2/17/14

Now, we send our emails at the stake center here in Hayward since it has a family history center.

Well this week we have had some great experiences. Our Mission President has really been pushing for us to Open Our Mouth to everyone and have a goal of 140 people to talk to by the end of the week. This week we were really trying to do that and the first day we saw amazing miracles. We have a Burmese speaking investigator, so its really hard to teach him, but the first day we started to open our mouth the sister missionaries called us and said they found a Burmese speaking member that would love to come out with us. It was crazy.

Also, this week was Stake Conference. We were able to hear from the Area 70 here both Saturday night, Sunday morning and the regular session of Conference. He was great. Some of our less actives randomly showed up that we weren't expecting which was a great sign.

Some sad news, my companion which I really loved (much better missionary then I would ever be) Elder Ryan who was the visa waiter for Brazil, got sick when he was there and was sent to the hospital and then Honorable released from his mission. Hopefully, he can get back on his mission and come back to California with me! :D

Also, very depressing thing, I checked my camera early this week to look for a picture I needed but some how all of my pictures were erased.... I don't have any pictures from my mission anymore :(

Well, time to take some more :D

Love,
Elder Ranquist

2/10/14

First off I'll start with some pictures since they speak 1000 words and... well, I don't :D


So, the first baptism was of course, Gervie. The one we had Saturday was Joel (real name is Jose but prefers to be called Joel). He was a dry Mormon before we even started teaching him. His girl friend lives in the Philippines and has taught him everything, He already knew the Word of Wisdom and Tithing before we taught him. Thankfully, people were able to come to his baptism. He even had people from LA to come up and baptize him. He said both at the baptism and while we confirmed him that he felt so good and knew he was doing the right thing. I'm really happy for him and his decision he made. We also went to a baptism Sunday for a member. Lots of baptisms we've been going to and hopefully more to come!

Elder Cook was great! We drove to the San Francisco chapel to see him. There were 280 missionaries there (including the visa waiters and senior couples). We were all jam packed on the benches for about two and a half hours. We heard from our Mission President and his wife, our Area Seventy and Elder and Sister Cook.  First, he wanted to start by shaking all of our hands, which was fun :D
Some things he talked about were: We are where we are supposed to be. He described to us the process on how they pick where the missionaries go for their mission. He says some missionaries are sent to a certain mission to be influenced by their mission president. Others may be sent to be influenced by the people in that area. Others are sent because it will do something for them and their future. It was great to hear that.

He also talked about the relationships we need to build. He describes four of them. 1) Relationship with our people in our areas, members, investigators nonmembers, whoever. 2) We need to work on our companionship relationship. 3) Relationship with your Mission President- we are here to be influenced by them. 4) Love the Lord- Our main focus of our studies should be on the Atonement and Jesus Christ’s life. Interesting fact I didn't know was, Elder Cook and Elder Holland were missionary companions near the end of their missions. That would have been awesome to see!

He left a phenomenal blessing with us and I will just share a little bit on what he blessed us with: our parents will be blessed as we’re out on our mission, I will be able to open my mouth and talk with people and do it with joy, and as we open our mouth our private challenges will be resolved.

Well this week we have a lot more time to go out and open our mouth and talk with people now that we don't have as many meetings. I am excited to do so and know the blessing he gave our mission will come true.

Love,
Elder Ranquist

2/6/14 One Year Mark!

Thank you for the pictures! They were great!

It has been such a great week and a half! We are preparing to hear from Elder Quentin L. Cook tomorrow in San Francisco! Its going to be a great experience. Also, Today our zone went to the Temple, also another great experience. ALSO we had a mission leadership council with all of the zone leaders and President Meredith. The assistants gave a great training on Solving Questions of the Soul by using the scriptures. I really noticed how effective it is to use the scriptures especially using the book of Mormon in our lessons and i'm going to be really focusing on learning/memorizing the scriptures. Gervie's baptism was fanominal! I was able to baptize her. The funny thing was I had to do it 4 times because her whole body didn't go under. The water was too low, but we all had a great laugh about it afterward. Joel is really excited for this Saturday and so are we! We are afraid no one will show up to the baptism because they weren't able to announce it at sacrament meeting last Sunday because he did not know when to get baptized, the reason being he wants his daughter there and she didn't have her work schedule until Monday. We have been inviting everyone so hopefully everyone will show up. This week has been such a spiritually uplifting week (and still will be tomorrow with Elder Cooks presence, and the baptism) In a way I feel like I am being blessed for a lot of my hard work. I just want to work harder now! :D

Love,

Elder Ranquist

P.S. i will get the pictures of Gervies baptism to you next week (on monday) I am up at the Temple emailing and don't have my bag with my camra with me