Totally thought this sent yesterday. Definitely didn't. Here it is. Love you!
Hey folks.
Sorry this is a quickie. I have five more minutes of P-Day so here
goes cool story number two.
La única cosa es que quiero contarlo en español porque pasó en español
jaja. Hace una semana Hermana Hansen y yo decidimos a pasar por
algunos menos activos en la área, (porque hay tantos que no conocimos
en el barrio). Pues escogimos una que se llama Felicita Huayta.
Pasamos y ella contesto la puerta pero no nos permitió a pasar porque
dijo que estaba bien ocupada (que estaba lavando platos o algo).
Bueno, en mi mente pensé, "Tienes que estar ALLÍ." Adentro. Me puse el
pensamiento afuera de mi mente pero vino otra vez: "Hermana Graff,
tienes que estar adentro de la casa. Tienes un mensaje para compartir
con ella ESTÁ noche." Ahora, yo no podía negar un "promting" del
espíritu, entonces le preguntamos, "¿Pues, esta bien si tomamos diez
minutos de su tiempo? Sabemos que puede bendecir a su vida y es muy
especial a nosotras." Bueno, ella nos miro por un segundo y nos
permitió a pasar!!! Un minuto luego estábamos sentando por la sofá
escuchando de todo su historia con la iglesia.
Ella nos contó de como se encontró la iglesia (o mejor, los elderes le
encontró a ella jaja) hace como 30 años en Perú! Ella era la única en
su familia para ser bautizada. Tenía cinco niñitas en el momento y
estaba en el proceso de separar de su esposo. Fue a la iglesia sólita
por sólo dos años. De allí, ella se mudó a Los Estados Unidos sin sus
hijas. (¿¿Pueden imaginar??) Después, se quito de ir...y eventualmente
se inactivo. Diez años después que se mudó, su ex esposó se murió,
dejando todo sus niñas sin un papa, y por eso, todos vinieron acá para
vivir otra vez con su madre. (Ella no les ha visto en diez años...)
Vinieron en el año 1997. La mayor tenía 16 años.
De allí, ella procedió a explicar que le ha querido a regresar a la
iglesia por mucho tiempo ahora. Que realmente quiere cambiar. Le
preguntamos que recuerda de la iglesia, o que le tocó lo más. Su
respuesta? "El espíritu." Ella no podía negar el sentimiento, la
diferencia que se sentía acá.
Pues, le testificamos de la importancia de ir a la iglesia, y le
invitamos a asistir el Domingo. Nos dijo que sí! Que vendrá! Qué
maravillosa, no? ¡¡Sólo necesita una invitación!! Y de pensar...que
casi nadie le ha visitado todo este tiempo. Cuán alegría me dio que
pasamos eso día. Que sigamos el Espíritu en eso.
Family, I have a testimony of the following the Spirit. I know that
when we do, miracles happen.
Love you a whole lot.
Sister Graff
1 Corinthians 2:9-10
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
DC Week 58-- March 18, 2014
Hello again! Man the weeks just fly...
Well sorry about not being about to shoot out an email yesterday. We
got the call from the APs on Sunday night that P-day was switched to
today. Who knows why? Maybe this last snowstorm had something to do
with it. Whatever the reason, here we are.
Ok, so quick story time! I have two. We'll start with the one that
happened like five minutes ago:
Sister Hansen and I had just gotten downstairs to the lobby, (to send
our family emails) when we saw some of our other fellow sisters pull
right up to the front door and start unloading groceries. Seeing one
of them climb out with a cast on her leg, and the other with countless
bags in her hands, we dropped what we were doing, and ran out to help
them carry all the stuff up to their apartment on the seventh floor.
While Sister Croese (from The Netherlands) stayed behind to help
Sister Bertholon (from Tahiti), we grabbed the groceries and headed up
in the elevator by ourselves to drop off the stuff outside the door
for them. Well, while attempting to juggle everything, one of the
gallons of milk slipped and crashed to the floor, breaking in two, and
sending a white wave of cow juice all over our shoes and feet. We
stood there for about five seconds, moping/surveying the damage, and
then began bursting into fits of laughter. There was no saving any of
it. The moment to act was gone. It was just gone, haha! Right along
with the milk and our shoes and our egos.
Well, so that's not all. We had this mess to clean up/try to hide
before the Sisters showed up, and we also wanted to "make restitution"
so that we could sleep well tonight, and so we ran to our apartment on
the sixth floor and grabbed our almost full gallon of milk (which we
had just bought, not an hour earlier) and upon returning to the
seventh floor, found their door not only unlocked, but slightly open.
Kicking it all the way open with my foot, I ran in with two bags of
groceries and a carton of eggs and dropped it all off on the kitchen
table. Than ran back to the door, and got the gallons of milk from
Sister Hansen and put them with the rest of the stuff. Surveying my
handy work, and making sure everything was spick and span, we began to
run down the hall to the elevator again when we saw the sisters clear
down at the other end of the hall yelling something to us.
"Whaaat??!" We hollered back.
"We're on this end of the buildinggg!" They shouted. "This siiide!!"
After, standing there stupidly for now the second time in five
minutes, and soaking in what we just heard, we responded sheepishly:
"DO YOU MEAN WE JUST RAN INTO THE ELDERS APARTMENT??"
All we heard from the other end of the hall was laughter.
We couldn't believe it. We had, unknowingly, "broken into" the Elders
apartment. Guys, that's like uncharted waters. Like who knows what the
heck you would find in there! (Come to think of it I did think the
giant, bent, metal "stop" sign on the living room floor seemed out of
place for a sister's apartment). And we just broke about seven rules
from the white handbook, without even knowing it. Well you've heard
that ignorance is bliss. At this point, I was no longer "ignorant". My
"eyes had been opened", and I guess you could say that because I now
had this "knowledge", I couldn't just go waltzing back in there to
retrieve our edible hostages, you see?? Well, sister Croese saw it
differently. More like a "getting-the-ox-out-of-the-mud" situation. I
love her so much haha!
After several trips, and a few more side pains from uncontrollable
laughter, we made our way (once again) back down the long hall with
our proud possessions in hand. When we finally dropped off the stuff,
and bid our fellow sisters adieu, (they thanked us for our more than
helpful service rendered), Sister Hansen and I made our way back down
to the first floor to notify the custodian, and then to the bench
where I now sit, typing you this pointless email :)
Oh, trust me, I tried to come up with a "moral" to the story, but my
head started hurting. So I'll let you figure that out. And if you
would somehow make sure this lovely incident does not get out to
President Cooke, that would be much appreciated as well :)
I think for times sake, I will stop here for today. We'll save the
other story for next week. Well family, it's been real.
I love you a whole lot.
Sister Graff
PS--The Elders will be receiving a peachy voicemail about making sure
they LOCK THEIR DOOR the next time they feel like going out to play
basketball!!
Well sorry about not being about to shoot out an email yesterday. We
got the call from the APs on Sunday night that P-day was switched to
today. Who knows why? Maybe this last snowstorm had something to do
with it. Whatever the reason, here we are.
Ok, so quick story time! I have two. We'll start with the one that
happened like five minutes ago:
Sister Hansen and I had just gotten downstairs to the lobby, (to send
our family emails) when we saw some of our other fellow sisters pull
right up to the front door and start unloading groceries. Seeing one
of them climb out with a cast on her leg, and the other with countless
bags in her hands, we dropped what we were doing, and ran out to help
them carry all the stuff up to their apartment on the seventh floor.
While Sister Croese (from The Netherlands) stayed behind to help
Sister Bertholon (from Tahiti), we grabbed the groceries and headed up
in the elevator by ourselves to drop off the stuff outside the door
for them. Well, while attempting to juggle everything, one of the
gallons of milk slipped and crashed to the floor, breaking in two, and
sending a white wave of cow juice all over our shoes and feet. We
stood there for about five seconds, moping/surveying the damage, and
then began bursting into fits of laughter. There was no saving any of
it. The moment to act was gone. It was just gone, haha! Right along
with the milk and our shoes and our egos.
Well, so that's not all. We had this mess to clean up/try to hide
before the Sisters showed up, and we also wanted to "make restitution"
so that we could sleep well tonight, and so we ran to our apartment on
the sixth floor and grabbed our almost full gallon of milk (which we
had just bought, not an hour earlier) and upon returning to the
seventh floor, found their door not only unlocked, but slightly open.
Kicking it all the way open with my foot, I ran in with two bags of
groceries and a carton of eggs and dropped it all off on the kitchen
table. Than ran back to the door, and got the gallons of milk from
Sister Hansen and put them with the rest of the stuff. Surveying my
handy work, and making sure everything was spick and span, we began to
run down the hall to the elevator again when we saw the sisters clear
down at the other end of the hall yelling something to us.
"Whaaat??!" We hollered back.
"We're on this end of the buildinggg!" They shouted. "This siiide!!"
After, standing there stupidly for now the second time in five
minutes, and soaking in what we just heard, we responded sheepishly:
"DO YOU MEAN WE JUST RAN INTO THE ELDERS APARTMENT??"
All we heard from the other end of the hall was laughter.
We couldn't believe it. We had, unknowingly, "broken into" the Elders
apartment. Guys, that's like uncharted waters. Like who knows what the
heck you would find in there! (Come to think of it I did think the
giant, bent, metal "stop" sign on the living room floor seemed out of
place for a sister's apartment). And we just broke about seven rules
from the white handbook, without even knowing it. Well you've heard
that ignorance is bliss. At this point, I was no longer "ignorant". My
"eyes had been opened", and I guess you could say that because I now
had this "knowledge", I couldn't just go waltzing back in there to
retrieve our edible hostages, you see?? Well, sister Croese saw it
differently. More like a "getting-the-ox-out-of-the-mud" situation. I
love her so much haha!
After several trips, and a few more side pains from uncontrollable
laughter, we made our way (once again) back down the long hall with
our proud possessions in hand. When we finally dropped off the stuff,
and bid our fellow sisters adieu, (they thanked us for our more than
helpful service rendered), Sister Hansen and I made our way back down
to the first floor to notify the custodian, and then to the bench
where I now sit, typing you this pointless email :)
Oh, trust me, I tried to come up with a "moral" to the story, but my
head started hurting. So I'll let you figure that out. And if you
would somehow make sure this lovely incident does not get out to
President Cooke, that would be much appreciated as well :)
I think for times sake, I will stop here for today. We'll save the
other story for next week. Well family, it's been real.
I love you a whole lot.
Sister Graff
PS--The Elders will be receiving a peachy voicemail about making sure
they LOCK THEIR DOOR the next time they feel like going out to play
basketball!!
DC Week 57-- March 10, 2014
Miracle week...
Sister Hansen and I picked up three new investigators! (A mother and
her two daughters). So awesome. They are amazing, and we were led
right to them.
I wish that we as missionaries focused more on the family aspect of
this work. The gospel is not just for one individual here, and another
there. Don't get me wrong, those stories always seem to be the most
striking to me, (you know what I'm talking about. The one strong
family member who had enough courage to take a leap of faith and try
something new. Well, not only try it, but accept a whole new way of
life. A whole new beautiful and unique perspective on eternity. I mean
that's exactly what happened with Grandma Roxie! And I will never
cease to be amazed at the bravery and determination of such
individuals...) But how much easier would it have been for them if
they didn't have to do it alone...? If the whole family decided to
take that leap....and march that journey...together? I firmly believe
that this will quickly become the new focus of missionary work. Well,
actually I think it always has been...we may just seem to miss that
perspective at times. I've fallen into that trap for sure. It can be
so easy to latch onto the ONE investigator you have, investing all
your hope and energy in them as you strive with all diligence to help
them progress towards baptism...because you know it will make them
happy...All the while, who falls on the wayside? Family members.
Friends. Loved-ones. And yet...we preach of the promises of eternal
families. Tad ironic to me. I just want to do MY best to change that
mentality in missionaries. Yes. It is important to find "the one".
However...think of the possible joy that could be found if the focus
changed from baptizing "the one" to baptizing FAMILIES... Hasn't that
always been the goal of our Heavenly Father? I think so. So I think
I'll try it. We'll try it. Then I'll follow up with you, ok?
Sure love you family. I know we ARE forever. And what a beautiful
thing it is. It is beautiful.
Sister Graff.
+-+Copy.jpeg)
Sister Hansen and I picked up three new investigators! (A mother and
her two daughters). So awesome. They are amazing, and we were led
right to them.
I wish that we as missionaries focused more on the family aspect of
this work. The gospel is not just for one individual here, and another
there. Don't get me wrong, those stories always seem to be the most
striking to me, (you know what I'm talking about. The one strong
family member who had enough courage to take a leap of faith and try
something new. Well, not only try it, but accept a whole new way of
life. A whole new beautiful and unique perspective on eternity. I mean
that's exactly what happened with Grandma Roxie! And I will never
cease to be amazed at the bravery and determination of such
individuals...) But how much easier would it have been for them if
they didn't have to do it alone...? If the whole family decided to
take that leap....and march that journey...together? I firmly believe
that this will quickly become the new focus of missionary work. Well,
actually I think it always has been...we may just seem to miss that
perspective at times. I've fallen into that trap for sure. It can be
so easy to latch onto the ONE investigator you have, investing all
your hope and energy in them as you strive with all diligence to help
them progress towards baptism...because you know it will make them
happy...All the while, who falls on the wayside? Family members.
Friends. Loved-ones. And yet...we preach of the promises of eternal
families. Tad ironic to me. I just want to do MY best to change that
mentality in missionaries. Yes. It is important to find "the one".
However...think of the possible joy that could be found if the focus
changed from baptizing "the one" to baptizing FAMILIES... Hasn't that
always been the goal of our Heavenly Father? I think so. So I think
I'll try it. We'll try it. Then I'll follow up with you, ok?
Sure love you family. I know we ARE forever. And what a beautiful
thing it is. It is beautiful.
Sister Graff.
DC Week 56!-- March 3
Hey family!
Happy Birthday to Grandma and Carrie last week! And to Big Rob this
week!! Fun times, must mean spring is coming!! ;) You wouldn't believe
it out here though. We woke up to a white Christmas in March. Got the
callout from the Assistants last night that "Storm Titan" was headed
for DC today. We figured it was sort of a big deal, since they decided
to name it. This is like our seventh snow day we've had in the last
several months, but we are choosing to have fun and make the most of
it :) #howtobeamissionaryindoors? #thestruggleisreal
Hermana Hansen and I have had some good times this last week! So one
of my most recent discoveries, and to my dismay, is that I can now
apparently ramble in Spanish. Never thought the day would come. Oh how
I long for simpler days when all I could say was "Se que Jesucristo es
mi Salvador." Now, unfortunately I have gotten into the habit of going
off on tangents about Kolob and Shiz and other fun doctrines of no
importance to our investigators. Okay. Maybe that was a slight
exaggeration, but I have to really focus to keep the conversation
gospel centered and on topic. It's really easy for Hispanics to change
the subject. (About as easy as it is for Robert to say "YES!" to a
video game marathon). Well, it's been a fun challenge anyway.
We have also been getting to know the area really well! Mostly due to
getting lost. Actually the other day, we had a dinner appointment with
a member who lives outside of our boundaries, but still attends our
ward. Well since our area is the closest to her, we got the lucky
invite to dinner, (which would have gone so much more smoothly if we
had been on time). Even leaving an hour in advance, we did not achieve
punctuality. <<<Not sure why I went medieval on you all there. Anyway,
moving on in ENGLISH now. Long story short, between my navigational
skills, and my companion being new to the area, our luck was a tad on
the short side. And I believe that even sometimes, Heavenly Father
just shakes His head and chuckles at us, as we take the necessary time
we need to figure things out. Not that He was removing Himself from
the situation, or feeding us to the wolves (or in this case Hermana
Wooton) but one thing's for sure, we learned those roads like the
Title Page of The Book of Mormon. And despite the delightful
chastening we got upon arriving (just imagine rubbing sandpaper on a
nice sunburn) we were still able to deliver our spiritual thought on
patience. Yeah...we didn't plan that too we'll either. #irony #ourlife
Needles to say, we ended up walking into our apartment that night
smelling like salmon and guilt. The dinner was good though!
Moral of the story?
1. Live and learn.
2. A GPS is always a good investment.
Love you family! Make it a good week, and don't forget to eat your
fruits and veggies!
Sister Graff
"Man's extremity is God's opportunity."
PS--Random thought: Had a nightmare that Adam forgot my name :( Good
thing that would NEVER HAPPEN, right?? Just checking :)
Happy Birthday to Grandma and Carrie last week! And to Big Rob this
week!! Fun times, must mean spring is coming!! ;) You wouldn't believe
it out here though. We woke up to a white Christmas in March. Got the
callout from the Assistants last night that "Storm Titan" was headed
for DC today. We figured it was sort of a big deal, since they decided
to name it. This is like our seventh snow day we've had in the last
several months, but we are choosing to have fun and make the most of
it :) #howtobeamissionaryindoors? #thestruggleisreal
Hermana Hansen and I have had some good times this last week! So one
of my most recent discoveries, and to my dismay, is that I can now
apparently ramble in Spanish. Never thought the day would come. Oh how
I long for simpler days when all I could say was "Se que Jesucristo es
mi Salvador." Now, unfortunately I have gotten into the habit of going
off on tangents about Kolob and Shiz and other fun doctrines of no
importance to our investigators. Okay. Maybe that was a slight
exaggeration, but I have to really focus to keep the conversation
gospel centered and on topic. It's really easy for Hispanics to change
the subject. (About as easy as it is for Robert to say "YES!" to a
video game marathon). Well, it's been a fun challenge anyway.
We have also been getting to know the area really well! Mostly due to
getting lost. Actually the other day, we had a dinner appointment with
a member who lives outside of our boundaries, but still attends our
ward. Well since our area is the closest to her, we got the lucky
invite to dinner, (which would have gone so much more smoothly if we
had been on time). Even leaving an hour in advance, we did not achieve
punctuality. <<<Not sure why I went medieval on you all there. Anyway,
moving on in ENGLISH now. Long story short, between my navigational
skills, and my companion being new to the area, our luck was a tad on
the short side. And I believe that even sometimes, Heavenly Father
just shakes His head and chuckles at us, as we take the necessary time
we need to figure things out. Not that He was removing Himself from
the situation, or feeding us to the wolves (or in this case Hermana
Wooton) but one thing's for sure, we learned those roads like the
Title Page of The Book of Mormon. And despite the delightful
chastening we got upon arriving (just imagine rubbing sandpaper on a
nice sunburn) we were still able to deliver our spiritual thought on
patience. Yeah...we didn't plan that too we'll either. #irony #ourlife
Needles to say, we ended up walking into our apartment that night
smelling like salmon and guilt. The dinner was good though!
Moral of the story?
1. Live and learn.
2. A GPS is always a good investment.
Love you family! Make it a good week, and don't forget to eat your
fruits and veggies!
Sister Graff
"Man's extremity is God's opportunity."
PS--Random thought: Had a nightmare that Adam forgot my name :( Good
thing that would NEVER HAPPEN, right?? Just checking :)
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