Santo Domingo (Espaillat) 11 - Noche Blanca

Santo Domingo (Espaillat) 11 - Noche Blanca (White Night), Ward Activity

First, I just wanted to express my love and appreciation for the Haggarton Family. It's always hard when someone we love and to whom we are close passes away. I remember 6 years ago when my Grandpa Graff passed away and how hard that was for me. Even though with the Gospel, we know that this life isn't the end, it's still something rough to go through. My prayers and thoughts will be with you guys.

Elder Cornejo has been a little sick this week so we didn't have as much time as we would've liked to because he's been really nauseous and throwing up. But, we did find some really cool people that came to church on Sunday so we're really excited for their progress and to see where it goes.

"Cheesing" with some of the most beautiful people (I mean, Elders and Sisters) in the Dominican Republic -- not being biased or anything.  (This is Taylor's Zone)

On Saturday, we were able to have "La Noche Blanca" (The White Night) with our Zone. Stress, stress, and more stress! The Stake President showed up a little later than we wanted, one of the baptisms didn't have baptism clothes and we had some problems with the agenda but at the end of it all, the special activity went really well and we enjoyed it a lot. I had to help out serving cake and soda and we were trying to make sure everything went smoothly so I unfortunately didn't get to take any pictures but it was a really awesome night.

Wilson is doing great. We moved his baptism to the 10th due to General Conference that's coming up this weekend. But we think that'll help him be even more ready and spiritually in tune for his baptism. Ruben is progressing super well also. We talked with his parents and set a date for the 17th. He's talking about a mission, invited his girlfriend to church and he's really excited.

Miriam and Antonia with one of the members that was in their group for the Church activity. This was at the end when we announced the winners. 

We were in charge of one group and we basically were asking questions about the Book of Mormon, The Bible, and other Gospel related questions and they did better than some of the members to be honest -- hahaha. 

It was really cool to see and they answered some questions right that 2 years ago, I probably would have had no idea about myself!

Enrique and his family are doing better than ever. The came to the big ward activity we had which was basically a rally with church questions, fun games, and it was just a huge competition. And they won 3rd place --haha. I don't know how, but Miriam and Antonia (her daughter that is coming to church now with her entire family that the other elders are teaching, another really cool family), got free Tshirts and they had a ton of fun. We'll be taking Manuel out with us this week to teach a couple of lessons. He's been changing a lot and he's also asking about a mission and even though he's still got about 4 years to go, it's still cool to see the change the Gospel is making in their lives. They're really excited for their marriage and everything and we'll be setting up a celebration with the ward for the 15th after the marriage in the office.

A picture we took in Sambil for the birthday of Elder Orellana. Hooray for being the only gringo! 'Merica! Well, I'm really half Dominican, but you know.

I'm very grateful for everything that the Lord is doing with the people we're teaching. It's really amazing to see how if we work hard and give it our all that God makes up for the rest.

I hope you all have a great week and that you enjoy General Conference.

Elder Graff

 

Santo Domingo (Espaillat) 10 - What a Blessing

Santo Domingo (Espaillat) 10 - What a Blessing

FIRST OFF, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BROTHER ETHAN. HE TURNED 15 ALMOST A WEEK AGO AND DUE TO THE COMMUNICATION METHOD OF MISSIONARIES, I WASNT ABLE TO TYPE THIS WHEN IT HAPPENED. BUT HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE BRO. MISS AND LOVE YOU.

What a crazy busy week. With the interviews with Mission President, meetings on meetings, and a rescue effort we helped arrange in one of the branches in our Zone, we really didn't have a ton of time in our own area. I really would of liked to be able to work more here in Espaillat these last couple of days but we have a lot of really cool things planned this week.

Stake conference yesterday was so amazing. I saw Frank and Eliany with the branch in Villa Agricolas which was awesome and apparently Maireny was down in one of the rooms below where it was broadcasted because her kids were a little hyper. But I was so grateful to see how much they were progressing and how the love they have for the Gospel now is brighter and stronger than when I first met them a while back. It really is amazing what this message can do for people. But we went with the Rodriguez Family and Wilson. They're both doing great. Miriam and Enrique are doing well with avoiding coffee. They expressed to us how much better they feel and it's cool to see how they're noticing the blessings of keeping a commandment from the Lord. The Ward is anxious for their baptism and they're really supporting them a lot. Manuel is thinking about taking seminary and honestly, things couldn't be going any better with them. Wilson is doing awesome. We're just trying to get him prepared for the 3rd of October as well as Ruben, another investigator we're teaching. It's been a while in the process to prepare them but it's all in the Lord's time really.

That's something that I've been studying lately. A lot of things have happened in these past couple weeks that have halted the progress of many people we're teaching. Rafa is still in Haiti, Martin has a problem with his birth certificate, and with the division of the area, we have been struggling with little issues that are preventing us from reaching our goals with everyone. But as I was pondering, I remembered back to a year ago in the MTC. Our saying as a "district" came from one of the sisters in our group and it was "What a Blessing". Back at that time in the MTC, we were all fighting a lot with the language, some heartaches and news from home was affecting some of the missionaries, and we were all thinking of a way to brighten our mood. We decided that whenever something bad, inconvenient, or annoying happened, we would all remind ourselves "What A Blessing!". 

Really, everything has a purpose. As it says in Job 33:12 "I will say unto thee, God is greater than man." God knows more than we do. What may seem like to us something that shouldn't have happened, in the mind of God happens with a purpose. Even though sometimes we ask ourselves and wonder what good could come from a particular result or how could this benefit us, everything God does has its reason. And if we put forth all of our effort and give it our all, we should always be content with the results. Because it's in the Plan of God for us and for those we love and care about.

I know this Church is true. I've grown and learned more in this past year than in any other time in my life. I'm grateful for the unforgettable impact it's had on my life and how it has helped me understand more fully the purpose of our existence. And I'm more than ready for one more year.

Elder Graff

Job 19:25-26 "For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth."  "And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God."

Santo Domingo (Espaillat) 9 - Play Piano

Santo Domingo (Espaillat) 9 - Play Piano, Papers, Build the Wall

Well, in other news, I played the piano this Sunday in Sacrament meeting. We usually just sing a capella or play pre -recorded hymns. But the Stake President was there and I was the last option. Being that I don't read music hardly at all, I practiced for about 10 minutes beforehand and just went with it. I honestly didn't do too terrible and the congregation was singing their hearts out so it drummed out a little bit of my terrible piano playing skills. Really wish I would've taken my mother more seriously when she dragged me to piano lessons when I was 12!  BUT, it was a really funny experience I'll remember for a long time.

Everything is going great. With the Rodriguez Family, WE'VE GOT THE PAPERS. We're getting copies of the licenses of the witnesses for their marriage (which are going to be a really cool family in the ward) and we're setting the date tomorrow. They're so excited and honestly, like I've said before, we really aren't doing much. They're so motivated and taking the steps themselves. We taught them about the Word of Wisdom and we knew Miriam had a little problem with coffee, but before the lesson even the started she and Enrique said "We're quitting coffee." They had made the decision themselves after reading the pamphlet.  The bishop and us were just completely stunned. They really are putting their faith in God and they're going to be a great family in the Church. Working a little with the son Manuel on his preparation for baptism because he feels a little unprepared which is normal for a decision as big as baptism. But, we'll see what God has in store for us.

Wilson is doing great. He's been clean for a month and a half now. We're just going over the lessons and helping him with the questions he has. His desire to keep moving forward keeps growing every day and we put some goals to help him focus on the temple which will be a big strength for him in staying away from the temptations he has.

We found two AWESOME families contacting and so we'll see where they go and how they're going to progress.

Angel Luis, the less active from my old area, is working on his mission papers with the stake president from the last I heard and it makes me super happy that he's still doing great.

I'm honestly just super happy with everything that's happening. I've really been seeing the blessings of God with the people we're teaching. And even though sometimes as a missionary, you want to do more and you feel like what you're doing isn't enough. But in the end, you just got to focus on the small blessings and miracles you see every day.

Thank you for everything you guys do for me and I hope that everyone has a great week.

Elder Graff

Nehemiah 4:6-9

"So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work"

"But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the ammonites, and the ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,"

"And conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it"

"Nevertheless we made our prayer unto God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them"

Sometimes, we build a wall. We have success. Whether it be in the mission, at home, in college, wherever it may be. And when Satan and his followers see that we've "built a wall" or that we're fighting for good, having success and happiness in our lives, he attacks. But I testify that if we pray, and set "guards" such as studying the scriptures, going to church, and trying to follow Christ in every way we can, the wall we've built won't fall and God will lift us and carry us to do even better things.

Just something I found in my studies and wanted to share.