Things are just too good!

I sometimes think to myself. Why does God give me so much! Why have I been so blessed? I love what I am doing! For some people it might be hard for them to understand why any young person would leave home to go and be rejected day after day in the cold and the hot. Why they would go do something that is so hard. Why they would delay their lives to go to a foreign place to talk about a book, God, a prophet, and other similar subjects. Many have told me it is not worth it and that no one wants to hear what I have to say. But I will tell you why I do it! My reasons have changed and I am not here for the same reasons I came here! But I am still in Chile because I know that God loves me and he loves everyone of his Children and he wants them to be happy for this life and for the Eternities. He wants to live with them forever! I know exactly how this can be accomplished! And I want the people to find out what it means to be truly happy! I know I can help them! I have seen people change their lives for this and find true happiness! I want the whole world to know it! I just feel like I am on top of the world sometimes and that with my Savior at my side I can do anything! 

This week we saw more miracles! We were walking and we felt impressed to go to a family that is less active that has not been very receptive to us in the past. We went to them and they said we couldn`t come in right now. so we just started talking. We did not go inside but we taught a lesson right there in that place! It was so cool! She changed so much in that time and was truly listening to us. Then she said "Elders I want to go back! But when the missionaries come over they just tell me what I know and make me feel bad... I don`t like it when they come over." I felt impressed to tell her "Sister, do not worry you will not feel bad with our visits. The spirit is here and we will strengthen you with these visits. We will not point out your faults, but rather your strengths and you will feel that you can go back to church with us." Then she looked at us with teary eyes and said thank you. Then invited us to go back on thursday! 

Another family had a little boy named Alejandro. He was diagnosed with Epilepsy. The past few weeks they have been coming to church and listening to us! Now their son just recieved news that he might not have Epilepsy and that it has just dissapeared! On Friday we will know for sure! It is a living day miracle!!!!!! They are the Vargas family and they all live together witht he parents in one small house. They live 18 people in that small place. They were noticed that they would have to leave to a new place. and for three months have been looking and looking and they have 1 more month untill they have to leave, but yesterday a member called us and told us he found a place and now they have a place to go!!!! We are so happy for them! They have a portable house and only pay for light, water and rent for the land they are on. but the land they are on now was sold and the new owner doesn`t want them there... But now they have a place to go! 

I love being a missionary and I love all you! Have a great week! 

Love Elder Groen! 

Even when it's hot!

This week in the sector we what I think was a faith check. On sunday we went to try and find a less active. When we got there they weren`t there so we decided to start contacting. It was early on in the day and very hot! But we just kept on going. In the space of 2 hours only 2 people answered their doors and quiqly shut them again. Then we stopped under the shade of a tree to decide what to do next and escape from the sun for a second. I thought we should change locations and start contacting in a different place. But Elder Johnson said he felt it was that place that we needed to contact, so we decided to keep going after a quick water break. The first house no one answered, but the second house a man came out and we were able to begin a conversation with him and we then were invited into his house and shared with the family! We went back yesterday and have another appointment on friday. We are helping them with English and also teaching them the gospel! We are so excited and so happy that the Lord would guide us that day to find a prepared and very kind family. I do have a testimony of contacting, not because it is the most efficient way to find, but because it is a way that we show our faith to the Lord that we will use every moment to find those he has preapared. I know he truly has prepared people for us to teach. 

Even when its hot we can find, Even when its hot we can show faith! I know the heat isn`t that bad, but I think it represents all of the opposition that we have in this life to hold us back from doing what is right! 

I love you all have a great day! 

Love Elder Groen! 

So I don´t have a ton of time, but I do want to tell you a couple of cool stuff that has happened! First I want to tell you a story of an Elder who is an incredible example of selfless service! His name is Elder Rodriguez! He has two months left in his mission. He was recently called as a Zone Leader but in the middle of the change found out that a missionary in his zone just was informed that his parents got divorced and that he was not doing very well. So he with his companion decided to pray to know how to help this missionary. He got an impression that he needed to be his companion. So following that impression he called president cook and asked to be relieved as a zone leader so he could be with Elder Jenks through this hard time. President said yes and now they were both sent here to our zone! Elder Rodriguez is my Hero! Many missionaries have wondered why he was released with so little time. But he did not care about that he just wanted to do Gods will and He will be a GREAT help to Elder Jenks his comanion! 

Also we recieved a reference and for two weeks could not find the adress! Google maps did not help at all! but one day we felt an impression to enter in this neighborhood and we went in and asked the guard guy out front if he knew the street. He said yeah its in here! It was really far away from where we were loooking. And we then went and found it and knocked the door and a young man came out then we found a family who are less active and investigators but super receptive to us! It was such a tender mercy to us to find that house and now be able to teach these people!!! I loved it! 

Well I hope you all have a great week in Utah and all over the world! I love you all and pray for you! Thank you for Everything! 

Elder Groen 

This week I set a goal to study a little more and to improve my personal studies of the scriptures! It was so great to see the way the Lord blessed me for it! I woke up each day with more energy and a stronger desire to get going! I even changed my alarm to a mormon message! I showered, got ready, and ate breakfast faster so I could have more time to study! Then as I studied I loved reading the books from the Book of Mormon! Reading Jacobs message and allegory to the people was so fun! I have never learned that much from that scripture before! 

I saw the blessings as I caught myself thinking more often during the day about spiritual things! I remembered often the stories of the Book of Mormon! I realized that I was even happier than before! I moved forward with an even greater desire to serve and love the people! The blessings were innumerable! 

I know that God loves us and wants to bless us! We just need to let him give us blessings by obeying him! We need to trust in his will and in his ways because they are higher than our ways! I want you all to know that I love you!!!! :)

Love Elder Groen!