This area is golden!

March 14th, 2017 

Tuesday - not too much happened today, taught a couple lessons and some drunk guy yelled at us that we discriminate because we didn't talk with him but we talked with everyone else on the street. So we taught him a tiny lesson and left because he was getting really weird

Wednesday - so I went to Montevideo again, for a district leader meeting, so another 3 hours in a tiny bus where somehow everyone who sits in front of me always puts their seats alllll the way back and destroys my legs. So 1 day of 7 uncomfortable hours in a bus, but it was a really good meeting. I had already been to one just as junior comp but this time it was for me!

Thursday - so we went to the court to see when the nearest date for marriage is for some investigators, and they said May 5 so that was a little bummer. But we had a charla with them and we’re going there in 1 week to pull out the date for marriage. Then we had another lesson with Camila, getting her ready for her baptism next Saturday, and we had a really good lunch with Esteban. Also we walked back to Durazno from Santa Bernadina (where Esteban lives) across these super sketchy train tracks that were missing some crossbeams, at some points 2 in a row, I almost died like 20 times.

Friday - we had zone conference in the morning and talked about faith and repentance, it was really good, it was about how we need to teach it to the people so they do it. Then we had a couple lessons, and me and my comp quoted Nacho Libre and Napolean Dynamite in the streets all day, (also I was super tired this week from all the traveling) 7 hours on Monday and Wednesday, then next Tuesday we are going again to the Temple. Then in the night we had a really good lesson with Gabriela, and we can see that she feels something different because she cries every time we teach, but she doesn’t want to change yet because she feels like she’s betraying her mother who died catholic, so she said she wouldn't come to church for that until she was sure.

Saturday - we had a charla in the chapel with Camila, and she brought her cousin too. so we taught them both the commandments, and her cousin understood it really well. then after she asked what she need to do to be a missionary (I think for the traveling) but unfortunately she lives outside of our area. But then we had a charla with Amalia, she’s a new investigator that had been taught before by the missionaries. She had another sweet lesson and put a baptismal date for April 8th, and she said she would come to church, but I think she got a little scared and texted us to back out last second.

Sunday - so today was a lot of contacting trying to find more people to teach, even though we have a ton right now, like 11 and we keep finding a decent amount, but we find and drop. But we have about 6 good investigators that could progress fairly quickly. We had another lesson with Camila about the word of wisdom, haha we also walked a lot again, got Camila, brought her to church, then the same thing for choir. (also we had a good week taught about 13 lessons and 6 less actives.)

Monday - So today wasn't p-day because we are going to the temple tomorrow, so we had a normal day, also I had the best burger I’ve ever eaten in Uruguay here for like 80 pesos. Then we taught Camila, we brought her with us to go teach Daniela, the sister of a recent convert and she ended up teaching their older sister Mariana and her 2 friends. So we watched the Joseph Smith movie and 1 seemed pretty interested, so we’ll go back for details later.

Yea, so far I’m loving this area! We have lunch everyday! There are so many people that are ready to be baptized. We have 1 this Saturday and another on April 8th and 2 more for May 6th. This area is golden, and I get to eat!!!!!!!!!!! plus it’s super pretty out here, and the house is super fun, 

Love,

Elder Grigor

The view from the top of a building 

Walking along the sketchy bridge 

HMMMMM!!!! 

time to find a new way home 

our room 

Knocking on doors 

I love it here!!!!!!!

March 7th, 2017 

Wednesday - so we went to tres cruces (the big bus terminal) and saw Coral, we actually got to talk for 2 hours ish because our buses didn't leave until 2:30, so we just talked about home stuff, haha she was really excited to see me. I was a little more used to not seeing people so it was normal. Then I got to my new area, but I got off the bus and felt a massive wave of heat!!, , and my comp is sweet, he’s got 4 months, still working on his Spanish, but he's improving a lot with me. This area is awesome, there’s like 6 people that want to be baptized, but have some problems before that, so we’ll work with them to solve those problems. 

Thursday - well getting to know the area is a little more difficult because the streets look the same, but it’s coming quick. So we walked with a girl named Camila, and set a baptismal date for the 18th, she hasn't had many lessons but came to church 1 time but it wasn't that great for her. So we’ll see, also I met a recent convert named Fabian who has a tough situation with family, but he’s super cool. He is baptized and his little sister wants to be baptized. It just might be difficult to get permission from their uncle that takes care of them

Friday - well meeting a lot of people, haha we met another convert named Esteban, who is the ward secretary and he was baptized 3 months ago, haha also he sent me a message in the night saying how he already knows a lot about me. He connected with my parents on Facebook.

Saturday - again just meeting a lot of people, trying to find some new people to teach, and the ysa’s to tell them about a ward activity. Also we had a good lesson with a new investigator who said he wouldn't accept a date for baptism, but if he feels its true he'll be baptized. Then we had a sweet noche de hogar in the night with 2 families, they gave us soo much food, so it was 2 ladies, then a mom and her 19 year old daughter.

Sunday - we walked a lot today, we went to pick up Fabian and Daniela to bring them to church, (cuz they can’t walk alone) also its starting to cool off here. Then before sacrament (the classes are first here) we walked to pick up Camila, and she was kinda excited, so she came and was super intent while listening to the testimonies, then we dropped them off and picked them all of for choir at 6 because someone invited them, and dropped them off again, but it was a good day.

Monday - so we didn’t have p-day really, my comp had to sign his papers to be in the country, so I was in Tres Cruces all day with Elder Pierce, and Elder Yardley. We saw a bit of March madness in a store, haha I miss that soo much, haha I wanted to make a bracket, but next year! Then in the night we had a really good charla with a lady with a face disorder, I think elephantitis, and she didn't believe in Joseph Smith that much, because she’s catholic. But we had a spiritual lesson and she said she is going to pray to see if this is the change that God wants her to make. Then we went to Camila and she was super excited to see us. She started asking us about what she needs to do to go on a mission, haha its good to see all these good changes in everyone.

So this new area is basically my dream area, a small ward of about 60, but we have lunches, and good lunches! everyday!!!! I don’t have to ride the bus to district meeting for an hour every Tuesday anymore, my comp is a stud, and we have soo much potential in this area, we’ve had a lot of success in these 3 days, they baptized 3 months ago and have a decent amount of investigators who want to be baptized, and we’ve set some good dates for the baptisms!!! Also Jose Luis and Santa Lucia got baptized in La Paloma!!!!!!!!!!!! That makes me super happy. It would’ve been cool to see but I’m glad I’m here

love you all, have a great week,

Elder Grigor

Me and my new companion 

Elder Merino 

 

We found an old truck.....

Some guy came over and I guess it was his- 

he looked a little mad, you can tell by the look on my face 

Waking with Daniela to church, an 11 year old investigator we have

eating a 4 patty Burger King burger, it destroyed me, but it was worth it! 

A building in Montevideo 

A hill in Montevideo 

I am going to miss La Paloma

February 28th, 2017 

Soo I forgot my planner so I don’t really remember what happened every day. 

Tuesday - I’m pretty sure not too much happened this day, well really not much happened this week, but we had a few normal charlas (lessons). I gave my last district meeting here in Rocha, but I’m pretty sure we found a guy in the skate park today or Wednesday, haha but we taught him on top of a ramp, he’s pretty cool and only has 1 hand. 

Wednesday - well I’m not really sure what we did today, talked with a lot of people, taught some lessons, did some missionary stuff. you know the ushh. 

Thursday - yea no idea what we did today either, just normal missionary things

Friday - so I had a intercambio with the zone leaders (Elder Vallecillos) and did another baptismal interview for  a 17 year old girl whose been studying the church for a year and her dad finally gave her permission to get baptized, but she is so ready to be baptized. haha she was really excited and nervous during the interview, and I asked the first 2 questions then on the third she said, ¨am I allowed to explain why after the questions¨ haha I said yea for sure! that would actually be better but it was really cool. Then me and Vallecillos went around contacting, oh and a grido opened up in rocha so we went to family grido with the Elders in Rocha in the night!

Saturday - we stayed in Rocha for a bit because we missed our bus (or our bus missed us, it just drove right past us, but then we went home and I mostly was just saying goodbye to investigators and less actives. Also the Vicentes invited us over for a huge asado! It was super good

Sunday - Well Jose Luis and Santa Lucia came!! So they'll get baptized this Saturday which awesome. I also gave my goodbye talk, maybe dropped a little cane on the ward but thats alright! then I was just saying goodbye to everyone

Monday - the same as Sunday basically, just said goodbye to all the peoples here in La Paloma!

But this week was pretty normal, we taught Jose Luis and Santa Lucia, so we’re getting them ready for their baptism this Saturday. It’s a shame that I wont be able to see it, but they are suuper awesome! I love going by and teaching them. Also now that I’m going to Durazno, I’ll be leaving here. I’m gonna  miss it after 4 months of being here, but it'll be nice to go to a city for once! well that about it, short this week

Love you guys 

Elder Grigor

Elder Grigor always wanted a puppy! 

Just being cheesy!!! 

Wearing some hair thingy! 

Cool spray paint 

Imitating art! 

Always doing crazy things 

Elder Grigor playing around on p-day 

I've been out 1 year!!!

Monday - so we had a sweet little noche de hogar with familia Torres, they didn't come to church this week still, but it was super good, we talked about faith and repentance, and all shared our favourite scriptures. 

Tuesday - WOOOOOOO we went to Jose Luis and Santa Lucia, and when we walked in he gave us 2 glasses of pop, and said here you go! you know just in case! I don’t want you guys to get offended and then you never come back! haha me and my comp looked at each other like... I thought this only happened in Liahonas!! So then we taught him about chastity, super cool lesson and then he started to tell us that he was curious about Joseph Smith- so he looked up about his story and he explained a bunch of stuff about him, haha I was soo surprised by that because before he didn't really understand a lot, and now they both understand soo much

Wednesday - so I had a swwwwweeeeeetttt intercambio with Elder Bailey, my zone leader. We knew each other before in Este a little and last change, so we’re homies now. We just had a really good day then we found a sweet little metal light house, so we climbed up at about 8 and it was dark and we could see all the light along the coast, it was sooo pretty. Then we had some sweet pizza with mussels on from Hermano Vicente! 

Thursday - had another dope lesson with Jose Luis and Santa Lucia! Then we had a ward activity at the church, so each Thursday we will have one of these, and we just ate pizza and talked about family history. Jose Luis and his mom got super excited about that. The only thing is they don’t have many records of their ancestors, also I helped Hermano Vicente find his grandma because he got baptized 5 months ago, and he was super excited too. 

Friday - well we had a decent day today, haha so we have an investigator that we found a little while ago named Artudo, haha we call him r2d2. We haven’t been able to find him home for a while. But I had my first baptismal interview as a district leader, it was with a mother and her 2 kids, so she’s been investigating the church for 4 years and she’s finally ready, and her kids are awesome too. The only thing is the interview goes by soo fast, I did each one for like 30 mins, but it was a really cool and spiritual experience. Then well ITS MY ONE YEAR MARK TODAY!!!!! so I actually did burn a shirt out in the Rocha house, and we all milked alfajores that night!!!

Saturday - so we stayed in Rocha for the baptism and I did divisions with Elder Lockhart! We knew each other before up in 33 and he’s here but in the other district.Then we stayed for the baptism, and haha it was pretty hectic, a dog ran into the building at one point, so I took it outside, and then her baby kept crying, and basically only missionaries came, so I took him into the hall and played with him so the investigators could feel the spirit a little more. 

Sunday - well.... Jose Luis and Santa Lucia didn't come today, he wasn't feeling very good and he got home late, but they said they're coming next week, which I'm super glad, but I’ll be gone 3 days before they will get baptized now, a little sad, I really wanted to see this baptism, but at least they will be getting baptized, and I helped them along the way! 

So it was a pretty good week, this area is having a lot of success out here now, we have about 5 charlas a week, and 6 with less actives, (charlas means lessons). The only things was that Jose Luis and Santa Lucia didn't come. Other than that I know have 1 year in the mission!!!! but it still doesn’t feel like it, I still feel like I’m really young in the mission, I just know how to speak and teach. But I basically only have 11 months left which is really weird for me, I feel like I need more time, I guess that’s why everyone says “don’t waste your time because it flies by!” Its true!!! Also iI have a new favourite scripture, it’s 1 Nephi 21: 14-16

Well, love you guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Grigor

La Paloma 

Intercambio (exchanges) with Elder Bailey 

These are the pictures that give this missionary mom slight heart palpitations!!!  

Elder Grigor - 1 year older than the last time we saw him. He looks so happy!!! 

It's a tradition to burn a shirt when a missionary has been out for 1 year or their halfway mark. 

A gorgeous day in La Paloma on Elder Grigor's p-day