Pecans and Pictures - Oct. 30, 2017

Hello friends and family!:) what a wonderful week Texas has had!!!

This week has truly been amazing and I feel blessed that I am here. To start the week off.... We have a baptism!!!! Yayyyyy!!!! Our area was closed for 2 years due to the fact that there was no progress. 3 months ago it was reopened, and on Tuesday we committed someone to baptism. Her name is Amber and she truly is incredible. She has a testimony of the book of Mormon, she is willing to give up her tea and coffee (y'all don't understand how huge that is) and she knows that Heavenly Father loves her. It has been amazing to stand next to her as she grows each and every day. We have the opportunity to meet with Amber every single day and each day she shares how HAPPY the scriptures make her. Fingers crossed that this progress continues!

On Wednesday I had the opportunity to teach a training in our district meeting. It was an amazing experience that was also the most terrifying thing I have done yet. The greenie missionary teaching missionaries who have all been out over a year. Overall the lesson went as planned and I know for a fact that I wasn't the one teaching. I have noticed that to be an effective missionary all you have to do is open your mouth. As soon as you do, the spirit will take over and you simply become a mouth piece. 

 Me and Sister Gorley have a rule that every Wednesday we are allowed to be tourists for 30 minutes. After district meeting we go to a "Texan hotspot". Last time we went to Bahama bucks which is the world's best Snow cones. Hands down. This time we went to Raising canes, a small restaurant that only sells chicken. When we were ordering the employee working there started asking us questions about what missions are. We had the opportunity to share a message and talk about missionaries and our purpose. We are meeting with her this Wednesday to discuss more. I never thought I would talk to someone about Christ over a basket over chicken fingers. 

Friday was probably one of the most challenging and rewarding days I have had so far. When I received my call to Texas the one thing I was most excited for was the fact that I wouldn't be cold. WRONG. Friday it rained and it was absolutely freezing. I don't think I have ever been more cold. 

We were out tracting all afternoon and it rained the whole time. I felt as if we weren't accomplishing anything because we were both miserable. Once we realized we were both in sour moods we decided to do something to brighten our spirits. On the very edge of our area there is a street that has like 25 pecan trees. We haven't had the chance to tract that street yet so we decided that is where we needed to go. 

We spent the whole morning knocking doors and picking pecans. Afterwards we had a huge bag of pecans ready to be shelled. Once we were laughing and in good moods the work really started to pick up we gave away 8 books of Mormon, and gained 4 new investigators. We were blessed. Later that night we rewarded ourselves with warm apple cider/ hot chocolate. We spent the rest of the night having a missionary movie night. We watched several of the district episodes (all training videos) and shelling pecans. Quite an eventful night. 

Saturday was spent doing service at the flower mound. If you are wondering what the flower mound is.... it's a big mound. Full of dirt and pokey grass. It's pretty exciting. We picked up trash, pulled "woodies" (small trees) from the ground, and planted new seeds. It was pretty fun and we were able to meet some amazing people. Afterwards we headed to the neighborhood trailer park to help clean out a families trailer. We went straight from that to a ward chili cook off. It was one of the best ward activities I have ever been to. There was sooooo much food! You haven't had good chili and cornbread until you have had good chili and cornbread in Texas. 

The best part about the whole night was that the church was filled with potential investigators! Most of the families invited their neighbors or school teachers to come and have some chili. It was a great chance to meet new people. 

Sunday was probably the best day of the week. Sunday morning we were setting up chairs and hymn books as we waited for people to arrive. I felt a tap on my shoulder to find some very familiar faces. Jon and Yvonne Wall had come to see me. I nearly passed out when I saw them. I was overcome with emotion and was welcomed in a big hug from Yvonne. It was by far the best "mom-hug" I have had. 

We were both crying and I felt comfort and peace. Heavenly father looks out for you. All the time. I had been praying to feel comfort as I continue throughout my mission and in small simple ways I have always found comfort. 

Whether it be seeing old neighbors, or receiving a package with some pajamas in it (thanks aunt Amy:')) or receiving a letter with a picture of your best friend (thanks Walter and Joan:')) Heavenly Father won't leave us alone. 

There is a song we listen to everyday and this is my favorite line in it.
"He knows each of his children, he is never too far. He is there beside you, with a love so bright, and he can see all the ways you let your faith shine."

If you ever feel alone, remember you're not. You have a loving heavenly father who is there beside you. Never forget it.

Have a great week and I will talk to all y'all next week!!

-Sister Gray

PICTURES:)
Friday night movie treat
Literally the only tree that has changed colors
Holy ghost Halloween sign
Me and Walter:')
The pecan shelling place

Hot Choc and Hot Apple Cider 

Fall in Texas

Happy Halloween !

Sister Gray and her Best Friend Walter. 
Walter is 102 and a favorite resident of the
Villas Assisted Living Facility

Pecans and Pictures

Snow cones and bible bashes - Oct. 23, 2017

Hello cute friends and family!!




How y'all doing? This week has been amazing! I hope it was amazing for all of you as well. To start this letter off let me tell you a story about the time Sister Gray had her first bible bash. It is truly a great story. It goes like this... Sisters Gray and Gorley were out and about knocking doors.. they just so happened to knock on the door of a tall, slender, bald, man. At first we were intimidated but continued to give our usual speech of how much we love the gospel. He invited us in to talk with him and his wife. We sat around the table and started a conversation. It was a harmless conversation until we talked about our good friend Joseph Smith.




There was no recovery after that point. The gentlemen became enraged and it was at this point Sister Gray took a deep breath and prepared for a longgggg discussion. I kid you not, 45 minutes later we were permitted to speak. It was not our best lesson, sadly not our worst. After that experience we were not in the best mood but rallied on. Later that night we were given a blessing and met 2 new investigators with real potential.




Sometimes you need a few sour bible bashers before you get 2 prepared investigators. It all worked out in the end.


This email is going to be really short mostly because I procrastinated writing to the very end of my day but I hope y'all have a good week and I can't wait to hear about your week:)


-Sister Gray

When all else fails. . . buy a snow cone

Sister Gorley and Sister Gray 

Results of said Snowcone

I month down 17 to go! - Oct. 16, 2017

Hello!

Another week has passed here in Fort Worth and lots of exciting things are happening. Talking to everyone last Monday was the highlight of my week. It is so nice hearing from people back at home. If you haven't emailed me please do, I would love to talk with you and hear how life is. I'm not sure how many of you know this, but the Texas Fort Worth mission has officially been opened as a Facebook mission! So, if you have a Facebook please add me. We are encouraged to have friends and family add us. Plus it would be nice to see all y'alls cute faces once again:')

Tuesday we had our first zone conference. We had lots of training on how to use Facebook, how it can benefit us, and other amazing training's on how to be a better missionary. It was overall a really good conference. Before the conference actually started we were required to get flu shots. Shots really don't freak me out as much anymore (well...flu shots don't freak me out). I went in, filled out the paper work, got the shot and went back to the class room and sat down. Not really paying attention to anything. I started having a conversation with some of the nearby sisters and was minding my own business until Elder Christensen comes over and starts freaking out over my arm. As I was having various conversations my arm was just bleeding everywhere, all down my arm and shirt. He was freaked out and I looked at my arm and just laughed. What else was I suppose to do? That was a great way to start my first zone conference.

Me and Sister Gorley have met lots of new people as we bike around. The other day we were riding on some bike paths that were really hilly and we were exhausted. Once we got to the top of the hill we decided to take a picture so we could cool off for a bit. This old man came up to us and was talking to us about how impressive it was we were able to ride bikes in dresses. It was fun to talk with him and get to know him better. We see him almost daily as we cross paths on our bikes. The ward that we are in are so amazing. We apparently had many families write letters of concern to our president asking if they could donate money so we could have a car. Let's just say, we now have a car. It's very nice and is full of lots of technology we can't use haha. We try to use it as little as we can. We usually use about 20 miles a day and we bike the rest of the day. 

Yesterday we were at the church and we were attempting to get our bikes on our bike rack. We are pretty good at getting it up and secure but it always includes lots of laughing at ourselves because the bikes always turn and latch onto our dresses. It's always a good time watching each other struggle. It is one of my favorite things. Anyway, we were in the church parking lot rearranging the bikes (We put them on wrong the night before and they were trying to fall off) we had like 15 men come and ask if we needed help. Me and Sister Gorley struggle with accepting help so we would turn them away every time. Until finally we had struggled so much and were laughing too hard to accomplish anything that a young man came and told us to move. He put the bikes on and told us to have a good day. As we sat in the car we were still giggling because we had come to the understanding that if you are in a dress, wear a name tag, wear ugly missionary shoes, and are doing an activity that involves any sort of physical strength you are automatically a damsel in distress and can't do anything for yourself.

This week we truly have been blessed with miracles. As we have been biking to dinner appointments we have always had the feeling to stop and tract. Because of those feelings and promptings we have found 5 new investigators. Each of them committed to reading and praying from the book of Mormon and set a return appointment. That is such a big accomplishment in this area. This area was opened about 3 months ago. It hasn't had missionaries in years so when we find new investigators it's a really big deal. We have given out at least 3 books of Mormon every day. It's so cool to see how the Lord blesses us. 

We had a meeting this week with a member and her friend from school. She is looking at several different religions and when she became friends with Julia (member) she wanted to know more about the Mormons. We taught her the first lesson and she was hooked. She has a crazy work schedule but she decided that she needed this in her life. We are hoping for the best and we see lots of hope in her eyes. We meet with her on Wednesday and she wants to know more about baptism. I can't wait!:):)
I have officially hit my one month mark. It's crazy to think that a month ago I was with my family. I truly miss all of my friends and my family so much but I know that this is where I need to be. I know that there are people in Texas who are ready for the gospel. I know how HAPPY this gospel makes me and I can't wait to share that happiness with other people. Everyone deserves to be happy during their life. 

I hope everyone has a great week! I will talk to y'all next week:) 

Love,
Sister Gray:)

PICTURES:
1) how me and Sister Gorley feel after riding all day
2) typical missionary in Texas with the water tower
3) hands down best sign in Texas... the downhill biking sign
4) me and my cute companion :')

Riding a bike is AWESOME !

Missionaries and Water Towers 

Favorite Sign EVER !

Sister Gray and Cute Sister Gorley

Jalapenos for breakfast? - Oct 9,2017

Hello!

I am officially in Texas and I'm in love. It is soo nice here. The weather is great, the humidity isn't terrible and the people are fantastic. 

I don't even know where to begin on this letter. So many things have happened already I want to tell everyone everything but I can't. 

First off, planes are amazing. This was my first real plane ride and it was incredible. Even though I was exhausted because we had to be up at 2 in the morning, I couldn't bring myself to take a nap on the plane. It was the first time in 3 weeks that I was able to relax and think. I felt comfortably alone even though I was squished between an old man and an Indian woman with a crying baby. It was still incredible. 

By the time we got to Texas we were all anxious. We knew we were meeting President Whittney and were all pretty nervous. We were finally able to find them and have first introductions. They are incredible people and I can't wait to serve with both President and Sister Whittney. After the airport we went straight to the mission home and had lunch and began training. They didn't get too intense with the training because we were all basically zombies. After going through most of the training they sent us out tracking for an hour. Me and Sister Thompson were able to have a discussion about the restoration to an older gentlemen. After we set up a return appointment, we left and didn't stop smiling. It was a really good meeting. After tracking we went back to the mission home to have the famous "welcome to Texas brisket and baked beans". They aren't kidding when they say famous cause man was it good. Texas food is great. Period. 

After having a quick devotional, we were shipped off to stay at sister Hicksons house. She was so generous and kind and we were able to go to bed at 8 and wake up at 7. It's amazing how sleep changes you. We packed up and left to meet our trainers. In the car ride, every single missionary was dead quiet. We all knew this was the last time we would see each other for a while and it finally dawned on us that we were missionaries. 

When we got to the church we had a quick health and fitness lesson and they sent us off to breakfast. You know you live in Texas when you see taquitos and fried jalapeno poppers for breakfast. Who the heck eats fried peppers for breakfast?!? Texans. Texans eat fried peppers for breakfast. As soon as I saw that I knew I wasn't in Utah anymore.

A little bit after breakfast I met my AMAZING trainer. Her name is Sister Gorley and she is from Arizona. She has been out for three months and is incredibly kind and has such a strong spirit.
We are currently serving in the highland village area and it's one of the best areas in the mission. We live with a very loving family in a little apartment that they have next to their home. They are super generous. The members are incredible, I have been here 6 days and have yet to make my own dinner. They love having the missionaries over and they love to take pictures and send them to our families. I truly have such a love for each and every family here in this ward.

One of the coolest experiences I had this week was the first day out with my trainer. We were able to go tracking for a couple hours and then had dinner with a family in the ward. When we got to their house I was feeling really anxious and nervous because I felt like I wouldn't be able to do this. I felt super homesick and had no desire to try to get to know a family I had never met before. As soon as we entered into that home I was overcome with the spirit and I felt like I was home. Every doubt, concern, fear, that I had vanished. As we talked with the family a young women came and sat down. She kept her eyes down and didn't say a word. I was really curious to why she was acting that way and I think that the mom caught on. Because right after she sat down she excitedly asked if either me or sister Gorley knew sign language. My heart started beating and I was filled with the spirit. I told her that I didn't know a lot but I knew enough to get me through a conversation. I have never seen someone so happy. The story behind this girl is, she was adopted into this family 3 years ago. They are all trying to learn sign language but still don't know much, so they usually communicate with her through text. No One around her knows enough sign language to talk with her. As I said before, I don't know a lot of sign language but I was able to talk with her and learn more about her. It was such a cool experience to watch this teenager who is incredible shy because of her deafness open up to a stranger who knows different key signs. I left their home with new found confidence in myself and new confidence in the Lord.

I really struggled when I found out I wasn't learning a language in the MTC. It really bothered me that I wouldn't have that experience. Yet as time went by, I realized that I wouldn't have been able to. As much as I liked being in the MTC I didn't like it enough to stay there for 6 weeks. I know that God has a plan for each of us and he knows us individually. He knew that I wouldn't be able to stay at the MTC for 6 weeks. God worlds in mysterious ways.

Just so y'all understand. When you see sister missionaries out riding their bikes you stop, and you applaud them. Me and sister Gorley no longer have a car (thanks to the camrie Gray luck that I hold) so we are a bike mission. Riding a bike is not a problem, it's a great way to be seen by people, it shows our devotion, it's great exercise, all that good stuff. BUT, riding a bike in a dress is a whole different situation. So far we have lost 3 skirts to the dreaded bike chain. If any of you have any ideas on how to ride a bike with a dress, without embarrassing yourself....let me know. It really isn't that bad though. We have met lots of people because everyone is curious why two girls are riding bikes in a dress, in the middle of the day when it's over 90 degrees outside. It's a great conversation starter.
Texas weather truly is hilarious though. One second it will be blazing hot, the next it will be raining. It doesn't just rain in Texas. When it rains it pours. It pours so hard that you have to pull over because you can't see the road. The worst part is, because Texas has so much water (We live by a massive lake) there are so many bugs. Our legs are eaten alive. It hasn't even been a week and I have counted over 40 bug bites on each leg. Not including the 6 or 7 on each foot. Sister Gorley made a joke that we might get malaria and I laughed and told her that it wouldn't be the first time someone in my family has had it. She didn't quite understand but I thought it was hilarious. The Gray family has had some of the weirdest sicknesses one of them including malaria. 

Alright, I think that's all I have for this week but I love you all and can't wait to hear from more of you. Please let me know how things are! Stay safe and I will talk to y'all next week.

Love, 

Sister Gray :)

Music Measles from Primary kids

Look Out Texas - She's Arrived ! - Oct. 3 thru Oct 9, 2017

On October 3, 2017 Sister Gray left the Provo MTC and headed for the Texas Fort Worth Mission. Since her arrival we have received many great pictures of Sister Gray and her companion Sister Gorley. Here are some of those pictures :

Sister Gray and her Dad at the airport,
(her dad works at the airport)

Your daughter is here at mutual tonight
 and already being so awesome ! 
Our ward is so happy to have her ! !

Here are your beautiful daughters at our RS activity right now !
They are awesome ladies. 
Thanks for sharing them ! !

I am Art Tenny's (neighbor down the street) brother,
guess who we had for dinner tonight ? 

President Whitney, Sister Gray and Sister Whitney

Sister Gray and Sister Gorley