Week 8 - September 27, 2018 (Camalaniugan, Philippines)

Still not an official blog entry from Elder Mark Griffitts, but we did hear from him.  He is safe and serving in Camalaniugan.  His Trainer/Companion is Elder Larona who if from the Philippines.  He is struggling to understand and speak the Tagalog language, but I'm sure it will come.  He is very busy and says there are many that are interested in the gospel!  I wanted to send these pictures from him.

The beautiful Manila LDS Temple

I ate balut...

Laoag International Airport

With Elder Larona

Sunset....in the Philippines!

Home sweet home...

Week 7 1/2 - September 23, 2018 (Somewhere in the Philippines....)

Mark was not able to write a blog due to Typhoon Mangkhut sweeping through his mission in the Philippines.  He was safe in the Manila MTC.  After a week at the MTC he was off to the mission home in Laoag.  Due to power outages from the Typhoon, he was able to write a very quick email saying he was safe and would be receiving his new area and trainer (companion) later that day.  He said that depending on where he is, he may not be able to email for a couple weeks due to the power outages.  So, we will all patiently wait....  We did receive this picture from his Mission President and his Wife - President and Sister Peterson

Week 6 - September 13, 2018 (MTC, Manila, Philippines)

With Elder Powell - Provo MTC

On the bus from Provo MTC to SLC Airport

On the airplane from SLC to LA

Hello-po dear family and friend, from the Philippines! We flew in last night (which I guess is what it is right now in the USA) and it has been a crazy trip. Unfortunately, I do not have a ton of time to write, so I'll try to make do with what I have. We left the MTC in Provo Monday morning, after a wonderful Sunday of departure devotionals and messages and farewells, and flew out to LA where we were supposed to have a layover but because there's currently a hurricane in the Philippines they had to cancel/super delay the flight, so we stayed the night in a hotel in LA instead. That was all pretty crazy and last minute, but it is nothing short of a miracle that it all worked out alright, and I'm not even at the next day. Anyways, Tuesday morning we got up super early and went back to the airport, got checked in and everything, had one last meal in the US, and were off around 12. From there, we had a nice 15 hour flight over to Manila, and I didn't really sleep at all but I was able to study and read a lot, and talk a bit to a Filipino lady I was sitting next to. I tried with some Tagalog, but in the end we both pretty much just ended up speaking English, but that was nice. We got in around 6:30 PM on Wednesday night, in the Philippines, so like 2:30 AM back in California. Then we got on a bus where the Manila MTC president was waiting to greet us and we all drove down to the MTC, where we arrived around 9 or so and had some food and went to bed around 10:30. So it's been an interesting week so far. The MTC here is amazing so far, though, I'm loving the climate, it reminds me of Hawaii. Maybe it will get hotter, but I'm good with it right now. We had some crazy fruit already last night, it's called rambutan, it was really good but looked super weird. I've got a new companion, Elder Etcheverry, from Auburn, Washington, who was in the district next to ours back in Provo. And later today we get to go to the temple right across the street, so that will be a cool experience. Other than all of that, the schedule here is going to be pretty full, by the looks of it. We are here for a little less than a week, we all leave next Wednesday morning, and from there on to Laoag. Manila is pretty crazy though, this city is absolutely enormous and super smoggy, it's just really cool to be in a different country and think, well, this is home for the next two years. Anyway, sorry I don't have much by way of spiritual messages today, I'm just excited and a little nervous to be here, I know that this is the place for which I have been called of God. Oh, and actually on the plane I read a talk by Elder Christofferson, I can't remember the name exactly but something about living a consecrated life, which was really good and I learned a lot from as to how we need to devote our efforts and life to building up God's kingdom here on the Earth, and it was very informative as to the ways to do so. He listed five categories: purity, work, caring for your body, service, and integrity. Anyway, it was just a great talk which kind of explained ways to become a better disciple of Jesus Christ, which I am striving for every day. I'm also reading Jesus the Christ now, which is really good, I got through a lot during the flight. Other than that, I have no other news, besides that I'm excited to see what this next week and then the next two years will bring. I pray that I will be humble enough and diligent to become adequately prepared for my entry to the field, this will be a wonderful week. I love you all so much, have a great week, I'll see you later!

Love,

Manila, Philippines

Elder Griffitts

MTC in the Philippines

The Philippines, MTC!

Manila, Philippines Temple

Manila Philippines Temple

My district - Provo MTC

My District - Provo MTC

Week 5 - September 7, 2018 (MTC, Provo, UT)

Kumusta po, aking pamiliya at mga kaibigan!

Face Mask Night!

First of all, Happy (late) Birthday to Cicely and Sam! I hope your days were absolutely superb and that you both know how much I love you! And I am so excited for Sis's baptism next Saturday, that is such an amazing opportunity and blessing! What an amazing experience that is going to be! 

It's crazy to think this is my last Pday here in the good old US of A. These entries are probably going to get a lot shorter after today, I don't even really know how long I'm going to make this one. But nevertheless, my time here at the MTC has held some of the hardest and most rewarding days of my life so far. I can't even imagine what the field is going to bring. I have grown so much, experienced so many miracles, and been privileged to be a part of God's missionary force for over a month now, and it has been so rewarding and life-changing already. Let me tell you of a few great experiences this week:

An awesome mural of Moses parting the Red Sea!

On Sunday, we had an amazing missionary conference about the Two Great Commandments (Matthew 22)- Love the Lord with all thy heart, and love thy neighbor as thyself. There were so many amazing talks given by the MTC presidency about charity, and having a motivation of love, and just generally being here for the right reasons. and using that to serve the Lord for our whole lives. Then, for our last choir practice, we sang none other than my favorite hymn, Praise to the Man, which was incredibly amazing, even before we threw in the organ. That came on Tuesday, when the time came to perform it in the nightly devotional. That song, normally so rousing already, became overwhelmingly powerful at the unity of a thousand missionaries singing about the first prophet of this last, full dispensation. That was amazing. The devotional was great too, Elder McKay of the Seventy and his wife spoke to us about the importance of acquiring the word of God, and teaching with His Spirit, as explained in D&C 50:14- to preach His Gospel, with His Spirit. It is so important to have the Holy Ghost in our lives every day, that gift which we are given, which I am so excited for my sister to receive after her baptism, is truly the most useful tool and blessing we have been given by Heavenly Father, and for its influence I am so grateful. 

I got to see my cousin Hannah (Sister Bills) at the MTC!
She is going to Berlin Germany!

This week has just flown by, it's had its hard times and good ones, excitement and nervousness for the field which is just a couple days away. Actually, we will likely be staying a week at the Manila MTC, but nonetheless that will be a totally different experience, and it will take a lot of faith to get through the first days and weeks. I'm very excited for the upcoming experiences, I know that as long as I work diligently, be patient with my progress, and have faith and trust that Heavenly Father is going to make of me what He needs, then it will as turn out well. I read Alma 32 yesterday, and the last few verses were just so powerful, about how through faith unto diligence and patience will allow our seeds of faith to blossom into eternal life. And then how in Alma 36, When Alma recounts his conversion story, of the importance of trusting in the Lord, turning to His mercy in all our times of need, and as we do so He will change our hearts and bring us to a desire to share the gospel with all, to feel the joy of salvation and want to share it with the world. And in Alma 37, how it comes through small and simple things. We need to be patient, be hopeful, be diligent, have faith, and strive for charity and all those other Christlike attributes which Christ shows to all and is a perfect example for us to follow. Well, it's been a great couple weeks here, and now I get to go and do what the Lord has commanded. I have to admit, I'm a little scared, but I know I won't have to be if I know whom to put my trust in, and I know that I do. I love you all so much, thank you for your prayers and wisdom and thoughts and everything you all do to build up God's kingdom on Earth. I'm so grateful for you all, and for this opportunity I have right now.

Elder Powell's Grandma sent us homemade bread!
Thanks Grandma Powell!

Love,

Elder Griffitts