A Transfer of Miracles!

Date: March 26, 2012

Area: Flushing, Queens

Companion - Sister Lambert

Dearest Familia,

This week has been Amazing! Really there are no words to describe it! It has been full of teaching and finding! Missionary Work is the BEST! I looove it! We have seen many miracles here in Flushing. I know that the Lord is watching and aware of each and every one of his children and only wants the best for them. This week has been amazing! This has by far been the fastest transfer of my life!! They keep getting faster and faster. I am sad to see Hermana Lambert finish her mission, however I know that there are great things awaiting her and I know that she is going to be able to accomplish her goals.

We have been able to see the girls Juliana and Alexandra almost everyday this week! They are just soaking up everything that we are teaching them. They are reading and praying, I have really seen them change and have that desire to follow Jesus Christ. Hermana Lambert and I have been praying really hard to be able to go and teach the entire Ayala Family. Usually when we go it is just the girls, and the dad occasionally comes and sits down and the mom usually gets home half way through the lesson. Thursday we had the wonderful opportunity to have Sister Nelson come out teaching with us. I absolutely LOVE Sister Nelson- she is one of the most selfless, kind, thoughtful people I know. She served her mission in Chile and we just all love her. So she came with us to teach the girls. When we got there little Alexandra was worried because she had to draw something for a project on the holocost for school. Sister Nelson then started drawing something for her and explaining to her things from when she was in Jerusalem and then she quickly related it to the Book of Mormon. We then were able to direct that message into the lesson that we had to share. Patricia the mother then walked in and Sister Nelson was quickly able to connect with her and we invited her in. Patricia then shared with us some of her feelings and how she really wanted to come back to church and bore a simple testimony of the truthfullness of this gospel. Then before we knew it Alex walked in and the entire family was listening. It is amazing how the lord works and how he really answers our prayers, often in ways that we were not expecting.

We taught Guillermo again the restoration, as we watched the movie the restoration. No matter how many times I watch that movie- (and believe me I have seen that movie at least a million times on my mission.) I cant help but be filled with the spirit every time. It is just so powerful, because it is TRUE! Anyways Guadalupe the mom who has been less active for more than 6 years was able to watch it with us. During the movie I know that she felt something. Afterwards she said the prayer. It was one of the most powerful prayers I have ever heard in my mission. She was really feeling the love of her savior and she knew that she needed to go back to church. She was experiencing the atonement. She said that she was going to come back to church. The spirit did all the teaching, we did not do anything! I have learned that on my mission, that we really do not do anything. The lord does all the Work! We are just able to be an instrument in the hand of the lord, if we are worthy and obedient. Really it is the Lord who does all of the work. We are so blessed to be apart of this great work! There is nothing greater!

The atonement is REAL! Heavenly Father is just WAITING for us with open arms. Jesus Christ suffered for us that through him we can REPENT. We can make CHANGES in our lives, so that we can live in accordance to God's will. We can repent daily so that our lives can be in harmony of that with our Heavenly Father. I love the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19 that talks about how our Savior Jesus Christ suffered for us, so that we will not have to suffer if we repent. I am so thankful that we have that opportunity to repent daily and make changes. We can always do better than we did yesterday. I love this gospel!

Saturday we had the opportunity to take the Ayala girls Juliana and Alexandra to the Young Womens Broadcast. It reminded me of when I would go with you mom and Chelsea and Alyssa. I am always in AWE about the things that we can learn from the leaders of our church. I am so thankful that we have modern day living prophets and apostles to lead and guide this church. I absolutely LOVE the messages that they had to share.

President Monson is such an incredible man and I am more than excited to hear from him this weekend! The leaders of the church are truly inspired and know what we need to hear. I love how President Monson talked about the Lighthouse of the lord and how we should always be looking towards him and his light. For the Savior is the light and life of the world. If we look to the Savior in every thought,action and deed, we can never go wrong. Jesus Christ set the perfect example, and we can strive every day to live and do as he would do. I love the theme for this year," Arise and Shine Forth". We really do as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, as disciples of Jesus Christ do need to "Arise" and Shine Forth! We need to be different and set apart from the world. Sister Dalton said,"The call to “arise and shine forth” is a call to each of you to lead the world in a mighty cause." I love how the leaders of the church are always reminding us about our divine potential as sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. That is the first thing that Satan trys to get us with, he trys to de-grade or downplay our identity! However we need to always remember that we truly are Sons and Daughters of Heavenly Father and that we have a great work to do. As we concecrate our hearts and give everything to the lord, we can become disciples of Jesus Christ. That is my goal.

Sunday was amazing! We went and got the girls and we all went to church. We had an amazing fast and testimony meeting! The spirit was so strong! Guadalupe showed up!! That was probably one of the biggest miracles of this transfer. It was incredible! We were able to go and visit her after church, and she just looked different. There was this light/glow in her eyes and countence. She felt good! It really is amazing how the gospel can change our lives if we let it. If we are reading from the Book of Mormon everyday, praying and going to church, we can make it!
LIVING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST MAKES US HAPPY!!!
SO DO IT :)
I know that this gospel is true. I know that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God. I know that President Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God and that he leads and guides us today. I love my Heavenly Father more than anything else in this world, and I feel privilaged to be able to serve him for this short time period in NY!

Go and watch General Conference and invite a friend! We are so blessed to hear from the leaders of the church this weekend! I CANT WAIT!!

I love you all Thank you for all your love and support! It means the world to me!

Cuidese!
Hermana Gray

"If the standard is to be raised, it is raised for all of us. We must be more faithful. We must be more spiritually in tune. We must prepare ourselves to assist the missionaries in finding those of our Heavenly Father’s children who will embrace the message of the Restoration." M Russel Ballard