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