Drake's turning 20 this month!

2 Jun 2009

Dear family,

Ahh, I can´t believe that it is already my birth month. I´m not quite sure I want to cross the threshold of 20 years. I guess that is how we all feel every time we cross into a new decade of life. It is hard to leave behind what is past and go into a new stage. It is possible that I will see even more change next week. We are nearing the end of another transfer (every 6 weeks), meaning I could find myself anywhere with anyone next week. I think I´ll still be here in Castillo, which would be great because than I would share my birthday with Karen and Florencia, the twins that were baptized about 3 months ago, who also were born the 26 of June. But, I´ll find out next Monday (where I will sing with E´Gonzalez again).

This week, there were some more changes as well. Sara, Viviana, and Lionel were baptized! I would send pictures, but I can´t get this USB jack to work. But the baptism went well. There wasn´t the highest attendance due to the rain and change of schedule, but the baptism proceeded well anyways. I baptized Sara (who claims to be my mom here in Argentina as is she washes and cooks for us) and Viviana (with whom I didn´t prepare myself an I nearly baptized myself as well trying to get her out of the water. I explained afterwards that I was following the example of Alma found in Mosiah 18 when he baptized himself with Helam). My companion baptized Lionel. We tried to put one of the priests in a level of confidence with them, but the priest himself said that he didn´t want to baptize them because he didn´t work hard enough with them. We´re still having problems on that theme, but we´re trying our best. The brother of Lionel was at the baptism and he became very interested. He lives elsewhere, so I hope all works out well with him as well.

As I was reading your message mom about how you didn´t want to go on a long hike because of the heat, I had a hard time imagining it because it is starting to get cold here. I´m starting to always were thermals under my pants and wear along with my long white shirt a sweater, and the double jacket that I have. I used to say that winter was my favorite season, but that was when I ran from heated building to heated building, I didn´t have to work outside not especially not take a shower in an unheated bathroom (at least we don´t lack warm water). But the changes in temperature caused me to get sick this week. I started to feel week Wednesday and crashed when we went to do a service project painting a house. I just sat in a chair talking with the investigator and her friend while my companion painted. I felt bad, but he understood well enough. I spent that night and the next morning in bed with a fever, but I was able to get up to do our weekly planning. I was feeling better, so we went out to work that night. But when I got back, I had a fever again. But, probably due to the prayers of the Elders in my pench, I recovered to go out and work well Friday. We had devisions and I went and worked well with E´Brooks, a newbie (we don´t really use the term Greenie, probably because it doesn´t quite work in Spanish). I´m glad I´ve grown out of that “infant” stage where I had to rely completely on my companion because I couldn´t understand anything of what was happening in the world around me.

This next transfer, we are planning a lot of baptisms for chicos (youth). One of the girls that went to the young single adults convention, a 3 day trip to Mendoza I think, has decided to get baptized. Her name is Victoria and is from Paraguay. She is living here with her Aunt and her family for schooling I believe. Originally the family lived in Castillo 2, but moved here to Castillo 1 and went a little inactive. The Elder´s Quorum President told us that we should go to their house one day to invite them. When we did, we found Victoria. She has already gone to church numerous times to Castillo 2 and also goes regularly to Institute. She didn´t accept a baptismal date at first, but two weeks ago when my companion asked “When are you getting baptized?” She said, “When Elder Ranquist said I was getting baptized, June 6th.” “Ok, June 6th it is.” But, she didn´t come to church this week, so we´ll have to wait another week. She already asked the Patriarch to baptize her, which I think would be wonderful.

Also, in the house of our ward mission leader lives his nephew. Or basically lives there. He is there 5-6 days a week and goes home to his family every once in a while. Marcos, 14 years old, is already active, but his parents didn´t allow him to be baptized. But now they say it is alright. So, we are planning for him as well.

The day that I went on a devision with E´Brooks, we had noted that one of the kids of an inactive family had a birthday. So, we went by to say happy birthday and we learned that it was their unbaptized daughter who just turned 9, putting her under us the missionaries. One of her sisters is already trying to come back and the rest of the family want to as well. So, as we help to reactivate the family, we´ll be preparing for the baptism of María Coyoche.

Sorry I could send photos. I hope that all continues to go well at home. Good luck with the rest of your finals Jonathan. And enjoy your summers while I learn to cope with the cold of winter again. Always remember that I know that this church is true, that we have a living prophet, and that the grand blessings of heaven come through obedience to His divine laws. Until next week, from wherever I am.

Love,
Elder Drake Ranquist