Hi Mom!!!

  It sounds like you had a busy week. I'm glad you were able to see Aunt LaRae. Sister Allen's daughter is doing good. I am definitely going to see the Allens when they come visit Utah. They are going to be staying at Wolf Creek up the canyon. 

  This week was great!!! We went to contact some less actives with our ward mission leader this week. We found a couple people who still live in our boundaries and we found a couple that let us in and wanted to visit with us. This couple went inactive a long time ago. They were active before the church changed to the block schedule. They both have different reasons for leaving. We were able to share a message with them and we were able to find out they weren't interested in Home or Visiting teachers but they said they would be open to our ward mission leader and his wife stopping by.  Our ward mission leader is amazing!!!! He helps us all the time! 

  Yesterday one of the talks in church was about pure religion and how we need to live with charity and love. Sister Miner, who gave the talk, shared an experience about how she learned how to be more charitable the hard way. She was in her car once and saw someone with a sign asking for help and she had the thought to help him and she decided to ignore it. She came up with every excuse not to help this man. She said that as she drove away she saw someone in her rear view mirror give the man some money. She said that her heart sank. I could tell that it was powerful experience for her. It made me realize that Heavenly Father has asked us to love and serve our neighbors...everyone around us are our neighbors. 

  We met with Ann this week. She is really struggling seeing God's hand in her life. She is going through some hard things right now and she doesn't feel like the Gospel is helping her. We invited her to look for one thing she could be grateful for each day and she decided to do that. She came to church this week. We have tried showing her and testifying to her how the gospel helps us deal with challenges and doesn't always take our problems away. We are hoping that we can help her see the strength that the gospel has brought her. 

  In my studies this week I was studying the enabling power of the Atonement. I read Elder Bednar's talk from this last conference. It was so good!!!! As I was studying the talk I really thought about how the Lord doesn't take away our burdens but that He strengthens us enough to bear them. When I think of heavy loads that people have to carry I often think of Job. I began reading the book of Job and right from the beginning he had a lot of hard trials but he never gave up. He trusted the Lord. He was able to testify of the Lord too (Job 19:25). We all have to have strength in the Lord. I love you!!! Have a great week!!!!

  Love,

   Sister Griffin

Hey Mom!!!!!

  How have you been?? Those pictures were from Wally and Hope Heath. They are a couple that we have been teaching. They are awesome!!! Wally seems ready to live the gospel but his wife is very Catholic. Their daughter is a member and has been for a while! They are awesome!!! As far as the luncheon...I'm not sure what to do. We could wait until all of the church meetings are done and have it after. Do whatever you think is best. 

  This week has been awesome!!!! 
We met with all of our investigators this week and we really focused on the importance of church. Four of our investigators were at church. It was great to see all of them there. The Spirit was there so strong!!!! We were praying that they felt it. I'm sure they did. We had a wonderful lesson with Kathey. We talked to her about the Plan of Salvation and she really has come to learn for herself that she has found truth. The hardest part for her is knowing how to act on the answers that she receives. She isn't is the Methuen ward boundaries and she doesn't want to go to the other ward. She feels like Methuen is home. I'm sure she will figure out that the truth is the same wherever she goes. We were a little nervous that Kathey would stop meeting with us since I was leaving but she is still going to learn the gospel!!! That was a huge blessing!!! 

  We were at Wally and Hope's this week. They fed us dinner. While we were eating their daughter that is a member called. She didn't know we were going to be there. She talked to us. She is so awesome!!!! We talked with Wally and Hope about the Restoration. I know the gospel can help them. 

  Sister Westwood decided to throw a going away party for a couple in ward that is moving and me. It was so much fun! I included some pictures. I hope you enjoy them. It was a great way to see everyone all in the same place. 

  This week I have studied about diligence. I love what it says in Preach My Gospel "When we are diligent, we find joy and satisfaction in our work." That is so true!!!! When I am working hard I have been happier and more joyful! President Stoker talks a lot about how missionaries that work hard have the best success. He spoke in our ward the other day and he said that missionaries that learned how to work before their missions tend to struggle less on their missions. Thanks for teaching me how to work hard before my mission Mom!!!!! I love what it says in Moroni 9:6. We are here to labor diligently for the Lord! See you on Wednesday!!! I love you!!!!!

  Love,

    Sister Griffin

Picture 1- Sister Westwood and me. She is the one that threw the going away party. She is awesome!!!!

Picture 2- Last lesson with Kathey....Sister Gretter, me, Kathey, and Sister Tarawhiti

Picture 3-Sister Aucoin took us to breakfast this morning with the Aldrichs. Yummy!!!! 

 Hi Mom!!!!

  You had a very busy week! That's awesome that Elizabeth and Ammon were able to sing together and that Megan played for them. Did you have the family over for Father's day or did you just spend time with the Barnes?

  This week has been good. President and Sister Stoker came to our church yesterday. They spoke on Fathers. They did a really good job. President Stoker talked about things that Father's can teach us. It made me think of how dad was a great example of a hard worker. I started thinking of the things that dad and you have taught me. It was a tender moment for me. President Stoker also did the lesson during Relief Society. They combined the last meeting since President Stoker was there. It was awesome! He talked about how much more productive missionary work is when the members are helping us. The ward was very involved in the discussion. The ward here is wonderful at getting to know us missionaries. President Stoker told me that my exit interview is going to be the week before I leave. He is doing zone interviews for our zone on the 24th and he decided that he wants to do my exit interview then. It will be weird to have it then but that's ok.

  We taught Kathey this week. She had decided to take a break from meeting with us but now she wants to meet with us again. She was going to a Baptist church recently but she doesn't feel the same Spirit there that she feels at our meetings. We started teaching her the Restoration this week and we ended up talking more about truth. When we first started meeting with her she would tell us that she was starving for truth we asked her if she still felt like she was feeling that way. She said, "No, I'm not starving for it like I was." We then shared with her John 4 about the living water. After reading that to her, I looked at her and said, " You found the truth Kathey." She said, "Maybe I have." She then opened up a lot more. She knows the truth now she just needs to act on her feelings.

  So funny story this week...Sister Tarawhiti and I go running every morning and on Friday morning we did the usually got ready to go running. I grabbed the keys and we headed out the door. Not even 50 feet from our apartment I realize that I grabbed the car key instead of the apartment key. We were locked out. It was sprinkling. We used our neighbors phone to call the manager and they wanted to charge us 100 bucks to have them come open the door because no one was in the office yet. We decided to wait until 9am for someone to get into the office. We decided to run 2 miles to our ward mission leaders house so we could get showered and be ready to go. We had an appointment planned with them at 10 and they were supposed to pick us up at 9:30 anyways. Let's just say they were surprised to see us there. It was an experience that I don't want to repeat.

  This week I have been studying about how simple the message of the Restoration is. We have truth again. God has always revealed the truth to His children. He has shown that pattern of love and concern for us. He loves us and so He has revealed truth to us! I love how simple the gospel is!! It is so true!! I love you so much!!! Have a wonderful week!!!

 Love,

   Sister Griffin

Picture 1-Sister Tarawhiti, Sibel, and me

Picture 2- Sister Tarawhiti, Ashley, and me. Enjoy!!!

Hi Mom!!!! 

  I'm sorry to hear about Jack but you are right he is in a better place. Are you doing a funeral for him? Thanks for signing me up to help with the Ogden Temple Open House. Are you getting the hang of your computer yet? I'm glad that you got the quilts done. The kids are not out of school yet. Some kids are in school until June 20...I think. I haven't received any flight information yet...have you? 

  This week has been good. I missed getting your e-mails last week. I did do a painting for Relief Society. I don't know if you want to see it...I'm definitely not an artist. We were tracting the other day and there was a lady that let us in. She was so nice. She has a memory loss problem but her husband was nice too. We shared with them how the the gospel blesses our families. They told us we were welcome to come back and visit again. The Spirit was so strong. It was an awesome experience. We will definitely try to go back and see them. 

  We had an amazing lesson with Sister Cathcart. We had planned to finish teaching her another lesson that we had started the week before but the Spirit led us another way. She was really feeling down and so we talked to her about the Spirit and how it gives us comfort and peace. We shared John 14:26-27 with her. She told us that she needed that because it brought back a lot of memories of how the Spirit worked before in her life. She said it pricked her heart. I know that the Spirit is the real teacher!! We don't know what people need but I know that the Spirit knows what each person needs. 

  In my studies this week I have been studying in 3 Nephi. I was in chapter 24 and I was thinking about the Refiner's fire and Fuller's soap. I had heard of the Refiner's fire before and knew what that was but for some reason I always forget what the Fuller's soap is. In the Bible dictionary it says that the Fuller's responsibility was to clean and whiten fabrics. Christ refines us or tries and teaches us and then we become pure and clean. We can only become the people that Christ needs us to be if we allow Him to purify us! Sorry this is so short!!! I love you!!! Have a great week!!! 

 Love,

   Sister Griffin

On Mon, Jun 2, 2014 at 6:48 AM, griffincru@juno.com <griffincru@juno.com> wrote:

Hi Missy Callee,

 

I am having trouble getting to the point to e-mail you.  I hope I have it right this time.

 

How are you doing?  Have you had a good week?  I received your hand-written letter.  It was good to hear from you.  Sounds like you have had some good teaching moments.

 

This past week was a very busy one for me.

 

Aunt Diane, Aunt Mary, and I went to Idaho for the Romrell funerals.  It was a beautiful funeral.  Tuesday night we went to the Rexburg Temple, and on Wednesday morning we went to the Idaho Falls Temple.  I saw a lady there that used to live in the 84th Ward.  Her name is Beverly Evans.  I don't know if you remember her or not, but she worked with me in the Young Women with Shauna for a short time, then she moved out to Harrisville.  In talking with her I found out she lived in the Romrell's Ward.  This is such a small world.  It seems no matter where I go I meet people I know or knows someone I know.  We really enjoyed our overnight trip together.

 

On Friday, I got a call telling me that Jack wasn't doing very well because he had a heart attack.  After several phone calls and moving him to a different facility I got a call at church telling me that he was hours from passing away.  He was in a coma so Aunt Mary and I headed down there.  On my way I called his daughter Linda to tell her and she wanted to go with us.  We picked her up and went down there.  Diane came in her own car and met us there.  We spent several hours with him just visiting and learning about each other.  We came home around 7:30 -Jack still breathing deeply.  I got a call this morning at 4:15 telling me he had passed away.  I am sad, yet happy at the same time.  He has wanted to die for a long time.

 

"D" got your car inspected this week.  It passed with flying colors.  "D" said he is amazed that that little car hardly puts out any carbon considering how old it is.  It's been a good car. 

 

All the kids are out of school here now.  They all were very ready for school to be done.  Are the kids out of school there yet?

 

Jennifer and Lauren are enjoying Kellie Allen on Facebook.  They feel like they have a close connection to you in talking with her.  They mentioned that you painted a picture recently at Relief Society.  Save it - I would love to see it when you get home.

 

I put you on the list to help at the Ogden Temple Open House.  We are all getting excited about the temple opening soon.

 

Robyn and Holger Hansen moved out this week.  They are living in Layton for a short time until their house is finished.  A single man moved in their house - an inactive member of the church.

 

Well, I will close for now.  Take care and I love you and miss you a ton!!!!

                                                Love, Mom

Hi Mom,

  How are you??? I'm not sure when I will be sending my stuff home but I will let you know. I haven't received my flight info yet. I'm glad that you got it. You sound like you were busy all week. I remembered that it was the two year anniversary of Dad's death. Sister Allen got me a little thing to let me know that she was thinking of me. She is so sweet!!! My companion was really sweet too! How is the stuff with Jack's stuff going? Did you get it all figured out?

  This week has been kind of a roller coaster. One of our investigators told us that she didn't want to meet anymore but she is still meeting with us. She found out some medical news that threw her for a loop and so she got really upset. We met with her with some members that were able to help her a lot. They were able to relate to her on a level that Sister Tarawhiti and I weren't able to. She is still having a hard time but she came to all three hours of church yesterday. She is doing pretty good. We started teaching an older couple this week. They have learned from missionaries before. Their daughter is a member down in Florida and she is so excited that we are meeting with her parents. They had a lot of questions for us. Their names are Wally and Hope. Hope hasn't really opened up to any missionaries and she did to us. Her daughter was so surprised. We sang her some songs and she loved it! Wally loves the church and feels something when he comes to church. They are amazing!!! There was a less active this week that is dealing with the loss of her step dad. She told us that she is angry at God. I was able to relate to her and testify of the power that can come when we rely on the Lord in those situations. She told us we could come back this week. Hopefully we can continue to help her.

  We do go tracting. We try to contact less actives, former investigators, and potential investigators and then we knock on the doors around their houses. We actually met a really nice man this week when we were tracting. He was telling us about why he thought it was important to go to church. He likes church that requires a lot of participation and so we invited him to come to our church. He said that he might try it out. We talked with him for about 20 minutes. He was awesome!!!

  This week in my studies I was studying the Word of Wisdom for one of our investigators. I love how the Word of Wisdom is for us spiritually and physically. There is a quote in Preach My Gospel that I love...it says, "The Spirit does not get our attention by shouting or shaking us with a heavy hand.Rather it whispers. It caresses so gently that if we are preoccupied we may not feel it at all. (No wonder that the Word of Wisdom was revealed to us, for how could the drunkard or the addict feel such a voice?)" That is from Boyd K. Packer. It is so true!! We have to be listening if we want to really grasp what the Spirit is telling us. I love how the Spirit works!!! I love you! Have a great week!!!!

  Love,

    Sister Griffin

 

Hey Mom!

  It was so good to talk to you yesterday! All of you looked so good! I wasn't able to get onto USU's website but hopefully I can next time I'm on the computer. Mr. Weick's son came out the November before me. I have seen him before. We have 7 missionaries in the Methuen ward. There are 4 elders and 3 sisters. It is a lot of fun! We only have five stakes in our whole mission. Mom, Sister Allen appreciates so much you going to her Grandpa's viewing. She still tells people that you went to it. She thought you were so sweet to do that! Who are you thinking is ready for the missionaries?

  This week was great! I loved going to the temple so much! This week we taught our investigator, Ann. She is wanting to quit smoking but she is really struggling with it. We had a lesson to prepare her for the quit smoking program. This program is supposed to help her quit in 7 days. My companions and I are praying that she sticks to it. Ann is funny...she has dolls that are very lifelike. She dresses them and buys them clothes like they are real babies. She loves them like they are real kids. She is so awesome! 

   Yesterday, Vicki, a recent convert spoke for the first time. She got baptized in February and she really enjoyed being able to speak. Her sister joined the church in November and then she did. Their parents still haven't joined but they came to hear her speak. She did such a good job. She talked about how mothers fit into the plan of salvation. It was awesome! Our Bishop spoke and he talked about how God establishes His work through two -hoods...Motherhood and Priesthood. I thought that was awesome! God definitely works through those two hoods. I have seen it in my life. I am so blessed to have you as my family!! I love all of you so much!!!

  Check out this awesome motherhood video on mormon.org/motherhood. It is amazing!!! Thanks for all that you do for me Mom!!!!! We had zone meeting this week and I have been really pondering about something that President Stoker said about listening. He gave us ten things that will help us listen better to those we are teaching. I loved the last one. He said, "Listen for their ideas and not just their words." It is so important as missionaries to listen to what people are trying to say and not just what we want to hear. I have come to realize how important it is for people to be heard. People will tell us what is going on in their lives if we show them we care and just listen. The Spirit knows their concerns and so I have to do my part in listening to the Spirit. The questions that I ask as a missionary can be the key that helps them open up or the key that closes them. Questions are so critical. I know that people are searching for the truth and that the Lord is preparing their hearts. I love you!! Have a great week!!!

  Love,

   Sister Griffin

Hi Missy Callee,

 

Oh Callee, it was so good to talk to you.  You look good.  I hope you have had a good week.  

 

I was amazed that you teach so much during the week.  How many missionaries are in the Methuen Ward?  WE have one set of full-time missionaries in our whole stake.  The goal for the missionaries in our Stake  is 20 lessons per set of missionaries.  Our Wared has to find 3 people for the missionaries to teach every week.  I was supposed to find one lady for last week, but I forgot.  I have a name, but I just have to contact her.  The Bishop reminded me to call her on my way out of church today.

 

I talked to Aunt LaRae this morning.  They're doing okay.  They were having family over and grilling ribs.

 

The Ewing campout at Parker Park for Memorial Day weekend is coming up.  I can't believe it's that time of year again already.

 

The Barnes are reading random scriptures as a family right now while I am e-mailing.  I love to do this with them.  Even Hannah and Sam do it - repeating words after they're coached.  

 

Rachael just went to bed and she hugged everyone in the room.  She seems so old for her age.

 

Were you able to look at your registration of classes for USU?

 

We were talking about Mr. Weick's son that is in your same mission.  Didn't you say you had seen him before?  When does he come home?  We couldn't remember if he entered the mission field before you or after you.

 

Well, I will close for now.  Take care - I love you and miss you so much.

                                                                                      Love, Mom

Hi Mom!!

 The temple was amazing!!! I loved it so much!! The temple is about 30 minutes away from us. I was going to send pictures but we don't have a long time to write. As for Mother's Day. I was thinking we could skype around 7:00pm(my time) which would be 5:00pm your time. I hope that works for you. We are skyping from Sister Allen's house. If you have any questions about it you can give her a call at 801-781-0131. What username do I need to call? I'm excited to talk to you on Sunday. I was hoping to get you something sent off for Mother's Day but I wasn't able to get anything...sorry! Thanks for your letter! Thanks for getting me signed up for classes. It's official I'm coming home July 2. President Stoker has already made the changes. 

  This week has been awesome! I wish I could tell you all about it but I am don't have a lot of time. I loved being able to go to the temple. It was so peaceful! I just love the symbolism that is in the temple! Everything has a purpose and a meaning. Life seems so simple after being in the temple!! It was a wonderful experience. Sister Allen took us down there and the Aldrichs came too. The Aldrichs just got back from their mission in Fresno California. Sister Tarawhiti and I were the only ones that went. Sister Fratcher had already been so she stayed with another companionship of sisters while we went. The Spirit in the temple is amazing!! The Spirit there is so special. I have missed the temple and it was so nice to be able to go. I love you!!! I'm excited to talk to you on Sunday!

  Love,

    Sister Griffin

On Tue, May 6, 2014 at 10:29 PM, griffincru@juno.com <griffincru@juno.com> wrote:

Hi, Missy Callee, 

 

How was the temple?  How far is the Boston Temple from where you are?  Do you have to make appointments for that temple?

 

I am really excited about getting your e-mail tomorrow.  Remember to tell us about Mother's Day and your school stuff.

 

How are you doing?  Have you had a good week?  Did all three of you go to the temple?  

 

I am going to send a hand written letter, but it won't come until Saturday.

 

I had Family Home Evening last night.  It was good.  Today was game day.  It was fun, too.

 

Liz had a good time at the Prom on Saturday.

 

Sunday I went to Calvin's for dinner.  Mary had honey lime enchiladas.  Brayden and I played Yahtzee afterwards.  Then I had a little nap.

 

My birthday was good.  Lauren and Mary each made a cake and everyone came over for ice cream and cake.  Sam helped me blow out my candles.  Tricia gave me a small crockpot (at my request; Lauren and Eric gave me a book (Women and the Priesthood)' Mary gave me money' and Diane gave me the orgreenic fry pan' and Matt and Natausha gave me a cute card.  I appreciated your card, Missy.  Thank you so much for sending it along with the sweet note.

 

Ammon had a band concert tonight.  Shawn has one on Thursday.

 

Well, I'll close for now.  Take care.  I love you so much and miss you, too.