June 8, 2011

Dear Family,

This week has been another fantastic week. Anibal Fernando Gonzales se bautizó el día sábado a las 8:00 por la tarde. He was very happy and looked very content to be baptized. It was especially fun because he officially belongs to the branch of Aranjuez. It was so fun because even though the baptism took place in the stake center on temple square, which is about 40 minutes away from Aranjuez in car, there were a few members that came. The branch president came with all his family except for one daughter, the branch mission leader also came, and the biggest surprise was that Ronny and Gina and there 3 children came. 

This was the family that got baptized when Elder Carr and I were in Aranjuez. I hadn´t seen them for almost 8 or 9 months, since October of last year at General Conference. It was so nice to see them and to be able to spend time with them. They are less active to inactive but it seems that they are picking things back up again. Ronny and Gina both gave there testimonies in the baptismal service and Gina said that she knew that this was the true church and something to the effect that she has never thought about parting from it. They are really good people but Ronny has had a tough work schedule which has required him to work nights. But maybe a month ago he lost his work and now they can come to church. I had asked President Jarosz from Aranjuez to call Ronny and Gina and invite them to the baptism and they actually. That was a miracle.

Fernando seems to be good and I hope that he can stay the course for the rest of his life. It sure helps to have the support of family members, especially since he lives with his brother and the family of his brother, and they are active members.

So I guess from the title you are wondering where I am right now. This last Monday, the Lord saw fit to have me transferred to Ponferrada to finish my mission there. Ponferrada is a city up north, to the west of León. You will have to look it up on a map. It is really, really pretty here and very green, with mountains. This area belonged to the old Bilboa mission, so it is neat to be able to get up here and see how it is. It is a little bit different than Madrid because there are a lot more Spaniards, but I like that. I wish I could have been able to socialize more in the mission with actual Spaniards.

Most of the people we have taught have been from South America, and most of the wards are made up of South Americans. So it is nice to be in a city where there are a lot of people from Spain and not very many people from South America. I like it a lot. My new companion is Elder Carey from Bountiful, Utah. He went to Woods Cross High School. He has been in the mission 11 months as of yesterday and I think that we are going to have a lot of success. Apart from the things that I want to accomplish here, I think that there is something special that the Lord has for me to do here. So I hope to be able to find out what that is and be able to do it. I am trying to continue to trust in the blessings mentioned in my patriarchal blessing, and to work and obey so that I can receive them.

I love the mission and am so glad for all of the things that I have been able to do while I have been on the Lord´s errand. I hope that my offering has been worthy for the Lord, and I hope that He has been pleased with my efforts. I have not been perfect but I have been able to learn and progress and I feel that I am the missionary that He wants me to be. I still need to keep working and keep progressing so that I can always be ready and worthy for whatever job He wants me to do.

Just so you know, Élder Cerro´s new companion is Elder Hodges from California. They are going to have lots of success. Elder Cerro is a wonderful missionary and I have really enjoyed our time together. I have grown to love him and we have developed a friendship that will last forever. I love him very much. We will have to take him and his companion out to eat when you come out.

I hope that you have a wonderful week. I love you all very much. Please keep reading the scriptures, praying to our Father in Heaven, and going to church every week so that we can renew our covenants with Him. Only by doing these 3 things and by being obedient to the commandments of God, can we find true and everlasting happiness in this life and in the life to come. That is what we want so let´s pay the price. I love you very much. Tell everyone hi for me.

Love,

Élder Driggs