New pictures

December 1, 2014

What  a week! It started off with specialized training for all the new missionaries. we did some role plays, had some great training, and had a blast! I want each of you, if you haven't already to watch He is the Gift on christmas.mormon.org and then share it on Facebook! it is such a great video that really puts into perspective the Christmas holiday and why we celebrate it!!! So good!

This week was also Thanksgiving! i hope you all had a great holiday and ate a ton of food! I know I did!! Sister Randall and i got to go to a less active family's home! we had so much fun! we were well taken care of! we even got to take home a pumpkin pie!

This week we had a really sweet experience with one of our investigators. Her name is Debbie. about two years ago Debbie was in a house fire that burned her from at least the waist up. As a result, she has no hands and is extremely scarred. She lives in a rehabilitation center that is in our Elder's area, but she needs sisters, so we make the 15 minute drive at least twice a week to see her. She started being taught about 5 months ago. She has had all the regular lessons and is now being taught from the gospel principals manual. She is the greatest example of strength and faith that I have met on my mission! She needs to have major skin graft surgery and is waiting till after that to get baptized because she feels like she will be more self confident about going to church after her surgery. This week we taught her about prayer and she said something that I will never forget. She said, "Our lives are made up of prayers,weather we are consciously praying or not. Sometimes it's just a thought or an action, but God knows our thoughts and our actions and he always knows what we need and what we are grateful for and what our desires are by what we think and do. God knows what we are going to say in our prayers before we even say the words. "

I had never thought of it that way, but it is so true. The act of praying is how we express the things of out heart, but God knows us so perfectly! It really made me think about what I think and do and where my heart is, because God knowing everything we think and do can be a good or a bad thing if we are or aren't doing what we should! What she said really taught me a lot! Funny how that worked out! The investigator teaching the missionary!

Well, I'm about out of time, but I just want you all to know that I love this work! It truly is an incredible opportunity to see people come to Christ!!! Love you all!!!

Sister Griffeth

November 24, 2014

This week was so busy, I hardly know what happened!!! The time just slips away!

I can't wait for Thanksgiving! Sister Randall and I are going to a less active family's house for the day. We taught them on Tuesday and we talked about Enos and how sincere heartfelt prayer can bring so much peace into our lives. It turned out that Sis. Newkirk had been having a hard time with some family stuff. The spirit was so strong, we were all a little emotional, but mostly Sister Newkirk. We had a lot of those lessons this week,we saw so many miracles! It seemed like everyone we visited, member or not, was just having a rough go! I think we taught like 6 lessons that people were just in tears! It was nuts, but it just goes to show that when you are trying to teach by the spirit, miracles happen!!! It was so cool to see these people really open up about their struggles and see how the spirit was able to teach through us and help them. That's one thing I've learned about this work. The spirit is the teacher. We just have the privilege of being his mouthpiece. When you're obedient, do the things you should, and prepare as directed by the spirit, you can't fail! That goes for anything, not just missionary work!

This week was just everywhere! So me and Sister Randall are like best friends! We work so well together, but when we have some spare time we sing really off key on purpose to Michael Buble 's Christmas CD, make jokes, laugh till we cry, and teach, teach, teach!!! We have so much fun while we do the Lord's work! It's great!

well, there weren't any legit stories, so I guess I'll do what missionaries do best! Share a thought! I was reading in Mathew this week about when Christ was eating with the sinners, and the Pharisees were all disgusted about it and then Christ said something that  I absolutely love! He said, "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick."  I love that because it just shows how much charity Christ has for us. None of us are perfect, but Christ knows how to help each of us. I know that I feel inadequate a lot and that I doubt myself, but when I read this, I knew that any of my doubts or inadequacies could be taken care of IF I rely on Christ. I hope that makes sense!!!

Well, I just want you to know that i love you all!!!! have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Sister Griffeth 

November 17

Hey everyone!!!! this week was such a blur!!! So Monday is P-day! P-days are the best! we get to email, clean, grocery shop, play games and just breath! It's the best!! Tuesday I got to go on exchanges with Sister Sessions, one of the sister training leaders, in Carmel, Indiana. It was such a fun day! at the beginning of the day we had like seven lessons set up, and by the end of our first one, they had all canceled. as a missionary that leads to a lot of improvising. we did a bunch of tracting and tried to visit some members, but literally no one was home that day, so we drove around in the rain and just had a blast! Sometimes, your days just don't work out as a missionary, but you have fun anyways because you're doing The Lord's work! Sister Sessions is a kick!!! she is down right hilarious! we had a good time tracting because she just always has a positive and fun attitude! She taught me so much about being myself while still being on the errand of the Lord. Even though we only had a few lessons, I learned how not to be the 'missionary robot'. it was great!

This week was also fun because we had interviews! President Cleveland is so awesome! he talked about having the right mindset. It is SO important that despite what is going on around you that you are focused on what's really important. It's just like Sister Sessions. Even though our day completely fell apart, she was able to stay positive and make the exchange a good experience for me. I think that in our lives it is so easy to see the bad things in the world that surround us every day, but God would rather that we see the light in the darkness. So. what do we have to do to have the right mindset? for me it's all about putting negative thought out of my mind by replacing them with positive ones. when I think something bad about myself or someone else, I try instead to complement them or me. I also think it's really important to always be thinking of a scripture or hymn or quote that makes us think positive thoughts!

Anyways, the rest of the week was same old same old! Sister Randall and I just have a ball doing whatever we're doing! we've been doing a lot of finding this week because our investigator pool is kinda low. Which is LAME, but that's life!!! finding is fun! but I'm still pretty awkward when we first knock doors. It's a good thing Sister Randall knows what's up!

So this week I had the opportunity to go to a rebaptism for a lady in our ward. it was so sweet! the spirit was there so strongly! It made me so excited to just baptize everyone!!!!! We SHOULD have a couple baptisms in December!!!! Pray that they all go according to plan!!!

That pretty much sums it all up! I would love to get emails from all of you!!! I love and miss you!!!

Sister Griffeth

pictures from Indiana

week 4

Hey there everyone!

Thishas been the best week ever!! i sent an email to dad that had a little info about my comp, so you can read that! Our area is great!!!  We have a few progressing investigators and got a new one on friday i think. Ive has some really good experiences!  I LOVE IT HERE!!! its so pretty! the leaves are GORGOUS!!! there are a ton of trees!!!

while I've got some time, this week has been a blast!!!! being a missionary is super hard, but i've never been happier! we get up before the sun and gop t bed when its dark. the schedual is riggerous, and we do a lot of studying only to get rejected by people we love. that sounds kinda harsh, but i love knowing that somewhere out there, there is some one that only i can get throught to.

we are teaching this sweet lady named Debbie. debbie was in a house fire about thee years ago and sustained third degree burns from at least the wait up, losing her hands and suffering major disfiguration. SHE HAS SO MUCH FAITH!!! myheart instantly melted when i met her and when she prayed at the beginning of the lesson it was hard not to cry. she has a lot to overcome if she is going to be baptized. she is confined to a rehab facility and a wheelchair. i love that lady soo much!!!!!!!!!! she is having a pretty major reconstructive surgery in december, and i think she is hoping to be baptized after she heals up. She is so dang sweet!

Sister Randall was here last transfer, so we have a few investigators as well as some less actives and part member families. she says we teach about 25 to 30 lessons a week, leadingour district. While thats cool, that isn't what's important. what is important is that we have the privilage of being representatives of Jesus Christ. Being a missionary isn't a numbers game. it's about finding people who are prepared to come closer to Christ. I feel so blessed to be trusted with such a sacred work! I love doing what i do!!!!!!

k, so here's some fun stuff! Saturday we had a ward trunk or treat! Sis Randall and i went to walmart and got super hero t shirts and wore them with our skirts!! so fun!!!!! our ward is amazing!!!! i love it! we had ward conference on sunday which was great! the people here were soo excited to meet me! it was really nice! our ward mission leader is really with it! he makes sure that we have members going to as many lessons as possible!!!!

well, that's all i have time for!!!!!! Love you all so much!!!

Love,

Krista's Companion and Address in Brownburg, IN

22 October 2014

Dear Brother & Sister Griffeth,

Attached is Sister Krista Karen Griffeth and her new companion, Sister Randall.  They have been assigned to the Brownsburg Ward, and their address is 120 W William Drive Apt E, Brownburg IN 46112.  You can send mail directly to her or to the Mission Office, address is below.  She will be at this location for at least 12 weeks.

We are excited to have Sister Griffeth join us in the best mission in the world!

Sister Smithhart

Krista arrives in Indiana!!

21 October 2014

Dear Brother & Sister Griffeth,

Your daughter, Sister Krista Karen Griffeth, arrived safely in Indiana.  It was a pleasure to meet and welcome her to the mission.  She has a solid testimony of the gospel and is excited to be doing the Lord’s work.  Sister Cleveland and I look forward to serving with your daughter during this special time in her life.

I know Sister Griffeth will appreciate letters from home, but I discourage phone calls or visits except for emergency situations, and with prior coordination with me.  I recommend that you send all mail and packages to the office.  We will forward items to your daughter's apartment address.  For your information, due to postal regulations, packages can only be forwarded when they are sent Priority or First Class mail.

Sister Cleveland and I will love, care for, and watch over Sister Griffeth as if she were our own daughter.  Thank you for the love and support you have given, and will give her on her mission.

Sincerely,

Steven C. Cleveland
Mission President

Week 2 in the MTC

Hey everyone!!! so this email isn't going to everyone on the list, just so you know. Mom, just put the parts you think are good on the blog.

So I have been here for like 10 days now! That is so nuts!!! I feel like i've been here for like a day and a year at the same time!!!

I have learned so much about inviting and helping others come to Christ. Thiss work isnt about telling people, its about showing people how great and merciful God is and that he loves us and has a plan for us. Its about showing people that because God lovesd us, we have propjets and families and the atonement. How cool is that!!! GUYS, I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!! 

So the MTC is just the coolest place. the spirit is so strong here. even on days that are hard, you just feel uplifted because it hard to be sad when you feel the spirit testifying of God's infinite love all day:) 

So, i want to share some experiences real quick.

The other night we had TRC, which is when you teach an investigetor that may or may not be a member, so it was like the real thing. well, our investigetor is a non denominational christian. she had a lot of tough questions and was a hit on the rude side. our lesson was in a sense, a train wreck. what was worse was that my companion had literally no idea how to answer her questions, so for an hour i took a pretty decent verbal beating from this investigator while mt companion sat there saying absolutely nothing. I didn't even care that the lesson sucked when we got back to class. when we got there, one of the Elders asked me how it went and i just kind of burst into tears and couldn't stop.I really could care less about the lesson, but i felt pretty alone. Out subsequent lessons have gone better. we teach her for the last time tonight, and i'm pretty glad about that.

Well, I'm out of time, so i got to go! I love you all sooo much!!!

Love,

Ta

I just got a letter from Krista and her unit # is wrong for her MTC address.  It should be unit 142.  Sorry for the confusion! She will be there until October 21st!

Week 1

Hey everyone!!! 

Well holy cow I am so excited!! the MTC is just the best place to be!!!!! There is an incredible spirit here that is just the most amazing feeling ever!!! 

So, my days are so jam packed with classes and study and the spirit and scriptures its amazing!!! We were joking today that we learned everything we ever learned in seminary in just these first two and a half days. Its pretty much just a fire hose of knowledge! 

Ok, seriously I just love being here! I was so worried that I would be depressed and sad and homesick, but my face seriously aches sometimes from smiling so much. There are four sisters and four elders here in my district. My companion is Sister Hansen.I am learning to love her. She is so sweet! We're different, but our purpose is the same! That purpose is to being others to Christ.

So the food is pretty great, not going to lie. The Sisters and I have been eating a ton of fruit and choosing the healthiest meals. We also woke up at 6 to go to yoga, which was awesome! When you getup early, you can get so much more out of your day!!!

I don't really have any cool stories yet, but I'm sure i'll have one next week. I teach my first investigator tomorrow!!!!! Sister Hansen and I have been working really hard on what we want to teach and we have been praying a lot and I feel like we know what the Lord wants us to teach.

Well, I want you all to know that I love you so much! I have defiantly felt your prayers. I challenge you all to watch Elder Bednar's talk from Saturday afternoon session and see how you can engage in missionary work. IT'S THE BEST!!!!

love you!!

Krista

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Sister Griffeth

Contact Information and Mission Pictures

Alright everyone, I am leaving today for Utah!!! Below is my contact information for the MTC and Mission home! My mom will be posting my address updates as they become available!

My address for the MTC is:

Sister Krista Karen Griffeth
OCT 21 IN-IND
2009 N 900 E Unit 142
Provo, UT 84602


My Mission Home Address is:

Sister Krista Karen Griffeth
Indiana Indianapolis Mission
1980 E 116th St., Ste 200
Carmel, IN 47032

My Email is:

krista.griffeth@myldsmail.net

MISSION PICTURES!!!

The Days Leading up to Leaving

This post is a little bit about what I've been doing to prepare for my mission to Indianapolis. I hope that its equal parts entertaining and insightful!

Alright, first thing first... Mission prep is no pick-nick. It can be one of the most overwhelming things that a teenager can voluntarily do. It involves a serious dedication to reading Preach my Gospel (PMG), scripture study, praying, on top of purchasing all the necessities for the mission, packing up all the things that you  aren't taking, and coping with the idea of leaving behind all your friends and family.

Developing the habits of intense study can be really hard. The amount of study that missionaries do can seem astronomical, but considering the knowledge we need to be effective teachers, it seems hardly adequate. Sometimes I lay in my bed and pretend that I don't hear the little voice in my head reminding me that I need to read, but I know that if I want to be a good missionary, I've gotta know my stuff!!! The amazing part of becoming a missionary is that the Lord really does help you out. There is no way that I could go out and be a missionary without massive amounts of heaven's help. It's crazy how much I notice the tender mercies of God all around me. If you put your trust in him, he will bear you up and make all things possible!

Packing has by far been the most stressful thing yet. Packing up involves so much more than just stuffing all your stuff into a suitcase and calling it good, mostly because there is so much to pack. Everything you take, you have to haul around for the next 18 months. So, there is the limitation of only taking what you need while still covering every situation you could be in in the next year and a half. K, just so everyone is aware, I over-think everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. I have a month till I leave and I'm freaking out that I don't have everything I need yet. I will probably be packed for weeks before I leave and still not feel prepared. There is so much to take, and yet so little space in my two massive suitcases.

The other stressful part of packing is having to spend the money to buy yourself a mission appropriate wardrobe. The Elders get to go to Mr. Mac and buy their suits, shirts, shoes, ties, and luggage all in one convenient place while the Sisters have to go all over creation to find skirts, dresses, shoes, tops, accessories, coats, and bags that are modest and mission appropriate. I think I've been to every mall within a 400 mile radius and shopped online and still haven't gotten everything I need. Not gonna lie, I am the definition of a shopaholic, and I can't take any more shopping!!!

Packing up your room is easy. You just slap everything in a box, cover that thing in packaging tape, write "DO NOT TOUCH!!! THIS IS MINE!!!" all over it and hide it in the hope your siblings don't find it and steal your stuff.

K, confession time. I lied when I said that packing was the most stressful thing. Getting ready to say goodbye to my family and friends has been excruciatingly difficult for me. I know that I'm going to get out there and have to adjust to a new lifestyle, but what's going to make it harder will be doing it without the ones I care about. Sending just one email a week is going to be difficult for me. Even through my first year of collage, I went home and called my mom ALL THE TIME. My siblings, as irritating as they are, are the best "built in best friends" EVER! My best friends from my Jr high and high school  and college days have embarked on their own adventures in Europe for this semester and have already left, but I miss them soo much! How am I supposed to survive this? I know what it's like to be on the other side of a missionary leaving, having said goodbye to and sent out my amazing boyfriend just two months ago. Its really hard to let someone go, but I can already tell that leaving is going to be much harder for me. There have been countless prayers for comfort, and its been tough. I try to avoid thinking about it whenever possible, but I know that the Lord will give me the strength I need to be away form everyone.

Whew! Got that off my chest! While the prospect of going on a mission seems scary, daunting and stressful, I believe that it will be one of the single most important things I will ever do! What could possibly be better than serving the Lord!!!

I hope that y'all have enjoyed reading! I will probably post one more time before I leave, then my dear sweet mother will be posting my weekly emails! My contact info for while I'm away will also be posted later! Love you all!!!