Week #67 - Branch Presidents and Punk Rock Diva Goats

Hey Family!

This week was pretty normal up until the weekend. 

We have been spending a lot of time at the bottom, bottom, bottom of the hill further than we usually go and have found some super cool people to teach. A young guy with a small family, a super humble rasta man and a couple others. Things are going well with them so far so pray for them to find the means to get up the hill to church on Sunday!!

We had a Labor Day clean-up project yesterday which was alright. There were a few people who showed up and cleaned the heck out of the place. Oh by the way, because of Labor Day (Memorial Weekend for us, Labor Day for Jamaica), everything was closed so P Day was moved to today.

Collin and Kerry-Ann are making final preparations for the wedding on Saturday so that will be super great. We're in the process of teaching them how to do Family Home Evenings right now.

Elder Hansen, Elder Graham, Omar

So on Saturday we were finishing up a lesson and I got a call from President Brown telling me that our branch president was being released Sunday and asked if I would be willing to accept an assignment to serve as the branch president here in Junction starting the following day. So that was unexpected. I am not even quite sure all the things that I am supposed to do yet. As the district president was talking to me about it, he told me it was going to be a very "on-the-job" learning experience so we will see how this goes. I'm super nervous and feel pretty inadequate but one thing is for sure: the Lord gives us a way to fulfil every single commandment He gives. This falls under that wonderful promise which I will be relying on heavily for this assignment.

(Mom story:  The day before we got this email from Cody I received a Facebook message from Omar, one of the great members in Junction. “Mrs. Graham, I have good news, touching ones.” “Hi Omar! What’s your good news?” “Your son is now our branch president.  Am soooo overwhelming with joy.”  What amazing news to receive from a person of incredible faith – to trust our little 19 year old punk kid to lead their branch is so humbling.  We sure love the people in Jamaica for loving our boy…)

So pray for the Junction Branch alright? Much appreciated.

Love you all. Have an awesome week!

Elder Graham

Punk rock diva goat

We found these fallen down trees that are super lightweight...
So we played with them

Week #31 - Only One May Enter Here, One Whose Worth Lies Far Within - a Diamond in the Rough!

Hey family!

This week was awesome. We got a ton of stuff done!

On Tuesday, we got to the house of a guy we were supposed to see, but another guy named Everick came out instead. We thought we would give him a pamphlet and get his number and ask him if he was interested in learning more. For whatever reason, as we were about to ride off, I figured I would ask him if he had time right then and there to sit down and talk for a bit. He said sure and we had a great lesson with him. Not only was he very interested in the Book of Mormon, but we also found out that he is married and has kids, doesn't drink OR smoke, and is in the Jamaican military! This is someone that the creepy sand lion thing from Aladdin would call, "a diamond in the rough." Only issue is his work schedule is pretty random so it has been hard to see him since then.

President Brown came to my district meeting on Wednesday which was actually really great. We also had interviews with Pres, and that was awesome as well. He told me I would be training "or something" (whatever that means) next transfer which will be on September 26th. So to whoever's family of the missionary I train... I'm sorry. Just kidding. Well kind of.

Thursday morning was a little rough. I woke up super stuffed up which is weird. Never been sick out here until now. To make it better, I must have slept weird, but I woke up with a super stiff neck (no pun intended). So Thursday was interesting. We did a small fast with Sister Murdock to help her gain more of a testimony of the Book of Mormon which was great, just a little exhausted that day, but we still had a great day.

Friday, the sickness got worse, and Elder Biddulph got sick as well. Sister Ridler (the mission nurse) told us the best thing to do is rest, so that's what we did, and it was terrible. I hope I never have to sit inside all day ever again. Oh by the way, Friday marked my seventh month on the mission - What?!

Saturday, I went on a trade off with Elder Gardner. In one of our lessons, some rasta guy came up to the group of people we were talking to and tried to tell everyone that "Di white mon dem a use Jesus fi enslave us all!" Luckily, the people were not in the mood for that guy so they kinda just told him to shut up using creative words until he just sat down and was quiet. I love the people here - they are awesome!

Sister Murdock should be baptized on the 26th of September which will be so cool - I'm way excited for her!

That's about it for this week.

Love you guys!

Elder Graham

This is me trying to cheer up Elder Bidduplh with some Hercules songs... Just kidding. 

But I really was singing to him a little bit, and dang did I sound good.

Looks like it’s a Disney theme in Spanish Town this week:  

♫ “From zero to hero a major hunk,

Zero to hero and who'da thunk?” ♫

Week #26 - Mormons Make the News, No Kidneying

Wagwan family,

This week has been nuts! Elder Jackson and I absolutely crushed it. We taught 29 lessons (we usually only teach around 22ish) and we found 15 potential investigators - we usually find about 5. Things are going good. I think I'm finally figuring this whole missionary thing out.

Some missionaries in our district (Elder Lambert and Elder Senior) got interviewed by a writer from the Gleaner, Jamaica's newspaper company. Their picture was in the newspaper.

I tried cow kidney on Thursday which sounds repulsive. It was actually really good though.   Usually everything we eat here includes rice and peas with it. If not rice and peas, then it is usually boiled green bananas and dumplings which are pretty good as well. I love the food here. It is definitely top notch.

On Friday, we saw this huge pile of dirt with a sign stuck in it that just said, "Free dirt. If you want it come take it." It was way funny.

Saturday we got transfer calls. Elder Jackson and I are staying together and I got called to be a district leader so that should be interesting.

This was probably the best proselyting week I have had so far out here. I hope we can keep it going.

This is an excerpt from an email Cody sent to one of his sisters today - cracked me up so I thought I should share:  Any new husband prospects? It can't be much different than missionary work. You have your weekly goals of the usual: Marriage, sealing, investigators with a "date," investigators who came to sacrament meeting (with you), "progressing" investigators ;) new investigators, potential investigators...

Think about it for a second...

Yes I think you get it now. The same goals for missionary work can be applied to finding a hubby. Get on it. Remember to set goals and make plans.

Miss you guys!

Love,

Elder Graham