Feliz Navidad!

Hola familia y amigos!

Esta muy loco to spend my primero navidad away from la casa. . yes you should love my Spanglish! ;) But seriously Christmas was SO awesome but totally sucked at the same time! haha. It really was great though. And I was SO SO SO happy to talk to you all which is why I totally bawled the whole time! ;)

No joke don't worry my compeneras all made fun of me for it but they did too so no worries! Hermana Nord had the chance to call her family on the 26 because of some family issues so she skyped with them on the 26th and don't worry I bawled through hers too! It was just so wonderful to see all of you and see how happy you are for me. It just is a bummer that I couldn't spend the holidays with all of you. =)

I miss you all!

Anyways Christmas was so so wonderful! I loved it as you know we spent it on base at President Chamberlins home, (and he doesn't know the Mann's but he said he could be the army guy?? we were on the airforce base? ;) ) Anyways it was super fun! they are so sweet and got us all shirts! I will have to take a picture with it and send it to you. A huskies shirt cause it is their favorite team. They seriously are so awesome though! We spent the day eating with them and we played BANG and bananagrams. . yeah totally dominated all the games! They were getting so frustrated it was so hilarious!

Christmas breakfast was definitely different. French toast. . weird! But it was delicious! We opened presents and just loved it! The little fairy I got from the Francoms is still in water and growing! I will have to take a picture and send it to you all! It is huge! =) Las hermanas are a little weirded out by it but I think it is hilarious! ;)

This week it has been definitely hard to get into the swing of things with it being Christmas and all. It was different but great. It is just weird to go to peoples homes and knock on doors and be like "I want to share a message about Christ with you". It is different but awesome! :)

Someone was asking about the weather, it really is way nice! Very sunny. It does get chilly sometimes though, it got to like 30 the other day. But it normally is staying around probably 50's. It is cold but not as cold as Utah. A dress I think makes it way cooler though. haha. ;) I stay warm though! Not too worried and when you teach you are in the homes so it tends to be warm because Spanish people keep their houses at like 300 degrees. haha. ;)

This week was really great though. Oh man a lot of great and wonderful moments as a missionary. I already told you about the crazy post office lady on the phone. She definitely was way hilarious and made being a missionary all that much more difficult to have charity and compassion. But we just laugh it off and get to work! ;)

Christmas Eve we went to Abolitas home. She is INCREDIBLE! this little 85 year old woman who loves to cook for us. That is where we had the nasty stuffing. Tiff was saying that she hopes the food gets better for me and it definitely will. It becomes a lot easier to eat when you know what a sacrifice it is for these sweet little ladies to make you a meal. They don't have much but it is truly humbling that they love to feed the missionaries each week. They felt bad because they had to cancel their normal appointment this week so we had breakfast there this morning. That is where all those waffles come in! Holy Hannah they feed us like CRAZY! We had waffles, eggs, veggies, chicken, and rice. Oh my goodness am I going to get so fat! But they are so sweet and just love you. =) SO I definitely eat all the food especially since I know they are struggling with money and stuff. It is just so humbling.

At the beginning of the week we also went and saw some Christmas lights so that was fun. ;) Sorry my thoughts are so cluttered right now. . haha. :) We drove through some Christmas lights kind of like Thanksgiving point. It was fun. Not very christmasy though. some of them were like about the civil war and like random pete the dragon and stuff. But it was hilarious. =)

This week I had a really hard time with struggling with believeing in myself and with Spanish especially. It is just so difficult to want to say things in a conversation but not knowing how to participate. haha. It is just frustrating. And I felt like I was at a stand still with Spanish. But of course the Lord is the best and just shows me a tender mercy last night.

We are teaching Walter and his roommate Estaban in the stairwell of their apartment complex. haha. which is awesome in and of itself! I think it is hilarious. So we are teaching them and Walter asks us about the tower of babel. . and Hermana nord is like I do not know how to explain this at all. So she looks at me and is like what do we do. And I just whip out the tower of babel IN SPANISH! It truly was just a little tender mercy the Lord wanted to show me that I was progressing in Spanish even though I clearly don't feel like I make any progress. But come Mother's Day I will just be whipping Spansih out at you all! ;) I know it is there it is just frustrating at the same time. . :( It is coming though and that tender mercy was definitely needed.

Angel came to church! He is a less active member and he came! So that was great! We are trying to get his wife, Judith, to become an investigator. They are so nice and feed us twice a week! And their food is delicious! ;) But it was great to see him at church and just realize that we have a purpose. It is so hard to talk to so many people about the gospel in a week and they feel your love and the spirit and know they want it but when it comes time for them to commit they just back out. ugh!

I am not giving up though! We WILL have investigators at church this week! haha. I am determined to make it happen, New year, changes, commitments, you know! =)

Oh and funny story! Definitely got asked out on a date! Go me! haha. ;)

Walter asked us to the movies and to dinner, haha. He was a little disappointed and confused about what missionaries are but it was hilarious to me. ;) So what can I say I am one good looking missionary. . . getting cat calls and dates?? ;) Good times. . . good times. . . :)

I got some seriously sweet letters in the mail this week from lots of different people! Ganae your letter made me laugh so hard! And I got some Christmas cards too! Francoms, Gardners, and allie cats! :) It was great, I think I am becoming dependent upon the mailman. We are becoming great friends! =) haha. We are a little excited to get the mail each day! =)

Sunday Hermana Johnson had the chance to receive her patriarchal blessing. We waited outside with Hermana sahleen during it. And it just made me really reflect on my blessing and all the great things the Lord has in store for each of us! Especially with the New Year coming up!! =)

President Chamberlin gave an excellent combined Relief society and priesthood on Sunday. It was about the buenas cosas, major cosas, y excellente cosas! And how we need to focus each day on the excellente cosas! =) It was really great and inspiring to feel the love of the Savior. And just how if we want to have the excellent things we need to focus each day on the excellent things.

This year I really want to just dedicate all my time and attention to the Savior and developing more Christlike attributes. I want to try and become the greatest missionary I can be. With 2014 about to start it is just crazy! 2014 is the Only year I have to dedicate ALL my time to the Savior and it is beginning. As a missionary I want to develop Christlike attributes that others can see and strive to become like. =) I will make 2014 the best year yet, how can I not?! With all my attention focused each day on the Savior? And telling others about the Savior?

It is incredible to me how many people do not even know about the Bible. We are lucky enough to have the bible and the BOM. The FULNESS of the Gospel!! How can we NOT want to strive to become like the Savior? =)

 

Love you family! I am so glad you all enjoyed my package! =) I just wanted to share a little love with you all. I miss you and am so happy I had the chance to talk to you, even though I bawled the whole time! haha. =) Sounds like you all are amazing and having a great time! Remember to make Christ a part of you goals this year and focus on the Excellent things =)

Remember I love you!

 

Love Hermana Cassie Joan Gray

 

P.s.

So everyone always wonders what is good to send a missionary? Well here are some ideas that I have thought of lately just with things that Hermanas have told me and just what is nice to receive as a missionary: aka Package ideas!  =)

1. Like office supplies, (stationary, stamps, paperclips, post it notes, pens, pencils, highlighters, all that jazz)

2. cardigans, skirts, tights, hairbands, etc.

3. Nail polish, bathroom supplies (body wash, lotions, soaps (hand soap), anything like that)

4. Church books! :) Anything at like deseret book

5. Music!!!! We have the chance in my mission to listen to anything approved on lds.org! So basically like Hilary weeks, jenny Phillips, and all of that is approved! And talk tapes! :) Bring on the music! I miss it! haha.

6. jewelry, scarfs, accessories, anything like that. :)

7. GIFT CARDS! These are killer! Best thing ever. Especially since in the US I can basically go anywhere, from walmart and target to any food places like chick fil a, mcdonalds, wendys subway, chipoltole, etc. Genius ideas.

8. TREATS of course! Even though I am already going to get fat but bring it on! ;)

 

Anyways, I just know when I was wanting to send a missionary something I couldn't ever think so here are just some ideas for you! ;)

DR PEPPER is the BEST in the whole world! Finally got it! =)

Me at the airport with my first Dr pepper. . .don't worry it is now stocked in the apartment! ;)

Angel y Judith Best cooks EVER! minus mama of course! :)

me being a spoiled missionary on Christmas! You all are the BEST! :)

me with the LAST OREO! I was sad but they were DELICIOUS! :) I ate them SO fast. haha.

Christmas Skype

Virginia!!!!

Wow oh wow where to begin!

I MADE IT TO VIRGINIA!!!! So so crazy to be here and have actual legitamate investigators. So weird and so crazy but so fun!

This first week was definitley differetne than most because it is christmas time!
I arrived on to virginia, the only one because the Provo MTC people were all delayed. Super crazy, but really neat! The president and sister baker picked me up at the airport! they are some of the greatest people I have ever met! So incredibly nice! They remind me a lot of the Renchers! =)

So sweet though, We ended up driving to meet up with the English sisters in the area and I went straight out with them until the others arrived at like nine at night.

I had dinner at a less actives home and we had the chance to share a message of teh restoration with them. So neat! Oh almost forgot! If you didn't check my credit card you won't know but I DID get me a DR PEPPER!!!!

Oh so funny! I immediately after I went through customs got food at Chick fil a because hello they carry DP and so I pay and everything on my card. . get my food. The cashier is like I am sorry we are out of DP!! Ahhhhh.... what?!?! Yeah I was a little Distraught, no joke I was DYING! She must have saw my face because clearly I was going to have her cancel my order and just do the sandwhich. But she was like I will see if they'll refill it. And they did! So I survived and got my Dr Pepper! So delicious!

Anyways, first night I went out tracting with the english sisters until nine. Then we arrived at the mission home and I stayed and talked to a cute older couple tehre. . . don't remember their names! Whoops! But they are super nice! We talked for an hour until the others arrived then we had Dinner at ten at night, had interviews with the president then we went to bed! Afterwards we got up at the usual time got ready and had a delicious breakfast from sister baker. Only the hermanas stayed at the home. We then headed to the chapel where we met our companions and got assigned our areas! The sweet lady that called you mom is the one who I was talking too! She was incredible! She made me laugh. She was like your mom said she was tracking your flight the whole way! =) Glad to know! And yes, my apartment is way nice! We share with another companionship. So it is fun! They are the other hermanas in the area next to us. It is nice.

I am currently serving in Newport News! I have NO IDEA where that is at on a map but I am HERE! haha. =) It has really been an INCREDIBLE couple of days. I am serving in a Spanish Branch. Which is crazy because literally everyehwere we go I speak Spanish! Which is so helpful but is difficult at times cause I get totally lost! The spanish people are so loving though. They apparently try to feed us a TON of food and they just embrace you with love. I am going to perfect the hug and kiss on the cheek by the time I am done with my mission! Just so much love! Even to a random and complete stranger!

Well just a couple of INCREDIBLE first few experiences. . in my first like two days prosyliting.

I asked someone to be baptized!!! CRAZY I know! But I even did it in spanish! The spirit was so strong! Her name is Olga and she has four kids, and her husband was out of town. But she was there, they apparently have been teaching her for a little while and my companion was liek if you feel prompted to say anything say it. So during the lesson I had a strong feeling to ask her to be baptized. So awesome! The spirit was so strong. She didn't commit to a date but we had her say a prayer with us and ask God if she should get baptized on the 18 of January and the spirit seriously was so strong. Afterwards she showed us her hands and they were all clammy and sweaty and we were like that must be your answer. We think it scared her a little how strong her answer was. She told us she needed to think some more though.

Yesterday night we also had the chance to visit a less active member named Nancy. Nancy is so incredible! We had a great discussion with her about the importance of church and why the sacrament is so important. We sang a hymn to her and I bore my testimony about the atonement. It was so great. We asked her to think of something she could give Christ this christmas and she said (without us asking) that she wanted to ask God if it was the right thing for her to go back to church. SO INCREDIBLE!!!! (sidenote, I need to learn some new adjectives to describe my feelings! haha) But Incredible explains it all!

I also had the chance to place a Book of Mormon with a boyfriend of one of our investigators. We were talking about the restoration and he joined in about halfway and so I ended up placing a BOM with him! =) it was really neat!

I don't even know how to describe my feelings toward the area. It is truly incredible! I LOVE IT! I am teaching a lot of people who live in trailor parks! So fun! I love it. . Every house is so tiny and small and most of them smell pretty bad but that is all great! I am trying to give them the gospel of Jesus Christ! =)

This past week we also went to the Mission Christmas party where we watched the muppets christmas (weird I know) and then we had a lunch and a devotional program thing with musical numbers and stuff! It was SO GREAT! I loved it!

Afterwards we went directly to our branch Christmas party which was so fun! The kids in the branch make me laugh. They are hilarious. I have learned most of the kids know english and the adults only know spanish. But the kids make me laugh. They were dancing and stuff at the party to gangham style. So great! I also got my picture with Santa! =) And I need to buy an SD card hook up today! haha. =)

Sunday was also neat because it was the Christmas program. Oh man and is a branch so much different! It is so crazy good! The spanish people are great too because they just say what is on their mind! I had the chance to join primary for a little bit and the kiddos are HILARIOUS! oh man. Good times. . .we shared our experience about Olga with them and then one of the kids later was like "my hands are sweaty", must be feeling the spirit! =)

Christmas will be so great this year! Different for sure but should be really wonderful! =)

I got the package mom! Because we had the christmas thing the next day! So I have my sheets and stuff and my awesome boots that I LOVE! =) I have worn them almost everyday since. haha. Good times. I love my boots! =) Thanks for the presents! CAn't wait to open them!!! They are under our little tree! So fun!

My companion/trainer is Hermana Nord! She is super amazing, has such a strong testimony and is always striving to become more Christlike! She is the greatest! =) She is from South Weber area! =)

I am glad you have a couple of pictures from the president this past week! Allie Cat, mom tells me you have been updating the blog and my facebook THANK YOU! I have been told by many that my letters make their week! =) I am glad I can bring such joy to you all! And apparently make a lot of you cry each week cause clearly I feel like I bawl everyday because I feel the spirit so strongly! So on Christmas when I am bawling talking to you it will because I am so happy! haha. Everyone knows me I am a cryer! =) oh and if I ever forget to put you on this email list check out the blog! I am sure they do a lot better anyways.

Christmas time is so incredible! Please remember our Savior Jesus Christ and the love he has for you! I love this time to celebrate the birth of our savior but remember it isn't just important that he was born but that he atoned for us! It is wonderful he was born but remember the whole reason was so that we could live with God again. ALMA 7:10-13.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MCKINZIE BAILEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOODNESS I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU!!!! YOU ARE SERIOUSLY GOING TO BE SO INCREDIBLE! MEXICO CCM is wonderful! if you have any questions ask me! Also like you said the two blondes from spanish class are going to be the ones that actually ended up learning it for reals! =) my suggestion to you right now is to start praying in Spanish EVERY DAY and also to start reading outloud from the BOM! It will help you improve your pronounciation so much! And for ten minutes each day say the verbs out loud liek you would in spnanish! it helps a lot even if you look stupid while you do it! =) haha. But I am so happy girly! That is incredible! Louisianna is lucky to have you! =)

Also HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISSY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WOULD SING BUT I AM IN A LIBRARY. . . HAHA. You are incredible! have a wonderful birthday and know that I am thinking of you today! =) One of the best cousins in the world!

All your emails and letters are wodnerful! CAn't wait to open my Christmas presents! =) oh and the OREOS are SO SO GOOD! I am going to get so fat but it is worth it! haha. I LVOE THEM! I was telling my comp I was like tehre is going to be some homemade oreos in this package. haha. So I shared some with her! DELICIOUS!

Please have a wonderful Christmas! Can't wait to skype with you family! It will be so great! =)

Love you, be safe

FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!! =)

Hermana Gray

Welcome Sister Gray!

Dear Brother and Sister Gray,

Sister Baker and I were delighted to welcome Sister Gray to the Virginia Chesapeake mission yesterday evening.  She arrived in good spirits and has now been assigned to her first proselyting area.  She is assigned to labor in the Newport News Spanish Branch in the Newport News Stake, and her trainer is Sister Morgan Nord.  I have attached three photos of Sister Gray taken yesterday after her arrival and shortly after our transfer meeting today: one with her trainer, one with Sister Baker and me, and one with the arriving group of missionaries in the mission home.

Sister Gray's address is:

704 Bellows Way #203
Newport News, VA
23602

Thank you for sending us such a fine missionary,

President Baker

Welcome back to the USA!!!! Virginia HERE I COME!!

Well as my headline says. . ..  LESS THAN 12 HOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So crazy! I am finally heading to the FIELD! What is this! Time seriously has just flown the last little bit. No joke, and it doesn’t even feel like Christmas. That is the weird part! =) But I am so excited to head out to Virginia! =) WAHOOO!!!! 
If you didn’t get my flight plan I think my plane leaves at seven in the morning and then I have a layover in Georgia (where yes, I will have the HUGEST Dr. Pepper in the world!) and then I will head to Virginia! Wahoo! I should land I think around 4 Virginia time! =) Don{t know what time that is in Utah! Everyone say some prayers that I will be able to fit all my stuff in my bags. . . haha. And navigate the airports! Not too worried about the airport more so for the weight limit. . . haha. =) Apparently I pack a lot. According to everyone! I will be packing after this so it is all good. I already think I will be fine but prayers anyway! =)
Well I guess I will start with last week! 
Oh my goodness. . .last week was a FIESTA in Mexico! Dia de Guadelupe (Mary) was happening. Oh my goodness was that INSANE! No joke fireworks were going off NON STOP for at least 36 hours! Crazy sauce. This is the day they do the pilgrammage for the catholic church to the bassura. . (i think that is what its called). Anyways the building is like 3 miles from here! So it is insane. People from all around the country walk to the church thing and most of them do the last like ten miles or something on their knees to show dedication. It was really neat to experience it sort of. . Obviously I didn’t see much but we HEARD it all day. haha. It was really fun! =) Apparently something like 6 million people were in this area on that day. So it was pretty crazy if you can imagine! =) 
Hermana Leslie’s mom also made us this bread thing which was pretty good. It wasn’t my favorite but it wasn’t bad either. She was like the sweetest lady in the world! Super incredible! =) 
Last friday we also had a whole day of preparation for the field! So great! 
We had like mini classes all day and learned a lot. We watched the video of the three young men who carried the pioneers across the Sweet water. So GOOD! Love that video. We talked about miracles and they did this demonstration of fitting an egg into a glass jar. So neat! Love it! And how we have to exercise faith to receive miracles. And how a miracle is a natural consequence of obedience. =) We worked on contacting people in the streets which was pretty fun! Interesting for sure and they gave us LOTS of tips. . I think it will be such a shock to get into the field but so nice. 
They had us write our goals for our mission on a balloon then as a demo they had our "companion" who was our leader ruin our balloon by popping it and basically how you need to protect your goals and if you believe you will have success you will! =) It was really such a wonderful day! =)
Sunday was SO great! It was our last sunday and it was super duper weird and sad. They sang god be with you ‘til we meet again for the people leaving. It was so great. Only 25 missionaries will be replacing us this week and like 60 are leaving. It will be so small here for christmas. Sunday was great though. Learned SO much! I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting. . in Espanol of course! It was on how to become obedient and I related it to the Stripling warriors because that is what I had been reading recently! It went really well and the branch presidency all came up and told me my talk was super awesome so that was nice of them! Although I probably slaughtered spanish the whole time!!! I finished Alma! Side note but I DID IT! =) I was happy! 
Anyways in Sacrament we also had the chance to sing TWICE! The girls in the zone sang a special song Silent night in English and then our district sang our goodbye song. . Tengo gozo en mi alma hoy (sunshine in my soul) It went really well! 
It was also funny because the new district who blessed the sacrament (your first week the new district does sacrament) But they forgot H. Williams tortilla (she is gluten intolerant) and so we ended up having to go back to take the sacrament again. It was great though. 
That night the devotional was great and then we watched a movie too. To this end was I born and the one about Taylor. . . can{t think of his first name! It was a great night. 
It was also super depressing because we started saying goodbye to people and it was my last day with H. Williams. =( So sad! 
We said goodbye though and it turned out well. It is SO weird to not have all of my district here. You grow so close and don{t realize it until you are gone. . .it is so weird! I miss them all so much 
The girls all left (besides me) on monday morning at three. I had to drop of H. Williams in the morning. It was super early! But it went well. Our elders all got up and said goodbye to them at 2 in the morning! They met us at reception! They are the greatest! They surprised us all! It is so weird because you grow so close and it is like saying goodbye to your family all over again! But they are all going to be such successful missionaries. 
We have just been doing random things to get ready to leave. . Packing, going to random classes (as in switching between districts). We lucked out and had the chance to go to the temple today! SO BEAUTIFUL! I will miss it! And it is kind of cool because I have been through Mexico City the same amount as Timp! =) Just saying. . The temple is so incredible though1 We receive so many blessings from going and I love the feeling of bettering others lives. 
I have been hanging with Hermana Roemicch it was SO HARD the first day. . She wanted to be with her district and I wanted to be with mine. Her district all left on Monday though so I was glad cause today we have been hanging with mine. It is good though. I only had one mental break down at lunch to H. Decoster and H. Davis about it. I think it was more that She just wasn’t Hermana Williams and I was struggling with it cause me and H. Williams are gemelas! And it was just a hard day but it turned out good! Today I am just so excited to leave for the field!!! =) AHHH!!! 
It is the best night to end too! Devotional and American Pizza night! I love it! =) And tomorrow I will get to have real american food! =) Can{t wait! 
it looks like everything is going great back home! I miss you all so much and love to see all the things you are doing! Apparently I have some packages on the way so I can{t wait to get those either! =) you all are the greatest! =)
Mama dear, H. Leslie LOVED the bookmark! and I promised H. Williams you would make her your delicious Chicken sprite stuff when we get back! Also if you have Alpura yogurt in the US FIND IT AND LOVE IT! Saved my life at the CCM! So delicious! =) I love the mango one and peach, the strawberry coconut one isn{t bad either! 
It is so weird to not have H. Williams with me. . . she gets back two days before me on the mission! So weird but she says she will come to the airport  =) haha. I love that girl! She is seriously like my twin it is so weird! =) 
I love you family! Can’t wait to see you all on Christmas (through Skype hopefully??) or at least talk to you! Love you all! Be safe! Have fun in the snow !=) 
Love, 
Hermana Gray


Totally forgot to write about this but they put on this Mexican christmas program for us!!!!!! 

So crazy and weird and random but I LOVED IT!!! }

It was the mexican reenactment of the birth of Christ. They had like a pinata in the middle and threw candy to us. And they had a bunch of dancing and stuff! It was INSANE!

So crazy fun not really spiritual persay but it was INCREDIBLE! A much needed break from spiritual stuff but it was just a fun little bit of Christmas spirit! =)

Random but fun! 

Love you be safe! Call you soon! 

Hugs and kisses! =)

And I am super stoked for the packages! That is so fun that people miss me! Bishop sent me a picture of dr pepper last week so he could say that he doubled his intake for me. haha. =) Thanks Bishop. .. But it was hilarious! 

I vote you attach pictures some emails! Love to see the pictures! So fun! Miss you be safe and eat some snow for me! Just make sure it isn't yellow! And if you want do a snow angel too! =) Like we did for collin! 

P.s. did you guys make a chain for me?!??! I bet it a LOT shorter than collins was! =) =) 

LOVE YOU!! Need to go pack but i love you! Welcome to Virginia for me! =)

Me and My Latino Friends

The last of our district at the temple today.  Perry, Bryner and Me

With our Branch Presidency last Sunday

One of the worst pictures of me ever, but two of my favorite people!  Lemmon and Garcia! Both headed to Utah! =)  Watch for them.

Us with our teachers

Hermana Polo and Hermana Leslie

The girls in our casa!  All the latinas...and us white girls!  Now it is just me and Roemicch....lonely

Our district pointing at the maps

The girls in our zone now.  Our district with H. Decoster and H. Davis.  Davis is the short one with the blonde hair and Decoster has her hair up with the red shirt. =)

For Allie

Week 5 at the CCM

Hola Familia! =)

Oh my goodness does time FLY at the CCM! No joke I cannot believe it is my LAST week in the CCM. . . it is seriously SO crazy! I cannot believe that I will be officially in the field in a week today! I don’t know how next week will really pan out because all the girls in my district leave Monday and I leave Wednesday so I will have to be a trio with someone when my comp leaves. . . I am hoping on the inside that I can somehow get a district who goes to the temple next week. . .try to sneak in again and go four times! But probably not. . . just probably will be a normal two days. . =)

With that being said I went to the temple today! So beautiful as per normal! All decorated for Christmas. The veil was SO much easier this time! Definitely understood so much more than before! =)  The temple is INCREDIBLE it is such an incredible experience to go through as a missionary. Definitely a unique thing to get to experience! =) and I had the chance to see it all decorated for Christmas, and when it was normal. And it’s cool because we are one of the last groups to get to go through all time because they are closing it in January to be remodeled!! =) Such a great blessing!

Christmas is in the AIR! It is so weird to not have snow but see Christmas everywhere! They definitely are trying at the CCM! Trees are EVERYWHERE and bunch of lights and nativities. It is so unique to be in the field at Christmas. And I love it because poinsettias are EVERYWHERE! They just plant them directly in the ground here so it is so beautiful. 

I had the "new year’s fairy" come! Okay not really. . . but sort of! Hermana Williams family does the SAME tradition minus they do it on December 5th for papa noel! So we decided to do it here! And it kind of felt like the Easter bunny because "he" hid our shoes!!! haha. I found mine in the shower! =) Great times at the CCM! It was so fun to have a little bit of tradition though! =) Tiff good job on getting the entire decor out! I am sure mom LOVED it! And I bet the house looks gorgeous! Apparently the tree was done well, good job Dustin, Tiff and Coll! =) Sounds like Christmas is getting busy! =)

Hermana Williams was sick one of the days this week! She had a horrible cold and it was just bad. But the elders gave her a blessing so that was really neat. And I think the doctor here thinks I am abusing her or something because it was like our 4th time there for her.  Whoops! And then she got a crazy bug bite on her eyelid and her eye puffed up! I felt so bad. But I did recognize it wasn’t pink eye or anything right away (thanks to my mad eye doctor skills, I think I can be the eye doc of the family. . .watch out Coll! I’m fighting you for dad’s business) =)

This week is super weird. the district right before us District 16B left. . .So depressing. We would talk to them EVERY day no joke and it was just so sad to see them go! We always pass their classroom and get a little sad. haha. But it is great. They all will rock it in the mission field. Elder Smith and Dow though are tough ones to say goodbye. They provided us with great entertainment. . Collin would appreciate their humor. One thing they said I was dying laughing! "Elder smith your face was made for the radio!"--Elder Dow!

Oh man just imagine missing those senses of humor each day! But it is going great! Weird we are the "oldest" here. . . that’s for sure! 

We had the chance to teach "luis" (hermano polo) again! Oh man did our lessons just go so well this week. He didn’t want to hear from the missionaries at all so the first lesson was so hard. Then the second lesson his "daughter" (in real life it{s his sister) who is a recent convert was there. So we ended up asking her about her thoughts about her baptism and he committed to be baptized! So that was awesome! and the next lesson was hilarious. Yesterday he acted drunk during out lesson (he{s an alcoholic) so it was hilarious. We ended up just sharing a scripture because I talked to him the whole time about the Christmas devotional and his thoughts about it and stuff. It was neat. 

The Christmas devotional was so great! I liked the talk of the last guy. . can’t think of his name right now. And of course the thought the spirit of Christ not Christmas. . =) Like always! It was really great and as missionaries it is fun because we all get to watch it together in the auditorium. 

We also taught "Aurora" this week (hermana leslie) and it was interesting because we didn’t have much time to prepare so we just had this basic outline of how we wanted it to go. And after the lesson she came up to us and was like THAT was your best lesson yet. You just went by the spirit and tried to help me. She was like even when you struggled with my question (I thought she was asking if she could repent for someone else when she was wondering if the atonement will help you forgive someone else) it was CONFUSING! But we figured it out in the lesson and it was all good. That was when I was glad I had brought my dictionary with us! =) But it was just so awesome cause she was like you guys are rocking it. Then she told our class that day that we are ready for the field so that was intense! I don’t feel ready but I feel as ready as I will ever be! 

I made a goal to finish Alma by the time I leave the CCM. I started it I think the 2nd week we got here. . . or maybe the third. But I have like twenty chapters left! But this is the most I have EVER gotten out of Alma so it has been AWESOME! I love Alma! Who knew, I think it{s cause my goal is to finish the BOM but I decided to start in Alma instead of Nephi like normal so when I get to Alma I{m not dying! So Alma is incredible! Hopefully I can finish it by the time I leave! I WILL! I am determined! =) 

Yesterday we had the chance to hear from Quentin L. Cook, through broadcast of course! But it was really good. A little confusing and kind of random but great! He kept making comments that I was like I do not get how this relates. . . But okay! =) But he quoted president Hinckley and it was super great quote "If they (missionaries) have MORE faith, they will have MORE success!" I just loved it cause that really is all missionary work is about. It all depends on YOUR faith and YOUR conversion. You can{t force anyone to accept the gospel but you can just share your brightness with the whole world! =) 

Crazy coincidences I found out this week:

Elder Bryner and I think that mom and dad were on the same cruise as his parents. It was super random but he was like yeah my mom and step dad were on a cruise over thanksgiving and I said mine were too. And he was like yeah they went on this two week one. And I was like wait a second. . Through the Panama Canal! And so we aren’t positive but we think you were on the same ship! What was the name of it?? Because clearly it has to be the same if not that is weird! =)

Hermana Williams is also super great friends will Holly Buys (who is Derek Buys little sister) and their parents happen to live in the ward! So odd! But so cool! Such a small world! 

And Marci. . . I literally met someone from Saratoga Wyoming! WEIRD! And he KNOWS you! haha. That was weird I was like my sister lives there but they haven’t been there for very long. It is Elder Nevell (or Nevill or close to that). . Apparently you took over his primary class!?!? WEIRD! Oh my goodness it is such a small world! 

I don’t even know what else to say cause so much happens in the CCM! 

Allie Cat happy birthday yesterday! =) I thought about you and I took a sweet picture for you but the girl who has the same cord for my camera isn’t here so I can’t send it. . .=( But it’s all good. I think I will try to send some pictures from Hermana Williams camera! Of just random things. 

Oh another cool tradition our zone does at the CCM is that we have papers on our doors. . And for your final week we design a sign for you door and a name for your district. Like one of the districts was school of the apostles, another is laborers of the field, anyways so it is all the missionaries who are already in the field and it gets passed along. Anyways our district chose to be we fight like dragons, it’s in Alma somewhere (apparently it is the bad people fighting but we are good so esta bien). But we definitely have the most intense sign. haha. Hermana Klivans did this intense dragon drawing. I’ll have to take a picture and send it to you. =) 

Well I love you all! I don’t know when I will email you again before I go. . I know I get to email you before I leave sometime and I think I might get to call you at the airport. Not sure yet! So be prepared for a phone call mama dear! =) Would you like me to call your cell phone or the house?? I think I will probably get to email on Saturday when Hermana Williams does and depending on what district I go to next week with a new companion maybe next Tuesday. . . not positive! =) 

This week will basically be the same minus on Friday we have orientation for the field ALL DAY. . . it will be long but great! Still have to convert my investigators. . get them baptized! ;) 

Love you all, Have a great Christmas you all sounds like you are doing so many wonderful things. I love you! =) 

Hermana Cassie Gray

Sister Dellrie and Packard left

Elder Dow and Smith

Our Cool Sign

District 16C at the temple

Week 4

Hola familia!

Collin thanks for all your wonderful advice on Spanish! I totally am horrible and slaughter the language everyday but I will know now that mi y mi compenera es gemelas =) =) haha. Thanks though! Language is so frustrating but it will come with time and patience that is for sure!!

Thanksgiving was AWESOME!!!! it was so totally different being at the CCM. They did feed us turkey though which was delicious! I love when they serve us American food. . . and the also fed us some pumpkin pie! Which was extra delicious because clearly everything is Mexican here! =) Thanksgiving was a little different though. As a missionary you still had to do everything normal. We had class all morning and then lunch was actually when we had thanksgiving dinner. They did decorate the commodore though with table cloths and stuff so it looked way nice. We did eat ourselves sick! It was wickedly awesome! Since we had gym on thanksgiving I made my companion and all the girls in my district play in a ping pong tournament! As per tradition! =) I Lost. . . in the championship! Good thing Sewell is a missionary too or else I would have been bummed! But it was super fun and they were all great sports about it! Ping pong tournament stands strong!

That night we had the chance to sing at the devotional, the special devotional. We sang before they broadcasted it from Provo. But we sang Venid a mi in espanol. And it was hilarious because the first verse everyone sang then the boys then the girls then the 6 verse we sang together. Anyways during the girls turn all of a sudden the lights slowly get dimmer and dimmer and then go out. And we CANNOT see our hymn books so you just here silence fore like two lines. . .so funny! I almost couldn’t hold it together for the rest of the song. I was laughing so much! Such a great relief! =)

 We had the chance to hear from Nelson on thanksgiving! It was super great. Nice talk! I also saw ELDER PRESTWICH on thanksgiving!!! We were leaving our lunch after eating two pieces of pie. . .no judgments!! And we ran into him and his comp! It was great because we did that awesome go for a hug then realized halfway that we can’t hug so we did an awkward hand shake instead! But it was great to see a familiar face at the CCM! Although I feel like everyone is starting to be friends now so it’s all good! =) But he made it to Mexico! And shout out to Elder Nelson who enters the Provo MTC today! You are going to be a great missionary Josh! =)

 Oh my goodness just so much happens every day here I don’t know where to begin! One of the most spiritual experiences this week was that I had the chance to get a blessing from my DL. So neat! Two of the elders wanted blessings so I was like you should just give them in the classroom with everyone there. So they did and then I was like wait a second I totally want one! So they asked me who I wanted to give it and I didn’t care so elder reed was like I will give you one. So all the elders stood in the circle and I got a blessing but it was exactly what I needed to hear! It was crazy. The priesthood is totally such an amazing gift god has given to us! Blessings are so powerful! it was interesting too because it said stuff that elder reed doesn’t say in real life so you know it was the spirit! It talked a lot about Spanish and then tons about friends. Mostly it was about after my mission though which was interesting to me! It talked about my friends being great influences and how I can influence people for the better. But my favorite line of my blessing was "there will be no time on your mission where you will not be able to open your mouth and speak to the people in Spanish" which was so touching to me! Such an incredible promise and blessing that I received from the Lord. How neat is that though!?!? AHHHH!!! Spanish will come people! but it was just an interesting blessing because it was mostly about after my mission besides the part about Spanish. Super neat! And if you can only imagine my DL. . . he totally reminds me of Napoleon Dynamite. . .so just imagine napoleon giving me a blessing and you will be like yeah, totally the spirit was giving it! I loved it though!

This past Sunday was testimonies! So neat. My district was invited to host president Pratt and Hermana Pratt! Wow was that intense. I did stand up and bare my testimony in Spanish though! Such a neat experience. I talked about "why innocent people suffer" and how everyone asks that and as I was reading in Alma when they are watching the woman and children burn in the fire and how it just struck me that they have to "stand as a witness" against those who have wronged them! It was just super awesome! but fasting was incredibly neat and it felt so easy here. It must be because we are CONSTANTLY doing something! Which is the best! =) Another neat thing about Sundays is we always sing "god be with you til we meet again" Because it is the day before most districts leave the CCM. so it is always super awesome to sing it on Sundays. And I will be one of the next districts to leave!! CRAZY! only two more Sundays! WEIRD!

Sunday night is also movie night! WHAT! LOVE MOVIES! We watched the Legacy this past Sunday which was awesome, and it clearly has the best proposal ever. . . "I promise to make you laugh every day" Who doesn’t want that??! But it is totally cheesy which made it that much more awesome! Got to love good old Mormon movies! Tuesday nights are always Devotionals! This past Tuesday was supposed to be President Ballard but because you all are having SNOW!!! (lame people!! But just think of me in WARM weather!) BE JEALOUS! =) it wasn't safe enough for Ballard to travel to Provo to give his devotional. So we had an old Broadcast from President Bednar. And it was super awesome! And it said OPEN YOUR MOUTH in it which was Awesome and totally meant so much to me! And how we have to have faith to first open our mouth then it will be filled! =) So neat! Just what I needed to hear! Just some awesomeness about our district. . Elder Smith (from our zone) put his face up to our class window the other day and scared Elder Hoffines half to death! No joke he jumped so bad. . so funny! We also do these drills where we write a question and then ask it to the other people in our district. Anyways you do like popcorn kind of but no joke every time I always almost get forgotten. It is hilarious! and Hermana Williams is ALWAYS volunteered to do something EVERY day! it is HILARIOUS! Perfect combo. . me never, her always, we balance each other out! =)

We also wrote an awesome District song:

 Sung to Mulan

 We're the greatest bunch you’ve ever met
We are here to serve the Lord
We will GO and Do his work. . .
choose the right we need to read the scriptures daily!

 Choose the right feel the spirit throughout your body.
Choose the right with all the strength of the Lord within us
We'll share the gospel throughout the world.
Missionaries we will fight with all our power
Missionaries we can bring them unto God
Missionaries let our light so shine before men
We will bring ALL PEOPLE to the TRUTH!

Basically we are awesome. . .haha. Sometimes we just have to act stupid for a minute and get our stir craziness out! =) Family you'll appreciate my blondeness. . But one morning I was getting ready and no joke I am so tired but I literally sprayed hairspray directly into my eye! So hilarious. . .I was like what the! Don{t worry I was up after that! It hurt so bad though! I also miss Dr pepper SO MUCH! It will be the first thing I get when I get back to the states! No joke I am headed straight to McDonalds during my layover and getting a HUGE Dr. Pepper and some fries. . .Bring it on peeps! I am totally American is what I have decided. =) Katie Hoggan. . . Forgot to tell you in your email that the tie you got for Prestwich was AWESOME! =) It sounds like you all are doing so well! Your thanksgiving was awesome I heard all about it! Mom and Dad you sounds like the cruise is so incredible! I waved to you on Thanksgiving cause I knew you were in Mexico! I can{t wait to hear all about the canal and how that works! It sounds like you are really having a great time though! I am really sorry to hear about Matt! Hopefully he can stay out in the field! Finish out his mission strong! That is a bummer to have a torn ACL at a time like this.

And Allie cat tell Wy Guy I want to see a picture of his snowman he makes! I am bummed I can't make one with him but hopefully in a couple of years he will still want to make one with me! =) Tell him to make it super super tall! ;) I love you all so much! I am so grateful for your love and support! You all mean the world to me! Love, Hermana Gray!

 Also shout out to one of my favorite sisters! Allie cat have an INCREDIBLE birthday this week! You will have so much fun! Keep me updated on life! =) HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

 And siblings, all of you should be getting a letter from me soon! (aka. . .probably like three weeks cause the mail is slow!) But look for it! Bright letters in the mail! =) Love you all!

Look who we found at the CCM, Elder Prestwich!

Siblings, expect a letter from me!

Me with Hermana Orr, one of the coolest people at the CCM!