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