Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Conference Letter

I know this letter made my mom cry and it made me cry to. Let's just say we haven't heard many things like this from Jonathan before :) Serving the Lord truly does bring blessings.


Wow, that’s so exciting! Tell Kevin congratulations. I started skimming through the email and saw you started talking about it and saw a capitol C in the answer so I quickly put my hand up to cover it and read the first part of the message. At first I thought it said California (I wish; I would so love to be his trainer) :D Well, I’m sure he will do great! Can I get his email so I can email him some stuff?  (Kevin is a friend from home who just got his mission call to Colorado!)

 Anyway, for general conference we went to the chapel where Saturday it was only us two, but Sunday we had 3 investigators show up, one recent convert, and one less active show up, and only about a few members showed, so that was cool. I'm so glad the church is close by. I think this general conference was the best one I have been to because I really focused this time and made notes on all of the talks. I received personal revelation from every talk. It was truly spiritually uplifting. One thing that really stuck out to me is how we have the priesthood, and through that priesthood worlds were created, and we were created. We just don’t know how to use the priesthood to its full potential yet. But another major thing that stood out to me is how I need to tell my parents I LOVE THEM. So, Mom, Dad I love you. I want you to know I love you and wish I could make up for all of the hugs I dodged  :D, and the kisses I missed. I want you to know even though we’re thousands of miles away, I could still hear your voice telling me good night and saying our usual good night answers :) I know I can’t sleep as well without them. Even though I thought "How was your day" after I got home from school or work was getting pretty repetitive, I could always hear myself saying "Fine" but I love those moments. I remember in my Patriarchal blessing it tells me to lean on my parents when I'm going though a hard time. And I know my parents will help me because they are tough, and rooted in a firm foundation in the gospel. I want you to know I look up to you both and that I know you are my LOVING mother and father. I look forward to the life to come when we all can be a loving family in the celestial kingdom with our loving Heavenly Father. My heart has felt the spirit of the Lord so frequently since I have left on my mission. I can not deny that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and Thomas S. Monson is a living modern day prophet.

  I loved your package you sent me. I received it this week. And the new music is great. Thank you so much! I don’t know how to send the Ipod home. I think it will get stolen if I send it in a card so should I send it in a box? Also, is there any way I could get some Walter Rane art? I am really impressed by his art and the walls in our apartment are bare so we thought of getting some art and a few pictures of temples (and a light house picture to remind me of home :D) to invite the spirit a little more.

  An interesting thing happened. I wanted to listen to Manheim Steamroller’s song of the crickets so I was looking through my Ipod for the song and I came across a message on it. It was Jessica on her point shoe in the middle of the chalk circles and it said Jessica: I Love You. So that touched my heart and I want to let Drake, and Jessica know that I love them very much and Emily, and Tyler are not excluded :D

  I've had such a great week and I hope you will have a great week to come Thank you so much for the sacrifices you have done for me. I like how Thomas S. Monson said a mission is a family affair and I know you have done a lot for me. Hope you have a great week and it’s filled with excitement and lots of experiences.
  
    With MUCH LOVE from your baby,
       Elder Ranquist


Dad's Letter (answering from questions)

My companion has a cd player but when he leaves I don’t know what to do. Also most likely I will be in a car area in the future so I can listen to that cd in the car, but no way of getting my Ipod hooked in with the car so I have to go by an electronics store in the coming pdays or something. I have a GT tachyon bike. Its’ spokes broke twice on me this week so it’s been hard repairing it all the time. The spokes are super thin, really small. I wish I looked at that when I was looking at bikes but now I know. We’re not supposed to give our direct address to anyone. I guess missionaries in the past have done that and people have stopped by and stuff, sorry. Did you or Drake become District leaders or zone leaders or trainers?  That thought just came to my mind; just wondering. I hope you have had a great week. I always look forward to talking to you both. I want you to know I really love you Dad and thank you for your  forgiveness. 

 Love,
 Elder Ranquist




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