Letter #3

Email time is very short, the clock starts ticking as soon as we login to the computer. We have 30 mins. and the computers aren't the fastest. In addition to this, my typing speed is all of 9 words per minute so instant messaging thru emails probably isn't very feasible right now. For these same reasons, I don't want to try to spend time uploading pictures. I’ll mail you my memory card in a couple weeks with that envelope you sent me.

Also to clear up some confusion- my roommates were French speaking zone leaders but they weren't my zone leaders. We're sad to see them go but now we have the room to ourselves! Me and Elder Fivas are the only ones I know of right now that have our own room, it's great! Although, last Wednesday we installed additional bunk beds to all the rooms. So all the rooms are able to hold 6 guys! Me and Elder Fivas will enjoy our luxurious domain while we have it, but it probably won't last long.

Happy Birthday big sister Krysta! I knew it was your birthday soon! (but I’ll admit, I didn't know which day). In all honesty, the only birthdays I know are mom's, Verl’s, Sanae’s, Blake’s, and Elder Fivas' (Because they're all the same day!). I enjoyed your letter, it made me laugh, especially the parts about Phish (the cat).

Thank you Camille for your letter, I loved it. Erin and Rachel still need to repent!!!!

Congrats to Brandon on his call to Russia! I was so excited to hear that! I told my district about it. ha, ha.

Only one more week as District leader, it's been a tremendous blessing because I’ve been thinking about the district, and very little about myself, which then causes blessings to come tenfold!

Hmmm... well I feel I should share something about what I’ve learned in the scriptures this week... So... In Moroni 10:3-5 (Moroni's promise) we are told that if we pray with a sincere heart, real intent, and faith in Christ, then we WILL receive confirmation that the book of Mormon is true. That's a promise! (And a pretty good one to, because it's God who's saying it through one of his prophets). However, it does not say when or how that answer will come. Something that stuck out to me is "real intent". Real intent means we are willing to do God's will. We are willing to act on the answer God gives us through prayer. So then it hit me. The answer to when God answers our prayers is not when WE THINK we're ready to act on revelation, but rather, when HE KNOWS we're ready to act, that's when the revelation comes. Just a good reminder.

Yes, I have been to the Provo temple three times. We do sessions on our Pdays, which for me is Monday. We also do "temple walks" on Sundays after sacrament. It's where everyone in the MTC walks to the temple and takes pictures (I need to work on the pictures part, but don't worry mom, I have taken a few). It's cool to see the swarms of missionaries. I really love the Provo temple; it's beautiful!

Okay, in brief, this is how my regular days are broken up: (in no particular order) 45 mins for gym, total of 2 hours for meals, 6 hours of classroom instruction with a teacher, about 2 hours of Spanish study, 30 mins of teaching, 1 to 2 hours of personal study. That's my schedule, more or less.

Only 2 minutes! AGH. Well, Elder Fivas is doing well, the district is healthy, not very diligent as of recently (but I called them to repentance yesterday so we're doing better. ha, ha). We had an all day Spanish day on Saturday (it was a rather quiet day), oh and there's going to be an Ohio Cincinnati mission so my mission boundaries might change! Crazy!

Pray a lot! Love you!

Letter 2

2/18/13

I can't believe I'm already half way through my second week! We are busy all day and the time flies. First to answer a few of your questions: get the bigger of the two bikes, trust whatever they suggest for me because they probably know more about bikes than both of us. But Thank you so much for the see's candy, it was delicious :) Also please tell Aunt Sharla and Uncle Brian thanks for the package of Food! I love it! Also please tell anyone that has sent me letters that I really appreciate them but I can only respond on Mondays. Also, someone sent me a package of cookies and chips and salsa but I don't know who it was from. I loved it though. Me and my companion have so much food that we're not able to eat it all (and this is true of almost every companionship in my zone, we all feel so loved). Anyone can use the DearElder option of sending mail. I hope that answers the questions you had. Only 20 minutes left to write!

Okay so this week everyone in my district got sick. The initial excitement seemed to be wearing off and people started to realize they're in for the long haul. My companion got a sharp pain in his lower right abdomen starting sometime Tuesday. We thought it was maybe just part of the illnesses that everyone had but we got it checked out anyways. We went to the MTC clinic and then they directed us to an Urgent Care down the street from the MTC. He got his blood and urine tested for appendicitis. It tested negative. By Wednesday the pain had increased. We stayed home most of the day and he rested. I really proved my integrity to myself during that day. I figured I wasn't sick so I still needed to stick to the missionary schedule as best I could while we were in our room. So even though I was exhausted, and the light was off while my companion was sleeping, I continued to study by lamp light throughout the day. By Wednesday night my companion was in a lot of pain and he was nervous that it could be something serious. I told him I was willing to do anything I could for him. He requested that I give him a blessing. Elder Johnson (who leaves for France in an hour! We will miss him and Elder Peterson, they're outstanding guys) anointed and I sealed the blessing. It was a great learning experience for all of us. The spirit was very strong in the room during that time. Elder Fivas, my companion, was calmed and he slept decently well throughout the night. But throughout the day Thursday the pains stirred up again. We went back to the MTC clinic, and then to the urgent care. He was throwing up a lot (but the whole time he was cracking jokes and being his comical self). They took blood samples again and sent us back to the MTC. We ate dinner then went back to the dorm. Elder Fivas read a few letters from his family and friends which made him very emotional, saying "I'm so blessed", crying for joy while still feeling sick (what an example!). Then a call came to our residence, he tested positive for appendicitis. Before we knew it, a van was taking us both to the hospital. We checked in and a doctor confirmed that he needed to get his appendix out. Elder Fivas continued to throw up and nerves were building again. Around 11 PM, shortly before he went under operation, I gave him another blessing of comfort. Since I only have 3 minutes left I'll just say this, it was an emotional and spiritual experience. We got to visit him a few times for the 2 days he was at the hospital. Even his family came down from Tooele and visited him on Friday. Despite this trial, there have been so many blessings that have come from it. Well my time is up. Love you all! I love it here. The spirit is so strong and it's been so incredible!

First Letter

2/11/2013

Okay so we only get 30 mins of computer time so I'll pack in as much as I can! First few days have been incredible! People say the first week is the hardest but me and Elder Fivas (My companion) have really enjoyed it. When I first walked in the door I checked in and got my name tag and everything. (They didn't even check the immunizations sheet that the website made so much hype about). I sat down and took a language questionnaire then met my district and teacher, Brother Hopoate (cool Tongan guy). My district has 3 elder companionships and 3 Sister companionships. They called me to be the District leader on day 2 after meeting the branch presidency. This calling has been and will be a great opportunity to serve my district. I love my district, they're good elders and sisters. More about Elder Fivas is that he's from Tooele, loves basketball, is hilarious, and is genuine about the gospel. He was in his high school student government and is an all round great guy. He drinks apple juice like someone breaths air. 

The food here really isn't bad. In fact, I love it, especially the buffet part :) Sorry i just accidently sent part of this email early... Anyways, funny thing happened. Me and Elder Fivas didn't have any bedding the first night, haha. Elder Fivas (pronounced "Five Us") had a blanket and pillow so he slept with that. but I just used my overcoat for a blanket and slept on the bare mattress. Another Elder who doesn't usually sleep with a pillow gave me his pillow for that night. I later found out he uses it for his feet. so good thing i used my shirt as a pillow case :) I didn't get much sleep but it was mostly because of excitement and lack of adjustment to going to bed so early. We're supposed to be up by 6:30 but we usually get up by 6:20, 10 mins early! Can you believe that! I think it's definitely been a small miracle that I have been able to get up so early and have had energy for the whole day. I am also feeling much better, just a stuffy nose is all. Unfortunately Elder Fivas might be getting sick, probably from me :(.  

Before I forget! Please send my priesthood line of authority! It's not urgent but they've asked that we all have it. Mondays are my P days.

The Spirit of revelation and the gift of tongues is definitely present here in the MTC. We are already praying in Spanish! Me and Elder Fivas have already taught two 30 minute lessons in Spanish that went very well! Our investigator is Ricarda (teacher pretending to be one of her nonmember friends). But we prepare like she is a real investigator. We have felt the spirit while preparing and teaching her like she was a real investigator; it's incredible. We pray like a dozen times a day and study the gospel and Spanish all day. It's Great!

A few words about my roommates: Elder Fivas (obviously), and Elder Johnson and Elder Peterson. Both Elder Johnson and Peterson are zone leaders that have been here for 7 weeks. They're going to France missions (Paris and Lyon). They're some of the coolest guys I've met.

Only 2 minutes left! Agh! Well, know that I am well taken care of. I've loved it here. I can feel your prayers on my behalf and I sincerely mean that. The impression that my family has prayed for me has never been so prevalent. Also, thank you for the letters and packages! Got to go! Love you all!

Elder Kevin Graf.