Thanks Harvey

This past week, our mission got rocked by Hurricane Harvey. When I was in Corpus I had heard rumors that the water was too warm and there could be a hurricane this year. A month or two later and the city gets evacuated. The missionaries from two Zones, Corpus and Sinton, got evacuated and brought down to McAllen.

 My old companion got evac'd down to the Valley!

We just got some rain. Even Harvey canceled the appointment on us.

We are currently housing two missionaries from Kingsville Texas, Elders Barnett and Salvador. It's been pretty fun living with two extra missionaries in the apartment, and having our area worked twice as hard. We've been finding a lot of cool people the past two days.

The members have pitched in and helped feed us and the refugees. The support was greatly needed and appreciated.

Tarantula

Selfie of a selfie

Dear people anxiously waiting my return,

This week was pretty nice. We had interviews with President, which went well. Pretty short, but sweet. I'm pretty grateful to have Presidente Torres presiding over this mission. He's taught me a lot and pushed me in a good way. A church leader down here told me 80% of why we are on a mission is our mission president. The things they can teach you and their examples will stick with a missionary the for the rest of his life.

Paulsen and I have just been doing stuff. I guess you could call it work. I think I've been pretty blessed to get along with my all my companions. Each companion has a 'theme', or something to learn. Sometimes I don't realize what I've learned until much much later.

We saw a giant tarantula in the street. I don't have any pictures so you'll have to trust me when I say it almost bit off my foot.

We have Zone Conference tomorrow! It will probably be spiritually edifying. It might make us feel inadequate. We shall see.

Love you all,

Elder Gray

The One with the Whitewash

I thought I knew a lot about the Gospel, but it never stops. You could probably spend your whole life studying and still not learn it all.

For the past few weeks of personal study, I've been reading every scripture in the Topical Guide about Jesus Christ. I think there's a total of about 2000. The past two weeks I've only gotten through two pages, but filled about half a study journal. I feel like I'm not just learning about Him, but actually getting to know Him. These past few weeks have been the most spiritual on my mission, and I believe it's because of my effort to know Christ. 

 I think the more you try to learn on your own, the more the Spirit teaches you. For instance, the more I read and study the more connections I can make on my own, the more thoughts and insights will pop in my head, and I can make my own cross-references. 

 Hidalgo Leadership + Elder Paulsen

This week we were asked to completely clean out our areas and start new. We dropped a couple people who weren't progressing and focused most our time on finding new people. We saw a lot of little miracles and cool people popping up out of nowhere. It takes a little faith to let someone go when you don't have anyone else to teach but hey, that's what we're trying to learn.

Love ya'll

Elder Gray

The Air Hurts My Face

This thing doesn't even measure humidity.

Family and friends, gather 'round.

This week's been really nice. The air here hits you in the face as if you had just opened an oven. I took a picture of the hottest temperature so far, a nice 110. It's gotten to the point where 90 degrees feels nice and brisk. 80 degrees, oh man you better take out a sweater it's getting chilly. 

We got a warning that the first cases of Zika were found in Hidalgo, so that's wonderful. If I remember maybe one of these days I'll put on some bug spray.

Our ward is really cool, I'd say a really large part of the ward was converted within the last 5 years. Many haven't had the opportunity or don't know certain procedures in the Church. In Priesthood class we went over how to confirm someone a member of the Church. Next week we'll go over how to give blessings to the sick. There's a ton of support and unity in the ward in helping new members out.

Word on the street is that we'll be getting a visit from a General Authority early next month.

Well, that's about it. Thank Y'all for your time.

Elder Gris

(P.S. His new address is: 305 South 25th St. M2, Hidalgo Texas 78557 )