El Barrio Crece

26 May 2009

Dear Family,

Happy independence day! Dad, yesterday basically was Memorial day here in Argentina because on May 25, 1810, Argentina received its independence. At the church, they had locro, which is a kind of corn chowder that the people ate in olden times when in poverty. I don´t know very much about the events of when Argentina received its independence, but it was a good holiday. I´ll make sure to let my companion know that it was Memorial day as well.

Jessica, I thought that you had already done your Senior photos. The photo that I received in the mail must only be the one for school, the one that will be in the yearbook. Everyone here says that you look really beautiful. Make sure to send me a physical or electronic copy of your other Senior Pictures. And the photo of Jonathan that I have is great too. Veronica says that he looks like Nic Carter, one of the Backstreet Boys. (But I have luck that the people at first think that your picture is one of me, which means that one day it is possible I will be as good looking as you). Oh, and good luck with your finals. All of your work and studying will pay off. And Jessica, there is no way any of my friends would have been able to convince me to skip a day of school, even at the end of Senior Year. I like school too much.

To answer your question Dad about the reasons not to take a member with us it is because of our standard of excellence. The goals we try to achieve, which says that we should do 10 lessons with members and 20 other lessons every week. If we work hard and efficiently, it is possible to do. He wants to keep an equilibrium between these lessons and he does have good points that lessons with members always take longer, to allow the investigator to get to know the member and also to allow the member to speak. In this area, it isn´t too difficult to complete the 10 lessons with members. But to try to get 30 lessons in total it is much more difficult. But we try to decide what would be the best thing to teach and how to teach it for every lesson. Things are improving.

I can´t remember if I told you last week or not. I received a letter from Elder Reese, who is in Poland. I feel really sorry for him. His mission is really tough. I wrote him about our standard of excellence and he said he showed it to his companion. They laughed, and then cried. The best they can do in one week is one lesson per day (2 with member and 5 others each week). We could do that in one day if every thing worked out just right. They spend a lot of the day tracting, or going up to intercoms of large apartment complexes and calling on the inhabitants to see if they wish to listen. In our mission, tracting doesn´t really exist. At times we clap a house, but nearly all of our contacts are made on the street or talking to people who are on their front porch, drinking mate, behind their fence. We do that while walking from house to house of different appointments or if we don´t have an appointment, of looking for investigators that we have already taught once or twice but weren´t there for the return appointment (Argentine culture doesn´t understand the word appointment very well). Missionary work is still difficult because we want to do the best that we can, but I´m glad that we actually get to see constant fruits and miracles in our work.

Speaking of fruits, we have a baptism this Saturday and another one planned for the following Saturday! Sara, the mother of Veronica and Vania, is getting baptized. I am very grateful that we found that family to teach because they serve us so much, physically and spiritually. Veronica continues with her zeal in the Gospel. She already gave a talk in sacrament meeting and has now been asked to give one of the Family Home Evenings that our ward holds every Wednesday night. Since her baptism, she has already read the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, The Pearl of Great Price, Principles of the Gospel, Teachings of Wilford Woodruff, and nearly all of Teachings of Joseph Smith (and I think as few other things which I can´t remember). She goes through them like Jessica and novels. We had a bunch more books in our apartment that we gave her, Teachings of about five other prophets, Jesus the Christ, Book of Mormon Institute Manual, and a bunch of other stuff. That should keep her for a week. Vania has a hard time doing much of anything right now because she is pregnant! She is really sick and has a hard time eating. They were really worried for her as well because a year ago, she had all the symptoms of being pregnant, even placenta, but there was no child inside. But they have confirmed that this time she will have a child. We´re all happy for her, even if she feels really miserable right now. Sara is excited for her baptism and she is making her own white gown. And I´m really hoping that Carlos will one day accept the Gospel. He is a great husband and father, but doesn´t seem to want to commit quite yet. But, Sara let me know that he did say once that he would like to get married in the temple. That is my goal for that family. Have them all sealed to one another. I would love to see Carlos be baptized soon so that they can go to the temple in a year and I can be present.

Lionel and Viviana continue making progress and are excited for this Saturday as well. Last night I called Viviana in order to set a time for the Baptismal interview and she said she was in bed reading the Book of Mormon. They are doing really well. It is great to see this ward grow. The chapel was packed this Sunday. Nearly every single recent convert came and there are several inactive families who are starting to come again. One day, the bishop said that there are possible plans to make the stake of Rafael Castillo, to split Catán and another nearby stake to form it. My dream is to be the zone leader who opens the zone of Castillo and continue to watch it grow.

We are also teaching a girl named Victoria. She originally was in Castillo 2, but moved into Castillo 1. She goes to Institute and to church often, but never decided that she wanted to be baptized. She finally accepted a baptismal date for June 6. Afterwards, she even went to the patriarch (who lives in our ward) to ask him to baptize her. He is an amazing man and it would be excellent to see him do the ordinance for her.

I hope that all continues to go well and that you can feel this spirit of missionary work in your lives.

Love,
Elder Drake Ranquist