First of all, he sounded great. It was like talking to the same old Greg, yet an incredibly more mature version. He spoke about how much he felt he had grown spiritually. On thing that he shared that stands out in my mind is when he talked about exactly what he was doing that contributed to that growth. He said that before he left on his mission, basically the only thing he was doing consistently was going to church every Sunday and attending his activities. He admitted that the time he spent praying and studying the scriptures was limited and now knows that something important was missing. That changed once he was in the mission field. He now realizes the importance of all three components: attending church regularly, praying frequently and regular scripture study.
He also related various stories about the people he has met in Idaho; from the investigators that he has shared the Gospel with, to the church members who have provided a place for him to live, lots of meals and fun times while he's away from home. He especially enjoys spending time with one of the local bishops and his family, the Kerrs. They live kind of out in the country and Greg and his companion spend a fair amount of time there. He also has enjoyed living in the the home of Brother and Sister Hill. Apparently Brother Hill has taken them sightseeing quite a few times, to the falls, hiking, etc. Elder Mattei and Elder Crook help him mow his yard each week.
He asked about family and friends at home and what everyone is up to. He talked a little about Cardinals baseball, the NFL draft and the latest political happenings. When asked about his plans when he comes home, he said that he is still undecided other than the fact that he still wants to study law and feels fairly certain he'll return to Idaho for visits. He definitely loves it there! He especially likes living near the mountains but is ready for warmer weather.
When asked about his various companions, his answers were very revealing. Apparently a couple have been more on the lazy side, which we had guessed from comments he had made. Then another one drove Greg crazy and they didn't get along well at all. He and Elder Crook appear to have gotten along quite well and it sounds like they're pretty good friends. On a sad note, he let us know about fellow missionaries that have not been obedient and the challenges and problems this can create. (By disobedience, I'm not talking about minor stuff, but rather serious issues, definitely more than what I can share.) He shared with us his insight about how two people living together for 6 to 12 weeks can present its challenges, especially considering the fact that they are pretty much inseparable. He spoke about how there's bound to be disagreements, but they just have to get over it and stay focused on the work at hand. He said you sometimes just have to find the positives in the other person. For instance the companion he really didn't get along with was probably the companion that taught him the most on being organized and working hard. Okay, so Greg finding positives in people he really doesn't care for - that's absolutely HUGE! Those who know him well know what I am talking about here.
His most recent email was rather short, focusing mostly on his frustration with a ward mission leader. Sounds like there was some miscommunication and probably some poor planning on Greg's part. His concern is again that they're not utilizing the missionaries as much as they could, and he figures that it's defeating the purpose of why they are there in the first place. Enough said about that ~ hopefully it will all be resolved by the next email home.
All in all Greg sounded great. We're so proud of him ~ of his decision to go, and of the growth he's achieved since he's been in Idaho as he's drawn closer to the Lord and people he's serving! It was kind of hard to say "Bye" again, but look forward to our next conversation at Christmas. I know it will pass all too quickly.
And last but not least, during our conversation, Greg informed us that Elder Crook was getting transferred this coming week and that Greg had asked the mission president for a certain missionary to be his next companion. We got word this past week that apparently his wish was granted and his new companion, Elder Gonthier, will arrive probably this Tuesday. Here's a picture of Elder Mattei and Elder Gonthier, aka Greg and Trevor. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment