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 :)
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