My name is Jeffrey Griffiths and I've been called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. For those of you who aren't so familiar with the missionary work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I'll be joining other young adults who have decided to devote all of their time and effort to the Lord for an extended period of time, leaving behind work, school and all other obligations. As a missionary, my purpose will be "to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end." For more information on the missionary service of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, check out the mormon.org page on it at http://mormon.org/missionary-work/
I definitely meant to start this blog a little while ago around when I actually received my call in the mail, but it was the week leading up to finals, so of course I pushed doing such aside. Then I had to pack up, attempt to say goodbye to all of my new college friends, settle back in at home, search for a job, and so forth (fun stuff :I), so blogging just got pushed to the bottom of the to do list (and I do keep a to do list- ever seen my yellow sticky notes? Haha) especially since I've never really been one to blog (except for that little bit of time back in seventh grade where Xanga was a big deal. But that probably doesn't even count...). Anyways I guess the bottom line is that I got my call awhile ago and am just now reporting about it. So let me give you a little scoop on that, and just warning you, I tend to just keep going and going about things, so there might be some patience required in keeping up with all my bloggering. Anywhoo...
I received my call on Wednesday, April 11th, 2012 as I was wrapping up the winter semester at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. I remember just going back and forth between excitement and doubt as I had been told that everything had been processed and my call had been made, but at the same time, it always seems as though whenever I'm waiting for something with high anticipation, the timing doesn't quite work out as I think it should, especially if I tell lots of people all about it (and after telling everybody I knew and taking like two hours to hand pick and invite like five hundred facebook friends that might be mildly interested to hear about where I was going to an event for the opening of my call, I had done myself in in regards to that :T). I think I was waiting to talk to my Chem professor when I texted my roommates that were likely to be home at the time to just go check the mailbox to see if it was there (which is kind of a big deal because I love to check the mail and I've always been the one to check it, especially when I'm expecting something). Jordan Webb checked it, and much to my relief (it had been a very stressful time leading up to that point) it was there and would be waiting for me on my desk when I went back to my hall. After my meeting with my professor, I ran back, checked it out, weighed it, smelled it, rubbed it against my head and did all those things that you just gotta do with a mission call. Then I had everybody that was around at the time do the same. Any guy that's received his call probably understands such things. Then I had an hour to kill, so I went and ran and I may or may not have showered afterwards, then set everything up in the lobby of Broadbent Hall, then once everybody was all gathered (and thank you for those of you who came and supported me :D), and after much great anticipation, I opened the call and read the following:
Dear Elder Griffiths,
You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the New York New York North Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 months.
You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, September 5, 2012. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language. Your assignment may be modified according to the needs of the mission president....
And that was that. My next two years planned out in a general sense. There were all sorts of emotions that came, lots of thoughts, questions and so on. I had prayed to not be disappointed but to receive a witness of the fact that my call was inspired of God and that wherever I was to be assigned was the place that I was meant to be assigned. And I received that witness. Not because New York seems like such a cool place or anything. I'm sure it'll have its perks, but I know that there are people in the bounds of the mission, in the areas in which I'll serve that are preparing to hear the gospel and the Lord has the intentions of using me as an instrument in His hands to teach these people. Assignments can change due to various circumstances, and so at the very least I know that I received an inspired initial assignment, and I will be happy to go where I'm needed if any such circumstance comes up. These calls aren't a luck of the draw, chance sort of deal at all, and I know that for a fact.
So here's a map of the mission in which I'll be serving:
I'll be in the yellow, being in smaller confined areas for differing periods of times.
I won't have means of contacting anybody outside of my immediate family, except for communication by mail. If you'd like to send me a letter, you can send it to the following address at any time during my service:
New York New York North Mission
700 White Plains Rd Ste 315Scarsdale, NY, 10583
And that's that! I've been working at Domino's Pizza as a "Delivery Expert," picking up side jobs here and there, learning some Spanish, studying the gospel and occasionally hanging out with mis amigos, and I'll just keep on doing that until September. It's been an interesting time, but I have faith that I'm learning and growing and becoming the person I need to be to serve Him as best as I can.
I'm excited. I've been excited and actively preparing to serve a mission essentially my whole life, but I guess with more rigor these past few years. I know this is what I'm supposed to be doing. I've got many reasons for my choice to serve and a never ending source of various motivators that keep me pressing forward to get to the MTC. I intend to use this blog before I ship out to explain some of these views I holds and insights with which I've been blessed that have helped my to form my role as a missionary. And then while I'm out, I'll have my mom keep this blog alive with pictures and my weekly emails home. So stay tuned, there's more to come!
"Wherefore, I the Lord ask you this question - unto what were ye ordained?
To preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth." - Doctrine and Covenants 50:13-14
