Hyde Park Hooligans

Hiya!

This week has been amazing!  I love this wonderful Easter time to reflect about the wondrous moment when Christ overcame death for every person who has lived, now lives, and will ever live.  What an amazing gift from a loving Father in Heaven!  One of my favourite talks from conference was "Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into our Lives" by Russel M. Nelson.  It is amazing.  I love how he makes clear that the Atonement isn't an isolated entity, but an act that our Savior performed for us.  We can draw from that power. It is amazing.  My testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ has grown so much on my mission.  I know that He Lives!  I have felt the strength that comes when we take up His yolk and pray for His help to change and become better.  I love Him.  I'm grateful for what he did for us.  I pray that we will all devote time to learning about Him and coming closer to Him. This is the Lords work!  I'm so grateful to be a part of it!

Have a wonderful week!

Elder Draper

Staying in London! Woohoo!

Hiya!

This week has been incredible!  I have learned so much.  I found out I'm staying in London!  I got a new companion who is quite young (in the mission, in real life he is older than me) which is exciting!  The great thing is he is a boss!  It feels more like he is training me than the other way around. Something quite sad to repot to all those following along at home is that Xizi dropped us.  It was really sudden and unexpected which makes it quite sad. She just felt like she didn't want to make any big life decisions while studying abroad.  Although it is sad, we just have to learn from the experience and work hard to find someone who is prepared to receive the restored gospel. Another thing that was sad, is one of my flat-mates Elder Reynolds was waiting for his visa to go to South Africa and his visa came, so he left today.  It was so much fun serving around him for a transfer!

Now for some good news!  One of our friends Jun came to church today. He was able to see a baptism after church and he was asking so many questions about what it meant.  After we taught him the basics of faith, repentance, and baptism, we invited him to be baptized and he said yes.  It was a tender mercy for sure.  I love the opportunity to teach people about the Gospel.  To testify of what I've felt in my life and know to be true. The. To invite others to act and come closer to our Savior.  Just amazing. I really know that this is the Lords work.  I am so grateful to be learning how to be an effective instrument in His hands.  I am grateful for the chance we had to hear from prophets and apostles last week and I encourage all of you to study what the Lords servants have said for US!  I know that if you do, you will find something that applies to you and will benefit your relationship with our Father in Heaven. Well!  That's all I can think of right now!

Have a brilliant week!

Elder Draper

Letter from the Mission President

Dear Brother and Sister Draper,

I thought you would like to know your son has been asked to serve as a District Leader and a New Missionary Trainer. He has been chosen because of his obedience and faithfulness in living the mission rules and in serving the Lord “with all his heart, might, mind, and strength.”

Your son has become a truly effective missionary. His efforts with other missionaries, members and investigators has been a blessing to them and a strength to the entire mission.  We are grateful for him and know how proud you must be of the way he is serving the Lord.

I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones well.  The gospel is true and a blessing to all of us. It is such a joy to share it with others and to be working with Missionaries like Elder Draper in that effort. 

Sincerely,

Mark W. Stevens

President