Week 2... February 22, 2019

First pday was awesome! I got so many emails from family and friends that I barely had enough time to reply to everybody and I honestly loved that so thank you to everyone!!! It was the BEST FIRST PDAY EVER because we were the first missionaries in the CCM to talk to our families! We saw the email as soon as we received it, went and found the president and asked him if we could call our families and he said yes!! It was the biggest blessing ever!! I'm so excited for the help and changes this will bring into missionaries lives (especially mine)! If you want to hear more about my experiences just ask my family because I can tell them more over the phone than I can in an email!

My schedule for every day is literally the same, just different topics for stuff haha like our schedule is every morning we wake up at 6:30, are at the gym to workout (mostly just play volleyball or ping pong) by 6:40 and then gym ends at 7:30, get ready for the day and be at breakfast by 8. Class starts at 8:30 and goes until 1 pm and our morning teachers name is Hermana Hallal. We then have lunch at 1 until 2, personal study from 2 to 3 (which isn't usually personal study because we have "homework" or stuff to study or memorize) and then class from 3 to 7 pm with our teacher Hermana Vargas and she's seriously the best!!! Then dinner until 8 and companionship study from 8 to 9 (unless it's Sunday or Tuesday because we have devotionals) and finally we get to go home at 9 and I'm usually in bed by 9:30 (10 at the latest) because my sleep is very important to me hahah!!

The only eventful things we had this week was Monday we got booted from our classroom (which was the building right next to the cafeteria and literally everything important) and got moved to the class in the furthest corner of the CCM... it's like we've been loud or something????? Hahah but it really was pretty sad tbh..

My companion and I taught our first lessons this week! We teach Elaine (Hermana Hallal) every other morning and Angela (Hermana Vargas) every other afternoon. Our lessons are getting better and we are beginning to learn how to focus on the "person with interest's" needs and teach with the spirit!

I also had to say goodbye to Hermana Hall this week and that was sad, but I know she will do amazing things in California! Hermana Harold is also here now and we were good friends in high school so that's cool to have her here too!

The best thing of the week was that we got to go to the temple today!! It was absolutely beautiful and the has been the best thing that I've done since being here! The temple is so big and the inside is absolutely beautiful!!

My scripture for this week is Joshua 1:9, which has continued to give me strength through these past three weeks. I'm going to be real right now and tell y'all what's been going on because I feel like sometimes missionaries make it seem like everything in the mission is so easy and that they don't have trials, but every single missionary goes through them and I have a feeling I should tell y'all. So I have actually been struggling a lot since the very first Sunday we were here. We had a meeting about worthiness, and stuff that happened in my past A LONG TIME AGO kept making me feel guilty and unworthy to be a missionary (things that would seem like nothing or no problem to other people, but kept holding me back in some ways) I decided to talk to one of the presidents in the ccm and he said I might have to go home to resolve these things, but he has to talk to higher authority. I waited from Sunday the 10th until yesterday the 21st just waiting to hear back from him about whether I'd have to return home... I can't even explain in words how much sorrow and agony it brought my companion and I because I really didn't want to have to go back home... and I think I've had more priesthood blessings these three weeks than I have the past 10 years... but the power of the priesthood is SO REAL and has helped me immensely!! so finally the president grabbed me yesterday and told me that "The Lord has already forgiven you and is giving you the opportunity to be here and serve your mission." This has been the biggest miracle in my life and I'm so thankful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the love of our Father in Heaven. Thank you for all of your prayers, I sure have felt them this past week!

On a happier note!! I am doing SO GOOD now and honestly happier than I've ever been!! This gospel is so true and the love of our Savior and father is SO REAL!! My Spanish is improving daily and the gift of tongues amazes me more every day!!

I love you all and miss you all so much but I couldn't imagine being in any better of a place!! Thank you for all of the love and support, I couldn't have made it here without you guys!!

♡ Love Hermana Griffin ♡

https://photos.app.goo.gl/f4Z7vSmsCQXKt6Wr8

Video of my district singing...

Hermana Griffin, Hermana Hall, Hermana Harold

Good morning...

My cute comp and I ready for the Temple!

The BEST roomies!

Mexico is scary!

The Temple is gorgeous!

The best Temple Trip EVER!

My FAV people!

The best district!

I love my comp!!

First Email... February 15, 2019

Hola todos!!! This one will be a lot longer than the rest because it's been TEN DAYS (which has felt more like 10 YEARS) of so much stuff happening!! It has been super hard but I knew it would be and I'm still hanging in there!! The first week was the best week of my life and I was truly happier than I have ever been, and then Sunday was the first time I cried since saying goodbye to my family, but I want to thank everyone for the emails (& packages hehe thanks mom)because they have been my motivation every day. This week has been hard, but I'll get to that later.

First of all, the CCM is absolutely amazing!!! I haven't been sick yet (knock on wood) but the food has been my favorite!! Every Tuesday is pizza night, and there is some weird thing here where they put nutella, yes NUTELLA, on the pepperoni pizza. It's actually surprisingly good!! Don't knock it until you try it!! The CCM is also like it's own little town! We live in a pink house and it's amazing! Waking up at 6:30 actually hasn't been too hard since I woke up at 5:30 a lot before I left(thank you Sara). I do usually hit a wall right after lunch, but I somehow always pass through it!! My Spanish is also getting better every day!! It's amazing how true the Gift of Tongues is!!!

My companion is amazing! For all of you who follow me on social media and would see "Morgan Carlson" commenting on my posts about going to the same mission at the same time and stuff, well that's my companion! We never met before we did at the airport, but we had talked quite a bit over social media before our missions. I found out she liked pageants and all that stuff, and you all know I'm not the girly girl type, so I was super nervous we wouldn't get along at all. We were flight companions so we thought for sure we wouldn't be mtc comps, but we are!! And we get along so well!! Its challenging at times because she has never taken Spanish before coming here, so I can't really talk with her in Spanish to improve or anything, but it's all good! I'm learning a lot about patience! She's also not a typical pageant girl so that's good!! Also for all of you who know how much I like back scratches and always told me how I'm going to have to get used to 18 months without one, y'all were wrong because my companion LOVES to give back scratches hehehe.

My district is the best, no joke. I know everybody says that but honestly I couldn't ask for any better of a family here!! The elders are the best and seriously like the little brothers I never had (because they're all younger than me haha) I have had two blessings so far and they are always so sweet about offering to give them. We had 4 elders and 8 sisters in our district before we had to say goodbye to a couple people. Two elders and five sisters in our district are headed to San Antonio, and two elders and two sisters are headed to New Jersey, Morristown, and the other sister is headed to New Mexico. The first two weeks have been hard on everyone, and the outcomes haven't exactly been the same for everyone.

 Elder Bagley is the first one I want to talk about because his situation is different, but the outcome is amazing. So this is actually his second time in the CCM. He was here last July, but deals with super bad anxiety and had to return home the second week. This last week has been an absolute roller coaster for our district. Elder Bagley had a ticket to go home three different times. Tuesday was the worst time because he was struggling really bad. He was for sure heading home, he was more sad and depressed than he ever has been, but then president walked up to him and said "Elder Bagley, you leave Friday to San Antonio Texas, English speaking." He hasn't had a problem with anxiety since and we are all super sad he's leaving us, but also so happy for him (and we will still get to see him because he's going to my same mission)

Wednesday was probably the worst day so far because Hermana Hale went home :( She was the most amazing girl with the purest heart, but she didn't exactly come out here for herself, so she needed to go back home and figure out when she wants to come back for herself. Although we were all super sad after saying goodbye her, we just want what's best for her so we understood.

I have had four friends here in the CCM from highschool!! Hermana Hall leaves next week and Hermana Harold just got here this week! Elder Boehme and Elder Durrant have been here as well. It's been so amazing to have some pieces of home and people that I know here! Also for everyone that knows Olivia Wade, we are like best friends here at the CCM! We played soccer against each other for many years haha but my first day she came up to me and helped me with tips and pointers and since then we have become the best of friends!

We have had three devotionals while being here and they were amazing!! Last Friday Elder Cook from the Quorum of the 12 came to speak to us and I can't even tell you how amazing the spirit felt the moment he walked in that room. Then Tuesday night we watched a devotional from Elder Soares from the Provo MTC and it's amazing how they just know exactly what I need to hear that day!

My scripture that has helped me get through these past 10 days is Ether 12:27. I've just has to keep reminding myself that whenever I feel weak or like I can't continue my work, that Heavenly Father will make me strong and I will be able to continue with strength.

I promise next week will be shorter haha but I just want everybody to know that I miss them and I love them, and I am always so happy when I see emails pop up on my phone! I couldn't ask for any better of support. I look forward to talking to everyone next week!

*** LAST THING : HAPPY BIRTHDAY (on the 20th) TO MY BIG BRO, I LOVE YOU KADEN & YOU'RE THE BEST BIG BRO EVER!!! ***

I love you all!
♡Hermana Griffin♡

Mi companera!

My first package!!

Hermana Hall!

 My Valentines (family) are the best! This made my day amazing & I have no clue how I'm going to eat it all..

My living space..

The only district picture we got as a whole.. :(

All the hermanas before sister hale left us :.(

Hermana Hale, my soccer buddy from Hawaii♡

My roommates!

Just me

Mi companera :)

Our last day with elder bagley, the one that doesn't cooperate with pics haha

District 8C :)

I can' wait until I get to go to Texas!!

Kylee ( Hermana Griffin met one of the sisters Kaden served with, Hermana Lopez works at the MTC in Mexico.)

Kylee and her district  "from Kaden and his inside contacts."   Kaden said he has several past companions that are currently working in the Mexico MTC. WE LOVE HER SO MUCH!!!!!!!

Hermana Lopez, center, Kylee's District.

Hermana Griffin and Kaden's friend, Herman Lopez, who is working in the Mexico MTC.

Hello...

I received a wonderful surprise this morning!  Brinlee Hall has been at the Mexico MTC for 4 weeks and she found Kylee and sent this picture to her mom, who sent it to me.  Thank you Heidi for sharing this cute picture of our sweet missionaries!  It makes my heart happy to see these smiling faces!  Hopefully we will see a few more pictures of these missionaries in the weeks to come! 

The day has finally arrived and she is off to Mexico MTC... and then she made it there!

It was a quick, fast and emotional morning for all of us!  We got to the airport at 7:15am and got her boarding pass and then checked her luggage.  We then walked up to the Security line and it was FOREVER LONG... so we thought we better get her in-line sooner than later.  The line wasn't moving at all, then, all of a sudden, they must've opened up more lines, and we were walking in the line, a little faster.  Then, we were at the opening and giving quick, fast hugs and she was gone just like that!  8:00 am... the line continued to move quickly and we watched her go through security and that was it.....  tough morning!  We wished after the fact that we held her out a little longer, but it is inevitable bitter sweet moment!  We sure do love her and we will miss her so much, but are also so excited to see the lives she will bless through her love and devotion!  We love Hermana Griffin! 

4:15 pm...she just emailed...

Hey momma, I hope all is well and you are hanging in there! I made it safely and it´s pretty crazy here and Mexico smells terrible but I am happier than I´ve ever been!!! My Pday is Friday so I will get to talk to you soon!! I love you so much, thank you for the love and support! Tell everybody I made it and I will email them soon! I LOVE YOU

Love Hermana Griffin

P.S. It says for me to tell you I might not be able to email until next week so it might not be this friday but I don´t know, just a heads up if you don´t hear from me this friday! My district is C and branch 8 also! Love you tons and ill talk to you soon!

The night before I leave... #seeyain18

It's OFFICIAL!  Sister Griffin, aka. Hermana Griffin has been set apart to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! 

Mis-sion-ary: Someone who leaves their family for a short time, so that others may be with their families for ETERNITY!