Monday, February 22, 2010

Mission calls and release date

(Elder Griffin’s Brother and cousin got mission calls this week. His brother is going to the Paraguay, Asuncion mission. He leaves the 23 of June. His cousin is going to the Finland, Helsinki mission and she leaves on May 12)

I am very emotional right now I am so proud of the two of them. I really don`t know how to express the feelings I am having. The changes are also coming up on Wednesday. I am staying here and I am content because we have 4 baptisms for the next week and then also for the month of March. I don`t really know anybody from Paraguay. President Perez is from Uruguay. Can you send me some information on his mission.
IN JULY OUR MISSION WILL SPLIT INTO TWO, MISSION PERÚ Lima NORTE and PERÚ LIMA OESTE or in English WEST.

I really love you guys and am so happy and content with everything that is going on.
Yes I am alright with staying here. God has his will and knows everything that we need. My companion is Elder Illescas from Guetemala. It`s cool like I said we have four baptisms planned.
He has 3 changes. So he is not too new but I need to teach him some things like always.

Yes I am understanding a lot of things from my companions.
I really have also gained a huge testimony of the Savior and his love for us. I can really say that I have walked through my own little “Gethsemane” and understand more fully the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I have really been trying to become more like him to develop his attributes and to be able to say after 2 yrs that I really do know him as my Redeemer. I have figured out in the mission that really the importance is not finishing your 2 yrs it is REALLY finishing the mission with a tranquility and a peace within knowing that you have done your part and that is what I am striving to have. I love this work and really am very glad for the future and am ready to have success again.
WHEN DO THE FUTURE MISSIONARIES LEAVE?
WHAT DO THE PAPERS SAY THAT YOU NEED TO TAKE?
THAT IS REALLY WEIRD TO THINK THAT he will start his mission a week before I return. I think that is cool that he will have almost the same dates (farewell, 6 months, etc) as me, menos 2 days.
Thank you so much. I LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH and really am so proud of Ryan and Aleni.
I get released on JUNE 30th. The mission PRESIDENT also finishes with my group.
(We asked Elder Griffin if he wanted us to request him to come home a few weeks early so that he could see his brother before he leaves for the MTC, his response is as follows)
My mission letter said I was called to a two year mission and I have to complete what I said accepted. I wrote the Prophet and accepted a two year mission and I want to complete it all. Sometimes it`s hard to imagine 4 yrs without seeing my little bro., but life is all good.

I love you and really hope that everything goes great.

I LOVE YOU
CHAU
~ELDER GRIFFIN

Monday, February 15, 2010

Investigator teaching the gospel

Hey mom, dad, and family,

This week was a really good week. We are teaching two families who are married and are really cool. THE ONE FAMILY is VERY CATHOLIC but the wife is reading the BOOK OF MORMON and is in 2 NEPHI. They are both really smart people.
I had to call two members to repentance yesterday. One was buying a soda in a small market after STAKE CONFERENCE. He is a return missionary. The other case is that we had a baptismal date with an investigator for the 20th but the family ¨who are members¨ decided to no go to church with him, and so his date fell. I had to teach them very clearly about the Sabbath Day, and I could tell that they were a little ashamed.

I really am learning to love the people and we are finding new people every day that are progressing and will be baptized soon.
IT WAS SOOOO FUNNY yesterday we were teaching for the first time the husband of one of these families that are married. He was with his dad who is old. His dad started to say that he only believes in the bible, that he will never change religions and that the world would be better if everybody was baptized catholic when they are born. Well this is the funny part, HIS SON IS CATHOLIC also but started to correct HIS DAD for 40 minutes, saying I don`t mean to offend you dad but you are generalizing something that isn`t even true. They are here for 2 years and that is something that I respect. I don`t mean to offend you but I have a suggestion for you, DAD, what you need to do is LISTEN to what they say. JUST LISTEN and apply the things that they are teaching you. I feel bad because I really was trying NOT TO LAUGH but it was IMPOSSIBLE.

I love these experiences and really love the mission.
MOM I HAVE A QUESTION. WHAT IS THE MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY THAT THEY HAVE IN THE STATES WHEN IT COMES TO CAMERAS? They have a camera that is here that is 1099 soles or that is about 350 dollars. It is the brand LUMIX that is really a Panasonic name brand it has 10.1 megapixels and 12 optic zoom, with 2.7 inch LCD screen. I am thinking about if it is really worth it to buy another camera that is a lot better than mine if THE NEW CAMERA will just be crappy technology/and more expensive than I could get when I return home.

That is so exciting that they will be getting their papers this week. Tell them congrats. I can’t wait to find out where they are going! Will you take pictures of the house and send them to me in an email? You know how much I love our garden and the beautiful house.

That does stink a little bit that you will not be able to go skiing today but don`t worry everything has its time and order. GOD KNOWS BEST.

I only took out 600 soles and so that means I will have to take out about 800 soles more so that I can also buy a suit and a camera.

I LOVE YOU.
~Elder Griffin

Monday, February 8, 2010

More missionaries to come

That is soooo exciting everything that you have told me.
I AM SO HAPPY. THE PACKAGED FINALLY ARRIVED and I AM VERY Thankful for ALL of the things that were in it. The wood plan of salvation is cool, and the food, well you know that will NOT go to waste.

We had a cool missionary night that I came up with. Here in Perú all of the churches have a soccer court, or basketball court with goals. So what we did is we made a game of chutes and ladders but of the Plan of Salvation. It was really kind of fun and the members liked it. Then I shared my testimony of the Plan of Salvation and well it turned out really well.

My companion is pretty cool. HE is ELDER HUAMAN de Arequipa his birthday is the 21 of MARCH, funny huh, the day before mine. He does work hard and we have fun, we get along well.

I AM SO excited to hear where RYAN and Aleni will go. Tell Aleni that I will pay her back, that I WILL DEFINATELY WRITE HER on her mission and that I hope she can forgive me because I have not written her.

CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR? I NEED A RECIPE OF TORTILLAS MEXICANAS and if you haven`t sent the package yet. If you can put my MUSIC DICTIONARY in it I would appreciate it.
YES THE SAUCES ARRIVED UNBROKEN but have been used frequently since I have gotten them. I LOVE AMERICAN PRODUCTS.
THANKS
I LOVE YOU GUYS and am SO grateful for your love and your support. I do hope that you are all great and enjoying life like I am at this point in my life.

LOVE YOU,
-ELDER GRIFFIN

Monday, February 1, 2010

New Camera needed

My camera eats batteries and somehow the little plastic part that holds in the batteries is cracked.

This week was a good week. We are finding new people. We found a family of 10 men that are above 18 años (years of age). I know that the Lord led us to them. They are really great people and are a little bit white like me. We are also continuing with are Nigerian Man that we have found. He is 21. Can you look up on the internet CHURCH NEWS IN NIGERIA? It would be cool to share with him. We also have an investigator with the baptismal date for the 6 of February that went to church yesterday. I am excited for her baptism.
Her name is JACKY LAMAS
We are going to the park of the stories, a zoo. It should be cool. Full of lots of photos and animals.
HAS RYAN SENT IN HIS PAPERS YET?? HOW ARE YOU GUYS?? THANKS FOR THE MONEY.
I have actually not gotten it yet (the Christmas package still), but I hope that someday it will arrive. (Sometimes the packages only take a few weeks and sometimes many months)

It is kind of hot here, hot enough to burn. As you know I usually don`t burn and haven`t had any problems. I am also trying to trim up and beef up a little muscle. My new area is paved. YES!! It is decent sized. I love you.
I LOVE YOU GUYS AND HOPE THAT YOU ARE ALL GREAT and enjoying life. !!!
~ELDER GRIFFIN