Fresh Start

So, I’m starting over. I have been slacking lately on writing EVERYONE that I could or should be, because of the lack of good that has been going on here right now. I have really been struggling with my new comp. I talked with our Mission Pres, who is new by the way, and he is pretty cool so far. He is way nice and he tries to be funny so that is pretty cool. I don’t get jokes yet though in Portuguese, ha-ha. We had this big huge annoying ordeal of a bunch of different interviews and what not, then Elder Rodrigues and I just went and took a sit down, and I just put him in his place, (to make things simple). We talked about the stuff that is going on and why it’s not working and why we are always so mad at each other. We figured out what the problems are and now we are working at it. So far it is better, things are running smoother. It’s nowhere near perfect, but now I am not debating going to the top of the building and jumping. (I’m just kidding, mom). I thank you all for you patience and help. So now I wanted to start new and just try to stay always positive and always write positive, and try not to leave anyone out that wants to know about my life here in crazy Portugal! (It’s in Europe for those that don’t know, I didn’t....) ha-ha, BUT...there is a rule, if you don’t write me at least just saying that "you are at least reading the letters," I won’t continue to send them to you, cuz I don’t want to send them to those who don’t read them or care to get them, so if I don’t hear from you soon, I won’t bother sending you the big email each week, so let me know if you want me to continue sending the group email to you. Thanks. :)

Okay, so this week, because we are making things a bit better, things are going a bit better. First of all, our investigator Koky. He is a stud! He has been coming to church EVERY WEEK since we first started talking to him, which is a big deal! For all of you that have cars or a church about a 2 min walk away, or even a bike, he doesn’t. He has to walk about 40 minutes to church everyweek, and I tell you it is HOT right now! July is the hottest month in the summer. And he walks!! There and back, that just goes to show that he cares. So I love it!! We are going to have a compromisso with him tomorrow, Thurs. We want to extend the invite to be baptized so I really hope to see that go well. The last few people I have seen after being asked to be baptized, they stop everything and don’t want anymore lessons, so its really scary, this opportunity to extend this commitment with him, is NOT very common here. Other missions they may do it daily, weekly, or monthly even. But here it’s a new story, so it’s very tough. I would LOVE to see this go thru though. He would be an awesome addition to our little tiny branch here in Tavira.

I found out on Sunday, there is a little girl that is 8 yrs old and getting ready to be baptized. Her whole family are members, but her dad doesn’t have the priesthood, I don’t know why, he also doesn’t take the sacrament, but hey, he is in church, so that is good. She decided she wants ME to baptize her! Pretty cool huh? But, the downfall, I may not be able to, because transfers are on the 6th of August. Her baptism is on the 15th. And because of all this that happened with me and my comp I will prob get transferred this upcoming transfer. So I guess we will see what happens. But either way it’s really cool to me that she picked me. When I told her, and the family I may get transferred and not be able to do it, but that if I don’t I would love to, the little girl, Andrea, looked up at her mom and said, very quietly, she is very shy, she says, "But mom, then who will baptize me?" Wow! Talk about getting hit in the heart. Maybe it wasn’t all that big of a deal. But when she said that, in Portuguese thank goodness I understood it, well it just hit me, and I really right then, well I kind of felt like the grinch when his heart begins to grow. (You know in the cartoon it busts out of the little box!) (yes Kiley, I’ve seen it, surprised?) ;) ha-ha, But really, that’s how I felt. I felt my heart grow for that little girl. And I loved seeing her little bit of concern because she really wants to be baptized. It was just really cool for me. It helped me have a good day.

Okay a quick few things to people, Deanna, Congrats on the marriage! I’m so happy for you! I saw a couple of pics and you looked Gorgeous! And I also got a pic of Nikki and Mr. (Elder) Allen!! What! Oh my, that is so funny! Way cool tho! Now I wish I would have gotten to know him a little better...ha-ha! That is way, way funny! I couldn’t help but laugh!! You go you two! Tell him hi for me ha-ha.

All of you, thank you. Thank you for all you do for me, thank you for your prayers and thoughts. I really appreciate them. Please continue to pray and fast for Grandpa. I know he can pull thru but he also really needs our prayers. I will continue to check on him thru the blog-site. Thanks for keeping that going good. It’s really good way for me to see his progress. Thank you, thank you!

I Love you and miss you all so much! Have an amazing week! Sorry this was so stinkin long. I hope you pulled thru and didn’t give up. Or just saw from the beginning and saw how long it was and said "ehhh...I’ll read it later," whos guilty??? Jason? Ha-ha, just playing! I love you all so much! Thank you for all you do. Don’t be shy. WRITE!!!!!
I Love You,
Love Elder Robby Gray

Hard Times

Well things are pretty much feeling the same here. There just isn’t that much to report about because of my comp and this whole ridiculous situation, things are not progressing much at all. I’m having harder times getting compromissos to go through. It’s weird. Things are just getting harder and harder with this guy. All he does is sleep too. It’s really annoying; anytime we get home at anytime he goes to sleep. So, I work on the area book a lot and call people and try to set stuff up as he sleeps. He is killing this area. I really like this area but because it is so small it’s hard with this kind of comp. I need someone cool to get thru it. It’s really tough. I try to be normal and what not but it really doesn’t work. I’m trying tho.

Our investigator Koky is doing really good. He has been coming to church every week which is awesome. I’m so happy he is coming, I think in our next visit I want to extend the invite to be baptized. The last person that was baptized in this area was like 3 years ago I think. It’s been a while, and that person is already inactive, sad stuff.

We only have about 10 people at church every week. We have a family that seems to be going a little in active so I set up to go over there and have family night with them every week, I think so far it has been good. They came to church the next week smiling and happy to be there so that made me feel good. Whether I had anything with the fact that they came or not, it was just good to see them there. :)

That is about it, I’m about out of time so I will wrap it up. Thank you for everything. I appreciate the letters so much.
Love You! Elder Gray

Sand World P-Day

Ola minhas amigos!! Tas fixe?? So...This week was pretty good, a bit slower than last week, but we for sure had a few really good lessons and what not. We have this couple named Jefferson and Jucileia, they are from Brazil. Brazilians are awesome!! (Josh you are lucky to be going to Brazil!) Anyway, they are way fun to talk to every time we go over there. Lots of times we talk about English, they really want to learn English so every time we go over we teach a little bit of English then give a lesson. It’s really awesome. They are really fun. I just hope they will read and pray. They do pray a bit but not quite the same way, they are Evangelical, so I think their prayers are repeated prayers. And I haven’t quite figured out how to go about that yet. But I will soon. I think it would be hard to be told you are praying wrong and need to change it, so we are just giving it time till the right moment arises. But so far so good, we asked them to read Alma 32 yesterday, so I really hope they take it serious and find the time to read. The people really like to make up excuses for not being able to read cuz they have NO time. Granted, yes I know time is hard sometimes to find, BUT I also know that everyone has at least a couple minutes for our Father in Heaven so I’m never a big fan when people say oh I’m just too busy. Ahhh, NO, your not. It’s just not a big enough priority, but we will just keep working at it.

The other day we were going thru the cell phone and found a number of some dude named Koky and we were like who is this? So we just called him and he said we could come over so we did and he ended up being just a total stud! So I’m way stoked to teach him more. We have a big activity thing on Saturday and he said he would come so I really hope he does cuz I think it will be an awesome experience.

Last p-day we went to Sand World. WOW! Talk about an amazing place. I couldn’t believe all the talent of the art there! There was some really cool stuff. I went nuts with pics that’s for sure. I think everyone did, it was way cool. For sure a good p-day! Last week in church, we had some visitors from England! That’s not too common, so because it was fast sunday everyone bore testimony and during the meeting Elder Clark translated for them, but then he got up to bear his testimony so I figured I might as well try to translate for them. Man I tell you what, translating is HARD! It’s very tough and I did just ok. Not too great. I kept saying stuff in Portuguese but then realized like duh, you are supposed to be translating! Ha, ha, it was just really weird, but way fun. Cool new experience for me. My first time being a translator! And I don’t want to do it again. Just playin. Well at least not for a while, tho it was cool to see what it was like, and that its hard!

So guess what...I’m learning the piano!! (Kiley, you better step up your game ;) ) I have learned a couple of hymns, not too well, BUT I can play one FULL hymn with both hands! Ha,ha! Cool eh?! I started by just teaching myself, and was doing alright, but then a couple days ago as I was playing, a girl in our ward, (she is like 21 and she is also learning the piano, but she is way, way ahead of me) She walks in a sits down next to me and well pretty much just started giving me pointers and started teaching me! It was pretty awesome! So I started another hymn that is more complicated and I’m getting it down! So I really am hoping to keep myself going and keep learning more, cuz I LOVE the piano! So that was really fun. We will see how that goes. :)

Well that’s about it for this week...thank you all for all for everything! I love the letters you send, even just the little itty bitty ones!! I love em! Thank you so much! I’m so, so grateful for all of my family and wonderful friends. I know I have been very extremely blessed. I am really thankful for my opportunity to be out here and serve my Heavenly Father in Portugal. Missionary work is amazing. How lucky are we to already have the knowledge of the truth?! I am so, so grateful for everything we know and the comfort it brings. I know the church is true without a doubt! I love you!LOVE Elder Robby Gray