=)

Family and Friends!

Another week has flown by here in the mission. And it has brought with is successes and sorrows as are the norm in the life of a missionary!

I had a pretty good week. Nothing too crazy happened and then at the same time not too much exciting happened; I guess the life of the missionary?!? ;) Unlike all of your week which sounds like it was a blast! Super Jealous of the Tim concert by the way and all the other fun stuff you did! =)

Well we started off with having a Sister Preparation day which I think is one of the most awkward social events that you are 'forced' but not forced to go to. haha. Okay it wasn't THAT bad but it was very awkward. So we are told we are going to go to the church and have this fun "Sister's Preparation Day!" and you can't blame the sister training leaders for trying but just a bunch of sisters together I think is always awkward. We are supposed to bring games to play and what not. So we arrive and I am right away okay lets play a game! So I start a game (because if I don't who will?!?!) and literally the only people that played were me and Hermana Sahleen, the other two girls in our district and one of the training leaders. The rest all wanted to sign theses books (kind of like a yearbook for the mission that they all have). Imagine me trying to make this all fun and no one is participating! yeah that sucks! So I got over it. We ended the game early since the sisters from our district had to leave. So then I just shot a football into the basketball hoops with another sister. We were the only ones actually trying to have fun. haha. So that was a bust. But overall it wasn't too bad! then you feel bad for leaving early... so you don't but you want to the whole time. haha. They are just awkward. A definite awkward event in the life of this Hermana! =)

This week wasn't too bad though.

We had a lesson with Angie on Monday night. A big FHE with the Rodriguez family and the Pinergote family! It was really fun! We had a huge dinner with them (of course!) and we shared a message on families and eternal marriage. Along with the importance of the law of chastity. Yes, we shared that in the lesson too! haha. We are so great at making things awkward, I think it is a proven fact as a missionary! It was really good though and the members helped a lot! They shared wonderful testimonies with her. =)

We had a lesson with Juan and Maria this week too. We finished sharing with them the Restoration of the Gospel. When we shared about the first vision the spirit was VERY strong. I could tell it was touching their hearts. then of course Satan has to work on them! haha. Juan and Maria are former investigators of the gospel. this is their third time taking the lessons. We asked them if they had any questions for us and then he randomly brings up tithing. . so we talked about that for a little bit and tried to help him overcome his concern. but of course he is using some huge words in Spanish that I dont' know. His sweet wife was feeling so bad for us. She was like Juan you are using too big of words! haha. It was good. it was a bummer since we were supposed to have a member with us that could have helped a lot with these concerns but he called us at the last minute since he is sick. bummer! Next time. . =)

This week we stuck to a lot of walking! We are almost out of miles and we started struggling really early. . .I don't know why. . But we had a whole day where we just walked EVERYWHERE! It was fun actually! But I am grateful for our car too! We walked all the way to this one potentials apartments. We had a lesson with her which was great. Joselyn. She is super nice. We found out that she is moving to California. She literally left the next day. haha. Luckily we caught her and hopefully she'll look up the missionaries there and continue the lessons!

We met this lady named Patty this week! She is from El Salvador and seems to have so much potential! We were knocking in this trailer park and she answered. we ended up giving her a lesson on the porch about the Book of Mormon! She accepted a copy and said that she would read the introduction before our next appointment (which is tomorrow!). She is super nice. She kept wanting to talk to us when we were trying to leave. My favorite part of the whole lesson is when we asked her if we could leave her with a prayer and she looks to the left and right to make sure none of her neighbors were out then said yes. I just think it's funny. I forget how awkward we are as missionaries that it isn't normal for someone to just say a prayer on the porch. haha. =) Although it should be. . ;)

Our apartment is struggling a tid bit. I noticed that this ceiling was leaking and then I told Hermana Sahleen. so we go to the apartment people and they come look at it. Let's just say it gets progressively worse and now we have no ceiling in the closet! haha. And it's still leaking!!! I am pretty sure the mission office will move us when our lease is up in October. We'll see I guess! =)

Not too much else has happened this week! Just the same old same old. =) 

I hope all of you are doing well. Know my thoughts and prayers are with you. That someone in Virginia is thinking about you and cares for you a whole lot!  =)

Love you,

Hermana Gray

And Feliz Cumpleanos to one of the best brothers in the world! Happy Birthday Collin! =)

Sister Preparation Day

Our leak, its continuing too, this process happened within four days.

and this is what it looks like now.  And it stopped leaking then we had a rainstorm and it started again!  So we need to tell the office again about it.

After walking into our apartment from the rainstorm!  I was drenched for approximately two minutes of walking...haha

Happy Happy Birthday to the best mom in the world! =)

Hello family and friends,

WOW! I can't believe I am writing you already, it seems like minutes ago I was on last preparation writing you all about my week! =)

I SURVIVED TRANSFERS!!! (crazy they were already here yet again, calls were last Saturday). I will be spending the next 6 weeks of my life in VA Beach once again with Hermana Sahleen! I am really excited! Hermana Sahleen and I are so happy to be staying together for another transfer, it seems like this area is starting to really pick up and we are seeing so many miracles from our hard work. We have seen so many miracles from talking to everyone and just being diligent even when we don't know what else to do. We have contacted over 10 people this week from referrals we have received, and even though not every one of those ended in a lesson they at least were put in contact with the missionaries. It always amazes me that people remember the missionaries even if they only talked to them once on a doorstep.

I have met so many people that say, oh you are the people that ride the bikes, or that have some other book. I have heard about you before. And normally they are more accepting to us once they recognize who we are. So many people respect our work. =)

Today I have been thinking how crazy it is that I am a missionary. . .haha. I remember this week last year. I had my papers in and we were all super excited to have Collin home so soon. Then Pioneer Day roles around and I go to the mailbox and the little envelope that holds my future was there. I had the chance to open it among so many family and friends and it says "Virginia Chesapeake mission, Spanish speaking". And now I am here and am almost half way done. It seems so crazy to me what the Lord had in store for my life. I am so grateful for this past year of my life and the many miracles and blessings I have seen because of it.

A mission changes you in ways you didn't think were possible.

This past week was so great! We had so much success.

We actually started the week off with exchanges with the Sister Training leaders which was kind of fun! I went English so I was happy, (it is hard teaching all by yourself! It is rough!), and so I went to Norfolk for the day. I had lots of fun. We went and taught this lady named Phyllis who I actually found! My first week that I was here we had been tracting close to the bay and Phyllis said she would be interested. So we gave the referral over to English. And now her and her granddaughter have baptismal dates! =) It was nice to see that this person I met, knocking some doors, is now getting closer and closer to baptism! Making a covenant with her father in heaven. =)

We also had the chance to teach some cute little kids. One of their Recent Converts has a little boy who is about to turn 8 so they are teaching him the lessons. We had an incredible lesson on the plan of salvation, and it was so cute when this little boy realized that he gets to see his dad again (he died last year). It was so cute to hear him say how much he loved his dad and just can't wait to see him again. I loved that lesson so much! =)

We had lots of other little lessons throughout the day and even had a chance to do service which was different because as Spanish missionaries I feel we rarely are given service opportunities. But I was sure happy to come back and be back to my area and my companion and of course to the Spanish people. For some reason it was so difficult for me to teach in English. . it just didn't flow as smoothly. I am extremely grateful for the gift of tongues and the chance I have to serve the Spanish people here.

We had many miracles come from this exchange. Hermana Sahleen had the chance to teach a few of our investigators we haven't been able to see in a while. And she even gave us a new Investigator! =)

We had the chance to teach Jay and Nico this week! We had a pretty good lesson with them. We talked about the plan of salvation and about the importance of this life especially. We talked about baptism and they didn't accept a date. They said they felt like the need more time to know the gospel. Which is really great to me that these teenage boys feel like they need to truly understand something before they enter into this covenant. So even though we don't have anyone set for baptism it is amazing to see them preparing themselves so fully to become a member. =)

We had a great lesson with two new investigators. We knocked their trailer last week and they told us to come back Saturday. So we go back and meet the mom, maria for the first time. So we start having a lesson with her and she is kind of into it but not at the same time. Then her husband comes in from working outside and joins the lesson. Then he was telling us all about how he saw missionaries before and how he really respects our religion and things like that. it was really neat. He said he is catholic and will never change but out of respect he listens to other religions. Since he joined us so late we decided since we were basically out of time that we would just share the Book of Mormon. It was really neat because their hearts were so softened. He really was intrigued by the Book of Mormon and was willing to read the introduction. We are really excited because we see so much potential with them! =) They are both so nice and I can see many miracles coming from their family. =)

 We also had a pretty good lesson with Carmen. She is the mother of a less active. She is probably in her 70's. She is VERY Catholic. But we had a really great conversation on faith and she seems like she has a little interest. They actually are having us over for lunch tomorrow too. Hopefully we can make some progress in this family.

 We did have the chance to do some service this week too! We helped Hna. Oswald move to a new apartment and it was nice to have a little change to missionary work. =)

Well, sorry that this week sounds kind of boring. .

Not too many crazy exciting things are happening. . just the same old same old with missionary work. Just out here trying to help some people come closer to Christ. ;)

I hope you all are having a great week!

I know that some really special people in my life are celebrating their birthdays this week and just had their birthdays! July brought so many really neat people into this world. I am so grateful for them!

I want to wish, Graycie Lou, Diva Dearest, and Katie Hoggan a very happy birthday! And most importantly my sweet mommy dear! I love you all and hope you have a wonderful birthday! Don't celebrate too crazily. . ;) I know you and you all can get pretty wild.

I love all of you and am so grateful for your support in my life. I wouldn't be where I am today without all of you and I am thankful for that! You are such great examples! Keep sharing the Gospel and being wonderful people!

Remember who you are and where you came from,

the church is true!

Love,

Hermana Gray

Feliz Un Ano Hermana Sahleen! =)

Hello Family and Friends!

This week just seemed to fly by! I can't believe that it is already Preparation day again! It just seems to come more and more quickly.

This week we had lot of fun!!

Hermana Sahleen hit her Year Mark! Which is just weird since the first time I met her she was only out for about 6 months. . so that is just weird! But we had lots of fun. I made her a birthday brownie, Made her blow out a candle and everything. ;)

This week we also had a branch activity on Saturday called 'sacerdocio en accion' or 'priesthood in action' the branch played soccer. It was a pretty good turn out. All the people that came though weren't in our area so that was a bummer but it was still fun to watch them all play soccer and talk to the members and their friends. Sadly we didn't get approval to play from president so we just had to be watchers. . =(

Although Collin will be proud. . All those years of kicking around outside with him finally paid off! So before the tournament we as missionaries and a little of the branch were just kicking the soccer ball around for a little bit. Trying to score against the goalie. Yeah totally made it. Anyways, afterwards Jose (our missionary leader), was like Hermana Gray do you play soccer? Oh yes. .  a Hispanic asked me if I play soccer. I take that as one of the biggest compliments I can get. =)

This week was pretty great!

We are finally seeing success from all our diligent work. We had three member present lessons this week, which honestly doesn't seem like a whole lot I know but THREE! haha. We went from zeroes to a three this week. Yep, amazing.

We had a really great lesson with Jay and Nico, two teenage-ish boys we are teaching. They are so sweet. Always such gentlemen. haha. We had the chance to teach them a little of the Plan of Salvation while we waited for Sister Ingles (their caretaker right now) to get home. Nico had a question about limbo the previous time (and surprisingly I didn't know what that was so then I had to have someone explain it to me! So the plan was the perfect next lesson!). But he really understood the plan after and just was like that makes so much more sense! They both really doubt the love of god which is so sad to me. It is hard for me to comprehend that others don't understand they have a loving Heavenly Father who wants the best for them. That is one thing that I have learned so much about on the mission. I know for sure that Heavenly Father is there and loves each and everyone of us! We were waiting for her to get home to watch the Testaments with their family for a family home evening. It was really fun!

This week we also had a really great member present lesson. We were visiting a less active named Jorge and his mom was there so we talked about the Libro de Mormon and they both participated so much! It was so great. We had originally planned to watch Finding Faith with them but their DVD player wasn't working. So that was a good back up plan the spirit had for us.

We had a crazy experience this week while tracting. We had tried to tract this one trailer park near the beach. Anyways we meet this guy named Dean-o. haha. Okay CRAZY! So we knock, start speaking to him in Spanish, isn't Hispanic, haha. Whoops. Come out and listens a little to us anyways, but he really was just trying to fight a little but at the same time he was trying to flirt with us which made it even better. So we are just trying so hard to share a little of the Restoration with him but he keeps changing subjects.

He then proceeds to compliment our eyes, he really had a thing for Hermana Sahleen (I think he thought I was irritated at him, which he was kind of annoying haha). So he tells both of us that our eyes just remind him of the ocean and then he says, my eyes are brown and they aren't pretty, so then he asks us what we think of his eyes and Hermana Sahleen just looks at him, "Dirt". haha. I about lost it. He was really kind of creeper though. Kept on inviting us on a date that weekend and he would show us a night on the town 'New York style', etc. It was just awkward and hilarious at the same time. So then we try to leave, and he is protesting us leaving. we just stand up stick out our hands. No a handshake wouldn't do, he goes in at Hermana Sahleen for a hug and then proceeds to try to kiss her. haha. Oh man I was dying. It was so funny. Her reaction was HILARIOUS! =) Make me laugh still thinking about it! =)

We also had the most awkward dinner of my life. . a member had taken us out to dinner since his wife was sick. So he takes us to an all you can eat buffet. Then expects us to eat like three plates worth of food to make it 'worth it' but he ordered his meal to go and ours to stay so then he wants to leave so he can eat, and is trying to rush us eating but at the same time wants us to eat like three plates. It was just so awkward. We were like. . . ummmm.. it was good though. =)

This week we have been doing a little bit of tracting but we have started to see some great success from our labors. We had about 13 referrals this week which was a LOT for us! Mostly just helping us pin-point where the Hispanics live. A referral is a referral. We were a little bummed since we went to try to see this lady again and she was home but just didn't answer. Those are always the worst since the first time you meet them they are so excited and then they don't listen the next time. But that is the life of the missionary!

Right now Hermana Sahleen and I have a really intense bet going on with the elders. We are trying to reach our goal of talking to five people each day while going to appointments and what not and if we don't reach it then the elders said we have to sing a duet in District Meeting, which is not a good idea since both of us CANNOT sing. haha. ;) So lets just say we have lots of motivation to get the message out. The elders are now part of it too. So they have to sing if they don't meet it. Yeah lots of motivation is happening right now. =)

I am trying to think. . not too much else happened this week. Just the normal missionary life, I suppose. Getting up studying, preaching the gospel, etc. =)

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Keep up all the good things in life, read your scriptures, go to church, and say your prayers, and always remember the church is true! And that a missionary in Virginia is always here! I love you all and hope you have an excellent week!

Love,

Hermana Gray

p.s. I am in third Nephi as a mission and I am LOVING it! I love the chapter where Christ blesses the little children. I feel like I have come to know my Savior so much better as a missionary. I know that he loves each and everyone of us. He is our Savior and through him we can return to God our Heavenly Father. Come to learn more of your Savior this week! It will surprise you as you read how little we actually know. =)

someone brings free bread each week to church!  So we always have bread

free slurpee day!

branch activity "sacerdocio en accion"

Hna Sahleen hits one year! :)

crazy rain storm

the elders and Jose our mission leader.. he doesn't like cameras. haha

New Address

Hello everyone!

This will be my new address for the next transfer:

 

4605 Edwardian Ct

Virginia Beach, VA 23455

 

Love you all and hope to hear from you soon! =)

Happy Fourth of July!

Hello dearest family and friends,

This week was pretty great! It was a little weird because we didn't have that much of an opportunity to do too much missionary work. Which was a bummer. We had fun though and that is what counts! =)

Tuesday was good. We had a lesson with a man named Alberto. He is super nice and is always telling us the neatest things and his testimony is just so strong. We went over the baptismal interview questions just to kind of see where he is at. He receives the lessons both here and in New Jersey since he works as a bus driver. He just has such a wonderful testimony of the gospel. It is kind of a bummer though since we have to give him back to the elders due to some boundary changes in our area. Bummer having to give up our progressing investigator. haha. Lame. But we will find a new one and get over it. :) Tuesday was also deep clean so we attacked our apartment pretty good. It is kind of a ghetto apartment so it was pretty gross to clean. But it looks a lot better than before. It really just needs a new paint job to help it out to be honest. . maybe I can convince them to let us buy paint. haha. I am such a pro painter and all. They would be impressed by my skills. ;) This night we also had dinner at a members home. It was kind of weird because it was American food. . HAMBURGERS! What in the world. I was confused. But it was actually really delicious, and it was kind of crazy because their grill caught on fire at one point. It was insane!

Wednesday we had the chance to visit a recent convert in our area. Had a short lesson with her and then we tried to visit some formers all day. The most exciting moment was this lady was getting her mail from the community mail boxes and she gets stung by a wasp. . so I see her doing this crazy dance thing trying to get her mail. So I killed the bee for her. =) She was making me laugh. I helped a lady get her mail though so I felt accomplished that day. ;)

Thursday we did weekly planning, which if you don't know what that is we take three hours and plan for our investigators for the whole week. Think about them etc. it is nice but also gets a little boring week after week. We try to make it fun though. and of course we went for ice cream for comp inventory so that made it worth it right there. =)

We also visited with Angie! She is a lady who was taking the lessons than moved to Texas but now is back and so we are teaching her again. She wants to be baptized next month but in Texas so that is a bummer. Since only the missionaries here have taught her. But we understand. All her family who are members live in Texas so she wants them to be there. She is super nice though! We are teaching her tonight. She only has like 5 lessons left before she can be baptized. So she is really progressing and she is just firm in her testimony. She is on fire! =)

The Fourth of July was really fun! Although it was a bummer. The night before we were on Hurricane warning, and a storm hit at about 2 in the morning.

A part of our mission was evacuated in North Carolina. They apparently were on strong hurricane watch and were evacuated from their areas. So we are lucky we were still here but  it made it so our plans, going to the activities at Mt. Trashmoore all were pushed back to Saturday. . so than we couldn't go! LAME! But we tried to make it fun. Holidays on a mission just aren't the same. haha. But it was good.

We had zone meeting that day and after we went to Chilis since it's a holiday and all. Got to live a little. ;) So we had lunch and then we decided to try to go to downtown Norfolk and see a museum or something but they were all closed for the fourth so that was a bust. So since we were downtown for mileage sakes we were like we have to do something! So we decided to go to a cemetery. .. =) Yes we are weird! It was actually super fun! We found some neat headstones and it was interesting since it was so old a lot of the headstones had broken and stuff. There is some neat history there. I liked it a lot.

We then came back and decided to go to the dollar store and we bought mugs and sharpies and colored them. haha. We needed something to do. Everything was closed! And here they aren't allowed to shoot fireworks. So there weren't very many in the sky that night.

Friday was really great though. We had interviews with President Baker. And then while our companion was being interviewed you would do a role play with sister baker. It was pretty hilarious. It was on the adjusting to missionary life handbook and awkward companion situations. I just laughed. I told her all about my Dr. Pepper addiction though. ;) Told her I have to have my Dr. Pepper in the fridge. Makes me feel better. ;) Still an addict. =)

That day we went and visited this less active named Jorge. He was hilarious. He was SO excited to have us in his home. Telling us all about his conversion and how he just loved when the elders would come visit. Although he wants us to teach his mom. So that was neat.

That night we had permission to stay out until 10:30 if we had a member with us to go to the fireworks. So we went with this nice lady from our branch and her kiddos. Went to Mt. Trashmoore which is the highest "mountain" in this part of VA. haha. a whole 75 ft above sea level. Yep. . that's a mountain for you! But the firework show was INCREDIBLE! Probably the best I have ever seen!

The sky was so clear! They didn't have anything blocking the view. It would reflect off the pond. It was just a great firework show! I was really impressed. =)

Sunday was good. We had an investigator at church. She enjoyed it. We also went to this family named the Jacobs for dinner. It was acutally pretty good. The best lasagna I have had on my mission. still not as good as mom's, no worries there. But it was good. It was really healthy though. She is a health nut and so everything we ate was like gluten free and really health conscious. She made a really good juice though and I helped a little so I can probably make it when I get home. This pineapple lemon juice. It was delicious.

Well, That was really about all of my week. Not too exciting. But it was fun! I hope you all had a wonderful fourth of July! =) you all sound so happy and look like you are having a blast this summer!

Love you all,

Hope you have a wonderful week!

Hermana Gray