This is why I LOVE being a Missionary!!

Date: November 7, 2011

Area: Long Island

Companion - Sister Lewis

Querido Familia,

I just hope that you know that I LOooooove being a missionary! There is honestly nothing like it! Honestly I have never been happier! and I have been pretty happy throughout my life haha. really though I am sure that any return missionary would agree that there is nothing that can compare to the feeling we have as missionary's. I love everything about missionary work! I love my studies in the scriptures! I have always loved reading my scriptures, however something about being a missionary and being able to study for your investigators and trying to figure out their needs and being able to study not for yourself but for others. Just something about that is so rewarding.
So we had a really really good zone conference the other day. It is so weird time is flying....seems like it was just yesterday that we had zone conference. Anyways we were really able to talk about the atonement. Just when I think that I have a grasp as to what the atonement is, my eyes are opened and I am able to learn SO much more. Really everything else is just an appendage to the atonement as Joseph Smith says. We were really able to study ALma 7:11-14 and it is amazing how much time that we can spend on just one verse of the scriptures. There is so much more than what is written on the page. I could spend a whole personal study on one scripture. It really is amazing how much that we can learn from the scriptures if we would just take the time to not only read them but to really search the scriptures. If we could study the atonement we not only learn about our savior but we can really learn about the true love that he has for each and every one of us. He sacrificed more than we can even begin to comprehend. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and am MORE than thankful for all that he did for me.
So we have been teaching this incredible family the Zelaya's. They are from El Salvador....just like everyone here haha. We pretty much live in Mini El Salvador! Anyways we have pretty much been going to their house everyday and our angel member Juan has helped out a ton. So its so cute every time that we go over there they all are anxious to hear the message and they are always piled on the couch eager to learn and always have our two seats set up in front of them. It is really neat to see how much of a desire that they have. They are reading in the Book of Mormon and are continuing to want to know more, and this brings me so much joy!
funny note - So ....We do a little bit of teaching English as well as a our lessons with the Zelaja Family and they are just wonderful! ok so we had taught them some frases the other day. So yesterday after church we asked them what their favorite part of the week was and they said " When you sisters taught us How to do Head, Shoulders, Knees and toes in English!" oh man that just made my day.

Ok so we were looking up formers the other day and we came across this lady named Wendy. We have been trying for the past couple of weeks to go and see her but she has always been busy. So finally this past week we were able to see her. We were able to meet with her and her whole entire family! It was amazing and her husband Rey- totally understood proper priesthood authority. It was really neat to see that little light bulb go on and he understood and said " That makes sense". Its right that is one thing that I absolutely LOVE about this gospel is that it just MAKES sense! All of lives questions can be answered through this gospel. Especially through this book that we have that is SO special. Really it is. The Book of Mormon. There are people who died for this book, this record and we have it at the tip of our fingers. Sometimes I have to ask myself am I taking full advantage of the Book of Mormon. Am I reading it as I should, am I applying everything in the scriptures as Nephi teaches (1st Nephi 19:23) I sure hope so.
I think that we can always be doing better in this life. That is something so beautiful about the gospel is that we can constantly be improving. If we are not reading the Book we can start today! Its never too late. Now is the time to prepare! Now is the time to read. Now is the time that we are kinder, have more charity, are more patient more loving. Now is the time that we can start opening out mouth and sharing this GLAD news of the gospel! Now is the time to prepare to meet god! ( ALma 34:32-34) Not tomorrow but now! We were learning about a lot of really neat lessons in Zone Conference and in reference to our Companions as well. There are so many times where we might find ourselves thinking..." if only my companions did this, or if only they did that" but really we ought to be THANKFUL that our companions, wife or husband, or companion on the mission or our best friends. We ought to be thankful that they are not perfect! Because if our companions were perfect, then where in the world would the learning take place. How would we be able to better ourselves? Maybe they are supposed to teach us to love more,or to have more charity or patience. Whatever lesson it is we ought to be thankful that we have the chance to learn that from them :)

Well the miracle UPON miracles happened just yesterday! ANA RIVAS GOT BAPTIZED :) :) This is something that has been in the process for more than a year! There have so many missionary's that have been working with Ana. Me being one of them. I had the opportunity to work with Ana for 3 transfers. She is absolutely INCREDIBLE! I do not think that I met anyone as humble as her in my life. Everything worked out! She is in Jamaica so I was able to go back to see my branch in Jamaica and watch as Ana was able to make that covenant with her Heavenly Father as she entered into the waters of Baptism. I have never seen a baptism SO packed before. There are so many people that love and care about Ana. There were so many missionary's that have been apart of her conversion. It just goes to show that the Lord knows what he is doing. He has his timing and he has everything done in his way. I have never felt the spirit so strong. At that moment I just got this overwhelming feeling of Joy.

THIS IS WHY I AM A MISSIONARY HERE IN NY NY SOUTH at this time!! Oh man I just love it all!

To top off all this joy as I then was able to return and make it in time to see people at church in my ward I walked in and the two little girls of Wendy came running up to me "Hermana Gray Hermana Gray"!! They had such a good time at church and Denis and his cousin Mirium came to church! They told me how much fun that they had in primary! Wendy came up to me and gave me the biggest hug and told me that she felt good here and that she also enjoyed everything!


I am HAPPY, but I am a different happy than I have ever felt. I know that we have a Heavenly Father who loves each and every one of us. He has a plan for us and he gives us experiences in our lives so that we can learn from them and grow. There are people in this life that you are supposed to meet and that are put in your lives for a reason. We can learn something from everyone if we just take the time to look for the good in people. Prayer is real and Prayer is powerful. Heavenly Father answers our prayers because he loves us! I know that God lives and that this church is God's Kingdom on the earth!


I love you all! I hope that you had a Happy Halloween! And are getting ready for Turkey Season! :)

Love,
Hermana Gray

"This is the spirit of serving God. This is the spirit of putting Him first in our lives. Though we may not necessarily forfeit our lives in service to our God, we can certainly demonstrate our love for Him by how well we serve Him. He who hears our silent prayers, He who observes our unheralded acts will reward us openly when the need comes." ~ President Monson