Elder Lopez and I this letter! 

I am doing great and i hope all of you are too! please remember to have faith in all things!!!!

 Love Elder Groen!!!!

*Note from Mom - we finally got some pictures. The date happens to be the same and was way before he left for his mission, but hey, they are pictures!!!!    We're not sure about all the people so we don't have names on some. 

Elder Groen & new companion Elder Lopez

Elder Groen & Elder Burt and trick-or-treaters?

Elder Fernando (Fernandez?)? and Elder Groen 

I recognize Elder Burt and Elder Groen

Elder Groen and Elder Burt

I just don't know about that tie.... He sure is enjoying his huge tie purchase. 

hello everybody!

i was changed this week to a new ward with my new companion Elder Lopez from Columbia! my new wards name is Progresso! Elder Lopez and I have the same time in the mission but are super excited to work hard together! we are super excited! I am super excited to find new people in the ward and learn all about these new people! At first i was sad and didn't want to leave Covarrubius! i thought that it had the best people in the world! but this week i learned so much about the plan that Heavenly Father has for me! He knows where others need me and what i can do for them! and I need to submit my will to his will and show him that i am willing to give my life to him!!!! Sorry it is so short! but next week i hope to have more information on this new ward and these new people!!! 

I love you all please have a fabulous week!!!

Love Elder Groen!