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.