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