We had another good week. We spent a lot of time finding and we may have found ourselves a miracle. The other night we were knocking doors and we found a man named Modesto. He seemed to be the typical "ya give me a book and leave me alone". When I reached into my bag, I pulled out a tabbed copy of the Book of Mormon. I usually don't hand these out unless it is someone I know will use it. We gave it to him because that is all we had with us and we set a return appointment. We showed up last night and he invited us right in, sat us down and asked us sincere questions. He asked us questions about who Nephi is, so we know he had read a little and kept his commitment. He proceeded to ask questions about if we believe in baptism, if we believe in the trinity or if we believe the correct doctrine of 3 separate beings, and then asked when and where he could come to church. We may have tracted into a golden investigator. The Lord truly works miracles when we put forth our efforts with faith.

Luv ya,

December 25, 2019

Hello everyone! It's ya boy, Elder Graybill. This last week and a half has been a slow one. Elder Robinson and I have been sick so we tried taking things slow, but walking around in the cold, rainy streets of Oregon did not help. So we took a sick day this past Monday. That helped out a ton. Due to the fact that we have been sick, not much effective work has been done sadly.

But yesterday we were able to go caroling as a zone in downtown Salem and that was really fun. We were able to plant a lot of seeds and hopefully people actually look at the papers we handed out. Elder Shafer and I had a cool experience talking with a homeless man named Ted. He explained his story and we shared a copy of the Book of Mormon with him. He started to tear up then we prayed together. He explained that he had been going hungry lately and that this was helping him. We aren't allowed to hand out cash from our allotment money but Nana Graybill came in clutch with some extra cash and I was carrying it. So I gave him some money to buy a hot meal and he just started balling. He was so grateful for helping him feel like he belonged. Then the whole zone sang Silent Night to him and he was super happy. Hopefully he goes to church and starts down the covenant path.

Being on a mission for Christmas is a special experience. You get to focus on the TRUE meaning of Christmas. But not seeing your family on Christmas for 3 years is kinda hard. Family is such a blessing and should never be taken for granted. So whenever you read this email, kneel down and give God a prayer of thanks for the family you do have.

Love all you, 

Elder Graybill 

Hello everyone!

So here's the wrap of what has happened in the last 10 days.

*Alex was baptized. I had the privilege of performing the baptismal ordinance. He was super happy and felt really good. He brought his non member family/friends to come watch and it was super cool. He is continuing to progress towards the temple for December 10th. 

* I was finally transferred from Forest Grove. This honestly broke me a little. I love the city of Forest Grove. Even through all the hard times, it was really good for me. That zone will forever have my heart. However, change is good. And the Lord needs me here in this area now. 

* I now live with my SON ROBDOG!!!!!!!! (aka Elder Robinson) He is the District Leader here in this district and we are hyped to be together. It is bringing back a lot of good memories from our time in Hayesville a year ago. Honestly, it is making me a little sad at how close I am to finishing my mission.Time is going way too quickly.

* My new companion is Elder Shaffer from Boston Massachusetts. He is funny kid and I feel like we are going to do some good things together. Elder Shaffer spent the first 3 months of his mission English speaking and was switched to Spanish speaking about 3 months ago. We are opening up a new area in Woodburn. The city of Woodburn has like 60% Latino population so it will be a great experience. I feel drained both physically and mentally. I fell like I am being carried each day by the spiritual joy of just serving others and being a missionary. 

Gotta go,

Me and my homie Elder Saunders

                                                        

Gales Creek Sisters made us Raspberry Muffins

                                                 

Spanish Missionaries

                                              

Alex and his sons

                                         

La Familia Loza

                                          

Prom Pic featuring Hno y Hna Long

                                       

Prom Pic #1

November 11, 2019

This was another good week we had here in the Grove. It was packed full of service, MLC, planning, and getting Alex ready for baptism. We set a temple day for Alex and his 10 year old daughter was at the lesson as well. She showed a lot of interest and is going to start being taught by us as well!

As time goes on, I have 0 desire to write anymore, but here is a cool quote I found in my personal studies this week."Today we have a little more time to bless others—time to be kinder, more compassionate, quicker to thank and slower to scold, more generous in sharing, more gracious in caring." 

Doors of Death April 1992 Elder Nelson

President Nelson is awesome! 

                                                          
                                                 
                                                     

                                       

October 28, 2019

So this weekly is going to be very short. Like I will highlight what happened

1. Exchanges with Elder Saunders. He is super cool. Really good Elder

2. Interviews with President. Very nice. Even when he made me really trunky and started to counsel me about dating and marriage.

3. I got an email about going home from the mission office. That made me trunky.

4. Alex is still doing awesome and is going to have us over for dinner.

                                                 

                                              

                                                        

                                          

Well everyone, I hit my 20 month mark on Saturday so that was kinda neat. This week was super long. But a lot of good things were happening so that was really cool. 

We were blessed this week with 3 new people to teach. The work has been slowly picking up in this area since I first got here. The Lord is truly blessing us for our efforts and I love it. There is no better feeling than helping someone receive the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the most rewarding sense of joy I have ever experienced. 

We met with Alex again this week and he is doing great. This man just wants to do the right things and has a sure testimony of the gospel already. He showed up to church 30  minutes early to help us set up. That's more dedication than most members I have met. 

I can't believe the mission is going by so quickly. I have seen growth in myself that wouldn't have happened if I never came back out. I have deepened my roots in the Gospel and have grown closer to the Savior. When you get the chance, go and re read the talk that was given by Elder Renlund. He teaches us that becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ is essential if we want to have everlasting Joy in this life. 

Love yall 

                                          

                                                  

Alright everyone, I don’t have a lot of time to write again because I am in Tillamook, Oregon with the Elders and their recent convert. This last two weeks have been really good.  Elder McEwan and I have been finding a lot and we have found some really cool people that might have some interest. 

We recently had transfer calls and I will be staying in Forest Grove for a 4th transfer with Elder McEwan. We are still the Zone Leaders and I will still be the District Leader. 

Other than that life is life. The Gospel is such a blessing. The fact that the church of Jesus Christ has been restored is such a blessing. I know for a fact that this is the true church. The happiness and peace that comes from restored truths is awesome. 

Love ya all

                                      

                                      

October 7, 2019

We received a medley of pictures this week from Elder Graybill in lieu of written words. I'd prefer the words, but the pictures are nice. It allows me to keep an eye on his receding hair line that he keeps complaining about. He was able to attend the temple in Portland on Tuesday with some other Elder's. It looks like Elders Jensen, Anderson, McEwan, Ounesavath, and Tuttle. There is also a short bearded fellow in the picture. Perhaps a photo bomber?  His good friend Elder Jensen goes home next week. They served together for one transfer (6 weeks) and saw many miracles. He tells his mom and I that he and his companion, Elder McEwan, are tight and gelling. He said they are like a well oiled machine and it is showing in the work. They are working hard and are able to see some fruits from their labor. Even the smallest of fruits keep them fueled. Transfer calls go out this Saturday night. Elder Graybill suspects he could be on the move as he has been in this area for awhile. Check in next week and see if he is able to stay another transfer. He is praying that he can stay to see Alex be baptized. They have been working with Alex for over a month now and he has a baptismal date set for early November. 


                                               

                        

       

P-Day Shenanigans. Elders Graybill, McEwan, Anderson and Ounesavath. Garrett has specifically mentioned each of these Elders in his personal letters to us. He has a great love for each of them. We will have to ask him where these pictures are taken. He neglects to include these details that parents want to know. He looks good.





     
                 
                                             

                                                

           

           

This week went by super-fast and we were able to experience a couple of miracles! The first miracle that we saw was just the fact that Alex is still progressing super well. He has been taught everything he needs to know and we are going to continue reading and teaching principles out of the Book of Mormon. Yesterday at church, a member asked him if he was visiting and he replied yes. He then turned to me and said he couldn't wait to just say he was a member. He is super ready!

We also were eating dinner with one of the English members from the Fern Hill ward on Saturday and he was telling us a story about one of his friends. Apparently there were two Elders who had knocked on her door and her daughter gave them cupcakes.(see post from Sept 9th) When all that went down, the lady called this member and asked if he had sent the missionaries. He said no and that he felt like it was a sign from God that she needed to come to church. Well, she is going to start coming with that member to church. Those two Elders just happened to be Elder McEwan and I. So that was super cool to see that a simple door knock and friendly conversation lead to that. 

Make it a great week ya'll,

Elder Graybill

                                           

                                                    

Hello everyone, this week was super busy. We were in our area together for one full day and that would be Tuesday. We received a phone call on Tuesday night from this man named Ramon who had a referral for us. This lady had a husband die within the last 2 weeks and she fell and broke her foot like 2 months ago and it will not heal at all. So we went with our Relief Society President and the Branch President and we shared some food and a special message. Wednesday, we had a mission tour with Elder Kevin S. Hamilton who is a General Authority. We focused on making things more authentic and friendly and finding joy through the Atonement. The next day we had mission leadership council and that took up most of the day. It was nice to see some of my old mission friends that I haven't seen in forever. 

Friday we started an exchange with the AP's and that was one of the funnest exchanges I have been on in my life. I was with Elder Nelson and Elder Woodruff. Yes, my mans, Elder Woodruff. It has been since November since I have been with him. And we killed it. We talked to a lot of cool people in Newberg. We had some good laughs about some of the memories we have together.

Alex is doing fantastic. We had a lesson with him this week and he is still progressing towards baptism. Berenisa is praying about a baptismal date as well. She is really solid. 

Well, that is really a wrap for this week. here are some pictures