Happy Birthday Jonathan! Sorry I couldn´t do anything for you yesterday, but I wish you a happy birthday now. You are now 15. Que bueno! In only one year, you´ll start entering the world of adult life. Becoming excited for the ability to drive and to date? It is still a year away, no need to fear just yet. I hope the day went great, that you not only received good presents, but received of the love of your family and friends. I send my love as well. The messages that I sent you in the birthday card of last year still apply. Continue to grow into the wonderful man you will become, for a wonderful boy surely has the potential to grow into a wonderful man. Once again, good luck with school. I have to say, especially Spanish because I of all people know how hard it is to learn another language. Have a great year and enjoy your time. I give you my love my brother.
Ok, now for the rest of my letter. Just in case it wasn´t known before, I can receive letters from anyone outside of Buenos Aires. And I´d love to receive letters from people (especially from a few people I know at BYU right now). To let you know, DearElder.com works here. Every district meeting (Wednesday) we receive the letters that were sent to the office, whether by DearElder, pouch, or other means. I guess since it seems like the delay of mail is three weeks, I might start receiving mail tomorrow…I hope. And I can respond to anyone who mails me, although I have to have another Elder in my district mail it out for me. I don´t have much time to write, so I might have to pick and choose who I write each week. Sorry, forgive me. Oh, and by the way, I think I asked for this once before, but haven´t heard anything yet, Could I have the addresses of some other family members, especially of my Augason cousins? I`m sure they would all like to hear from me. (I´m sure you also have made known the work of Jessica to many people as well).
The mission has so many ups and downs throughout every day it is hard to keep up. I haven´t experienced so many emotions in my life. One minute I´m happy and bright, the next frustrated, and then feeling good about everything, all in the same day, sometimes in the same hour. It´s exhausting. Actually, so much more about the mission is physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausting, but yet there is always that little bit more to help me continue. I know that the Lord continues to support me and that I´ll have so many experiences here to learn from and to grow and everything. Things still aren´t perfect with my companion, but I´m working on it, trying to love him. One of the things I realized is that I do need this experience to prepare me for my future companion because I know things won´t always go perfectly, so I´m learning now how to try my best to get along with someone whom I didn´t choose and someone I have an extremely difficult time communicating with. So, what I learn from him, I can put into practice in the future.
I know that the Spirit helps to teach people, but also that when people are on the verge of gaining more Spiritual knowledge, Satan works so much harder against them too. We found a lady, Natividad, last week that was very accepting of everything we taught, very excited about it. She told us that she believed all of our words and kept asking when she could go to church. She told us that everytime we came by to teach, she felt so much better about all the difficulties in her life. She came to an open house of the church on Saturday and many of the relief society members showed her around and introduced her to what happens in the church. We´re not sure what happened, but she didn´t come to church on Sunday (it is slightly frustrating when none of your investigators come to church, the most important part of the week) and we passed by that night and she told us that she didn´t want to have anything to do with us anymore, that she is Catholic and doesn´t want to change. We´re going to pass by her sometime soon to offer our love and to see if we can resolve any doubts and fears that she has because we know how blessed the Gospel will be in her life.
Sunday was Mother´s day here in Argentina, so my companion called his family. He still has 5 months, but he said they all talked about preparing for his return. I talked with you all three weeks ago, which was nice. I´m looking forward to the call in two months.
The climate here is a lot like Louisville I´d have to say. It is Spring time and the weather is different every day. Last week it was a little chilly. I carried around the inner lining of my coat with me (at least half of the northamerican missionaries have that exact same coat. Mr. Mac´s earn a killing off of it.). Yesterday, it was probably about 75 or so, a little hot in the sun all day. Yes I try to put on sun protector (because I´ve realized here that when I don´t, I get really itchy rashes). And right now, it is a bit stormy. Today, while getting a hair cut, the barber told me that they get the warm climate of the north and the cold climate of the south, so it is always different. That is exactly what I say about the climate of Louisville. It gets the cold winds of Canada, and the warm winds of the Gulf of Mexico. Oh, also, we had a time change on Sunday, so I think I am now 3 hrs different then you because we had to set the time forward an hour, where you put it back an hour. (How terrible to lose an hour of sleep on Mother´s Day!)
As I´ve said, I know that this work is moving forward with the help of the Lord. We are the weakest of the Earth going forth to serve. I still can´t understand a lot of what is being said, nor can I speak very quickly or very well (but I do see some improvement…I think). But, I take comfort in the words of Moroni in Ether 12…I want to say 27, that we are given weaknesses to be humble, but that our weaknesses will be made strong. I know how deeply I need the Savior´s help in this work and in my life in general. And I know he fulfils all of his promises, thus I know that I will have His help. Also, I know that I and you are being blessed through this work. My favorite section of the Doctrine and Covenants, section 6, has a promise towards the end that we are blessed when we are rejected. But they are blessed when they accept and we reap of the joy and fruits of our labors. I can´t wait to see what experiences I have ahead of me to see of the greatness of our Lord and I will try to put forth all of mi “corazón, alma, mente, y fuerza” to accomplish the purposes of the Lord. I know that the message we present, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored, is true. I feel it. I know that Christ suffered for us. I bear testimony of that. I know the promises of the Lord when we heed his counsel will all be fulfilled.
Thank you for all of your prayers on behalf of me. I will need them continually throughout these two years.
I sincerely express my love,
Elder Drake Ranquist
No comments:
Post a Comment