DC Week 67- Supplement

Miracle update!

1. I was at the VC Saturday evening, and right at closing, a man
approached me behind the counter. I recognized him from earlier. He
had been talking to Sister Leben in German for like an hour.

Well he spotted my name tag and muttered, "Graff..."

To which I replied with a smile, "Yep! That's my name," as I hastily
scribbled down the next days schedule.

"That's a Swiss name." He said.

I looked up at him and smiled, "Yeah it is. My family came from a
small town in Switzerland called--"

"St. Gallen," He finished my sentence.

"...Yeah..." I then responded with a bigger smile now growing on my
face. (I was so grateful I had brushed up on my family history last
week to know that, haha!)

Shocked, he told me that he was related to the same family line! I
noticed the excitement and puzzled look on his face, as he seemed to
plead, "How??"

I answered his unspoken question by explaining that my Great Great
Great Grandfather was Johann Jacob Graf. He was the one to first come
to America. From him, came Charles Jacob, Charles Theodore, Charles
Terry, and my own father.

"Well then you know what? That makes us third cousins!!" He shouted with joy.

(There was now a respectable amount of people, missionaries and senior
couples gathering at the front desk watching our little interaction.
All of who seemed to giggle as they observed our most unexpected
discovery). I couldn't believe it. Just when I though the world
couldn't get any smaller.

Well the time was short so we didn't exchange all the details yet, but
did manage to exchange emails. I will be keeping in touch with good
ol' Jim North.

Before I could leave, I turned to find him making his way around the
front desk, and then behind the front desk to give me the biggest,
squeeziest, most unexpected (and slightly awkward) hug of my life,
hahaha! Everyone just began to laugh out loud! And I was about as red
as a sunburn strawberry in the middle of summer. I hadn't hugged a man
since last fall when that Turkish man tried to kiss me. But Jim simply
said, "Ohhh, we're FAMILY!" :)

We said goodnight, and I went to bed that night with a newfound
testimony of doing Family History.

2. I saw a baby fawn with Sister Hansen on our morning jog this
morning. It came right up to us. So curious. Mom just watched from
afar in the woods. It was such a small little wobbly thing. Reminded
me of how I may have felt at the beginning of my mission. Possibly a
little unsure of myself or the steps I was taking. Always aware of my
Heavenly Parents watching me. Supporting me. Protecting me. All this
built up energy, but no idea how to control or channel it. I may have
even face planted a time or two. However, I also knew that with just a
little time, and some effort...all of that would begin to change. And
it has. It's amazing how God knows us so well. He didn't need to send
me a lecture, or a sermon. Just a baby deer. He knew I would figure
out the subliminal message. He knew I would get it.

So that's it for this week. Go out and find the little miracles God
sends you. Love you family! Make it a good one.

Sister Graff

Pictures-- DC Week 67

Pictures:
1. The Girls <3
2. Meet our District.
3. We're kind of a big deal.
4. With Sister Chavez! We were in the same FHE group in Rexburg! Ran
into her at the Multi-Mission Conference with Elder Ballard. She was
serving in Baltimore. Who knew the world was so small?

DC Week 67!-- May 19, 2014

Family. We meet again.
So I contemplated sending a copy of Elder Tavana's email home to you guys:

"Parents:
All is well. Have a good week.
Your Son."

But decided against it. I'm not an Elder. Haha.

This week was so cool!

On Monday, we had a 4:30 am start to beat the sunrise into the city.
Then went to the Holocaust Museum. Very moving...totally worth it.

Tuesday, Sister Hansen and I "heart-attacked" Alicia's door with
Christ-like attributes she has, accompanied with scriptures, and left
her a Book of Mormon with our testimonies in it. She is our
investigator. Just turned 12. She's amazing.

On Wednesday, we had transfers. We're sticking it out one last
transfer together, my Little Dane and I. It's gunna be a good one, we
can tell.

Thursday, was a VC day. Got a lot done. Left in the late afternoon to
head into the area. Checked on a lot of people. No one answered.
That's okay. Got some street contacts. The Lord was aware of our
efforts, and that was good enough for us.

Friday it rained. A lot. Even for Maryland. Flash flood warnings all
day. I love storms. The Irony: We ran in in it for exercise. Literally
through a river (which used to be the road)! Felt good to get wet.
Arrived back in the apartment (completely soaked through) to hear the
callout from the APs: Stay indoors until further notice. We got a good
laugh about that. Later, I gave two workshops. One for all the sisters
to present our new VC theme for the transfer: Fear Not. There was a
sweet spirit in the main theater. We all needed it. The second one was
in front of President and Sister Cooke, the APs, the Zone Leaders, and
all the District Leaders in the mission for a Leadership Training
Meeting. That went well too. God was with us.

On Saturday, we were privileged to hear from an apostle of The Lord.
Elder Ballard came and spoke to us at our DC Stake center for a
multi-mission conference with the DC South and Baltimore missions.
What a special experience. I took many notes. I know he is a man of
God, and believe in modern revelation. More on that later.

Sunday. Haha oh Sundays. Always crazy. We checked on about four people
before church, trying to get them out. Two promised they would. No one
came. But, at church, Jose Cruz received his new calling from the
bishop: He's a ward missionary. Very fitting, as he has just come back
into activity. He was beaming. And it was suddenly all worth it.
Nothing else mattered. That night at "Why I Believe" Melanie and
Anthony Trujillo came. They are our other recent converts.
It was a sweet ending to an even sweeter week.

Well let me tell you something you already know: This Church is true.
It is real. I know it. I know it. I know it.

Love you guys. Don't forget to be happy :) The world needs it.
Sister Graff

Pictures DC Week 66!

Pictures:
1. Sister Egbert! We were in the same district in the MTC. She's
serving in Virginia!
2. Doesn't look like much in the picture, but I can promise you my
hand swelled up like a balloon. Like I had no knuckles.
#marylandmosquitosdontmessaround
3. Our fellow neighbors.
4. Tracking in the ghetto.
5. DC has issues sometimes.