Dearest Family,
I am very glad that you had a good week. I pray for you a lot. I always try and mention my family when I pray. You are the most important people to me and I pray that Heavenly Father keeps blessing you and us as a family so that we can enjoy Celestial blessings. I want and desire nothing more for us and I know that that blessing is within reach. It depends entirely on our use of agency. What a gift our agency is as it is the key to our progression. We surely learn most when we fall down and what a blessing it is to be able to pick ourselves back up and fix those earlier mistakes.
I did receive the package, Mom. Thank you sooo much. You sure know how to remind me of home and feel your love. I absolutely loved the Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. Boy, do I love that cereal. I received the package this last Monday while we were in the office. We were on the computers when the delivery guy came in and delivered the package. I opened it right there and took out those prescious pictures. I loved them! A lot of them were really random but what fun seeing how the house is and the changes that you have made. I love the new kitchen table and Cari´s and Mom and Dad´s bedrooms. I was SUPER surprised when I saw the picture of Dad. Holy Cow!!! You have lost a ton of weight. Don´t take me wrong, you were not fat when I left, but you are super skinny now. It reminds me a lot of your wedding engagement picture. You look great, and Mom, you also have lost weight. Congratulations! What a success. I am trying to gain weight but am very unsuccessful. We will see how it goes as time goes on. I am sure that that stage in life will hit some day. So the pictures were great and I opened the Swedish fish up last night and they were really fresh. Ahhh!!! So good!
I am glad to receive the news about BYU. I am pretty sure that President will allow me to make certain arrangements to be able to register on preparation day. I also would love to take advantage of the offer to look for work for me, Dad. I would love to have something lined up for me when I get back. There are three things that I want to do when I get back. 1- Have a good calling at church. Just something to do, I don´t care what it is but I want something to do that will allow me to continue to serve. 2 – I want to work. I want to be involved in earning and saving money for the future, I also think that it would be a good thing to have a part time job while at BYU, to have some sort of income. I am not sure if Lee Stoore is still working at the Zermatt hotel but his number was in my cell phone when I left. Even if he is not working there, I am sure that he would be willing to talk to them and see if there are any job availabilities. And 3 – Of course, I will want to spend tons of time with the family. After being away for so long I want to take advantage of every opportunity to be with you. Laugh with you, talk with, and work with you (cleaning, helping, and fixing in any way, everything I didn´t do before the misión). So those will be my most immediate priorities, I think.
I have made a note to join in on the family fast the 6th of February and to pray at 5:00 mountain time. Except that I will have to pray a Little earlier because I will need to be in bad at that time.
This past week has been a crazy week. It´s interesting the way that things have turned out with Elder Jeppson and Elder Gardner. We have gone through with the exchanges and it has been hard for them to keep learning and adjusting to missionary life when sometimes we are not there and especially when it has been necessary that they two, together, go out by themselves to face the world. It isn´t the best situation but they are learning a ton and they are such good missionaries. They both have no fear whatsoever and contact in the metro and in the Street and everywhere. They are great and their examples are helping me work harder as well. Elder Jeppson speaks Spanish super well. He and I basically only speak in Spanish, except for the times that the English just slips out. I remember telling Elder Carr to only talk to me in Spanish but then I would just end up not talking and that wasn´t good either. I think that I was in my 4th transfer or so, with Elder Dawson when we started setting goals to only speak Spanish, and even then it was really difficult. So, he is way for ahead of where I was. He will be a great missionary, especially since he works hard and loves the work.
The baptisms of Javiera and Francisca this last Saturday were soooo spiritual. Really, it was one of the most spiritual experiences of my whole misión. Elder Ketchum and I had been really pushy in having their dad baptize, even though they wanted us to do it. We tried to explain the reasons but they were really resentful. Obviously it was their choice, but their dad, Marco wanted to perform the ordinance. Kati, their mother, was also resisting a Little bit as she wanted us to do it as well, as she had been baptized by Elder Ketchum on Christmas. Well, we got the final Word that Javiera and Francisca had somehow changed their minds and were going to be baptized by their father Marco. We were soooo excited, as Marco has started to come back to church less tan 2 months ago, after being inactive for over 30 years. He had been given the Aaronic Priesthood in December and was very excited, and a Little nervous, for the ordinance.
I cannot write everything that happened that night right now, because of the lack of time, but I will surely tell you more when I get back, as I tried to write it in detail in my journal. To be short and simple, it was sooo precious and beautiful to see a very humble father bringing his beloved daughters into the waters of baptism, just like some missionary had done when he was 12 years old, and baptizing them unto repentance and allowing them to enter into the fold of God, the Church of Christ (as Dad mentioned). It was so sacred as he, while saying their names and the prayer, fixed his sight in the eyes of his wife. He said the prayer both times flawless and not letting his visión be distracted from that of his wife Kati. It was something so special to see, because it was as if he was letting her share in that ordinance. The Spirit was very, very strong and Marco choked up a Little bit during the prayer as Kati started to ball. You can only imagine the extreme joy that she should have felt, as several months ago Marco drank Alcohol and spent less time with his family. Now, he, the father of his family, was worthy to hold the holy Priesthood of God, and was baptizing his daughters. It was a special and sacred evening and I hope that they continue on, because as of right now their sights are fixed on the temple. Marco is taking classes to prepare to receive the Melchizedek priesthood. It is all a special experience.
Thank you soo much for the package, for your love, and your prayers.
I love you all very much!!! And I pray for you!
Love,
Elder Driggs, Rob!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
January 19, 2011
Dear family,
This week has been a great week. Part of what our plan is to help the mission is to do 1 exchange with almost every missionary within metro Madrid. That in total will be 15 exchanges and we plan to do this before the end of this transfer, so within the next 5 weeks. We started the program yesterday and I went to Cuatro Caminos, Barrio 5, my old ward/area, and worked the day with Elder Cardoso, who is a 7 year(I think) convert to the church from Brazil. His family right now is living in Castillo de León and he is a great missionary. He works hard and has only been out in the field for 2 transfers. This is his second.
It was great being back in Barrio 5 for the day and I was able to see a couple of members and it always feels good when people remember you and tell you how much they miss you. It was great to see them and the bishop again. We saw the bishop while we were in the church teaching English classes. So the plan is that we do 3 exchanges for the next 5 weeks so that we can cover all of Madrid we are excited but to add to our excitement is the news that we received this last Monday.
While in the office this last Monday we received the news that 6 new missionaries had received their visas and were to enter the mission Wednesday or today. Well while talking it over with President about who had more space in their apartments and who would be their trainers he selected 3 units, the one of which is Barrio 2. So the great big news is that Elder Ketchum and I are training two American missionaries.
My companion is Elder Jeppson from North Logan. He is a great missionary and he speaks great Spanish. I have basically been speaking only Spanish with him all day and he speaks to me in Spanish. I am being honest. He has the gift of tongues for sure because he is way ahead of where I was. We are excited to work hard and I feel that we are going to have a lot of success. I am not sure if I will be with him just until this transfer ends, but whatever happens we are ready for a great adventure.
Thank you so much for all of the letters for my birthday. I love hearing from everyone. My birthday was great because a family of recent converts cooked us a wonderful meal. Gorki and Gloria who just got baptized a few months ago cooked a three course meal for us. Un caldo de Longostina de Ecuador, An octopus plate from some place in Spain (it was good), and we finished it off with a smashing presentation of a ceviche de pescado from Peru. Ohhh it was soo good. We had been fasting that day and so it was a great way to celebrate my birthday. I felt lots of love from the members and missionaries here.
Love,
Élder Driggs
This week has been a great week. Part of what our plan is to help the mission is to do 1 exchange with almost every missionary within metro Madrid. That in total will be 15 exchanges and we plan to do this before the end of this transfer, so within the next 5 weeks. We started the program yesterday and I went to Cuatro Caminos, Barrio 5, my old ward/area, and worked the day with Elder Cardoso, who is a 7 year(I think) convert to the church from Brazil. His family right now is living in Castillo de León and he is a great missionary. He works hard and has only been out in the field for 2 transfers. This is his second.
It was great being back in Barrio 5 for the day and I was able to see a couple of members and it always feels good when people remember you and tell you how much they miss you. It was great to see them and the bishop again. We saw the bishop while we were in the church teaching English classes. So the plan is that we do 3 exchanges for the next 5 weeks so that we can cover all of Madrid we are excited but to add to our excitement is the news that we received this last Monday.
While in the office this last Monday we received the news that 6 new missionaries had received their visas and were to enter the mission Wednesday or today. Well while talking it over with President about who had more space in their apartments and who would be their trainers he selected 3 units, the one of which is Barrio 2. So the great big news is that Elder Ketchum and I are training two American missionaries.
My companion is Elder Jeppson from North Logan. He is a great missionary and he speaks great Spanish. I have basically been speaking only Spanish with him all day and he speaks to me in Spanish. I am being honest. He has the gift of tongues for sure because he is way ahead of where I was. We are excited to work hard and I feel that we are going to have a lot of success. I am not sure if I will be with him just until this transfer ends, but whatever happens we are ready for a great adventure.
Thank you so much for all of the letters for my birthday. I love hearing from everyone. My birthday was great because a family of recent converts cooked us a wonderful meal. Gorki and Gloria who just got baptized a few months ago cooked a three course meal for us. Un caldo de Longostina de Ecuador, An octopus plate from some place in Spain (it was good), and we finished it off with a smashing presentation of a ceviche de pescado from Peru. Ohhh it was soo good. We had been fasting that day and so it was a great way to celebrate my birthday. I felt lots of love from the members and missionaries here.
Love,
Élder Driggs
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
January 12, 2011
Oh my wonderful family!
I am glad that this week has been a great week for everyone. It has been the same for me. The missionary work here is going super well and we are finding new ways to help and serve other missionaries as well.
Thank you to all of those who wished me happy birthday. I really appreciate it, and just to let Grandmother and Granddad know, I do receive their letters and love reading them and knowing how they are doing. I apologize for not letting them know otherwise and for never responding. I am horrible.
So Élder Ketchum and I are being blessed a lot right now. We have big goals and Heavenly Father is helping us reach them. The latest news is the progress of the people who are preparing themselves to be baptized. Last week we had the two children, Javiera and Francisca, of Marco and Kati (the Chileans, Kati was baptized on Christmas) with baptismal dates for the 22 of January. They are 9 and 11 years old and are excited for their baptisms. They are children, so they don´t perfectly understand everything but when we asked them why they wanted to be baptized Javiera responded, ¨para entrar en el Reino de Dios (to enter into the Kingdom of God).¨ Super impressive as she basically quoted John 3:5. So, after picking up Élder Ketchum´s jaw off the ground we asked the same question to Francisca who replied, ¨para estar con Dios (to be with God).¨ So we are really impressed with them. They have know been to church 6 times in a row and love the Primary, that blessed organization. Their mother is especially excited because while at a family night with several ward families, she invited everyone to their baptisms.
The other two exciting stories are from two men from Ecuador, Fernando and Fausto. Fernando Andrade is a 33 year old man that was going to get baptized on Christmas with Kati but couldn´t because of complications with his wrist and foot due to a moto accident. We asked President Watkins last night if we could just wrap them up in a plastic bag during the baptism and he said that that would be fine. So we are going to tell Fernando the good news today, as he also has another examine with the doctors to see if he will need rehab or not. He wants to be baptized so we are excited as he will be able to realize his desire very soon.
The last story is someone very new, Fausto Jaramillo. We talked to him last week in the street before we went inside for the day. In the contact we set up an appointment for the next day. It was a really quick contact so we didn´t think too much of it, as usually when people act in a hurry it means that they don´t have too much interest. Unfortunately the next day, we were in exchanges and we didn´t have time to get to the appointment and forgot about him, not calling him or anything. So bad, I know.
Well a couple of days later I called him and he told us that he had been there waiting for us, I apologized big time, and he said that it was fine. We set another appointment up for last Saturday and ended up teaching him in the Church. It was a great experience as he is very humble and willing to listen and act on the message of the Restoration. We invited him to come to church the next day, he came, and we met again Monday. It helps a lot that he doesn´t have work, because he is very flexible, and that makes it easy for him to progress. On Monday we invited him to be baptized on the 5 of February and he accepted. He is great and we have another visit with him today at 7:00 in the church. We are extremely blessed with him and he will be a great member. He reminds me a lot of Segundo Moina in Barrio 5, who was baptized the week after I left that area.
So the blessings are many and the miracles are evident in our daily lives. I thank the Lord for his love and for the blessing of being here in Spain. I hope that you have a wonderful week and that all goes well in your busy daily lives. Keep your chins up and don´t forget to smile.
Dad, I pray for you that things go well as you are far from home. I admire your example of hard work and sacrifice for your family.
I love you very much! I pray for you often and know that you pray for me. Thank you!
Love,
Élder Driggs
January 5, 2011
Happy New Year Family!!!,
Wow, I can´t even believe it that 2011 has come and that 2009 and 2010 have been lost forever in the lovely lanes of our memories. Wow! this year will not be completely dedicated to missionary work as I will be home for almost half of this year. That is a crazy thought and don´t want to think about it too much.
It has been a great week and Élder Ketchum and I have had a lot of fun. We have been busy with lessons, a four hour leadership training program, and the every day missionary life. I love it and am learning a ton about myself and about how to react around others in a way that will help them be better, more like Christ. I need to work on that last part a lot more, because I need to get better at it.
So where to start....How about at New Years Eve!!! Earlier in the week last week, I think it was last Monday or Tuesday where we found a really nice Dominican mother and son and they let us come over and share a message with them immediately after meeting them in the street. They were so nice, and the mother knows that her youngest son here (she has 2 sons and one daughter here, and I think 1 son and her husband in her country) needs to be baptized because he has never done so. She doesn´t quite yet see that need for herself, but we haven´t really had the opportunity to do so, either.
So anyway, we taught them that once and then one more time Thursday, I think. Thursday of last week, they invited us over for their New Year´s Eve dinner, and OF COURSE, we accepted. So we were so honored to have been invited as it was only the four of them, the mom and the three children, and the girlfriend of one of the boys came as we left. It was a huge honor and privilege to have been invited on such short notice and after not even knowing them very well. The mom had contacted missionaries in her country earlier but we were so surprised and grateful. So we went and the food was outstanding....ahhh. She had cooked lobster, shrimp, ham, and this salad that was absolutely delicious. We left very content and we are still pending for our next visit with them.
The leadership training meeting went over really well. It was planned to be four hours. President Watkins was in charge of one hour and Hermana Watkins the other. Elder Ketchum and I covered the topic of teaching to the needs of the investigators and how to start teaching (both of which come from Preach My Gospel). It went well and hopefully all of the missionaries learned a lot. Because of the size of the mission and in order to save time with transportation, we had a huge video conference between the Canary Islands, (there were a few stations there on different islands) and then two more stations in the North of Spain, in Santiago and in León. So it is really neat to see all of this technology working out and be able to communicate with 14 or so other missionaries from around the country at the same time and be able to see and hear them.
Today for preparation day we are planning on playing basketball at the stake center next to the temple. We have planned on meeting a few other missionaries and we are taking with us the other missionaries from B4 (they live with us) as well. I love basketball and it will be fun to play a little bit.
I apologize for being a pest but I would love to hear more missionary stories from you, mom and dad, and from other family members, like uncle Steve, uncle Paul, or others. I would love to be able to hear about when Uncle Steve was with President Watkins, and I would love to hear from Uncle Paul about how the mission was like when he was here. More specifically his areas, etc. I don´t want to bother anyone so just if it is possible.
I love you all and am grateful that you are all well. I am bummed that I am going to miss Cari´s baptism but I understand and support that there is no reason to wait until I get back to do so. The blessing of that saving ordinance is much more important than waiting for a big brother. So take a bunch of pictures to save the moments.
I love you and urge you to keep going with the scripture reading in the morning. What a sacrifice, and what a blessing. I can´t wait to do it with all of you when I get back.
I send my love to all my family and friends.
Have a great week.
Love,
Élder Driggs :)
P.S. Thank you so much mom for the birthday song wish/note. I really appreciate it. I will definitely have you and everyone present in my thoughts that day. I can´t believe I am going to be 21. Yikes
Wow, I can´t even believe it that 2011 has come and that 2009 and 2010 have been lost forever in the lovely lanes of our memories. Wow! this year will not be completely dedicated to missionary work as I will be home for almost half of this year. That is a crazy thought and don´t want to think about it too much.
It has been a great week and Élder Ketchum and I have had a lot of fun. We have been busy with lessons, a four hour leadership training program, and the every day missionary life. I love it and am learning a ton about myself and about how to react around others in a way that will help them be better, more like Christ. I need to work on that last part a lot more, because I need to get better at it.
So where to start....How about at New Years Eve!!! Earlier in the week last week, I think it was last Monday or Tuesday where we found a really nice Dominican mother and son and they let us come over and share a message with them immediately after meeting them in the street. They were so nice, and the mother knows that her youngest son here (she has 2 sons and one daughter here, and I think 1 son and her husband in her country) needs to be baptized because he has never done so. She doesn´t quite yet see that need for herself, but we haven´t really had the opportunity to do so, either.
So anyway, we taught them that once and then one more time Thursday, I think. Thursday of last week, they invited us over for their New Year´s Eve dinner, and OF COURSE, we accepted. So we were so honored to have been invited as it was only the four of them, the mom and the three children, and the girlfriend of one of the boys came as we left. It was a huge honor and privilege to have been invited on such short notice and after not even knowing them very well. The mom had contacted missionaries in her country earlier but we were so surprised and grateful. So we went and the food was outstanding....ahhh. She had cooked lobster, shrimp, ham, and this salad that was absolutely delicious. We left very content and we are still pending for our next visit with them.
The leadership training meeting went over really well. It was planned to be four hours. President Watkins was in charge of one hour and Hermana Watkins the other. Elder Ketchum and I covered the topic of teaching to the needs of the investigators and how to start teaching (both of which come from Preach My Gospel). It went well and hopefully all of the missionaries learned a lot. Because of the size of the mission and in order to save time with transportation, we had a huge video conference between the Canary Islands, (there were a few stations there on different islands) and then two more stations in the North of Spain, in Santiago and in León. So it is really neat to see all of this technology working out and be able to communicate with 14 or so other missionaries from around the country at the same time and be able to see and hear them.
Today for preparation day we are planning on playing basketball at the stake center next to the temple. We have planned on meeting a few other missionaries and we are taking with us the other missionaries from B4 (they live with us) as well. I love basketball and it will be fun to play a little bit.
I apologize for being a pest but I would love to hear more missionary stories from you, mom and dad, and from other family members, like uncle Steve, uncle Paul, or others. I would love to be able to hear about when Uncle Steve was with President Watkins, and I would love to hear from Uncle Paul about how the mission was like when he was here. More specifically his areas, etc. I don´t want to bother anyone so just if it is possible.
I love you all and am grateful that you are all well. I am bummed that I am going to miss Cari´s baptism but I understand and support that there is no reason to wait until I get back to do so. The blessing of that saving ordinance is much more important than waiting for a big brother. So take a bunch of pictures to save the moments.
I love you and urge you to keep going with the scripture reading in the morning. What a sacrifice, and what a blessing. I can´t wait to do it with all of you when I get back.
I send my love to all my family and friends.
Have a great week.
Love,
Élder Driggs :)
P.S. Thank you so much mom for the birthday song wish/note. I really appreciate it. I will definitely have you and everyone present in my thoughts that day. I can´t believe I am going to be 21. Yikes
December 29, 2010
Dear Family,
Well, it was so much fun being able to talk to you on Saturday. I apologize again for not being able to talk the first time that you called. What a nightmare that must have been for you, having to wait even more time after waiting six months to talk to me. I apologize. It was sure fun hearing your voices and being able to hear you laugh and get along with each other....haha. I am finally seeing, little by little, how our family is going to socialize and react one with another. We are growing up and now have personalities and we are becoming more friends, rather than just brothers and sisters. So that is very exciting. The distance between me and Cami and Mark and Cari, is diminishing more and more and I understand that there really is not a big age difference. So cool!
This week has been great and I actually wanted to share a spiritual experience that I had the other night.
Elder Ketchum and I were teaching a recent convert family of 2 or 3 months and let´s just say that they are absolutely incredible. They are super active and have tons of faith. After the lesson, and the lessons are usually just them telling us how much they love the Gospel and how much it has really changed their lives and how willing they are to sacrifice themselves for the church and other members, etc. So after the lesson the wife of this family with a 6 year old daughter asked us to give her a priesthood blessing.
She was having headaches and she has I think, a mild form of Multiple Sclerosis, but has been told that she could die in the next 15 years. So we gave her the blessing, and in the blessing much was said about the strength of her faith. After we finished the blessing she stood up with tears coming down her cheek and asked, do you want to know something? We said sí. She told us that her head no longer was hurting her. She said it again, rather astonished, and said that it was incredible.
There were several moments of silence and the Spirit was very strong and thick in that room. We were touched and knew that it was because we had complied with the three requirements of a blessing taught by Elder Oaks. We had the priesthood, she had tons of faith, and it was the will of the Lord. I was humbled by the experience and knew that it was a true miracle, wrought about by the faith of this special sister. They are battling all sorts of persecution from friends and have had friends cease to be their friends for joining this ¨sect.¨ The good thing is that we know that all of this is true and that the blessings are real and many.
It was a beautiful and sweet experience and count it a tender mercy to have been able to participate in it.
I love you family and wish you a wonderful week. Just remember that I pray for you. I know that you pray for me and I feel those prayers and your love.
Love
Élder Driggs
Well, it was so much fun being able to talk to you on Saturday. I apologize again for not being able to talk the first time that you called. What a nightmare that must have been for you, having to wait even more time after waiting six months to talk to me. I apologize. It was sure fun hearing your voices and being able to hear you laugh and get along with each other....haha. I am finally seeing, little by little, how our family is going to socialize and react one with another. We are growing up and now have personalities and we are becoming more friends, rather than just brothers and sisters. So that is very exciting. The distance between me and Cami and Mark and Cari, is diminishing more and more and I understand that there really is not a big age difference. So cool!
This week has been great and I actually wanted to share a spiritual experience that I had the other night.
Elder Ketchum and I were teaching a recent convert family of 2 or 3 months and let´s just say that they are absolutely incredible. They are super active and have tons of faith. After the lesson, and the lessons are usually just them telling us how much they love the Gospel and how much it has really changed their lives and how willing they are to sacrifice themselves for the church and other members, etc. So after the lesson the wife of this family with a 6 year old daughter asked us to give her a priesthood blessing.
She was having headaches and she has I think, a mild form of Multiple Sclerosis, but has been told that she could die in the next 15 years. So we gave her the blessing, and in the blessing much was said about the strength of her faith. After we finished the blessing she stood up with tears coming down her cheek and asked, do you want to know something? We said sí. She told us that her head no longer was hurting her. She said it again, rather astonished, and said that it was incredible.
There were several moments of silence and the Spirit was very strong and thick in that room. We were touched and knew that it was because we had complied with the three requirements of a blessing taught by Elder Oaks. We had the priesthood, she had tons of faith, and it was the will of the Lord. I was humbled by the experience and knew that it was a true miracle, wrought about by the faith of this special sister. They are battling all sorts of persecution from friends and have had friends cease to be their friends for joining this ¨sect.¨ The good thing is that we know that all of this is true and that the blessings are real and many.
It was a beautiful and sweet experience and count it a tender mercy to have been able to participate in it.
I love you family and wish you a wonderful week. Just remember that I pray for you. I know that you pray for me and I feel those prayers and your love.
Love
Élder Driggs
December 22, 2010
Hey there family!
Merry Christmas o como decimos aquí en la tierra de España, ¡Feliz Navidad! I already elaborated my thoughts and feelings about Christmas last week and so I won´t bore you more this week on the subject. But it sufficeth me to say that I love Christmas and am grateful for the strong seasonal traditions that we have as a family and the wonderful memories that we have had together in the past.
This last week we have had a lot of rainy weather, not huge rain storms but a few drops and a lot of gray clouds. I am not a big fan of the rain as a missionary because it isn´t very fun being in the Street and getting drenched. Luckily, we haven´t been outside just contacting very much.
Things are going really well here. We are still on for this Saturday for Fernando and Kati and that is our biggest excitement for the moment. You will also be happy to know that we are going to be in good hands for la noche buena (Christmas Eve) y la Navidad (Christmas Day). I am a little worried because we are going to be eating a lot, and that is one of the things that I actually don´t like about the mission. When you have already eaten and then someone prepares you another meal and you can´t say no, and you feel obligated to eat it. I hate that feeling and that situation. So I think that we have 2 meals on Friday and 2 or 3 on Saturday, and I am going to do my best to spread out the times so that I can enjoy what we are eating rather than just concentrating on not throwing up.
We are also thinking about going up to the mission home Friday night and eating a turkey dinner there and then spending the night there. That should be fun, as we would go with the Elders that live with us and the office Elders and the missionary that lives with them. Oh yeah, there is an American couple that lives in our Ward and they are have invited us over Saturday afternoon. The wife of the family actually grew up in Driggs, Idaho and lived in the original Driggs home before they tore it down. So that´s a really cool fact.
Well, I am sure you would like to know how Christmas is here in Spain. Spain doesn´t really have very many Christmas traditions. Actually for Spaniards Christmas isn´t that special, because their main holiday is the 3 or 4 or 5th of January where they celebrate the Magos Reyes or the wise men. This is when the Spanish people normally receive presents. However, because of the high population of South Americans here there is a lot of Christmas hype.
Today for preparation day we went to the distribution center and I bought a hymnal because I have promised a recent convert in Barrio 5 that I would give my current one to her. So I bought another one for me.
I do not know if I told you this last time but I found out that someone else got baptized in Aranjuez. The Little brother of Michael Alvarez that got baptized in April of last year. The Little brother must have finally received permission from his mom to get baptized and I Heard that his parents are also thinking about doing the same. I never really knew the dad but the mother was really nice, but doubtful or fearful about learning more about the gospel. Now that she has had 2 good examples of her sons, maybe she and her husband can have the courage to do the same.
I am glad to hear that everything is going well with everyone. I am really excited to hear from everyone, especially Cami, Mark, and Cari, because I don´t hear too much from them.
Rob in his Christmas Sweater - He just can't be left out of the Ugly Sweater Party!
Well, I am out of time. Have a good rest of the week and we will talk more Saturday.
I love you soo much and have fun preparing for Christmas!
I love you,
Elder Driggs
Merry Christmas o como decimos aquí en la tierra de España, ¡Feliz Navidad! I already elaborated my thoughts and feelings about Christmas last week and so I won´t bore you more this week on the subject. But it sufficeth me to say that I love Christmas and am grateful for the strong seasonal traditions that we have as a family and the wonderful memories that we have had together in the past.
This last week we have had a lot of rainy weather, not huge rain storms but a few drops and a lot of gray clouds. I am not a big fan of the rain as a missionary because it isn´t very fun being in the Street and getting drenched. Luckily, we haven´t been outside just contacting very much.
Things are going really well here. We are still on for this Saturday for Fernando and Kati and that is our biggest excitement for the moment. You will also be happy to know that we are going to be in good hands for la noche buena (Christmas Eve) y la Navidad (Christmas Day). I am a little worried because we are going to be eating a lot, and that is one of the things that I actually don´t like about the mission. When you have already eaten and then someone prepares you another meal and you can´t say no, and you feel obligated to eat it. I hate that feeling and that situation. So I think that we have 2 meals on Friday and 2 or 3 on Saturday, and I am going to do my best to spread out the times so that I can enjoy what we are eating rather than just concentrating on not throwing up.
We are also thinking about going up to the mission home Friday night and eating a turkey dinner there and then spending the night there. That should be fun, as we would go with the Elders that live with us and the office Elders and the missionary that lives with them. Oh yeah, there is an American couple that lives in our Ward and they are have invited us over Saturday afternoon. The wife of the family actually grew up in Driggs, Idaho and lived in the original Driggs home before they tore it down. So that´s a really cool fact.
Well, I am sure you would like to know how Christmas is here in Spain. Spain doesn´t really have very many Christmas traditions. Actually for Spaniards Christmas isn´t that special, because their main holiday is the 3 or 4 or 5th of January where they celebrate the Magos Reyes or the wise men. This is when the Spanish people normally receive presents. However, because of the high population of South Americans here there is a lot of Christmas hype.
Today for preparation day we went to the distribution center and I bought a hymnal because I have promised a recent convert in Barrio 5 that I would give my current one to her. So I bought another one for me.
I do not know if I told you this last time but I found out that someone else got baptized in Aranjuez. The Little brother of Michael Alvarez that got baptized in April of last year. The Little brother must have finally received permission from his mom to get baptized and I Heard that his parents are also thinking about doing the same. I never really knew the dad but the mother was really nice, but doubtful or fearful about learning more about the gospel. Now that she has had 2 good examples of her sons, maybe she and her husband can have the courage to do the same.
I am glad to hear that everything is going well with everyone. I am really excited to hear from everyone, especially Cami, Mark, and Cari, because I don´t hear too much from them.
Rob in his Christmas Sweater - He just can't be left out of the Ugly Sweater Party!
Well, I am out of time. Have a good rest of the week and we will talk more Saturday.
I love you soo much and have fun preparing for Christmas!
I love you,
Elder Driggs
December 15, 2010
Dearest Family in the whole wide world,
It certainly is the most wonderful time of the year and the hap, happiest season of all. I love Christmas. I have so many good memories of Christmas in the past, being with family, the snow, skiing, serving others and Secret Santa, and so many other cherished memories in my mind. I love everything about Christmas. Christmas is a little different away from home in the mission field, but that same spirit of Christmas is very present.
I appreciate the beautiful chance that I have to preach good tidings of GREAT joy to people that in other ways might not fully comprehend the life of Christ, like we do. It is so special to be able to invite people to be baptized in this time of the year because it really is the ultimate way of celebrating la Navidad, by entering into the sacred covenant of baptism, committing yourself to remember Christ always and to take upon yourself his name.
Wow!!! President Watkins wanted all of the missionaries to use a similar slogan during this season which was, Cual es la mejor manera de celebrar la Navidad?...Bautizarse (What is the best way to celebrate Christmas, Baptizing.) He wanted us to use that in our contacts, lessons, and baptismal invitations, and to our surprise the people sometimes are in agreement. So the mission is going well and I really do love Christmas. There is no better time to represent the Lord than in His season.
This week has gone great. Elder Ketchum and I are working well together and are determined to help people be baptized. We, right now, have three people who have baptismal dates. Two of them are super firm and they will be baptized the 25th of December, La Navidad. The other woman has a baptismal date for the 15th of January and is working towards it with desires to do so.
The first person with a baptismal date is Kati. She is from the great country of CHILE! and she is just wonderful. Her husband, Marco, was baptized when he was 12 years old but has been inactive for many years. They have 3 precious children, Javiera, 10 years old, Francisca, 9, and Isaac 1 year maybe. We love teaching them and they are so....easy. They are so sensitive to the Spirit and have really seen changes in their lives as they have applied the Gospel in their lives. Kati just loves the church and looks like a member already. They are such a great family and have tons of faith.
The neat thing is that they were a reference from a recent convert couple that were baptized about 3 months ago. That couple is so solid and are great helps to this chilean family. So we are super excited for them. We are working with the girls so that they can also get baptized. They like the primary, so that is a huge step. They were going to get baptized the same day as their mother but the mom said that they would need extra time or that they were not ready quite yet. We are not too worried because they will soon be baptized.
The other baptismal date is Fernando from Ecuador. He is also so good. He was a reference from a member as well and is very special. He loves going to the church and is very active in the activities. He got in a scooter accident a couple of weeks ago when a car ran into him while he was working in his delivery job, and so he is home a lot of the time. This makes it easy for him to read the Book of Mormon but it is hard for him to come to church and the activities. Luckily the ward council is very willing to help him and find people who can help him with transportation.
Things are going really well here in Barrio 2 Spain, Madrid and I am enjoying the mission.
I love all of you and hope that you stay strong and are being examples to all of those who are around you. I pray for you a ton and send my love to you, the family, and everyone over there. Please keep praying for me and the people that are listening to the message of the Restoration that they can have the Spirit with they to help guide them to the waters of baptism.
I love you so much.
Love,
Elder Driggs
It certainly is the most wonderful time of the year and the hap, happiest season of all. I love Christmas. I have so many good memories of Christmas in the past, being with family, the snow, skiing, serving others and Secret Santa, and so many other cherished memories in my mind. I love everything about Christmas. Christmas is a little different away from home in the mission field, but that same spirit of Christmas is very present.
I appreciate the beautiful chance that I have to preach good tidings of GREAT joy to people that in other ways might not fully comprehend the life of Christ, like we do. It is so special to be able to invite people to be baptized in this time of the year because it really is the ultimate way of celebrating la Navidad, by entering into the sacred covenant of baptism, committing yourself to remember Christ always and to take upon yourself his name.
Wow!!! President Watkins wanted all of the missionaries to use a similar slogan during this season which was, Cual es la mejor manera de celebrar la Navidad?...Bautizarse (What is the best way to celebrate Christmas, Baptizing.) He wanted us to use that in our contacts, lessons, and baptismal invitations, and to our surprise the people sometimes are in agreement. So the mission is going well and I really do love Christmas. There is no better time to represent the Lord than in His season.
This week has gone great. Elder Ketchum and I are working well together and are determined to help people be baptized. We, right now, have three people who have baptismal dates. Two of them are super firm and they will be baptized the 25th of December, La Navidad. The other woman has a baptismal date for the 15th of January and is working towards it with desires to do so.
The first person with a baptismal date is Kati. She is from the great country of CHILE! and she is just wonderful. Her husband, Marco, was baptized when he was 12 years old but has been inactive for many years. They have 3 precious children, Javiera, 10 years old, Francisca, 9, and Isaac 1 year maybe. We love teaching them and they are so....easy. They are so sensitive to the Spirit and have really seen changes in their lives as they have applied the Gospel in their lives. Kati just loves the church and looks like a member already. They are such a great family and have tons of faith.
The neat thing is that they were a reference from a recent convert couple that were baptized about 3 months ago. That couple is so solid and are great helps to this chilean family. So we are super excited for them. We are working with the girls so that they can also get baptized. They like the primary, so that is a huge step. They were going to get baptized the same day as their mother but the mom said that they would need extra time or that they were not ready quite yet. We are not too worried because they will soon be baptized.
The other baptismal date is Fernando from Ecuador. He is also so good. He was a reference from a member as well and is very special. He loves going to the church and is very active in the activities. He got in a scooter accident a couple of weeks ago when a car ran into him while he was working in his delivery job, and so he is home a lot of the time. This makes it easy for him to read the Book of Mormon but it is hard for him to come to church and the activities. Luckily the ward council is very willing to help him and find people who can help him with transportation.
Things are going really well here in Barrio 2 Spain, Madrid and I am enjoying the mission.
I love all of you and hope that you stay strong and are being examples to all of those who are around you. I pray for you a ton and send my love to you, the family, and everyone over there. Please keep praying for me and the people that are listening to the message of the Restoration that they can have the Spirit with they to help guide them to the waters of baptism.
I love you so much.
Love,
Elder Driggs
December 8, 2010
Dear Family,
This week has been a great week. Barrio 2 is a great ward and there is a lot of work here right now. We are going to have a baptism this Saturday at 5 and we are really excited. Luis Miguel, a Spaniard around the age 56, is getting baptized. His wife, from Ecuador, was a inactive member until a couple months ago, and their daughter, 13 years old, just got baptized about a month ago, more or less. So he, Luis, is really excited and he has changed a lot and is very happy. He has stopped smoking and says that he has been in the search of peace and has finally found it. When Elder Ketchum asked him how he feels, he said, ¨Me siento paz,¨ (I feel peace). So we are very excited for him. There are a lot of members here in this ward that are involved in missionary work, and the bishop is wonderful.
I am not sure if I commented very much last week about the area, but it is still here in Madrid, in the north east part. If you want to look at a map the area includes the metro lines 5 and 7, roughly, starting from Ventas, which is where the church is, and then up the line to Pueblo Nuevo, Suanzes, San Blas, etc. So it is still very central. Not as much as Barrio 5, because nothing gets more central than that, but for example we have a lot of Calle Alcalá in our area. It is a very long street with tons of shops. We do a lot of street contacting on that street and in the past, missionaries have found tons of people that are ¨golden¨ so we stick with the tradition and so far so good.
I love you all a bunch, and I am sorry that this letter is short. I did receive the package mom and it was amazing. I loved the jeans, and hope that I can have a chance to wear them soon. They fit perfectly. There is nothing better than skinny jeans haha. I also loved the 24 days of Christmas sheets that you sent me. I started late, but am trying to catch up. I of course loved the candy as well. I absolutely loved the package and am so grateful for an amazing loving family like all of you. Thank you sooo much. It means a lot to me.
I think that toffee would be a great idea for investigators and members here in the ward. But if you have a better idea, I am open to everything.
I have one request this week. Elder Gomez, my last companion, has not been receiving constant emails from his mother. He does receive emails from his father, who lives in California, his parents are divorced and his mom remarried in Guatemala and his dad with a girlfriend. So his mom has been sick recently and I would love it if you, mom, and Cami, and whoever else in the family could write him. It would be great if you could write him. He would really appreciate it. So his address is: michael.gomez@myldsmail.net
So if you could send him a little note that would be fantastic.
Well, have a great week and know that I love you sooooo much and pray for you tons!
Love,
Élder Driggs
This week has been a great week. Barrio 2 is a great ward and there is a lot of work here right now. We are going to have a baptism this Saturday at 5 and we are really excited. Luis Miguel, a Spaniard around the age 56, is getting baptized. His wife, from Ecuador, was a inactive member until a couple months ago, and their daughter, 13 years old, just got baptized about a month ago, more or less. So he, Luis, is really excited and he has changed a lot and is very happy. He has stopped smoking and says that he has been in the search of peace and has finally found it. When Elder Ketchum asked him how he feels, he said, ¨Me siento paz,¨ (I feel peace). So we are very excited for him. There are a lot of members here in this ward that are involved in missionary work, and the bishop is wonderful.
I am not sure if I commented very much last week about the area, but it is still here in Madrid, in the north east part. If you want to look at a map the area includes the metro lines 5 and 7, roughly, starting from Ventas, which is where the church is, and then up the line to Pueblo Nuevo, Suanzes, San Blas, etc. So it is still very central. Not as much as Barrio 5, because nothing gets more central than that, but for example we have a lot of Calle Alcalá in our area. It is a very long street with tons of shops. We do a lot of street contacting on that street and in the past, missionaries have found tons of people that are ¨golden¨ so we stick with the tradition and so far so good.
I love you all a bunch, and I am sorry that this letter is short. I did receive the package mom and it was amazing. I loved the jeans, and hope that I can have a chance to wear them soon. They fit perfectly. There is nothing better than skinny jeans haha. I also loved the 24 days of Christmas sheets that you sent me. I started late, but am trying to catch up. I of course loved the candy as well. I absolutely loved the package and am so grateful for an amazing loving family like all of you. Thank you sooo much. It means a lot to me.
I think that toffee would be a great idea for investigators and members here in the ward. But if you have a better idea, I am open to everything.
I have one request this week. Elder Gomez, my last companion, has not been receiving constant emails from his mother. He does receive emails from his father, who lives in California, his parents are divorced and his mom remarried in Guatemala and his dad with a girlfriend. So his mom has been sick recently and I would love it if you, mom, and Cami, and whoever else in the family could write him. It would be great if you could write him. He would really appreciate it. So his address is: michael.gomez@myldsmail.net
So if you could send him a little note that would be fantastic.
Well, have a great week and know that I love you sooooo much and pray for you tons!
Love,
Élder Driggs
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