What A Week - June 11, 2018

What a week!

Oh my goodness. It hasn't been a week, it's been a day. That's what it feels like. We found out transfer news this morning... I will be staying in the boonies! I will continue to lead out this area with my new companion. My new companion is... SISTER KELLER!! I am so stoked. Sister Keller came out with me. She was in the room down the hall. To be honest, I spent more time with her in her room than I did in my assigned room! Me and Sister Keller are very, very close. To say this is a huge blessing is an understatement. 

This week has been amazing! We had so much fun being with Donna most of the week as she prepared for her baptism. As the big day arrived I was so excited! I feel as if the whole ward was there to support her. A couple of weeks ago she was very scared and hesitant to being baptized. She said, as soon as she felt the spirit about the Book of Mormon and knew that it was true, she couldn't wait anymore. She showed up Saturday morning beaming with happiness. That happiness seemed to grow every second. 

Donna had asked me if I would do something for her baptism. Of course I responded with "anything". She smiled and asked if I would play the piano. I wish y'all could have seen my face. She laughed and simply said "if I'm doing something that makes me nervous, so are you. Thanks for playing." She gave me a hug and walked away. Just so y'all know, I DON'T PLAY THE PIANO. But, for Donna I would do anything. So I attempted to learn new hymns. As the program began, I was so nervous! I made the long walk up to the piano and began to play. The first key I hit was wrong. I about died. I started to laugh and proceeded to say "nice cam, nice." After that, the song went fine and I survived. I came and sat down by Donna and Phillip. Phillip slapped me on my back and said "nice comment". Apparently I was louder than I thought. 

The baptism went great. Donna asked me if I would help her after she was baptized to change and get dried off and everything. As I sat outside of the font as she walked into the water I was filled with such a peace and happiness. She was making the beginning step. She was ready, happy, and she was spiritually prepared. I am so grateful I was able to be apart of her big day. 

I went on exchange this week with my MTC companion Sister Thompson. It was so fun to be with my first companion. It was relieving to talk with her and remember past times. 9 months ago we were starting this crazy journey of a mission. It was so cool to see how much we have grown these past months. A mission forces you to grow up. In all the right reasons you grow. 

We also had the opportunity to go out with Sister Whitney. Sister A flies home on Thursday so Sister Whitney likes to come out with the departing missionaries. We spent most of the time preparing Donna's baptism program. Before we started Sister Whitney said "you are basically a librarian." I laughed and shook my head. That's before it all went down. The printer jammed, the words wouldn't print, the program got messed up. A project that was supposed to take 20 minutes took over an hour. Afterwards, Sister Whitney commented "never-mind, don't be a librarian. Don't do that to the trees." It was so much fun to be around her and listen to her council. I love President Whitney and his wife:)

Sunday we were running around like crazy! Donna received the holy ghost, a less active we reactivated blessed the sacrament, we had investigators at church, the full 9 yards. We finished all of our meetings around 3. We had lunch with Donna and Phillip and went out to follow up on a less active. We were in the deep dark boonies of our area. I'm talking 10 minutes from anything. From a mound, a tree, a house, anything. It was just this trailer house in the middle of no where. We knocked on the door and some teenagers came out. We were able to talk with them and he came close friends. They said they would come to mutual on Wednesday. 

I absolutely love this area. I love the ward, the people, the difference in everything. Decatur is filled with Small towns and it's not very populated but it's such a good place. I am thankful that Heavenly Father has sent me to this area. It's growing. I feel like I have my family here. I am thankful or the church and its organization and how family focused it is. Everyone wants to include you hear. You are welcomed into anyone's home.

 
Well Everyone! I hope y'all have a great week. Keep doing great things. Enjoy the heat I know I am! I will talk to y'all soon. 

Love,

Sister Gray 

Phillip and Donna

Sister Gray, Phillip, Donna, Sister Alatini

Sister Alatini, Grace, and Sister Gray 

The Very Beginning - June 4, 2018

Aaaaahhhh!

That's all I can say about this week! This week has been so crazy busy. We have been working with Donna a lot this past week to finish preparing her for her baptism. We are so excited that she is making this step! She has grown so much the past three months.

I am so happy that I have had the opportunity to be with her the whole time. I have such a love for her and Phillip. As the weeks have gone by it has been fun to see the change of heart between both of them. We actually found Phillip and Donna through an unusual way. Phillip grew up going to church. Throughout the years he fell away but always knew he needed to come back. Years later, his mom passed away and he didn't know what he should do. He knew his mom was active so he called the temple asking for help. The temple then called us! Somehow his records were lost and we had no idea he was even here!

So, we came over and introduced ourselves. They agreed to meeting with us and that's how it all began! We have grown so close with them. Phillip has already said that we are adopted in and we can't get out. He loves us too much, so does Donna. My heart was happy as he stood in the congregation yesterday as they announced him receiving the priesthood. I have never felt more joy. I love the people I have met as I have served.

Recently, we have been sharing with the members of our ward our "ward mission plan". It's a plan that enables the ward members to help in every aspect of missionary work. Finding, teaching, fellowshipping, everything. As we have shared this plan, the first step to the plan is to fast and pray for missionary opportunities.

As we have shared this with families, we have committed them to start doing so. To pray for personal opportunities but to also pray for the growth of the Decatur ward.

Omni 1:26 says: And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.".

Many of y'all know that this is my all time favorite scripture. Why? It lays everything out. What we need to be doing with our life here on earth. Continue to fast and pray, I have such a testimony of these things. I have seen the affects of the prayers on our behalf.

Over the past 3 weeks, our bench at church has been filled. New investigators are coming forth. Less active members hearts are softened and we are able to help them feel the spirit once more and partake of the sacrament. All because of faith, fasting and praying, and offering our WHOLE soul. Not just a part, our WHOLE soul as an offering to him. Turning our lives over to the Lord as we seek guidance and help.

If you are not praying for missionary experiences daily, I invite you to do so. Take part of the most amazing work there is.

I promise that if y'all will do this that the Lord will do his part. He will provide you with opportunities to serve. Sometimes you plant seeds. Sometimes you harvest. Sometimes you are simply preparing the soil. Whatever it may be, take part of this amazing work. There is so much joy when our brothers and sisters return to the fold, or enter into the fold. So much joy that you can not comprehend. Trust me, I've felt it. Put in the effort, the outcome is worth while.

I know that this gospel is true. I know that it has been restored to the earth today through a living prophet. I know that President Russel M. Nelson is a prophet today and that he truly is the mouth price of the Lord. Listen to his counsel. Our Father in Heaven loves each and every one of us. No matter the mistakes we have made, the things we have done, the words we have said. He loves us. He sent his Son for us. We will live with Him again.

Love y'all,


Sister Gray


P.s. I'm super lame and didn't take any pictures this week:( my bad!

Bring your Swimming suit..... May 28, 2018

Happy Memorial day everyone! 

I hope y'all enjoy this festive day. We don't celebrate holidays very often as missionaries but it is still a good holiday. I don't really have a lot of time today but it was such a good week! 

This week an amazing experience happened. I am really grateful for our Heavenly Father. I LOVE that we have a chance to talk to Him daily. I have really used that this week. I have prayed so much over the past week. It's crazy. It's been incredible.

In Mosiah 18, it talked about sacrifice. Sacrifice, obedience, and faith brings forth the blessings of Heaven. 

As a missionary you sacrifice soon much. Your time, your feelings, your everything. I didn't think I could do it. Sometimes you want to give up, but you can't. I read that scripture this week and realized that if I want to do something to help my investigators progress. I must sacrifice more. It didn't make a lot of sense but I decided to try it. I made a plan, set goals, and prayed for confirmation. I set 3 different sacrifices. A physical, mental and spiritual sacrifice. No soda, or snacks. A missionary mind all of the time. To read Jesus Christ everyday to learn more. As I began these sacrifices. It became harder and harder to keep them up. I feel like I had no support (even though I did). I have prayed harder and harder every day. 

This week I saw the fruits of my labor. We had 3 less active families return to church, 3 investigators at church. We felt really blessed. During second hour, our investigator Donna, came up to me and said " looks like I'm going swimming." I was really confused but just agreed and said "man, I wish I could go swimming!" She laughed at me and said "no Sister Gray, I am gonna be baptized." I freaked out. It was crazy. I have been praying for that since I came to Decatur. I felt so much love from Heavenly Father when she told me that. Not love for me, but the love God has for Donna. I am so incredibly blessed to be here.

I'm thankful for y'all. I really am. I will talk to you soon. 

Love y'all.
Sister Gray


Messing around at the museum
Baby frenchies
Cooper the frenchie.
Kim, our returning less active
Sunsetssssss

Playing the piano at the museum

Reading at the museum

Perm anyone?

Cooper the Frenchie

Kim and Sister Altini

Sister A and Sister Gray 

Beautiful Sunset