Earthquake and Hurricane in the SAME week!!!

Date: August 29, 2012
Area: Jamaica, Queens
Companion - Sister Alvarado


Dear Family,

So last year I was in a Tsunami in Hawaii, and this year and EarthQuake in New York and a Hurricane! Man I wonder whats next :) haha Oh the adventures in life :) They are just wonderful! Life is an adventure and we always have to be ready to take on whatever knocks on our door :)


Alright So Kyle guess what?! The earthquake happened on your birthday. So we were eating lunch at a members house Hermana Pratt from Columbia. When all of a sudden the table started to shake...then the floor...and then the house! Ha I was SO confused! Ah My heart was pounding like crazy! Everyone was so confused! Lol we talked people who were walking outside and asked if they felt it. Yes everyone felt it. Everyone that were in the Stores in Jamaica Avenue were scared and ran out of the stores! :) haha oh man this was just hilarious :)


So the next day we had exchanges with Hermana Fifield. We began knocking doors early in the morning and no luck. However its always that last door that will get cha :) So we were just about to head back to the apartment to go and eat lunch when we decided to knock one more door. To our surprize he let us in. His name was Donald and we were able to teach him the first lesson. He along with many had already been pondering the question as to why there were so many differerent churches. We were able to answer that question for him. He then said, " From the Earthquake yesterday everyone was super scared! And I know that you two missionarys coming to my house is a sign and I know that the Book of Mormon is my guide!" ~ Golden!! ha We invited him to be baptized and he happily accepted. We gave him the Book of Mormon and he was MORE than excited to read it! I am excited to keep working with him :)


We were able to have a really good lesson with Armando this week on the plan of Salvation. We were able to also have Hermano Celso with us teaching. He is a return missionary and was able to answer a lot of Armando's question. Armando was very happy to have that knowledge that he was going to be able to see his family and those who have passed on after this life. The spirit was SO strong in that room when we were able to bear testimony of the Plan of Salvation and the Book of Mormon. There is something so empowering when someone comes to know of their true idenity. When we know that we are literal sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father...something changes and we realize that we indeed have a purpose on this earth life.


Well as you all know there was a HURRICANE here in NY :) So we were not allowed to leave the apartment Saturday or Sunday. It was kind of an interesting experience. We were all safe and nothing happened to us - we are so protected as missionarys! Anyways at first I began thinking oh it would be a nice day off. As much as I love resting, it is SO much nicer to get out and WORK! For we all know that the secret to missionary work is WORK WORK WORK! However Sunday was a really really neat spiritual experience.


We were able to get ready as we normally would but with a different thing in mind. I wanted to make sure that I looked my best, and it was not to impress anyone or to just look good, however I was dressing up for the sacred ordinace that we were able to partake of which is the sacrament. The Elders were able to bring us the Sacrament and bless it as we partook of it. The sacrament is really such an incredible ordinance, something so special that the savior instituted himself. After the elders were able to bring the sacrament us four sisters were able to have our own little testimony meeting. And honestly it was one of the most POWERFUL testimony meetings that I have ever been in! My purpose was made known unto me again. I love this gospel! I am so grateful for the Priesthood and that we were able to partake of the sacrament.I feel bad for those who are less active because they are missing out on the most beautiful thing that we are able to partake of. This Church is real and is lead by our Savior himself. I have no doubt that this church is Gods Kingdom established on this earth!

This Church is TRUE!!


I love you all :)
Hermana Gray


One of my favorite scriptures for the week!


I am mindful of you always in my prayers, continually praying unto God the Father in the name of his Holy Child, Jesus, that he, through his infinite agoodness and bgrace, will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name to the end. ( Moroni 8:3)


Viva Jamaica! Let Transfer 3 begin :)

Last week of transfers

Date: August 22, 2011
Area: Jamaica, Queens

Companion - Sister Alvarado

Dear Family,

Alright first off I want to say HAPPY 17th Birthday Kyle :) I can not believe that you are that old! haha I hope that you have the BEST birthday ever tomorrow! I love you!!

Ok so this week was fantastic! Well lets see so we were finally able to teach this family who have been really welcoming and nice to us. When we told them that we had transfers coming up they got really sad. They said well if the lord wants you to stay you will stay :) So they are 7th Day apentist and the father Samuel had a LOT of questions that I do not know the answer to. But What I do know is... So it was really neat because I had opened the Bible to a certain scripture to answer one of his questions. However I was prompted by the spirit to not answer that question but to just bear plain and simple testimony of what I knew to be true. After both Me and my companion did this, he was silent. And He had completely forgotten the chain of questions that he had. We then invited him and his family to Church and surprizingly he did not object but said that if him and his family could, that they would love to. Also With our previous lesson with Samuel he said that he would not accept ANY other boook besides the Bible. So I was a little bit hestitant to ask him to read the book of Mormon. However when we were leaving I had the strongest impression to give him the Book of Mormon and ask him to read it. So as prompted I followed. And to my surprize he thanked me and said that he would lOVE to read it. There is SUCH great power in the Book of Mormon. There is NO other book, by which someone can get closer to Christ. I have truly fallen in love with the Book of Mormon on my mission. ( for anyone that knows me I am not much of a reader) ha but sometimes I cant put that book down!

So we were able to have a lesson with this Lady Mirium. She was contacted the transfer before I got here in May and my companion has not been able to get a hold of her. However we were knocking this one apartment building and right as we were leaving we say Mirium!! My companion and I got really excited and she said that she would LOVe to have us come over and visit tomorrow. So we came over the next day and she was SO excited she was talking to her Sister who was in El Salvador when we got there. So she handed me the phone so I was able to talk to her Sister in El Salvador. Her sister was SO excited that we were there and also the fact that the Temple in El Salvador was being dedicated :) So we were able to talk with Mirium and she said that she has been reading the Book of Mormon every day and that it gives us peace. She said that when it gets dark that she has a hard time reading so she asked us if we could read outloud from the Book of Mormon! Gladly :) So we read with her in 1st Nephi 18 about Nephi building the ship and his brothers and how wicked they were. Ha She loved it! It was also really neat to be able to stop and think about how we could apply the scriptures to our own personal lives.

We were able to visit Guido Gallardo our little less active cute guy from Chile! ha As always he took us Grocery Shopping! Love him! Anyways we were able to talk to him about the importance of reading the Book of Mormon :) Invited him to church again as usual. Anywho- So....He showed up for Church on Sunday! Honestly that IS A MIRACLE! ha I do not think that he has been to Church in YEARS! It was SO good to see him at Church!

Jose Martinez was able to recieve the Priesthood on Sunday! Honestly it was the coolest thing. I was able to feel on a small scale the Love that our Heavenly Father has for him and I know that he is SO pleased with his decision to be baptized :) Were going to the temple with him this week to do baptisms I cant wait!

Well Family my time is up! But I love you all and am So thankful for a family that is so supportive! I am thankful for the way that you have raised me mom and dad to love my scriptures and to truly gain my own personal testimony that He lives! I know that Joseph Smith saw the Father and Jesus Christ. I know with out a doubt that the Book of Mormon is True! I know that we can pray to a Heavenly Father who hears and answers our prayers! I love you all so much!!

Love

Hermana Gray

"If we will hold fast to the Church's proclamation on the family, we will see that we hold the jewels, as it were, that can enrich so many other things. Let the world go its own way on the family. It appears to be determined to do that. But we do not have that option. Our doctrines and teachings on the family are very, very powerful, and they are full of implications for all the people on this planet."

Neal A. Maxwell, "Insights from My Life," Ensign, Aug. 2000, 7

This week August 15, 2011

Date: August 15, 2011
Area: Jamaica, Queens

Companion - Sister Alvarado

Dear Family,

Well...its only been a short while since I wrote last...considering that our preparation day was on Thursday..so seems like I do not have too much to write. However Ill talk to you about what did happen.

Alright so we were able to have a really good lesson with Armando and Heraldo. Heraldo knows its true. You can see it in his countenance and the way that he talks. He is SUPER excited to read from the Book of Mormon :)

So..The other day we were walking in the park and came across an interesting man named vince. He started pretty much preaching to us. He then told us how he had surgery on his chest and then proceeded to lift up his shirt and showed us his scar that ran all the way up and down his chest. He told us how he had an out of body experience and that he pretty much died and came back to life and how he saw angels and his mother and father and brother who had died. Pretty much he told us that he was a miracle and that there have only ever been four people who have ever survived that surgery. haha He was really nice. While we were talking to him, there were these two drunk people that came up to us. Vince then continued telling us that he always trys to tell these people to stop drinking,because he knows it is bad for them. When one of them approached us this lady sitting next to vince said ," Speak kind to these ladys, they are not from New York." haha I love NY!

We were able to teach Jose our recent convert about the Priesthood. He is so excited to be able to prepare to recieve the priesthood. We were also able to teach him about temple work. You should have seen the look on his face and his eyes light up with joy when we told him that he could do the work for the dead, that he could do the temple work for his parents. He was SO happy!

Sunday the Elders had a baptism, her name was Jodalie Castillo. She is 19 years old and so cute! Elder Kooyman had to baptise her three times because her she kept getting scared and her toe came up. Elder Parker just told her that she now was the cleanest member :)

I am so excited for this next week! We found 3 new investigators this last week. The work is good! The people in NY are amazing and it is an adventure EVERYDAY :)

I love this work! For it is the work of the lord :)

I love you family SO much! Youre the best I could ask for!

Love
Hermana Gray

Mets Game

Date: August 11, 2011
Area: Jamaica, New York

Companion - Sister Alvarado

Dear Family!

So my preparation day was changed because we went to the METS game today :) Which was super fun! We sat behind the most HILARIOUS old guys who were very happy to be sitting next to about 60 lds missionarys!

Alright where to start....it seems as the weeks just keep going faster and its hard to remember what all happened. However on Monday we were able to teach Samuel and Leslie and their three little boys. They are the CUTEST kids ever! So they belong to the 7th day apentist church, and at first the mom Leslie really wanted to meet with us. She has been coming to the English Class, however was always scared to have us come over to her house, because she thought that her husband wanted nothing to do with it. However we were able to go and share a message with the DVD about how to find more faith in Christ. They absolutely loved it! Then the dad began asking us all of these questions about our beliefs. There are many times where people try to prove us wrong and show us as any missionary knows.. examples in the bible that back up their " beliefs" However I then said, I do not know if I can answer all of your questions, however this is what I do know. I just bore plain and simple testimony about the church, about the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. He was silent . He then said that he would love to continue meeting with us and discuss about our church. Knowing that he was a 7th day apentist it can be a little bit intimidating to invite them to church. (knowing that they believe that the sabbath is on Saturday.) However I just did. ( Just like you say mom, It NEVER hurts to ask) That has helped me a lot! Anyways he said that he would love to come somday! So that was great news! I can not wait to meet with him and his family this week.

Okay oh ok Sorry if I am repeating myself because honestly I can not remember if I already told you this. However we began teaching this kid named Alex he is 8 and his mom is a member. She wants him to take all of the discussions before he is baptized. So we have been teaching him and he loves it! He has a good understanding about everything that we are teaching him. We invited him to be baptized and he accepted. The only catch was that they had to ask approval from the father, he is not a member. So the other day we went over to his house to teach him "The gospel of Jesus Christ." We were also able to teach his father as well. We asked if he was ok with the baptismal date and he said of course! And that he was there to support his son :)

So side note *** we had SIX NEW investigators at church on Sunday!! Ahhh what joy!

Ok so on saturday we were walking back late to our house and I saw these two guys smoking on the side of the road. I had the feeling that I should talk to them, so I did. I began talking to them about what we do and what our purpose was as missionarys. I then bore simple testimony and showed them the Book of Mormon and had them read the introduction. They thought that it was super interesting. I then said, " Heraldo and Armando, will you do something for me?" I then asked them if they would try their hardest to stop smoking! They agreed! I then told them that the Book of Mormon has the answers to ANY of lives challenges and also that they can pray to their Heavenly Father at ANY time of ANY day and that he can also give them strength to help them overcome their addiction. They both admitted that they would like that and also they both asked if I would pray for them as well. So after that I made an appointment with them and then invited them to church.

So the next day at Church was AMAZING!! So we were able to pick up Victor another new investigator. Then we had fast and testimony meeting which was INCREDIBLE! The stand was full and people were lining up to bear their testimony. I just LOVE the ward members! We also had 3 teenagers bear their testimony of the truthfullness of this church. They are not members but they come to church. ( their parents will not let them get baptized yet) anyways so then at the end of sacrament meeting I began to walk to the back of the sacrament meeting room and BOOM! Heraldo and Armando were there! And another Eugenio who we had also invited! They stayed for Gospel principles which was PERFECT because the lesson was on the Word Of Wisdom! Ahhh Love it! So then they were about to leave and I managed to grab them right before and make another appointment. They then asked...

What do I have to do to to become a member of this church!??! That sentance alone brought me more joy than I can explain! Oh the life of a missionary! I just love it!

Well this week was fantastic! I just love New York, I love the people of Jamaica and I love love LOVE being a missionary!

This work is amazing!

"The Lord does not expect that we do what we cannot achieve. The command to become perfect, as He is, encourages us to achieve the best of ourselves, to discover and develop the talents and attributes with which we are blessed by a loving Eternal Father, who invites us to realize our potential as children of God. He knows us; He knows of our capacities and our limitations. The invitation and challenge to become perfect, to achieve eternal life is for all mankind." Jorge F. Zeballos

I love you Family!!!!

Hermana Gray

My 1st Baptism

Date: August 01, 2011
Area: Jamaica, Queens
Companion - Sister Alvarado

Dear Family!

I can not fully express my joy that I have felt this week! I have to tell you now, because if I wait till the end I might explode of happiness!! Jose Martinez was Baptized!!! Ahhh okay Ill go into more detail later :) ( Hopefully the suspense will keep you reading :) )

Alright so this week was SUPERB :) So we have found what we would like to refer to as the "El parque de milagros" The park of miracles. We have found 3 new investigators this week. One of them name was another Jose. We were able to teach him in the park and he loved the lesson. He is the humblest little cute guy and he said. " If the lord permits I would love to continue meeting with you every monday and go to church with you on Sunday!" Ahh Just loved hearing that :)

We had this other guy named Hilmer. Hermana Alvarado and I were walking in the park and I saw this guy sitting on the bench so I said hi and began talking with him and I realized that he was this same guy who is usually drunk and gives us problems.. However his countenance was different... I almost did not recognize him. He was sober and so we were able to teach him. He loved the lesson and told us that he is different now and that he wanted to change and that he wants to follow christ. I then invited him to be baptized after the lesson and he accepted! So if all goes well we should be having another baptism at the end of August.

Ok so we were able to teach Jose his last two lessons that he needed to be baptized and he had his interview on Saturday! He is incredible! Ah I just love Jose! So his baptism was going to be on Sunday. He is SO excited!!!

Ok so on Sunday we went to go and pick up these three little girls Suley (10 yrs) Stephanie (8 yrs) and Ruth Mary (who is 11). When we got to their house they were not ready and were cleaning the house. So we helped them clean and then they one by one got ready for Church. So then we went to pick up Jose and we all walked to Church Together. I told the little girls that we were having a baptism. (jose) and that they were invited! They said that they would love to come so they asked their dad and he said that was perfectly ok :)

So sacrament meeting was neat! All of the missionarys had the opportunity to talk. The theme was on Member missionary work! We were able to get the members excited :) We all know that member missionary work as President Monson says is the best way! After that we had our classes and we brought the little girls to primary. They made a lot of friends :) After the three hours of Church was over the little girls all came running up to me and gave me the biggest hug and told me how much fun they had!

One of the girls said, " Can we come here Every sunday!?" Ahhh Ha I felt happiness fill me from head to toe! Of COURSE you can!! Ha so then we all went over to the other church building for the baptism. It was incredible and honestly words can not describe the feeling of joy of being able to bring one soul unto christ! Just like Christ says "The worth of Souls is great in the sight of god! " ( D&C 18:10, 15-16)

Jose was able to bear his testimony afterwards and he says that he feels like he is starting a new life and that this was the BEST decision that he made!

I am SO happy! The little girl stephany said Can I be baptized?!? she said Can I be baptized next week?!? :) Ha I told her how about in 2 sundays :) hehe They are adorable and loved every minute of Sunday!

Well my time is up! But this gospel is True. In this gospel we can find TRUE happiness! I love this Work! I love my Mission!

I love you Family!!

Hermana GRay