Thursday was Thanksgiving and I helped Hermana L. cook Thanksgiving for
everyone in the CCM! It was so fun and crazy. It wasn’t nearly as good as our
thanksgiving though mom, I just wanted Pumpkin pie and Pauline´s goodstuff. We
got to watch Meet the Mormons and see a live devotional from Elder Bednar in
Provo. He did a Q&A and they let us email him questions. It was really
interesting! Also, that night, we built a blanket fort and put our mattresses
on the floor and slept there… worst idea ever! I did not sleep at all.
This week in the park, my companion was, a Portuguese sister from Cape Verde
and she only speaks Portuguese! It was really fun though. We understood each
other about 95% of the time and pretty much all of the people in the park spoke
Portuguese and English, not Spanish. So it was really great! We met two really
receptive people, one on the Metro and one in the park. The one on the
metro said she´d never read the Bible before and was worried to read the Book
of Mormon, but we assured her that she´d understand it. We suggested that she
think of a question before reading, pray, and then pick a place to start
reading. She was actually on her way to catch an 8 hour bus to Barcelona and
she said she was so thankful for the book so she´d have something to read on
the bus. She said she´d try what we suggested. In the park, we met a guy named
D from New York. He said he´d never really heard much about the church. For
Christmas, at the park, we have been giving away “The Living Christ” so we
talked to him about Christ and said that would strengthen his testimony and
faith in Christ. He also took a Book of Mormon and said he would come by to see
the temple this week! I hope I see him. He was really interest and had lots of
questions! This coming week, our last time in the park, our companions are our
normal companions. Im excited, but I wish I could be with Hermana F! She´s the
best, and Im sooooo gonna miss her after this week when she leaves for
Barcelona.
I gave a talk in Church Sunday! I got called up to give the last talk. The
topic was Obedience. I think I did alright. I stumbled on some words, but other
than that, my Spanish even surprised me!
Michela and Joel! There is an elder here who lives super close to you! He´s
actually in your stake! He went to your ward every morning for seminary. His
name is Elder P, though I doubt you know him. He´s really great. If you happen
to meet his family ever, let them know he´s an awesome missionary.
We learned how to teach the Law of Chastity this week. It was super funny. Our
teacher pretended to be an investigator and used words we´d never heard before
that pertained to the lesson. It was crazy, but such good practice. Then, we
taught one of our investigators the same lesson and it went so smooth!
How are Ash and the baby? Hopefully doing better. Cant wait to see pictures
soon! I´m getting way excited to have another baby in the family.
Today I´m going to the royal palace with Hermana F for pday. We get to take a tour. Im really
excited to see it and just to spend a day alone with her. I really do love this
girl! What a sweetheart.
We learned subjunctive this week and they basically said, “ok, everything
you´ve been doing for the last 5 weeks when speaking Spanish, is wrong”… so
good luck to me in the field because now I feel like I know nothing again!
We met the first Patriarch of Spain this week too! He is the sweetest man you
could ever know. He just has a light about him, definitely the light of Christ
for sure. I felt so blessed just to meet him and talk with him for a brief
minute.
Also, this December, we are doing the “He is the Gift” campaign. I hope
you’ve heard about it. If not, go to christmas.mormon.org
President J is coming Sunday to interview me. After that, that night he will
give a devotional for the whole CCM. Im so excited to finally meet him. I leave
Tuesday morning too! I will go next door to the stake center, drop off my stuff
and then go with the J´s to the mission home for Lunch. I´ll have another
interview and then come back to the Stake Center to get my stuff and meet my
trainer. Since I leave Tuesday, I will be emailing this Monday too. I don’t
know the exact time, but it´ll be early morning for you no matter what time it
is.
Anyways. I love you all so much! Im keeping busy and am super excited and
nervous for the actual mission field. 6 weeks have flown by! I love you all!
Love, Hermana Griffin
