Our Trio Is Down To Two - Goodbye Sister Oblad

 

Sister Oblad heads home on Wednesday! The middle of the transfer. Kinda weird haha. So we have 3 weeks left of the transfer to crank out the work. We are actually very excited. We both feel like this is going to test our Spanish and push us out of our comfort zones. 

Funny story. So we do this cool service where we go to this little stand on a corner of this street where Trader Joe's and Safeway and bakeries all bring their old food that is past the "sell by" date. We take all of those things and put them into boxes and people from all over the city can come get a free box of food. Pretty cool! So we went last week and they had me out in the front giving all these people the big boxes of food right? Well this guy comes up to me and tells me he needs more milk (this organization says they get what they get and they need to leave. We don't give them more). So I tell him we don't have more and what he has should suffice until tomorrow. He gets really upset with me and this guy takes off his shirt and says "Do you see how much milk I drink?!" I was just like "um...no...?" The supervisor came over and yelled at him and he left with nothing. It was over all a really awkward encounter. 

I got the baptismal certificate for Alfonso's baptism today! I am so glad that I get to have one. He is such a special soul. I wish more than anything we could have attended the baptism in person. But being able to watch through zoom was amazing!! I keep reflecting on the baptisms I've attended and been a part of since I've been a missionary and I really don't think I've ever felt the spirit as strong as I have in those moments. I love baptisms so much. Oh my goodness I love seeing such a special moment in someone's life.

In this area we have TONS of prepared people. I'm telling you this area is a straight up gold mine. We have been teaching this man name Gabriel. He just got married to a woman in our ward and he is just dying to get baptized! I'm hopeful to put him on date during our next lesson so that he can begin his journey toward the Savior!!

Okay so I really have been feeling this week that God really does qualify those he calls. If you would have told me a while ago that I was going to be serving in the visitors' center, giving tours in Spanish, and senior companion...I probably would have literally said "I can't do that". In fact, I HAVE said that many times since I started my mission. But as the day gets closer to when those things are going to happen I actually feel completely comfortable and confident in my abilities. Because here's the thing. I don't need to have perfect Spanish to teach these people. I just need the spirit. That is what will testify of the truth to their hearts. I'm so excited for this next part of my mission journey!! Thank you all for listening to my Ted talk;)

Catch you later :)

Hermana Graves

1- late night talks (9:30 PM oof)

2- getting read for the vc

3- the andrews <3

4-check out these books. They're pretty great.

5-they now have a magnet of my face at the visitors center hahah!

6,7-service!!

8- me, washing the car at the mission home today

9-us on a hike for s oblad's last pday!!

Stay At Home Order Extended - Baptism Of Alfonso!

 

I forgot to say last week. Our stay-at-home order that started on December 6th was supposed to end on January 4th. But it has been extended until further notice. So catch me in my apartment for even longer! Ahaha but it's alright it will be really fun when the stay-at-home order is suspended;)

A few of you know that we started teaching a man named Aflonso the week I got to San Francisco. He was just baptized this past Saturday and I was able to watch through zoom. How special!! Everyone was so happy. Alfonso has made lots of friends in the ward. I am so happy for him!!

It has been SO hot here! Right now it is 79°. We are dying! My body is not used to this so we are all sweating. But it is also nice because all I have is clothes meant for Costa Rica weather 

I've been working on getting more accustomed to the whole Visitors center thing. We've been really busy with it recently. All of our slots are usually full which is nice :)  Honestly, the VC is great because it's a chance we have to break up with week and do something different twice a week. 

Not much more to update everyone on. So here's a thought for the week :) I feel like I might have talked about this before but if I did...whoops. 

Prayer. Very important right? There's a verse in Mosiah that's says "... pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all things." Right now it can be hard to know what to say in our prayers. In a lot of verses of scripture about prayer it talks about giving thanks to God. Which in reality, is what our prayers should probably be focused on. So next time you say a prayer try to focus on giving thanks. Maybe try to do a prayer completely of gratitude and give thanks to God for everything we've been given :)

Chao everyone!!

Hermana Graves 

1-me doing my VC thing ;)

2-sister crowley trimming my eyebrows 

3-the break room. 

4-we found book of mormons in the vc in the bislama language! It is spoken on the island Vanuatu! Sister Crowley did an ILP trip there before the pandemic

5&6- the temple mural

7-another temple pic haha she's so pretty

8-backing up s oblad 

9-this is literally how close our beds are haha low key

10- me flossing

11- "Oakland temple visitors center. This is Sister Graves"

12- the burger I just got. Oof. Soooooooo good.

Adiós San Francisco - Headed to Oakland Temple - Companions (Oblad & Crowley) - Nothing Is Impossible With God - Everything Is Going To Be Okay

 

I said goodbye to one of my favorite places in the world on Wednesday. It was very bitter sweet for me. That's where I've spent most of my mission up to this point. I love the members there and the people we were teaching. It was a rough goodbye :( So I said goodbye to everyone and headed over the bay bridge to Oakland. 

Like I said last week I'm in a trio for 2 more weeks until Sami Oblad heads home. Then we will be in a normal companionship duo. It's pretty wild being companions with someone you know before the mission. We have spent a lot of time catching up. It's been fun :) I have another awesome companion. Sister Crowley has been out for about 3 months and she is killing it. She tries really hard and wants nothing more than to see people change their lives for the better. She's so fun.

My thought for you all today is Luke 1:37. "For with God nothing shall be impossible". Sometimes I feel that this is impossible. Sometimes it feels really hard. Other days are better. This scripture promises us that if we keep God and the Savior at the center of our lives anything is possible. Learning a language, playing for college, making it to the end of a worldwide pandemic. It is all possible because of Him. We don't need to have fear. Everything is going to be okay :)

Not much else to report on. The visitors center is fun and stressful. You know how it is. Haha. 

If any of you want a tour of the visitors center with me...PLEASE send me a message. I would LOVE to show you around the outstandingly beautiful Oakland temple and share my testimony with you. Seriously. Any of you are welcome. If any of you missionaries have friends that you want to see the temple we can talk to them too. :)

Hasta Lunes!!

Hermana Graves

1-My last of many soccer games on the peninsula. Miss all of my missionaries out there in SF!!

2- Saying goodbye to the sweetest soul. Hermanita Betty.

3,4- Chao elderes!!

5- Last comp study in the city

6- bye apartment 19!!

7-last view of the skyline for a while :')

8- my first view of the Oakland temple as a VC sister!

9- Bye sister westenskow! 

10- service with sister crowley in oaklanddddd

11- the only picture I took of the companionship haha!!

My Ankle :( - Transferred To The Oakland Visitors' Center! - Sami Oblad!

We got our new transfer board on Saturday. I'm leaving my city. Heading to the other side of the bay. I'll be moving to Oakland on Wednesday and I'm serving as a visitors' center sister at the Oakland temple. I am terrified because traditionally the sisters that serve in a visitors' center get extra training but they are just throwing me in there haha. It will be a really cool experience to serve on temple grounds for hours every week. I'll be in a trio for 3 weeks with Sister Crowley and Sister Oblad. For those of you back home, Sami Oblad is my companion! Crazy how small the world is! She has only 3 weeks left in the mission so when she leaves it will just be the 2 of us left. Pretty crazy. I never thought I'd serve my mission with someone I knew in high school. Exciting :))

Oh haha we were playing soccer last Monday and I destroyed my ankle haha. Elder Andersen had the ball so I was trying to get it right? Well I tripped myself and sprained my ankle pretty bad. I'll send pictures because I know you all want to see ;) still tender and stiff but improvement!! Then the next day Elder Andersen got his THIRD black widow bite in here in SF...on his face! We picked up dinner from a member and she lost her mind about my ankle and his face. So she wrapped me up and took a picture of us. HILARIOUS. 

Not much has happened this week. Other than the fact that we put 4 of our friends on date for THIS month! I say this ALL the time but really it is the coolest thing to see people making these changes and accepting Jesus Christ and his teachings. As a missionary i see miracles on top of miracles and I cant get enough. Unfortunately, because I am leaving San Francisco on Wednesday I will not be able to attend the baptisms in person. Not going to lie, it stings a little bit. Each of these people started with me and Sister Burch. The thing is it doesn't matter who's there. Just that the baptism happens and they make that special covenant with God:) I'm so happy and proud of each of them. 

As a mission we have been allowed to watch the Chosen series during the week of the New Year. For those who don't know, the chosen is a series of bible stories. And man are they good. In one of the episodes, I got to watch my favorite miracle performed by the Savior. You all remember when the Savior was teaching in a house and then people lowered the paralyzed man into the house from the roof? Yeah that one. When Jesus speaks, he speaks with such power yet it is so soft and peaceful. What a miracle. Take up thy bed and walk. And he walks. AMAZING. random but, just wanted to share that cute miracle. Jesus performs miracles. And our God is a God of mercy. Miracles exist. Tender mercies exist. Just have to look for them. But they are there and they can be found:) you should all watch The Chosen!!!!

Short and sweet today. Love you all.

Happy New Year!!!

Hermana Graves 

1, 2, 3- The ankle progression 

4- Betty after she wrapped my ankle haha

5- Sprained ankle and spider bite HAHAHA

6- Driving around on my last SF pday :(

Sorry for the lack of good pictures this week haha!