We made it happen this week. It was very cold but we
went out and worked and the Lord blessed us for it. This week was
probably one of the best weeks we've ever had. We were blessed to find two new
families to teach and several investigators and less-actives that hadn't been
to church in a long time came yesterday!
We finally lost our car to the mechanic last Thursday
and they'll have it for about a week and a half. Remember how we got rear
ended a couple weeks or months back? Yeah it's finally getting
repaired. It's just our luck that it's during the coldest weekend of
my mission. It's supposed to hit something like -12 today so
President Porter has ordered that everyone without a car must stay inside all
day. BOOOO! No Way! We had a lesson set up with M… and C… tonight and I
was a little bit argumentative about the fact that we couldn't go out and
teach, but a small walk to the apartment office (where we write these
emails) out in a humid 2 degree wind chill helped me conform to
President's orders. So I'm a little bit reluctant but we'll be hunkered down in
our apartment for the day. We'll have to reschedule our appointment with M… and
C... But they did come to church again! They are solid. They accept
everything we teach them and they are the nicest people. M… did tell us
that the temptation to drink has been stronger recently. We shared Ether 12:26
with him and how this is a test of his faith. The adversary attacks
us just as we are about to make a step in the right direction. But I have a
testimony of the power of scriptures and prayers. So be mindful of
him in your prayers please!
With the New Year church starts at 11:30, or at least
that's the idea. Of course the meetings didn't get rolling until
about 11:50 and people continued to trickle in until about 40 minutes
after the time when we were supposed to start. But the
Relief Society room where we have sacrament nearly filled up so that was
fun to see. Being fast and testimony meeting we got to listen to some of the
members share their testimonies. It's always so powerful to hear the
testimonies of these convert members that have been through so much. I didn't
see but Elder Gibb saw that C… was tearing up during it all. I can tell
she's going to make a solid member once she and M… can get married. E… and her
kids didn't come yesterday but I think it was just because of the weather. She
really doesn't like driving on wet roads. She tells us how J… has
been such an example for her and his siblings. He always reminds them to
pray when they're scared so they pray before they drive anywhere. Haha
I love it. Such a good kid and family.
Well I'm pretty sure I'll be staying put with Elder Gibb for
another transfer. We'll find out this Thursday but I hope that's the case.
This is a great area and we've been learning a lot and seeing the Lord's
hand bless us with many opportunities to teach and serve, We
really haven't had to tract much at all here. Besides, running in the snow
all the time to catch buses and make appointments has really
been whipping us into good shape :) Here in northern Kentucky we like
to take a literal translation from Isaiah's words that missionaries are
"swift messengers". Sometimes me and Elder Gibb like to pretend
we are special ops forces running in the dark of night, although with our
beanie's on our head's we probably look more like burglars than anything.
The cherry on top of our training might be that we will need to make a third
voyage in the snow to E…'s area because I forgot my Spanish scriptures there.
We taught a good lesson to another family in that area but I made the beautiful
mistake of leaving my scriptures by the couch and didn't see them on my way
out. But all well, it gives us a good excuse to stop by and see them again.
Even though when I say "stop by" it will actually be 6 miles
of hiking through the factory fields of Kentucky. It's a good thing we've
got a family of billy goats that taught me how to hike. I honestly love being
outside though. Even this week without a car has been fun. It's also helped me
realize that Heavenly Father is watching over us and helping us every step of
the way. I swear that more people have opened their doors to us this last week
than any time before. They didn't know the difference in how we got there but I
know that the spirit has opened up their hearts a little more just because
we're doing our best to be obedient and learn from our mistakes and share what
we know to be true. I do know that this church is Christ's church, that
Heavenly Father loves me, and that everything I have is a blessing from Him.
Love you all.
_Elder
Graf
