We were helping members cutting wood so that they could use it for their bakery. (to cook the bread). So, anyways... We cut a log that was full of ants but they were not your average kind of ant. they have longer bodies and they had stingers just like a hornet. I was not paying attention to were I was standing and one of these ants entered into my pants. It stung me on my thigh and I tell you what... it hurt. I tried to shake it out of my pants but it went up further and stung my backside. I tried to kill by smashing it with my hand but that was a big mistake. It ended up stinging me 6 times on my rearend. I had to run into the members house to use their bathroom. I took my clothes off and looked for dang thing but I couldn´t find it. I started to freaking out because the stings started hurting a lot. I then saw the ant in the toilet so I flushed it down. The members were laughing at me, but...oh well. That was fun.

   We have more investigators who are progressing really well. I just would be the one to baptize them (personally). I just will help them as much as I can. There has been a lot of people that were baptized after I taught them. It seemed to be the theme of the mission I served.

   I love you all and hope all goes well this week.

I can´t believe how awesome it is to be here in the mission. I love it so much. I am going to sad when it is time to go. Time really goes fast when your having fun.

   My birthday is coming up friday and it does not seem like I´ll be 23 years old. I still don´t even feel like I´m 20 yet. Everytime I tell people that I am going to be 23, they think I´m joking around.  It´s just like when Hank said that I was 10 years old when I was 14.

Some time ago I realized I didn´t know what the ¨mysteries of God¨ meant. I would like to share what I found...
   Mysteries of God are spiritual truths known only by revelation. God reveals His mysteries to those who are obedient to the gospel.
     It is impossible for men to know the mysteries of God if there is no revelation. That is why we need a prophet in these last days. We need to know the misteries of God or we will not fully know of God and what he wants us to do. If we don´t do what God wants us to do we cannot have a fulness of joy. I do believe that happiness only comes from God and doing His will. Satan tries to trick us into thinking that by being disobedient, even just a little bit, that it´s alright. But from countless experiences and having seen the affects of disobedience, wickness never was, is, or ever will be happiness.
    On the other side I have seen the happiest people here on earth. They are the ones who obey God and enjoy the fulness of the gospel of His only Begotten Son. It is a true joy that they are living. The problems of the world are not but opportunities to exercise faith in Christ and become more Christlike. These things are possible because through God´s prophets, we recieve revelation from our Almighty Father in Heaven. I am grateful for the opportunity to help people know that we are not in the dark. That God really does exist and talks to His servants just like did in times of old.

           How blessed are we to be part of the work and glory of our Heavenly Father. I am truly humbled to know that someone such as I, had the privilege to serve as best as I could so that I might be an instrument in the hand of God. It is truly wonderful to help others come unto Christ.
  
            I love you all. I´ll talk to you later.

     yo quiero agradeceros por lo que me enseñasteis por vuestros ejemplos. sois una familia excelente y unica. agradzco a Dios por haberme tenido vivir con vosotros.

     Today I was reading in the Book of Mormon in Spanish and I was reading just as fast as my latin companion. I can´t believe how fast I now can read  in spanish and also in english. It is pretty cool.

    My companion and I are having the time of our lives. We joyfully talk with all in our path. It is not hard to talk with who ever. Just the other day, there was a guy that just wanted to fight with us. Saying that we are just rich people who go around putting false things in the heads of the poor. And that we don´t do any good here. I tried talking to him to see what his motives were I even he didn´t know. As soon as we left, a scripture came into my head. In the Old Testament, Proverbs 14:7. which says "Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge." The thing is... he lives right next to us. We decided not to talk with him any more. I am not afraid to have confrontations with anyone now. I have talked with so many people that could not even stand the sight of us. But I am not bothered but it.

I am happy and Hope yopua are too. Love you all.
 
I recieved the itinerary, I guess I will be getting home really fast. (The 11th, if all goes well. Which I am sure that it will).

      Wow. This is my last change in the mission. It seems like it would never come. I was watching the restoration in italian and I can understand a lot of it. Also with some other languages. It is pretty cool.
      Well the thing that happened with changes is that six more elders were put in Caaguazu and 3 of the branches now have 4 missionaries. I now have a new campanion who is from Florida, Uruguay. His name is Elder Emilio Chavez. his is quite a bit shorter then I am but he has a great spirit about him. We split our area and had to start all over. (where we had never worked before, further from the church) We are find a lot of people and I am just as happy as I can be.

      Yesterday I got to teach the restoration in english to a person who lives about 24 miles in the north part of our area. He was very interested in the Book of Mormon ad wanted to go to church. I felt the spirit guiding my words, which sometimes it´s hard for me to talk a lot in English. Because I now think in english and spanish. (by the way I can talk really fast now)  The city that he lives in is called yhu.

 I am really enjoying my last change. We are just doing all we can so that others come unto Christ. We are working really hard. I don´t want to be trunky so I just work really hard. But I am happy to say that I will give my all until the time is up.


I did not recieve the itinerary. I have no idea what the schedule will be. Could you please sent it to me?

Les quiero y espero que tengan una buena semana

 “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33) "What great happiness this knowledge should bring to us. He lived for us and He died for us. He paid the price for our sins. May we emulate His example. May we show our great gratitude to Him by accepting His sacrifice and living lives that will qualify us to return and one day live with Him." President Thomas S. Monson




I can´t believe that the time is flying so fast. I just want to do as much as I can before I go. Yesterday, our investigator said that it would be better that he be baptized when he is 18.  He loves the church but his father does not. That seems to be the theme here in Paraguay. The people here want to hold on the their traditions more then God.

       2 Nephi 33
 2 But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught.

 3 But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth, and especially unto my people. For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry.
 4 And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it persuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal.
    I am keeping busy with the Arnolds. We are finding a lot of less active members. I feel that we are going to be very successful this last change. I don´t know what is going to happen this change, only that we are going to have 2 more missionaries in our branch. How exciting is that? I don´t know what is going to happen but I do know that is is going to be great.
   Sorry this letter is short. I was looking for a talk on lds.org but could not find it. Oh and it is alright about the money. I understand. I just hope that all is well and you are all happy like I am.
   Today we have to move apartments. We are moving one floor up in the same building. We also need to help the other missionaries move. ( they also are going to have two missionaries in their area.
    


I love you all. Hope you all enjoy your week.


I know that in the end, and the good will be triumph because Jesus Christ has overcome the world.

   I am really happy that Dad will be doing a fireside for the stake. I would really like someone to film that for me. I know that one of my fellow siblings will be able to film. I know Dad will do a great job in talking in the fireside. I also will be doing a fireside here in Caaguazu. We will be talking about home teaching and visiting teaching. We thought of some things we can do to help illistrate the need for faithful members and we will be showing it through sketches. (good examples and bad examples) -So that they laugh a little and so that they may feel the spirit.
    It is already the 7th of January, it is so crazy how fast time goes by. I am surprised on the mercy and love of God. He let me be part of His Work and Glory. I have a lot of things to do here still. I can´t give up on the last stretch and I won´t. I just hope I can still do alot of good here in the beautiful place. I love the people here and I hope that they know that too. Every fast Sunday I tell them that.
    I am glad to here. I have learned a lot and I know have a potencial that would not be possible to reach if I did not serve here. I am really happy for all my experiences. I actually am now writing,(on p days), all of what I have learned in the mission. My struggles and greatest experiences that have passed during the best two years. I think you will really enjoy reading it. I just need to be diligent in writing all.


     I hope all is well, and if not... it can be and will be. We know who we are and we know where we stand in the sight of God. He put us where we are at right now.
              I know that God lives and that Jesus Christ is His Holy Son. This is the true church of God because He has made it known unto me. God loves all His children and is pleased with His obedient children.
                                     I love you all
                                                    Elder Grisham.

How beautiful it is to be here. I feel as if I am walking amongest a battlefield and that I am a medic. Here to bring relieve, so that others may continue in the fight for rightousness. I feel that the bullets of unkind words pass me by. Grenades of tentation have no effect. And the tanks unrightousness will never stop the work of the Almighty God.I will find those who have lost their way. I will bring those who have been wounded by the sting of sin, to the only Being that truly can heal them. Even though it is not easy I continue. I love how God has has provided for me, places where we are safe from these dangers. I love how I can be sheltered every Sunday and that I am healed by the sheer grace of God as I take the Sacrament. I know that it is not easy to being here as a representative of the True living Church of God. But who ever said it was easy. Even for the very Son the the living God, It was not easy. The greatest things we can ever recieve is by doing the hardest things that life has to offer sometimes.
          I still have work to do. My time is not up. I still have to bring the everlasting gospel to those who have been hurt by sin. By which there is no other thing that will truly help us. I know that no other thing can give us so much joy in our lives. I have tasted so many times here. I truly love what God has commisioned us, His missionaries, to do.  I give all my thanks to our Heavenly Father. He truly does love us. All of us.

   I am glad to hear about the fireside going well. I will be having mine this next Wednesday. I will be writing the script today. I guess I´ll tell you what it is about. We plan on having a fireside on hometeaching. We will be doing three sketches in front of the branch. The first sketch will be of a person that always makes excuses and never visits their families. The second one is about home teachers that go visit their families but they don´t want to do it. And the last one is will be a perfect example of a visit. I thought that they need to see the importance of helping others to remain with Christ. I feel that it will be very productive. I am excited to teach this next Wednesday. I also get to teach tomorrow in our district meeting about "consacration". I am happy to do so. It will be really cool, I hope.


Well we have changes again. (I have two left) ¡NDE! ¿mba´e che ajapó? (Dang! What am I to do?)
                                                    
Every so often I feel gratitud towards God for what I have become and how He has changed me. I know that nothing was in vain... especially my time here. I am full of thanks from the bottom of my heart. I still am surprised a lot of time by the love God really does have for us. I also learned that it all depends on our choices. We are free agents and we can choose happiness or misery. I am happy because I do the things that bring forth happiness. If I wasn´t I would not be. I have seen the face of true joy and it is only on those on the path of rightousness.




I recieved the package. Thank you for sending it. I also got two letters for Joan May and Faith. I kind of feel bad that I can´t really send a letter back. I just don´t have the time or I really would send a letter to them. Could you please send my regards to them? Thank you.


COME UNTO CHRIST and once you have...REMAIN WITH CHRIST and I promise you that you will... BE WITH CHRIST IN THE KINGDOM OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
-Elder Cory N. Grisham

    The middle of the month and it is going by fast. I am really happy to still have time to bless the lives the the people here. I was thinking today about how much all the people in people who sacrificed something in their lives so that I would be able to be here in this moment.

    If you remember what I wrote last time I mentioned that I am writing about all my mission. I know that it will be a really good thing for all of you. Especially Mom and Dad. You will get to feel what I was going through all my time. I feel that I could not really express all I wanted until now, I do not know why. I think it is because I now see the bigger picture and I can now write what I have seen and heard. Today I will continue with my mission journal. I will try to finish writing about the MTC. Thanks to God I remember a lot of things that pasted while I was there. I hope I finish the journal before I get home.

  Just the other day I thought of an experience that we had. (Papá, mamá y yo). Y la forma en que momento exacto de mi padre le dijo a su experiencia, el vídeo y el sonido era perfecto. Y estando un video nerd, me quedé impresionado por la calidad de video y sonido. Eso es sólo con conexión a internet de alta velocidad, que se puede lograr. Dudo que un pequeño cibercafé en el Paraguay tienen internet de alta velocidad. Créeme, lo sé. Creo que la experiencia que se compartió fue para mi benefit también. Me recordó a una parte de mi bendición patriarcal, la última parte.

    I don´t know why the computer that I am using keeps translating while I write... So if it is in spanish, you should just use the google translator.
       
                          I love you all. I hope you enjoy your week. And my God watch and protect you in all your tasks this week.

p.s. I will recieve my package next week.

p.p.s. I will give my fireside the 30th... And yesterday I gave a talk in sacrament meeting. It was awesome.

p.p.p.s. I have no idea what day I will be coming home. You can sent the flight itinerary to me if you want. Just whenever you want it´s fine.