Week 17 - November 26, 2018 (Camalaniugan, Philippines)

Wow, it's been a wonderful week here! Also I just realized Thanksgiving was last week, so happy late Thanksgiving everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful time of gratitude and love, I find so much joy in reminiscing in the times I've shared with you all. This week brings much to write, I hope I will be able to get it down. 

The highway and simbahan (church) I believe

Exchanges in Aparri, that was a cool bridge

I've been studying a lot in my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon, the first half of the Book of Alma, about the incredible missionary journeys of Alma, Amulek, Ammon, and the sons of Mosiah. Over the past few days I was reading about how absolutely indescribable their joy was in being servants and instruments in the Lord's hands. How wonderful and blessed an opportunity to be a witness to our Savior changing people's hearts as they embrace His gospel and find the joy therein. It is so true, that the greatest joy we can receive is seeing others come to a knowledge of the truth that we ourselves know. We have had the blessing of teaching several families this last week, and what an amazing opportunity that is. I am so hopeful in bringing a whole family to become strong in this gospel- I have a firm testimony of the potential of families to benefit the most from the eternal truths contained therein, as well as the potential for families to be together forever. I just hope that I will have the opportunity to help some come to this knowledge and joy and gratitude for themselves.

We had the opportunity to go on exchanges this week, and I went with another elder who is a transfer newer than me, that is, he's been out for three weeks. So in other words, it was up to me to do most of the communication- and let me tell you, the Gift of Tongues is so very real. The language flowed better than ever before, and I found myself comfortable in our lessons, and not to mention I learned a great deal about the importance of boldness from the determination and positivity of Elder Hancock. That was another great blessing of the week. 

Lastly, I'm very excited for Light the World this year, our branch is eager to participate. We are all going caroling this Saturday, for the Worldwide Day of Service December 1st. And we have some great branch activities planned the rest of the month. I hope I am given the ability to help strengthen this branch in my time here, they are all so wonderful and true followers of Jesus Christ. Just seeing the difference between them and those we teach, gives me so much hope and strengthens my testimony in the power of Christ to change people's hearts and bring them true joy, no matter the material circumstances. Anyways, I am so grateful for this church, and my Savior, in the spirit of the season, and hope we all can come closer to Christ as we enter into the Christmas season for reals. Mahal ko kayo lahat, hanggang darating na linggo!

Love,
Elder Griffitts

Week 16 - November 19, 2018 (Camalaniugan, Philippines)

Hello everyone!

It's been a good week here in Camalaniugan. We had a marriage and baptism on Saturday, sister Jessa who has been really active for months but waiting on her marriage license. It was a very nice service, I played the hymns- oh yes, I forgot to mention last week that I am the pianist for our branch, as we have a piano in our building but no one can play, so I have been really blessed with that opportunity. The week itself went well, I continually realize daily how weak and helpless I am without the Atonement of Jesus Christ. And whenever I doubt in its power, I am completely powerless in all ways, and it is so very difficult, How critical it is to trust in the Lord, to have that hope that everything is going to be alright through His Way, if we can find the humility in ourselves to just follow it. And the faith in His name to gain that hope, to become joyful. It is a process I am continually striving in, and though I feel woefully inadequate sometimes, I know it is one I must continue to press forward in. And this cannot be done without the precious gift of charity- I find this to be the action part of this plan, the true meaning of repentance. Certainly, repentance involves a change in that we must turn away from that which is contrary to the will of God- but just as very critical, is showing our gratitude to our Savior for being willing to suffer the demands of justice in our behalf. And to do this, we must serve Him. Through the service of those He loves- the children of God all around us. The change of heart that comes from repentance must- must- involve a turning towards our Savior, of becoming as He is- that is, doing nothing but turn outward, forget yourself, serve and love and help others. This is the only way I will ever be able to overcome the natural man within, because it will be there unless I turn from myself and leave it behind. Love is spoken of in the scriptures as the greatest commandment of all- and it is so true, that all else hangs upon it. All that Christ did, all that our Heavenly Father did, was out of love. And so must be our ultimate and constant motivation for all that we do, to serve those around us. I know that this is true. I just hope that I will have enough faith and hope to truly act upon it, and forget myself, forget it all, and go to work.

 

Week 15 - November 12, 2018 (Camalaniugan, Philippines)

Visiting Lal-Lo (just south of Camalaniugan)

Hello, my dear and beloved family and friends! Wishing you a wonderful week from over here, it's gone by very quickly for me. These weeks blur so strangely, I feel like I should be in a rhythm by now but every week still has events new and unexpected. It's kind of hard one week when I feel so in control, or good with the language, or understanding, and then the next I am sent into a spiral of confusion and realize just how much I don't know. I guess that is the Lord showing me my weaknesses so I remember who I must depend on always. That's one good thing about trials- at least if you don't let them discourage you. Because if you go at them with an eternal perspective, you start learning what it means to rely on the Lord and then He gives so very much. This is something I feel like I relearn a little more every week- I think there is a reason that the Nephite pride cycle is so repetitive in the Book of Mormon, haha. Anyway, this week I just really have come to realize how absolutely critical the Spirit is- in missionary work, and in life in general. There is always so much to do, and if I think about it all too much, I become overwhelmed. But if I allow myself to be guided by the Spirit, if I seek it diligently, then everything becomes so simple, so doable. I have a powerful testimony that the Lord prepares a way for His servants to accomplish His commandments, and that we must do our part to find that way. 

Eating a very sour fruit!

We got some good work done this week, I am really hoping we have some baptisms coming up. We have one next Saturday, which is exciting, though they have been active in church for months, just waiting on a marriage license. Still, I hope this will really get the ball rolling- though my weaknesses in the language and culture of course limit my ability to really contribute much in many instances. But this is where I am wrong as well- because I assume that it is through my own words that people are converted. This, as well, is back to the Spirit as always. In a way, I'm very grateful for this period of weakness, because it is really forcing me to humble myself and seek out the One which testifies of all truth. And I can share this with even a simple testimony- it is our testimonies that are our most powerful tools in allowing the Spirit to work through us. I love Alma 4:19, wherein Alma sets out to save a people with the power of pure testimony. Then of course we are left with Alma 5, an absolutely phenomenal chapter that shows how powerful we can become when we couple our testimonies with the Spirit. I am so very thankful for the power of the Holy Ghost in confirming a testimony. I know that God is our Father in Heaven. I know He loves us so very much. I know Jesus Christ is His Son, and our Savior. I know that He has restored His Church through the prophet Joseph Smith in these the last days, and through His love given us a wonderful and perfect witness of His life and His Gospel through the Book of Mormon. I know we have a living prophet, and that through him Christ guides His Church today. And I know that, somehow, He went through every sin and pain and weakness we have and understands us perfectly, just so that we could choose to find peace through Him. And I'm grateful I have the opportunity and duty to share this message with the world. Love you all, have a beautiful week and remember you are all children of God!

Love,
Elder Griffitts

Week 14 - November 5, 2018 (Camalaniugan, Philippines)

A sunset in Casili

Hello everyone! I hope your week has been wonderful. It has been great over here, so much growth and learning this week! The beginning was rough, thanks to the bagyo that swept through here Monday and Tuesday. We didn't end up evacuating, but we had to stay in our apartment all of Tuesday, that was quite painful and boring, but I guess necessary. But after that, the week flew by. We had transfers on Wednesday, so we were with Elder Reamon, one of the Zone Leaders, because his companion, Elder Rees, was transferred to be an AP. So it was pretty fun, being a threesome for a day, and we went to their area, Santa Ana, which is super pretty and there are some great people there. In similar news, I learned so much this week about the power and influence of members on missionary work, and missionary work on members. 

So we've been working with members a lot this week, they are so amazing here in the branch. We have a few that love to go out and work, and have been such powerful fellowshippers for us, and friends to those who are coming to church. Yesterday, actually, we did splits so I was leading in the lessons with some members, so it was Tagalog lang (only). That was a really wonderful experience, and I am so grateful that the language is coming more and more as I rely on the Spirit. And not only have I been seeing the blessings which come to those we are teaching, I have been seeing the strength and unity it brings to the branch and everyone in it. Yesterday in Elders Quorum the branch president had everyone give us a referral, so we are going to have a wonderfully busy week next week. And when we are all joined together in one effort, in inviting all to come unto Christ, our testimonies and love can grow together, and we in turn become more converted. Missionary work is so powerful, so wonderful for us all. 

At the beach in Aparri

Today, Monday, has been one of the most fun days so far as well. We had a zone activity in Aparri, which borders the ocean so we all went to the beach and played European Handball. Yeah, I know, an American in Asia playing a European game. It's like Ultimate frisbee but with a volleyball. And it was so much fun, how I have missed just being able to sprint. The ocean was so beautiful, this area is so incredible and I am so blessed to be here. The sunsets are absolutely stunning, and the stars at night are incomparable to anywhere except the Sierra Nevada's. So clear. So I guess I am just very happy that I'm becoming more comfortable and at home here, it is such a beautiful mission with such good people. I pray that I will be close enough to the Spirit to just become an instrument in the Lord's hands and love them enough to bring them to a knowledge of this divine truth I have been called to preach. I love you all, have a wonderful week!

Love,
Elder Griffitts

Tricy ride (yeah that's my leg up there)

With the new guy- I'm not the greenie anymore

Man did it feel good to sprint on that sand

European Handball

The Aparri Zone