I try to look at things with more optimism a lot more now.

May 29, 2017

Wednesday - so we went to lunch and invited the zone leaders (we ate steak!!!)) and we had to go to the terminal to pick up the other elders! (since it was change day and all the new missionaries are coming). We thought the bus schedules were different so we went with them to the terminal because we thought 1 of them would be alone , but they were what we thought originally and we had no need to go there. So I also ended up paying for the taxi, so I basically paid to take them there, and walk home.... then we had a lesson with Gustavo! It was awesome, he said he received a kind of answer, it was something personal though, but he’s moving along just great, haha it’s really cool, he’s listened to the missionaries for 4 years, and now when he puts in the effort and starts to change!

Thursday - it started raining today, a lot, and I thought I wouldn’t need my boots in the morning, then the heavens opened for 5 minutes and I regretted that! Then we had a lesson with a reference from a member, she got hospitalized a while ago, but we finally found her. She’s really cool and she’s coming to church on Sunday. Then we had a lesson with Luisa the evangelist. She came to the door, with the Book of Mormon in her hand saying that she couldn't listen to us because her pastors said to not listen or read the book. So we talked for a bit, and asked what she would lose reading. We ended up reading a bit with her and she said she’s gonna try it. Her pastors told her that Joseph Smith is our version of god, and random things like that. But we fixed it.

Friday - we had a couple lessons, some fell through though. But that doesn’t get me down. We had a fun lesson with Camila and her cousin, explaining to them the plan of salvation using the curtain leading to the other room as the veil, it was super funny and they understood it really well. Then we had correlation, with our new ward mission leader. We’re trying to start getting things going here in Durazno Centro, the ward is lacking and it needs something to help it get going! So we visited with them, then they gave us a surprise by telling us that we would be singing on Sunday with everyone involved in missionary work... so us 2, the ward mission leader, his bro in law and father in law. So this will be fun!

Saturday - again not a lot of people home, it’s pretty hard to teach someone about the gospel when they’re never in their house. But we did talk to the mother of 1 of our investigators and taught her a little. She told us to go by tomorrow to teach her and her son! Then not much else happened except for we played soccer in the night, and I played good, got 3 goals, 2 with my head, 1 with the foot, and missed like 3 wide open shots with my feet as well!!! 

Sunday - we picked up Viviana in the morning, and Gustavo went to church on his own!!!! We got there and he was in with the priesthood, but it was raining today, but barely, but that’s enough for Uruguayans to say that they aren’t going to church! So not a lot of people came. But we had a member come with her 2 kids that are not baptized so we saw numbers rolling in our eyes balls with that (not actually). Haha we are gonna pass by and try to teach them. Then we tried to have some lesson but as usual they fell through. And worse because it was raining, but we did teach Flia Lemos about reading and praying together at night, then we visited some members  in the night

Monday - we had a zone activity in the morning, my shoes are basically done now. After 15 months my soccer shoes are gone. But I think I got sunburned in the morning, I feel a little burned, my bodies giving off heat!!!  

But yea it was a good week. I learned a lot about trying to turn around bad situations into better ones, which I still need a lot of work on. I try to look at things with optimism a lot more now, but some things still get me, but no one is perfect. I’m almost finished Jesus the Christ now! I’m super close, it’s great book, I wish I would have read it earlier!

Love,

Elder Grigor

"Being goofballs on the roof!!!"

"My companion made this with my face- it is some saint that they 

worship in Florida - a department here in Uruguay."  

"All the people in my house - the new one is Elder Estouco, he's dope and form Brazil" 

What would you do if you feel something when you read the Book of Mormon?

May 23rd, 2017 

Tuesday - so I’m not actually sure what I did today.... oh we got a reference from the zone leaders about a less active lady whose family aren't members, but she wants to start coming back and she wants her kid to be baptized. So we went there and talked to them a bit, got to know them, and she gave us some really good bizcochos that she made!

Wednesday - well diddly squat happened today, haha it’s been fairly difficult finding people in their houses, but we had a good lesson with someone named Gustavo! We found him Monday night, and he had been taught by a lot of missionaries but, never got baptized. So we went by and started teaching him and put a baptismal date for the 17th of June, (which is his wife’s birthday, and they got married on his birthday (by coincidence) so he’s taking that as a type of sign. But we helped him with the doubts he has. He is really smart, and analyzes everything you say, and the verses you use, so you have to teach really well. 

Thursday - we had a conference with Elder Packer, it was really good. They talked about using family history as a way to find and teach, something I hadn't really thought of before. But he also talked about faith, and how it’s sooo important in missionary work to have that faith, not that the person will progress, but that God will give you those prepared people, and that God can help them progress. We also talked about our teachings, and if we are teaching to the best we can, we can baptize 7 out of 20 people, which is really high, so I’ve been working on that.

Friday - had an intercambio with Elder Colson again. We walked quite a bit, but we taught Gustavo again, and it was a really good lesson. We figured out the reason, or 1 of them, is that he hasn’t felt different when he reads the Book of Mormon, he feels normal, he says he feels different with us, but with the Book of Mormon not yet. So we are working with him to find that answer he’s looking for. So pray for him if you can, he needs it!!! 

Saturday - we found a super cool evangelist, not much happened in the day and my comp said: “ok lets go to this member’s home,” (who lives in an apartment building) So we were walking up and I thought: “I’ve never knocked on these doors”, so I knocked on one and my comp was looking at me like “what are you doing, we’ve been knocking all day let’s go to this member’s home” So a lady comes to the door and says ¨who is it?” (which is bad news because then we say missionaries and they leave). So I said: “The Missionaries!!!” and she started fiddling with the keys to open the door. So me and my comp looked at each other like “ok, she is either deaf or something magical is happening!!!”  So we started talking with her and she invited us in, and taught her the restoration, and she understood!!!! We asked her:” So what would you do if you feel something when you read the Book of Mormon, or find out that its true?” 

Then she said: “Well I would change churches simple as that!” Haha that never happens!!  We explain that to some people and they barely understand what a prophet is. But she understood and was looking for this message- that the Church of Jesus Christ is again on the earth, and you can know if you just read the Book of Mormon. It’s a simple invitation with huge results!!! So we put a date for the 24th for her.

Sunday - So Gustavo came to church, and we talked about marriage and fasting in the classes, and he came out and said wow! those were good classes!! So we were thinking that that helped him a lot!!! Then we visited Hermana Lemos because she just got back from Montevideo, so we couldn't have the baptism. It’ll be the 3rd of June, so I’ll still be here because I’m not leaving!!!!!!!

Monday - yea we figured out I’m not leaving, so thats awesome! I didn’t want to leave all these awesome people we’ve found!! But today we taught Gustavo again, and visited a couple families.

This week was really good with a couple people, but difficult to find a lot of people in their homes! But that won’t ever stop me!! Well maybe it will actually. it’s like 1 of the few things that will stop me from visiting them that day. But anyways it was a really good week

Elder Grigor

Taking pictures with families because I thought I was leaving 

Mother's Day Skype with the fam jam!!

May 15th, 2017 

Monday - we had a noche de hogar (family home evening with  3 families). Haha it was really good. We played a game called signs where everyone has a sign and you have to pass it by doing your sign then someone else's, and someone goes in the middle and tries to figure out who has the sign. It takes some time for the gestures to figure it out, but then it gets super fun when the older people start fooling you!

Tuesday - So today was awesome!!!! We had this investigator that we taught like 2 months ago, and I thought he was going to keep saying no to us, (because he said he was always working) but we went by and we taught him (and his mother-in-law who is a member just happened to be there). So we taught him the restoration because he was Catholic, but stopped because he studied about the history of the catholics and knew it wasn't the church of god, so he’s been looking for something. So we taught him and are planning on putting a baptismal date with him tomorrow. It’s great to see when people are looking for God, and THEY begin to study and find out for themselves that no other church can be true, and through prayer find their answer to the questions they’ve always had about life. 

Wednesday - So today was really good because we found a lot of new people and set up lessons with them for other days, we didn't teach too much (which is the goal, and it helps to rest the legs a bit) but that isn't everything in this work! You gotta find to teach, But we taught Alejandro how to baptize in the right way, which will be a great experience to him to learn how important baptism is in our lives, but not on earth, but in heaven. And he’ll be able to feel the connection during that moment, it’ll be awesome!!  

Thursday - Today was really good, so we taught Esteban’s wife. She believes in energy, and really a lot of things that to her sounds different than our beliefs, but are really similar, but she just doesn’t accept that. We started talking about a lot of fairly difficult topics about church views, on marriages and things like that. We explained that everything was made with an intention and men have taken those things and changed how God created them (like drugs for example) but for marriage we explained that it helps unite the family, and that our kids deserve that. She really liked that. Then we left her with a plan of salvation pamphlet, to read and learn about our view on heaven. Then in the night we taught a really cool family, who hadn't realized it, but are looking for a true church of god. Also we knocked a house and both said I doubt anyone’s here, then a 20 year old came out, so we talked and he said he went to church as a little kid, but never got baptized. But recently he thinking it was something he needed to do. So we talked with him and put a date for the 17th, the only thing is he’s only home on weekends cuz he studies in Montevideo, but he’s super cool.

Friday - I did a baptismal interview for the sisters again! Haha they are on fire over there. Then the day dumped on us, (water that is) because a massive storm came through, (which in Uruguay is rain and hail for 20 minutes then it sprinkles all day.) So when it’s like that the Uruguayans don’t really like the rain, and use it as an excuse not to talk to us, like “oh sorry we can’t talk its raining!” OK! sorry we didn't know it was raining, thanks for the update!! haha some people even just look at us and point upwards then close the curtains or the door. But oh well we did have 1 lessons in the night but I cant remember who it was.

Saturday - So in the morning the Lemos` called and canceled the baptism because... it was raining!!! and also because their babies got a little sick, so were gonna try to do it the next week. So we had another lessons with the atheist girl and haha there’s this crazy drunk dude that always follows us, and says random stuff about politics. Haha one time he said he could speak french and he started gibberish obviously but then in Spanish at the end he said: “Va a la escuela” (go to school) but he stood behind us the whole time on the other side of the street. Then we played futbol in the night and found Eduardo (an investigator who we are going to try and baptize and his brother) then we found out that Eduardo lives.. (guess where) in the other area!!!! Wooooo that’s the fourth time I’ve found someone awesome and they don’t live in my area:  but oh well at least he’ll get taught.

Sunday - well I talked with the family! Everything’s good at home, they all miss me like crazy, I could tell. (not really**) But I got super trunky afterwards, but it passed. But yea we didn’t do much else, oh but Alejandro blessed the sacrament for the first time, and was pretty nervous, haha it was so awesome to see him doing that, I felt like a proud parent! 

*** Funny guy...we miss him like crazy, EVERY. SINGLE. DAY!!! 

So yea great week, we found a lot of cool people, saw a huge change in Alejandro our convert, haha seeing him bless that sacrament was awesome!! It’ll be even better seeing him baptize him sister, But yea everything is good at home, I started talking about how much time I have left and it’s weird to think I only have 8 months left, now I have to start thinking about university and things like that! But better to leave that until it comes. Anyways have a great week everyone!!!

Love

Elder Grigor

Mother's Day Skype with Elder Grigor 

His companions talked to us as well 

Always posing! 

Elder Grigor banged his head on a door. He is going have more scars now!! 

"the melted (or fallen) states of America" 

Chinese hat, gangster style!!  

Nothing that a little bit of the gospel can't help!!!

May 8th, 2017 

Tuesday - Had a lesson in the morning and then in the afternoon we spent basically the whole day painting the Hermana’s house! It was pretty fun, I gave myself a white moustache and beard! Then in the night we taught Katerin (alejandros sister) (we taught her like basically everyday because her baptismal date is coming up soon, and we are gonna have Alejandro baptize her!!) 

Wednesday - we had a really good interview conference, we talked about faith and how in this mission 4 years ago they were finding 750 new investigators a week and baptizing 20 a week, right now were about 400 a week and 16 a week. Which has improved a lot with this new president, when I got here it was like 20 a change. Then we talked with Camila our convert, and she doesn’t really want to follow the rules in for the strength of youth, if she had some friends in the church it would help her, but she is getting a little rebellious, but nothing that a little bit of the gospel can't help! also I had an intercambio again with Belnap, it was pretty good.

Thursday - Back to back intercambios , I went with Elder Paulson! my homie from Rocha!!! haha we had intercambios back in La Paloma, that were only good because we were together. Now today we actually had a ton of success, and found a lady that will get baptized, during the whole lesson her friends were there listening and were talking sometimes and she said Hey! be quiet and listen this stuff is important and we should all listen to it! !! haha afterwards me and Paulson said, yep she's getting baptized pretty soon. Then we also had a really good lesson with some eternal investigators, and they said that they were coming to church! which they always say “ok well see”, but this time they were pretty firm in their decision. 

Friday - so we found an old investigator that said he was about to baptized but he had school and studies and stopped coming. So we’re gonna go by and start teaching him, he said he would like to start taking the lessons again! Then in the night I had to do 3 baptismal interviews for the Hermanas again! They are on fire over there, but they were super good, haha it’s cool being the one to do the interviews because everyone respects you and basically does what you say (not in a dictator style kinda way though) but even the members over there, I just recently noticed that. But it’s cool being able to interview people and be the voice for the Lord in their progression. 

Saturday - had a cool lesson with an atheist and she said she wants to know what her purpose in this life is, and that she’s been looking for a while. So we told her the way to find out is through prayer, so we’ll see how that goes! Then we got to futbol a little late and were not sure if people showed up and left, or if just on one came... but no one came!

Sunday - well I gave my first baby blessing today, haha Sister Lemos wanted me to bless her baby, and haha he was screaming the whole time, but it was cool, kinda hard to think though and feel the spirit when all you here is screaming. But Enrique and Ana didn’t come because company showed up, and the other investigators didn’t come because of reasons which I am unaware of. Then we had another lesson with the lady that we found after my prayer, and it was really good, talking about the importance of church and the Book of Mormon!

So yea another great week in paradise, found like 2 or 3 people that will be getting baptized next change, and helped another that will be baptized eventually! Also I ate 1 and a half bauru´s (a burger the size of 4) at the interview conference we had, I ate all of mine then Pres came over and said hey flaquito (little skinny guy) I’m worried about your health, eat this! So I’m kinda getting my appetite back being here in Durazno. I could barely eat 1 when I got here, I was struggling. But now it’s easy, but enough about food. This week was good and on this coming Saturday Katerin is going to be baptized!!! (Alejandro’s sister and he’s gonna baptize her) Also this Sunday we were present while alejandro and his mother were fighting about her telling him to come home for 2 hours before going to a play, and he was using some strong words. So I got sick of it, stood up and said: “we’re leaving” and looked at Alejandro and told him firmly “I never want to hear you say those words again!! and respect your mother, it doesn’t matter what the rule is, follow it because she has a lot more experience than you do, and she’s your mother!!”

But yea, it was a great week!

Love Elder Grigor

Having fun painting the Hermana's home 

Always keeping his sense of humour !!! 

Elder Grigor looks all grown up in this picture!!! 

Our friend Esteban sent these to us after Elder Grigor had lunch with their family. 

The missionaries are fed so well!!! 

Alejandro was BAPTIZED!!!

Tuesday - we had a couple lessons today, 1 with a new kid we found named Nicolas, he’s super cool but said he’s just kinda wanting to learn about the church instead of join it, but that’ll soon change! Then we had a lesson with a less active family that I think weight have to drop because they only want things from the church, they don’t go for the right reasons, and it’s been like that for like 10 years or so.

Wednesday - well today I basically ran out of money. When my comp spends money, I want something too so I end up buying something too but I’m going to start saving. Most of our lunches this week are in Santa Bernadina which is 40 mins walking or 20 pesos for the bus. (like a dollar) but today not much happened. A lot of people haven’t been home lately, it’s kinda weird. We are getting prepared for the baptism on Saturday and have been pretty busy.

Thursday - a day full of nothin´! But in the morning we had a good lesson with a girl named Jovanna, the 20 year old living with a 40 year old. Well she’s broke right now, and she has a smoking addiction so she started smoking ashes from her fireplace. Really sad to see, but we’re helping her out pretty well. We shared the hope and light of God with her, and she related to it pretty well. So we’re gonna try to help her to stop smoking really fast, she told us that she was going to stop but it’s hard to do that. 

Friday - The miracle day, haha so like 2 weeks ago we were contacting and I said a prayer to find someone that would talk with us, because nobody was opening up. So a mother and her teenage daughter walked by, and we were talking to them and the daughter looked interested, she was always about to say something and the mom cut her off. Then finally the mom said no for them both. So I kept thinking about that, and saying: “man those were them, what happened”. So today in the night we were contacting and we were talking to a lady, and right before inviting us in said she said:  “hey Paula (her daughter) come over here, you wanted to listen to this before right? Then we walked in and saw them both and had a best 2 years moment when Kyle calls (Haleluyah!!!!) haha so we taught them and we’re going by another day. 

Saturday - the BAPTISM!!!! Alejandro got dunked!!! haha it was awesome!!  The only bad part is I went to grab Elder Rodriguez while he was changing and they started without us. So we didn’t hear Alejandro’s testimony, kinda sad, but we asked them afterwards and he said that it was a great experience and he really felt a change!! Woo, then we had a lesson right after the baptism, and got back in time to play futbol at the church! (I also dunked on some kids playing basketball) but the rims are like 9 and a half feet)

Sunday - well Alejandro got confirmed, and we had a lesson with them in the night about the priesthood, because we are planing on baptizing the sister, and we want Alejandro to do it. It would be super cool if he does it.

So yea my week was really good, had some struggles like always but we had that miracle happen, and we got Alejandro in the water!!!! Finally!!! haha it feels good to see that happen. 

Love you all 

Elder Grigor 

Alejandro and Elder Grigor 

Elder Rodriguez 

Elder Grigor made a shirt with a Canadian flag on it 

Elder Rodriguez in a box :)

Elder Grigor doing some Nacho Libre moves!! What a goof!!! 

Practising for the baptism 

Elder Grigor, Alejandro and Elder Rodriguez 

Such a great day!! 

Sometimes we forget to see the miracles happening right around us

April 24th, 2017

Tuesday - pretty much the worst day of the week, so with every great kingdom there has to be a fall, so this week was ours. Well not even ours but the people’s. So we set up quite a few good lessons today, but no body was home, no one. Even people who are always home weren’t home. But we did do a lot of contacting and found a lot of people to teach later on in the week or the next week. But we did something sooo funny, so we kept passing by a house with a person who wanted to listen to us, who rented behind, and the landlord would never let us pass by. So I thought to try 1 more time. Then it was raining and we had our coats on, so my comps says go hide behind something and he’ll only see me, then he’ll let us talk to her, so he did it, And it worked!!!! haha he was insanely friendly and she came out. So I was fixing my shoe and my comps yells Elder Grigor! because he was standing there alone for like 20 seconds, so we went by and she said she would wait outside at 3 on Thursday for us!!!! 

Wednesday - Today was better, we had a lesson with Carlos, the man who Camila invited to church, and he’s progressing soo much, the only thing is that he hasn’t gotten a job so he’ll be heading back to Artigas, another department, and the missionaries might loose contact with him. Also we went to Lemos, and were helping Alejandro get prepared for his baptism next Saturday. Also we taught a new investigator named Jovanna, she’s in a really tough situation in life, and has had a lot of trials, but we’re helping her out. Also she always rejected the missionaries before, but now she’s more open and sees that we really want to help her!

Thursday - another tough day, not many people were home, basically none. And the one lady named Malena that said she would wait outside for us, and.... they’re moving to the sisters area... haha that’s like 4 amazing investigators that I’ve sent over to them! Other than that we didn’t have anything because people weren’t home!

Friday - Well the week continues... we had district meeting and we all introduced ourselves with something funny from our childhood, haha it was pretty funny. Then the day went decent, so I had to do 2 interviews for baptisms for the sisters, and 1 had fallen because some members smelled alcohol on him (but after drinking a lot you smell like it for a while afterwards (like a month) so they told me we only had 1, but I brought 2 baptismal forms just in case. I had a little feeling, and we left for a charla and they called me saying the president said we could do the interview! Woohoo… thanks holy ghost!!! So we did them and they both got baptized this Saturday. Then we had a good lesson before with Sofia, a 15 year old with a baptismal date, but here they accept anything then just don’t commit, but she’s really cool.

Saturday - We had another lesson with Jovanna, and she’s doing a lot better, but we figured out she’s living with a 45 year old man, which is weird because she’s 22. But she said he’s not the man that she wants to be with forever but at the time he was a great man but he changed. She also needed someone in that time, so we told her to ask god to give her the means to get out of this situation and move forward! Then we had a charla with Alejandro in the night and he said that he hasn’t read the Book of Mormon, and he had a cup of coffee last week. So I was thinking his date was gonna fall because he wants to be really sure this is what he wants and that it’s true. So we invited him to futbol and told him to pray if he wanted the 29 or the 6th. So he came and there were like 30 people there!! A NEW RECORD! (personal best!!!) and Alejandro said he wants to be baptized this Saturday!!!!!!!!!!! Wooooohooooo!!!!!!! 

Sunday -  Today was good, I gave a talk in church about tithing and encouraged the members to pay their tithing! Then we had a couple lessons throughout the day, we finally had another lesson with a less active family who’s daughter hasn’t been baptized and her daughter wants to be baptized and said she would come to church!

So all said and done, it felt a lot worse than it was, at times it feels like everything is going so wrong and we don’t know why. We have our own goals and are trying to meet the goals of other people, but we forget to see the miracles that are happening all around us. But yea this week was a little worse than the other weeks, but it was still really good.

Love

Elder Grigor 

Elder Grigor on the crazy bridge!!