Esta Area-

Bueno,

PRAY (Paulsen+Gray)

After some hard goodbyes in Corpus Christi, I was put in Hidalgo not knowing with who, where or what I was doing. So first off, my companion is Elder Paulsen. We're total bros, can't complain there. We work really well together. My area is Hidalgo and the neighboring suburb Las Milpas. Hidalgo is right next to Mexico right across the border from Reynosa, and absolutely everyone speaks Spanish. We are assigned to the Spanish Ward and teach all the Spanish investigators. Since being here my ability to speak has improved so dang much. This isn't Corpus anymore. 

I am still a district leader, but my district got a little bigger. Four sisters make it a bona fide Relief Society, which makes me a Relief Society President. It's a lot of fun. The Zone Leaders come to our district meetings so it's basically a district of 8.

We lit Paulsen's ear on fire

I love this area. Its perfect, we get fed every day. Its 105 degrees every day, but I'm used to it now.

Hasta luego,

Elder Gray

HIDALGO

Hello, friends and family all over the world. 

On p-day last week we went laser tagging as a Zone. This was probably the craziest laser tagging I've ever done, the guns looked real and had red-dot sights. We played several game modes in a realistic mini village. We got smoked, despite me and Harris teaching our team mates squad movements. But the real winner that day was friendship. 

The next day about 6 of us tasted the worlds hottest pepper, the Carolina Reaper. We each had a piece smaller than half the pinky nail but it still lit my mouth on fire. Man, I was red, sweating and crying. We drank like a gallon of milk and a tub of ice cream trying to cool off.

Transfers are tomorrow! I got the word... I'm going to Hidalgo Zone! I don't know where exactly, with whom or doing what but I'm excited. It's closer to the border so hopefully, there's going to be a lot more Spanish and Carne Asada.

The new love of my life, the Banjo Ukulele.

I also got a Dear John letter. I've always wanted to get one on my mission, and now my dream has come true.

Love you all,

Elder Gray

Baptism by Chocolate

Hey ya'll!

These past few weeks have been a few of the most rewarding on my mission. A while ago a man requested a Book of Mormon online and the rest is history. We had the opportunity to teach this wonderful man. My all-time favorite thing to watch is how people grow, within the span of about a month I could see his whole life change. He got happier. As a person learns more about the Gospel and practices self-mastery and repentance you can visibly see them change. He was confirmed last Sunday. 

He That Eats Thereof Shall Never Hunger

Last Saturday we helped out with another baptism! We had been teaching the adopted son of the most fire couple in the ward. The kid's so smart he basically taught us, but we went through all the lessons and he decided to be baptized. The baptismal service was amazing, and the real cherry on top was the chocolate fountain which adorned the dessert bar.

I can probably leave the area happy now. Things here are starting to roll forward!

Love ya'll

Elder Gray

Double Spirituality

An investigator gave us a bag of sea glass, so we made art

Buenas Dias!

So we went down to McAllen on Thursday for a leadership conference. It was kind of like a missionary Revival, we got all pumped up. Two stake presidents and an area 70 attended, and our president presented plans of how to work with members like never before. I'm really excited, so many things are going to change for the better. We slept overnight for the conference and had a slumber party in some abandoned apartment. It had rained on all our mattresses, so we slept on the hard tile and I got like two hours of sleep. 

The next morning we woke up early and had a zone vs. zone dodgeball tournament. Corpus Christi got creamed, but we won some weird relay so it balances out. 

Quorum of the Tropics

In other news, I also recently completed my collection of tropical ties.