Elder Oaks Visit

Alrighty, another week in the books!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPA. The big 5.0. I'm awful proud of my old man :)

I skimmed through your letters. Krysta, yes investigators are often called gators haha. Dad, something about llamas, can't wait. Mom, unfortunately my bed isn't extra long (I sleep at a diagonal - only half joking) haha.

Oh man, what to say about this week???? Well it started off great, had a few days of nothing, but then finished strong with none other than Elder Dallin H. Oaks himself! Yes I’m in the back of the picture. (There is a Facebook page for the Ohio Cincinnati mission run by the mission president's wife and the picture is on that.) They had all the taller elders stand on tables in the back. So I’m hard to see but I'm in there on the right. 

Hearing Elder Oaks yesterday was awesome. The spirit was obviously just thick as ever and could rival the spirit in any MTC or temple experience. There's no way anyone couldn't just feel the reality of the keys of the apostleship during that hour we had with him.  It was just Cincinnati missionaries and him. It was super neat to share a chapel with just missionaries, a member of the seventy, and an apostle. It amazed me how much energy he has. He shook all of our hands and didn't waste time doing it. He's a man on a mission and doesn't slow down. After the conference Elder Foote and I were just glowing with spirit and went back to Dayton and worked miracles. We found four new "gators" just during the last remaining hours of the night.

Well, more about our week is that we are steadily improving! The number and spirit of our lessons has increased with each week. 

Elder Foote and I have been learning a basic lesson. Heavenly Father wants our hearts given to the work as well. We can be a Laman, doing the work but not really offering all of our heart and energy, and just experience nonsubstantial days as a result. Or we can be like Nephi, full of faith and sincerely trying to involve Heavenly Father in everything we do, and see miracles. We experienced both last week. We started the week like Nephi and had great success. By midweek we openly acknowledged that we had slackened our pace a little and nothing was working. By the end of the week we were like Nephi again and finished strong. What we were doing didn't really change; our actions were basically the same but the level of our desire is what changed. Once we really put our heart and desire into it we received a downpour of blessings. So that's where we're at right now. We're healthy, happy, and on the high road. We just need to stay humble, diligent, and keep God in the picture so that we can stay this way.

Que mas? Mi habilidad de hablar y entender Espanol is mucho mejor. Soy casi como un nativo :) The days I really work hard Heavenly Father always blesses me with good Spanish.

Oh haha so after email and shopping last p-day we were back at the apartment and all was going well. I was in the middle of stuffing myself with one of Bro. Bristow's desserts (a wonderful member who drops off desserts and food) when the phone rang. I didn't recognize the number but I answered with a mouth full of food and gurgled out a "hello". On the other end was President Porter. He asked how our week was going and I was super caught off guard but I managed to spit out a few answers. He then told me that I'm district leader over the Dayton area. So as of a week today I've been District leader over Dayton. He told me that it's been one the most prosperous areas and to keep it that way and basically hung up the phone. I was scared out of my mind for a few minutes but I'm actually comfortable with the new assignment now. But knowing how Heavenly Father is I'm sure he'll throw a curve ball in here somewhere. That's been my mission experience. Heavenly Father continues to make you stretch, He doesn't let you be comfortable, if you're comfortable then you're not growing! 

Anyhow times up but I love you All! I still have the best family in the world, En TODO EL MUNDO :D

Adios, ELDER GRAF

President Porter has challenged us to live, eat, and breath Mexican. We are to shop at Hispanic places, talk about Hispanic things, and not to say a peep in English. We play futbol almost every Saturday morning to get to know investigators. I never though I'd be a soccer fan but president Vilches of the branch gave us each a jersey so now we're official. Dad you may see soccer cleats on the debit card in a few weeks :) We even proselyte in our jersey's :) not really.

Okay the jersey makes me look chubby but I weighed myself the other week and I'm only 185, only 10 pounds since the beginning!!!

Also next week is holiday so might not hear from me until Tuesday or Wednesday. 

Open Our Mouths and Bear Testimony

WOWZA. What an incredible trip. I noticed you were wearing that ring I got you. I imagine the finish is fading by now, maybe you could take it in and have them touch it up for you. But that's great for dad, 2nd counseler! Wahoo! Something to keep him busy :) I don't know how dad feels about it but I think it'll be great for him. I know he only needs to answer "yes" to one question....

Do you love the people?

If yes, then you're qualified for the job. I've realized that this is the same for all callings of the church. Love the Lord and the people you serve, the rest doesn't matter.

 Mom I love that you wore your shirt even though you don't know why. (I wore my camp shirt on the plane to Hawaii with the theme "I'm a Mormon, I know it, I live it, I love it" on the back)  If anything it's a testimony to yourself that you aren't shy or sheepish about your faith. And besides, you never know who might have seen it and decided to google it. Someone might have thought "Mormons are allowed to have fun on vacation too? What else do they do?".  I had a similar experience a couple days ago. I really felt a tremendous peace as we were working in New Carlisle. We didn't find anyone new and only talked to a couple people so it doesn't seem like anything happened. But I know we were being guided as we walked around. Really hard to explain but it really felt like it wasn't just me and Elder Foote. There was definitely a 3rd companion during those hours of that early afternoon. I still don't know what are purpose was in that area but I know we were inspired to be there. It's been said that the only real success in life is to stand confident in the presence of God. So I think being just willing to put yourself out there and follow the spirit is a mark of that faith.

 Last week was awesome. President Porter continues to blow my mind with scriptures and the spirit. We had another zone conference last week. I love zone conferences. (Elder Oaks is also coming to our mission next sunday!!!) Elder Foote and I are really recommitting ourselves. We've set some long term goals and we are going to MAKE. IT. HAPPEN. :D We are going to really help the branch adopt the missionary spirit and prepare them for baptisms because they are going to come. Who and Where? I don't know yet. But the Lord knows who He's prepared so by including Him in everything we do it's going to happen. "If God be with you, who can be against you?" -Elder Holland-

We didn't have a lot of lessons last week but we were blessed with 5 new investigators! 

Here's a snippet from my personal study this morning...

Read 3 Nephi 5:13.... Who are disciples of Christ? From D&C 20:37 we learn that everyone who is baptized has made a covenant to take His name upon us, to be His disciple. In D&C 103: 27-28 we read how serious this is. We are His servants, there is no going back. Burn the bridges, throw away the keys, we are here to be examples. We are to love Him and follow Him. Many of us are willing to die for our faith but are we willing to open our mouths and bear testimony? Are we willing to cast aside our fears and doubts and weaknesses?? We are promised that His Spirit will be with us if we take that step of faith and share our testimony with others. Pray for and seek these opportunities!!! Time is up.. love you all.

Elder Kevin Graf

Tornado pictures from last week. (I don't know if the first one is right before or right after the funnel cloud.)

Tornado!

HOLA HOLA HOLA. From Ohio to Utah to Hawaii!

Happy Birthday Camille!!!!!! (I know what you're getting for your birthday hehehe) I can't believe it. My family grows up so fast.

Enjoy life in Hawaii! Send more pics! Can't wait to go when I get back ;)

So this last week was pretty rough actually, like the lowest reporting week of my entire mission. I wrote about it to president so here's a piece of it so I don't have to re-type...

"It's awful hard to report our numbers this week; they're almost non-existent. We had a grand slam of 9 lessons, the lowest of my mission. We did everything we knew how to get members involved, find new investigators, and teach lessons but it just didn't happen. Appointments fell through, members cancelled, and people we talked to weren't interested. Last week was rough but I think it's going to bless us as a companionship moving forward. I know this is a bit of a refiner's fire moment where all weaknesses are exposed. I know Heavenly Father is molding us into better servants. I've already seen personal growth because of it. I'm more committed, more driven, and more anxious to dig a little deeper, work a little harder, walk a little faster. I want so much to provide Elder Foote with a good experience, but I know I need to trust in Heavenly Father's plan, not my own. To count my blessings I can tell that my Spanish has improved incredibly. I'm also comfortable as senior companion. I have a great companion as well. Elder Foote is really a great missionary. I don't know how long this refiner's fire will last but I know we've got a few seeds to reap this week because of last week's efforts. Improvement and progress are in the works!"

So yeah, last week was a bit discouraging. We didn't find any new investigators and it really seemed like nothing was working. We tried everything I knew. We even were so desperate as to search the phone book for Hispanic-sounding names (that's what we did all Saturday afternoon. It was actually kind of fun, but all in vain). But I really can't complain. I've grown a lot because of it already- emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and linguistically- the whole package. I'm more sincerely seeking the direction of the spirit and I'm developing a stronger relationship with Heavenly Father. Friday night I was kind of venting in my journal about how nothing seemed to be working but I didn't get that far before Heavenly Father sent me the warm fuzzies, the good calming reassuring impressions that I was doing alright. So that's where I'm at. Last week is behind us and we're pressing forward into this week! I really like President Porter. He always impresses me at how well he knows the scriptures, he's got a library in his head and is very empowering. I really like something he said in a training meeting last Wednesday. He reminded us that "God doesn't make mistakes." He didn't Forget to put prepared people in our areas. He didn't put us with the companions and circumstances that we have by accident. There ARE prepared people in our path. We WILL find. We WILL teach. And, while we're at it, we WILL baptize! We've just got to do it His way, which is always the best way. So I'm excited to get out there and work this week because this work is awesome. The church is awesome. The scriptures are awesome- study them EVERY DAY. It's so important, and the blessings are irreplaceable. 

Anyways, all in all, I'm happy healthy and doing well. Also, pretty cool thing happened, prepare yourself... are you prepared?... okay here it is: Hermano Torres prayed with us for the first time!!! WAHOOO! conversion happens step by step :D He's on his way and we're excited for him.

Also, Guess what?!!! I saw a tornado!!!! WAHOOOoooo! Prayers answered :) We were out contacting a referral when all of a sudden these tornado siren alarms start blaring throughout the city. I was like "what in the world is going on?" and then I see this funnel shape cloud forming. So Elder Foote and I did the most reasonable thing possible.... whipped out our cameras and took pictures! I'll send a couple pics next week, I don't think I have time to do it this week. But not to worry it didn't last that long and actually just ended up disappearing. But it got the addrenalin pumping for a little bit. :)

Got to go. have an awesome week! enjoy summer while it lasts!!!! Remember - Scriptures and Prayers CADA DIA, that's EVERY DAY! (no exceptions for those of you on vacation!)

Love, Elder Kevin Graf

Libro de Mormon

Buenos dias mi familia!!!

 

Sorry but I'm going to be lazy again- good ol' copy and paste. Here was my letter to president. Bleh-

 

"One of our best investigators almost dropped us last week. Sheila had a goal set for baptism on the 24th but she has a dad that is passing away. Her dad's health is really failing him and he's asked Sheila to attend his church instead of the LDS church. She's really conflicted right now but I know she had a growing testimony. We've tried to contact her but haven't been able to. We'll give her some time, keep her in our prayers, and then hopefully resume visits with her in the coming weeks.

Our best Spanish investigators continue to be the Torres family. Over the past several weeks we've found a new member of their family with almost each lesson. (Week 1- Dad. Week 2-Mom. Week 3-Daughter. Week 4- Son in law. Week 5-Another Daughter) We hope this pattern continues!

Heavenly Father continues to help me with my Spanish. My ability to speak and understand has been growing rapidly, a true blessing from above. Elder Foote seems to be healthy and happy. I learn a lot from him. He teaches with testimony in a simple way but it's really powerful."

 

So yup that's kind of the update on this week. Sheila's dad basically is leaving her with the death wish of going to a different church. Pretty hard to say no to that. So we are going to give her time then hopefully we'll be able to return and help her realize the testimony that she was developing.

 

But the Torres family is awesome. Hermano Torres has read the first few chapters of the Book of Mormon and he remembers perfectly what he reads. He probably knows 1 Nephi better than I do! Now we just need to help him pray and recognize an answer. He doesn't have the best eyesight in the world so we got him a MEGA size Libro de Mormon. Even this is difficult for him to read. We've read a few verses with him and it's really slow going but he's willing to do it. So to me it's really impressive that he's read so many chapters already and understands it so well! We're hopeful for him and his family. We even got our branch president out with us to a lesson to meet Hermano Torres. I think it really made Presidente Vilches excited to see that we were teaching a cool family like they are.

 

Hmmm what else... Well training is exhausting but it's also super rewarding. The difference between my Spanish comprehension now in contrast to 2 weeks ago is black and white. It's AWESOME. But I have to be careful. I realize that I can communicate well in "DO or Die" situations. But if we have a member helping us teach I sometimes think to myself that I don't have to focus as hard because "the native member will understand". So sometimes I relax and then don't end up understanding anything. It's like if I get lazy for 5 minutes Heavenly Father gives me a slap on the hand and takes away the gift of tongues for a moment. So we're going to really work hard to maintain this level of improvement.

 

Lessons were few this last week but we always end the week with a part member family that we love. Last night we watched "Finding Faith in Christ" with them and bore testimony after. We always leave their home with a sweet feeling of the Spirit. I LOVE it. It's so powerful to know that Christ lives and that we have a loving Heavenly Father who has a divine plan for us. What amazing purpose this provides for our lives. It makes all the difficulties and bumps in the road worth it. I literally have fallen asleep during all of my nightly prayers this last week from exhaustion but I wouldn't trade it for anything. LOVE YOU all. You're the best. Have an awesome Week!!!!

New Trainee

I snapped a picture of Dayton while on the way to dinner at members (Don't worry I wasn't driving this time - we were in a member's car, his name's Orlando and he's a Puerto Rican who served in Idaho and just got back a few months ago. He's the coolest guy.) There's also a pic of me and my trainee (yes, it was in the parking lot on our way in to send emails. I'm still not very good at taking pictures.... unless it's your companion who chopped his leg with an ax, heheh)

Well I'm going to be lazy and just copy and paste my letter to President. Here it is!

 "It is very humbling to have the opportunity to train a new Elder. These past few days have already provided me some of the greatest personal growth I've experienced on my mission. I know the Lord is qualifying me to lead the work in our Dayton area. I have already felt the mantle broaden on my shoulders. Literally overnight my Spanish comprehension has improved a lot. I'm not fluent by any means but Heavenly Father has really blessed me with an increase in the gift of tongues and a greater capacity to lead. I love this work and I love Him. I know Heavenly Father expects me to work really hard these coming weeks and I'm excited to do it. Elder Foote is a great missionary. He's really sincere and genuine about serving. His Spanish is simple and basic but he's got the intelligence, and more importantly, the desire to learn and grow quickly. I know we'll experience tremendous improvement together as we make it a focus and speak the language at every opportunity. 

This week our lessons were few in number but the lessons we did have were really good. Our main investigators right now are Sheila and the Torez family. Sheila is committed to quit smoking for good and to prepare for baptism on August 24th. We continue to build a good relationship with the Torez family and we're going to finish teaching them the Plan of Salvation tonight. We found a good number of potential investigators for the English speaking missionaries but we didn't find any new Spanish investigators. Finding will be a focus for us this week."

It truly has been a couple of amazing days this past week. Heavenly Father has really down poured the blessings. I was definitely feeling a little unprepared with my Spanish but I've really been experiencing the gift of tongues. The improvement I've experienced these past few days (and literally overnight of transfers) has been too grand to attribute it to anything but help from above. It's amazing.

But about my trainee! Oh man, I love him so much already. His name is Elder Colby Foote and he's from Eagle Mountain Utah. He also had 4 years of Spanish and didn't learn much from it either. We're both the first missionaries from our families AND we have the same birthday :) So it was meant to be. Elder Foote plays lacrosse and piano and went to the U of U and is thinking about Chemical engineering. In a lot of ways we're pretty similar so we'll get along great. He actually reminds me of a cross between cousin Brandon Beanz and Mr. Rogers. So naturally he's a Champion, he's a winner, he's a stud and I tell him every day haha. But really though he's a solid Elder and I'm excited to work with him!

I sure do Love you all and thank you always for your prayers. I know people are praying for me and I can really feel the difference. LES AMO!  Elder Graf

  

Elder Foote and Elder Graf

Dayton, Ohio

Crazy Week

Holy smokes where do I even start. This week was crazy on so many levels. We just found out about transfer calls literally an hour ago. Elder Brown is leaving the Dayton area and I'm taking over. There are 4 brand, spanking new Spanish Elders coming into the Mission and I'm going to be training one of them. (I don't know who until the transfer meeting tomorrow). But I'm scared and thrilled out of my mind! Me?!?!! I’m supposed to train? I don't even speak the language yet! Oh man I'm just delirious right now. I'm absolutely giddy and terrified at the same time. This is going to make me stretch big time. I'm going to really learn how to pray these next few weeks. This area has been a bit of a pit. Our apartment reeks, but what I mean by pit is that there hasn't been a Spanish baptism in this area for a couple years. President called us while a member (Bro. Bristow, best guy in the world) took us out to lunch. He called and asked me to turn this area around. Oh boy. I'm definitely feeling the heat now but at the same time I can't hardly contain myself. These next few weeks are going to be crazy. I prayed for a tornado and Heavenly Father delivered. God has a good sense of humor. So this transfer had my mind buzzing a hundred miles an hour, but I'll try to give a run down on a couple other things that happened since last email. (By the way I got over my fever really quickly and am back to full energy again, thank you everyone for the prayers I know you offered on my behalf).

A little about investigators: Fernando and Maria are busy as ever with work and haven't been able to make it to church. Sheila's father is sick and going to pass away soon and she is preoccupied with that but she is still solid and is going to be baptized hopefully in the coming month or two. We've been doing work with less actives in the branch. We had a priest age man come out teaching with us a couple times and now he's thinking about going on a mission! BOOYEAH. Also there's a young couple (one's a less active and the other isn't a member) that we've been reading the Book of Mormon with and now they're wanting to participate in church again!!! Power to the Book of Mormon! Another family, The T family, are looking like promising investigators. They might need time but the father of the family has already read all the introduction and first five chapters! The miracles that I've been seeing here because of the Book of Mormon have just been awesome. The spiritual power that those pages give us is crucial. The Book of Mormon isn't just another book, it's the word of God and the pathway to allowing so many blessings into our lives. May I never go a single day for the rest of my life without studying from that precious record of scripture. All of you must do the same! Heavenly Father gives us so much, we owe it to Him to spend a couple minutes every day at least to study the revelation and instruction He's given to us.

Okay so last Saturday was interesting. We were doing service at a member's house. They had 30 trees cut down for them, a small forest I know. They need help doing clean up work. So Elder Brown and I were on the job bright and early in the morning. We were having ourselves a joyous time wielding axes and chopping branches. It was great fun all until Elder Brown chopped into his lower right calf with the ax. I ran and grabbed a towel to put pressure on the wound. 911 was dialed. Sister Brown (name of the member whose house we were at) took over holding the bloody towel to Elder Brown's leg while Brother Holly (neighbor) and I gave him a blessing. Paramedics arrived and then wheeled us off to the E.R. where Elder Brown received about 15 to 20 stitches. Surprisingly the E.R. was quick and we were out 3 hours later. Elder Brown now has a sore leg and a nasty scar to show for it. I was quick thinking and took pictures to document the happening. Some pics are kind of gross so I'll send those to dad first haha. But hooray for my third trip to the E.R.!!!

Well I sure love you all! I have the best family in the world. I truly feel blessed to have the background I have. Thanks Mom and Dad for everything. This is Christ’s church. I know it is. I'm so humbled to represent Him. Thank you always for your prayers.

-Elder Kevin Graf

A cute family they are working with.

Paramedics in action

In the E.R.

Warning! Gruesome pictures ahead.

Yikes!!

Ouch!!

Cincinnati Mission

How is it already July?! These past few months have flown by.

 

Quick Shout out to CHEYENNE and SHAYLEE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! And Erin happy birthday in T minus 5 days :) 

 

Also, Congrats Erin on the AP tests! that's huge! (mom and Dad will always doubt that their children can pass AP test but you just have to prove them wrong hahah). **(Disclaimer: We only told him not to take an AP test for a class that he didn't actually take. But even without taking the class, he got a 4. So we were wrong.)  P.S. Several Elders have wanted to write you but I've fought them off hehehe. One even tried to do several favors for me so that he would butter his way into getting our home address but all in vain. Maybe I'm just now getting protective of my sisters. Dear sisters, Stay away from Boys!

 

Thanks mom for the package and letters. I've enjoyed the talks you sent. Okay on to what happened last week....

 

Monday: Played volleyball as a zone for like 3 hours on Pday. Of course I got sunburned. I also forgot to take like any pictures this week... still working on that. But I did take a pic of a "Title of Liberty" that Elder Brown made during study. It looks sweet so I took a picture of it.

 

Tuesday: Did work in Dayton. Helped a Guatemalan named Gustavo feel the spirit.

 

Wednesday: Wednesday was awesome. We had 5 lessons. It rained big this day. It really pours down here, thus the reason it's so green here. I Love big storms. I'm praying that I'll get to see a tornado sometime during my mission ;)

 

Thursday: Zone Conference. Had an interview with President and Sister Porter. Both are really great people. They told us that me and Elder Brown will be a part of the Cincinnati Mission and that our area basically stays the same! Wahoo! perfect outcome that I wanted :) After the conference we did some more work in Dayton and Huber Heights, which included some weird experiences. A 94 year old Jehovahs witness grandma tried to convert me and Elder Brown. Upon realizing that we weren't going to convert she got desperate, warning us of our wrongs and condemning us if we wouldn't change. She was so old and tried so hard, bless her heart.

 

Friday: We had a good lesson with Fernando. We studied the Book of Mormon with him and I understood 95% of what was said! I walked out of there feeling like a champ. My Spanish was really on the mark Friday.

 

Saturday: Took down a huge tree for service. It was tons of fun. Brother Dunkin does this for a living and told us some interesting facts about trees- their branches are often only as tall as their roots are deep. Theirs probably a parallel to Testimonies in here somewhere.

 

Sunday: Elder Brown and I have both come down with a good fever but we worked through it Sunday and really saw Blessings come because of it.

 

Overall we're staying really busy and we're doing well!

Love You all!!!