September 6, 2007 Letter from Austin

September 6, 2007

Hi everyone!

How is everyone doing? I am so glad to hear that everything is going well. The pool looks good. Mom, did you design it? Looks like it is going to be fun. How is the rest of the yard doing? I am sorry I was not there to help you Dad.

Mom, I am so glad to hear about your experience with the English teacher. It is so awesome. You were probably a wonderful example to all that were listening. Sounds like it lasted a long time. It also reminds me of some of the discussions that I have with member and non members. It is absolutely amazing what people say. It really blows my mined when they say crazy things. I sometimes wonder how people could think that way. But all we can do is continue on. The world is really going down hill. You can see it everywhere. It really is sad. But that just means that Christ is coming, and that really gets me excited. There really isn’t anything we can do about the world though. There are going to be storms. It is our job to choose the right while they rage, and bring as many people with us.

The leaves are not turning yet. But it is getting cooler. I am exited for the cold. But to answer your question dad, the work moves on just as it does now when it snows. "Nothing will stop this work from progressing."

The new mission president is really awesome from what I know. I have only met him once and it was only for a few minuets. We really didn’t get to talk about much with the mission but I know that he is called of God and that the lord will inspire him as to what to do. We really can’t do anything. The stake president is agreeing with him. So all we can do is keep on working. We have to find a new branch president. That is what we are looking for. We also need to fill the sacrament meeting so they have no choice but to have all the classes. We are really working hard to find those that God has prepared for us. I know they are up here. I would not be here if they were not here. So we are on a hunt for the Elect.

Consequently, we are knocking a lot of doors. I plan on having every door in this place knocked by the time I go. I have to milk this place so I know that I did everything that I was sent to do. And if they are here, we will find them.

And we have.

Marilyn was supposed to get baptized, but she was not ready. She is still going to, but we have to work on a few things. Nothing big, but she called and said that she really needed to find out if Joseph Smith is a prophet. She was thinking that because everything else is sounding good, that that was enough. We all know that you need to have a testimony of the Restoration. I am not going to have her baptized and then fall away. She is going to know that it is true. That is the way the lord wants it.

Terrie is doing really well. We are going to see her today. She likes what she is hearing and all, but she needs to pray and read to know that it is true. We really drove that last time.

Chris and Cyndy are also doing good. Cyndy is really getting into it and can see and put together all the dots. She is a thinker and can really figure things out. She sees it makes sense. She also told us about how when we gave her a Book of Mormon she just felt that it was right. We are really excited.

Sandi, another mom that we are working with is really fun to teach. She is really firm in her beliefs, but she also can see how we are right and I know that she feels the spirit. She has 4 kids and loves them a lot. It is really fun, because she knows the Bible and we can show her and help her understand with something that she knows. When we told her she needed to pray, she said that she had and that she had thought that she had found the truth a long time ago. Until we came and started to teach her. Now she really wants to know.

Bob and Jen we finally were able to teach. We have been talking to them for a long time, but have never had the opportunity to teach them a full lesson. We finally sat them down and taught the Plan of Salvation. It was so awesome. Jen said she really wants to know more and that she is addicted. She knows that there is a lot to learn and she really wants to know more. It is really getting us excited. Bob is not so excited, but I know that he is really thinking.

So this last Sunday, we had planned on about 7 investigators coming to church. This doesn’t count their kids. They had all said they would be there and no one showed. It was really sad. My heart just dropped. I started to wonder if I was really doing anything up here. But then I remembered Christ. Salvation is not a cheap experience. It is a lot of work. If Christ could suffer the sins of the world, then I could suffer a little disappointment. I had to REMEMBER the blessings of the past few months. This really motivated me to want to do better. I know there is always something that I can do to be a better missionary.

Just the other day, we were knocking doors and we found a lady that just a few days before we had been in front of in a grocery store. We had just said a passing hi but I think we really impressed her. She said that we could come back and teach her. It was awesome.

So about yesterday, I am sorry. We went fishing. It was so awesome. The salmon are running up the Mississauga River. We went to a place called blind river, about 30 min away and caught a lot of salmon. We came home with 8 big salmon. I will get you some pics. But it was a lot of fun. They are really good fighters. They are just little pink salmon. The big once are coming up in a week. We plan on going out to fish with Bob. They can way up to 35 LBS. It can take up to 30 min to real one in. It is going to be fun. Dad, you would really love it.

Mom, I am not fat yet. I still way about 180. We have been doing a bit of walking lately. Sorry. I really am eating healthy though. You would be really proud of the things I make. But there is one girl that you can take off your list. Natalie is getting married. She still has not told me herself. I found out through other sources. It is really sad. But don’t worry about me; it has not got in the way of the work.

I am so thankful for the knowledge of the restored gospel. I know it is true. It really is. I know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet and that he saw God and Jesus Christ. I know that he was called to be the tool in God’s hand that would restore the fullness of the gospel again on the earth. I also know that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God. I have really grown a greater love for it. I love the spirit that testifies of its truth. It is so precious to me. But more than all of that, I know that Christ is my savior. It is only through him that I even get a chance to talk to God and be judged by him. It is through him that I can return to my Heavenly Father with no recollection of guilt. I know that he lives. He lives and because he lives we too will live. I am so grateful and humbled to think about these things that I have been blessed with. There is nothing more important than this. Do whatever it takes to come and know this. We must be diligent and steadfast. Read your scriptures and pray and ask God again to reaffirm what you already know to be true. And if you don’t, pray to know. He is there and he is listening. I know that the only way that we will be able to feel of this wonderful joy is through the true gospel of Jesus Christ. He stands at the head of it. How blessed are we.

I love you all and pray that this finds you all well. We are so blessed. Remember that.

Love,

Elder Graham