I am sorry it took me so long to post this in the blog.  Lauren

Hi Mom!!
 It's been a great week. I got the first package you sent last Tuesday but I haven't gotten the second one yet. Thank you for sending me all those cookies. I shared the snickerdoodles with my district. I'm saving the girl scout cookies for my companion and I. I'm going to have to send you back the Jenny Phillips CDs you sent me. I can't listen to them because they aren't hymns. Thank you for the new CD--its wonderful! I'm glad you got the Easter pictures. I'm sorry I couldn't write more with it. 

  My new companion is from Layton. Her name is Sister Waite and she is almost 21. She is brand new from the MTC. She is really nice. She is so excited to be out here doing missionary work. She is ready to work hard. At transfer meeting President Wilkey told everyone that I had only been out for 5 weeks and that I was going to be training. He told everyone that it was an example of my faith that I am already training. I feel kind of inadequate to be training a new missionary but I know that the Lord will help me do my best. I hope I can be the missionary that Sister Waite, President Wilkey, and God need me to be. My last companion, Sister Johnson is now in Somerworth New Hampshire. She only has about 5 or 6 weeks left and then she goes home. Everyone in our area loved her and is going to miss her. 

  I'm so glad the Easter party went well! I was thinking about all the kids looking for the eggs. If someone took pictures they should send some to me through e-mail. Easter was great for us!! We were able to go to an assisted living place near our apartment and share with the residents the Easter story and bear testimony of it. A lady in our ward work there and she does this devotional every year. She also has the Young men and Young women come and sing some Easter songs. It was a great way to start the Easter morning. Then we went to church and during primary we were invited to bear our testimonies to the senior primary about the resurrection. It was amazing!! Christ has risen for us so that one day we can live forever!!! What a blessing it is to know that! We were invited to dinner at a member house. Their names are the Mullins. They are a wonderful family. We had ham and cheesy potatoes. Yummy!! They live right near a bay and you can see it out of their living room. It is a beautiful view!! It was fun to spend Easter with their family. 

  We have taught a lot of less actives this week. One of the less actives is preparing for the temple so she can seal her husband to her. It is amazing to watch her grow stronger and stronger in the gospel. We met a less active man this week. He was in the Navy and his wife has passed away. We are going to be teaching him on a regular basis now. I'm excited to get to know him more! We had a great lesson with a couple that is investigating the church. We taught them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how important it is to have faith in Jesus Christ. We weren't able to go to the Young women's meeting on Saturday. That's awesome that you saw so many people that you knew at the Conference Center. I'm so excited for Conference this weekend. 

  I was studying in chapter Nephi 4 and I realized more just how important it is for us to rely on the Lord for everything we have. Nephi talks about how God has been his support. It is so important for us to rely and trust in the Lord. We can do anything with the Lord but it is our job to rely on him. He is always willing to help us! I know that we have the fulness of the gospel here because Joseph Smith prayed to Heavenly Father and his prayer was answered. I know that Christ atoned, died, and was resurrected for all of us.  

  I love you!! Have a great week. You are in my thoughts and prayers! Enjoy Conference!! Tell Jennifer Happy Birthday for me please! I'm sorry I couldn't send her something. Please tell her for me. I love you!

   Love, 

     Sister Griffin

My pictures are of Sister Waite and me. A lighthouse called the Portland Headlight that we were able to stop by on our way to Manchester for transfers. And the other one is of the ocean as the sun was coming up--isn't it beautiful!!! Enjoy!