Finally Socializing! - Taco Truck - Soccer - Eternal Families - Taylor & Shannon's Baby (The cutest little girl ever)

Hello friends! Another week here in the beautiful city of San Francisco!! This place is literally the BEST. Everything about it is wonderful. I've always loved big cities. So it's only fitting that I get to serve my mission in one! 

I'm not gonna lie, it has been a very uneventful week but it was SO wonderful at the same time. One of the best parts of the week was that we went to this taco truck on Mission street and got street tacos. Now you're probably asking yourself "Is it really that great to get tacos?" ...........the answer is YES. These tacos were impeccable. Thank goodness for the fact that California is full of people from different countries because the food in this place is so exotic and delicious. I'm a huge fan. 

We also got to have our FIRST district activity of my whole mission today!!! We played soccer for like 2 hours. It was basically me and Sister Morris playing with all the Elders hahahahaha. It be how it be sometimes. We have the worlds best district. I'm willing to fight you on that. I reallllllyyyyyy scored with the district and companionship. 

In other news. My oldest brother, Taylor, and his wife, Shannon, had their first baby! My first niece, Willow Rosalind Graves. I've been able to facetime them two times since she was born a few days ago. I am SO thankful for technology. The fact that I don't have to wait the rest of my mission to see her is a comfort to me. Willow is the cutest little girl I've ever seen. Maybe I'm biased? But I love her with my whole heart and I CANNOT wait to meet her in 11 months 

So what has my brain been thinking about this week?? Eternal Families!! The fact that my brother, his wife, and his daughter will never part is nothing short of a miracle. We can be together forever! How incredible is that?? What more can a person ask for? 

My mind has also been wondering about the purity of an infant. How sweet and tender is the spirit of a baby? A human that was so recently in the presence of God and the Savior. We should consider ourselves lucky to be surrounded by such precious and wholesome beings. I know I am. 

Love you all! Good luck next week. And stay safe out there!

Hermana Graves 

1- Got myself some San Fran souvenirs. I wear them all a lot 

2- We did facemasks with our sister training leaders over facetime.

3- This is when we all are dead inside after a long day so we just sit and talk until it's time to go to bed 

4- We didn't have any more money this week for groceries so...I literally just got bread for the week. Pray for us Haha. 

5- a fanny pack full of everyone's stuff

6- GO GET IT

7- before I left for the MTC I bought some matching onesies for my nephew and niece. Sloths are native to costa rica so it seemed appropriate. Everyone, meet Willow. 

Best Week! - Teaching English & The Gospel - Chicken Nuggets - Timing/Patience/It's Up To Heavenly Father

Okay. Best week of the mission thus far. For some weird reason I had no idea you could have this much fun while being a hard working missionary. I have found SO much joy this past week. 

First I want to tell you all about our new friend. We got another referral to teach another English class. We pretty much only teach English classes at this point, but hey, at least we get to teach someone something! So this man, Fernando asks us to teach him English right? Yeah well we call him and ask him a few things about himself, as you do. He then says "I have one very important question". And we were like "Yeah okay". Then he says "You don't drink coffee right?". We were a little taken off guard because at this point we were only talking about English. We explain why we believe that coffee isn't something super great for our bodies. He told us immediately after "oh that's not a big deal. Coffee doesn't matter that much to me". This man legit told us he is willing to give up coffee...and we thought we were just teaching ENGLISH. Our time ran out and he told us that when we are allowed to go back to church (hopefully in 2 weeks) he wants to go with us!!! Wait there's more. We set up another English class with him...then he says "next time can you teach me about Joseph Smith?"...this man is GOLD. I can feel it!!! So yes. Very excited about that. 

In other news. We completely ran out of food so we had to get chicken nuggets from McDonalds 4 days in a row for dinner. I mean, I didn't complain in the moment...but it was a lot of chicken nuggets. 

Also, we've started a new game. Sister Burch has the entire score to Harry Potter for all 8 movies on her phone. So, Sister Morris is our judge. She will play a random song from any of the 8 movies. Me and Sister Burch compete and try to figure out what movie and what scene each song she plays is from. I'll attach a photo of Sister Morris in her judge uniform for illustration. 

We are having lots of fun and lots of success here in San Francisco! I adore my companions and I love this city. 

As for what I've been learning about this week. It is alllllllll in God's timing. Every single thing. The day I maybe go to Costa Rica, the day I finally feel comfortable with Spanish, the day I feel the fruits of my labors. I'm telling you. I know that every thing that will ever happen in this life is up to God. What a comfort it is that we can just trust in Him and everything will work out the way it needs to! That makes me so happy to know. 

Stay safe everyone! 

Love,

Hermana Graves

Congratulations to those of you who just skip to the pictures. It's okay we all do that ;)

1-At service at the park Goran took us into the Japanese Tea garden for FREE! Whoot whoot for the best district!!

2- We went on a run to the fire house where Mia from Princess Diaries lives! Just 10 minutes away! 

3- Sister Morris in her Harry Potter game uniform. 

4- We went to Ghirardelli square today!!

5- These chocolate shakes hit different 

6- My cute girls at Ghirardelli square 

7- Sister Mills and Sister Telford come over on Sunday mornings for our church meetings and sacrament. So cute. Love them. 

7 Days Without Seeing The Sky - San Francisco - Goodbye Sister Finch - Sisters Burch, Morris and Graves

But, we will start with the not as juicy stuff first. I'm sure everyone on this list has heard a word or two about these fires right? Yeah the smoke is constantly getting worse I swear Haha. We went to service on Wednesday as usual right? Yeah so we woke up at 6:30 as usual. We were instantly confused because it was so dark outside. We thought that it had to be midnight. Nope. The smoke was so thick that there was no light. I'll attach some photos of the whole ordeal. I quite literally have not seen the sky since last Monday. 7 days without the sky. 

In other news (on the sadder side) Sister Finch went home on Saturday. That left me with an emergency transfer, back in a trio, and into the big city of SAN FRANCISCO! I am really in the city now. It's so cool. Sister Finch is doing well and is happy and home. I am also doing well and love it here. My new companions are Sister Burch and Sister Morris. Superrrrr cute. Love then both. I have had far more chances to practice my Spanish since I got here which is wonderful! Also Sister Burch was the designated driver until she hit the car on a wall twice hahaha so now that job is all on me. I'm the new driver in a huge, massive, very busy city. Kinda scary but I really missed driving so I don't mind too much.

One sad thing about this change is we had to leave Juan with the Elders back in South San Fran. I hope everything works out with them and Juan continues to find Christ. We have had a few lessons with some families that are genuinely curious about our beliefs and want to come to Christ (a missionary's literal dream). It's been so fun to talk to them and get to know them and answer their questions about the love that the Savior has for them. 

I've learned a lot about Christ-like love this week. Everyone is important in this plan that Heavenly Father has for us. And we each are going to have different experiences and trials. No matter what we need to love each other. And support each other. It is important to note that to succeed in this there can be no unrighteous judging. It is not our place to judge people. It is our job as disciples of Christ to love as He did. No matter the circumstances. 

I hope you all have the most fantastic week. Love you all. 

Love,

Sister Graves :))

1- The sky about 2 hours after we woke up on Wednesday morning

2- The sky at 1:28 PM...it was INSANE

3- Our last day as Facebook admins...RIP

4-Goodbye to the worlds coolest district. I was so sad to leave them

 

5- My cute new companions 

Painting the Savior - Week 6 = 6 Months - Goodbye Sister Lau! - With God All Things Are Possible

Painting The Savior - 

Sister Graves & Sister Lau

Let me start out by saying, good for you if you make it through reading my emails. If you know me, you know my brain moves at 500 mph. So I apologize for my emails always being all over the place. Alright. So honestly not much happened this week. So this will probably be shorter than most weeks lol.

Alrighty everyone here we goooo! Week 6 in the field! I hit my 6 month mark on Thursday! Only one year left already? Woah! 

On Wednesday the day started out nice :) we got to do our weekly service project again with the nonprofit food distribution! Lots of loading cars again! Honestly, it's the best part of the week. We love service opportunities!! However, my day got sad as we returned to the apartment to finish packing up sister lau's things. We took her to Oakland and said goodbye. It was so so sad. It was THE BEST to talk to her again today! When she left she hid a little bag made in Costa Rica full of colones (Costa Rican currency) and the sweetest letter hidden in my stuff. I love that I made a lifelong friend so quickly. Miss that girl. Wow. 

Alright after that me and sister Finch have been speaking Spanish to each other a lot more lately! I dont know if I can say that I feel like my Spanish is improving very much BUT I'm getting more comfortable with what I do know. So that's been a blessing for sure! Participating in lessons is something I am getting more comfortable with because we are down to just two of us and not three. So I'm learning how to be more comfortable in lessons. 

Other than that the only news I have to share is that (drum roll please)...JUAN IS ON DATE FOR BAPTISM!!! October 10!! We are so excited for him! He is such a great guy. We really love him. We still have a few things to teach him but this man is GOLD. He's going to be such a great addition to the ward. 

Oh actually. I just remembered one more thing. We got a call from the assistants on Thursday and asked us if we would be admins over the San Mateo Facebook page! Kinda stressful. We are now in charge of making our facebook page successful. If any of you missionaries have ideas PLEASE let me know. Also, if you all want to go like the facebook page "Church of Jesus Christ in San Mateo". That's me :). Hit that subscribe button and turn on the post notifications 

Now I know that this is the part you're all waiting for. What did I learn this week? Well, I learned about teaching with the spirit. I had the opportunity to have a lesson with a good friend from home. As I shared with him my experiences and my feelings and my testimony he felt inspired to share something with me. This is something that I need to remember every single day! I'm so glad he reminded me of this! He told me to remember that the spirit is the teacher. It was PERFECT timing that he said this because I was just then feeling like I really couldn't teach well, especially in Spanish. When he said that it clicked that with God ALL things are possible! And if I am being a good teacher...I would be letting the spirit teach! I'm thankful to Tanner for teaching me when I was trying to teach him!

Have a great week everyone!

Sister Graves

1- We had "the last supper" with Sister Lau at Panda Express.

2- Our last service project before transfers. Elder Hamblin and Sister Lau are now both in Oakland. I miss them both lots. 

3- Views driving home from Oakland

4- Us about 5 minutes before we put Juan on date for baptism!!!

5- The last photo of me and sister Lau until we see each other again on the plane to Costa Rica 

Vamos A La Playa - Food For Those In Need - Ocean Baptisms Due To Covid 19 - Good Bye Sister Lau

 

Porque tu familia es importante para ti?

Singing at Jacob's ocean baptism

Why is your family important to you?

This has been the best week so far! But also, it's been the saddest too :(

We finally had the opportunity to take part in a service project! They are few and far between here due to the pandemic but we found one! Pretty simple, volunteers come and pick up food (meat, vegetables, milk, etc.) from our station and they drive it to houses of families who are in need. We load the cars full of food :) It was SO WONDERFUL! Getting outside and being able to serve is so refreshing! We get to do it with the other elders who serve in the El Camino Ward. So there's 8 of us :)

The next highlight of the week is that we got to attend the baptism of Jacob! He is such a sweet kid. The coolest part of this mission during this pandemic is that we have to have baptisms in the ocean!! So Jacob got baptized in the ocean! Which means we got to go to the beach  Yes yes. I stepped foot on the sand!! Amazing. So exciting!

So we have had a few more lessons with Juan since I last wrote. This man LOVES the Book of Mormon. Long story short, after a really good lesson we asked him if he wants to be a member of our church. He said "claro que si!". Which means of course! He said he would pray to know if he should be baptized as a member of the church! So we will know soon if we can put him on a secure date! I'll keep you all updated. :)

Later that night we found out transfers. Sister Lau is heading to Oakland on Wednesday. Not gonna be easy for me. Shes become a very close friend over a very short amount of time. I truly love her with all my heart. She's the reason I have been able to make it through my first transfer here. I was having a hard time today knowing that she would no longer be in my companionship anymore and she said to me, "Don't let anything get in between you and that flight to Costa Rica". I needed to hear that. She seriously pushes me to be a good missionary and to keep trying. Shes the best missionary and I'm going to miss her so so so much. 

On a less sentimental note we went on a beautiful hike today with some of the elders in our zone along the coast! It was GORGEOUS! Not to mention it is the most wonderful thing to get outside of the apartment and socialize with other missionaries and get to know them better! Such a wonderful week! 

I've been reminded this week that God is really with us through everything. It has been the best week for me, but it has come with some of the hardest moments. But God has not forgotten me! He knows me! His son died for me! Jesus Christ is my savior! He is the savior of the world! I know that He is walking by each of you through each of your trials. He knows each of you.

Have the best week!

Sister Graves

1- El Camino missionaries at our service project :)

2- Comps at service 

3- At the beach baptism!!

4- The little beach we went to + Elder MacPherson's head. 

5- MY GIRL SISTER LAU 

6- The only people in attendance at the baptism were us missionaries and his Grandmother and his aunt. Pretty cool.

 

7- The view from our hike today

8- Me on the hike :))

California Fires?

Another week has already passed! It feels like I was writing a weekly email just 2 days ago! Time flies when you're having fun 

I'm sure you are all wanting to know about the fires...? Well. We are safe, as of now. We are pretty much surrounded by fires in every direction. Our Zone Leaders call and check in on us a lot to see if we have been evacuated yet. So who knows? Maybe we will have to be evacuated from South San Fran for a while. As far as the air quality goes...yikes. I haven't seen a blue sky in days. We can barely see the hills. It is very very thick smoke. President Durham has told us not to go outside at all. He is very concerned for our lungs. So now we've got Corona AND the fires keeping us inside from visiting people! Things can only get better from here right? 

We have a new friend! The Elders in San Mateo met a man that was in our area so they passed him off to us. We had 2 lessons with him last week. He is Christian and he LOVES the bible. He's really enjoying the Book of Mormon too! I mean, how can you not?  We asked him to join our Mission's Virtual Spanish Zoom Sacrament Meeting...AND HE CAME!!! He said he loved it! We are so excited to meet up with him again this week! So if you feel so inclined, keep my friend, Juan in your prayers 

This week I have learned a lot about God's love for me. I find myself being really hard on myself frequently and feeling down. During personal study I was listening to a talk by Dieter F Uchtdorf. It's a classic. You've probably heard of it. "Forget me not". I would strongly encourage anyone who is sincerely feeling forgotten or sad to go listen to this talk! I was reminded that no matter how dark my days might seem or how insignificant my efforts might feel, God has NOT forgotten me. He never has and he never will. He knows me and me struggles. And it's the same for you!! 

Have a wonderful week everyone! Love you all. Thanks for your prayers

Hermana Graves

P.S. if anyone needs a pen pal...I LOVE writing letters :) shoot me a message if you want a handwritten letter from yours truly

1- The night the fires started getting bad...this is right outside the apartment.

2- The sunset last night. Smokey skies make for BEAUTIFUL sunsets somehow. 

3- My dad sent us this paint by number.  

4- Grandma and Grandpa Graves sent me a fun package with lots of food 

5- The sunset again ahahahah so beautiful.

6- My girl Hermana Lau in the Target bathroom. Target is out favorite place.

Me Gustan Trenes - Toilet Flood! - All He Wants Is The Best We Have To Offer

Alrighty everyone. Buckle up. It is story time. You know how every missionary has a few near death experiences? Well I just had my first one. And it has to do with a train.

We were driving home from picking up dinner for a member and the GPS sent a

us a way we have never been before. It brought us to a railroad crossing. The lights started flashing and there was a stop sign so naturally we stopped. The gate thing on the other side of the crossing was closing but Sister Finch (who was driving) could not see the other gate. I was sitting in the back seat when I saw the gate about to close r oh get on too of us. That's when I realized we were about to get hit by a train. I screamed "Sister Finch GO NOW!". She had no idea what I was talking about but she didn't hesitate and floored it...and a few seconds later the train came flying by. So, the gate we were under almost crushed the car, we almost got hit by a train, and then we almost hit the other gate on the other side of the tracks. It was a wild time. 

Needless to say we all feel like heavenly father was watching over us in that exact moment because I'm not sure how we cut it so close. God watches over his missionaries. He watches over all of his children!!

Here's another story that I think you will all find very interesting. Our toilet flooded our bathroom on Saturday. And both of my companions were literally watching me screaming trying to figure out what to do. I kept telling them to call someone or to do anything and they just stood there laughing at me. It was terrible. To make a long story short I figured out how to fix the toilet and it finally stopped spraying everywhere. Neither of my companions were willing to help me clean up the bathroom so it did it all by myself. It was not fun because we had nothing to clean up all of the water with, But I persevered! I'll attach a photo of me cleaning just so you can tell how happy I was to be cleaning it up. 

The work here is slow. Still being unable to visit anyone in person makes it hard to build trust with the members. It's been a hard week. But we know that we are going to be greatly blessed for the efforts we are making! God is preparing people for us to teach! 

What I've learned this week is quality vs quantity. I was reading a talk by Dieter F Uchtdorf and he talks about not focusing on the numbers in missionary work. About being genuine. It's hard when we report our numbers and they are so low but the important thing that we are making a difference for the people we are teaching. The savior wants to know the conditions of our hearts. How we love his children. How we are striving to grow closer to him. Not the statistics. As missionaries and normal people. All he wants is the best we have to offer.

Love you all! Have a wonderful week! 

Photos

1- making pupusas at 9 PM after a long day of plans being changed. 

2- waiting for another lesson to start :)

3- Sister Finch 

4- Cleaning the flooded bathroom

5- Avocado toast...our usual breakfast...and lunch...and dinner...

5- Me and my girl Sister Lau at our favorite place. The laundromat. Just kidding. It is kind of a soul killing place. 

6- Las hermanas del barrio, El Camino!