Monday, June 30, 2014

We are the official VA Beach Hermanas


Hola familia y amigos!
It is so weird to think that I am already emailing you again. . it feels like time just keeps going faster and faster and that is just crazy to me!
This week we started our first official week as the VA Beach Hermanas! It was really fun and definitely different but a lot harder than I was expecting at first. Not gonna lie. . missionary work always seems to take me by surprise. It is just crazy sauce! =)
We struggled a lot this week but we also had a few blessings given to us. Tuesday and Wednesday we basically tracted all day because the elders investigators they were visiting didn't want to visit with us or they weren't home. It is interesting to me who you think are your strong investigators and then with the switch they don't want to hear the message at all anymore. It is really sad but we know one day they will accept the message. =)
Basically we "white-washed" the area so we were starting with a clean slate. We had a total of 3 lessons this week which was a bummer but we were trying so we can't really complain. As of Friday we had 1 so we were really blessed this weekend. =)
One lady was hilarious, we were out tracting and she just felt bad for us so she invited us in because we were out in like 100 degree weather knocking some doors and she just let us in and gave us water. haha. And let us share a message. She did have any interest so that was a bummer but it was kind of her to let us hermanas in for a little bit to cool down. =) Sometimes I think this weather will be a benefit to getting us into peoples doors, they just feel bad. One thing that is funny is that EVERYONE will offer you a water bottle. So by the end of the week we have like 20 water bottles in the back of our car. It makes me laugh.
This week we found a new investigator though! Her name is Jenny, and she is 19 years old! She was a little surprised to find out that we were the same age. I shocked two people this week with that information. We had a really great lesson on the Restoration with her and it was neat. We had found her through former investigators and she just told us we could come back Saturday and she would listen because she was baby sitting at the time. So we came back and we had a really great conversation. She was so nice! It was interesting because she wanted us to speak to her in English (that is one thing that I think is really interesting about the Hispanics here, most of the time they want us to speak to them in English. . so it is definitely a struggle but we try to use our Spanish as much as we can!). She was super sweet though. We shared the First Vision with her and she afterwards was like wow, I believe that could happen. She was like "I just felt differently when you told me that, I was caught up in the moment." It was really neat to see her feel the truthfulness of the words of Joseph Smith testifying to her. That is one thing that is so wonderful to me, that we can share the spirit with people in a matter of seconds. We will be seeing her again this week so I will keep you posted on that.
We also are teaching two teenage-ish boys (11 y 13). They are really nice, Jay and Nico. They are living with a member and are going to church with them. So they wanted them to learn the gospel in their native language. We also had the chance to share the Restoration with them. It was interesting because I could just feel the love that Christ has for them. I asked them how they felt to know that Christ suffered for them and all the answer I got was that "I feel bad that he suffered for me."
I guess I understood where they were coming from but at the same time I was like, how do you not know that it was a demonstration of his LOVE for you! He loves you enough to suffer for you so that you can return to him and god again. It was a big testimony builder to me. But it was wonderful to share the love of the Savior with them and just the knowledge that he loves them so much. I hope that they could feel the love that Christ has for them because I sure did.
This week we also had Zone Conference! I just love Zone Conference, it was seriously the best! President and sister Baker always give the best trainings, and the Assistants and the Zone leaders. I just had a great time getting re-motivated to be a better missionary! I just know that I can continually improve!
President Baker shared a great message on accepting correction and just becoming a better person from that. It was a really great message. It was also neat because the branch was in charge of making lunch for all of us missionaries and I have to admit it was DELICIOUS! They are the best! They were so cute, filming all of us singing called to serve to them. It was a good time.
Then after lunch for the second session of course is the terrifying moment when we might get chosen to do a 7 minute role play in front of everyone. But President Baker decided he and sister baker would do it for all of us. But then afterwards we split off in groups and did role plays.
We split off with the sister training leaders, and we were chosen to go first. So we are doing it on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are being one of their investigators, Cassandra. Anyways as we are reaching repentance you just feel someone join us on the bench, sure enough President Baker sits down and is listening in on our role play. I was like oh great. . . but decided that I would just ignore that he was there and focus on the role play. Oh goodness can I just say that was the BEST role play I have ever done in my life. It wasn't what we had originally planned, we ended up talking about the atonement and repentance for a good chunk of it. And It was just crazy. One of the sister training leaders was almost in tears because the spirit was so strong. Afterwards we were discussing what we could improve on and things like that and President Baker didn't even have anything we could have done better, he only said it would have been better if we had done it in Spanish (which would have been interesting because we were with all English missionaries. haha. but it could be entertaining). I was really impressed. It was nice though to have such a great role play after such a crappy beginning to the week. But all is well and we know this week will bring a lot more miracles! =)
We also had a branch party on Saturday night. It was kind of a bummer because not a whole lot of people showed up but all in all it was a success. And the next party (futbol on the 12) will be a hit! ;) Hopefully lots of people will be there!
This past Preperation Day we went to the Zoo! I had lots of fun and it was great to look at all the animals and just have a day to relax. I truly enjoyed it. =) Who doesnt' love the zoo?!? =)
That is all that I have for you this week!
I love you! Have a great week! Hope you all had fun at the Round-up and ate a rodeo burger for me. . and wore some boots, I DID! ;) I love you and miss you!
Have a wonderful Fourth of July! Be safe, dont' catch on fire! ;)
Love you,
Hermana Gray
p.s. something that I learned this week that I thought was really neat was that the lost pages from the book of Mormon was called the book of Lehi, and I was just thinking how that might have been my favorite since I love the vision of the tree of life and I am sure Lehi just had some really neat things to tell us! =) Thought that was a little fun fact! =)








Monday, June 23, 2014

Life with Mermaids


Welcome to Norfolk! Home of the endless mermaids aligning the streets! They are known for mermaids. . =)
This week was pretty good. We had a couple of neat miracles. Although we are a little sad because we are leaving Mermaid city and headed to VA Beach! Starting today actually. . haha. =)
Although we are excited for this new adventure in the mission.
This week was good. We had a neat tracting miracle!
So we had ran out of things to do. . people to visit. . so we did what any missionary our age would do and hit the streets! Well doors actually. . we KNOCKED! The life of a missionary.
We decided to knock this one apartment complex and it was SO HOT this day. . literally in the 100's already. . and HUMID! We are thinking we will die this summer. but miracles happen! and Heavenly Father blessed us so much. . And sure enough we had a miracle happen at the FIRST DOOR!
We knocked and this lady named Holly opened her door. She is extremely nice and just invited us in. she was telling us a little about her life. Her boyfriend is Hispanic (which is great because we can hopefully teach them and she prefers to go to a Spanish church! Even better!) so we just get talking to her about all sorts of stuff. Religion in general and she was telling us how she is catholic but she doesn't necessarily agree with all the things that they teach. We explained the restoration a bit and it really was just a miracle! She is just a sweet lady. She was telling us her whole life (seriously it amazes me what people tell us the first time we meet them. . .literally CRAZY stuff!). but she does tell us that she is having a hard time with her mother right now so we decided that we would tell her a little of how the gospel helps us better relationships with family members. We just had a great discussion with her. She and her boyfriend didn't come to church, but they hopefully will come next week! We are a little bummed though since they now live in the Elders area so we will be giving them over. haha. Bummer! But maybe she just needed us to get to her and now the elders to teach them?! ;)
The branch here is super great, a little different than the News for sure but there are lots of nice people! Although it is a little weird since I have been here for two sundays and yet to have a normal meeting with them. . This week was stake conference!
It was good. The Saturday night session was a little different. It was done kind of like a Question and Answer about missionary work. .
so they had I think 6 elder age boys on the stand, who either have their calls or had just gotten home. . And they did a Q&A with them about "hastening the work". It was pretty good. They had some interesting answers. I of course think these things are so entertaining and I think I mortified my companion. . poor Hermana Sahleen, but I had to give a comment when they were letting the crowd answer! So it was good. But I think my comment was really great since the stake president asked me my name. It was funny. But I "represented' the missionaries well in the conference if I do say so myself. ;)
Sunday's session was okay. Not my favorite. .The first speakers spoke for a long while. . but their talks were decent. The best talks were given by President and Sister Baker so that was fun to see them at stake conference! I am glad I am in a mission where I have the chance to see my mission president and his wife regularly. It makes it fun since I feel like I know them. =)
This week we also visited with a couple of investigators.
Estella is this older lady and she was hilarious. She was so happy that I was there and then when we told her the elders were going to take over the area she was really sad that we were leaving. =) She makes me laugh. We decided to watch Finding Faith in Christ with her. She seemed to really enjoy it but then I feel like she has ADD Because she was constantly doing something, and right in the middle of the movie she jumps up and walks around the kitchen then comes and sits back down. It was a little funny. But she enjoyed it and the message was good.
We also visited this lady named Emma. She was super nice. Her house reminded me a little of Grandma Gray since she has glass dolls all over. I actually recognized a few of her dolls! She had the same ones as grandma in some cases. =)
Life as a missionary just seems to be moving along faster and faster. . I can't believe how quick time goes! It just blows my mind. this week I have a feeling we will be doing a lot of finding in our new area, so if you would send some prayers our way for that we'd appreciate it! We are excited for the changes to come this week, a little nervous, but we will be fine! =)
This week we also have Zone Conference! We are extremely excited for this! Friday will be so fun! Learning from the mission president and other missionaries. . Although we are a little terrified because we are all supposed to prepare to do a 7 minute role play on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and he is going to randomly select a group of missionaries to do it. All I am saying is I feel like I speak Spanglish. . haha. So this could get interesting if we are chosen! Although we have been role playing it a lot lately so we'll be fine. =)
I really do think that my mission language I should have been called to is Spanglish. . I feel like I use both so much! And I wish you could be in some lessons because they literally are Spanglish. . since most people we teach know some English, if not are fluent, and so we are beginning the lesson in Spanish and then they will speak to us in English and stuff. . It just gets confusing! But by the time I am home I will be professional in Spanglish. ;) Spanish is good though. . I feel like lately the people here are judge mental of my Spanish. But that could also just be me being self conscious about it. Who knows!
We didn't really have too much else happen this week. . lots of tracting.
Last preparation day Hermana Sahleen took me to downtown Norfolk and we just walked around a little bit. We grabbed some pamphlets of things to do in the Norfolk/VA Beach area. We are going to do some fun things on P-days. hopefully see some neat museums and things. Although the museums around here tend to be closed Mondays which is a bummer since there is just so much history here!
Although today we are headed to the Zoo! I am really excited to go to the Zoo! =)
I was reading in the BOM today and I just loved this part in Alma 37: 44 and 46-47 about not being slothful. I was thinking a lot about that and just how we are given the gospel of Christ in our lives. . We have an Easy way. they knowledge of the truth. It really is easy to keep the commandments when we love the savior. The trick is to not be slothful. .
I of course was thinking "slothful. . what is slothful?" and don't worry. . Sid the sloth definitely came to mind but I was thinking in reality slothful is to be lazy, to not give our best. . to not try to the fullest.
I don't want to be slothful! We all need to work our hardest to stay active in the work of the Lord! It is easy to fall into the easiness of the way. .the trick is to not become slothful because of the easiness! It is easy to get into the routines of the church, go to church on sunday. . read your scriptures, say your prayers, and it is all great! But are we just doing it because we know we need to? Are we being slothful!? Lazy in the ways? or are we putting our whole effort into each time we read, looking for things we can be better at. Are we saying meaningful prayers. I know I can better at this and I challenge each of you to find something in the gospel that you have become "slothful" at. And to change! The gospel is one of change! =)
I love you all so much! I hope you have a wonderful week and get feeling better!
I love you! Families are Forever! =)
Hermana Gray
"Remember when Satan reminds you of your past, remind him of his future!"







Monday, June 16, 2014

A Week of Blessings


Hello family and friends!
As I am sure many of you who are reading this email know that my grandpa Gray passed away this last week. . . it was a bit of hard news to take, more shocking than anything, not what I was expecting to hear but in the end it is better that he is in the spirit world.
With his death I had a lot of time to reflect on many things. . especially the plan of salvation and the truthfulness of eternal families. I was reading over a talk in general conference given from President Uchtdorf and I would like to share a little of what he said with all of you, "Often our grief is caused by what seems to be an ending. Some are facing the end of a cherished relationship, such as the death of a loved on or estrangement from a family member. Others feel they are facing the end of hope--. . .
Sooner or later, I believe that all of us experience times when the very fabric of our world tears at the seams, leaving us feeling alone, frustrated, and adrift. It can happen to anyone. No one is immune.. .
Everyone's situation is different, and the details of each life are unique. Nevertheless, I have learned that there is something that would take away the bitterness that may come into our lives. There is one thing we can do to make life sweeter, more joyful, even glorious. WE CAN BE GRATEFUL!"
As I read that part of his talk I was reflecting on my week and it really has been full of so many blessings and truly just magnificent miracles.
To start off! I had the chance to write my dad and grandpas for fathers day. . wow am I so grateful I had the chance to thank them for being such wonderful fathers! I also hope that all of you had a wonderful Father's Day yesterday! =)
This week I also had the chance to say goodbye to so many wonderful people in Newport News. I truly will miss all those I served with and am so grateful for the change the made in my life. I have such a deep love for all those I served there and am so grateful for their examples to me. =)
We had a really neat experience happen. .
We were going to say goodbye to Jesus, Miriam and Natasha and share a message. . and our message we hoped to share was on Missionary work. And how members sometimes don't understand that missionary work isn't necessarily sitting down your friends and teaching them the whole message of the Restoration but you can be a missionary by doing small things, like inviting them to FHE or inviting them to join with you in a prayer before you leave somewhere, etc. So we pull up to their home, we say our prayer, as we are walking in Miriam and Natasha are outside with their neighbor and her daughter. And Miriam invites her really great friend in to hear the lesson! Wow, yes, we didn't need to teach them about missionary work. . we just needed to be missionaries there so we could share a message. We decided that we would watch finding faith in Christ with them. And that maybe her friend would have some interest in the message. It was amazing to see her friend be so absorbed by the movie. . to feel the love the savior had for her. Her daughter is two and was running around, playing loudly. . but she didn't care. She was so focused on our message. It was really neat. The spirit was SO strong. And they had a follow up appointment with her Saturday. . So hopefully that went well!
The days leading up to transfers were crazy and hectic, but fun at the same time. It was fun to say goodbye to everyone but sad too.
Transfer day came and now I am here! I am currently serving in Norfolk, and we are just having so much fun together! =) Hermana Sahleen is my companion and she is a HOOT! We are too fun! We just have laughed so much already, this transfer will FLY! We actually won't be serving in Norfolk for too much longer, we will be switching areas with the elders in our district starting next Monday. we all decided it was for the better and so I will actually switch areas again next week, not apartments or anything. just areas. =)
I was a little taken a back when I got here. It is a lot different than when what I was expecting. There are a LOT more houses here. which is nice. I actually taught a lesson this week in a HOME! WEIRD! But it was good. =) the apartment we live in isn't as nice as the one in the news but it is fine. It is just a little older and a little more work needs to be done for it. They actually aren't going to resign the lease for this apartment when it is up because they are going to move us somewhere better. . cause it is a little ghetto. . I dont' think it is up for a while though.
I am loving the new area though! it is super pretty and right next to the Ocean! And the bay. . I think! =) I will actually be serving next week on the ocean area. . so that will be gorgeous! I heard there is a lot more activities to do around here for P-day so we are going to be adventuresome! Next week I think we might hit up the zoo, and there are some cool parks, and museums here too! so I am excited for that! =)
Well. . I will now share what I consider to be the biggest blessings and miracles of the week. .
Before I left the News we had went to the church with the other hermanas so Hermana Johnson could get a blessing. as we were there I felt like I should get a blessing. . So I did! It was a really wonderful and beautiful blessing. . full of many promises. But in one part I thought it was a little interesting. . it said a little about how I would face some distractions pretty quickly in my future and that it would be hard for me but that I would be able to focus on the work. So in my head I am thinking what in the world is going to happen. .haha. But I think a little of that was Grandpa's death. So that was neat that I had a little of a forewarning.
As some of you know, aka family, that when dad called I was actually in a district meeting with President baker there.
That morning we were at the church and the elders frantically told us right before the meeting that president and sister baker were coming to the meeting. . they werent' supposed to be there that morning. It was unplanned. So as I am giving my INCREDIBLE white handbook training. . (okay it wasn't all that great), President Baker stands up and walks out. . So I am like oh goodness.. . I just made him walk out. . okay really I was just thinking that he probably had an emergency.
After the meeting he comes up to me and says, "Hermana gray don't leave I need to talk to you" . . AHHH!!! So he takes me into a little classroom and he sits me down. . "don't worry you aren't in trouble"
When I stepped out of district meeting I was answering a call/text from the mission office. Your father called the mission office this morning to inform me that your grandpa gray passed away this morning. .
So he goes on to tell me a bunch of stuff. And he just was going on and on. Of course I am crying. haha. which was good. But he was hilarious. He was telling me how neat it is that we know the plan of salvation and that right now would be a unique time for me on my mission. Which is so true. =)
He told me that my grandpa was doing the same work as I am doing right now. He than asked me if I wanted a blessing. Which I said yes. So I received a blessing from my mission president and it was neat, at the beginning he told me he was standing proxy for my dad so that was really neat. But it was just such a comforting blessing and I really felt Heavenly Fathers love for me and my family at this time.
I just know how true the plan of salvation is. . families are forever! I am so grateful for that in my life.
I also had a neat thing happen. . that morning as a mission we had been reading in Alma 11:42-44 all about temporal death and the resurrection! Oh goodness! Heavenly Father truly knows each and everyone of us.
I love you all so much! I love Grandpa too and am so happy for him, that he is in a better place. As all of you gather this week to say your goodbyes, know that I will be there in spirit, that I love all of you so much. We are a Forever Family! =)
I will leave you with a little laugh, a little of my true personality, =)
An embarrassing moment of course! ;)
So President asks me before transfer meeting if I would be willing to say the closing prayer, than he jokingly says "in English" after...  So during the meeting he than calls on me to ROLE PLAY in front of everyone!  So Hermana newman and I are up there and I am supposed to extend the baptismal invitation. . . (in English. . I have yet to do that on my mission. . so I am struggling trying to translate it in my head from Spanish to English) So I say "Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone possessing the priesthood authority of God?". . Possessing?!?! Oh goodness. . then it gets better. .
During the closing prayer I am just saying this wonderful prayer in English and then all of a sudden there is a pause and I take a breath (natural don't worry) so I continue and say "y que. . . (and I realize I just spoke Spanish. . so I try to fix it so than I say. .) y that." yes. . I about lost it during the prayer.. luckily I finished than laughed but EVERYONE was laughing. . it was a pretty great moment. Definitely embarrassing! =)
Well, I hope I left you with a laugh and that you all get as much joy from my emails as I do from you! Know that I love and miss you all very much! I love you and will be there with you on Friday for sure. Give dad a hug for me. and grandma.
Love you,
Hermana Gray
I'll have more pictures of my new area up next week!

Garcias

my last cup of Quaker

hermana Newman and I

Abuelita Hermana Torres

Hamiltons

Far Fans


the Pelicans

McCoys

Jesus, Miriam and Natasha






Castillos



Monday, June 9, 2014

Transfers are in....


And I am headed to the BEACH!!! =)
WAHOO!!! haha. I will be spending the summer in Virginia Beach! Kind of a cruel joke in a way. .  spending the summer by the ocean that I can't swim in. But that is fine! I will work hard next to the ocean. =)
I am headed to the Beach. It is the only other part in the mission for hermanas that serves in a Spanish Branch (I think) and I will be serving with Hermana Sahleen! I am excited! Hermana Sahleen is hilarious and we will have lots of fun! I think our Spanish will both be pushed a lot but we will work hard and see some success so I am not worried at all!
If you didn't get it this is my new address:
4605 Edwardian Ct
Virginia Beach, VA
        23455
So if you feel the need to send me some letters! I will appreciate each one! =) I tend to write those who write me. ;)
I love you all.
This week was great! Transfers was probably the most exciting and nerve wracking event of the whole week. haha. =)
Saturday is when transfer calls come in. So we are all thinking we will most likely have at least one call at our apartment. Transfer calls don't start until after President Baker has called all those who are training and in leadership positions. So we of course aren't expecting a call until after 1 until we get the text saying they are over. We are just chilling studying some language. .  then it is lunch time. So we are making lunch our phone rings. . . and all I hear is Hermana Newman say "Hermana gray it is president Baker. . " so we both just freak out. haha. Because why would president be calling us?!? There isn't any new Hermanas coming in and then we don't really hold leadership callings of any sort. But he was just replying to our phone call earlier in the week! But some harsh joke to make on Transfer call day. haha. He probably thought it was hilarious. We were thinking. . .you couldn't have waited one more day?!? it just made me laugh.
When our real transfer call came we were in the car in front of Ana's home and the other hermanas had just called us saying they had received a call about 40 minutes ago. . and told us who they knew who had gotten transferred. Since there are only 14 hermanas in the mission it is pretty easy to guess who will/won't get a call towards the end. So we are sitting there guessing the rest of the transfer. There were three companionships who hadn't been called yet. And as we were saying either every companionship will be hit this transfer or we will be the one who doesn't and sure enough our phone rang right as we said that. =) Each Hermana companionship was hit this transfer though so that was kind of unique.
I am a little sad to say goodbye to everyone. And Hermana Newman too! She is such a great companion and such a hard worker. . It will be sad to say goodbye but change is also good! so I am excited for this new adventure. Church was hard. . we went and since Hermana Johnson is being transferred too they made us both give our testimonies. It was so hard to see those you have served for so long looking at you, sad. Cute little Emily was really sad and gave me a hug for the longest time. They also fed us dinner that night so she was just talking to me for a LONG time. . non stop. haha. =) SHe is adorable!
The hardest was on Saturday I decided since our appointments fell through that we should probably stop in and tell Jesus, Miriam, and Natasha, so they didn't have to hear at church. I thought I was fine with the transfer than we pulled up in front of their house and I just cried. haha. Oh goodness. . the life of a sister missionary. They were definitely hard to say goodbye too. They both started tearing up when they were talking to me. Jesus even told me everything he wanted to in English. haha. He is the greatest. He thanked me for changing his families lives. He said that it was because of me that his family is where they are today. . that they are more united and happy. He thanked me for changing his life around and for making him remember his covenants to God. So that was really neat. I sure appreciated that. He also made me laugh because he told me to think of the day I first met him and how different he is now. I wish you all could see the day I met him. . . he was all scraggly. . his beard was grown out he was scary looking to be honest. . he is super strong and you could see all his tattoos. . haha. Oh goodness. But now he is COMPLETELY different! It was neat to see. I also ended on a wonderful Sunday when he blessed the sacrament again after a long time. So that was neat to see.
Miriam is just the sweetest. She just gave me such a sincere thank you and just said that same things that Jesus did. She also told me that we are always family and that she wants to always be a part of my life. . know when I have kids and am married. . just a part of my life forever.
Then sweet Natasha runs to her room and gets me this doll sculpture thing she had bought at the flee market the previous day and gave it to me. It says "Dios te bendigas" (God Bless you). She is just adorable.
They for sure will be the hardest to say goodbye to. They became my new little family here. they are what made my mission change around.. . I have them to thank for a lot of things. =)
This week was pretty well though, besides the goodbyes. =)
I decided a mission is full of continuous goodbyes. . you start with a goodbye and end with a goodbye. What is this?!? haa.
But one of my favorite moments of the week was that we were teaching Edilberta, her mom (Ursulla), and her sister (Irene) the word of wisdom. They had NO PROBLEM with it. They were hilarious throughout the whole thing. Just talking about how important it all was and how it is so important to eat fruits and vegetables and little meat. . then my favorite part. . her sweet old mother just randomly says "Me gusta leche. . . leche chocolate". Oh goodness. . I had a hard time keeping it together! I was about to laugh so hard. I just with you could have heard how she said it. Chocolate milk is really great though! =) I do have to agree on that.
We had a lesson with Antonio this week on the Restoration. He is a former investigator and he really struggled with the authority. And so we decided to teach him using the cups. And it went really well. I feel like he understood the authority so much more clearly. So that was a good lesson. Faustino also came with us and he is just a hoot at each lesson. So it was good. He told his conversion story though and it was neat to know that the missionaries found him at a restaurant. so that was neat.
Oh goodness, I just realized that the other lesson with Faustino present was this week. So earlier in the week we went and taught Edilberta again along with her sister and mom. So while we were waiting for her sister and mom to walk over from the other trailer we were just talking and somehow . . .I don't r remember how but the topic of face masks are brought up. It was hilarious. Faustino was just describing all these different face masks and which ones are better for your faces, the sugar and lemon vs. the avocado oil one. It was just making me laugh. The lesson was great though. We ended up re teaching the Restoration  which was fine. It is hard to teach them because they have a really hard time remembering and understanding. So we are definitely teaching SUPER simply. . and we are taking it way slow. We ended up changing Edilberta's baptismal date back to the 12 of July for now. So we will see how that goes. I will keep updated on that  through Hermana Newman. She is slowly but surely progressing. Although she just started work again and is struggling getting sundays off so if you all could include her in some prayers I would surely appreciate it.
Not too much else has been happening here. I will just end with a neat thing I read this morning in the teachings of the presidents of the church (joseph smith) and so it had been describing how Joseph Smith had been being treated, arrests, blaming, etc. then it says "When the Prophet had ended telling how he had been treated Brother Behunin remarked: 'If I should leave this Church I would not do as those men have done: I would go to some remote place where Mormonism had never been heard of, settle down, and no one would ever learn that I knew anything about it.'
The great Seer immediately replied: 'Brother Behunin, you don't know what you would do. No doubt these men once thought as you do. Before you joined this Church you stood on neutral ground. When the gospel was preached, good and evil were set before you. you could choose either or neither. There were two opposite masters inviting you to serve them. When you joined this Church you enlisted to serve God. When you did that you left he neutral ground, and you never can get back on to it. Should you forsake the Master you enlisted to serve, it will be by the instigation of the evil one, and you will follow his dictation and be his servant."
let me just say WOW!
We all chose to serve our Heavenly King. . we will never be on neutral ground again. No matter what decision you make. . if you choose now to turn away from the church, because you knew, you are now following Satan. WOW! I just thought that was so powerful!
I love you all,
Hope you have a WONDERFUL week! I will write you from the Beach soon!
Love you,
As always, your favorite,
Hermana Gray

The Castillo's. . well Hermana Castillo and Emily. They are so sweet!
Emily makes me laugh all the time. She sure is such a sweet little girl. =)

Edilberta's mother. . yes, she is the best! =)
President Chamberlain and his wife. =) They are the best! I will miss them.
(I hate this picture of me. . but I will get over it)



Monday, June 2, 2014

Virginia is for Lovers


Hello Family and Friends!
Another week has FLOWN BY in the mission field. . I truly think that mission time goes so much faster than normal time. I wake up each morning and can't believe it is already time to go to bed in what feels like an hour! So that is wonderful! I also can't believe TRANSFER CALLS are this week. . that is CRAZY! Time is just going.
I don't really know how to feel about transfers. . I wouldn't be surprised if I switch areas because I have been here for a while and also I think a lot of the other companionships right now are struggling so I wouldn't be surprised if Hermana Newman and I split up because we are both doing fine! =) I would love to stay in this area for longer so we will just have to see what happens Saturday! =) Wish me luck wherever I will be and whoever will be my companion! =) haha.
Well this week was great towards the weekend, hard at the beginning of the week. We have had the chance to see a lot of success in the area for our hard work. It is finally beginning to pay off!!! WAHOO!!!
The beginning of the week was hard. .
We visited a less active who just isn't willing to change which is hard. It is just a bummer to see those who have the gospel not live it. That is one thing that has been hard for me to grasp. . we as missionaries are going around trying to help bring others unto Christ and let those who are part of his church strengthen their faith and trust in him more. . So it is just difficult to see others not want to do that! Hopefully one day her heart will be softened and she will want to make those changes in her life that will bring her so much more happiness. .
And I don't know what it is lately but sometimes complaining has been getting on my nerves! haha. (and sorry I am "complaining" now. . more just telling you how it is!) But all I can say is don't complain to me about life being hard until you are doing the things Heavenly Father is asking of you. Then you can complain. haha. Read your scriptures, say your prayers, and attend church. . the basic three and as you strive to live the commandments of God daily I can promise you there will be a significant difference in your life! =)
We had an extremely wonderful lesson with Edilberta and her mother! We did the Restoration and it was just so powerful. Because she is a visual learner we did the Restoration through a stack of cups demonstration/lesson. It was really great and she could visually see the importance and the difference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Even though the Restoration was taught so simply. . it really was one of the most powerful lessons on my mission. It was a neat opportunity to have the spirit bare witness of the truth.
They both also attended church yesterday which was wonderful! They truly enjoyed it! =) It was great to see them feel the spirit so strong. Another neat thing was that Jesus bore his testimony yesterday and it was so strong and powerful. Just all about the power of the Atonement and I truly felt the spirit so strongly. =)
This past week we went on exchanges with the sister training leaders! It was really fun and we saw many miracles happen. I went English with Sister Anderson and we just had a wonderful day! I had lots of fun. While we were knocking doors I actually had the chance to use my Spanish at one of the homes and so that was great! =) I was happy!
We visited a Less Active and also a Member and can I just say it is weird to work with Single Adults as a missionary. . haha. They are your age and it is just weird the life they are living. =) Aka the normal life, going to movies, dating, but as a missionary you are so awkward sometimes that I was in culture shock for a while. . . oh goodness I am in trouble when I go home! I will be awkward. . prepare now! =)
We ate dinner at the Ellis's home, a member of their branch presidency. They are just the cutest old couple and I was just laughing like crazy. =) They have a bird that talks to them and then they also have a Guest book which I had to sign. =) It made me laugh.
One really neat compliment that I received was from Sister Anderson. We were getting ready for bed and as we were trying to go to sleep she just says "Hermana Gray. . I have one question for you. . How are you always so Happy??"
Well. . apparently my happiness is just Bursting out of me all the time! =) I just love it here and I truly and becoming such a better and more spiritual person! I don't really notice the differences in myself but others are and it is kind of a weird concept to me. I can notice the changes in my companions and the other hermanas and that is what is weird. . if they are changing, so am I! Which is so wonderful and marvelous! I am also excited to see all the changes in each of you! =)
On exchanges I also had the chance to go to the Relief Society activity. We went to a park and walked around this lake! It is super pretty and full of wild life. =) We were catching frogs and everything. haha. =) It was a little weird being in jeans for the moment. . but no worries dresses are back in style! ;) The sisters in the singles ward here are all so incredible. Full of wonderful testimonies so it was great to get to know them a little better. =)
This week we went to contact this lady, a reference from the elders, and they gave us a forewarning that she would talk your ear off. So we are like okay we have ten minutes before dinner lets go talk to this lady. She is this older lady from Puerto Rico who is 82, speaks both English and Spanish fluently. So we go and contact her. . yes after 30 minutes straight of her talking we finally made up an excuse to get out of there (we were just setting up an appointment), she went so quickly from topic to topic and just talked non stop all about life. It was hilarious. But we did get forewarned! haha. =) She is a great lady though and we will hopefully have the chance to visit her this next week. =)
That is about all for the week but I was reading from the Conference Ensign and just wanted to share this little part from President Eyring's talk,
"Every person born into the world receives the Light of Christ, which helps us see and feel what is right and what is wrong. God has sent mortal servants who can, by the Holy Ghost, help us recognize what He would have us do and what He forbids. God makes it attractive to choose the right by letting us feel the effects of our choices. If we choose the right, we will find happiness--in time. If we choose evil, there comes sorrow and regret-- in time. Those effects are sure. Yet they are often delayed for a purpose. If the blessings were immediate, choosing the right would not build faith. And since sorrow is also sometimes greatly delayed, it takes faith to feel the need to seek forgiveness for sin early rather than after we feel its sorrowful and painful effects."
I was just thinking about this a lot this morning. .and truly the gift of Agency is something that God gives us to help us. We are Agents. . not Objects! We choose how we live the way we live. . our choices are ours. And that is something so marvelous.
Heavenly Father gave us agency. . knowing some of his children wouldn't choose the right paths and wouldn't be able to return to him. But he loves us enough to let us choose him rather than to force us to follow him.
I also love the mention of timing. Time is something so precious to all of us. And he lets us have time in between decisions to help us grow and become more and more faithful. If we were immediately blessed for decisions we wouldn't need faith.
I just thought this was a great insight from a servant of the Lord.
I just have been loving reading the talks from the General Authorities and all those who spoke at conference. It is fun to find an underlying theme of conference and to hear the words our Heavenly Father has to tell each of us. I challenge each of you to read a talk this week from this past General Conference! I know that as you do you can receive personal revelation in your life and answers to your prayers. Please continue each day to strengthen your relationship with Heavenly Father! He loves you! =)
I love you all so much. . I hope you have a wonderful week and see many miracle occurring in your own lives. I hope that you are filled with many missionary opportunities this coming week and have the courage to share the gospel to those around you!
Remember how much the gospel has changed your life and use that to motivate you to change the lives of those around you! =)
I wish I had some more exciting stories to tell you, but life as a missionary is mostly the same each day. =) We work and work and see step by step the miracles that God has in store for each of his children on the earth.
I love you all! Have a great week!
Remember who you are and where you came from. .
Don't do anything this Hermana wouldn't do!
Love,
Hermana Gray
"Brothers and sisters , some of our greatest opportunities to demonstrate our love will be within the walls of our own home. Love should be the very heart of family life."-Thomas S. Monson

turtles in the water
hilarious fake spider i saw

And then this is a LA of the singles branches home. . . I had to take a picture because it was the nicest house I have seen since I've been on the mission! I was like. . . I never enter anything close to this! haha. =)

nature hike