I hope you had a Happy Mothers Day!!!

Date: May 14, 2012
Area: Flushing, Queens
Companion - Sister Allen


Dear Family!

Mother I hope that you had the BEST Mothers Day ever! It felt so good to be able to talk to you! I hate to Brag...but I have THE BEST MOTHER IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD :) Mom I love you so much and I am ever so grateful for you and all that you do! I don't know how you always put up with me, but thank you so much for everything that you do for me. I hope someday to be half the mother that you are and Ill be good :) You are ALWAYS putting others needs in front of you own and always seeing the way that you can help. You mean the World to me and I am so thankful that you are my best friend and that I can come to you for anything. I love you so much and am so grateful for the relationship that I have with you! Te quiero mucho! I could go on and on but I might be here all day!

So this week was Great! So on Tuesday night we went to go and teach the girls (Alexandra and Juliana). We were not sure what we were going to teach them. Hermana Allen and I were a little bit stumped because we were a little unsure what to teach. We then got down on our knees and prayed asking Heavenly Father what we should teach before we went over there. We both had the feeling that we should teach the Restoration of the gospel. Which was weird because we had already taught that to the girls but we went ahead with it. We had planned to watch the Prophet of the Restoration. However half way through the Movie Hermana Ayala and Giovanna came home. So we put the movie on Pause and then began talking with them. When we went back to play the movie for some reason it was not working. (Now we know why we were supposed to teach the restoration.) So we were able to teach Giovanna the Restoration :) It was a wonderful lesson and the entire family was involved! Sister Ayala was bearing a beautiful testimony about how she found out for herself that these things were true. She talked about how when she read the Book of Mormon, Prayed and how she recieved her answer that these things were true. The spirit was so strong and it was also really neat to see the girls so excited to share their testimonys and help their sister out. At the end of the lesson we all knelt down and Giovanna said one of the most powerful heartfelt prayer, truly desiring to know if these things that we had taught her were true. I know that anyone who reads from the Book of Mormon and has a real desire and real intent, to know if these things are true, they WILL recieve an answer. I love this gospel so much and know that it changes lives.

We were able to have a really powerful lesson with Guadalupe about mothers and the Strippling warriors. We shared the story about how the 2000 strippling warriors were afraid to fight because of the trust that they had in their Savior. Here are some of my favorite verses.

47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the aliberty of their bfathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their cmothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their amothers, saying: We bdo not doubt our mothers knew it. ( Alma 56:47-48)

I am so thankful that you mom KNOW it :) I feel so blessed to have grown up in a Home where both my parents KNEW it! I am ever so grateful that at 6:00am every morning mom and dad you woke all 7 of us kids up to read from the Book of Mormon. I know that my life has been blessed because of it. Also the fact that every night as a family we kneeled to have family prayer. I know that this is something that has carried on much longer than just that moment. It has carried be through college, times away from home and here as a missionary. I want you mom and dad to know that everything that you are doing and have done with us children is WORTH it :) So I just wanted to say Thank you!

So I dont know if you remember but a couple of weeks ago we taught this lady named Pamela whose mom is a member here, Pamela lives in Florida. So anyways Teresa Gutierez her mom called us the other day and wanted to know where the closest chuch was to her daughter in Florida, because Pamela had called and told her mom that she wanted to go to church and she wanted to listen to the missionarys. Seeds are being planted everywhere :)

On Saturday we were able to go to the mothers day church activity. It was so cute to see all of the young men serving their mothers and everyone there. The Branch President Perez asked Hermana Allen and I to talk about mothers. So mom I got up there and talked about you, and yes I got teary eyed. But anyways I talked about my own mother and how much of an influence you have been in my life. I talked about how much it meant to me throughout the years all the support you gave me. Whether it be piano lessons and concerts, Gymnastics meets, dance, L.I.G.H.T, BYU Hawaii, Provo.etc. However the thing that has meant the MOST to me in my life, is that you supported my decision to come on a mission and that you have been a continual support to me throughout my entire mission. So thank you mom :) I love you! I also talked about your testimony and how it means the world to me. I love you mother !

Sunday was another amazing day! It was mothers day! Also Alexandra and Juliana were confirmed members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They recieved the gift of the Holy Ghost. They were so happy and excited because they know that the Gift of the Holy Ghost is going to be a guide for them for the rest of their lives, to help them make better choices. They know that it will be a source of comfort when times get hard. They know that the role of the Holy Ghost is to bear testimony of the truthfullness of the gospel and they have felt it. Giovanna came to church and stayed for the entire time. You could tell that she really enjoyed it and looks forward to coming back next week.

I know that this Church is true and that Jesus is the Head of this Church. I know that the Book of Mormon and the Bible are the words of God. I know that if we do our part we can one day enter into our Heavenly Fathers Presence. I am so thankful for Temples and I know that it is through temples that we can be with our familys for ETERNITY! I love my Savior and I know that it is through him that we can live with our Father.

I love you all! Thank you for all your love and support!

Loves- Hermana Gray
A Foundation of Faith - President Erying

A foundation of faith … takes time to build. … If the foundation of faith is not embedded in our hearts, the power to endure will crumble.

… That solid basis for a foundation of faith is personal integrity. …

It is never too late to strengthen the foundation of faith. … You can do it wherever you are and however alone and deserted you may feel.