Hola mama!
You’re so funny! Thanks for fighting through the sleep to write me :-) . Things sound great in Iowa, just as they always are! I love summers in Iowa, Give all my love to the family and grandma and dad! Share my blog with everyone! FAmily is so great huh? I bear testimony of family all the time, I´´m so blessed to have a great family. I also share a picture of all of us from Mandee´s wedding, everyone thinks we´re so beautiful and a big family and Rubio! Which is light haired but also means light skinned apparently.
I wrote things down during the week so I could remember for today. 1st, don’t worry about mentioning the world cup. Its so HUGE here, its awesome really. We always know when there’s a game because nobodies in the street and nobody lets us in the house, then after the game EVERYONES in the street singing and dancing and cheering and honking horns and.... everything and great fan should do! Today Hna. Q and i bought camistas, jerseys of the team, that say Vamos Argentina! It’s a special phrase only used during the world cup, for souvenirs at least. Neat! To bad for the USA.
Also I’ve been thinking about my plaque, what do you think about John 13:34-35 or Mosiah 2:17? I’m leaning towards these.
I received 3 cards from you in the same day, hahaha. Dated May 29, June 5 and 7th, also a dear elder with Bre´s email, from the 9th. Thanks so much for your cute love mom!
Thanks for mentioning and remembering Joseph Smith, I thought about him to. Wow I'm so grateful, and my gratitude grows everyday for him. All the happiness I have truly is rooted from his humble prayer, because my happiness is in the gospel, which is restored on the earth today because of that prayer. We’re planning and activity for September to celebrate his life. A skit should be cool. Who knows if I’ll be here to enjoy. No importa. I love Cultral Co and Hna Quisbert so much. But I love being a missionary more and serving, so wherever the Lord wants me I’ll go!
Sadly this week I went to a funeral. It was for a member who is less active, very less active. She had a problem with her digestion backing up into her body/blood and so it was toxic. She had dialysis to change her blood and went into a coma this past week, then past away. We all know the pain of losing a loved one, and I was reminded of our experience clearly. Though the difference with ours is that we’re active in the church and know and enjoy the blessings of knowing about the Plan of Salvation, I'm not so sure with this family. We know that we can be together forever, what comfort this gives me and I know gives you mom and our family. I think about Josh a lot, probably because the year anniversary of his passing is near. My prayers are with you and Toni and the family that you will all feel the comfort of our Father when we’re sad, and how Christ knows all our pain and that this is a temporary separation. I also pray that my family we´ll become closer to each other, if Heavenly Father wants to bless you all, then that's what I pray for. It’s so important, I hope you all are expressing love and concern for each other often. I love you so much mom! Thanks for being so faithful and strong.
Other experiences I thought to share, Sterling suggested doing some powerful short experiences that hopefully our friends and family will see.
A recent convert, Graciela Romero was having a hard time because she’s single, with two kids, one 16 the other 6, the youngest living with her, she works a lot and is often lonely. She prayed for comfort, and she received it! Her testimony grew of Pray and the love of our Father in Heaven, because he answered her prayer with love and comfort. So special!
A young girl, 15, Paula, is amazing. We meet her my very first day, first lesson and gave her a Book of Mormon. WE haven’t been able to get ahold of her since, until this past week. Her and her 10-year-old brother, Alan. Also her father died from cancer within the past 4 weeks. We talked with her and taught them again. We asked if she had been reading all this time and she said YES! She also said she had prayed to know if it was true and she said.... YES!!!!! She had knelt in prayer after reading and felt the warm confirmation in her heart and mind. She has been reading every night! WOW!
I love the family and the gospel so much! Things are great. I’m so blessed. Like you always say! Be safe, thank you for everything you do for me. Are you going to Nauvoo this summer? I have two friends serving there. Sister Jess Davis and.. Sister... P something, she was Jesss companion in the MTC and was so sweet. Give them a hug for if you head that way. Lots of love to everyone!!!!
Amor, Hermana DJ
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
Snow in Argentina
Hola ! It´s interesting to hear about the warming up up north whereas here it's getting colder, and in fact SNOWED A LOT on Wed. The most it's snowed in 8 years, mas o menos. It was great. It's gone now but it was a lot of fun, wet but fun. and it reminded me of home, in a nice way. I don´t feel home sick, it was just nice. I don´t mind that I'm going into winter again, it doesn't matter. I´m so thankful that I can adapt and be okay with how life is or why things happen. Like sometimes things happen and they´ve already happened and there's nothing we can do about it so there's no point in dwelling on it or stressing about it. Know what I mean? I know this is a spiritual gift. Of course I'm not always... okay with changes, sometimes I have to have some time to understand or adjust, but it usually always works out. So from what I´ve written so far it prob sounds like things have happened, but no, not really. :-)
I´m very happy! I've officially started another transfer and I´m still in Cutral Co and with Hrn Quisbert and with my same district!!!!! Wow! I was praying for this and I feel very very blessed! I´m so thankful. I plan to solidify things that I´ve learned and observed from Hna. Q and in Spanish- make leaps and bounds and to become a better missionary.
One thing I´ve observed with Spanish, it´s going pretty good, learning everyday, but I don´t think in Spanish yet and... I don't know, I struggle but it's expected and I love every day. The most aggravating time is when we have a meeting or lesson and I feel strong about what's being talked about and I can´t express that. For example this June 19th we´re having a Geneologia night for everyone in this area and I am excited that we are but I can't... contribute really, Or yesterday we had a meeting with the Mission leader of the zone and we were talking about having members involved in every moment of conversion and I wanted to express that I feel strong about this but... I couldn't really, or at least I think I can´t. I´ve realized I´m struggling with some confidence issues in speaking. But I´m going to change that this transfer. I have great self esteem, hahahahaha! but I allow my comp to talk, to take care of things, I´ve gotta step it up!
Today we... we did some pictures stuff, dropped off our laundry at a members. We have to buy our stuff before 1:00 because all the stores close for the siesta by then and are closed till 5 or 6 and that's when P-day is over. So we got our groceries and went and got Helado (ice cream), which we get every P-day, and empanadas! YUM! one of my favorites, I´ve eaten a lot of tasty stuff. And I´m try to get the recipes. We made tacos with a new member yesterday and it was pretty close to the taste, used a chili powder recipe that was in the recipe book that the Mission Pres. gave us. Bueno! No se ( I don't know) for plans later today, not much. it´s already after 2:00.
Yesterday was so great! we had a lot of menos activos in church, we have a new Aaronic priesthood holder, who's 12 and passed the sacrament for the 1st time yesterday, he did so great, Kevin Romero. and we had our 3 confirmations! Gladis and su hija Maria and then Raul also, which we barely had him. We go and get him in the morning and... long story short we were walking to his house and saw him walking the other direction! It was a close call but we caught up to him and he came to church. I think things don't quite click with him but he´s great of course and I´m not the one deciding, Heavenly Father is and he obviously wants Raul to be a part of the church. It was a great blessing to see him. Lot's of tender mercies and blessings everyday!
Preach my Gospel IS AMAZING! Also this morning i found some great scrip to start the transfer with. 2nd Nephi 10 is totally about the people in the Americas! And with that in mind v. 18 and 19 and 23-24 are so so great. Also 11:4 was awesome. It was a good study.
I love this gospel and Heavenly Father and this work and I'm so thankful to be a part of it and how it´s shaping me, I´m so sososo thankful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All my love to my family and everyone! I hope your doing great and feeling great and excited for summer and everything!!!!!!!!!! 2nd transfer already for me!!!1 AAAAAHH! I love it!
MUCHO AMOR, Hermana DJ Graham
p.s. people struggle with saying my name, it´s funny. I have the best name ever, with it I feel even more connected to the Spanish language.
I´m very happy! I've officially started another transfer and I´m still in Cutral Co and with Hrn Quisbert and with my same district!!!!! Wow! I was praying for this and I feel very very blessed! I´m so thankful. I plan to solidify things that I´ve learned and observed from Hna. Q and in Spanish- make leaps and bounds and to become a better missionary.
One thing I´ve observed with Spanish, it´s going pretty good, learning everyday, but I don´t think in Spanish yet and... I don't know, I struggle but it's expected and I love every day. The most aggravating time is when we have a meeting or lesson and I feel strong about what's being talked about and I can´t express that. For example this June 19th we´re having a Geneologia night for everyone in this area and I am excited that we are but I can't... contribute really, Or yesterday we had a meeting with the Mission leader of the zone and we were talking about having members involved in every moment of conversion and I wanted to express that I feel strong about this but... I couldn't really, or at least I think I can´t. I´ve realized I´m struggling with some confidence issues in speaking. But I´m going to change that this transfer. I have great self esteem, hahahahaha! but I allow my comp to talk, to take care of things, I´ve gotta step it up!
Today we... we did some pictures stuff, dropped off our laundry at a members. We have to buy our stuff before 1:00 because all the stores close for the siesta by then and are closed till 5 or 6 and that's when P-day is over. So we got our groceries and went and got Helado (ice cream), which we get every P-day, and empanadas! YUM! one of my favorites, I´ve eaten a lot of tasty stuff. And I´m try to get the recipes. We made tacos with a new member yesterday and it was pretty close to the taste, used a chili powder recipe that was in the recipe book that the Mission Pres. gave us. Bueno! No se ( I don't know) for plans later today, not much. it´s already after 2:00.
Yesterday was so great! we had a lot of menos activos in church, we have a new Aaronic priesthood holder, who's 12 and passed the sacrament for the 1st time yesterday, he did so great, Kevin Romero. and we had our 3 confirmations! Gladis and su hija Maria and then Raul also, which we barely had him. We go and get him in the morning and... long story short we were walking to his house and saw him walking the other direction! It was a close call but we caught up to him and he came to church. I think things don't quite click with him but he´s great of course and I´m not the one deciding, Heavenly Father is and he obviously wants Raul to be a part of the church. It was a great blessing to see him. Lot's of tender mercies and blessings everyday!
Preach my Gospel IS AMAZING! Also this morning i found some great scrip to start the transfer with. 2nd Nephi 10 is totally about the people in the Americas! And with that in mind v. 18 and 19 and 23-24 are so so great. Also 11:4 was awesome. It was a good study.
I love this gospel and Heavenly Father and this work and I'm so thankful to be a part of it and how it´s shaping me, I´m so sososo thankful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All my love to my family and everyone! I hope your doing great and feeling great and excited for summer and everything!!!!!!!!!! 2nd transfer already for me!!!1 AAAAAHH! I love it!
MUCHO AMOR, Hermana DJ Graham
p.s. people struggle with saying my name, it´s funny. I have the best name ever, with it I feel even more connected to the Spanish language.
Monday, May 24, 2010
5th week in Argentina
Felizitaciones (Congrats) We had TWO baptisms this Saturday, how how cool!!! No confirmations because we had stake conference but next Sunday we´re hoping for 3! (daughter previously bap). It was wonderful to see them in the water and immersed like Jesus was and came up, NEW, sinless. I know the journey is just beginning for them, this journey to eternal life, but how great it is!!! Preservirar hasta el fin!!! Endure to the end! After the baptism is when the members need to especially step it up and befriend the new converts, because missionaries will only be around for a short time, and Pres. Hinckley said that new converts need: A friend, a responsibility and nurturing by the good word of God. Preach my gospel gives some great insight on this Chap 12, maybe.... Sadly there were very few members at the baptism, and no family supporting these two wonderful, brave souls (except one of the daughters that was bap). I think if we could truly comprehend how amazing and wonderful this choice is, this covenant being made, to become a part of Christ’s fully-restored church, with the proper authority and entering into the gateway of heaven that the chapels would be FILLED with people, on the edge of their seats, restraining themselves from clapping and cheering only because they also understand how sacred and special this new covenant being made is, if only we could truly understand... I´m sure that in Heaven the angels are singing and crying for joy for every new soul, and then getting assigned to guide them in this tough life, and to start teaching the families that have passed on so that their temple work can be done by their family still living, if only we could totally understand.
The work is not done, we now help them establish some roots in the church, what an exciting process this is! I’m thankful to be a part of it as well, that I’m representing my family and the Bethel Branch.
Tell everyone Hi for me when they ask about me, that´s nice of them to ask, and tell them I´m so happy and to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it.
Some insight from study about children and the importance of teaching and how lucky you are to have this calling to work with the children,: _2 Nephi 2:3-4, Alma 37:33-37, 2 Nephi 4:6 (kinda), So many great people in the scriptures started to become great very young, also Joseph Smith, Aaronic Priesthood, going to the temple to do baptisms at 12, going on missions, all young young. It´s amazing,
It sounds like summer plans are going well, I hope so! We go to the Gospel Principle class for new converts/investigators. My Spanish, is good, I think I need to make some serious efforts to learn in every moment, sometime I zone out when people are talking because I just decide I can´t understand, not good, I´m stopping that. It has for sure come along now, but I think I´m just walking fast, maybe jogging, its time to run and get my Spanish down. I don´t get really aggravated, and do laugh when I mess up, better then being upset, but... sometimes its a little ridiculous, I need to be more confident and just TRY more... work harder, I love it of course, I love the accent, castillano, but... work harder, of course!
I DO feel the spirit, it´s a great companion. I´m very thankful that my comp is so in tune to it also! I´m doing better, everyday in everyway :-) , Heavenly Father is wonderful. The other day I ate cow brain, cool huh?! I don´t know if I could tell a specific unique taste though... not much time left to go into detail. For P-day we clean in the morning and we´re having cake and hanging and cooking in the church because its Elder Bendall’s birthday. Then... I dunno.
Con amor, Hermanita (little sister) DJ Graham
The work is not done, we now help them establish some roots in the church, what an exciting process this is! I’m thankful to be a part of it as well, that I’m representing my family and the Bethel Branch.
Tell everyone Hi for me when they ask about me, that´s nice of them to ask, and tell them I´m so happy and to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it.
Some insight from study about children and the importance of teaching and how lucky you are to have this calling to work with the children,: _2 Nephi 2:3-4, Alma 37:33-37, 2 Nephi 4:6 (kinda), So many great people in the scriptures started to become great very young, also Joseph Smith, Aaronic Priesthood, going to the temple to do baptisms at 12, going on missions, all young young. It´s amazing,
It sounds like summer plans are going well, I hope so! We go to the Gospel Principle class for new converts/investigators. My Spanish, is good, I think I need to make some serious efforts to learn in every moment, sometime I zone out when people are talking because I just decide I can´t understand, not good, I´m stopping that. It has for sure come along now, but I think I´m just walking fast, maybe jogging, its time to run and get my Spanish down. I don´t get really aggravated, and do laugh when I mess up, better then being upset, but... sometimes its a little ridiculous, I need to be more confident and just TRY more... work harder, I love it of course, I love the accent, castillano, but... work harder, of course!
I DO feel the spirit, it´s a great companion. I´m very thankful that my comp is so in tune to it also! I´m doing better, everyday in everyway :-) , Heavenly Father is wonderful. The other day I ate cow brain, cool huh?! I don´t know if I could tell a specific unique taste though... not much time left to go into detail. For P-day we clean in the morning and we´re having cake and hanging and cooking in the church because its Elder Bendall’s birthday. Then... I dunno.
Con amor, Hermanita (little sister) DJ Graham
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Hola
thank you for all your prayers and love. They tell us that when we´re serving a mission no other time in our life will so many prayers be in behalf of us, and it´s true, family, friends, temples, presidents, wards, the bretheren, awesome huh? I´m blessed to be watched over so much!
. This summer is going to be such a blast on the farm, give my love to everyone and take lots of pictures of course! Pictures are always appreciated on my end and Ill be sending some your way today. Thanks for the advice from Troy. Also you can tell ster I haven´t really experienced constipation ( i think it was him that did at the beginning of his mission), things have been flowing fine. I am so blessed with a healthy, able body, wow! So blessed!
We have 4 people with baptisms date , 2 for this transfer Raul and Gladis, others are Maria Luisa and Grumilda, We´re hoping all goes well! I love the people and i love this work, I love studying the scriptures and to have this time to not be focused on myself, what an opportunity Heavenly Father is blessing me with! I´m gunna stop so I can get some pics going! I LOVE YOU pass on my love to everyone! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
thank you for all your prayers and love. They tell us that when we´re serving a mission no other time in our life will so many prayers be in behalf of us, and it´s true, family, friends, temples, presidents, wards, the bretheren, awesome huh? I´m blessed to be watched over so much!
. This summer is going to be such a blast on the farm, give my love to everyone and take lots of pictures of course! Pictures are always appreciated on my end and Ill be sending some your way today. Thanks for the advice from Troy. Also you can tell ster I haven´t really experienced constipation ( i think it was him that did at the beginning of his mission), things have been flowing fine. I am so blessed with a healthy, able body, wow! So blessed!
We have 4 people with baptisms date , 2 for this transfer Raul and Gladis, others are Maria Luisa and Grumilda, We´re hoping all goes well! I love the people and i love this work, I love studying the scriptures and to have this time to not be focused on myself, what an opportunity Heavenly Father is blessing me with! I´m gunna stop so I can get some pics going! I LOVE YOU pass on my love to everyone! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Monday, April 26, 2010
From Cutral Co
Hola mis padres!!! Buen Dia, que tal, como anda, (this is what we say to almost everyone)
WOWOWOWOW! I love being a missionary! Heavenly Father is so merciful and continues to pour blessings on me! It is wonderful here, I´m having a spiritual blast. REally fast, this is a Spanish key board so you should probably expect some random marks or wrong typing or something. Esta Bien. So much to say..... I have the best companion ever. Hermana Quisbert from Buenos Aries, orginally from Bolivia. She is amazing. Sweet, fun, an amazing teacher, helps non-stop with the language, and I get to help her with her English. She is very good at speaking English which is a nice break occasionally, and there are a few people in our ward that speak English too. I will still be learning my Castillano because those that know English are very few in number. I am learning a lot about the language and being a missionary. What joy I feel everyday!!! Oh where to start?! I love Cultral-Co, la tierra (the land) reminds me of Vernal a lot too. Everyone is beautiful. We greet everyone with a handshake (men) and a kiss (women). We do this when we first meet them, then when we´re saying goodbye, even just with contacts in the street, which last around 2-5 minutes, I love it. I feel at home here, honest. We clap at the gates, the people open them for us and when we leave the homes they walk us out, open the doors and let us out, it´s a very nice culture. You have to watch your step constantly or else you will twist your ankle on the uneven sidewalk/rocks/sand, or watch out for dog poo. DOGS ARE EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!! No exaggeration. I love every part of my area and my mission.
Mission goals mean a lot of work a head of us, its great. We have 3 people with dates. Lady, Raul and Gladis, a highschool age, older man and a mother, her daughter got bap. a few weeks ago and hopefully the other daughter will too. I don´t talk much, but I don´t feel to bothered about it, I can tell what the we´re talking about and most of what those we’re teaching are talking about, like I get the idea of it, not the words exactly though. I do bear my testimony about the BOM, The spirit, Joseph Smith, Families, etc. Choppy but it works out, and my beautiful comp helps when I need. My weakness is funny to the people which is totally fine, I´m not bothered. WOW, Heavenly Father has just blessed me with an agreeable attitude, I´m so thankful I can be flexible and accepting, WOW, I´m grateful. And truly, I am more then ever thankful for growing up in Bethel, because of how life is there... which I don´t really know how to describe... helps me be accepting/understanding/comfortable here in Argentina. I am thankful that Dad has áffordable´ housing. I hope he doesn’t feel offended at all by me saying this, because I grew up seeing people who are in a low-income lifestyle I feel very little shock here when I see peoples homes. Does this make sense? I don´t feel scared or uncomfortable, lucky me! I have a great pension(house) kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, similar to some of dad’s housing, I have hot water and a comfortable bunk bed, which sometimes is extremely hot on the top bunk, but it´s all good, a nice desk, a fridge, running water, that I don´t drink but use for everything else, except brushing my teeth hehehe. I forgot to take pictures, I´ll try sending some pictures today or next week.
We have Zone Conference tomorrow, that´ll be great! Oh!!!!! HAHAHA! Okay so my Sunday, well I gave a talk in Sacrament Meeting! Perfect huh?! It was about the Holy Ghost. It wasn´t that hard, though I may have been saying some things wrong, but people were smiling and said it was a good message. The Holy Ghost is SO IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A lot of our investigators, new converts and future bap were there, it was wonderful. Again, I don´t say much but just smile and try to understand, it´s all gravy baby. The weather is great, chilly in the morning and night but we´ve had some really warm days. Windy but not blow-down-the-house type, I guess it doesn’t really rain or snow here, it´s lovely. My schedule.... Get up at 6:30 to exercise for half hour, then shower and breakfast and by 8:00 personal study for an hour, then comp study, then language study, which it´s hard to know what to study.... because there’s so much... I´ll do better though. Then we´re out of the house by 10:30 to contact and go to appointments. WE WALK EVERYWHERE, or run! HAHAHA, awesome huh? We have to run to appt. sometimes, because we took long at another appt. awesome. I know my mission wouldn’t be this great so far if I didn´t have Hermana Quisbert so I am eternally grateful for her, and she says Hello and sends her love by the way. Sometimes we do service things, we fit in contacts anytime we´re walking and then follow-up on those contacts or go to less actives, or new members or investigators, it´s thrilling.
I do know that you totally love me and I TOTALLY LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!! More then ever and ever and ever!!! Thank you for your love and support and encouragment and PRAYERS! I heard from Janetta, Paris and Ster but I don´t think I have much time to respond back, please forward my love to all of them and everyone, I love hearing about what they’re doing in their lives, please encourage my siblings and friends to write me, I really enjoy it, almost as much as the wonderful work I´m doing!!! DEAR ELDER is the way to go apparently, keep that up, or tell others to, I love letters as well of course but Dear elder is easy and they encourage it. With packages, I pay half of how much it´s worth I guess, so if your not sending me any electronics it´s not a big deal, You need to claim everything in it, or else they get upset. With the package from the branch... let´s see. and maybe Ritz crackers or trail mix, you know the kind with the nuts and m&m´s or the fruit kind, yum. Maybe a REeses CRUNCH bar. If Kyle said that about tootsie pops then go ahead and send some my way too, anything to get in doors. hmmm.... a shower sponge, you know the kind I use. Oh and packages take about 3 weeks to get to me. Hmmmm, I know I had thought of other things but didn´t write them down so now I don´t recall... OH! Crest pro-health enamel shield toothpaste! yeah baby!!! The food here is great and there is a lot of snacky stuff so I don´t feel that much of an urge to ask for things.... Tell them thank you please!
I better go. But I have so much love for my family, my friends and dear ones. I pray for you all as well. I hope everyone is feeling well and happy and healthy. How are the summer plans coming, can Jess take a picture of her prego self please. TONS OF LOVE FROM DOWN SOUTH. AMOR AMOR AMOR!!!!!!!!!!
mUCHO Amor, Hermana Graham
WOWOWOWOW! I love being a missionary! Heavenly Father is so merciful and continues to pour blessings on me! It is wonderful here, I´m having a spiritual blast. REally fast, this is a Spanish key board so you should probably expect some random marks or wrong typing or something. Esta Bien. So much to say..... I have the best companion ever. Hermana Quisbert from Buenos Aries, orginally from Bolivia. She is amazing. Sweet, fun, an amazing teacher, helps non-stop with the language, and I get to help her with her English. She is very good at speaking English which is a nice break occasionally, and there are a few people in our ward that speak English too. I will still be learning my Castillano because those that know English are very few in number. I am learning a lot about the language and being a missionary. What joy I feel everyday!!! Oh where to start?! I love Cultral-Co, la tierra (the land) reminds me of Vernal a lot too. Everyone is beautiful. We greet everyone with a handshake (men) and a kiss (women). We do this when we first meet them, then when we´re saying goodbye, even just with contacts in the street, which last around 2-5 minutes, I love it. I feel at home here, honest. We clap at the gates, the people open them for us and when we leave the homes they walk us out, open the doors and let us out, it´s a very nice culture. You have to watch your step constantly or else you will twist your ankle on the uneven sidewalk/rocks/sand, or watch out for dog poo. DOGS ARE EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!! No exaggeration. I love every part of my area and my mission.
Mission goals mean a lot of work a head of us, its great. We have 3 people with dates. Lady, Raul and Gladis, a highschool age, older man and a mother, her daughter got bap. a few weeks ago and hopefully the other daughter will too. I don´t talk much, but I don´t feel to bothered about it, I can tell what the we´re talking about and most of what those we’re teaching are talking about, like I get the idea of it, not the words exactly though. I do bear my testimony about the BOM, The spirit, Joseph Smith, Families, etc. Choppy but it works out, and my beautiful comp helps when I need. My weakness is funny to the people which is totally fine, I´m not bothered. WOW, Heavenly Father has just blessed me with an agreeable attitude, I´m so thankful I can be flexible and accepting, WOW, I´m grateful. And truly, I am more then ever thankful for growing up in Bethel, because of how life is there... which I don´t really know how to describe... helps me be accepting/understanding/comfortable here in Argentina. I am thankful that Dad has áffordable´ housing. I hope he doesn’t feel offended at all by me saying this, because I grew up seeing people who are in a low-income lifestyle I feel very little shock here when I see peoples homes. Does this make sense? I don´t feel scared or uncomfortable, lucky me! I have a great pension(house) kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, similar to some of dad’s housing, I have hot water and a comfortable bunk bed, which sometimes is extremely hot on the top bunk, but it´s all good, a nice desk, a fridge, running water, that I don´t drink but use for everything else, except brushing my teeth hehehe. I forgot to take pictures, I´ll try sending some pictures today or next week.
We have Zone Conference tomorrow, that´ll be great! Oh!!!!! HAHAHA! Okay so my Sunday, well I gave a talk in Sacrament Meeting! Perfect huh?! It was about the Holy Ghost. It wasn´t that hard, though I may have been saying some things wrong, but people were smiling and said it was a good message. The Holy Ghost is SO IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A lot of our investigators, new converts and future bap were there, it was wonderful. Again, I don´t say much but just smile and try to understand, it´s all gravy baby. The weather is great, chilly in the morning and night but we´ve had some really warm days. Windy but not blow-down-the-house type, I guess it doesn’t really rain or snow here, it´s lovely. My schedule.... Get up at 6:30 to exercise for half hour, then shower and breakfast and by 8:00 personal study for an hour, then comp study, then language study, which it´s hard to know what to study.... because there’s so much... I´ll do better though. Then we´re out of the house by 10:30 to contact and go to appointments. WE WALK EVERYWHERE, or run! HAHAHA, awesome huh? We have to run to appt. sometimes, because we took long at another appt. awesome. I know my mission wouldn’t be this great so far if I didn´t have Hermana Quisbert so I am eternally grateful for her, and she says Hello and sends her love by the way. Sometimes we do service things, we fit in contacts anytime we´re walking and then follow-up on those contacts or go to less actives, or new members or investigators, it´s thrilling.
I do know that you totally love me and I TOTALLY LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!! More then ever and ever and ever!!! Thank you for your love and support and encouragment and PRAYERS! I heard from Janetta, Paris and Ster but I don´t think I have much time to respond back, please forward my love to all of them and everyone, I love hearing about what they’re doing in their lives, please encourage my siblings and friends to write me, I really enjoy it, almost as much as the wonderful work I´m doing!!! DEAR ELDER is the way to go apparently, keep that up, or tell others to, I love letters as well of course but Dear elder is easy and they encourage it. With packages, I pay half of how much it´s worth I guess, so if your not sending me any electronics it´s not a big deal, You need to claim everything in it, or else they get upset. With the package from the branch... let´s see. and maybe Ritz crackers or trail mix, you know the kind with the nuts and m&m´s or the fruit kind, yum. Maybe a REeses CRUNCH bar. If Kyle said that about tootsie pops then go ahead and send some my way too, anything to get in doors. hmmm.... a shower sponge, you know the kind I use. Oh and packages take about 3 weeks to get to me. Hmmmm, I know I had thought of other things but didn´t write them down so now I don´t recall... OH! Crest pro-health enamel shield toothpaste! yeah baby!!! The food here is great and there is a lot of snacky stuff so I don´t feel that much of an urge to ask for things.... Tell them thank you please!
I better go. But I have so much love for my family, my friends and dear ones. I pray for you all as well. I hope everyone is feeling well and happy and healthy. How are the summer plans coming, can Jess take a picture of her prego self please. TONS OF LOVE FROM DOWN SOUTH. AMOR AMOR AMOR!!!!!!!!!!
mUCHO Amor, Hermana Graham
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
April 14,2010 email last from MTC.
April 14th.
Okay so I'm already down to 20 min because it wouldn’t load but was still taking my time, aggravating, but it's okay. Can't do anything and gotta practice my speed typing.
Busniess:
I leave the MTC at 8:00 and take off from the airport at 12:00 on MONDAY the 19th. Nobody should come to the airport, they suggest it not to happen. I get to Atlanta at 5:50 and leave there at 8:30 . I WILL BE CALLING YOU MY LOVELY MOTHER AND FATHER!!! So that is Georgia time and.... I think 3:00 Alaska time... I can call the house or the school... or both if you and dad aren’t together. Prob no more calling by 8:00 GA time. In your dearelder you can plan it. GA is 3 hours different then AK right? That's how I’m doing my math, if wrong then let me know and we'll plan accordingly :-) . I can't wait to talk to you both, it'll be so great!
. Don't bother mailing anything anymore, cause I leave Monday and won’t get things in time prob. Of course DEAR ELDER works till Sat. afternoon. I would love it if my siblings would dearelder.com me these next couple days, any last thoughts or what they’re up to or anything. I love you all so much!!! Friends too.
So this is my LAST EMAIL from the MTC!!!! How exciting!!!!!!!!!!!! I am going to Argentina BABY!!!!! VIVE ARGENTINA!!!! I do feel very excited and eager and nervous, but ready, for the most part. I love the MTC and the people I've met and spent time with and I'm so grateful for all the help I've gotten here, and practice and learning and growing!!!! Wow it's amazing, what a unique experience I have!!! My Spanish.... It is as ready as it will be. I have learned this week about my weaknesses and what I need to work on with it. The thing is that I can't express ME, MY PERSONALITY very well yet, and that's hard. But I have total faith that it will come, but faith without works is dead, so I have a lot of studying and praying and listening and everything to do, but it will come. I've been told to be more confident, a couple times. It's been such a wonderful week. Possibly the best yet. because we, as a district and a companionship have made goals to work extra extra hard in everything, NO SLACKING!!!! Because the same spirit you leave the MTC with is the same spirit you enter the mission field with, just like when we die.! Interesting huh. But true! I wish I could expand on this but my time is slim, I'll talk more with you on the phone :-) . I'm hoping I get a native of Argentina as my first companion, then it will be crunch and growing time, It would be great. I have felt deeper love for the people of Argentina these last days and I know I'm going to meet and teach people that I knew before this life and promised them that I would find them. I can't wait.
Last night at the devo Elder Glenn Pace talked and it was so amazing and special, and sacred. They didn't record it because he talked about personal things. It was ALL about God's love for us and his children, all his children, even with our weaknesses! He said remove ANY doubt that you are not loved as much as Jesus Christ is loved by God, wow!!! There was a lot more, he shared dying experiences of different types, I can't go into it right now. But afterwards we had a little District review and it was so spiritual and the elders testified so strongly, it was really special, my love and understanding and reassurance that I'm serving a mission for the right reason was confirmed to me. Because I love God and his children and mostly because he loves me and the Atonement is REAL and for EVERYONE!!!! Wow I'm grateful for H.F. and EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so blessed with you as my parents and my siblings and friends. I have nothing to be mad about in this life.
Do you have any Tithing experiences you could share with me, we're teaching it this Friday in Spanish. share! Anything else let me know! I love you so much everyone! I 'm excited for this next step in my journey MUCHO AMOR!!!!!! H. Graham
Okay so I'm already down to 20 min because it wouldn’t load but was still taking my time, aggravating, but it's okay. Can't do anything and gotta practice my speed typing.
Busniess:
I leave the MTC at 8:00 and take off from the airport at 12:00 on MONDAY the 19th. Nobody should come to the airport, they suggest it not to happen. I get to Atlanta at 5:50 and leave there at 8:30 . I WILL BE CALLING YOU MY LOVELY MOTHER AND FATHER!!! So that is Georgia time and.... I think 3:00 Alaska time... I can call the house or the school... or both if you and dad aren’t together. Prob no more calling by 8:00 GA time. In your dearelder you can plan it. GA is 3 hours different then AK right? That's how I’m doing my math, if wrong then let me know and we'll plan accordingly :-) . I can't wait to talk to you both, it'll be so great!
. Don't bother mailing anything anymore, cause I leave Monday and won’t get things in time prob. Of course DEAR ELDER works till Sat. afternoon. I would love it if my siblings would dearelder.com me these next couple days, any last thoughts or what they’re up to or anything. I love you all so much!!! Friends too.
So this is my LAST EMAIL from the MTC!!!! How exciting!!!!!!!!!!!! I am going to Argentina BABY!!!!! VIVE ARGENTINA!!!! I do feel very excited and eager and nervous, but ready, for the most part. I love the MTC and the people I've met and spent time with and I'm so grateful for all the help I've gotten here, and practice and learning and growing!!!! Wow it's amazing, what a unique experience I have!!! My Spanish.... It is as ready as it will be. I have learned this week about my weaknesses and what I need to work on with it. The thing is that I can't express ME, MY PERSONALITY very well yet, and that's hard. But I have total faith that it will come, but faith without works is dead, so I have a lot of studying and praying and listening and everything to do, but it will come. I've been told to be more confident, a couple times. It's been such a wonderful week. Possibly the best yet. because we, as a district and a companionship have made goals to work extra extra hard in everything, NO SLACKING!!!! Because the same spirit you leave the MTC with is the same spirit you enter the mission field with, just like when we die.! Interesting huh. But true! I wish I could expand on this but my time is slim, I'll talk more with you on the phone :-) . I'm hoping I get a native of Argentina as my first companion, then it will be crunch and growing time, It would be great. I have felt deeper love for the people of Argentina these last days and I know I'm going to meet and teach people that I knew before this life and promised them that I would find them. I can't wait.
Last night at the devo Elder Glenn Pace talked and it was so amazing and special, and sacred. They didn't record it because he talked about personal things. It was ALL about God's love for us and his children, all his children, even with our weaknesses! He said remove ANY doubt that you are not loved as much as Jesus Christ is loved by God, wow!!! There was a lot more, he shared dying experiences of different types, I can't go into it right now. But afterwards we had a little District review and it was so spiritual and the elders testified so strongly, it was really special, my love and understanding and reassurance that I'm serving a mission for the right reason was confirmed to me. Because I love God and his children and mostly because he loves me and the Atonement is REAL and for EVERYONE!!!! Wow I'm grateful for H.F. and EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so blessed with you as my parents and my siblings and friends. I have nothing to be mad about in this life.
Do you have any Tithing experiences you could share with me, we're teaching it this Friday in Spanish. share! Anything else let me know! I love you so much everyone! I 'm excited for this next step in my journey MUCHO AMOR!!!!!! H. Graham
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Exhortation
Thank you for sharing some thoughts with me about conference, YES!!! SOOOOO amazing and I will try to take some time to write about it in my email, but I prob won't get it all because there was so much good stuff,
Bre got her call to Albuquerque New Mexico!!!! Awesome huh? I don't know when she leaves or is going through the temple, and I'm dying to know. They've had finals this week so I think she's been pretty busy.
Oh mom and dad, I think of you both so often, though, this may sound lame, but it's not because I'm suppose to be doing this - I'm trying to focus more on my mission. But I do and one thing that reminds me of both of you is the Beautiful white-haired Senior Couples that I see everywhere and every devo they get to sit right in the front. That could be you two. I would seriously consider going on a mission. It sounds so exciting for the couples; no bad would come from it. I understand some of the things that are in the way or may seem to come before a mission, but I know it will only bless your lives, and your families lives, and all those you come in contact with, because you both are amazing people, with amazing testimonies and experiences and love for the gospel.
Mom, I'm sorry to hear about Grandma Akers and slowing down, she is such an amazing woman!!!! I will write her for sure. Please give her all my love every time you talk to her. I'm going to miss being with everyone this summer but I am doing a work that is bringing other families together!!!! I hope she can stay strong! I am grateful for you and grateful that you chose to become members of this church and make temple covenants and have a testimony. THANK YOU, from every part of me, thank you!
That's wonderful about Grandma Grahams birthday, I’m glad it went well.
This week we met with the consul for Argentina, it made me very excited, we signed papers and got fingerprinted, It's real!!! I believe it will be the 19th that we're leaving. I think we get our travel plans tomorrow or the next day, I will write ASAP and let you know as soon as I do. I can't believe how long I've been here either; it goes so so sososo fast. We were motivated to make these last few weeks the best weeks, we can step it up and work harder and get so much more out of our time. There is NEVER time for slacking. I love the mission, I LOVE IT!!!!! I don't know how I qualified for such an amazing blessing of having this opportunity to serve; Heavenly Father truly loves me and is full of mercy and grace!
Today we did sealings, and it was wonderful! I am so grateful to go to the temple each week and how it helps me learn and see what's important and what I need to teach to the people I’m serving and that the goal is to get to the temple, always. I don't want anyone I help bring to the waters of baptism to fall away, I'm working on having faith and a personal goal. Goals have taken on a new meaning for me for sure.
OKAY. Not much time left. BUT BOY DID I LOVE CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to read it again and to listen to the Priesthood session. EVERYTHING was wonderful. My testimony of prophets, Joseph Smith and the Restoration, the Atonement, the Book of Mormon, the Spirit, this TRUE gospel, how I need to be towards other people has ALL grown. Wow, I have so much to be grateful for and apply. I thought of my family the whole time, so many talks focused on families. I must say - If my family, my siblings did not listen to conference, they need to repent and listen too it ASAP. Then they need to apply it in their lives. They all have families and there was so much FOR them and their families. I promise that if we all listen to the words of our prophets, listen and hear and apply the words, your lives and your family’s lives will become better. You will come closer as a family unit, you will grow, you will stay strong in the gospel, and your children will go on missions and make covenants in the temple. If you choose not to listen to and apply what was said from our prophets and leaders your saying that your better then God. That YOUR time is more important then God's time and plan for you. I say this because HE instructed those speakers to say what they did FOR YOU. You’re NOT better then God and we all have an enormous debt to Him and our Savior Jesus Christ. We all have time to listen. I say this all in the most loving way and I care about you all so much and I just want to be with ALL of you forever, for eternity. Please listen to our prophets.
I found comfort and guidance from this conference. I can't wait to teach and apply it all in the mission field. There’s so much to think about and apply in my life and my life right now. I can' wait. MUCH meditation is needed. I LOVE THIS GOSPEL. I love and am thankful for the Holy Ghost who is my dear dear friend. I love you all, my family and friends. I want to say so much more but have no time. I love love love God, Christ and their gospel. I am blessed
Love Hermana Graham
Bre got her call to Albuquerque New Mexico!!!! Awesome huh? I don't know when she leaves or is going through the temple, and I'm dying to know. They've had finals this week so I think she's been pretty busy.
Oh mom and dad, I think of you both so often, though, this may sound lame, but it's not because I'm suppose to be doing this - I'm trying to focus more on my mission. But I do and one thing that reminds me of both of you is the Beautiful white-haired Senior Couples that I see everywhere and every devo they get to sit right in the front. That could be you two. I would seriously consider going on a mission. It sounds so exciting for the couples; no bad would come from it. I understand some of the things that are in the way or may seem to come before a mission, but I know it will only bless your lives, and your families lives, and all those you come in contact with, because you both are amazing people, with amazing testimonies and experiences and love for the gospel.
Mom, I'm sorry to hear about Grandma Akers and slowing down, she is such an amazing woman!!!! I will write her for sure. Please give her all my love every time you talk to her. I'm going to miss being with everyone this summer but I am doing a work that is bringing other families together!!!! I hope she can stay strong! I am grateful for you and grateful that you chose to become members of this church and make temple covenants and have a testimony. THANK YOU, from every part of me, thank you!
That's wonderful about Grandma Grahams birthday, I’m glad it went well.
This week we met with the consul for Argentina, it made me very excited, we signed papers and got fingerprinted, It's real!!! I believe it will be the 19th that we're leaving. I think we get our travel plans tomorrow or the next day, I will write ASAP and let you know as soon as I do. I can't believe how long I've been here either; it goes so so sososo fast. We were motivated to make these last few weeks the best weeks, we can step it up and work harder and get so much more out of our time. There is NEVER time for slacking. I love the mission, I LOVE IT!!!!! I don't know how I qualified for such an amazing blessing of having this opportunity to serve; Heavenly Father truly loves me and is full of mercy and grace!
Today we did sealings, and it was wonderful! I am so grateful to go to the temple each week and how it helps me learn and see what's important and what I need to teach to the people I’m serving and that the goal is to get to the temple, always. I don't want anyone I help bring to the waters of baptism to fall away, I'm working on having faith and a personal goal. Goals have taken on a new meaning for me for sure.
OKAY. Not much time left. BUT BOY DID I LOVE CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to read it again and to listen to the Priesthood session. EVERYTHING was wonderful. My testimony of prophets, Joseph Smith and the Restoration, the Atonement, the Book of Mormon, the Spirit, this TRUE gospel, how I need to be towards other people has ALL grown. Wow, I have so much to be grateful for and apply. I thought of my family the whole time, so many talks focused on families. I must say - If my family, my siblings did not listen to conference, they need to repent and listen too it ASAP. Then they need to apply it in their lives. They all have families and there was so much FOR them and their families. I promise that if we all listen to the words of our prophets, listen and hear and apply the words, your lives and your family’s lives will become better. You will come closer as a family unit, you will grow, you will stay strong in the gospel, and your children will go on missions and make covenants in the temple. If you choose not to listen to and apply what was said from our prophets and leaders your saying that your better then God. That YOUR time is more important then God's time and plan for you. I say this because HE instructed those speakers to say what they did FOR YOU. You’re NOT better then God and we all have an enormous debt to Him and our Savior Jesus Christ. We all have time to listen. I say this all in the most loving way and I care about you all so much and I just want to be with ALL of you forever, for eternity. Please listen to our prophets.
I found comfort and guidance from this conference. I can't wait to teach and apply it all in the mission field. There’s so much to think about and apply in my life and my life right now. I can' wait. MUCH meditation is needed. I LOVE THIS GOSPEL. I love and am thankful for the Holy Ghost who is my dear dear friend. I love you all, my family and friends. I want to say so much more but have no time. I love love love God, Christ and their gospel. I am blessed
Love Hermana Graham
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
