February 24, 2010

My family and friends,

I love writing and hearing how things are going every week. I, too, cannot believe that I have been out here serving our Lord for 8 months now. It is so crazy and I just hope that do the best I can because it is going by way, way, way too fast. And to be very honest, through all of the tired days where you wake up and don´t know where the night went, not knowing where you will get the strength to work all day, through all the ups and downs of having to drop some investigators and seeing others progress towards baptism, through all the struggles of living with a 160 pound tattoo on your side 24/7, as well as the constant strain, stress and pressure of trying to honorably represent the Lord, Jesus Christ and His Church, I would have to say that I am absolutely loving every single second of it.

It is so hard sometimes, but I wouldn´t want to be anywhere else. I have never felt more weak and imperfect in my life as I struggle to accomplish simple goals, but at the same time I have not achieved and personally changed more. I love the mission and I really would stay longer if I could. I love teaching the Restoration to people who have never heard about it before, to tell the first vision and to say that I know by the power of the Holy Ghost that Joseph Smith saw what he saw, because I prayed to God wanting to know if it is true, and he told me it was so. What a blessing the mission is and I wish sometimes I could take more advantage that I actually do, but I guess that is the imperfect self that I am. Nevertheless, I try hard and when I fall I get right back up and try again, every day I try a little bit better to be the missionary that the Lord and Heavenly Father sent me to be.

Well those are my thoughts on the mission 8 months in. Time is going by fast and I want to make every moment worthwhile. I can´t waste a bit. The good news is that Ernesto is going to get baptized this Saturday and he is very excited. He is way to easy. We just teach him and he does it. I wish, and we are actually praying a lot for the cause, that we could find more investigators like him.

I had a story to tell you last week but the time ran out and I couldn´t finish it.

So about 3 or 4 weeks ago, we were walking up this huge hill in Ciempozuelos and we stopped a women and started talking to here. We introduced ourselves and we found out that she was from Poland and had lived here for about 3 years. Here Spanish was okay and luckily we could at least communicate. So I explained that we were here sharing a message that can really benefit all the families in Ciempozeulos and that it will bring a lot of peace and happiness in your life. She looked at me funny and asked again who we were, and I answered, well we are missionaries from America, trying to help people with there problems. I explained to here that we go to peoples houses and share this message with them. She then awkwardly asked, well how much does it cost? I answered with a smile, it is free señora.

I was sooo happy because after that she looked very interested and I immediately asked here for her number and address. She freely gave it to us and we said goodbye, telling her that we would call here within a week to schedule a time to come back. As soon as my companion and I were out of earshot of her, Elder Dawson busted up laughing. I was really confused and started questioning his radical and unnecessary laughter after such a miracle contact. He then proceeded to explain that every time I said message she did not hear message but understood messaje. In Spanish these two words are different by only one letter, mensaje or a message like the Gospel, and mesaje, or like a muscle rub thing. So we both laughed pretty hard knowing that when two people, who speak Spanish as a second language, talk to each other, misunderstanding is bound to occur.

So that was our funny story. I can assure you that we ARE missionaries who preach the gospel and we are not going door to door offering free messajes to people to help them with their problems. Although that would work ;) Just kidding. HAHA

I have now run out of time and I hope that all goes well this week and that you keep doing was is right. I love having peace of mind that all is well in Zion, or at home. I love you all very much, am trying to honor the family name, and pray for you always. Thank you for your continued prayers for Ernesto and the many others that are on the border of baptism. I shall hope to inform you more in the following week about the other investigadores and people with baptismal dates that we have.

I LOVE YOU!!!!

Love,

Rob

Élder Driggs