Doin' work!!

Dear Everybody,

Yesterday, Elder Busch and I were walking down the street to try to go see this guy when we get ambushed by the "Saved Brigade" (these two baptist ladies that saw us strolling along and decided we needed to be saved).  They took the time to pull over and hand us an anti-mormon tract and then told us that we could be saved right then and there, no questions asked if we would just call on the name of Jesus and ask for a forgiveness of sins.  They even told us we could continue to be Mormon even after we were saved.  I was like "Get outta town!? No way! Here I am trying to spread the gospel message and do what's right and come to find out, I've been doing it wrong!"  And then I remembered, oh yeah, I pray to my Heavenly Father every day and strive to repent of my sins so I told them that.  They still were really concerned that I wouldn't pray right then and there and be saved on the side of the road.  Seriously, I was shocked at how deluded you can be.  They told me that all I need is faith, not works (I saved them the trip to James 2:20 cause they probably don't even know where the book of James is in the Bible) and that being saved and being born of the Spirit are the same thing and they happen immediately after calling on the name of  "Jay-zus" (as they say).  Seriously, this lady was all up on me with John 3:5, but totally disregarded what He said in John 3:7,8 about being born of the Spirit.  I told these ladies it was nice of them to try to help me out after having just done their grocery shopping/breaking the Sabbath and that I'd be on my way.  Okay, I didn't really say that.  I just wish I was that rude (I dunno why).  But they just kept running they're mouths and weren't going to listen to a thing that I said so we just told them we had to go.  Tons of fun.

I read the tract that they gave me and that also was HILARIOUS.  They quote things like the Journal of Discourses and other obscure texts that are not authoritative doctrines of The Church.  Elder Busch took the liberty of tearing it apart and trashing it.

The guy we tried to see wasn't home :(

Yeah, it's a real testimony builder for me that the Lord is mindful and cares about our wants, but sometimes he's determined to prove that we will follow Him even when we don't get what we want.  I'm so glad that I have the opportunity to preach the gospel en espanol.

So last week, we really didn't teach anybody.  We got a lot of work done, but didn't actually teach Lisa, Shay, Steve, etc... which was a bummer for me, but things are still going alright.

We got Lisa's phone number, but she was working all last week, but we'll see her this week.

Shay had a boy.  We're going to commit her for baptism again tomorrow.

Steve's wife had major surgery last week.  Hopefully he'll have time to see us this week.

I'm giving up on the Old Testament for now.  I'm reading 'El Libro de Mormon'.  Nobody here would understand what I'm talking about if I start referencing the Old Testament (unless it's Joshua 24:15, I swear they hand out doormats with that verse on them like candy).  Doug is right though, occidental cultures tend to focus on facts and direct observations whereas oriental cultures are more concerned with intense imagery and conveying emotion.  This was the Jewish culture, and that's why it's difficult to understand the Old Testament from our perspective sometimes.  Or that's what my study guide says...

We had a Spanish Conference this weekend for the Spanish elders.  It was a blast.  They had a pinata and everything.  I murderized it.  My mission President is a big softy, but kinda scary when you blindfold him, hand him a stick, and spin him around ten times.

Not really any other news.  I miss you.

Love,

Elder Grabinger

P.S.  I can't wait for my Spanish name tag!

A new call!!!!

Dear Fawn,

No big deal.  Doug's letter was mint.  I really enjoyed it.  Such wisdom...

I think Chloe thinks that I wrote and performed that song.  Just to be clear, I NEITHER wrote NOR performed that song.  But it is to be taken just as seriously as if I had (names of young ladies have been changed for anonymity).

Elder Busch has the same sense of humor that I used to have.  RIDICULOUS amounts of SARCASM and really just plain rudeness.  Somehow we pulled it off though...  I remember a friend that once told me something along the lines of "You know what Bert, if anyone said the things you say I think I would be extremely offended, but somehow it's okay coming from you."  I think that's a bad thing though because nobody takes me seriously when I say I need mail.  Whatever.  My cross to bear...

For example: we'll walk away from a door and Elder Busch will have these one-word retorts like 'Ignorant' or 'ungrateful' as we truck along.

Well, I found out the problem.  Nobody in the south has faith in Jesus Christ, their faith is in the Bible.  They remind me of the Pharisees that Jesus is talking to in John 5:39.  It's like, um, HELLO!!?  You keep studying these scriptures that testify of me and well, here I am but you don't even believe me.  That's doing you a lot of good...  So, now I know who the enemy is, Pharisees.  Maybe I'll have better luck than Jesus did converting them...

Poop.

Okay, well the big news is that Elder Busch and I have been called to be Spanish elders.  Yep, it's a dream come true for both of us, we're uber (I mean 'muy') excited.  It looks like we'll be split up at the end of the transfer though so both of us can have a more fluent companion, so I'm thinking I won't get to finish training him.  Probably for the best, I'm the worst trainer....  We just chill and watch church videos all day anyway.

Totally joking.

Here's what's going on in the area:

Lisa has had the week to study and ponder (which is too long, but she wasn't home on Wednesday when we said we were going to come by) so we're throwing down the hammer tonight.  Wish us luck.

We had a lesson with another investigator yesterday who was brought to tears (I hope because of the spirit).  She is so ready to be baptized, but her mother and grandparents are threatening to disown and she doesn't have a relationship with her dad.  Of course, we all know what the right answer is, but it really isn't that easy.  I suppose we'll have to keep helping her to increase her faith.

Our other investigator Steve doesn't need us anymore.  He's decided to be baptized and he's quit smoking for a week and we never even talked about the Word of Wisdom with him.  We're just trying to keep up.

Shay has had a few weeks to recover so hopefully we can get her back to heading down the straight and narrow toward baptism in a couple weeks.

Some other peeps who are interested but flaky...

Okay, so anyone who has watched the 'Preach My Gospel: The District (1 & 2)' videos should know about the 'power pause.'  Well Elder Busch and I executed it with textbook perfection recently.  It was soooooo cool!  We taught a principle and the Spirit was super strong so we let the silence and Spirit sink in.  Cue: tears, and then they poured their heart out.  So, yeah.  That's what's up.  Ask your friends about it if you don't know what it is.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SAMUEL AND MELISSA ARE ENGAGED!!!!

I mean...

that's cool... or whatever.  No big deal.

Dang, I miss him so much.  Everyone who sees him needs to give him a hug for me okay?  no homo...

Well.  I finished the New Testament last week so it's on to the Old Testament now.  You may not get very many spiritual thoughts for a while cause I probably won't understand stuff.  But I've got my trusty study guide from the Stake Center library and it's time to dive in.  I'll keep you posted.

I can't believe you're getting a scooter Fawn & Doug.  Sweet wheels.

Well, we met a guy on Saturday who is interested in meeting with us again.  He has a young boy with mild autism.  Anyway, while we were there, the boy was saying things like 'smoke weed,' 'purple cush,' and 'ganja.' I think I know how they're treating his autism...  It'll be fun to teach him.

Well, I hope everyone had a great Father's Day.  It's tough to believe it's already been half a year since I left.  That's great, I love that time is flying.  I should be home any day now...

Love,

Elder Grabinger

News from Tennessee!

Doug and 'The Gang',

Wow.  That was an excellent email Doug.  Thanks a TON!

I don't have much time this week. Sorry...  Some highlights:

I got no mail.

We tracted into a young lady named Lisa who is INCREDIBLE!  She is so sincere and wants to know the truth of our message.  It's wonderful.  I think she's going to make it.  She loves her church already and doesn't want to leave the people she knows and stuff, but she's said that if our message really is true (and it is) then she can't just discard it.  Pray for her, and Elder Busch and myself to be able to help her.

I'm almost done studying the New Testament for now, then it's time to tackle the Old Testament.  You're absolutely right Doug, the apostles new that the primitive church would eventually fall into apostasy as prophesied, but that wasn't going to keep them from trying they're darndest from keeping it so.  I definitely noticed that theme, just about all of the epistles are directed at correcting false doctrine and putting down those Judaizers and suppressing Greek tradition that was creeping into the church from the vast growth of converts.  It's no different today, there are many traditions within the church and among its members that are not founded on doctrine.  We all should be careful to distinguish tradition from doctrine and remember that activity in the church is not the same as activity in the gospel.  I'm sure you can tell which is most important though...

Congratulations on yours and Fawn's church calling.  I would point out that callings are rarely given to those with expertise, but often, it seems, to those whom the learning and experience will be most beneficial.  That's not a stab at the solidity of your relationship... at all.

I wish I could justly convey how much fun it is to serve with Elder Busch.  He's my favorite companion yet and he's hilarious and loves to work.  It's great.

And now, the spiritual message:
The power of prayer is real.  We were out with a member this evening and his car wouldn't start so I suggested a prayer.  We prayed and the car didn't start so we walked a block to our appointment and talked with Lisa (it was GREAT, the member was a convert and shared his experience of finding and joining the church).  When we got back, the car worked. Things don't always happen when we want them to, but prayer is real, and it will work when it needs to.

I love and miss you all.  Hugs and kisses.

Love,
Elder Grabinger

5 months out, a new companion and a song

Dear Everyone,

Sorry my letters aren't getting through.  I retried the one I wrote last week.  Let me know if you get it.  This week I've attached a song that you can share on FaceBook if you know how to do that.  I'd appreciate it.

This week I just got my new companion, Elder Busch.  He's from Sacramento, CA and he's been in the field for 5 days now.  I love him.  I can't believe I've been out for 5 months now.  Any day and I'll be home...

Things have been pretty CRAZY the past few days.  We helped a family in the ward move.  They were renting a home which used a septic tank but the homeowner didn't know that, so a couple weeks ago the septic tank filled up finally and there was some backflow into the garage.  I felt like we should have had hazmat suits for that move... I washed my hands VIGOROUSLY many times during said move.  I love being a missionary (no sarcasm [<-- so much sarcasm]).

Anyway, It's time for Elder Busch and I to get aggressive and take control of this area.  Things have been going well, but at the same time not a lot of progress has been made.  Pray for us to TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL please.  We'll be working harder.

Fawn, your story goes exactly along with what I studied this morning.  There are popular doctrines out there that are prevalent even among the saints. The problem is, that some of these doctrines are FALSE.  Like I was reading in the New Testament and an example is that people in the primitive church were embracing the doctrine that we shouldn't eat meat and Paul denounced it.  There's a specific scripture in D&C that denounces it as well.  One example today is the doctrine of birth control.  The commandment is to 'multiply and replenish the earth' not 'multiply and replenish the earth when you and your husband are done with school and have a solid income' (that's just one example of circumstances people are in to justify it).  The Lord blesses those that keep his commandments...  That's what I learned today, we have to beware of false doctrine even in the church today.  It's real!

So yeah, I don't have any exceptionally great news to share.  We've been working hard, but If I keep doing the same thing I've always done, I'll always get what I've always gotten.. and that is no baptisms.  So pray for more succes for Elder Busch and I.  We'd appreciate it.

Peace out girl scouts.  (Thank you Ashley Hayashi; for that one)

Love
Elder Grabinger

P.S. Go to the link for a special message from Bert.
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=80854DCF19E980DD!106&authkey=!ADDi5bDE5tMe-Go