Santo Domingo (Espaillat) 2 - Temple Blessings; Old Friends

Santo Domingo (Espaillat) 2 - Temple Blessings; Old Friends

Another school year starting up. Shout out to Graffie for being a Senior! Even though I'm gonna' miss your graduation, I love you kid and I'm so proud of the things you're doing.

 

The mission is great. Elder Cornejo and I have really been having an awesome time together. The start of this transfer is a lot different than the start of my transfer in Villa Agricolas. Really taking the viewpoint I had at the end of my last area now, and starting off with a great attitude. That's what the mission's for: live and learn. But we have such amazing people we're teaching. Each one is going to have to overcome something to be able to fully accept Christ, the main one here being marriage. But, we contacted a really prepared family that came to church yesterday so we're really gonna try and focus a lot on how we can keep their excitement and interest going. Really seeing miracles in the area.

We had to do an emergency exchange on Tuesday to Wednesday morning due to some stuff that was going on in the zone, Really kept the week interesting- haha. 

The coolest thing is that we got to go to the temple on Friday!!!!!! We brought a Haitian couple we're teaching and a part-member family. It was such a great experience. Discussed and talked about what we do inside the temple, the great importance of them and the blessings we recieve from that sacred work that we do. I've really been able to see out here on the mission more than ever the role that the temple plays in our lives and how extremely necessary the covenants we do with God in that Holy House when it comes to do with the Plan of Salvation. And plus I SAW JUAN CARLOS, our mission leader and one of my best friends I've made here while we were over there. Saw a couple members from Boca Chica too hahahah. It was so sweet to actually be able to talk with them 7 months later.

You just had to take the tallest part of the hill didn't you Elder Graff!  Dominican Yao Ming

 

Sorry I don't have as much time as I'd like to have this week but hey, that's slow taking 30 minutes to finally get logged in Dominican internet. : )

Dating advice in the Bible that I found this morning finishing my studies in the New Testament. For all you guys wondering how you should ask a girl out on a date, read this verse and I'm gonna change up the wording a little bit.

2 John 1:12  "Having many things to say unto you, I would not send you a text or even call you, but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy might be full."

 

Have a great week America.

Elder Graff

Santo Domingo (Espaillat) 1 - Everyone Has Their Moment

Santo Domingo (Espaillat) 1 - Everyone Has Their Moment

So the goodbyes Monday night were the hardest of all these last 7 days. Frank and Eliany bought me some sweet socks as a surprise present and Maireny and her family made us some juice. Its going to be nice though because I'll be able to send letters over to my old area often to the members and stuff because I see Elder Maatatia every Thursday still - hahaha.

Two of the families I said goodbye to Monday night. Really gonna miss them all a lot. My camera ran out of battery so I didn't get to take pictures with Frank and Eliany, Maireny and a couple other members but it's all good.

But anyway, the new area is great, though a lot different than my old area size-wise. More than 100 active members in the ward! Lots of great investigators.  And my companion, Elder Cornejo, is great - really in tune with the Spirit. We're working hard and trying to do everything we can to improve this area and work well with the members. Lots of great investigators and the lessons we had this week went GREAT. Really feeling comfortable and just trying to get used to everything. 

Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes. Even though I was packing my bags in the morning and in the process of transfers the majority of the day (because Elder Maatatia's new comp got in super late from an area SUPER far away), Elder Cornejo and I pigged out on some hamburgers and fries at the end of the night which was a great way to celebrate.

Birthday GRUB!

Wanted to share a short experience that I had this week real quick cause I don't have tons of time. So we're teaching an investigator named Wilson. He's been an investigator since he was learning from the elders 6 months ago, and we were thinking of giving him a little time to decide if he wants to really embrace the message we preach or not. We taught him about the Holy Ghost, explaining to him how important of a guide it is in our life and the blessings we receive when we follow its counsel. As we were leaving to go back home for the night, he called out to us in his broken English and I turned around to hear him say "Elders, don't forget about me. I need your help!"  It was something so simple but it hit me really hard. Made me realize even more that no matter who it is, everyone is able to change and put their lives in tune with the teachings of Christ. That even though some people might not be ready today, tomorrow, or even a year from now, that EVERYONE will have the perfect moment to accept it or not.

Elder Cornejo and I decided to visit one of our investigators that had a surgery recently in the hospital. He's super excited about being there as you all can see -hahaha. But, he's really awesome. Should be getting married and later on baptized in the beginning of August depending on his recovery progress. I actually did an exchange with Elder Cornejo when I was with Elder Maatatia and we taught him and his wife. Really prepared guy. 

 

I'm absolutely enjoying the mission. Every single day. It's making a huge difference in my life and in the lives of others all around me. What a privelege it is to be out here.

Love you all,

Elder Graff

Hebrews 9:28

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that LOOK for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation"

Villa Agricolas 17 - Transfer

Villa Agricolas 17 - Farewell!  Transfer

(Happy Birthday, Taylor!  Last year, 18yo.  Love, Mom & Dad)

Well, my time has come to an end here in Villa Agricolas. I got the call on Saturday night and I'll be heading out to the farthest jungle there is in this country!  Ok, no - the new area is 10 minutes from where I am right now hahaha. Not going to be much of a change looks-wise, but I know now better than I did four and a half months ago that God has a purpose to all He does, so I'm ready to find out what it is!!!

It was a great way to end the transfer. But we had a really rough start to the week, though. The baptism of Rudy fell (Spanish "fallar" - to fall through). Probably one of the most heart wrenching things I've gone through up to now in the mission. He's so ready and he wants to be baptized more than anything. He's a 20-year old young man, studying at the University and already an adult, basically. But he still is living with his parents for the moment.  He told us four days before the baptism that his mom wanted to talk to us. His parents work crazy hours to try and provide for the family, leaving at 5am and getting back at 9 at night almost every single day. So up until that point, after trying to think of every possible way to talk to them, we hadn't yet had the opportunity to meet his parents.

So anyway, we went there with special permission from the Zone Leaders at 850p to talk to his mom. She basically freaked out, saying that even though Rudy is an adult, that she felt he was taking the decision way too fast, it's a matter of time to her, and how she wasn't going to support him in it and everything.... It was devastating for me to say the least. So Elder Maatatia and I basically explained about his process, what we do as missionaries, basic doctrine about the Church and let Rudy do the rest. Rudy shared his feelings and testimony with his mom.  Afterwards, even though she didn't change her opinion, she was a lot more calm. We decided to push his baptism date back to the 25 of August, or the end of next transfer. Even though it didn't happen when or how I wanted it to, I went home that night and prayed to the Lord, asking Him basically why, what I had done wrong, why we couldn't solve the concerns of his mom so he could make the decision he wants to make so badly. And while I was asking the Lord, in a sincere prayer from my heart, I just felt this calming, really comforting feeling come over me. It was truly remarkable. I knew in that moment, God knew something I didn't. That it was better this way. It's possible that I won't get to see Rudy's baptism happen. But who knows if his parents or mother are going to come to the Gospel in the future, now respecting her point of view. I just feel comfortable now with what happened.  And still, Rudy was there earlier than all the members at church on Sunday, waiting for Church.  So I know that this isn't gonna stop him, just might delay him a bit. (see Taylor's scripture quote below: John 4, esp v. 38)

But we found an AWESOME new family that came to church yesterday. I hope that Elder Maatatia and his new companion will be able to help them accept this Gospel in their lives. Its been hard to say goodbye to everyone, and the hardest farewells are coming up tonight, but I've gave it my all here. Everything I have to this branch and I have made friendships and had experiences I'll remember for the rest of my life. The mission is truly remarkable.

Shout out to my friend DEDDRICK HARRIS for getting married!!!!!! Love you guy! And my heart goes out to my little brother Joseph for his 10th birthday coming up this Thursday. Everyone give him a huge hug for me when you see him!

Elder Graff

 

John 4: 35-38

"Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white, already to harvest."

"And he that reapeth recieveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together."

"And herin is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth."

Villa Agricolas 16 - Independence Day

Villa Agricolas 16 - Independence Day

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MOTHER LIBERTY. Proud to call myself a "gringo flaco".

 

"One Tie July", a thing Elder Aplanalp and I heard about, is going strong. Only been 6 days and I'm already kind of sick and tired of wearing the same tie. BUT, memories are important to make in the mission and you gotta' have fun working hard or you aren't doing it right. 

The group at the temple. The part-member family we're teaching right now showed up a bit later when Juan Carlos and our converts were already inside the temple.

As the transfer is coming to an end, Elder Maatatia and I are really working hard to try and help our investigators keep their goals and stay progressing how they should. We are focusing on families, trying to bring the joy of the Gospel to everyone we can. Rudy is going to be baptized this Saturday if everything goes smoothly with his interview and with the lesson we'll be having with his parents on Thursday. His parents work crazy hours so it's really hard to find them in the house. But, we'll see how everything goes. He's really excited, coming to all the activities and he arrived at church even before we did on Sunday, which made me super happy to see how stoked he is. He is talking about a mission and everything already, and he's 20 so he could do it. Probably one of the best references I've received in my entire mission. 

"Si, somos modelos Dominicanos. Cual es tu probelma muchacho?"

But on Thursday, Elder Maatatia and I had an experience we'll never forget. I've had a lot of "best days ever" in my life, it seems. But to be honest, this one beats them all. With the baptismal dates we have and with our recent converts (Frank and Eliany, Maireny), as well as with our ward mission leader Juan Carlos, we went to the Santo Domingo Temple. We rented out this little mini bus and went over there for the night. Our recent converts went inside the temple with Juan Carlos to do baptisms for the dead (if you aren't LDS, and are kind of freaking out right now trying to understand what I'm referring to, but you can look on https://www.lds.org/church/temples?lang=eng for more information). We stayed outside with our investigators and taught all about the temple, the ordinances we do inside, the importance of it. It was an awesome lesson and the Spirit was so strong in such a Holy place of the Lord. Maireny and Frank and Eliany told us all about it afterwards and it almost made me cry to see how much they loved it and how peaceful they felt afterward serving in the temple. We set some goals with them for a year from now when they'll be going inside to do even more sacred covenants with God. Really excited for them, and I hope that they can reach their goals so I can go see the temple marriage and everything.

Everyone at the temple (minus Rudy and William that had to take the pictures).

 

Our ward mission leader Juan Carlos, my favorite person ever.

 

But all in all, a fantastic week. Crazy to think I'll be turning 19 in 8 days. Pretty soon, I'll be 62 playing dominoes outside yelling in Spanish and listening to Bachata, like they do it down here (99 percent of you have no idea what I'm talking about right now. But hey, it's ok.)

Hope you're all doing amazing. Have a great week.

 
Elder Graff

2 Corinthians 9:6-7:

"He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."

"Every man according to how he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

Said goodbye to one of my favorite elders in the mission, Elder McCary. Already miss him a lot. But we got a new elder named Elder Guigni from here who's really sweet. He knows a ton about the scriptures and works really hard. He turned into an atheist before the mission at around 14-18 years old and was super-inactive in the church. Until he read the Book of Mormon and when he finished, he started going to church again and decided to serve a mission. Really shows to me the power of Holy Scripture from the Lord.  I have really come to love the Bible while I've been out here, but the Book Of Mormon just helps us understand even more of what God expects from us. Its pretty sweet.

Villa Agricolas 15 - That Ye May Bear It

Villa Agricolas 15 - That Ye May Be Able To Bear It . . . .

Yet another Pday in a blazing hot Internet Center!

I thought Arizona was hot. I right now have a bucket underneath my feet so the people that work here don't have to mop the floor from my sweat here when I'm done!  Ok, not really, but the good part is that most people we contact now let us in because they feel bad for me I sweat so bad  -hahaha. But in all reality, it is a very hot summer here in the Dominican Republic.

As we were on our way to a lesson, a member family called us over to help them set up a birthday party for their three year old son. We stopped by, blew up about a billion balloons, threw up a bunch of banners and stuff and got some cake afterwards. I just had to take a picture with the big 4 year old. It was a minion-themed party too so thats why he's got the yellow glasses on. 

 

Elder Maatatia and I are doing great. Had to reschedule the temple trip for this Thursday because we weren't allowed to go in the temple as missionaries to help the branch out  if they don't have enough men of their own to go out and help at the temple. But, it's ok because we're planning on taking a family we're teaching over there so they can see the temple, hoping that the father will be touched by being in such a holy and spiritual place. Really excited for Frank, Eliany and Maireny as it will be their first time doing temple work.

Mango plus sweet and condensed milk plus crazy Australian = memories

Otherwise, a pretty normal week. We've been working hard, trying to focus on the goals and everything we've set as a mission and as a district. Finding new people, having to occasionally leave good friends to find people that are more prepared (the toughest part about the mission work in my opinion). But we're really hoping for great things from the people we're teaching and really focusing on how we can keep the people going strong on track for their baptisms coming up in July.

Learning a lot in the mission. Had a really cool experience with Maireny this week. We've been going over with her again the 5 lessons she received before baptism (as we should be doing as missionaries) and we were talking about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, focusing in on the part about enduring to the end. We mentioned that she would face some challenges and obstacles would come up in her way but that if she keep true to the little things that she'd always have the strength and desire to overcome them. She then asked us a really good question. She has a tough life. Lots of financial struggles, hard times, temptations, and being the only member in her family makes it even harder. Most of the people here are in a pretty bad shape if you just look at it from the physical standpoint. And many people think that as missionaries, we just have it made. She asked us about personal trials and challenges we've had being a member of the church. She at first thought that really we didn't have many. That it was easier somehow for us. But Elder Maatatia and I explained, really, the trials and weaknesses we have in life are personalized. Each person struggles, the majority of the time, with something different. It could be a hard financial situation, a sickness, a tendicy to addiction, good or bad looks, whatever it may be, it's for our benefit. That it's a part of life necessary for us to become more like our Heavenly Father. But after we shared, we read a scripture from the Bible that went along perfectly with the lesson and I honestly had thought I forgot it (shout out to spiritual inspiration as missionaries) in 1 Corinthians 10:13

 

 

 

 

 

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT."

Really, everything we go through in life is what we need. God knows what he's doing. He never abandons us. The question is are we abandoning him? I know he listens to us. Loves us. And wants the best for us in our lives. I have such a strong testimony that if we do the simple things, we'll always have the strength to overcome whatever comes our way.

Have a great week everyone. Make it memorable. Enjoy the little things.

Elder Graff

"For behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction" 1 Nephi 20:10

Elder McCary who lives in my house gave his last testimony to the Zone on Thursday. Really proud of this guy. One of my best friends in the mission. Gonna' miss him a lot.