So this week was pretty cool!
Where to start...
Okay so remember those Africans? Well we went over again
with Alin to teach them and it went pretty well! We watched the restoration
movie and discussed it. We even got two soft baptism commitments. Which isn't
really anything but it means that we brought up baptism and they know where we
ideally want it to go.
Then church yesterday was really good. There were some
really well done talks. The BP kind of layed down the hammer about home
teaching and it was kind of awesome. He got this super cool looking face, kind
of like a face of righteous indignation, and told people how important home
teaching was and that if they weren't home teaching, they need to repent and do
home teaching.
Then there were two talks that were really well prepared
by some YSA members, one of whom is a recent convert of about 7 months. The other
one was 23 year old member who is, in his own words, cel mai smecher,
which means like the biggest punk ever. But he got kind of emotional in his
talk, talking about family. He mentioned how he would do anything for his
younger brother who is on a mission right now in Germany, although they fought
a lot when they were younger. He got really choked up when he said, "It
doesn't matter if you have a brother who, for 20 years or more speaks nothing
but bad things about you. Because when he needs you, you'll be there to
help him. Because he's your brother."
He went on to say how much he loved
him. This clearly made me think of my brothers and family in general, and I
know that if my brothers ever need my help I will be there if I can. Family is
the strongest bond in the world and beyond. I'm so grateful that I have my
amazing family. An older brother and two younger brothers who are both great
examples to me. I look up to each of you in different ways. And to have such
amazing parents, grandparents, and extended family members is a priceless
blessing for which I am so thankful.
This week I also listened to one of the best talks in the
world: "His Grace Is Sufficient." If anybody hasn't listened to it,
go listen to it.
Even if you have, listen to it again. I know I always get
the thought that I'm too imperfect to ever reach perfection. The thought
crosses my mind frequently, "If I can't do these little things, how can I
do the big things that I'll need to do to gain exaltation?" That talk
explains grace so well, and has helped me on multiple occasions to understand
how things actually work, and that although we will ALL fall short in the short
run, in the long run we can make it. I especially want my brothers to hear it
:) All this talk about brothers makes me think of them and I know that this
talk can and will help each of them.
Anyway, more about me. Yesterday we went out chalk
contacting in the park, and I brought my guitar to bring in some atmosphere and
attention. It was such a great night! We got quite a few people to come up and
talk to us and it was so much fun. Something about it just made me feel so much
more normal and comfortable with talking to everyone. It just like made me feel
like I was in my right zone, playing the guitar and singing and talking with
people. Someone even tried to tip me though I obviously refused.
We didn't get
anything solid from it but there was a really cool young 13 year old boy who
talked with us for quite a while and I'm sure we made an impression on him.
He's actually apparently studying to be an orthodox priest, but he was still
super open minded and wanted to talk, so it was super cool. It's been a long
time since I've done either of those, chalk contacting or music contacting, and
both just made me feel so much better at talking with people. We plan on doing
it again next week.
So yeah that's about it!
Hope everybody's doing great!
Love you!
-Elder DeGraw
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