Ice Cream and Grape Cider...not a bad day!

Family and Friends,

I think Ice Cream and Grape Cider is a wonderful way to celebrate the news that I received! Mom I told you, you would kick cancer in the butt!

President Baker called me and relayed all the information and believe me the stress that I didn't even realize was happening just went away! It as a RELIEF! When he called we happened to be praying... literally I just had started the prayer and you hear the *buzz *buzz..... Hermana Earl.... 'president baker'. I just stop praying and am like 'ANSWER IT!'.... poor heavenly father... I am not the greatest. :)

But we answer it he tells me all the wonderful news! Mom I never thought I would cheer that you just had cancer in your lung either... weird concept to think about but true. =)

We headed up to our investigators home and talked to her... she was doing homework and was super busy because of school and sports so we just talked to her for a little bit. She did add me as a facebook friend. (glad to know I am still popular!?). ;) She was really excited to see us. She has been reading in the book of Mormon! She is the best. Her name is Jasmine and she is 17. This week we are going to take her to have dinner at a member's home. =)

After her visit though we did go and get ice cream! I bought us some samoa ice cream and then a sugar free ice cream for Sister McDonald so that we could all celebrate the good news! The sisters showed up with this grape cider stuff from a less active member. Overall it was a great way to celebrate. We even called the elders in our district to celebrate with us over the phone and the zone leaders. haha. Let's just say there are a lot of people over here praying for you mama!

This week we also had two really wonderful lessons with the Balladares family! They are so wonderful. We talked all about the temple and family history work. They are so nice. They are working hard to go to the temple with a name. =) Brother Balladares also told us of his experience baptizing his father (in the temple). It was NEAT! He also told us how he met Henry B. Eyring... anyways... those lessons were just incredible!

We also had a really great district meeting! Elder Marinos (our district leader) is going home next week so we brought stuff to 'celebrate' or just really an excuse to have a little bit of a party. haha. We had a really uplifting meeting, the spirit was definitely present. We just discussed all the things happening in our areas and asked how we could better help our investigators. It was neat. The Zone Leaders were also there and they are hilarious. We have Elder Terrill and Elder Sommer who are serious when they need to be but at the same time are just super funny. Then they are training Elder Jensen right now. Anyways we were talking about how a person they talked to asked if he could have a stack of Mormon.org cards to pass around, then they saw him giving some out. So we were saying how 'they should just follow him around and count all those cards as an IO (invite other)' mind you we are totally kidding and Elder Sommer and Terril both know that.... Then you hear Elder Jensen, 'well that wouldn't count as an IO.'

Then Elder Sommer just grins really wide and pats him on the back and says 'they are just kidding elder'.  Made me laugh so hard. He was so concerned about it. Super hilarious.

We visited Jackie earlier this week and we had a really wonderful lesson with her. We talked about the importance of prayer and just really communicated with her how much her Heavenly Father loves her and wants to hear from her. She was cooking and talking to us but she would just stop and ask the most sincere questions. Then listen then keep cooking. It was a really great lesson with her. She said the sweetest prayer at the end and said 'heavenly father, I am going to try really hard this week to say my prayers everyday. I am so sorry I haven't said them lately.'

She was ADORABLE! I wish sometimes that I could take the spirit that is in those lessons and just let you get a little taste of why missionary work is so incredible! Being a missionary is the best because you can always feel the spirit and help others to recognize it. Even on those really hard days they aren't all that bad. The spirit and our Heavenly Father are constantly with us missionaries and it is fun to have others realize that and crave that spirit that we have. It is a very humbling experience.

I spoke in Sacrament meeting! I was originally supposed to speak next sunday, but they needed me and sister McDonald to speak yesterday. It went decently considering I only had about a nights notice. Everyone said that I did really well though. I spoke on Charity and the love of God and Christ. It was a neat experience.

I love yall so much! I can't believe my time here is dwindling down. . .

I can't wait to see yall soon and feel of your presence. But for now I'll stick with being a missionary!

Remember you are in my prayers,

I love you

Hermana Gray

p.s. I GO TO THE TEMPLE WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! whoot shoot!

Sister Brakey is a sweetheart!  This showed up on my desk on Tuesday.

This is us celebrating!  After President Baker called me with the news about mom!  Yes, definitely went and got ice cream, and the sister had just gotten back from a members home who had given them like a sparkling grape juice type thing.  :)  Don't worry mama...I made a toast and everything! ;)

Guess what's open?