Happy Veteran's Day 11-11-13

Hello,

This week went by fast! I can't believe it’s Monday again! This week is going to go by even faster. We have trainings all week this week (except for Saturday but I'm going on exchanges to Spanish land on Saturday.)

This week we were able to attend a baptismal service for the sisters in our district. They had 3 investigators baptized. It was great. One of their investigator’s names was Jose. He is so amazing. He completely is humble and wanting to do so much. He used to be a police officer and now is a truck driver and just loves to help everyone out. He is never afraid to share his testimony and his family who he hasn't seen in a few years came to his baptism and stayed for church on Sunday.

Elder Caleja is from the Philippines, but he says his family is ok. It’s great news to hear dad found a new doctor. I hope everything works out when you get there! I love those pictures of Grant! His smile is great!

Love,

Elder Ranquist

November Already 11-4-13

Thankfully I’m not sick anymore! Yay. It’s weird now that we've had day light savings time. It’s really bright in the mornings and really dark in the evenings. It’s so fun to see the pictures of Grant. I love them. I'm sure he's doing great.

We had an investigator who was going to be baptized November 9th but she was persuaded by other people not to join and now she is really hesitant and has a lot of doubts. We hope to continue teaching her and bringing her to some baptisms this weekend to get her re-motivated.

For some reason this week, it’s been really hard to focus all the time, especially in studies. I am going to start using a journal to write down the things I learn in my studies so I can remember what I learned and to help me focus. I really liked what Jessica sent about writing in journals. It’s something that I need to do and be better at. 

Love,

Elder Ranquist

Catching Up!

December 27, 2013

Hey Everyone!  Elder Ranquist's mom here.  Big sister has her hands full with an adorable new baby, so mom is making an attempt at getting his letters back on track.  It may take a few days, but hopefully, we will catch up soon.  Elder Ranquist has gone through some tough times as well as some awesome times.  Just watch the growth he is making!

October 28, 2013

Hello!

It’s been so fun serving with Elders Caleja and Thomas. But it is really hard to cover 2 areas. Our area has been suffering in key indicators, but it is all right. As you can see, we attended a Halloween party in the Cambodian Branch and were able to meet the Ward. Sadly, I left my camera in the car.... maybe I will remember next week! This picture is from a member that sent me the email of this photo.

The j in jawe does sound like a y. Since I’m serving in the Cambodian Branch temporarily, I think it would be a neat idea to get a Cambodian name tag, but I haven't done anything about it haha.

I woke up this morning and I feel really sick. I hate being sick. Actually, I haven't written in my journal for quite awhile. It’s been bad. I need to work better on that.

This week, we had a Relief Society missionary meeting where we gave a talk on missionary work and how they can help us. After that meeting, I realized it is getting easier for me to do trainings like that and I think that is because I have been able to learn from my District meetings. I’m sorry it’s really hard to focus on anything right now. I’ll try to think of things for next week and hopefully feel better! :D

Love,

Elder Ranquist

Happy Birthday! 10/21/13

I've had a great week this week. By the way, the package did arrive. It came on Friday, I think, and some missionaries picked it up for me then and gave it to me Saturday. I really enjoy it so much. Sadly, the Peanut M&M's barely lasted a day. So good! lol, 

We had transfer calls this Saturday and everyone’s being transferred Tuesday. Well, for me, I'm staying in the same area with Elder Thomas. This will be my 5th transfer here, but we are now are going to be covering 2 areas.  We have a third companion, Elder Caleja, from the Philippines. His companion went home because he was really sick so he is staying with us until he gets his new companion and we will cover his area as well. His companion is coming from the MTC so he'll be training, but he isn't coming out for another 3 weeks.  So it’s going to be fun being in a trio again (my third one already). But I feel bad for him. He just got finished training himself. He has been called now as a trainer and a district leader, and he is going to be doing district meetings with the Assistants in his district :) wow. But Elder Caleja is awesome. We are just trying to figure out how we are going to cover 2 areas. It’s just going to be so much fun. I'm trying to learn all of my companions’ languages so I'm learning Marshallese, Cambodian and Tagalog, Portuguese, Spanish, and of course, I always need help on English haha. 

Love,

Elder Ranquist

Ij jawe eok

Marshallese for I love you (See I’m slowly learning :D)

10/15/13

Dear Mom and Dad,

Congratulations on your new calling! That's so exciting. 

Anyway, nothing went on this week, it was pretty slow. Sadly, Elder Thomas and I are arguing a lot more recently. And I hate arguing. It’s just that we both have different points of view and can't compromise. I just want the best for him. I can not wait until the Conference Ensign comes out. I really need to look over them and compare my notes I took. This week I committed myself to finish the Book of Mormon from where I was at. Right now, I’m in Alma 42 or so. I think I can do it :) I really loved, I think it was Alma 30 or so, where Alma was really excited to see his brethren again and see the success they had with the Lamanites and just a full chapter of him being happy. It made me happy and made me think of Elder Holland’s talk a few Conferences ago about the laborers in the vineyard when it talks about how we should be happy for others when they get a lot of blessings. And ,of course, I read Alma 41:10 :)

I hope you have a great week this week. Next time I talk to you I'll be "One year older and wiser too!" :D

Love, your slowly aging son

Elder Ranquist

Conference Time 10/7/13

Hello!

Sorry, I don't have much time this week. We are at the Library since the senior missionaries left for home last week and the Library has a time limit until it logs out. 

I really love those pictures of Grant! I really love the one where Dad and Grant are sitting down. At first i could barely see Grant until i enlarged the picture :D I wish I could be there and hold him. Oh well, when I come home I will :D

General Conference was great! I loved it. I do miss sitting at home watching it though. I don't care for going to the church building every time and no one but you and your companion is there. 

I don't know why but this week I've been sadly impatient every day. I noticed this and now in my study journal I'm making a list of comforting scriptures. In the coming weeks I want to be able to memorize them so I don't feel so impatient anymore. 

I love hearing from you and hope i can find somewhere else next week to email so I have more time, but talk to you later!

Love,

Elder Ranquist

9/30/13

Preface: Jonathan's an uncle! Tyler and I had our son, Grant William Walker, on Sep. 24th. We are all doing very well! I'll put a picture up soon

 

 Wow I'm an Uncle! :D I don't really think it has hit me yet that I am an uncle, maybe when I get back home and see him, then it's going to be astonishing. I hope all goes well with him.  I love the pictures!

This week has been an even more stressful week, haha. On wednesday, my companion Elder Ryan got a call and his Visa came through! He left this morning at 6:30 to go to the airport to make his way to Brazil. I can't believe I have been with him for almost 5 months! I loved Elder Ryan so much. He was awesome. I am going to miss him. The thing that has been stressing me out the most is I know he was the "drive" in the companionship. He was the one who knew how to teach, plan, and just do things. Before him Elder Bishop was our "drive" in the companionship, but now it's just me and Elder Thomas and it's up to me to have that "drive." I've never been a motivated person, to stay on top of things and get things accomplished. It has interested me in the Lord's way as I have been looking back on things.... I was in a trio with Elder Bishop and Elder Ryan and then Elder Bishop left and I became senior with Elder Ryan and then I was in a Trio with Elder Ryan and Elder Thomas. It has just interested me how the Lord has increased my responsibilities line upon line, and how I was prepared for this. It's definitely not going to be easy, but it is what I need to grow! 

We had a member of the 70 come to us last week. Elder Audukidis. I know that's not the right spelling but it's close. He's the first one in the general conference ensign under 70's. He was great! We loved what he talked about. Talking a lot about making goals and then setting plans towards those goals. That has really helped our companionship! We would always set goals based on our plans that we had that day. This week we have set higher goals then ever! We know we can accomplish them as we work hard, even if we don't accomplish them as long as at the end of the week we can say we did our best. I'm so excited for General Conference! Its strange to think the last General Conference I was being trained in Berkeley. That doesn't seem that long ago! haha

Love,

Elder Ranquist