Week 26 - January 28, 2019 (Dingras, Philippines)

Some goodbyes in Cam

One last ice cream at the Fajela's

Hello my dear family and friends! Hope you have all had another week in paradise! It's been good here, had my first transfer over to Ilocos Norte, in the Dingras B area. My new companion is Elder Baran, he just got finished training a new missionary which has been a pattern with my companions so far haha (except my trainer). Anyway, it's a beautiful area that's got a lot of corn and mountains, quite different from the rice fields and flat of Camalaniugan. Our apartment is great, we've got the miracle of running water which makes everything 100x faster, so that is nice. More importantly, I'm really excited to start working this new area, it seems like it has a ton of potential and I'm excited to start anew being somewhat comfortable with the language and the culture.

Elder Baran and me

The new area- reminds me of Utah to be honest.
I love the mountains.

My last few days in Cam were great- we helped a sister move on Tuesday morning, which was a fun experience of carting furniture and stuff back and forth in a tricy in the rain. It was a refreshing change in a service project, which are unfortunately few and far between here. It was also a great way to end the time there- I love that branch, they are all so wonderful and strong in the Gospel. Speaking of which, I'm really excited to work with the branch here as well. The Church seems very established here, the branch president is our next door neighbor and very involved with the work. We are four in the house, us two plus the Zone Leaders of Saint Nicholas Zone. I got there Wednesday evening, and on Saturday we had an awesome baptism of two converts of Elder Baran and his last companion, they and their family are all so impressive in their conversion to this Gospel- really inspiring to me to try to build my own testimony of the truth and importance of this message. Seeing people like them is the reason this work brings me so much joy. I'm super happy to be here, and I hope I will have the faith I need to be an instrument in this new area of helping other people to see the love of God in His plan for them. Well, that's about all I have for now, I hope to have some good experiences to share with you all next week. I love you all, I hope your week is filled with hope and joy in the plan that Heavenly Father has for each of us, just know that no matter how hard your trial is or how far away the end of the tunnel may seem, there is going to be a better day, a better time, and if we turn to Christ we can find this reassurance every singe minute- just do all you can to choose this hope. And keep on smiling. Love you all, see you later!

Love,

Elder Griffitts

Week 25 - January 21, 2019 (Camalaniugan, Philippines)

We lost the key to our house,
so we made a miracle of Filipino engineering

Transfer Day! Yesterday I found out I'm out of Camalaniugan, off to a new area. I'll find out what it is later on today. I'm so grateful to have had this as my first area- I've found so much joy in working with the members, teaching the people, and embracing the culture. Now comes the fun part- trying to fit all my stuff back into my suitcases, haha. 

A later note from Mark: (I'm going to Dingras B with Elder Baran- leaving early Wednesday morning it's near Laoag.)

Nachos at Juvals

This past week has been one of great work days and much progress, both personally and in the lives and spirits of our investigators. We've focused a lot on finding this past week, striving to seek those seekers of truth that Heavenly Father is preparing to receive His message of truth and hope. I've loved every minute- I never feel the Spirit stronger than when I have the opportunity to teach the Restoration of the Gospel in our day, and there have been many times this past week where that has been my blessing. It is perhaps the most wonderful feeling to see the Spirit click with someone, and have them understand that this is different- this is the truth, this is our purpose here on Earth.

Post-district council Pancit lunch

Great memories with some great members

On a related note, I've come to appreciate in greater extents the amazing power that serving others and developing charity has on our own faith, our own joy. There is no better way to live than one where you focus on others- just forget your problems, your worries, and help them with theirs. There really is no other way, and this is truly the way of Christ. In a study of His life, you will find no instance in which He did not turn His heart to others in every struggle He faced, and it is in our greatest challenges that this principle brings the most peace. "Forget yourself and go to work". The true meaning of this phrase is just to put all your heart and soul into the work of salvation, the exact work of our Heavenly Father. Whether this is sharing His Gospel, serving your fellow man, or simply being a good example to others, we all have a work to do here on earth- I testify that it is the plan of a Supreme Being for all of us to find joy in this life and the life to come through following the example of His divine Son. I know that God is real, that He is our literal Father in Heaven, and He has a plan for each and every one of us. How can any of us look up at the stars every night and not wonder Who it is that did all of this? The greatest peace we can find is in His love for all of us individually, and the way He demonstrated this through the gift of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. This is the message I have the blessing to share every day- and the message that will ultimately bring peace and joy to all of His Children. I hope we can all seek our Father in Heaven, and see what blessings He will pour out into our lives- this is the hope, this is the faith, this is how we were meant to live here on earth. I love you all so much, I hope that your weeks are amazing, and all you do brings you closer to Him. 

Tatay Barillios- he worked with us almost every day,
 such a wonderful example of Christ in word and deed

Love,
Elder Griffitts

Oh boy- trying to pack my life back into
two suitcases is gonna take some time.

Week 24 - January 14, 2019 (Camalaniugan, Philippines)

Dear beloved family and friends,

It's been a wonderful week over here in the land of perpetual summer. It's started to get hot again, and I've heard the true summers get brutal, but I'm still having a great time. This week has seen much progress in the work.  We've been working a lot on finding, trying to follow the Spirit to those whom God has prepared to hear His message of truth. Sometimes it gets slow, but it just remains important to remember the importance of our call, and the message that we carry. 

The language is coming along pretty well, I'm finding the most important thing to do is just practice constantly by talking to people. Right now, I'm working on learning new words, specifically verbs, to better express what I want to say. I also need to get the accent down, but that just comes with time is what I hear. I'm pretty comfortable with the lessons, which is the most important part, but need to always stay diligent in the studies and practice. We are really working on helping some progressing people enter into the waters of baptism, and I'm hoping if I don't get transferred next Sunday that we will see a great amount this next cycle, perhaps one this coming Saturday as well.

Yesterday we went to Aparri to hear Elder Holland speak live from Manila, for the start of the new temple. He gave an amazing talk- about the future of Christ's Church on the Earth, and how all these new changes are how we are preparing the Church of the Lamb for Jesus Christ Himself to come and lead it- that was a powerful statement. He also spoke about the utmost importance of obedience- how it is truly the first law of everything. If we are but willing as Christ was to obey the will of the Father in all things, we would have the power to change the world- to usher in the Millennium within the walls of our own homes. I'm learning more and more every day of the absolute joy and hope of the gospel message- we are offering to people the salvation that we all so desperately need, through the gift of Jesus Christ- what happier, what greater message of hope and mercy could ever be extended? This is His work, I testify that it is, and I know that His salvation is free- He invites all people, every nation, kindred, and tongue- to come and be a part in His wonderful plan for our happiness. We just need to try a little more every day. Have a wonderful week everyone, I love you all!

Love,

Elder Griffitts

Week 23 - January 7, 2019 (Camalaniugan, Philippines)

New Year's Day at a member's 

Happy New Year's for real everyone, what a wonderful time to search within ourselves and seek to become better disciples of Christ this new year. I'm a bit short on time today, but I will briefly overview my week and try to offer some great things I've learned.

Zone Con in Aparri

New Year's was a pretty good day, there weren't nearly as many fireworks as I had been led to believe, but I heard they made a bunch of them illegal this year. We had a great Zone Conference on Friday, there were so many wonderful messages about faith and miracles and why we are serving others and how we can be more loving and powerful servants of the Lord. On Sunday, we had the opportunity to do the new two hour schedule, that was really great, and we had 7 wonderful people we are teaching come and see the true Church of Jesus Christ. I've really learned a lot this week about faith and miracles. Faith must always be centered in Jesus Christ, and His power to save and uplift us, to give us the strength we need to do His will, or the will of the Father. This is the reason we act, the reason we repent, why we strive to do all we can to become His servants here on earth. And it is by faith that miracles are wrought. If we go out enough, if we are exercising our faith and being obedient and diligent, Heavenly Father will provide us with miracles. It is recorded constantly in the scriptures, Ether 12 gives so many wonderful examples, and a few of my favorites are right in the front of the Book of Mormon. Nephi and the Brass Plates, in 1 Nephi 3, is an excellent example of the power of faith in fulfilling God's commandments. Nephi had such great faith in this principle. In this new year, I hope we all can have the faith to ask Heavenly Father for miracles, and to do what we can to help Him fulfill those for us. I know He can, I know He will. I love you all, have a wonderful week!

Love,
Elder Griffitts

Week 22 - December 30, 2018 (Camalaniugan, Philippines)

Legos, what better way to spend Christmas morning?

Masaganang Bagong Taon, everyone! I hope that all of your Christmas celebrations were the best ones yet, what a wonderful time of the year that is! Christmas was pretty good here, seeing my family was the best gift I could ask for as the year comes to a close. It's been a pretty good, pretty bust week. Since last Monday, it's been raining and super windy every day- this is the first time since I've been here that I've been cold. Bucket showers at the end of the day have never been harder, haha. But at the same time, I've gotta appreciate the weather before it turns into a giant furnace again. 

It's been a long week of work- but the work is good as always. It's harder this time of the year, as many of those we are teaching are out of town with their families for the holidays, and the rest are always working to get ready for the big parties of Christmas and New Years. I hear that tonight is going to be pretty crazy, there is a giant firework stand that has been selling some big bombs for a few weeks now, and if the rain doesn't spoil it I have a feeling we are going to witness a bit of a show later tonight. 

The only sunny day this week,
but what a beautiful country

This week I feel I have learned a lot about my weaknesses and how we overcome them here in our lives on Earth. Last night I was reading in Ether, and came across a great scripture- Ether 12:27- about the nature of weaknesses. We are given weaknesses so that we will turn to the Lord, who is really the only way to overcome those human parts of us, but the good news is He really, really wants to help us out with them. For instance, I really need to learn to be more bold out here in the field, less afraid to open my mouth, more eager to share the message of hope and salvation that is offered by Jesus Christ. But in order to do this, we really need His help- there is no way to do this by ourselves. As I grow more adept at the language and the lessons, understanding the people and the culture, I must more than ever turn to the Lord and to my Heavenly Father for help to help these people, rather than feeling I can do it myself. This is the true test of humility, repeated again and again in the Book of Mormon- as the Lord blesses us for our trust when we are weak, will we have the strength to remain humble through the incredible prosperity He gives unto us? It is this principle that we need to live, and I know that if we do, if we trust in Christ through the bad and the good, and turn to Him always, our lives here on Earth are going to be infinitely better, because we are under the protection of a perfect Being who loves us perfectly. I love you all, and wish you all a happy New Year and wonderful week!

The youth and YSA that love to work with us
every Sunday- they are great as always

Love,
Elder Griffitts