Sister Gray's Mission: What a Week?

Hey y'all!

I hope y'all had a great week this week. We had a great week here in Carrollton. It sure has been a busy one. We had lessons every single night this week. It was awesome! I love being able to stay busy. We are teaching Ryan her new member lessons and they are going great. We are going to the temple this week on Tuesday with her to do baptisms for the dead. I am super super excited. I actually haven't done baptisms for the dead since I was home. I have gone to the temple a few times but I haven't had the chance to do baptisms. I am really excited.

We are also teaching Joy her new member lessons. Teaching Joy can be really interesting sometimes. She has two kiddos that are crazy and love the missionaries. They jump all over us while we are teaching. It's really fun though, she is making us Nigerian food tonight and I am making her banana bread and we are doing a swap. Pray for me, Nigerians like things spicy. It should be a lot of fun. We are going to the temple with Joy next week. Again, I can not wait.

This Wednesday Sister Whitney decided she wanted to come spend some time with me before I go home (only makes me slightly trunky when the Mission President's Wife decides to bring up going home, what do you do haha). We went to district council, we went to lunch, and we went to a service project. It was really fun to be with her and to talk with her. She doesn't get to go out with too many sisters because of her crazy schedule but she wanted to come out with me so that made me feel special haha.

On Friday we had our ward Christmas party for the Carrollton 2nd ward. It was a huge success! We had lots of people there and it was a great missionary opportunity. I absolutely love the Christmas season as a missionary. It has its ups and downs like any other season but ultimately I love this time of year. People are usually Christ-centered and that makes it easier for us to talk to them.

Saturday was an amazing day. President Willy, the stake President in the Carrollton stake called us and invited us over to his house for an early lunch. He had called everyone in the district and invited them. He catered Hard 8 (which is a Texas known barbecue place) and we had a few important guests there. Elder David Harris of the seventy joined us. We all gathered around the table and ate wonderful food and had great conversation. After eating, we were trained by both President Willy and Elder Harris. I was spiritually re-boosted. It was amazing. That same night we had stake conference, the adult session. The rules for attending the adult session of stake conference are simple. You have to bring someone you are teaching. That's It! So! We brought Christine and she LOVED It! We learned so much and the spirit was strong.

Sunday again was the busiest day for us. We had to find rides for 8 people to come to church. With much trial we were able to find everyone a ride. It was funny sitting in our row of people with a family of six, a family of 3, Christine, and a little boy who decided he wanted to sit by me. It was quite the site. Afterwards elder Harris requested to shake the hands of those we had brought. What a wonderful meeting that was.

Afterwards we had a lesson with the Chibuzor family. We taught them the gospel of Jesus Christ which lead into a discussion on baptism! They had a date for the 24th of November but it had to be moved back. Ultimately that was a good thing and we are glad that it happened. We had a frank discussion with them on the importance of baptism and they want to move forward. They even picked their own date. They will be baptized on the 22nd of this month. I am so excited. They are amazing people with great faith.

Well y'all. I am so grateful to be here, so grateful to be a missionary. I love doing what I do and feeling what I feel. I am sad that my weeks are becoming short but I am glad that I am here doing what I need to. I hope each of y'all are participating in the light the world challenge. It's a marvelous program.

I sure do love y'all!

Love,
Sister Gray

Things from the nativity
Ryan when she got her recommend
Our Christmas tree