Teaching in English

Hey, Family...Life is good.

We had a good week this week we received 34 references. We just need to come up with a way that we can teach all of them, because sometimes it is hard to find time. We are working hard and really changing. I don`t have much time to write you because we arrived a little late. I REALLY love you guys and hope that everything is great. That is really weird to think that Skyler is married already. TELL RYAN to keep going and to NEVER think twice about serving a mission, it`s the BEST TWO YEARS. I PROMISE. I thank you guys for your e mails and for your love that you show me every week. I really do appreciate it. I love hearing about you guys and everybody else.
I AM TEACHING A NIGERIAN that is here. HE IS A PROFESIONAL SOCCERPLAYER and he understands ENGLISH (British) better than Spanish, so we (otro misionero gringo) and I have got to teach him in English, is that cool or what.

I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH....CHAU.
~Elder Griffin

80 contacts

My new area is pretty cool. I am with Elder Huaman from Arequipa, Peru. He is cool we get along good, and are really working hard to have success. We had 80 contacts in the week with the changes. WE DO STILL HAVE 1 HOUR BUT I ARRIVED A LITTLE LATE LAST TIME. I am happy and willing to keep going and fighting to overcome my challenges.

I know that the Mission is very important. I used to really be concerned what people thought of me before the mission, but those thoughts are leaving little by little, I am understanding that it doesn’t matter. I am in the mission for MY spiritual progress and for My Salvation, along with helping many other people in their progression and salvation.
I really liked the comments and quotes that you had. I know that this Church is perfect and that the mission is the BEST 2 YRS.!!
My challenges, well everyone has challenges. I am not perfect and they are little things like not speaking PERFECTLY sometimes gets me frustrated, being disseminated, and other little things that happen in the mission.

I am here to serve with all my heart, might, mind and strength and I know that if I try to accomplish that then the Lord will accept it. I still have not gotten my Christmas package.

It`s all good. I don`t get discouraged easily. I will just continue and work hard like I know I should. I check with the office every week and they say that there is NOTHING...it`s funny..not really.

I love you guys so much and really am SOOO grateful for your examples and your love. I hope that everything is great and that the Lord is blessing you like he is blessing me. I love this work and I love this church. HOW IS JEN..?? How are you..? When is Ryan going to send his papers in...?

LOVE YOU
~Elder Griffin

Elder Elison is the new Assitant

Hey parents,
Life is good I am doing great.

The changes are this week and I am going to Comas. I am very excited to work hard and have some success. How are you guys..?

Tahuantinsuyo is part of Comas...so Yeah, I know it well.
We have 12 married families that we have found and were teaching. I feel that that is an accomplishment. We didn´t have any baptisms this change and that really is a little disappointing but I am not discouraged and know that it is not ALL about baptisms. WE had changes and ELDER ELISON from our group is the new ASSISTANT, I am proud of him.
I am excited but I have got to go.
I LOVE YOU GUYS AND HOPE THAT EVERYTHING IS GREAT.
I Hope to hear from you soon. CHAU
~Elder Griffin

The Sabath Day is Holy

Hola querida familia..esa semana fue una semana muy interesante.
Mom, Dad, and everybody. I took some pretty cool pictures on New Year’s including a lot of fireworks and a couple of giant dolls burning ( this is a tradition in Peru for New Year’s). You will be very surprised when you see them, but the bad news is that you can only see that when I get home. SORRY.

This week was a very interesting week as far as proselytizing goes. Well to be honest last week we didn´t take the sacrament because we showed up late because we were trying to find investigators that were NOT in their houses, a little frustrating. I could definitely feel the difference in the week. We didn´t have the success that usually comes from hard work and Satan was definitely tempting more than usual. So I gained a huge testimony this week in the blessings of the sacrament. I now know the importance that it has. We are finding a lot of people ¨investigators¨ but the problem is that they always say that they don´t have a lot of time and they are not willing to accept the responsibility of baptism. I know that one day things will change and that the people will understand the importance of baptism and going to church.
I AM SOOOO GREATFULL FOR THE EXAMPLE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ALWAYS GIVEN ME OF ALWAYS GOING TO CHURCH. I SEE SO MANY MEMBERS AND INVESTIGATORS THAT HAVE MANY EXCUSES SAYING, WE DON´T HAVE TIME TO GO TO CHURCH BECAUSE THIS AND THAT AND I JUST SAY, “YOU NEED TO DECIDE THE THINGS THAT ARE MORE IMPORTANT, THE SALVATION OR THE PARTY WITH YOUR FAMILY”. But really I am so grateful for the example that you have given me of being firm in the faith in every moment and never saying ¨I can´t go to church this week because I am busy with _______. ¨
Well I will update you. I REMIND THAT WE ARE IN PERÚ...I still have not gotten my package. I hope that I will get it before I get home.
Yes I opened dad´s attachment it was really cool. I won´t be on for MUCH more time 5-20 minutes.
ROMMEL our investigator, wow, we had an appointment set with him Thursday his family said that he was drinking. After that he still has not returned home. It is sad but we will see what will happen.
The changes are this next week. I really do not have a clue where I will be going but I hope that I can have a successful change. Rommel has prayed but he doesn’t have the will to change yet. I hope that one day he will change.
I LOVE YOU AND REALLY HOPE THAT THE LORD IS BLESSING YOU EVERYDAY.
~ELDER GRIFFIN

Date fell through, Word of Wisdom

Hey Papá, Mamá, y familia,

I was also very happy to hear your voices. It sure is a very long time to wait.
My package; well if you guys remember when you sent the last package, I received it from the mission after about 4 months. I hope and pray that that will not happen again, BUT I will definitely learn patience if it is while I am on my mission or after the mission.

Our baptismal date fell through. He drank alcohol again and we have to see how we can help him out. We are finding new people and I pray every day that we can be the most obedient and most diligent that we can be. It is very weird to think that in less than 6 MONTHS I will be home. I am not TRUNKY but it actually is on the contrary. Iit MOTIVATES me to work harder every day. ELDER BARBA, my companion and zone leader told us that THE HARDER THAT WE WORK IN THE MISSION, THE PRETTIER OUR WIFE WILL BE AFTER (I realize that this is just to motivate me but it was a funny little thing), so if I am lazy I will just have to marry someone that is a VERY NICE PERSON, or better said that has a very STRONG TESTIMONY.
LES AMO...FAMILIA...CON TODO CORAZÓN
Sorry I didn´t have much time but I will be sure to tell you when I get my package.
Love,
~Elder Griffin