HEY EVERYONE!!! It feel like I just wrote one of these emails, and I know y’all are probably sick of them, but “I AM BACKKKK!” Man, a Mission feels like a roller coaster. However, this was a solid and fast week! I just wanna report about some highlights from the week!
ELDER WADA MISSON TOUR:
So, this week, Elder Wada of the 70 came and visited our Mission. While he was here, he held a 3-zone conference so that everyone would be able to attend in person. If you weren’t in person, you could join over Zoom. I will say that 6 total hours of Zoom was brutal, and the connection was iffy, but it was amazing. The in-person session for us was on Friday. It was unreal; the spirit was so strong. He talked a lot about scripture study and taught us how to really study the scriptures and apply them to our lives. He would have people volunteer and study with him, and my good friend, Elder Evans, said it was a lot of fun and that I should volunteer!
So I did, and he called on me. I was so dang nervous. My knowledge of the Bible is not very strong, and so he started by asking me, “Elder Griffiths, describe for me the parable of the Prodigal Son.” And I know the about the very simple basics of the story. But let me tell ya, the Lord didn’t want me to look like a fool in front of the mission, and He enlightened my mind like crazy. We then went through Luke 15: 11-22. He had me read and then would yell in his Japanese accent, “STOP!” He would ask me what I learned and had me describe what was happening. It was a lot of fun.
He also held a friend’s fireside, and we were able to invite Karl, Domingo, Melody, and Jerry! Karl, our recent convert. Domingo is a friend we are teaching, and Melody and Jerry are 2 inactive members we brought to this activity! It was awesome what Elder Wada did for the people we are teaching. During the day, I was able to visit with some of my favorite missionaries! It was a great conference.
LESSONS:
We had a couple of solid lessons this week! Andrea, it is looking fantastic. She is just thinking about a baptism date. She said she wants to be baptized before one of us gets transferred, and who knows when that will be. We hope the President lets her be baptized even though she lives outside the Mission boundaries!
Tina is also doing okay. However, by the sound of things, it looks like she isn’t going to get married to her live-in boyfriend anytime soon, which is sad, but I know she will one day be ready for baptism.
Our friend Rosa is also good! She enjoys the lessons but won’t come to church! We are hoping to get her soon as well. Please pray for her.
TEMPLE:
Temple was really good! It is awesome to be able to go to the temple and do an endowment session. I learn new things each time I go, and it makes me hyped to go more consistently after my mission. Speaking of the temple, Karl went on the recent convert temple trip, and he did baptisms for his Dad, Mom, and Wife! How cool is that!?!?
LANDO UPDATE:
I am doing good! I’ve just been grinding the BYU essays. Those things are trash, so hit me up with tips.
I am liking the area, but when you are somewhere for 3 transfers, it can get a little old. My Comp is okay. We get the work done, and that’s all that matters! We may not have a lot in common, and sometimes, I lose my patience with certain things. However, I know I am learning something from all of this. I have continued on my diet, which is working on my physical health which has been good.
Seeing improvement is always a good motivator. I love being a missionary, and it truly has been a big blessing. I am sad that time is going so fast, but I am also really excited to see all my family and friends again. However, I still have plenty of time to grind and focus on the work, but I catch myself thinking about home a lot. haha. I’m not trunky, I swear.
Being able to learn more about the prodigal son was super fun. To learn more about the gospel through a very trusted servant of God was great. He asked me, “Elder Griffiths, do you think God is waiting for you to return home like the father was waiting for his son?” When he asked that, I felt the spirit super strong, and it assured me that my Father in Heaven is watching me and waiting for all of us to come home to Him one day.
I love you all, and I hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving! Email me if you have some time; I’d love to hear from you!!
Elder Lando
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