"For when I am weak, then am I made strong"

8.24.15

This week started off with a good exchange with our zone leaders. I was able to go to their area with elder Coats. The best thing that happened while on exchange was had the opportunity to teach this really nice guy name George. He was the friend of one of the members in the zone leaders ward. He was a really cool guy, and soaked up what we were telling him. The spirit was especially strong while we were teaching about Joseph Smith. The restoration is such a beautiful message. He had really good questions and was excited to be able to read the Book of Mormon. One of his favorite things he liked about what we taught was that Christ had be foreordained to be the savior of the world. That is one of my favorite parts about teaching the gospel, seeing people light up as they gain additional truth. He lives down in Forth Worth, so unfortunately the zone leaders will not be able to teach him, but we sent his information to the missionaries down there. Those missionaries are lucky ducks to be able to teach him. Also this week we were able to have another good lesson with this lady named Lilliana. She is originally from Brazil, and is very sweet and loving. She loves to learn and has really enjoyed her visits with us. This time we meet with her she told us about how she had just lost a friend. We shared with her the plan of salvation. She loved the part about the resurrection, and how we will get perfect bodies without any imperfections. We also had a really good discussion about temples and how we can be sealed together forever. She thought is was a beautiful concept. We also had her say the closing prayer. Listening to an investigator pray out loud is on of my favorite experiences. They always give the most sincere, and heartfelt prayers. While she was praying the spirit was strong, and I know she felt it too. We invited her to come to the baptism of two of the kids in our ward and she accepted:) She told us that she is very traditional and supportive of her catholic faith, and that if she was to join another church she would have to make sure she really thought it was right for her. She doesn't take converting to another church lightly, which is a really good thing. This means that if she does join the church in the future, that she will make a solid convert that will never leave the church. She has such a good heart, and it is always a really good sign that she is feeling the spirit. We just need to help her realize what she is feeling. We were also able to meet this incredible women named Aimee. She was sitting in her garage, and so we went up and started talking to her. She started telling us about one of the hardest trials she has faced, that happened to her 2 months ago. She said that in the middle of the night her husband had woken up really sweaty and hot and couldn't cool down. Her husband had the feeling that something wasn't right, so they drove down to the hospital. It turns out that one of the tubes in his heart had a tear in it, and he ended up passing away in the hospital two hours after they got there. She said it happened so suddenly. Nothing had been wrong with him leading up to this freak accident. The amazing thing was that even though she had just lost her husband, she was the happiest, positive person I have ever meet! She talked about how this trial had really helped her learn where her faith really was, and what she really believed. We also had a really good conversation about the enabling power of Jesus Christ. She said that He was the only way she was staying so positive about everything that had happened. She had a friend that was Mormon that had sat down with her and explained what we believe. She agrees with a lot of our beliefs. She had to go in to get ready for the day, but we will be going back to her house for sure. She said that right now she thinks there are good things in all religions, and that there couldn't be just one right church. Hopefully as we share more with her, and answer any questions she has we will be able to help her feel the spirit. It was such a blessing to be able to talk with her, and my own testimony of our savior Jesus Christ was strengthened. His ability to heal and give us the strength to keep going is so amazing. Even though it can be hard to understand how it works I know that it is a real power and that He truly is the only way to achieve real peace. I found this scripture I really liked this week in the new testament that goes along with this really well. It is in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. This is Paul speaking.  He says "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I made strong" I love this scripture! l feel the spirit every time I read it. What an amazing principle, "for my strength is made perfect in weakness". I hope to be able to apply this to the rest of my mission and for the rest of my life.

   I love you all so much, and am grateful for all of your prayers. I hope everyone is doing good in school and seeing and finding the positive things about it. Stay safe, and keep smiling!

Love,

Elder Griffin