The Greatest Blessing

Howdy y'all!

 

How are you?

I can't believe that Alex is coming home the same day! That is crazy!

Mom did you get my flight plans? cause they haven't sent them to me yet... which when i think about it i'm actually ok with that.

 Happy Birthday Dan! I would have sent you your very own personalized email but I realized I don't actually have your email so... yeah. But I hope you have the best birthday ever and I love you!

 

This week was a really great week!

Keith came to church again! He's just as enthusiastic as ever about the gospel. He called us this past week to tell us that he was at the store buying a white shirt and tie and he wanted to know if short sleeves were ok explaining to us that "this is texas and i can't find any longsleeves anywhere." We had multiple lessons with him this week. During the first one we showed him "The Restoration video" and he loved it. When it was over he was so disappointed because he wanted it to keep going. He even said "is there a series on this? cause if there isn't they need to make one." We told him we'd show him the hour version about Joseph Smiths life and he was so excited. He keeps asking us about it. He had some amazing insights after watching that video though. He was amazed because he said to us "Joseph Smith was just a man." He could relate to him in many ways. At the end he told us that he knew Joseph Smith was a prophet. As we sat with him for that lesson he just couldn't stop thanking us. It was really humbling. Sometimes we forget just how wonderful the gospel is and how blessed we are to have it. He's been reading in the Book of Mormon everyday. He even marks the verses that really stand out to him. He told us that since he started to come to church and read the Book of Mormon he's not as tempted as he was before. He just amazes me. 

Last night we taught him the Plan of Salvation and he really enjoyed that lesson as well. He accepted a baptismal committment. We haven't set a date yet but we will be soon. He's going to have to give up smoking and coffee but he already told us he's ready to quit the smoking, it's the coffee he doesn't want to give up. He's been really nervous to pray because he's never actually prayed his entire life. He's had "talks" with God but never really prayed. Well last night he said the closing prayer and it was the most simple powerful prayer. 

 

We also had a lesson with Rosa this week. We wanted to just focus on resolving her concerns. Turns out we were right about whats keeping her from coming to church. Not only is Catholicism her culture but she is very concerned about what her family and church friends and pastor would think. For her it would just be easier to learn about our church but just keep attending her church. We were bold but loving as we explained to her that if she wants to really know the truth she needs to come to church. We made sure she knew that we weren't trying to prove the catholic church wrong, we're just adding to what she already knows. She understands this but her fear is greater than her faith in what we've taught. She's still reading in the Book of Mormon and praying. We asked her how she felt when she goes to church and she even said "sometimes I feel the spirit and other times I don't." Then she turned it on us and asked how we felt when we go to church. The spirit was strong as we explained to her what church meant to us and I am so grateful to know that I can ALWAYS count on the spirit to be there when I go to church. I know that someday Rosa will realize that this is true but I'm not certain that will happen any time soon. We may be dropping her but for now we're praying really hard to know what she needs. 

 

Kaylee is doing great! She's been coming to church and is still reading in the Book of Mormon. This week the YW are doing a temple trip so while they are doing baptisms we will be there with Kaylee on the grounds teaching her about temples. I think it will be a really great experience for her. 

 

I'm just so grateful to be a missionary and to have the opportunity to share my testimony everyday. This church is the greatest blessing the world could have!

 

I love you! Thanks for all your prayers!

 

The Kingdom of God or nothing!

 

Love, Sister Gregson 

Workin' hard

Hey family!

 

Well another day of transfer calls has come and gone and it's official I'll be finishing my mission in Tomball with Sister Quist.

Tell mike and alisha I met Karen Riley and she is really awesome! and thanks for the package! You guys are the best!

Also Chelsea's friend Trevor took us to lunch!

 

We had a really good week! Things are starting to pick up and I hope it stays that way!

Kaylee is doing good. We asked her about talking to her mom about baptism and she told us that her mother said that she would like for her to wait until she's 18. I'm not really sure if that's true or if Kaylee is just really afraid to ask her mom but I don't think anything is going to progress as far as baptism until her older sister Esmerelda gets home from her mission.

Rosa is doing great, still hasn't come to church though.

 

We got 2 new investigators this week!

The first one is Lisa! She is this beautiful asian woman and when we told her who we were and that we wanted to share a message with her her immediate response was "YES! I am very interested. I'm busy now but please come back. I'm very interested."

Those kind of responses are the best! I love finding people who are already searching for truth, their hearts are always so humble and ready. She's going to be out of town on a buisness trip so we won't get to see her until the 28th but I'm really excited to share the gospel with her!

Then there's Keith. I may have told you about Keith before I'm not sure... but we met him at the beginning of the transfer so about 5 weeks ago. We knocked into him and he was really nice. He is an older, big, tall, spiritual guy who has had a really rough life. He's tried many different religions but never really felt at home in any of them. Well we have had brief short lessons with him every now and again since we met him but we never had a chance to just sit down and share with him any of the discussions because he's been so busy. Well we finally were able to meet with him on Saturday! We were able to have the lesson in a members home and we taught him the restoration. The spirit was powerful and he definitely felt it. He is so ready. At the end of the lesson he couldn't stop thanking us. He even tried to hug me which was really weird and awkward by the way... haha (don't worry I dodged him). He told us that his heart was so full. He called us later that day just to let us know that he felt so good all day and wasn't really sure what was going on but he knew it felt good (and also to apologize for trying to hug me). It was so funny!

We invited him to church and guess what?! He came! He asked to get off work early so he could come. He loved it. He asked questions in sunday school and even made some great comments. During the lesson he talked about how ever since we showed up on his door he's felt so good. He even volunteered to help the elders quorum with a service project. And after church we found him helping the teacher put away the materials he was using. It was as if he'd been here for years.

I am so excited to work with him more. I can't wait to see his testimony grow. I'm so grateful that we were able to find him.

 

Robin's family is still in town so we haven't been able to see her.

We saw travis again and he's still interested it's just a matter of actually finding a time to meet.

 

We're still working hard and hopefully we'll keep seeing miracles big and small.

It's hard to think that soon i won't be a missionary with a black name tag. I've been reflecting a lot on my mission and what i've learned and the person i've become. I am really going to miss it.

It has been one of my greatest joys in life to have the priviledge and opportuinity to serve the Lord here in the Texas Houston Mission.

This church truly is the only true and living church of that I have no doubt.

 

Love you all!

The Kindgom of God or nothing!

Love, Sister Gregson

Even When Things Are Hard I Still Feel Really Happy!

Howdy y'all!

 

How's life in good old SLC?

I don't have too much to report on this week. It was a pretty slow week because it was the first week of summer. We weren't able to meet with Kaylee so no updates on her. Robin's family ended up staying longer than expected so we haven't been able to get back in with her. Travis and his wife haven't been home lately we think they might be out of town. And most of our appointments fell through this week.

We were able to meet with Rosa though! We took her to the family history center and got her started on her family history work and she loved it! I think she would have stayed there all day if she didn't have other obligations. We planning on taking her back again sometime soon. We invited her to church but she said she probably wouldn't come and she didn't. I'm praying so hard that she will be able to overcome whatever it is that keeping her from jumping into this gospel.

 

We were out tracting and contacting a lot this week but still no new takers. I'm getting so tired. I just want to teach SO badly. I want to help these people but we seem to be at a stand still. We just got a new ward mission leader and he is really on fire so hopefully that will help give the work a push. We're really trying to work with the members on sharing the gospel and hopefully they will be willing to invite their friends to learn more.

I'm not going to lie it was a really discouraging week. This whole transfer has been pretty tough. We're working so hard but we're not seeing much success. We hear about all the miracles happening on other areas and sometimes it hard not to compare and wonder what it is that we're doing wrong. Then I start thinking well maybe I'm not worthy of recieving those kind of miracles and then you get even more discouraged. That's how satans works on you out here. That coupled with the humidity and blazing heat are enough to make you want to just give up. But don't worry guys we're not giving up. I just can't do it, I can't give up. I can't give satan that kind of victory even though sometimes it's pretty tempting. I'm trying so hard to make you and Heavenly Father proud and work until the very end. Sometimes I just want to yell at everyone I see grab them by the ears and say "THIS IS IMPORTANT, I'M TIRED, AND YOU'RE GOING TO SIT DOWN AND LISTEN TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY!" But that probably wouldn't be very effective when I think about it. Anyways We're just going to keep trying. When things get hard I always go back to what Joseph Smith says in the "Prophet of the Restoration" video. Lyman asks him "how do we endure well Joseph?" and he says "We trust in God and we go on." So that's what Sister Quist and I will do, we'll just keep going on and on until my shoes fall apart more than they already have. :) I'll try not to yell at anyone.

 

You know the weirdest part about missionary work is even when things are hard you still feel really happy and I do! I'm discouraged yes, but I still feel really happy. I love being a missionary!

 

I hope all is well at home! Thank you for all your prayers! They really have helped so much!

I love you!

 

The Kingdom of God or nothing!

 

Love, Sister Gregson

Teaching in Tomball

​Hello Family!

 

How are you?

I can't believe that Mckenna is going to Manchester!!! It's about time they got one of the Richards clan back over there!!  

Things are great in Texas as always! It's really hot and humid though. I don't think I've stopped sweating at any point this whole week. We've been out in the sun doing a lot of tracting and contacting but don't worry mom I'm drinking plenty of water!

 

So here's the latest with Kaylee. As you know we're still waiting on permission from her mom to get baptized. Well her mother speaks only spanish but she works as the same school as the young mens president in out ward (who is amazing). Anyways he knows Kaylees mom pretty well and he served a spanish speaking mission so he is able to talk to her almost everyday. Well in ward counsel he offered to talk to Kaylee's mom about Kaylee getting baptized and so he did. A miracle happened! She said if baptism is what Kaylee wants then she will support her! But the only barrier is that her husband (kaylee's step-father) is very much against the church. But of course she has the final say in the matter. So on Thursday we had a lesson with Kaylee and we committed her to talk to her mom about baptism again. She said she would and we knew she was nervous so we had her pratice on us. I could tell she was nervous so we asked her what fears she had and she burst into tears. She opened up to us and said that she is afraid of how her step-father will react. He is the only father that she has ever known and she feels like she has never been able to do anything that makes him proud. He fights with her about the church a lot. This has brought a lot of sorrow to Kaylee. She doesn't really feel like he loves her very much. Well if there's one thing I've felt very strongly since knowing Kaylee it's that her Father in Heaven is VERY proud of her. He loves her SO much and she is doing so much good. Her step-father may not understand how incredible she is now but someday he will know the truth and he will see. We told her these things and promised her that the Lord knew everything she was going through and that he would never leave her. I hate that she feels this way! She is too amazing to be treated like that, but I know this trial will make her even stronger. We invited her to pray about talking to her mom and we told her we would support her in whatever she decides to do. She was able to come to church on Sunday and we'll be meeting with her again on Tuesday.

 

We had a really great lesson with Rosa too! We watched the Restoration video and it really helped her understand more about Joseph Smith and where the Book of Mormon came from. She has some really great questions afterwards. She really has been so impressed by members of our church and she recognized that the church is good. We asked her if she believed that what we've taught her is true and she said there's nothing she's heard that seems wrong. She sees that the fruits of this church are so wonderful and I believe she knows it's true, she just has to recognize it for herself. She is SO close!

 

Robin was not able to come to church unfortunately because she had some family last minute come to visit. Hopefully we can get her next week!

 

We've been finding people to share the gospel with but we're still having a hard time finding people that want to make time to learn more. It gets pretty frustrating sometimes because our desire to share, teach, and testify is so great. And it is a good desire! I wish more than anything that we could just teach all of the Texans in Tomball. But even if our desires are good and righteous desires that doesn't mean it will happen. And even though it can be hard I'm grateful for that because it has taught me so much about patience, trust, diligence, and hard work. I have faith that even if we aren't finding new investigators seeds are being planted in the hearts of those we do get to talk to. And I still believe there are people in this area who are prepared we've just got to keep searching for them. For as long as I'm here I'm determined to find them.

 

I hope that all is well back home!

I love you all!

 

The Kingdom of God or nothing!

 

Love, Sister Gregson