"I Can drink Water Instead!"

Oakley Bea Van Wagoner, born March 31, 2011--She can't wait to see her Uncle Grady!!

April 3, 2011 Hello! How is everyone! The baby looks great! Thanks for sending all the pictures. Oakley looks way cute. I can't wait to see her. Before I forget, I got the debit card and the packages. Thanks a lot! The candy was great. For the last month or two my District has been doing a biggest loser challenge. I lost like 5 pounds but then gained it back. We go running or play sports every morning and I can see the difference in everyone's attitude. We are all pretty good friends and like being around each other. Two days ago I went on an exchange with Elder Guy from Cambridge, England. It was way fun and he is a great missionary. His accent gave our companionship like 10 extra cool points! This week has gone by fast! Somanta is getting baptized this coming sunday on April 10th! He is awesome! In the last two days he accepted to obey the Word of Wisdom and tithing. He has a ton of Faith! Yesterday he came to church and we taught the Word of Wisdom. When he heard about coffee and green tea he was a little surprised but this is what he said,"I can drink water instead." He has so much faith and I am way excited for his baptism. This was the highlight of my week. Me and Elder Einfeldt get along really well and I am excited to experience seeing a baptism with such a good companion. Somanta is great and I know that every nationality across the world is prepared for the gospel. You guys are awesome and I love you. O and before I forget. Where is Olivia staying at BYU-I. My friend in the mission, Sister Shields and her little brother are both going to BYU-I and we were talking and we thought it might be a good idea for us to room with each other's siblings. Kinda funny but she gave her dad your email address so he should be contacting you. If he doesn't maybe you should contact them. I think that is all I had. I love you guys and until next week.

Living Life Like Normal

Grady with his new companion, Elder Einfeldt, from the Tokyo Mission.

March 27, 2011~Hello! I don't know where to start. You guys are awesome! You are being so patient and putting up with me not writing too much about everything. What you wrote today was probably the most I have heard about the quake. I have had a lot of people ask me on the street if I am going back to America soon. In Tokyo a lot of foreigners are being sent home and even here in Kobe some of my Chinese friends are going back to China. Some people are pretty freaked out but the majority are just living life like normal. I personally haven't been affected by the quake. None of my investigators have been affected either. I am way thankful for how calm these people are too. The Kobe ward sent a ton of supplies to Sendai. It was way cool to be a part of it. I really don't have new updates other than tons of miracles. I am fine and the quake hasn't affected Kobe and I am very safe. I love you guys and I feel your prayers. Lenzi! good luck with the baby. I got a baby kimono and it is pretty sweet. This week Somanta, a Cambodian investigator came to church for the second time and he is awesome! He is getting baptized on April 10th. He doesn't speak Japanese so we are teaching him in English. If you want you could send him a card or something. He would probaly appreciate it. He is so prepared for the gospel. He understands the BOM way well and wants to follow Christ. His dad died when he was young so his mom raised him. He really is pure and is getting baptized! I love teaching people who are really prepared and willing to make changes. I am way excited for his baptism. Einfeldt is probably my hardest working companion. He is awesome! I really enjoy working with him. I love you guys and everything you do for me. Mom, thanks again for all the college stuff. I am way excited to live with Jordan. Jesus Christ lives and He is preparing the hearts of everyone. peace

The Craziest Week of My Mission--But Still Safe

March 20, 2011

Konnichiwa! I am emailing a little early this morning. Thanks for the emails this week. I always appreciate them. This week has been the craziest in my mission. I don't even know where to start. First off, everything is ok and I am completely safe here in Kobe. As you all know last week there was a very big earthquake up in northern Japan. You have probably been seeing lots of crazy things on the news and it doesn't look good. There is definitely some truth to what they are saying and it is a pretty rough situation. Everything you see that is going on up there I am not experiencing. Last Wednesday me and the elders at the mission home got a call from President McIntyre telling us that 50 missionaries will be coming from either the Tokyo or Sendai missions. He told us to start preparing by calling up all the mission and asking how many people each apartment could handle. That same day me and Elder Nunes, yes his mom is an author, went out to proselyte and had some lessons. We came back early to help out with preparations and that is when the craziness happened. Nunes was originally supposed to go home in April but now because so many missionaries were being evacuated and coming to our mission there was no room for them. Nunes, along with 10 other missionaries went home three weeks early with one days notice. I couldn't believe what was happening. The next day, Thursday, 42 Tokyo missionaries came to Kobe with all their belongings by bus. All 42 of them slept at the church and they seemed pretty tired but ready to work. They had a good spirit about them. They next, Friday, my old companion, Elder Nunes went home and I got a new companion named Elder Einfeldt. No not Sienfield, Einfeldt. He is from Cedar City, Utah. He is on his 6th transfer and ROCKS! He has 9 siblings and he is awesome. He loves to proselyte and open his mouth to preach the gospel. He came from a place called Ibaraki. It was the closes area to one of the nuclear power plants that exploded. He was only 11 miles away. He had to evacuate way quickly so he left a lot behind. No one knows how long the Tokyo missionaries will be here but I am so happy to have them. It is sad to think that in Sendai and Tokyo right now there are no missionaries but the 12 apostles receive revelation and I trust them. This experience has strengthened my testimony that God know best and I need to follow the Prophets counsel. I am sorry I haven't been the best at emailing you guys lately. I love you all and God Bless!

Grady is safe after 9.0 Earthquake hits Japan

On March 11 Japan experienced a huge 9.0 earthquake followed by a devastating tsunami. The earthquake was near Sendai and thousands of people lost their homes. A nuclear power plant near the earthquake was damaged by the tsunami and the workers are struggling to stablize the plant so that radiation does not leak. We heard about the earthquake soon after it happened and I realized that it was about 400 miles away from Kobe, so I knew Grady was safe--but it has been a difficult couple of days, wondering what is going on and waiting to hear from him.

March 13, 2011
Konnchiwa! Hello everyone! I am glad to know that you know that I am safe. The earthquake was devastating and it is really weird to be in the country that it took place in. Whenever an earthquake or natural disaster happened I always felt for the people but this time is different. I speak these people's language and I know them very well. I love them and it is almost as if I am Japanese citizen. Pres. McIntyre showed us some footage on CNN and I was way surprised. You probably know more than me because I can't watch TV but I get to ask people all day long about it. I am getting an up close feel of what is happening. The earthquake hasn't affected me very much or what I do everyday. I still go out averyday all day and find people that want to come to church. Natural disasters really humble people. This is probably the biggest difference I have noticed. The people in Japan are thinking more about the purpose of life and God. It has been really interesting asking people about the earthquake and hearing their responses. They all admit that death isn't our choice and that something bigger than them might be out there. It reminds about the king in Alma 22. He believed that a higher power existed but he didn't know its name or what form it was in. These people are really similiar and I have really felt the spirit testifying to them that Jesus Christ suffered for them and through his plan all those people that died will be ressurected. There are a couple Japanese missionaries in the mission that have family living right where the tsunami took place. All but one has contacted their families. I pray everyday for them. The Gospel is true and I love it. As for the investigators in Kobe, they are doing well. 4 people are preparing for baptism. 3 are Chinese and 1 is Japanese. I love them and I am excited to help them all that I can. Last night I met a Chinese guy named Sunchen at the church. We taught about baptism and that we become clean through it. He wanted to be clean because he has a lot of regret in his life and he accepted to be baptized. I felt the spirit so strong during the lesson while testifying about baptism. I can't wait for his baptism. I love you guys and have a great week!

Still in Kobe!! Yay!

Kobe District

March 6, 2011

Hello! Thanks for all the pictures and wonderful emails this week! I will try to make my emails more interesting. Maybe I'll spice them up with funny lines or something!? I can't believe Michelle Coleman is married. That is nuts. Lenzi is huge! I feel dumb asking this but is it a girl or a boy? I forgot. Mom, thanks for all the hard work you are doing to help me out with college stuff. I really appreciate it. I don't know the moms email addresses but can I do that stuff when I get home? Ya, Mike Slater came with me to Japan and David Drake was in this mission and he went home about 6 months ago. They are all way cool. This week was wild! I didn't...............................................................................................................get transfered! Elder Low got transfered and he is in Osaka now. My new companion is Elder Nunes from Orem. He is on his last transfer and we are having a riot! He is way cool and is almost fluent in Japanese. I learn a lot everyday. It was sad to see Low go but things happen for a reason. One crazy sad thing that happened this week was a missionary ran away. He was supposed to be Low's new companion but he ran away the day of the transfer call. No one knew where he was and it was really scary. He is a 26 year old Japanese elder that I was pretty good friends with. He finally showed up yesterday at his home in the Fukuoka mission after about 4 days of being missing. Some people struggle with things and it really made me think about my life. I love the gospel and I feel for him, and have remorse but this work is way important and he made a wrong decision. I love him and I know that everything unfair becomes fair through the atonement of Christ. I love you guys and repentance is real. The gospel is an unchanging thing and I love it. This was short but I gotta go. Bye Bye

These People are Fantastic!

The Kobe District

February 27, 2011
Hello! Thanks for all the email this week! A lot of things are happening with the family! I can't believe that Lenzi is almost due and that Olivia and Rudy are so old! It is pretty wild to think about. Well I'll keep this week short and sweet. Yesterday a Chinese man named Lee got baptized. We had one investigator come and he really liked it. Ryu also came to church and Lee want to help him out a lot. When Ryu went up to shake Lee's hand Lee told Ryu to please get baptized. Lee has a goal of helping all the Chinese people Living in Japan get baptized and find God. I know he was meant to get baptized for many reasons. Transfer calls are tommorow and I really don't know what is going to happen. The mission is great and 3 months is way short. I know I can find the elect and I am here for a reason. These people are fantastic and I love them so much. I love you guys and wish the best for you.

With Love,
Grady

The Gospel is True and I Love It!

Elder Low, Grady and the Mission Elders

February 20, 2011
Hello everyone! Thanks for the emails and love. I appreciate your concern for me and how you want to help. Thank you. I am doing great! My clothes are holding up, lots of medicine and toothpaste, I don't know what anyone else could ask for. I'll be brief today. This week was great. There were a ton of new people found but some investigators dropped and didn't come to church. Asami and Noaki didn't come to church and it was way sad. They really need the gospel like everyone else. When these people don't come to church or meet you really realize how much you love them. Everyone is way special to me. I don't have a ton to say this week but this last Thursday me and Nielson went on an exchange for a day. It was way fun and it just felt right. We have become good friends and I am thankful for the opportunity to live with him. We saw a lot of miracles together and I was glad to work with him. Ryu didn't come to church yesterday but I met him last night. He was doing well but the language barrier is bigger than I thought. Nothing that me or Jesus Christ hasn't dealt with before. The gospel is true and I love it. It is so universal and for everyone. This was short but with love. Have a great week and until next time!
Grady