Acting as the first missionaries in Iquitos

Family and Friends...

This week was a really interesting week! First of all, Elder Sweet(from my MTC group) and I acted as the first North American missionaries in Iquitos. We went contacting, walking, knocking doors etc. We were filmed for a Documentary of BYU. It will come out in about 6 months. It was cool because I gained a stronger appreciation for the missionaries that first entered Iquitos. I did get my 30 seconds of FAME.!!

I had a work visit with Elder Sweet for two days. I was really excited to get together with him after so long. He helped me understand a couple of things that I can do better so that I can have more success, as a leader and trainer.

Things are good. I am very excited to be learning more and am trying to become better everyday. I love being a missionary and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I don’t know how we got chosen. Probably looking at the fact that we are here, and we are two of the most normal looking missionaries in Iquitos at the moment. We don’t have much competition. The film will be out in about 6 months.

Mom life is good, sometimes there are struggles and hard times but life is good. I love you a lot and am grateful for your example, your love, your patience that you have always had. Have a great week.

I LOVE YOU GUYS AND HOPE THAT EVERYTHING IS GREAT!

~ELDER GRIFFIN

Slow computers, and a full mailbox

I also completely missed your e-mails, and it was a really long week.

This week was well a good week. We taught a lot of new investigators but the problem is that no one is accepting a baptismal date. I really am trying to teach by the spirit with my companion and then challenge them to be baptized. But they always seem to have excuses and problems like working on Sunday, and other things. I don’t really understand why we can’t have any baptismal dates.

I really am grateful for your continued example dad I love you so much and really am grateful to be your son.

It really is hard sometimes to be a missionary and face rejection, but like you said you just have got to stick in there and always have a smile on your face and things will always change. I just know that the message that we have will change lives and people will be happier, if they would just listen and open their hearts.

I think I figured out the reason we could not communicate last week was because my computer was really slow and my mailbox was full so you didn’t receive emails and I didn’t either.

I sure hope that doesn’t happen again.

I love you
ELDER GRIFFIN

Ward families need to support new converts

HOLA PADRES,
Right when I got here I talked to the family AREVALO TORREZ they are good but are having some difficulties. The dad had a Derrame Cerebral I think that is a stroke but I am not sure. He is alright and only part of his face is lazy. I have also talked to a lot of members from my old ward.

This week was a really interesting week.
We had the baptism of Damisela Florez. She passed her interview but the problem was that the bishop didn’t show up and neither did anyone else. Only her friends and my companion and I were there. Nobody else from the ward showed up. I got to play the piano in sacrament meeting. We actually have a pretty nice keyboard and I am excited to play as often as I can.

My son is continuing to grow and getting better, little by little. I am excited for this week to become better and to have more spiritual experiences.

I LOVE YOU

~Elder Griffin~

Another reason why we have the Word of Wisdom

Life in the mission,

This week was really interesting. I apologized to Artemio and his wife that I was not going to be able to attend his wedding. I was able to talk to him on Tuesday, face to face. We had a good talk and it really made me feel better.

Then, I traveled to the Beautiful city of Iquitos (1 and a half hours from Lima).

I was still confused whether I was going to be training or not. So, I now know that I am training. MY companion is Elder Venegas. He is from Piura, Peru. He really doesn’t know a lot. He is new in the gospel. I am giving him milk, and after a long time I will be able to give him meat.

I am the first person to train in the jungle in over 10 yrs. I don’t know if that is a good thing or a bad thing but I am excited.

This is an interesting story...

We live with another companionship in our apartment, and it is really cool. We also live next to a family that the parents are both in the armed forces, they aren’t members.

Saturday Night my companion was showering and we heard the wife screaming, “Save me, Save me. HELP ME, SOMEBODY HELP ME.” We also heard crashing in the room. I heard what was happening and knew that something was wrong. I ran to the room of the other Elders and told them what was going on. I said that the husband was beating his wife. All of the neighbors heard the fight and were all in the road yelling and called the cops. I was with the other elder that has about the same time as me in the mission and we went to knock on the door to possibly help them out. They didn’t want to open it up. After about 5 minutes the Police showed up and after knocking on the door a long time the wife opened the door, but didn’t want to talk to the cops. I wasn’t yet changed into my pajamas and walked in to talk to her. I told her that we are missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ and that we could help her. I asked her if we could talk, she said yes and invited us in. After talking to her we figured out that he was drinking large amounts of alcohol and got angry with her and well they fought it out a little. We calmed her down and helped her find a little bit of peace and comfort and we also gave her a blessing of comfort.

On Sunday we talked to him (her husband) after the side effects were worn off. We talked about the word of wisdom and the consequences of sin. And to skip to the end, they had a family prayer that he offered on his knees. They went to church Sunday. So we get to see again that the gospel changes lives. We are going to continue helping them.

I really received a stronger testimony after that one.
I am training a BRAND NEW ELDER from the MTC in Peru. I also am District Leader, double work.

I LOVE YOU. Have you sent the scales and stuff book? MY ward has a really decent keyboard and I actually might teach Piano.

I LOVE YOU, and am grateful for everything.
ELDER GRIFFIN