I'm in the Mission Field on Tuesday

Hello everyone

So this week was pretty cool. So first day was p-day, which i love because I get to go to the temple every time, and also play sports. Friday just another regular day at the MTC, memorizing words and learning Spanish. Umm proselyting was kinda hard, idk but I just didn’t want to talk to anyone that day, which I really regret. I finally got my companion to talk to people during proselyting, but it wasn't until the end that he talked to someone. We got 9 contacts, and people didn’t really care what we had to say to them. Sunday is always good, because we get to hear a recorded devotional from Provo every week,  and we also get to watch a movie. Plus we get to take the sacrament, and also it’s now 1 week from my birthday. It’s weird that I’m gonna be 19. It doesn’t really feel like it, what will be even weirder is when I'm 20, that just sounds so old. 

Monday was normal except for my whole body was just sore for some reason. I don't know why, but every joint just ached, and my stomach kinda hurt. Tuesday was I think my favourite day, and Wednesday, but Tuesday we got to teach an atheist man outside of the temple, he was a photographer for a couple. So we talked to him and started talking about the plan of salvation and the celestial kingdom because he didn't believe in life after death. He said: well I don't want to live forever, and I'm divorced and don't want to live with my family forever”. So I didn't know what to do there, then he said he can’t believe in faith because it can’t be explained scientifically. Then I shared with him Alma 32:21, which says faith is not having a perfect knowledge of things, it’s hoping for things that are not seen. I wanted to share Moroni 10:3-5, but then our teacher called us back into class because she didn't know he was an investigator. Oh and we were supposed to be teaching members and talking about how they know the church is true in this class. But I was kinda disappointed  that I couldn't talk to him longer, because I knew if I could I might be able to change his perspective, but I realized it was a hard situation and I did what I could in the time I had. Anyways I learned a lot from that lesson teaching wise, and I think it carried into Wednesday. So we have these things called I.P and Cre.  The I:P is our teacher who plays a person and we teach them for a week or two then the person switches. And cre is just a one time thing, it’s a member who needs help and we help them, well ¨member¨, but it’s just a random teacher. But both our lessons were really good and I could really feel the spirit and saw a big change in the attitude and response of the investigator. 

I love serving, even though I miss you guys very much, I know this is the right thing to do. I’m grateful for this choice I made and my supporting family. Oh and my emails will probably  be longer in the field because it wont just be classes all day. Hope you guys are doing good without me and keeping busy. Love you. 

Oh also a new rule, we’re not allowed to send pictures while at the MTC, so I’ll send some next week. Oh and another thing- I’m in the mission field on Tuesday!!!!! That’s so weird, but really exciting I cant wait.

Love Elder Grigor

Just as much as I miss all of you, God misses his children and wants them to return to him.

HELLLLO,

So this week was pretty cool/ normal. So on Thursday Lane Steinagel came here, he’s the guy who runs all the MTC’s to teach everyone the new program that they are putting into all the MTC’s around the world. But we didn’t do anything with him until Saturday I believe. Umm Friday was normal, really didn’t do much of anything except study. I’ve been studying so much and memorizing. 

So far I have the first vision memorized, the baptismal invitation, the missionary purpose and moroni 10:3-5. And about 400 new words. It’s tough but I’m holding on barely. Um Saturday we had one class with Brother Steinagel, and he taught us about present subjunctive, which is super weird, but he made it really easy for us. Next was Sunday, which was just a regular day, but it’s my favourite day other than p-day, because we watch a movie at the end of the day, and also we get like 2 hours to do whatever we want. So I usually just sleep or study or watch a devotional. 

Oh but Sunday night Hermano Lane (that’s what we called him) gave a fireside presentation thing all in Spanish and I understood all of it. Mostly because he talked really clearly, but still fast. So I was able to translate in my head. Also because he came we didn't go proselyting which sucked but, at least we get to go this week and next. But this week since the new program the latinos are going as well, also their stay here is now 3 weeks and not 2. It’s good for them to learn more. Monday we were with Brother Steinagel all day and he made Spanish pretty simple and helped us to make long term goals for learning Spanish. It helped a lot and now I’m learning 25 or more words a day. It’s tough here but totally worth it.

Well I didn’t have too much time on the computer today  because the people in front of us went over and the people behind us are waiting so I’ll bear my testimony. I think my emails will be more consistent in the field. Plus I’ll have more to write about. My favourite food here, idk what it’s called, the rule here is: don't ask what it is, just eat. Which is good for me, because they usually hide veggies in the meals. Well I know the church is true and that missionary work is soo important in the church. Because just as much as I miss all of you, God misses his children and wants them to return to him. I am grateful for everything I have been blessed with and the opportunity to serve.

Love,

Elder Grigor

**Elder Grigor couldn't send pictures the past few weeks. These are all taken over the last two weeks. 

Elder Denyer is in the background, 

we loved photobombing pictures. 

Elder Guaygua from Bolivia. 

His aunt is a pensionista in Cochabamba. 

My buddies that I hung out with a lot 

A door that we saw a 6 foot man come out of 

Elder Grigor, Elder Marcum and Elder Christensen 

The Angel Moroni 

A cool picture I got of my plaque and the temple. 

All my friends that left the MTC- our small 

district ended up alone at the MTC for 3 

days before all the new missionaries came. 

My companion, Elder Christensen 

I can't wait to touch peoples hearts

Dear Everyone, 

Life’s good here at the MTC, it’s currently 2:30am for you guys because we got the early block for writing.  Once I get in the field I will try to be more consistent. 

Well last week was pretty fun and also boring, everyone except my district left and it was just the 5 of us. Pretty lonely for 2 days, but we got a taste of the field, kinda. But in the 2 days that we were alone we got such good food. One night the cooks didn't feel like making us anything so they just ordered in for us. It was pretty sweet because they let us eat whatever we wanted from the kitchen. 

Umm not too much else happened last week except for proselyting. We go 3 times here, and it’s pretty sweet, we got 3 referrals for another appointment, so we got the persons address. We also taught 4 lessons, and made 2 appointments for next week to come by, except this Saturday we won’t be able to because the guy whose in charge of language here is coming to watch us and how we’re studying. So I guess you could say we’re a pretty big deal. Haha!!  

They are  implementing a new program in the MTC to lengthen latinos 2 weeks to 3 weeks, and make any 6 weeks person 5 weeks. So he’s doing all the new things on my district. It’s pretty weird but kinda cool too. Not too much else happened. Just everyone leaving, learning the new language, oh and in the new group of missionaries there are 27 north americans, idk if I told you already or not. But I’ll have a lot of new friends! I’m glad to be here serving the Lord, I’ve had so many spiritual experiences here too. I cant wait to touch peoples hearts. 

Love ELDER GRIGOR

It only comes through hard work

Dear People of home,

Today was a pretty normal week, I have just been going to classes and eating and working out. But I’ll still probably talk about a lot of the days. Not too much happened on Friday I think that we figured out that on Tuesday, everyone from the MTC is leaving except for the 5 of us in my district. So for 2 days it will just be the 5 of until the new flood of missionaries come in. Apparently its half North Americans so there will be a lot of English speakers. So our plan is to talk english to the latinos and Spanish to the americans just to mess with all of them. Or just talk Spanish to the Americans and see how long we can do that. Saturday was tracting day so everyone was gone, and we went out by the temple for an hour and “tracted”. Me and my companion talked to a kid about going on a mission, he said he was scared and we told him our experiences and I think he wants to go, he was talking very fast. Also we are leaving this Saturday I believe to go tracting, so I’ll have a big email next week, probably not to many pictures because the MTC president doesn’t want us looking like tourists. 

On Sunday I got to conduct sacrament meeting, and I kinda felt like dad, sitting up there and telling them what’s happening in the week. Also everyone in your district is supposed to prepare a talk for Sunday, but we only know which district is in charge on Friday at the district meeting, so it’s fun to watch everyone avoiding eye contact. Next days was normal not much happened but I had a cool experience. I was getting the hang of the language pretty fast so I thought I could slow down.  Around Saturday/Sunday I thought “it will come to me” and I and kind of  slacked off a little, and then I couldn't remember anything, and the next day was the same.  So I worked hard Monday until now and I can remember and memorize so much easier. So I realized I was blessed with the gift of tongues, but it only comes through hard work. So now I’m memorizing about 30 words a day depending on how easy/hard they are to memorize and I’m learning really quick. I’m still having troubles with conjugations and learning how to phrase things, but it will come.

Oh hahaha and yesterday we had an I.P which is just a investigator practice thing with your teacher, which is always in Spanish. And my companion was trying to say “we would like you to read this scripture”. But instead of saying that he said “we are falling in love with you and read this scripture”.  Our teacher just started laughing in the middle of the lesson and we didn't know why until she explained afterwards. We had a good laugh.

Entonces está bueno aquí, yo soy aprenando el idioma rapidó por solo estar aquí 3 semana´s. yo amo ustedes, y hablar por tú proximo semana.

ELDER GRIGOR

My first week in the MTC

Hey everybody, first week at the MTC has been great, my companion is awesome and he’s from Utah so I can speak to him and he can understand me, which is nice. So first day I did nothing all day, The MTC president went to the temple when we got here, so from 10-5 me and my district were just waiting for him, no class or anything. Oh also I unpacked and forgot soap, so I’ve just been using this one guys soap in the showers, I don’t think he has noticed yet. And also I forgot my sim card adapter in my bag  to upload pictures so I don’t think I can do that until I leave. ((they lock up the missionaries suitcases and store them- he left his adapter in his suitcase, but he managed to borrow an adapter and sent us pictures, for which I am SO grateful for!!! )

Second day we started classes and started learning Spanish, and that day was the only one in english so the next days were pretty rough. I showed my roommates my drivers license with my afro and they all freaked out calling me gangster and shouting west side, because they know those random words in Spanish. Next day I became my district leader in the MTC, it’s a small district only 5 of us, and we all met in Atlanta. The next couple days were just regular days at the MTC, I forgot sun screen got burnt.  I beat everyone at volleyball and basketball. And yea that’s pretty much it. Tuesday almost the whole MTC left, 50 Brazilians I believe, so for 2 days there was about 20 people in the MTC. 

On Wednesday Elder Bednar came to Buenos Aries which was really cool. He talked about teaching by the spirit, and I was in the video for about 30 seconds, when someone behind me was answering a question. Then we did nothing after that, just ate and now a whole new bunch of missionaries came. They are all from South America so not many that can speak english. Unfortunately when this new group leaves in 2 weeks, everyone else but my district of 5 will be leaving. It’s just the way the schedules align. So for 2 days there will just be the 5 of us in the MTC, until Thursday when 56 are coming and 27 of them are North America. So our plan is to pretend we only speak Spanish, just to mess with them. 

Today was special because we went to the temple in a Spanish session, and it felt completely different to me. Even though I had gone through before, it just seemed more meaningful to me. And while I was sitting in the celestial room, I felt the spirit so much, I had never felt anything like it before. I was thinking and admiring all the work in the temple, and it hit me like a truck (metaphorically) and I couldn't think of anything. I was just at peace, I had no worries, nothing I wanted to do, except keep sitting there.

I didn't realize how much I would miss my family when I left, but after the first couple days you get over the homesickness. Instead of wondering why am I here, you start thinking about all the people you want to teach, it’s a weird but cool experience, and I am very glad to be serving in URUGUAY. 

Oh also I’m the only Canadian so everyone knows me and, and also because of the fro thing, but mostly being Canadian, it’s pretty sweet. 

I will talk to you next week. Love you lots Bye!!!!! 

Elder Grigor 

Elder Grigor on his way to the Buenos Aries, Argentina MTC on Wednesday morning.

Minneapolis Airport 

This was in Atlanta. There's a train to get to each terminal called the Plane Train. Everytime I heard it I laughed because I thought it said the "pain train is leaving/ pulling into station".

Elder Grigor arrived safely in Argentina early Thursday morning. He had a long day of travelling!! 

"Me in front of the MTC" 

My first day, I forgot to put on sunscreen and got a little burnt.

This is my companion- Elder Christensen. 

2 of my roommates, Elder Santos and Elder Chavez. Elder Chavez is going to Montevideo so I might see him on my mission. 

"My name on the bed of missionaries" 

"Cool picture of the temple" 

Elder Chavez and Elder Grigor 

Having a good time! 

Elder Grigor at the Buenos Aries Temple 

"I love the temple" 

"A cool shot of the Angel Moroni with the sun under him" 

Elder Grigor with his district 

The Buenos Aries Temple 

"A dog chilling outside the MTC" 

Elder Grigor with his companion and another roommate, Elder Rodriquez.