January 14, 2013

Hey Guys,

    This week was good we worked really hard. We tried super hard to reach the norms. On Sunday we were short a couple lessons and worked all day, super hard but it just didn´t happen. I truly think the whole city went to the beach. It was the last day of vacations for many people so they took advantage. At about 3 we saw almost everyone leave there houses in beach clothes with their mate and head down the hill. That means Elder Camejo and I walked and knocked doors almost all day we only got in 2 doors, one of which was already a member.  I think Elder Camejo got a little upset but he sure loves to work. I feel like we could be a little more united in our teaching something, I guess we will work on it in Comp study. 

   Our investigator Matias brought a friend with him to church, and the members are helping so I guess things are going well here. It has been hot here but at least not like it was last year in Salto. I don´t know if it is just because we are farther south or this year is just cooler. Right now it is 30 C with 50 humidity so not so bad. But when you are walking in the street all day it is hard. We were going to try and have a baptism this week but it doesn´t look like our investigator is ready. Looks like we will have to wait till the 26th we also have one planed for the 2nd. 

    We have one investigator who really could get baptized any day he wants he just has to give us the word. His name is Cesar he is 55 mas o menos and lives by himself. He hasn´t missed a day of church in 3 years. I have taught him 3 or 4 times but he doesn´t want to commit to baptism, I don´t know. I have been more direct with him then with any other person in my life I think. He has studied every religion probably over the course of his life and he is stuck on ours. I asked him why he comes and he told me because he feels comfortable here, in the sense that he feels comfortable sharing his believes. He says we are more open then other churches. Maybe just because we are kind and listen, I don´t know. I have explained the Book of Mormon which he believes in then Jose Smith which he also believes but when I explained the restoration of the Priesthood. He told me he didn´t care about that he thinks he can be saved in any church if he follows the gospel so he chooses to come to ours but he was baptized Catholic I think. I don´t know what to do with him I am about to drop him, I think after this week if he doesn´t accept date. I know he has felt the spirit. Our first lesson this week with him after bearing one of the strongest testimonies of my life my comp tried to give him date and it was silent for about a minute before he said I can't you don´t understand  or something like that. I really thought he might say yes but no. It is really sad. This week I think we will talk about covenants and the blessing of the temple and try to bring someone from the stake presidency.

   Mercedes is nice. I was wrong last week when I said we have everything to the south it was to the north. Also did you sign up for the "wuwi" please do. I am glad you enjoyed your break!  The past few weeks I have been studying D&C and the New Testament. They are both super good. I love the book of Mateo. Also this week I got about 5 letters. Nice surprise! I liked the Christmas card. Then one from hna(Sr.) Heaton, Bishop Schwartz- I can't believe Nick came back last June. Also Great Grandma Fraiser she gave me 50 bucks! Also Elder Bradshaw!. Who sent me a Nickel which means he had his first Kiss haha. He has had a girlfriend for the last 2 months.  Oh, also Elder Rivas called me the other day and told me that President talked about me in a training back there in Cerro. Something about being steadfast in our trials sharing how I was hit with rocks and pee etc. haha I thought it was kind of funny! Anyway I have to go. 

Love You,

Elder Wray

January 7, 2013

Hey Guys,

Things are going great here in Mercedes. Elder Camejo is a super hard worker and knows the area well it looks like. Our ward looks good, and Elder Camejo tells me that the Bishop works hard. This week we hoped for more people in church and with fecha but we have about 4 possibles for this months so we should be having baptisms soon. There are also a lot of people to find here with the lista de 24 meses and less active members. I love the area! We are the only missionaries in the ward for now President took out the other two about 3 changes ago but I think after this change he will put them back in. So our area is huge, really it is two areas which means we always have something to do. Mercedes to me is a city of money. The houses I have seen are huge and probably some of the nicest house I have seen besides the house in Carasco where the temple is and President lives in Deo. There are a lot of white people here, a lot of blonde's with blue and green eyes. I think they are all from Europe. If you look at the city I have half the city cutting it from west to east. The southern half towards the river. Which means all of centro. I live in an apartment a lot like Salto the truth at first I thought I was in Salto but it is much better. Mercedes as a zone is kind of weird. There are 6 elders in Mercedes, then 4 elders and 4 sisters in Frey Bentos(30 min from Mercedes) and 4 Elders in Dolores(40 Min from Mercedes). So we are all kind of spread out. But we will see what happens in a couple changes because we are going to be getting like 20 new sisters in March which will double the sisters in one change. We will be opening 30 new areas. 

Elder Camejo is super good. Since I just got here he kind of just guides me around, He is older then me in age but in time he has about 9 months. He is a born leader which is a big difference from Elder Muñoz who is more of a born follower. I kind of have to reel him in sometimes during lessons because he loves to try and answer ever doubt or objection people have but we are working things out. But things are going well. 

It was hard to leave my last ward I will miss the friends I have there and all the Elders there. I wanted to see Elder Navarro die but it is alright he is going to BYU so I will see him there. By far my biggest friend in the mission. Ah yea and my companion from the MTC is ZL now in Salto. Kind of cool.

As for food goes I eat just about everything now. Raw onions still no but cooked yea, grilled as well. Love peppers and tomato. I could probably eat a tomato like an apple if I wanted to. 

This area is pretty hot since it is so close to the river but not to bad and yes this year I am using sun screen. It is kind of weird though when I burn I don't burn red any more but brown and it doesn't peel. So I am kind of tan. Anyway that is about it for now I still don't know much about people we have had some good lessons but names I don't know that well. We should be baptizing a girl named Emilia in the next few weeks super nice. She is 20. Also Matias and Bryan both 17. The others I don't know as well.

Love You

Elder Wray    

January 2, 2013

Hey Guys,

Things have been hard. I left calling you guys super happy and content but 1 block from the members house about six teenagers sprayed us with squirt guns filled with urine. Needless to say it was a little frustrating and discouraging and sadly for my companion he got some in the mouth. To make things worse the buses stopped working and we had to walk 45 min home at 10:00 and covered in pee. From there the work was hard, members and investigators left and we had more problems with teenagers in our area.That Friday a couple rode by on bikes and out of the blue one spit in my face and then later that day they threw rocks. The next day it took all I had to leave the house, I was super discouraged. Our numbers where super bad and I had lost all desire to work. My companion went to the bathroom and all I could think to do was knee down and pray. It was a pretty long pray because when I finished my companion was asleep on his bed. By long I mean less then 5 min but my companion is always sleeping. But it took all I had to say "levántese vamos ahora"(get up and get going). But I did it, was hard.  By the ended of the week I was pretty discouraged, but Elder Navarro talked to me and I felt better as this week started and now I am super excited to go to Mercedes! That's right this week is change week that is why I am writing so late in the week. After six months here I am excited to leave! But I will miss the people here dearly. I am going to miss the City a lot. I didn´t want to come to Deo and now I don´t want to leave. I am going with Elder Camejo from Mexico the second Mexican campanion in a row. President called me early to give me my change. It was kind of a weird call. He was kind of like Elder Wray I don't usually do this but.... I am going to give you your change. Then a long pause that was kind of uncomfortable so I said alright President. Then he told me my change and told me how grateful he is to have me in his mission and for my obedience and diligence. Then that was it. I really don´t know why he did it maybe he was inspired because it left me super excited. Anyway not much more to say. We did an asado(Roast) New Years day because it was an Elders b-day, super good.  Anyway I have to go pack. Love you!

Elder Wray

Pic 1 a chicken I cooked with potatoes and sweet potatoes and carrots it was really good. I thought it was going to be dry but it was perfect.

Pic 2 Melonesas de pollo with rice i made 

Pic 3 Asado that we did super good