Transfers are next monday. I have I feeling I`m going to be staying, but you never know. I figure I`ll only have one more area before I finish my mission. I kind of want to get sent to some little branch out in the middle of no where, just to see what it`s like.
I`m excited for General Conference. It will be that last time I see it as a missionary.
Elder Scoville and I are still having a hard time working with unity. I`m just not sure how to motivate him. We put some good goals during our weekly planning session, but we haven`t been achieving them. I hate to see him leave without feeling like I really helped him in any way.
I still feel like I`m not reaching my potential. Elder Hurtado was giving me some advice and sharing with me some of his successes the other day and I just couldn`t believe. He said that that week he and his new trainee had taught 18 lessons with member and that there was one week in which they taught 21. In one transfer they`ve already baptized 6 people. He said that the work has been pretty easy now that he understands how to do it. I know I shouldn`t compare myself with other missionaries, but I just wish I could be as happy and successful as that guy sometimes. I feel like I should be able to achieve the same things seeing as we`re all children of God, but I can`t. Why? It`s funny, because Elder Hurtado is always the one that brags about me so much in front of everyone, saying I`m a wonderful missionary and everything. The other day he even told the President to not fear making me the asistant. I was like hey, hey, I don`t want to be the asistant. It`s hard enough to be district leader.
Hope all is well, love,
Brett
Sunday, October 2, 2011
September 26,2011
Marc, I love you. You`re awesome. What more can I say? I miss you just as much as you miss me, but I think we will find that we have grown even closer during this long time we`ve been apart. It`s like they say, you don`t really know what you have until it`s taken from you. Luckily, it`s only 6 months left until we can see each other again. I hope that you never doubt your own potencial and that you learn to trust in your Heavenly Father with all your heart while you are still young.
Love,
Brett
Love,
Brett
September 19, 2011
I`ve been feeling like I`m stuck in rut lately,and a little distanced from my Heavenly Father, just kind of going through the motions. But, my interview with Pres. Reeves helped a little. I don`t know why I get like this sometimes. Thanks, Mom, for that quote you sent me by Jefferey R. Holland. It was just what I needed.
Patricia is doing great. This saturday she was the only one to show up to clean the chapel and on sunday, she was finally able to convince her 3 year old boy to stay in the nursery while she was in the gospel principles class. That made me very happy. Unfortunately, none of our investigators showed up to church this sunday. However, a family of four that lives in our area went to the ward of an elder in my district. He said that they are totally ready and was pretty jealous that they were in my area. I`m not sure if I told you, but now all the companionships in the mission have cell phones, not just the leaders. It sure makes things a lot easier on me as a district leader.
While were knocking some doors this week. One lady opened up and I told her about the plan of salvation and how we can become like God. It was interesting because she absolutely rejected the idea that we could become like God. She just couldn`t accept. It seemed impossible to her. I don`t think I had appreciated the greatness of that simple truth before. I can`t think of any other religion that professes that. I have to admit to me it sometimes seems impossible too, but it makes sense based on my knowledge of the plan of salvation and the atonement.
One thing in which I find joy almost everyday here are the beautiful sunsets behind the volcano. They`re just gorgeous.
Well, gotta go to an appointment. Love you,
Patricia is doing great. This saturday she was the only one to show up to clean the chapel and on sunday, she was finally able to convince her 3 year old boy to stay in the nursery while she was in the gospel principles class. That made me very happy. Unfortunately, none of our investigators showed up to church this sunday. However, a family of four that lives in our area went to the ward of an elder in my district. He said that they are totally ready and was pretty jealous that they were in my area. I`m not sure if I told you, but now all the companionships in the mission have cell phones, not just the leaders. It sure makes things a lot easier on me as a district leader.
While were knocking some doors this week. One lady opened up and I told her about the plan of salvation and how we can become like God. It was interesting because she absolutely rejected the idea that we could become like God. She just couldn`t accept. It seemed impossible to her. I don`t think I had appreciated the greatness of that simple truth before. I can`t think of any other religion that professes that. I have to admit to me it sometimes seems impossible too, but it makes sense based on my knowledge of the plan of salvation and the atonement.
One thing in which I find joy almost everyday here are the beautiful sunsets behind the volcano. They`re just gorgeous.
Well, gotta go to an appointment. Love you,
September 19, 2011
Muy bien, Marc. Eres un muy buen alumno. Sigue practicando para que cuando yo regrese de la mision te pueda enseñar a hablar como mexicano.
Te amo muchìsimo, (I love you very much)
Brett
Hey brett i was gonna try to talk to u in. Spanish a bit but i couldnt really do it ive only been in spanish uno for a month but i can speak a bit sooooooooooo hola yo amo rosado poneys ummmm como estan ustedes ? Yo esta bien. I dont know if u knew that i was taking español uno but i want to be able to talk to u in spanish when u get back. Uhhhhhhh yo amo uhhhhh i dont know how to say you in spanish but u get the idea hasta luego
Marc
Te amo muchìsimo, (I love you very much)
Brett
Hey brett i was gonna try to talk to u in. Spanish a bit but i couldnt really do it ive only been in spanish uno for a month but i can speak a bit sooooooooooo hola yo amo rosado poneys ummmm como estan ustedes ? Yo esta bien. I dont know if u knew that i was taking español uno but i want to be able to talk to u in spanish when u get back. Uhhhhhhh yo amo uhhhhh i dont know how to say you in spanish but u get the idea hasta luego
Marc
September 5, 2011
I got your package with the razor and other stuff. Thank you. I´m pretty sure that suitcase is long gone.
It´s been raining every day here. Luckily, an investigator gave us some really good poncho type things.
I feel like I kind of misjudged that Jehovah´s witness we taught. He´s really nice. He always says hi to us and wishes us good luck when we run into him on the street. I think I do that a lot. Sometimes I just face so much rejection and disappointment that I just can´t deal with it patiently any more. Good thing I´m in Mexico. I can´t believe how it would be in Italy or some place like where Spencer is. I don´t think I could handle it.
I don´t feel like I´ve made very much progress with my companion. The problem is that I like things to get done and if my companion or the ward mission leader, etc. doesn´t want to take the intiative I do. I don´t like just waiting around for someone else to do something. The problem with this is that now I think my companion just expects me to do everything and doesn´t feel like he´s really capable of helping me.
Thanks for the advice. I still haven´t resolved my problem. I´ve just been kind of stuck in a negative mindset lately.
Thanks for your love and support,
Brett
It´s been raining every day here. Luckily, an investigator gave us some really good poncho type things.
I feel like I kind of misjudged that Jehovah´s witness we taught. He´s really nice. He always says hi to us and wishes us good luck when we run into him on the street. I think I do that a lot. Sometimes I just face so much rejection and disappointment that I just can´t deal with it patiently any more. Good thing I´m in Mexico. I can´t believe how it would be in Italy or some place like where Spencer is. I don´t think I could handle it.
I don´t feel like I´ve made very much progress with my companion. The problem is that I like things to get done and if my companion or the ward mission leader, etc. doesn´t want to take the intiative I do. I don´t like just waiting around for someone else to do something. The problem with this is that now I think my companion just expects me to do everything and doesn´t feel like he´s really capable of helping me.
Thanks for the advice. I still haven´t resolved my problem. I´ve just been kind of stuck in a negative mindset lately.
Thanks for your love and support,
Brett
August 29, 2011
Re:
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Hide Details FROM:Brett Robert Graham TO:Cherise Graham Message flagged Monday, August 29, 2011 6:11 PMMessage body
Thank you for telling me about Austin. I still don´t really understand what happened, but I´m sure whatever you guys decided to do was best. I´m just glad I´m in my place and you guys in yours. I can´t imagine having to deal with that kind of stuff as a parent. I just pray and hope the promise in Doctrine and Covenants 31 is true.
On Saturday, Patricia was baptized and offered a very moving closing prayer in the baptismal service. . She´s very happy. And the good thing is that there´s a family that lives close by that we introduced to her a while back that has helped fellowship her a lot. I´m so grateful for their support. It´s so important that new members have a friend in the church. I invite you to be the people the new members in your ward can rely on as their adapting to a totally new way of life. Don´t just say hi to them at church. Be their best friends. Oh, funny story. I scraped up and bruised my arm when I fell as I was walking down the stairs into the baptismal font. That had nevery happened to me before. It was a little embarrasing, but most people couldn´t see it because the wall was in the way.
The ward missionary activity we had before wasn´t a very big success. Of the 300 people that come to sacrament meeting on Sunday, only the ward missionaries and the few members to whom I gave assignments in the activity showed up. In total, there were about 30 to 40 people. Pretty sad. And only the high priest group leader, the young women´s president and the bishop showed up to ward council on sunday. The ward mission leader came nearly at the end. Poor bishop, he´s trying so hard, but there hasn´t been very much support, but he still keeps a positive attitude.
My companion seems to be doing better. President Reeves talked to him before our district meeting on Wednesday, but I still can´t get him to participate very much. I feel like I´m not helping him very much. I´ve just been feeling tired latetly and kind of stuck in a routine. I wish I could feel more joy and satisfaction while going about my daily activities. I mean I´m still able to laugh once in a while and I feel about the progress of Patricia, but a lot of times I feel frustrated and tired. And sometimes when I´m teaching I feel like I don´t really mean it. I just wish I could feel more love for the people and be happier. I think it would help my companion more too. I feel like something is holding me back. People always talk about doing the best you can and leaving the rest to the Lord, but I still wonder, what is my best? How do I know when I have reached the peak of my abilities? How do I know if I´ve fully repented of my sins?
Thank you for your prayers and support. I hope you know how much I love you guys,
Brett
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Hide Details FROM:Brett Robert Graham TO:Cherise Graham Message flagged Monday, August 29, 2011 6:11 PMMessage body
Thank you for telling me about Austin. I still don´t really understand what happened, but I´m sure whatever you guys decided to do was best. I´m just glad I´m in my place and you guys in yours. I can´t imagine having to deal with that kind of stuff as a parent. I just pray and hope the promise in Doctrine and Covenants 31 is true.
On Saturday, Patricia was baptized and offered a very moving closing prayer in the baptismal service. . She´s very happy. And the good thing is that there´s a family that lives close by that we introduced to her a while back that has helped fellowship her a lot. I´m so grateful for their support. It´s so important that new members have a friend in the church. I invite you to be the people the new members in your ward can rely on as their adapting to a totally new way of life. Don´t just say hi to them at church. Be their best friends. Oh, funny story. I scraped up and bruised my arm when I fell as I was walking down the stairs into the baptismal font. That had nevery happened to me before. It was a little embarrasing, but most people couldn´t see it because the wall was in the way.
The ward missionary activity we had before wasn´t a very big success. Of the 300 people that come to sacrament meeting on Sunday, only the ward missionaries and the few members to whom I gave assignments in the activity showed up. In total, there were about 30 to 40 people. Pretty sad. And only the high priest group leader, the young women´s president and the bishop showed up to ward council on sunday. The ward mission leader came nearly at the end. Poor bishop, he´s trying so hard, but there hasn´t been very much support, but he still keeps a positive attitude.
My companion seems to be doing better. President Reeves talked to him before our district meeting on Wednesday, but I still can´t get him to participate very much. I feel like I´m not helping him very much. I´ve just been feeling tired latetly and kind of stuck in a routine. I wish I could feel more joy and satisfaction while going about my daily activities. I mean I´m still able to laugh once in a while and I feel about the progress of Patricia, but a lot of times I feel frustrated and tired. And sometimes when I´m teaching I feel like I don´t really mean it. I just wish I could feel more love for the people and be happier. I think it would help my companion more too. I feel like something is holding me back. People always talk about doing the best you can and leaving the rest to the Lord, but I still wonder, what is my best? How do I know when I have reached the peak of my abilities? How do I know if I´ve fully repented of my sins?
Thank you for your prayers and support. I hope you know how much I love you guys,
Brett
August 22, 2011
Well, today were the transfers and I´m going to be staying here another 6 weeks with the same companion. The only change was that now I´m going to be the district leader of a different district, and this one will have 3 companionships including my own. I´m glad I get to stay in this area especially since Patricia Gutierrez, one of our investigators will be baptized this saturday. We found here contacting in the street one day. We´ve been teaching her for about a month. She´s one of those people that wants to be really sure that the church is true before she´s baptized. Those are my favorite type of investigators.
I´m feeling a little sick right now, but I think it´s just a cold that should pass quickly. I told Dad about some other situations that have been distressing me, but you know me. I always find something to worry about even when things are good.
Love you very much,
Brett
I´m feeling a little sick right now, but I think it´s just a cold that should pass quickly. I told Dad about some other situations that have been distressing me, but you know me. I always find something to worry about even when things are good.
Love you very much,
Brett
August 15, 2011
I got your dear elder package with the beef jerky in it. I don´t which one you were refering to in your last email. Thank you. I´ve been investigating the lost suitcase a little more this week, but they tell me it would have been much more likely to be found if I had notified them the same day instead of a month later. Oh well, it doesn´t look like I´ll be getting it back. Speaking of which, could you send me so more socks when you have time because I lost quite a few in that suitcase. Thanks.
Adley is going to Fiji?!! Wow, that´s so cool. That definitely beats Mexico by a long shot. I´m glad Adley is doing so good. He has a very noble, kind heart.
I can´t believe my little Marcy Poo is going to Middle School. He´s growing up so fast. How is Austin doing in high school? Is he still at Seminole?
This week we found a lot of new people to teach. We´re still not recieving a lot of member referrals, but God has been putting a lot of people in our path and we´ve been talking to a lot of people. I really like living and working in this huge housing unit. It seems as though we never run out of people to visit here. What I also like is the type of people we are meeting. They have a lot of interesting life stories and experiences. A few people that we are teaching are getting very close to baptism but still haven´t accepted a specific date yet. This is the last week of the transfer. I hope they leave me here at least one more transfer. The only thing I didn´t like about this week was that yesterday we got stuck teaching a very devout Jehovah´s Witness. I know there´s a lot of good Jehovah´s Witnesses but, honestly, that religion does not make any sense to me. I don´t see the attraction at all. He wouldn´t even let us end the lesson with a prayer because he didn´t think God would listen to us unless we prayed to him as Jehovah.
I´ll share more details in the next email.
Adley is going to Fiji?!! Wow, that´s so cool. That definitely beats Mexico by a long shot. I´m glad Adley is doing so good. He has a very noble, kind heart.
I can´t believe my little Marcy Poo is going to Middle School. He´s growing up so fast. How is Austin doing in high school? Is he still at Seminole?
This week we found a lot of new people to teach. We´re still not recieving a lot of member referrals, but God has been putting a lot of people in our path and we´ve been talking to a lot of people. I really like living and working in this huge housing unit. It seems as though we never run out of people to visit here. What I also like is the type of people we are meeting. They have a lot of interesting life stories and experiences. A few people that we are teaching are getting very close to baptism but still haven´t accepted a specific date yet. This is the last week of the transfer. I hope they leave me here at least one more transfer. The only thing I didn´t like about this week was that yesterday we got stuck teaching a very devout Jehovah´s Witness. I know there´s a lot of good Jehovah´s Witnesses but, honestly, that religion does not make any sense to me. I don´t see the attraction at all. He wouldn´t even let us end the lesson with a prayer because he didn´t think God would listen to us unless we prayed to him as Jehovah.
I´ll share more details in the next email.
August 1, 2011
Well, pretty much all the new investigators we found last week are no longer showing any real interest, but we found four more new investigators this week that seem promising. We are teaching Berenice, the wife of an inactive returned missionary, Marco Antonio y Leticia, a couple who initially let us in because it was raining but seemed to looking for guidance regarding their daughters who are having some problems in their respective marriages, and Patricia, a single mom with a three year old boy who has had some major problems (her husband is or was in jail) and seems to be searching for peace and understanding by drawing closer to God. We found them all contacting in the street or knocking doors except for Berenice. Her husband stoped us in the street one day and told us to visit him. So, we went and found out that his wife isn´t a member and that after years of inactivity he wants to get involved again in the church. Lucky, Huh. We haven´t been able to get a single investigator to church yet in this entire transfer, which is kind of worrying.
Even though we haven´t had too much success yet. Elder Hurtado had me do the baptismal interview for a couple they taught and they´re so awesome. We went to the baptism on Saturday and I confirmed the husband yesterday. So, I´ve still been able to share some of the joy of success.
We´ve had a lot of support from the new bishop. He´s been demanding with all the organizations, trying to get them to keep track of all the new members and those that have recently reactivated, and has already called a fair number of ward missionaries. He wants to call about 12 or 14 of them. He also wants to have a ward missionary activity every month. This is his third time as bishop. So, he seems to know what he´s doing. The ward mission leader, however, hasn´t been very much help. He´s willing but a lot of times he defers a lot of assignments to me because he doesn´t really know how to do them or he waits to make a decision until I just tell him "do this." So, I´ve pretty much had to plan and develop everything the bishop wants to be done because the other elders are hardly able to attend the coordination meetings and everything. It´s been a little tiring.
I´ve been having a little bit of a hard time knowing how to motivate and help my district, even though it´s only one other companionship, and I´ve been worried about my companion. He´s just so quiet and struggles so much still. It´s seems hard for him to concentrate a lot of times. I always have to take the intiative in every situation. I wish I knew how to help him.
The forecast is correct. It´s been raining almost every day here. I still haven´t gotten your other package, Mom. So, I would say that it´s still not a very sure thing that I will get your packages faster. And, I still haven´t gotten a cell phone. But, I never complain to anyone because it never makes anything happen any faster.
7 and a half or 8 months still seems like a long time to me and besides, I hardly every think about it during the day. I think sometimes I actually focus too much on what I´m doing, because I end up feeling overwhelmed with responsibility or unable to figure exactly what the Lord wants me to do. I still learn to be more patient with myself and with the Lord.
Even though we haven´t had too much success yet. Elder Hurtado had me do the baptismal interview for a couple they taught and they´re so awesome. We went to the baptism on Saturday and I confirmed the husband yesterday. So, I´ve still been able to share some of the joy of success.
We´ve had a lot of support from the new bishop. He´s been demanding with all the organizations, trying to get them to keep track of all the new members and those that have recently reactivated, and has already called a fair number of ward missionaries. He wants to call about 12 or 14 of them. He also wants to have a ward missionary activity every month. This is his third time as bishop. So, he seems to know what he´s doing. The ward mission leader, however, hasn´t been very much help. He´s willing but a lot of times he defers a lot of assignments to me because he doesn´t really know how to do them or he waits to make a decision until I just tell him "do this." So, I´ve pretty much had to plan and develop everything the bishop wants to be done because the other elders are hardly able to attend the coordination meetings and everything. It´s been a little tiring.
I´ve been having a little bit of a hard time knowing how to motivate and help my district, even though it´s only one other companionship, and I´ve been worried about my companion. He´s just so quiet and struggles so much still. It´s seems hard for him to concentrate a lot of times. I always have to take the intiative in every situation. I wish I knew how to help him.
The forecast is correct. It´s been raining almost every day here. I still haven´t gotten your other package, Mom. So, I would say that it´s still not a very sure thing that I will get your packages faster. And, I still haven´t gotten a cell phone. But, I never complain to anyone because it never makes anything happen any faster.
7 and a half or 8 months still seems like a long time to me and besides, I hardly every think about it during the day. I think sometimes I actually focus too much on what I´m doing, because I end up feeling overwhelmed with responsibility or unable to figure exactly what the Lord wants me to do. I still learn to be more patient with myself and with the Lord.
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