Hope everyone is doing well!
This week was awesome! Man, it flew by so quick though, I can't believe it's over! Early in the week I had the opportunity to go on exchange with Elder McMurray. It was a great day. It was good to get to know him better! He is serving in Ilford, which is just 45 minutes away from Romford. We were able to have some powerful lessons with some of our investigators and see some miracles as we opened our mouths traveling back and forth. That was also the day we had district Meeting. I love the Romford District so much. There are so many amazing missionaries here!
There was a training about using the Book of Mormon in our teaching. It has been something I have been thinking about for a while now. How to better implement the most important tool (along with the spirit) in teaching the restored gospel. There is amazing power that comes when our friends learn how to rely on the Book of Mormon for spiritual strength, guidance, and answers to questions. That I believe is what helps people become truly converted. The Book of Mormon is an irreplaceable tool in this great work! I'm so grateful for it in my life, and the truth that it contains.
Something beautiful that happened on Saturday was Sharon was able to be baptized! We are so happy for her and the changes she has made in her life. When she bore her testimony after the ordinance, she explained how her life had previously felt like a gigantic jig saw puzzle with a piece right on the Center that was missing. That piece was Jesus Christ, and she now has it in her life. It was heart warming to see and to feel of her love for the gospel. The next day she was confirmed and her daughter Vikki spoke in sacrament Meeting. There is a bright future ahead of the Essex family.
Some other wonderful people we are working with is Senessie, Katie, and Maxine.
Senessie was being taught by other Elders around a year ago. He has a belief in God, but suffers from schizophrenia and that he often feels paranoid. Praying and developing a stronger relationship with God has really helped him deal with that feeling of paranoia. Amazing.
Katie is someone we met two weeks ago. We were able to meet up with her this week and have a very powerful lesson about the plan of Salvation. She understood and rejoiced over the plan that God has for his children and accepted a baptismal date. It was amazing.
Maxine was someone we found on Tuesday and saw on Saturday. She recently got out of rehab and explained to us how her belief in God was utterly non existent until after that experience. She came to know that God was there and now just wants to learn more about Him and have a better relationship with Him. She came to church yesterday and truly loved it. Towards the end of sacrament meeting she was so overwhelmed by the calm and the love that she was feeling that she broke down into tears and left. She explained that it was something she had never felt before and she was definitely coming back. She is great!
One sort of crazy thing that happened this week was we met this man called Andrew. He just approached us on the street and asked if we could help him with something. He then said he had to go, but that he would call us later. Then he set up a time when he and his wife could Falke us out for lunch. At this point... I was thinking "this is going to be really great, or perry bad." We met him and we started off just having a nice conversation, but then he started talking about reformed Egyptian and all of this crazy stuff. Then he told us that he was a minister... one who specifically ministers to LDS people. As he said that, the spirit left the room. He tried to talk about some things involving the endowment, but we knew it was definitely time to leave. We thanked them for the meal, bore our testimonies of the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and then left. Haha! They can't argue with that!
I thought it was amazing how although he brought up things I had never heard of before, my faith didn't even quiver! My mission has been a crucible, which has refined my knowledge and my testimony so much. I am so grateful for the knowledge we have. The joy that that the truth brings is so irreplaceable. I love this great work! I love being His representative. I know that He lives and leads this work. I am just so happy to be serving!
Hope you all have a wonderful week!
Elder Draper
P.S. the picture with Elder Lindsey in the air is probably my favourite picture of all time.
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