Week #10

HELLO!!! Family and Friends! 

This week has been so awesome. It has definitely been different without Sister Martin, But Sister Bowen and I have grown so much in the last couple of days. I'm grateful that the Lord challenges us. If he didn't there would be no opportunity to grow. Tuesday was my last day with Sister Martin. I can't remember if I mentioned this last week, but we have been in a trio since last Friday with Sister Martin and Sister Naa. President split up another companionship and put us together until the transfer. We have had a lot of fun with each other. Sister Naa is from tonga and has one of the strongest testimonies I think I have ever heard. Tuesday we had the opportunity to teach Danean. She was a lady that we met in TJ Maxx a couple of weeks ago. She moved to Florida about a month ago. We had a awesome lesson on the restoration with her. She is progressing really well. We gave her a Book of Mormon and asked her to read 3 Nephi 11 before we see her again. She told us she was super excited to read it. The other night we got a text from her saying I love this book and my Savior Jesus Christ! The book definitely it blue and the church is true. I'm grateful that the Lord has helped prepare Daneans heart. Friday we met up with the Clearwater sisters and were put in a trio for the day. Sister Martin and Sister Harper had a mission leadership meeting. Here in Florida they have an event called first Friday. Only certain towns hold the event. They had food trucks, venders, face point, animal balloons, you name it, it was there. We happened to be in Tarpon Springs. We met so many wonderful people and taught them all about our savior Jesus Christ

Wednesday we had transfers. The Clearwater sisters met us at our apartment early in the morning. Sister Martin and I had a really hard time. We were both crying like girls do when they have to say goodbye. This next transfer will be Sister Martins last transfer. It really is so crazy how you can grow so close to someone in just a short amount of time. I'm grateful for the things she has taught me not only in missionary work, but in everyday life. After Sister Bowen and I took Sister Naa to the mission office in Tampa. We had quite the eventful drive to Tampa. Put three 6 week old missionaries together with a map, no gps and no mountains you are bound to get lost... yupp that's right we drove 15 minutes in the wrong direction. It was quite the trip. We laughed, sang a few songs and headed back in the right direction. When we got to the mission office we met all of the new missionaries and I even saw Sister Suman. President came up to Sister Bowen and I and asked if we were ready to get out of our comfort zones. We nervously replied yes and chuckled with him.

Saturday Elder Jörg Klebingat, area of the seventy, came for a multi zone conference. I just want to start off by saying that he is truly a man of god. We were taught so many amazing things by him that I just don't have the time to share them all with you. I came across a talk by Elder Tad R. Callister called Becoming a Consecrated Missionary. I wanted to share a few words from it with you.

He said in essence: “Every mission has a number of good, even great missionaries, but most missions only have about five or so consecrated missionaries – those who are willing to lay everything on the altar of sacrifice. What is a consecrated missionary? It is a missionary who is willing to lay everything on the altar of sacrifice and to hold nothing back. It is a willingness to give every ounce of energy, every conscious thought, and every drop of passion to this work – to submit our will to God’s will whatever it may be. Every missionary who has been to the temple has covenanted to consecrate his all. The book of Omni records the depth and breadth of that covenant: “Yea, come unto me, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him” (Omni 1:26)  If you only change your behavior, then you will be the same person you were when you left home, subject to the same problems that plagued you then. But if you change your nature you will go home a new man or woman, with the power and discipline to conquer your old Goliaths. If you only get up at 6:30 am because your companion does, you have merely changed your behavior. If you get up whether or not he does, you have changed your nature. If you speak good words but entertain bad thoughts, you have only changed your behavior. If you also change your thoughts you have also changed your nature.

With the Lord’s help we can transform our natures. King Benjamin gave the key as to how we can do it. We must become “submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” (Mos 3:19).

I want to bear my testimony today that I know we can all become consecrated Latter Day Saints that we will be able to make it back to our Father in Heaven. So sorry I didn't have more time today I love you all and I want you to know how much I love being my Savior Jesus Christ's missionary. I love this gospel. I hope you all have a wonderful week. 

Love, 

Sister Graham  

Fun fact of the day!! Sister Bowen and I are closely related. Her great grandpa and my great great grandpa are the same person. Wahoooo for family!!! ☺️