Members are Just Great and the Church is True

Tell Camille Happy Birthday for me!!! Dating and driving, what a crazy stage of life she is entering in to. I feel like I will have to re-learn how to do both of those after my mission haha. I'm not sure but I could see president leaving me in this area for the rest of my mission. Exciting stuff with the rest of the family! I think we forget how cool it is to do the simple things, like family gatherings, youth camps, or even driving around. But when you're a missionary every once in a while you have to remind yourself that those things existed and will exist haha. That's why I mentioned that I'll probably need someone to teach me how to drive again. After walking for several months, which I actually enjoy, you forget what it's like to be in a vehicle haha. Simple things like that.

Sorry this is going to be a super short one! Things are going well! They really are! Little miracles have been happening. One of our investigators told us that her husband, who has ignored us in the past, is now talking about bringing the family to church! We also had a good handful of people come to church yesterday. Unfortunately the G…'s and C…. weren't a part of that group but we'll get them there next time, they are just going through some opposition, which is to be expected as you get them closer and closer to baptism. We taught C… the Word of Wisdom and Sabbath day last week and he accepted them both and overall has been doing great. (Granted he didn't come to church yesterday so we'll have to remind him to do that next Sunday haha) But he will probably be baptized by the end of this month! It was also super cool to sit down with this guy named M….  M… is a smart, talented, and well off man that hasn't been to church in a few years. But we talked over the phone and met up with him at the church Wednesday evening and we just talked. He told us that he wants to come back. And, well, he did! He was there at church yesterday! We also had a couple other less active members come yesterday that haven't come in a while so we are super happy about that. It's ironic because at the beginning of church there was no investigator and no less active there. I was thinking, "Oh great, nobody is here." But God was like "don't worry, they're coming, they're just going to be 15 minutes late." And so it was. About a quarter after everyone came. It was quite a relief to say the least. Anyway, life is good. My companion and I are good, a little under the weather but good :) And of course the members are just great and the church is true and you love me and I love you too :D You are in my prayers!

Until next time!

Elder Graf 

One of our investigators named V… is studying to become a chef and he made us some bomb crepes before we taught them about the atonement :) He and his dad are the coolest people ever. 

We had Spanish zone meeting a week or so ago and we all signed this Shredder 350. It is symbolic of us shredding our doubts about the limits of Spanish work and exercising the language of Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! YEEHAW!

We had dinner at the Bishop's (Bro Bishop is the second counselor, not the bishop, really confusing I know). They had this parrot thing that bites you! It was on my shoulder for 5 seconds before it bit me right in the skin of my neck. Pretty terrifying experience actually. The bird made like he was going to leap from me to Elder Garcia but Elder Garcia just screamed, flailing his arms and ran away. So it didn't land on him, but Elder Garcia had scared it so bad that it pooped a little bit on him. haha 

 

Look for the Good in Others

We didn't have as many people at church yesterday like we have the past couple of weeks but it was still a good week. We are getting along alright and we have no complaints! I just realized how amazing some people are. And how great some of these experiences are that a missionary gets to have that the average person doesn't get so frequently.

In meeting so many amazing and different people it's been a lesson for me that we can't judge others. We do it almost every day but we shouldn't. It isn't Christ's gospel that we judge other's, so what are we forgetting when we do it? Perhaps we forget who we are, and where we are all trying to go as "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). We don't know the full details of anyone's story except our own. And even then we sometimes misjudge ourselves. We need to look for the good in others and we need to see it in ourselves. The scriptures compare the members of the church to a body. An individual church member (or anyone for that matter) makes up an individual member or part of the body. So I might be a foot and you might be an elbow, so to speak. But a foot is just as necessary as is an elbow, eye, or an arm. And Christ is the head. We're all different shapes and sizes and we all have different personalities and talents, but we are equally important and necessary. When it comes down to it we are all God's children going after the same things. We have the same potential to be great. And we all need someone to love and comfort and help us. And that's something we covenanted with God that we would do (Mosiah 18:8-10). It's part of the job description that we agreed to when we take Christ's name upon us.

There is a giant Catholic church complex just down the street. But it is situated perhaps less than a quarter mile away from our church and apartment. So when we are meeting someone for the first time and giving them directions to the church we are sure to give them very specific directions so that there won't be any confusion on Sunday morning. It's quite funny actually. We've discovered that the local Drive-thru is a better reference point for giving directions than anything else, even the big Catholic church. We will ask, "Do you know where the big Catholic church is?" Surprisingly there are many that say "no." So we ask, "Do you know where the Drive-thru is?" And recognition lights up immediately in their faces and they smile and say, "oh yes, of course!". Everyone knows exactly where to get their beer and alcohol. So this might not be the best example but Elder Garcia and I were walking and on the other side of the street were what appeared to be not much more then a bunch of "borrachos" which is "drunk guys". So we were like, "they're Hispanic but should we even talk to those guys?" Fortunately we did. We met a guy named I... We had a good conversation and found out that he cooks at a restaurant so we were like "hey we should eat sometime." So we exchanged numbers and met up the next day, which was Sunday after church. Ismael is a single dad with a handicap daughter that can't walk or talk. His daughter is 10 years old and he carries her to the car and pushes her in a specialized wheelchair wherever they need to go. He doesn't have any financial aid to help cover medical costs and so he works 2 jobs tirelessly to provide a humble but clean home to live in. He calls her his princess and tells us how hard it has been, but also shares that he loves her more than anything and she is the greatest blessing in his life. What remarkable perspective.

Okay I need to go! I wanted to share more about a dozen other people that we met last week but I'm out of time! Love you all and have a great week!  

Transfer calls came in and we're both staying!

Falling on their knees...

Have I ever said how much I love Thunderstorms? We've been getting rainstorms every evening for the past couple weeks. I think that's just what happens during summer time in Ohio, hence the reason it's so green. We've been caught in a couple nasty ones and we've gone through a few umbrellas. But I LOVE LIGHTNING. Here it goes nonstop. It's not like a flash and then pause and then another flash. It's like constant camera flashes that go off like a hundred people surrounding you taking pictures. It's sweet. You just have to experience it. We live by the church kind of on top of a hill so we can see it light up all around us. A couple nights ago a tree by the church was struck with lightning. I'll attach the photo I took after church.

Oh, before I forget, I will probably need another journal in the next couple weeks. It's about full! I've been writing in it in Spanish recently so hopefully when I'm 60 years old I'll still remember Spanish so I can understand it...   

So as I said last week, Monday was a fun time at the Zoo.

Tuesday we got to go with the zone leaders to the mission home. We had breakfast and personal study with President Porter; it was sweet! He invited us to go during our interviews with him the week before.

Wednesday we had district meeting and then did exchanges. I brought Elder Wells to Norwood because he had opened up the area with Elder Arveseth several months back. So he showed me some new potentials and former investigators. President is really happy with our area right now. The Lord has really blessed us with some good success recently. 

Thursday we exchanged back and we had hamburgers with Brother R… and then taught C… about the Book of Mormon. He's our age and we've become really good friends with him. We invited him to be baptized and he wants to do it! He'll be preparing for baptism in the coming weeks but we need to help him with some word of wisdom issues first :) 

Friday we taught the G….. We finally taught them a full lesson about the restoration and the spirit was there but boy oh boy was the adversary really working against us. During that lesson there were lots of distracting phone calls and crying children and extra noises and stuff, especially in the critical moments of teaching the first vision and extending baptism. But hey, that's just another testimony that this work is true otherwise why would there be so much opposition against it! It's going to be hard for them to make some changes from their previous traditions, but they are going to get there if they just keep working at it I just know it! We played soccer with them that night and had a good time anyways.

Saturday a rainstorm stopped just in time for the pioneer primary activity. After helping out by running the snow cone machine for a couple hours we went to help a less active. This particular less active member has a nonmember wife that has been resistant towards any contact with the church in the past. So we took an Ammon approach and decided to just serve them first. But with Elder Garcia's broken wrist and the member's bad lungs, guess who got to move the washer, and refrigerator, and 200 lb. TV out of their basement after hauling tons of old wood and bricks and cement to a garbage bin? Yep, this guy. So I woke up with a pretty sensitive back Sunday morning. But all is well now and we really got to know the family a lot more and it was actually a lot of fun. And they sent us home with tons of food :) 

Sunday I fasted for our investigators. They've all been doing really well and they are starting to progress nicely but there is opposition that each of them are facing. We went to church and C… never answered so he didn't come but for the first time ever, the entire G… family came! They came and we knew they would! So we are happy for that. Later in the evening we taught J… about the Fall and the reason why we need a Savior. I love being a missionary. I get to just study and teach the Doctrine of Christ all the time, 24/7. Then before the end of the night we met with one of our investigators' husband. He and she have been having marriage struggles for years but they are both wanting to come to church because they think that will be good for their family. They couldn't be more right. But it was a rather interesting visit because he was drinking with some friends. He was more sober but the friends were on either side of us falling on their knees and, pointing to our white shirts, telling us we were angels, and then one of them burst into inconsolable tears and just cried the rest of the time haha. But angels or not we were there to help them and give them some support and words of guidance.

Well the lady that is next to me is now talking to herself really loud and it's super distracting so that's probably my cue to get off. All in all things are going well, and with transfers coming up next week I actually hope that me and Elder Garcia get to stay here for at least another transfer. I could see myself finishing my mission here. I want see these families progress and I want to see a Spanish branch get started here! But anyways, you're in my prayers and I love you all tons, adios! :D

Elder Graf

Cincinnati Zoo

Here are a couple thoughts or quotes that my brain has accumulated over the past week that I like.

"There are only two things that you can control: Your effort and your attitude." -Sister Porter to Elder Garcia.

"Attitude determines altitude" - Grandpa Graf

We decide whether or not to be happy. Happy is the way God wants us to be (Moses 1:39 and 2 Nephi 2:25). Regardless of our circumstances, the choice is ours (2 Nephi 2: 27-28). Much of our happiness in life will be determined by the way we respond to adversity. Faith in the Lord will sustain us in every situation. The greater the adversity, the greater opportunity we have to exercise Faith.

There is a difference between temptation and trial. Temptation comes from Satan and its purpose is misery. Trial comes from God and it's purpose is refinement and growth. Oftentimes trial turns us to the Lord and helps us to trust Him even more. There is much to learn from Alma and his faithful people... Mosiah 24:10-16

10 And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God.

11  And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death.

12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.

13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.

This was the case with the Spanish zone. Two weeks ago we really had a lot of opposition and we didn't do our best. But we knew that such opposition was only a sign of great things to come. We face the greatest opposition when we are closest to our biggest miracle. So we worked hard and prayed hard and last week was absolutely fantastic! Elder Garcia and I were blessed with an incredible week! We got along well and worked well together and the Lord blessed us for our unity. We had 5 investigators at church and 2 of them were part of the G… family that we've been working with for so long! Prayers. Answered. Amen.

So we celebrated and today we went to the zoo and it was Awesome! The Cincinnati Zoo has got to be one of the best in the states. It was loads of Fun and I took videos of the Orangutans and Gorillas!!!!!!!! :D

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERI POO! 18? Really? That can't be right.

Also congrats to Justin and Andrea and Liam! New members of the Graf gang are always welcome.

LOS QUIERO!

Elder Graf

I think the videos are too big to send so here is me and the lions.

And a monkey :)

Here's a Giraffe...

And a cougar. Okay that's all Love you Bye!

Here is an email that Sister Porter sent us that relates to what you were saying about the power of the brain and our ability to train it to respond positively. This may not be all of the book but maybe look it up somewhere. It's called "Mind Coach".

       Elders and Sisters: this is just a summary of the book called "Mind Coach". I would like each of you to go through each of these ANT's and identify the ones that may be applicable to you. Recognizing where some of your negative thoughts are coming from is half the battle. They can be introduced by the adversary or by ourselves. Either way they are not true. I realize that some of you may not be dealing with this right now. That is awesome. But it doesn't hurt to be aware of some of the negative thinking patterns so that you can learn to combat them. Please know how much we love you and are so very proud of each and every one of you. Love Sister Porter

Mind Coach by Dr. Daniel Amen

Summary

Our brains are like computers; they store everything they hear. Many people store negative input about themselves in their subconscious and often express those negative thoughts in their behavior. Unless you are taught to talk back to these harmful messages, you will believe them.

Every time you have a thought your brain releases chemicals, then an electrical transmission goes across your brain and you become aware of what you are thinking. Thoughts are real and they have a real impact on how you feel and how you behave. Your body reacts to every thought you have, we know this from lie detectors tests.

Every time you have a negative thought, your brain releases negative chemicals that effect how you feel. Some symptoms of negative thought might be tense muscles, increased heart rate, sweaty hands, dizziness, headaches and upset stomachs just to name a few. Positive thoughts release positive chemicals and your body responds to those. For most people their muscles relax, their hearts beat slower, their hands become dry and they breathe slower.

Unless you think about your thoughts they are AUTOMATIC or “they just happen.” Since they just happen they are not always correct, they don’t always tell you the truth, sometimes they even lie to you. It is important to think about your thoughts to see if they help you or hurt you. YOU CAN TRAIN YOUR THOUGHTS TO BE POSITIVE AND HOPEFUL OR YOU CAN JUST ALLOW THEM TO BE NEGATIVE AND UPSET YOU.

Automatic Negative Thoughts can be called by the acronym “ANT”. Whenever you notice an ANT, you need to get rid of it by talking back to it with the truth. Sometimes you might feel that you are lying to yourself with the true thought but remember, you brain has stored a lie and prior to now you have just accepted it - so change it to the truth – you will feel better and be healthier!

Nine examples of ANT thinking: (3, 4, 5 and 9 are most harmful).

1. All or Nothing: Everything is all good or all bad, you have thoughts like “I can’t ever do anything right.” “This is the worst area ever.” “There is nothing to do.”

2. “Always” Thinking: You think that something that happened will always happen. “They will always yell at us.” “The other missionaries always get better assignments than me.” Using words like Always, never, no one, everyone, every time, everything.

3. Focusing on the Negative: Your thoughts only see the bad in a situation and ignore any good parts. Focus on the positive.

4. Fortune Telling: You predict the worst possible outcome of a situation. “The people will slam the door in my face.” “These investigators will drop us.” If you are going to predict anything at all, predict the best, your mind will help make it happen.

5. Mind Reading: You believe you know what another person is thinking. “They think we are weird” “Those people are mad at me, they are probably talking about me.”

6. Thinking with Your Feelings: You believe your feelings without ever questioning them, this usually starts with “I feel…”; for example, “I feel like a failure, I feel nobody will trust me.” When you have a strong negative feeling, check it out! Look for evidence beyond the feeling, do you have reasons to feel this way or are your feelings based on events or things from the past?

7. Guilt Beatings: Using words like “should, must, ought or have to.”

“I have to go tracting.” “I should do my morning routine.” It is better to replace those with phrases like, “I want to do this… It fits my goals to do that…It would be helpful to do this…”

8. Labeling: Putting negative names on yourself and others. Whenever

you attach a negative label to yourself or someone else, you impair your ability to take a clear look at the situation. “I am an idiot.” “ I am a failure.”

9. Blame: You can ruin your life if you have a strong tendency to blame

others when things go wrong. “How was I supposed to know…It’s your fault that…That wouldn’t have happened if you had…” Whenever you blame someone else for the problems in your life you become powerless to change anything. Take responsibility; check yourself on the Accountability Ladder.

Lastly, we can all learn a little something from “Jessica’s Daily Affirmation” as shown on Youtube. Jessica, age three, shared the following awesome words, (as best as I could understand them) while looking at herself in the bathroom mirror and saying this “cheer” that has inspired over 13,000,000 viewers:

“Look, I can be a star! My whole house is great! I can do anything good! I like my school! I like my anything! I like my dad! I like my cousin! I like my Aunt! I like my Allison! I like my Mom! I like my Sister! I like my Dad! I like my hair! I like my haircut! I like my stuff! I like my stuff! I like my room! I like my whole house! (clap) My whole house is great! I can do anything good, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya. I can do anything better than anyone…better than anyone!”

Why do over 13 million people like this so much? Because being positive feels good, it attracts others, it makes other people want to be around her, be like her. Think of how positive and full of faith the Savior was, people followed him long distances, surrounded him night and day, waited for him for hours. One woman knew that just touching the hem of his clothing would be enough for her to be healed. We can follow the Savior by remembering our divine identity, that we are the daughters and sons of a loving Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother, we have a Brother who made all things possible on this Earth. They know no fear and have total confidence in us. We have been told by the prophets that we live far below our potential so let’s continue to recognize our worth and our capacity to do good in this world.