Dear Family,
Elder Moreno and I are really excited because tomorrow there is a special council with all of the zone leaders and assistants. We have the privilege to have Elder Causse from the first quorum of the seventy come and speak to us. He will be in Madrid for a couple days I think, or maybe just one day, but we will be meeting with him tomorrow morning early, and after we will receive all of our pedidos and packages. Also, Elder Moreno and I have been selected, by the assistants, to represent the Madrid west stake missionaries in a Stake Priesthood Meeting. Elder Causse will be speaking again and will hold a practice ward council or priesthood executive committee. So that is exciting that we have been asked to participate. We will see how it goes. That will be tomorrow night. So tomorrow will be a big day full of meetings. We are also gearing up for the next zone/mission conference this next Tuesday. Every companionship of zone leaders (4) and the assistants will be presenting a 20 minute presentation about certain topics that President Watkins and the assistants have selected, that will help the mission progress. It will be in the format of workshops and you have to attend all of them. So we will give our presentation 5 or 4 times, I think...and all in Spanish.
Yippee. I am excited, because the mini presentation in the mission council a couple weeks ago went well and all of the zone leaders liked it. But wish us luck. Our topic is...Dejar para bautizar. And we are talking about the need to drop investigators more frequently, those who are not progressing, and some of the best ways to do it, as well as certain situations where it is hard to do so. We are excited and just about ready.
This week has been crazy. We had an exchange this Monday with the Segovia elders and Elder Moreno went with Elder Kapp to Segovia and I manned the area by myself, the first time with Elder Carter from Payson, Utah. It was a great day. Two new investigators and a baptismal date. I am not too sure about this baptismal date, it was mainly more just to see what this guys desires are, but he sure felt the Spirit and expressed some good desires. We will work with him, and he is only 18, and have patience. We think that he can do it.
We have a lesson today with an investigator called Andres who is a friend of a menos activa (less active), who is trying to become more active. The first lesson that we had with him on Monday was great and told us very honestly, that when he finds the truth he wants to dedicate himself completely to it. So as we teach the second lesson to him tonight, we will invite him to be baptized the 19th of June. As you know the goal of the mission is to have a baptism every month, and Barrio 5 hasn´t had a baptism this year. So we are really going to push for someone to get baptized this day and there are several prospects. The thing is, is that for them to be able to be baptized this day they need to come to church this Sunday and the next 2 to qualify. In this mission baptismal candidates have to come to church 3 times relatively close to each other. So this goal is pushing it, but we know it is possible.
I want to make sure that you all know that I love you and that I pray for you daily. Thank you for your prayers on my behalf, on the behalf of Elder Moreno, the area, and the investigators. We need your prayers. Thank you very much.
Elder Moreno and I were talking this morning about how we didn´t always support the spiritual activities in the family. Like family morning scripture study, when I would get there late, or not even come sometimes. He told me that half of the time he made excuses not to have family home evening and the other half of the time it was his younger brother. We both shared our desires to return home, then with stronger testimonies, and be able to not only support these essential activities but be able to suggest them and make sure that they happen. I see the ever increasing need for consistent spiritual family practice of these activities and I can´t wait to be able to do them again with my family. I can wait and will wait but I will most certainly be a positive influence and not a negative one in the future.
Also, I just love reading the new Liahona. It is great and jam packed full of spiritual advice. It is hard to not understand the will of the Lord when you read and feel the power of those inpired and divine words.
I send you my love and prayers and hope that you keep smiling and have a great week. I can´t believe that I have been out for 11 months already. It is scary to think that I only have a little more than a year left. Wow. I need to take more advantage of this sacred time.
I love you,
Rob
Elder Driggs
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
May 19, 2010
My dear family,
Well, I just love being a missionary is my title today because I really just love being here. I love having this sacred time to dedicate myself to God and in serving Him. It is hard and it is rough, but I am becoming a better person because of it. I can see that the experiences that I am having here are shaping me and preparing me for experiences to come. I thank all of you for your support and love and prayers. I really appreciate it.
This week has been great. I feel like I am in a similar situation to that of Aranjuez when I arrived there. To help you remember, when I got there, my first days in the mission field, that area was one of the poorest areas in terms of missionary work. A missionary that went home a few months ago said that Aranjuez was his hardest area. As I searched through the progress reports of the past years of that area, I found that there really hadn´t been much success there, and no one had ever taught more than 20 lessons. The miracle of all of this is that when I left we had been teaching more than 20 lessons almost every week, and occasionally, 20 lessons just to investigators.
Aranjuez right now, as Presidente Watkins calls it, is one of the brightest areas in the mission. Whenever he would call us he would call the area ARAN - ORO! or Aran - gold. We really started finding many people to teach and with these efforts the members are more inspired to help us and support the weekly activities that we had there. So that was the progress of the area in Aranjuez.
Here is Barrio 5 is the same thing. Elder Moreno has said that they haven´t ever really taught very much and don´t have very many baptisms. It was interesting to me to hear that, knowing that the zone leaders have been working in this area for a long time. Before I came into the area, there had been sister missionaries in our ward too. President Watkins decided to take them out, which normally means that they could be more useful in other areas, where there is more ¨ORO.¨
So Elder Moreno and I are trying to change a couple of things and are working hard to find the elect. We are motivated and to be honest, I am thirsty. It was really hard coming from an area where you would at least teach 2 or 3 lessons to investigators everyday with a couple of member, less active, and recent convert lessons during the week, and being here, where last week we only taught 11 lessons in total, 6 to investigators. I am used to having at least one person at a time progressing towards baptism or at least really thinking about it and just having tons of people to teach. Here is very different. So we are going to work harder and find those that will receive and listen to us and we will find success. I know it.
So yesterday I went to Vallodolid to have an exchange with the district leader there, Elder Ellsworth from Sholoh, Arizona. Apparently that is about 45 minutes from Greer, Arizona. He is a great missionary and works really hard. You should check out some pictures of Vallodolid because it is absolutely beautiful. It is about 2 and 1/2 hours away from Madrid, but the city is actually very big. It is a mix of big modern buildings and really old cathedrals and other old buildings. I loved it. Every time we would turn the corner I would say, ¡Joli, que guay! Este área es tán bonito.(This is a very pretty area) Me encanta todo. (I love everything) O y mire este edificio, wow.(Wow, look at this building.) It was really gorgeous and very calm. Lots of people, but without the daily stress of Madrid.
Apparently, as I was in Vallodolid, Elder Moreno and the other missionaries in our district were having their weekly district meeting and while in the church they met a family of Americans, whose son served in Madrid 4 years ago. The mom said that she would love to take us out to dinner, but couldn´t, so she gave every compañionship 20 euros. Note that there are 3 in our district. So today our district is going out to eat and then we are going to visit the Champions League Exhibition in el famoso parque de Retiro. This is the first time that the championship of the European Title of Soccer has been here in Madrid and they have the original cup on display. I guess you can touch it, take pictures with it, and even kiss it if you would like. And all of it is free. So we are going to check it out. I heard that Rafael Nadal won his 39th title right? We don´t get much news here.
Well, I have to go, but I am sure glad to hear from you. Les quiero mucho y ojalá que todos tengan una semana buenisima. (I love you a ton and I hope that everyone has a great week.)
Hasta luego...¡besos y abrasos! (See you late with kisses and hugs)
Elder Driggs
Well, I just love being a missionary is my title today because I really just love being here. I love having this sacred time to dedicate myself to God and in serving Him. It is hard and it is rough, but I am becoming a better person because of it. I can see that the experiences that I am having here are shaping me and preparing me for experiences to come. I thank all of you for your support and love and prayers. I really appreciate it.
This week has been great. I feel like I am in a similar situation to that of Aranjuez when I arrived there. To help you remember, when I got there, my first days in the mission field, that area was one of the poorest areas in terms of missionary work. A missionary that went home a few months ago said that Aranjuez was his hardest area. As I searched through the progress reports of the past years of that area, I found that there really hadn´t been much success there, and no one had ever taught more than 20 lessons. The miracle of all of this is that when I left we had been teaching more than 20 lessons almost every week, and occasionally, 20 lessons just to investigators.
Aranjuez right now, as Presidente Watkins calls it, is one of the brightest areas in the mission. Whenever he would call us he would call the area ARAN - ORO! or Aran - gold. We really started finding many people to teach and with these efforts the members are more inspired to help us and support the weekly activities that we had there. So that was the progress of the area in Aranjuez.
Here is Barrio 5 is the same thing. Elder Moreno has said that they haven´t ever really taught very much and don´t have very many baptisms. It was interesting to me to hear that, knowing that the zone leaders have been working in this area for a long time. Before I came into the area, there had been sister missionaries in our ward too. President Watkins decided to take them out, which normally means that they could be more useful in other areas, where there is more ¨ORO.¨
So Elder Moreno and I are trying to change a couple of things and are working hard to find the elect. We are motivated and to be honest, I am thirsty. It was really hard coming from an area where you would at least teach 2 or 3 lessons to investigators everyday with a couple of member, less active, and recent convert lessons during the week, and being here, where last week we only taught 11 lessons in total, 6 to investigators. I am used to having at least one person at a time progressing towards baptism or at least really thinking about it and just having tons of people to teach. Here is very different. So we are going to work harder and find those that will receive and listen to us and we will find success. I know it.
So yesterday I went to Vallodolid to have an exchange with the district leader there, Elder Ellsworth from Sholoh, Arizona. Apparently that is about 45 minutes from Greer, Arizona. He is a great missionary and works really hard. You should check out some pictures of Vallodolid because it is absolutely beautiful. It is about 2 and 1/2 hours away from Madrid, but the city is actually very big. It is a mix of big modern buildings and really old cathedrals and other old buildings. I loved it. Every time we would turn the corner I would say, ¡Joli, que guay! Este área es tán bonito.(This is a very pretty area) Me encanta todo. (I love everything) O y mire este edificio, wow.(Wow, look at this building.) It was really gorgeous and very calm. Lots of people, but without the daily stress of Madrid.
Apparently, as I was in Vallodolid, Elder Moreno and the other missionaries in our district were having their weekly district meeting and while in the church they met a family of Americans, whose son served in Madrid 4 years ago. The mom said that she would love to take us out to dinner, but couldn´t, so she gave every compañionship 20 euros. Note that there are 3 in our district. So today our district is going out to eat and then we are going to visit the Champions League Exhibition in el famoso parque de Retiro. This is the first time that the championship of the European Title of Soccer has been here in Madrid and they have the original cup on display. I guess you can touch it, take pictures with it, and even kiss it if you would like. And all of it is free. So we are going to check it out. I heard that Rafael Nadal won his 39th title right? We don´t get much news here.
Well, I have to go, but I am sure glad to hear from you. Les quiero mucho y ojalá que todos tengan una semana buenisima. (I love you a ton and I hope that everyone has a great week.)
Hasta luego...¡besos y abrasos! (See you late with kisses and hugs)
Elder Driggs
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
May 12, 2010
Dearest family ever in the whole wide world,
I love writing you every week. I like thinking about you and reading how you are doing. I am so sorry that I have not told you how much I love that BYU blanket. I LOVE it!!! and yes, right now, because it is fairly warm at night, I just sleep with sheets and that blanket. I do wrap myself up in it every night and remember the wonderful family I have, cheering me on at home.
So last night, Elder Moreno and I left our area at about 6:30 and traveled to Segovia. The purpose of the trip and the leaving of our area was because there was someone that needed a baptismal interview. Since Segovia is in our zone and one of the Elder´s, Elder Kapp, is a district leader, we needed to do the interview, and Elder Moreno suggested that I do it. I did it and the man of 25, Rubén Hernandez Moreño, is worthy and ready to be baptized this Friday. It was a neat experience. So we spent the night last night with the Segovia Elders and this morning we went and saw the most famous sights.
I snagged a couple of pictures of the 2000 year old roman aqueduct and the really famous Cathedral there, and most importantly, we got to see the castle there. It was very pretty and very big. We walked down below the castle, as Segovia and the caste are kind of on a mountain, and were able to see the whole thing. It was marvelous. We then hiked out a little bit more and were able to get a couple panoramic pictures of the whole city. Elder Moreno has been there 6 or 7 times and says that that is his favorite place. He still isn´t sick of it and in fact wants to go more times.
When we had finished that, a senior missionary serving there offered to take us to what is called La Granja. It is a little pueblo 8 minutes outside of Segovia. We went and saw the palace there. It was very pretty. A really quite town and tons and tons of greenery. Madrid doesn´t really have tons of trees, grass, bushes, etc. So it was nice to get out and look at some really beautiful scenery. We just got back to Madrid about an hour ago.
Well, the work here in Barrio 5 is...slow. We don´t really have many great investigators that have tons of desires to get baptized. We actually do have three investigators that want to get baptized, but two of them aren´t married, and the other still isn´t sure if Joseph Smith was a prophet. Her husband and daughter are member and has been ¨investigating¨ the church for a long time. So we are in the search of investigators that are desirous to hear us and to be baptized.
Coming from Aranjuez, I can talk to anyone on the street, anytime. I have no fear whatsoever. But when it comes to trains, buses, and especially metros, I actually get a little more scared. Knowing that when I break the occasional silence, I will not be talking to just one person, but to about 10 people. I should love and take advantage of such opportunities, and I actually am getting better at doing it, but it is really hard. I am doing it more and more and I can feel that pretty soon I will be ready and comfortable talking to anyone, anytime. It is just like the process that I went through in Aranjuez. It took me about 4 months until I was comfortable in talking to people on the street. But before that it was a real personal struggle. And it still is occasionally, and I don´t think that I will every get rid of it.
The following paragraph will be my newsletter for the month- thank you so much mom for doing this. I really do love it:
Newsletter - ¡Querido Élderes en la obra! This last month has gone by so fast. I sure that you will be shocked to hear this but I was transferred for the first time in my mission. Yes, that means that I have been in the same area for a little more than 8 months. I don´t know what your missions are like, but the Spain Madrid mission likes, long transfers, at least 6-9 months in the area. Unless, of course, there are any problems. So, I have been transferred from a little pueblo to...the CITY.
I am now in Madrid, and our area is one of the most centralized areas of the mission. We are in the middle of everything. We ride the metro 15 times a day and walk by huge skyscrapers all the time. It is way crazy and really different. It is interesting to note how different the way of doing missionary work is in the city than it is in a pueblo. You have to adjust the way you contact and the way you work, because the life here in Madrid is FAST!!! But as usual, I absolutely love it.
I know as I have always known, that I am here, right now, for a reason. Right now the reason is unknown to me, but I will know sooner enough, why the Lord has sent me here, and I plan to have much success here in the streets of Madrid. The cool fact of the month can be that the metro line that is right outside our house is 102 years old. When the old man that I talked to told me that I was shocked, not even knowing that there was electricity 102 years ago. That goes to show you how much I know. But that is one thing I love about Spain, that the history here is incredible. There are buildings, monuments, and 2000 year old Roman aqueducts that are older that our entire country. I love it! It´s crazy, and I know that this is the work of the Savior himself.
Well thank you so much mom, for all that you do. Thank you dad as well for your loving counsel. I love you both and the kids as well. I am trying to think of what I need, and that is basically nothing, other than the contacts. Of what would be nice...well, the white pair of socks that I occasionally use for exercising or for playing soccer have tons of holes in them. So a couple of white socks would be nice, 2 or 3 pairs. Music is always great. It is the only variety that we get everyday. I don´t know if you could get a couple of famous religious talks on cd, but that would be way cool. We already have General Conference on Cd, well not the last one but maybe some famous religious byu devotionals or something. I don´t know. I really don´t need much. But I do love receiving packages. I love you so much, and I sure enjoyed talking to you on Sunday. I guess I will have to wait 6 more months.
Keep on doing what´s right! I love you all!
Elder Driggs
I love writing you every week. I like thinking about you and reading how you are doing. I am so sorry that I have not told you how much I love that BYU blanket. I LOVE it!!! and yes, right now, because it is fairly warm at night, I just sleep with sheets and that blanket. I do wrap myself up in it every night and remember the wonderful family I have, cheering me on at home.
So last night, Elder Moreno and I left our area at about 6:30 and traveled to Segovia. The purpose of the trip and the leaving of our area was because there was someone that needed a baptismal interview. Since Segovia is in our zone and one of the Elder´s, Elder Kapp, is a district leader, we needed to do the interview, and Elder Moreno suggested that I do it. I did it and the man of 25, Rubén Hernandez Moreño, is worthy and ready to be baptized this Friday. It was a neat experience. So we spent the night last night with the Segovia Elders and this morning we went and saw the most famous sights.
I snagged a couple of pictures of the 2000 year old roman aqueduct and the really famous Cathedral there, and most importantly, we got to see the castle there. It was very pretty and very big. We walked down below the castle, as Segovia and the caste are kind of on a mountain, and were able to see the whole thing. It was marvelous. We then hiked out a little bit more and were able to get a couple panoramic pictures of the whole city. Elder Moreno has been there 6 or 7 times and says that that is his favorite place. He still isn´t sick of it and in fact wants to go more times.
When we had finished that, a senior missionary serving there offered to take us to what is called La Granja. It is a little pueblo 8 minutes outside of Segovia. We went and saw the palace there. It was very pretty. A really quite town and tons and tons of greenery. Madrid doesn´t really have tons of trees, grass, bushes, etc. So it was nice to get out and look at some really beautiful scenery. We just got back to Madrid about an hour ago.
Well, the work here in Barrio 5 is...slow. We don´t really have many great investigators that have tons of desires to get baptized. We actually do have three investigators that want to get baptized, but two of them aren´t married, and the other still isn´t sure if Joseph Smith was a prophet. Her husband and daughter are member and has been ¨investigating¨ the church for a long time. So we are in the search of investigators that are desirous to hear us and to be baptized.
Coming from Aranjuez, I can talk to anyone on the street, anytime. I have no fear whatsoever. But when it comes to trains, buses, and especially metros, I actually get a little more scared. Knowing that when I break the occasional silence, I will not be talking to just one person, but to about 10 people. I should love and take advantage of such opportunities, and I actually am getting better at doing it, but it is really hard. I am doing it more and more and I can feel that pretty soon I will be ready and comfortable talking to anyone, anytime. It is just like the process that I went through in Aranjuez. It took me about 4 months until I was comfortable in talking to people on the street. But before that it was a real personal struggle. And it still is occasionally, and I don´t think that I will every get rid of it.
The following paragraph will be my newsletter for the month- thank you so much mom for doing this. I really do love it:
Newsletter - ¡Querido Élderes en la obra! This last month has gone by so fast. I sure that you will be shocked to hear this but I was transferred for the first time in my mission. Yes, that means that I have been in the same area for a little more than 8 months. I don´t know what your missions are like, but the Spain Madrid mission likes, long transfers, at least 6-9 months in the area. Unless, of course, there are any problems. So, I have been transferred from a little pueblo to...the CITY.
I am now in Madrid, and our area is one of the most centralized areas of the mission. We are in the middle of everything. We ride the metro 15 times a day and walk by huge skyscrapers all the time. It is way crazy and really different. It is interesting to note how different the way of doing missionary work is in the city than it is in a pueblo. You have to adjust the way you contact and the way you work, because the life here in Madrid is FAST!!! But as usual, I absolutely love it.
I know as I have always known, that I am here, right now, for a reason. Right now the reason is unknown to me, but I will know sooner enough, why the Lord has sent me here, and I plan to have much success here in the streets of Madrid. The cool fact of the month can be that the metro line that is right outside our house is 102 years old. When the old man that I talked to told me that I was shocked, not even knowing that there was electricity 102 years ago. That goes to show you how much I know. But that is one thing I love about Spain, that the history here is incredible. There are buildings, monuments, and 2000 year old Roman aqueducts that are older that our entire country. I love it! It´s crazy, and I know that this is the work of the Savior himself.
Well thank you so much mom, for all that you do. Thank you dad as well for your loving counsel. I love you both and the kids as well. I am trying to think of what I need, and that is basically nothing, other than the contacts. Of what would be nice...well, the white pair of socks that I occasionally use for exercising or for playing soccer have tons of holes in them. So a couple of white socks would be nice, 2 or 3 pairs. Music is always great. It is the only variety that we get everyday. I don´t know if you could get a couple of famous religious talks on cd, but that would be way cool. We already have General Conference on Cd, well not the last one but maybe some famous religious byu devotionals or something. I don´t know. I really don´t need much. But I do love receiving packages. I love you so much, and I sure enjoyed talking to you on Sunday. I guess I will have to wait 6 more months.
Keep on doing what´s right! I love you all!
Elder Driggs
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Rob gets Transferred to Sol!
Dearest Family in the World,
Let´s just say that this week has been a week of...surprises. On Saturday Night at about 10:30, Elder Dawson and I received a phone call from the Zone Leaders. They were calling to announce the transfers that were going to occur Monday afternoon at 12 in the Stake Center near the temple. Elder Rands, one of our zone leaders from Washington, told me the sobering news that I was to be transferred my first time in the mission field. So after 8 months and one week in the beautiful area of Aranjuez, I was to leave and start anew in another area of Madrid. It was a roller coaster of emotions. I am sure that you can understand a little bit, as the thought of being in a new area, a new companion, a new everything, was very, very foreign to me. But also, I was very excited, this being my first transfer, my second area after 10 months into the mission, and to be honest, it would have been very hard for me to stay another six weeks in Aranjuez. After walking those same streets for so long, it is just hard on my mind. I am not complaining, because we had and are going to have lots of success there, but...I have been there a long time and am ready for the change.
So the next day, Domingo o Sunday, I kept it a secret to all the members until after the 3rd reunion. Everyone started giving me directions, mine to them, and they begged me to stay in touch. I also had the chance to be able to say goodbye to all the recent converts that are still in Aranjuez. So I am very grateful for that privilege. Giselle, the Brazilian who is going to be baptized this Saturday, just started crying when she heard. To be honest I think she could be part of the problem that I left. She had told me about 1 week ago that she loves me... more than just a love between brother and sister in God type love. She also had asked me to baptize her but resisted until she cried again. She assured us that she was doing it for the right reasons, and I accepted. But now I will not be doing it. I didn´t want to, as it is always better that the members perform the service. There is more that needs to be done to fellowship and more help in the future, when the members are more involved. We explained to her all of that, but ultimately it is her decision.
The most touching thing was that night when we went over to the Alvarez family, and had Noche de Hogar (family home evening) with them, Michael and his mom and brother, and with a nonmember friend. We watched the movie the Restoration. Everyone felt the Spirit as usual and we had a wonderful evening talking, taking last pictures, and saying a very long goodbye. Right before I left, I gave Michael Alvarez, the recent convert, a last hug and told him I loved him. He didn´t seem too sad, which made it easier for me, but when we were about to leave the door, Elder Dawson pointed me over to where he was sitting and he was there...sobbing. He had taken off his glasses and was just overwhelmed with emotion. I felt a great love that he had for me as he sat there, but even more than just the love he had for me, I felt that he was crying in gratitude, for the blessings that he had received because of his baptism. The Lord had prepared Michael to be baptized in this time and I was so blessed to be able to be there and be an instrument in the hands of God to walk hand in hand with him along the path. I felt very humble as he sat there crying, everyone in silence, the girls crying, and I thanked my Heavenly Father for the blessing of being able to be His humble servant here in Aranjuez for so long. I know that I was sent to help Michael, and Michael knew it too. I think that is why he was crying so much. A way of thanking me, I guess.
So my experience in Aranjuez was...priceless and a miracle. To say the least. I learned from Elder Carr how to love the people and from Elder Dawson how to be diligent always and how to maintain focus to accomplish goals. I learned so much from the members, non members, and the investigadores (investigators) and the experiences I have had there, surely have changed and shaped my life.
So Sunday and Monday morning I packed and at 9:30, Elder Dawson and I headed up to the Stake Center in Madrid. We got there with plenty of time to spare, so that we could mingle with the missionaries that were leaving for home and the others that were getting transferred. I think that 30 of the 33 companionships were changed in this transfer meeting. So do you want to know where I am... You have to wait a little longer...Maybe I will just tell you on Sunday.
Nah!, I am not that heartless.
So about sixty of us missionaries were in this room with the assistants and President Watkins up front. After the prayer they started reading off the assignments. Zone Leaders of the zone Las Afueras...Elder Gerrbo and Elder Ketchum.. etc. Then they named all of the missionaries and district leaders in that zone(that was my old zone by the way.) Then they started with the next zone. The Zone Leaders for the zone Cuatro Caminos...Elderes Moreno y Driggs...AHHHHH!!!!
Let´s just say that after that announcement I completely zoned out for the other two zones. So in case that you are thinking this is a joke. It´s not. I am a zone leader. I am exercising a lot of faith in President Watkins and the assistants, who make the decisions, and I am...ok. I was a little overwhelmed at first. But I am getting more and more confident as time goes. It is crazy, especially since I completely skipped District leader. I feel that I am missing some sort of preparation. But, in all things we must trust in the ways of the Lord. So I have been here 2 days now, this is my third. We actually work in Sol. It is part of our area. You should look at some pictures in the internet because it is very famous. Elder Moreno is from Cádiz Spain and speaks limited English. That´s ok because I can now communicate in Spanish, but that is surely my biggest weakness and fear as a Zone leader. Not being able to communicate and express myself correctly. I love the area and we are going to have a lot of success.
I have to write my informe to President Watkins now, but I love you all and ask that you please pray for me and us. I assure you that I am praying for you. I am excited to talk to you Sunday at 4 o clock in the afternoon our time. and our number again is 627.484.727
I will be awaiting your warm voices.
With all my love,
Elder Driggs.
P.S. I am still trying to get you pictures. Lo siento.
Let´s just say that this week has been a week of...surprises. On Saturday Night at about 10:30, Elder Dawson and I received a phone call from the Zone Leaders. They were calling to announce the transfers that were going to occur Monday afternoon at 12 in the Stake Center near the temple. Elder Rands, one of our zone leaders from Washington, told me the sobering news that I was to be transferred my first time in the mission field. So after 8 months and one week in the beautiful area of Aranjuez, I was to leave and start anew in another area of Madrid. It was a roller coaster of emotions. I am sure that you can understand a little bit, as the thought of being in a new area, a new companion, a new everything, was very, very foreign to me. But also, I was very excited, this being my first transfer, my second area after 10 months into the mission, and to be honest, it would have been very hard for me to stay another six weeks in Aranjuez. After walking those same streets for so long, it is just hard on my mind. I am not complaining, because we had and are going to have lots of success there, but...I have been there a long time and am ready for the change.
So the next day, Domingo o Sunday, I kept it a secret to all the members until after the 3rd reunion. Everyone started giving me directions, mine to them, and they begged me to stay in touch. I also had the chance to be able to say goodbye to all the recent converts that are still in Aranjuez. So I am very grateful for that privilege. Giselle, the Brazilian who is going to be baptized this Saturday, just started crying when she heard. To be honest I think she could be part of the problem that I left. She had told me about 1 week ago that she loves me... more than just a love between brother and sister in God type love. She also had asked me to baptize her but resisted until she cried again. She assured us that she was doing it for the right reasons, and I accepted. But now I will not be doing it. I didn´t want to, as it is always better that the members perform the service. There is more that needs to be done to fellowship and more help in the future, when the members are more involved. We explained to her all of that, but ultimately it is her decision.
The most touching thing was that night when we went over to the Alvarez family, and had Noche de Hogar (family home evening) with them, Michael and his mom and brother, and with a nonmember friend. We watched the movie the Restoration. Everyone felt the Spirit as usual and we had a wonderful evening talking, taking last pictures, and saying a very long goodbye. Right before I left, I gave Michael Alvarez, the recent convert, a last hug and told him I loved him. He didn´t seem too sad, which made it easier for me, but when we were about to leave the door, Elder Dawson pointed me over to where he was sitting and he was there...sobbing. He had taken off his glasses and was just overwhelmed with emotion. I felt a great love that he had for me as he sat there, but even more than just the love he had for me, I felt that he was crying in gratitude, for the blessings that he had received because of his baptism. The Lord had prepared Michael to be baptized in this time and I was so blessed to be able to be there and be an instrument in the hands of God to walk hand in hand with him along the path. I felt very humble as he sat there crying, everyone in silence, the girls crying, and I thanked my Heavenly Father for the blessing of being able to be His humble servant here in Aranjuez for so long. I know that I was sent to help Michael, and Michael knew it too. I think that is why he was crying so much. A way of thanking me, I guess.
So my experience in Aranjuez was...priceless and a miracle. To say the least. I learned from Elder Carr how to love the people and from Elder Dawson how to be diligent always and how to maintain focus to accomplish goals. I learned so much from the members, non members, and the investigadores (investigators) and the experiences I have had there, surely have changed and shaped my life.
So Sunday and Monday morning I packed and at 9:30, Elder Dawson and I headed up to the Stake Center in Madrid. We got there with plenty of time to spare, so that we could mingle with the missionaries that were leaving for home and the others that were getting transferred. I think that 30 of the 33 companionships were changed in this transfer meeting. So do you want to know where I am... You have to wait a little longer...Maybe I will just tell you on Sunday.
Nah!, I am not that heartless.
So about sixty of us missionaries were in this room with the assistants and President Watkins up front. After the prayer they started reading off the assignments. Zone Leaders of the zone Las Afueras...Elder Gerrbo and Elder Ketchum.. etc. Then they named all of the missionaries and district leaders in that zone(that was my old zone by the way.) Then they started with the next zone. The Zone Leaders for the zone Cuatro Caminos...Elderes Moreno y Driggs...AHHHHH!!!!
Let´s just say that after that announcement I completely zoned out for the other two zones. So in case that you are thinking this is a joke. It´s not. I am a zone leader. I am exercising a lot of faith in President Watkins and the assistants, who make the decisions, and I am...ok. I was a little overwhelmed at first. But I am getting more and more confident as time goes. It is crazy, especially since I completely skipped District leader. I feel that I am missing some sort of preparation. But, in all things we must trust in the ways of the Lord. So I have been here 2 days now, this is my third. We actually work in Sol. It is part of our area. You should look at some pictures in the internet because it is very famous. Elder Moreno is from Cádiz Spain and speaks limited English. That´s ok because I can now communicate in Spanish, but that is surely my biggest weakness and fear as a Zone leader. Not being able to communicate and express myself correctly. I love the area and we are going to have a lot of success.
I have to write my informe to President Watkins now, but I love you all and ask that you please pray for me and us. I assure you that I am praying for you. I am excited to talk to you Sunday at 4 o clock in the afternoon our time. and our number again is 627.484.727
I will be awaiting your warm voices.
With all my love,
Elder Driggs.
P.S. I am still trying to get you pictures. Lo siento.
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