THIS IS WORK....  

We feed a lot of Missionaries...

Missionaries are always hungry!  

BUT SO WORTH THE EFFORT!

Baptizing Families!

Seeing the light of the Gospel enter into the eyes of investigators makes every effort, every sacrifice, so very worth it!

Mat on the partially excavated pyramid

This area of Mexico is replete with the ruins of ancient American civilizations, including the pyramids of Cholula and Tajin. 

Cholula near Puebla

The early settlers from Spain built churches on top of many of the ancient ruins as a show of dominance over the prevailing local customs.

LDS Temple in Vera Cruz

We get to make an occasional visit to the closest temple in Vera Cruz, usually on the day we drop off our "Campiones" (missionaries returning home after their two years are completed) which we feel guilty about, because our missionaries are not able to enjoy the same blessing because the temple is outside our mission boundaries.  

Voladores

Papantla (one of the pueblos in our mission) is home to the famous Voladores, (fliers) who perform several times every day in the central park of town.  They climb to the top of a high pole, wind their ropes around the top, and then drop off the top holding to their lines as their ropes unwind in unison dropping in a maypole effect to the ground.  {Pretty amazing to see....)

Beautiful church in Cholula

Mexico is filled with beautiful Catholic churches, most every town large or small has a central park facing the entrance to the church.  

Day of the Dead Celebration

Concurrent with the American Halloween celebration, in Mexico Dia de los Muertos is celebrated on Nov 1 and 2nd.  It is believed that on these days the spirits of the dearly departed return to visit, and to partake of the spoils left out for them by their families and friends.  Most homes have this type of display set up, adorned with the favorite things of their deceased relatives including their favorite games, tobacco pipes, and toys for children.  Also included are their favorite foods and beverages, from which the spirits remove any nutricional value when they come for their visit, leaving the shell of the food containing no value to anyone who might want to eat it after the celebration is over.  (Somehow the bottles of liquor still get consumed afterwards....)  

Volcan Popocatepetl

  

We enjoyed a couple of days in Puebla in the end of October, for the annual Mission Presidents Seminar.  Interesting note, there are 4 volcanoes in the mountains surrounding the city of Puebla, one of which is actually active.  Kind of a cool picture attached, showing the volcanoe as a backdrop to the modern buildings of Puebla.

Costa Esmerelda

We travel most of the time, from one side of the mission to the other.  The north end of the mission includes La Costa Esmerelda, an amazingly beautiful stretch of coast almost undisturbed by development (except for the Laguna Verde Nuclear power plant....)  It truly rivals the most beautiful beaches in Hawaii!  We wish we actually had time to play once in a while...  Maybe once we get the mission settled in 2 or 3 years....  This area is about 4 hours north of Xalapa, near Tuxpan and Poza Rica.  

WE love our missionaries, here a just a few...

Just a few more of the kids...







We are loving our time here in the amazing State of Vera Cruz, we love our missionaries as our own children and love the opportunity to serve and help them.  We have spoken in 4 or 5 Stake Conferences in the past month or so, what an awesome chance to share our feelings about the hastening of the work of Salvation here in Mexico.  Terri is doing an incredible job sharing her testimony in Spanish, and the missionaries all love her and appreciate her help with their health concerns.  She takes about 10 calls a day  from Elders and Sisters suffering from everything from Typhoid to Dengue to ingrown toenails to gastric disorders (you haven't lived till you have experienced the double dragon).  We feel our testimonies of the restored gospel growing stronger every day as we share with our missionaries and investigators alike this beautiful message of peace and joy, that He lives and loves us, and that through His Atonement we all get to go home some day.  What a message of love! 

Set Apart

We enjoyed a wonderful couple of days as all our children sans grandkids gathered in Salt Lake City for our setting apart as mission president by Elder Dallin Oaks & Elder Paul Piper. It was a beautiful day as we all, including Grandma Ardy sat in Elder Oaks office as he answered any questions we wanted to ask. We each received beautiful blessings of peace, comfort & capabilities beyond our own. Afterwards we all ate at the Lion House before doing a session at the Salt Lake Temple.  Later that eve our kids treated us to an amazing buffet at The Roof restaurant.

In the News....

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865605733/Missionary-work-is-broader-today-than-in-the-past.html?pg=all

IN BETWEEN ....

LEGOLAND -  Carlsbad, CA

How fun for us to take a short break between assignments, and enjoy the company of all of our grandchildren for a beach campout at San Elijo Beach, Encinitas, CA!!

Everyone had an awesome day, summed up by little Bennie who couldn't stop giggling as he drifted off to sleep in his sleeping bag just meters from the beach....

Grandpa Mat & Mason

Young Mason was the best sand castle builder you ever saw, teaching grandpa the finer aspects of tower construction utilizing the drizzle technique he developed on his own....

Notice he was smart enough to wear a hat, unlike his lobster grandpa....

But what a tan we got....

Danny & Micah

Not to be outdone, Danny and Micah put the finishing touches on their creation....

Lizzy, Evie, Rose Bud, Bennie, & Kate

And the girls loved every meal at the campground!  What is there about cold cereal in a paper bowl that is not to love.  We did get some delicious food at a couple of local restaurants, and nobody ever complained they were hungry!  Smores was one of the staples in constant demand - along with the finest hot dogs on a stick imaginable....Of course Terri wouldn't touch one....

Smiley...

Of course Grandpa was usually doing his personal study on the computer....  you know how dedicated he is....  He sure looks like he is enjoying that video game, no wait that's lesson 5 from Preach my Gospel!

Grandma, Leala, & Rosie

Of course Grandma was always holding on to one or two of the most precious of all of our possessions, which was obviously the purpose of our trip.  

If there is a more perfect picture of contentment - it would be only found in heaven....

And where is there a more beautiful woman in the world???  No wonder the grand babies are so  unbelievably cute, they get it from Grandma!!

Liz, Grandpa, Kate & Sophie

And the surfer girls!  They caught every wave as well as the attention of all the beach boys....

Is that Grandpa actually out in the water....?   Wait!  You'll get sand in your shorts!!!

Terri, Mat, Charles & Barbara 

And it was a bonus to get to spend time with Great Grandma and Grandpa Greer, still going strong at about 84 or so...  

They love living in Oceanside so Grandpa can brag every day about how nice the weather is....

It was an honor to receive a Father's blessing from the hands of a worthy patriarch, preparing for the weight of our new assignment.


And then after the sun burns were somewhat abated, we ran over to Salt Lake City to visit with Great Grandma Haynes, and to get together with most of Terri's immediate family to celebrate birthdays and togetherness.  

Chet, Gary, Eileen, Grandma Ardy, Mat, Susan, Paul, & Terri

A lunch at Mimi's Cafe, just after we were kicked out of the restaurant by the fire department because the roof was sagging so much it looked like it was about to fall in.... 
In fact we were not very happy to miss the birthday cake they usually offer, talk about getting the bums rush....  Yes Paul usually smiles for pictures, but the fireman who took this shot for us said something about not using the flash for the possible reflection....

Eileen & Grandma Ardy

Yes I know this looks like Terri and her mom, but it's actually her big sister Eileen, commonly mistaken for her twin....

We had a nice visit in Salt Lake, and we really enjoyed some time up at the missionary department of the church talking with our in-field representative and the missionary medical department about our new assignment.  









Now we are just 10 days away from reporting to the MTC in Provo for the start of our time in Xalapa,Mexico.   We are so very excited for the amazing adventure we will have, and look forward to having many of our friends and family visit us in the beautiful State of Vera Cruz!
  

Our New Assignment!!  

Xalapa Mexico Bound....

We were among four new mission presidents and wives which were recently  called by the First Presidency of the Church.  After additional training at the MTC in Provo UT during the last week of June, we begin our service on July 1st.

Mathew Charles Greer, 60, and Terrilyn Haynes Greer, four children, Elliot Ward, Gilbert Arizona Stake: Mexico Xalapa Mission, succeeding President Paulo Lopez and Sister Josefina Melo de Lopez. Brother and Sister Greer recently served as Perpetual Education Fund missionaries in the Honduras Tegucigalpa Mission. Brother Greer is a former stake Young Men president, bishop, stake executive secretary, institute teacher, temple ordinance worker and missionary in the Guatemala/El Salvador Mission. Retired senior account manager, Alcon Labs. Born in Provo, Utah, to Charles Edward Greer and Barbara Ann Johnson Greer.

Sister Greer is a former counselor in a stake Relief Society presidency, ward Young Women president, Relief Society compassionate service leader, temple ordinance worker and ward missionary. Born in Provo, Utah, to Lawrence Clark Haynes and Ardath LaRue Olsen Haynes

One of Four New Missions Created in 2012 by The Church

Our Mission is located on the Gulf Coast just north of Vera Cruz, MX.

Our mission to Tegucigalpa Honduras for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We began with 10 days of training. Seven at the Missionary Training Center in Provo Utah then three days in Salt Lake City at the Church office building learning specific training to our job in Honduras. 

Top row- Elder Greer, Elder Moleff, instructor Bro Carver, Elder Nehring, Elder Emett
Bottom row- instructor Sis. Bateman, Sis. Greer, Sis. Moleff, Sis. Nehring, Sis. Emett

Emetts- New York Seneca Lake Mission-  Seneca Lake Girls Camp
Greers- Honduras Tegucigalpa Mission - Self Reliance & Perpetual Education Fund
Moleff's- Thailand Mission - Family History Specialists
Nehrings- Provo Utah Mission- Member Leadership Support


The Church has a 3 pronged approach to help people in developing countries become SELF RELIANT. 
1- SELF RELIANCE- Help them find jobs by discovering their interests and talents, learning how to promote themselves, preparing a resume, searching for a job, interviewing, etc.      www.ldsjobs.org 
2- SELF EMPLOYMENT - If they already have a business then helping them improve their business skills. A huge percentage of the world is self employed and many don't have basic business skills. Through a 12 week course they will learn and practice new skills to improve or start their own businesses.
3- PERPETUAL EDUCATION FUND- If they desire or need additional education for a specific job but don't have personal or family funds for it then we help them apply for the Perpetual Education Fund. This fund allows them to have a small loan with the understanding that they will make small payments during their education and then larger payments once their education is completed.  pef.lds.org 

Our office in Tegucigalpa is in a large Church Education Institute of Religion building across from a major university- UNAH. We enjoy working with the young adults of Honduras.  

Some of the institute staff.

Our office

Just East of our building is the Basilica for the Catholic church. Look in the far back center. 

Clyne & Ann Long with us at Tegucigalpa LDS Temple

Nacional Parque de Picacho

Unfortunately Dad is the only one that smiles while he sleeps! 

SEMANA SANTA

 No work this week as everything is shut down for Semana Santa- (Holy Week).  We went to a National Park called El  Cristo del Picacho today that has a big Christus statue that looks over the valley. The gardens surrounding it were beautiful. We also went into the old City center & walked around. It was a busy place. We toured a cathedral..   Later this week we will head back down there to see all the Alfombras they will create in honor of Christs last week.  Just in case you aren’t familiar an Alfombra it is a huge “carpet” made out of sawdust. It is colored & decorated very ornately. They create several of these carpets down the streets. Then in the evening they have a parade and walk thru these carpets destroying them with the several stations of the Cross.    

They then walk through these beautiful Alfombras (carpets) with the stations of the cross.

There's always room for Jello,,, or I mean Baleada's which are a local favorite.  

It is like a quesadilla with beans & cheese. The tortilla is thicker & softer than a regular tortilla. 

OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Our apartment is in a very nice neighborhood called Trapiche.  

It is well guarded by handsome young men who earn about $10 per day. Their shifts are long but they are always smiling! 

 Our unit within this  6-plex is $750 per month including utilities! Not bad. 

Birdhouse shaped ficus trees anyone? 

Any color goes here!

or if you can't decide which color to paint your home just go with both purple & green!

Elder y Hermana Long who we replaced. They gave us a wonderful foundation!

Hermana Smart and Hermana Farrer are mission nurses & our dear neighbors

LA BRIGADA
or medical mission came to our area so we visited them.
www.smilesforcentralamerica.com

Their mission is:
To provide dental and medical services for young Latter-day Saint men and women in Central America to help them prepare to serve full-time LDS missions
and
To provide love, care, and support for our neighbors in Central America through a variety of community service projects for orphanages, children's cancer hospitals, maternity hospitals, a dental school, and families in need. 

Look closely & you'll see our good friend Dr Stu Boyse! What a surprise to run into him. 

Valle de Angeles

 We took advantage of another day off due to a holiday and travel an hour or so up into the mountains to visit Valle de Angeles.  The scenery was beautiful and there was a small town filled to brim with tourist souvenirs. 

Our audience while we ate at their restaurant & I'm sure it was also their home. 

Lunch first with Pupusas made right beside our table!

Walls of pop bottle lids made up this beautiful artwork!

Flowering trees make this magical place blossom in an otherwise harsh environment. 

Tuk tuks just like in India! The cabbies were asleep in the back waiting for their next fare.




La Tigre National Forest

La Tigre National Forest borders Valle de Angeles.  It was strip mined for many years making it an eye sore. In the 1980's it was declared a National Forest & re-planted. Today it is a beautiful place.

This family lives right up against the steep drop off into the canyon of La Tigre National Forest. They certainly have a million dollar view!  That is about all this little family has but they were happy to smile for us. 




Culinary Treats!

Mat was determined to make his own peanut butter.  This 2nd attempt was perfect!!! 

TRANSFERS.....

Typically transfers happen to young missionaries. 
Typically they are within the mission boundaries. 
This is not a typical transfer....


It all started last Thursday, May 8th when Mat received a cell phone call from Margie at Elder Dallin Oaks office. Mat sunk to his chair. She asked if we were available for a video conference with Elder Oaks on Friday. We have both been sick to our stomachs since then.  Elder Oaks was jovial & tried to put us at ease during this “exploratory visit”. After he checked on the well being of each family member he said he thought he would share what we were being considered for, Mission President of the Xalapa Mexico Mission.  He then gave us his home & cell phone numbers in case we had anything we felt we had forgotten to tell him stating we could call him over the weekend.  He said if we were not who the Lord had chosen then he would call us back. Otherwise we could plan on another video conference with a member of the First Presidency. …… 

One extremely long weekend later…… 
We received an email from President Eyrings office. She arranged the video conference for Wednesday afternoon.  Ugh more waiting. President Eyring made it short and sweet. Elder & Sister Greer you have been called as Mission President of the Xalapa Mexico Mission for a period of three years beginning July 1, 2014. 

So we are packing up to return home for a short month! 
We will see you soon.