I guess this is my first entry to what hopefully will grow into a weekly forum of updates. This is technically week 1.5, but I'm going to just say week 1 because I didn't have much time or much to say on my third day here. First off, this week has gone by pretty quick, well let me rephrase that. The days themselves seem to go by pretty fast, but it seems like I've been here forever already. The schedule is very busy, which is good because I know I need to work as hard as I can to be the best servant I can be to the Lord in this short time I have to serve Him. I already regret the early days I wasted feeling hopeless and discouraged, but I have grown much in just a period of a week, and I know there is still so so much growth to be done. I'll briefly cover the events of the week:
I'm starting with Sunday because the days before this were not helpful to me and I don't feel that I accomplished much or had anything of consequence. It was Fast Sunday that really started off my journey towards becoming like Christ on this mission, I think, and I felt His presence in my life as small miracles every day. Sunday was very busy, we had like 5-6 meetings back to back which left me very tired, but at the end of the day we watched a Christmas Devotional by Elder Bednar, called "Character of Christ", which just made me rethink my whole attitude about what I was doing here. There was so much in the talk, I can't hope to cover all that was said to me by the Spirit, but the biggest impression I received was the importance of being like Christ in "turning outward" when the natural man would turn in. In other words, this mission is NOT for me. This mission is for the Lord, and for the people who need His message and doctrine and gospel in their lives. I am merely a tool with which the Lord can accomplish His grand plan of salvation set up by our Father in Heaven. And what an incredible opportunity that is for me, and I only have two years to do it so I can't waste a minute in preparing myself to help others receive the restored gospel. That has been the prime source of motivation for me to learn this language, and these lessons, and live this gospel, because I want to be ready to teach as soon as I get out there.
On Tuesday night, we had a devotional by Jean J. Bingham, the Relief Society General President, which was very inspiring. She spoke of patterns of the Spirit, namely "Ask, Seek, Knock", "Search, Ponder, Pray", and "Look to God and Live". All incredible opportunities for us to pattern our lives around in continually improving and seeking how we can become closer to Christ.
Language wise, it has been somewhat frustrating. We are all supposed to have basic core memorized by tomorrow, and despite what I feel like have been my best efforts I don't think I'll be able to accomplish that goal. I need to get better at setting goals, that is one weakness I have observed of myself recently. However, in that same category, this week I witnessed a miracle in the form of the Gift of Tongues. Several, actually. First, Elder Powell and I one day earlier in the week decided that for personal and companion study, rather than study the language, we instead would focus on gospel truths and ways for us to draw closer to Christ as missionaries. And after that, despite actually losing practice time for the language, we found that we learned it faster and more effectively for the rest of the day in comparison to days prior, which was such a cool experience. Then, there was another huge miracle on Wednesday. We had to teach a lesson on faith in Jesus Christ to our teacher in Tagalog, no notes allowed, for like 10 minutes. And before it happened, during the practice, I was praying so so hard to be able to have the Gift of Tongues, that revelation to be able to listen and respond to the "investigator". So we got in the appointment, and I was talking just using words I knew with like zero correct grammar but that was fine because she wasn't expecting that, but we asked her a question. And she responded in Tagalog, and I had zero idea what she had said. So I just started talking again about something, I can't even remember what, and afterwards she asked us if we could understand what she had said. We told her no, and she said we had answered her question perfectly and completely. I was blown away, and now can personally witness the truth of the Gift of Tongues, as long as I am willing to put in the work and humble myself before God and trust that He will put the words in my mouth as long as I have the courage and faith to open it. Opening it, haha, is sometimes the hardest part though. Anyway, that was a wonderful experience I had this week.
Today we got to go to the temple, which brought me so much peace in the midst of feeling somewhat homesick, which has been a recurring thought for the past week. And I know that this is where I'm supposed to be, where the Lord needs me to be, I just have to be willing to work hard and put all my trust in Him. I love my district, we have a lot of fun together, but I sometimes have trouble remembering to work as hard as I can when I'm with them, and being strictly obedient and striving to do everything I am asked to do. Nevertheless, they are wonderful examples of Christlike people and I love their insights and support. And on the topic of fun, we have some great traditions already. Every night, Elder Stoddard (possibly my favorite elder in the district) comes into our residence and does a "Magandang Taffy" (beautiful taffy) in which he reads the jokes on the back of a Laffy Taffy and we have to guess the answers and the winner gets the taffy. We've decorated the room pretty good as well, and I think are managing great to stick to the lights out rule. One thing that's taken some getting used to is being within sight and sound of my companion at all times of the day. That gets challenging sometimes. But it is all worth it, and Elder Powell is an amazing example to me. Also, we locked ourselves out of our room the other night and some Ukrainian elder came over with a vacuum cleaner, floss, and piece of cardboard, and unlocked it. I'll let you all think about how he did that, I'll just leave you knowing it was amazing. 
Other than all of that, it's been a very progressive week, and I know it will only get better as I work as hard as I can and trust in the Lord. Sorry I don't have many more spiritual messages, there are so many I've had here I can't write them all or decide which ones to write. I'm just excited to be able to learn this language so I can get out into the field and love the people and invite them to come unto Christ. You are all my favorite people ever, thank you for your kindness and love and prayers and thoughts, I would not be here today without everyone in my life this far. I love you all so much. Love, Elder Griffitts
