Taylor Graves' Mission - Posadas Argentina

Monday, January 5, 2015

Answered Prayers - Baptisms! - Mission Focus Is Building Eternal Families - Waterfall/There Is A God And He Loves Us - Don't Drink The Mate! - Family Miracles

Thank you for all of your prayers and the love you constantly are sending my way. I love that I always have an assurance of a great support system at home. Thank you for your letters and for reading my blog.

Though it has seemed difficult these past couple of weeks, the work is finally starting to show some real physical results! There will be 3 baptisms this week here in Obera and I was chosen by one of them to do the baptizing. Also we are teaching someone named Rafael. He is super awesome and is going to be baptized the 24th of January if everything goes as planned! He is 18 and is really learning quickly. The thing is, he has like 7 brothers and sisters who still don't want to listen to us, but as a group, me Elder Venegas and Rafael, we are going to really help this family become an eternal family.

It is interesting to think about how I pictured the mission, before my mission. I thought the whole idea was to get lots of baptisms and teach lots of lessons. While those are things we want to do, the focus, or it would be, the main goal is to build eternal families.

If you have the chance, could you please add to your prayers the family of Rafael. Thank you.

While there was a lot of work going on this week, it being the week of the new year, the president of the mission granted another day of activities! We had the opportunity to go bowling, (yeah they really do have bowling here and yes I was surprised too) and then after we ate at Tihuanas and ate Shwarma (if any of you have seen the last scene of Iron Man 2 you will know what it is) and it is soooo good!

Then we got to go to this Waterfall! It was actually super awesome! (Still not Iguazu falls) but still super awesome! It is fun to have a little bit of time to relax and enjoy nature for a while.

When I was little (as I think about this, I feel like I have shared this before, but oh well!) me and my Dad would always go hiking. When we would get to the top of the mountain, or reach our end point, and see the beauty that we have here on this earth, he would always tell me, "Just seeing this view, these trees, these mountains, these waterfalls, or whatever it might be, is enough for me to know there is a God and that he loves us."

This statement has stuck with me until now and as I watched the beauty of nature, I thought a lot about that statement, as well as the scripture in Alma 30:40, 44.

Okay more of a funny subject... haha here in Argentina a popular drink here (well more like every single person at every single moment drinks it) is called Mate or Terere. As missionaries, we generally aren't supposed to drink it if we are from a country that isn't accustomed to drinking it because it can really make your stomach upset. This is like the classic "Don't Drink the Mate" foto haha!

Well I don't have much more time today, but I want each of you to know that I appreciate the love that is shown toward my family. We as a family have experienced some of the most incredible miracles during my mission and they don't seem to be stopping. I know that those of you that have acted in service to my family are inspired by God and will be blessed for helping my family. Even those of you who show your love towards them in small and simple ways, thank you.

Love you all!

Elder Graves

Argentina Posadas Mission

LA IGLESIA DE

JESUCRISTO

DE LOS SANTOS

DE LOS ÚLTIMOS DÍAS

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Write to Elder Graves in 1 of 4 ways:

1. E-mail - tgraves@myldsmail.net

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2. Send mail through www.DearElder.com
They will print and mail it for you at no cost (without a stamp). This is a free service.

www.DearElder.com Instructions:
Select the "Argentina Posadas Mission"

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3. Send letters through the Church Pouch Mail Only postcards or one-page correspondences (no envelopes).

Fold the letter in thirds, secure the long side with tape about one inch in from each end. Do not seal the ends. Stamp and address the blank side as you would an envelope. Use the following mailing address:
Elder Taylor Graves
Argentina Posadas Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City, UT
84130-0150

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4. Physical Mailing Address.
Due to exorbitant costs incurred in the country of Argentina by the church, He can not receive packages :-( - not even a bubble envelope. Please refrain from sending anything other than an envelope/letter - anything else will likely be returned to sender.

Elder Taylor Graves
Córdoba 1243
Posadas, Misiones 3300
Casilla 12
Argentina

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Christmas Devotional/Nativity/Sacrament - Ninjas - Christmas Dinner - Presents - Hug From Mom - Finding Blessings In The Small Things Around Us Despite The Struggles

I hope you guys don't mind, but I think this blog entry is going to be a whole lot of pictures :) This is my Mission President and his Wife with me and my companion at the Christmas devotional. That devotional was one of the most special experiences I have had in a while. I had the chance to play a part in the Nativity and after, we partook of the sacrament. It is something I have never done, take the sacrament on a different day than Sunday, but the spirit was so strong because of it.

Sometimes we have fun playing Ninja at bus stops, when the buses decide to just not come... :) (I'm taking the picture...)

Even though I didnt get to celebrate Christmas with my family, The family Antunez "adopted us" for Christmas and spent some really special time with them and ate some amazing argentine meat!

This is us waiting to open all of our presents (okay to be honest almost all of them were mine --thanks Mom and Dad for the packages!!!--) next to our "Christmas Tree" -

(Clarification from Dad on the multiple packages :-)

Having heard that we may never be allowed to send him a gift, Taylor's Mom was determined to ensure that he had something to open on Christmas. Before he left, she packed a Christmas gift in his suitcase with him...he had the self control to not open it until Christmas. I am impressed. Then we found out that as a family, we are allowed to send him a Christmas gift...so we did (the big one on the floor in the picture) giving him two to open this year :-) We love him and are so glad that we were able to send gifts to him this year!)

Okay this is my by far favorite present! My mom sent me a Hug! 2 hands, like the one you see here, and a string that would represent her arms! I love my mom!

Okay this is my backpack and this is a present that Shauna gave me (its from Hunger Games) I am going to be wearing this little pin with me for the rest of my mission so I can remember my siblings and how awesome they are! (It was so fun talking to them this Wednesday!)

Me enjoying the sunset of Argentina. It is interesting how sometimes things can get really hard in life, or in the mission, but you can always find something to make you happy. Yesterday it was the sunset. My companion is really struggling to be happy, and having a hard time continuing working because we have had so little success in our area. Normally I wouldn't want to talk about numbers, but I kinda want you all to see how hard it has been here in our area - and that really my companion does have reason to be frustrated. As a mission we have a goal to always try and have at least 4 investigators at Church on Sunday. While I have been here we have had 2 attendances total. (That is in 11 months). We realized that our area was struggling, but we just decided to keep working, despite the lack of shown success. We really thought we were going to have somebody in church on Sunday but they didn't show :( but what really killed my companion is that the other Elders in our ward had 4 in church and the Hermanas, had 7.

Sometimes it really seems like what we are trying to do isn't of much worth, but something that my mission president told me is that if when we get home, and lay down in bed, exhausted from all the work you have done, and feel like a missionary, then, you have done enough. I will keep working and do everything I can to be the best missionary possible!

I hope you all had an awesome Christmas!

Happy New year too!

Elder Graves

Argentina Posadas Mission

LA IGLESIA DE

JESUCRISTO

DE LOS SANTOS

DE LOS ÚLTIMOS DÍAS

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Write to Elder Graves in 1 of 4 ways:

1. E-mail - tgraves@myldsmail.net

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Tuesday, December 23, 2014

He Is The Gift - Christmas - "My Missionaries = My Parents" - Snoring Newbie In Apartment

He is the Gift – Christmas Video – #ShareTheGift - YouTube

I cant believe it but we are really in the season of Christmas already! I am so excited to have the chance to "Share the gift" during this Christmas season. I hope you all have had opportunities to share the love and peace that Christ brings to us on a daily basis. Please watch this video it is awesome!

As it is Christmas, I have been told by many missionaries that this was going to be the hardest part of my mission, but so far, I am loving it. For one, Christmas Eve I will be speaking to my family! Woohoo! and secondly, our mission president decided that he wanted us to really have a day to enjoy this Christmas. We aren't supposed to go out and preach, but we have to go out and do something fun for the whole day! We are so excited as a district and I am trying to come up with some fun ideas!

As a district we set up the coolest Christmas party ever for the Barrio here in Obera! We decided to do a skit for everybody to watch and it was SUPER funny! I am not going to describe the whole skit, but just know that I was a rebellious Pokemon trainer, who didn't want to have Christmas Dinner with the family because I was too busy training my Pikachu.

Okay so I am going to switch topics again, I started to realize that truly every person has there missionary. What do I mean by that? Well I have been talking with lots of missionaries (lots of which are converts) and they always talk about "their missionaries", being the missionaries who helped them on their way to conversion. I started thinking about that and how really I have my missionaries in this life too. They are my Parents. I want to publicly thank them, for teaching me the gospel and teaching me to love the Lord. My parents truly were the best missionaries for me and I give thanks daily that they were willing to sacrifice so much, to help me gain a testimony.

I realize how wonderful my parents are every week by the letters they send me. They still support me. They still strengthen my testimony, and still are my missionaries.

My companion just received a letter for the first time in a very long time. When he started reading it, he was close to tears. I asked what happened, and he explained that his dad, for the first time in his life told him he loved him.

My Dad told me that he loves me everyday while I was there, and even now, he writes almost every day, even if it is just a short note to let me know that he loves me. I know that I was blessed with incredible parents and truly never could repay them for all that they have done for me.

Okay I know I am bouncing all over the place with this letter, but I have to explain another trial that I have gone through recently.

A newbie just got here this transfer and he is super cool and is really excited to work hard. His companionship shares a house with us. Although he is a super great missionary and really awesome..... he snores.... a lot.... like louder than a chainsaw.... haha. For four straight days this past week I had less than 5 hours of sleep because of his snoring and that is not safe for how much walking and physical hard labor that we do. I started getting sick and my body started to get reaaally achy! I could barely turn my neck and it was getting hard to stay awake while walking... yeah. Finally we decided to call the mission nurse and she simply told me to start using earplugs and go to bed an hour and a half early. So I did that, and wow I feel so much better... to be honest I'm not really sure why I shared that experience, but I just thought it was funny!

Well gotta go now! Know that I love you all and appreciate all the letters that are sent my way!

Have an AWESOME Christmas #ÉleslaDádiva

This is me enjoying the wonderful "Christmas Weather"

Elder Graves

Argentina Posadas Mission

LA IGLESIA DE

JESUCRISTO

DE LOS SANTOS

DE LOS ÚLTIMOS DÍAS

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Write to Elder Graves in 1 of 4 ways:

1. E-mail - tgraves@myldsmail.net

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Monday, December 15, 2014

Working Hard/Following The Spirit - Family Committed To Baptism - People Gather In The Street To Listen

Okay I just want everyone to know that this week me and my companion have really been working hard. Not only in the roads, but in our study sessions trying to figure out how to teach the most effective way possible. We have come up with some good ideas for finding more people and for teaching better with the spirit. It is amazing what can happen when the companionship is united in the teaching. Recently we put a baptismal date with a family because of the new tactics we are trying, like allowing silence if the spirit calls for it, testifying of what my companion says is true, and they are excited to be baptized! We have a lot of work to do with them but we will do everything we can to help them reach their goal of baptism!

As missionaries, we really are trying to "catch em all" so I thought this picture would be extremely appropriate :)

I am not going to take a ton of time to write today because I still have to write my dad a nice long letter (its his birthday!!!!!!) but I wanted to include one of the coolest experiences I have had on my mission so far. (haha don't I always say that!?!?)

We got home from a zone meeting and realized we still had a little bit of time to go out and preach but not enough time to have a full lesson so we were going to just find someone and talk to them about the gospel in the street. We found someone sitting on a bench and started talking to her. We started talking to her about our beliefs and how we have a record that Jesus Christ came to the Americas and how we have a prophet in this day. As we talked, someone else came and started listening, and then someone else started listening, and people just kept coming! In the end there were 12 people listening to us preach about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. When I bore my testimony of the first vision of Joseph Smith, it was perfectly quiet, you could hear a pin drop. The spirit in that moment was so strong. We asked the mini crowd who wanted a Book of Mormon and gave everyone who was interested a copy. I don't know if any of them will be baptized in the future, but what I do know is that they know that I know this church is true.

Well I hope everyone is enjoying the snow while I burn my skin just by stepping outside ;) Haha! It really isn't that bad, i am pretty much used to it by now!

Love you all! But I gotta go!

<3 Elder Graves/Ash Ketchem

Elder Graves

Argentina Posadas Mission

LA IGLESIA DE

JESUCRISTO

DE LOS SANTOS

DE LOS ÚLTIMOS DÍAS

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Write to Elder Graves in 1 of 4 ways:

1. E-mail - tgraves@myldsmail.net

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Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Delayed P-day - Thanks E. Smith! - New Chilean Companion E. Venegas - Spiritual Experiences - Goal=Faith in every moment - Guided Prospecting - Strong Spirit - Testimony of the work...Not always a baptism, but always a stepping stone - An Excited Investigator Was Lost but then found again through faith and a miracle

Well, finally we have the chance to write! We had to postpone our P-day to Tuesday because there was a holiday here on Monday and nothing is open when there are holidays, and then when we came to the computer place, the power in the WHOLE CITY went out... so yeah we are here writing two days late :) Better late than never write_?

So first I want to say a big thanks to Elder Smith, he was really fun and really helped me learn more Spanish. Even though we both speak English, we never had an English conversation, and for that, our ability to speak has really increased. Even though he had only been here for 6 weeks like me, they called him to go serve in Paraguay for this transfer.

Now I have a new companion again! His name is Elder Venegas and he is from Chile! He lives in the area that 3 of my really good friends are serving! (Morgan Vorwaller, Brooke Squires and Jessica Mccubbins). My language ability has gotten to the point that with almost anybody I can understand pretty much 100 percent of what they say and we can have any type of conversation. But... with my new companion... well lets just say he talks reeeeeeaaally fast. Haha it is so awesome how fast he can talk and it is really helping me learn how to listen more closely for words.

He and I have already had some very spiritual experiences and I know it all has to do with the immense faith that he has. My goal this transfer (6weeks) is to learn how to truly show my faith in every moment. Not just have faith, but show it through action.

We were in an apartment complex clapping doors with little success. I finally turned to my companion, and told him that we better start heading to lunch. Without responding, he turned and clapped 1 more door. I thought, okay one more and then FOOD. When the door opened she looked surprised and told us that she had been waiting for us. We didn't understand because we just touched a random door. She said that her friend had told her about us and that she had been waiting for us. We were in shock. She accepted us and told us that the Herman Joseli had told her that we would come by, after the lunch we were just about to have. We were amazed that the spirit had really guided to her house. Because of that experience she was mentally prepared to accept us and the lesson was that much more spiritual because of that. In the end, we decided to have her join us for the lunch with the Hermana Joseli and we continued talking about the gospel.

In the end, she expressed a few doubts about what we had said to her, but the response to her doubts didn't come from us, they came from the Hermana Joseli. She said to her, "What more proof do you need, than that God sent these men to your home?" In that moment the spirit was SO strong. I felt it, my companion felt it, and I know the investigator felt it as she began to cry.

These experiences I share with all of you, are so special to me. I love them and know that I am blessed with these experiences only by my faith of serving this mission. I also have to tell you, that we don't baptize every person with who we have a spiritual experience. Although they feel the spirit, does not mean that they will chose to follow Christ and be baptized. What it means to me, is that we were just a stepping stone for them in their journey towards Christ.

One more experience. One day we were waiting for a bus and a girl of about 20 years came up to me and asked me where I was from. I told her the states, and she was in shock! I told her that we were missionaries and that we are sharing the story of Christ and his birth as it is the Christmas season and that we wanted to visit with her family one day in the week. She was very animated and wanted to have us with her family. Right when she was giving us her direction our bus arrived and we had to go, so she didn't get to write her whole direction. When we went to search her house we realized she didnt put her house number and only her street name. I was devistated. I told my companion that I didnt know what we should do but he just turned to me and said, “Elder Graves, have faith, we will find her.” The first door we clapped at was hers. I know the spirit guides the missionaries. I have seen it work in me and in my companionship.

I love you all and love this gospel

Elder Graves

Argentina Posadas Mission

LA IGLESIA DE

JESUCRISTO

DE LOS SANTOS

DE LOS ÚLTIMOS DÍAS

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Write to Elder Graves in 1 of 4 ways:

1. E-mail - tgraves@myldsmail.net

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Monday, December 1, 2014

Patience & Hidden Successes/Baptisms - Apolonio & Others Baptized! - Enjoying the Rain/Taking the Sisters Home Safely - Birthday Celebrations - What is in a Name Tag? - Having Fun

As I have been here in Obera Argentina as I said before, I have learned patience. I have learned how to work, even when the fruits of the work are not plain to be seen. Every missionary strives to have baptisms and to teach lots of lessons and to work as hard as they are capable, but sometimes what you do just doesn't seem to be enough. After several rather disappointing weeks I really started to feel a little sad about the lack of progress. I had been talking to lots of missionaries from other missions through email, and they all seemed to have so much success, and it really hurt to feel like I wasn't making the impact I wanted to make. I now realize, that these feelings of sadness and disappointment could only be from the adversary.

Two days ago, one of the Assistants to the President called our companionship and said he wanted to talk to me. He told me that I had reason to be happy and the the fruits of my labor have been shown. I really didn't know what he was talking about and kinda wondered to myself if he knew which missionary he was talking to ;) He told me that partly because of my work in Carlos A. Lopez (My last area, which was in Paraguay) in the past 3 weeks, 7 people have been baptized.

This is the Man Äpolonio who we worked with so hard. He was baptized (sorry don't have pictures of all) this past month, and I think I told his story already but it really is a special one. He couldn't understand us because he doesn't hardly speak Spanish, but for some reason, that could only have been the spirit guiding us, we decided to bring a member to try and translate to Guarani. He began to really learn and truly feel the spirit. I am so proud of him and all the others that followed the example of our Savior.

Okay now on a different, slightly less spiritual note... Sometimes missionaries get the chance to have a little bit of fun too. We were having a meeting with the Ward Mission Leader, and when it ended the rain was so heavy I could not believe it. The roads were literally rivers. We live close to the church, but we decided it wouldn't be safe to leave the Hermanas to walk in the storm alone, so we walk/ran/swam ;) them home. Also we had to leave our ties behind, so sorry if this doesn't look quite like a missionary should, but we really were doing what we thought would be most safe. Anyway it was pretty fun to get to run in the rain like I used to do ALL THE TIME back home :)

So yeah I would almost never go outside without a tie, but they were saying it would ruin our ties if we let them get so wet so yeah :)

Well this is all of the Missionaries plus 2 in our district having a birthday celebration at the President of the Branch's house! Lots of birthdays lately! My district leader will also have his birthday tomorrow!

We received the news of our transfers, and EVERY MISSIONARY except for me and one Hermana will be leaving the Area. It is really crazy because she and I have to really teach people how things work around here! A bit nervous, but also super excited! Please keep me in your prayers for this transfer!!

I love you all and hope all is well!

Thank you for reading and hope this letter could help someone out there!

Elder Graves

This is Taylor's Dad speaking now. Taylor sent me a couple of other pictures that I will include in his blog below. I really like the picture of their nametags. Each of the missionaries in the district placed his/her name tag on the tree. It is very special to see each of their individual names on the same name plate as the church. Even more importantly, each of them shares a name tag with the Savior "JesuCristo". What an incredible opportunity and responsibility to represent Him. I love the church's logo and how clearly, even in a foreign language, the name of Jesus Christ (or JesuCristo in Spanish) stands out in that name. We are Christians. We love the Savior. What a blessing to have a son who has been called to represent Him.

This is a picture that Taylor sent home of his district and their "funny poses/faces". Seems like they like to have fun :-) while serving.

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Write to Elder Graves in 1 of 4 ways:

1. E-mail - tgraves@myldsmail.net

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Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Week of Hope/Waiting - Patience/Endure Well - 6 missionaries in one branch! - Protected/There is a brightness about you/I can't touch you

So this title of my email (La Semana de Esperanza) could either be translated to mean, "The Week of Hope" or "The Week of Waiting". Well, while there is always hope... lets just say there was a lot of waiting this week.

We had plans to travel to an area really far away in our area, called the palms, and we had to wait for a bus to get there. We were told that the bus would come at 10 o'clock. So we waited there and waited and waited and waited. Then finally, after lots of contacting in the bus stop, (which isn't the MOST effective way to contact) we got on the bus at 12. That same day, we had an appointment with our prime investigator. His name is Martin and I was suuuuper pumped to teach him because he has a real desire to learn. We waited in the chapel for 2 more hours with a member that night, because he kept telling us that he was on his way... but finally just told us that he didn't think it would be possible for him to make it :( We ended up just teaching him the next day at the Branch Presidents house, but we still waited a lot that day! I will tell you, there was more waiting than just that this week, but I wont go into details because there really were so many experiences this week with waiting.

As I was waiting for something this week, I would think about one of the things my mission president first told me when I had my first interview with him. He said "Elder Graves, if there is one thing you are going to learn here on your mission, it will be PATIENCE. It is so true. And I love that I can see myself improving in this aspect. It really is incredible how many blessings the mission brings.

"Patience is not simply enduring, it is enduring well."

Dieter F Uchtdorf

This too means, that even if we have to wait, we can always be doing something productive, and if we are doing that little productive thing, it really wont seem like we are waiting at all. This brings me to a point that kinda makes me a little sad. There are too many elders that I know that are only "enduring" there missions. To all those who will be leaving soon, or one day hope to serve, I hope you know a mission is much more fun, enjoyable and rewarding if you "endure it well."

This is my district leader Elder Nascimiento and I waiting for a bus to pass by so that we could do an activity with the district. We had to wait a lot, but it turned out to be an AWESOME P-day.

Here is a foto capa (cool picture)! We have been focusing on this little area of the city a lot lately and I thought this was a pretty interesting view with the run down appartments and trees also. It really shows the diversity of Obera.

Displaying DSCN1474.JPG

This is Taylor's Dad - I can't get this picture to work for some reason. I'll see if I can get it from Taylor again next week.

This is my district! We are quite the team working out here in obera! The branch is really getting stronger having 6 missionaries in one branch. There really is a lot of work to do here. (Even if it is slow work). Today we went to a waterfall (don't worry it wasn't Iguazu Falls I will send much cooler pictures when I get the opportunity to do that! We were going to take a picture by the water fall... but it was full with lots and lots and lots of people (it almost seemed like they were flocking like zombies... I mean the waterfall was cool and all.. but not THAT cool,... ;) Anyway, for that we just took a picture here... I really enjoy this district and hope we get to stay together for awhile!

Well, one last experience. While Elder Smith and I were walking in the street, a man who seemed to be really drunk came up to us. My companion said we needed to just keep going, but the guy was really insistent about talking to us. He stopped us and told us all about the Book of Mormon (sounds a little backwards right?) and was telling us that it wasn't true and all those things. We bore our testimonies, calmly saying what we KNEW it to be true. He wouldn't let it go. He kept talking to us and wouldn't allow us to keep going to our next appointment (don't worry, it never got dangerous or anything). He then went to touch me, on the shoulder, but said in Spanish "I cant touch you, there is a brightness about you and I cant touch you."

Although, I don't believe that he had plans of doing anything, I know that we are protected as missionaries. I love this gospel and could never express the amount of thanks I have for what it has given me.

Elder Graves

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Write to Elder Graves in 1 of 4 ways:

1. E-mail - tgraves@myldsmail.net

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Write to Elder Graves in 1 of 3 ways:

1. E-mail - tgraves@myldsmail.net

--------------------------
2. Send letters through the Church Pouch Mail Only postcards or one-page correspondences (no envelopes).

Fold the letter in thirds, secure the long side with tape about one inch in from each end. Do not seal the ends. Stamp and address the blank side as you would an envelope. Use the following mailing address:
Elder Taylor Graves
Argentina Posadas Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City, UT
84130-0150

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3. Physical Mailing Address.

Elder Taylor Graves
Córdoba 1243
Posadas, Misiones 3300
Casilla 12
Argentina