I am ALIVE

Hola mi familia y amigos!!

Well first off it seems that you all are dying to know about the storm that we hard here!!! I'm not sure what the news was telling you all there.  Here they were using words like hurricane or cyclone but it wasn't quite at that level. It was definitely a tropical storm.  So let me tell you how it went.

So at the beginning of last week, we started hearing about a huge storm coming.  We thought one was going to come Wednesday but then it moved and didn't really hit us.  The we hear that there is another one coming.  Our mission leaders told us to stock up on food in case we couldn't leave the house.  We saw Friday morning that it was really cloudy and our leaders told us it was going to hit about 2pm on Friday.  Anyway, we left at 2 on Friday with the determination to go and try to visit people.  I really wanted to go see people and it didnt seem that bad.  We got to the house of a Menos activo and it was definitely raining much harder and the wind picked up like crazy.  We were in the middle of our lesson when our leaders called and told us we had to go back home :(.  Basically it was indeed a very lard storm, but it didn't really hit the part of the capital where I am right now.  It rained for a long time but not that hard.  The scariest part was the wind.  It was very very strong wind that was taking branches off trees.  We got home all perfectly fine and then had to wait inside ALL DAY..that just doesnt happen for missionaries and so I was dying.  Its been almost 8 months since I sat inside and did nothing like that!!!! The only other fun thing was that we didnt have like all day.  It appeared like the wind has messed with the electrical lines a bit and we were chilling with the door open and flashlights.  Anyway, that was my time in the tropical storm!  It definitely hit harder in other places but it was basically just some rain and strong wind.  We did see that a few blocks away, the wind had knocked over a large tree.  And I mean, LARGE TREE.  Like taller than a building.  It tipped over into the road and took a huge chunk of earth out with the roots.  SO COOL! The following day we walked around and just saw piles of tree branches everywhere.  And that about it for us!!

Hahaha anyway yeah that was the storm.  And now I quick update on the rest of my week as a missionary here in the DR!!

Well, this week has been an adventure of work and change.  Its definitely a lot different to have such a big area.  Its funny because I´m the specialist of one half and Hermana Flint is the specialist of the other.  In meetings with the ward members, we talk about our prospective half.  But really its been so cool to wander into some new areas and to be able to teach new people.  Hma Flint and I have been working well together and we´re just figuring it all out.  There were definitely a lot of blessings and miracles this week.

First off, we have a new investigator that is so prepared!! She is 18 years old and the missionaries taught her before but she didn't have enough support from her family.  Now however, her parents are more open and she has been coming to church the last few weeks.  We have been able to see her a few times and she is preparing to be baptized near the end of this month.  I feel so grateful to be able to teach and review things with her and help her be ready for the waters of baptism.  It is such a blessing!!  There is also a super sweet family that the other Hermanas had been teaching. Its a mom and her 4 children.  They are all so sweet and working so hard in order to be prepared for baptism as well.  So excited.

Lastly, I told you all last week about the investigators that Hma Adams and I had been teaching for months and that they came to the activity and then church last week.  Well this week they were able to come yet again.  It was so cool to see them already more comfortable and talking to some of the members.  It filled my heart with so much joy to see them there as a family and to see the effects of the Gospel working in their life.

Anyway I am just excited to keep working and finding new people that the Lord has `prepared for us to share His Gospel.

CON MUCHO AMOR,

Hermana Graham

Change is in the Air!

Hola mi familia y is amigos!!!

i hope that you all are doing well and that you have had a good week!!! Thank you always for your loving support and the emails giving me an update on your lives!  i truly appreciate it!!

Sooo, starting off with the big news.  i have told you all from the beginning that I would be with Hermana Adams for 2 transfers, up until she goes home.  I dont know how, but that time has now come and sure enough Hermana Adams is going home on Wednesday!  Its the most bittersweet moment of my whole life but I know she is off to even better things.  Anyway, the question over the last few weeks was who would be coming to fill her spot.  Well, we got our transfer calls yesterday and they are actually making some even bigger changes.  The ward here in independencia is divided in 2 missionary areas.  Each side has a long area that takes about 45 minutes to walk the length of.  Well they are combining the 2 areas so now there will be a single companionship for the whole thing. I will be companions with Hermana Flint, who I have been living with for the past 3 months as she has been serving in the other area here in Independencia.  It was pretty shocking and will be a lot of work, but I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for us. Also, Hermana Flint ends her mission in 6 weeks, so here I go again- with someone who is in their final stretch.  

Anyway thats been the fun news as of Saturday but this whole past week has just been visiting as many people as possible and sending Hermana Adams off on a high note! Sure enough we were able to have some really cool experiences and see some people start to progress that we have been visiting for a long time.  

Starting off with Tuesday, we had a really cool and unique day. there is an American Naval ship that travels around to different countires providing free medical aid.  We got a call asking if we could come help as translators for the doctors who do not know spanish.  We and a group of other missionaries got to go to a site in the East mission and help the whole day. Hermana Adams and I spent the day with an optometrist from Washington who is also a member.  it was such a cool experience to be able to translate and provide service for the Dominican people in this way.  Our doctor friend was so nice and funny and he wished so bad that he could communicate with the people. There were several realy cool moments though.  It not uncommon for an elderly Dominican person to have really bad eye sight but has never had glasses in their life. there were moments therefore when the doctor would put on a pair of glasses and the Dominicans' eyes would light up and they would say "Perfecto!" (Perfect!) or "Clarito!" (Clear!).  There was so much joy that they could see and recieve this type of help.  It was a super cool experience!!!

We had a cool experience this week where we had an investigator tell us that she had a dream about baptism! We have been teaching her for a long time and she has been going through a couple of really difficult situations.  She has come to the church consistently and love it, but there have been things that have impeded her ability to act and progress.  Anyway she told us that she had a dream that she was baptized in the church!  She said it felt so real and that she felt clean and refreshed.  When she woke up it felt so real and she was happy.  She still has some doubts but I know her dream was a message to her from God to help her make her choice.

Lastly, this weekend we were able to see several miracles!!!

The Elders has 2 baptisms scheduled for Saturday night. We invited all our investigators so they could come and see.  We especially focused on one couple we are teaching.  the couple's who's son was killed and we have talked to them a lot about the plan of salvation.  Anyway, at the last minute the time of the baptism was pushed back.  however they ere still able to come to the church building and participate in a stake activity for family history.  We have been working for weeks and weeks to get them to come to the church so they could meet members, see how it is, and feel the spirit there! It was such a blessing to see them come to the church and get to be involved with the members and learn about genealogy and family history.  Sure enough a member in the ward works with them and we had no idea!!  It was a definite answer to our prayers that they were finally able to attend.  Even though they didnt get to see the baptism, it was what they needed!!  On Sunday, we had the immense joy of seeing them come to church!!!!! It was such a miracle to see this progression and to know that the Lord is helping these people to come unto Him and find the truth.  I know that in the upcoming week this couple will be able to progress even more and find the peace that they are so earnestly seeking. i know that the Lord is always looking out for us.  Even when things do not go as planned, He is still taking care of us.  Even if what we want doesn't happen, we must remember that He always has something even better in store for us. Its an act of faith to look for the miracles in life and to trust in God no matter what.  

Family and friends, I know that our Heavenly Father loves each and every one of you and that He is planning to bless you in your lives.  His plan is the perfect plan that will help you grow and progress and reach your divine potential.  We are all children of a loving Heavenly Father who loves us and wants us to be happy,  He will help us find this when we trust in Him and follow His guidance. I am so grateful to my Father in Heaven for the experiences I have been able to have so far on my mission and for the blessings and guidance He has given me.

I love you all sooo much!  I hope you have a great, blessed week.

Con todo mi amor,

Hermana Graham

What's your Vision?

Hola familia y amigos!!

I hope that everything is going well with you all!!! 

I am not sure if I have explained what a cumplemes is?  Well cumpleaños in spanish is birthday.  So as missionaries instead of celebrating every year, we celebrate every month in the mission, starting from the day we entered the CCM.  Anywayyyy, today I have hit 8 months in the mission!  Which is pretty cool.  Hermana Adams and I have been joking around about how I have 10 months left and she only has 10 days!!  Time passes very quickly and yet I feel like I still have so much more to do and learn.  Time flies by so fast that we barely can keep track, just when a cumplemes comes along.  

Anyway this has been another great week here in Independencia.  

We had 2 days that were especially amazing this week with super spiritual experiences.

First off, Tuesday was a really cool day.  We were able to find a lot of new people to teach, which is always amazing.  We started off in the morning teaching a guy that actually stopped us in the street to tell us he wanted to learn more.  Whenever that happens, we know its someone really special.  Sure enough, this man is so prepared by the Lord.  Our first visit with him, he was asking questions the entire time.  He has such a strong desire to find out the truth and find a church where it just feels right.  He had read everything we had assigned him and already understood and remembered so much of it.  I felt so grateful that the Lord had placed us in his path and that we now have the opportunity to share the restored Gospel with him.  Later in the afternoon, the cool finding opportunities continued.  We had several citas fall through and so we hard extra time to walk around and find people to teach.  We were in a small callejon section and were taking a look down one section to see if there were more houses.  We looked though the door and saw an elderly woman sitting in a wheel chair.  Now normally when it comes to those who are very elderly, we don't have much success teaching them.  They are either 1. very set in their ways without much desire to change or 2. sick or unable to come to church.  However we felt prompted to go in anyway to see if we could do anything for her, perform some kind of service.  Her name is Dominga and she is one of the sweetest women I have ever met.  She is almost completely blind.  She can see a little bit just out of one eye.  She also only has 1 leg, the other having been amputated years ago.  We were not able to teach really but she felt so happy to have a visit.  She has so much faith in God.  When we mentioned which church we represented, her face totally lit up.  She then explained that she used to have a Book of Mormon and read it all the time.  She said it gave her a lot of help and counsel.  Someone eventually took it so she no longer has it but it was amazing to see the recognition in her face,  Even though she is not a member, she has a testimony of the Book of Mormon!  While she may not be baptized in this life, I know that this testimony and faith that she has will help her accept the gospel later on.  I felt so accomplished for this visit with Dominga.  She has no idea what we look like, but we were able to be instruments in the Lord's hands to lighten her day and bring some of His perfect love to her.

The other amazing day was Friday, when we had Zone Conference with the mission president and a group of other missionaries.  Its a whole day of talks and presentations that help us continue on in our work.  The whole focus of the conference was faith, and how we can work by faith to help others come unto baptism.  We read an amazing talk in preparation called 'Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ' by Gene R. Cook.  If you can find it, read it!!! Anyway the mission president ave us this whole analogy about climbing a mountain.  When you start a large hike, you have a vision and a goal to get to the top of the mountain,  Then along the path there are rocks and other stumbling blocks, but you keep going until you reach the top.  This is the same as our efforts to help others accept and live the restored gospel, but it can also be applied to every act of faith we do.  We need to remember our goal and maintain our vision.  When hard times come, why is it that we keep on going forward?  We must also act by faith, pray and commit ourselves to do it in the Lord's way.  When we commit outselves to change, improvement or even a goal, and then pray and trust in the Lord to help us accomplish, that is how we will find success and grow in faith.  Anyway I know that through acting in faith and really dedicating ourselves to doing what the Lord wants us to do, we will be able to find happiness and experience growth.  When you are in the middle of climbing the mountain, remember what is your vision?  Then act by faith and the  Lord will help you accomplish it.

I love being able to learn and serve here on my mission.  Through faith and doing the Lord's will, we can be content and happy, and look back at our time with appreciation and joy!

I hope you all have a wonderful week!!

Con amor,

Hermana Graham

United in Faith

Hola everyone!!!

So today Hermana Adams and I were able to go and visit a part of the DR named Ocoa.  It was her first area where she served.  As a missionary that is about to go home, she was able to come and visit and see all the people she taught.  Anyway its a pueblo up in the mountains and it is absolutely beautiful!! We are actually still here now but about to go back to the capital.

Long story short I have very very little time today.

Anyway this week has been great!  I love the area and especially the members and leaders.  Every sunday we go over to the Bishops house and eat with his family after church.  Its a super special time and the food is amazing.  Anyway yesterday there was an awesome and spiritual little moment.  The first counselors name is Henry.  He has 2 sons that live in the U,S. and yesterday he was able to skype in to watch one of his sons be ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood.  They just had it displayed on the tablet and we got to listen as this young man was ordained to hold the Priesthood power of God.  And another very special aspect is that the Bishop who ordained him in the U.S.  is Dominican and knows all the people here.  Our bishop here knows him very well and they hadnt spoken in a long time.  They were all so emotional to see this young man recieve the Priesthood and even more emotional to be able to talk and catch up like the brothers that they are.  This moment touched me a lot.  Our bishop here is such an overwhelming loving and caring man.  It was amazing to see people united in their faith in Christ and that it doesnt matter where we are.  Even though these friends have been separated by time and countries, they are still faithfully serving the Lord and pushing forward.  

I know that this church is true and that it unites those who are ready and willing to follow and serve Christ.  Its amazing to be able to serve alongside these members and feel this sense of companionship and family bond with them.   Its a blessing to be able to work alongside those who share your faith and love of God.

Anyway I love you all so much.  Even in different countries, I hope you can feel that!

CON MUCHO AMOR,

Hermana Graham

Strengthening

Hola mi querida familia y amigas!!!

How are you  doing??  I hope that you all have had a great week. Hopefully things are going well and you all are feeling the love and support that you need!!

Anyway, I feel like I write about the same things each and every week.  If there are any specific questions or specifics you all would like me to include, just let me know!  I kind of just go with it honestly.  Its hard to describe all the little things so I tend to summarize!  However, there are small little experiences and miracles that I try better to remember and include .

Anyway, this past week has been full of a lot of great lessons and experiences with members and those we teach.  We were very blessed to have several more great lessons with members.  The more I'm here in this area, the more appreciative I get for our ward.  There are just so many amazing members who are so willing to help us and our investigators.  Lately, we have been able to have specific members come to our investigators to help them with specific things.  For example, one of our menos activas and her boyfriend who is not a member.  We have been able to find a young married couple who are also new parents that are absolutely perfect.  We visited all together last night and had a great talk about the importance of the family and how applying Gospel principles in the home helps us progress.  I think the focus on family has been one of the largest things I've learned on my mission so far.  Here in the DR, as well as almost all countries, the nature and strength of the family is put at risk.   It is very common for men and woman to live together and have several children but without the stability of marriage.  Sadly, this often ends with separation and broken families.  Its amazing to see through the examples of members and also through the scriptures just how important the family is to help us grow and come unto Christ.  Its within the walls of our homes and through our family relationships that we can really become perfected in Christ.  Its amazing to be able to testify to these people with broken families that the Gospel of Jesus Christ really does help us to be better and strengthen the family.  Damaged relationships can be fixed and pain resolved when we put Christ first and exercise faith in Him as well.

I love the mission because it is so guided by the Lord.  Last week, my companion and I were able to find some renewed desire contact and find new people.  During one of these days when we were trying to work especially hard to find those who the Lord has prepared for us, we came across a small family.  They have a small 1 year old daughter and we just happened to talk to them as they were sitting on their porch.  We had walked by their house several times before but never seen them.  However we were able to meet them and come back this week to get to know them.  Its amazing to see how the Lord prepared people.  The woman, who is young and super sweet, was raised in the Catholic church but never thought it felt right.  She also spent years going to another church but had a hard time understanding and accepting some of their doctrine.  She is so open and has so many questions.  She also just recently passed through some difficulties and still feels a lot of pain from it.  However, the Lord has allowed us to be instruments in His hands to help her receive answers, find some peace and resolve the doubts that she has had for so long.  From the first meeting, we could feel that the Lord prepared them so be open to our message.  We're so excited to see what will happen but we know that the Lord will help them to understand and accept the truthfulness of our message.

Anyway things are still going very well.  I do have a funny story this week as well!  So I'm not sure if you all know, but the DR has been having drought issues.  Normally this time of year is full of rain and storms, however it hasn't been raining.  All the Dominicans have been praying for rain for some time.  Anyway, when it rains here, IT POURS.  I mean, one second it begins to rain and within seconds its coming down in buckets.  Anyway Sunday after church as we were getting ready to leave the house, it finally began to rain!  We were so happy!  Anyway we left the house anyway because it has gotten a bit better and wasn't too hard.  Anyway as we continued walking more and more closer to our area, the rain picked up super hard!!  We were completely soaked head to toe, still joyfully walking through the streets and enjoying the rain.  All the Dominicans were trying to give us rides or yell at us to come under cover.  We kept on going thinking it would be fine, but it just kept pouring!  The streets were flooded and we were semi-walking in the streets because we couldn't see holes that might exist on the sidewalk.  Long story short, we were forced to turn around and go home, and take showers so we didn't get sick.  It was super fun and a great blessing to see rain because we really need it!

I absolutely love this country, these people and the mission.  I know that I'm here for a divine purpose and that with faith and perseverance, these people will be able to strengthen their faith, their families, and their desires to follow Christ.

CON MUCHO AMOR,

Hermana Graham

Members Make the Difference!

Hola mi familia y mis amigos!!!

I hope that you all have had an awesome week!!!

This week has been an awesome wake-up call for how I can improve as a missionary.  Wednesday we had interviews with the Mission President and he was able to remind me about several things that will help me be able to make the most out of my mission.  There´s such an interesting concept in terms of how we apply ourselves.  When we work by faith and do the best and most we can, the Lord will bless us to receive the blessings and make the changes we need to progress.  When we apply ourselves, we open up our lives to receive more blessings of the Lord.Not just a missionary concept but a life concept!!

Anyway this week we´ve been working really hard to help our area and the people we are teaching.  We´re focusing a lot on working alongside the members.  This ward here in Independencia is so big and powerful.  Unlike the small rama we had in Vicente Noble, this ward has so many members with wonderful and powerful testimonies.  There´s just more support and resources than we had access to in the small pueblo.  Here there are so many great members who identify with the investigators and help a lot.  I told you all a few weeks ago about a couple that we are teaching.  They had a son pass away several months ago and still feel a lot of pain about it. Well we have been bringing a member with us over the last week and a half and it makes a huge difference.  This member also had a child pass away and she is able to give so much personal experience and say exactly what they need to hear.  She is able to share how the gospel has helped her find the peace.  Its amazing to see how much members truly make all the difference.

We also had an awesome experience Wednesday.  We did intercambios or companionship exchanges with members from the ward. I went our with one Hermana and Hermana Adams went out with another.  I didn't really know the member very well but we had an awesome experiences guided by the Spirit!  We went to visit a Menos activo family. A woman who we are mostly working with, but her 3 kids are also members.  Normally they dont come join us, especially her daughter.  Anyway we walk in and immediately this member I´m with goes and says hi to her daughter because they know each other.  I had no idea but this member is friends with them since back when they had been coming to church. Anyway we were able to share with the mom and also 2 of her kids. We talked about our baptismal covenant and what we have promised to do and the blessings God has promised us.  It was an awesome lesson and they all really listened as we reminded them of what is means to really keep this promise they´ve made with God through baptism. It was amazing and I felt so grateful to have seen the blessings of working with members. Truly, ALL THE DIFFERENCE!

All in all, it was a great week.  With each week, I´m getting more and more comfortable with the area and the members.  I know we are going to see some great progress and find a lot of awesome people. 

I love you all so much! Thanks for everything!

Con amor,

Hermana Graham

Small, Powerful Moments

Hola mi familia y mis amigos!

¿Pueden creerlo?  Ya yo tengo 7 meses en la misión y solamente falto menos de un año.  Es un poquito loco para pensar pero el tiempo esta pasando bien RÁPIDO.  Pero, estoy muy feliz y agradecida por el tiempo y las experiencias que he tenido en la misión hasta ahora.  

Anyway, we had a pretty solid week this past week!  We have been working a lot more with menos activos lately and have been able to see some great progress in several of them.  I'll tell you about a couple amazing lessons we had through during the week.  Anyway, I told you a few weeks ago about a new menos activa that we found who has been very prepared by the Lord.  Her long time boyfriend is not a member but has some interest.  We had an awesome Family Home Evening with the ward bishop.  He talked about the importance of family and how the gospel blesses our family relationships.  He told the amazing story of how we met his wife and joined the church.  He was so sweet and sincere as we described how we met his wife when they were both 13 years old.  They had a long process before they finally got together but he knew from a very young age.  Years later, she had the missionaries start visiting and teaching him the lessons.  He describes how he had interest but everything changed when they asked one question:  What would you think if you could be with this woman not only for this life but for eternity?  This man, who had wanted to be with her since they were 13, could not ignore that question.  He then listened to the missionaries with newfound interest and was eventually baptized.  They 2 sons served faithful missions and he is now the Bishop.  Anyway, as he told this story, the spirit was very special and our menos activo and her boyfriend listened very closely. It was special to hear to blessings of the gospel and how it can change and bless families.  

OKay I'm out of time but one more story very quickly.  Last night, hermana adams and I were out teaching people.  We passed for one family and they were not home.  We were talking on the street deciding where to go and finally decided to go see a recent convert who did not go to church yesterday,  We walk into her house and everything seems fine.  Then she quietly explained that her 17 year old cousin died that very morning and she didn't know what to do. It was such a special moment to have been prompted to go see her and help her in this time of difficulty. We immediately called the church leaders and organized for some Priesthood holders to come and give her a Priesthood blessing. There was little we could do to help her, but when we mentioned the blessing she looked at us with hope.  We sat with her until the Priesthood holders came and she said she could feel so much more peace afterward.  It was a very special moment to see and feel the power of the Priesthood.  I know that through this authority they have, they really did give her a blessing through the power of God.  It was a small moment of being guided by the spirit but made a huge difference for her.

Anyway the mission is great and I am so grateful for this amazing experiences to serve and be an instrument in the Lords hands.

CON MUCHO AMOR,

Hermana Graham

We can Progress!

Hola mi familia y amigos!!

I hope that you all have had a great week!

Things have been going well here in the DR!  Not a whole lot that is new but just the same awesome experiences that we get daily!  This has been the end of the transfer and my house is staying the same!  We already knew I´d be staying with Hermana Adams for another transfer because she is going home after this! Yep her last transfer in the mission.  Its interesting to be with someone who is so close to finishing and returning home.  Definitely a different perspective!!  Hermana Flint and Nava are staying here with us too!!

Anyway this week we were able to have several really awesome experiences with menos activos and also investigators.  One that stands out a lot was with one of our investigators.  We have been seeing him the whole time that I´ve been here.  He had shown a lot of interest in the Book of Mormon and had been taught about the Plan of Salvation before I got here.  Anway, I had been thinking for a while that we needed to try to get to know his family a lot better.  Sure enough, Tuesday we were able to talk to him and his wife also.  They lost a son several months back and she immediately started to ask questions about death and God´s plan.  It was so cool becuase she had actually shared with missionaries before and was almost baptized! He had no idea that she had done that before and she had no idea he was currently meeting with us!  It was such a powerful moment as we were allowed to meet with them both and answer some of their concerns and relieve some of their pain concerning their lost son.  In a very special moment, we were able to ask ¨Would you like to know where your son is now?¨ It was so humbling to be able to answer that question and explain that through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we can see our loved ones again after this life.  I believe so strongly in the plan that Heavenly Father has for each and every one of us. I know that He looks after us each and every day and gives us opportunities to improve, feel peace and progress!  He has a perfect plan that allows us to return to live with Him again, and all is made possible through Jesus Christ!!

This morning I was reading a talk that was given to missionaries in the MTC. It talked about how we can reach our potential.  People can come into the mission and leave without really changing.  However, there are certain characteristics that accompany those who devote themselves completely and are able to truly change and become more like Christ.  There was an awesome part that I´d like to share that was talking about change.  He explained that in life, we are constantly changing.  We can make plans of what we want to do and who we want to be, but life is dynamic and we are constantly evolving.  He explained that each day, Heavenly Father gives us opportunities to either choose light or choose darkness.  We have the power each day to make decisions.  If this life is a set of stairs, we can either go up towards Heavenly Father, or we can go down towards our own natural man and the sadness of mistakes and sin.  But the amazing thing is that each day, no matter what, we can choose the better.  I know that one of the main reasons we´re here on earth is to learn and progress.  Christ came here to earth to show us the way and give us an example.  With Him, we can pick the path that leads to true happiness, self growth, and contentment.  Becoming better is a process of faith and we can all do it!

Anyway thank you all so much for your emails and support.  I am always so grateful!

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Graham

Love and Courage

Hola mi querida familia y amigos!!

How are you all doing???? I hope that everything is GREAT!

Thank you all for you emails! I hope you are able to get something out of my emails!

Anyway, this past week here in Independencia was good but also a bit of a struggle in a few ways.  Mostly just because we had several days when we didn't get to go out to work that much.  We went out for a few hours in the afternoon but not the full day like normal.  I was interesting to realize just how important the work is! Even though sometimes we have days that aren't as successful as others, its still better to be out in the streets talking to people and trying our best.  Its given me a new found excitement to work!  Doing nothing just feels like a waste!

Anyway one of the reasons why we didn't get to go out as much was because we had a special conference on Wednesday.  Once a year we have a conference for all the Hermana´s of the mission!  Yep all 50 or so of us all together!  It was absolutely amazing to be able to see everyone, especially all my old companions and those I lived with in Vicente Noble. It was a lot of loudness and excitement but also super spiritual.  All these amazing Hermanas here are truly great examples and such hard workers.  The theme of the conference was "Be Strong and of Good Courage".  We talked about the importance of courage and faith in missionary work.  There are great examples in the scriptures of people who were valiant and strong in defending their beliefs and completing what the Lord commanded them to do.  Very rarely are we asked to do something that puts us in physical danger or the risk of death.  Our obstacles are much smaller or different, but we can still have the positive and enduring attitude of faith and trusting in the Lord.  Its so important to work as hard as we can and rely on the Lord to help with the rest.  It also came to my attention that courage doesn't mean being perfect at things.  It means continuing on even with your weaknesses and shortcomings.  Truly though our faith, weak things can be made strong and the Lord will help us do what we must do.

Here is a video that they made with pictures and videos of all the Hermanas in the mission!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR9wLe4G9I0

Anyway, it was a great learning week.  Even though we didn't get to work as much as normal, we were still able to see miracles and learn a lot.  We have recently found a menos activa who is so unbelievably prepared by the Lord.  She was baptized when she was 8 but has spent several years outside of the church.  During times of difficulty, she has been able to feel the loving arms of God extended toward her, calling her back to what she knows to be true.  She feels so grateful and happy to be coming back to church, and that she can share with her esposo and 2 year old son as well.  Yesterday at church, she even bore her testimony and shared her feelings of love for her Heavenly Father.  She is truly prepared as this time to come back to the path that leads to eternal life.  I know that Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for us all.  When we are lost, He finds the ways to call us back and to show us His perfect love.  

I love you all so much!  I hope that you are able to feel the arms of love that God has extended toward you in your lives. 

CON MUCHO AMOR

Hermana Graham

Finding in Nooks and Crannies of the World

Hola mi familia y amigos!!

I hope that everything is going well with you all and that you have had a great week.  As always, I am very grateful for the emails and support that I've received!   You all are the best!!

Well we have had another great week here in Santo Domingo!  I cant believe that its already been ab out  a month here in the capital.  Naturally it feels much longer but still short at the same time.  Anyway I really like the capital and all the interesting experiences that we can have here.  The ward here is huge and I´m getting to know the members more and more.  They are always so welcoming and friendly and so willing to help us as missionaries.  Its refreshing and awesome and I love hearing their testimonies and seeing how their lives truly reflect their love for Christ.

Anyway we´ve been focusing a lot lately in finding new people.  There´s so many people here in the capital, especially in the poorer neighborhoods.  Instead of making that easier to find people, it sometimes just makes it a lot harder.  There´s so many people and possibilities and so its especially important to trust in the Lord and follow the Spirit to know where we need to go and with whom we should talk to.  It has led to some cool finding experiences!

So I think I mentioned before about callejons.  Callejons are the small alleyway like streets that fill the poorer sections of the city.  These areas are where the houses are built super close together and built on top in all kinds of directions.  Without fail, down almost every callejon (pronounced kai-uh-hone)  there are secretly a bunch of other houses.  Its looks like there´s not much but then you follow and can find some really cool and humble living situations.  Anyway we spend a lot of time in these types of neighborhoods where there a so many people and the people are also more open to listening.  It leads to some really cool finding experiences.  For example, Hma Adams and I were waiting to meet up with a member to go to a lesson.  They were taking a while so we decided to go contacting.  We were just walking along when I looked over and saw a cool callejon.  I could see 3 floors of a building tucked in the back but couldn't see stairs or anything to get up.  We went in to take a look and found 2 guys that lived up there.  We started to talk to them from 3 floors down and then they came down to talk to us.  A few minutes later their neighbor came and invited us in to share.  We talked to all 3 of them and they were so nice and wanted to hear more.  It was such a cool little finding moment and a cool opportunity to meet new people in an unlikely way and in an unlikely place.   Its small little moments like that when I can feel that the Lord is guiding us to find those who are ready to listen the message of Christ´s Gospel.  Within a sea filled of people, the Lord will direct those who He has prepared.

Anyway there´s just so much work and so many possibilities.  Its a unique and special way to exercise faith.  Faith that the Lord will help us discern who to talk to, where to go and what to say.  I know that there are people here in the area specially waiting for us to walk down the callejon and find them.  People who are waiting to hear the hope and comfort that the Gospel brings.  People who love our Savior Jesus Christ and are willing to change their lives to follow Him.  Its so humbling and comforting to know that we are just instruments in the Lord´s hands to help Him with the important work.

Anyway I hope you all have a great week and are able to find what our Heavenly Father would have you do!

CON MUCHO AMOR,
Hermana Graham

Tender Sweet Moments

Hola mi familia y amigos!

I hope that you have all had a great week and that all is well!

So this past week was really special, I´m just going to share a few small things.This week we had the opportunity share with a lot of new people, especially friends and family neighbors of people we know. 

So, we have one menos activa in the ward who isn´t completely there mentally. She has an accident or something a few years ago.  She knows a lot about the gospel but can´t really continue learning more much.  Her sister, is taking care of her and also their elderly mother who is bed-ridden. When I first visited their home, I could see the weight and stress of this humble serving sister. This week. we passed for this menos activa who wasn't home and were able to share with her sister instead. She has a different church but has always said that our church is the most appealing.  It has struck her
attention the most. We were able to share about the plan that God has for us and the promise He has given each and every one of us to help carry our burdens.  We all have difficult moments but its all part of the plan and He is aware of every moment.  She felt such relief and she expresses her hardships and felt the hope and peace of the message of the Gospel. She has such faith in God and has felt the peaceful comfort of the Holy Ghost. It was a moment of tender mercy to testify and see her interest increase. This Gospel really does bring peace and light, something that can truly change lives.

In the middle of the week, it started to get cloudy and we were excited for rain. We were out contacting in the small alleyway type home section when it started to pour. It felt just like a movie as we went to hid under the ledge of some close-by stairs. Almost immediately, 2 woman across the way started to yell for us to come in. One invited us into her patio and we shared with her.  She is so nice and open.  She recognized immediately that what we had to share was a message for her from God.

Okay lastly, this Saturday was the baptism of François! It was small but SO POWERFUL.   It amazed me how quickly the baptism occurs.  It really just takes seconds but that one act changes someone´s eternity. François was so calm and peaceful. He has been waiting for this for a long time and you could just see how prepared he was.  Afterward, he came in with such confidence and bore his testimony and gratitude.  He spoke in Creole and it was translated and it was probably the most I've ever heard him say at once.  There was an immediate change in his demeanor and the fulfillment of something he has waited for for a long time.

I know that the Lord blesses us with these sweet powerful moments.  He is always waiting to bless us. At times we must wait a long time to see the fruits of our faith, but the blessings always come!

I LOVE YOU ALL!

Con amor,

Hermana Graham

Seguir Adelante- Press Forward

Hola mi querida familia y amigos!!!

     I hope that you all have had a great week and that all is well.  I am very grateful for all your emails, prayers and support.  THANK YOU!!!

     With so many people here in the capital, we really do just focus on finding all the time.  Its great because we can always find someone knew to introduce ourselves and share a bit about the church and the Gospel.  Its hard at times when we are able to have a really great conversation with some people but then when we return to visit them again, we cannot find them.  Its interesting but there is always someone we can talk to which is a blessing.  Some days people are not home so we do a lot of walking around, but there´s always some sort of small miracle we see each day.

     So since I got here, we have been teaching this awesome Haitian man named Françios.  He barely speaks Spanish but has been coming to church for several years.  He can only understand a bit of the classes and things in church but he comes consistantly anyway because he can feel that its true!!!  He has ready the whole Book of Mormon already in Creole and has such a desire, even with the communication difficulty.  Anyway the other Hermanas have been teaching him for a while and his baptism is this Saturday!!!!  I am so humbled and excited to be able to be here to prepare him in these last few weeks and see enter into the waters of baptism.  He is such a great example of faith and following through with what we know to be true.  There used to be a larger group of Haitians that came to church but stopped coming in time because they could not understand.  Françios has continued coming because he loves the church and this Gospel and feels the Spirit and the truthfulness.  Its great because while we can barely communicate without a member to help translate, you can just feel his Spirit.  These small tender mercies from the Lord are so precious!  The Holy Ghost really does testify to our hearts so we can feel the truth!  Its something undeniable.  Anyway I am so excited to be able to attend his baptism and to help him through this process as a new member of the church.  Like Françios, I truly can feel that this is where I´m supposed to be.  Our Father in Heaven has a plan for each of us and helps us to find the truth and receive the help and blessings that we need.  We just have to keep working and pressing forward with faith in Christ!!

     Anyway I hope you all have a great week and that you can keep pressing forward in whatever is passing in your lives as well!!

CON MUCHO AMOR,

Hermana Graham

La Capital!

Hola mi familia y mis amigos!!

I hope you have all had a great week and that all is well with you!!!

So, this has been my first week here in Santo Domingo!  I can admit that it was very hard to leave Vicente Noble and especially the people there.  However, I know that the Lord has called me here to work in this area now and that there are people here that I'm meant to meet and work with.  Its all just been super humbling and an opportunity to exercise trust in the Lord.  I know that He will guide us here and also guide the missionaries in Vicente Noble to take care of the people there.

On Tuesday we hopped on a bus and left for the capital.  I am here in Independencia which is a huge well-functioning ward.  There are so many members which I am so not used to after being in Vicente Noble.  The obispo (bishop) and his counselors and all the members are all so awesome and welcoming.  They have a lot of love for the missionaries and do a lot to take care of us here.  I can already see how much the work is different here in this area.  As much as I've now been a missionary for several months, there are so many things that are brand new!  In Vicente Noble, we were always able to find people who were willing to listen.  Here in the capital, everything is so much more fast paced and people are busy and in their own lives.  We have to work hard to find people who are willing to listen.  It's interesting because as much as its so hard to find people, it makes it that much sweeter when we are able to find people who are interested and prepared to listen to the gospel.  I know it will require a lot of work, but I know we will be able to find the people whom the Lord has prepared in the area.  The city is so big and fast paced.  It reminds me of San Francisco.  There are huge apartments building and large neighborhoods.  There's also awesome sections where the house and built upon one another in the most interesting way.  That is where the poorer people live and its seriously just apartments and rooms built on wherever there is space.  It's humbling circumstances, but just so different from the humble wooden and cement homes that people had in the middle of the camp in Vicente Noble.

My companion, Hermana Adams is really sweet and super nice!  She only has 1 transfer left after this one and so I will be with her up until she goes home.  She has spent a lot of her mission here in the capital which has been super nice because she has been able to tell me how serving in the capital works.  In our house, we have Hma Flint who lived in Huntington beach, and Hma Nava who is from Mexico!  They are super fun and with a lot of energy!!

Anyway everything is good here!  There's funny small things I've noticed throughout the week with living in the capital.  I'm so used to living in a small pueblo with few resources that I'm overwhelmed here in the capital.  For example, I didn't even know what to do with myself when we went shopping in the large grocery stores they have here.  People here live with so much compared to what I saw in Vicente Noble.  Anyway there's some "living in a small pueblo for 4 months" adjustments that I've seen and its quite funny actually.

Anyway I love the capitol and the people here.  It's all new but really great and I'm looking forward to my time here and getting used to how missionary work is here.  I know I will be able to be an instrument in the Lord's hands to serve here as well.

Thank you all for everything!

CON AMOR,

Hermana Graham

Me Voy Por la Capital

Hola mi querida familia y mis amigos!!

I hope that you all have had an awesome week and that everything is going well for you all.

Soo, this has officially been my last week in Vicente Noble.  I received the phone call Saturday and am being transferred to the capital!! I'm going to an area called Independencia and I will be with Hermana Adams who is from Washington.  It was a bit shocking but I'm really excited to see how the work is there and to get to know more people.  I know its going to be a HUGE change from my life here in Vicente Noble, but I also know that it's exactly where the Lord needs me to be.

Really, I don't even know where to start with this email.  This week has been another awesome and special time here in Vicente Noble.  I know I sound like a broken record, but I really do just adore the people and the lifestyle and the EVERYTHING here in Vicente Noble.  It has been the perfect area and I just feel so unbelievably grateful to have been able to work here and with these people for 4.5 months.  Every member, menos activo and investigator has been so special and I am just overcome with appreciate and love for them all.  These Dominicans are so fun and loving and humble and have such a love for God as well.  Its been such a blessing to be able to see people progress and make the decisions and changes necessary to really follow God's plan.  

There were a couple truly amazing experiences this week that I'd like to share!

First off, Monday night we had a Family Home Evening with a family in the branch.  They are all members and the daughters have been less active for a while but are coming back to church.  We had a small and simple lesson about eternal families and how we can truly have our families for eternity.  It was so sweet and awesome to hear the younger children participating.  At one point in the night, it started to rain a bit. I don't think I've mentioned this but there hasn't been rain much here lately which is really hard for all the crops that people grow.  People have been praying for rain for a long time.  Anyway, it started to rain and then a few seconds later the lights went out.  This family lives within really humble means and their home doesn't have much.  The lights went out and we sat in pure darkness for a few seconds.  Then they grabbed flashlights and we just continued or message there in the semi-darkness.  It was such a cool and fun and also spiritual experience and I loved this moment with the amazing family.

Tuesday, we had intercambios [exchanges] with a set of hermanas from Azua.  I went out with Hermana Monks who is from Idaho and we had an awesome day.  We had a truly spiritual and powerful lesson with a menos activa.  She is 20 yrs old and has been inactive for about 4 years.  When she came to church for the first time two Sundays ago, she was crying from the powerful experience of taking the Sacrament for the first time in years.  She really has such a sincere desire to come back and a strong testimony as well.  Anyway, Hermana Monks and I were sharing about the Plan of Salvation, about how we lived with God but were sent here so we can experiences trials and learn and use our agency.  We testified about the power of Christ's Atoning sacrifice so we can return to God's presence once again.  At the end, the lesson was coming to a close and so we asked if she had any questions.  This sweet young girl then asked one of the simplest and most sincere questions I've ever heard in my life.  She quietly explained that she had a young boy who died from cancer and asked if she would be able to see him again.  Simple, powerful question.  We just sat there for a second as we processed this question.  I had no idea that she had suffered such a loss as this.  However, afterward we were able to provide the words and comfort that she has been looking for.  We explained that as a young child, her son did not need to be baptized to receive salvation.  In fact, he is already in God's rest.  It was such a strong moment to let her know that if she strives to do what is right and follows God's plan, she will be able to return to live with God and her son once more.  It was such a humbling and amazing moment to have been able to serve the Lord and share what this sweet woman needed to hear.  I felt so grateful to have been able to serve as an instrument in the Lord's hands to bring peace to her mind.

Truly, the Lord has a plan for each and every one of us and has a grand infinite love for us all.  It's so amazing to be able to be a missionary and represent our Savior Jesus Christ.  I know that although my time here in Vicente Noble is over, these people will continue on in their faith and the Lord will watch after them and bless them.

I love you all so much.  Thank you so much for your support.  I pray for you each day and know the Lord is watching after you all as well.

CON MUCHO AMOR,

Hermana Graham

A Son's Plea

Hola mi familia y mis amigas!

I hope that you're all doing well and that you've had a great week!!!

First off can anyone believe that its almost June??? Where did May go and also April and this whole year? Haha time goes by so unbelievably fast and it's crazy how many things happen and how much changes in such a short period of time.  This upcoming week will be the last week of the transfer and then the question is, will I stay here in Vicente Noble or am I off to another place? Well, we shall see :)

This week I have a really special story and experience that I would like to share.  I am so grateful each and every day that I get to be here serving as a missionary and for the awesome people and families I've been able to meet and work with.  There is a family of menos activos that have been inactive for a very long time. In my first transfers here, Hermana Johnson would tell me about them but then said that weren't ready and weren't ever that receptive to listening to the missionaries.  In the first week with Hma Velasquez this transfer, we decided to pass by their house and they were willing to listening.  We've been visiting them every since.  One of the members of this family actually just came home from a mission. He is super awesome and super strong in the church.  He always comes with us to lessons and is always there to help and support in the lessons with his family.  He has such a strong desire to help his family and was so excited when we started to visit them again.  This Saturday, we had a truly amazing lesson with this family that I will never forget.  It was just us, this member and his menos activo mother.  She has always been willing but not really that receptive to act on the invitations and testimonies we've shared with her.  She has a lot of baggage with things that happened in the past and these things have held her back from returning with her family.  This Saturday, we were sharing a part of the Plan of Salvation with them, about how after this life we will wait in the Spirit World for the day when we will be judged of our actions here on Earth.  We will once again be in the presence of God with a perfect remembrance of all we've done, good or bad.  She admitted that if that moment were to happen right now, she did not think that she would be ready.  We testified of how this is the time to prepare and change.  We never know what will happen, but we can choose to exercise our faith and follow Christ and be ready to return to God's presence.  The blessings of repentance and Christ's Atonement are always extended to us no matter what.  I 100% know this to be true.  We can always return to the straight and narrow path of Christ's Gospel if were are willing to be humble and change and show our faith.  We were nearing the end of our lesson and she was listening well but still in doubt.  It was at this time that her son, this faithful member and missionary began to speak with his mother in such a direct and loving and desperate way.  He began to recount a story when he was younger and first investigating the church.  He was the last member of his family to be baptized so they were all members and going to church for some time before he joined.  He began to tell a story of one of the first times he went to church, when he wasn't really sure but then his mother encouraged him and helped him have this desire to go.  As he stated it, it was an "invitation from mother to son".  He then began to plead with her that she might accept his invitation from son to mother.  That she would soften her heart and remember the things she once knew.  He expressed his grief and hardship in that he was able to leave and serve a mission for 2 year and help other to change their lives, but he hasn't been able to help his own family.  He has such a strong desire and testimony of this Gospel, and Hma Velasquez and I were able to support and testify his words to help his sweet strong mother see the importance of these things.  It was a sincere, powerful plea from a son and the Spirit was so unbelievably strong as he spoke with all the power in his soul for the sake of his family to help them remember their faith in Christ and the desires they once had to follow Him until the end.

Family and friends, I know that this Gospel is true.  I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that through Him, we can live with our Heavenly Father again.  We can have joy in this life and be ready and joyful and light when we once again return to God's presence.  There need not be any fear, any doubt or any regret.  We can always come unto Christ, utilize his Atonement, and once again be counted among his disciples.  I am so unbelievably grateful to be able to be here, so share in these experiences and to preach this Gospel.  There are sweet tender mercies and miracles awaiting us, all we have to do is show our desire and continue on in faith.

I love you all so much.  I hope you have a great week!!!!

CON AMOR,

Hermana Graham

Working Hard for the Lord

Hola mi familia y mis amigos!

I hope that you all have had a great week and that all is well! Thank you all for you emails and support. I am eternally grateful!

So this was an absolutely amazing week here in Vicente Noble.  We just keep on working and it's amazing to look back at the week and realize how many truly special and spiritual experiences we have been able to have.  This is truly the Lord's work and we can see so many blessings as we work hard and with love for these people here.  

Hermana Velasquez and I have been able to work with some truly amazing families and individuals lately.  As we have focused more on the importance of family and the gospel, we've been able to help several families really learn and progress about this gospel.  There are two families that have been really progressing and showing real interest. We have been teaching them about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is truly a unique and powerful and divine message. It is a humbling and powerful opportunity to be able to teach about this topic.  To be able to share that our loving Heavenly Father has once again called a prophet and apostles here on the earth just like in the time of Jesus Christ.  Plus through these called servants of Christ and the Priesthood power which they hold, we have the fulness of the gospel and all its blessings. This message is something so special and each time that we teach this, I can feel the Holy Ghost testifying that this is true.  On Wednesday we were teaching one of these families about the Restoration and the Spirit was really strong.  They have such a sincere desire to know how to follow God and which church is truly His.  It was great to share about how Joseph Smith had this same question and concern and he was able to receive a very special answer.  I know that Joseph Smith really was a prophet of God!  He saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and through him, Jesus Christ was able to restore the church that He himself established when He was here on earth.  Through this, we have the opportunity to learn and know of God's plan and what we need to do to return to Him.  We invited this family to act in their faith and pray to know if these things are true.  There is so much confusion in the world today. So many who don't know how to follow Christ and so many who don't believe in Him at all.  Truly if we want to know for ourselves, we must act and exercise our faith!  It was amazing to see how excited and willing this family was to act.  I know that the Lord is trying so hard to help people find the truth.  It's humbling to be able to be a part of this work and help people find this peace and knowledge and joy in their lives.  It's even more humbling to think that I have been called to serve here by a living prophet who holds the authority of God to help direct this work.  I know that I have been sent here for a reason and that the message that we carry is so special and important of all of God's children.

On Friday we were able to travel to Azua for another Zone Conference.  All the missionaries from the south met together and we were able to hear some great messages.  We had the privilege to listen to Elder Hugo E. Martinez from the Seventy and his wife.  These are 2 truly amazing people.  They are both doctors and converts to the church with really strong testimonies in the power of missionary work.  Hermana Martinez spoke to us about having a vision and working effectively to complete it.  We need to find the vision, then make goals, and them make plans on how to fulfill them.  This is something so important of us all! I have really seen that we work so much harder and effectively and really see differences in people's lives when we follow this model.  These things help us identify the motivation behind why we do things and helps us be productive and successful.  When it comes to missionary work, the vision is to help people receive the blessings of Christ in their lives and make the changes to really follow His teachings.  We do this by teaching and working with members and following the guidance of the Spirit.  It was such a great opportunity to meet together with fellow missionaries and speak in how we can improve and be better instruments in the Lord's hands.  I felt so inspired and motivated after and I know we will really help people to change their lives and we work with diligence and love and our whole hearts.

Anyway I am just so happy to be serving the Lord.  Really the love I feel for these people and the Lord is the perfect and most powerful motivation.  I know that the Gospel has the power and potential to change and improve our lives!!  Through the true church of Christ, we can be guided and receive the fulness of blessings that God has to offer.

Thank you all so much for everything!

CON MUCHO AMOR

Hermana Graham