Week 32 - March 11 2019 (Dingras, Philippines)

What's going on, everyone! Hope you have all had a wonderful week. It's been another great one here in Dingras, we are just moving along with some wonderful people that we have the opportunity to talk to every day. What a cool opportunity, if I think about it- it's something cool just to sit down and think, wow, every single person here has their own life, their own story, and their own hopes and fears and doubts and joys- and only one person really knows them all. That's the goodness of God- His perfect knowledge of each of our hidden desires, motivations, and thoughts- even more than we know ourselves. A good friend of mine was telling me about how interesting the relationships we make with people often is, and I've got to say that that is something my mind has been dwelling on much of this week. And man I was thinking about how our outlook on the world changes once we see the big picture and that we are all children of a Heavenly Father and have all known each other from the beginning. It just becomes our job here to see each other as He sees us, and that is with perfect love- charity. I guess that's why charity is talked about in the scriptures as the greatest above all- what quality did Christ exhibit more in His earthly life?

Anyway, that's one thing I've noticed this week- is that as important as our message is, if we don't share it with people, if we don't see each and every one as a precious soul who needs this in their lives, we won't have what it takes to help them. It's all about others. That's what this life is for, and I know that the more we look outwards to them the more we will find ourselves. That's a weird paradox but at the same time an eternal truth.  I can't explain how it works, but from experience it does. And man, we aren't perfect- at least I'm not. It's funny, the more I try to be, the more I end up seeing how not possible it is. At least being who we are, but there has to be a hope someday that we can- and that hope does exist. Just keep trying. Try, try, try- and see what the Lord will give you. Because He will. Trust in that. 

I guess I should say a little about my week, even though there's not a huge amount. We had a fun branch activity on Saturday at a resort nearby, we've been working on just finding the people who are willing to open their hearts and who desire to find truth- those with a sincere heart and real intent. For God prepares them, we just need to be ready to listen to His Spirit. And we need to keep the hope- don't look back, don't dwell on it, just keep moving forward. This has been a pretty convoluted message, sorry- my mind is everywhere right now. Hope you all have a great week. I love you all.

Love,
Elder Griffitts