Another week down, and they are flying by. I can count my days at the MTC on two hands now. Only one Pday left after this, and I am so excited to go out and start teaching the gospel to God's children on the other side of the world. I've had some incredible experiences this week, as I have had every week, that I would like to share with all of you in this entry.
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| The Beautiful MTC grounds |
First off, I'll start with Sunday. I love Sundays here, even though they are super busy, because they are just a day to study the gospel and have joy in the opportunities we have to be going out and sharing it, and just feeling the Spirit through so many good messages. Anyway, a few great things happened. First of all, I was actually thinking as I was studying the Book of Mormon about how I want to work on my mission. And I was thinking of back when I used to race in the 1600 meter, and my mentality during that. I race that for the first three laps really hard, pushing myself to the extent of my efforts, but making sure that I have enough energy to go a little faster for the next. Then, in the last lap, the strategy is to "kick", shift your mental and physical efforts into overdrive and just give it every single ounce of energy that you have. And as I thought that, I thought, that's exactly how I want to live my mission. Hard work, all day every day, pushing myself a little bit more with every new day, and then especially that last six months just give this mission everything I have, so that I can come home with full faith that I have served my Savior with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. So I would feel that I had done my best, that wonderful feeling I experienced after running a good mile but x1000 that. Anyway, so that got me thinking throughout the week upon how rewarding and satisfying trials and hard work are. The growth and improvement you receive from going through something difficult and succeeding through it is among the most satisfying feeling one can receive in this life. And then imagine just how wonderful it would be if that growth is in Christ, that development is headed by He who knows how to best mold and shape us. We have the potential, as sons and daughters of God, to become as He is, and every day we go through trials with Christ we get a step closer to perfection. That is a wonderful message I have received over the past week.
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| My district |
Other activities on Sunday include choir practice, which is like the best thing here at the MTC. This past week we sang 'Testimony', an adaptation of 'I Know That My Redeemer Lives' that was so powerful to sing, even in the practice it was spectacular. Then in the Tuesday devotional, it was absolutely breathtaking, if you can imagine 1000 missionaries all bearing their testimonies of their Savior in song, together yet individually, there are no words to describe it. What a faith building experience that was! And in the devotional, Elder Nielson of the Seventy spoke of being a part of an incredible work here on Earth, choosing to be a part of the gathering of Israel, as well as choosing to be the one to do what God would have us to. There were so many good points made. Anyway, that really motivated me and then in the district review afterwards we all were so so so excited to go out to the Philippines and start on the most important work any of us could ever be doing in life right now.
One more awesome experience this week, on Wednesday I had the opportunity with my District to Host the new incoming missionaries, and I knew that my cousin Hannah was coming in that day, but there were like 500 new missionaries coming in so I didn't really expect to see them. But at the perfect time, I was at the front of the fence line and saw grandma and grandpa and cousins Lindsey and Garrett and Ethan pull up with her, and I was able to wave to all of them and see them and it was such a fun experience to just wave to them and see my family for just a brief moment. I know it was such a tender mercy given to me from the Lord, and I am so grateful for that experience. That being said, I still haven't seen Sister Bills yet here, but hopefully I will before I leave. It's pretty cool to know that I have family here, also a little weird that I still haven't seen her though haha. But that as well as all these other experiences have just given me such an appreciation for the abundance of blessings that my Heavenly Father has given me during my stay here. Tomorrow is the one month mark for being out here, and I cannot begin to describe the amount of faith I've gained, truths I've learned, skills I've developed, and blessings I've been given. I thank you all so much for your prayers and thoughts and love, I love you all and am so grateful to have people like you in my life. What a wonderful life this is, everyone, I hope we all remember to be grateful for the blessings we are showered with daily. I love you all, talk to you soon!
Love,
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| My top bunk - I love all the pictures my siblings make me! |
Elder Griffitts
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| Elders, studying in what little shade they can find! |
