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Hello Everybody!

This week was great!  It flew by like nobody's business, but it was still great!  The temple was awesome and being in the city again was good (although seeing the people down there made me glad that I'm up here- they're hard to approach and talk to...).

Yesterday we had a mission conference- Elder Bruce Carlson came and it was good.  We had to wake up at 5:00 to get down to Scarsdale on time (and we have to do something similar tomorrow to get a repair done to our car- be to Scarsdale by 8:00.  We're just going to do weekly planning in the office as we wait- maybe we'll be able to get some good insight from President Morgan...), so we were a little tired through the conference, but we still got a lot out of it.  He continued to reinforce the idea of consecration and how we need to continue to work towards it.  One thing that he said that I've definitely seen is that it doesn't matter where we are but where we're going.  A sinner going forward is in a way better position that a saint moving backwards.  Consecration is a hard thing- giving our all to God, but it's something to work towards.  As we live the gospel, we're not at all paying our way into heaven- the price has already been paid.  We're just preparing ourselves for what's to come.  He gave a good analogy- if you take piano lessons, chances are your parents have already paid for them, but you've got to take the time to practice and use what they've given you.  You can use those lessons to help you accomplish great things, like going to Carnagie Hall and playing there, or you can let it go to waste.  Either way it's been paid, you just personally decide what to do with that which you have been given.  We need to prepare ourselves by living to the fulness of the gospel, being obedient and having faith to repent and become more like Christ.  I know this gospel is true and that as we give ourselves to God, He makes a whole lot more out of us than we could otherwise become.

Things are going great!  The area is really getting pumped up and we can totally see that the Lord is hastening His work.  Just a month and a half ago there were only two Spanish missionaries here in Orange County, but next week, with transfers, we've got good reason to believe that there will be another set to go work over in the Middletown Ward because of the efforts of the other Spanish guys in our branch.  It's super cool to see that- we're a part of one of the biggest things to happen in the history of the world- the hastening of the work of the Lord.  I hope to continue to help you see how things really are moving forward!  Things are great!

Thanks for all the support!  Next week is transfers, so we'll see what goes down.  Until then, though, I hope you have a great week!

-Elder Griffiths

Una Semana de Milagros

Buon Giorno! (note frome Mom - Italian, not Spanish)

This past week was great!  And September is already over pretty much, which is crazy.  Training calls come in a week and then shock calls in a week and a half.  You hit a year and time just starts flying...

Anyway, this week was sweet!  Things are really picking up now as far as splitting the area goes.  Yesterday we were blessed to have five lessons, which is about half the lessons we have been getting in the past couple of weeks.  Elder Holbrook and I agree that the Spirit is leading us in ways that we haven't seen before on the mission.  In celebration of that, I'm just going to share some way cool stories that came from that.

Friday we drove down to Scarsdale to get our car checked out- it's had a cracked bumper and plastic hanging down from the bottom since I've been there, so that was a nice hour and a half drive.  Scarsdale is beautiful though- good contrast from Newburgh haha.  After that I went on an exchange with Elder Nelson- he came into the mission as I left Harlem- he and his trainer took one half of the area I had when I was there.  He's one of the ones that split this area too, so we just worked with people that I had worked with last cycle.  Anyways, we came out of our last appointment and had to wait for the other guys to come pick us up (their day with the car).  There was a lady who was sitting on the other side of the stairs that we came out of (it was a duplex).  She looked a little down, so we asked how she was doing.  She said that she was okay.  We started talking- she was from Mexico, so we talked a little about food and all that stuff- that always makes them happy, talking about their culture.  Eventually we talked about her family and how important that they were for her.  We then felt prompted to say some pretty specific words of comfort and we read a good, God sent scripture to her.  She started crying and expressed that we were talking for God and that we had said exactly what she needed.  I hadn't felt like such an instrument in God's hands before- we both felt the Spirit very strong.  We left her with The Book of Mormon and as we drove off, we saw her reading it.  She's pretty busy, but we're going to try to work out a good time to meet with her.  We just opened our mouths and God filled them with what we needed to say.

Sunday night, we had some things planned out after dinner.  We left the apartment after dropping the other Elders off, and we just felt as though what we had planned wasn't right.  We left the apartment just following where the Spirit was telling us to go, taking a left here, right there, etc.  We found ourselves in Washingtonville where we tried looking a couple people up.  We still felt as though we were needed elsewhere.  We started heading over to Vails Gate where we felt as though we should visit a person whose address from the directory did not work.  Elder Holbrook was blessed with some inspiration to use something called "Tell Me" (call in information thing- we use it know what the weather is going to be like) to find where they lived.  That worked and so we went off!  We walked in a hurry up to their apartment door and knocked.  A whole family answered, we sat down and just started testifying of how God had sent us there.  They told us that they went to a different church, but that they recognized that God has sent us there too and they are willing to listen.  We shared a short message and set up a time to return tonight.  I'm excited to see where things go with that!

Last night, we were coming out of a less actives house when the name of another less active came to mind.  It was 8:55 so usually visiting somebody would be a little unconventional.  We decided to go with it though, and we called him and he said come on up for a few minutes.  We had found out that he had gotten in a car crash and was going into court the next day and so we were able to share a message with him that built his faith.  It was great and I know that God guided us right to him.

Things are going well!  I'm grateful to have a part in this great work and I know that his is the work of the Lord.  Thank you for all your support in such- hope you have a great week!

-Elder Griffiths

Hello all!

Good week!  Seems like it wasn't terribly eventful, but I bet as I get more into, I'll remember some of the better details of such.  I guess I'll break it down day by day.

Wednesday-  Went with Elder Warner and Elder Nelson (other Spanish Elders with whom we share a car) to a dinner appointment with an investigator.  It ran long, so we only had time to bike over to one of the members that lives in our area to ask if she could come with us to a lesson the next day, and then we biked home.

Thursday- Weekly Planning.  We got in with Julia and had a short and sweet lesson with her and the member we stopped by on Wednesday- Hermana Landaburu.  The members always save the day- Hermana Landaburu was able to build Julia's faith and help her to find out some answers to some of her questions.  Afterwards we went around to some people that we thought would be home, but people have just been flaky in this area so far.  We knocked into a guy who talked to us for a little while.  He gave us cookies and took The Book of Mormon, so that was good.

Friday- Exchange!  Well first we went to la familia Tantao.  They're Puerto Rican (Boricuas) and she feeds a lot, so we got hit hard with rice and some beef stew and tostones (fried plantains- good stuff!).  Afterwards we went down to Highland Falls so that we could switch up for an exchange.  I went with Elder Wangsgard (who is from Logan area- Mendon I think...) in the West Point area.  That area covers Highland Falls, Fort Montgomery and of course West Point Military Acadamy.  It's a cool area and we had a good split!  Having a good old American Dinner again was nice.  But I do love the Spanish food I get.

Saturday-  Baptism!  The other guys had a baptism for Josh.  I got to perform the baptism, but they finished up teaching him and stuff (so we're still looking to get one this month- keep praying for us!).  It was a good service and he said some good inspiring things that only a kid could say.  Later we went to our progressing less active's house Mery and Carlos!  They're great and they want to go to the temple, so going there is always uplifting.

Sunday-  We had a good day at church after which we went to a couple appointments.  We felt an impression to go drop by the house of somebody who is on the ward list that we haven't met yet.  We dropped by and found that that person had moved, but the person's mom who isn't a member had a sister who passed away so we were able to help her find comfort from The Book of Mormon.  that was a miracle and we hope to get back over there soon!

Monday- We had zone meeting in Middletown after which we went and tried doing service for a less active.  She wasn't there so we came back after talking to a couple of people that were around.  We tried visiting Julia with Hna again, but she was busy so we taught Hna instead.  Later we dropped by another member's house and had a great lesson with them.

Tuesday- Lots of service!  We went and did service for an active member, the only Domincan in the ward, Marino.  Then we went and helped the less active prepare and paint some stuff.  That took up a ton of time, but it was still good.  Afterwards we had dinner at la familia Hernandez and then went to Mery and Carlos's house.  We had good lessons with both of them and then came home tired.

Today- We've got a zone activity planned- that'll be fun!  That's about it out of the ordinary.

Things are going well!  I'm still loving the mission and looking forward to another great week! 

Thanks for everything and have a good week!

-Elder Griffiths

Pictures from Newburgh

The Newburgh District

Elder Lewis and Me

After a day of biking in Newburgh

Ice Caves!

Deep in the ice caves -- totally dark without a camera flash!

Good ol' Appalachian Trail!  I've hiked it in Georgia, the Carolinas, and now New York!

Hudson River Valley

Hudson River

On the trail...

A view from the top

On top of the world!

Our district at the top of the trail

With Elder Lewis and Paul

Elder Lewis and Elder Griffiths - transfer day

La Consecracion

September 4, 2013

Hello All!

Thanks for the good updates and the support and everything!  Tomorrow is my hump day, and that's crazy.  It's really weird because in one sense it seems like I've been out for awhile now, but on the other hand, I've still got a good chunk left.  I've heard time is going to fly, so I'm just going to do my best to give my best!

Lately, as a mission, we've been making strides to become consecrated missionaries.  Basically, we're all striving to give all our time and efforts, holding nothing back, but being willing to put everything on the altar of sacrifice in our service to God.  With that, President Morgan has promised us that we'll have the opportunity as companionship to bring somebody to the waters of baptism in the month of September as we strive to become consecrated.  We need all the prayers and support we can get back home, so please pray for us!  Elder Holbrook and I don't have anybody on their way yet, but we have faith in that promise as we do our part.  We've seen great things as we've tried to be obedient, work hard, talk to everyone (which is  sometimes scary in Newburgh.  But don't worry too much- we're staying safe!), and act the part we play.  For example, last Saturday night, we had an hour gap where things didn't go according to plan, leaving us with some free time.  We decided to pick a name off the ward list.  Elder Holbrook, following the Spirit, chose somebody from Highland Falls (West Point pretty much), which takes some time and miles to get there, and so we normally go when we have a solid appointment instead of risking the waste of resources.  We made some arrangements and then headed out, having confidence that the Spirit was going to lead us to somebody. We found both of the less actives that live there and had uplifting conversations both of which led to the promise of a return appointment.  We know that came as the Spirit called us to go there and because of that, we were able to bless those people.  I know that we're going to have similar experiences as we go forward doing what we're supposed to be doing.

The work is great here in Newburgh!  We've got a baptism from the other set of missionaries in our branch this Saturday, so we're excited about that.  I love this area and the people here, and things are going great!

Thanks for the love and support coming from back home.  I look forward to giving a great report next week!  Have a great week!

-Elder Griffiths

Y Andamos Por Bicicleta

August 28, 2013

Hello!

We had a great week this week!  Splitting the area has been a little different.  We pretty much just started working a set of four and have gradually started going off on our own to do stuff, so planning and stuff took a little more time and was a little more complicated than usually.  But we've done all but maybe one pass off to the other guys, so they've got things up and running now.  They are working in the north part of our area- we split the City of Newburgh in half, and so they get that and the other cities in the north.  We cover the South, more sketchy part of town along with Highland Falls (Westpoint), New Windsor, Harriman and the other things down there.  We're trying to pump things up in our area because Elder Lewis and I had a lot more going on in the North rather that in the South, but we're already seeing good things, so we're excited for the rest of the cycle!

We have four bikes and a car, so last Saturday, Elder Holbrook and I decided to take the bikes into town.  That sure was an experience- you realize how many hills there really are when you're legs are the means of getting you around.  I really enjoyed the experience, though, between the exercise, but more so the exposure we had.  We saw and had the opportunity to talk to a lot of people as we walked and biked around.  We're really focusing on trying to talk to everybody.  I'm not great at that, so we've been starting off just by offering people pass along cards with Christ on them and then going from there and that actually has been effective.  Because of our willingness to put our fear and laziness in that aspect on the altar of sacrifice, we've been blessed with great experiences.  On Saturday, we walked by a less active's apartment to find her with her neighbor outside talking.  We talked to them, and later returned and had a good lesson with the neighbor.  Having that lesson then led us to find another less active that we hadn't seen in a while and an investigator that we hadn't seen in awhile either.  We then were able to set up appointments with them.  Another great experience we had is that we were trying to do a less active look up when we started talking to a man on his porch.  Turns out he had met with missionaries about thirteen years ago, had already read The Book of Mormon twice and had a baptismal interview but things fell through.  We then invited him to meet with the missionaries again and so the English Elders are going to start meeting with him.  We've had some other good experiences too.  I know that when we as missionaries open our mouths, God directs us through the Holy Ghost.  There is no such thing as a coincidence- just God's doings.

Things are going splendidly well!  Today we're just going to do a little shopping, and then chill, so I'm excited about that.  Thanks for all the support back home- hope you have a good week!

-Elder Griffiths