January 20, 2010

Dear family,

Thank you so much for all of the lovely letters from everyone. I love reading them and getting a whiff of your lives for a little bit every week. I especially loved the inspirational stories from mom and dad. Thank you very much. I want to start a little bit of writing down my priorities every day and I think it will at least focus my attention on the things that are most important.
This week has been good. Nothing great except for the fact that we are getting more people to accept baptismal challenges. We, right now, have 3 baptismal dates, for the near future. Unfortunately, only one is very, very dedicated to this date, and willing to work and sacrifice to complete with the commandment of the Lord. The other two, unfortunately, are not as driven. These people agreed to the challenge and invitation more on the basis that they would be baptized as soon as they received their answers. This would normally be just fantastic, as we know that everyone can receive an answer if they have faith, but these two men are not so willing to do what is required for the wanted answer. One of these men has a problem with his eyes, so he can´t even read. This poses a huge problem because he can´t even read the scriptures. He agreed mainly because he felt good during the lesson. We are working hard right now to focus ourselves on challenging people to act with faith, and to follow up on these invitations to help them feel accountable and in turn progress. Hopefully these people will feel the need to act and pray and get an answer, so that they can have the testimony and faith to be baptized and receive the blessings of the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Elder Dawson and I are doing well. We are working hard and trying more and more to do things more efficiently so that we can get more done every day. Elder Dawson and I are not finding any problems with finding people to teach, as every week we receive about 20 addresses from people who have some amount of interest in hearing our message, but the problem is finding people who are ready to progress towards baptism and help people find these answers to prayers. We are teaching a lot too but the amount of investigators that we have that are progressing is very small. We are trying to adapt our lessons more to their lives and make the necessary changes to allow the Spirit of the Lord touch them in a way that will inspire them to make changes and be baptized.
Baptisms are a HUGE focus of the misión, as it should be, but more than I would have expected it. I believe that part of it is that the leaders here are trying to get missionaries over the idea that they can´t baptize in Spain, or that it is too hard to baptize here. I, fortunatly, did not come to Madrid with that thought. I knew that they Lord would bless me with success. But the focus is huge. We have a goal as a misión this year for every companionship to have one baptism every month. We are not going to have a baptism this month and we have 2 baptismal dates for February. I know that this goal was set by the Lord because He has enough people prepared to accomplish it. I just need to work harder and be more focused in this goal.
In terms of transfers and how long I am going to stay here, I have no idea. Transfers are every 6 weeks and the next one is February 7 I think. I think that the end of my time here is coming soon and it will be hard to leave. We never know what will happen but alter almost 5 months here, who knows how much longer. It could be at least 6 -9 weeks more. Hopefully it will be so.

The mission is changing a bunch right now and in the next couple of weeks, Word is that at least 4-5 areas are closing. The church isn´t sending very many missionaries to Spain as it did in the past, or at least to Madrid, and as a result, President Watkins is having to shut down many areas and use the missionaries only in those places that are needed most. It is sad and hard for many missionaries and especially members that really depend on the missionaries for their little branches. For example in Cuenca, the other two missionaries in our district work there and they count as 1 and 2 of the 15 people in attendance every week. They almost always help in the administration of the Sacrament as there are very few priesthood holders. It is similar but not to the same extent here in Aranjuez.
I did hear about Haiti, Mark, and I, too, think that it is sad. But this, as with the crisis, can have a huge impact on the work. People either want to believe in God more or begin to think that there is not one at all. I love having the peace of conscience that there is a God who loves all of His children and is always aware of their needs. Why He lets things happen like this, I can´t really say, but I do know that all things are done in the wisdom of Him who createth all things. I do trust in the peace of the Plan of Salvation during dificult times like these.

I love you all and thank you for your faith and prayers. Always remember that the prayers of the faithful are always heard and always answered.

Love,

Elder Driggs