What a Wonderful Christmas!

Date: December 26, 2012
Area: Long Island
Companion - Sister Lewis



Querido Familia,

I have been truly blessed! This Christmas was BY far the BEST Christmas EVER!! Thank you everyone for your sweet cards, gifts and family Christmas Cards! I love them all! This Christmas on the mission has been the absolute BEST that I have ever had. It is so true that when you loose yourself in the work and do not focus on yourself but on others happiness is when you find "TRUE HAPPINESS". I am so thankful and feel truly blessed to be here in NY at this time serving my mission. There is NO other place that I would rather be right now then serving the lord 24/7 in the sacred grounds of New York! I love this gospel and I love this work, it's no wonder they call it the best two years :) In my case I wish I had 2 years! Life is so short, and we just have to make sure that we make sure to make the BEST out of each and every day, because we never know when our time is up. Reminds me of a Country song, "Live like you were dying!"


This week....it seems like everytime I get here to email my mind always goes blank and I forget what I wanted to tell you..We had a funeral that we as missionarys had the opportunity to sing at. We have attended 2 funerals here in the past month. It really puts into perspective what things are really important in life, and the most important thing is THIS GOSPEL! This gospel is the thing that ties families together not only for this life, but for the life to come. For the Eternitys! Without the sacred ordinance of baptism we Can not enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Something that made me a little sad at the funeral, was looking at all these people who were attending the funeral that did not have that knowledge of the gospel, it is amazing to me that when we know that we will once again see our loved ones after this life we can have a perspective of hope, it makes such a difference. I just love this gospel, it really is the "Good News", and I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to share this message with the people of New York, and I will continue to do so even after my mission! This is just the BEST!!


So this week we had a gift exchange with all for of the missionarys in our zone, and that was pretty fun! I just love love being around other missionarys it just gets up pumped :) Anyways so on Christmas Eve we had what is called the Christmas SPECTACULAR!! It was with ALL of the missionayrs in the ENTIRE mission! We have probably the most TALENTED mission in the world :) I love it so much! The missionarys put together this program that was the entire day long! They chose 2 missionarys to give talks, one Elder and one Sister. I was asked so speak along with Elder Denton ( Go Arizona Missionarys) haha but really it was humbling to be able to speak of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and of his Mother Mary and her sacred Calling. Just as Mary had a sacred calling so do we, especially as missionarys we have the calling to bring people closer to Christ. Through Faith, Repentance,Baptism, Reciveing the gift of the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the end. I feel so incredibly blessed to be here! We also each individually recieved a letter from the First Presidency. I loved that!


Do not have much time left, the computer is going to kick me off :) But Sunday was the best! Wendy, Rey and Anderson all recieved the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It was such a spiritual experience and really to be able to see them and their faces beaming with joy, and then to see them be able to partake of the sacred ordinace The Sacrament.

This Church is True! God Lives! Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God!
I love you all and am more than thankful for your love and support!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love Hermana Gray

Funny note : My mom did not recognize me on the phone when I called home, I was speaking in spanish....she thought someone had the wrong number and hung up! haha Guess my spanish is improving :)


Being an Example

"The theme for this conference is so appropriate: 'Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations' (D&C 115:5). I see the light shining in your faces. That light comes from the Lord, and as you radiate that light, it will bless you as well as many others."

James E. Faust, "Your Light—a Standard to All Nations," Ensign, May 2006, 111

Topics: Example, Light of Christ