One Journey Ends...

Hey everyone!

It's Elder DeGraw again from Scottsdale, AZ. Everything is so beautiful here and I can understand why so many people live here. So much happened this week and I'm excited to tell you about it-- and I'm so happy General Conference is this weekend! So here's the week...

Monday was a little bit of a different day; I got to go to a Diamondbacks game with some members! My first baseball game ever... and the Diamondbacks lost by 15 points! Woah. It's a miracle to see the kindness of members no matter where you are in the world. One member we went with lives in a 7 million dollar house and two other houses (Mexico and Coeur d'Alene). 

Tuesday we had Zone Conference and this was one of the best I've been to. We learned about how important it is to study the Book of Mormon, everyday. It was written for us, none of the Nephites or Lamanites (except for maybe Moroni) ever read this book. I've learned that if we read it and ponder it, it can open our eyes to see God's hand and his love in our daily lives. The Book of Mormon is just the greatest.

Wednesday we didn't do too much. I think we had a lesson that night with the Hummels and we passed off the new-member lessons to the ward's YM's President. 

Thursday... I don't actually remember what happened at all that day.

Friday was a busy day. This last week we met a 23 year-old named Max. He just got out of a motorcycle accident, so he was really humbled when we visited him. The best part is while he's recovering, he has plenty of time on his hands to read the Book of Mormon! Right? Yeah. This was the day that we had to pass Max off to the YSA elders who are also the assistants. I got to go to the lesson with one of them and it went pretty well. I hope Max gets baptized one day.

Service Saturday, Suprise Saturday... this was one of my favorite days this week. Here's why-- first we helped clean the church around 9. Then we helped the elders we live with move one of their investigators. Her names Ann and she gave us sooooooooooo much stuff. I made a list (toilet paper, I think 8 crosses, shower mats, inspiring boards with scriptures on them, letter openers with scriptures on them, lamps with scriptures on them, and much more). After, we ran to the church to help take down a relief society meeting that happened that morning. Then, I got a surprise visit. This story deserves a whole paragraph...

I had just gotten out of the shower and was about to get dressed when I decided I needed to get some music going. I walked into the living room where my desk is and began to listen to a hymn. While I was sitting there, I heard the front door open and, when I turn around, a friendly 90 year-oldish looking man walked in asking where Ira was. First off, lets all stop to remember that I was not decent, I was sitting there in my underwear. So Gary II (that's what we named him) came inside and sat in my companions office chair. I didn't know what to do! I awkwardly shuffled out and found Elder Horrocks. I said: "Elder, there's an old guy in our apartment, help." So Elder Horrocks went out and told Gary II that Ira wasn't there. Gary II said okay and left. We had a good laugh. The other two elders didn't believe us. I didn't even believe me. Woah.

Sunday was awesome. We got 4 investigators at church. Shereen came with the Brimhalls and loved sacrament meeting! She brought her Book of Mormon too! One of the 4 also got a calling as an assistant scoutmaster. He is married to a member and has two great little boys. I'm sure he wants to be baptized one day.

So that was my week. One that I'll always remember. 

This last week I found out that I'll be returning home after General Conference. I have been struggling with some medical things for the past 6 months or so. I have tried to get better while staying here, but haven't. I am being sent home with a medical release. I am sad about that. My heart is hurting. Missions are hard, but they are great too. I have given my all. I hope I have made you all proud.  I have learned many great things. I have changed in many great ways. I have learned to love many great people, most of all-- I have come to better know and love my Savior. 

I hope you all have a great week. Thanks for your prayers and your love for me and my family! I'm so blessed to call you brothers and sisters, and friends. I'm excited to see you all!

Love Elder DeGraw 

6265 N 82nd St
Scottsdale, AZ 85250

March 26, 2018

We got this text late last night...

"We love having your boys here! They are fantastic missionaries that are truly making a difference in our lives. Thank you! It was fun, our littlest (age 7) showed them how to do a Jiu Jitsu choke hold... she tapped them both out. They were both laughing, I promise! No harm done! They also both bore beautiful testimonies. Have a nice evening. Love the Graham family"

Temple Trip, Bougainvillea, and Baseball

I love this bougainvillea bush outside of my window. I've watched it change from green to bright pink over the past couple months. 

:(

Hey everyone,

So it was pretty much the worst week and worst day yet. My new companion's sense of humor is disgusting. Everyday he asks me: "do you hate me?" I'll tell you about the whole day. So we woke up and the other guys played chess while I cleaned (I wanted to). Elder Horrocks and Boyce then went to the leasing office for WiFi and Elder Oldroyd and I still needed to shower. After, we went over to the office and waited for them in the car. We got a call from them asking us where we were. We told them that we were in the car, and they came over to find us. Elder Boyce opened up the shotgun door and told Elder Oldroyd to move. We were just like: "Just hop in, we need to go shopping." Then he said something like: "no, you've made my day inconvenient so I'm gonna make yours inconvenient too." I then started to back up so we could go and he started to push against the door and almost snapped it off except for he gave up. He slammed it and started walking back to the apartment. When we all got back, he yelled at us and called us a few words I've never been called before. We waited for 30 or so minutes waiting for him to calm down. I was worried that he was gonna hurt me. We got ready to go shop and he yelled at us all again. We finally got moving and made it to Walmart and back. Then everyone was pretending like nothing happened. We then went to get lunch and while they were ordering, I couldn't handle the stress of it all and started to cry. I don't know why. My companions a 5 year old. He's so rude and humor is disgusting.

So how's your day been so far..?

 I'll quickly tell you about what happened yesterday. So this last week we were knocking doors trying to find a less-active. The first door we knocked on was a women and the first thing she said was: "I'm sleeping and I don't know you, bye." No big deal. We were gonna leave that building, but then I had the feeling to listen to see if anyone was home. I heard a tv and decided we should knock that door. A really sweet women named Shreen opened and we set up an appointment to come back. It was yesterday and we couldn't find any members to bring with us and we had 20 minutes before the appointment. We finally found the Brimhalls (the millionaire couple in our ward) and invited them. They were so happy we asked and they followed us in their Porsche to Shreen. The lesson was perfect and we really helped Shreen. She'll be going to church this Sunday and the Brimhalls are so excited. I knew the reason we couldn't find anyone was because we needed to find the Brimhalls. 

Love you. Have a great week.

Love Elder DeGraw
6265 N 82nd St
Scottsdale, AZ 85250

Haircut #6

March-ing on...

So this week was pretty normal, up until Saturday when Elder Christofferson came. He was really nice and I learned a lot. Some of my notes... Just Love. Just love and show others you care. Also, always have the Spirit with you. That's so important. 

There's gonna be a Big change coming up this General Conference, like really big. Elder Christofferson and the 70s were dropping hints all over the place. They said that President Nelson is excited to announce it and he also said that when President Monson was in, he said that then wasn't the time. It should be fun to see what happens. I think it'll be involving missionary work.

We ran into Stephanie Meyers at stake conference. She said that she doesn't want to talk about Twilight. 

Elder Agbuya got transferred to Snowflake for his last 3 weeks. My new companion is Elder Boyce (Thatcher is his first name) from St. George. He likes to work hard. The work is slowly moving forward. Elder Boyce is going to work hard to help the members get involved. 

How is everyone else doing on their Book of Mormon reading?

Love Elder DeGraw 

6265 N 82nd St
Scottsdale, AZ 85250

a Tesla... the nicest car around here. 

We call this place "mini Mexico"

My new companion, Elder Boyce