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