My week in a nutshell

Hello Family and Friends!

This week was just crazy jam packed with things to do but at the same time nothing too crazy to report. We just worked and worked and worked!

I am trying to leave it ALL on the table. I am SO tired... haha. It makes me feel good though. I can't believe how quickly all of this is coming to an end. Thankfully Heavenly Father is looking out for me and giving me PLENTY to do before the dreaded day comes (okay... that sounds horrible! I am excited to see you but hate seeing the mission slowly end! I mean... what other time in my life can I help people come unto Christ everyday without other things interfering?!?!). Anyways...

This week we saw so many miracles! And just had funny things happen throughout the week.

We had the chance to do service at Ruthie's Kitchen. We helped our ward feed the homeless/needy and afterwards we had the chance to sit with them and eat dinner with them. It was fun to see the love that God has for all of his children. No matter their circumstance. God loves ALL of us so much! I had the opportunity to talk to a man for a good thirty minutes all about Christ and God and his beliefs. He didn't accept a Book of Mormon or a Finding Faith in Christ Dvd. But it was a wonderful experience to see his love for God and Christ be strengthened in the short time I talked with him.

This week we also had another neat miracle occur!

We were trying to see Alex, a less active member, and so we knock his door and his roommate, Tony, answers. Tony is not a member and knows SO MUCH about the church from living with Alex for the past 5 years. Tony sees that there is three of us and immediately invites us in. As we are talking with him we decided to talk about faith. In doing so we each shared a short experience about how faith in Jesus Christ has helped us in this life. He was very animated. We didn't have too much time because we needed to get home. I left him with a description of what happens in Alma 32 about a seed growing, etc. Then I committed him to read it before the next lesson.

Which happened to be set for the next day!

We weren't sure if Tony would be there or not or if it would just be alex so we prepared two different lesson plans.

Tony was there and he had READ!!! He LOVED the chapter!

He was soaking it all in. We then directed the lesson towards Tony and taught him the Restoration. Alex was also a participant in the fact that throughout the lesson he would clarify certain points and also bare a powerful testimony. The spirit was incredible!

We invited Tony to be baptized. Although he didn't set a date he did accept the invitation. He said that he would ask in prayer if this was something that he should do.

We have a return appointment with him tomorrow night!

Carlos is a really wonderful potential investigator! He has already come to church for the last month and a half but we haven't been able to teach him because he is beyond busy! We have lessons scheduled then he will call us about twenty minutes before and apologize saying he has to work late or that he can't do it anymore.

He was at church on Sunday and he told us, "I want to be baptized" (he's told us this before). So we are like 'that is so wonderful! can we come visit with you on Tuesday. Then while we are at church two other members tell us 'carlos wants to be baptized'. Then Torin... the one member who speaks Spanish, says to us all confused "Carlos told me to tell you that he wants to be baptized. . ."

And in my mind I am thinking... what is with this today! So I say to Torin all confused "yeah, I know, he's told us... we have a lesson with him on Tuesday." haha.

After church Brother Balladares comes up to us and is like Carlos wants to be baptized. Then I tell Brother balladares the same thing. (confusing right). Then Brother balladares tells carlos, 'well the sisters said they are coming to teach you a lesson on Tuesday".

I think at that point it clicked in Carlos's head that we have to come teach him lessons before he can be baptized. He was like 'oh' well how long is it until I can get baptized? what do I have to do? etc.

I can just say that he is OVER-READY to be baptized! He was so sweet. He then told us.. well I have Monday night off too... can you come then too?

so yes, we are Definitely teaching Carlos! =)

We had a really wonderful yet sad lesson with Eduardo and Fernando. It was really a tough one. Fernando is struggling a lot and we are hoping to help him. Eduardo was so sweet throughout the whole lesson. He kept giving encouragement to Fernando and would bear the sweetest testimony to him about living commandments, going to church, etc. It was a great lesson! It was difficult to see Fernando struggling so much though. The day before we felt like we should invite Brother Bloss to the lesson on the off chance that he could come. And I know exactly why. . . he inspired the lesson. We were talking and something he said triggered Fernando's real concerns. It was neat to see him then proceed to confide in us some of the struggles he is going through. Brother Bloss then gave him a blessing to help provide him with strength and so forth. I was truly blessed to see that little miracle occur in life.

English Class was pretty great this week! Finally we had a good crowd show up again. Rudy told me that I need to call him after the mission and talk to him in English so that he can continue to better with it. haha. He makes me laugh. They then tried to teach me how to say the name of the city that all of them are from in Guatemala.. lets just say I epically failed! They were laughing at me but all is well! =)

I am LOVING the mission.

We have such wonderful zone leaders right now. Elder Terril is still here (we've both been in our areas for forever. haha. Definitely are the 'oldies' in this zone). But we had a really fantastic zone meeting.

Our zone leaders gave really great trainings on Faith and how can we have faith and increase our faith.

So the zone meeting at this point has been great... really strong... then you see Elder Terril get SUPER excited... he just says 'I have been holding this all in until now."

Then they told us President Baker's goal for May.

We are calling it "MIRACLE MAY" because our vision as a mission is for each companionship to have a baptism in May! I KNOW this can happen. I am excited to see the miracles that are coming from this. I felt so inspired at that meeting... I can already see so many miracles opening up in our area. We have to have the faith to get all of our investigators to that point. I can see it now! =)

I am so grateful to have these last four weeks to help all those around me come unto Christ. I truly am leaving it ALL in the mission field. Letting each person I talk to know that without a doubt I have a testimony of this church. Of a true, modern-day prophet. That revelation continues to be revealed in this time and day. I am so grateful for my membership in this church. I know the difference it has made in my life and I see the difference it makes in those I teach. They can feel the power of the holy ghost.

I am so grateful for all of you and the support you give me.

I'm sorry I don't have anything too crazy exciting to report on this week! But I know that the blessings I am receiving are in part because I have such a wonderful support system.

I love y'all! Have a blessed week.

Love,

Hermana Gray

That awkward encounter at the gas station...

Hello family!

So yes, I feel like as a missionary I am constantly running into random people who do weird things in this world. Especially this week considering we were trying to apply the tactic of talking to everyone! We wanted to get 100 IO's but fell a little short of our goal... bummer! But we did see some wonderful miracles!

But to the gas station... I am out filling the car and my companions are out there learning how to do it so that they know.. they get back in the car while I finish the rest of it. Anyways this Hispanic guy happens to be at the pump across from us so he says hello, I say hello back and then ask him if he speaks Spanish. He then proceeds to come across the little curb thing inbetween the pumps, continues to talk to me, takes my hand and as we are shaking hands pulls me in to kiss me on the cheek. I was a little taken a back but just at this point whatever. So I continue talking to him, realize it is someone we have met before and I continue to invite him to watch the HeLives video on Mormon.org. He was super nice. Anyways at this point when my companions are watching from the car they were like 'if he did anything more we were going to get out of the car and save you!' so he proceeds to rub my back a little do that weird grab your arm thing. haha. So our greenie gets out of the car and comes over and he then shakes her hand and kisses her on the cheek. Hermana Earl just decided to stay on the opposite side of the car to be safe from kisses. haha. (although she did make eye contact with the other guy at the other pump who proceeded to give her a weird look and she just made that 'I don't understand what's happening either' shrug). It was hilarious. Our poor greenie was a little mortified though. =) What can I say... welcomed her to the field real good!

This week was a little chaotic with conference and transfers, but it was really good. I received so much guidance and lots of inspiration which will be wonderful to help me through this last transfer!

Tuesday all of our appointments ended up falling through so literally we walked Manteo all day and just talked to people outside. It was good. We ended up finding a less active member! We knocked Franck's door and were trying to find him but then this less active opens the door. He proceeds to talk to us, tells us he was baptized in Peru when he was about ten but fell away due to gospel things he didn't understand (like proxy baptisms, pologamy, etc). We then took the time to clear those things up with him and he was like 'wow, this all makes sense!' We got his information and are planning on meeting up again with him this week to help him with other questions he has.

We also found a really great potential investigator. His name is Antonio. He was outside mowing his lawn and yes, definitely stopped him and talked to him. He was really grateful. He said he was going to come to church on Sunday, and we even explained general conference to him. We are going to see why he didn't come to church yesterday and also teach him this week sometime. :)

Wednesday we picked up our Greenie!

Hermana Earl and I rode with a member to Portsmouth to go to the Trainer's meeting. As we were a little early (45 minutes... haha. the member thought it wa a different building!). We were waiting when all the greenies showed up and considering only two 'sisters' came in it was really easy to figure out that Hermana Limb was ours (she was the only Spanish missionary that came in!). It was fun!

She is from Idaho. She is 19 and is just super sweet and enthusiastic about the work. She is embracing Spanish for all it's worth.

It makes me a little sad that I will only be here for half of her training but I know that Hermana Earl will finish her training well. It will be interesting being in a trio and training. haha. But it is working fine.

We did take her to teach a lesson her first night. We visited with Jasmine and taught the restoration to her in it's fullness. It was INCREDIBLE! Jasmine was feeling the spirit so strong. . things were just clicking in her head. I was impressed. Then Hermana Limb even extended the baptismal question! TWICE! She said she didn't know the first time then we talked more about baptism and what it entails then she re-extended it! Although Jasmine didn't say yes, we have her praying about the idea. She was nervous to tell her parents, especially her mom because tey are all very catholic. But we told her it would be the best decision she ever makes.

The highlight of the week was of course General Conference!

We had the chance to listen to a PROPHET of god... yes, mind blown!

It was truly incredible. 

It broke my heart a little to hear those people yell 'oppose' during the second session. But it just made me truly realize that we have to be truly converted to the gospel of Christ. Christ established the church through prophets and apostles. We have a living day prophet and apostles. They speak the words of God the Father and Jesus Christ, why would we oppose them? It is only if our hearts are hardened against the guidance and counsel they are giving us.

I know that the words and talks shared this last conference were inspired. I hope yall take the time to study them out in your hearts and minds. Read them... re read them. I know you will receive answers to prayers... I DID!

Some of the talks I especially enjoyed this last conference were those of Brent H. Nielson (prodigal son),Jeffrey R.  Holland, D. Todd Christofferson, David A. Bednar, Boyd. K. Packer, and Henry B. Eyring. . .

Just to name a few!

I love yall!

Hope you have an excellent week!

As always,

Hermana Gray

elder Terril

Our zone leaders...haha

me with the Elders, who are also from Lehi.  Whoot Whoot... go district