Villa Agricola 8 - Mother's Day
Well, yesterday was such a great day because it was the first time in 5 months I got to talk face to face, well by Skype, to my family. It was so awesome to hear about everything that`s going on back home and have that time to talk to the people that mean the most to me. I wish everyone that I love and care about back home could`ve been there and that I could`ve spent an hour with each and every one of you. But just know I`m thinking about you all and I hope you had a great week.
But this whole letter, as corny as it may seem, I want to dedicate to my mom. Yesterday being Mother`s day, I was thinking a lot obviously about my family. And sometimes as a missionary, when you start thinking about the fam you know that you`re in for a rough day. Because it`s hard sometimes with your family miles, oceans, or even countries away, to think about the experiences that have made up almost all your life and that for a small time, as a missionary, you aren`t with them. You aren`t just a phone call, or a car drive, or a plane ticket away from seeing them. And sometimes it really does get to you. And even though I had just talked to them, I honestly wasn`t sad. I was so happy for the blessing I have of great parents and how much my mom taught me before I left.
After the call though, Elder Maatatia and I went to a member`s house to teach her son a little more about baptism because he`s going to be baptized on the 31. And as we went into her house for the first time, I immediately noticed a huge painting, taking up the majority of the main wall in her house. It was honestly one of the most amazing and beautiful paintings I`ve ever seen. It was of a mother, in the jungle, looking off into the distance, hugging her two sons goodbye as they, from what it looked like, we`re leaving their homes to go to war. I asked her where she got it and what exactly it was and she told me it was a painting by a member of the church of the story "The 2,000 Stripling Warriors". And for those of you that don`t know it, it`s found in the Book of Mormon, in the book of Alma. There were basically 2000 young men getting ready to go to war to defend their families from some enemies that were coming to take over their lands. They had never fought before, young and unexperienced, and obviously, probably a little nervous. But in chapter 56, it says
"44 Therefore, what say ye my sons, will ye go against them into battle?
45 And know I say unto you my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites.
46 For as I have ever called them my sons (For they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our bretheren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus.
47 Now they had never fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We doubt not that our mothers knew it"
As inexperienced and young as they were, they were ready. They were ready to lay down their lives for their people and put their families before their own safety because of the things their mothers taught them.
And it`s honestly true. I`m so grateful for the role my mother plays for me in my life. Because all the curfews, the times where I didn`t exactly see eye to eye with her, all the times she bugged me about getting my Eagle Scout, about my grades, every time she reminded me about the things that were important, she helped me prepare to be here and prepare to succeed in life as a member of the church, a person, and in everything I will ever do. I love you Mom.
I hope you all take the time every day to let your mothers know how much you love them. Everything they do, even though it may not seem like it in the moment, is always the right thing to do.
I love you all so much and hope you have a wonderful week.
Elder Graff
Sorry for the no photos this week from me.
I promise Ill try and upload a bunch next Monday. But if you want to see the painting, just look up on Google "2000 Stripling Warriors Painting" and you`ll probably be able to find it pretty easy. Its a green jungle, and a mom with two young kids with spears. I'm going to have it hanging in my house just an FYI hahaha.
(We think this is the painting to which he is referring. We'll find the credit for it)
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