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