Week 56 - August 26, 2019 (Santa Teresita, Philippines)

Hello everyone! So awesome to be able to write you all this week, we had some awesome experiences and Elder Estrella is so eager to get our full effort out- we are set on working miracles this cycle. We had some cool stuff happen this week- one day we were out at night, around 8:30, and looking for someone to go to but everyone was asleep and then my companion all of a sudden felt really hungry- like, just out of nowhere- so we went to this little roadside fast food place called Dimsum, and there met this awesome guy who worked across the street who wanted to learn about the Church and missionary work- it was an awesome little miracle. Kind of reminds me of that scene in "The Best Two Years"- where they go to the grocery store because one is hungry and then find someone that is super receptive there. It was cool. That's just one of the many miracles we've been blessed with this week.

One thing I read the other day that I really liked was Ether 12:28- I was studying how we can be pushed to do good continually- to overcome our selfish desires and give our all to a greater, holier cause. I like how it says in that scripture how faith, hope, and charity all bring us to Christ- or in other words, all goodness and righteousness. These are a few of the Savior's qualities that truly push us to greater heights in becoming consecrated servants of our God. I was also reading/singing silently the hymn "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" the other day in the hymnbook (p 29) and looking at the footnotes at the reference to Matthew 25:32-40 and I just really have come to love that song as an explanation as to how to truly inherit the Kingdom of Heaven- through pure, unfettered love for the children of God and a constant service in their behalf. Christ speaks of it as well in Matthew 25, one of the most amazing scriptures as to the source of true religion- "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." I know that as we seek out to do good, to love others, to serve and help them selflessly, then we do the same unto Him who gave us all things and all hope- so let us go out and love one another. I love you all, keep loving and serving in all that you do, and I will see you all real soon!

Love,
Elder Griffitts