Dear Family,
To start off, let´s just say that I am not in the usual locutorio, or internet café, that I tend to be in on Wednesday´s. In fact, I am not even in my own area of barrio 5, and in fact, just so that you know, I am not even in the same zone....and my companion right now is not el Élder Gómez. Yes that is right, last week was...TRANSFERS!!!
Last week Monday, I got a phone call from the assistant Elder Gerrbo, who told me that I, Elder Gomez, and the two other Elders in our piso were going to train the start of next transfer. That means that there would be atleast 3 more missionaries that we were going to receive. We were sure that Elder Gomez and I were going to divide the area and train two new missionaries, but still be the zone leaders. It wasn´t too clear with the other two missionaries in our piso, but we thought that they would be training a new missionary in a trio, or threesome. We were soooo excited, because, well, I have never trained before, so I was completely stoked and us four missionaries are like best friends, so the thought of being together while training three new missionaries was absolutely ecstatic. So that was the plan/news until Thursday, I wanted to write you about this last Wednesday, but time was short and you really can´t be too sure about things with President Watkins because he can change his mind at the last second and so you never know until it actually happens. For this reason I didn´t tell you about it earlier, and you know what I was absolutely right, because on Thursday morning I received another phone call. This time from President Watkins....
He called me and said that he was sharing with me some pre-transfer information. He told me that I would be the next companion of Elder Ketchum as Elder Gerrbo was at the end of his mission and was going home at the end of the transfer. So I received THE news, that I would be the next assistant and would be serving in one of the best wards in Spain, Barrio 2 (Barrio 2 is second best baptizing ward in Spain). So....my thoughts on the matter, were at that moment, sadness because I was leaving behind an area that was very recently progressing a bunch (Segundo Moina passed his baptismal interview and should be baptized tomorrow, Thursday). I was also excited for the chance to work in Barrio 2 and to be close to President Watkins and see him work. So it was a trade off, and it still hasn´t set in. It feels like I am on a really long exchange. So the funny thing is that I will probably be in this barrio for the rest of my mission, which means that in total I will have only 3 areas. I am excited for the opportunity ahead to learn, and serve, and really become a more Christlike missionary. So, my Companion....
Elder John Patrick Ketchum from Princes Lakes, Indiana of about 1500 inhabitants. He has a family of 7, 4 brothers. His older brother served a mission in Guatemala and Elder Ketchum is number 2. The interesting thing is that his dad is not a member. He is actually really active in the Catholic church. His dad, when Elder Ketchum was really little, was a WWF wrestler and his name was ¨The Assasin.¨ His dad, since has given that up and know dedicates his life to the police force. I will have to tell you more about Elder Ketchum in emails to come because there are a lot of details. But it is sufficient for me to say that Elder Ketchum´s mom is a rock. You can tell that he has been brought up well, and he is a fabulous missionary. His love for the people and for me as a companion is very evident. I am grateful for the opportunity to work and serve with him in this labor of love. It will be a privilege. This morning we went to the temple to think about the possibilities of the transfer and have been impressed to do certain things. We are excited to get to work and to help the rest of the mission have success. I have already learned a ton from him, as you can imagine.
Sunday night, the assistants picked me up and we dropped off my luggage at their apartment and then we went to the mission home(I still haven´t seen the package but surely it will come soon). Sister Watkins cooked us ribs and we had the priviledge to have the presence of an area seveny Elder Wright. He is very young, from England but his spirit and the experiences that he has had are fantastic. I was very impressed with him and it was a delight to share the evening with him.
Monday morning we went to the office and received all of the key indicators(numbers) from the zone leaders and then started preparing all of the information to have our weekly meeting with President Watkins, to talk about how the week went and other matters. President Watkins is an inspired man, and actually while I was there in the office he received your email dad and read me a part of it and said that it would be a pleasure to meet you and the family. Elder Ketchum´s family is planning on coming as well. We ended up leaving the office at 5 o clock and to be honest, I am not a big fan of spending sooo much time there. We will see how it goes, but I am sure being more appreciative of the time that I had to be a full time proselyting missionary. We ended up getting lost the rest of the day and getting caught in traffic, so we didn´t teach at all. Driving is a lot different here in Madrid and I have stalled the car tons of times.
Well, we are excited for the work here in Barrio 2. There are 4 people that have baptismal dates, and the plan is that this weekend one of them has his baptismal interview. We will see how that goes.
Please continue to pray for me. I feel the strength and the love of those prayers.
I love you all. Please have one of the best weeks ever. I am loving the work and am feeling the Spirit´s influence more and more. It is so gratifying to feel the Spirit testifying through me that what I am saying is true. I want to feel that more often and I believe and feel that this transfer is going to be very special. Elder Ketchum and I are going to have a lot of success. The Spirit will be our guide.
I love you all,
Love,
Élder Driggs
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
November 24, 2010
Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad,
Les felecito en español hoy, ya que han cumplido 25 años de matrimonio. Increíble. Fantástico y Estupendo.
It sounds like your week has gone well so far and it sounds like you have great plans for tomorrow, the big turkey day. Our plans for thanksgiving....trabajar! Wooohooo! I actually am not complaining. I am very excited to work tomorrow because we have a ton of appointments. It doesn´t bother me one bit, working on holidays when I am on the Lord´s errand.
This week has gone great. We are very excited with the things that are happening, actually, we are absolutely stoked with the progress of the area. We, were so privileged last Thursday to receive the visit of Elder Caussé. He was inspiring. So inspiring that that night we set 6 baptismal dates. 1 couple from the Dominican Republic, and 1 family of 4 from Bolivia. We hope that they keep progressing, because they are wonderful people. The next visit we had with them was the Friday afterwards, last Friday, and we asked the Bolivian family what they thought about making the decision as a family to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized. The father responded sincerely, me gustaría. They are a wonderful family and hope that things continue to go well for them.
The last time we were with the Dominican couple the girl asked us if she had to read all of the Book of Mormon before her baptism, her date is for the 18th of December. We responded with a smile, no. We are receiving many, many, many blessings from the Lord at this time in this area and we hope and pray that these special people, our brothers and sisters accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be baptized. We are at least excited that they have some initial desires to do so, which sometimes people don´t have at the beginning of this teaching process.
Just to inform you about Segundo Moina. He is awesome! He came to church this last week and stayed again for the 3 hours. He wanted to go home before the third hour, but we and some other members gently persuaded him to stay. He is getting more and more friends and acquaintances at church and the bishop is really hot on him. Before Priesthood started the bishop presented himself to him, and asked him immediately, When are you getting baptized? Segundo told him the 2nd, and the bishop said, good, I want to be there. It made Segundo feel really good that people told him that they wanted to be there when he gets baptized to support him. He loves that feeling of being important and feels very special. He is a wonderful man, very humble and will be a great member of the church. He is stoked for his baptism.
We have a bunch of miracles that are going on in our area and there isn´t any time to even begin to tell you about all of them. I had an incredible exchange with Elder Cerro, El Argentino, Uruguayo, y Canario o de las islas Canarias. We were in our area and had nothing planned as all of our appoinments had canceled on us. We passed by a potencial investigator and it was just a series of miracles. 1st, that she was there, that she let us in and that there was a man in the room. To invite her to be baptized we showed her and the father of her son the picture of the baptism of Jesus, with John the baptist in the River Jordan. The really famous image in the church. We showed it to her, explained briefly what it was, and then as I began to invite her, something like , ¨cuando ustedes sepan que lo que compartimos es verdadero ....¨, she interrupted me, and said, ¨Ya se lo que me va a preguntar y la respuesta es sí.¨ Nos quedamos sorprendidos. We were shocked. We had talked to her one day in the street a long time ago, maybe 3 months, and we talked to her about baptism then, so something must have stuck with her, because she was prepared to say yes. We have another appointment with her and him tomorrow, and we are so excited because we are going to set a specific date with them. They weren´t sure about setting a serious goal the last time, but tomorrow they will be.
To end my letter today, I just wanted to congratulate one more time, Mom and Dad. I love you soooo much. I thank you for your perfect examples of love, dedication, service in the church, service in the community, hard work, testimony, and sacrifice. Thank you for all of the sacrifices that you have made and continue to make for me. I am and will be eternally grateful to you for them. What and who I am is because of you. You have taught me so much, and recognized more than ever, here on the mission, that I, like Nephi, have been born of goodly parents. I have grown in my love for you while I have been away from you these 15 months, today. If you remember it was 15 months ago, today, a Wednesday at 11:30, when we last saw each other. That was a long time ago, but the time has literally flown by, and soon, too soon, we will be together again. I am grateful for the support, love, and prayers, that you give me while I am out here completing my duty to God: being away from my family for two years, so that other families can be together forever. My love and gratitude for you is forever and words cannot describe it. The two most important words in the English language that you deserve are simply: THANK YOU!!!
I love you! Keep up the good work with Cami, Mark and Cari. We all will get to a certain point when we will finally understand what sacrifices you have gone through, which sacrifices you have done with love. Gracias.
Have a great week! or as Ignacio (Nacho libre) says it so nicely and exquisitely ....Take it eassssy!
Love,
Elder Driggs
P.S. Today for our Preparation Day, we went ice skating at an Ice skating rink 20 minutes or so from Madrid. It was way fun and think that that is one of my secret talents that I need to develop. Haha, Just kidding!!! But it was way fun. Love, Rob
Les felecito en español hoy, ya que han cumplido 25 años de matrimonio. Increíble. Fantástico y Estupendo.
It sounds like your week has gone well so far and it sounds like you have great plans for tomorrow, the big turkey day. Our plans for thanksgiving....trabajar! Wooohooo! I actually am not complaining. I am very excited to work tomorrow because we have a ton of appointments. It doesn´t bother me one bit, working on holidays when I am on the Lord´s errand.
This week has gone great. We are very excited with the things that are happening, actually, we are absolutely stoked with the progress of the area. We, were so privileged last Thursday to receive the visit of Elder Caussé. He was inspiring. So inspiring that that night we set 6 baptismal dates. 1 couple from the Dominican Republic, and 1 family of 4 from Bolivia. We hope that they keep progressing, because they are wonderful people. The next visit we had with them was the Friday afterwards, last Friday, and we asked the Bolivian family what they thought about making the decision as a family to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized. The father responded sincerely, me gustaría. They are a wonderful family and hope that things continue to go well for them.
The last time we were with the Dominican couple the girl asked us if she had to read all of the Book of Mormon before her baptism, her date is for the 18th of December. We responded with a smile, no. We are receiving many, many, many blessings from the Lord at this time in this area and we hope and pray that these special people, our brothers and sisters accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be baptized. We are at least excited that they have some initial desires to do so, which sometimes people don´t have at the beginning of this teaching process.
Just to inform you about Segundo Moina. He is awesome! He came to church this last week and stayed again for the 3 hours. He wanted to go home before the third hour, but we and some other members gently persuaded him to stay. He is getting more and more friends and acquaintances at church and the bishop is really hot on him. Before Priesthood started the bishop presented himself to him, and asked him immediately, When are you getting baptized? Segundo told him the 2nd, and the bishop said, good, I want to be there. It made Segundo feel really good that people told him that they wanted to be there when he gets baptized to support him. He loves that feeling of being important and feels very special. He is a wonderful man, very humble and will be a great member of the church. He is stoked for his baptism.
We have a bunch of miracles that are going on in our area and there isn´t any time to even begin to tell you about all of them. I had an incredible exchange with Elder Cerro, El Argentino, Uruguayo, y Canario o de las islas Canarias. We were in our area and had nothing planned as all of our appoinments had canceled on us. We passed by a potencial investigator and it was just a series of miracles. 1st, that she was there, that she let us in and that there was a man in the room. To invite her to be baptized we showed her and the father of her son the picture of the baptism of Jesus, with John the baptist in the River Jordan. The really famous image in the church. We showed it to her, explained briefly what it was, and then as I began to invite her, something like , ¨cuando ustedes sepan que lo que compartimos es verdadero ....¨, she interrupted me, and said, ¨Ya se lo que me va a preguntar y la respuesta es sí.¨ Nos quedamos sorprendidos. We were shocked. We had talked to her one day in the street a long time ago, maybe 3 months, and we talked to her about baptism then, so something must have stuck with her, because she was prepared to say yes. We have another appointment with her and him tomorrow, and we are so excited because we are going to set a specific date with them. They weren´t sure about setting a serious goal the last time, but tomorrow they will be.
To end my letter today, I just wanted to congratulate one more time, Mom and Dad. I love you soooo much. I thank you for your perfect examples of love, dedication, service in the church, service in the community, hard work, testimony, and sacrifice. Thank you for all of the sacrifices that you have made and continue to make for me. I am and will be eternally grateful to you for them. What and who I am is because of you. You have taught me so much, and recognized more than ever, here on the mission, that I, like Nephi, have been born of goodly parents. I have grown in my love for you while I have been away from you these 15 months, today. If you remember it was 15 months ago, today, a Wednesday at 11:30, when we last saw each other. That was a long time ago, but the time has literally flown by, and soon, too soon, we will be together again. I am grateful for the support, love, and prayers, that you give me while I am out here completing my duty to God: being away from my family for two years, so that other families can be together forever. My love and gratitude for you is forever and words cannot describe it. The two most important words in the English language that you deserve are simply: THANK YOU!!!
I love you! Keep up the good work with Cami, Mark and Cari. We all will get to a certain point when we will finally understand what sacrifices you have gone through, which sacrifices you have done with love. Gracias.
Have a great week! or as Ignacio (Nacho libre) says it so nicely and exquisitely ....Take it eassssy!
Love,
Elder Driggs
P.S. Today for our Preparation Day, we went ice skating at an Ice skating rink 20 minutes or so from Madrid. It was way fun and think that that is one of my secret talents that I need to develop. Haha, Just kidding!!! But it was way fun. Love, Rob
November 17, 2010
Dear Family,
This week has been great as usual. Nothing really new, except for the fact that it was rough being out of the area for so long, like I explained to you last week. We had an awesome Halloween activity this last week, on Saturday, and we were able to have a few investigators come. We, the missionaries and the mission leader were in charge of the activity and it happened to be the first activity in more than a year for the ward. It was a huge success, despite the fact that it didn´t start perfectly. The members loved it and the leadership and the bishopric of the ward were very content. They are excited to get planning on what we are going to do for Christmas.
Elder Gomez and I are a little concerned as the 3 people that had baptismal dates have basically disappeared. We haven´t been able to put us into contact with them. Well, we have talked to Carlos Gomez on the phone but have not been able to meet with any of them. None of them came to church either. We are sad because they are such special people and are so close to being baptized. They have testimonies that are growing so quickly and we need to pray more for them, that they can get back into contact with us.
We are really excited for tomorrow and Saturday as we are going to have a zone conference with Elder Causse of the 70. We will certainly be spiritually blessed to have him with us.
Elder Gomez and I have set some goals that are going to help us increase our level of obedience. I am convinced that if we are more consciously obedient to all of the mission rules and commandments that we will receive the promised blessings, be happy, and really see and participate in miracles. That is really what we want and the entire reason why we are here.
I love you so much and I apologize that this email is so short. We have had a busy day and we have to run to a teaching appointment. Know that I love you, pray for you and think of you as much as is allowed.
haha
Have the best week ever. Don´t get frustrated, don´t get angry, just be happy as much as possible, and when not thought possible to do so, breathe, say a silent prayer and smile, even if you don´t feel like it. Our lives will change little by little if we consciously do all that we can to be happy. That is why we are here.
Have a great week.
Love,
Rob, Elder Driggs
This week has been great as usual. Nothing really new, except for the fact that it was rough being out of the area for so long, like I explained to you last week. We had an awesome Halloween activity this last week, on Saturday, and we were able to have a few investigators come. We, the missionaries and the mission leader were in charge of the activity and it happened to be the first activity in more than a year for the ward. It was a huge success, despite the fact that it didn´t start perfectly. The members loved it and the leadership and the bishopric of the ward were very content. They are excited to get planning on what we are going to do for Christmas.
Elder Gomez and I are a little concerned as the 3 people that had baptismal dates have basically disappeared. We haven´t been able to put us into contact with them. Well, we have talked to Carlos Gomez on the phone but have not been able to meet with any of them. None of them came to church either. We are sad because they are such special people and are so close to being baptized. They have testimonies that are growing so quickly and we need to pray more for them, that they can get back into contact with us.
We are really excited for tomorrow and Saturday as we are going to have a zone conference with Elder Causse of the 70. We will certainly be spiritually blessed to have him with us.
Elder Gomez and I have set some goals that are going to help us increase our level of obedience. I am convinced that if we are more consciously obedient to all of the mission rules and commandments that we will receive the promised blessings, be happy, and really see and participate in miracles. That is really what we want and the entire reason why we are here.
I love you so much and I apologize that this email is so short. We have had a busy day and we have to run to a teaching appointment. Know that I love you, pray for you and think of you as much as is allowed.
haha
Have the best week ever. Don´t get frustrated, don´t get angry, just be happy as much as possible, and when not thought possible to do so, breathe, say a silent prayer and smile, even if you don´t feel like it. Our lives will change little by little if we consciously do all that we can to be happy. That is why we are here.
Have a great week.
Love,
Rob, Elder Driggs
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
November 10, 2010
Dearest and most loving, good lookin´, family,
This week has been extraordinary. I will just be honest that I love to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When we teach a lot of people and talk to a lot of people in the street, I am happy. We, this last week, were able to teach a lot of people, and it was a lot of fun. There was even one point of the week, where we had two appointments at the same time, and Elder Gomez and I had to do splits. We have planned to do splits in the past but there has always been something that has gotten in the way, members not being able to help us, investigators bailing out on the appointments, etc. But this time all worked out and Elder Gomez went with one of the young adults in the ward who just received the Melchizedek Priesthood two Sundays ago and who is preparing to go on a mission, and I was the lucky one who was able to go with a 70 year old high priest temple worker. It was a lot of fun! and we were able to take advantage of the little time we had. 2 appointments instead of 1 is always better.
To explain my title for today, let´s just say that this week I have not and will not see much of him, who is known as, Elder Gomez, or in other words, mi compañero. Starting this last Monday until this morning we were in exchanges with the Elders of Villalba. I went there and the other two stayed in Barrio 5. Tomorrow we are doing exchanges with the assistants and I am again leaving the area. It is rough leaving our area. I don´t really love it, but it is fun seeing how other people do missionary work and be able to observe and learn. Luckily the area is in good hands...well great hands actually...El gran Elder Gomez.
Segundo is doing really well this week. He came to church this last Sunday, but he had to come to the earlier ward that meets at 10 instead of 12. He came and stayed through the whole sacrament meeting even though we had planned that he leave early so he could get to work on time. He started work at 12. He came, stayed, and loved it, and even better he got to work on time. Whewww!!! We are going to teach him tonight at 7:30.
Carlos Herranz isn´t going super well, because he lost his voice last Friday and we haven´t been able to get a hold of him since. He also wasn´t able to go to church this last Sunday. We, of course, are not giving up hope, and we are patient and willing to work with his extremely busy and complicated schedule.
We have another baptismal date, that we set this last week. His name is Carlos Gomez, he has to be an extremely extended relative of Elder Gomez. Haha. He is from Argentina and is really cool. He came with us two weeks ago to the stake conference and came this last week and stayed for the first two hours. He seems to be more dedicated because he wants to change his life, drop the bad or worldly things behind, and be more spiritual and calm. He has been showing us more and more that he wants this for himself and we are hopeful that he can continue to progress. We have taught him for awhile but we had to stop for a month or so as he went out of town to the Canary Islands to work. He is back in action and the only problem is that he doesn´t have an established work, so he is always working little jobs here and there and has a rather unpredictable schedule.
Today, we as a zone went to Segovia. Elder Holub and I came over from Villalba and met up with the other missionaries that went straight there from Madrid and we spent a fun day there looking through the Cathedral and walking down below the Castle. We had fun looking through some caves and were able to see some bats. We ate at a doner kebab hut, these are really famous here in Spain and there are tons of them all over the place. You are all going to love Segovia when you come. It is awesome and I know it enough now to get around.
Well, Elder Gomez is already done and we´ve got to hit the road and get to work. I hope that you have an awesome week. I am glad to hear that you are losing so much weight. That is so exciting! I also love the thought of seeing pictures from all of you. I love you all and pray for you. I was especially happy to hear that you had PPI´s with the kids. I think that that is a fundamental principle that helps unify families and increase love, success, and spiritual and personal progress.
Keep doing what is right. And be wise.
Love,
Elder Driggs
This week has been extraordinary. I will just be honest that I love to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When we teach a lot of people and talk to a lot of people in the street, I am happy. We, this last week, were able to teach a lot of people, and it was a lot of fun. There was even one point of the week, where we had two appointments at the same time, and Elder Gomez and I had to do splits. We have planned to do splits in the past but there has always been something that has gotten in the way, members not being able to help us, investigators bailing out on the appointments, etc. But this time all worked out and Elder Gomez went with one of the young adults in the ward who just received the Melchizedek Priesthood two Sundays ago and who is preparing to go on a mission, and I was the lucky one who was able to go with a 70 year old high priest temple worker. It was a lot of fun! and we were able to take advantage of the little time we had. 2 appointments instead of 1 is always better.
To explain my title for today, let´s just say that this week I have not and will not see much of him, who is known as, Elder Gomez, or in other words, mi compañero. Starting this last Monday until this morning we were in exchanges with the Elders of Villalba. I went there and the other two stayed in Barrio 5. Tomorrow we are doing exchanges with the assistants and I am again leaving the area. It is rough leaving our area. I don´t really love it, but it is fun seeing how other people do missionary work and be able to observe and learn. Luckily the area is in good hands...well great hands actually...El gran Elder Gomez.
Segundo is doing really well this week. He came to church this last Sunday, but he had to come to the earlier ward that meets at 10 instead of 12. He came and stayed through the whole sacrament meeting even though we had planned that he leave early so he could get to work on time. He started work at 12. He came, stayed, and loved it, and even better he got to work on time. Whewww!!! We are going to teach him tonight at 7:30.
Carlos Herranz isn´t going super well, because he lost his voice last Friday and we haven´t been able to get a hold of him since. He also wasn´t able to go to church this last Sunday. We, of course, are not giving up hope, and we are patient and willing to work with his extremely busy and complicated schedule.
We have another baptismal date, that we set this last week. His name is Carlos Gomez, he has to be an extremely extended relative of Elder Gomez. Haha. He is from Argentina and is really cool. He came with us two weeks ago to the stake conference and came this last week and stayed for the first two hours. He seems to be more dedicated because he wants to change his life, drop the bad or worldly things behind, and be more spiritual and calm. He has been showing us more and more that he wants this for himself and we are hopeful that he can continue to progress. We have taught him for awhile but we had to stop for a month or so as he went out of town to the Canary Islands to work. He is back in action and the only problem is that he doesn´t have an established work, so he is always working little jobs here and there and has a rather unpredictable schedule.
Today, we as a zone went to Segovia. Elder Holub and I came over from Villalba and met up with the other missionaries that went straight there from Madrid and we spent a fun day there looking through the Cathedral and walking down below the Castle. We had fun looking through some caves and were able to see some bats. We ate at a doner kebab hut, these are really famous here in Spain and there are tons of them all over the place. You are all going to love Segovia when you come. It is awesome and I know it enough now to get around.
Well, Elder Gomez is already done and we´ve got to hit the road and get to work. I hope that you have an awesome week. I am glad to hear that you are losing so much weight. That is so exciting! I also love the thought of seeing pictures from all of you. I love you all and pray for you. I was especially happy to hear that you had PPI´s with the kids. I think that that is a fundamental principle that helps unify families and increase love, success, and spiritual and personal progress.
Keep doing what is right. And be wise.
Love,
Elder Driggs
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
November 3, 2010
Dear Family,
Hello, Hello. I hope everyone has had a good week thus far. I am saddened by the news of Grandma. I hope and pray that all goes well with her, and you mom, and the whole family. Thankfully we have knowledge of the Plan of Salvation that helps us understand and comprehend death and other misfortunes during our journey here on earth. I am very grateful for this knowledge as it has helped me many times during my life be happy, despite the surrounding circumstances.
This week has been wonderful for Elder Gómez and me. We love the work. I have been trying lately to be more focused and concentrated in the work, and to really establish and develop a love for the people. I have been getting better, I think, and I continue to enjoy the work.
We are excited as we are finding more and more people, or should I say miracles, that are really ready to prepare themselves to be baptized. Or more importantly, are desirous to do so. We are still very excited for Segundo Moina. He wasn´t able to come to church this last Sunday, which happened to be Stake Conference, because he was working, and he won´t be able to come this coming Sunday, either, because of work. His schedule seems to have changed a little bit, but we are patient and hopeful that all will work out. We have invited him to ask his bosses to see if there is a possibility to have his shift a little later, so that he can still come to church. We will see what happens.
I have been trying lately to put the advice of Elder Pederson, the nephew of the Ernst, in practice, which is to talk about baptism in every lesson. I think I do so normally but I don´t make it a huge focus. With Segundo, I am especially trying to at least mention his baptism in every visit. A couple of lessons ago, I asked Segundo how he was feeling in terms of his baptism. He responded, ¨I feel a lot more calm and I hope that the day gets her quick.¨ I was surprised and very happy to hear this, and asked him why he was excited for his baptismal date, just so that we could know what he was thinking.
He told us that he wanted to be a member of the Iglesia Mormona. He is very humble and very receptive, it seems like. He is understanding more and more and continues to read everyday from the Book of Mormon. He will be a wonderful member of the church and we are excited to his date, which will probably be the 18th of November. Please pray for him, so that he can come to church, he has already come twice and stayed for the three hours, but he needs to at least come one more time to be able to be baptized. He should be able to at least come twice a month to church, which certainly isn´t the best, but ok.
It is hard, the balance with church assistance and work here in Spain, because fathers or mothers separate themselves from their friends and families for years to come over here to just work. Their only goal and vision is to get money and to support their family, and for some it is the only hope to get ahead or help their children attend the university, etc. It is a rough situation but as we know, sacrafice brings forth the blessings of heaven, and we know that this is the Church of Jesus Christ and we have all of the truth. So what else matters?
We are also very excited about a new investigator named Carlos Herranz. A month or more ago we received a reference from the bishop of the second ward here in Madrid. We called him a couple of times and seemed super nice and very excited to learn more, but do to his work schedules, we could never meet with him. We ended up losing contact with him. We called him last Friday and set up an appointment Saturday evening. During the phone call he told me that he had already read the Book of Mormon and prayed at the end. He told me that he wanted to read the Pearl of Great Price and Doctrine and Covenants as well.
I was shocked. When we went to his apartment on Saturday...let me just say that this guy is an animal...in the good meaning. He is incredible. We sat down and started talking to him and listened to his story. He had met with missionaries before and they gave him the Book of Mormon. He read it and felt that it was true. He had to travel to Wales for work and lost contact with the missionaries and lost his Book of Mormon. He is a very impressive man as he is a musician, theologists-he taught theology during a certain period in his life, and among many other things he is a Spaniard.
After hearing him, and hearing that he wanted to learn more we presented him with a ¨Conversion Plan¨, which includes the lessons needed receive and a baptismal date. We set the date for the 4 and 5 of December and he was willing to put it as a goal. He has a ton of experience and we invited him to the stake conference the next day and he came. He came in taxi because he wasn´t sure that he was going to make it on time, and apparently the taxies here are not the cheapest way of transportation here.
He stayed for almost all of it, and he had to leave before the last hymn and the closing prayer. He seemed to enjoy it and told me that he had already read the assigned reading, and he is just really neat. He is one of those golden investigators that you always look for and hear about. We hope that he continues to be great, as we really don´t know a whole lot about him, but until now all goes well. In 1 hour and 40 minutes we have an appointment with him. At 7 o clock in the church. Wish us luck! Haha.
Well, that is basically what we are up to, in a very short, brief report. I am loving the work and am nervous that my time is already coming to an end. I still have time left, but I have that feeling that the end is drawing near, and I don´t want to stop living this dream. I have loved the experiences that I have had up until this point and I have become a better person. When someone is really devoted in the service of others, they change permanently for the better. I need to serve with more love and devotion so that I can become closer to Jesus Christ.
I love you all very much and please tell Grandma hi for me. I will be praying for her and all of you.
I love you,
Élder Driggs
October 27, 2010
Dear Family, Mom, Dad, Cami, Mark and Cari,
I love you all sooo much. I don´t have tons of time today but for these precious minutes I will try to communicate my love to you and help you live my mission with me.
This week has been great. Elder Gomez and I have been struggling to reach the goals of the mission in lessons taught. We are not depressed but motivated to find a better way to find success. We are super happy, however, with the progress of Segundo Moina. He actually wasn´t able to come to church this last Sunday, because he came home late, at around 4 o clock in the morning. We met with him that night and were able to talk to him a little bit more regarding about how we missed him at church and we shared with him the Word of Wisdom. He has had problems with this in the past as he occasionally smokes, drinks, and drinks coffee in the mornings(I believe everyday). He is so cool, because after we explained to him what was that law, he honestly told us that he had never known about it and in his closing prayer he thanked Heavenly Father for us and in teaching him some commandments that he had never known. He is really special and I love being a missionary in moments like that, because you realize that some people, like it says in D and C, don´t know where to find the truth. He is very willing to do what is right and is progressing wonderfully.
I had to mention quickly what we did a couple of weeks ago. We had a district lunch, together. Two companionship of Elders and two of sisters. Elder Gomez and I were going to use a recipe in your cookbook ¨Oh my Gosh your going to like this, Casserole¨ but we ended up switching, and cooking Chicken Enchiladas in the same recipe book. It turned out fantastic and chose to swith the name t0o ¨Oh my gosh your gonna love these Enchiladas.¨ We thought it was a very appropriate name and we had a bunch of laughs out of it. They turned out perfectly.
I am sorry that I have run out of time. I love you all and pray for you.
I love you and wish you a wonderful week,
Love,
Elder Driggs,
Keep smiling.
October 20, 2010
Dear Family,
Hello, hello!!! I am sorry to hear that today hasn´t been one of the best days. Sometimes we have them, but we learn, we grow, and we get back up on our feet to run harder the next day. Like you said mom, the sun will rise again tomorrow. I love the idea of restarting, new days, new weeks, new transfers, and new goals. It is so nice to repent and then start over. What a blessing, repentance, and being able to apply it in our daily lives. It is hard to understand the way repentance works, but it is real and I need to make it more of a habit. I think it has been a lot easier on the mission to repent, or at least I have been more focused on doing so more regularly, than it was in real life.
We as missionaries are constantly evaluating, setting goals, striving to achieve those goals, and then re-evaluating. We try to specialize in one area, missionary work. On the other hand, being a regular person, there are a lot more things that you have to juggle and sometimes we get caught up in...life. Repentance is one of the most relieving ideas that we teach as missionaries. The idea of change and improvement and letting go of the past and improving.
We have started a new focus in the mission and that is to talk about baptism in every contact, unless the Spirit tells us otherwise, of course. It was a little interesting at first, because I always liked to talk about eternal families when I saw a family, for example, but baptism is the focus of everything in missionary work, and it is interesting that when we ask people how they would feel to be able to erase all of their sins and mistakes that they have had, they almost always say that it would be great. Baptism is our way out. It is the only way back to our Father in Heaven.
Without the receiving the baptismal ordinance in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, our brothers and sisters, neighbors, friends, and family cannot return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We see the importance of baptism and there is no reason why we shouldn´t be talking about it with everyone. If we talk more about it, people will know what we are all about and they who want to listen will already have that idea in their minds and know what our mission really is. So that is what we are trying to focus on right now in our everyday lives.
This week has been a good week. Not exceptional but not bad either. We had 7 people that had committed to come to church earlier in the week and only one person came. It was somewhat disappointing because the family of Luz, she and her two sons didn´t come. Luckily they had come to the baptismal service the night before and they felt the Spirit. (I played the violin for a musical number and the next day in Sacrament Meeting I accompanied while someone sang ¨Oh Savior Thou Who Wearest A Crown.¨) Hopefully they can come to church soon, because if not we might have to drop them. It would be really sad because they are a wonderful family, but it is hard because we can´t teach them very often as their schedules are really busy.
We are really happy because the one investigator that came to church is incredible. O si hablamos en español, es de maravilla, pero en serio, es increíble. His name is Segundo Moina, and we talked to him in the street a month ago, probably, and we invited him to church. We met him half way and he came, without ever having a lesson with us. We lost contact with him for a little while, as he didn´t seem to enjoy the reuniones, even though he stayed for the three hours. But we called him and taught him the first time two Sundays ago and again last Thursday, both with members acompanying us.
On Thursday while asking him if he had read what we had left him, 3 Nephi 11, he responded, well the first time I read it, I was a little confused. The second time I read it, it made a lot more sense, but the third time, it was as if the heaven´s had opened up and I understood everything. He said that he had read everyday and believed that what he had read was true. That was truly a miracle. We invited him to be baptized the 20th of November, and he said he wasn´t sure. We asked if we could pass by the following day in the morning. There was actually only about 12 o 13 hours diference between that appointment and the next one, Friday morning. He said that that we could come by and we invited him to pray and ask Heavenly Father if he should be baptized that day. He accepted the invitation and we left him with 3 Nephi 27. We all knelt down, and Segundo offered the closing prayer.
In the prayer he thanked God for the change that he had felt in his life, for the blessing of bumping into us that day a month ago, and many other beautiful things. We could tell, and he expressed to us, that he felt a difference in his life by reading the Book of Mormon. He felt that change in his life and the next day he had read the chapter, understood it well. When we asked him to tell us what it was about, he immediately said, Baptism. He is incredible. We invited him again to be baptized and after asking us if he, being baptized in this church, could still accompany his wife to the Catholic masses and us responding him, he said yes, let´s start preparing.
He came to church, stayed the three hours, and the priesthood hour really impacted him, as the lesson was miraculously on baptism. A few brethren shared experiences before they were baptized when they were involved with alcohol and how as they felt the need to be baptized, that desire was washed away. Segundo told me after that he has felt the same thing, that as he has met with us he has not felt the need like before to drink alcohol. I am not sure if he has stopped completely, but certainly, he has gotten better.
The miracles are many here in Madrid Spain. I am here for at least 6 more weeks and I can´t complain. We have a few goals and we plan to accomplish them. I am loving the people more and more and the work is going well. Elder Gomez and I get along great and I am really privileged to have him as a companion. Elder Moreno went home yesterday, but he is going to come back up on Saturday because his last area, Alcalá (where uncle Paul served) has a baptism and I heard that the person wants Elder Moreno to baptize them.
Luckily Elder Moreno lives within range to be able to come back. Elder Moreno opened back up Alcalá his last six weeks, after President had taken the missionaries out for 6 (Alcalá normally doesn´t have very many baptisms). But when Elder Moreno left they had 8 baptismal dates, which is unheard of, anywhere in the mission, let alone Alcalá. He told me that they were all miracles, but Elder Moreno is a good missionary and he works hard and loves the people. There are a lot of Spañiards there in Alcalá so I sure he got along really well with everyone.
Well, I have to write my inform to President Watkins, so I hope that all of you have a great week. Take care and keep praying and studying the scriptures. I love you all.
Love,
Elder Driggs.
P.S. Keep smiling and loving life, this is our only chance to do so.
Hello, hello!!! I am sorry to hear that today hasn´t been one of the best days. Sometimes we have them, but we learn, we grow, and we get back up on our feet to run harder the next day. Like you said mom, the sun will rise again tomorrow. I love the idea of restarting, new days, new weeks, new transfers, and new goals. It is so nice to repent and then start over. What a blessing, repentance, and being able to apply it in our daily lives. It is hard to understand the way repentance works, but it is real and I need to make it more of a habit. I think it has been a lot easier on the mission to repent, or at least I have been more focused on doing so more regularly, than it was in real life.
We as missionaries are constantly evaluating, setting goals, striving to achieve those goals, and then re-evaluating. We try to specialize in one area, missionary work. On the other hand, being a regular person, there are a lot more things that you have to juggle and sometimes we get caught up in...life. Repentance is one of the most relieving ideas that we teach as missionaries. The idea of change and improvement and letting go of the past and improving.
We have started a new focus in the mission and that is to talk about baptism in every contact, unless the Spirit tells us otherwise, of course. It was a little interesting at first, because I always liked to talk about eternal families when I saw a family, for example, but baptism is the focus of everything in missionary work, and it is interesting that when we ask people how they would feel to be able to erase all of their sins and mistakes that they have had, they almost always say that it would be great. Baptism is our way out. It is the only way back to our Father in Heaven.
Without the receiving the baptismal ordinance in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, our brothers and sisters, neighbors, friends, and family cannot return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We see the importance of baptism and there is no reason why we shouldn´t be talking about it with everyone. If we talk more about it, people will know what we are all about and they who want to listen will already have that idea in their minds and know what our mission really is. So that is what we are trying to focus on right now in our everyday lives.
This week has been a good week. Not exceptional but not bad either. We had 7 people that had committed to come to church earlier in the week and only one person came. It was somewhat disappointing because the family of Luz, she and her two sons didn´t come. Luckily they had come to the baptismal service the night before and they felt the Spirit. (I played the violin for a musical number and the next day in Sacrament Meeting I accompanied while someone sang ¨Oh Savior Thou Who Wearest A Crown.¨) Hopefully they can come to church soon, because if not we might have to drop them. It would be really sad because they are a wonderful family, but it is hard because we can´t teach them very often as their schedules are really busy.
We are really happy because the one investigator that came to church is incredible. O si hablamos en español, es de maravilla, pero en serio, es increíble. His name is Segundo Moina, and we talked to him in the street a month ago, probably, and we invited him to church. We met him half way and he came, without ever having a lesson with us. We lost contact with him for a little while, as he didn´t seem to enjoy the reuniones, even though he stayed for the three hours. But we called him and taught him the first time two Sundays ago and again last Thursday, both with members acompanying us.
On Thursday while asking him if he had read what we had left him, 3 Nephi 11, he responded, well the first time I read it, I was a little confused. The second time I read it, it made a lot more sense, but the third time, it was as if the heaven´s had opened up and I understood everything. He said that he had read everyday and believed that what he had read was true. That was truly a miracle. We invited him to be baptized the 20th of November, and he said he wasn´t sure. We asked if we could pass by the following day in the morning. There was actually only about 12 o 13 hours diference between that appointment and the next one, Friday morning. He said that that we could come by and we invited him to pray and ask Heavenly Father if he should be baptized that day. He accepted the invitation and we left him with 3 Nephi 27. We all knelt down, and Segundo offered the closing prayer.
In the prayer he thanked God for the change that he had felt in his life, for the blessing of bumping into us that day a month ago, and many other beautiful things. We could tell, and he expressed to us, that he felt a difference in his life by reading the Book of Mormon. He felt that change in his life and the next day he had read the chapter, understood it well. When we asked him to tell us what it was about, he immediately said, Baptism. He is incredible. We invited him again to be baptized and after asking us if he, being baptized in this church, could still accompany his wife to the Catholic masses and us responding him, he said yes, let´s start preparing.
He came to church, stayed the three hours, and the priesthood hour really impacted him, as the lesson was miraculously on baptism. A few brethren shared experiences before they were baptized when they were involved with alcohol and how as they felt the need to be baptized, that desire was washed away. Segundo told me after that he has felt the same thing, that as he has met with us he has not felt the need like before to drink alcohol. I am not sure if he has stopped completely, but certainly, he has gotten better.
The miracles are many here in Madrid Spain. I am here for at least 6 more weeks and I can´t complain. We have a few goals and we plan to accomplish them. I am loving the people more and more and the work is going well. Elder Gomez and I get along great and I am really privileged to have him as a companion. Elder Moreno went home yesterday, but he is going to come back up on Saturday because his last area, Alcalá (where uncle Paul served) has a baptism and I heard that the person wants Elder Moreno to baptize them.
Luckily Elder Moreno lives within range to be able to come back. Elder Moreno opened back up Alcalá his last six weeks, after President had taken the missionaries out for 6 (Alcalá normally doesn´t have very many baptisms). But when Elder Moreno left they had 8 baptismal dates, which is unheard of, anywhere in the mission, let alone Alcalá. He told me that they were all miracles, but Elder Moreno is a good missionary and he works hard and loves the people. There are a lot of Spañiards there in Alcalá so I sure he got along really well with everyone.
Well, I have to write my inform to President Watkins, so I hope that all of you have a great week. Take care and keep praying and studying the scriptures. I love you all.
Love,
Elder Driggs.
P.S. Keep smiling and loving life, this is our only chance to do so.
October 13, 2010
Dearest Family ever,
How are things going in your part of the town. I absolutely loved the letters today. I appreciated the spiritual thoughts, the scriptures, and the surprising events about the Stokers, Ernst´s, and just how life is so busy at home. I love being busy and I fear the time when I get home and have very little planned. However, that day will come. I need to worry more about the now.
Thanks for the thoughts on staying focused and enjoying to the max the time I have here to dedicate myself to the Lord and His service. It honestly makes me sad to think that I am on the other side of the mission and to think that I will not be doing this forever. I love the work. I love the people. It is hard work and sometimes I don´t love it, but I try to do my best during those times and it helps shape who I am.
It is also hard to see my progress during the mission. You always want to change so much during the mission and sometimes I fear that I am not changing at all. I´m sure I have changed in some aspects, well hopefully most aspects, but these changes are certainly so gradual that I don´t note them at all. But don´t get me wrong. I love the mission and want everyone to serve one. Holy Cow, it is the best. I am still waiting to hear from Kathryn. I want to know where she is called. I hope she comes here to Madrid. That would be way sweet.
So yeah, Mom, I do know Élder Pederson. It´s actually kind of funny, because he asked me that the other day. I actually don´t know how he found out, but apparently you are friends with his mom too. But he asked me if I knew the Ernsts and I said yes and it was really neat to draw that connection.
He used to live in California when he was really little, in San Francisco and in Concord. He was actually in the ward of President Watkins, when President Watkins was a bishop. Apparently, Elder Pederson´s mom is really good from with Hermana Watkins. So that is really neat. He is a great missionary, and he only has 4 days left and then he goes home. He has been the assistant for the last transfer, or last 5 weeks, and so it has been fun to get to know him a little bit more and to learn from him.
Elder Pederson bore a really strong testimony the other day in mission council and I really came away really impressed with what he had learned during the mission. The two things that I remember that he mentioned were, 1 – being honest with yourself and with God. 2. Talking about baptism in every contact and in every lesson. If we do that we will baptize more. He is a really good missionary and even though I hardly know him, because was from the old Bilboa Mission, it would be fun to stay in contact with him. I am going to tell him about the concert, because that will make him happy that we know the Ernst´s so well. He also told me that Nicole is really serious with someone. That made me laugh when I heard that because I still remember the family joke that everyone always played on us. I guess things are not going according to plan. Haha
Everything is going really well here. I will tell you what though. I want to baptize more people. We have a baptismal service this Saturday with the 25 year old man, I think I told you about him last week, Luis Jaime Males. He is a really good person. We had a few minor complications in the whole progress because last week we found out that he was going to have to go to Columbia to see his brother get married, the week before his scheduled baptism. We asked if he could postpone the flight two days and leave on a Monday. We also asked permission from President Watkins if he could get baptized because he had only come to church 2 times officially, the first time he missed the Sacrament Meeting and we don´t count it if that happens.
For someone to be baptized in the Spain Madrid mission they have to come to church atleast three times. President had no problem with that and so we are all good to go. Our district leader Elder Cerro interviewed him last night and all is well. All systems are go for this Saturday at 7 o clock. We are very excited, especially because the whole ward is excited about it. Our new bishop is super focused in the missionary work and wants all of the organizations focused on that. So he and our awesome new ward mission leader have everyone excited for this Saturday and many members are helping us out and calling to see if there is anything else they can do. I love it, because that is the way a ward should work. I would love to hear that Luis goes on a mission too. His girlfriend told him a few weeks ago that she wants to serve a mission, so hopefully he can get the chance to go. We will see. That is my dream, to help someone get baptized that at the same time serves a mission and helps many more people.
We are really excited about a certain family Luz, Napoleón, Jasmani, and Saul. They are the family of four from Ecuador that I think I commented about last week. Napoleón has left to work out of Madrid for a couple of weeks and we have seen tons of progress. He was a little stubborn, and Luz is super sensible to the Spirit. Last night we taught tithing to her and her two sons, and her niese(who is a little like Napoleón), because she had seen the word in the guia de las escrituras, at the back of the Book of Mormon in Spanish. We taught it to her and she understood it perfectly. We invited her to live the law after her baptism and without thinking she immediately responded, Sí. As you can see she is just awesome and is being prepared by the Holy Ghost to be baptized.
She and her sons and her husband, who brought the Book of Mormon with him while away for work, are reading the Book of Mormon every day, and she and her sons, at least are praying everyday as well. We just need to make sure that they are asking Heavenly Father everyday in their prayers if these things are true. She is really great and will be a really strong member pretty soon. She has committed to come to church this Sunday with her sons and she is also planning on coming to the baptism this Saturday, also, there is an activity for all of the youth in Madrid this Saturday and she said that if we went, Elder Gomez and I, she would let her 2 boys go too.
We are just really excited about them and pretty soon you will here that they have a date and will be baptized. We invited them to be baptized already the 20th ish of November, I can´t remember exactly, and she said, well, I can´t say that it will be that day, but in the future I can´t deny that I might do it. So she is there progressing little by little. She read the first half of the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet, yeah it is also the same in spanish, and she said that she liked it, she shared concerns that she has for her youth especially while living in Spain, and she said that she agreed with everything that it said so far. She told us that she wants to know more about Alcohol the next lesson, so teaching her is really easy now, because we teach in accordance with her interests.
Well, I love being a full time missionary. I sometimes forget the eternal importance of this sacred calling. But I do love being here.
I love you. I pray for all of you by name. Thank you for your prayers. Thanks for writing Cami, and the letter is almost finished being written and will be in the mail today. I love you, Cami, very much and I also am excited to be with you and the family again. It will be great, but for now my time, thoughts, and actions are to be focused on the Lord´s holy errand. His labor of love.
Love, Elder Driggs
How are things going in your part of the town. I absolutely loved the letters today. I appreciated the spiritual thoughts, the scriptures, and the surprising events about the Stokers, Ernst´s, and just how life is so busy at home. I love being busy and I fear the time when I get home and have very little planned. However, that day will come. I need to worry more about the now.
Thanks for the thoughts on staying focused and enjoying to the max the time I have here to dedicate myself to the Lord and His service. It honestly makes me sad to think that I am on the other side of the mission and to think that I will not be doing this forever. I love the work. I love the people. It is hard work and sometimes I don´t love it, but I try to do my best during those times and it helps shape who I am.
It is also hard to see my progress during the mission. You always want to change so much during the mission and sometimes I fear that I am not changing at all. I´m sure I have changed in some aspects, well hopefully most aspects, but these changes are certainly so gradual that I don´t note them at all. But don´t get me wrong. I love the mission and want everyone to serve one. Holy Cow, it is the best. I am still waiting to hear from Kathryn. I want to know where she is called. I hope she comes here to Madrid. That would be way sweet.
So yeah, Mom, I do know Élder Pederson. It´s actually kind of funny, because he asked me that the other day. I actually don´t know how he found out, but apparently you are friends with his mom too. But he asked me if I knew the Ernsts and I said yes and it was really neat to draw that connection.
He used to live in California when he was really little, in San Francisco and in Concord. He was actually in the ward of President Watkins, when President Watkins was a bishop. Apparently, Elder Pederson´s mom is really good from with Hermana Watkins. So that is really neat. He is a great missionary, and he only has 4 days left and then he goes home. He has been the assistant for the last transfer, or last 5 weeks, and so it has been fun to get to know him a little bit more and to learn from him.
Elder Pederson bore a really strong testimony the other day in mission council and I really came away really impressed with what he had learned during the mission. The two things that I remember that he mentioned were, 1 – being honest with yourself and with God. 2. Talking about baptism in every contact and in every lesson. If we do that we will baptize more. He is a really good missionary and even though I hardly know him, because was from the old Bilboa Mission, it would be fun to stay in contact with him. I am going to tell him about the concert, because that will make him happy that we know the Ernst´s so well. He also told me that Nicole is really serious with someone. That made me laugh when I heard that because I still remember the family joke that everyone always played on us. I guess things are not going according to plan. Haha
Everything is going really well here. I will tell you what though. I want to baptize more people. We have a baptismal service this Saturday with the 25 year old man, I think I told you about him last week, Luis Jaime Males. He is a really good person. We had a few minor complications in the whole progress because last week we found out that he was going to have to go to Columbia to see his brother get married, the week before his scheduled baptism. We asked if he could postpone the flight two days and leave on a Monday. We also asked permission from President Watkins if he could get baptized because he had only come to church 2 times officially, the first time he missed the Sacrament Meeting and we don´t count it if that happens.
For someone to be baptized in the Spain Madrid mission they have to come to church atleast three times. President had no problem with that and so we are all good to go. Our district leader Elder Cerro interviewed him last night and all is well. All systems are go for this Saturday at 7 o clock. We are very excited, especially because the whole ward is excited about it. Our new bishop is super focused in the missionary work and wants all of the organizations focused on that. So he and our awesome new ward mission leader have everyone excited for this Saturday and many members are helping us out and calling to see if there is anything else they can do. I love it, because that is the way a ward should work. I would love to hear that Luis goes on a mission too. His girlfriend told him a few weeks ago that she wants to serve a mission, so hopefully he can get the chance to go. We will see. That is my dream, to help someone get baptized that at the same time serves a mission and helps many more people.
We are really excited about a certain family Luz, Napoleón, Jasmani, and Saul. They are the family of four from Ecuador that I think I commented about last week. Napoleón has left to work out of Madrid for a couple of weeks and we have seen tons of progress. He was a little stubborn, and Luz is super sensible to the Spirit. Last night we taught tithing to her and her two sons, and her niese(who is a little like Napoleón), because she had seen the word in the guia de las escrituras, at the back of the Book of Mormon in Spanish. We taught it to her and she understood it perfectly. We invited her to live the law after her baptism and without thinking she immediately responded, Sí. As you can see she is just awesome and is being prepared by the Holy Ghost to be baptized.
She and her sons and her husband, who brought the Book of Mormon with him while away for work, are reading the Book of Mormon every day, and she and her sons, at least are praying everyday as well. We just need to make sure that they are asking Heavenly Father everyday in their prayers if these things are true. She is really great and will be a really strong member pretty soon. She has committed to come to church this Sunday with her sons and she is also planning on coming to the baptism this Saturday, also, there is an activity for all of the youth in Madrid this Saturday and she said that if we went, Elder Gomez and I, she would let her 2 boys go too.
We are just really excited about them and pretty soon you will here that they have a date and will be baptized. We invited them to be baptized already the 20th ish of November, I can´t remember exactly, and she said, well, I can´t say that it will be that day, but in the future I can´t deny that I might do it. So she is there progressing little by little. She read the first half of the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet, yeah it is also the same in spanish, and she said that she liked it, she shared concerns that she has for her youth especially while living in Spain, and she said that she agreed with everything that it said so far. She told us that she wants to know more about Alcohol the next lesson, so teaching her is really easy now, because we teach in accordance with her interests.
Well, I love being a full time missionary. I sometimes forget the eternal importance of this sacred calling. But I do love being here.
I love you. I pray for all of you by name. Thank you for your prayers. Thanks for writing Cami, and the letter is almost finished being written and will be in the mail today. I love you, Cami, very much and I also am excited to be with you and the family again. It will be great, but for now my time, thoughts, and actions are to be focused on the Lord´s holy errand. His labor of love.
Love, Elder Driggs
October 6, 2010
Mi Querido Familia,
Esta semana ha sido una semana muy buena. Me encant'o la carta de Marcos. Me dio mucha alegria de escucharle.
Ahora en ingles, para no molestarles m'as.
This week has been great. I have been a little sick, mainly just a cold and the sniffles, but other than that we are trying to help people progress towards baptism. It was sooo much fun going to conference. I have explained to you the schedule in past emails, but basically there is one session in the evening on Saturday, and priesthood and two more on Sunday.We don't get the priviledge of hearing the last session because it starts at 10 and ends and 12 at night. We went Saturday night with a less active 14 year old from Ecuador, and right when I got off the metro on Saturday I saw Gina, and two other sisters from Aranjuez. I was thinking I was going to see them that weekend but not so soon. I was so happy to see them. It has been so long since I have seen them and after 9 months of being around them, you forget a little bit how much you love them. It was especially nice to see Gina, that she is active and that she is participating and has friends in the Relief Society.
I don't think that I told you but about 3 months ago, President Watkins pulled the missionaries out of Aranjuez. This was a semi surprise to me, but I know why. President Watkins has been threatening the units, wards and branches in the mission, that if they don't meet certain requirements, like weekly coordination meetings, weekly ward coucil meetings, ward missionaries, ward mission leader, and a actual and functioning ward mission plan, than he will take the missionaries out. He has sent letters to the presidents and bishops of every branch and ward and many have lost missionaries and those missionaries have gone to other areas where the units function better.
Aranjuez was always, in a way, exempt from this consequence because of the amount of baptisms. There was branch support, but for example home teachers, and others organizations didn't work like they should. So he took the missionaries out. I was obviously worried because of the recent converts there without missionaries visiting them. So with that in mind it was a treat to see Gina there super active. She and Ronny and the entire family came Sunday to the 6 o clock session and it was soooo nice to see them and talk with them. Even though there wasn't much time, they are wonderful.
Of course the first question I asked Gina was if they were still planning on getting sealed. She told me, claro, Elder. I asked her about tithing, as I knew that would be one of the hardest requirements for them and she told me that she is paying for the family, even though she is not working. Its harder for Ronny to pay tithing, but she is doing it because if not, they will not be able be sealed as a family. She is very, very special. She told me that she is having family night almost every week. And their 11 year old son told me that they are having daily family scripture study, and just the 4 of them, when Ronny is not there. He also said that he is reading the Book of Mormon personally. Gina told me that her daughter Naomi, 13, I think, likes Young Women, went to there form of Girls Camp, learned the standards of how to dress, and feels really close to her young women's leader.
I was sooo happy to hear from them and could talk to them forever. I sadly heard, that Michael Alvarez is inactive, not going to church, but that his dad wants to get baptized as well as his little brother Gerald. So that was the Aranjuez scoop. The whole time seeing them made me desire more baptisms. We need to work harder and are very excited that we are going to get a new ward mission leader. He is phenomenal. He was an assistant in his mission 15 years ago and is a fantastic person. I will be talking in Sacrament meeting this Sunday with him and one of the sister missionaries. I feel that this ward is about to explode with baptisms, now that we have everything that we need for the ward to be ready and prepared for more people to enter it.
I love you all and hope that you enjoyed conference. I love living in Utah, and being able to go to the Conference Center, and say that I have been there. It made me just a tad bit trunky, because I love going to the conference center and watching it and being with Dad, Mark and Granddad and the boys at Priesthood. But those times will come again. There is certainly no rush.
Favorite talks, President Uchtdorf, Elder Nelson, Elder Jensen, and of course all of President Monson's. I listened to all of the sessions in spanish except for Priesthood. It just isn't the same in Spanish, especially after knowing how their voices sound in English.
A little not for Cami, I now have a letter written from Elder Gomez, and Elder Cerro from Argentina, who lives with us is also going to write you, I think, so we are going to send these letters to you soon. I love you Cami.
And Mark thank you for writing. I love you too.
Thank you for all of your prayers and endless love,
With all the love that I possess,
Elder Driggs
P.S.Almost the whole time while listening to Elder Holland talk about parents sacrificing I thought about you two, Mom and Dad. I believe that the only thing I can say to you is...thank you. Thank you for sacrificing everything for me. I really am grateful for that sacrifice and will try to show that gratitude more each and every day through my efforts. Thank you o Muchisimas Gracias como dicen aqui en Espana.
Esta semana ha sido una semana muy buena. Me encant'o la carta de Marcos. Me dio mucha alegria de escucharle.
Ahora en ingles, para no molestarles m'as.
This week has been great. I have been a little sick, mainly just a cold and the sniffles, but other than that we are trying to help people progress towards baptism. It was sooo much fun going to conference. I have explained to you the schedule in past emails, but basically there is one session in the evening on Saturday, and priesthood and two more on Sunday.We don't get the priviledge of hearing the last session because it starts at 10 and ends and 12 at night. We went Saturday night with a less active 14 year old from Ecuador, and right when I got off the metro on Saturday I saw Gina, and two other sisters from Aranjuez. I was thinking I was going to see them that weekend but not so soon. I was so happy to see them. It has been so long since I have seen them and after 9 months of being around them, you forget a little bit how much you love them. It was especially nice to see Gina, that she is active and that she is participating and has friends in the Relief Society.
I don't think that I told you but about 3 months ago, President Watkins pulled the missionaries out of Aranjuez. This was a semi surprise to me, but I know why. President Watkins has been threatening the units, wards and branches in the mission, that if they don't meet certain requirements, like weekly coordination meetings, weekly ward coucil meetings, ward missionaries, ward mission leader, and a actual and functioning ward mission plan, than he will take the missionaries out. He has sent letters to the presidents and bishops of every branch and ward and many have lost missionaries and those missionaries have gone to other areas where the units function better.
Aranjuez was always, in a way, exempt from this consequence because of the amount of baptisms. There was branch support, but for example home teachers, and others organizations didn't work like they should. So he took the missionaries out. I was obviously worried because of the recent converts there without missionaries visiting them. So with that in mind it was a treat to see Gina there super active. She and Ronny and the entire family came Sunday to the 6 o clock session and it was soooo nice to see them and talk with them. Even though there wasn't much time, they are wonderful.
Of course the first question I asked Gina was if they were still planning on getting sealed. She told me, claro, Elder. I asked her about tithing, as I knew that would be one of the hardest requirements for them and she told me that she is paying for the family, even though she is not working. Its harder for Ronny to pay tithing, but she is doing it because if not, they will not be able be sealed as a family. She is very, very special. She told me that she is having family night almost every week. And their 11 year old son told me that they are having daily family scripture study, and just the 4 of them, when Ronny is not there. He also said that he is reading the Book of Mormon personally. Gina told me that her daughter Naomi, 13, I think, likes Young Women, went to there form of Girls Camp, learned the standards of how to dress, and feels really close to her young women's leader.
I was sooo happy to hear from them and could talk to them forever. I sadly heard, that Michael Alvarez is inactive, not going to church, but that his dad wants to get baptized as well as his little brother Gerald. So that was the Aranjuez scoop. The whole time seeing them made me desire more baptisms. We need to work harder and are very excited that we are going to get a new ward mission leader. He is phenomenal. He was an assistant in his mission 15 years ago and is a fantastic person. I will be talking in Sacrament meeting this Sunday with him and one of the sister missionaries. I feel that this ward is about to explode with baptisms, now that we have everything that we need for the ward to be ready and prepared for more people to enter it.
I love you all and hope that you enjoyed conference. I love living in Utah, and being able to go to the Conference Center, and say that I have been there. It made me just a tad bit trunky, because I love going to the conference center and watching it and being with Dad, Mark and Granddad and the boys at Priesthood. But those times will come again. There is certainly no rush.
Favorite talks, President Uchtdorf, Elder Nelson, Elder Jensen, and of course all of President Monson's. I listened to all of the sessions in spanish except for Priesthood. It just isn't the same in Spanish, especially after knowing how their voices sound in English.
A little not for Cami, I now have a letter written from Elder Gomez, and Elder Cerro from Argentina, who lives with us is also going to write you, I think, so we are going to send these letters to you soon. I love you Cami.
And Mark thank you for writing. I love you too.
Thank you for all of your prayers and endless love,
With all the love that I possess,
Elder Driggs
P.S.Almost the whole time while listening to Elder Holland talk about parents sacrificing I thought about you two, Mom and Dad. I believe that the only thing I can say to you is...thank you. Thank you for sacrificing everything for me. I really am grateful for that sacrifice and will try to show that gratitude more each and every day through my efforts. Thank you o Muchisimas Gracias como dicen aqui en Espana.
September 29, 2010
Dearest Family in the whole wide world,
Thank you for the weekly update. I love hearing from Cami every week too! That is a new treat!
This week has been a great week. We are just cruising Elder Gomez and I, and actually, the past two days I have been in exchanges with Elder Meek. He is from somewhere near Farmington, Utah, and went to Davis High School. We got along well and the work in his area, Villalba Collado, is incredible. They have a wonderful Young Men´s Program there and have baptized two young men in the last 2 or 3 months and there are more on the way. It is wonderful to see when the church organizations really work as they should, it help in la obra misional or missionary work. Elder Meek and Elder Holub, his companion from Colorado are great missionaries and they have the goals to accomplish equilibrium every week. Equilibrium is short for the weekly goals of the mission. Elder Meek is a great missionary, despite the fact that he has been sick for the past month. He was diagnosed with gastrointeritis, I don´t know what it is called in english, which makes him throw up almost everything that he eats. He threw up a couple of times in the street after we would eat, and I felt really bad for him. Interestingly enough, he is very used to it. He is a hero in my eyes because he doesn´t complain one bit.
During my time out of the area, Elder Gomez and Elder Holub have been working hard. This last Sunday we were sitting in our class of Principles of the Gospel with Hermano Clever Rojas teaching the lesson and we hear the door open and see the new bishop come in with the first counselor of the stake presidency, and they were accompanying a young man to the class. The bishop asked us to have him presented and he stayed during the class and even during priesthood. Elder Gomez talked to him after the meetings and we set up an appointment with him on Monday. So I received the call on Monday night from Elder Gomez and he told me that this young man Luis now has a baptismal date. His novia, girlfriend, in Ecuador is a member and he has been in Spain for about 3 months looking for the church and already had a triple combination, hymn book, and a manual for principles of the gospel. When I got back today, I heard that he even asked them if he could go on a mission, because he is 25 years old. So this guy is just incredible. He wants to be baptized, go on a mission, and just wants us to teach him. Super cool and super easy. The miracles are just coming in left and right, and there is hardly room enough to receive them.
William, our baptismal date for the ninth of October is also making solid progress. During our lesson on Saturday with him, we affirmed his desires to be baptized, calmed his fears, and he just started connecting all of the dots or signs from the Holy Ghost, like his increased happiness, peace, and the answers he has received from reading the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, and prayer. We then asked him if his heart was telling him to be baptized. He waited for a couple of seconds pondering, and then said...¨que sí.¨ We testified that the feelings of joy are from the Holy Ghost and that he is ready. He is very excited and we brought him a white shirt and tie so he could where it in church. He looked great, even though he didn´t like the tightness of the tie and collar, and ended up taking the tie off.
During the exchange Elder Gomez and Elder Holub found William and his sister in law in his apartment and it was an answer to Williams prayers. The whole time William has been changing and seeing the blessings come into his life he has desired the same for his sister in law. The missionaries started the lesson, but basically the whole time, William was testifying of the Book of Mormon and that you just have to pray with faith and you can get an answer. He taught everything and perfectly and said that it was a miracle that the missionaries were there, because it was n´t planned. William said that it was the first time in more than a year that his sister in law has visited him in his apartment, and the exact time that she is there the missionaries rang the doorbell. The lesson went great, William wants to be baptized, and we are happy!
I love you all and pray for you a bunch. I really do love you and apreciate your love and prayers on my behalf and for the investigators here. They need all of the help that they can get. People are always changing there schedules and it is hard for them to find time for us. Nevertheless we love the work more and more every day y estamos deseando un bautismo!
Les quier un montón y que tengan una semana super buena. ¡Que el Señor les bendiga!
Élder Driggs
P.S. Me encanta la obra misional y me asusta mucho pensar en que tengo muy poco tiempo quedando. Sin embargo, disfrutaré del tiempo que tengo. Hata logo.
Thank you for the weekly update. I love hearing from Cami every week too! That is a new treat!
This week has been a great week. We are just cruising Elder Gomez and I, and actually, the past two days I have been in exchanges with Elder Meek. He is from somewhere near Farmington, Utah, and went to Davis High School. We got along well and the work in his area, Villalba Collado, is incredible. They have a wonderful Young Men´s Program there and have baptized two young men in the last 2 or 3 months and there are more on the way. It is wonderful to see when the church organizations really work as they should, it help in la obra misional or missionary work. Elder Meek and Elder Holub, his companion from Colorado are great missionaries and they have the goals to accomplish equilibrium every week. Equilibrium is short for the weekly goals of the mission. Elder Meek is a great missionary, despite the fact that he has been sick for the past month. He was diagnosed with gastrointeritis, I don´t know what it is called in english, which makes him throw up almost everything that he eats. He threw up a couple of times in the street after we would eat, and I felt really bad for him. Interestingly enough, he is very used to it. He is a hero in my eyes because he doesn´t complain one bit.
During my time out of the area, Elder Gomez and Elder Holub have been working hard. This last Sunday we were sitting in our class of Principles of the Gospel with Hermano Clever Rojas teaching the lesson and we hear the door open and see the new bishop come in with the first counselor of the stake presidency, and they were accompanying a young man to the class. The bishop asked us to have him presented and he stayed during the class and even during priesthood. Elder Gomez talked to him after the meetings and we set up an appointment with him on Monday. So I received the call on Monday night from Elder Gomez and he told me that this young man Luis now has a baptismal date. His novia, girlfriend, in Ecuador is a member and he has been in Spain for about 3 months looking for the church and already had a triple combination, hymn book, and a manual for principles of the gospel. When I got back today, I heard that he even asked them if he could go on a mission, because he is 25 years old. So this guy is just incredible. He wants to be baptized, go on a mission, and just wants us to teach him. Super cool and super easy. The miracles are just coming in left and right, and there is hardly room enough to receive them.
William, our baptismal date for the ninth of October is also making solid progress. During our lesson on Saturday with him, we affirmed his desires to be baptized, calmed his fears, and he just started connecting all of the dots or signs from the Holy Ghost, like his increased happiness, peace, and the answers he has received from reading the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, and prayer. We then asked him if his heart was telling him to be baptized. He waited for a couple of seconds pondering, and then said...¨que sí.¨ We testified that the feelings of joy are from the Holy Ghost and that he is ready. He is very excited and we brought him a white shirt and tie so he could where it in church. He looked great, even though he didn´t like the tightness of the tie and collar, and ended up taking the tie off.
During the exchange Elder Gomez and Elder Holub found William and his sister in law in his apartment and it was an answer to Williams prayers. The whole time William has been changing and seeing the blessings come into his life he has desired the same for his sister in law. The missionaries started the lesson, but basically the whole time, William was testifying of the Book of Mormon and that you just have to pray with faith and you can get an answer. He taught everything and perfectly and said that it was a miracle that the missionaries were there, because it was n´t planned. William said that it was the first time in more than a year that his sister in law has visited him in his apartment, and the exact time that she is there the missionaries rang the doorbell. The lesson went great, William wants to be baptized, and we are happy!
I love you all and pray for you a bunch. I really do love you and apreciate your love and prayers on my behalf and for the investigators here. They need all of the help that they can get. People are always changing there schedules and it is hard for them to find time for us. Nevertheless we love the work more and more every day y estamos deseando un bautismo!
Les quier un montón y que tengan una semana super buena. ¡Que el Señor les bendiga!
Élder Driggs
P.S. Me encanta la obra misional y me asusta mucho pensar en que tengo muy poco tiempo quedando. Sin embargo, disfrutaré del tiempo que tengo. Hata logo.
September 23, 2010
Dear Family,
I am sooo glad to hear that you went to hear Elder Carr speak. I am glad that you enjoyed his talk. I can imagine that he stumbled a little bit on his English. It is really hard sometimes when you find someone that speaks English and you try to share your testimony. It is really difficult. For the normal daily things it isn´t that hard, but when we teach, which we always teach in Spanish, it is hard to do so in English. Plus, he speaks very well. I will also be interested to hear what his parents say about Spain and what is good to do here.
I am very sorry I haven´t told you anything lately about the package you sent me. There are no excuses but it is hard to remember and write about certain things 4, 5, or 6 days later. I did get the package and I loved it. The cookies were wonderful, a little dry, but that doesn´t matter one bit after you dunk them in milk. Hmmmm. The package was wonderful. I think I got a stomach ache that first night from all of the cinnamon bears that I ate. Haha not really, but I did eat a lot. I also loved the honey nut cheerios. They were delicious. I got the license as well, and as usual, the best treat is the CHIPOTLE sauce. I love that stuff. I had to wait a few days until I could buy some cream cheese, but that just brings me back to eating that with Cari, and when she would always take too much cream cheese, haha. I love you all soo much. Haha.
I am sure that you were all worried when I didn´t write you yesterday. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday some of the missionaries participated in a special training meeting where they presented us with 8 themes to help us better use the Preach My Gospel Manual. It was interesting and very well done. I learned a lot and felt a lot too. The biggest focus was to really focus on the needs of the people and on the spirit and our love for them. So hopefully we can carry on and show more love for the people and not just teach them, but help them, love them, and walk with them to the waters of baptism.
I really don´t think that there is anything that I need from home, mom. I can´t think of too much. I love the fruties, cinnamon bears, and whatever type of candy. Those decorations were fun last time, but I like whatever you send me. It is sent with so much love that it makes me want to work that much harder when I receive a package.
That is sooo exciting about Kathryn. I hope to hear soon that she is going to be called to Spain on a mission. Hopefully to Madrid, but if not, at least to Spain, so I can see hear around in the MTC or something.
Before I sign out and write the weekly report to President Watkins I wanted to tell you about a spiritual experience I had yesterday.
With all of the focus from the training that we have been receiving lately on listening for the Spirit and following it, yesterday I was able to have an experience that helped fortify my testimony. As we were going in the metro to a metro stop, Palos de la Frontera, we had no plans. Our main plan had been dropped and so we were lost as to what to do.
Normally, we have back up plans but this time we had nothing. We were calling references and contacting when we stepped out of the metro and my first instinct was to head for the exit like normal, when I felt that I should stop and just wait and think about what we should do. I stopped, thought about it, and looked one more time in my agenda and specific name and person jumped out at me. I looked at it and couldn´t remember who it was and we decided to pass by him, he actually lived very close to there. We went in the direction of his house, and after talking to a few people in the street we went up.
We knocked on the door and the address was wrong. We knocked on the door in front and asked for Alberto and he said that he was Alberto. I began to vaguely recognize his face and we asked to share a brief message with him, that we had been sharing in his neighborhood that day, for 5 minutes. He accepted and we went in. It was a very spiritual message, with a lot of love and participation on his part. We talked a lot about Jesus Christ and at the end invited him to prepare himself to be baptized on the 23rd of October. He humbly accepted. We went into his room and knelt and prayed together. He offered the closing prayer.
It was a wonderful and spiritual lesson and we felt very guiding during the whole experience. He actually has a few people he knows that are members that live in the same building. So we are very blessed here. Please pray for him that he might be able to find work and that he will be humble enough to keep going and progressing towards his baptismal date.
I love you all and pray for you so much.
Please keep praying for me and the people that we come into contact with. Please follow the teachings of Jesús Christ always. We need His help.
Love,
Rob
I am sooo glad to hear that you went to hear Elder Carr speak. I am glad that you enjoyed his talk. I can imagine that he stumbled a little bit on his English. It is really hard sometimes when you find someone that speaks English and you try to share your testimony. It is really difficult. For the normal daily things it isn´t that hard, but when we teach, which we always teach in Spanish, it is hard to do so in English. Plus, he speaks very well. I will also be interested to hear what his parents say about Spain and what is good to do here.
I am very sorry I haven´t told you anything lately about the package you sent me. There are no excuses but it is hard to remember and write about certain things 4, 5, or 6 days later. I did get the package and I loved it. The cookies were wonderful, a little dry, but that doesn´t matter one bit after you dunk them in milk. Hmmmm. The package was wonderful. I think I got a stomach ache that first night from all of the cinnamon bears that I ate. Haha not really, but I did eat a lot. I also loved the honey nut cheerios. They were delicious. I got the license as well, and as usual, the best treat is the CHIPOTLE sauce. I love that stuff. I had to wait a few days until I could buy some cream cheese, but that just brings me back to eating that with Cari, and when she would always take too much cream cheese, haha. I love you all soo much. Haha.
I am sure that you were all worried when I didn´t write you yesterday. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday some of the missionaries participated in a special training meeting where they presented us with 8 themes to help us better use the Preach My Gospel Manual. It was interesting and very well done. I learned a lot and felt a lot too. The biggest focus was to really focus on the needs of the people and on the spirit and our love for them. So hopefully we can carry on and show more love for the people and not just teach them, but help them, love them, and walk with them to the waters of baptism.
I really don´t think that there is anything that I need from home, mom. I can´t think of too much. I love the fruties, cinnamon bears, and whatever type of candy. Those decorations were fun last time, but I like whatever you send me. It is sent with so much love that it makes me want to work that much harder when I receive a package.
That is sooo exciting about Kathryn. I hope to hear soon that she is going to be called to Spain on a mission. Hopefully to Madrid, but if not, at least to Spain, so I can see hear around in the MTC or something.
Before I sign out and write the weekly report to President Watkins I wanted to tell you about a spiritual experience I had yesterday.
With all of the focus from the training that we have been receiving lately on listening for the Spirit and following it, yesterday I was able to have an experience that helped fortify my testimony. As we were going in the metro to a metro stop, Palos de la Frontera, we had no plans. Our main plan had been dropped and so we were lost as to what to do.
Normally, we have back up plans but this time we had nothing. We were calling references and contacting when we stepped out of the metro and my first instinct was to head for the exit like normal, when I felt that I should stop and just wait and think about what we should do. I stopped, thought about it, and looked one more time in my agenda and specific name and person jumped out at me. I looked at it and couldn´t remember who it was and we decided to pass by him, he actually lived very close to there. We went in the direction of his house, and after talking to a few people in the street we went up.
We knocked on the door and the address was wrong. We knocked on the door in front and asked for Alberto and he said that he was Alberto. I began to vaguely recognize his face and we asked to share a brief message with him, that we had been sharing in his neighborhood that day, for 5 minutes. He accepted and we went in. It was a very spiritual message, with a lot of love and participation on his part. We talked a lot about Jesus Christ and at the end invited him to prepare himself to be baptized on the 23rd of October. He humbly accepted. We went into his room and knelt and prayed together. He offered the closing prayer.
It was a wonderful and spiritual lesson and we felt very guiding during the whole experience. He actually has a few people he knows that are members that live in the same building. So we are very blessed here. Please pray for him that he might be able to find work and that he will be humble enough to keep going and progressing towards his baptismal date.
I love you all and pray for you so much.
Please keep praying for me and the people that we come into contact with. Please follow the teachings of Jesús Christ always. We need His help.
Love,
Rob
September 15, 2010
Dear Family,
It is always so hard to think about what I should write you. I just have so much going on that it is so hard to capture it all and put it in a letter in so little time.
Well life is great here in Cuatro Caminos, Barrio 5. We are sooo excited because we finally have a bishop. His name is Bishop Rick Whitmore and apparently he is in charge of the finances for IBM in Spain. So he is pretty well known, and after talking to President Watkins, the father of our bishop was also really well known in the business world. We are just ecstatic. Sunday afternoon, the same Sunday he got sustained, we received a call from him asking us if it would be good to switch out the ward mission leader. He then asked for suggestions on who could fulfill that calling. The next day we got another call from him. This time he was asking us for a few phone numbers and if we could come to his house and meet with him sometime this week to talk about the work. OF COURSE, we said. So we are really excited and are grateful that he is acting as fast as he is because this ward needs a man of action like him. Things are just going to blossom here on out.
Some of our best investigators right now are Napoleón, Luz, Jasmani, and Saul. They are a family of 4 from Ecuador. They are progressing really well and this last Sunday we invited them to be baptized the 9th of October. They accepted the date as a goal. They were will to work and learn more until that date and if they ¨receive a reaction¨, as Napoleón said, before that date they would be baptized. But if not, then they would call it off and just continue being friends. They are a wonderful family and they remind me a lot of Ronny and Gina and their 3 children that got baptized almost a year ago this November.
It is fun comparing how I have progressed in this last year and how much more I participate now than I did then. The two children are 17 and 12 and they are incredible. Saul offers incredible prayers and they are reading a lot in the Book of Mormon. The best thing is that they do everything together. They read the assigned chapter together, they all come and play soccer with us, except Luz, every Saturday, well at least the last 2 Saturdays. So it is really fun teaching them and we hope that they can come to church this Sunday with us. So please, please, please pray for them. They are really special and elect.
My funny story of the week and the story for the newsletter is the following.
On Monday we had a mission council and after wards President Watkins took us to a Chinese buffet. While we were getting into the elevator to go up we looked at the sign that said 8 people only and were about to obey it when President came from behind and said ¨métense, métense.¨ He pushed the 10 of us in and tried to fit himself but when he stepped in the elevator, it sunk down a foot and while trying to back out he almost fell backwards onto his back. Then the doors shut. Time passed, we couldn´t go anywhere, the doors didn´t open. We were stuck in the elevator. 10 missionaries for 17 minutes were stuck in an elevator while trying to go to a Chinese buffet. Pretty embarrassing but it was really funny. When the engineers finally were able to free us, President Watkins was there speechless. He apologized and we had a lot of good laughs. The lesson learned: obey all rules and customs, even when your mission president doesn´t want you to. haha.
Keep up the good work Elders. Always remember to smile and don´t let me down out there!!!
love, Elder Driggs
Thank you family for all that you do.
I love you all.
Elder Driggs
It is always so hard to think about what I should write you. I just have so much going on that it is so hard to capture it all and put it in a letter in so little time.
Well life is great here in Cuatro Caminos, Barrio 5. We are sooo excited because we finally have a bishop. His name is Bishop Rick Whitmore and apparently he is in charge of the finances for IBM in Spain. So he is pretty well known, and after talking to President Watkins, the father of our bishop was also really well known in the business world. We are just ecstatic. Sunday afternoon, the same Sunday he got sustained, we received a call from him asking us if it would be good to switch out the ward mission leader. He then asked for suggestions on who could fulfill that calling. The next day we got another call from him. This time he was asking us for a few phone numbers and if we could come to his house and meet with him sometime this week to talk about the work. OF COURSE, we said. So we are really excited and are grateful that he is acting as fast as he is because this ward needs a man of action like him. Things are just going to blossom here on out.
Some of our best investigators right now are Napoleón, Luz, Jasmani, and Saul. They are a family of 4 from Ecuador. They are progressing really well and this last Sunday we invited them to be baptized the 9th of October. They accepted the date as a goal. They were will to work and learn more until that date and if they ¨receive a reaction¨, as Napoleón said, before that date they would be baptized. But if not, then they would call it off and just continue being friends. They are a wonderful family and they remind me a lot of Ronny and Gina and their 3 children that got baptized almost a year ago this November.
It is fun comparing how I have progressed in this last year and how much more I participate now than I did then. The two children are 17 and 12 and they are incredible. Saul offers incredible prayers and they are reading a lot in the Book of Mormon. The best thing is that they do everything together. They read the assigned chapter together, they all come and play soccer with us, except Luz, every Saturday, well at least the last 2 Saturdays. So it is really fun teaching them and we hope that they can come to church this Sunday with us. So please, please, please pray for them. They are really special and elect.
My funny story of the week and the story for the newsletter is the following.
On Monday we had a mission council and after wards President Watkins took us to a Chinese buffet. While we were getting into the elevator to go up we looked at the sign that said 8 people only and were about to obey it when President came from behind and said ¨métense, métense.¨ He pushed the 10 of us in and tried to fit himself but when he stepped in the elevator, it sunk down a foot and while trying to back out he almost fell backwards onto his back. Then the doors shut. Time passed, we couldn´t go anywhere, the doors didn´t open. We were stuck in the elevator. 10 missionaries for 17 minutes were stuck in an elevator while trying to go to a Chinese buffet. Pretty embarrassing but it was really funny. When the engineers finally were able to free us, President Watkins was there speechless. He apologized and we had a lot of good laughs. The lesson learned: obey all rules and customs, even when your mission president doesn´t want you to. haha.
Keep up the good work Elders. Always remember to smile and don´t let me down out there!!!
love, Elder Driggs
Thank you family for all that you do.
I love you all.
Elder Driggs
September 8, 2010
Dear Family,
Well, this week has been great. I am always glad to hear from you and your fun and exciting lives.
Just so you know, I saw the Carr´s on Sunday morning. They had just gotten into Madrid and went straight to church, changed in the bathrooms and were able to assist sacrament meeting. It was nice to see them in person and they were very happy to see Elder Carr. I did receive the cookies and, as usual, they were delicious. Last night I was going to eat more, but I didn´t have cold milk. When we get back, I hope to have a little bit of time to be able to eat some more. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE!!!
love them. It was fun to see the parents of Élder Carr. Apparently they all knew me from Elder Carr's emails as ¨the Driggster.¨ So that was funny to hear. I sure have changed a lot from the time that I was with Elder Carr. I count it as a blessing of being with him for so long. I learned a ton and he definitely is one of the best missionaries in the mission. He is a baptizing machine!
I am glad that you love all of my friends. I love Kenny and my friends too. I am lucky to have such good friends. When times get rough I think of them, dad, granddad, cousins, and other great examples of stalwart missionaries. Thoughts of them and how they are and were as missionaries gives me courage and strength to carry on. I am blessed beyond measure, thus, the Lord requires much of me, many times, beyond my known personal limits.
I hope that Lake Powell goes well. I am glad that you are making lunch for Cami and Mark. You are so nice to have always done that for us and it is great that they can have that opportunity, just like I did. Those memories that I had there will last throughout the ages, and my friends and I will cherish those moments of youth with you mom in our home. You are probably one of the reasons why we always raced well because we ate so well for lunch on Friday. Haha. The team and all my friends will be eternally indebted to you.
I love you too mom and dad!!! Tomorrow I will be close to the temple and will try and get a chance to put your names there on the prayer roll. We always need a little bit of extra help.
Thank you dad for all your spiritual thoughts. I learn a lot from them and they keep me motivated. I really appreciated the one from these last two weeks and from today about Helaman 5: 17.
Sólo una experiencia esta semana que quiero compartir. We were talking to our investigador Carlos from Argentina, and we were talking to him for the third time, and we were reviewing the Restoration, and asking him questions to see if he believed in Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. We asked him if he had prayed to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. We try and ask this question a lot to help them understand that to know the truthfulness of something you have to put forth the effort to pray. A lot of people don´t do it for the first couple of times, I think. But he told us that just a few nights before he had gone into the bathroom and kneeled down to ask God if these things were true. He exlained that he felt of lot of peace and tranquility. We knew and bore testimony that this feeling comes only from the Holy Ghost and he agreed and we invited him to be baptized the 25 of September. He didn´t agree completely but was willing to keep going and changing his life. He has recognized that he feels the spirit with us and that he wants to change his life to live in a more spiritual manner.
Well, hopefully the next time I can tell you about Zuraima Jimenéz from Venezuela that got baptized this last weekend and about Saúl, a 13 year old boy that has a super strong testimony.
I love the mission and hope it never ends. I love the focus and energy that it requires to do all that is required for us. It is hard, but I love the challenge to be diligent with our time and to do the Lord´s will.
I love you all, and yes I have received the package. I still haven´t opened it, as I received it only 5 hours ago at the mission home, where we went today to have a zone activity. It was a lot of fun and the burritos that Hna Watkins made were so scrumptious.
I would love to hear from Cami, Mark, and Cari again. It seems like a while since I have heard from them. I would also like to have the direction of Ryan Hill, if possible. I need to write him.
Thank you very much for your prayers. I hope that you know that I pray for you a lot too.
Have a wonderful week.
Love,
Rob,
P.S. Dad, I loved all of that stuff on the geneology. I have always felt that I was Portuguese. Haha. Well, know I can claim it as a sort of founding for my family. That was very interesting and I hope that the search continues.
Love,
Élder Driggs
Well, this week has been great. I am always glad to hear from you and your fun and exciting lives.
Just so you know, I saw the Carr´s on Sunday morning. They had just gotten into Madrid and went straight to church, changed in the bathrooms and were able to assist sacrament meeting. It was nice to see them in person and they were very happy to see Elder Carr. I did receive the cookies and, as usual, they were delicious. Last night I was going to eat more, but I didn´t have cold milk. When we get back, I hope to have a little bit of time to be able to eat some more. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE!!!
love them. It was fun to see the parents of Élder Carr. Apparently they all knew me from Elder Carr's emails as ¨the Driggster.¨ So that was funny to hear. I sure have changed a lot from the time that I was with Elder Carr. I count it as a blessing of being with him for so long. I learned a ton and he definitely is one of the best missionaries in the mission. He is a baptizing machine!
I am glad that you love all of my friends. I love Kenny and my friends too. I am lucky to have such good friends. When times get rough I think of them, dad, granddad, cousins, and other great examples of stalwart missionaries. Thoughts of them and how they are and were as missionaries gives me courage and strength to carry on. I am blessed beyond measure, thus, the Lord requires much of me, many times, beyond my known personal limits.
I hope that Lake Powell goes well. I am glad that you are making lunch for Cami and Mark. You are so nice to have always done that for us and it is great that they can have that opportunity, just like I did. Those memories that I had there will last throughout the ages, and my friends and I will cherish those moments of youth with you mom in our home. You are probably one of the reasons why we always raced well because we ate so well for lunch on Friday. Haha. The team and all my friends will be eternally indebted to you.
I love you too mom and dad!!! Tomorrow I will be close to the temple and will try and get a chance to put your names there on the prayer roll. We always need a little bit of extra help.
Thank you dad for all your spiritual thoughts. I learn a lot from them and they keep me motivated. I really appreciated the one from these last two weeks and from today about Helaman 5: 17.
Sólo una experiencia esta semana que quiero compartir. We were talking to our investigador Carlos from Argentina, and we were talking to him for the third time, and we were reviewing the Restoration, and asking him questions to see if he believed in Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. We asked him if he had prayed to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. We try and ask this question a lot to help them understand that to know the truthfulness of something you have to put forth the effort to pray. A lot of people don´t do it for the first couple of times, I think. But he told us that just a few nights before he had gone into the bathroom and kneeled down to ask God if these things were true. He exlained that he felt of lot of peace and tranquility. We knew and bore testimony that this feeling comes only from the Holy Ghost and he agreed and we invited him to be baptized the 25 of September. He didn´t agree completely but was willing to keep going and changing his life. He has recognized that he feels the spirit with us and that he wants to change his life to live in a more spiritual manner.
Well, hopefully the next time I can tell you about Zuraima Jimenéz from Venezuela that got baptized this last weekend and about Saúl, a 13 year old boy that has a super strong testimony.
I love the mission and hope it never ends. I love the focus and energy that it requires to do all that is required for us. It is hard, but I love the challenge to be diligent with our time and to do the Lord´s will.
I love you all, and yes I have received the package. I still haven´t opened it, as I received it only 5 hours ago at the mission home, where we went today to have a zone activity. It was a lot of fun and the burritos that Hna Watkins made were so scrumptious.
I would love to hear from Cami, Mark, and Cari again. It seems like a while since I have heard from them. I would also like to have the direction of Ryan Hill, if possible. I need to write him.
Thank you very much for your prayers. I hope that you know that I pray for you a lot too.
Have a wonderful week.
Love,
Rob,
P.S. Dad, I loved all of that stuff on the geneology. I have always felt that I was Portuguese. Haha. Well, know I can claim it as a sort of founding for my family. That was very interesting and I hope that the search continues.
Love,
Élder Driggs
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
September 1, 2010
Dear Family,
Well, I am sure that you would love to know about how the week went. Élder Gomez and I will be together for at least 6 weeks more as we found out today that we are not going to be transferred. We are very excited for two reasons. First, because we are teaching a super, amazing investigator named William Lerma Vaca. He is from Cali, Columbia and he is just out of control. He is really funny to start out and we are always laughing and having a good time when we are with him. He is very outgoing which has certainly helped in his conversion.
I have found out that it is a little harder for someone to convert to the church if they are not outgoing. Many of the reasons people have drawn closer to the church is because of the members and their friendly character. Luckily, William has felt this warm member spirit and desires to have that in his life. He is very special and is making leaps and bounds to change his ¨evil¨ life and become a saint through baptism. He has dropped smoking, alcohol, and coffee (everyone knows that coffee in Columbia is almost a necessity to life, and very hard to give up). He also has agreed to live the law of chastity and understands everything.
I feel so blessed to be able to associate myself with him because he is doing so much, reading a ton in the Book of Mormon, he has now read more than 20 pages and is marking as he goes. He has read in the Conference Edition in the Liahona, and he believes everything. He believes that Pres. Monson is a prophet, that Joseph Smith was a prophet, that the Book of Mormon is true. He feels the Spirit at church( he has come twice, the first time he stayed all three hours without a single complaint - we even found him running up the stairs to get to the third reunion-, the second time he was not able to stay the whole time but wanted too). He has done all of this because of one faith and one hope that he has, and it is a witness that he has been prepared for many years to receive the restored gospel in his life.
From the first day we taught him, we told him, well, more than that, we promised him that he could see his 3 brothers that have passed away. He has stuck to that bit of hope and it has just fanned a flame in his heart and he really is on fire. Everything that he does in regards to the church just throws another log on the bonfire. We gave him a temple tour and he loved the idea of being able to go there after being baptized to do baptisms for the dead.
After that, we had a lesson in the building al lao y ....uuuuuffff increíble. So anyway, we are very blessed to be teaching him. We have set the goal together us three that he gets baptized the 11th of September. So please pray for him that he can keep going and changing his life. He recognizes this as his only opportunity to change, so it is really neat.
I wanted to tell you about two more people but I think there is only time for one more. So remind me to write you about Zuraima, who is going to get baptized this Saturday. We taught her the first 3 times and set a baptismal date with her and then gave her to the Hermanas. She is awesome and are glad that she has done so well. The Hermanas are really good, so it was better that she was with them.
The last story of the day happened a few days ago, last Friday, when I was on exchanges with Elder Cerro, from Argentina, Uruguay, and the Canary Islands. We were in a bus going to a certain place in his area, and when we entered the bus we began to talk to a young man from the Dominican Republic. He accepted the invitation to hear more and then got off. We started talking with each other and then a women of 30 years old got on and sat next to me. I had to talk to her, because I am trying to talk to everyone in whatever situation.
She told us she was from Honduras and began to tell us that only a few days before she had received a phone call from her 10 year old son, who is in Honduras, who was begging her permission to be baptized in our church. Apparently her son is with some uncles and they are members. She told her son no, despite the begging and said that he would have to wait until she got back so she could learn a little bit more about the church. We told her that we didn´t believe in coincidences and that we wanted to talk to her again so that she would be able to learn more about the church. She was excited to her about the church activities that we have her and was excited to learn more.
I count it a blessing to be able to be found worthy to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord. I can just imagine this 10 year old boy begging permission from his mom thousands of miles away to be baptized in the church, and her saying no. Then this boy would tell the missionaries she had said no, but they wouldn´t let him lose hope. I am certain that they told him to prayer for a miracle and that God would work it out. I know that Heavenly Father guided us to that bus and her also to sit next to me. It was really special to realize how many people there are that are so ready to hear the message of the restoration and be baptized.
I probably didn´t explain that very well. Sorry. I love you all so much and am trying to do my best as a missionary. Time is short and can´t have any regrets. This time is prescious and estoy intentando a aprovechar y apreciar este tiempo tan sagrado. Gracias por sus oraciones y su amor.
¡Que Sigan adelante con fe siempre puesto en el Señor, Jesucristo!
con mucho cariño y amor,
su hijo,
Élder Driggs
un representante de Jesucristo en España Madrid
Well, I am sure that you would love to know about how the week went. Élder Gomez and I will be together for at least 6 weeks more as we found out today that we are not going to be transferred. We are very excited for two reasons. First, because we are teaching a super, amazing investigator named William Lerma Vaca. He is from Cali, Columbia and he is just out of control. He is really funny to start out and we are always laughing and having a good time when we are with him. He is very outgoing which has certainly helped in his conversion.
I have found out that it is a little harder for someone to convert to the church if they are not outgoing. Many of the reasons people have drawn closer to the church is because of the members and their friendly character. Luckily, William has felt this warm member spirit and desires to have that in his life. He is very special and is making leaps and bounds to change his ¨evil¨ life and become a saint through baptism. He has dropped smoking, alcohol, and coffee (everyone knows that coffee in Columbia is almost a necessity to life, and very hard to give up). He also has agreed to live the law of chastity and understands everything.
I feel so blessed to be able to associate myself with him because he is doing so much, reading a ton in the Book of Mormon, he has now read more than 20 pages and is marking as he goes. He has read in the Conference Edition in the Liahona, and he believes everything. He believes that Pres. Monson is a prophet, that Joseph Smith was a prophet, that the Book of Mormon is true. He feels the Spirit at church( he has come twice, the first time he stayed all three hours without a single complaint - we even found him running up the stairs to get to the third reunion-, the second time he was not able to stay the whole time but wanted too). He has done all of this because of one faith and one hope that he has, and it is a witness that he has been prepared for many years to receive the restored gospel in his life.
From the first day we taught him, we told him, well, more than that, we promised him that he could see his 3 brothers that have passed away. He has stuck to that bit of hope and it has just fanned a flame in his heart and he really is on fire. Everything that he does in regards to the church just throws another log on the bonfire. We gave him a temple tour and he loved the idea of being able to go there after being baptized to do baptisms for the dead.
After that, we had a lesson in the building al lao y ....uuuuuffff increíble. So anyway, we are very blessed to be teaching him. We have set the goal together us three that he gets baptized the 11th of September. So please pray for him that he can keep going and changing his life. He recognizes this as his only opportunity to change, so it is really neat.
I wanted to tell you about two more people but I think there is only time for one more. So remind me to write you about Zuraima, who is going to get baptized this Saturday. We taught her the first 3 times and set a baptismal date with her and then gave her to the Hermanas. She is awesome and are glad that she has done so well. The Hermanas are really good, so it was better that she was with them.
The last story of the day happened a few days ago, last Friday, when I was on exchanges with Elder Cerro, from Argentina, Uruguay, and the Canary Islands. We were in a bus going to a certain place in his area, and when we entered the bus we began to talk to a young man from the Dominican Republic. He accepted the invitation to hear more and then got off. We started talking with each other and then a women of 30 years old got on and sat next to me. I had to talk to her, because I am trying to talk to everyone in whatever situation.
She told us she was from Honduras and began to tell us that only a few days before she had received a phone call from her 10 year old son, who is in Honduras, who was begging her permission to be baptized in our church. Apparently her son is with some uncles and they are members. She told her son no, despite the begging and said that he would have to wait until she got back so she could learn a little bit more about the church. We told her that we didn´t believe in coincidences and that we wanted to talk to her again so that she would be able to learn more about the church. She was excited to her about the church activities that we have her and was excited to learn more.
I count it a blessing to be able to be found worthy to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord. I can just imagine this 10 year old boy begging permission from his mom thousands of miles away to be baptized in the church, and her saying no. Then this boy would tell the missionaries she had said no, but they wouldn´t let him lose hope. I am certain that they told him to prayer for a miracle and that God would work it out. I know that Heavenly Father guided us to that bus and her also to sit next to me. It was really special to realize how many people there are that are so ready to hear the message of the restoration and be baptized.
I probably didn´t explain that very well. Sorry. I love you all so much and am trying to do my best as a missionary. Time is short and can´t have any regrets. This time is prescious and estoy intentando a aprovechar y apreciar este tiempo tan sagrado. Gracias por sus oraciones y su amor.
¡Que Sigan adelante con fe siempre puesto en el Señor, Jesucristo!
con mucho cariño y amor,
su hijo,
Élder Driggs
un representante de Jesucristo en España Madrid
August 25, 2010
Dear family,
Well I hope that all is well with everyone. All is well with me and I just love hearing from you every week. It is so much fun to hear all of the incredible events and activities that you do. I am glad that you are busy and happy.
Elder Gomez and I are also busy and happy. Today we woke up and 5:55 to get ready and be at the temple at 8 o clock. We made it perfectly and were able to be in there with a few other missionaries and a sister in our ward. It was a great session and I felt so much peace in the Celestial room. I really do love the temple and am so blessed to have one so close, where I can attend during my mission. It really helps me feel the Spirit and receive answers to my questions. I received a few answers today, to questions that I have had for a little while. So I hope that you are able to go to the temple to. Today while we were in the endowment session, while I was standing up I hit my head on the chair in front of me, I am not sure how still, and my glasses fell off and it left a 1 inch mark on my forehead. It was way embarrassing, but after session Elder Gomez and I shared a few laughs. I have been quite clumsy recently and so we laughed while jogging the memory of that moment. It was rather embarrassing. Haha.
Mom, I am so sorry that you can´t see any pictures for that DVD. It was supposed to be a DVD and not a CD, but I paid 8 euros for that, because there was a ton of pictures. I would love to make another one and send it to you. I am sorry that you can´t see any. I will do that as fast as possible. Pictures from you would also be fantastic. I really do apologize though, that you have had to wait so long to see more pictures of me. I will surely get them to you ASAP. Hopefully this time you will be able to see them.
Thank you so much for sending me another package. You are soooo nice and I love the things that you send me. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Also, thank you for sending the driver´s license. Hopefully there were no problems in getting that.
In the future I will try to write more information about the investigators that we are teaching. I am sorry that sometimes I don´t put as much detail as I should. Please tell me if there are things that you want to hear about or no. I am open to all ideas and want you to enjoy my mission as much as possible. So if you have any questions, ask me and I will do my best to respond. Please forgive me for not being so clear in the past, or for not writing so much as to what is happening with us in the work. The miracles that we see everyday should be the main topic of conversation.
I am not sure what the return address was for the letter that I wrote Callie. I wrote that letter a long time ago and the address of the mission has changed recently. So, just so you know the address for the mission office is the one in Calle Fuerteventura. I have given you that address in a past email. That is the one that you should use to send things to me. Whichever the one you used, it should get to me.
I am so glad that Mark is going to receive his patriarchal blessing. I vividly remember when I received my patriarchal blessing and, of course, I still read it fairly often. It has definitely been a source of personal guidance for me and I treasure it, knowing and trusting that the promises within can be received if I am obedient and worthy. So Mark, good luck, and please, do all that you can to prepare for that special day.
That was way sweet to hear about the genealogy that you have done Dad. There is a genealogy center in our church building and hopefully when I get back, and when I am a little older, I can dedicate myself to do that sacred work. That is way exciting and please keep me posted on what you hear and find out about our families origin.
Please do me a favor and congratulate Heather and Ryan for their new baby Austin. How exciting and....weird at the same time that the next generation is starting. Time sure does fly. Life come at you fast. I have always liked the quote that was on our fridge,.I think, for the longest time: Tough Times don´t Last, Tough People do!!!
I am so proud of Cami and all of her hard work this last year. I am glad that she is going to start school again at Timpview and I am confident that she is going to exceed. Go Cami. This Friday, just imagine Cami, that I am there cheering you on. I can´t be there in person but I can in Spirit. I love you and hope that you have a great first couple of weeks at Timpview. Just one thing so important. Never, never stop reading the scriptures every day, even when you are sooo busy or sooo tired. It will make the biggest difference every day and I am sure that you have already found that out.
¨Well, now I have to go. I love you all and hope that you keep working hard and enjoying the lives you lead. It sounds like fun and I assure you that I am very,very happy too. I am even more happy when I receive the letters on Wednesday and they tell me that my family is safe and well, and that they are striving to be faithful to the commandments of God. May the Lord bless you, yet another week.
Love,
Élder Driggs.....Rob J
Corinthians 13:4-8
May we strive every day a little bit more to have more charity. For Charity NEVER Faileth.
Next week I will update you more on the little miracles, spiritual experiences, and the investigators that we have. Thank you for your patience. Love, Rob
Well I hope that all is well with everyone. All is well with me and I just love hearing from you every week. It is so much fun to hear all of the incredible events and activities that you do. I am glad that you are busy and happy.
Elder Gomez and I are also busy and happy. Today we woke up and 5:55 to get ready and be at the temple at 8 o clock. We made it perfectly and were able to be in there with a few other missionaries and a sister in our ward. It was a great session and I felt so much peace in the Celestial room. I really do love the temple and am so blessed to have one so close, where I can attend during my mission. It really helps me feel the Spirit and receive answers to my questions. I received a few answers today, to questions that I have had for a little while. So I hope that you are able to go to the temple to. Today while we were in the endowment session, while I was standing up I hit my head on the chair in front of me, I am not sure how still, and my glasses fell off and it left a 1 inch mark on my forehead. It was way embarrassing, but after session Elder Gomez and I shared a few laughs. I have been quite clumsy recently and so we laughed while jogging the memory of that moment. It was rather embarrassing. Haha.
Mom, I am so sorry that you can´t see any pictures for that DVD. It was supposed to be a DVD and not a CD, but I paid 8 euros for that, because there was a ton of pictures. I would love to make another one and send it to you. I am sorry that you can´t see any. I will do that as fast as possible. Pictures from you would also be fantastic. I really do apologize though, that you have had to wait so long to see more pictures of me. I will surely get them to you ASAP. Hopefully this time you will be able to see them.
Thank you so much for sending me another package. You are soooo nice and I love the things that you send me. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Also, thank you for sending the driver´s license. Hopefully there were no problems in getting that.
In the future I will try to write more information about the investigators that we are teaching. I am sorry that sometimes I don´t put as much detail as I should. Please tell me if there are things that you want to hear about or no. I am open to all ideas and want you to enjoy my mission as much as possible. So if you have any questions, ask me and I will do my best to respond. Please forgive me for not being so clear in the past, or for not writing so much as to what is happening with us in the work. The miracles that we see everyday should be the main topic of conversation.
I am not sure what the return address was for the letter that I wrote Callie. I wrote that letter a long time ago and the address of the mission has changed recently. So, just so you know the address for the mission office is the one in Calle Fuerteventura. I have given you that address in a past email. That is the one that you should use to send things to me. Whichever the one you used, it should get to me.
I am so glad that Mark is going to receive his patriarchal blessing. I vividly remember when I received my patriarchal blessing and, of course, I still read it fairly often. It has definitely been a source of personal guidance for me and I treasure it, knowing and trusting that the promises within can be received if I am obedient and worthy. So Mark, good luck, and please, do all that you can to prepare for that special day.
That was way sweet to hear about the genealogy that you have done Dad. There is a genealogy center in our church building and hopefully when I get back, and when I am a little older, I can dedicate myself to do that sacred work. That is way exciting and please keep me posted on what you hear and find out about our families origin.
Please do me a favor and congratulate Heather and Ryan for their new baby Austin. How exciting and....weird at the same time that the next generation is starting. Time sure does fly. Life come at you fast. I have always liked the quote that was on our fridge,.I think, for the longest time: Tough Times don´t Last, Tough People do!!!
I am so proud of Cami and all of her hard work this last year. I am glad that she is going to start school again at Timpview and I am confident that she is going to exceed. Go Cami. This Friday, just imagine Cami, that I am there cheering you on. I can´t be there in person but I can in Spirit. I love you and hope that you have a great first couple of weeks at Timpview. Just one thing so important. Never, never stop reading the scriptures every day, even when you are sooo busy or sooo tired. It will make the biggest difference every day and I am sure that you have already found that out.
¨Well, now I have to go. I love you all and hope that you keep working hard and enjoying the lives you lead. It sounds like fun and I assure you that I am very,very happy too. I am even more happy when I receive the letters on Wednesday and they tell me that my family is safe and well, and that they are striving to be faithful to the commandments of God. May the Lord bless you, yet another week.
Love,
Élder Driggs.....Rob J
Corinthians 13:4-8
May we strive every day a little bit more to have more charity. For Charity NEVER Faileth.
Next week I will update you more on the little miracles, spiritual experiences, and the investigators that we have. Thank you for your patience. Love, Rob
August 18, 2010
Dearest family in the whole wide world,
Today is Elder Gómez´s birthday, so, to celebrate, we went to El Escorial, a huge palace that Elder Moreno and I and the Hermanas had visited just 3 weeks earlier. But as it was his birthday we let him choose and there were no complaints. It is a beautiful palace and the cathedral at the end is outstanding. It is beautiful in its peculiar form. I took a few pictures, so you can be expecting those in the future. Speaking of pictures, I hope that you are looking in the mail because the package should be arriving in a couple of days, hopefully Friday, with the following items: pictures cd, two letters (one to Callie and one to Timpview), and the driving permit. I hope that you enjoy the pictures as it is all you can see of me.
The reason for the subject heading as it is, is because while I was thinking of what to write that might be able to summarize the efforts of the week, I felt that that fits it perfectly. The past couple of weeks have been trying weeks for Elder Gomez and me. Not extremely hard, just that the results searched for were not found. However, this past week has been one of the best weeks of my entire mission and these past 2 days have been absolutely outstanding.
Finally the outward success, apart from the feelings of joy and peace from hard work and diligence, that missionaries always seek for surely surrounds us now. We do have some much more joy from the work as we see the fruits of our labors. I find myself getting less tired and many times just smiling because I am happy what I am doing. I realize that the joy that we receive as missionaries is a joy that is achieved bit by bit, here a little there a little. As we struggle and work hard week after week, that joy descends upon us and we find ourselves happy and motivated by a new energy that only comes from the knowledge that Heavenly Father is pleased with what we are doing. I love being happy, that is my purpose in life, and the only way to do it is to struggle, obey, strive to do what is right, and the promised blessing always come.
We have started teaching many new investigators and we hope that with the little time that we have now to talk to people in the street, that we can be diligent and focused at always searching for the pure in heart. I count it an extreme blessing to be able to serve with Élder Gomez because he has special gifts that make the work more satisfying and successful. He truly has a love for the Lord, Jesus Christ, and that special love is manifested every time he talks to someone. He has a smile that is so inviting and loving that everyone who sees him feels comfortable and special. He actually has a voice that is very tender and sounds exactly like some of the Spanish recordings for church materials. It is really cool and the people like it too.
Well, what else do you want to know...Oh yeah, here is something really interesting. Two weeks ago we started English classes to find more people to teach, and the first class that we had only 1 person showed up, a member. We decided to mix a few things up and instead of teach English to the member, we decided to let her teach us French. So much fun. I couldn´t keep a straight face and after it was done left the church just laughing my head off. Elder Gomez and I kept practicing the few phrases that we learned and try to do it with the voice of a very serious, educated French man, and it just cracks us up. For us, French is the language of love for life.
I was glad to hear about your trip to Washington and all of the little adventures that entailed. I hope that all goes well with your decision making and realize that parents, and especially fathers have the right to receive this type of revelation for their families. From what I have heard, the complexities of this decision seem to be many. It is a good thing that we do not have to make this decision. The Lord, if we our worthy and ask Him with faith, must respond and tell us what to do. That´s better anyway! He, who is all knowing and all powerful, can make the decision. When we have the faith to hand our lives over to the Lord, things just work out, many times in the strangest ways, never even thought of. But they always work out for our eternal good. So all that I say to you, Mom and Dad, is that, do what you have already mentioned that you were going to do and I will support your decision, which in reality will be the Lord´s decision for the Driggs family at this time. I have a testimony that he can let us know perfectly what we need to do in every moment of our lives.
I love you all and desire that all our happy. I trust all of you a lot and hope that you are doing well. Don´t let me down, as I am trying to do the same. The Lord truly expects much from us, as He has given us so much.
I love you and pray for you,
Élder Driggs
Today is Elder Gómez´s birthday, so, to celebrate, we went to El Escorial, a huge palace that Elder Moreno and I and the Hermanas had visited just 3 weeks earlier. But as it was his birthday we let him choose and there were no complaints. It is a beautiful palace and the cathedral at the end is outstanding. It is beautiful in its peculiar form. I took a few pictures, so you can be expecting those in the future. Speaking of pictures, I hope that you are looking in the mail because the package should be arriving in a couple of days, hopefully Friday, with the following items: pictures cd, two letters (one to Callie and one to Timpview), and the driving permit. I hope that you enjoy the pictures as it is all you can see of me.
The reason for the subject heading as it is, is because while I was thinking of what to write that might be able to summarize the efforts of the week, I felt that that fits it perfectly. The past couple of weeks have been trying weeks for Elder Gomez and me. Not extremely hard, just that the results searched for were not found. However, this past week has been one of the best weeks of my entire mission and these past 2 days have been absolutely outstanding.
Finally the outward success, apart from the feelings of joy and peace from hard work and diligence, that missionaries always seek for surely surrounds us now. We do have some much more joy from the work as we see the fruits of our labors. I find myself getting less tired and many times just smiling because I am happy what I am doing. I realize that the joy that we receive as missionaries is a joy that is achieved bit by bit, here a little there a little. As we struggle and work hard week after week, that joy descends upon us and we find ourselves happy and motivated by a new energy that only comes from the knowledge that Heavenly Father is pleased with what we are doing. I love being happy, that is my purpose in life, and the only way to do it is to struggle, obey, strive to do what is right, and the promised blessing always come.
We have started teaching many new investigators and we hope that with the little time that we have now to talk to people in the street, that we can be diligent and focused at always searching for the pure in heart. I count it an extreme blessing to be able to serve with Élder Gomez because he has special gifts that make the work more satisfying and successful. He truly has a love for the Lord, Jesus Christ, and that special love is manifested every time he talks to someone. He has a smile that is so inviting and loving that everyone who sees him feels comfortable and special. He actually has a voice that is very tender and sounds exactly like some of the Spanish recordings for church materials. It is really cool and the people like it too.
Well, what else do you want to know...Oh yeah, here is something really interesting. Two weeks ago we started English classes to find more people to teach, and the first class that we had only 1 person showed up, a member. We decided to mix a few things up and instead of teach English to the member, we decided to let her teach us French. So much fun. I couldn´t keep a straight face and after it was done left the church just laughing my head off. Elder Gomez and I kept practicing the few phrases that we learned and try to do it with the voice of a very serious, educated French man, and it just cracks us up. For us, French is the language of love for life.
I was glad to hear about your trip to Washington and all of the little adventures that entailed. I hope that all goes well with your decision making and realize that parents, and especially fathers have the right to receive this type of revelation for their families. From what I have heard, the complexities of this decision seem to be many. It is a good thing that we do not have to make this decision. The Lord, if we our worthy and ask Him with faith, must respond and tell us what to do. That´s better anyway! He, who is all knowing and all powerful, can make the decision. When we have the faith to hand our lives over to the Lord, things just work out, many times in the strangest ways, never even thought of. But they always work out for our eternal good. So all that I say to you, Mom and Dad, is that, do what you have already mentioned that you were going to do and I will support your decision, which in reality will be the Lord´s decision for the Driggs family at this time. I have a testimony that he can let us know perfectly what we need to do in every moment of our lives.
I love you all and desire that all our happy. I trust all of you a lot and hope that you are doing well. Don´t let me down, as I am trying to do the same. The Lord truly expects much from us, as He has given us so much.
I love you and pray for you,
Élder Driggs
August 11, 2010
Dear Family,
Before I forget, I wanted to wish Dad a great, big, happy birthday. Happy Birthday Dad!!!! I would give you a hug if I was there. I have now missed both of Mark´s birthdays and dad´s. I will not miss your birthdays again, while I am serving this mission. So time flies and I feel a sense of rush and urgency in the work, as I feel more and more each day, that there is an end to these two glorious years. At the beginning it is too big to comprehend and you just work, but when you have been out as long as I have, you decide to work harder, knowing that you will never have these days again.
Well, I wish I had more to report to you from the work. As of about two weeks ago we had 4 investigators, 3 of the which were progressing. Now we have given the 3 progressing to the hermanas that are now in our ward. So, estamos en la búsqueda, or we are in the search, for more investigators, just like Kathia and others that are ready to progress and be baptized. We have received so many blessings this week.
Even though we are not teaching very much, we are talking to a ton of people every day, trying to sort through the fields of people, to find the elect. Some missionaries don´t talk to people in the street until they feel like they should talk to them, or they look elect. I have found that many times, revelation comes in movement, and we come to distinguish those that are teachable to those that are not as we just talk to everyone.
There is a section in Preach My Gospel about talking with everyone and the last two days I have gained a whole new testimony of the importance of doing so, ALWAYS. There is no way we can relax during the day and give ourselves excuses that we don´t have to contact during certain times. It has to be done always. These last two days Elder Gómez and I have been in exchanges with the Elders in Villabla (A city about 30 minutes to the north in bus). We have received permission from President Watkins, that we have the option to have exchanges that last more than the 1 day limit, and so this exchange was the first I have ever had for 2 days.
At first I was hesitant, knowing that the missionary that was going to come to Madrid with me was new. But right from the start I new that this missionary was special. His name is Elder Holub and let´s just say that he is an ANIMAL! He, from the first minute of our exchange until the last minute, talked to everyone in sight. It was great for me, as I have recently set a goal to do the same, but he was so impressive as he started his mission in Provo in April.
This exchange, was actually the first he has had during his mission, including his first time working in the great, big city of Madrid. He had no fear, no doubts. There was nothing that could stop him from talking with the people, and I just loved it! It was one of the most fun exchanges I have ever had, and it is definitely one of the days where I have worked the hardest. It´s Interesting, that my level of fun, is in direct relation with my personal level of effort and hard work.
During the day, as we talked to tons of people, we went to a lesson that we had planned, but unfortunatly, the person was not there. As we were calling his cell phone, a man came out of the building with a trash bag in his hand. We started talking to him and asked if he had a couple of minutes to share a message. He said yes and we started with a prayer right there in the street.
After the prayer we asked him what his expectations were and then if he had some worries in his life that the word of God could help with. He answered and said that he didn´t have work, he was worried about his family, and that above all he was worried about his personal salvation. He wanted to know what he needed to do to be saved. Obviously, this last answer brought a huge smile to our face, knowing that this man was sincere and wanted to know what he needed to do to be saved.
We explained that there were five steps and he asked for a piece of paper so that he could write them down, and after we were done with the explanation, he shared with us a scripture from the bible in Acts that explains perfectly what we had just taught him. We invited him, there to be baptized the fourth of September, and he said that he was interested in knowing more and if he felt he was ready by that day, he would be baptized.
The whole experience was obviously a huge tender mercy and I thank my Heavenly Father for the blessing of being an instrument in His hands in being able to find him and share with him that message. It isn´t coincidence that his name is Rolando, because we have already nicknamed him ¨ORO¨lando, because he is golden. The whole experience was a feeling of great joy and peace. Every once in a while you need those feelings to know that what you are doing is good, and to confirm your steps.
As a missionary we feel that peace quite a bit and it is a big blessing. I believe that as we had talked to many people before him that day, we were blessed because of our efforts. As we open our mouths and share the message of the Restoration, someone will always listen. That is where the faith comes into play. We talked to someone else that day named Rosa and she too was very interested in the topic of baptism and was willing to learn more so about it. So we are happy with the fruits of our labors and count them as great blessings.
We are happy to be counted worthy to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and to represent Him and His church. We are trying to ¨seek out the righteous where´er they may be,¨ and we are seeing the fast results of that decision. It is fun being a missionary when you realize that you are trying your best. Two nights ago I went to bed with a feeling I have had very few times during the mission. It was a feeling that I had done my absolute best. I couldn´t think of anything that I hadn´t done. There is always a couple of things that I could have done better and a few more people I could have contacted, but that night was something special.
I was so tired and knew that I had done my best. That feeling is driving me to do even more every day and to push away those temptations to slack off, taking advantage of every second possible. This requires an energy that is very rare to me, but I love it. It is so fun just to be thinking, always, who else can I talk to. So that is my goal this week, to talk to every single person possible, and not to waste one bit of time. I am getting to understand that concept a little bit better every day, the concept of using your time wisely and diligently. It is fun being a stickler about it and pushing yourself to never rest or relax but to always be a missionary. It is great stuff.
I love you all, and hope that all continues to go well, and that Heavenly Father continues to bless us.
Tell Grandmother and Granddad and Kelli that I got their letters and tell them thank you. I love hearing from the extended family too. Mom, I am sorry that I still haven´t sent that package. It is hard finding time to do it, as stores close early and are far away, but I will be able to do it this week. Just keep an eye out for it. Thank you so much, everyone, for your love and prayers.
¨Never Give Up, Never Surrender.¨
Love,
Élder Driggs
Before I forget, I wanted to wish Dad a great, big, happy birthday. Happy Birthday Dad!!!! I would give you a hug if I was there. I have now missed both of Mark´s birthdays and dad´s. I will not miss your birthdays again, while I am serving this mission. So time flies and I feel a sense of rush and urgency in the work, as I feel more and more each day, that there is an end to these two glorious years. At the beginning it is too big to comprehend and you just work, but when you have been out as long as I have, you decide to work harder, knowing that you will never have these days again.
Well, I wish I had more to report to you from the work. As of about two weeks ago we had 4 investigators, 3 of the which were progressing. Now we have given the 3 progressing to the hermanas that are now in our ward. So, estamos en la búsqueda, or we are in the search, for more investigators, just like Kathia and others that are ready to progress and be baptized. We have received so many blessings this week.
Even though we are not teaching very much, we are talking to a ton of people every day, trying to sort through the fields of people, to find the elect. Some missionaries don´t talk to people in the street until they feel like they should talk to them, or they look elect. I have found that many times, revelation comes in movement, and we come to distinguish those that are teachable to those that are not as we just talk to everyone.
There is a section in Preach My Gospel about talking with everyone and the last two days I have gained a whole new testimony of the importance of doing so, ALWAYS. There is no way we can relax during the day and give ourselves excuses that we don´t have to contact during certain times. It has to be done always. These last two days Elder Gómez and I have been in exchanges with the Elders in Villabla (A city about 30 minutes to the north in bus). We have received permission from President Watkins, that we have the option to have exchanges that last more than the 1 day limit, and so this exchange was the first I have ever had for 2 days.
At first I was hesitant, knowing that the missionary that was going to come to Madrid with me was new. But right from the start I new that this missionary was special. His name is Elder Holub and let´s just say that he is an ANIMAL! He, from the first minute of our exchange until the last minute, talked to everyone in sight. It was great for me, as I have recently set a goal to do the same, but he was so impressive as he started his mission in Provo in April.
This exchange, was actually the first he has had during his mission, including his first time working in the great, big city of Madrid. He had no fear, no doubts. There was nothing that could stop him from talking with the people, and I just loved it! It was one of the most fun exchanges I have ever had, and it is definitely one of the days where I have worked the hardest. It´s Interesting, that my level of fun, is in direct relation with my personal level of effort and hard work.
During the day, as we talked to tons of people, we went to a lesson that we had planned, but unfortunatly, the person was not there. As we were calling his cell phone, a man came out of the building with a trash bag in his hand. We started talking to him and asked if he had a couple of minutes to share a message. He said yes and we started with a prayer right there in the street.
After the prayer we asked him what his expectations were and then if he had some worries in his life that the word of God could help with. He answered and said that he didn´t have work, he was worried about his family, and that above all he was worried about his personal salvation. He wanted to know what he needed to do to be saved. Obviously, this last answer brought a huge smile to our face, knowing that this man was sincere and wanted to know what he needed to do to be saved.
We explained that there were five steps and he asked for a piece of paper so that he could write them down, and after we were done with the explanation, he shared with us a scripture from the bible in Acts that explains perfectly what we had just taught him. We invited him, there to be baptized the fourth of September, and he said that he was interested in knowing more and if he felt he was ready by that day, he would be baptized.
The whole experience was obviously a huge tender mercy and I thank my Heavenly Father for the blessing of being an instrument in His hands in being able to find him and share with him that message. It isn´t coincidence that his name is Rolando, because we have already nicknamed him ¨ORO¨lando, because he is golden. The whole experience was a feeling of great joy and peace. Every once in a while you need those feelings to know that what you are doing is good, and to confirm your steps.
As a missionary we feel that peace quite a bit and it is a big blessing. I believe that as we had talked to many people before him that day, we were blessed because of our efforts. As we open our mouths and share the message of the Restoration, someone will always listen. That is where the faith comes into play. We talked to someone else that day named Rosa and she too was very interested in the topic of baptism and was willing to learn more so about it. So we are happy with the fruits of our labors and count them as great blessings.
We are happy to be counted worthy to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and to represent Him and His church. We are trying to ¨seek out the righteous where´er they may be,¨ and we are seeing the fast results of that decision. It is fun being a missionary when you realize that you are trying your best. Two nights ago I went to bed with a feeling I have had very few times during the mission. It was a feeling that I had done my absolute best. I couldn´t think of anything that I hadn´t done. There is always a couple of things that I could have done better and a few more people I could have contacted, but that night was something special.
I was so tired and knew that I had done my best. That feeling is driving me to do even more every day and to push away those temptations to slack off, taking advantage of every second possible. This requires an energy that is very rare to me, but I love it. It is so fun just to be thinking, always, who else can I talk to. So that is my goal this week, to talk to every single person possible, and not to waste one bit of time. I am getting to understand that concept a little bit better every day, the concept of using your time wisely and diligently. It is fun being a stickler about it and pushing yourself to never rest or relax but to always be a missionary. It is great stuff.
I love you all, and hope that all continues to go well, and that Heavenly Father continues to bless us.
Tell Grandmother and Granddad and Kelli that I got their letters and tell them thank you. I love hearing from the extended family too. Mom, I am sorry that I still haven´t sent that package. It is hard finding time to do it, as stores close early and are far away, but I will be able to do it this week. Just keep an eye out for it. Thank you so much, everyone, for your love and prayers.
¨Never Give Up, Never Surrender.¨
Love,
Élder Driggs
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
August 4, 2010
Dear family,
Well, this week has been a great week. Elder Gómez and I are trying to work hard so we can find more people to teach. We are definitely seeing the blessings of our efforts as well. It is interesting being a missionary in Spain because several times in the past couple of weeks we have run into less active members that haven´t been to church for a lot of time. When we are trying to talk to people in the street we usually get an address or a phone number of the person 1 out of every 4 or 5 people. Sometimes it is better, sometimes worse.
It is not too bad, but the chance that these people will have time to meet with us and that they will have desires to progress, is very slim. So we are trying to sort through the fields and find the elect. It is hard, but I have noticed that as we have been working harder, the Lord is blessing us in other ways.
For example, last night we received a phone call from a less active that said he wanted to return to the church. We set up an appointment for today. Two weeks ago we ran into another less active member that had been here in Spain for 2 months. She is from Peru and didn´t like how there weren´t very many youth members so she didn´t attend church again. We started teaching her and she came last Sunday and bore her testimony. These are some of the examples that we are seeing that manifest to us that Heavenly Father is aware of us and will bless us in our efforts. Maybe not directly, but we will receive those tender mercies. We had nothing to do with finding these two less active people, because they both contacted us. Cool huh? Oh yeah!
I just remembered another little miracle. Last night as we were walking home for the day a women from the Dominican Republic with 2 children stopped us and asked where the ¨Mormon Church¨ was. I immediatley asked her if she was a member, thinking that only a member would stop us and ask us that. She said no, and we wrote down the direction. We said goodbye, and started walking away when I thought, wow, I didn´t even ask for her direction. We turned back and asked her if she would let a couple missionaries came by to teach her about this church. She seemed very enthusiastic and said yes.
I was so glad that we turned around and asked her. Even though she had asked for the direction for the chapel, you never know if she really would have come. This is yet another example of little miracles that we see daily as missionaries. It is fun and neat being able to dedicate ourselves to something so special for two years, where we become so sensitive to little things like these. Some missionaries say that two years is a long time, but I can´t complain.
So I wanted to make sure that you understand what happened with Adam and Ericka Hamblin, to assure you that all is well, and to bring ease to your mind. Last Saturday, my companion and I were in the metro station sol, waiting for the metro to arrive. I was talking to a young man and as the doors to the metro opened, I stepped in expecting Elder Gomez to follow me. I turned around when Elder Gomez yelled at me saying, ¨Elder Driggs, espere (Wait).¨ I said goodbye to my new friend and went to Elder Gomez who appeared to be talking to 2 Americans. (Americans are really easy to distinguish here in Spain, just the way they act, because they are usually lost and when they speak English you can always hear the word ¨like¨ really loud).
So I assumed that they were Americans and that they were members because they said hi Elder when they met us. They told us there story why they were here and, obviously, they didn´t speak a lick of Spanish. They said they were from Georgia and had left on a plane flight to Madrid on a date. The plan when they left was to come to Madrid, 8 hours in plane, and then get on the same plane going back to Georgia, just so they could have some time alone. They had 5 children waiting for them at home, with the babysitter, all of them under the age of 6 or 8, I can´t remember. Luckily the babysitter was an uncle, of 24 years old.
So the problem was that when they wanted to return the plane was full and they couldn´t just hop on. The only other flight that wasn´t booked was going to leave on Monday, meaning that they would be away from their family for 2 days instead of one. So they decided to book a flight that left Sunday morning at 10 or so that left from Valencia, which is 3 hours away from Madrid. They did so and went to the train station to book the train there. Anyway, apparently, they went to take out some money at an ATM and the machine ate their card thinking that it was a stolen card. So they were at that point out of money, no Spanish, foreign country, and needing to get to an airport 3 hours away.
So we went with them to a couple of internet cafe´s to see if they could schedule a train trip on line...that doesn´t work. They then tried to call their bank to see if they could get some money wired to the money transfer places here. That also wouldn´t work until Monday. So after a long time trying every option, and with their 16 euros, we decided that we would buy their train tickets. They almost missed their train when we finally decided that and Elder Gomez bought them with his card. I gave them my email so they could communicate with us and get us the money.
So that is what we did and don´t worry, we didn´t give anyone a credit card number, just an email address. They did send us an email and have put the money in a Western Union and we have the control number to get it out. So, that story probably doesn´t sound very convincing but I wasn´t worried at all. They were members, and I know that doesn´t mean anything but you could tell that they were telling the truth and were going to get us the money. They said they had money, just not a way to get a hold of it then. So we took the chance and all is well.
They probably called you just to double check that or to reassure that they were sending the money. They were really, really nice people and actually sent us more money than we lent them. So, I don´t know what to think about that, but I do find it a blessing to be a help and really an angel in the hands of God. It would have been almost impossible for them to return without us. Really, it was a nightmare for them.
I am very glad that all is well with all of you. It sounds like there is lots of work to be done at home. Keep working hard and the blessings will certainly follow. That is rough, dad, that you can´t return every week, but at least you have work. That is such a BIG blessing. That is also way cool that you ran into the missionaries.
Here is the newletter portion mom, and I will try to send the flat overnight letter tomorrow morning. Thanks for your help.
Queridos consiervos del Señor,
Elder Gómez and I are trying to work hard so we can find more people to teach. We are definitely seeing the blessings of our efforts as well, even though they are not direct blessings.. It is interesting being a missionary in Spain because several times in the past couple of weeks we have run into less active members that haven´t been to church for a lot of time. When we are trying to talk to people in the street we usually get an address or a phone number of the person 1 out of every 4 or 5 people. Sometimes it is better, sometimes worse. So it is not too bad, but the chance that these people will have time to meet with us and that they will have desires to progress, is very slim. So we are trying to sort through the fields and find the elect. It is hard, but I have noticed that as we have been working harder, the Lord is blessing us in other ways. For example, last night we received a phone call from a less active that said he wanted to return to the church. We set up an appointment for today. Two weeks ago we ran into another less active member that had been here in Spain for 2 months. She is from Peru and didn´t like how there weren´t very many youth members so she didn´t attend church again. We started teaching her and she came last Sunday and bore her testimony. These are some of the examples that we are seeing that manifest to us that Heavenly Father is aware of us and will bless us in our efforts. Maybe not directly, but we will receive those tender mercies. We had nothing to do with finding these two less active people, because they both contacted us. Cool huh? Oh yeah! I just remembered another little miracle. Last night as we were walking home for the day a women from the Dominican Republic with 2 children stopped us and asked where the ¨Mormon Church¨ was. I immediatley asked her if she was a member, thinking that only a member would stop us and ask us that. She said no, and we wrote down the direction. We said goodbye, and started walking away when I thought, wow, I didn´t even ask for her direction. We turned back and asked her if she would let a couple missionaries came by to teach her about this church. She seemed very enthusiastic and said yes. I was so glad that we turned around and asked her. Because even though she had asked for the direction for the chapel, you never know if she really would have come. This is yet another example of little miracles that we see daily as missionaries. It is fun and neat being able to dedicate ourselves to something so special for two years, where we become so sensitive to little things like these. Some missionaries say that two years is a long time, but I can´t complain.
Have the best week ever, and remember that we have the decision to be happy. So let´s be happy as we go about doing the work of the Lord, preaching the Gospel of Happiness.
Love,
Élder Driggs
Well, this week has been a great week. Elder Gómez and I are trying to work hard so we can find more people to teach. We are definitely seeing the blessings of our efforts as well. It is interesting being a missionary in Spain because several times in the past couple of weeks we have run into less active members that haven´t been to church for a lot of time. When we are trying to talk to people in the street we usually get an address or a phone number of the person 1 out of every 4 or 5 people. Sometimes it is better, sometimes worse.
It is not too bad, but the chance that these people will have time to meet with us and that they will have desires to progress, is very slim. So we are trying to sort through the fields and find the elect. It is hard, but I have noticed that as we have been working harder, the Lord is blessing us in other ways.
For example, last night we received a phone call from a less active that said he wanted to return to the church. We set up an appointment for today. Two weeks ago we ran into another less active member that had been here in Spain for 2 months. She is from Peru and didn´t like how there weren´t very many youth members so she didn´t attend church again. We started teaching her and she came last Sunday and bore her testimony. These are some of the examples that we are seeing that manifest to us that Heavenly Father is aware of us and will bless us in our efforts. Maybe not directly, but we will receive those tender mercies. We had nothing to do with finding these two less active people, because they both contacted us. Cool huh? Oh yeah!
I just remembered another little miracle. Last night as we were walking home for the day a women from the Dominican Republic with 2 children stopped us and asked where the ¨Mormon Church¨ was. I immediatley asked her if she was a member, thinking that only a member would stop us and ask us that. She said no, and we wrote down the direction. We said goodbye, and started walking away when I thought, wow, I didn´t even ask for her direction. We turned back and asked her if she would let a couple missionaries came by to teach her about this church. She seemed very enthusiastic and said yes.
I was so glad that we turned around and asked her. Even though she had asked for the direction for the chapel, you never know if she really would have come. This is yet another example of little miracles that we see daily as missionaries. It is fun and neat being able to dedicate ourselves to something so special for two years, where we become so sensitive to little things like these. Some missionaries say that two years is a long time, but I can´t complain.
So I wanted to make sure that you understand what happened with Adam and Ericka Hamblin, to assure you that all is well, and to bring ease to your mind. Last Saturday, my companion and I were in the metro station sol, waiting for the metro to arrive. I was talking to a young man and as the doors to the metro opened, I stepped in expecting Elder Gomez to follow me. I turned around when Elder Gomez yelled at me saying, ¨Elder Driggs, espere (Wait).¨ I said goodbye to my new friend and went to Elder Gomez who appeared to be talking to 2 Americans. (Americans are really easy to distinguish here in Spain, just the way they act, because they are usually lost and when they speak English you can always hear the word ¨like¨ really loud).
So I assumed that they were Americans and that they were members because they said hi Elder when they met us. They told us there story why they were here and, obviously, they didn´t speak a lick of Spanish. They said they were from Georgia and had left on a plane flight to Madrid on a date. The plan when they left was to come to Madrid, 8 hours in plane, and then get on the same plane going back to Georgia, just so they could have some time alone. They had 5 children waiting for them at home, with the babysitter, all of them under the age of 6 or 8, I can´t remember. Luckily the babysitter was an uncle, of 24 years old.
So the problem was that when they wanted to return the plane was full and they couldn´t just hop on. The only other flight that wasn´t booked was going to leave on Monday, meaning that they would be away from their family for 2 days instead of one. So they decided to book a flight that left Sunday morning at 10 or so that left from Valencia, which is 3 hours away from Madrid. They did so and went to the train station to book the train there. Anyway, apparently, they went to take out some money at an ATM and the machine ate their card thinking that it was a stolen card. So they were at that point out of money, no Spanish, foreign country, and needing to get to an airport 3 hours away.
So we went with them to a couple of internet cafe´s to see if they could schedule a train trip on line...that doesn´t work. They then tried to call their bank to see if they could get some money wired to the money transfer places here. That also wouldn´t work until Monday. So after a long time trying every option, and with their 16 euros, we decided that we would buy their train tickets. They almost missed their train when we finally decided that and Elder Gomez bought them with his card. I gave them my email so they could communicate with us and get us the money.
So that is what we did and don´t worry, we didn´t give anyone a credit card number, just an email address. They did send us an email and have put the money in a Western Union and we have the control number to get it out. So, that story probably doesn´t sound very convincing but I wasn´t worried at all. They were members, and I know that doesn´t mean anything but you could tell that they were telling the truth and were going to get us the money. They said they had money, just not a way to get a hold of it then. So we took the chance and all is well.
They probably called you just to double check that or to reassure that they were sending the money. They were really, really nice people and actually sent us more money than we lent them. So, I don´t know what to think about that, but I do find it a blessing to be a help and really an angel in the hands of God. It would have been almost impossible for them to return without us. Really, it was a nightmare for them.
I am very glad that all is well with all of you. It sounds like there is lots of work to be done at home. Keep working hard and the blessings will certainly follow. That is rough, dad, that you can´t return every week, but at least you have work. That is such a BIG blessing. That is also way cool that you ran into the missionaries.
Here is the newletter portion mom, and I will try to send the flat overnight letter tomorrow morning. Thanks for your help.
Queridos consiervos del Señor,
Elder Gómez and I are trying to work hard so we can find more people to teach. We are definitely seeing the blessings of our efforts as well, even though they are not direct blessings.. It is interesting being a missionary in Spain because several times in the past couple of weeks we have run into less active members that haven´t been to church for a lot of time. When we are trying to talk to people in the street we usually get an address or a phone number of the person 1 out of every 4 or 5 people. Sometimes it is better, sometimes worse. So it is not too bad, but the chance that these people will have time to meet with us and that they will have desires to progress, is very slim. So we are trying to sort through the fields and find the elect. It is hard, but I have noticed that as we have been working harder, the Lord is blessing us in other ways. For example, last night we received a phone call from a less active that said he wanted to return to the church. We set up an appointment for today. Two weeks ago we ran into another less active member that had been here in Spain for 2 months. She is from Peru and didn´t like how there weren´t very many youth members so she didn´t attend church again. We started teaching her and she came last Sunday and bore her testimony. These are some of the examples that we are seeing that manifest to us that Heavenly Father is aware of us and will bless us in our efforts. Maybe not directly, but we will receive those tender mercies. We had nothing to do with finding these two less active people, because they both contacted us. Cool huh? Oh yeah! I just remembered another little miracle. Last night as we were walking home for the day a women from the Dominican Republic with 2 children stopped us and asked where the ¨Mormon Church¨ was. I immediatley asked her if she was a member, thinking that only a member would stop us and ask us that. She said no, and we wrote down the direction. We said goodbye, and started walking away when I thought, wow, I didn´t even ask for her direction. We turned back and asked her if she would let a couple missionaries came by to teach her about this church. She seemed very enthusiastic and said yes. I was so glad that we turned around and asked her. Because even though she had asked for the direction for the chapel, you never know if she really would have come. This is yet another example of little miracles that we see daily as missionaries. It is fun and neat being able to dedicate ourselves to something so special for two years, where we become so sensitive to little things like these. Some missionaries say that two years is a long time, but I can´t complain.
Have the best week ever, and remember that we have the decision to be happy. So let´s be happy as we go about doing the work of the Lord, preaching the Gospel of Happiness.
Love,
Élder Driggs
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