February 18, 2013

Hello family,

Well this week! Well it was good and it was bad at the same time! Let’s start off about the bad things! Well I got transferred! I will really miss that area! It was a good area it was really fun with Elder Monteiro! I was sent to Curitiba Caiua! And I was called to be district leader! For Elder Monteiro he will train a new missionary! That means that I will be a grandpa here on the mission! Hahaha that’s cool! Good things! That this week was the last week of Elder Black! It was sad to see him go but it is also a good thing! So he had a going way party with members of his ward and because I am like friends with everyone they asked us to go over there and hang out with them and have this party/family night! It was something really cool? So when we were there, they had two girls that went to efy and they were like hey you want to see what we did in the talent show and I was like ya why not we were waiting for other people to get there! and so I watched them do there little dance, and they were like there is other people that are going to be on this same film and then came a girl that sang I was not really paying attention I was just talking to everyone! And then there was a young man that started to do capoheira and I looked and I was like do I know that kid! So I looked closer and what do you know it was Eloim the young man that I baptized in Paranagua! My heart in that moment swelled with joy and I called those girls over and I was like hey do you know him and they were like yes he is such a stud and I was like I baptized him! And they were like no way that is so cool! And their like do you want to talk to him and I was like ya if I can! And so they called him and I got to talk to him for 5 mins! It was really one of the best 5 mins in my time here on the mission, the feeling that some one that you baptized is firm in the church and is doing the right things and thanking you for everything! It was really the best feeling in the world! I loved it! he told me when I get to the of end my mission and get to go through the temple for the last time he wants me to call him and he wants to do baptism for the dead with me! When he said that it hit me so strong it gave me a ton of hope for that day because I know that when I go into the temple with someone that I baptized will be a day that I will never forget! I really hope that I can do that and have that wonderful experience! It was super hard to say goodbye to some families this Sunday! So we have an old couple in our ward that I love to death! So I went over there to tell them good bye and all that the husband says well I’m going to leave the church it’s not fair that they take you away! You did so many things here for us and for the ward! And I was like wait a minute first off you can’t leave the church because I want to see you guys go through the temple and I want to see you guys in the celestial kingdom! And if you guys leave the church you guys won’t be able to do that! And then they calmed down and there were like that is right we got to stay strong this is the thing that is important! And I was like yep that is the spirit! And then the husband gave like a talk that I will summarize he basically told me and my companion about the power that we have to help people to inspire people do the right things and come unto Christ! Then he went on to say that you parents better be very proud of you guys because if you were my sons I would be so proud of you! (and he was crying telling us this) my companion started to cry and I was like ya I want to cry to but I think that my tears have dried up! I really don’t think that I have tears any more! But it was something really cool that he said to us I loved it and it made me really realize what great parents that I have that love me so much! I really do miss you guys a ton! Then after him we went to other families to tell them good bye and all that and it was the same thing in every house that we went! It’s a really good feeling to know that you are loved by the people that you serve! I will really miss all of them!

Well to be a district leader! Well this will be really different! So there is no training for this! They just throw you into it and say good luck! I will be a leader of 7 missionaries which will be interesting! One of the elders is from alpine his name is Elder Rios he knows Jennica he also went to LP! The rest of the elders I still don’t know yet! But it will be a good experience for me! My new companion is named Elder Serrano he is Cuban that lives in Miami! Lets say this He is the 2nd biggest looser here on the mission! He is Elder Bruce’s right hand man! But it is ok I will just work with him and try and help him out with these things and make him a better elder! He only has 2 more transfers here and then he will be in his house! But everything will go alright I know that it will! Well that is it for my letter! I love you guys and I hope that you guys have a great week! Love you guys!

Elder Gray