Well, this week was pretty awesome.
It seemed as if everything went well. We contacted all of our less actives
(which isn't an incredible number of people, but nonetheless an accomplishment
to find them at home) last week and most of them came to church yesterday.
Several of the members are really becoming missionary-minded and offering their
help to teach and are also opening up their homes to host a Noche de Hogar
(Family Home Evening night) with investigators. Elder Foote and I have found a
few people that are going to progress really well, and Elder Taylor and Elder
Garcia (the other elders that just moved in this transfer) are working with a
couple people that want to get baptized in the coming month or two. Our branch
church attendance was like 40 plus people yesterday! (Normally we only have
about 30.) But it is also sad because one of the coolest families is moving
back to Mexico for a year or so :( I sent a picture of the family in another
email. But, this branch's potential seems like it's really starting to bubble.
This last week was really fun. Throughout my mission I've been learning and growing
on so many levels but I feel like this last week especially was when the work
was really fun. I went on exchanges with Elder Garcia (A native to Mexico. Well,
he's technically American, but his parents are 100 percent Hispanic and so he's
familiar with the culture.) and we really learned from each other. I've changed
my approach. I've learned how to be more relaxed and interact and love the Hispanic
people more and it changes how they respond. Once we really try to develop a
friendship with them and show them that we have a genuine interest in them they
are much more open with us and willing to hear the gospel!
There were so many cool experiences
this week but because of this extremely sticky keyboard I'm only going to be
able to type one quick one....
Saturday night it was really late
and we were thinking about driving back home but we decided to stop by and
visit an investigator named Guillermina. She recently moved to the Little
Mexico trailers in Medway and has 3 young kids. We knocked her door and we
talked to her for a few minutes on her porch. She seemed a little weighed down
with things (maybe work and family, I don't know). But Elder Foote and I sang
to her two verses of "Mas cerca, Dios a Ti" (Nearer My God to Thee)
and it was so cool. I know that that was something she really needed that
night. Maybe all we did was provide her a little renewed hope but it was
enough. While singing to her in the quiet of the night the spirit was like
BOOM, It came so strong and it was such a powerful experience. Her whole
demeanor changed and she's completely more open to us. The spirit works some
pretty awesome changes in people. It's such an incredible gift that we have.
Anywho, life is still good in
Dayton. Love you all and stay close to the scriptures!
Elder Graf
