Hello friends and family! It’s kinda weird to think about the transfer already being halfway over. It’s weird but also every day has felt so unbelievably slow. It’s honestly pretty discouraging going from training and leading lessons and stuff, to a new area where I can’t speak at all and barely understand what’s going on. But hopefully the Spanish will improve with time.
Wednesday was literally so insane. In the morning Elder Heiner and I cut holes in garbage bags for our head and arms so we had a base layer to keep all the heat in. Then we wore sweatshirts and sweatpants on top so that we would sweat a ton and burn more calories. We ran 4 miles and it just about killed me. Fast forward like 5 hours later and we went to Sister Foster’s house to help her move some wood. We were there almost 3 hours and it was super exhausting moving loading and unloading her truck with all this lumber. There also happened to be a large rat the size of a small cat that was living in the wood and scared the crop out of Elder Heiner. It was hilarious. Then seeing this super fat rat run, jump, and soar through the air was quite the sight…
That night somehow we talked eachother into doing an Ab workout. So after this exhausting day, the 4 of us ended strong with good old P90X. That was probably the most physically exhausting day I’ve ever had on the mission by far. But I need to get in better shape so it’s good.
We got bashed a couple times but nothing special. Just people telling us we’re stupid for reading the book of Mormon and stating the same verses from the Bible. It gets tiring proving everybody wrong 
That night Elder Kennedy was just flooded with people bashing him on Facebook. These guys were commenting things on his posts saying he looked like Rick Astley but some other things that I can’t repeat. This other dude messaged him literally the exact same way we always message people like asking if we can share a message and stuff, but like it was about Satan. It was super weird but pretty funny. All of it was pretty messed up but we got a kick out of it.
Saturday morning was super fun because we went to Izac’s soccer game. It gave me total flashbacks to watching my little brother Conners games. It was super fun and Elder Dawe and I had a blast. The kids were all wondering why we were so dressed up for a soccer game. It was pretty funny, the adults were just as confused as the kids. We told some of the kids we were college soccer recruiters
They believed us but also didn’t know why we would be watching 7 & 8 year olds playing haha.
Sunday the ward announced that Jefferson will officially become a group and will be meeting every week. This was big news and pretty exciting to some of the members. Elder Kennedy and I went up there for the meeting and took a pic with this coop bus we saw.
This week I studied the talk “Clean hands & a pure heart” by David A. Bednar. I really liked how he emphasized the importance of having both clean hands AND a pure heart. Often times we may not have major sins to repent of, but that doesn’t always mean our hearts are completely pure. Be says,
“Brothers and sisters, it is possible for us to have clean hands but not have a pure heart. Please notice that both clean hands and a pure heart are required to ascend into the hill of the Lord and to stand in His holy place… …Hearts are purified as we receive His strengthening power to do good and become better. All of our worthy desires and good works, as necessary as they are, can never produce clean hands and a pure heart.”
I love how he talks about the strengthening power of the atonement. It’s easy to focus on the opportunity and gift we have to repent and receive forgiveness. But we should also remember the other things the atonement gives us. Not only can we receive forgiveness, but we can also receive peace, comfort, love, and strength to bear the burdens and temptations we face everyday. I encourage you to pray for that strengthening and enabling power of the atonement and use that power to defend yourself against the whirlwinds from Satan.
I hope everyone had a great week! I love hearing from you so message me whenever you’d like!! If there is anybody that I can pray for please let me know!! As you go throughout your week please know that I love you. Don’t forget who you are and your divine identity as a child of God. Muchos Besos! And remember, God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good!!
All my love
Elder Grubbs
Addy:
100 Stone Creek Dr Apt 202Marshall TX 75672
P.S. Was having a rough day and then found this kitten at one of our stop-bys. It may seem small but it was a tender mercy for sure. Don’t forget to recognize that God’s hand is in every area of your life. He is aware of you and everything you’re going through. Love you more byeeeeee
