Post Father's Day Letter

Wow, this week flew by so fast!  It's already a new transfer. My companions’ names are Elder Bishop and Elder Ryan. Elder Ryan is waiting for his visa and the president said if he gets his visa during the transfer he'll have to wait until the end of this transfer to go to Brazil, so we have at least another 6 weeks with him which is so fun! This is Elder Bishop’s last transfer so he has 6 weeks left of his mission. That’s so exciting for Keith! I'm so happy for him. Is it all right if you can give me his email? I would love to talk to him! My testimony was on how the Gospel has brought me happiness, which it has so much! I just put a grin on my face whenever I think about it. I haven't heard from Elder Curran for a while. It’s crazy to think Elder Eve is already coming home. That’s awesome. When does Elder Nelson come home? Didn't they go out around the same time? I love the poem grandpa made, its great. 

About my week, we have a new investigator with a baptismal date for July 27th. I think I told you a little about her. She's from Haiti and speaks French. Gave her a French and English Book of Mormon. Her kids don’t like us. I think her kids are in their late 20's to mid early 30's, but she told them if you don't unlock the gate and open the door for the elders when they come you can go find somewhere else to live. She loves to tell her life stories to us and how someone told her in a dream you have to be baptized to be complete or something like that. It’s really exciting to talk with her. She's great. She came to church a few weeks ago with us, and hasn't been to her old church since.

Sadly, Calvin dropped us, the one who had a baptism date around the same time I believe. It's an interesting story. He lives in our zone leaders’ apartment building, but they aren't allowed to teach him because they are Spanish speaking elders and so we go over to teach him. He really really loves us. Hugs us a lot and see's how we’re his friends and trying to help him. But he thinks switching from Catholic to Mormon that God will punish him. This week he had his car smashed into and destroyed, he believes it’s his son which has paranoia scitzafrania, or however you spell it [schizophrenia]. Also this week he read from the Book of Mormon for about 2 hours and was in real need of money and that same day he received 50 dollars from people and about 20 dollars from a scratch off lottery ticket. So he believes that reading the Book of Mormon will help him. But ever since his car was destroyed, he doesn't want to meet with us anymore.

Also, Teaetta, another person with a baptism date, is going through a hard time. She had to put a restraining order on her husband because he was being abusive to her children. He tried to stop drinking but relapsed and went worse. She's amazing. He even stole over 600 dollars from her. She's just trying to find ways to help her children and get diapers for them. She loves it when we sing hymns, which we've started to do for her before and after the lessons. I wish I could sing better, but if she can tolerate it I guess that’s ok.

A new sister moved in to our ward and she is perfect for her! She came with toys and games for the kids and was offering her rides to church and was a true fellowshipper. She came up to us at church and said she was going to stop by and talk with her. I love it when members are like that! When they truly love the investigators and go out of their way to help them without being asked by the missionaries. Motivates me to be an awesome member missionary after my mission.

One great moment I had happened yesterday night. We were having companionship study, and it was my turn to lead it. I prepared a little something, but I knew it really wouldn't turn out that great if I did what a prepared. I started out and was reading a sentence out of a paragraph and a thought came to my mind about asking a question after the sentence. So, it ended up being a good question and it got everyone talking and into a discussion. So I continued and started to ask a lot more questions and everyone opened up and it was a great study. I know I was guided by the spirit as I kept a prayer in my heart and listened to the promptings of the spirit. My companions, at the end, also noticed how it was one of the best discussions they've had. I was so happy, I know that as we prepare and try our best the Lord will make up for the rest!

I love talking to the family I’m so glad that everyone is having a good time. 

Love, 

Elder Ranquist

Oh and one other thing. I am completely out of journal pages. I forgot to ask you for one last week but I was wondering if I could get one. It's nice to have a journal, especially when you’re out here and have tons of funny experiences every day :) 

Early Father's Day Letter

Dad's Letter:

I'm really glad to hear that you think the pain is going to get better.

Sometimes I just wish I could skip my teenage years. I just think of it, as a missionary point of view, as a personal apostasy, where I didn't progress in anything or have a direction, or path I was heading on. But, because our Heavenly Father loves us he sends prophets, patriarchs (my dad) to restore the church (or my faith) on the earth (or in my life). I know that you love me and have been there for me even when I did not accept your help. I always have seen in my life the example that you mentioned, where you would get the airplane flying and then for me to take over. I have seen that in my mission as well. I have been trained and given the resources to do things. I hope you know that you did not fall short at all. If you did, you would not see me on my mission. I would still be eating M&M's wondering when My Mission would be. You have been an outstanding example to me of sacrifice, dedication, and diligence. I have no clue the pain or things that you have gone through, but just hearing of them makes me realize the difficulties you've been through. The time you spend in the temple covering for someone else is an indicator of that sacrifice. I like what Joseph Smith said, “teach them correct principals and let them govern themselves”. I know that's what you did. I was taught true principals and I have to make the decision to follow those principles. I hope my children don't have the mentality that I put you through during my teenage years or else that would be something to not look forward to. I'm glad that you were so diligent with me. I hope you can forgive the things that I've had to put you through even though you have enough on your plate already. I hope I can make up for it when I get home :)

I know this gospel honestly does bless families and want to model my family after the one I am in, especially you, because I'm going to have to be a father one day so I might as well learn from the best and get the training and resources I need to be able to do it.

I know we have a Father in Heaven that loves us all and wants us to be with him again and I know as we govern ourselves with true principals we can have successful families and lives and see our children grow to have a successful life as well. 

To my Favorite Dad that I Love,

Elder Ranquist

 


Mom's Letter:

Wow, that sounds scary! I'm glad dad's doing all right.

The person who accepted a baptism date is Teaetta, a black lady in her late 30's or so. Just had a baby a few weeks ago. We’ve been meeting with her for a while even before I came into this area. Sadly, she didn't come to church though. Her baptism date is July 13th so we’re excited. She’s come to church 1 time before but has children to take care of and a husband that sits out side the apartment smoking all day and doing nothing so that it’s difficult, but they’re married so that is a tremendous blessing.

We also just committed another person to baptism. He's Calvin around his late 50's or so but he drinks alcohol a lot. He cut down from 5 beers a day to only 1 so that’s amazing. He also came to priesthood meeting at church this Sunday so we’re excited for him. His baptism date is July 27th. He has a concern, because he’s Catholic right now, that him changing from Catholicism to being Mormon will be a sin and he doesn't want to sin by changing churches. But he read for an hour last Friday and called us unexpectedly saying he’s been blessed and won 50 dollars from the lottery. So he thinks that he was blessed for reading and really is starting to love us. So that is really fun.

Our work in this area is starting to pick up so I'm really excited; with 2 baptism dates, more investigators, (we've found 9 investigators just this month) and have a goal to find 2 more by tonight so we'll have 11 new investigators and it’s the 10th day of the month. Transfer calls are this week so that's exciting. This transfer has gone by so fast (at least for me, I don’t know about you). I'm most likely going to just stay here and kill my companion since he's leaving next transfer. 

A new senior missionary couple just came by and said hello. They’re in the same apartment building as the other senior couple so that’s fun. They are Elder and Sister Felt. He was in the army and raced cars so that was cool. I'm having so much fun seeing the work progress here. I hope missionary work is going well in Kentucky as well :) 

Love,

Elder Ranquist

June 3, 2013

We got pictures! About half are from the MTC and half from Oakland. That's about all I know...

Ok, for some reason the slideshow is only showing about a third of the pictures. If you would like to see them all, follow this link http://snack.to/pd1io3jp  :)

Sorry I have not been writing every much but I don't have a lot to talk about and I always write you first so it's not like I'm running out of time. I guess I should start bringing my journal or something to help me remember stuff that went on throughout the week. I'm so excited for Kieth though that's so fun. Can't Waite for his mission call.
 We barely do any tracting because it isn't a good way to find anyone. what we do is something called open your mouths or OYM,s which is street contacting. But a fun thing that happened is we had a lesson with an investigator and they accepted a baptism date for July 13th so that's exciting. Other then that nothing has changed. I really like how whenever were in a grocery store people come up to us and think were managers there. It was also funny how we parked outside a persons house and the kids were saying theres security guards outside.
We just had zone conference last week or 2 weeks ago, it was good they were talking about how to use the planners better and area books. It was nice to see my trainer there again and see how he was doing. Studies are really hard because your just so exhausted in the morning so I keep a water bottle with me. I deffinantly think that I made the right decision to go on a mission before a year of college. The mission has helped me have more effective studies for sure.
Out here in Oakland there is just so much veriety you don't go a day without seeing or hearing something new. I always love hearing mariachi bands playing on the street. I have noticed how I feel like as missionaries we just have a bubble of protection over us. There's been some crazy stuff. But we've been safe. We have a third companion right now waiting to go to Brazil, so that's fun being in a trio. Also the Oakland Temple Pageant has been discontinued so I won't be able to be a part of that.
The work is continuing to progress which is really exciting to see. I was able to bare my testimony this Sunday swell I really like testimony meeting but not the fasting part. I did receive the package and the cord does not work I'm sorry but the pants you sent were the suit pants that I needed so thank you verry much!
Love,
Elder Ranquist

Memorial Day

This week has been just great. Right now, I'm typing on a tablet because we are in a trio and one elder is on the computer the other is on the laptop and I'm on their tablet. It’s fun in a trio. The new elder is Elder Ryan and he's from Washington. He's waiting for his visa to go to Brazil.

Just got back from the Temple and that was amazing. I am always amazed at how peaceful and relaxed I feel when I go there.

It’s so fun seeing the pictures and Noah and his house. Brings back good memories. I do remember the time I got stung by that bee. I was running down a hill with one of those sugary ring pops and the bee stung me and I dropped the candy. I think at the time I was more mad at dropping the candy then the bee stinging me.

It’s great hearing from Elder Curran too. Sounds like he’s having a great time. I don't know what I'm going to write next Monday it’s so close. Well, I hope you keep on doing well. I know I'm having so much fun!

Love,

Elder Ranquist

May 20th, 2013

 This week we met as a family (minus Jonathan) in California to celebrate our cousin's wedding! Tyler and I took a full California vacation, going all the way down the coast. We stopped and went through the Oakland temple along the way. I completely forgot that it was the temple that is in Jonathan's mission until we were there. We didn't see him, but talked to a couple of sister missionaries who knew him! 

Jonathan's Letter:

Wow, everyone is having such a great time. I just received an email from Kevin and it sounds like he is having such a blast. I wish I could have been there with you. I know it would have been so fun.

This week has been really great. We taught a lot of lessons and Saturday we had exchanges so I had to stay here in our area while my companion left. During the day, I thought I was doing a terrible job because I don't know the area that well, but at the end of the day, I looked back and realized it wasn't so bad. We still got a lesson in and made a new investigator and have a potential. I noticed with the companion that came to my area how he is not obedient, not hugely disobedient, but still. I have realized how great the companions I have been blessed with, how obedient they are and how they are such great missionaries. I have realized how being an obedient missionary really does help and bless the companionship. I have also seen how positive attitudes change the outlook on situations you go through.

I pray for all of you everyday and hope you continue to have a great time. The gospel has truly changed my life!

 Love,

 Elder Ranquist

I just remembered. I will be going to the temple this next week. And the new policy with going to the temples is that will be our P-Day. So I go to the temple next Thursday so that will be the next time I write you. Meaning next Monday will be a regular proselyting day and I will email you on Thursday so don't get mad at me if I don't write on Monday :)