Feb 23, 2015

You can tell I'm an addict....

Wright Memorial

Kissed this man because clearly we all can thank him for flights. :)

This is what I look like when I sleep in this igloo of a house

Today/Aquarium

Aquarium

Que hermosa fue este dia.

And another one bites the dust...

Well folks, This transfer has officially ended.... Crazy sauce!

I can't believe it has been 6 weeks already from saying goodbye to the Hermana Juanhijo and the Hermana Valdez... that just blows my mind. I have also been dreading the change of transfers because now I can say that I officially have one transfer left after this. . . yes folks, we are on the last 12 weeks of my mission. That just boggles my mind. I just have 'training' time left. What kind of joke is that?

Anyways, My week wasn't all that bad, not all that wonderful either. haha. But I guess as a missionary you get the best of both worlds right?!? =)

We have been really struggling with getting lessons because all of our investigators are male and so we need a third female to come with us but then it is hard too because they work so much they don't really know their work schedule so they will just randomly be ready to have a lesson so we have to try and scramble to find someone to come. They don't really have firm schedules either because it changes so often. But we are enduring and one day we will have consistency! :)

Although this week MIRACLES occurred... we had FIVE, yes FIVE Hispanics at church! Friends... that is a MIRACLE!

We have been working with a bunch of less actives for a while now. Slowly but persistently. They are all so wonderful. We saw three of them at church.

Two ladies we have been visiting each week for the whole time I have been here came! We also had Fernando, our recent convert at church, Eduardo was sick this week. :( Then we also had a really great potential investigator come to church. His name is Carlos. He was a member referral. He works at Spencer yachts and actually took the lessons a few years ago, then went back to peru, and is back and wants to take them again! :) So wonderful. He has come to church the last two weeks but he is in between homes right now so he can't meet with us yet. He moves in to his new place in a week or two though so we are holding out for him. He can do it!

It was so fun to see everyone at church,

When you go and visit them throughout the week and they tell you they are coming it was really neat to see them actually come.

We visited Hermana Diaz this week with the Relief Society President. We sat down to teach her a lesson and just talk for a while. She just jumps in before the message and says to us that she is coming to church on Sunday, bringing her Sister-in-law Maria, and also another less active, Hermana Midgett. It was incredible. Then we talked to Hermana midget after and she was like oh good I am going to call her and make sure she is coming to give me a ride. It was fun to see them so excited to come to church! I was happy for them. They only stayed for sacrament but they said they were coming back next week and also are planning to stay for all three hours next week too. :) Whoot whoot!

This week we also drove to Virginia on Tuesday to have a Sisters Conference with the whole mission. It was really fun to all get together. I didn't know over half the sisters because they were all new. It was fun to see the Hermanas though and also Sister Carlson. I talked to Hermana Brugman for a little while and it was weird because we are both coming on the down hill slope. We talked about the CCM for a little bit and seeing each other there. It was neat.

The Conference was really excellent.

Sister Baker gave us an excellent training that morning on giving ourselves to the work. And related it to the story of the young prince. Then we had different trainings by the different Sister Training Leader companionships. It was nice to have that time to learn more and also just to relax a little. President Baker gave a really really great training, he was pretty hilarious too. He did a slide show of different pictures of them through the years, and a lot of his daughter and related it to how we all are like his daughters and he just wants us to have Joy in this life and how that is exactly like Heavenly Father. It was a really great training. His topic basically to sum it down was... "what brings Heavenly Father joy?. . . YOU!'.

It was a great conference, fun to see all the sisters there. I really truly enjoyed it.

District meeting was different... the elders were asked to give a specific training from our Sister Training Leaders and I was ticked abuot the topic. Especially because on exchanges the week before they did what they were preaching against the week before with Hermana Earl. So I was bugged and Elder Marinos our district leaders was confused about the topic too. He was like I don't feel like any of yall are doing that. So I was irritated. Luckily the Elders are the best and had brought me (well all the sisters a candy bar), and they brought me a Dr. Pepper too. haha. I was the only one with a drink and a candy bar. :) Dr pepper addiction to the max right there!

Valentines consisted of heart attacking a lot of doors and just trying to talk to people. It was good though.

I love yall very much. I hope you have a wonderful week and remember how important you are to your Heavenly Father.

Como siempre,

Hermana Gray

p.s. Thanks to my wonderful home ward who has been taking care of my mama so well! I truly appreciate it. Yall are so kind and generous! =)

A note that we left to the husband of he relief society president when we heart attacked their door for valentines.  We are hilarious, at least we think we are.

Brrr!!!!

Las familias pueden ser eternas

Hello Family and Friends,

I first off want to just give my family a HUGE hug and tell you all I love you. I miss you lots, especially this weekend. Know I was there in spirit and I know that families really can be together forever.

I found out about Grandpa's death on Friday morning. We had zone meeting and President Baker and Sister Baker were present. We had a good zone meeting in which they talked about our new planning system to do weekly planning (confusing a smidgen and WAY different.... but I guess it will all be for the better in the end), my only sadness that came from these new plans was the fact that I have to use PENCIL for every planning.... I will miss my pens. Anyways, but we had this really good zone meeting and we talked about a 40 day fast as missionaries too.

The whole time I felt like President Baker kept looking at me with this concerned look on his face, And I am just thinking, oh great (since I am asking so many questions about this new method) president baker thinks that I am against it, I am going to rebel! haha.

No, afterwards he approaches me and says, "Hermana Gray I need to talk to you." And you know that moment when your heart hits your stomach. I just knew, Because of the emails last Monday and then hearing those words again, I just knew.

It was a weird sensation having him say the actual words. He took me into the Stake President's office and I had the chance to talk with him for a couple of  minutes. He did tell me that yall were doing good. And he also told me that he actually knew my grandfather. It was really neat for him. He said that he really admired my grandpa for all the things he had done in his life and related how he was such a wonderful man. I also received a priesthood blessing from my District Leader and felt more at peace.

I did tell President Baker that he is no longer allowed to come to any meetings. ;) I told him that whenever he shows up at my district meeting or zone meeting a death occurs. haha. He did promise me that if another death occurs and he does tell me he would do it Before the meeting so the whole next meeting I don't have to stress about that. ;) He is a funny guy. Although I am partly serious even though I said it jokingly. What are the odd chances that he was coming to both of the meetings. . . President Baker is inspired! I am truly loved by a Heavenly Father.

This week wasn't the best week of my life I will admit to that. In all honesty it kind of sucked and was rough. Makes everyone want to be a missionary right? :)

We started out the week without a car. Our car was getting fixed because someone had dinged our door. We were without a car... we were supposed to get it back on Tuesday, or early Wednesday. Supposed to being the key words. We actually got it back about 5:00 Thursday evening, which really puts missionary work at a stand still. haha.

Because we were without a car this week for most of it, we had to bum rides off of others (aka the Sisters). We hitched a ride to Manteo one of the days and ended up meeting this really neat guy while we were walking around because our appointment fell through.

We were walking down Elsie Daniels and came across a man outside, his name is Felix. I approached him (he lives in a bright green trailer, I've talked to his wife before). Anyways I told him how we share a message about how families can be together forever. Then he just went off. He had question after question. It was incredible. I told him some of our beliefs. We talked about the basics of the plan of salvation. He had deep questions, some about a Heavenly Mother, and also simple questions. We talked to him for about 1/2 an hour and committed him to read the plan of salvation folleto and also to pray. He is a really good potential! He couldn't give us a good time to come back because he didn't know his work schedule.

We also met a man named Carlos this week. He is a friend of a less active member, Hermana chinchilla. He works for Spencer Yachts and apparently has come to church in the past. He said that he wanted to come back to church and start taking the lessons again. But right now he is working on getting a place, so we are struggling with having a place to teach him. He showed up at church though! He was really interested too. I'm excited for him. He told us he wants to be baptized and still wants to be baptized. Apparently he wanted to in the past but since he was living with a woman he couldn't unless they separated living together or got married. We are going to start working with him though.

We also went on exchanges this weekend. It was a rough start. We had miscommunication about the whole exchange and I got frustrated and was really bugged by some things that were happening. But we survived. I had lots of fun with sister Bowen too. We found us a new investigator.

His name is Eduardo (surprising right?), we actually teach him English at Spencer Yachts. He is really nice. We originally were trying to teach a less active (the one we found outside), in his home because the less active's home is being remodeled. Then we called him, we were all good for the lesson. The next day he was super sick and didn't tell us so we showed up at Eduardo's but we had the chance to teach Eduardo a little. He was super scattered the whole lesson but we will have the chance to help him learn more about the gospel. We shared about the book of Mormon and committed him to read the introduction. He said he would. He was so surprised that there is another testament of Christ on the earth. And that Christ visited the people in the Americas.

Church was the highlight of my week! It was INCREDIBLE!!!! =)  

Eduardo and Fernando both received the Aaronic priesthood. They were SO SO happy!!! I was so excited to see them take this step in their lives. Eduardo was ordained first and he had the chance to stand in the circle when Fernando received the priesthood. Afterwards Torin helped Eduardo bless the sacrament. It was really a special experience.

That evening we also went over with the Bruce's and taught them a lesson on the atonement. It was incredible to feel the presence of the priesthood in that home. I could tell a difference from previous lessons and I know it was because they both had the power and authority of the priesthood.

I often forget how blessed I was to have a priesthood holder in my home growing up. I am so grateful, especially this week, for the knowledge of the priesthood and the power that it gives me. I have been blessed all throughout my life with wonderful examples of priesthood holders in my life. Thank you! Especially to my wonderful Dad for always being able to exercise the priesthood and my two brothers, my wonderful brother-in-laws, and also my grandpas. I am grateful for the influence, the comfort, the peace that the priesthood can bring into our lives.

It was a special experience to hear both Eduardo and Fernando testify of the priesthood. They are both learning and growing so much. They are completely different people since the first day I met them and you can tell it is because the spirit of God dwells with them.

I love you all so much.

This week is a week to remember Love. The true love that each of us can feel and is a part of our lives. I am so grateful for each and everyone of you. :)

I am sorry that during this hard week of your lives that I wasn't there. I was there in spirit. I definitely could feel of your love here. It is something different to bare testimony of the plan of salvation, especially now as it is so near and dear to my heart. Know that I know our family is eternal. We will see all of our loved ones again. 

I forgot to bring Grandpa's book with me, but in the back of his book there is a few poems. I read one that he titled memories. 

It made me really reflect on the true meaning of memories, how they were created for us in times of joy and sorrow. To help us learn and grow. I hope you all take a few minutes today or tomorrow to reflect on some memories of Grandpa. He truly is one incredible man. Over the course of reading his life story I have learned so much about this man. He is one that I will never forget. Know that I love him very much, I am grateful for all the sacrifices and good decisions he made so that now my family can continue to be an eternal family. 

I know he will be putting people in our paths that we can influence, that we can share this knowledge with. I have been promised that both of my grandfathers will be putting those who are ready to hear the gospel in my path so that they too can have an eternal family. 

I love you, Happy Valentines Day! 

Las familias pueden ser eternas,

Hermana Gray 

Missionary--someone who leaves their family for a time so others can have their family for eternity.  

I thought this seemed appropriate, also considering that Grandpa was and is one of the greatest missionaries I know. I love you Grandpa! =)

Zone Pictures!

Touching a Jelly Fish

Yes family...a crab is on my hand! :)
I put it on my already scarred hand just in case.  ;)

Miracles Abound

Hello Family and Friends! 

This week miracles were just abounding. I am so grateful for all the wonderful miracles that Heavenly Father has been placing in our path as missionaries. I have realized that as a missionary you have the opportunity to witness so many things throughout the day and truly have an appreciation for the knowledge of the gospel. 

This week we had a break through! One of the less active families we visit really had a remarkable realization. We taught about prayer and scripture study and I did the little demonstration of balancing the nails on one nail. We talked about how the little things we do each day are the nails, with two of the nails representing the two things we should do each day, scripture study and prayer, and then the nail that is holding up all of it was Christ. We talked about how essential scripture study and prayer are to make the rest of our day fall into place. It was really incredible lesson and they both were very involved. Then they gave us two referrals of their friends, committed to feed us on friday (not even a week.... like two days later) and they came to a lesson with us! 

It was a MIRACLE. They came to a lesson with us to teach Elaudio. It went really well. They kept giving great explanations of the Restoration to him and really were bold about finding the answer for yourself. It was neat because he was saying how it is such a great demonstration of faith for Hermana Earl to speak spanish to him and he needs to exercise that same kind of faith to receive an answer to his prayers. it was intense. Elaudio didn't come to church because of work.... sad stuff. But he told us that he can meet with us again this week. So we aren't too worried. 

Oh and another neat thing, I took it to heart. As we were visiting with this less active family the brother stops hermana earl in the middle of the lesson, looks directly at me and goes off for a good five minutes about how I am the difference for this area. It was really intense.  He was like 'you are the missionary that we have made the best connection with in a while' it was really nice though. He pointed out just little things I had done in my short time here that he said were meaningful to him and his wife. It was super kind of him. He was like, I know it's you because it started when you came here and hasn't stopped with the change of missionaries. i was just in shock the whole time because it came from out of nowhere. haha. :)

This week we also had the chance to give some service. We helped a less active cut up some wood and stack it. We also helped clean the chapel. It was really a great week. 

We had a really great lesson with Jasmine and Eduardo. 

We were talking to Jasmine and she was just telling us all about life. How she wants to join the military when she graduates, her boyfriend, etc. (she is talking to us in english at this point so her mom doesn't understand). then we begin the lesson and are talking about the atonement. She doesn't have a belief in god really. She doesn't understand it etc. So we talked about that and how we can be forgiven of our sins etc. It was a really great lesson. Eduardo her brother, came in and sat in on it too. He was the real reason we were there I believe. 

We randomly asked him a question and I think he was super surprised that we recognized him listening in. He was trying to do it discreetly. :) But he participated. Then tells us how he has only been here for about a month. when he was leaving Honduras about a month before he left missionaries came in contact with him and he was meeting with them regularly. He said he thought it was a coincidence that he met us so soon here and how we are from the same church. :) :)

There is no such thing as a coincidence in my book... that is the hand of the Lord right there. They didn't set a return appointment because their life was so hectic right now but we are hopefully going to meet up with them again this week. :)

My life is going good. I am continually growing and learning each new day. I have been reading in the Joseph Smith History and it is remarkable how many items I can read the first vision, and still receive new inspiration and light. I hope you all take the time to truly ponder the first vision and what it means to you. I know that you will gain a greater appreciation for the gospel as you study the reason we have the restored gospel on the earth today. Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. He truly had a simple question that led to such a marvelous restoration of the gospel of jesus christ on the earth today. I know as you read the Book of Mormon and ponder it's teachings then ask God the father you can receive the same confirmation that I have so you can also boldly declare that the restored gospel is on the earth today. The priesthood authority of god is on the earth today. I promise you this. 

I love you all so much. I have a great appreciation for all you do for me. I am reminded especially this Valentine's season that I have a family who is so wonderful. They love me so much and I am eternally grateful for them. I am grateful that families are forever. 

Forget About Me, I Love You... simple as that. 

Love,

Hermana Gray

p.s. shout out to Brother Kelly, a dedicated reader. :) Thanks for all you do for us missionaries here in Nags Head!