Week #38 - No Tricks, Just Treats

Hey Family!

My week was awesome, but I will keep this pretty short. 

His response when asked if he went Trick or Treating:  Halloween isn't celebrated at all here. It was just a normal day besides the 2 pounds of caramel and gummy worms we bought. So I’m guessing a visit to the dentist is looming…

We had zone meeting on Wednesday. Elder Christensen and I had to teach a section of it which was pretty great. Wednesday night, Elder Havili got to come teaching with us which is always a good thing - I learned a lot from it.

Shout out to the twins for turning 21 on Thursday! I truly can't believe they made it this far. Just kidding.

The whole week, we focused on talking with EVERYONE, which has become so normal that it has pretty much become second nature to just stick your hand out to shake the hand of whoever is passing by... That's our sneaky attempt to get them to stop walking and chat so we don't have to chase them down and walk with them. It's great, don't worry.

Overall this week, Elder Christensen and I got a ton of work done this week and it is starting to show.

This one lady named Annie is trying to get rid of the bar that is inside her house because she knows it’s no bueno. She came to church yesterday and loved it! I'm excited for her. She is on date for baptism on December 20th so we will see how it goes! Of course she still has a lot to do between now and then but it can definitely happen.

Unfortunately that's all I got for ya this week.

LOVE YOU!

Elder Graham

I forgot to take any pictures this week so here's the crew at the email shop.
Elders Christensen, Graham, Biddulph & Gardner

Week #36 - He Who Laughs... Lasts.

Hey Family!

Lots of funny little things happened this week.

I got to go to a big mission-wide district leader training meeting which was really good. I learned a ton and got to see a lot of people.

Happy Birthday Elder Knight!
Elders Graham, Gardiner, Knight, Christensen,
Biddulph & Koegler 

Elder Knight's birthday was Tuesday and we made a chocolate cake for him and bought white grape cider to celebrate like classy men.  

 

On Wednesday we were teaching someone, and this little girl just sat down by us with a joint in her hand. She opened it up and took all the marijuana out and threw it on the ground. It looked pretty liberating. It was hard not to laugh. Someone was NOT going to be happy.

Thursday Elder Christensen and I were walking down some street, and I watched a little school kid just drop his drawers and start peeing on another kid. The moms were just like "AHH! AY BWOY STOP DAT NAH!!" Super funny. Sorry for the Patois input but there wasn't a better way to describe their reaction.

We went to KFC for lunch on Friday (first time I have had KFC since I've been out) and on the drive toward the place, an oncoming van swerved into our lane and was coming at us from far away. Next thing we know, the van swerved off the road into a dirt bank and up a little hill. It had quite a bit of air time. When it landed, the bumper came off and it was crazy. We didn't really know how to react so we just did we do best: laughed....hard.

 

Sunday was a little frustrating. An investigator who promised us she would be at church didn't make it. So we are going to figure out what the deal is later this week.

Hope everyone at home is doing great! Congrats to Chelsea & Wyatt for getting engaged!!

Love and miss you guys!

Elder Graham

Last Week's P-Day at the only bowling alley in Jamaica
Elders Graham, Gardner, Knight, Biddulph & Koegler

Week #33 - New Companion, New Member and New Respect for Pork

Hey family!

This week was really hectic, but still great! I got a package from my cousin, Tami Adams which had a bunch of Canadian candy in it – it was the best. THANK YOU Tami!

Tuesday I went to a meeting for all the trainers which was good - I learned a lot. Elder Jackson left for Port Antonio on Tuesday as well so I went into a trio with the zone leaders. 

Wednesday was a lot of fun. We went to Old Harbor and surprise dropped in on Elder Palmer's district meeting. 

Elders Graham & Christensen

Transfers were Thursday. I received (…received??  What, did he come DHL?? Sorry, I just thought that expression was so strange – not sure if it’s Jamaican or Cody!) Elder Christensen, from Gilbert, AZ. He is awesome. The first day he was with me, he would just walk right up to people and talk about the gospel. He is fearless which influences me to be more fearless as well.

Saturday was interesting. While playing soccer in the morning, I planted my foot weird and kinda minorly hyper-extended my knee and twisted my ankle. Lucky for me, Elder Gardner knew a lot of places we were gonna go that day so he went with Elder Christensen for most of the day while I went in the truck with Elder Biddulph. Also that morning I took some Ibuprofen to slow the pain but I completely forgot to eat anything and so what happened next was....projectile vomit haha but I felt better after that (bless this boy’s attitude… I have never followed the words projectile vomit with “haha”).

Elder Graham, Sister Murdock, Elder Christensen

Sister Murdock got baptized Sunday morning which was awesome! She wanted me to confirm her in Sacrament meeting so I did. And then right after that, the bishop asked this other little kid named Prince who was baptized on Saturday who he wanted to confirm him and he also said, "Elder Graham." So I got to confirm two people at Sacrament meeting yesterday. Lots of fun.

The work is moving here in Spanish Town. I'm excited to see what Elder Christensen and I can do here! Talk to you more next week!

Love you guys!

Elder Graham

And uh, Mom, the picture you put up of "Ribena" is actually a picture of sorrel haha.  Well it was bound to happen sometime - and here I thought the internet was 100% accurate…

Ribena...
For real this time

Courtesy of the Zone Leaders...
Ah Jamaica.

Thanks, Tarieq, a member in Spanish Town
for sending updates on our boys!!