FEBRERO?? todavia?

Date: February 6, 2012
Area: Long Island
Companion - 


Querido Familia,

Another week, a New Month a New Year :) So much happiness ahead! alright where to start! Well how about Monday. Monday we took Wendy over with us to go and teach Judy. It was incredible how well they matched up. Wendy bore testimony of how the  gospel really has changed her life and the life of her family. She testified about how her family has now been brought much closer through the gospel. Judy was really touched because everything that had gone on in Wendy's life before she became a member was everything that was going on in the life of Judy. Judy was so touched and wanted us to come and teach her and her family. She said that she wanted that same peace and joy that Wendy now felt. Wendy is just a testimony to me that the gospel really does bless families. I think that sometimes us as members who have been members our whole life, sometimes take advantage of how much the gospel really can and does bless our lives as individuals and as family's. I really have seen now being a missionary and seeing the way that many different types of people live their lives, bow truly blessed that I was and am to have grown up in the gospel. The gospel has blessed my life so much and that is why I am here! To help bring people closer to christ through faith in him, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the holy ghost and enduring to the end. How blessed are we? Incredibly! Sometimes I just want to shout out to the whole world, because of how happy that I feel being a member of this True Church. The only church that has the proper priesthood authority to perform baptism, but not only that, it is baptism that counts here on the earth and in heaven.

Wells...what else. We have been able to teach the Carpio family a couple of times. They are incredible and just soaking up everything. The little Carpio girls are reading in the Book of Mormon and praying about it. I asked the girls if they thought that the Book of Mormon was true, and then Alison replied ," I know that the Book of Mormon is true, because every time that I read it, I understand more and more." It is so neat to see an entire family learn about the gospel. Alfredo- who is the father, just loves everything that we teach and wants nothing more than for his family to do this together. We had several good lessons with them this week. One of them was about keeping the Sabbath day Holy. We taught that if we put the things of the lord first in our lives, then everything else falls into place. I can not tell you how many times I have seen this in my own life. When we put our trust and faith in the Lord and do his will first, before that of what we think might be right, then we will always always always be happier. For any of you who are reading this, I challenge you to try it. Whether it be reading your scriptures before studying or doing your homework. Or going to church on Sunday instead of doing your normal activities. Whatever it may be, I invite you all to try it! Put the Lord first, and he will make sure that you are able to get done whatever you need to. Heavenly Father loves us, and wants nothing more than for us to be happy! ( 3rd Nephi 13:32-33) ~~ One of my favorite scriptures :)

Welp! It was my companions birthday this week so I had lots of fun having little surprises for her :) It started out by us blindfolding her and taking her to the Majanos for a Birthday breakfast :) And did a surprize in the church after english classes we ate some cake and also the family Lee- made her a Birthday Dinner! I love birthdays and watned to make sure that she enjoyed hers. Birthdays on the mission are a little bit different, because you do not have your family, however on the mission the people around you, your investigators and the ward that you serve in become like your family! I really enjoyed throwing surprise party's for her haha

Funny Note for the week- Ok so the sisters gave us a referral so one night we decided to go and look up this man that they were in contact with at the laundry matt. So we went to his house and well he was not there, but when we knocked about a million and 2 kids came racing up to the door. We then asked the lady if she had like 5 minutes that we could talk to her. She was a little bit hesitant, however all of those kids - ( there were about 10 kids under the age of 9) said all said in unison, "We have time We have time!" and so the mom asked them if they were really going to listen. We then were welcomed inside when all of those little kids piled on the couch, with bright eyes and bushy tales sat quietly eager to learn. So we quickly taught ( knowing that their attention span was very short) them how to pray, and to keep the commandments. The little girl said the prayer and another one closed and said the other. Whenever I see little kids it just is a reminder that to me why the Lord talks so much about little children in the scriptures. How we need to become like little children to enter into the kingdom of god. They are humble, meek, loving , teachable and always the first to forgive. For any of you who have little kids, pay attention to them, and look for something that you can learn from them. I promise you it is there :) After wards we gave them all little pass along cards and they all came running up to us and wanted us to sign it. I felt like a celebrity :)

Well Sunday was Church. And you will never believe it! The Carpio Family showed up to Church!! They even brought a little friend :) She was American- and they all said that she looked like she could be my little sister. ha Reminded me of you little Courtney! Sunday was great! I just love Sundays, and am extremely Thankful that we have the opportunity to go to church and to partake of the sacrament to renew our baptismal covenants.

The Lord loves each and every one of his children, and that is why he has created the plan of Happiness. So that we would each have a way to return to live with our father in Heaven. We are blessed with the opportunity to choose between good and evil. Just like our parents hope that their children will choose the best, so  does our heavenly father want nothing but the best for us, and so he has given us each tools to help us choose wisely. etc- families, a living prophet and the scriptures. I am so grateful for the scriptures and that we all have the chance to read of them and apply the teachings of them in our daily life. I love this gospel! I love this work! For it truly is the work of the lord!

Love you all,
Hermana Gray

"Agency used righteously allows light to dispel the darkness and enables us to live with joy and happiness." Robert D. Hales