Week 22: 4 New Investigators.. Bonners Ferry is on FIRE! :)

January 11, 2016

Well, HELLO darling people and happy happy Monday! Once again I only have like 10-15ish minutes to write, so....... I will try my best to be better sometime in the near future. :) 

Anyway, this week was SO WONDERFUL, and I wish that I had like another hour or so to write a super detailed email so you could all get a better, more accurate, explanation and feel for how awesome missionary work is! But alas, I will try in the limited time that I have left to give you the Reader's Digest version. :)

So, this week we have been focusing a lot about going and talking to people in our ward who have a spouse that is not a member of the Church and going to talk to them and see if they are interested in learned/introducing ourselves to people/just trying to spread Christ's love to everyone that we come in contact with. So.. we were trying to do that this week, and didn't have too much luck, but we were lead to a lot of other people that we needed to see, talk to, and help feel God's love. It's amazing.. as missionaries, we plan our entire days with things to do every 30 minutes and back up plans for if those fall through.. We plan and plan and plan, but a lot of times a lot of those plans don't happen for one reason or another. I used to get really upset about that... If we are planning effectively, we should be able to follow through really well on those plans, but I have come to realize that we plan as much as we can and that planning really shows our Heavenly Father that we are going to try our best to do the most that we can with the time in this life that He has given us, and then we put our trust in Him that He will lead us the way that we need to be, and try to follow our plans the best until He tells us we need to do something else. That's how it is in life too. We need to set goals and make plans to help us achieve those goals, but we can't be too caught up in our plans that we forget to let the Holy Ghost prompt us from our Heavenly Father what His will is. If we ask for His will, He will make it known, and we will be able to accomplish so many more things than we could if we just tried to do it all on our own. I don't know why I just went on that tangent, but there it is. :) 

Anyway.. on Wednesday we went to go visit a member to celebrate my 1/2 Birthday... JUST KIDDING! We went to go see her to see if she knew of anyone around that would be interested in learning more about the gospel. Before we went, so many people were telling us that she was super bold and would probably offend us in some way or another, but to not take it personally. SO... we went expecting one thing, and let me tell you, this lady was seriously the SWEETEST in all the lands. She was so nice and told us like 5 times how cute and sweet we were. It was just another testament to me that we really can't go through this life with preconceived notions about people. We need to see everyone that we meet as a Child of God and try our best to see them the way that our Heavenly Father and Savior see them, and all will work out far better. :)

We have this really amazing investigator named Kymm. She is seriously the BEST and we are going to ask her to be baptized this week, so I will let you know how that goes next week. BUT, basically we met with Kymm a couple of times this week and helped her to recognize more the answers that she is getting and trying to help her to find light and truth. She wants so badly to know the truth and wants to do what Heavenly Father wants her to do and is so concerned with her Eternal Salvation. She is seeking, and I know that if each of us will just seek to know the truth, we will be blessed and our Heavenly Father will let us know all things! :) 

Well, 4 New Investigators, eh? SO AWESOME! :) There were so many spiritual things that happened this week, but the BEST one was how we got 3 of our 4 new investigators!! So.. we had met 2 of them a week or so ago, and they told us we could come by. So, we did, they let us in, and their mom's boyfriend just kept bashing us, for lack of a better term. I think he was doing it out of innocence, really wanting to know, but with a little animosity with preconceived notions as well. Anyway, so he was asking these questions and every time he would ask one, the spirit would leave. It was almost tangible.. so crazy! Then, we would have to wait in silence for a few moments for the spirit to come back before answering his questions. Because we did that, we were able to answer the questions simply and him, his girlfriend, and 

There were so many Spiritual things that happened this week, but the BEST one was how we got 3 or our 4 new investigators!!! So.. we had met 2 of them a week or so ago, and they had told us we could come by. So, we did, they let us in, and their mom's boyfriend just kept bashing us, for lack of a better term. I think he was doing it out of innocence, really wanting to know, but with a little animosity with preconceived notions as well. Anyway, so he was asking these questions and every time he would ask one, the spirit would leave.. it was almost tangible.. so crazy! Then, we would have to wait in silence for a few moments for the spirit to come back before answering his questions. Because we did that, we were able to answer the questions simply and him, his girlfriend, and 1 of their kids (the other 2 were investigators last week) became new investigators and told us to come back this next week! We are so grateful to be able to teach them and know that the Lord has been preparing them for us! YAY! :) So much happiness!

Well.. that's all I have for you this week! I know that this Church is true and that we are able to do anything that we set our mind to if we just put our trust in the Lord and His power to help us! :) So.. yeah. Have a wonderful week everyone! :) 

Here are some happy pictures! 

-The Ice cascading off of our little yellow house.. so intense!

-Sister Rogers and I with this Antique Duck Retriever thing that was from the 70s or something... the company never took off, but our member had all of the things from it.. haha, so funny! :)             

-Majestic Bonners Ferry 

-- 

"God be with you 'till we meet again!"

Hurrah for Israel!

Much Love,

Sister Jennifer Griffith

Week 21: Out of a Hallmark Movie

January 4, 2016

SO... I'm officially in Bonners Ferry! This week has gone by so quickly, I can't even believe it! I am so grateful to have gotten here safely, and to be living this wonderful life. It is such an immense blessing, and I am excited to start soaking up all that this new area is. It's going to be an interesting transition, for sure.. Not being in Spokane anymore and not knowing really anyone at all here, but I know that the Lord has called me another way for a reason, and will qualify me to do this work. :) 

Bonners Ferry is wonderful! It is seriously SOOOO beautiful up here, and the people that I have met so far have all been really kind and welcoming... there are a few that live this far north because they don't want to be found.. those are the ones with the "no tresspassing" signs like EVERYWHERE on their property.. so we don't go there. Also, it's been interesting trying to find where people live out in the boonies because a lot of the houses don't have house numbers on them.. haha.. I guess they figure that either everyone knows where everyone else lives, or they just don't want people to come to their house.. or maybe a little bit of both. Either way, new challenges are somewhat amusing. It makes me chuckle that I really am not in Spokane anymore.. and that only 2 hours north is so dirastically different! :) It's really hard adjusting to a new area, but like I said before, I know that I am supposed to be here and am going to work my hardest to forget myself and go to work. It finally really clicked this week (Unfortunately, it took me this long to figure it out) that this really isn't about me at all. I have been focusing a lot, I realized, on how my mission should be changing me and how I need to go home better than I came, but that's not the right idea at all. I really felt strongly this week, that as I begin to focus on others and devote all my time and energy to them and what they need, and give my whole heart to the Lord and His work, I will be changing - when we lose ourselves, we find ourselves. What a tender mercy to FINALLY be able to have that really stick in my brain this week. The way that the Spirit teaches us is such a blessing! 

So, I don't have a lot of time to write.. only like 10 minutes, so I will try to see what I can type out in that time... Anyway.. On Tuesday, we had transfers and all of the missionaries met in East Spokane, picked up their new companions and got luggage and bikes where they needed to be (in members' vans and stuff) and then drove to our new areas. It took an hour and a half to get here from East Spokane, which means my new area is about two hours away from my old one.. quite a leap up the river. :) As I drove in, it was late and dark, but I could totally tell how much this place, this little small town, looks like it came straight out of a Hallmark Movie... it. is. MAJESTIC! Seriously.. it has such a little small town feel, and the people are so sweet and the spirit is so strong. It is such a happy place... and it reminds me of being home in Colorado because there are some nice rolling hills here (not sure if I would call them mountains, but beautiful none-the-less). Bonners Ferry only has a population of 2,515 or something like that, so.. it's such a happy place! 

On Wednesday we went tracting in these apartments and we had looked at a list of people who may be interested in learning about the church (the apartments here are indoor... so cool! You walk into a building and all of the doors are inside.. so neat! That way we don't freeze when we knock doors.. so neat!) and we go inside and there is this lady and two kids sitting at a table doing a puzzle. To make a long story short, Heavenly Father literally placed these people in our path and we talked to them about the Restoration and asked if they wanted to learn more and they were SOOO excited, it was so surreal... and AWESOME! :) .. then, come to find out that the older lady who was with the two kids was one of the people on our list that we had come to see anyway.. isn't that so cool!? Obviously we were meant to meet her one way or another! :) 

I know that the Lord is so aware of all of us and that He will provide a way for His work to move forward. Being a small town, a lot of people have already heard of the church and developed an opinion of some sort and a lot of the houses in town have already been tracted so many times that it's hard to find new people to teach, but this week I really developed a stronger testimony of how members really can make the work progress so much quicker! Our ward here is so missionary minded and they care about really loving everyone, and that has been such a blessing! I know that we each are called to be missionaries in this life - not just those of us that wear a fancy nametag ;)- and that if we put our trust in Heaven, our Father and our Savior will make up all the difference and provide a way for us to bless the lives of others. :) 

Sorry this is so choppy, hopefully it's at least somewhat coherent though! :)

Anyway... This week was really spiritual and I have felt the Spirit a lot just testifying to me of the truthfullness of the work and of the fact that everything in life will work out if we just put our trust in Him who makes all things possible. I know that there is nothing that we can't overcome (even feeling like a BRAND new missionary in a new area and knowing no one with lots of snow and chilly weather) if we look beyond ourselves and just focus on others. 

I hope that you all had a glorious New Year and are sticking to those new years resolutions. I am personally SO excited for a WHOLE ENTIRE YEAR of missionary work. This is going to be the best one yet, I just know it! Sorry this was so short.. I'll try and do better next week. Have a great one! :) 

-Sister Rogers and I (she's from Kanab, Utah and is such a PRO missionary - so excited for this transfer with her!)

-Majestic Bonners Ferry! x3 :)

-I see like 18ish wild animals a day.. White tailed deer are EVERYWHERE here.. they are SO CUTE! :) 

-- 

"God be with you 'till we meet again!"

Hurrah for Israel!

Much Love,

Sister Jennifer Griffith

Week 20: ..But If By A Still Small Voice He Calls..

December 28, 2015

This week I am reminded of one of my favorite Hymns, "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go." Part of it says,

"But if, by a still, small voice he calls

To paths that I do not know,

I'll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine:

I'll go where you want me to go."

Heavenly Father has spoken through that still, small voice to my Mission President, and has called me, indeed, "to paths that I do not know." So, basically, if you haven't gathered what I'm trying to hint at yet, I'm getting transferred.......... :( But, It's partially a :( and partially a :) because I know that now my job here in Spokane has been finished and that I am supposed to go somewhere else now. I am needed elsewhere, and am excited to try and figure out why. So.. I'm getting transferred from Spokane to Bonners Ferry, Idaho. If you don't know where that is, it's a town at the very tippy-top of the panhandle of Idaho right by Montana and Canada.. so yeah. Should prove to be an interesting change in scenery. Everyone keeps telling me that it's prettier than here, but I'm not sure about that! Spokane has stolen my heart. :) 

Well, anyway, that's the new adventure I will be starting on tomorrow. I'll let you know more next week. My new companion is Sister Rogers, and from what I've heard, she is wonderful. I'm super sad to be leaving Sister Schmidt and all of the amazing people that I have grown to love so dearly here in Spokane, but I know that I'm leaving for a reason, so I'll just have to trust that. 

So, this week was wonderful!!! :) On Monday we went to Riverfront Park and took some pictures in the Big Red Wagon and went to the mall as a District. It was snowing a ton, but it was a lot of fun, none-the-less. I will attach a picture or two so you can all see it. So happy! :) Then, on Monday night, we were stopping by one of the sisters' homes to grab something from them, and we parked at the end of their driveway so that our car wouldn't get stuck, and then we came back, got in the car, started to try and drive, and the nose of our car went hardcore into a ditch.. so much for not getting stuck.. SO... to make a long story a little bit longer, we tried to get unstuck to no avail, and so we decided to say a prayer together, out loud, and then this kind random good Samaritan came out, backed down his driveway, and pulled us out with his truck. It was seriously such an amazing direct answer to prayer! I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who cares about His children so much that He answers our prayers - even the ones that seem so insignificant to Him, He is so grateful for and eager to answer. Of that I am certain. What a blessing! :) 

Then, we went to contact a Former Investigator, Jeannie. She is a Messianic Jew. She says, "From all that I've read (the Bible and everything), everything points to the fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." I LOVED THAT! Even coming from someone that doesn't believe in Jesus Christ at all, if they search out the evidences and ask in sincere prayer, Heavenly Father will surely let us each know that Jesus Christ really is His son. :) She says, to everything that we teach, "I think that's true.. OH! I know that's true." It's spectacular. I'm excited to hear how much she begins to progress in the months to come. :)

Haha, I also learned something awesome this week! :) Do you all know what the day before Christmas Eve is!?!?! Christmas Adam!!! Isn't that funny!? Get it?? Because Adam came before Eve! :) I love it! Anyway.. so, on Christmas Adam we went and helped out at a food bank in Cheney, so that was really fun. Then, we were all guessing what would happen to everyone with transfer calls, and our District leader guessed that I would get transferred to Sandpoint. Well, that's funny, because Sandpoint is really close to Bonners Ferry, so He was pretty much right!

On Christmas Eve we ate at a member's home, Sister Cavanaugh. This woman is amazing! She has 17 children - 67 grandchildren - and 126 great-grandchildren.. HOW AMAZING IS THAT!? .. and I thought being the youngest of 10 was intense. I love big families.. so happy! It just warmed my heart to hear this sweet, old lady tell us about her life, about her family that she loves so much, and about how she joined the Church... and we went caroling, so that was super happy!

On Christmas we went to our Stake President's house for Christmas breakfast and their family put together a little skit for all of us missionaries (20 of us total) where they chose a character from the Nativity and then talked about their role in Christ's birth and how that Character related to missionary work. I would invite you all to do that.. It's amazing how much we can learn from the scriptures if we will just apply them to our lives. They truly are for our day, and we are so lucky to have them so easily available to us. What a marvelous blessing! Then, afterward, we got to Skype our families and that was absolutely my favorite experience.. SO FUN! It was the best Christmas gift I could ever ask for. Just being able to see my parents' and a few siblings (missed a lot of you- know that I love you though!) was a dream come true! We also went caroling again on Christmas night, so much fun! :) 

Then, on Saturday, we were contacting a man who had, at one time, said that he was interested in learning more about the church, and he just bashed us the whole time. It makes me sad when people try and say what Latter-day Saints believe without actually having taken time to read The Book of Mormon or listen to the Missionaries at all. How can you know if you haven't put in the effort? That principle is so true over so many phases of our lives - if we want to actually learn something, we need to put in the effort to the proper place to find out - we can't just ask any random person and expect the information will be correct - we need to ask someone that we trust. Who should that person be? Our Heavenly Father. He knows all and will not lie to you. Ask Him in sincere prayer and He will tell you everything you need to know. When you ask with a sincere heart and with real intent (which means you are willing to act on the answer that you receive), He will place into your heart through feelings, to your mind through thoughts, or by some other way, an answer. It may be small - but act on it and He will continue to bless you with more answers. :) 

Well, I have truly adored being able to serve in Spokane for the last 4.5 months. I am so sad to be leaving, but, like that wonderful song, "I'll Go where you want me to go, dear Lord, over mountain, or plain, or sea.. or to the top of the panhandle of Idaho.." :) I have loved being able to get to learn to love the people here and have cherished being able to feel of Heavenly Father's love for them. 

My new address in Bonners Ferry will be:

6526 Monroe St

Bonners Ferry, ID 83805

Love you all! I know this Church is true. That our Heavenly Father sent His perfect Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth to live a perfect life and to show us the way that we can be happiest if we turn to Him. I hope that you have the best week and the Happiest New Year and make S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-specific) goals to make 2016 the best one yet! 

-Beautiful Spokane! :) Love winter!

-Our District at Riverfront Park

-Sister Schmidt and I in the Big Red Wagon in Riverfront Park! :) 

-- 

"God be with you 'till we meet again!"

Hurrah for Israel!

Much Love,

Sister Jennifer Griffith

Week 19: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! :)

December 21, 2015

This week was pretty wonderful! I feel super scatter-brained and everything.. probably because I'm so excited to Skype my family on Christmas, but... I will try to make this email seem somewhat coherent. :) 

On Monday we went on base for a Family Home Evening activity where we made a super cute vinyl nativity.. it was wonderful and it is super cute, so that's awesome! We have it up in our house. Maybe I'll attach a picture so you can all see it. :) 

On Tuesday we found ourselves with only enough time in the afternoon before our dinner appointment to contact one person, so we decided to go stop by a family that we hadn't been to in a while because the husband wasn't very interested. Anyway.. we felt prompted to stop by, and when we got there, it looked like no one was home... BUT! We decided to go knock on the door anyway, because we were already there and everything, and the man's wife, Eva, answered the door. We introduced ourselves and told her that her husband had said that we could stop by some other time to see his wife, and she was like, "Oh, wonderful! Come on in!" Literally I'm pretty sure my jaw dropped, because that like never happens.... BUT! We went in, got to know her a little bit, and then transitioned into talking about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of the Gospel. Apparently she has met with missionaries in the past and was going to get baptized, but then her husband didn't agree, so she didn't... but, their best friends are LDS, and an LDS family that we were trying to go visit who moved used to live in their house and that's how we found them... So basically, she thought that Joseph Smith's friend or something wrote The Book of Mormon, and she was confused about that... but then we talked to her and told her about how The Book of Mormon was actually written in 600BC, and she was like, "So.. do you have a copy?" SO.. needless to say, we're super excited to keep teaching her. :)

We also finally got the MTC materials for learning Sign Language this week, and so we can study for real now.. we keep trying to stop by and teach them, but no one is ever home.. so maybe Heavenly Father was just waiting for us to have the material so we can actually learn something coherent before we go over there and they're home to teach. Hopefully, anyway. :) 

We went to go visit Ron this week and get him to go to ARP (Addiction Recovery Program) so he can start the process of quitting smoking again, and it was super awkward because they said they weren't going to go, but we really knew they needed to, so we went over to their house and taught them a quick lesson and we just so happened to end exactly at 7:18 (ARP starts at 7:30 - for sure not a coincidence), and I was like, "Hey! No way! Ron and Shannon.. did you know that if we were to leave your house right now we would get to the church on time for ARP to start!?" They looked at each other and were like, "Okay, fine, we'll go." It was awesome, and they had an amazing lesson on experiencing a change of heart, so it was perfect!! I love how the Lord works!! 

I had exchanges this week with Sister Worthen (she came out a transfer after me) and the whole beginning of the day was just going really poorly. Every one we went to visit just didn't want to hear it, wouldn't answer their door, or something... BUT! Then we said a prayer and decided to go to an area to visit an Investigator who we thought probably wasn't home, but we decided to follow the prompting anyway.. Then we saw this man walking with his hood up and decided to talk to him and it turns out it was one of our Less-Active members and we asked him if we could come over and see him and his wife and he said yes! So we went over and taught them, and had a super nice lesson with them and found out that this man, Brother Dack, needs to get baptized! SO.. basically we found a new investigator! So neat how the Lord continually places people in our paths to bless and to help. I just love it! Then we went and saw the person we were originally there to see, Greg. He still insists on getting baptized before his surgery, but he isn't looking so great, so hopefully he'll change his mind and have his heart surgery so he can even get baptized. Then we went to a dinner appointment and they gave us a name of someone we could go visit, and we went to Janette's house (our 80 yr old investigator), and had a heart to heart with her. We have been telling her for months that the only way she is going to get an answer to weather or not the Church is true is to read The Book of Mormon. We always commit her to read and she never does. So, that night, I just got super sad that we have been telling her and telling her and she just hasn't been doing it, and I ended up starting to cry while I bore my testimony to her, and it was crazy. We're taught as missionaries to be devastated when people don't keep their commitments, and this was the first time I think that I genuinely have been.. it was such a tender experience. She set a game plan to read the Book of Mormon finally, and so that was super neat. :) 

In other news, we've gotten a lot of snow this week, and so one day we carved into a bush "A Savior is Born" and took pictures with it. Hopefully someone felt happy about that when they saw it. That video is amazing!!!! If you haven't seen it yet, go and watch it.. That's the best option! :) christmas.mormon.org ! :) Kids talking about Christ and Christmas.. Heart melter for sure! :) Also, we were leaving for a dinner appointment and I totally biffed it for the first time this season on the snow, so that was fun! It may have been more icy than I had originally anticipated. We also got our car stuck in the snow, so that was awesome! Luckily there were some really nice fellows that came out and helped us get out of the snow! We're going to make them cookies so that will be a good time, :) 

Then we went to a dinner appointment and the members' five little kids were crawling all over us, and it's so hard to not be able to hold them and play with them! :) ..that's probably the hardest part of missionary work.. seriously.. not the people yelling at us and slamming doors, but just the fact that I can't hug and hold little kids, haha.. 

Also, Stephanie finally came back from Montana!!.. we felt like we should stop by, even though we had already been there in the morning and she wasn't home yet, but we went back and she was there!! We did some service for her, and then taught her a lesson. It was the happiest of days! :) ALSO!!! MIRACLE!!! She was going to move at the end of this month, but the way things are working out, she won't be moving until the end of January! It's the best because that means that we can teach her more!! :) 

Well, friends, family, loved ones, I hope that you each have the merriest Christmas! :) I am so grateful for the blessing of being able to be a missionary and to have the blessing of being able to tell everyone that we see each day about the real reason for the Christmas season! It's the best feeling. Being able to remind people that He is the Reason and that without Him, we wouldn't have anything that we do. What a marvelous knowledge that is! I know that this Church is true. I know that we have the ability to overcome anything that the adversary tries to place in our lives, and any trials that we have to go through in this life. It was never a requirement to have to experience everything alone. When times are hard, we need to turn to Him who made it all possible, and know that through his Birth that we celebrate, His life that we remember, His atoning sacrifice that makes change possible, and His death and resurrection that give us hope for our futures, we will be able to overcome all things - because He overcame them first. 

Well, I love you all! Merry Christmas! Have a glorious week! :) 

-The Bush! :)

-The Nativity

-The cute kids that just loved us so much! This was their "Silly picture," they wanted to make our nametags. So cute! :) 

-- 

"God be with you 'till we meet again!"

Hurrah for Israel!

Much Love,

Sister Jennifer Griffith

Week 18: "He Already Goes to Our Church!"

December 14, 2015

Hello darling friends!! This email will likely be a little shorter than most because I don't have a ton of time to write (Thank goodness, right? I know these can get super long at times...), but we'll see how fast I can get these fingers to type!! 

So, this week was pretty spectacular, and uneventful as well, but hey, some weeks have to be a little dull so we can appreciate the really good ones, right? Oh yeah! :) 

So, on Monday night after P-day, we were going to visit Greg (the one who is putting off Heart Surgery) and Sister Schmidt pulls the car off of the road, parks, we say a prayer, are getting out of the car, and my foot sinks a good 4 or 5 inches into the mud... good thing I was wearing my white shoes, am I right!? Haha, so we move the car because I can't walk through that all, and, all of this mud flies onto the right side of the car and totally cakes the thing in a bucket-ton of mud. Driving around after it was dry was the worst. We got permission to get a car wash mid-week because it definitely wasn't something that we were comfortable with driving... haha, I'll attach a picture. It was a funny experience for sure.. 

We had a lesson with one of our investigators, Elena, this week. She has been out of town for the last month or so, but she's finally back now! It was such a neat experience, because we were teaching her the Restoration, about the Book of Mormon and about Joseph Smith and how the same Church that Christ Himself set up on the earth so long ago has been restored in these last days, and at the end she was kind of quiet and we asked her what she was feeling, and explaining to her what the Spirit feels like (Galatians 5:22-23).. "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, etc." and she was like, "I feel like reassured to keep meeting with you." It was SO COOL!!!!! I just love it when I get to witness people feeling the Spirit for the first time.. It is my favorite part of missionary work! :) 

We also went to visit a family in our ward to fill out a Family Mission Plan with them. We asked the youngest daughter, Maele (Miley), which one of her friends she could talk about the gospel with, and she was like, "Hmm.. Probably Noah." Then we asked her what she had already done with Noah, and she said, "Talked about Church," and then we were like, "Wow! That's awesome! What do you think you can do next with Noah? Do you think you could invite Him to Church?" .. and then she looked as us with a weird look on her face and exclaims, "He already goes to our Church!!!!! He's a member!" It was seriously the funniest thing.. and also super awkward. No wonder her family was all laughing when she said his name. Well, members need to be strengthened too! No doubt about it. Good stuff. :)

I also got to go on Exchanges this week with our Sister Training Leader, Sister Huang (she goes home on the 28th of this month, so she's pretty much a professional missionary). We had such an eventful day! We went tracting (knocking on doors and asking if people are interested in learning more about the church) and either no one was home or didn't want us to talk to them, and we were about to walk back to the car, but then we decided to knock one last door, and a 13 yr-old girl answers and tells us that her family might be interested in learning more, and that they don't really have a church that they go to all of the time. She was especially excited when we talked to her about Young Women's and all of the friends she could make there. It was so neat!! :) Her name is Tatiana. We are so excited to go back and talk with her and her family. People always say that the one who accepts the message is the last door you try, and that was so true! I am so grateful for the Spirit and for being able to try and spread God's love to all of His Children here in Spokane, no matter their circumstances. We also got to help one of our Potential Investigators put up her Christmas lights as a surprise for husband who is out of town. I've never put up lights before, so that was fun! :) 

After Exchanges, Sister Schmidt came home and said that she wasn't feeling well. She got some sort of stomach flu, and so we were pretty much in the house the rest of the week, so I got a lot of updating records and things to do, so that was a little bit boring, but it's okay!!! It needed to be done and she needed to feel better so that we can go out and spread the good word this week. :) But, we were able to leave for Specialized Training with the Zone and our Mission President and his Wife, and one of our zone leaders was saying that during the last 2 transfers (12 weeks), our zone has had at least 1 baptism every single week.. how cool is that!? 

Something really embarrassing that happened was that our district was asked to sing, and they decided that I should sing a solo for one of the verses of "Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel." We had practiced a ton, I was nervous, and we get up there, sing everything right, and then on my solo, I totally start singing the wrong verse.. So, being super nervous, I stop singing, say sorry, and then continue singing the right verse, instead of starting over or just singing the verse I was singing until the end... it was SUPER awkward.. needless to say, I was super embarrassed about that and don't think I'll be singing too many solos from now on. I didn't mess up at all during any of the practices, but of course I had to mess up during the real thing.. So awesome........ Oh well! 

Anyway, so.. during the time that I was in the house while Sister Schmidt was sick, I got to read "His Grace is Sufficient" by Brad Wilcox. It is an amazing talk! You should totally all read it this week! I know that our Savior's grace makes up all of the difference and that we can go to Him with whatever we have and He will help us to be more than we could ever be on our own. Well, my time is up. I love you all! I love this mission, and I love my Savior. May we each remember Him more fully this Christmas season. 

Love you! Have a glorious week! :) 

-The nasty Car.. haha

-The Christmas lights we help put up! She wanted to stop them before they finished lining the roof, so that was strange. Oh well! :) 

-A hat I crocheted this week. So fun! :) 

-- 

"God be with you 'till we meet again!"

Hurrah for Israel!

Much Love,

Sister Jennifer Griffith

Week 17: To Have Heart Surgery, or To Not Have Heart Surgery, That is The Question

December 7, 2015

Well, hello there! Yet another week has passed... the time is just going faster and faster... it feels like it was just yesterday that I was sitting at this computer writing an email to all of you glorious people.. Crazy! :)

This week was just full of the Christmas spirit and every time anything Christmas related happens, it just makes me all giddy inside.. this truly is the most wonderful time of the year. I hope you all had a chance to watch the "A Savior is Born" video on christmas.mormon.org. There are a few other super cute videos for Christmas on mormonchannel.org too! One is called "The Christmas Spirit" and the other one is called "What Shall we Give?" They are both super good, so I would recommend searching those on mormonchannel.org and watching them this week. They're only like 3ish minutes each. :) 

Anyway, so this week there was a Tree-lighting Ceremony on the Airforce Base that we went and helped out with which was super fun. It was so funny though, when we were on the base, these Policemen pull up and start looking in someone's truck that was parked by the chapel, and the guy who owns the truck starts running over to the policemen and yells, "Those are nerf guns!" haha.. it was quite a quirky time. Why carry nerf guns in your truck, who knows. Super funny, though. Apparently someone had called it in. Poor guy. It made Sister Schmidt and I chuckle though. :)

It was also the ward Christmas party and First Presidency Christmas Devotional (if you didn't get a chance to watch that- go watch it on lds.org - it was amazing!) and it was decorated so cute by a sister in our ward who is basically an amazing Interior Designer.. people's variety of talents never cease to amaze me. We are each so blessed! :) The ward Christmas party was so wonderful and at the end they gave us basically all of the left overs - they take really good care of us missionaries.. such a blessing! :) The party was so well attended, though, that the 24 tables that they set out weren't enough.. they added like 3 more to those and people still kept coming. We had 3 investigators there too, which was super awesome! :) 

So, remember how I mentioned about Greg last week? The one that was like, "So how soon can I be baptized?" WELL... we met with him twice this week -once for a church tour and once for another lesson... plus he came to the ward Christmas party AND church yesterday.. But basically, this man is so intense and wanting to be baptized that he is putting off OPEN HEART SURGERY until after he is baptized because he wants to be baptized before in case he passes away or something... We tried to explain to him that Heavenly Father knows the intents of his heart and that he would be okay if he were to die, but he was like.. "yeah, I see what you're saying, and that's comforting.. but, I think I still want to be baptized first because recovery is really long. Plus, 2016 seems like a pretty good year to have heart surgery." Man, this guy just makes me laugh every time. What dedication, I'll tell ya. His faith is so heart warming, but also this whole situation is super nerve racking.. It's his agency, I suppose. But anyway, something neat that happened with him during the church tour this week was that we were in the chapel and we had them be silent for just a few moments and asked him how he felt afterward and he was like, "I feel peaceful. Like all my burdens are lifted when I'm in this room."  It was so incredible! The Spirit truly just emanates from the Chapel and it is such an amazing blessing to be able to have such sacred places to worship each Sabbath day. :)

Well, another super happy thing that happened this week was that Nicole (the one who got married on the 24th and baptized on Halloween) went to the temple the first time this week to do baptisms for the dead and I GOT TO GO!!! :) It was super happy! She was super nervous and her countenance didn't hide that, but right after she started actually doing the work, her face changed and she was just beaming and so happy afterward! It was such a tender mercy to be able to see that and how much the Spirit truly touches people's lives and helps them to feel at peace. He truly is the Comforter. 

Something funny that happened this week was that we were getting our mail at our apartment building and we waved to this girl outside, and she just walks over to our car and tries to get in it.. We were like... "Hi...." and then when she realized we weren't her ride, she was super embarrassed. Poor girl.... Also, this week on Tuesday was the FIRST DAY my entire mission that I haven't driven. Sister Schmidt knows the area well enough now that she started driving this week, and it has been so nice to just be a passenger for once! :) 

Also, remember my favorite game, "Stump the Missionary?" Well, a lot of people decided that it was needful to play that beautiful game this week, and it proved for quite the interesting lessons. One can ask "what about this!?" questions until their blue in the face, and we can answer them until we can't mutter another word, but what it really comes down to is if The Book of Mormon is true or not. If the Book of Mormon is true, then that means that Joseph Smith is a prophet and that everything that people say happened long ago really did, that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is truly the Lord's Kingdom once again established on the earth preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah (the title page of the Book of Mormon) and every other claim along with it. It's as simple as that. I just wish everyone knew it, too. I know that the Book of Mormon is truly Another Testament of Jesus Christ, that everything that happened in it is not just some made up story to sell copies (they're free, anyway), or some scheme of some sort, but that it was written long ago by servants of the Lord, that Jesus Christ Himself appeared to the people in the Ancient Americas and showed Himself to them and taught them His gospel, and that it was delivered to Joseph Smith in the 1800s to translate by the power of God from that ancient text into English so that we can all know how to get back to live with our Father in Heaven, Savior Jesus Christ, and family once more if we abide by its and the Bible's precepts. What a beautiful blessing it is to have The Book of Mormon, which truly testifies of the perfect man who is the Reason for the Season. All are invited to read it. 

Well, friends. It truly was a wonderful week, and I am again so grateful for all of you and your love and support. God hears our prayers. He loves and cares for you by name, and is a perfect Father. Pray to Him and pour out your heart to Him, and you will be able to find greater peace than by any other means. 

Have a wonderful, Christ-filled, week, my friends. Love you all! :) 

-At the Temple with Nicole (Sister Finau got to come too! :))

-At the Ward Christmas party

-One of our member's birds - she loves Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips, haha. :) 

-- 

"God be with you 'till we meet again!"

Hurrah for Israel!

Much Love,

Sister Jennifer Griffith

Week 16: A Savior is Born

November 30, 2015

HELLO WONDERFUL DARLING FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!!

This. Week. Was. WONDERFUL! :) Okay, I'll stop with the caps-lock freak out now, just know that I am super excited to tell you about this week! :) 

So, it snowed a little bit this week, and I got to drive all in it on the way to Zone Conference on Tuesday because I'm still the designated driver even though I finally have a companion with a license, woot woot! :) haha, so.... I'm super glad that I drove in the winters in Colorado during High School, because I was prepared and that was happy!

Another happy thing that happened this week was Thanksgiving!! It was hard not being with family and everything, but we had a super sweet family with their 5 little kiddies that we went and had dinner with. It was super yummy and the whole day (since we couldn't proselyte) was filled with writing thank-you notes for people, delivering them, and going to dinner at this wonderful family's home, so that was pretty great. It's super funny the number of places we go that people are like, "why are you out in this weather? Aren't you cold!?" It's really nice though, because then people take pity on us and let us come inside for a change. OH YEAH! :) Anyway, but yeah. So, Thanksgiving was wonderful and I taught the member the whole having a "sampler plate" for pie.. she was amazed! Oh, the joys of the sampler plate.. getting to try a little bit of everything that only adds up to one piece of pie.. it's the best. :) The cutest thing, though, was when their boy, Aaron, said the prayer after we shared a message with them.. he was praying and saying how grateful he was for everything and then he was like, "and please bless all the people, that they will be happy at the 2nd coming." Such a tender and sweet prayer. Children are truly such a magnificent example of Christlike love. 

I am so grateful for this wonderful life that I have to live, for the glorious people that I get to associate with, and for all of the things I've been able to learn so far here in Spokane. I am so grateful for each and every one of you, and most of all, I am grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and how he truly was born to this earth to bless the lives of so many and to save us all because there was no way for us to save ourselves. I am so grateful for His selfless life and perfect example, the hope that He gives each of us, and for our Heavenly Father for giving us the Divine gift of His matchless Son. I was so intrigued this week with the word Christmas. "Mas" in Spanish means more.. So, folks, the word Christmas literally means more of Christ.. HOW COOL IS THAT!? Not sure why I haven't really actively noticed that throughout the last 19 years, but hey, better late than never, right? Strive to make this beautiful Christmas season more full of Christ.. He truly is the reason for the season! :) In hopes to help us all do this, the Church has come out with a new video and message on how "A Savior is Born!" Watch this video.. it is seriously the best! It's all kids testifying of Jesus Christ. Watch it. Share it with everyone. Help them to feel the unique spirit of this special time of year. It's on christmas.mormon.org. SO happy! :) 

This week we also met with Stephanie again and taught her The Gospel of Jesus Christ (Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End). When we were teaching her about baptism by immersion by the proper Priesthood authority, a light came in her eyes and she said that baptism is definitely something she can see in her future and that it would be really amazing to have the Holy Ghost as her constant companion. Such a sweet experience. 

Another thing that was awesome that happened this week (are you sensing a theme yet? This is literally my life.. I'm so blessed! :)) was that our cute little 10-yr-old Investigator Dalaina got baptized!! It was such a beautiful experience. It was so cute too, because on Sunday when she was confirmed a member of the Church and was given the Gift of the Holy Ghost, she was telling us, "at first I was scared and nervous, but then I just felt happy and peaceful." That was such a testament to me of how the Holy Ghost truly is our Comforter and that He brings us every good and happy feeling and casts out the bad. So neat. :)

The last SUPER happy thing I want to talk about this week is Greg!! Greg is our Investigator that we haven't been able to meet with for a couple of weeks, but we felt prompted to stop by yesterday and see him, and we literally sat down, and hadn't really started saying anything, and he was just like (I kid you not), "So.. how soon can I be baptized??" HOLY GUACAMOLE!!! If I wasn't already sitting down, I probably would have fallen over I was so elated and shocked. So, anyway.. the rest of our lesson was teaching him the Gospel of Jesus Christ and talking about everything he needs to do to prepare for his baptism (like giving up Coffee and Alcohol and stuff) and he totally just accepted all of it. He was like, "Done. Not a problem. But, TEA? I can't drink TEA?"... then he thought about it for a second and was like, "Eh, It's okay.. I don't like tea anyway." It was so awesome! SO, long story short, he is on-date to be baptized on January 9th! How awesome is that!? The Lord truly is preparing people all around us to hear the message of His restored Gospel, and I am so grateful that I have been able to experience even a small amount of the joy He must feel as people choose to accept Him in their lives. :)

Well, that's about all I have for this week. I know that this Church is True. I know that learning about the teachings of Jesus Christ as taught in the Book of Mormon and The Bible will bring each of us the greatest happiness we could ever imagine. This is eternal happiness, not worldly happiness. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I have grown closer to Him through living and "abiding by its precepts than by any other book" and I know that it would bless all mankind, if they would just take the time to read it. This is such a glorious life. Keep sight of the eternities, my friends. That's what it's all about. 

Love you all! Have the best week and stay warm! :)

-Sister Schmidt and I with Dalaina and a Brother in our ward at her baptism! So cute!!

-At the Dr's office this week.. He's LDS, so the Ensign was out in the waiting room.. made us chuckle. :) (I've had a sinus infection for the last 3 weeks that hasn't gone away, so I finally went and got some medicine. I'm starting to feel better now though, no worries. All is well!) :)

-Sister Schmidt and I with some happy snowmen that someone made at our apartment complex. So happy!

-- 

"God be with you 'till we meet again!"

Hurrah for Israel!

Much Love,

Sister Jennifer Griffith