Week #77

Hey Family and Friends, 

It’s us the missionaries writing you from the Florida Tampa Mission. We are currently serving in the Citrus Ridge ward and loving it. We had a fantastic week this week. It’s starting to get really hot again! It was a fun and exciting week with Valentine's Day! We decided we wanted to heart attack some members doors and 2 out of 3 were a fail haha! It was one of the many highlights of the week. The first one was the Rosin family, who are incredible. They invited us over for a tea party that they have every Valentine's Day. Talk about the cutest family traditions! After we left, we walked to the car and pretended like we were leaving. We grabbed the hearts and tape and ran back to their door. We started putting them all over the door, even the semi glass part, and little Isley (who is 3) says... "what's on the door?" Sister Barlow and I both look at each other with the deer in the headlights look... I don’t think we’ve run that fast in a really long time!  We got back to the car and realized we forgot to add something to the door. We drove by thinking that they would all just ignore Isley. They caught us! Oh well we tried! We waved as we drove away. After dinner we heart attacked Sister Suman and Sister Sorensen’s apartment and we succeeded on that one! We made yummy sugar cookies and taped a bunch of hearts on their door. Talk about mission fun. There really is joy in the work! 

We got a text from bishop last week asking if we would visit a new move in family. They are a family from Haiti that moved into our ward and we decided one night to go and visit them. When we got there we were just getting to know them. Their mom is a convert to the church so we got onto the topic of baptism. Nailah, who is 10, told us she had never been baptized and really wanted to. Sister Barlow and I were like WHAT! So we talked to her more about baptism and asked her if she wanted to get baptized and she lit up and said yes! We set a baptismal date with her for March 4th. At the end of our lesson she gave the closing prayer and it was the most tender moment. A celestial moment I will never forget! We were in tears as we walked out the door! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!

A few weeks ago we went with Sister Dick to visit a less-active sister in the ward who lives with her daughter and her grandchildren. This week when we met her grandkids who aren’t members. They came down and started listening and talking with us. Kameron, who is 9 started crying and told us how much he loved the video we shared with him. He has a been through a lot in the last little bit. Amaya, who is 13, also came and listened and they both asked about baptism and coming to church! Say what?? Amaya came to young women's on Wednesday and said she wants to come back. They are both very good kids and want to follow God!

I love working with members to find people to teach. We have been working with a young adult, Sabrina, who is preparing to serve a mission. Some of her family members aren’t members of the church. She invited us over last night. We got to meet her niece Stella and she is taking ballet so Sister Barlow and I got to do some dance moves with her. We only saw her and talked to her for about 2 minutes but when she left she told her Grandma, "tell the missionaries that I love them and don't forget." It reminded me of the Saviors words “be meek as a child”!  Moments like these keep you going as a missionary. I love being able to be with children. The gospel is so simple. It makes me so excited to be a mom someday! 

I have such a firm testimony of prayer. When we are obedient and work hard the Lord always provides the things we need in our lives. This morning we received a call while we were out shopping. It was a member from the Gisonia ward! He was calling to give us a referral. The Lord answers prayers! Her name is Karen and the member told us that she is wanting to get baptized before April 1st and is already showing desire to change her life. We are meeting with her on Thursday! Thank you for all of your support! This gospel is true and when we live it our lives are filled with happiness and joy! Have the best week! 

Much Love, 

Sister Kenzie Graham