So yesterday we didn't email because it was Labor Day and
President realized that that would be a great day to find people. So, we found
people. In fact, as a new mission record, in a single day we found 276 new
friends that are willing to investigate the restored gospel. Pretty amazing
what you can accomplish if you are unified and work towards a common
goal.
Yesterday also marked a pivotal time in my mission, as it was
the first day I had ever ventured to try "menudo", which is a soup of
blubbery chewy chopped up chunks of cow stomach. I had heard all sorts of
horror stories about how "menudo" could be the best or worst thing
you've ever experienced, depending on how it was prepared. So I was a little
apprehensive about it at first but it actually turned out to be really good!
Rubbery, but tasty :)
We are working hard every day. But we have a good time to. Especially
last Saturday when we had a member baptism. But it was a Spanish member
baptism, so naturally a big birthday party followed. After the party we took a
picture attached below. We make pretty good super heroes. Also as of yesterday
we are back on bikes! Elder Garcia is now in a splint and he feels comfortable
enough so we dusted off the old wheels and are back in business. We feel like
we are going to be super effective now. Yay!
We just took an email break and played some basketball in the
gym. We played with a Norwood ward recent convert named J…. He is a young and
super funny black guy that should be in the NBA but he's going into the marines
and leaves next Monday. We are going to miss him. He's always got a big grin on
his face and his positive spirit is contagious. He was baptized within my first
transfer here by the English elders and he has just caught fire ever since.
He's received the Aaronic priesthood, been to the temple for baptisms, passes
the sacrament, and he just told us that he is going to get his patriarchal
blessing this Thursday! He comes from a very humble background and was just one
of those people that was waiting to hear the truth. It's so neat to see how the
gospel has magnified the bright spirit and talents that he already had. And
perhaps even more so it's neat to see how he has changed this ward. A big smile
goes a long way. God has each blessed us with talents and He wants us to let
them shine. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew
5:16)
This scripture came up during gospel principles class on Sunday
and it confirmed a personal impression I had earlier. I was asking myself what I
could do to become a more powerful instrument in the Lord's hands and this
phrase came to me clear as day, "let my love show through you."
I am realizing that one of the biggest things we can do for people as
followers of Christ is simply to just get out of the way, hold nothing back,
and let His love show through us. 3 Nephi 18:24 teaches us that Christ is the
light that we are meant to hold high and proud. We are to do as he did, which
means love as he loved. "Therefore, hold up your light that it may
shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which
ye have seen me do... "
I leave you my testimony that Jesus Christ is our Savior and
that His light will fill our lives as we trust and follow Him. We have every
right to be happy because we know in whom we trust. We know that mistakes,
struggles, discouragement, depression, illness and trials aren't the end of it.
We have second chances and new beginnings. Opposition becomes opportunity. We
have healing and strength and power through the atonement of Jesus Christ,
every day. The mission has helped to teach me at least that. That the atonement
doesn't just apply at times of sin or error, it applies each and every day. We
can become better, healthier, cleaner, and happier every day, because of Him.
All good things do come through Christ and His gospel, which I know for myself
has been restored to the earth in these latter days.
Well, as we used to say in Florence Kentucky "Love
ya'll!"
Elder Kevin Graf
P.S.
Cincinnati Reds game next Monday! Woooo!
