Feliz dia de presidentes!

My wonderful family and friends,

How are all of you doing? It sounds from the emails that you are all having a wonderful time and party without me (or in the case of my siblings, with my picture on the road trip!! Whoot whoot! Two places at once, I think yes. . ;) )!

This past week wassuper incredible and totally sucky all at the same time. Basically we got a huge whipping of humble pie! haha. which is great as a missionary and I am glad we made the mistake early on but at least it was early in my mission and I know never to do it again!! haha. ;)

Satan really tries your investigators once they commit to something so wonderful!!

Esteban is really doing so wonderful. This is also where we got some humble pie thrown in our face. . ;)

We went through the baptismal questions with him and both felt he was ready. Cause hello. . he is just awesome. So we of course have to rush around on valentines day doing all sorts of crazy things because your baptism interview has to be a week before so we had to do it the Friday night (valentines day). Of course EVERYONE has plans. . hello who doesn't celebrate love? So we are like who can we get. Then I was like who is single and young and has a car that would give him a ride. . MATT! Perfect. So we get him a ride and Matt gets lost. We drive to find them (wasting precious miles. . .:( ) and then we get to the church he has his interview and basically Elder Bradshaw said logically he thinks it would have been fine to baptize him this week but that he just wasn't feeling it spiritually. He basically said that he understood that the church is wonderful and all these things and it helps you fix your problems and what not but he didn't understand the significance of the restoration and stuff.

So Sunday night we had an excellent lesson with him at the Garcia's home where we repassed the Resto and seriously he had NO RECOLLECTION of it. haha. minus the Joseph Smith part (and we think that was mostly because he had watched the movie). So we were like WOW! Hello humble pie thrown in the face. We definitely felt so bad that we hadn't prepared him the best we could have. But we have reset his date for March 8 and are working towards that. =)

Our cute little family (jesus, Miriam and Natasha) are also having a little sad times right now. Natasha is doing wonderful!! So far in the BOM, she is in like chapter 13 of nephi all by herself! =) And seriously the family is doing so stinking well! They are amazing. They were telling us how they are going to read for an hour as a family EVERY DAY! I was like, man my family didn't even do that and we grew up in the church. And that is what we do as MISSIONARIES. They are the greatest though so stinking cute! We pulled up for our appointment and you could see them check out the window and then they all were sitting on the coach waiting for us to be taught. ;) They are cute. We also did a fun family home evening with them for valentines! I don't know if it was in my last email or not, probably not. But we did it all on serving Christ this valentines, how service is how we can show love. Then we made cupcakes with them and decorated them. They are so cute! The only problem they are having is that they are having troubles getting married. We are hoping for a miracle. It is so sad because they are working so hard to get married and just are having legal troubles. =(

Satan, all the people who want to be baptized have a bazillion trials in front of them and those who don't have like no forseeable problems in their lives. haha. Funny how he works right? But we all know who wins!!! BRING IT SATAN! ;)

Angel is really struggling this week. . he relapsed and it was super sad. Saturday he was up for the weekend and we went to breakfast at Golden corral with them. It was so fun. Then we were going to go there for pizza dinner and before there we went and taught a family in their area! It was super great lesson. . but then we get a text from the other hermanas and they are like "be prepared. . angel relapsed and is super sad". It was the saddest lesson I have EVER been to. It seriously was so hard, but it was bound to happen. We just tried to explain to him that each and every day we have to make the decision to change and become better. It was a hard lesson but in the end it was really good. And we all ate pizza? How do you not end a lesson on a good note with pizza? ;) haha. But it was super sad and he is starting again to conquer the addiction! =)

We had a really neat experience this week. We have been trying to visit Nancy, a less active, for the last two weeks. We had a super incredible lesson and now she's been avoiding us. haha. always seems to happen. But we were there and he husband (also a member, he doesn't want to come to church because he doesn't want to quit drinking alcohol). But Servando let us in and he let us share a message with him, in the middle of a futbol game! WHAT!!MIRACLE! He hasn't accepted the missionaries giving a message in over THREE YEARS! So crazy, truly the Lord has an interesting way of getting to the hearts of people. It was really well and it took us by surprise.

This day we also had the neat experience of having the spirit influence our lesson. We were both reading in PMG for the Hernandez family (recent converts) and we were focusing on the attributes of Christ. During companionship study we both had chosen the SAME ATTRIBUTE, SCRIPTURE, and QUOTE to share with them. And when we gave our lesson Hna. Hernandez seriously was almost in tears the whole time and the spirit was so strong! The spirit really does inspire the lessons, we have no idea what we are doing, ;) It is all the spirit!

We didn't have a snow day this past week but we had a "snow night" and it wasn't too official. Basically it started snowing like CRAZY (okay for VA crazy) and we were eating dinner in the apartment and basically we called the elders and were like do we go to our lesson? Or are we going to get called in in like two minutes? haha. And they were like well the Zone leaders haven't gotten anything yet but we suggest staying in. then the Zone leaders texted us and were like we strongly advise everyone stays in even though we haven't heard from president. So we decided because it wasn't officially called we would stay in and make the cookies we had planned to make on Valentines to deliver to everyone. So that is what we did. Had a cookie making party. haha. I made some oreos and Hermana nord made some chocolate chip. And we ended up taking them around to investigators and less actives with a scripture on them about love and we read the scripture with them and talked about the love of Christ. It was really fun. =)

I reached 100 days in the MISSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously when I started my mission that day seemed SO FAR away. haha. But I am there. It is seriously CRAZY! I am past 100 days! Hermana Nord painted my nails all cute for it. haha. And valentines too. But it was a fun companionship inventory. =)

Valentines wasn't too bad. It progressively went down hill though. haha. We did have a "parking lot party" as the sisters while we waited for the priesthood to get to the church so we could go inside (who knew that was a rule? Not I. haha. But it is just so all you Utahan's know). So we all jammed out to some music because the mission rule changed for music! WAHOO! We can now listen to basically anything churchy. It is pretty sweet. =) We bought some music at the Christian store to celebrate. =)

Yesterday was pretty fun. We went to the McCoy's for dinner and went early to play games. We played Pictionary and Taboo (dad's favorite)! Our branch is kind of unique because the branch refuses to feed just one set of missionaries so we all eat together basically every dinner. haha. So it was all the hermanas (2 sets) the elders and then the zone leaders came too. And the Mueller family and Garcia family were there too. So we basically had a party yesterday night. ;) It was fun. =)

Funny moment of the week: or at least we think we are hilarious. The practical jokes continue:

So above mine and Hermana Nord's desks there is a HUGE picture of Christ and it is really annoying (not the picture although it is an odd choice. haha) because it rattles against the wall. And we always are touching it to stop it. Anyways we decided during weekly planning to move it to Hermana Johnson's "corner" haha. She about had a heart attack when she walked in. We were laughing so hard. Don't worry it has stayed in the corner! It is NOT coming back! haha. =)

Well, that is basically it for the week. Not too much happened. ;) and lots happened all at the same time! I am excited because a package apparently arrived for me today! The other hermana's got it at the house for me! =) =) WAHOO! I love mail!

Well, have a good week family! Love you all!

Hermana Gray

"It is simply there. It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God's love is there for you whether of not you feel you deserve love." -Thomas S. Monson

Have a wonderful week and remember I love you and so does Heavenly Father! Always continue adding to your mansion in Heaven! =)

 

Mom why didn't you teach me how to frost a cupcake?  Okay I blame that they are still hot.

Happy Valentines Day and 100 Days for ME!!

Hola Everyone!

Happy Valentines Day this week!! Hope you all have a wonderful time and remember how much Love I have for you and that the Savior has for you! And it will be even better because Valentine's day is my 100 day mark (well technically it will be my 101 day but it will be I have completed 100 days!) Crazy! A day of Love! I never thought that 100 days would come. haha. It always seemed so far away especially at the beginning of the mission. The first day I remember talking with Hermana Williams about how 100 days is so far away and now we are here! So crazy sauce to me! =) I am 1/5 of the way done. . time goes fast!

Well this week was pretty good. . had some downers but it was mostly wonderful and incredible as per the normal in the life of a missionary.

I am loving the mission! You meet so many wonderful people each and every day! No joke I have met all types of people and I am loving to see the different ways the Lord prepares each person!

Well this week was a WONDERFUL start!! We started with Hermana Nord's birthday on the 4th!! WAHOO!!! So wonderful to celebrate her birthday! And the other hermanas also had a baptism on this date, for Jose Ortiz! =) It truly was a wonderful day!

It started with Hermana Nord opening our bedroom door to balloons falling on her! We got her good! She was so happy to have them, and they all had cute little messages to her! =) We are the best! Then of course we did studies and all that wonderful stuff. Then we did deep cleaning. (on the first Tuesday of each month we do a deep clean for the apartment and clean the cars). So we did deep clean. Then afterwards we tried to visit a few people before the baptism but had no success so we went to meet the other hermanas to set up for the baptism! =) It was really wonderful! Jose was SO SO HAPPY!! He was glowing and smiling ear to ear! He is the greatest guy in the world. Just so happy to have found the gospel. He is one of those you truly can't take any credit for because he was prepared by the Lord so much. It was so great to see him be baptized.

The baptism was REALLY long though. haha. whoops. It went for about an 2 hours because it started late. . and then the talks talked literally for about 20 minutes a piece. haha. It was good though. All that matters is that Jose is baptized and that he is happy! Hermana Nord played the violin at it and did extremely well. She has so many wonderful talents. Jesus and Miriam attended though so that was really great! Miriam loved it thought it was really neat. She is still planning on being baptized on March 1 if they can get married. =)

Afterwards we went to Chili's to celebrate Hermana Nord's birthday and also the baptism! (and to have dinner because we were all STARVING!). haha. We had a great time talking and chatting and eating delicious food! P.s. Chili's changed their menu a tid bit! And it looks delicious!

But it was super great. . we were eating and we were waiting for our checks. Then our waitress brought our Hermana Nord an ice cream and they all sang to her. And then it was so nice because our waitress said someone had bought all our meals. WOW! What a great gift. It truly was just so nice of whoever did that. We were all so grateful to the people who bought our dinner. They are wonderful and they deserve some carpet installation in their mansion in Heaven. ;) It was such a nice act of kindness! We surely appreciated it! =)

Wednesday we went to Abuelita's for lunch like normal! On the way there we were blown a kiss from a car to the side of us. haha. I seriously love people. They make me laugh all the time. =) And it was even more surprising because at Abuelita's it was the least amount of food I have ever eaten there (it was still a lot of food but I was shocked! haha). It was really delicious though. She is just the sweetest old lady ever. Always just wrapping you up and kissing you on the cheek. She is adorable. =)

We also visited Yami this day. The Hermanas had visited her before but she had a baby and asked us to come back in a few months. So we are back! She is a YW leader in her church and seriously is so nice. She was babysitting and autistic child when we got there (he was sick and couldn't go to school). He was a cutie. But we taught her the Restoration again and just talked about what missionaries do. She wants to have us back and she said she would read the book of Mormon so we will see what comes from this! =) She is nice.

Oh my hilarious story of my life. . haha. So we had tried to visit Marta before Yami's home. Anyways. . Marta lives by Arelis (the one we dropped but she still loves us, and her mom is Ilda who I Love so much.haha). Anyways as we are driving to Yami's, Arelis calls us on the phone and no joke chews us out for not stopping by. She is like "I know you are missioanries and have a lot of things to do, but Jesus would still visit me." so of course we went back and we had a game plan, cause she can talk for hours if you let her. We were like okay in and our in thirty minutes. haha. yeah no, an hour and a half. BUT it was great because right when we get there Arelis has like 5 friends over. haha. And they were getting their coffee and of course offered us some and we said no. Then we had to explain the W.O.W to them. =) GREAT opportunity. And of course one of her friends is a Mary Kay sales lady representative, and yes family, you guessed it she wanted to wash my face. haha. (I feel like ALWAYS whenever we are at the mall they always want to wash my face and do a makeover on me. haha.) So she was determined so I gave up and just let her. It was actually pretty hilarious. I love her so much. I was dying the whole time. But from this lovely makeover we received 3 contacts! Wahoo! And we are trying to visit them all this week! And we are hoping that if they start to get interested and join the church maybe Arelis will open her heart a little more to the message! Miracles can happen! =)

Makeover night wasn't the greatest though. We had a lesson with Esteban and it ended up being okay. . not the greatest in the world. I truly gained a testimony of member presents though. Members truly make a difference in investigators! (SO GO OUT WITH THE MISSIONARIES!!!!!). ;)

We had brought the Hernandez family, Rosolio and Melina who were baptized this past August. They are the greatest and cutest family ever. Anyways, we are sitting in Wendy's waiting for Esteban just talking to them. anyways Esteban shows up and the look on his face was DETERMINED to tell us something then when he saw the members he was in complete SHOCK! haha. He was like "hey". haha. But he did get his feelings off his chest and basically told us he doesn't want to be baptized until his dad approves of his decisions because it is causing so much problems in his family. It was a hard lesson. We read Alma 20 with him though about Lamoni's father. And it was really great. Then the testimonies of Rosolio and Melina seriously made the lesson. In the beginning of the lesson Esteban wasn't really participating and just playing with his thumbs and then by the end he was almost in tears because of how powerful their testimonies were. Esteban was like I wanted to not listen because I know what you are telling me is the truth and I can't do anything about it yet. He is really stuck on the commandment Honor your father and mother and we are trying to explain to him that honoring and doing what they say is something completely different. It is your salvation on the line. It was good by the end. And we had the opportunity to fast with him on Saturday. It was neat. We saw so many blessings from that! =)

Thursday I think I about died. . . I was so FULL!!! I had the biggest bowl of soup in my entire life. . it was seriously like a gallon of soup. haha. It was thick too. Had a HUGE piece of chicken that was all whole. And then like a whole potato a person and carrots, and rice and beans and just so much stuff. I about died. I was like I can't do it. Then we had rice pudding too. haha. Oh man I was about a gonner. . . but I ate it all! GO ME! Point in heaven. I was dying the whole time though. But it truly is humbling that they want to feed us all the time. We ate with the Florres family who is seriously so sweet. And we know they are struggling finiancially so I truly just humbled myself and tried not to think of how much food it was but tried to think of what a sacrifice it was for them to feed us. So I ate it all. =) haha. And tried not to complain about it. ;)

They are so sweet though. We are going to teach Hermana Florres to make cookies this week! =) I am excited. I love doing service!

We also visited Miriam, Jesus and Natasha this night. They are so prepared. They are just the cutest family in the world. Miriam also told us that night that we are the reason she was supposed to come to Virginia and come to the United States. They also every time are always like this gospel is uniting our family more than ever before. And are always just talking about how wonderful it is. Theya re the greatest! I am hoping they can get married and all goes well with that. =) We are having a family home evening with them tonight! We are going to talk about love and how we can show service to others. It will be really great! I am so happy to have found them and be able to teach them the gospel! The Lord truly prepares people and puts them directly in our paths. =)

We had Zone meeting on Friday! It was fantastic. I really enjoyed it. One of the Elders talked about the difference between fisherman and hunters. and how some missionaries are fishers, where they seem to always be bringing in loads and loads in huge nets. But others are hunters and have to take the time to prepare and track their prey and stuff. It was a really great comparison. I truly enjoyed it. Thought his lesson was the best of the whole day.

I also like a quote shared. Our theme for the month is finding through faith so a lot of talks and lessons were on faith. But this quote was by President Monson and it is "Your future is as bright as your faith". And that truly is true. Your faith in all the things that Heavenly Father has for you is what determines your happiness and the brightness of your future! Have faith that things will be better, that you can do hard things! =)

The cute sister training leaders also made all the hermanas a valentine. haha. they are adorable. make me laugh all the time!

Saturday was really great, had the opportunity to fast with Esteban and truly see immediate answers. I was having a rough day though, I think it was mostly I was hungry cause once I got food I was fine.haha. But we decided to visit Osmal and we talked to him for a little bit. Didn't really get to teach a lesson because his aunt had to leave so we just shared a quick message. But basically all our plans were falling through and we were having no success and then we had the feeling to go see Walter (he lives with Esteban's family). And we were like that is weird, he works Saturdays and we just don't see him really progressing (we were doing a DTR with him). So we go and we are talking to Walter and we are like saying what we do as missionaries and what not. Then a miracle happened! Esteban's dad was leaving the apartment and we talked to him! He was very firm that he is catholic and not changing but he did accept a plan of salvation pamphlet. We truly think that the lord wanted us to meet his dad. The best part was Esteban came home in the middle of us talking to his dad and he truly looked petrified and furious that we were talking to him. But then we explained we had been talking to walter and his dad came out and started talking to us and he was fine. haha. Esteban truly is hilarious. He make me laugh. He was so cute, wanted to take us out for pizza to end our fast. But we had dinner with the Richies so we couldn't. esteban though is truly incredible! he is the greatest!

Yesterday was great! Esteban came to church again! Which we were truly shocked because his dad was FURIOUS last week about it. So we were happy he still came! our cute little family didn't come though. Her sister was in town from Tennesee so we just went and visited them last night. They are the greatest. We talked about following the prophet and about a revelation from the prophet was family nights and then asked if we could do a family night with them. they are so wonderful. Natasha loves us. She is so stinking adorable. Always wanting us to be there and share messages with them. She is the greatest! =)

jesus was awesome too. He was explaining how one day he can't wait for Jesus and God to wrap their arms around him into a huge hug. I was like you are seriously so wonderful! I am so happy they are progressing in the gospel!

Well this week was wonderful! I am so happy to have this chance to share the gospel with others! The church is so true! I see so many lives changed everyday by them coming to the gospel! =)

I love you all! Remember I love you this week, especially because it is the week of love! =)

Love you, Happy Valentines day! Enjoy the Olympics! Family be safe in all of your travels! And don't have too much fun because clearly I am not there and you won't have that much fun without me. ;) Love you! Be safe, Remember who you are and where you come from and that Heavenly father and I both love you! =)

Love,

Hermana Gray  ~Your favorite~

The choices you make now have eternal consequences!

Red Robins

Awesome Shirts from the Chamberlains for Christmas

Movie Party

Our great apartment plays jokes on each other. This was a "person" in my bed from all of Hermana Nord's balloons from her birthday. haha. We are dorks. =)

Snow Day #2 & 3 and 4 people at church!

Hola familia y amigos!

I know I know, the headline is very disappointed seeing as when we have snow days here we literally do NOTHING. . . well we do stuff but it just isn't exciting to talk about. haha. Like our studies and what not, not really exciting unless you learn something extremely neat! But I will go a head and tell you all about our adventures this week anyways! ;)

Neat experience. . Last P-day while we were at the library writing you all of you! We met a guy named Matthew. The computers were all down for a minute and Hermana nord hadn't sent her email so we had to wait for them to be back on. Anyways so Matthew was talking to all of us and we were explaining what we do. He said he'd talked to the missionaries before but hadn't really done anything. Basically it was funny because he was trying to flirt with all of us and we didn't care to be flirted with. haha. So it was hilarious. Anyways we gave him a Mormon.org card with the Elders numbers on it. (They are English elders, the ZL's). So apparently after we left the ZL's started talking to him and invited him to FHE and what not that night in the singles ward. And he went! He is taking the discussions right now! So just think. . . all of you are in a way already doing missionary work! Just by reading my emails. ;) haha.

I also got such a neat little email from President Baker, he had this really great thing he said to me "Sister Gray-- the lord will refine your personality and character as you serve this mission, but you will still be the wonderful self you are, just shinier and with greater spiritual capacity. I hope this week was better and I know it will improve for you as you persist." What great advice! He seriously has the best advice each week for me. But I just liked how he was like you will still be the same you, just better and more spiritual! That is what missionary work is! You are you, just more in tune with the spirit! =)

Tuesday was super fun! Sister Hamilton (stake president's wife) and sister Chamberlin (branch presidents wife) took us to lunch! We met up with all the Hermana's in the surrounding areas at a little restaurant in Williamsburg called Blue Talon Bistro. It was SO SO delicious! I ate a really intense burger (I am totally American, I feel like I always order a burger or something but I think it is delicious so I'll get over it!). It was so good though! They called it "Hermana appreciation lunch". They make me laugh. They seriously are the sweetest ladies. They just take care of you. They are like our second mom's out here in the mission! =) They always are calling and seeing if we need anything. They just are so wonderful! =)

We also met with Estaban this night! And he set a BAPTISMAL DATE for the 17th of February!!! And this is like probably a legit date. He is working so hard to meet it. Although it got a little touchy last lesson when we taught about tithing. He is supporting all of his family in Guatemala. So it will be interesting to see. He did come to church yesterday though! and in church a couple of people bore testimony about tithing. WAHOO!!! An answer to our prayers! =) =)

Wednesday was a SNOW DAY. . haha. It started snowing late Tuesday and it snowed a good three inches. We were all bound to our apartment so we decided to walk to Red Robin, it is like half a mile from our apartment or less. . so we are walking more like trekking because it is uphill and there is lots of snow. I bet we looked pretty hilarious in all our snow gear and dresses with our little badges on. We were doing great. Then a cute little family pulled over and gave us a ride. They were like it is TOO dangerous for you sisters to be out here. we just laughed. They are in the English ward. But they were so great they dropped us off at Red Robin and we had a good little lunch. (I had yet another burger. . . telling you, American! This is why I didn't go out of the country. . . I wouldn't have survived!). =)

Afterwards we trekked back to our apartment, but first we decided to trek to walmart and buy ice cream. =) Yes, we are crazy. So we went to Walmart got our ice cream and then came back to the apartment and watched Ephraim's Rescue AGAIN. haha. For the third time in 2 weeks. =) We are dorks. We now can basically quote the whole movie and we decided the main lady the mom, is really annoying. She cannot speak in that accent. It makes us laugh. So we watched it yet again. and just played games and talked. Got to know each other better. We did studies for a little longer but there is only so much studying you can take at one time. We had a great time in with our snow!

Thursday was ANOTHER SNOW DAY! We were REALLY sick of our apartment. haha. we did actually get out of the apartment though because the McCoy's were super amazing and gave us a ride! Go them! Hermana Nord and I had a conference call with President BAker this day. We talked about the 12 week program with all the other missionaries I came in with. It was really a neat opportunity for all of us to share our progress in the program and discuss all the things we are doing. It truly is inspiring (although I truly do think English has it easier because they already know the language. haha. I was like this program would be SO much easier in English, but I will get over it. I am happy to speak Spanish though! Definitley a challenge but an exciting challenge!).

The McCoy's were nice enough to drop us at Wendy's so we could have a lesson with Estaban. We discussed the plan de salvacion with him and talked about the palabra de sabaduria with him. He took it all well and is progressing like crazy! He is getting some slack from his parents right now though so we will see what is happening. We have another lesson with him tonight. =)

This night we also went to the Hernandez Family (a cute little recent convert family). And celebrated Thiago's first birthday! She made us dinner and we had cake and celebrated. He is so stinking cute! I need to get a picture of him for you all just so you can see his adorableness. He is a cutie pie. =)

Afterwards they drove us to the Hamilton's home and we had a big ward party for Elder Jones (DL) and also Elder Larsen (ZL) who are going home tomorrow. Crazy! But it was so fun. We had the chance to celebrate their time here and Hermana Garcia made them all a cute "dead" cake with a lot of symbolism. They both spent like all of their mission here basically. It is insane. They have lived in the same apartment together for 18 months out of their whole mission. Which is basically my whole mission. It was so great. They both are the best and they are going to do great things in life. =)

This day all the Hermana's in my apartment also learned I am freakishly good at Mancala. (that little wood game with the marbles pebble things). haha. I DOMINATE this game. I think it was all the hours Chrissy and I played it growing up. They were all so impressed. I cream them like almost every time. =) Gray competitive skills right here. ;)

Friday. .. . we were RELEASED to teach the people!

It truly was nice to finally start teaching again. We met up with our cute little family we came in contact with Jesus, Miriam and Natasha. I think I told you about them last letter. He is a member and was converted in Mexico. Anyways we have had TONS of progress with them in such a short time. We are teaching them the lessons. We taught them the plan of salvations yesterday and they are just so excited. They want to have an eternal family. It makes me so happy to see them so happy! No joke I just feel their love for the gospel. It is such a great feeling. =) We set a date for March 1 for baptism with Miriam and Natasha. =) We did talk to president chamberlin last night though and there is some complications so Miriam probably won't be baptized on this date but Natasha still can. =) Natasha is 8 and is just the cutest little girl. SUPER shy. But she is opening up a little at a time. =) Miriam is so excited. I really wish she could get baptized sooner but they have to get married and that is where the complications come in. It is some interesting work here. =) haha. Can't give you too much detail but just keep them in your prayers! =)

WE also visited Judith and taught her  how to make banana muffins. It was super fun. She appreciated the visit. Especially with Angel gone. We are hoping to keep teaching her the lessons with him away. I think it will be great. =) She is having us over for Hermana Nord's birthday this week sometime. :) Judith is so nice though and fed us dinner (although we told her we had a dinner appointement. . .)

So this is where the great story comes in. . .haha. We eat dinner at Judith's. Then we are supposed to drive to the Chamberlin's for dinner. We are LATE. Like twenty minutes, but he knows this. And since he lives on base he has to get us at the gate and then we have to show id's and what not. So we are late. Driving. Our GPS is totally not correct. Yeah, let's just say we almost died. haha. HErmana Nord may have almost ran a red light on accident. But it is all good! =) We survived and we had two dinners. The life of the Spanish missionary. ;)

The dinner with the chamberlin's was super delicious though! Pasta bar. They are the greatest. I tend to really enjoy their house. ;)

Greatest story ever, or at least I think it was hilarious. . .

So we are following the other Hermana's back to our apartment from the Chamberlin's and we were going to stop at Natasha's and give her an English BOM. But the elder's had put the English BOm's in their car on accident and not ours. So we are at a red light and I get out of the car and go knock on their side window (their phone was dead or we would have called them). Hermana Sahleen looked like she was going to pee her pants. it was HILARIOUS!!! They were like I though you were a rapist!! Then I was laughing and I was like why would they knock? lol. But It brought me true joy to have this moment. Don't worry I am laughing writing about it and am getting hilarious looks from those around me. :)

I also got a fun Valentine package from Katie Hoggan! I was excited! =) It was super fun and I am enjoying all of it's contents. ;)

Saturday we tried visiting lots of people but lots of people ehaven't been home because of the snow. They are now finally out and about but we ate dinner with the Castillo's. So delicious. But hilarious story again. Hermana Sahleen used their toilet and it broke somehow. So she decides to text elder jones and he just nods from across the table and went and fixed it. haha. =) I laughed so hard when she was telling us what was happening after. Apparently it has happened before though so we weren't too worried. Elder Jone's is the greatest. All of us hermana's are going to miss him. He seriously is such a great District Leader.

Yesterday we ahd a great day! Our little family came to church and so did Estaban! They all loved it! =) I was so happy! We also had a lesson with the family and it was just so great. Miriam said a prayer at the end that was just so humble and sweet. I think one of the best parts of missionary work is being able to pray with a family. And see the joy they get with knowing their purpose! How can you not enjoy bringing happiness to others?? =)

I love you all! I hope you have a great week, even with the Broncos losing. =( I was sad to hear this. We were talking about it at oompa lumpa this morning. Marc. . . I am sorry. I cheered hard even without being able to watch it. =)

I love you all! Be safe! Enjoy the snow! And glad to hear you got my "hugs" =)

Love you,

Hermana Gray

Snow Day

Estaban