Week #98 - Prayer Works

Hey Family!

I'm going to keep this short and sweet because you heard most of it all on Skype (which was awesome to see all of you by the way).

We had a zone party on Friday with and American Christmas dinner. Sunday we were fed twice, and Monday we were fed again. My tummy hurts. The members of the Boulevard Ward can COOK.

So today starts the first day of my last transfer. So crazy. But I mean, everything on a mission is so crazy so it really isn't much different. Missionary work will go on. I pray that I will be able to finish strong. I appreciate all the help that I receive from prayers of everybody back home - PRAYER WORKS so thanks a lot!

Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Graham

The Lewis Family learned that putting up Christmas lights is a strange skill that the Graham family has so they asked me to put them on the grill for them haha. This is their Christmas tree!

Week #97 - Twinkle Toes Graham

Hey Family! 

Well another one gone and another one begins!  Let’s assume he’s talking weeks.  As in seven – the number of weeks before he comes home!!!!!

Tuesday night we went to the Lewis's to show a Holland talk and they were running around like they were about to leave somewhere and just before we asked what was going on, Brother Lewis was like, "Come on elders we're going to KFC - get your stuff, let's go!" Oh it was way funny he was like a kid going to Disneyland for the first time. Unfortunately it was getting too late to walk all the way to KFC and back, so they bought us Dominoes instead. They are the coolest.

On Wednesday night we met with the Roofs, a young newly married couple. They are way cool as well. Elder Morris got his first ackee and salt fish experience with them. We played some games and shared the "Will of God" Mormon Message. Another great family!

Saturday night was the Boulevard ward Christmas dinner. A lot of people performed stuff. I don't really need to explain what we did because I hear it already got leaked to every waking soul. BUT I will say that the song we sang... okay we learned it only minutes before performing it, alright so back off haha... and I don't have an explanation for the end… anyway… (watch the video by clicking on the "what we did" link… Elder Graham’s dance moves at the end are on point).

This week is Christmas. You know what that means: bingo. Skype (he means BINGO!!!!! SKYPE!!!!!!). We have our zone Christmas party on Friday the 23rd as well so the whole week will be full of celebration. 

Please pray for Tricia and Nathaniel as well. They are working for December 31 to be baptized. Yep, New Years Eve! Thank you!!

I guess I can leave you all with something President Pearson sent to all of us this week:

"This coming year will be exciting, with many moments of pure joy that will be countered by times of intense sorrow. Whether we are joyful or sorrowing, there is no need to ever be discouraged. We all must learn to appreciate the opposition we face, for that is the engine of our growth; the key element in the plan of salvation."

Love,

Elder Graham

A companionship that polishes together slays together.

My response: “Wow, polishing your shoes???? I don't even know you.”

Week #96 - Light The Darn World

Hey Family!

Tis the season to be sickly I guess.

I was going through some really gross head cold at the beginning of the week which made me super stuffed up and achy and all that goodness. So we just rested and let that pass as quickly as possible. We finally went out on Thursday and I am feeling MUCH better now.  PS the office elders stopped by real quick Monday night to drop off a fan and one of them gave me a back massage so that was fantastic.

Stake Conference was this weekend. It was awesome! I got to see a ton of people from Spanish Town, members and missionaries! 

Today was way fun - Elder Palmer and Elder Smith came into Kingston and a few of us went to the craft market to get some last little goodies for us, our families, friends and all of you (who aren’t family or friends…?) before we (Elder Palmer and I) come home. So Christmas will come a little late from me but hopefully that won't be a problem.

Have an awesome week and go hard on the #LightthedarnWorld thing because it is awesome! Pretty sure he’s talking about the #LightTheWorld program – an easy way to show love to others and feel close to God during this holiday season…

Love,

Elder Graham 

#LightTheDarnWorld

I can't think of anything clever to say... sorry

I guess you could call these reverse photo bombs? I don't even know...
someone dared us to do it, so...

Good to see friends from Spanish Town at Stake Conference
Nice photo bomb, Elder Morris...

Week #95 - Planting New Seeds

Hey Family!

This went by way fast because of the election thing and all that jazz... but what's new.

Boulevard Ward - Bro Lewis is in the back with sunglasses

We had a super cool experience on Saturday: We met with this less active guy named Bro Lewis and we got talking about faith and seeds and fruits and whatnot. As we were talking he was like "I feel like my tree of faith has stopped growing and it has gone bad... so how do I start over?" and then there was a pause for like 10 seconds, and he was like "Maybe I should just plant a new seed. I can do that right?" Oh it was soooo cool. He and his wife came to church yesterday for the first time in like 4 or 5 months and he got up and bore testimony about how "the missionaries helped him make a new spiritual discovery". What’s really crazy is he said that "When I was talking with the missionaries, Elder Graham looked at me and said, “You just need to have faith, Brother Lewis.”" The crazy part is that I do not remember ever saying that to him word for word, but it is funny how the Spirit says what needs to be said even if we don't put it exactly on point.

Cow Skin

We had dinner at Bro and Sis Parks' house and they are this adorable old couple that makes dang good food!

In other news, Elder Morris and I tried cow skin for the first time this week. It was alright… kinda gummy.

Have a great week and enjoy the cool breeze and snow and rain and stuff because we will be over here sweating like crazy!

Love,

Elder Graham

Selfie game still weak but getting better...

Elders trying their hand at cupping.

Can’t wait to hear how this came about…