Christmas was great! It sure was nice talking to the fam, that’s always exciting! Here, they celebrate Christmas different...Christmas is celebrated on Christmas Eve, which seemed really strange to me at first, but it turned out to be really cool and lots of fun. We went to a member’s house at about 5PM or so and hung out, and waited for the rest of the people to get there, played games whatever, then we had dinner which was alright. Dinner at home is always amazing, so I guess I’m spoiled...ha ha, but it was fine. So we had dinner, then at midnight they all opened all their gifts. They did a secret Santa kind of thing tho which was really funny cuz every time someone would go up and get their gift for whoever they had and then they would describe that person. Then they would all guess finally who it was and everyone would jump up and say Paparazzi, Paparazzi! And they would take tons of pictures! It was really funny every time, and lots of fun to watch the madness! Ha ha! After dinner and presents and all that good stuff we just hung out talked and played some games, so it was a good night and lots of fun. :)
Then the next day Christmas! We went to our friend Pedro’s house! He and his family are just awesome! They let us just hang out with them and have lunch and just chill. Christmas day here they just hang out and relax. So that’s what we did! And we talked to our families! It was a good time. :)
I have a feeling I am going to get transferred here in a few weeks, and I’m kind of scared cuz this area and this Ward is just amazing! That’s it, they are just amazing here! I could stay here another 6 months! Sheesh! I would like to stay one more I think, but it’s not up to me obviously, but we will see. I’m just kind of nervous that next I’m going to go to some little branch of 20 people, ha-ha. But no matter where I go I know it’s where the Lord wants me so I will go with a smile with a bunch of GREAT MEMORIES of good ole Setúbal! :)
So this week is going to be a new year! Wow pretty nuts eh!? 2009 is gone! It’s really weird to think that I have been here in Portugal this whole year! That my friends, is a pretty strange feeling! But it’s good too!
Well this week was pretty much one of the fastest weeks ever, I can’t believe it’s gone already, I feel like it was all just one big day! I feel like I’m out of stuff to talk about cuz Christmas was the highlight of the week! Anyway, things are going good, the Holidays were great, but now its time to get back to work! I’m excited for it! This transfer we are focusing on finding new people, so pray that Setúbal will open their hearts for us! I know there are people ready for the Gospel! We just need to find them. :) Thank you all for everything you do for me, thank you for you support and love. I love you!
Happy Holidays! LOVE ELDER GRAY
Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!
We had an Earthquake here in Portugal! Sadly I didn’t feel it, neither did my comp, we were dead asleep! It happened at about 1:30 in the morning, but it was a 6.1 Earthquake on Wednesday night that lasted about 30 seconds! Man that is just crazy! I wish I would have felt it! The next day we went up to the church to meet a member Pedro, to help him with some stuff, and he said, “Did you guys feel the earthquake??” We were like what? Then he told us about it and how he thought his brother was just shaking his bed. So they sit up and flip the light on and everything is shaking! Crazy! Then that night we had a lesson with a member and he told us also about how his whole house was shaking! It was just crazy, I couldn’t believe it! It kind of scared me cuz I swear an earthquake would just knock down these apartments like nothing!! There isn’t much to them, so I feel like they would just crumple up and fall! I would have to say that is the event of the week! I think the earthquake jumped our house...because it sounds like it was a pretty big one!
This week we had the privilege of attending a wedding! It was way fun! A member, Luis got married and we had this big huge party at the church. We had been at the church all day helping Pedro get ready for it the day of, and the days before, so it was way cool. We had a blast. They had music, people singing, so it was really fun!! Trunky moment...ha ha just kidding!
We have this member, named Anna. She is 17 and she was the girlfriend of the boy that died a while back, Tiago, in that car accident. But she was baptized cuz of him, but her mom was very against the whole idea. She didn’t like anything about the church or any of that. But at the funeral of Tiago, she came of course and felt the spirit present there, then came to church the next week, and the next, and well she comes all the time now and loves it. She has even been coming to the activities and everything and participating. It is really awesome, I love it! She still doesn’t really want to talk with us. But it’s a start! She enjoys church and the people and everything so it is really awesome. I am planning on talking to her soon to see if we can stop by, we will see. :)
So last Sunday, get this....We had a lunch appointment with these members, and the Grandpa was there and this Grandpa is very funny and very random, you will see why. I could tell many funny stories of this guy, but this one is for sure worth it. So we are sitting on the couches waiting for everyone to get there and for everything to be ready and we see the old man walk in all slowly, and he.....walks around the whole table and he LICKS every single fork!!!! HAHAHA! It was so funny!!! Me and the other Elders were just like that did NOT just happen!! Man it was SOOO funny! Awkward tho too, cuz we didn’t know what to do. He just licked them all then sat down! And just sat there staring at the stuff on the table for like 10 minutes! So when we sat down, (we didn’t really want to say anything) but it would be funny to be able to see a video of us, cuz all 3 of us at one point or another wiped off our forks the best we could ha ha ha! The whole time eating for me was a bit weird tho. I touched as little of that fork as I could. It was just weird! Ha! But way funny!
So Elder Davis my old comp is now gone, he will be on the plane tomorrow. Pretty crazy, it’s weird to see people go home that’s for sure! I always feel like I have SO much time! I know I won’t feel like that when the end comes. Time does seem to go pretty fast, and I’m loving it for the most part. I’m kind of stressing a bit with some stuff right now, but I will be good. I just want to keep going and work hard. I think the next few weeks should be really good. I am really going to try to work even harder and try new things and just be better. I am grateful for my mission. I am. But it’s very hard. I want to be that Missionary that I know I can be, and I’m working at it, the mission is a huge learning process that is for sure, but I am enjoying it. It is good and very rewarding I know that.
I am really grateful for this time of year. I have always loved Christmas. I am so thankful for my Savior, and all that he has done for me. I am not perfect, but I know that thru the Savior and with his help I can be the BEST that I can be. If I can just give the best and most of me, he will fill in the rest. I love my Savior. I love my family and friends. And I thank you all for all that you do for me. Thank you for your support. I miss you all, and I love you!! Have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! Make it the best one yet, and remember WHY we celebrate Christmas. Be more giving this year and serve others. Go out of your way to find someone ELSE that needs a little help, or a little gift, or some food, anything. Please, show others the joy that YOU have that has come thru the Gospel. Share your love with others. I want to hear some stories of what you have done next week to help someone ELSE that you normally wouldn’t have. Whether it be helping someone on the side of the road, or buying a bum some food. Just DO something! And tell me about it. I am really thankful for the Church and its teachings and I know that we can all do something more to show our happiness and love to others. This is my "convite" to all of you who read this, during this season. I love you all! Now get out and do something for someone!
I Love You! Merry Christmas!!
Elder Robby Gray
We had an Earthquake here in Portugal! Sadly I didn’t feel it, neither did my comp, we were dead asleep! It happened at about 1:30 in the morning, but it was a 6.1 Earthquake on Wednesday night that lasted about 30 seconds! Man that is just crazy! I wish I would have felt it! The next day we went up to the church to meet a member Pedro, to help him with some stuff, and he said, “Did you guys feel the earthquake??” We were like what? Then he told us about it and how he thought his brother was just shaking his bed. So they sit up and flip the light on and everything is shaking! Crazy! Then that night we had a lesson with a member and he told us also about how his whole house was shaking! It was just crazy, I couldn’t believe it! It kind of scared me cuz I swear an earthquake would just knock down these apartments like nothing!! There isn’t much to them, so I feel like they would just crumple up and fall! I would have to say that is the event of the week! I think the earthquake jumped our house...because it sounds like it was a pretty big one!
This week we had the privilege of attending a wedding! It was way fun! A member, Luis got married and we had this big huge party at the church. We had been at the church all day helping Pedro get ready for it the day of, and the days before, so it was way cool. We had a blast. They had music, people singing, so it was really fun!! Trunky moment...ha ha just kidding!
We have this member, named Anna. She is 17 and she was the girlfriend of the boy that died a while back, Tiago, in that car accident. But she was baptized cuz of him, but her mom was very against the whole idea. She didn’t like anything about the church or any of that. But at the funeral of Tiago, she came of course and felt the spirit present there, then came to church the next week, and the next, and well she comes all the time now and loves it. She has even been coming to the activities and everything and participating. It is really awesome, I love it! She still doesn’t really want to talk with us. But it’s a start! She enjoys church and the people and everything so it is really awesome. I am planning on talking to her soon to see if we can stop by, we will see. :)
So last Sunday, get this....We had a lunch appointment with these members, and the Grandpa was there and this Grandpa is very funny and very random, you will see why. I could tell many funny stories of this guy, but this one is for sure worth it. So we are sitting on the couches waiting for everyone to get there and for everything to be ready and we see the old man walk in all slowly, and he.....walks around the whole table and he LICKS every single fork!!!! HAHAHA! It was so funny!!! Me and the other Elders were just like that did NOT just happen!! Man it was SOOO funny! Awkward tho too, cuz we didn’t know what to do. He just licked them all then sat down! And just sat there staring at the stuff on the table for like 10 minutes! So when we sat down, (we didn’t really want to say anything) but it would be funny to be able to see a video of us, cuz all 3 of us at one point or another wiped off our forks the best we could ha ha ha! The whole time eating for me was a bit weird tho. I touched as little of that fork as I could. It was just weird! Ha! But way funny!
So Elder Davis my old comp is now gone, he will be on the plane tomorrow. Pretty crazy, it’s weird to see people go home that’s for sure! I always feel like I have SO much time! I know I won’t feel like that when the end comes. Time does seem to go pretty fast, and I’m loving it for the most part. I’m kind of stressing a bit with some stuff right now, but I will be good. I just want to keep going and work hard. I think the next few weeks should be really good. I am really going to try to work even harder and try new things and just be better. I am grateful for my mission. I am. But it’s very hard. I want to be that Missionary that I know I can be, and I’m working at it, the mission is a huge learning process that is for sure, but I am enjoying it. It is good and very rewarding I know that.
I am really grateful for this time of year. I have always loved Christmas. I am so thankful for my Savior, and all that he has done for me. I am not perfect, but I know that thru the Savior and with his help I can be the BEST that I can be. If I can just give the best and most of me, he will fill in the rest. I love my Savior. I love my family and friends. And I thank you all for all that you do for me. Thank you for your support. I miss you all, and I love you!! Have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! Make it the best one yet, and remember WHY we celebrate Christmas. Be more giving this year and serve others. Go out of your way to find someone ELSE that needs a little help, or a little gift, or some food, anything. Please, show others the joy that YOU have that has come thru the Gospel. Share your love with others. I want to hear some stories of what you have done next week to help someone ELSE that you normally wouldn’t have. Whether it be helping someone on the side of the road, or buying a bum some food. Just DO something! And tell me about it. I am really thankful for the Church and its teachings and I know that we can all do something more to show our happiness and love to others. This is my "convite" to all of you who read this, during this season. I love you all! Now get out and do something for someone!
I Love You! Merry Christmas!!
Elder Robby Gray
Monday, December 14, 2009
Tripple Companionship
Hi Fam!
I’m sorry I have to be quick this week, we have a pretty busy day and not full time for internet, but we had a good week this week. We had an awesome singing thing at a store where our choir sang Christmas songs and it was awesome! We had a ton of people standing watching. It was a lot of fun, and I tell ya, the spirit was really strong. I know that the spirit works thru music! It is incredible.
So I gave this lesson the other day to a member and his wife, and I talked about prayer, and at first I was just going to read a scripture and that’s it, and just say how it's important to pray cuz they just wanted a quick thought. But then I just kept going and talked about how important prayer is and I felt the spirit come and take me away and I was just teaching things that I had not planned at all! That is always such a great experience and I love it!!
So we have a new companion, we are doing pretty good, he is a cool kid, messy tho, he’s kinda gross, but hopefully I can teach him some things, ha ha. He has only been out about 7 months. So it’s going to be a bit different now there are 3 of us! It’s cool tho and I’m excited for this transfer. Anyway I’m sorry this letter is kind of short, I promise next week will be much better! :)
I love you all so much! Have a great week and remember WHY we celebrate this time of year! LOVE YOU!
LOVE ELDER GRAY
I’m sorry I have to be quick this week, we have a pretty busy day and not full time for internet, but we had a good week this week. We had an awesome singing thing at a store where our choir sang Christmas songs and it was awesome! We had a ton of people standing watching. It was a lot of fun, and I tell ya, the spirit was really strong. I know that the spirit works thru music! It is incredible.
So I gave this lesson the other day to a member and his wife, and I talked about prayer, and at first I was just going to read a scripture and that’s it, and just say how it's important to pray cuz they just wanted a quick thought. But then I just kept going and talked about how important prayer is and I felt the spirit come and take me away and I was just teaching things that I had not planned at all! That is always such a great experience and I love it!!
So we have a new companion, we are doing pretty good, he is a cool kid, messy tho, he’s kinda gross, but hopefully I can teach him some things, ha ha. He has only been out about 7 months. So it’s going to be a bit different now there are 3 of us! It’s cool tho and I’m excited for this transfer. Anyway I’m sorry this letter is kind of short, I promise next week will be much better! :)
I love you all so much! Have a great week and remember WHY we celebrate this time of year! LOVE YOU!
LOVE ELDER GRAY
Monday, December 7, 2009
No Snow Here
Hey there Family! Thanks for the e-mails! Just letting you guys know that NO, there is no snow here, at least in my part of the mish. Up in the other mission area in Porto there is some but not a whole lot. Here there isn’t any, so I’m sad. It’s going to be weird having a Christmas with NO snow. I just got an e-mail from my friend Alan, he is in Russia and he said it just snowed over 4 feet!! WOW!! Then they plowed it and all the snow around him was taller than him! He is short, but still! Pretty awesome I think. But yeah, it’s not way cold yet. It’s just perfect right now for a light sweater or a little coat. But hit January and it will get way more cold, then in February, I don’t look forward to that, BBRRRR!!
Just so you know, I get my new comp tomorrow. We will be in a triple, cuz my actual companion goes home right before Christmas, but transfers are tomorrow. Our new Mission President does it kind of different, where we don’t even know about transfers until the middle of p-day which is the day right before. What if I’m enjoying my p-day cuz we had something planned and he calls and is like Elder, you are being transferred. That would suck cuz then we only have the rest of that day to pack. It’s pretty lame cuz we need TIME to pack and what not. Oh well, its okay. So yeah, I’m sure I’m staying here. I will prob be transferred next transfer which is about 6 weeks from today. Sometime in January, just so you know. :)
We had a really good lesson with our investigator Iris and it went really well. I asked her a couple of weeks ago to write down any of her questions or doubts on a piece of paper and bring it to church and I told her she would get an answer. She (I found out yesterday) had written down 5 questions like 3 weeks ago, last week she didn’t come to church cuz she was a little sick, but then yesterday she came, and we went and taught her after church, and she told us she has received answers to 3 of her 5 questions, which is awesome. I was way happy to hear that it is working and she is getting her answers without us having to do anything. She just comes to church and is getting her answers from the speakers and the lessons.
On Tuesday we had the baptism of a member, it was actually Bishops daughter and it was way fun, it was also her Birthday so there was a huge party and stuff with tons of food and we had some dancing and music and everything. It was really fun. Anyway I hope ya´ll have a great week! I miss you and love you all. HAPPY HOLLIDAYS! Feliz Natal!!
LOVE YOU!
Love Elder Gray
Just so you know, I get my new comp tomorrow. We will be in a triple, cuz my actual companion goes home right before Christmas, but transfers are tomorrow. Our new Mission President does it kind of different, where we don’t even know about transfers until the middle of p-day which is the day right before. What if I’m enjoying my p-day cuz we had something planned and he calls and is like Elder, you are being transferred. That would suck cuz then we only have the rest of that day to pack. It’s pretty lame cuz we need TIME to pack and what not. Oh well, its okay. So yeah, I’m sure I’m staying here. I will prob be transferred next transfer which is about 6 weeks from today. Sometime in January, just so you know. :)
We had a really good lesson with our investigator Iris and it went really well. I asked her a couple of weeks ago to write down any of her questions or doubts on a piece of paper and bring it to church and I told her she would get an answer. She (I found out yesterday) had written down 5 questions like 3 weeks ago, last week she didn’t come to church cuz she was a little sick, but then yesterday she came, and we went and taught her after church, and she told us she has received answers to 3 of her 5 questions, which is awesome. I was way happy to hear that it is working and she is getting her answers without us having to do anything. She just comes to church and is getting her answers from the speakers and the lessons.
On Tuesday we had the baptism of a member, it was actually Bishops daughter and it was way fun, it was also her Birthday so there was a huge party and stuff with tons of food and we had some dancing and music and everything. It was really fun. Anyway I hope ya´ll have a great week! I miss you and love you all. HAPPY HOLLIDAYS! Feliz Natal!!
LOVE YOU!
Love Elder Gray
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