I've been pretty awful at writing in my journal lately; we are
just so busy, running from place to place, sun up til long after the sun is
down. But last Tuesday was noteworthy so I made sure to record it in my
journal. I don't have much time but I'll share with you my entry for that day.
"Every day of my mission I have been blessed to have the
privilege of driving a mission vehicle, up until today. Elder Carranza had to
borrow it for exchanges with the Fort Wayne elders (side story- that exchange
cost 400 miles that we later found out aren't going to be reimbursed to us.
that's a third of our miles for the month gone in two days and the joke is one
me and Elder Gibb. Not excited about it but we are going to become more
acquainted with public transportation this month haha). So, today we were left
with using the buses. And where the bus routes stop, the foot paths begin.
After teaching C... in the Puebla tienda (Hispanic store), we boarded the
bus until the closest stop to our next appointment, E... and her kids,
including recently baptized Jo.... The distance, 2.5 miles. At a brisk walk
we made it to their trailer home in 45 minutes, just in time to meet Jo... and Ja..... stepping of the bus. We met them and walked with them inside
where E... had a delicious warm dinner of potatos, mac and cheese, and
grilled fish waiting for us. We had a good dinner and shared funny stories,
usually about how Elder Gibb gets to listen to me snore all night. Jo... and
Ja... are really good- natured kids, and little 2 year old C... is a
ball of endless energy.
After the meal we sang a hymn and shared a lesson
about the Sabbath day. After the lesson, we bore testimony that this is
Christ's church and we wanted to do everything we could to help the rest of the
family be baptized. E... shared her desire to be baptized, but explained
that she needs to get a divorce from her old husband so she can marry her
current companion so she can be qualified for baptism. She is faithfully living
every commandment she can, but just needs help with the legal complexities so
that she can be living the law of chastity. We closed with a prayer and left
her the promise that we would do everything in our power to help her, and we
will. I know Heavenly Father is going to open up that opportunity for E... to be baptized. I also know that the adversary will do everything he can to
complicate things. But Elder Gibb and I walked out of their home feeling
tremendously blessed. E... and her family are really special people that
are humbly doing their best to follow the Savior. It is so satisfying to see
the gospel become an honest desire for their family.
By the time we began our trek back to the bus stop
it was dark, but our spirits were as bright as ever. Though completely whipped
from a big day, we offered a prayer of gratitude on the side of the road and
sang our way back home. Two guys hiking along in their suits must have been a
funny sight to see for the cars passing by. I had brought my large over coat
because I thought it would be much colder than it was. I quickly learned that
hiking with a backpack full of thousands of pages of scripture in both the Spanish
and English language keeps you plenty warmed up. I threw my big overcoat over
my shoulders as we walked through the night. In that moment I thought of the
picture of the Savior with the lamb over His shoulders. I couldn't help but
think of my overcoat as being a symbolic lamb. I felt the spirit bear witness
to me that I had pleased my Heavenly Father this day with my efforts to bring
souls to Christ. I felt I could imagine angels walk with us. I really grew in
my conversion this day."
Even the bus ride home allowed me to see people with all
sorts of different backgrounds, and it emphasized how truly merciful the Lord
has been to me. I am truly very grateful for the family and faith that I have.
FELIZ CUMPLEANOS A MI QUERIDO MADRE!!!!
Elder Kevin Graf
P.S.
if anything doesn't make sense, please forgive my typing but this keyboard
doesn't like "T's" or P's or "K's"
