Week 13 - October 29, 2018 (Camalaniugan, Philippines)

      Hello Everyone!

Hope this week has been wonderful for you all! We have been pretty busy over here, we are at the end of the first cycle I've had our here in the field, so my training is halfway over I suppose. This last week we had a mission tour in Laoag, it was wonderful- Elder Wakolo, a General Area Authority, came and spoke to us, he was so powerful and has such an extensive knowledge of the scriptures. He gave us some great messages about our purpose here, and about being filled with the fire of the Spirit, and the light of Christ, and if we are - we become unstoppable. And this is so true, when we have the Savior by our side what is there to be afraid of? 

We got to eat at McDonalds in Laoag!

The drive to Laoag was absolutely beautiful, and it made me think of how blessed we are to live in such a beautiful world. Heavenly Father loves us so much- the mountains and the plains and the ocean all testify of this. Alma 30:44 is a really powerful scripture about this, I love Alma's testimony. But anyway, I was thinking about this, and then just how much greater He had shown His love through the sacrifice of His Son, and how much Christ loves us in doing what He did. I always find so much peace in the Atonement, when I'm feeling discouraged or inadequate the promise of Christ's sacrifice brings me hope. And I've realized how important agency is in becoming happy- it is everything to choose to have a good attitude and just work and strive for the Spirit in everything we do- and if we choose the good and happy path, the gospel of Christ, we in turn become happy and can help others to do the same. It makes life so much more pleasant in general. 

The beautiful views on the bus to Laoag

We have a big bagiuo (typhoon) coming in later today or tomorrow, apparently bigger than the one which hit when I was in Manila. So we may be evacuating to Laoag later today- hopefully not though, so we can get some work done this week. Even though the language is limiting, I love being able to just testify simply of Christ- it's something I strive to do through my words and actions every day of my mission, and then every day for the rest of my life. He has done so much for us, I know that He loves us, and I know He has given us a way to be so happy in our lives and to return and rest with our Heavenly Father. I'm so grateful to all of you for being examples of Him to me- and every one of you who read this have been to me, in one way or another. I love you all so much, have a wonderful week and Happy Halloween of course (no Halloween over here, haha). 

Love,

Elder Griffitts

Week 12 - October 22, 2018 (Camalaniugan, Philippines)

 Empanadas after district meeting

Hello, my dear family and friends! It has been another fast paced week, very busy and full of events. We've had many opportunities to teach people, and be out working, for which I am very grateful. It's been difficult for me, however. I feel I may be neglecting my study of this language, after the diligence which I strove to give it in the MTC, and so I am striving to reignite that motivation over the course of this week. More than that, however, is the effect that this discouragement has been having on my ability to feel the Spirit. It becomes a vicious cycle when it becomes recognizable, thus causing further discouragement and fear. The only cure to this is faith, I am finding- and only faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement for all of us. Because that Atonement is truly the answer to all of our shortcomings and weaknesses, of which I have many. And I'm coming to learn slowly, that only if I trust in my Savior's ability to be close to me and help me, will I ever be effective by any means. So it is becoming a major focus for me that I develop a powerful testimony of this blessing.

We found a baby goat in Casili

Of course, faith is a principle of action- so we are striving to be out working every day. And inviting people to this same action. We have many new interested people who have much potential, they have truly been prepared by the Lord. Our largest challenge this week has been getting them to come to church, and teaching our families together. Families are so very scattered here, and it seems no one ever knows where the others are. And everyone will let us teach them, but the test of their desire to really learn comes in their willingness to come to church- and that becomes quite the challenge. But we have been working on it with some success by trying to work with the members here more. I am getting to know them much better, and enjoy their company. Some I have even held a semi-real conversation with! The language is coming slowly- I feel I am hitting a wall. But I need to study harder. If there is anything I have learned this week, it's the reality of the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ- the enabling and healing powers. Because that is the only way I'm going to ever become an effective missionary here, and I must work on obtaining its power every day. Alma 34, among my favorite chapters in the BOM, has been a huge help in this process. What a spectacular hope we can find in the sacrifice of our Savior! It is this hope that I am clinging to, even though I cannot see how I will succeed yet. And I hope that through this hope someday I will be able to find success in this work. I love you all, I'm so grateful for your thoughts and prayers, I'll see you soon!

A decent ish sunset- I always miss the best ones

Love,

Elder Griffitts

Week 11 - October 15, 2018 (Camalaniugan, Philippines)

Hello everyone!

Elder Stoddard (from my MTC district)
and I at General Conference

First off, happy late birthday to my prodigy of a brother, Tommy. The big 17, now it's that awkward 2 months where we are kinda sorta one year apart rather than two. It's been a pretty good and humbling week. General Conference was of course amazing, I absolutely love the focus the Church is putting on families now, because of course mine is the best one around. I've been thinking a lot this week about how grateful I am for them, and how much the Gospel has the potential to bless the families here, so many of which are broken and hurt and in need of Christ's light. I just appreciate so much how incredible my family has been in my life, my wonderful mother, father, and siblings as well as grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. I especially loved on this topic Steven R. Bangerter's talk in the Saturday morning session about raising an eternal family in a Gospel-centered home. It's been a great week of reminiscing on mine. 

Some pictures from home - love them!

Sitting at my desk

In other news, may kuryente na! (We have power), that was a fun first month. It's been a great week of work, we are really striving to find families and get as many people to church as possible, which was a bit hard with General Conference in Aparri this weekend, but nonetheless the work is always good. We had exchanges one day with the Zone Leaders, where I was in charge of our area- that was a humbling experience, haha. Really teaches me just how dependent I am on my trainer, the Spirit, and ultimately my Savior. Without Elder Larona, I couldn't communicate. Without the Spirit, I can't learn or teach. And without our Savior, well, we really can't do anything. His Atonement, both the saving and enabling power, is absolutely essential to our fulfilling our purpose in this life. That was another theme I loved about conference. We all face trials in this life, and fears, and discouragement, no matter how well we are living- because it's a part of life, a part of mortality. But because of the Savior, they will not last forever, and the sun will always rise again. I love Elder Gong's comparison of facing trials as a "campfire of faith" in the dark night, as we must wait for the sun to rise- but it always will. And we can even find joy in our trials through Christ as well, knowing that He knows us and our pains perfectly. Elder Anderson taught this principle very well as well. And then, the announcement of a new temple in Yuba City is super exciting too, as were all the new revelations received from our dear prophet. It was so good to hear from him, and find new guidance in this world of strife. Take upon yourselves the name of Christ! He will make so much of us when we do, I love that I get to wear His name on my chest every day. I love you all, have a wonderful week!

Love,

Elder Griffitts

A good P-Day!

Week 10 - October 8, 2018 (Camalaniugan, Philippines)

Elder Larona and I at Casili,
my personal favorite brgy in our area,
it's so beautiful out in the rice fields

Hello Everyone! I'm going to make this week really quick due to lack of time, but it has been a busy one. We got a lot of good work done, and have seen both success and heartbreak in the course of only a few days. We had a baptism scheduled for Saturday, and everything was looking perfect up until Saturday morning, during which our investigator called and cancelled, due to her husband who is overseas telling her no. That was a tough morning for us. We went and visited her later, but I really don't know what is going to happen. And it frustrates me to no end that I really can't to anything to help, on account of my inability to speak this language. But I guess that is just a drive to work harder at it, and pray for the Gift of Tongues. And on Sunday, we had seven investigators come to church, which was such an incredible blessing, and a family to add to it! We've been out working a lot, it has been quite busy but exciting. 

In other news, we still have no power at our apartment. Going to break the mission record, haha, I'm pretty sure we're the last one in the mission without it. But we have been staying at the Zone Leaders' for the past couple nights, so that has been a blessing, though quite the hassle to commute back and forth. Also I've learned a lot about myself, like how I need to stop doubting in my abilities and just keep trying. And how important attitude is to literally everything. I've really been enjoying studying the Book of Mormon, I'm looking for the Christlike attributes and learning so much, and whenever I go in with a question I am answered, it truly is a miraculous work that we have been blessed with. 

Yesterday I came to a realization of how selfish I have been lately, in feeling bad that I don't have power or water or good food. Because there are people here who live their lives like this, who come from broken families with nothing, children we are teaching who have to be taught at members' houses because their parents are drunk all the time, and it has broken my heart. I have been so blessed in my life to be born into a perfect and loving family, with the gospel in my home, and all the comforts and goodness we enjoy back in the great country of America. But even there, and everywhere else in the world, there are people who have never tasted of that, and perhaps never will. But here we are, called to teach them His Gospel, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is all any of us here on earth need. And I'm so grateful for the opportunity, I hope I can give these people the truth they all deserve. And I know this gospel will bring to them the peace they need in their lives, because I've seen the peace in mine. I love you all, I hope your week has been amazing, I'll see you soon!    Love, Elder Griffitts

Week 9 - October 1, 2018 (Camalaniugan, Philippines)

On a tricycle going out to one of our areas, Casili. 

Hello Everyone!

This has been a crazy and hectic past couple weeks, I don't even remember the last time I made one of these. But here goes this one, I have to make it a bit short.

Beautiful Sunset!

My first area is Camalaniugan 2, in the Calagayan area over on the east coast. My companion is Elder Larona, a native Filipino from near Manila. He is a wonderful trainer, and speaks both English and Tagalog very well. We live in a little apartment off the highway, no running water or anything. Also, we apparently usually have electricity but there is none of that yet as of the storm, which has been pretty rough. We are very busy every day, even though we don't get to get out until later with everything that is going on. That has been a struggle for me, as I feel the need to go out and teach these people who are so receptive, but we always have so much else to do to take care of. Other than that, the language has really been tough, I am understanding people a little more every day but I still feel like I can't speak it at all. I'm trying to open my mouth, but that has been quite ineffective as no one knows what I am saying.

There are some great experiences though. We have a baptism coming up this Saturday, the 6th, and that is very exciting. On that same note, I extended the baptismal invitation to two of our investigators a few days ago for October 27, and they accepted! That was an incredible experience for us, we were not planning on it but the Spirit was so strong there. Today is my two month mark, that is another fun fact I guess I just realized. Elder Larona's one year was on Saturday. Also, Elder Jenkins is like a legend here, haha, he was like the perfect missionary apparently so I hope I can keep Auburn 2nd in good standings.

The beautiful countryside!

Some final words, I have had some great foods here. We had balut in the MTC, that was pretty gross. I also had dog on Saturday, that was actually pretty good. And some cubes of blood. The food is really interesting here. Finally, I heard a quote this week that has really kept me going, especially missing you all so much more than I ever thought was possible. "Don't be afraid to give up the good to receive the great". This is applicable to all areas of this gospel, whether as a new member or a missionary. We need to constantly be moving forward, changing, becoming more like Christ through His Gospel. I know this is how we will become the happiest in this life and the life to come. I love you all so much!

Love,
Elder Griffitts