Saying Good-bye to the Richardsons

January 23, 2018

We got this awesome email last week. Elder DeGraw was very blessed by these amazing members in his first area.

Degraw Family,

I am a member of the Westwood ward where Elder Degraw is currently serving.  I wanted to briefly let you know how much we as a ward, and myself personally, have enjoyed and appreciated the service offered by Elder Degraw.  He has been in my home a number of times to teach and has always left our home a better place.  I am coming to realize that after I am with Elder Degraw I am happier and far more upbeat.  I have heard similar remarks from others.  I can't think of a better trait to have as a missionary, or as a person, than the ability to always lift others by simply being around them.  

Thank you for sharing your son/brother with us here in Mesa.  His testimony and service has blessed far more people here in Arizona than he likely realizes.  Do let me know if there is anything I can ever do for him.  Thank you again!

Kevin Hawkes

From Mesa to North Scottsdale

Elder DeGraw is being transferred to North Scottsdale. He had a full day of packing and saying good-byes, but sent a couple quick things. He said... 

"Bro Felix just told me that I'm covering the richest part of Arizona. Stephanie Meyers (author of Twilight) is in my ward. My new companion is Elder Agbuya. He's from the Philippines. He's been out for a while now, I think 22 months."

"My new area is huge! I have one of the biggest areas in the valley. It is massive.So I will be in a Chevy Malibu (picture) and bike once or twice a week. I won't teach very many lessons. And I've been told the people can be quite mean. There's actually four of us living in my new apartment. Guess who I'm living with?? Elder Horrocks, my MTC companion. I am excited about that."

"This past week was kind of a miracle week. There were some days I didn't really care about anxiety. It gets so tiring, so I decided to just be spontaneous. We met a girl named Donisha and put her on date for baptism. I knocked random doors in our area because there was nothing better to do and we met a few great people. One guys name is Ray and we visited for a while. He has a lot of siblings that are members. Elder Bird will be going back soon. We were also able to get 8 investigators to church." 

"Tonight I'll be going around visiting all my people. Wednesday morning at 7:00 is when I'll get a ride with Brother Felix to the mission office and then to my area. 
I will miss the members in this area, and those I've come to know and love. I've seen Christ. Not in person, but I've seen him in the kindness the members have for their families, others, and us missionaries."

"Cool fact. #1 Pizza State is Arizona. #1 Pizza place in Arizona is Spinottos. A member took us there this morning. I liked it." 

"There have been many times that I feel my Grandpa Bud is close. This week I was worried about transfers and home. I prayed sincerely at my bed, and I felt that my Savior was sitting on my bed with his hand on my shoulder as I prayed. I also felt that my future kids were praying with me and listening to my prayer. That day was a good day." 

Some screenshots Elder DeGraw sent of his new area (with a little picture of his mom on each pic. Haha).

The type of car he will be driving...

January 16, 2018

From Elder DeGraw:  "Dinner with the Potters and Sister Messer. Great people. Juliana sure loved that chocolate cake..."

6 Months!

Hey everyone! Aloha kakahiak! I hope you all had a great week and an eventful one. How are the roads doing in Idaho? So here's the week... 

Monday we celebrated Elder Bird's birthday with a cake. We had a pretty neat experience with one of the youth in our ward. His name is Brian and last Sunday I guess he was out with his little brother doing fast offerings when they ran into Guillermo-- one of Brian's friends from school. They started talking and Brian invited Guillermo to meet with the missionaries. So we got to teach him this day and we brought Brian along with us. After, we went and visited Brian's family and they fed us Mac n Cheese with lil smokeys.

Tuesday we woke up and studied. We then got to run and help out one of my favorite families here. It was the family named the Harmons-- the ones that fed Elder Bird the really hot peppers. We shoveled wood chips for them and then we rewarded with Burger King! I love the members here so much! I also grabbed a bag of the peppers and planted them at our apartment. Had lessons in the night. Also we got a rainstorm!

Wednesday we had a bomb district meeting. We also went to this all you can eat chinese place called Autumn Moon. They didn't have any fortune cookies, dang. It felt a little sketchy walking into. Lessons with Bro Galloway at night.

Thursday was busy! We played some bball with all the elders in the morning. Then had a few errands to run in the Mesa mission. Then that night, we went to investigator basketball and I almost passed out. Then went and visited my two favorites; the Webbs. We haven't seen both of them in a while and they invited us right in. Such a great family!

Friday morning we watched President Monsons Funeral. I'm sure going to miss him. I'm so grateful for the blessing of prophets and apostles. I especially love the story Sister Dibb shared about President Monson when he was looking through an ensign and saw a picture of himself and then said: "That man really did try his best." We then weekly planned, visited a few families, and then had 3 lessons that night.

Saturday? Time for exchanges! I went with Elder Wilding into his area. We went to Pollo Piqunté. The best burritos ever. Period. No one answered their doors to us the whole day. Kinda sad. Dinner was awesome, they gave us some kind of milk and told us it would be good for our stomachs. My stomach was not happy.

Sunday was just another day. We woke up and went to church. We then had dinner at the Malolos. The coolest Polynesian family in Arizona. He gave us each a real cocoa bean and told us how to make chocolate out of it. We then had a lesson with Ron, one of our investigators we were about to drop. We actually talked about baptism and he thought about it for a bit, and then said he would be very grateful to be baptized.

And Monday. Not too much has happened so far. We just finished bowling. My head was hurting so I didn't play a game. I did enjoy watching the other elders tho. These are good boys I get to serve with. 

That should be all today. I hope you each have a superb week! I wanted to leave you all with a challenge; "if you choose to accept it." -Mission Impossible. This week Friday will be my 6th months mark and in the time I've been out I've learned how important the Book of Mormon is. We are so blessed to have it in our life's. My challenge to each of you is to take a picture of you or your family holding a Book of Mormon and post (with your testimony or a General Authority quote) on social media. Share the joy that you receive as you study the Book of Mormon and the love that you feel from our Heavenly Father as you do so. Also, you could challenge another friend or family member as well. I can't even begin to say how grateful I am for all the helps and tools our Father's given us so we can make it safely back to Him. #looktothebook #thebookofmormon #lds.org #mormon.org 

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

Elder Clark, my ZL

Bowling

Cocoa

Elder Wilding

Working at the Harmons