Sister Gray's Mission: The Broken Font

Hey Y'all!

HAPPY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I cant believe that the holidays are here. I feel like I have said that before but.... truth stands I guess. I have to admit I have left out some pretty awesome things that have happened over the past few weeks. So lets jump in!

We have gone to the temple two times in the past two weeks. We went with Ryan to the temple on the 11th and it was great!!! I love being a missionary. In fact, as we sat in the baptistery we just kind of felt good. Ryan had asked me a question and that led to a very spiritual conversation. I came to the answer that it is moments like that, that make it okay to leave your family for 18 months. Its moments like this, that make it okay to get up every day at 6:30. Its moments like this, that help me recognize the impact of my calling. As we sat and I told her these things we just sat and cried together. What a powerful experience.

The following Tuesday we had the chance to attend the temple with Joy! It was so cool to be able to be there so close together. As we were all changing in the changing rooms Joy came up to me and said that she felt really really good. I told her that the feeling she was feeling was the spirit and she looked at me and laughed. She simply said duh and gave me a hug. What a sassy human haha.

On Saturday the Chibuzors were baptized!!!! YAY!!!! ah man, it was such a cool experience. Wanna know why? Because everything that possibly could have gone wrong... did. We had exchanges on Friday so there was no one in our area for that day. We had to do all of the last minute planning around 8 p.m. that night. It was pretty stressful. We had to find rides for them because they don't have a car. The person we had all lined up to take them called us Friday night at 10 saying that their car had a flat tire and that they didn't know when it would be fixed. So, we had that to deal with. We show up Saturday morning and start to fill the font. Fast forward an hour and a half and there is maybe 3 feet of water in the font. It would not hold too much and it simply wouldn't fill up. So, throughout the entire service the font was still filling up. There wasn't much we could do about it so we just left it alone and carried on our way. When it came to the baptism part of the service we opened the door and there was just enough water to baptize. As all three of them went into the water my heart was simply just filled with joy. There is no other way to put it rather than joy. Pure happiness. When we were in the bathroom helping them change and getting their wet clothes Anita simply said, "I feel very light. I feel like I can do anything right now." Explaining to her what that feeling is was one of the best moments in my mission. I cant even explain to y'all how blessed I feel to be serving in the Carrollton wards.

They were confirmed the next day and it was a wonderful sacrament meeting. The music was fantastic, and the spirit was so strong. After church Anita asked if we would come to her house for lunch. She fed us some pretty awesome Nigerian food. We had this stuff that resembled fou fou (Cheston you are a freaking champ my dude) and a stew. I am not sure what the stew is called because she was talking really fast but it had chicken bones, dried fish, and another type of meat that I was unable to identify. It was hotter than anything I have ever consumed. We all sat on the floor huddled around the pot filled with stew and a plate filled with fou fou. We all sat and ate using our hands, not the most sanitary thing in the world but hey, I survived. It was so comforting to be apart of their family culture and seeing someone who has near to nothing and still has the desire to share what little they had. It was amazing.

I am so excited for Christmas and the chance to see y'all. I love being a missionary and I am grateful for my calling. The Church is true. Christ lives. God loves us. I am sure of it.

See Y'all soon.

LOVE Y'ALL!

Sister Gray