Halfway There

Hi everyone!

This past week was awesome, stupendous, fabulous. Rained a bit, too.

During Zone Conference, President told us that as a mission, we are all going to read the Book of Mormon in 30 days. That's about 18 pages a day. The Book of Mormon is key in our teaching and conversion of investigators, so we need to properly know it and be converted ourselves. It was interesting to see all the General Conference talks about the Book of Mormon, pretty much confirming to us the importance of reading it this month. My study is going pretty well so far, I'm taking notes on things that pop out to me or new things I learn.

The Conference set up for my district!

General Conference was really good. Like always, many of the talks hit me deep and felt written just for me. I left on a mission the Tuesday after Conference, so every Conference is a personal 6-month milestone for me. This being my second Conference, I will hit my year mark on Wednesday! Hence the title. 

So much has happened in just one year, I can't recount it all. Luckily I have a year's worth of blog posts that will help. I cannot image double everything. Double the experiences. Double the knowledge. Double the conversion. I am going to be an entirely new person in a year, I can already see it. 

Here's to another great year.

Much love,

Elder Gray

Getting Real

Hi everyone!

This week was pretty regular honestly, not much has happened event-wise. I suppose I could write about what I'm learning and experiencing. 

I didn't grow up singing 'I Hope They Call Me On a Mission' in Primary, nor was it on the front of my mind during my teen years. Beforehand, my perception of a mission was that you left for some foreign country and baptized people. I knew that people could leave and come back a different person, but I didn't think much about it. 

Being out on a mission I now know that is half-true. Aside from the general missionary purpose of invited everyone to Christ, I've found is that everyone has their own 'purpose' for being there. For example, one missionary may be sent to a mission in order to find and baptized one specific person or family that no one else could have. Some are placed on a specific mission to help out their companions, other missionaries or the Mission President. Others are on missions and don't baptize a single person, but become life-long converts themselves. I think my purpose for being here at this time is largely personal.

I probably won't recognize the full effects of my mission until long after I'm home, but I know one thing: my relationship with the Savior has grown, and my personal conversion has become deep, meaningful and lasting. Although I've been able to help other people throughout my mission, there's no equal to the things I've learned through personal study and the development of my character.

I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. 

Love you all,

Elder Gray

 A tie almost as big as my heart.

A Year and a Day

Life is so crazy. This picture above is a perfect representation of my own life. I didn't even have plans on serving a mission two years ago, and now look where I am! I'm hesitant to make long-term plans because I know things will likely change. But that's part of life right?? My theory is just to relax and let it happen, like a lazy river. Thanks to my Mom for the great card. 

Sister Dahl is the new addition to our district(2nd from right). We actually share the same birthday

Mexican Independence day was a few days ago, everyone was out in the streets partying and grilling! There was mariachi music blasting in the streets and a Mexican flag flying from every lowrider. 

I feel like this is a foreign mission sometimes.

Elder Gray

Graynnis

Hello ya'll,

Goodnight, sweet prince

My previous companion, Elder Paulsen was sent to Zapata, my first area! I was excited to talk to him about the people and things to do as I showed him pictures. I'm sure he'll take care of my first city.

Grannis and I almost a year ago, full of fire and energy.

 Grannis as he appears today.

Elder Grannis replaced Elder Paulsen, making him companion #8. Elder Grannis and I go way back, he sat behind me on the plane on our way to Mexico, and we were together in the MTC. He's a great companion (so far) and he brought a guitar so we'll definitely jam. Our first week together we hit the ground running, trying to find, find, find! We can find people to talk to pretty easily here, but finding people who actually want to learn is a different story. We've been working hard though.

I love my mission. I love learning. I love people. I love Mexican food.

Love,

Elder Gray