Letter #55 D&C 36:8

Here is some pictures of our ward.... the activity.... the trip to see the rededication... and Carlos, (who was baptized in Unquillo after I left). I hope you like them!

Temples. How awesome are they? We had the privilege to see the rededication of the Buenos Aires Temple. It was amazing. President Eyering gave a really good testimony that hit me like a brick. It was awesome because Elder Cristofferson was directing and telling us who was going to talk, then Eyering leaned over and whispered something to Christofferson. Christofferson then said that there was a change of plans and that eyring would give us his testimony.

Oh man, was it powerful. Its amazing what words you will speak when you listen to the Holy Ghost. What he said, summarizing of course, is that God will not be mocked. We cannot return to him if we are sinning. We cannot be doing the stuff we are doing right now and expect to enter in the kingdom of god. just like it says in Matt 7:23. A god, came down and suffered for us so that we can return to God the Father´s presence. I know that he loves us.

It was amazing.

The activity this week went pretty good! We had a lottttt of people show up to help us and it turned out really good. the bishop gave the welcoming. we had a tour of the church. We showed them the baptismal font. we had a video of mormon messages. we shared testimonies. the kids sang for us. and yeah. It was really good. The bishop afterwards told us that we should do something like taht more often.... booyeah.

We invited 15 people to be baptized this week.... and all of them accepted dates. We have Denise getting baptized this weekend. Her sister and her cousins the next weekend... and then a lot more people the day of General Conference and the week afterwards.

I learned that we need to have a goal in our life. If we dont. Its just like we are playing soccer without any goals.... or basketball without any hoops.... no one will win. we wont see our progress. we wont get better and we wont return to live with our father in heaven.

I hope everyone is doing fine. I love you all and I pray for you every day.

Suerte! Que estén muuuuuuyyy bien.

Our hard work pays off.

Con amor,

Elder Gray

Letter #54 Happy Hump Day to me!

Yes. I do expect hump day gifts from EVERYONE. :D

This week was pretty good. We had a lot of ups but a lot more downs.... But thats ok, just a part of life I guess. We didn´t have anyone in church this week because all of the people we invited went to Córdoba to visit some family. They did promise us this week though that they will go to the activity that we´re having on Sunday because there isn´t church. There isn´t church because the Temple of Buenos Aires is being rededicated. And all of the churches are becoming "extensions" of the event so instead of church, we´re having that. And only the worthy members of the church can go to it..... so that puts a damper on the mission work. but its ok. We made an activity on sunday where we´re basically going to have church but without the sacrament meeting. haha

So... How is everyone doing? It sounds like you are enjoying the pool without me.... :P has anyone done a cannonball for me yet? if so, I want picture proof.

Speaking of pool parties. There is a family here in Rio Ceballos that is going to go visit their daughter that lives in Highland. And i of course told them that they need to visit my family and that my dad would give them a American Asado AKA Barbeque with Burgers, Steaks, etc. :D So yeah, at the beginning of October, if some argentines come knocking on your door looking for a barbeque, just know that I sent them with all my love here in Argentina.

I´ll get more details for you. They really are a way cool family, so treat them well. :D I´m going to give them our address and the telefone number so that they can organize it with ya.

But yeah, here in Argentina its amazing. Im sure that every missionary here would agree. This mission has been such a blessing in my life and I can´t even think of where I´d be if I wasn´t here. (Probably be playing soccer for RSL or something. ;)  ) but yeah, the experiences that I have had here in Argentina are the best experiences I´ve ever had in my life. I have learned so much about the gospel that I had never known before and I´ve learned so much about myself. I am a better person now and I am trying to be a better person everyday. I hope that all of you will have this goal as well: to improve on something everyday. That is the whole reason why we are here.

This week we talked a lot with our investigators about baptism and a lot of them denied it, which is ok. We learned that we need to teach it a lot more deeply and a lot better as well so that they can end up understanding what it really means. We also had a lot of them accept baptism and are now really preparing to be baptized. (with the exception of going to church because they were on vacation)

I also found out that where Dad and Zane went hunting here is seriously 10 minutes from me. Its called Asochinga or something similar to that. The world is so small.

I have also learned in my first year on the mission how easy it is to share the gospel. http://www.lds.org/topics/missionary-work/seven-simple-suggestions-for-sharing-the-gospel?lang=eng#seven-simple-01 Please, if and when you have the opportunity to share the gospel, open your mouth and let the Spirit speak through you.

I know that God loves us. We are his children. He wants us all to be happy. And with that desire, he needs us to be instruments in sharing this happiness with all those that are around us. I hope that you are will have a spectacular week. Be safe. Pray.

Con muchísimo amor y cariño,

Elder Gray

 

 

 

 

Pictures. . .Pictures. . and more Pictures!

Letter #53 D&C 18:10-16

Wow... This week was just beyond words. It was truly a week of miracles and a lot of work.

First of all, let me tell you all the greatest joys that I have ever felt in my entire life. It was when I saw all of my investigators step in the waters of baptism and make a covenant with our heavenly father and promise to him that they will always remember him and keep his commandments. Really, every single one of the baptismal services that i have been at, it is hard to stop from tearing up. I know that bringing souls to our Heavenly Father brings us the greatest joy that I have ever felt.

Joaquin was baptised!!!! :D woohoo. Just look at the attached photo to see how happy he was about it.

Denise could not get baptized this week but she did promise us that she will get baptized before the month ends! She is really awesome. :D And she introduced us to the rest of her family who are not members yet and they love us! So hopefully and prayerfully we can help the 8 of them prepare for their baptisms as well. :D

We also talked with the Familia Medina and they told us that they will start prepping to come to church every week this month. So now we just need to start talking abou tthe baptismal covenant :D

I also wanted to apologize to mom for how late this mail was... We did service today and we literaly built a house today...... We started at 9 this morning and we just ended an hour ago (6).... it was a fun opportunity and my hands are ripped up, but I loved the experience :D

I also wanted to congratulate Marci and Jeff on the new baby boy. Welcome to the team Thomas!

We also had transfers this week and me and elder Goates are still companions and we are really excited to start this transfer!  Elder Goates and I have a goal of having 8 baptisms together! So we are working really hard to accomplish what the Lord is willing to give us.

I am also really excited to take a dip into the pool when I get back..... haha

I INVITE ALL OF MY FRIENDS TO GO AND HAVE A PARTY AT MY HOUSE WITHOUT ME!!! WOOHOO!! AND YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO USE THE POOL :D you´re welcome mom. I love you too.

And I also heard that my boy Steve Nash is in the starting lineup for the Lakers.... How it should be :D No one can stop us!!

If anyone is thinking about sending me a one year anniversary present.... I really need some new ties... :D

Im going to take a lot of pictures this week so I hope you will all be able to see the lives that the gospel is touching.

I lov eyou all and I hope you have a great week!

Con muchísimo amor,

Elder Gray

Letter #52 Ether 12:12

This week was a week of Miracles!!! And as the scripture says, that God can´t do a miracles among us unless we show our faith. Really, this week was one of the best ones of my mission. We received so many blessings from a lot of different people and we always get to see how we become a blessing in the lives of others.

This Saturday we will have a baptism!! We also could possibly have 4 baptisms..... and ill explain to you why.

1. Joaquin is for sure getting baptized this week. We talked to the mom and she said that she has been seeing the miracles and the changes in her son and in the house. She also gave us permission to baptize him this saturday and so Elder Goates and I will have completed our goal to baptize in August! We went to Joaquin´s house last night with Brother Paolantonio, who was the bishop of the mom a while back, and he helped us gain confidence with the mom and with the grandpa. Now they love us!

2. We could be baptizing Denise this Saturday. It all depends if we have permission from President Salas.  The reason why we need permission is because she has only gone to church 2 times and there is a rule here in South America, among all the missions, that you have to have 3 assistances to be able to be baptized. And Denise also had to stop smoking... So we were working with her throughout the week to try to stop smoking and so we put a couple of goals with her. She first started out smoking ten on monday.... Then we told her she has to smoke 8 on Tuesday, then 6 on Wednesday, and 4 on Thursday, etc... we went to her house on thursday to see how she was doing and she said that she smoked 6 again.... :/. so we helped her out with some scriptures on faith and told her that her faith would help her to be healed. So on saturday, we sent her a bunch of text messages to help her remind herself that she can´t smoke more than 4 but we never received a text message back. So of course, us elders were a bit worried that she was falling off the deep end. that night at 11:30ish, we received a text from her that said that she didn´t have any signal all day and that she didn´t smoke at all that day!  What a miracle. She also said that she´d see us in church on sunday. So yeah, we got up on Sunday, went to church and she was already waiting for us in the class of the Relief Society. She told us that she hadn´t smoked in two days! Afterwards, we asked the bishop for permission to baptize her and he gave us the permission. Now we have to ask president to see if he will give us permission.

3. Jeremias (8), is going to be baptized in the ward.

4. Ruth (sister of Jeremias) has been going to church for about 3 months now and hasn´t wanted to be baptized because of some stuff that she has been doing. So one day when we were having a family home evening with her family, she came up to me and asked me to write my testimony in her book of mormon. So of course I accepted. I started writing what I felt about her in her book of mormon, and then I had a strong impression to start writing about the grace of Christ and the atonement that he made for us, and overall, the Love of God. So I started writing about that, quoting some scriptures along the way, and then gave her the book when I finished. She started reading the tesimony, reading the scriptures i left her with, and then sat there thinking for like 30 minutes without saying anything. Meanwhile, I am just talking with the family and enjoying my time. At the end of the FHE, i said bye to the family and said that we´ll see them in church.  At church, I said hi to Ruth to see how she was doing. She told me that she had been thinking a lot about what I wrote to her and that she wants to be baptized! We will be baptizing her SOON! 

Really I know and testify that there is power in testimony. Testimony is something that we have lived and that we know of a surety. I know that really if we pray to our Heavenly Father to gain a testimony of something, he will give it to us. And the most special and important part about a testimony from our Father in Heaven is that only He can take it away from us.

I know that God lives. He loves us.

(DC 76:22)

Really, there were a lot of miracles taht happened this week and I know it is because of the Faith that we have shown to Him.

The Family Medina also came to church this week and had a great time.

Our hard work really does pay off.

I love you all and hope and pray that you are safe and well kept.

Con Amor,

Elder Gray

PS. When the pool gets done, do a cannonball for me. :D

Letter #51

Dear Family,

Each week it is awesome to hear from each and every one of you. But you need to give me more details in your emails! Because I dont understand a thing! Where is the pool at in the yard? They cut the gas and lights? We have a new fence with an electric opener+ Haha, this all makes no sense to me. Cassie, you need to send me pictures of all of the work that they are doing. I want to see this baby in progress. And its awesome to hear from all of you. Know that I love you and pray for each of you every day and every night.

This week here in the mission was awesome. We had a LOT of lessons and a lot of people in church again. We had a total of 5 investigators in the church this week and they were all new people that haven´t gone before. Our father in heaven really does love each and every one of us and I know that he wants us to be successful.

I also had the opportunity to give a talk in church this week. The bishop let me know Saturday at 10:30 at night but atleast it wasn´t the morning of the talk :D. I talked out our baptismal covenant and what we promise each week when we partake of the sacrament. I also read about Peter and the discussion that he had with Christ in John 21. I think it was a good talk but hopefully everyone understood me.

So yeah, we had 5 people in church this week.

1. Ruth, she really basically is a member, but she just does not want to be baptized for some reason.....

2. Denis. She woke up early, threw away her cigarettes and she came to church. The real miracle of it all is that she has not smoked since yesterday. She is really excited for her baptism the 25th and she is really trying hard to stop smoking.

3. Natividad. Denis also is doing some missionary work. She brought her little sister along to accompany her at church and Denis bore her testimony to Natividad. It was really cool. So now we will be teaching them both tonight.

4. Sol. David Gudiño, a member, brought his cousin to church and she said she wants to be baptized..... So of course we said that we´ll help her prepare herself.

5.Joaquin. He is a little brother of a member, Mauro, who came to church this week. He also told us that he wants to be baptized. So we went to his house yesterday to talk to his parents to see if we could and she said that she would love for him to be in the church and to be baptized. And afterwards, the grandpa told us that he wants us to teach his wife. So we´ll be visiting them all this week to teach the son, the grandma, and to help the family come back to church.

This week we also had a holiday here in Argentina. El día del niño. All of the kids received presents from their parents and there was a lot more people at church this week. I think we had 120 people there.

Today as a pension, we are all going to go play basketball with a couple of the young men and women in the ward. and they said that they would all bring a friend that isn´t a member. I think this will be a good activity for the young people in our ward to help their friends start coming to the activities.

We also went and taught Familia Medina again. They have read a lot of the book of mormon as a family and are really excited to start having family home evenings with the members of the ward. But the only problem they have is that they still haven´t come to church. So we´ll start seeing the possibilities of this next week.

So to finish up i want to bear my testimony. I know that God loves us. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and our Redeemer. They both have sacrificed for us and they want us to be happy. Every small thing that we do here in this life, will add up in the end and we will receive the benefits of what we have done. For small and simple things, are great things brought to pass. I testify that families can be together forever. We are here on this earth with a purpose, and this purpose is to return to live with our Heavenly Father. I know these things and I testify them to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you all.

Be safe and have a great week.

Elder Gray

Letter #50 "And it came to pass. . ."

And it came to pass that the elders of Rio Ceballos did receive many blessings because of their faithfulness in keeping the commandments of the mission Argentina Cordoba.

Wow! this week was an awesome week here in Rio Ceballos. We had 6 people in church yesterday! We worked a ton this week so that we could have someone new show up and God blessed us with 6! I really do know that when we keep the commandments, show our faith through our works, and pray to have our works show their fruits, God really does bless us.

Well yeah, there was a lot of stuff that happened this week and so here are some of the major points.

1. We put a fecha with Lihue! We had Lihue come and meet with us at the church before one of the youth activities. So it was us, him, and Jared (kid of the Bishop). We started talking about the church and how he liked it. Then he started asking a lot of questions that we answered with scriptures and testimonies. At the end of the lesson, the whole young mens quorum started testifying of the Book of Mormon and we put a baptismal date with him for the 18th of August. ..... But he didn´t come to church this week so we´ll move it to the 25th.

2.Gaston came to church. We talked with Gaston this week as well and we were going to put a baptismal date with him as well but then we found out that his parents don't really like us that much. So now we need to go and talk with the parents to find out if they would permit us to baptize Gaston. I really hope that they will! Gaston is the man!

3.Micaela came to church! We´ve been working with Micaela a lot lately trying to help her solve her problems with her family and trying to help her understand the world that comes after this life. And she ended up showing up to church this week! it was way cool. And also she gave me a pair of underwear as a present for my birthday... hahahaha she´s way funny.

4. Marcelo, Ruth, Laila, and Saul also came to church. They are a bunch of other people that we have been working with this week to see if they could come to church with us. And they all showed up! It was also testimony meeting and so it was super powerful with all the testimonies given.

5. I had two cakes for my birthday! They were delicious. Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes!

6. I finished Helaman! To sum up all my reading thus far, I just have to say that I hate the Gadianton Robbers.

7. Argentina won a medal I think! woohoo! all the Argentines update us on the US and how they are rooting for China to beat us in the medal races.

8. I'm old. :P I now am 20 years old. haha

Yeah, that about sums up the best of this week! I hope you are all doing good!

Con mucho cariño,

Elder Gray